Webinar "Co-Simulation based Assessment Methods"

There are multiple methods of assessing the height of block before caesarean section under regional anaesthesia, and surveys of practice suggest considerable variation in practice. So far, little emphasis has been placed on the guidance to be gained from published research literature or textbooks. We therefore set out to investigate the methods of block assessment documented in published articles and textbooks over the past 30 years. We performed two searches of PubMed for randomised clinical trials with caesarean section and either spinal anaesthesia or epidural anaesthesia as major Medical Subject Headings. A total of 284 papers, from 1984 to 2013, were analysed for methods of assessment of sensory and motor block, and the height of block deemed adequate for surgery. We also examined 45 editions of seven anaesthetic textbooks spanning 1950-2014 for recommended methods of assessment and height of block required for caesarean section. Analysis of published papers demonstrated a wide variation in techniques, though there has been a trend towards the increased use of touch, and an increased use of a block height of T5 over the study period. Only 115/284 (40.5%) papers described the method of assessing motor block, with most of those that did (102/115; 88.7%) describing it as the 'Bromage scale', although only five of these (4.9%) matched the original description by Bromage. The required height of block recommended by textbooks has risen over the last 30 years to T4, although only four textbooks made any recommendation about the preferred sensory modality. The variation in methods suggested by surveys of practice is reflected in variation in published trials, and there is little consensus or guidance in anaesthetic textbooks.

The article gives analysis of existing problems of winter crops hardiness (wheat, rye, triticale) and methods of assessment the it frost hardiness. Based on the results we suggested an improved method of environmental assessment and selection by frost, winter hardiness of winter crops on the basis of temperature and light factors during the autumn growing season, data monitoring and forecasting features wintering in specially created extreme natural conditions. Research was carried out in the forest-steppe (Myronivka Institute of Wheat named. V.N. Remeslo) and continued in terms of Polissia (Zhytomyr National Agroecological University). Some of the determining factors affecting the level of preparedness of winter crops to winter are temperature and light conditions during autumn vegetation season as well as different technological factors that determine metabolic activity in plants while entering into winter. Obviously, an important role in survival of winter crops plays accordance of genetically determined ability of the sort to resist variety of unfavourable conditions and peculiarities of different agro-ecological systems in which it is grown. In some years crops were damaged dramatically. Unfortunately, despite many scientists’ long-term efforts there is no significant practical progress in solving this problem. This situation requires a search for new or improvement of existing concepts as for the frost, winter resistance of winter crops. The system of monitoring and fore- casting of wintering of plants needs to be improved. The study of methods of environmental assessment of frost and winter resistance of winter crops in the conditions of steppe and woodlands showed that organic combination of created provocative temperature with field soils contribute to the effective assessment and selections of plants whose generation can be the source of material to create new frost, winter resistant varieties. In terms of climate change and the economic crisis introduction of assessment methods will make it possible to improve the environmental performance of selection significantly.

Academic backgrounds and work experience of part‐time students and their preferences for different teaching and assessment methods were analysed and considered in relation to the students’ performance on a Higher National Certificate course in economics. The advantages of the use of a teaching “package” to improve literacy and numeracy are discussed. Attempt is made to evaluate the effectiveness of the different methods of assessment in pinpointing weak students in need of assistance, and in predicting students’ final results. The methods of teaching and assessment that had been investigated, and the findings are of relevance to other subjects and to other part‐time courses.

For urban growth modeling, assessment metrics derived from cell-by-cell comparisons are mainly related to the size of the study area and the urban growth rate. Non-urban areas always occupy an important part of the city to which cellular automata (CA) models do not contribute much, so the simulation accuracy is often exaggerated when this part is included. To enable comparing simulation results across models, regions, and time, we developed an improved equivalent area-based assessment (EQASS) method using cell-by-cell comparison metrics. As against existing assessment methods, EQASS is computed by including the same area of urban and suburban areas (i.e., equivalent areas). EQASS was tested in three Chinese coastal cities using a heuristic CA model and two spatial statistical CA models to simulate urban growth. The results show that EQASS can exclude correct rejections that are not attributable to CA models; these correct rejections have a significant impact on the model assessment. The improved assessment can better evaluate the performance of CA models across regions and over time than the conventional assessment method that accounts for the full study area. This study extends the simulation assessment method and provides a good solution for selecting the best CA model from many candidate models.

Comparative Analysis of Safety Critical Software Assessment Methods

With the available 3D scanning technologies and the special historical characteristics of printing woodblocks, it is necessary to have concrete methods to assess the visual quality of 3D digital replica for preservation and promotion purposes. In this paper, we present our study for assessing the visual quality of 3D digital replica of historical printing woodblocks. In our study, first, assessment criteria are formed to meet the preservation requirements by consulting with printing woodblock conservationists and assessment methods are developed to assess the quality of 3D digital woodblock replica regarding those criteria. Then, a suitable 3D scanning method is applied to a typical set of printing woodblocks to obtain their 3D digital replicas which are used to evaluate the proposed assessment methods. The experimental results reveal that our proposed assessment criteria and methods can be used to evaluate visual quality of 3D digital woodblock replicas regarding the requirements of preservation and promotion of woodblocks.

The occupational hazard assessment of construction project implemented currently in China plays an important role in early prevention of occupational diseases. But the assessment techniques and methods are mostly based on qualitative mode or experience mode. There are still not unified and clear assessment methods and quantitative models to evaluate the chronic and potential cancer risk of chemicals. Because of the lack of scientific quantitative assessment methods, the risk can not be assessed quantitatively and scientifically. That also turns to be one of the technical difficulties demanding prompt solution in occupational hazards assessment. This paper introduced the risk assessment technique based on Monte Carlo simulation and dose-response multistage model. This method regarded the probabilistic risk of cancer as assessment target, and mainly used in quantitative assessment of cancer risk caused by chronic exposed to chemical carcinogens. The widely adopted four-step assessment method was used in health risk assessment, and it included hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization. We used internal dose instead of external dose in assessment, and it made the result more accurate. The relationship between exposure dose and adverse health effect is determined by multistage model. For the uncertainty in exposure and risk assessment, we use Monte Carlo simulation to analyze the probability distribution. This method can be used practically in occupational hazards assessment and provide a scientific basis to the control of occupational hazards and the prevention and management of occupational tumor and other serious occupational diseases.

Explore methods to accurately reflect the risk level of ferrous metal foundry workplaces when the silica dust concentration exceeds the limit, and provide a basis for the application of risk assessment techniques in key industries with occupational exposure to silica dust. The survey was conducted in 25 ferrous metal casting industries in Henan Province, China. Five occupational health risk assessment (OHRA) methods, including Risk index method, Hazard grading method, International Council on Mining and Metals model, The synthesis index method, and The exposure ratio method, were used to assess the occupational health risk of the workplaces that produced silica dust and the concentration of silica dust exceeded the occupational exposure limits (OELs), and to compare the results of the different methods. The risk index assessment method yielded one job of mild hazard, seven job of moderate hazard, fifteen jobs of high hazard, and forty-four jobs of extreme hazard. The hazard classification method resulted in two jobs of mild hazard, six jobs of moderate hazard, and fifty-nine jobs of high hazard. The ICMM qualitative method identified fifteen jobs of moderate risk and fifty-two jobs of high risk. The synthesis index method revealed nine jobs of moderate risk and fifty-eight jobs of high risk. The exposure ratio method identified ten jobs of high risk and fifty-seven jobs of extremely high risk. The results obtained from the synthesis index method showed relatively lower levels, except for the index method, there was a certain correlation (r: 0.541-0.798, P < 0.05) and consistency (kapa: 0.521-0.561, P < 0.05) with the remaining four methods. This study shows that although there are some differences in the results of different OHRA methods, there is also some correlation between them, which can corroborate each other and enhance the reliability of the assessment results. In practical application, appropriate assessment methods should be selected according to specific situations and the results of multiple methods should be combined and analyzed comprehensively to ensure accurate identification and assessment of occupational hazards and provide a scientific basis for improving occupational safety and health management.

Abdominal aortic calcification on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry: Methods of assessment and clinical significance

A critique of two methods for assessing the nutrient adequacy of diets

Background The incidences of cardiovascular events in non-cardiac surgery perioperative period have been rising for clinical consensus. Recent studies have shown that BNP,hs-CRP and MCG have great significance and clinical value for predicting perioperative cardiovascular events and reducing perioperative cardiovascular events.Objective This paper analyzes and summarizes literatures on the mechanism and predict perioperative cardiovascular events of non-cardiac surgery.Content This paper describes and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of BNP,hs-CRP,MCG and traditional methods in prediction on cardiovascular risk events.Trend BNP,hs-CRP,MCG as method of the assessment and prediction on perioperative cardiovascular events,its advantages with simple,non-or minimally invasive,etc,is expected to become the new method of assessment. Key words: Non-cardiac surgery; Cardiovascular Risk Factors; Assessment

Accurately estimating nutrient intake can be challenging, yet it is important for informing policy. This cross-sectional validation study compared the use of three methods for estimating the intake of sodium, potassium, and iodine in children aged 9–11 years in New Zealand. Over the same 24 hour period, participants collected duplicate diets (n = 37), weighed food records (n = 84), and 24 hour urine samples (n = 82). Important differences were found between dietary estimates of sodium, potassium, and iodine using the three methods of dietary assessment, suggesting that different methods of assessment have specific limitations for the measurement of these nutrients in children. Bland Altman plots show relatively wide limits of agreement for all measures and nutrients. These results support the World Health Organization’s (WHOs) recommendations to use urinary assessment to measure population sodium and iodine intake, while dietary assessment appears to be more accurate for estimating potassium intake. Compared to reference values, our results suggest that the children in this study consume inadequate iodine, inadequate potassium, and excess dietary sodium. Public health measures to reduce sodium intake, increase intake of fruit and vegetables, and iodine-rich foods are warranted in New Zealand.

Evaluation of Nurse Practitioners' Professional Competence and Comparison of Assessments Using Multiple Methods: Self-Assessment, Peer Assessment, and Supervisor Assessment

Introduction. This literature review focuses on modern methods for assessing cardiovascular risk using photoplethysmography and heart rate variability. Non-invasive approaches to assessing vascular wall health, arterial stiffness, heart rate, and microcirculation are discussed, along with their relationships with cardiovascular risk factors. Objective: To analyze the potential of photoplethysmography as a non-invasive method for early detection of cardiovascular risk and to justify the need for its more widespread use in clinical practice. Materials and methods: A search of international and domestic sources on methods for assessing heart rate variability and photoplethysmography was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, Scopus Preview, eLibrary, and Cyberleninka databases. The search period was 10 years. Results and discussion. The review revealed the potential of photoplethysmography and heart rate variability as informative digital markers that can reflect subclinical vascular changes and predict cardiovascular events. However, existing limitations are highlighted: the need for standardized signal recording protocols, variability in data quality, limited data on long-term clinical outcomes, and limited external validation of the models. The presented data support the need for further prospective studies, improved signal quality, the development of interpretable AI models, and the integration of photoplethysmography/heart rate variability with other biomarkers for a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular health. Conclusions. The literature review demonstrates that photoplethysmography is a promising, accessible, non-invasive method for early assessment of cardiovascular health. Photoplethysmography signal analysis allows for the detection of arterial stiffness, vascular tone, and other early subclinical changes associated with сardiovascular diseases risk. However, despite its high potential, the clinical application of this method is limited by the lack of standardized protocols, device heterogeneity, variability in data quality, insufficient clinical validation, and the predominance of cross-sectional studies without long-term outcomes.

Recent developments of high-performance materials, construction technologies and methods of structural analysis facilitate design of increasingly complex and slender structures. These structures may be vulnerable to unfavourable effects of extreme events including man-made hazards. In most cases, failures of structures exposed to such events may hardly be completely prevented. However, for sufficiently robust structures, failure consequences can be significantly reduced and safety of occupants essentially increased. The paper summarises present achievements in present codes and technical literature. Appropriate structural models, exposure conditions and construction measures for design of new structures and assessment of existing structures are discussed. It appears that structural robustness can become a key concept in design of modern structures. Despite significance of structural robustness, its quantification and methods of assessment are not yet sufficiently developed and further improvements are urgently needed. Available experience indicates that decisions concerning structural robustness can be efficiently based on methods of risk assessment and on the theory of reliability.