Mobility of toxic metals in sediments: Assessing methods and controlling factors

Metals and metalloids（termed as metals in this article）are important constituent elements of the earth＇s crust.A number of metals,if present in excess,are toxic to organisms and therefore they are usually defined as toxic metals.

Methods for assessing the grooving corrosion of high-frequency electric resistance welded pipes

Grooving corrosion is a major form of corrosion and is prone to occur when high-frequency electric resistance welded （HFW） pipes are being used. Therefore,grooving corrosion is one of the performance indexes of HFW products. Grooving corrosion usually occurs along the welding fusion line, resulting in one or more corrosion grooves. The main factors affecting grooving corrosion include the contents of alloying elements and impurities （especially sulphur） in the steel,the microstructure of the welds and the steel substrate, welding parameters and the service environment as well. In this study, the existing methods for assessing grooving corrosion were systematically reviewed, improvements and new methods were proposed and developed to overcome the shortcomings of the existing methods, such as inaccuracy and excessive research time. By comparison with the existing methods, the operational procedures and the characteristics of the new methods are introduced, and issues regarding the behavior of grooving corrosion and their assessment methods, which both need further research,are discussed in this study.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Sub-syndromal Delirium in Patients after Cardiac Surgery

[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with SSD in patients following cardiac surgery.[Methods]A total of 378 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in Taihe Hospital were recruited and screened.Diagnosis of delirium was made using evaluation methods and DSM-5 criteria.SSD was defined as the presence of one or more core features of delirium without meeting the full diagnostic criteria.Statistical analysis included independent samples t-test for group comparisons and binary logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for SSD after cardiac surgery.[Results]Among the 378 subjects,112(29.63%)had SSD,28(7.41%)had delirium,and the remaining 238 patients(62.96%)did not present with delirium.Univariate analysis revealed that age,APACHE II score,duration of aortic clamping,length of ICU stay,duration of sedation use,and daily sleep time were significant risk factors for the occurrence of SSD(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis identified age>70 years old,APACHE II score>20 points,length of ICU stay>5 d,and duration of sedation use>24 h as independent risk factors for SSD after cardiac surgery(P<0.05).A functional model was fitted based on the analysis results of the binary logistic regression model,yielding the equation logit P=1.472X_(1)+2.213X_(2)+3.028X_(3)+1.306X_(4).[Conclusions]Comprehensive clinical assessment is crucial for patients undergoing cardiac surgery,and appropriate preventive measures should be taken for patients with identified risk factors.Close monitoring of the patient s consciousness should be implemented postoperatively,and timely interventions should be conducted.Further research should focus on model validation and optimization.

Observation of the Effect of Video Assessment Method on the Operation Skills of Individual Nurses

Objective:To explore the application effect of video assessment method in clinical nurses’nursing operation skills.Method:To select 58 nurses who participated in the individual soldier standard in the children’s hospital in 2019 and 2020 as the research objects,among which the nurses who participated in the individual soldier standard in 2019 were the nurses who participated in the individual soldier standard in 2019 and 2020.A total of 29 people in the first batch were set as the control group,using traditional assessment methods.In 2020,the second batch of 29 nurses who participated in the individual soldier standard reached the experimental group.Using the video assessment method,there was no significant difference in general information between the two groups(P>0.05).After the assessment,the scores,coping with work pressure,and proactiveness of the two groups of research subjects were compared.Results:The experimental group’s nursing operation assessment scores,coping with work pressure,and proactiveness were significantly better than those of the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of the video assessment method improves the passing rate of nurses’operational skills examination,enhances nurses’initiative in learning,reduces examination pressure,and can be accurately,timely,and safely applied to clinical nursing work,which is worthy of study and promotion.

Research on the Reform of Assessment under the Blended Teaching Mode:Taking the Teaching Practice of English Stylistics in Guangdong Technology College as an Example

English Stylistics is provided as an elective course by the Business English major at Guangdong Technology College,whose evaluation mechanism significantly impacts how well students learn the language.A novel assessment model is put forth in this study with the intention of transforming from a single summative assessment to a combination of formative and summative assessment in light of the shortcomings of the current assessment methodology in the course.In order to take advantage of blended teaching and integrate the online and offline learning resources of English Stylistics,all-round reforms have been carried out at multiple levels,including teaching content,teaching methods,and assessment approaches.Therefore,a more reasonable and diversified assessment method has been adopted to more comprehensively reflect students’learning objectives and proficiency in foreign languages.

Research Progress in Occupational Health Risk Assessment Methods in China

Traditional occupational disease control and prevention has remained prevalent in China over recent decades. There are appropriately 30,000 new case reports of occupational diseases annually. Although China has already established a series of occupational disease prevention programs, occupational health risk assessment （OHRA） strategies continue to be a limitation.

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE ASSESSMENT OF METHODS FOR DISASTER-INDUCING RISKS BY TCs USING SAMPLE EVENTS OF TCs THAT AFFECTED SHANGHAI

Hazard factors, hazard-bearling objects, disaster-developing environment, and disaster-preventing capability play key roles in the formation of Tropical Cyclone （TC） disasters. Of all of these, the most important is the intensity of hazard factors （risk sources）. In this study, this intensity is uniformly defined by the probability of hazard factors; then a relationship is established between disaster risk intensity and hazard factors. The exceedance probability of various hazard factors, including frequency and timing, scope of wind and rain, and maximum wind and rain of impacting TC cases, are calculated using data from TCs that impacted Shanghai fi＇om 1959-2006. The relationship between disaster situation and risk probability of hazard factors is analyzed, and the indices and model of TC disaster assessment are established based on the results. The process maximum wind speed and maximum daily precipitation are very important in TC-related disaster formation in Shanghai. The results of disaster indices coordinate with the results of the assessment model, and both can show the extent of probability of a TC disaster. Tests using TC data in 2007 and 2008 show that disasters caused by TC Krosa （0716） would be more serious than those by TC Wipha （0713）, and that TC Fung Wong （0808） would have a weak impact. Real-life situations validate these results.

Present state,basic theories,methods and progresses of investigation and assessment on marine hazardous geology in China

The achievement progresses of investigation and studies on marine hazardous geology are summarized and presentsd in the late 20 century in China. The importance, research value and present-day studies of marine hazardous geology, a newly developing branch of geoscience, are well expatiated. Several often confused concepts and theories are explained and redefined here. The comment on the means of investigations, assessment of marine hazardous geology, as well as its evolution, innovation, existing questions and future tasks are also introduced and presented. The concepts of 'hazard geology', geohazard', 'map of marine hazard geology', 'integrated evaluaton on seafloor stablity' are respectively discussed, including their definition, research objects, methods and contents. The types and classification of marine hazardous geology, principles and methods of marine hazardous geology map compilation, the assessment methods and models of marine hazardous geology environment and seafloor stability and so on are also discussed.

Study on wave energy resource assessing method based on altimeter data——A case study in Northwest Pacific

Wave energy resource is a very important ocean renewable energy. A reliable assessment of wave energy resources must be performed before they can be exploited. Compared with wave model, altimeter can provide more accurate in situ observations for ocean wave which can be as a novel method for wave energy assessment.The advantage of altimeter data is to provide accurate significant wave height observations for wave. In order to develop characteristic and advantage of altimeter data and apply altimeter data to wave energy assessment, in this study, we established an assessing method for wave energy in local sea area which is dedicated to altimeter data.This method includes three parts including data selection and processing, establishment of evaluation indexes system and criterion of regional division. Then a case study of Northwest Pacific was performed to discuss specific application for this method. The results show that assessing method in this paper can assess reserves and temporal and spatial distribution effectively and provide scientific references for the siting of wave power plants and the design of wave energy convertors.

Assessment Methods Used during Clinical Years of Undergraduate Medical Education at Moi University School of Medicine, Kenya

Background: Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken to improve teaching and learning. It ensures quality in training programmes, motivates, and directs students’ learning. Assessment is also used for verification of achievement of objectives of training, feedback to students, licencing, certification, and screening of students for advanced training. It is guided by several principles, including the aims of the assessment (why assess), who to assess, timing (when to assess), what to assess, methods (how to assess), and the criteria for determining the usefulness of the assessment. Objective: To describe the assessment methods used during clinical years of the undergraduate programme at Moi University School of Medicine (MUSOM) and determine the student’s perspectives concerning the comprehensiveness, relevance, objectivity of various assessment methods and challenges faced. Methodology: The study was carried out at MUSOM and a cross-sectional study design was employed. Ten study participants were studied using convenience sampling. Data were collected using an interview guide and was analyzed using content analysis. An informed consent was obtained from the study participants. Results: The methods used during clinical years at MUSOM for assessing knowledge and its applications include multiple-choice questions (MCQ), short answer questions (SAQ), modified essay questions (MEQ), long essay questions (LEQ), and oral exam. Whereas the methods for assessing clinical competence include long case, short cases, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE), and logbook. Students felt that MCQs were comprehensive, objective, and relevant to the curriculum content. They reported that feedback was not provided after assessments. Conclusion: The assessment methods used at MUSOM during clinical years include MCQ, SAQ, MEQ, LEQ, Short cases, long cases, and OSCE. Students reported varied perceptions of the different assessment methods but favored MCQ and OSCE over other formats for assessing knowledge and clinical skills respectively.

The Application of Synthetic Fuzzy Assessing Method in Measurement and Control System of Plating Solution Evaporator

The synthetic fuzzy assessing method is usually applied to sensory evaluation. The method has simple and reliable virtue, and it is consistent with objective evaluation results. Using this method, system status of plating solution evaporator is evaluated, and the result is applied to compensate a fuzzy controller. Experimental results have shown the correctness and the validity of the proposed approach.

Zinc–Bromine Rechargeable Batteries:From Device Configuration,Electrochemistry,Material to Performance Evaluation

Zinc–bromine rechargeable batteries(ZBRBs)are one of the most powerful candidates for next-generation energy storage due to their potentially lower material cost,deep discharge capability,non-flammable electrolytes,relatively long lifetime and good reversibility.However,many opportunities remain to improve the efficiency and stability of these batteries for long-life operation.Here,we discuss the device configurations,working mechanisms and performance evaluation of ZBRBs.Both non-flow(static)and flow-type cells are highlighted in detail in this review.The fundamental electrochemical aspects,including the key challenges and promising solutions,are discussed,with particular attention paid to zinc and bromine half-cells,as their performance plays a critical role in determining the electrochemical performance of the battery system.The following sections examine the key performance metrics of ZBRBs and assessment methods using various ex situ and in situ/operando techniques.The review concludes with insights into future developments and prospects for high-performance ZBRBs.

Assessing clogging potential and optimizing driving parameter of slurry shield tunneling in clay stratum assisted with CFD-DEM modeling

This paper proposed a two-way coupled computational fluid dynamics(CFD)and discrete element method(DEM)approach to analyze the evolution of clogging in slurry shield tunneling quantitatively.The interactions between clay particles and slurry were considered by exchanging three interaction forces,including buoyancy force,pressure gradient force,and drag force.The CFD-DEM coupling approach was first benchmarked by comparing cutterhead torque and total thrust with field monitored data of a practical slurry shield tunnel project.The evolution process of the particle phase and the fluid phase over time was presented.The results indicated that fewer than 70%of the particles can be washed away in time by the circulating slurry.About 9%of the particles adhered to the submerged wall,resulting in increased cutterhead torque and thrust.Through parametric analysis,the influence of the shield driving parameters on the clay clogging behavior is further explored.The time history of cutterhead torque or thrust can be used as a criterion for judging whether clogging has occurred.Additionally,a new assessment method of clogging risk and an optimization strategy of driving parameters were proposed,which were intended to provide some guidance for similar projects.

Benchmarking of energy efficiency standards for residential buildings in China

In order to benchmark the energy efficiency standards for residential buildings in China,the Hong Kong building environment assessment method（HK-BEAM）is chosen as the compliance criteria for assessment.The annual energy consumption and the overall thermal transfer value（OTTV）of a baseline residential building prescribed in the Chinese codes and the HK-BEAM are evaluated and compared by the energy budget approach.The results show that in the Chinese codes,the OTTV of the residential building is lower,but the annual energy consumption and the cooling load are higher than those in the HK-BEAM.The annual energy use difference amounts to 13.4%.All the compliance criteria except the ventilation rate and the equipment power in the Chinese codes are set higher than those in the HK-BEAM.However,the compliance criteria of the ventilation rate and the equipment power,especially the ventilation rate,result in much energy consumption,which ultimately induces a high energy budget for residential buildings.

AN ANALYSIS OF LEED AND BREEAM ASSESSMENT METHODS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

This study examines the differences between two environmental assessment methods for the K-12 education sector:the United States Green Building Council’s(USGBC)LEED Schools Version 3.0 and the British Research Estab-lishment’s(BRE)BREEAM Education issue 2.0.Credit requirements are compared side-by-side and against recom-mendations from researchers in areas such as acoustics,lighting and indoor environment quality.Strengths in the two schemes and areas for improvement are highlighted,with acknowledgement that each scheme offers components and techniques from which the other could benefit.

Impacts of the Wenchuan Earthquake on the Giant Panda Nature Reserves in China

The Wenchuan Earthquake that occurred in May of 2008 caused damages to large areas of Sichuan,Gansu,and Shaanxi provinces in China.Reports from local governments and related management agencies show that the giant panda nature reserves in the earthquake-hit areas were heavily damaged.Our estimates in this paper of the impacts of the earthquake on the giant panda in the earthquake-hit areas were made based on the interpretation of remote sensing images and information collected by field survey.A rapid assessment method was designed to estimate the damages of the earthquake on giant panda habitats.By using visual interpretation methods,we decoded the remote sensing images of the disaster area in the 49 giant panda nature reserves.Research results showed that the Wenchuan Earthquake and the succeeding secondary geological disasters caused great damages to the giant panda nature reserves and disturbed the normal life of the giant pandas there (e.g.,landscape fragmentation increased significantly).Undoubtedly,the life of the giant pandas there was affected.However,although the earthquake caused certain impacts on the giant pandas,it did not really threat their survival.Even so,we still strongly advocate for protection of the giant pandas,and have prioritized a couple of measures to be taken to restore the giant panda nature reserves in the earthquake-hit areas.

Herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine and suspected liver injury: A prospective study

AIM To analyze liver tests before and following treatment with herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) in order to evaluate the frequency of newly detected liver injury.METHODS Patients with normal values of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) as a diagnostic marker for ruling out pre-existing liver disease were enrolled in a prospective study of a safety program carried out at the First German Hospital of TCM from 1994 to 2015. All patients received herbal products, and their ALT values were reassessed 1-3 d prior to discharge. To verify or exclude causality for suspected TCM herbs, the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method(RUCAM) was used.RESULTS This report presents for the first time liver injury data derived from a prospective, hospital-based and largescale study of 21470 patients who had no liver disease prior to treatment with herbal TCM. Among these, ALT ranged from 1 × to < 5 × upper limit normal(ULN) in 844 patients(3.93%) and suggested mild or moderate liver adaptive abnormalities. However, 26 patients(0.12%) experienced higher ALT values of ≥ 5 × ULN(300.0 ± 172.9 U/L, mean ± SD). Causality for TCM herbs was RUCAM-based probable in 8/26 patients, possible in 16/26, and excluded in 2/26 cases. Bupleuri radix and Scutellariae radix were the two TCM herbs most commonly implicated. CONCLUSION In 26(0.12%) of 21470 patients treated with herbal TCM, liver injury with ALT values of ≥ 5 × ULN was found, which normalized shortly following treatment cessation, also substantiating causality.

Effect of Fly Ash on Frost-Resistance and Chloride Ions Diffusion Properties of Marine Concrete

It is necessary to pay more attention to the durability of concrete undergoing freeze-thaw cycles and seawater attack simultaneously.Investigated are the effects of water-binder ratio,fly ash（FA）contents and air-entraining agent on resistance to frost and chloride diffusion of marine concrete blended with FA in natural seawater.The results show that fly ash does not improve the frost resistance of concrete but can improve its resistance to chloride diffusion by addition of less than 30%.The resistance to frost and chloride diffusion of FA concrete can be improved with the decrease of water-binder ratio,and FA may improve both of them simultaneously only being mixed with air-entraining agent.A ratio（named as R）of the frost-resisting durability factor to chloride diffusion coefficient can be used to evaluate the durability of marine concrete.Scanning electron microscope（SEM）analyses are consistent with the evaluations by the value of R.

Discussion on the Assessment Method of Wind Energy Resources by Using Regional Meteorological Data

The exploitation status of wind energy resources was analyzed, and the distribution of wind energy resources and regional meteorological stations were introduced, and then the assessment method of wind energy resources by using data from regional meteorological station was studied taking Huangjin Regional Meteorological Station in Xinning County in Hunan Province for example, besides, corresponding software was compiled. By means of SQL database and program, the method was used simply and easily and had positive meaning for the development of wind energy resources and excavation of wind farm in inland region.

Application of a Bayesian method to data-poor stock assessment by using Indian Ocean albacore (Thunnus alalunga) stock assessment as an example

It is widely recognized that assessments of the status of data-poor fish stocks are challenging and that Bayesian analysis is one of the methods which can be used to improve the reliability of stock assessments in data-poor situations through borrowing strength from prior information deduced from species with good-quality data or other known information. Because there is considerable uncertainty remaining in the stock assessment of albacore tuna（Thunnus alalunga） in the Indian Ocean due to the limited and low-quality data, we investigate the advantages of a Bayesian method in data-poor stock assessment by using Indian Ocean albacore stock assessment as an example. Eight Bayesian biomass dynamics models with different prior assumptions and catch data series were developed to assess the stock. The results show（1） the rationality of choice of catch data series and assumption of parameters could be enhanced by analyzing the posterior distribution of the parameters;（2） the reliability of the stock assessment could be improved by using demographic methods to construct a prior for the intrinsic rate of increase（r）. Because we can make use of more information to improve the rationality of parameter estimation and the reliability of the stock assessment compared with traditional statistical methods by incorporating any available knowledge into the informative priors and analyzing the posterior distribution based on Bayesian framework in data-poor situations, we suggest that the Bayesian method should be an alternative method to be applied in data-poor species stock assessment, such as Indian Ocean albacore.