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.

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.

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 Progress in Ecological Carrying Capacity: Implications, Assessment Methods and Current Focus

In recent years, rapid global urbanization accompanied by rapid economic growth has resulted in increasingly serious eco-environmental problems such as land degradation and pollution. As a society, we are gradually realizing the role of environmental protection and ecologically-focused construction in promoting sustainable development. As an important method for assessing sustainable development, ecological carrying capacity（ECC） has become a powerful tool for investigating sustainable development and assessing eco-environmental problems. Based on results from a large number of previous studies in this discipline, we summarized and generalized the implications, main assessment methods, and key research domains of ECC. Deficiencies and future trends in ECC research are identified. In terms of implications, ECC can be roughly defined into the perspectives of environmental change, human effects on ecological systems, and holistic ecological systems. The primary assessment methods and models can be classified in accordance with these three perspectives, including ecological footprint method, ecosystem-services-based method, net primary productivity method, situation space method, energetic ecological footprint model, system dynamics model, and coupling model. We compared the advantages and disadvantage of different methods and analyzed their applicable conditions. As ECC research has advanced, related studies have gradually extend to land systems, watershed systems, ecologically vulnerable areas, tourism systems, and urban comprehensive systems, which have solved relevant eco-environmental problems based on ECC assessments. Currently, ECC research lacks a standard definition for the ECC index threshold, research related to dynamic monitoring and early warning, sufficient consideration of scientific and technological drivers, and spatial pattern analyses. Future trends in ECC-related research should provide a large-scale assessment of cross-border areas and ecological vulnerable areas, construct an ecological warning platform, and consistently analyze ECC and regional leading industries.

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.

Assessment methods of speech synthesis systems for Chinese

A national assessment of the performance of speech synthesis systems for Chinese has been carried out yearly since 1994. The quality of synthetic speech of five different systems were evaluated and diagnosed by using speech intelligibility tests. 16 college students (8 male, 8 female) with no experience with synthetic speech were the listeners, they were asked to do open response task by pencilpaper. In addition, speech naturalness was mea-sured by Mean Opinion

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.

Layout Design-Based Research on Optimization and Assessment Method for Shipbuilding Workshop

The research study proposes to examine a three-dimensional visualization program, emphasizing on improving genetic algorithms through the optimization of a layout design-based standard and discrete shipbuilding workshop. By utilizing a steel processing workshop as an example, the principle of minimum logistic costs will be implemented to obtain an ideological equipment layout, and a mathematical model. The objectiveness is to minimize the total necessary distance traveled between machines. An improved control operator is implemented to improve the iterative efficiency of the genetic algorithm, and yield relevant parameters. The Computer Aided Tri-Dimensional Interface Application （CATIA） software is applied to establish the manufacturing resource base and parametric model of the steel processing workshop. Based on the results of optimized planar logistics, a visual parametric model of the steel processing workshop is constructed, and qualitative and quantitative adjustments then are applied to the model. The method for evaluating the results of the layout is subsequently established through the utilization of AHP. In order to provide a mode of reference to the optimization and layout of the digitalized production workshop, the optimized discrete production workshop will possess a certain level of practical significance.

Development an Adaptive Environmental Assessment Method for Buildings

The idea behind this work is developing an adaptive method for the environmental assessment of buildings, to configure different versions according to the variables affecting them (spatial, temporal and associated with building characteristics) to suit different evaluated projects. This method may be applied using an electronic tool, which is in a development stage. Amending different assessment versions of the adaptive method is done by including the variables effect, according to set of steps, such as modifying the formulation of the assessment items, adjusting their estimation weights, and amending their achievement evaluation levels and their returned scores. When using the adaptive method, the assessment result of a building using a certain version differs from the results using other versions, even in the same country, so configuring an appropriate version due to the variables affecting the assessment helps getting more accurate results than the ones currently provided. The main goal of that research is to introduce the adaptive method that is proposed to ensure a fairer assessment results from the perspective of Green Architecture, and allow a more credible and accuracy of results comparison according to the environmental performance of buildings. The researcher analyzed the different main features she used in developing the adaptive method, the Comparative aspects between it and the current assessment methods, and the expected reached advantages from its usage. The paper arrived to the importance of adapting the environmental assessment of buildings according to the different affecting variables, and recommended developing the adaptive method and its tool to the stage of application to benefit its advantages.

Assessment of Minimizing the Environmental Functions Conflict in Buildings

Some building components are responsible for achieving more than one environmental function, these functions are usually of different requirements that can never be done by the same actions, and they are usually connected to changeable internal and external environment characteristics that vary among them. Minimizing the conflict of achieving the different environmental functions is an important challenge for all designers. Achieving a continuous thermal and optical comfort in an internal building space using the same window is an example of this challenge, as they have different requirements that may be sometimes contrary. It should be notable that there are a lot of recent technologies that may be used to find solutions for such a conflict. The Environmental Assessment Methods of Buildings appeared to set the principles of the optimum relation between buildings and their environment, they also could be used to encourage designers to reach the best environmental relations, and award them by main or additional assessment points. The research paper proposes to use the Environmental Assessment Methods of Buildings to assess the building ability of minimizing its environmental functions achievement conflict. This proposal depends on determining the inconsistency assessment items that depend on common building components to be achieved, and then determining the time periods that these items are achieved together within, to indicate the time periods without conflicting. Thus, the paper aims to raise the building environmental value in the assessment when the designer succeeds to minimize the expected conflict of the building environmental functions.

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.

A Modified Certainty Coefficient Method(M-CF) for Debris Flow Susceptibility Assessment:A Case Study for the Wenchuan Earthquake Meizoseismal Areas

In the meizoseismal areas hit by the China Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, the disasterprone environment has changed dramatically, making the susceptibility assessment of debris flow more complex and uncertain. After the earthquake, debris flow hazards occurred frequently and effective susceptibility assessment of debris flow has become extremely important. Shenxi gully in Du Jiangyan city, located in the meizoseismal areas, was selected as the study area. Based on the research of disaster-prone environment and the main factors controlling debris flow, the susceptibility zonations of debris flow were mapped using factor weight method(FW), certainty coefficient method(CF) and geomorphic information entropy method(GI). Through comparative analysis, the study showed that these three methods underestimated susceptible degree of debris flow when used in the meizoseismal areas of Wenchuan earthquake. In order to solve this problem, this paper developed a modified certainty coefficient method(M-CF) to reflect the impact of rich loose materials on the susceptible degree of debris flow. In the modified method, the distribution and area of loose materials were obtained by field investigations and postearthquake remote sensing image, and four data sets, namely, lithology, elevation, slop and aspect, wereused to calculate the CF values. The result of M-CF method is in agreement with field investigations and the accuracy of the method is satisfied. The method has a wide application to the susceptibility assessment of debris flow in the earthquake stricken areas.

New Inclusion Assessment Method in Aluminum Alloys——Electrochemical Method for Inclusion Assessment

The existence of inclusion influences the properties of aluminum alloy castings,from which the castings will face scrapping under severe condition.Great efforts on the inclusions in aluminum alloy were made and many inclusion assessment methods were put forward.However,most of the current methods are characterized by time consuming and expensive equipment cost,which limits the application in aluminum industry.Since the aluminum properties are sensitive to the inclusion,this paper tries to establish a new kind of inclusion assessment method.The inclusions were introduced to aluminum melts by adding aluminum scraps.The samples with different inclusion contents were prepared.The microstructure contained inclusions was observed.The inclusion was automatically identified with an image analyzer by setting different grey threshold value,and the inclusion content was obtained.The image analysis shows that inclusions wreck the continuity of the alloy matrix seriously,and the inclusion area percentage increases with the increasing of aluminum scraps.The high and low polarization measurements were conducted in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution at the temperature of 25 ℃.The electrochemical parameters of the testing materials,such as corrosion potential E k,corrosion current density I k and the linear polarization resistance R p,were obtained.The polarization measurement results show that the linear polarization resistances decrease,the corrosion potentials move towards more negative direction,and the corrosion current densities increase with the increasing of inclusion content.The theoretical analysis of the inclusion content and the corrosion current density was performed.The existence of inclusions makes the microstructure form corrosion microcells between the alloy matrix and inclusions.The impressed current can accelerate the current velocity or corrosion current density.The regression model of the inclusion contents vs.the corrosion current density was obtained.This model can be used to quantitatively analyze the inclusion content in aluminum alloys on the basis of inclusion sensitivity to the inclusion content.It is confirmed that the electrochemical method for inclusion assessment （EcMIA） is simple and reliable,which can provide a new solution for inclusion assessment in aluminum alloy.

Safety assessment of waste rock dump built on existing tailings ponds

The construction of waste rock dumps on existing tailing ponds has been put into practice in China to save precious land resources. This work focuses on the safety assessment of the Daheishan molybdenum mine waste rock dump under construction on two adjoining tailings ponds. The consolidation of the tailings foundation and the filling quality of the waste rock are investigated by the transient electromagnetic method through detecting water-rich areas and loose packing areas, from which, the depth of phreatic line is also estimated. With such information and the material parameters, the numerical method based on shear strength reduction is applied to analyzing the overall stability of the waste rock dump and the tailings ponds over a number of typical cross sections under both current and designed conditions, where the complex geological profiles exposed by site investigation are considered. Through numerical experiments, the influence of soft lenses in the tailings and possible loose packing areas in the waste rock is examined. Although large displacements may develop due to the soft tailings foundation, the results show that the waste rock dump satisfies the safety requirements under both present and designed conditions.

LOSS ASSESSMENT OF BURNED FOREST USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION TECHNIQUES

After forest fire, it is very needed to locate fire position and assess the loss of forest resources. In this paper, a method of burned forest assessment with satellite remote sensing data and over-laying techniques is discussed and used in the assessment of the burned forest in Malin Forest Farm after the large forest fire of May, 1987.

Drug-induced severe liver injury due to Sterculia versicolor: a case report with causality assessment from possible to probable

Sterculia gum,the dry exudate of Sterculia versicolor and other members of the same genus,is used as a thickener and emulsifier in foods.It is generally considered safe as a food or drug,and its adverse reactions,such as Sterculia-induced liver injury,have never been reported.A 46-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with fatigue,nausea,abdominal distension,jaundice and a>16-fold increase in transaminase and bilirubin level.The patient had used Sterculia gum prior to the onset of her symptoms.Her symptoms and clinical indicators improved after treatment.The possibility of acute viral hepatitis,autoimmune hepatitis,and metabolic liver disease was excluded.After discharge from hospital,the patient had a severe liver injury again when re-exposed to Sterculia gum.And the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method score was updated from 5 to 7,which was consistent with probable drug-induced liver injury.This is the first report of Sterculia-induced liver injury.Clinicians need to be aware of the potential hepatotoxicity of Sterculia.

Innovative Thought on College Assessment Method of Professional Courses in Fashion Engineering

Summarize the value of current assessment method college course assessment in fashion engineering major, ensure the of professional course and existing problems, discuss how to innovate fashion engineering major build the training method to nurture talents with practical and innovative abilities, improve the innovative ability of college students comprehensively, and promote the long-term de-velopment of college fashion engineering major by analyzing the college course assessment in fashion engineering.