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It is well known that academic success of undergraduate students depends on a variety of factors; several of them are external to their higher education institution. However, it is crucial to reflect on the impact of the factors controlled by the higher education institution (e.g., faculty or college) that can influence their success and achievement, including the assessment methods. To this end, this study analyzes the extent to which the assessment methods have a substantial impact on approval rates of students. In doing so, 797 averages of course grades from a Portuguese higher education institution were collected in different academic years between 2013/2014 and 2017/2018. The significance effect of the course field, laboratories, projects, mini-tests, group work, individual work, frequencies, exercises, and presentations on the final averages of the courses was evaluated based on the modeling of structural equations. The results showed that the use of laboratories, presentations, individual and group-based works/tasks are the most explanatory elements (25%) for positive averages. The remainder is justified by other factors associated with students, such as socio-economic, previous education, and motivational factors that explain academic success. In future work, the proposed model, with different teaching strategies, could be studied and evaluated within different educational contexts. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

The paper compares three assessment methods for the measurement of the trunk range of motion (ROM) in flexion-extension movements of subjects suspected of lumbar vertebrae instability (LVI). For five male adults affected by low-back pain and with morpho-dynamic prescription for suspected LVI, ROM was computed: from the analysis of morpho-dynamic radiographs, according to the definition proposed by i) Kapandji and ii) Yang et al.; from the analysis of the flexion-extension movement captured with an optoelectronic acquisition system iii) as the maximum angular stroke in transductors’ displacement, according to a specifically designed custom protocol. Data obtained from optoelectronic acquisitions result comparable with literature values, suggesting the suitability of optoelectronic systems as non-invasive measurement tool for the trunk ROM assessing, to support the physician in the LVI diagnosis.

As the building sector is one of the leading responsible for energy consumption and CO2 emissions, criteria of sustainability, availability, and recyclability should be considered for developing materials even in the envelopes. Façade, as the first element against the undesirable external impact, may contribute to building sustainability by reducing the amount of energy consumption and providing indoor environment quality for the inhabitants. The envelope excluding its aesthetic function should fulfill certain requirements such as strength, flexibility, ductility, lightness, thermal and acoustical insulation, durability, and sustainability. Fiber/Textile cement sheets as an interesting architectural material attract great interest during the last decade, especially those reinforced with more sustainable fibers like vegetables or textile wastes. In this sense, this paper presents a novel model to evaluate the sustainability index of façade cladding panel, especially the fiber/textile cement board. To this end, a new model for assessing objectively the façade cladding sustainability was designed and developed based on MIVES according to the value function concept and seminars of experts. The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the financial support in the scope of the project eFIB (reference: RTC-2016-5236-5) which was carried out along with SACYR Ingeniería e Infraestruturas. The first author also thanks the Department of Enterprise and Education of Catalan Government for providing support through the PhD Industrial Fellowship (2018 DI 77) in collaboration with Smart Engineering Ltd.

Due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), higher learning institutions and schools have opted the online based learning instead of face to face (F2F) for their teaching and learning (T&L) activities. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) also has no exception to this matter. Beginning May 2020 semester, all T&L in UTP are implemented through online platform such as BigBlueButton (BBB) and Microsoft Team (MS Team). BBB is running on ULearn platform, while MS Team is running via Microsoft team. Active learning (AL) approach have been fully utilized for T&L deliveries. One of the AL techniques is the implementation of pair- quiz as one of assessment method for Statistics and Application subject. Pair-quiz can be considered as novelty in T&L implementation especially during COVID-19 pandemic. From the study, pair-quiz provides better option to the students in securing higher course work marks while improving their understanding on the subject matter. Furthermore, through pair-quiz, the students have become peer helpers to each other. © 2022, Institute of Technology PETRONAS Sdn Bhd.

Looking at cities these days, we could observe the advanced level of developments and integration of technologies in all sectors and systems. However, at the same time, we are living in a changing world. In recent years, humans started to realize the cost of this development and the burden laid on the planet due to human activities. This increase in complexity, challenges, and uncertainties fueled the need to adopt a resiliency-based design approach. In this book chapter, we address the resiliency in energy systems definition, some assessment methods, and the integration of renewable energy sources on it. Also, we added two real case studies that further explain resiliency repercussions and enhancement practices. Nevertheless, considering the importance of mutual dependency and security of critical systems, we highlight these nexuses between energy and some of the critical systems within the scope of resiliency.

This chapter reviews contemporary theory pertaining to culturally responsive assessment and discusses the multiple academic challenges encountered by minority students upon entering higher education. The call to address culturally diverse student populations’ unique learning needs by advancing culturally responsive assessment tools and methods is expounded. The chapter further presents an overview of the culturally responsive assessment method which will be discussed in later chapters.

In view of the problem that the elderly has different performances when using intelligent kitchen products. This paper proposes a hierarchical model of cognitive ability assessment for the elderly when using relevant products. On the basis of the Mental Model, through Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory (CHC) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), combining qualitative and quantitative contents, the weight relationship between cognitive factors affecting product use was established. Then, a hierarchical model of cognitive ability assessment for the elderly was formed. The main purpose of this evaluation method was to evaluate the cognitive level of the elderly in the use of smart kitchen products, so as to better realize the corresponding performance of technology application in intelligent kitchen products and users’ cognitive ability.

European Commission has recently outlined a framework for the definition of an ecosystem promoting entrepreneurship and social innovation (Georghiou in A European innovation ecosystem for social innovation. European Commission, Brussels). In this direction, the Italian legal system typed a particular status of firm, the Innovative startup with a social goal (ISUSG). These firms are required to prepare a “social impact assessment document” to obtain the recognition of the social and innovative startup status, reviewing it annually for the maintenance of the status. Impact assessment can be a critical issue for firms, due to the still unclear definition of social impact and difficulties in identifying the most appropriate assessment method. This chapter deepens the impact assessment in these firms, acquiring evidence about methods and estimated value for social impact.

In order to consider several work-related risk factors simultaneously when assessing work-related physical exposure, their relative influence on the resulting physical strain must be considered. An ergonomic assessment method in which multiple risk factors are relevant is by definition the concept of cumulative loading. As there is no standardized calculation method for cumulative loading, the objective of this contribution is to systematically compare different dose models proposed in the literature for the assessment of spinal cumulative loading. The dose models are compared regarding their ability to reflect physical strain resulting from two working tasks. Overall, results show that different work situations can be compared on the basis of cumulative loading estimates only if the same dose model was used for the assessment. Therefore, the results underline the need for a standardized and validated dose model for cumulative loading so that assessment results can be compared to assessment results from other work situations as well as to reference values.

The use of educational resources in Geography classes was evaluated using a qualitative questionnaire to investigate the learning process. I analysed whether the questionnaire used in a previous study in 2016 is adequate for the identification of the essential elements of the learning process. The behavioural assessment method was based on self-monitoring to identify the use of five types of resource in Geography classes: (1) the use of online technologies, (2) the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), (3) the use of the school atlas, (4) the use of maps in classroom activities, and (5) the use of cartographic scales and coordinates. A total of 172 students answered the questionnaire at two private schools, one in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the other in Yokkaichi (Japan). The results from both schools were very similar to those of the previous study. Teachers must have a real commitment to each of their student groups to develop effective geographic learning. These findings contribute to the research in the development of geographic reasoning and spatial thinking in Geography, initiated in Brazil in the past five years and to the improvement of practices in Geography teaching which, in turn, will promote a better learning process for the students.

With the growing attention being devoted to the phenomenon of academic underperformance among ethnic minority students, which has been widely explained by lower motivation for learning compared to their majority counterparts, this chapter seeks to explore how digital badges can be used effectively within multicultural learning environments. Additionally, it portrays the opportunities and challenges this assessment method holds for enhancing students’ motivation for learning.

In recent years, companies have had to change their approach to the production and consumption of goods in order to meet the requirements of sustainable development. These companies, by changing the way products are manufactured, strive to increase its efficiency, while reducing the consumption of raw materials, reducing costs and reducing their impact on the environment. An inherent element supporting such activities is the implementation of an appropriate maintenance processes. Maintenance as a business function is a crucial part in achieving the status of a sustainable company. Keeping in view the importance of maintenance, in this study the concept of sustainable maintenance criteria assessment is presented. The development of the criteria assessment method requires consideration of two aspects. First, one should determine the way data will be obtained and the method of their evaluation (e.g. index, descriptive, point). Secondly, the way in which aggregations of partial assessment should be defined within each criterion. To solve this problem the maturity matrix was used.

Density-based clustering algorithms have become a popular research topic in recent years. However, most these algorithms have difficulties identifying all clusters with greatly varying densities and arbitrary shapes or have considerable time complexity. To tackle this issue, we propose a novel density assessment method by using mutual nearest neighbor, and then propose a relative density clustering algorithm (RDC). RDC can get the right number of clusters for the datasets, which include varying densities and arbitrary shapes; in addition, the time complexity of it is O(nlog n).

New methodologies and applications have been introduced with the increased acknowledgment of flexibility and resilience. Flexibility have been first broadly researched in context of flexible manufacturing systems. In this chapter, systematically overview the definitions and approaches of flexibility were described. We found that development of flexibility has a great impact on the whole performance of a transportation system. Based on the overview, we analyse four city mobility plans (Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Brno) in order to uncover how the elements of flexibility are to be identified. Finally, we recommend development directions for city mobility plans to increase the recognition and level of flexibility.

Urban development principles have evolved from sustainability, where the focus was on limiting the negative impact of urban environment, to restorative and regenerative sustainability, where positive impact is needed on global social and ecological systems. This recent paradigm shift requires the development of new tools for practitioners, like design methodologies, new technologies, and assessment methods.To measure the impact of sustainability on the built environment, several building-scale assessment tools exist. The question is how these widespread rating systems support restorative change in the built environment.The main question of the research is answered in three methodological steps. First, the goals of restorative sustainability are summarized from the available extensive literature, including the topics of Place, Energy, Water, Well-being, Carbon, Resources, Equity, Education, and Economics. Then different rating tools (Living Building Challenge, WELL, LEED, BREEAM, DGNB) are analysed how the considered issues and indicators in these rating tools are connected to restorative goals. Then these indicators are assessed how they serve that goal.The result of this study shows the main strengths and gaps in current wide-spread international rating tools regarding their support of restorative sustainability.

This Chapter turns previously introduced signal processing techniques into particular machine diagnostic methods. It proposed general division into scalar-based diagnostic analysis and figure-based diagnostic analysis. The Chapter gives many practical recipes concerning calcualtion of both types of assessment methods. Scalar indicators covered in this Chapter range from basic statistical indicators to conceptual advanced markers. Presented figures range from basic time or frequency-domain plots to recent, advanced 3D maps.

Quantitative research on aesthetics is a classic interdisciplinary research. With the rapid development of deep learning, various approaches have been made in image aesthetics assessment (IAA). Starting from the concept of image aesthetics, this report roughly follows the chronological sequence and first introduces the manual design of image aesthetic features. We divide IAA into generic image aesthetics assessment (GIAA) and personalized image aesthetics assessment (PIAA) to introduce separately in the deep learning part. Majority of approaches are GIAA, which purpose is to simulate general aesthetics. In this section, we separately reviewed representative studies of five assessment methods (aesthetic classification, aesthetic regression, aesthetic distribution, IAA with attributes, aesthetic description). Due to the subjectivity of aesthetics, human’s aesthetics will more or less deviate from the generic value. PIAA aims to model the aesthetic preferences of specific user, and the research is of great value. We introduced this novel research in the fifth section. Finally, image aesthetic datasets of different uses are summarized. We hope this comprehensive survey can be helpful to researchers in the field of image and enhance the connection between computer and art.

This chapter frames functional assessment as a broad class of methods for understanding challenging behavior and mental health disorders. We outline how various researchers define this group of methods in the literature and review theoretical and applied rationale for these methods. The specific type of functional assessment protocol used and its application will often need to vary in line with a number of factors, such as (a) the nature of the challenging behavior, (b) population studied, (c) who does the assessment, and (c) where the assessment occurs. Various studies will be described to exemplify the varying types, applications, and rationale for the use of different functional assessment methods. Functional assessment is a foundational aspect of contemporary interventions for supporting individuals with challenging behaviors and mental health disorders. Practitioners working with such individuals therefore require the competences necessary to implement functional assessments and interpret the resulting assessment data.