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The article studies problematic aspects of expansion and development of service activities in Russia. The main purpose of the study is to analyze problematic aspects of the service sphere development and existing and most popular methods of assessing the quality of services. The relevance of the study is due to the need to expand service in the country, considering orientation on the interests of the end consumer and with simultaneous improvement of service quality. The main objectives of the study are: to identify problematic aspects of development of service activities in Russia, to identify and analyze the shortcomings of the methods used by service enterprises to assess the quality of services, and to propose options for their minimization and elimination. The article used both theoretical methods (analysis of current regulatory legal acts, as well as scientific works of researchers in this field) and empirical research methods (practical substantiation of the need to improve the quality of services provided to customers). On the basis of the analysis of the most popular and frequently used methods of service quality assessment the advantages and disadvantages of their application have been revealed. The study results are the problems identification that have a negative impact on service activities development and proposal of possible options for their solution.

Context: Standard-setting procedures assess candidates’ competence in an examination. Different standard-setting methods produce different pass scores, and no gold standard exists currently. The quality of the standard-setting process is critical in medical examinations where true competency needs to be determined for safe medical practice. Aims: This study assessed the standard-setting methods the college uses to determine the pass scores in the various parts of the fellowship examinations and compared these methods with the arbitrary 50% previously used. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional comparative study to assess the standard-setting methods adopted, which was applied to the September/October/November 2023 fellowship examinations. Methods: This was a total population survey involving the 16 faculties of the College. Secondary data from a compilation of approved results was used. Data Analysis: Descriptive and analytical statistics in Microsoft Excel program. Results: The methods for standard-setting adopted by the college were assessed, and their mean pass scores were analysed. The mean pass score for the primary multiple choice questions examinations was 46.7%, lower than the previously used arbitrary 50% mark, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean pass scores for the other examinations were higher than the previously used arbitrary 50% mark, but these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Implementation of the approved standard-setting methods can be improved with more training and retraining of faculties and examiners so that results that are consistent with their purpose, and that align well with other measures of competency can be produced.

Lactic acid bacteria play a dual role by enhancing both the flavor and nutritional benefits of fermented foods, and helping the body to prevent a variety of diseases caused by oxidation. The fulfillment of these beneficial functions is inseparable from the antioxidant activity of lactic acid bacteria. This article elaborates on the antioxidant mechanism of lactic acid bacteria including regulating antioxidant enzymes, regulating signaling pathways, scavenging free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation and metal ion chelation. The current status of the application of the antioxidant activity of lactic acid bacteria in dairy, meat, aquatic, and fruit and vegetable products is also reviewed. Finally, this article outlines the in vitro and in vivo evaluation methods for the antioxidant activity of lactic acid bacteria, aiming to provide a reference for deepening the application of lactic acid bacteria in the food processing sector.

We provide a novel algorithm, called Valuto, for the fair valuation of real estate market values. The algorithm is based on the selling prices (or adjusted asking prices) of properties located in well-defined areas (microzones) of a territory. The algorithm takes into consideration the peculiar features of each individual property (cadastral typology, maintenance, presence or absence of an elevator, floor level, energy efficiency rating, gross and conventional surface area) and, based on well-defined conversion tables, recalculates its value. The algorithm could serve a variety of purposes in social applications, from the long sought-after land registry reform to a fair valuation of mortgaged properties. It also has an appealing marketable potential for real estate instant-buyers. In this paper, we describe the full implementation of the algorithm and provide guidelines on its application to the above-mentioned scopes. The algorithm is implemented via a user-friendly, testable web application at www.valuto.org.

In the context of an aggravated competitive situation both in domestic and foreign markets, marketing tools for ensuring the competitiveness of an enterprise are becoming increasingly important. With the simultaneous growth of the role of a systematic approach in strategic planning both in the overall activities of the enterprise and its development prospects, and the level of competitiveness of the enterprise and its competitive position in specific markets. The subject of the study is the theoretical and methodological foundations of enterprise competitiveness management. The purpose of the article is to form a system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise on the basis of marketing. Methodology. To achieve the research objective, the following tasks were set and solved: a critical analysis of scientific approaches to the formation of a system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise, substantiation of the theoretical and methodological foundations for the formation of a system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise, clarification of the components of this system, and identification of the types of links between the components of the system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise. The following methods and approaches to research were employed in the study: an abstract and logical approach was used to examine the theoretical and methodological foundations of interaction management; an analysis of theoretical approaches to the formation of the enterprise competitiveness management system was conducted; an inductive and deductive approach (used to determine the factors influencing the formation of the enterprise competitiveness management system) was employed; a systematisation and generalisation approach (to clarify the approaches to the formation of the enterprise competitiveness management system) was also utilised. Results. The article considers processes of formation of the system of enterprise competitiveness management. It characterises and groups approaches to the system of management of competitiveness of an enterprise. The factors of influence on the level of competitiveness of enterprise have been determined. The structure of the system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise is described. Practical implications. The suggested integrated approach will help to clarify the role and functional links between the components of the enterprise competitiveness management system, taking into account the influence of factors of the marketing environment of enterprise and the marketing tools for assessing and improving the competitiveness of enterprise. Value/Originality. The proposed integrated approach to the formation of a system for managing the competitiveness of enterprise on the basis of marketing, unlike the existing ones, recognises the key role of competitiveness of enterprise products in assessing the competitiveness of enterprise, allocates the subject and object of competitiveness management, is based on the levels of strategic planning, takes into account the influence of factors of the marketing environment of enterprise and reveals the marketing tools for assessing and managing the competitiveness of enterprise.

In the contemporary educational landscape, the outcome-based education (OBE) philosophy has emerged as a pivotal approach, emphasizing the achievement of specific outcomes in the learning process. This study delves into the intricate relationship between physical education assessment methodologies for university students under the OBE framework and their subsequent social adaptability. This study used a sample of 100 physical education elective students from Qilu Normal University. It employed experimental and questionnaire methods to measure the effects of OBEdriven physical education assessment. Preliminary findings suggest a positive correlation between holistic assessment techniques, which consider physical prowess and cognitive understanding, and enhanced social adaptability among students. This adaptability was measured in teamwork, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication. The study underscores the potential of the OBE philosophy in reshaping physical education curricula, making it more aligned with the broader objective of holistic student development. Further research is recommended to explore the longterm impacts of such assessment methods on students’ post-university life and career trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessments of ecosystem functioning are a fundamental ecological challenge and an essential foundation for ecosystem‐based management. Species trophic position (TP) is essential to characterize food web architecture. However, despite the intuitive nature of the concept, empirically estimating TP is a challenging task due to the complexity of trophic interaction networks. Various methods are proposed to assess TPs, including using different sources of organic matter at the base of the food web (the 'baseline'). However, it is often not clear which methodological approach and which baseline choices are the most reliable. Using an ecosystem‐wide assessment of a tropical reef (Marquesas Islands, with available data for 70 coral reef invertebrate and fish species), we tested whether different commonly used TP estimation methods yield similar results and, if not, whether it is possible to identify the most reliable method. We found significant differences in TP estimates of up to 1.7 TPs for the same species, depending on the method and the baseline used. When using bulk stable isotope data, the choice of the baseline significantly impacted TP values. Indeed, while nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) values of macroalgae led to consistent TP estimates, those using phytoplankton generated unrealistically low TP estimates. The use of a conventional enrichment factor (i.e. 3.4‰) or a 'variable' enrichment factor (i.e. according to feeding guilds) also produced clear discrepancies between TP estimates. TPs obtained with δ15N values of source amino acids (compound‐specific isotope analysis) were close to those assessed with macroalgae. An opposite seasonal pattern was found, with significantly lower TPs in winter than in summer for most species, with particularly pronounced differences for lower TP species. We use the observed differences to discuss possible drivers of the diverging TP estimates and the potential ecological implications. Based on a case study from a remote coral reef ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean, this work analyses how several potential sources of organic matter (i.e. 'baselines') and calculation methods strongly affect assessments of trophic positions. We also demonstrated that seasonal temporality and feeding guild are important parameters to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Understanding self-concept in individuals with intellectual disabilities is crucial for tailored support and interventions. The research question driving this study is: What factors influence the self-concept of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and how is it assessed? Methods: Employing a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, studies from 1993 to 2024, which used diverse assessment tools such as the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Acceptance, Myself as a Learner Scale, and other self-report questionnaires, were analysed. Results: Factors influencing self-concept include diagnosis, age, gender, perception of control, school placement, and socioeconomic status. Internal factors like perception of control and external factors like societal attitudes interact to shape self-concept trajectories. Assessments reveal nuanced dimensions of self-perception, facilitating targeted interventions. Conclusions: Assessing self-concept among individuals with intellectual disabilities requires diverse evaluation methods. Insights gained inform tailored interventions to enhance well-being. Further research is needed to validate assessment tools across diverse populations. Recognizing the interplay of internal beliefs, external perceptions, and societal structures is crucial for empowering individuals to embrace their unique identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding self-concept in individuals with intellectual disabilities is crucial for tailored support and interventions. The research question driving this study is: What factors influence the self-concept of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and how is it assessed? Methods: Employing a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, studies from 1993 to 2024, which used diverse assessment tools such as the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Acceptance, Myself as a Learner Scale, and other self-report questionnaires, were analysed. Results: Factors influencing self-concept include diagnosis, age, gender, perception of control, school placement, and socioeconomic status. Internal factors like perception of control and external factors like societal attitudes interact to shape self-concept trajectories. Assessments reveal nuanced dimensions of self-perception, facilitating targeted interventions. Conclusions: Assessing self-concept among individuals with intellectual disabilities requires diverse evaluation methods. Insights gained inform tailored interventions to enhance well-being. Further research is needed to validate assessment tools across diverse populations. Recognizing the interplay of internal beliefs, external perceptions, and societal structures is crucial for empowering individuals to embrace their unique identities.

The current literature indicates that routine evaluation of preoperative anxiety, its determinants, and patient-specific concerns is universally advocated. This aligns with the increasingly acknowledged importance of prehabilitation – a comprehensive process preparing patients for surgery. A crucial component of prehabilitation is assessing patients’ mental health. Recommendations for psychological evaluations in prehabilitation encompass, inter alia, determining the severity of anxiety. This work builds on a 2019 article, which presented scales for preoperative anxiety assessment: the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). This article extends the possibilities of preoperative anxiety assessment by introducing four additional methods: the Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ), the Anxiety Specific to Surgery Questionnaire (ASSQ), the Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire (SAQ), and Anesthesia- and Surgery-dependent Preoperative Anxiety (ASPA). The authors provide comprehensive details on these instruments, including scoring, interpretation, availability, and usefulness both in scientific research and clinical practice. The authors also provide the data on the availability of Polish versions of the presented methods and preliminary data on the reliability of SFQ in patients awaiting cardiac surgery. This review seems relevant for professionals in multiple disciplines, including anesthesiology, surgery, clinical psychology, nursing, primary care and notably prehabilitation. It emphasizes the necessity of individualizing anxiety assessment and acknowledging patient subjectivity, which the presented methods facilitate through a thorough evaluation of specific patient concerns. The literature review also identifies concerns and future research avenues in this area. The importance of qualitative studies and those evaluating prehabilitation intervention is emphasized.

Objective To determine if best practice guidelines exist for assessment methods throughout the undergraduate psychology program, and whether there are recommendations on how to scaffold these methods effectively and appropriately over the three-year degree.Methods A comprehensive database search and review of journal articles, books, and grey literature relevant to higher education assessment and evaluation, and their focus on psychology, was conducted. From this, six articles, eight books, and one report were deemed relevant to the current research, with all but one published in the United States.Results Four common themes arose from the findings: 1) assessments should be based on learning outcomes, 2) there are many considerations when creating assessments at a course and program level, 3) best practice assessment method: authentic assessment, and 4) recommendations for scaffolding assessment methods across the three-year program. Recommendations for scaffolding assessment methods related to the areas of scientific inquiry, psychological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-based learning.Conclusion This review highlights that much more work is needed to identify the assessment methods that are best suited to each level in the undergraduate psychology program, and how to effectively scaffold and evaluate these methods over the three-year degree.

The level of difficulty of mathematical test items is a critical aspect for evaluating test quality and educational outcomes. Accurately predicting item difficulty during test creation is thus significantly important for producing effective test papers. This study used more than ten years of content and score data from China's Henan Provincial College Entrance Examination in Mathematics as an evaluation criterion for test difficulty, and all data were obtained from the Henan Provincial Department of Education. Based on the framework established by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for test item assessment methodology, this paper proposes a new framework containing eight features considering the uniqueness of mathematics. Next, this paper proposes an XGBoost-based SHAP model for analyzing the difficulty of mathematics tests. By coupling the XGBoost method with the SHAP method, the model not only evaluates the difficulty of mathematics tests but also analyzes the contribution of specific features to item difficulty, thereby increasing transparency and mitigating the "black box" nature of machine learning models. The model has a high prediction accuracy of 0.99 for the training set and 0.806 for the test set. With the model, we found that parameter-level features and reasoning-level features are significant factors influencing the difficulty of subjective items in the exam. In addition, we divided senior secondary mathematics knowledge into nine units based on Chinese curriculum standards and found significant differences in the distribution of the eight features across these different knowledge units, which can help teachers place different emphasis on different units during the teaching process. In summary, our proposed approach significantly improves the accuracy of item difficulty prediction, which is crucial for intelligent educational applications such as knowledge tracking, automatic test item generation, and intelligent paper generation. These results provide tools that are better aligned with and responsive to students' learning needs, thus effectively informing educational practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its widespread availability and inexpensive cost of energy conversion, solar power has become a popular option among renewable energy sources. Among the most complete methods of utilizing copious solar energy is the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, one major obstacle to obtaining the optimal performance of PV technology is the need to maintain ideal operating temperature. Maintaining constant surface temperatures is critical to PV systems' efficacy. This review looks at the latest developments in PV cooling technologies, including passive, active, and combined cooling methods, and methods for their assessment. As advances in research and innovation progress within this domain, it will be crucial to tackle hurdles like affordability, maintenance demands, and performance in extreme conditions, to enhance the efficiency and widespread use of PV cooling methods. In essence, PV cooling stands as a vital element in the ongoing shift towards sustainable and renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-known issue that the 2050 target of carbon emissions neutrality will be reached only with the co-operation of all the interested sectors, and the construction sector could be one of the main contributors to this change. With the built environment globally responsible for about 40% of annual global energy-related CO2 emissions, the construction sector offers an important opportunity to drive transformative change and presents the most challenging mitigation potential among all industrial sectors, which also brings opportunities for adopting sustainability practices and increasing resilience. This paper presents a systematic literature review of those two pivotal concepts to reach the decarbonization goal: sustainability and resilience. Starting from an extensive literature review (2536 scientific documents) based on the PRISMA statement, the definitions and assessment methodologies of those concepts for the construction sector have been studied. The methodological approach followed for their analysis has been conducted on a first selection of 42 documents, further reduced to 12 by using clear inclusion criteria to identify the integrated assessment procedures. The main goal of this study is to clarify the correlation between sustainability and resilience concepts for constructions and their integrated assessment, in line with the latest regulations and market needs. The results show that, currently, sustainability and resilience are mainly evaluated in a distinct way to obtain building energy performance certificates, as well as to quantify the building market value and its complementary contribution to the 'energy efficiency first' principle and energy-saving targets towards the emergent issue of climate change. Few works focus on the integrated assessment of both concepts considering the construction industries' point of view about materials and/or systems for buildings. The novelty of this study is the critical review of the current sustainability and resilience integrated assessment methods used for the construction value chain, declined for four main target groups. Researchers, policymakers, industries, and professionals could gain dedicated insights and practical suggestions to put in practice the elements of circular economy, ecological innovation, and cleaner production, which are essential in order to drive the decarbonization of the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Assessments of ecosystem functioning are a fundamental ecological challenge and an essential foundation for ecosystem‐based management. Species trophic position (TP) is essential to characterize food web architecture. However, despite the intuitive nature of the concept, empirically estimating TP is a challenging task due to the complexity of trophic interaction networks. Various methods are proposed to assess TPs, including using different sources of organic matter at the base of the food web (the ‘baseline’). However, it is often not clear which methodological approach and which baseline choices are the most reliable. Using an ecosystem‐wide assessment of a tropical reef (Marquesas Islands, with available data for 70 coral reef invertebrate and fish species), we tested whether different commonly used TP estimation methods yield similar results and, if not, whether it is possible to identify the most reliable method. We found significant differences in TP estimates of up to 1.7 TPs for the same species, depending on the method and the baseline used. When using bulk stable isotope data, the choice of the baseline significantly impacted TP values. Indeed, while nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) values of macroalgae led to consistent TP estimates, those using phytoplankton generated unrealistically low TP estimates. The use of a conventional enrichment factor (i.e. 3.4‰) or a ‘variable’ enrichment factor (i.e. according to feeding guilds) also produced clear discrepancies between TP estimates. TPs obtained with δ15N values of source amino acids (compound‐specific isotope analysis) were close to those assessed with macroalgae. An opposite seasonal pattern was found, with significantly lower TPs in winter than in summer for most species, with particularly pronounced differences for lower TP species. We use the observed differences to discuss possible drivers of the diverging TP estimates and the potential ecological implications.

The study aims to investigate whether a change in the delivery of assessment methods, from a full online assessment to a hybrid assessment, affected accounting students' grades during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study also considers whether the change undertaken to assessment methods met their targets of improving assessment practices and maintaining academic integrity. The statistical analysis technique used was an independent sample t-test, chi-square, and ANOVA. A total of 473 final grades (fully online assessment = 224, hybrid assessment = 249) were collected to achieve the study purpose. The findings show a statistically significant difference in the final course grades between the two assessment methods. In each course, students scored significantly lower on the hybrid assessment compared to students who took the fully online assessment, indicating that changes in the assessment delivery method affected students' grades and that the shift to hybrid assessment had a positive effect assessment system. Additionally, the performance of males and females is too different; female students have made higher grades than peer males in both methods in each course, indicating that the grades between males and females are different. This research recommends that the use of a hybrid assessment approach would help in providing a unique educational environment and this approach of varied assessment can enable lecturers to find out student abilities in accounting courses and maintain academic integrity.

This article addresses the challenges associated with determining the borrower's creditworthiness. The authors define the borrower's creditworthiness as the ability to timely and fully meet debt obligations to the lender. This determination is based on an evaluation of the borrower's financial condition, forecast of business development, and other factors influencing the ability to repay the loan. The authors identify internal and external factors affecting the creditworthiness of borrowers in Ukraine. Internal factors include the economic situation, regulatory policies, credit history, credit rating, and a lack of financial literacy. External factors encompass the global economic situation and the political climate. The article also discusses challenges in determining the borrower's creditworthiness during times of war. The authors note that creditworthiness can sharply decrease during such periods due to factors such as reduced income, increased costs, decreased demand for goods and services, and an unstable economic situation. To address these challenges during wartime, the authors propose the following recommendations: • Widespread use of artificial intelligence: AI enables the consideration of more factors affecting the borrower's creditworthiness and the adaptation of credit scoring models to changes in the economic situation. • Expansion of data on the borrower's financial condition: Financial institutions should utilize more data sources, including unstructured data such as social media and behavioral data, to assess the borrower's financial condition. • Development of new methods for assessing creditworthiness: Financial institutions should create new methods that account for the specific conditions of wartime. • Establishment of cooperation between financial institutions and government agencies: This collaboration will provide additional data on the financial condition of borrowers, offering financial institutions a more comprehensive view. • Promotion of financial literacy among the population: Improving financial literacy will empower borrowers to better understand their financial obligations and make more informed lending decisions. Implementing these recommendations will enable financial institutions to enhance the accuracy of creditworthiness assessments and, consequently, reduce credit risks during times of war.

Purpose: analysis of methods for assessing various forms of computer addiction in domestic and foreign scientific research. Materials and methods. The article presents a review of the literature and analyzes scientific research on Internet addiction in children, adolescents and adolescents. The advantages internet addiction assessment methods (ease of use; minimum filling time; quantitative and qualitative assessment of the features of Internet addiction in children, adolescents and adolescents; obtaining information from any number of respondents) and disadvantages (information obtained during the survey process may be subjective, which can be link the pressure of social approval) of diagnostic questionnaires with the interpretation of the results obtained. In most of the presented scientific studies, the most accessible research methods were used to assess the characteristics of Internet addiction - questionnaires, questioning (full-time). A scientific search was carried out using the relevant keywords and basic terms in the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines, in the Scopus database, Web of Science, MedLine, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Global Health, CyberLeninka, RSCI (eLIBRARY.RU) and others. Results. According to the results of studies conducted in different countries, Internet addiction is widespread among children, adolescents and adolescents, and every year their number is increasing. Conclusion. It should be noted that each questionnaire has its own advantages and disadvantages, diagnostic criteria of the norm, the inclusion or non-inclusion of individuals in the study, the formation of groups, as well as the compliance of the questionnaire methods and the results of the study with the tasks set - "validity".

The relevance of the issue presented in the paper stems from the trends in current economic development. They pose multiple challenges to researchers when it comes to methods for assessing and analyzing competitiveness of business organizations. The aim of this paper is to present an approach to researching business organization's competitiveness based on highly versatile and adaptive competitiveness evaluation technology. Part of the methods on which the said approach is based are analysis, summary, logical approach, and includes quantitative assessment of indicators used to make comparisons with competitors. The results of the implementation of this approach by researches are associated with a more precise diagnosis of the causes leading to one level of business organizations’ competitiveness or another. A conclusion can be drawn that the accuracy and effectiveness of any research depends on the preparation of a proper set of methods. When researching business organizations’ competitiveness, it is crucial to take account of the extreme dynamics of the developing business environment.

In Ukraine, the issue of assessing losses as a result of military aggression became relevant in 2014 after the annexation of part of the country's territory by the Russian Federation. Until 2022, Ukraine's state structures developed several regulatory documents regulating these issues. However, the problems of methodology and techniques for assessing damage and losses as a result of military actions in Ukraine have again come into the focus of academics and expert practitioners after the full-scale and extremely destructive aggression that began on February 24, 2022. It became clear that it would be impossible to assess the volume and variety of damage and losses caused to Ukraine based on previous approaches and methods. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the need and ways of developing the methodology for assessing damage and losses of enterprises as a result of the war, to determine the possibilities of mutual enrichment of the methodology of expert and accounting evaluation for their combined application when calculating losses from military actions in Ukraine. The work reveals the economic and regulatory essence of the approaches to assessing the damage and losses of enterprises from the war applied in Ukraine: the World Bank's rapid assessment methodology; methods of property-by-object assessment of the State Property Fund of Ukraine; methodology based on the accounting assessment methodology of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. The authors critically analysed their potential and opportunities to achieve the goals set by the Ukrainian authorities for conducting a mass and operational assessment of economic losses from the war and ensuring a transparent and fair compensation policy. The main criteria for evaluating efficiency when choosing and using one or another approach for assessing enterprises' losses from the war were determined. The essence of the assessment methodology was revealed, and the methodological features of expert and accounting approaches to determining the damage and losses of enterprises from the war were defined. Reasoned possibility of mutual enrichment of the methodological bases of expert and accounting assessment through reciprocal borrowing of methods, procedures, techniques and methods. The practicality of both individual and combined application of expert and accounting approaches to assessing damage and losses to achieve the goals set by the Government of Ukraine has been proven.

A coronavirus disease (COVID)-related educational emergency is believed to have changed some of the aspects of the educational landscape. Sudden changes to traditional structures that are schools are undoubtedly an interesting issue to explore: complex phenomena such as assessment methods are highly related to many different factors such as normative base, the use of technological tools, etc. This article reports on the reorganization of assessment methods in the context of a rapid and forced transition to remote teaching mode, based on the results of a survey of Italian teachers. Findings indicate that pandemic-related educational emergency and the push toward the use of tools in teaching and learning practices, and the corresponding relaxation of certain established frames of operation, have created grounds for alternative forms of assessment. Results show that when entertaining different options and enjoying some level of autonomy, teachers can explore alternative forms of assessment. Assessment methods also change according to school subjects; while assessment changes are discipline specific, there is a clear trend toward product-based assessment.

The paper aims to reflect on the training of teachers in Italian lower and upper secondary schools by presenting the training activities carried out by the Pegaso Telematic University in the provision of the training course foreseen by Ministerial Decree 180/2022. The first training activities focused on the training of the course tutors, while the second focused on the feedback given to the teachers who followed the course, following the development of the competence assessment. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the replicability of the training actions presented and the lines of research that open up.

Copyright of Valori e Valutazioni is the property of Societa Italiana di Estimo e Valutazione (SIEV) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Entrepreneurship education research has a strong "output" focus on impact studies but pays much less attention to the "inside" or process perspective of the way entrepreneurship education occurs. In particular, the scattered previous entrepreneurship curriculum research has not managed to provide a current and comprehensive overview of the curricular elements that constitute entrepreneurship education. To overcome this shortcoming, we aim to identify the teaching objectives, teaching contents, teaching methods, and assessment methods discussed in entrepreneurship curriculum research. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review on the four entrepreneurship curriculum dimensions and collected all mentioned curriculum items. We used a two-stage coding procedure to find the genuinely entrepreneurship-specific items. Among numerous items (also from business management and other subjects), we found 26 objectives, 34 contents, 11 teaching methods, and 7 assessment methods that were entrepreneurship-specific. Most of these items were addressed by only a few scholarly papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to reflect on the training of teachers in Italian lower and upper secondary schools by presenting the training activities carried out by the Pegaso Telematic University in the provision of the training course foreseen by Ministerial Decree 180/2022. The first training activities focused on the training of the course tutors, while the second focused on the feedback given to the teachers who followed the course, following the development of the competence assessment. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the replicability of the training actions presented and the lines of research that open up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discharge of low-temperature water from the middle and lower layers of thermally stratified dam reservoirs leads to thermal pollution and adversely affects fish production and reproduction in downstream rivers. Selective water withdrawal using stoplog gates is an effective approach to address this issue. However, comprehensively and effectively evaluating the effects of stratified withdrawal and optimizing the scheduling of stoplog gates to provide better ecological services to downstream habitats pose significant challenges for reservoir managers. In this study, an equivalent elevation method (EEM) was developed based on in situ observation data of water temperature. The EEM calculates the equivalent withdrawal elevation (EWE) in the far dam area corresponding to the discharge-water temperature (DWT), facilitating the evaluation of stoplog-gate effects. EEM was applied to a thermally stratified dam reservoir in southwestern China (Guangzhao reservoir, GZ). The results showed a significant positive correlation (r > 0.7, p < 0.05) between DWT and the vertical-water-temperature structure in the far dam area. The average EWEs for the 5-layer, 4-layer, and 3-layer stoplog gates in GZ were 697.2 m, 690.8 m, and 689.9 m, respectively. Utilizing the EEM findings, a scheduling operation scheme was proposed to improve DWT while reducing the number of stoplog-gate operations, thereby increasing their efficiency and saving the cost of invested labor and time. This method provides a reference for reservoir managers in optimizing stoplog-gate-scheduling strategies to mitigate potential risks to aquatic ecosystems caused by abnormal water temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a review of modern foreign and domestic literary sources covering the variety of modern methods for assessing the reparative process in a wound, based on an analysis of the PubMed and RSCI databases. The wound process, despite effective methods of treating wounds, is still an urgent problem and requires systematization of existing knowledge. The phases of the healing process - hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling - replace each other, but this process often does not proceed linearly, and adjacent processes can occur simultaneously in the wound. The prolongation of one phase and the inhibition of another are due to the influence of exogenous (such as, for example, infection) and endogenous (general somatic status, comorbidity) factors. Taking into account the pathogenesis of the process, unified tools are needed for a multifactorial assessment of the wound healing process, the use of which will pursue the goals of the most accurate prediction of the outcome of the wound process and timely correction of treatment. The article discusses modern approaches to assessing the reparative process in a wound. Modern approaches to scoring the condition of a wound using scales, morphometric, microbiological, biochemical and functional methods for diagnosing the effectiveness of the reparative process are presented.

Resumen: La evaluación del residente es un acto moral, ya que su fin último es garantizar a la ciudadanía un profesional competente, seguro y confiable, es un proceso cuyo principio rector es la ética profesional. El tutor juega un papel clave en el proceso de evaluación del residente, especial importancia tiene cuando esta evaluación es negativa, ya que puede estar en peligro la seguridad de los pacientes. En este artículo repasamos la normativa que regula la evaluación de los especialistas internos residentes en España, la importancia de la participación de las distintas figuras docentes y de las instituciones. Comentamos el proceso de evaluación, su importancia y los métodos que pueden utilizarse, especialmente las entrevistas tutor-residente. Insistimos en la importancia del registro escrito de todas estas actividades y remarcamos las dificultades ante las que nos podemos encontrar en el proceso de evaluación de nuestros residentes. Abstract: The evaluation of the resident is a moral act, since its ultimate goal is to guarantee citizens a competent, safe and reliable professional, it is a process whose guiding principle is professional ethics. The tutor plays a key role in the resident evaluation process; it is especially important when this evaluation is negative, since the safety of the patients may be in danger. In this article we review the standard that regulates the evaluation of internal resident specialists in Spain, the importance of the participation of different teaching figures and institutions. We discuss the evaluation process, its importance and the methods that can be used, especially the tutor-resident interviews. We insist on the importance of the written record of all these activities, and we highlight the difficulties that we may encounter in the evaluation process of our residents.

As one of the important means to coordinate the relationship between the development and utilization activities of the coastal zone and the protection of the ecological environment, and to measure the sustainable development capacity of the coastal zone, the quantitative research of the comprehensive evaluation of marine eco-environment carrying capacity (MECC) of the is very important. This study reviews the existing problems in the current integrated assessment of MECC, compares and analyzes the commonly used methods for carrying capacity assessment, and selects a set of potential methods that is suitable for the integrated assessment of MECC in coastal areas according to the characteristics of coastal areas. On this basis, through the analysis of the results of the case application, the practicability and limitations of this set of methods is further discussed, and several improvement suggestions are proposed. The results show that: (1) in view of the complexity and uncertainty of the coastal ecosystem, some traditional and commonly used assessment methods of carrying capacity cannot be well applied to the integrated assessment of MECC in coastal areas; (2) by fully considering the interaction between human activities and the marine eco-environment, this set of potential methods proposed in this study can better support the establishment of the assessment index system, objectively give weight to each assessment index, and quantitatively analyze and evaluate the comprehensive MECC. And thus, it can provide a feasible approach for the integrated assessment of MECC as well as empirical references for ensuring a sustainable coastal development; (3) additionally, it still has several limitations, such as, mainly, the lack of authoritative and unified indicator systems, as well as specific rating standards. Therefore, future studies should focus on related methods for the establishment of assessment indicator system and the classification criteria for evaluation results, so as to improve the assessment system for MECC and thus apply it to a more scientific analysis of the MECC in coastal areas.

Highlights A comprehensive discussion of the recent advances in zinc–bromine rechargeable batteries with flow or non-flow electrolytes is presented. The fundamental electrochemical aspects including the key challenges and promising solutions in both zinc and bromine half-cells are reviewed. The key performance metrics of ZBRBs and assessment methods using various ex situ and in situ/operando techniques are also discussed.

This research investigates instructors' experiences at Agusan del Sur College concerning Flexible Learning in the New Normal. The study adopts a mixed-method approach integrating quantitative and qualitative components. Participants are 30 full-time instructors across nine departments. The findings reveal that instructors need more training and technical competencies to conduct online courses, affecting the effectiveness of hybrid classes. Technical problems, including slow internet connections and unannounced power interruptions, despite these challenges, instructors value the flexibility inherent in Flexible Learning, spanning modalities, assessment methods, and instructional delivery, promoting greater student responsibility and time management, ultimately enhancing engagement and attentiveness. Moreover, smartphones and mobile applications serve as prevalent educational tools and eLearning resources, and there remains a preference for face-to-face classes over online learning. The study also underscores the positive impact of Flexible Learning, encompassing synchronous and asynchronous platforms, in enhancing digital and technological competencies, with 45.4% of students and 48.8% of instructors reporting its benefits. Additionally, instructors with 0-5 years of teaching experience exhibit excellent proficiency in Flexible Learning modalities and assessment methods. In conclusion, this research suggests that Flexible Learning could constitute a sustainable mode of delivery in higher education institutions, contingent on instructors receiving adequate training and support to navigate the challenges the New Normal poses effectively.

This study investigates the perceptions of K-12 science teachers regarding the implications of ChatGPT on school assessments and the quality of students’ education. A questionnaire was administered to K-12 science teachers from public and private schools across the five regions of Brazil: North, Northeast, South, Southeast, and Midwest. More than 400 teachers responded to the questionnaire. The conclusions regarding the opinions of the teachers who responded to the questionnaire were based on the Likert-type scale. The investigation covered various aspects, including the types and frequency of assessment methods used with their students. Additionally, the research delved into their opinions on whether ChatGPT would impact the quality of education and assessment methods, as well as their views on whether ChatGPT use should be deemed plagiarism or a similar infraction. The potential benefits of its use, as well as the challenges arising from it, are discussed in the context of the evolution of teaching and learning. As one of the results, it was found that among K-12 science teachers, there remains some skepticism regarding whether ChatGPT will enhance the quality of students’ education and whether its use constitutes plagiarism or a similar infraction.

In Ukraine, the issue of assessing losses as a result of military aggression became relevant in 2014 after the annexation of part of the country's territory by the Russian Federation. Until 2022, Ukraine's state structures developed several regulatory documents regulating these issues. However, the problems of methodology and techniques for assessing damage and losses as a result of military actions in Ukraine have again come into the focus of academics and expert practitioners after the full-scale and extremely destructive aggression that began on February 24, 2022. It became clear that it would be impossible to assess the volume and variety of damage and losses caused to Ukraine based on previous approaches and methods. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the need and ways of developing the methodology for assessing damage and losses of enterprises as a result of the war, to determine the possibilities of mutual enrichment of the methodology of expert and accounting evaluation for their combined application when calculating losses from military actions in Ukraine. The work reveals the economic and regulatory essence of the approaches to assessing the damage and losses of enterprises from the war applied in Ukraine: the World Bank's rapid assessment methodology; methods of property-by-object assessment of the State Property Fund of Ukraine; methodology based on the accounting assessment methodology of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. The authors critically analysed their potential and opportunities to achieve the goals set by the Ukrainian authorities for conducting a mass and operational assessment of economic losses from the war and ensuring a transparent and fair compensation policy. The main criteria for evaluating efficiency when choosing and using one or another approach for assessing enterprises' losses from the war were determined. The essence of the assessment methodology was revealed, and the methodological features of expert and accounting approaches to determining the damage and losses of enterprises from the war were defined. Reasoned possibility of mutual enrichment of the methodological bases of expert and accounting assessment through reciprocal borrowing of methods, procedures, techniques and methods. The practicality of both individual and combined application of expert and accounting approaches to assessing damage and losses to achieve the goals set by the Government of Ukraine has been proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increasing demand for more sustainable products across many industries, eco-labels are a useful tool for communicating the sustainability-related performance of a product to the eco-conscious consumer. However, the abundance of different eco-labels and a lack of harmonization concerning their assessment methods can hamper their effectiveness. To address these shortcomings, this paper considers the methods employed by eco-labels in the textile and clothing industry to assess the sustainability-based performance of products. Using a sample of 10 eco-labels from the Ecolabel Index, a new framework for classifying eco-labels based on their assessment methods is developed. The framework includes two categories of label assignments ((i) binary and (ii) different levels of performance) and six types of assessment methods. These types are characterized according to the decision support features employed by the labels, such as lists of mandatory criteria, minimum (average) scores, percentage scores, and the weighting of sub-categories. The proposed framework shows the benefits of cascading decision science notions in the eco-labeling domain. It provides a harmonized vocabulary of components (i.e., a roadmap) to perform a consistent and traceable advancement of eco-labels. Consequently, it can be expanded at present to allow for the classification of other eco-labels in the textile and clothing industry and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing role of the state sector in the economies of many countries, the criteria and approaches to comparative analysis and evaluation of the performance of state-owned enterprises are still ambiguous, as are the methods for cross-country comparisons of the scale of state presence in the economy. The purpose of the article is to systematize the main approaches to measurement of the size of the state sector using Russian economy as an example, as well as to substantiate the significance of this information in assessing the performance of companies with different forms of ownership in the investment and managerial decision-making process. The problems of the information environment, such as the fragmentation of data, incomplete publication of company reports, and the specifics of national databases in different countries, complicate and distort empirical research. Meanwhile, there are significant differences in the performance of state-owned and private companies, as well as in their investment attractiveness to investors in the financial market. International approaches to solving these problems consist in the formation of consolidated and unified databases, inclusion of stateowned companies in the system of national accounts, and creation of guidelines on uniform principles of transparency and accessibility of financial reports. Given the growing restrictions on access to information along with the trend towards the growth of the state sector in Russia, there is an increasing need to develop a unified methodology to measure its scale and assess its impact on the economy, investment and stock market. The proposed methodology and the obtained empirical results allow not only to comprehensively assess the contribution of the state sector in creating GDP and increasing the capitalization of the stock market, but also to conduct comparative studies of performance indicators and stock returns in companies with different ownership structure, as well as an international empirical analysis of the state sector impact on the economies and the financial and economic performance of companies.

Abstract As one of the common physical materials in Chinese archaeological excavations, ancient bronzes are an essential basis for studying the development of Chinese bronze culture, which is of great significance for exploring the development law of ancient human civilization and reconstructing ancient human society. As China’s infrastructure advances, the number of bronzes unearthed by archaeological excavations continues to increase. However, environmental damage to artefacts is very complex, whether the buried environment of the artefacts or the above-ground environment when the artefacts are unearthed, leading to different health problems for the excavated bronzes. A scientific assessment of these bronzes needs to be carried out prior to extraction to inform staff how they should be extracted, moved, and transported and how they should be restored afterwards. In response to the above problems, this paper takes excavated bronzes from archaeological sites as the research object and, by analysing and studying the relevant industry standards and the disease characteristics of bronzes, establishes a three-tier indicator framework for assessing the health of bronzes in a layer-by-layer refinement and proposes quantitative indicators with typical correlations. Through extensive research and testing, we screened out efficient, non-destructive, convenient and reliable assessment and testing methods and assessment models that combine subjective and objective aspects suitable for archaeological sites. On this basis, the paper achieves a scientific and practical assessment of the health status of bronzes excavated from archaeological sites. After repeated experiments, a set of comprehensive methods for quickly and conveniently assessing the health status of excavated bronzes was proposed for the first time and successfully applied to the archaeological excavation site of Sanxingdui site in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, China.

There is a high growing demand for regulating ecosystem services such as air quality regulation, regulation of air temperature and humidity, and flood regulation, in urban ecosystems which is important for urban planning. A comprehensive review of the current studies of the urban ecosystem, regulating ecosystem services, and their connection with urban planning actions is needed. The current paper presents such a review conducted in six stages to evaluate the state-of-the-art of regulating ecosystem services and their relationship with urban planning. It includes 58 papers selected after a precise keywords search and developed by publication screening, defining indicators, developing an assessment template, and meta-analysis of the results. The analyses are focused on spatial data used in the studies, the methods applied for ecosystem services assessment, and the relationships between regulating ecosystem services, urban planning, and green infrastructure. The most studied regulating ecosystem services within reviewed publications are regulation of chemical composition of atmosphere and oceans, regulation of temperature and humidity, including ventilation and transpiration, and hydrological cycle and water flow regulation (including flood control, and coastal protection). Although urban planning-related papers are only 1/3 of the pool of papers, appropriate results have been obtained for assessing the urban planning-regulating ecosystem services relation. The review also identified some significant knowledge gaps that can be used as a starting point for future studies.

The level of difficulty of mathematical test items is a critical aspect for evaluating test quality and educational outcomes. Accurately predicting item difficulty during test creation is thus significantly important for producing effective test papers. This study used more than ten years of content and score data from China’s Henan Provincial College Entrance Examination in Mathematics as an evaluation criterion for test difficulty, and all data were obtained from the Henan Provincial Department of Education. Based on the framework established by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for test item assessment methodology, this paper proposes a new framework containing eight features considering the uniqueness of mathematics. Next, this paper proposes an XGBoost-based SHAP model for analyzing the difficulty of mathematics tests. By coupling the XGBoost method with the SHAP method, the model not only evaluates the difficulty of mathematics tests but also analyzes the contribution of specific features to item difficulty, thereby increasing transparency and mitigating the “black box” nature of machine learning models. The model has a high prediction accuracy of 0.99 for the training set and 0.806 for the test set. With the model, we found that parameter-level features and reasoning-level features are significant factors influencing the difficulty of subjective items in the exam. In addition, we divided senior secondary mathematics knowledge into nine units based on Chinese curriculum standards and found significant differences in the distribution of the eight features across these different knowledge units, which can help teachers place different emphasis on different units during the teaching process. In summary, our proposed approach significantly improves the accuracy of item difficulty prediction, which is crucial for intelligent educational applications such as knowledge tracking, automatic test item generation, and intelligent paper generation. These results provide tools that are better aligned with and responsive to students’ learning needs, thus effectively informing educational practice.

Due to its widespread availability and inexpensive cost of energy conversion, solar power has become a popular option among renewable energy sources. Among the most complete methods of utilizing copious solar energy is the use of photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, one major obstacle to obtaining the optimal performance of PV technology is the need to maintain ideal operating temperature. Maintaining constant surface temperatures is critical to PV systems’ efficacy. This review looks at the latest developments in PV cooling technologies, including passive, active, and combined cooling methods, and methods for their assessment. As advances in research and innovation progress within this domain, it will be crucial to tackle hurdles like affordability, maintenance demands, and performance in extreme conditions, to enhance the efficiency and widespread use of PV cooling methods. In essence, PV cooling stands as a vital element in the ongoing shift towards sustainable and renewable energy sources.

It is a well-known issue that the 2050 target of carbon emissions neutrality will be reached only with the co-operation of all the interested sectors, and the construction sector could be one of the main contributors to this change. With the built environment globally responsible for about 40% of annual global energy-related CO2 emissions, the construction sector offers an important opportunity to drive transformative change and presents the most challenging mitigation potential among all industrial sectors, which also brings opportunities for adopting sustainability practices and increasing resilience. This paper presents a systematic literature review of those two pivotal concepts to reach the decarbonization goal: sustainability and resilience. Starting from an extensive literature review (2536 scientific documents) based on the PRISMA statement, the definitions and assessment methodologies of those concepts for the construction sector have been studied. The methodological approach followed for their analysis has been conducted on a first selection of 42 documents, further reduced to 12 by using clear inclusion criteria to identify the integrated assessment procedures. The main goal of this study is to clarify the correlation between sustainability and resilience concepts for constructions and their integrated assessment, in line with the latest regulations and market needs. The results show that, currently, sustainability and resilience are mainly evaluated in a distinct way to obtain building energy performance certificates, as well as to quantify the building market value and its complementary contribution to the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle and energy-saving targets towards the emergent issue of climate change. Few works focus on the integrated assessment of both concepts considering the construction industries’ point of view about materials and/or systems for buildings. The novelty of this study is the critical review of the current sustainability and resilience integrated assessment methods used for the construction value chain, declined for four main target groups. Researchers, policymakers, industries, and professionals could gain dedicated insights and practical suggestions to put in practice the elements of circular economy, ecological innovation, and cleaner production, which are essential in order to drive the decarbonization of the built environment.

This conceptual report describes a novel assessment technique to evaluate written assignments in universities, such as literature reviews, essays or research proposals, over the course of the academic semester in multiple milestones. The method can be adapted to undergraduate and graduate courses in disciplines with a writing requirement. Key features of this method include encouraging student self-regulation and spacing of learning, rapid scoring using quantitative elements, improving the authenticity and transparency of the written work, and guiding students towards better writing and thinking skills. The method involves the implementation of a system called version control, which is a class of software to track and manage changes to textual data, often used by programmers to track code. This report describes a use case in two psychology courses describing the logistics and marking dynamics surrounding the assessment. This protocol has been seeded on a public repository on GitHub where educators can contribute and develop the technique further.

Highlights: A comprehensive discussion of the recent advances in zinc–bromine rechargeable batteries with flow or non-flow electrolytes is presented. The fundamental electrochemical aspects including the key challenges and promising solutions in both zinc and bromine half-cells are reviewed. The key performance metrics of ZBRBs and assessment methods using various ex situ and in situ/operando techniques are also discussed. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates instructors' experiences at Agusan del Sur College concerning Flexible Learning in the New Normal. The study adopts a mixed-method approach integrating quantitative and qualitative components. Participants are 30 fulltime instructors across nine departments. The findings reveal that instructors need more training and technical competencies to conduct online courses, affecting the effectiveness of hybrid classes. Technical problems, including slow internet connections and unannounced power interruptions, despite these challenges, instructors value the flexibility inherent in Flexible Learning, spanning modalities, assessment methods, and instructional delivery, promoting greater student responsibility and time management, ultimately enhancing engagement and attentiveness. Moreover, smartphones and mobile applications serve as prevalent educational tools and eLearning resources, and there remains a preference for face-to-face classes over online learning. The study also underscores the positive impact of Flexible Learning, encompassing synchronous and asynchronous platforms, in enhancing digital and technological competencies, with 45.4% of students and 48.8% of instructors reporting its benefits. Additionally, instructors with 0-5 years of teaching experience exhibit excellent proficiency in Flexible Learning modalities and assessment methods. In conclusion, this research suggests that Flexible Learning could constitute a sustainable mode of delivery in higher education institutions, contingent on instructors receiving adequate training and support to navigate the challenges the New Normal poses effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the issue presented in the paper stems from the trends in current economic development. They pose multiple challenges to researchers when it comes to methods for assessing and analyzing competitiveness of business organizations. The aim of this paper is to present an approach to researching business organization's competitiveness based on highly versatile and adaptive competitiveness evaluation technology. Part of the methods on which the said approach is based are analysis, summary, logical approach, and includes quantitative assessment of indicators used to make comparisons with competitors. The results of the implementation of this approach by researches are associated with a more precise diagnosis of the causes leading to one level of business organizations' competitiveness or another. A conclusion can be drawn that the accuracy and effectiveness of any research depends on the preparation of a proper set of methods. When researching business organizations' competitiveness, it is crucial to take account of the extreme dynamics of the developing business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are often referred to as the Earth's kidneys. However, wetlands worldwide are still negatively affected due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of wetland landscape ecological health (WLEH). Based on this background, we analyzed and compared the conceptual definitions, research progress, contents (in terms of structural, functional, and process health), and methods (indicator species approach, ecological integrity assessment, conceptual model evaluation including the vigor–organization–resilience (VOR), pressure–state–response (PSR), and ecological feature–function–socioeconomic (EFFS) models, and water–gas CO2 calculation) over the past 20 years (2000–2022). Moreover, the concept definition and research progress of ecosystem health (EH) and landscape ecological health (LEH) and WLEH research outlook were analyzed. In this study, it was shown that WLEH could be considered a LEH subset, while the LEH is a specific EH perspective. These three concepts share a common focus on ecosystem conditions, functions, and services while considering ecological processes and habitat characteristics. However, they differ in the scope and specific types of ecosystems considered. This review may provide references for ecological conservation and restoration of artificial and restored wetland landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problem of limited functional assessment of the wrist and hand of myoelectric prostheses leading to poor rehabilitation outcomes, this paper proposes a multivariate assessment method and builds a prosthetic assessment platform. On this basis, five healthy subjects and two amputees were recruited to carry out the corresponding evaluation experiments for validation. The results of the healthy subjects were better than those of the amputees, and there were significant differences in critical performance between the prosthetic and standard hands, with a higher level of shoulder compensation in the prosthetic subjects than in the healthy subjects. The results suggest that the platform and method can provide more information than traditional assessment, thus helping rehabilitation practitioners understand prostheses in amputees and provide individualized training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, cities are responsible for most of the world’s energy consumption and most of the carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, the efficient transformation of urban energy systems is becoming a crucial step towards carbon neutrality and more effective climate protection. The Positive Energy District (PED) concept has been pointed out as one of the key principles of this path. The Positive Energy District concept leads towards an integrated and sustainable urban development with an emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources and attention shifting from energy performance at the level of individual buildings to the level of the entire district. However, PEDs represent a relatively new and still not sufficiently explored area in the field of sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to describe a new holistic assessment and innovative process of stakeholder engagement to identify Positive Energy Districts in the early development phase that arises within the PED-ID project. The early development phase is crucial since the structure of the urban area is being decided along with its sustainability and climate protection levels. The assessment methodology is based on the creation and optimization of energy balance scenarios. Case studies of existing urban areas have been developed in order to verify the methodology. It is concluded that this innovative methodology devised for PED evaluation, together with strengthening of knowledge-based and decision-making framework, will help to accelerate the process of transforming the current urban energy systems into more efficient and renewable systems.