In engineering problems with a weak domain theory, such as environmental evaluation, machine learning techniques should bring to bear any existing background knowledge so as to guide the knowledge acquisition process. This paper proposes an Interactive Inductive Learning System (IILS) which can use background knowledge provided by the experts to avoid many incorrect or incomplete induced heuris...

7 Additional bibliography 10 Testing the biodegradation behaviour of the materials using standard laboratory tests, including test development, circular testing Assessment of biodegradability of the materials and products under real-life conditions 28 Assessment of the (eco-)toxic effects of the materials or degradation products using standard laboratory tests 47 Studying the effect of various ...

BACKGROUND Intersectoral Action for Health (IAH) and its Health Impact Assessment (HIA) tool are built on collaboration between actors and sectors, requiring multidimensional and horizontal way of working. The study aims to analyse the enablers and barriers when such a new way of working and tool have been initiated to replace a traditional, vertical operation at the local level in Slovakia-a c...

Health impact assessments (HIAs) across the globe may be used by governments and industries to secure approval for unconventional gas extraction developments. HIA is an umbrella term that covers an array of health review and assessment practices, ranging from the very general to quite specific and technical health studies. Our concern in this paper is principally with the specialist end of the ...

BACKGROUND In Quebec (Canada), the Monteregie Regional Public Health Department has chosen to use health impact assessment (HIA) to support municipalities through a knowledge exchange and collaborative process in order to positively influence decision-making regarding local policies and projects. The value of HIA is becoming increasingly recognized by municipalities interested in planning and m...

Background According to the general health policies issued in 2014, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) or Health Annex should be implemented in Iran. The present study provided a model for executing HIA in the Iranian context as a developing country. Methods This is a system design study with the qualitative approach. The data on the system components were gathered via reviews of the literature, ...

National and international pressure is growing for public policies and programmes to be prospectively evaluated to determine what their impacts will be on public health. This is evident from statements from bodies including the WHO, 1 the European Union, 2 and the British Medical Association 3 and may be seen as a natural development of evidence-based principles that are currently being applied...

BACKGROUND Transport and its links to health and health inequalities suggest that it is important to assess both the direct and unintended indirect health and related impacts of transport initiatives and policies. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) provides a framework to assess the possible health impacts of interventions such as transport. Policymakers and practitioners need access to well conduc...

BACKGROUND Health impact assessments (HIA) of policies and projects are conducted differently in different contexts although there has been less HIA research to date in non-western countries. Global HIA research has however suggested that the technical conduct of HIAs is tied to broader conditions and influences to do with decision making and policy development. This study was conducted to deve...