Search

open access; International audience; We present concepts and recipes for the anytime performance assessment when benchmarking optimization algorithms in a blackbox scenario. We consider runtime-oftentimes measured in number of blackbox evaluations needed to reach a target quality-to be a universally measurable cost for solving a problem. Starting from the graph that depicts the solution quality versus runtime, we argue that runtime is the only performance measure with a generic, meaningful, and quantitative interpretation. Hence, our assessment is solely based on runtime measurements. We discuss proper choices for solution quality indicators in single-and multiobjective optimization, as well as in the presence of noise and constraints. We also discuss the choice of the target values, budget-based targets, and the aggregation of runtimes by using simulated restarts, averages, and empirical cumulative distributions which generalize convergence graphs of single runs. The presented performance assessment is to a large extent implemented in the comparing continuous optimizers (COCO) platform freely available at https://github.com/numbbo/coco.

The object of research is a double chamber evaporative cooling system for the storage of vegetables with one chamber filled River sand, the other Sawdust as absorbents and Ambient chamber storage conditions being the third treatment (control). Amaranthus was used as the test crop. The structure was developed both internally and externally using six (6) inches concrete blocks and plastered with cemented mortar. 460 g each of Garden fresh vegetables (Amaranthus) were collected and kept chambers of the evaporative cooling system and ambient chamber conditions (control), then, replicated twice respectively. Change in quality (weight reduction, withering, change in colour), temperature change, relative humility and cooling effectiveness were the parameter assessed during the experiment and were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Duncan’s Multiply Test at 5 % level of significance. The experiment was conducted and analyzed at Crop Production Department of the Federal College of Forestry (Jericho Ibadan, Nigeria). The study revealed there were no significant difference between relative humidity (%), absorbent cooling efficiency (%) for absorbent materials in the evaporative cooling chambers were (89.90 %, 89.30 % and 75.80 %) and (88.50 %, 82.50 % and 80.40 %) for day 10 and 15 River Sand (RS), sawdust (SD) and Control (Cont.) respectively. While, Control had moderately highest temperature reading at day 13 (30 °C), followed by Sawdust (28.90 °C) and River Sand (27.80 °C). However, vegetables kept in the ambient chamber were observed to rot faster than those in the double chamber of the evaporative cooling system. Complete deterioration occurred at day 5 for ambient chamber conditions. The quality of the vegetables kept in double evaporative cooling chamber using river sand performed best in the storage of Amaranthus. This research hereby recommended that evaporative cooling chambers filled with river sand and constant water supplied to keep the absorbent moist should be utilized for storage of Amaranths and other vegetables in an evaporative cooling system. Further studies should vary the use of different porous absorbent. Also, cooling fans should also be incorporated to the storage system to enhance cooling efficiency., Об’єктом дослідження є двокамерна випарна система охолодження для зберігання овочів, одна камера якої заповнена річковим піском, інша – тирсою як абсорбентом, а зберігання в камері при умовах навколишнього середовища є третім параметром (контролем). Як дослідну культуру використовували амарант (Amaranthus). Конструкція системи була виготовлена як зсередини, так і зовні з використанням шести (6) дюймових бетонних блоків і оштукатурена цементним розчином. 460 г садових свіжих овочів (Amaranthus) збирали та зберігали в камерах випарної системи охолодження та при кімнатних умовах (контроль), потім повторювали двічі, відповідно. Зміна якості (зменшення ваги, в’янення, зміна кольору), зміна температури, відносна компактність і ефективність охолодження були параметрами, які оцінювали під час експерименту, і піддавали дисперсійному аналізу (ANOVA) з використанням тесту Duncan’s Multiply Test на 5 % рівні значущості. Експеримент проводився та аналізувався у відділі рослинництва Федерального коледжу лісового господарства (Єрихон Ібадан, Нігерія). Дослідження виявило відсутність істотної різниці між відносною вологістю (%), ефективністю охолодження абсорбенту (%) для абсорбуючих матеріалів у камерах випарного охолодження (89,90 %, 89,30 % і 75,80 %) і (88,50 %, 82,50 % і 80,40 % ) на 10 і 15 день для річкового піску, тирси та контролю, відповідно. У той час як контроль мав помірно найвищу температуру на 13 день (30 °C), потім тирса (28,90 °C) і річковий пісок (27,80 °C). Однак спостерігалося, що овочі, які зберігалися в камері при умовах навколишнього середовища, гниють швидше, ніж овочі в подвійній камері системи випарного охолодження. Повне погіршення відбулося на 5-й день для камери з умовами навколишнього середовища. Якість овочів, які зберігалися в камері подвійного випарного охолодження з використанням річкового піску, була найкращою при зберіганні амаранту. В цьому дослідженні рекомендується використовувати для зберігання амаранту та інших овочів у системі випарного охолодження камери випарного охолодження, наповнені річковим піском і постійною подачею води для підтримки вологості абсорбенту. Подальші дослідження повинні бути направлені на вивчення використання різних пористих абсорбентів. Крім того, вентилятори охолодження також повинні бути включені в систему зберігання, щоб підвищити ефективність охолодження.

The importance of renewable energy compared to fossil fuels is increasing due to growing energy demand and environmental challenges. Multi-generation systems use one or more energy sources and produce several useful outputs. The present study aims at investigating and comparing solar energy based multi-generation systems with and without once -through MSF desalination unit from the thermodynamic point of view. Firstly, hydrogen, electricity, and hot water for space heating and domestic usage are produced using the system, which consists of a parabolic trough collector, an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and a PEM electrolyzer and heat exchanger as sub-systems. The performance of the entire system is evaluated from the energetic and exergetic points of view. Various parameters affecting hydrogen production rate and efficiency values are also investigated with the thermodynamic model implemented in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) package. The system can produce hydrogen at a mass flow rate of 20.39 kg/day. The results of the study show that the energy and exergy efficiency values of the ORC are calculated to be 16.80% and 40% while those for the overall system are determined to be 78% and 25.50%, respectively. Secondly, once-through MSF desalination unit is integrated to the system between ORC evaporator and heat exchanger producing domestic hot water in the solar cycle in order not to affect hydrogen production rate while thermodynamic values are compared. Fresh water production capacity of the system is calculated to be at a volumetric flow rate of 5.74 m(3)/day with 10 stages. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.

Abstract Organ transplant is one of the best options for many medical conditions, and in many cases, it may be the only treatment option. Recent evidence suggests, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic might have detrimentally affected the provision of this type of healthcare services. The main purpose of this article is to use Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index to assess the impact that the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 had on the provision of solid organ transplant services. To this purpose, we use three complementary models, each focusing on specific aspects of the organ donation and transplantation process, and data from Brazil, which has one of the most extensive public organ transplant programs in the world. Using data from 17 States plus the Federal District, the results of our analysis show a significant drop in the performance of the services in terms of the organ donation and transplantation process from 2018 to 2020, but the results also indicate that not all aspects of the process and States were equally affected. Furthermore, by using different models, this research also allows us to gain a more comprehensive and informative assessment of the performance of the States in delivering this type of service and identify opportunities for reciprocal learning, expanding our knowledge on this important issue and offering opportunities for further research.

Interpreting accuracy is one of the most commonly used indicators of cognitive demands in experimental interpreting studies. One possibility to assess interpreting performance is to analyse interpreting accuracy based on meaning units. The methodological approaches used thus far, however, have some drawbacks: (a) they are limited to an assessment of sense consistency with no indication of the logical cohesion of the rendition, (b) they do not take into account the difference between unintended and strategic omissions or, more generally, the prioritization of source speech information as an interpreting strategy, and (c) they do not allow for the observation of fluctuations of cognitive load or effects of fatigue. In this article, we will present a refined approach to unit-based accuracy analysis that may contribute to solving the issues mentioned above. The new method will be illustrated by means of an example data set from a larger project consisting of the renditions of ten professional and ten student interpreters. It will also include relevant statistical analyses.

This research paper fills a literature gap by tapping into Europe’s Just Transition to green energy production and consumption models and introduces empirically derived trends. The mix of analysed variables was targeted at sustainable energy transformation models according to complementary economic research areas. Based on the clustered heat maps method, double dendrograms were constructed to identify socioeconomic and environmental patterns that characterize highly economic-efficient and sustainable transition patterns from the standard energy production and consumption model to the environmental-friendly and cost-efficient model in the European area. Results show that Austria, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, and Luxembourg followed the patterns of highly economically performant European countries that turned energy and resource productivity in their favour based on multiple factors: recycling, R&D, innovation, digitization. The opposite was observed in the case of many South-Eastern European countries. Robustness checks were performed based on the linear discriminant analysis methodology and results confirmed that Northern European countries lead the change to a more sustainable future. In this context, this research brings empirical results for decision-makers and aims to facilitate a better understanding for adapting policies according to national needs, as well as to the patterns of success identified in the case of European leaders. First published online 15 June 2022

In recent years, implementation of pay-for-performance (P4P) programmes in health care has become a worldwide initiative. However, most P4P programmes incorporate systems of Performance Indicators (PI) without accounting for trade-offs between indicators. This article has two objectives: (1) to develop a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology for performance assessment of primary care providers; and (2) to propose an innovative methodology for P4P contracting based on the DEA assessment results. To achieve the first objective, we modify the standard DEA model to account for the necessary relations between the weights attributed to each PI and domain of performance and to account for the effect of the relevant environmental variables. To achieve the second objective, we combine relative and absolute performance assessments in the elaboration of several bases for reward, and then we link these assessments to a system of graduated rewards. A benchmarking programme is also proposed to contribute to the dissemination of best practices. This article contributes to the literature by proposing an enhanced methodology for performance assessment of primary care providers which can form the basis for P4P rewards planning. The applicability and advantages of the proposed methodology are illustrated with data from Portugal, but it can easily be adapted to different sets of PIs or domains, making it relevant for performance assessment and for P4P reward setting in other contexts and countries. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Corner joints are critical points of wooden structures not only in furniture construction but also in traditional wooden architecture, especially in constructions without nails. This study was performed to determine the effects of particular factors such as the axis of assembly, types of material, and adhesive on the tensile performance of various modern and traditional types of wooden corner joints. For this purpose, various corner joint specimens were prepared with three different wooden materials: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Lipsky) wood, Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra Lipsky) wood, and Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) using two different adhesives: polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyurethane (Desmodur-VTKA) glues; and five different wooden joint types: dowel, tongue-and-groove, half-blind dovetail, screw, and eccentric screw joints. Tensile performance tests, vertical and parallel to the axis of assembly, were carried out according to ASTM D 1037 guidelines. Experiments indicated that, while the tensile performance of MDF specimen connected with a screw and PVAc adhesive was the highest under loading parallel to the axis of assembly (4592 N); it was the lowest under loading parallel to the axis of assembly in MDF specimen connected with tongue-and-groove joint and PVAc adhesive (260 N), respectively. As a result, it may be advantageous to apply screwed joints in corners for high tensile strength in parallel to the axis of the assembly., Kutni su spojevi kritične točke drvnih konstrukcija ne samo u proizvodnji namještaja nego i u tradicionalnoj drvnoj arhitekturi, posebice u konstrukcijama bez čavala. Ovo je istraživanje provedeno kako bi se utvrdili učinci specifičnih čimbenika kao što su os montaže, vrsta materijala i vrsta ljepila na vlačna svojstva različitih modernih i tradicionalnih vrsta drvnih kutnih spojeva. Za tu su svrhu pripremljeni različiti uzorci kutnih spojeva od tri vrste drvnog materijala: od drva bijelog bora (Pinus sylvestris Lipsky), drva lombardijske topole (Populus nigra Lipsky) i od srednje guste ploče vlaknatice (MDF), uz uporabu dvaju različitih ljepila: polivinilacetatnoga (PVAc) i poliuretanskoga (Desmodur-VTKA) te uz pet različitih vrsta drvnih spojeva: moždanika, pera i utora, poluzatvorenog lastina repa, vijka i ekscentra. Ispitivanja vlačnih svojstava okomito i paralelno s osi montaže provedena su u skladu s normom ASTM D 1037. Rezultati su pokazali da su najbolja vlačna svojstva MDF uzorka spojenoga vijkom i PVAc ljepilom pod opterećenjem paralelno s osi montaže (4592 N), a najlošijima su se pokazala vlačna svojstva MDF uzorka spojenoga perom i utorom te PVAc ljepilom pod opterećenjem paralelno s osi montaže (260 N). Prema tome, primjena vijaka u kutnim spojevima može biti dobar izbor za postizanje visoke vlačne čvrstoće paralelno s osi montaže.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual reality (VR) have attracted growing attention within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry in recent years. Integration of BIM and VR technology can develop workflow efficiency through enhanced common understanding and prepare students in architecture and engineering programs to become leaders of the AEC industry. However, the current shortage of AEC professionals trained in BIM and VR is still a barrier to collaborative working practice in this industry. This paper reviews previous work on the BIM, VR, and BIM-into-VR in AEC education/training to bridge this gap. It also presents an advanced framework to clarify creating and using the BIM model into VR workflow in the AEC industry through the integrated definition function (IDEF0) model. The authors further evaluated the BIM-into-VR applications in literature and real-life by surveying students’ learning performance in terms of eight characteristics relevant to the VR environment and students’ performance within two projects, one involving the “NASA Mars Habitat Project” and the other involving the “Norris Center Project” at Northwestern University. The results confirmed that BIM-into-VR usability and efficiency in improving students’ main learning performance characteristics: Learnability, Interoperability, Visualization, Real-world, Interaction, Creativity, Motivation, and Comfort. This study addresses the advantages of using BIM-into-VR in AEC programs. It also offers suggestions to AEC educators and students in implementing BIM-into-VR in different courses and creating a roadmap for their future as professionals in the AEC industry.

Individuals are expected to use technology competently and in a self-regulated way in everyday life (e.g., Lindqvist et al., 2018) but are rarely instructed on how to use devices appropriately. Accordingly, dealing with home automation and appliances requires skills in technical problem solving (TPS). Research on adults’ behavior in TPS situations requires an appropriate measure of TPS skill. We aim at (1) developing a test of TPS that assesses performance in tasks where individuals need to apply knowledge and (2) validating the interpretation of the resulting test score in terms of technical problem solving skill. Our research questions concern psychometric properties of the developed test and items, effects of device and item characteristics on item success, and effects of individual characteristics, especially behaviors of knowledge acquisition using system exploration and operating manuals. For this purpose, we used and refined a simulation-based computer test by Stemmann (2016). We used a total of nine device simulations, creating so-called TPS units. Each TPS unit includes a knowledge acquisition phase that individuals may use to familiarize themselves with a device as well as a knowledge application phase that requests individuals to solve four test items. The devices between TPS units differ in their degree of complexity (the number of states and variables that describes the device) and intransparency (the extent of device states, device variables, and their interconnections that are, in parts temporally, unseen; Stemmann, 2016). The items of the knowledge application phase differ in the number of actions necessary to solve the task correctly. Additional questionnaire items concerning prior knowledge about a device and metacognitive accuracy of one’s own capability to solve technical problems are also part of each TPS unit. Planned analyses involve the application of models of item response theory (research question 1 on psychometric properties) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs; research questions 2 and 3 on effects of device, item, and individual characteristics on item success).

Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems can produce a significant portion of the energy demand of urban areas. Despite their potential, they remain a niche technology that architects and project engineers still find esthetically limited. The dark blue or black color of standard photovoltaic panels is considered inappropriate for restoration projects of historic buildings and represents a major constraint on the development of new projects. This work will provide insight into how the use of optic filters can offer new pathways for architectural acceptance of photovoltaic panels. Optic filters selectively reflect or transmit light by interference and can be designed and fabricated using cost-effective and industrially compatible processes. By using in-house developed ray tracing software coupled with TCAD Sentaurus, more than 400 colors were obtained, and their impact on the opto-electrical performance of interdigitated back-contacted solar cells was studied. Results show a maximum efficiency loss of 1.6% absolute at the perpendicular incidence of light on the range of obtained colors when compared with a standard dark blue solar cell. Simulations for different angles of incidence showed that the current reduction on the standard device could be modeled using a cosine relationship. The colored cells, however, deviated significantly from this relationship. We propose that the angular behavior of any cell (colored or standard) could be simulated by modifying the effective irradiance with scaling factors equal to the ratios of the photogenerated current at any angle with respect to the value at normal incidence. We demonstrate that this approach accurately models the effect of the color filter and allows for an easy transition from a bare cell to an encapsulated one. Due to the spectral effect of the filter, we developed both a spectrally resolved optical model and a two-dimensional finite volume transient thermal model. In case of the optical model, we demonstrate an accuracy in the prediction of the reflectance produced by the color with values of mean bias error (MBE) between 2.0% and 3.9%. As for the thermal model, it was validated by first analyzing a standard model under conditions of nominal operating cell temperature and then comparing its results with published scientific literature. Later, we compare its prediction against 2 weeks of measurements. In both cases the thermal model proves an adequate accuracy, yielding differences below 1.5°C with respect to other scientific works and an MBE value of 0.89°C as well as a root-mean-square error value of 2.10°C for the entire measurement period. With the validated models, we studied the effect of the encapsulation on the color perception. We present two options of color filters. The first one produces relatively low reflectance losses and presents relative annual direct current (DC) energy losses of up to 6.4% for Delft, in the Netherlands, and up to 5.9% for Alice Springs in Australia. However, this first option has very poor color brightness. The second studied filter produces highly saturated bright colors. Improving brightness can increase the annual DC relative losses up to 13.7% and 13.5% for Delft and Alice Springs, respectively. Overall, we demonstrate that colored filters based on multilayer optical stacks are a versatile option for coloring cells that allow a good compromise between esthetics and performance.

The performance assessment of strategic levels of an integrated management system (IMS) is critical to policy making phase of executive organizations. Because, the integrity of objectives and strategies in the overall system performance insures the integrity of activities and performance in the subsidiary departments and units. Unfortunately, this approach of assessment has been rarely focused. Here, the Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping-Relative Degree Analysis (FCM-RDA) technique was chosen to assess the performance trend of the health, safety, environment, and energy (HSEE)-IMS in a ministry during 2014-2019. There were 12 HSEE-IMS strategic sub-elements and 6 system sub-performances. The Gephi0.9.2 software was applied to simulate the FCM model. Accordingly, the sub-performance of policy and leadership was placed at the first priority. The development of HSEE management, and review (of policies and programs) were two HSEE-IMS sub-elements, categorized in the second priority. The results showed an ascending trend of the system performance during 2014-2018 and a descending trend during 2018-2019. It was found that the poor performance of HSEE-IMS sub-elements in the strategic and tactical levels resulted in the poor performance of system at the operational levels. There was found a strong relationship between the HSEE-IMS sub-elements and system sub-performances.

Assessing complex skills such as writing, designing, or problem-solving is a challenge. Comparative judgement is considered to be a reliable and valid method for assessing student work (e.g., Lesterhuis et al., 2018; Verhavert et al., 2019). In comparative judgement, students’ work is evaluated by pairwise comparison. As assessors only must indicate which piece of work is better, differences in severity are not at play (Pollitt, 2012). Furthermore, each work is compared with several others and evaluated by multiple assessors. Based on these comparisons, the quality of each individual work can be estimated. This quality score reflects, so to speak, the shared consensus of the assessors (Jones et al., 2015; van Daal et al., 2019). The comparative judgement approach is based on Thurstone’s law of comparative judgement (1927), which states that it is possible to discriminate between objects on a single scale through a series of pairwise comparisons (Thurstone, 1927). Even though Thurstone already proposed the possibility of using comparative judgement for assessment in education, it was not until 2004 that Pollitt introduced the method in education in his paper “Let’s stop marking exams”. His work convincingly explained the merits of comparative assessment in terms of validity and provided the first evidence for a reliable summative assessment. Now, almost two decades later, various comparative judgement tools are available for education, such as Comproved or NoMoreMarking. Moreover, researchers around the world have investigated the quality of the method, where and/or how it can be applied, and how the method can be improved. In this Research Topic, we aim to provide a state-of-the-art of research on comparative judgement in education. We bring together current insights on the validity, reliability and efficiency of the method. In their contributions to this Research Topic, the authors present recent empirical research, each with their own approach, perspective and research focus. In this way, this Research Topic offers the foundation for future research into comparative judgement.

PURPOSE: To review the evidence on the relative prognostic performance of the available prognostic scores for survival in spinal metastatic surgery in order to provide a recommendation for use in clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic review of comparative external validation studies assessing the performance of prognostic scores for survival in independent cohorts was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies were identified through Medline and Embase until May 2021. Studies were included when they compared at least four survival scoring systems in surgical or mixed cohorts across all primary tumor types. Predictive performance was assessed based on discrimination and calibration for 3-month, 1-year and overall survival, and generalizability was assessed based on the characteristics of the development cohort and external validation cohorts. Risk of bias and concern regarding applicability were assessed based on the 'Prediction model study Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool' (PROBAST). RESULTS: Twelve studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and covered 17 scoring systems across 5.130 patients. Several scores suffer from suboptimal development and validation. The SORG Nomogram, developed in a large surgical cohort, showed good discrimination on 3-month and 1-year survival, good calibration and was superior in direct comparison with low risk of bias and low concern regarding applicability. Machine learning algorithms are promising as they perform equally well in direct comparison. Tokuhashi, Tomita and other traditional risk scores showed suboptimal performance. CONCLUSION: The SORG Nomogram and machine learning algorithms outline superior performance in survival prediction for surgery in spinal metastases. Further improvement by comparative validation in large multicenter, prospective cohorts can still be obtained. Given the heterogeneity of spinal metastases, superior methodology of development and validation is key in improving future machine learning systems. ispartof: EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL vol:30 issue:10 pages:2800-2824 ispartof: location:Germany status: published

This paper reports a study investigating business English teachers’ belief about online assessment using Q methodology. To address the common practice that teachers had to conduct online assessment during COVID-19 period and with performance assessment as theoretical foundation, this paper studied 22 Chinese business English teachers’ belief when they had to do assessment in online context. With data analysis from Q-methodology and complementary interviews, the findings of this study showed a shared configuration among the business English teachers in three factors: strong belief in performance assessment for business English courses; belief in supportive role of ICT; and belief in assessment as an ongoing process. The three factors were further interpreted from systematic approach of assessment and the role of ICT in online teaching. This study will be of significance to help teachers improve the quality of online assessment and raise their awareness of effective use ICT in online teaching.

This article is devoted to the issues of assessing the effectiveness of information systems for enterprises engaged in retail trade in consumer goods. This article describes the tasks that the retail FMCG trade, as well as the functions of the retail trade, solve. The features of the subject area were considered, which will form the basis for the formation of scales for assessing the effectiveness of information systems. The priorities, tasks, and features of the business model of enterprises engaged in retail trade in consumer goods, depending on the market segment they occupy. Various types of corporate information systems that can be used in retail trade are considered. The analysis of the subject area made it possible not on ly to determine important metrics for assessing the effectiveness of information systems but also to determine the priority of the requirements for the availability of certain functionality in the information system from each business segment, large, medium and small. Also, the existing standards in the subject areas of software development and enterprise organization were considered. This article proposes a methodology for evaluating information systems for enterprises engaged in consumer goods retail trade that belong to different market segments. The proposed methodology is based on the approach of multi-criteria expert assessment. An example of linguistic variables for one of the questions of the questionnaire for experts is given. The order of operation of the expert system is also presented in the form of an activity diagram. The developed expert information system can be monetized by providing referral links to the products of companies supplying information systems for retail. In the future, it is planned to add the ability for qualified experts to select combination of metrics for assessment, as well as change the assessment scale to increase accuracy. Дана стаття присвячена питанням оцінки ефективності інформаційних систем для підприємств, що займаються роздрібною торгівлею товарами масового попиту. В даній статті наведені завдання, які вирішує роздрібна торгівля товарами масового попиту, а також функції роздрібної торгівлі. Були розглянуті особливості предметної області, які ляжуть в основу формування шкал оцінювання ефективності інформаційних систем. Також виділені пріоритети, завдання та особливості бізнес-моделі підприємств, що займаються роздрібною торгівлею товарами масового попиту в залежності від займаного ними сегмента ринку. Розглянуто різні типи корпоративних інформаційних систем, які можуть використовуватися в роздрібній торгівлі. Аналіз предметної області дозволив не тільки визначити важливі метрики для оцінки ефективності інформаційних систем, а й визначити пріоритет вимог щодо наявності певного функціоналу у інформаційної системи від кожного сегмента бізнесу - великого, середнього і малого. Також були розглянуті існуючі стандарти в предметних областях розробки програмного забезпечення та організації підприємства. У даній статті запропонована методика оцінки інформаційних систем для підприємств, що займаються роздрібною торгівлею товарами масового попиту, які належать до різних сегментів ринку. В основу пропонованої методики покладено підхід багатокритеріального експертного оцінювання. Наведено приклад лінгвістичних змінних по одному з питань анкети для експертів. Порядок роботи експертної системи також представлений у вигляді діаграми діяльності. Розроблена експертна інформаційна система може бути монетизована шляхом надання реферальних посилань на продукти компаній-постачальників інформаційних систем для роздрібної торгівлі. Надалі планується додавання можливості для кваліфікованих експертів здійснювати підбір комбінації метрик для оцінювання, а також змінювати шкалу оцінки для збільшення точності.

The Italian Space Agency (ASI)'s PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) hyperspectral remote sensing (HSR) satellite was launched on 22 March 2019. This spectral imaging sensor, with 238 bands across the 400-2500 nm range and 30-m spatial resolution, can advance remote-sensing studies for vast applications worldwide. The present study evaluates the capability of the sensor's L1 (Top-of the- atmosphere TOA radiance) and L2D (reflectance) products for mapping minerals and geology in Makhtesh Ramon (MR), a national park in southern Israel that covers approximately 200 km2. The exceptional geological features in this area, with hardly any vegetation and mostly clear skies year-round, make it an ideal site for remote-sensing studies in general and HSR studies in particular. The quality of the PRISMA sensor's technical and thematic performance was assessed by examining its radiometry and spectral products against a highly calibrated airborne HSR sensor (AisaFENIX 1K; 420 spectral bands, range 375-2500 nm, 1.5-m spatial resolution). Airborne and field data acquisition captured the entire MR area, followed by comprehensive fieldwork with a portable ASD FieldSpec spectrometer (400-2500 nm spectral range). The PRISMA sensor's radiance performance was evaluated by examining the top of the atmosphere radiance product against simulated radiance using the MODTRAN® radiative transfer code. The simulated radiance used in-situ ground reflectance measurements in several locations across MR. The L1 and L2D products presented fair results with some outliers for PRISMA's L2D SWIR 2 long-wavelength region. The L2D product was further studied to map mineral occurrences and demonstrated promising results compared to MR's well-known geology and mineral distribution, and it was highly correlated to the high-spatial-resolution spectral mapping generated by the AisaFENIX 1K airborne sensor. Based on these results, we successfully mapped different types of minerals, such as iron oxides in the VNIR, gypsum in SWIR 1, and clay in SWIR 2. The PRISMA data's reflectance interference across the longer wavelengths of SWIR 2 did not permit fine mapping for carbonates, probably because of the L2D's poor performance in this spectral range. The quantitative performance of PRISMA's mineral mapping was judged relative to the quantitative products of the AisaFENIX 1K sensor for these same minerals, revealing about 80% accuracy for PRISMA's products.

Seit Jahrzehnten werden in der naturwissenschaftsdidaktischen Forschung zur Diagnostik experimenteller Fähigkeiten sogenannte Performance Assessments bzw. hands-on Experimentiertests mit praktisch zu bearbeitenden Aufgaben eingesetzt. Dabei erhält die Frage der Validität von Experimentiertests immer mehr Gewicht. Mit einem systematischen Review soll daher die Validierungspraxis von hands-on Experimentiertests analysiert werden. Dazu wird in einem ersten theoretischen Teil literaturbasiert ein Ordnungssystem für Validierungsargumentationen im Rahmen von Validierungsstudien entwickelt. In einem zweiten Teil werden die seit 1990 publizierten hands-on Experimentiertests identifiziert, von zwei unabhängigen Ratern auf Konsens kodiert, in das Ordnungssystem eingeordnet und schließlich diskutiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen retrospektiv eine typische, auf wenige Elemente eingeschränkte Validierungspraxis. Prospektiv liefert das Review evidenzbasierte Argumente und Impulse für künftige Testentwicklungen und -validierungen. English version For decades, performance assessments using practical tasks have been used in science education research to assess experimental skills. The question of the validity of such tests is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, a systematic review will analyze the validation practice of hands-on tests. To this end, a literature-based classification system is first developed, and its retrospective and prospective functions are explained. Then, hands-on tests published since 1990 are identified, coded for consensus by two independent raters, classified into the ordering system, and finally discussed. The results show a limited, typical validation practice for hands-on tests. Based on these results, desiderata for future test validation are derived and discussed., +repphzhbib2022A

This research is based on the existing phenomena that show that employees cannot work optimally in a company agency. The purpose of this study was to find out and get a study of the Effect of Performance Assessment, and Compensation on the Intention to Leave PT. Indako Traing Coy Cikampak Labuhanbatu Selatan. This research is a quantitative descriptive study with a total sample of 64 respondents, while the sampling technique used in the study was saturated sampling. In this study the independent variables consisted of Performance Assessment, and Satisfaction, while the dependent variable was the Intention to Leave Employees. Testing instruments using validity and reliability tests. While the method of data analysis uses multiple linear regression analysis with t test, test f and R². The results of the study of the independent variable Performance Assessment (X1) obtained tcount (3.384)> T table (2.055), and the variable Compensation (X2) tcount (3.160)> T table (2.055). Then the Performance Assessment variable (X1) has a partial effect on the Intention to Leave variable For (Y), the Compensation variable (X2) has a partial effect on the variable Intention to Leave. The results of the F test show that F count (15,162)> F table (2.98), while the significance is 0,000.

Interactive methods support decision makers in finding the most preferred solution in multiobjective optimization problems. They iteratively incorporate the decision maker's preference information to find the best balance among conflicting objectives. Several interactive methods have been developed in the literature. However, choosing the most suitable interactive method for a given problem can prove challenging and appropriate indicators are needed to compare interactive methods. Some indicators exist for a priori methods, where preferences are provided at the beginning of the solution process. We present some numerical experiments that illustrate why these indicators are not suitable for interactive methods. As the main contribution of this paper, we propose a set of desirable properties of indicators for assessing interactive methods as the first step of filling a gap in the literature. We discuss each property in detail and provide simple examples to illustrate their behavior. peerReviewed

The science of measuring and reporting health system performance is rapidly evolving. Value-based health care (VBHC) puts patient outcomes at the center of the health care process while optimizing the use of hospital resources across multiple stakeholders. Value-based health care performance assessment systems help optimize health care resources and improve the performance of health care delivery. However, existing performance frameworks are not fully aligned with this trend. Therefore, this study aims to identify and summarize the definition of VBHC and comprehensively assess its application in healthcare performance evaluation.

Interactive methods are useful decision-making tools for multiobjective optimization problems, because they allow a decision-maker to provide her/his preference information iteratively in a comfortable way at the same time as (s)he learns about all different aspects of the problem. A wide variety of interactive methods is nowadays available, and they differ from each other in both technical aspects and type of preference information employed. Therefore, assessing the performance of interactive methods can help users to choose the most appropriate one for a given problem. This is a challenging task, which has been tackled from different perspectives in the published literature. We present a bibliographic survey of papers where interactive multiobjective optimization methods have been assessed (either individually or compared to other methods). Besides other features, we collect information about the type of decision-maker involved (utility or value functions, artificial or human decision-maker), the type of preference information provided, and aspects of interactive methods that were somehow measured. Based on the survey and on our own experiences, we identify a series of desirable properties of interactive methods that we believe should be assessed.

INTRODUCTION: Performance-based risk-sharing agreements (PBRSAs), between payers, health care providers, and technology manufacturers can be useful when there is uncertainty about the (cost-) effectiveness of a new technology or service. However, they can be challenging to design and implement. AREAS COVERED: A total of 18 performance-based agreements were identified through a literature review. All but two of the agreements identified were pay-for-performance schemes, agreed between providers and payers at the national level. No examples were found of agreements between health care providers and manufacturers at the local level. The potential for these local agreements was illustrated by hypothetical case studies of water quality management and an integrated chronic kidney disease program. EXPERT OPINION: Performance-based risk-sharing agreements can work to the advantage of patients, health care providers, payers, and technology manufacturers, particularly if they facilitate the introduction of technologies or systems of care that might not have been introduced otherwise. However, the design, conduct, and implementation of PBRSAs in renal care pose a number of challenges. Efforts should be made to overcome these challenges so that more renal care patients can benefit from technological advances and new models of care.

Despite the widespread use of electronic devices and consumer products integrating flexible electronics, in industrial practice, the assembly process of film-based coverlays is still performed manually, and this, in turn, affects process accuracy in first place. Additionally, the related manual tasks can be troublesome for workers, causing stress and fatigue. As a result, such a process can represent a bottleneck in the fabrication of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCBs). In the present paper, the architecture of a gripper is proposed as the core device of a completely automated film-coverlay assembly process. The architecture of the gripper is vacuum-based and exploits the action of several independent valves, enabling the grip configuration according to the geometry of the component. The gripper operation is shown by implementing specific solutions related to the removal of the coverlay protective film and partial coverlay thermal bonding, thus providing also a detailed description of the phases concerning a feasible automated assembly process. The results of the tests concerning the evaluation of both solutions are reported and discussed in the paper. Finally, a simplified gripper version is prototyped to perform some of the tests, and it is also used to preliminarily assess the performance of the gripping strategy, with good results.

The article is aimed at studying the implementation of the State-based target programs in Ukraine by evaluating the efficiency of their financial component. Important systemic problems of implementation of the program-target planning method in Ukraine are identified. The efficiency of the financial component in the implementation of the State-based target programs in Ukraine is assessed in terms of certain sources of financing, namely: funds of the State and local budgets of Ukraine, as well as other sources (off-budget funds such as contributions of program participants, grants of international organizations, funds of business entities and individuals interested in the implementation of projects, charitable and sponsorship contributions, credit funds, etc.). The planned amounts of financing for the researched programs have been determined and the shares that should come from different sources are calculated. At this, the State-based target programs are allocated with focus on economic, social and environmental ones. Some regularities of financing of target programs in the context of the structure of sources of financing and total investments have been identified. A study of the actual involvement of financial resources in target programs in general form and at different sources of financing (at the expense of the State budget, local budgets and other sources) is carried out. The percentage of the tasks scheduled in the target programs is determined. The components of the assessment of the success of implementation of the State-based target programs are determined by calculating the average percentage of the planned indicators of the program implementation. The efficiency of the use of financial resources for the implementation of target programs of various directedness is carried out. The general planned and actual amounts of financing of the State-based target programs in Ukraine are provided. Prospects for further research in this direction are to determine the effectiveness of attracting certain sources to the financing of targeted programs of various directedness.

Asphalt pavements have been extensively used in highway system. However, a great number of asphalt pavements suffer from early distresses after servicing for about 2–3 years, which leads to frequent rehabilitation and increased maintenance cost. To understand the damage propagation principle and the correlated rehabilitation measure, the progress of pavement distress rehabilitation, structural performance, and damage assessment of asphalt pavements has been explored in the perspectives of materials and structures. The current advance on the parameters for describing the cracking and rutting of asphalt pavements has been introduced. The development tendency for the damage self-healing and rehabilitation, and structural assessment has also been discussed. The study can provide a scientific guidance for understanding the generally used structural damage rehabilitation measure and performance assessment methods of asphalt pavements.

Momentum of the creation of partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and communities is strong. As their significance intensifies, the question of how to judge their value is garnering increasing attention. In this perspective article, we develop a framework for comprehensively appraising HEI-community partnerships. Constituent parts of the framework are unpacked, and application of the framework is then discussed. The appraisal framework provides a mechanism to document evidence of worth, and most importantly contributes to the continuous improvement and learning imperative of HEI-community partnerships.

Performance assessments, in which human raters assess examinee performance in practical tasks, have attracted much attention in various assessment contexts involving measurement of higher-order abilities. However, difficulty persists in that ability measurement accuracy strongly depends on rater and task characteristics such as rater severity and task difficulty. To resolve this problem, various item response theory (IRT) models incorporating rater and task parameters, including many-facet Rasch models (MFRMs), have been proposed. When applying such IRT models to datasets comprising results of multiple performance tests administered to different examinees, test linking is needed to unify the scale for model parameters estimated from individual test results. In test linking, test administrators generally need to design multiple tests such that raters and tasks partially overlap. The accuracy of linking under this design is highly reliant on the numbers of common raters and tasks. However, the numbers of common raters and tasks required to ensure high accuracy in test linking remain unclear, making it difficult to determine appropriate test designs. We therefore empirically evaluate the accuracy of IRT-based performance-test linking under common rater and task designs. Concretely, we conduct evaluations through simulation experiments that examine linking accuracy based on a MFRM while changing numbers of common raters and tasks with various factors that possibly affect linking accuracy.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T16:33:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-09-29 Background subtraction is a prerequisite for a wide range of applications, including video surveillance systems. A significant number of algorithms are often developed and published in different publication mediums in the area, such as workshops, symposiums, conferences, and journals. An important task in presenting a new background subtraction algorithms is to clearly show that its performance outperforms the performance of the state-of-the-art algorithms. In this paper, we present recommendations on how to evaluate the performance of background subtraction algorithms for surveillance systems. We identified, through a systematic mapping, the key steps and components of this evaluation process - procedures, methods, and tools - most used by the authors in each of these steps. Considering this statistical analysis, we perform a theoretical analysis of the most used key components to identify their pros and cons. Then, we define a set of recommendations that aim to standardize and clarify the performance evaluation process of a new background subtraction algorithm. Univ Tecnol Fed Parana, Cornelio Procopio, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Bauru, SP, Brazil Simon Fraser Univ, Burnaby, BC, Canada Univ Sao Paulo, Elect Engn, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Bauru, SP, Brazil

The study recognizes that word problems are the necessary part and a key component of mathematics education. Knowing that mathematics, language as a means, and the situation context are never separable, the study was designed to identify the effect of language (L1, L2) and the context on problem solving in mathematics for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grader English as a second language (ESL) learners. For this, four achievement tests with possible variations of language and context were utilized as instrument to investigate three research questions. 867 students from three existing scenarios of school mathematics learning in Pakistan participated in the study. The data were analyzed through SPSS utilizing both descriptive as well as inferential methods. The results revealed that language and context have significant effect on problem solving. The study exposed that mathematical problem-solving assessments cannot be called valid if the factors of language and context are not taken into consideration. Learners’ first language was strongly recommended for teaching mathematics at low levels. This study will uniquely contribute to understanding and determining the due role of language in mathematics learning, performance, and assessments in all educational contexts.

Performance appraisal is the bedrock of talent management and has received much attention from scholars and researchers alike in their pursuit to develop accurate, objective, and robust Performance Management Systems (PMS). Through survey questionnaire the present study examines the prevalence of idiosyncratic rater biases on the performance appraisal systems and evaluates the measure of its impact. The correlations between the personality traits and the similarities of the raters’ workplace characteristics with the raters’ performance ratings are also determined. The study has provided empirical evidence of the manifestation of idiosyncratic rater bias in the company under study. The idiosyncratic rater tendencies showed a significant impact on performance ratings. It was seen that about one-third of the variations in the ratings were resultant of the idiosyncratic factors, such as similarities in the personality traits and workplace identities. It is also found that there exists a positive correlation between the similarities in the identities, as well as the personality traits of the raters and the ratees, and the way the rating awarded by the rater.

Utilizing electricity from renewable resources is very attractive to decrease the dependence on fossil fuels. As a result, hybrid power systems are gaining more attention. This paper focuses on the optimal design and dynamic simulation of renewable-based, hybrid standalone power systems. The designed system is able to meet the energy need of a building with 5 kW peak electricity demand. Both the technical and economic feasibility of the system was investigated under various climatic conditions of Turkey. Diesel fuel consumption, energy cost and annual CO2 emissions were estimated and compared with the diesel generator-only system. A parametric analysis was also conducted to understand the impact of the capacity of the PV array, wind turbine and the battery on the CO2 emissions and the levelized cost of energy. The system in each location was optimized based on the minimum energy cost and CO2 emissions. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Over the past decades, the financial industry has been affected by sustained liberalization and synchronization of the financial markets as well as new developments in information technology. This caused the banking industry in emerging markets to become more competitive due to increased bank sizes caused by acquisitions and mergers while they did not necessarily become more profitable. In this article the organizational restructuring process of a bank in Rwanda is investigated on its effectiveness. The high performance organization (HPO) diagnosis was applied, consisting of a questionnaire (containing questions on the quality of the organization) and interviews with the top management of the bank. This diagnosis established the HPO status of the bank. The questionnaire was also applied at three other banks in Rwanda for comparison purposes. The HPO Diagnosis clearly indicated the reasons why the restructuring efforts of the case company had not resulted in better organizational results and in fact had led to under-par performance compared to the other three banks. The diagnosis also yielded multiple improvement possibilities for the bank to make its restructuring efforts still successful. The research findings will make it possible for Rwanda Bank to improve its performance to the benefit both of its clients and stakeholders. The findings will also benefit other Rwandan banks in their efforts to achieve higher organizational performance.

Implementing the Strategy of Spatial Development of the Russian Federation involves various regional policy measures and requires choosing the most appropriate tools. The issue gains importance in case of combining the search for additional sources of growth with an integrated system for assessing the efficiency of the existing measures. Admittedly, such system in the Russian Federation is still in its formation. Therefore, in order to implement public policy, it is crucial to critically analyse the most significant aspects of the methodology for assessing the efficiency. The concept of «efficiency», apart from efficiency itself, includes he performance, impact, and usability of the tool. The assessment of the efficiency varies in different countries, as it is not a single practice that can be applied regardless of geographical and historical context. The paper substantiates the idea that the assessment of the efficienc y includes th e examinatio n o f social , cultura l an d politica l elements . The assessment is a flexi ble management tool, not just an instrument demonstrating the reduction of regional differences. Drawing on the principles of spatial hierarchy, the paper suggests assessing the efficiency of regional policy tools at the macro-, meso- and micro-regional levels. The assessment focuses on solving four large classes of applied problems: provision of public goods, forms of the spatial organisation of the economy, implementation of regional and macro-regional programs, and the development of large projects. The characteristics of the assessment of the efficiency depend on the choice of either endogenous or exogenous growth theory. Additionally, the assessment of the efficiency of a variety of programs (multi-criteria evaluation) specifically differs from the assessment of individual programs of spatial development. It is advisable to consider the practice of assessment in a broader context, not just as a task of financial and management control. The research findings can be used for creating an integrated system that provides feedback, organises the consequences of regional policies and the effects of achieving national development goals.

This work presents a thermodynamic evaluation of an operating geothermal ORC power plant. The model is realized by using measured data of AFJET geothermal power plant which has 3MWe net power output capacity. Thermodynamic assessment of the system is conducted to see the energy and exergy efficiencies of each component, and the whole plant. Additionally, a parametric study is conducted to understand the effects of various operating conditions on the system performance. Different from previous studies, daily and annual net power output profile of the plant was investigated with considering ambient temperature fluctuations. Results revealed that net power output can drop as significant as 36% from winter to summer months. Also, between nighttime to daytime, the net power expectation may decrease by 5%. The exergy destruction rate of re-injection process constitutes the most significant part (38.1%) of the total exergy destruction of the plant. The conversion and exergy efficiencies of the system are calculated as 11.24% and 39.03%, respectively. Also, to enhance the performance of the plant, an internal heat recovery system is recommended. The analyses show that the implementation of an internal heat recovery system improves the energy and exergy efficiencies of the plant by 15%.

Semi-tethered loaded swimming (denoted STLS) has been used widely to develop or test swimmers skills, although its transference to increase performance seems overestimated. In addition, its relationship with dry-land tests remains obscured by imprecise reports. Sixteen competitive male swimmers (age: 18.31 ± 1.42) participated in a two-fold purpose study: Firstly, swimming performance was assessed at different STLS intensities on an adapted Smith Machine. A repeated measures 1-way ANOVA was conducted to find differences between the variables collected through a linear encoder at 15, 30, 45 and 60% of the maximal load (ML). Secondly, the relationships between the swimming velocities and the different sorts of variables obtained on a dry-land arm-stroke strength test were studied by Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). The results showed that less velocity, acceleration and impulse were delivered at high loads (p < 0.001). It increased the velocity fluctuation, affecting the swimming patterns adversely. On the other hand, the correlations between velocity-based dry-land variables and swimming velocities (r = 0.71) seem to be more suitable to predict swimming performance, rather than strength-based variables (r = 0.49). In conclusion, coaches should reconsider using STLS, as little or no benefit may be obtained in performance., CTS-527: Actividad física y deportiva en el medio acuático

A cyber-physical system (CPS) represents the coupling network between a communication network and a power grid. Information flow (IF) as the medium of communication networks has an important influence on the performance assessment of this type of coupling network. However, traditional IF models cannot be applied to CPS directly because they do not take CPS distinctive coupling effect and associated operational mechanism into account. In this paper, we propose an information flow model (IFM) based on graph theory and traffic dynamics considering the functional architecture and transmission mode in realistic CPS to bridge the gap mentioned above. In the IFM, congestion rate and loss rate are employed to assess the performance of communication networks serving power grids under different transmission strengths and modes. Moreover, an auxiliary model about CPS topology is constructed, which can generate more realistic CPS topology. Case studies on an IEEE 39-bus system reveal the transmission performance of CPS in detail. The IFM is exploited to detect critical nodes and compare the effects of node enhancement on IF transmission of networks. In addition, IFM is also applied to compare the transmission performances of six network topologies, including three basic complex networks and three community-based networks. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model, and some suggestions are provided on performance improvement of IF transmission for CPS.

This paper presents the actual status and future developments of a technological demonstrator of key enabling technologies of Industry 4.0. The final scope of the project is the realization of a platform where different solutions addressing specific companies needs can be analyzed and their performance compared. Available Industry 4.0 technologies allows the realization of various architectures, even though the most appropriate solution has to be found by the company, accounting for different aspects, as economy, security, specific skills to be maintained or given in outsourcing. The first core of the platform, already working, consists in a Control Loop Performance Monitoring (CLPM) system which operates in cloud as a single module able to supervise routine data coming from different plants. This is an attractive solution for many companies allowing to avoid costs of local installations, linked to monitoring systems, human resources and additional effort for maintenance and upgrading. Some technical details about the application on a pilot-scale plant are given to illustrate the status of the activities. The scope of the project is to add new features to the system as: CLPM extended to plants located in different sites, equipment condition monitoring and environmental data analyses. To this aim, future developments of the platform are discussed in terms of improved technologies, different protocols and architectures.

Topographic effect in remote sensing images is severe in high mountainous areas. Efficiently to reduce the effects, several topographic normalization models have been proposed. Since the performance of the models is largely dependent on the spectral band and land surface type, the best performance model can vary from image to image in an area as well as from band to band in an image. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) map has been widely used for the vegetation monitoring and assessment. An efficient reduction of the topographic effect in the NDVI map must be required for the spatial analysis of the vegetation monitoring and assessment. In this paper, we propose an efficient method to select the best topographic normalization model in each band to reduce the topographic effect of NDVI maps. The histogram structural similarity (HSSIM) index was used for the model selection because the index allows to select the best model in each band of an image. Five topographic normalization models were used for the test, which include the sun-canopy-sensor (SCS), statistical-empirical, C-correction, Minnaert, and Minnaert + SCS. The performance of the proposed method was validated by using two different season Landsat-8 OLI images including the forest area of northern Malaysia. The standard deviations of the two NDVI maps generated from the test images were reduced by about 53.1% and 28.6% after correction in profile analysis. The coefficient of determination (R2) between the two different NDVI maps increased from 0.626 to 0.759. It indicates that the proposed method effectively reduced the topographic effect of the NDVI maps. This result implies that the proposed method can work well in the topographic normalization. Furthermore, the proposed method would be successfully applied to index maps including the normalized difference snow index (NDSI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), etc.

The use of digital tools can positively impact higher education for both scholars and faculty. In recent years, it has become apparent that podcasts are a suitable medium for use in teaching. They are provided almost exclusively by lecturers for students, with students passively listening to them rather than actively participating in their production. However, this could also be valuable for students. Therefore, this pilot study investigated the extent to which the creation of a podcast would be accepted by students as a method for capturing pharmacy students’ understanding of the learning content. The evaluation was performed as part of the “Clinical Chemistry” practical course, which was attended by third-year pharmacy students in groups of three. After passing the station dealing with practical clinical chemistry relevant diagnostic systems, the groups were asked to produce an educational podcast covering the essential content on the topics of urine test strips or pulse oximetry, respectively. Student attitudes toward the adoption of podcasts as a tool for performance assessment were determined with an anonymous and voluntary survey. The respondents reported that they had fun creating the podcast, which enabled them to look at the instructional content from a different perspective. Competencies such as social and communication skills and media literacy as well as self-organized and self-directed learning were also promoted. However, the students assumed that the tool is not ideally suited for dealing with extensive topics. Nonetheless, the students clearly support the continued creation of podcasts as a performance assessment tool. In addition, they suggest integrating podcasts into other courses within the pharmacy curriculum. This may also be related to the infrequent use of novel technologies, such as podcasts, in their education thus far.

Introduction - In light of reforms demanding increased transparency of student performance assessments, this study offers an in-depth perspective of how teachers develop their assessment practice. Much is known about factors that influence assessments, and different solutions claim to improve the validity and reliability of assessments of students' clinical competency. However, little is known about how teachers go about improving their assessment practices. This study aims to contribute empirical findings about how teachers' assessment practice may change when shared criteria for assessing students' clinical competency are developed and implemented. Methods - Using a narrative-in-action research approach grounded in narrative theory about human sense-making, one group including nine health professions teachers was studied over a period of 1 year. Drawing upon data from observations, interviews, formal documents and written reflections from these teachers, we performed a narrative analysis to reveal how these teachers made sense of experiences associated with the development and implementation of joint grading criteria for assessing students' clinical performances. Results - The findings present a narrative showing how a shared assessment practice took years to develop and was based on the teachers changed approach to scrutiny. The teachers became highly motivated to use grading criteria to ensure fairness in assessments, but more importantly, to fulfil their moral obligation towards patients. The narrative also demonstrates how these teachers reasoned about dilemmas that arose when they applied standardised assessment criteria. Discussion - The narrative analysis shows clearly how teachers' development and application of assessment standards are embedded in local practices. Our findings highlight the importance of teachers' joint discussions on how to interpret criteria applied in formative and summative assessments of students' performances. In particular, teachers' different approaches to assessing ‘pieces of skills’ versus making holistic judgements on students' performances, regardless of whether the grading criteria are clear and well-articulated on paper, should be acknowledged. Understanding the journey that these teachers made gives new perspectives as to how faculty can be supported when assessments of professionalism and clinical competency are developed. QC 20220328

The term "performance" originates from old French parfornir, which means "to do, carry out, complete, accomplish." A comparative performance system (CPS) is a set of elements and processes to assess the capability of individuals, organizations, and other subjects to achieve strategic goals using, as benchmark, the performance of similar subjects and/or the previous performance of the unit itself. A CPS supports decision-making of management directed to accomplish strategic targets and satisfy stakeholders in competitive contexts.

The goal of this study is to create a hybrid model that incorporates the intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS (IFTOPSIS) technique, data envelopment analysis (DEA), and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). IFTOPSIS is used to solve more complex problems in which the decision maker is uncertain or hesitant about giving qualitative preference values to the objects under consideration. This uncertainty is handled by intuitionistic fuzzy TOPSIS sets in this chapter. Integration of models can benefit from both approaches’ strengths in order to overcome their weaknesses. Using the proposed model in this study has several advantages, the most notable of which is the ability to make proper decisions on decision-making units’ (DMUs) performance.

В данной статье анализируется ситуация методологических подходов к оценке эффективности внедрения и использования цифровых валют в международных расчетах. Выявлены две группы методов, представленных как международными организациями, так и российскими авторами и проведен их сравнительный анализ. Авторами предложена методика оценки эффективности использования цифровой валюты в международные расчеты на основе матрицы и шкалы оценки критериев. По этой методике проведены сравнительный анализ и оценка эффективности использования криптовалют, стейблкоинов и цифровых валют центральных банков., This article analyzes the situation of methodological approaches to assessing the effectiveness of the introduction and use of digital currencies in international calculations. Two groups of methods presented by both international organizations and Russian authors were identified and their comparative analysis was carried out. The authors proposed a method for assessing the effectiveness of using digital currency in international calculations based on a matrix and a scale for assessing criteria. Using this methodology, a comparative analysis and assessment of the effectiveness of the use of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and digital currencies of central banks were carried out.

This study considers two-stage bilateral matching of teams and scientific and technological talents in new R&D organizations and proposes a two-stage dual-objective bilateral matching method based on prospect theory. The matching of teams and scientific and technological talent in new R&D institutions is divided into two stages: elimination matching in the first stage and selection matching in the second stage. In the first stage, the evaluation index of the team to talent and the cost index of talent are constructed, the dual reference points of peer and expectation are set for evaluating talent, and the bottom-line reference points are set for talent cost. The comprehensive prospect value in the first stage is calculated based on prospect theory, and the matching in the first stage is completed based on the dual-objective optimization model with the highest evaluation value and the lowest cost value. In the second stage, using the matching results of the first stage, the team evaluates the talent again, while the talent ranks the team to obtain the satisfaction value, and completes the second stage of bilateral matching based on prospect theory and the dual-objective optimization model with the highest evaluation value and the highest satisfaction value. Finally, a case study and method comparison show that the proposed method is feasible and effective.

Brain tumors have been the subject of research for many years. Brain tumors are typically classified into two main groups: benign and malignant tumors. The most common tumor type among malignant brain tumors is known as glioma. In the diagnosis of glioma, different imaging technologies could be used. Among these techniques, MRI is the most preferred imaging technology due to its high-resolution image data. However, the detection of gliomas from a huge set of MRI data could be challenging for the practitioners. In order to solve this concern, many Deep Learning (DL) models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have been proposed to be used in detecting glioma. However, understanding which CNN architecture would work efficiently under various conditions including development environment or programming aspects as well as performance analysis has not been studied so far. In this research work, therefore, the purpose is to investigate the impact of two major programming environments (namely, MATLAB and Python) on the accuracy of CNN-based glioma detection from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images. To this end, experiments on the Brain Tumor Segmentation (BraTS) dataset (2016 and 2017) consisting of multiparametric magnetic MRI images are performed by implementing two popular CNN architectures, the three-dimensional (3D) U-Net and the V-Net in the programming environments. From the results, it is concluded that the use of Python with Google Colaboratory (Colab) might be highly useful in the implementation of CNN-based models for glioma detection. Moreover, the 3D U-Net model is found to perform better, attaining a high accuracy on the dataset. The authors believe that the results achieved from this study would provide useful information to the research community in their appropriate implementation of DL approaches for brain tumor detection.

In this study, a novel fully hybrid simulation-optimization approach is proposed for enhancing the prediction performance of the conceptual Technische Universität Wien (TUW) hydrological model. In the simulation part of the proposed approach, the TUW model is hybridized with a support vector regression (SVR) model where SVR directly uses the TUW model outputs as input and simulates the runoff process. This hybridized simulation model is then integrated to a hybrid optimization approach where heuristic harmony search (HS) and Nelder-Mead Simplex (NMS) optimization approaches are mutually integrated. The objective of the hybrid HS-NMS optimization approach is to calibrate the associated parameter values of both TUW and SVR models by maximizing the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) calculated between simulated and observed runoff values. The applicability of the proposed approach is evaluated on a Murat sub-basin of the Gediz River Basin (GRB) in Turkey for different simulation and optimization model combinations. Identified results indicated that the proposed fully hybrid simulation–optimization approach not only efficiently calibrates the associated solution parameters, but also improves the prediction performance of the TUW model. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

The main objective of the present paper is to achieve the simulation of the long-term (e.g., annual) morphological evolution (bathymetry and shoreline) of a coastal area (Mastichari beach, Greece) due to wind-generated waves in an accurate and cost-effective way. For this purpose, wave climate schematization techniques are adopted in order to reduce the computational effort without losing or distorting the crucial information. Referring to the current practice, the wave chronology is not considered in detail in these acceleration techniques, and therefore, sea bottom and shoreline evolution are not estimated as a function of time. To fill this gap, a novel and easy-to-use chronology-based wave input reduction method is developed to produce representative wave time series of different intensities and durations. The performance of all the applied techniques in the present study is evaluated, and a comparative analysis is conducted. It is shown that the new chronology-based wave input reduction method can achieve a model run-time reduction of about 70%, while at the same time, it provides satisfactorily accurate results. In general, this research could be useful for coastal engineering studies and coastal zone monitoring, and thus, it would be a valuable tool for coastal engineers and marine scientists.