Ordinal regression by a gravitational model in the field of educational data mining

Educational data mining (EDM) is a research area where the goal is to develop data mining methods to examine data critically from educational environments. Traditionally, EDM has addressed the following problems: clustering, classification, regression, anomaly detection and association rule mining. In this paper, the ordinal regression (OR) paradigm, is introduced in the field of EDM. The goal of OR problems is the classification of items in an ordinal scale. For instance, the prediction of students' performance in categories (where the different grades could be ordered according to A ? B ? C ? D) is a classical example of an OR problem. The EDM community has not yet explored this paradigm (despite the importance of these problems in the field of EDM). Furthermore, an amenable and interpretable OR model based on the concept of gravitation is proposed. The model is an extension of a recently proposed gravitational model that tackles imbalanced nominal classification problems. The model is carefully adapted to the ordinal scenario and validated with four EDM datasets. The results obtained were compared with state‐of‐the‐art OR algorithms and nominal classification ones. The proposed models can be used to better understand the learning–teaching process in higher education environments.     

Using social media to enrich information systems field trip experiences: Students’ satisfaction and continuance intentions

A well-designed field trip can promote active learning and reinforce classroom materials. Few studies have examined the potential for social media to enhance IS field trip experiences by promoting active and collaborative learning. One major barrier to the exploitation of this potential is the lack of the adoption of social media by students as a learning tool to enhance field trip experiences. Therefore, the first task is to understand how to increase the satisfaction of students in their use of social media to enhance IS field trips. This research sets out to understand the factors that could help increase students’ satisfaction with the use of social media to enhance IS field trips, and thereby their intentions to continue to use social media in future field trips. The results show that to increase user satisfaction, course instructors should ensure that students perceive the social media sites used for enhancing field trip study to be trustworthy, effortless, useful and accepted by their peers. Future research could determine how we can incorporate the use of social media to enhance the field trip learning experience.     

交互式《编译原理》教学模式探讨

针对《编译原理》课程教学中存在的主要问题,分析该课程教学的特点,提出交互式教学的主要思路和实施方案。交互式教学的目的是培养学生主动思维、团队合作精神,激发学生的学习的兴趣,提高学生的编程能力,使学生真正掌握课程的精髓。     

基于工作过程导向的课程开发研究与实践

工作过程是“在企业里为完成一件工作任务并获得工作成果而进行的一个完整的工作程序,是一个综合的、时刻处于运动状态但结构相对固定的系统”。结合计算机多媒体技术专业,对基于工作过程导向的课程开发与建设思路、内容举措等进行剖析与探讨。     

基于多线程的顾客满意度PLS路径模型算法

在计算顾客满意度模型时, 普遍使用结构方程模型来求解复杂的多维度关系. 而针对结构方程模型的计算, 偏最小二乘(PLS)有效地解决了模型分析过程中大量潜变量无法直接采样获得的问题, 建立了显变量与潜变量之间的关系, 增强了模型的直观性和通用性. 为了提升偏最小二乘算法的效率, 在针对结构方程模型的计算中, 利用多线程将模型计算并行化, 以提升计算效率. 探讨了基于Java多线程的顾客满意度PLS路径模型的优化算法, 并在多核计算机上实验证明, 多线程化的PLS路径模型能够显著提升计算速度.     

Work hours, workload, sleep and fatigue in Australian Rail Industry employees

Research suggests that less than 5 h sleep in the 24 h prior to work and/or more than 16 h of wakefulness can significantly increase the likelihood of fatigue-related impairment and error at work. Studies have also shown exponential safety declines with time on shift, with roughly double the likelihood of accident or injury after 10 h relative to the first 8 h. While it is acknowledged that reduced sleep, increased wakefulness and longer work hours produce work-related fatigue, few studies have examined the impact of workload on this relationship. Studies in the rail industry have focused on drivers. This study investigated fatigue in a large sample of Australian Rail Industry Employees. Participants were from four companies (n = 90: 85m, 5f; mean age 40.2 ± 8.6 y). Data was analysed for a total of 713 shifts. Subjects wore wrist actigraphs and completed sleep and work diaries for 14-days. They also completed the Samn–Perelli Fatigue Scale at the beginning and end of shifts, and the NASA-TLX workload scale at least twice during each shift. Average (±SD) sleep length (7.2 ± 2.6 h), prior wake at shift end (12.0 ± 4.7 h), shift duration (8.0 ± 1.3) and fatigue (4.1 ± 1.3, “a little tired, less than fresh”) were within limits generally considered acceptable from a fatigue perspective. However, participants received 5 h or less sleep in the prior 24 h on 13%, were awake for at least 16 h at the end of 16% and worked at least 10 h on 7% of shifts. Subjects reported that they felt “extremely tired, very difficult to concentrate,” or “completely exhausted, unable to function effectively” on 13% of shifts. Sleep length (OR = 0.88, p < 0.01), shift duration (OR = 1.18, p < 0.05), night shift (REF = morning shift, OR = 2.12, p < 0.05) and workload ratings (OR = 1.2, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of ratings of extreme tiredness/exhaustion (yes/no). While on average, sleep loss, extended wakefulness, longer work hours and work-related fatigue do not appear problematic in this sample, there is still a notable percentage of shifts that are likely to be associated with high levels of work-related fatigue. Given the size of the Australian Rail Industry, with thousands of shifts occurring each day, this is potentially of operational concern. Further, results indicate that, in addition to sleep length, wakefulness and work hours, workload significantly influences fatigue. This has possible implications for bio-mathematical predictions of fatigue and for fatigue management more generally.     

The interaction between skill, postures, forces and back pain in wool handling

Wool handling is an important rural occupation where workers process 200 or more fleeces daily, separating them into various quality components. Loads and postures they experience carry substantial risk of low back pain (LBP). Although a formal skill training structure exists, interaction with loads and LBP is unknown. We examined whether skill and LBP influenced trunk postures and loads of 60 wool handlers representing 3 skill levels. LBP prevalence ranged from 20% for junior (lowest skill) to 45% for open class (highest skill) wool handlers. Open class wool handlers demonstrated increased lateral bend and more axially twisted postures, generating greater medio-lateral shear forces and lateral bend and axial twist moments. LBP was associated with open class wool handlers spending more time in severe axially twisted postures. These findings suggest that skill-based training needs to be reviewed to reduce the quantity of axially twisted posture which may help reduce the prevalence of LBP in this workforce.     

Evaluation of the effect of a paver’s trolley on productivity, task demands, workload and local discomfort

The objective of this study was to determine the differences in the number of paving stones laid (productivity), task demands, energetic workload, body region discomfort and preference when laying paving stones with or without use of a paver’s trolley (n = 8) in a within-subject controlled study of pavers. The number of paving stones laid and the task demands were measured by means of systematic observations at the workplace. The energetic workload was determined using the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR). Body region discomfort was measured using visual analog scales, and the workers’ preference was ascertained via interview. The use of a paver’s trolley had no effect on productivity, %HRR or body region discomfort compared to working without a paver’s trolley. The duration of knee-straining activities did not differ between working with (141 min) and without (146 min) the paver’s trolley. However, six of the eight pavers indicated that, given suitable circumstances, they wanted to use the paver’s trolley.

Relevance to industry

To reduce the chance of work-related low back and knee complaints among pavers, the duration, frequency and intensity of lower back and knee-straining activities should be limited by means of technical measures such as mechanical paving. The paver’s trolley does not appear to reduce knee-straining activities and therefore does not appear useful in reducing the risk of knee complaints and disorders.     

基于工作过程的高职信息安全课程体系构建

高职院校课程体系构建应该紧紧围绕＂工学结合＂的指导方针,培养真正面向工作岗位的高职毕业生。本文分析了目前信息安全的岗位群需求,确立了基于工作过程的课程建设指导思想,以提高学生的实践能力为培养主线,从而构建具有高职特色的信息安全课程体系。