A probabilistic reputation model based on transaction ratings

This work introduces a probabilistic model allowing to compute reputation scores as close as possible to their intrinsic value, according to the model. It is based on the following, natural, consumer-provider interaction model. Consumers are assumed to order items from providers, who each has some intrinsic, latent, “quality of service” score. In the basic model, the providers supply the items with a quality following a normal law, centered on their intrinsic “quality of service”. The consumers, after the reception and the inspection of the item, rate it according to a linear function of its quality - a standard regression model. This regression model accounts for the bias of the consumer in providing ratings as well as his reactivity towards changes in item quality. Moreover, the constancy of the provider in supplying an equal quality level when delivering the items is estimated by the standard deviation of his normal law of item quality generation. Symmetrically, the consistency of the consumer in providing similar ratings for a given quality is quantified by the standard deviation of his normal law of ratings generation. Two extensions of this basic model are considered as well: a model accounting for truncation of the ratings and a Bayesian model assuming a prior distribution on the parameters. Expectation-maximization algorithms, allowing to estimate the parameters based on the ratings, are developed for all the models. The experiments suggest that these models are able to extract useful information from the ratings, are robust towards adverse behaviors such as cheating, and are competitive in comparison with standard methods. Even if the suggested models do not show considerable improvements over other competing models (such as Brockhoff and Skovgaard’s model [12]), they, however, also permit to estimate interesting features over the raters - such as their reactivity, bias, consistency, reliability, or expectation.     

One-handed dynamic pulling strength with special application to lawn mowers

A laboratory study was conducted to determine one-handed dynamic and static pulling strengths of 50 males and 49 females from 14 to 71 years of age. The dynamic strength for a 11m pull was measured to simulate the act of starting a lawn mower engine for four different starting-rope handle locations: on the engine, in the middle, on the right and on the left side of the frame. The last three were located at the back of the lawn mower at a vertical height of 63 cm from the floor and the handle on the engine was located at 42 cm. Static strength was measured for the handle in the middle. Ratings of perceived exertion were recorded for different body parts.

Peak and average dynamic pulling strengths were 55% and 34% of static pulling strengths. Dynamic pulling strengths were highly correlated with peak velocity (r = 0·84). Men in the age group 21-34 years had the highest strength and women in the age group 51-71 years the least strength. Dynamic pulling strengths for women were 62% of strengths for men. Women took 10% longer to pull, had a lower peak velocity (16%), reached peak force faster (17%) and took a longer time (6%) to reach peak velocity than men.

The starting handle located on the engine resulted in the maximum pulling strength and on the left side in the minimum strength. However, two out of three subjects preferred the handle either on the right side or in the middle. Fifty-five percent of the subjects indicated they would prefer a height higher than 63 cm.

Maximum stresses were perceived on the shoulder and upper arm with a mean rating between fairly light and somewhat hard. Graphs of cumulative frequency distributions of average and peak dynamic pulling strengths are presented to aid in the determining forces required to start a lawn mower engine in order to satisfy a desired percentage of the population.     

Performance of a Tied-Arch Reinforced Concrete Railway Bridge: Rating, Safety Assessment, and Bond Length Evaluation

This study presents investigations regarding visual inspection, dynamic testing, and finite-element modeling of an approximately 80-year old reinforced concrete tied-arch railway bridge that is still in service in Turkey. Investigations were conducted as part of a systematic periodic inspection along Ankara-Zonguldak railway line. The bridge is subject to heavy freight trains with increasing axle loads. Field tests such as material tests and dynamic tests were used to calibrate the finite-element model of the bridge. Detailed information regarding testing and model updating procedure is given. Based on test results, computer model was refined. The calibrated model of the bridge structure was then used for structural assessment and evaluation. Despite sufficient overall safety, local details were found to be problematic. Due to insufficient bond length in hanger-to-arch connection, a strengthening scheme using steel channel sections was proposed.     

Measurement invariance of the Gifted Rating Scales—School Form across five cultural groups.

This study examined measurement invariance of the Gifted Rating Scales—School Form (GRS–S) across the United States, Puerto Rico, China, South Korea, and Turkey, using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. A total of 1,817 students were rated by 287 teachers using either translated versions of GRS–S or the original English GRS–S. Results indicate a similar factor structure for the GRS–S across the five locations; six factors with each of the 72 items equivalently loaded to the same latent variable across groups. The metric invariance test and the factor variance and covariance invariance tests reveal that the patterns of factor loadings and the factor variances and covariances are invariant across the five groups. Moreover, the scalar invariance test indicates that item means are equivalent across the groups. These results suggest that the GRS–S has intercultural utility and can be similarly interpreted. Implications and limitations of the present research for gifted identification are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How Modifying Third‐Party Information Affects Interpersonal Impressions and the Evaluation of Collaborative Online Media

Previous research has drawn upon warranting theory to help explain how viewers evaluate people and entities online. Extending previous research, this study assesses how the ability of a target to modify third‐party information affects perceptions of warranting value, and in turn, interpersonal impressions and the perceived legitimacy of online media that host evaluations. Additionally, this work explores how the perceived objectivity of a third‐party evaluator affects impressions in online settings. The results provide support for warranting theory and help clarify how impressions are formed in online environments when people have the ability to generate and modify content collectively. The theoretical implications this study has for warranting theory and future research directions are discussed.     

高碳铬轴承钢碳化物带状评定方法探究

随着高碳铬轴承钢高温扩散时间的延长,碳化物带状的宽度会随之增加,碳化物颗粒变得细小。但按现有的SEP 1520-1998、GB/T 18254-2016及ISO 5949-1983标准图谱进行评级时,存在高温扩散时间越长,带状评级越高的情况,与改善工艺执行的效果相悖。本文采用一种新的碳化物带状评定方法,以带状内碳化物颗粒的尺寸为依据,完成碳化物带状评级,评定结果显示,高温扩散时间越长,所对应的碳化物带状级别越低,说明该方法可更清晰、直观及科学的回归反馈高温扩散改善带来的碳化物颗粒细化及分布均匀性的改善。     

LEED评估体系的设计指导和应用局限研究

本文根据LEED评分原则，系统总结了LEED评估体系对于设计指导的内容，并且分析了LEED评估体系在中国的从技术方面和运作机制方面的应用局限。     

飞机DTR体系的面向对象设计与实现

从面向对象的观点对飞机结构DTR评定系统进行了分析和设计，建立了一套完整的和可供实际使用的DTR评定通用型类库TDTRBase，并采用C^ 语言实现，该类库包含了DTR系统中常用的分析方法和数据，具有良好的代码可扩充性和可重用性。应用算例进一步说明了该类库的实用性。     

An assessment system for rating scientific journals in the field of ergonomics and human factors

A method for selecting and rating scientific and professional journals representing the discipline of ergonomics and human factors is proposed. The method is based upon the journal list, impact factors and citations provided by the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI), and the journal list published in the Ergonomics Abstracts. Three groups of journals were distinguished. The 'ergonomics journals' focus exclusively on ergonomics and human factors. The 'related journals' focus on other disciplines than ergonomics and human factors, but regularly publish ergonomics/human factors papers. The 'basic journals' focus on other technical, medical or social sciences than ergonomics, but are important for the development of ergonomics/human factors. Journal quality was rated using a maximum of four categories: top quality (A-level), high quality (B-level), good quality (C-level)) and professional (P-level). The above methods were applied to develop the Ergonomics Journal List 2004. A total of 25 'ergonomics journals', 58 'related journals' and 142 'basic journals' were classified.     

A rating scheme for assessing the quality of computer-supported collaboration processes

The analysis of the process of collaboration is a central topic in current CSCL research. However, defining process characteristics relevant for collaboration quality and developing instruments capable of assessing these characteristics are no trivial tasks. In the assessment method presented in this paper, nine qualitatively defined dimensions of collaboration are rated quantitatively: sustaining mutual understanding, dialogue management, information pooling, reaching consensus, task division, time management, technical coordination, reciprocal interaction, and individual task orientation. The data basis for the development of these dimensions was taken from a study in which students of psychology and medicine collaborated on a complex patient case via a desktop-videoconferencing system. A qualitative content analysis was performed on a sample of transcribed collaboration dialogue. The insights from this analysis were then integrated with theoretical considerations about the roles of communication, joint information processing, coordination, interpersonal relationship, and motivation in the collaboration process. The resulting rating scheme was applied to process data from a new sample of 40 collaborating dyads. Based on positive findings on inter-rater reliability, consistency, and validity from this evaluation, we argue that the new method can be recommended for use in different areas of CSCL.