A web-based software tool for participatory optimization of conservation practices in watersheds

WRESTORE (Watershed Restoration Using Spatio-Temporal Optimization of Resources) is a web-based, participatory planning tool that can be used to engage with watershed stakeholder communities, and involve them in using science-based, human-guided, interactive simulation–optimization methods for designing potential conservation practices on their landscape. The underlying optimization algorithms, process simulation models, and interfaces allow users to not only spatially optimize the locations and types of new conservation practices based on quantifiable goals estimated by the dynamic simulation models, but also to include their personal subjective and/or unquantifiable criteria in the location and design of these practices. In this paper, we describe the software, interfaces, and architecture of WRESTORE, provide scenarios for implementing the WRESTORE tool in a watershed community's planning process, and discuss considerations for future developments.     

Investigating the validity of subjective workload rating (NASA TLX) and subjective situation awareness rating (SART) for cognitively complex human–machine work

Subjective workload and situation awareness measures, such as the NASA task load index (TLX) and the situational awareness rating technique (SART), are frequently used in human–system evaluation. However, the interpretation of these ratings is debated. In this study, empirical evidence for the measures' theoretical assumptions was investigated by comparing operators' ratings collected immediately after performing a scenario and ratings collected after operators' acquisition through a video review of the scenario, knowledge of actual system states. Eighteen licensed control room operators participated in the simulator study, running 12 relatively challenging scenarios. It was found that the interpretation of TLX items involving introspection remained stable after operators acquired factual scenario knowledge, while the interpretation of items involving the perception of external events, such as situation awareness and performance, depended on the operators' scenario knowledge. The result shows that operators’ ratings could discriminate between mental effort, performance, frustration, and situation awareness. No clear evidence for the SART index as a measure of situation awareness was found. Instead, a subjective situation awareness measure developed for this study was distinct from workload and related to operator performance, showing that this type of measure warrants future investigation of its validity. The study findings help in developing measurement procedures and interpreting subjective measures. Finally, the study reveals that informing operators about the scenario can provide useful subjective ratings of situation awareness and performance. Future research should include procedures for how to inform participants adequately and efficiently in subjective assessments.     

基于专家主观信息的学术期刊评价方法研究

该文侧重于学术期刊定性属性的评价方法研究。学术期刊定性属性特征通常具有模糊性,因而往往需要由专家给出主观判断。通过建立基准语言等级评价集合,提出了将专家给出的关于各定性属性的主观评价信息规范化为基准语言等级评价集合并集成的综合评价方法。最后通过计算可以得到学术期刊的综合评价值,进而使得学术期刊评价尽可能的公平化。     

基于Hadoop的可信Web服务多维QoS权重最优选择模型

随着Web服务应用的快速增长,用户如何在众多功能相似的Web服务中更加准确地选择出满足自己非功能性需求的Web服务是一个急需解决的问题.针对此问题,设计了一种基于Hadoop的可信Web服务多维QoS权重最优选择模型——HL模型.在HL模型中,以Hadoop和HBase平台为基本框架,首先,使用主客观赋权模式为多维QoS属性赋权值,提高QoS属性权重的客观性和准确性;其次,加入信誉度参数来提高Web服务QoS属性的可信性,并采用QoS-Tree来存储QoS属性值和权重值.实验表明该模型不仅提高了QoS属性的可信性,使用一种客观的手法给出了合理的Web服务推荐顺序来满足用户的QoS需求偏好,而且还提高了Web服务在Hadoop中的查找准确性.     

Use and non‐use of VDTs—organization of terminal work: Research findings from Swedish cross‐site studies in the field of office automation

A group of users in Copenhagen were asked to evaluate how important a number of user interface characteristics were for them. The results show high importance of efficient daily use and of possibilities for exploratory learning while tutorial materials were of less importance. Users also were asked to evaluate four usability aspects of a number of popular programs. Results show that the quality pleasant to work with has the largest impact on evaluations of overall user‐friendliness while users seem able to view usability independently from the number of features in an application.     

Perception of Hand Force in Power Grip for Females

Borg's rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and category ratio (CR‐10) scales are commonly used to quantify perceived muscular exertion for body segments. Twenty females participated in an experiment to study the power grip force at four perceived exertion levels using either dominant or nondominant hand under two posture conditions. It was found that the subjects tended to apply a higher power grip force (100% of perceived maximum voluntary contraction) than the levels they were requested to apply. The power grip forces between dominant and nondominant hands at low hand exertion levels were negligible. The grip forces between the two hands were significantly different when the exertion level was nearly maximal. Linear regression models were established for the subjects to link the relationship between the perceived hand exertion and measured grip force, hand used, and hand/arm posture. All the models were statistically significant (p < 0.0001) with R² values 0.97 or higher. These models provided better estimates in perceived hand exertion for dominant hand than for nondominant hand. A follow‐up experiment was conducted to measure the subjective rating of both the CR‐10 and RPE when a 98 N grip force was applied. It was found that the subjects reported higher exertion levels when they were using the CR‐10 scale than when they were using the RPE scale. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

构件化软件系统安全性分析技术研究

复杂系统的软件安全性分析中存在众多的含糊表述和不确定性问题,主观评价和模糊集理论即为处理此类问题的有效方法。首先对复杂软件涉及到的安全性要素进行模糊数学化表述,按照构件化的思想,对单个构件/模块的安全度进行分析,进而利用Dempster-Shafer证据理论对整个软件系统进行安全度综合,实现对软件系统的安全性分析和评估,最终按照DO-178B标准给出软件的安全等级,并通过实例加以说明。     

The effects of different roster schedules on sleep in miners

Shiftwork involving early morning starts and night work can affect both sleep and fatigue. This study aimed to assess the impact of different rostering schedules at an Australian mine site on sleep and subjective sleep quality. Participants worked one of four rosters;

4 × 4 (n = 14) 4D4O4N4O

7 × 4 (n = 10) 7D4O7N40

10 × 5 (n = 17) 5D5N50

14 × 7 (n = 12) 7D7N70

Sleep (wrist actigraphy and sleep diaries) was monitored for a full roster cycle including days off. Total sleep time (TST) was longer on days off (7.0 ± 1.9) compared to sleep when on day (6.0 ± 1.0) and nightshifts (6.2 ± 1.6). Despite an increase in TST on days off, this may be insufficient to recover from the severe sleep restriction occurring during work times. Restricted sleep and quick shift-change periods may lead to long-term sleep loss and associated fatigue.     

A comparative evaluation of interactive segmentation algorithms

In this paper we present a comparative evaluation of four popular interactive segmentation algorithms. The evaluation was carried out as a series of user-experiments, in which participants were tasked with extracting 100 objects from a common dataset: 25 with each algorithm, constrained within a time limit of 2 min for each object. To facilitate the experiments, a “scribble-driven” segmentation tool was developed to enable interactive image segmentation by simply marking areas of foreground and background with the mouse. As the participants refined and improved their respective segmentations, the corresponding updated segmentation mask was stored along with the elapsed time. We then collected and evaluated each recorded mask against a manually segmented ground truth, thus allowing us to gauge segmentation accuracy over time. Two benchmarks were used for the evaluation: the well-known Jaccard index for measuring object accuracy, and a new fuzzy metric, proposed in this paper, designed for measuring boundary accuracy. Analysis of the experimental results demonstrates the effectiveness of the suggested measures and provides valuable insights into the performance and characteristics of the evaluated algorithms.