Proposed Rating System Research Articles

Accessible Trail Tourism: Trail Accessibility and Difficulty Rating Approach Designed for Individuals, Including With Mobility Impairments

ABSTRACTThis study introduces a novel approach to trail accessibility and difficulty rating tailored specifically for individuals, including those with mobility impairments, aiming to promote accessible trail tourism. Grounded in theoretical frameworks of inclusive outdoor recreation, equality, and complex adaptive systems, the proposed rating system incorporates criteria addressing physical access, terrain challenges, and amenities to accommodate diverse user needs. This study employed a sensor technology, called wheeled instrumentation sensor package (WISP) within the framework of the high‐efficiency trail assessment process (HETAP) to develop a new quantitatively based trail classification scheme. A case study trail and two hypothetical synthetic data trails were used to demonstrate both the trail wheelchair accessibility binary classification approach and the proposed trail difficulty classification approach. This research pioneers trail accessibility and difficulty rating and underscores the importance of integrating accessibility considerations into trail management practices to create truly inclusive outdoor recreational experiences.

Development of Rating System of Existing Railway Steel Bridges

Abstract: Railway bridges are designed to be serviceable for a long time. However, the structural conditions of railway bridges change over time due to environmental effects, fatigue and structurally unplanned modifications etc. which affect health of the structure significantly. Hence inspection and condition assessment of structure is required for their uninterrupted operation. Condition assessment is also required for maintenance and repairs of existing structures so as to avoid any mishaps and save valuable human life. Dealing with thousands of bridges and several factors that cause deterioration, makes the rating process extremely complicated. It is therefore necessary to develop a practical and accurate system, which will be capable of rating a network of railway bridges. Several bridge inspectionstandards and condition assessment practices have been developed around the globe. Some practices employ four linguistic expressions to rate bridge elements while other practices use five or six, or adopt numerical ratings such as 1 to 9. This research article introduces six colour codes in the proposed rating system for a network of railway bridges based on their current structural condition by means of visual inspection and different non-destructive evaluation techniques. The proposed rating system could provide bridge stakeholders with a rational appraising tool for condition assessment of railway bridges, allowing better allocation of budget and more precise maintenance decisions.

An energy-based quantitative coal burst proneness rating system for development roadways

Coal burst is one of the principal hazards in development panels of underground coal mines. This study develops a practical approach to quantitatively estimate coal burst proneness in development roadways. A rigorous numerical and statistical study is conducted to establish a novel burst proneness rating (BPR) system based on energy release characteristics. The rating system includes eight geological and geotechnical factors and covers a wide range of inputs. A dataset including 18 field cases (9 burst and 9 no-burst cases) was used to validate the proposed rating system and to determine a critical BPR value (i.e. the threshold value of burst cases). The probability hat{p}_{burst} of coal bursts was then obtained based on BPR logistic regression. The computed rating values using the BPR system can distinguish burst and no-burst cases that are in line with the scope of the eight input parameters in this study. The model results also showed that the mining depth was the most significant contributor of the energy release, along with roof elastic modulus and coal mass conditions. These results suggested that an environment that consists of relatively weak and brittle coal under high vertical stresses and surrounded by a relatively soft strata could promote unstable failures such as coal bursts.

To reduce ‘reputational bias,’ NIH may revamp grant scoring

Proposed rating system seeks to minimize influence of applicant's resume and workplace.

Development of a rating system assessing the quality of the service provided by drivers in a taxi aggregator company

This paper deals with the problem of quantitative description and improvement of the quality of the service provided by taxi aggregator companies working on the Russian market. This problem seems to be insufficiently addressed in open research publications due to its high specificity, though some research aiming at searching the quality metrics have been conducted for some companies worldwide. The goal of the current research is mathematical formalization of a rating system assessing the driver service quality that allows one to design a parametrically tunable model. The proposed mathematical model of the rating system is described by means of a state graph where the transition from a vertex to another happens when the explicitly written conditions are satisfied. We show that the rating evaluation for a driver remaining in the active can be carried out by means of linear filtration performed as digital signal processing of the time series consisting of the scores which are given to the driver by their passengers. The type and waveform of the filter impulse response is suggested. The A/B-test conducted for the group of drivers working with a taxi aggregator proved the fact that the integral metric of service quality is sensitive to changes in the parameters of the proposed rating system; this eventually led to a decrease in the rate of taxi rides accompanied with a negative client experience. The rating system model developed can be utilized to increase the quality of the service provided by the taxi aggregator by means of more effective differentiation of the drivers, while the subsequent optimization of the rating system parameters can serve as a tool for achieving indicators supporting the strategic goals of the company.

A review of end-life management options for marine structures: State of the art, industrial voids, research gaps and strategies for sustainability

End-of-life management for marine structures demands exceptionally sustainability practices due to the potential for environmental and health hazards associated. The purpose of this article is to explain how improved recycling, reusing, and disposal techniques contribute to the marine industry's long-term sustainability. The subject is narrated through six major maritime structural material categories: ferrous, non-ferrous, polymer, inorganic materials, composites, and concrete. With the information gathered, some noticeable institutional voids were identified and discussed with the possible actions to counter them. Environmental sustainability, economic concerns, waste management, and a lack of regulatory execution were identified as critical global issues. It is stressed that the design requirements for marine structures should consider (a) the overall benefits and drawbacks of end-of-life options, as well as (b) the marine structure's lifecycle cost. When adopting design for reuse/recycle concepts, the proposed three-phase design hierarchy would be a valuable tool for structural designers. The degree of sustainability of various end-of-life management solutions is graded using a ranking system. With more research, the ranking system can be developed into a standardised rating model. Overall, the study covers state of the art in the end-of-life management industry and outlines significant global concerns and research gaps while offering answers and techniques for dealing with such issues, ensuring the industry's long-term sustainability. • Marine structures are pulled out of service and disposed of at the end of their lifetimes. • Different end-life management options are discussed for five material categories. • Design for reuse/recycle concept is vital for the sustainability in end-life management. • Poposed design hierarchy aid the adoption of design for reuse/recycle concept. • Proposed rating system aids to choose the best end-life management option.

Failure mode and effect analysis applied to improve the medication management process in a pharmacy of a teaching hospital and a proposal for a simplified rating system

BackgroundHealthcare is not as safe as it should be and medication error remains a significant source of preventable morbidity and mortality among patients.ObjectivesTo present a failure mode and effect analysis...

Integrated approach for sustainability assessment in power plant projects using Building Information Modeling

This research proposes a framework for sustainability assessment for power plant projects. The proposed framework integrates sustainability and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to achieve enhanced results concerning sustainability assessment in the power plants sector. International and regional sustainability rating systems as well as design guidelines are studied to develop a new sustainability assessment system dedicated to power plant projects. A total of 54 criteria, clustered in eight categories, are considered in the rating system. These categories are: 1) Nature and Urban 2) Site, 3) Energy, 4) Water, 5) Materials and Resources, 6) Emissions and Environment, 7) Operation and Management, and 8) Culture and economy. The sustainability levels are ranked in six levels: Non-Sustainable, Improved, Enhanced, Superior, Conserving, Restorative. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is implemented to set the weights of the criteria that are considered in the proposed sustainability system. BIM is utilized to develop a plugin for the proposed rating system to determine the level of sustainability of power plant projects. The developed plugin invests the BIM model attributes to provide the stakeholder with an instantaneous sustainability metric tool that saves time and reduces the possible errors. A case study of a 100 MW power plant is presented to test the effectiveness of the developed approach in the sustainability assessment.

ПРОТОТИП СИСТЕМЫ НЕЧЕТКОГО ВЫВОДА ДЛЯ ОЦЕНКИ КОМПЛЕМЕНТАРНОСТИ ПРОЕКТНЫХ КОМАНД РАЗРАБОТЧИКОВ ПРОГРАММНОГО ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ

Cohesive software development teams are the most valuable engineering units in IT. However, the search of these teams is complicated by the need to analyze development artifacts, assess the found teams, and order them via the rating. The article describes the newly proposed rating system which allows estimating teams’ quality. The rating is built upon the system of fuzzy inference due to the fact that usually the teams’ efficiency may be estimated only by experts. The article contains the reference to the previous research when the search algorithm was designed and implemented, the joint section between the previous and current study, the description of the rating system, and why the fuzzy logic is applicable, the tests of a rating system.

UAV-Based Evaluation of Rockfall Hazard in the Cultural Heritage Area of Kipinas Monastery, Greece

Rockfall events consist one of the most hazardous geological phenomena in mountainous landscapes, with the potential to turn catastrophic if they occur near an anthropogenic environment. Rockfall hazard and risk assessments are recognized as some of the most challenging surveys among the geoengineering society, due to the urgent need for accurate foresight of likely rockfall areas, together with their magnitude and impact. In recent decades, with the introduction of remote sensing technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the construction of qualitative and quantitative analyses for rockfall events became more precise. This study primarily aims to take advantage of the UAV’s capabilities, in order to produce a detailed hazard and risk assessment via the proposition of a new semi-quantitative rating system. The area of application is located in the cultural heritage area of Kipinas Monastery in Epirus, Greece, which is characterized by the absence of pre-existing data regarding previous rockfall events. As an outcome, it was shown that the suggested methodology, with the combination of innovative remote sensing technologies with traditional engineering geological field surveys, can lead to the extraction of all the necessary quantitative data input for the proposed rating system for any natural slope.

Developing a Measure of Social, Ethical, and Legal Content for Intelligent Cognitive Assistants

We address the issue of consumer privacy against the backdrop of the national priority of maintaining global leadership in artificial intelligence, the ongoing research in Artificial Cognitive Assistants, and the explosive growth in the development and application of Voice Activated Personal Assistants (VAPAs) such as Alexa and Siri, spurred on by the needs and opportunities arising out of the COVID-19 global pandemic. We first review the growth and associated legal issues of the of VAPAs in private homes, banks, healthcare, and education. We then summarize the policy guidelines for the development of VAPAs. Then, we classify these into five major categories with associated traits. We follow by developing a relative importance weight for each of the traits and categories; and suggest the establishment of a rating system related to the legal, ethical, functional, and social content policy guidelines established by these organizations. We suggest the establishment of an agency that will use the proposed rating system to inform customers of the implications of adopting a particular VAPA in their sphere.

Relevant Biophysical Parameters Discrimination along Corticospinal Tract in Patients with Stroke Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Stroke remains the leading source of long-term disability. As the only direct descending motor pathway, the corticospinal tract (CST) is the primary pathway to innervate spinal motor neurons and one of the most well studied tracts in human neuroanatomy. Its clinical significance can be demonstrated in many distinguished traumatic situations and diseases such as stroke. Along‐tract statistics analysis enables the extraction of quantitative diffusion metrics along specific white matter fiber tracts. Besides quantitative metrics derived from classical diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), such as fractional anisotropy and diffusivities. In this study, we extracted DTI derived quantitative microstructural diffusion metrics along the CST tract in patients with moderate to severe subacute stroke. Respectively DTI metric of individual patient's fiber tract was then plotted. This approach may be useful for future studies that may compare in two different time (acute and chronic). The contribution of this work presents a totally computerized method of DTI image recognition based on conventional neural network (CNN) in order to supply quantitative appraisal of clinical characteristics. The obtained results have achieved an important classification (Accuracy=94.12%) when applying the CNN. The proposed methodology enables us to assess the classification of the used DTI images database within a reduced processing time. Experimental results prove the success of the proposed rating system for a suitable analysis of microstructural diffusion when compared to previous work.

European guidelines on radiographic image quality in chiropractic practice \u2013 proposal of a cross-sectional graded classification reporting principle

BackgroundThe Commission of the European Communities (CEC) has published: European Guidelines on Quality Criteria for Diagnostic Radiographic Images. These guidelines are considered a gold standard, recommended for use in quality assurance protocols.The objectives of this study: 1) Propose a graded classification format for Danish chiropractic clinics according to the CEC-quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images of the lumbar spine. 2) Propose a reporting principle for quality of radiographic images. 3) Document variation in radiation exposure among clinics.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of image quality based on random sampling from 148 chiropractic clinics. Clinics were included if using: 1) Digital radiography and 2) The chiropractic picture and archiving system (KirPACS) at the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics (NIKKB) in Denmark. A sample of 296 lumbar spine series were randomly collected from KirPACS (January 2018). Two independent observers reviewed 50 lumbar spine series twice with a 4-week interval, testing intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. The same observers then reviewed the remaining 246 radiographic studies. All studies were evaluated using the CEC Quality Criteria. Patient radiation dose values were retrieved from KirPACS (First quarter of 2020).ResultsA reporting and classification principle of diagnostic image quality was used in 148 chiropractic clinics. Compliance with the 22 CEC Quality Criteria had proportions ranging from 0.72–0.96 for 18 criteria, while 4 criteria specifying detail and definition ranged between 0.20–0.66. The proposed rating system (A to E) revealed: 18 A clinics, 28 B clinics, 32 C clinics, 25 D clinics and 45 E clinics (A = highest quality; E = lowest quality). The patient radiation reference dose in Denmark is 7 mGy for the AP/PA lumbar spine. Very few clinics exceed the reference dose value, approximately 50% of clinics were below 5 mGy.ConclusionA reporting principle is proposed for a graded classification format based on the CEC-quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images of the lumbar spine. The Quality Criteria are for the most part met satisfactorily in 148 Danish chiropractic clinics, but important image details are compromised, in most cases, because of low patient radiation doses. The results of a patient radiation dose survey enabled documentation of variation in radiation exposure among chiropractic clinics.

Online rating system development using blockchain-based distributed ledger technology

In most websites, the online rating system provides the ratings of products and services to users. Lack of trust in data integrity and its manipulation has hindered fulfilling user satisfaction. Since existing online rating systems deal with a central server, all rating data is stored on the central server. Therefore, all rating data can be removed, modified, and manipulated by the system manager to change the ratings in favor of the service or product provider. In this paper, an online rating system using distributed ledger technologies has been presented as the proposed system to solve all the weaknesses of current systems. Distributed ledger technologies are completely decentralized and there is no centralization on them by any institution. Distributed ledger technologies have different variants. Among distributed ledger technologies, blockchain technology has been used in the proposed rating system because of its support for smart contracts. In the proposed online rating system, the Ethereum platform has been chosen from different blockchain platforms that have a public permission network. In this system, the raters cannot rate unless they submit a request to the system and be authorized to take part in the online product rating process. The important feature of the Ethereum platform is its support for smart contracts, which can be used to write the rating contract in the Solidity language. Also, using Proof of Authority consensus mechanisms, all rating transactions are approved by the surveyors. Since in the real Ethereum system, each rating transaction is sent to the network by the raters, some gas must be paid for each rating transaction. However, since this method is expensive, TestNet blockchain can be used in the rating system. Finally, the proposed rating system was used for rating the restaurants of a website and its features were tested.

Multi-paradigm model of the region’s innovative climate development

The relevance of the innovative development of regional economies is dictated by both an internal factor (balanced development of territories) and an external factor (the country’s competitiveness in the world market). The authors highlight the threats that may arise in different areas of the region’s economic activity. The rating system for assessing the innovation climate in the region has been substantiated and developed. The methodology of the author’s rating assessment of the innovation climate in the region allows a systematic approach to the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the state of the innovation climate in the region (good, normal, pre-crisis, crisis). On the basis of the developed assessment system, a multi-paradigm model of the formation of an innovation climate in the region is proposed. The proposed author’s model, which reflects the system of factors of the innovation climate in the region, makes it possible to form ways of forming an innovation climate in the context of the selected areas. It seems that the proposed rating system of assessment and the model interconnected with it have applied significance, an integrated approach will allow assessing the level of the innovation climate in the region, and the proposed model will help to develop effective measures to form an innovative climate. The results of the work are the proposed rating system of assessment and a multi-paradigm model interconnected with it. In conclusion, the authors made a number of proposals for the formation of an innovative climate in the region.

A Rasch Model and Rating System for Continuous Responses Collected in Large-Scale Learning Systems.

An extension to a rating system for tracking the evolution of parameters over time using continuous variables is introduced. The proposed rating system assumes a distribution for the continuous responses, which is agnostic to the origin of the continuous scores and thus can be used for applications as varied as continuous scores obtained from language testing to scores derived from accuracy and response time from elementary arithmetic learning systems. Large-scale, high-stakes, online, anywhere anytime learning and testing inherently comes with a number of unique problems that require new psychometric solutions. These include (1) the cold start problem, (2) problem of change, and (3) the problem of personalization and adaptation. We outline how our proposed method addresses each of these problems. Three simulations are carried out to demonstrate the utility of the proposed rating system.

Intelligent detection of fetal hydrocephalus

ABSTRACT This paper describes an enhanced process able to attain righteous classification of morphological malformation in foetal head ultrasound images. These anomalies can be detected approximately 20–22 weeks. In effect, the experts rely on manual analysis by extracting typical biometric measures from head region to interpret pregnancy evolution. The contribution of this work presents a totally computerised method of cerebral defect-recognition based on conventional neural network (CNN) in order to supply quantitative appraisal of hydrocephalus (HD) or healthy (HL) topics. The obtained results have achieved an important classification (Accuracy = 97.20%, sensitivity = 97.95% and specificity = 98.23%) when applying the CNN. The proposed methodology enables us to assess the anomalous cases in premature period within a reduced processing time. Experimental results prove the success of the proposed rating system for a suitable diagnostic of foetal head hydrocephalus when compared to previous work.

A Novel Green Rating System for Existing Buildings

Green buildings are becoming an essential part of sustainable development. There have been several research trends for green buildings since 1995. The present study presents a roadmap for green/sustainable research trends and proposes a new green building rating system for existing buildings. A questionnaire was established and answered by experts, where answers were analyzed using the decision-making tool Analytical Hierarchy Process. Analytical Hierarchy Process is responsible for weighing and ranking the weights of alternatives. A novel checklist for existing buildings was structured and consisted of seven main categories, each comprised of different subcategories with different weights according to their importance and priority. The newly proposed rating system and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for maintenance and renovations were both used to evaluate a Nile University building in Egypt in order to identify how the environment affects the results of each rating system. The results showed that each rating system has its own criteria in evaluating the sustainability level of the building, which are each based on the country’s cultural and environmental conditions.

Chemical permeation of similar disposable nitrile gloves exposed to volatile organic compounds with different polarities: Part 1: Product variation

Many glove manufacturers of chemical protective clothing produce chemical resistance guides to aid in selection of an appropriate product. Some manufacturers provide permeation data, but others provide a general rating system without reporting testing their own products. A critical issue is that considerable variation in chemical resistance, both with breakthrough times and steady-state permeation rates, have been observed with disposable nitrile gloves. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether significant variation in chemical resistance was present between products from a single brand that provided a generalized chemical resistant guide. The objective was to determine if the ratings noted on the chemical resistance guide were sufficient for protection against chemical permeation. The chemical permeation of ten disposable nitrile gloves against three organic solvents of varying polarity (cyclohexane, tert-butanol, and cyclohexanol) was performed in triplicate. Despite the similar chemical resistant ratings for the products, significant variation in both breakthrough times and steady-state permeation rates were observed among the ten nitrile gloves. The largest variation in breakthrough time was about 8-fold. The largest variation in steady-state permeation rate was about 177-fold. A proposed chemical resistance rating system was used to further evaluate the variation in performance, as it would relate to similar rating systems used by glove manufacturers or brands. Polarity played a role in the observed performance, with the nitrile gloves providing increased protection with an increase in solvent polarity, more notably with the dielectric constant. Using a proposed rating system, the percentages of products rating as excellent to good were 20% (cyclohexane), 60% (tert-butanol), and 90% (cyclohexanol). Ultimately, the ratings noted on the general chemical resistance guide were not sufficient for worker protection against chemical permeation. It is not valid to assume that little variation should exist among the different glove products under a same brand or based on the use of generic chemical resistant data. When critical, occupational health and safety professionals should base glove selection on product-specific chemical permeation data.

A FUZZY DEMATEL BASED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INDEX (FDSDI) IN OPEN PIT MINING – A CASE STUDY

As an economic activity, mining can have positive and negative effects for the community. These negative impacts along with some of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of mining actions threaten the achievement of sustain- able development (SD) goals. Therefore, an impact evaluation of SD indexes is significant for protecting mining actions in line with the objectives of SD. For that reason, a system classification was proposed with the use of the fuzzy decision- making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) technique to study and analyse eleven impacting factor inter- relationships in open pit mines. Since this technique is based upon the opinion of experts, the fuzzy coding technique was used. In this manner, the weight of the impacting factors and their related ratings were chosen to develop a new classification system. Based on the proposed rating system, FDSDI was introduced to describe system-levels qualita- tively and quantitatively. The application of FDSDI was investigated in a bauxite mine as a case study. The results show that FDSDI is an easy and effective tool to evaluate sustainability in bauxite mining. Generally, the conducted technique presents a systematic approach for holistic analysis of the impacting factors of SD in open pit mines.