Stability Of Answers Research Articles

Optimal operation of single and multi-reservoir systems via hybrid shuffled grey wolf optimization algorithm (SGWO)

Abstract Reservoir operation is a key issue in the water resources system. In this paper, the Shuffled Grey Wolf Optimizer (SGWO), a hybrid optimization algorithm inspired by Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE-UA) and Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithms, is introduced. The main modification in the proposed algorithm is how it divides and shuffles the population to enhance the information exchange among the individuals. The performance of the SGWO algorithm is compared to famous evolutionary algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) in solving mathematical benchmark functions and multiple types of reservoir operation optimization problems with different scales. Two hypothetical 4 and 10-reservoir system, and the Dez dam in Iran as a single reservoir system were selected as the case study in this research. The capability of the algorithms was compared in terms of accuracy of derived optimum objective function values, convergence speed, and stability of answers in different implementations. The results showed that the SGWO can reach considerably better results (0.3% to 26% better than the closest rival algorithms) using significantly lower number of function evaluations. It also showed the lowest standard deviation among other algorithms for all problems, which indicated the high reliability of this algorithm.

Which indicators to include in a crowding scale in an emergency department? A national French Delphi study.

Emergency department (ED) crowding is a serious international public health issue with a negative impact on quality of care. Despite two decades of research, there is no consensus on the indicators used to quantify crowding. The aim of our study was to select the most valid ED crowding indicators. The Delphi method was used. Selected indicators originated from a literature review and propositions from FEDORU (National Emergency Department Observatory Network) workgroup. Selected national experts were emergency physicians with a special interest in ED crowding. They had to assess each indicator in terms of validity out of a Likert scale from 1 to 9. Indicators withdrawal criteria after each round (consensus) were over 70% of answers of at least 7 with interquartile range less than 3 (positive consensus) or over 70% of answers of at least 4 and interquartile range less than 3 (negative consensus). The decision to stop the delphi procedure was based on the stability of answers between the rounds. 41 (89.13%) experts answered the first round and 37 (80.43%) answered the second round. Among the 57 indicators included, 15 reached consensus: four input indicators, six throughput and five output ones. For those three categories of at least 7 answers rates were, respectively, 80.9, 76.9 and 75.0%. Five indicators were deducible from the mandatory Emergency Department Discharge Summary. They obtained 80.2% of at least 7 answers. Our study results enable the construction and validation of a crowding measuring tool from indicators approved by experts. It is necessary to further reflect about ED crowding as a concept and what is expected from a complex score.

The Usage of Colours as a Text Highlighting Technique

The need of using text highlighting techniques exists in various cases. There are numerous different techniques available, among others: font colour, background colour, underlining, font weight, font style or capitalization. The guidelines describing the usage of colours in different contexts can be found in many sources. Over the last century studies in this field have been conducted but the impact of colours on the pop-out effect has not been comprehensively investigated so far. The present study analyzes that phenomenon and establishes preliminary ranking of best colours to use for text highlighting basing on opinions of 82 students. Two highlighting methods: text colour and background colour, with six basic colours: red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow, have been examined. The results show that significant differences between colours exist. The stability of answers has been confirmed but some of the data is inconsistent. Limitations as well as directions for future work are also described.

The Moral Majority Viewed Sociologically

Abstract Systematic empirical study of the “moral majority” has been scarce despite the substantial public attention it has received. We seek to reduce the scarcity by examining data from three NORC General Social Surveys spanning the years 1973–1980. By selecting as indicators nine questions that were asked of respondents in each of these surveys, we are able to measure changes over time as well as identifying those who are high, medium, and low on the “moral majority index” constructed from those questions. In the seven-year span, support for the moral majority position had declined somewhat, not — as public attention might lead one to believe — increased. The decline is general among all categories of religion, class, age, and sex, but there are a few small increases in categories of other variables. The relative stability of answers is perhaps most notable. Multiple regression analysis reveals three variables that are the strongest predictors in each of the surveys: religiosity (as measured by frequen...