An examination of range effects when evaluating discomfort due to glare in Singaporean buildings

This article discusses ratings of visual discomfort from glare across different buildings located in Singapore. These data were used to determine if range effects influence the vertical illuminance values for the same ratings of visual discomfort when the category rating procedure is used. The effect occurs when maxima and minima vertical illuminance (i.e. the range) vary across buildings. Our analyses showed that with a higher vertical illuminance range in a building, the mean vertical illuminance value for the same criterion of visual discomfort also increased. The results suggest that the effect caused by different ranges of measured vertical illuminance present across the buildings biased the ratings of visual discomfort. Although these effects may be unavoidable in some buildings that have vastly different levels of light, the data suggest that the overall range of vertical illuminance must be carefully evaluated when predicting visual discomfort. Matching these conditions may enable vertical illuminance to provide more reliable evaluations of discomfort due to glare.

Probability of Default Bank Umum di Indonesia: Alternatif dalam Implementasi Sisitem Premi Deferensial

The Indonesian Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) initially imposed the flat rate premium system, the same premium rate for all banks, which is 0.2% of the total third party funds (DPK) of commercial banks. However; when there is a change in the value of deposits guaranteed, LPS needs to change from the flat rate premium system to the Differential Premium System. This study uses Probability of Default (PoD), derived from the Merton Model (1974), for each individual Commercial Bank in Indonesia in implementing the Differential Premium System as the mandate of Article 15 paragraph (1) of the Law. Thus, each individual bank will pay a premium in accordance with the probability of default to LPS. This study finds that the average of probability of default of all commercial banks in the period 2002-2014 reaches 57.12%. Bank that has the smallest average Probability of Default (PoD) is Bank 151Â with a PoD of 14.10% and an AA category rating. The second position is Bank 427 with a PoD of 18.20% and a rating of A. While the third position is Bank 14 with a PoD of 18.70% also with a rating of A. This study finds that the Differential Premium System in Indonesia can be implemented, given that LPS revenue will not be reduced much or at least close to the flat rate premium system, when LPS imposes the Differential Premium System.

Rasch calibration and optimal categorization of the sport fandom questionnaire

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the category function of the sport fandom questionnaire (SFQ), determine the optimal categorization of the SFQ and calibrate the measurement qualities of the newly modified rating scale option using Rasch analysis.Design/methodology/approachThis paper relies on the Rasch analysis to validate the SFQ. A series of studies are performed based on analysis procedures for the responses from 244 (study 1) and 477 (study 2) participants.FindingsThe results revealed that the original SFQ consisting of the eight-category rating scale is flagged due to irregular observation distribution and disordering of thresholds, whereas both six-category and seven-category rating scales meet the guidelines for the optimal categorization. However, only the seven-category rating scale showed desirable model-data fit indices. Furthermore, the results of the Rasch calibration model showed that all items of the SFQ have large variability, and a person's ability level varied moderately along the continuum.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies, examining the psychometric properties of the SFQ, the current study provides information about the optimal categorization and presents a novel reconstruction category in measuring individuals' sport fandom level. In measuring the level of sport fandom, the authors suggest the use of a seven-category rating scale that the current study found to exhibit reliability and construct validity.

Kinerja Mesin Pellet dalam Produksi Pakan Ayam Pedaging Fase Finisher

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kapasitas kinerja mesin dalam produksi pakan pellet ayam pedaging fase finisher dengan berbagai bahan perekat. Penelitian disusun menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) terdiri dari 4 perlakuan dengan 4 ulangan. Perlakuan penambahan bahan perekat yaitu P0 = tanpa menggunakan bahan perekat, P1 = penambahan molases 2%, P2 = penambahan tepung tapioka 2%, P3 = penambahan bentonit 2%. Parameter yang diukur dalam penelitian adalah kinerja teoritis dan kinerja aktual mesin pellet, ukuran diameter dan panjang pellet, serta kualitas organoleptik pellet. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan penambahan berbagai bahan perekat tidak berpengaruh nyata (P>0.05) terhadap kinerja teoritis mesin pellet, kinerja aktual mesin pellet, serta ukuran diameter dan panjang pellet. Berdasarkan uji organoleptik pellet dengan kriteria tekstur, warna, serta bau menunjukkan bahwa lebih 50% panelis memberi penilaian kategori baik pada kriteria tersebut pada pellet yang diberi bahan perekat. namun, perlakuan tanpa bahan perekat sebanyak 41,67% panelis menyatakan teskstur pellet dengan kategori jelek. Disimpulkan bahwa dengan penambahan berbagai bahan perekat tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja mesin pellet, dan ukuran partikel pellet, untuk uji organoleptik menunjukkan lebih 50% panelis menyatakan kategori baik pada kriteria tekstur, warna serta bau, sedangkan tanpa bahan perekat persentase tertinggi panelis menyatakan teskstur pellet dengan kategori jelek.Kata kunci: bahan perekat, kinerja mesin, kualitas fisik, organoleptik pelletABSTRACTThis research aims to determine performance capacity of the machine in production of finisher phase broiler pellet feed with various binders. The research used a completely randomized design (CRD) consist of 4 treatments with 4 replications. The treatment of adding binders are P0 = without using binders, P1 = addition 2% molasses, P2 = addition 2% tapioca flour, P3 = addition 2% bentonite. The parameters measured in the research were the theoretical performance and actual performance of the pellet machine, the diameter and length of the pellet, as well as the organoloptic quality of pellet. The results showed the addition of a variety of binders no significant effect (P>0.05) against the theoretical performance of pellet machines, the actual performance of pellet machines, as well as the size of diameter and length of pellets. Based on organoleptic test pellets with texture, color, and smell criteria showed that more than 50% of panelists gave a category rating on the criteria on pellets that were given binders. On the other hand, treatment without adhesives as much as 41,67% of panelists stated that the texture of pellets was in the bad category. It can be concluded that the addition of various binders has no effect on the performance of the machine, and the size of the pellet particles. For the organoleptic test, it showed that more than 50% of panelists stated good categories in the criteria of texture, color and smell, while without adhesive, the highest percentage of panelists stated that the pellet texture was in the bad category.Keywords: binder, machine performance, physical quality, organoleptic pellet

Potential Drug interactions with Drugs used for Bipolar Disorder: A Comparison of 6 Drug Interaction Database Programs

Background Patients with bipolar disorder frequently experience polypharmacy, putting them at risk for clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDI). Online drug interaction database programs are used to alert physicians, but there are no internationally recognized standards to define DDI. This study compared the category of potential DDI returned by 6 commercial drug interaction database programs for drug interaction pairs involving drugs commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder. Methods The category of potential DDI provided by 6 drug interaction database programs (3 subscription, 3 open access) was obtained for 125 drug interaction pairs. The pairs involved 103 drugs (38 psychiatric, 65 nonpsychiatric); 88 pairs included a psychiatric and nonpsychiatric drug; 37 pairs included 2 psychiatric drugs. Every pair contained at least 1 mood stabilizer or antidepressant. The category provided by 6 drug interaction database programs was compared using percent agreement and Fleiss kappa statistic of interrater reliability. Results For the 125 drug pairs, the overall percent agreement among the 6 drug interaction database programs was 60%; the Fleiss kappa agreement was slight. For drug interaction pairs with any category rating of severe (contraindicated), the kappa agreement was moderate. For drug interaction pairs with any category rating of major, the kappa agreement was slight. Conclusion There is poor agreement among drug interaction database programs for the category of potential DDI involving psychiatric drugs. Drug interaction database programs provide valuable information, but the lack of consistency should be recognized as a limitation. When assistance is needed, physicians should check more than 1 drug interaction database program.

Quality Assessment Protocols for Omnidirectional Video Quality Evaluation

In recent years, with the introduction of powerful HMDs such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive Pro, the QoE that can be achieved with VR/360° videos has increased substantially. Unfortunately, no standardized guidelines, methodologies and protocols exist for conducting and evaluating the quality of 360° videos in tests with human test subjects. In this paper, we present a set of test protocols for the evaluation of quality of 360° videos using HMDs. To this aim, we review the state-of-the-art with respect to the assessment of 360° videos summarizes their results. Also, we summarize the methodological approaches and results taken for different subjective experiments at our lab under different contextual conditions. In the first two experiments 1a and 1b, the performance of two different subjective test methods, Double-Stimulus Impairment Scale (DSIS) and Modified Absolute Category Rating (M-ACR) was compared under different contextual conditions. In experiment 2, the performance of three different subjective test methods, DSIS, M-ACR and Absolute Category Rating (ACR) was compared this time without varying the contextual conditions. Building on the reliability and general applicability of the procedure across different tests, a methodological framework for 360° video quality assessment is presented in this paper. Besides video or media quality judgments, the procedure comprises the assessment of presence and simulator sickness, for which different methods were compared. Further, the accompanying head-rotation data can be used to analyze both content- and quality-related behavioural viewing aspects. Based on the results, the implications of different contextual settings are discussed.

Categorical and Dimensional Ratings of Emotional Speech: Behavioral Findings From the Morgan Emotional Speech Set

Purpose Emotion classification for auditory stimuli typically employs 1 of 2 approaches (discrete categories or emotional dimensions). This work presents a new emotional speech set, compares these 2 classification methods for emotional speech stimuli, and emphasizes the need to consider the entire communication model (i.e., the talker, message, and listener) when studying auditory emotion portrayal and perception. Method Emotional speech from male and female talkers was evaluated using both categorical and dimensional rating methods. Ten young adult listeners (ages 19–28 years) evaluated stimuli recorded in 4 emotional speaking styles (Angry, Calm, Happy, and Sad). Talker and listener factors were examined for potential influences on emotional ratings using categorical and dimensional rating methods. Listeners rated stimuli by selecting an emotion category, rating the activation and pleasantness, and indicating goodness of category fit. Results Discrete ratings were generally consistent with dimensional ratings for speech, with accuracy for emotion recognition well above chance. As stimuli approached dimensional extremes of activation and pleasantness, listeners were more confident in their category selection, indicative of a hybrid approach to emotion classification. Female talkers were rated as more activated than male talkers, and female listeners gave higher ratings of activation compared to male listeners, confirming gender differences in emotion perception. Conclusion A hybrid model for auditory emotion classification is supported by the data. Talker and listener factors, such as gender, were found to impact the ratings of emotional speech and must be considered alongside stimulus factors in the design of future studies of emotion.