Multi-index Evaluation Research Articles

Evaluation for anti-cracking performance of polyurethane grout based on overlay test

Polyurethane grouting has garnered increasing attention in road maintenance, owing to its exceptional interfacial adhesion, mechanical robustness, and chemical resilience. In comparison to conventional SBS-modified asphalt, polyurethane grout offers superior durability and demonstrates an enhanced capacity to inhibit crack propagation within asphalt mixtures. This study investigates the anti-cracking performance of polyurethane grout in comparison to traditional SBS-modified asphalt, utilizing the Overlay Test (OT) to simulate real-world conditions of reflective cracking in asphalt pavements. Results demonstrate that polyurethane grout significantly enhances the crack resistance of asphalt mixtures, manifesting superior durability and resistance to crack propagation at a controlled temperature of 25°C, with a marked increase in the number of loading cycles relative to the control. However, the performance of polyurethane grout is notably diminished under adverse conditions of low temperatures and water immersion. The investigation employs a multi-index evaluation, with gray correlation analysis delineating the efficacy of various indices in appraising crack resistance. Recommending the use of loading cycles, allowable failure times, and cumulative fracture energy as key metrics.

Research on Statistical Assessment Methods of Stock Investment Value-Taking Education Industry as Example

Abstract: This paper selects the financial statement data of 18 listed companies in the field of education and selects 9 financial indicators from the four aspects of solvency, profitability, development ability and operation ability that can reflect the comprehensive strength of listed companies. Finally, the stocks of 18 listed companies were divided into three categories: high-value stocks, potential stocks and low-value stocks according to the comprehensive strength of the companies. The results show that: (1) From the comparison between the rankings of the selected 18 stocks combined with the traditional methods by combining principal component analysis and entropy weight method, it can be seen that for the comprehensive multi-index evaluation analysis in the past five years, the ranking agreement between the two methods can reach 80% or more. Due to the unstable fluctuations of the stock market, the consistency between the analysis results and investment recommendations obtained in this paper and the actual investment situation of the stock market can also exceed 60%. (2) From the results of cluster analysis, Chuanzhi Education, Entrepreneurship Dark Horse, Guoxin Culture, China Hi-Tech and Action Education are all high-value stocks in the education category, while Meijim, Qinshang Co., Ltd., and Kaiwen Education are potential education stocks.

Gradation optimization of AC-20 asphalt mixture based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and comprehensive evaluation method

The aggregate gradation of asphalt mixture is one of the most important factors affecting the service life of asphalt pavement. In order to study the gradation of asphalt mixture with the best comprehensive performance, this study puts forward a new method of mineral aggregate gradation optimization based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and comprehensive evaluation method, aiming at the multi-level and multi-index evaluation of the road performance of asphalt mixture. First, the orthogonal test design method is applied to design nine target gradations with coarse aggregate (>4.75 mm) and fine aggregate (<4.75 mm) of AC-20 (asphalt concrete) mixture serving as two factors and the upper, middle, and lower positions of the gradation curve as three levels, and then the road performance test research is carried out. Second, a comprehensive model for evaluation of road performance of mineral aggregate gradation is established. A fuzzy complementary judgment matrix is constructed, and the index weights of each level and the hierarchical total ranking weight are calculated. Then, the membership function is introduced into the comprehensive evaluation model for the road performance of mineral aggregate gradation, and the membership values of each index of asphalt mixture road performance are obtained. Finally, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to find out the comprehensive evaluation value of the road performance of the nine graded asphalt mixtures, and the mineral aggregate gradation is optimized. The research results show that the 1# gradation of the asphalt mixture has the highest comprehensive road performance evaluation value, and the combination of the fuzzy hierarchical analysis process and comprehensive evaluation method can more objectively and comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive road performance of the asphalt mixture and provide a useful reference for the optimal selection of asphalt mixture mineral gradation.

Sampling of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced Rat's Retina Damage and Multi-index Evaluation of Pathological Changes.

Retinopathy can be observed in most ocular diseases and the late complications of diabetes mellitus. The specific pigment epithelial cells and optic cells' damage and degeneration are the main features of retinopathy. Manytraditional medicines have shown substantial clinical efficacy in treating retinopathy. How to obtain a retina quickly and completely is a key step in traditional medicine research for the treatment of retinopathy. In this study, we aim to provide a standardized and exercisable procedure for sampling of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced rat's retina damage and multi-index evaluation of pathological changes. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg MNU once to induce retina damage, and retina samples were obtained after 7 days. Additionally, we performed hematoxylin-eosin staining to assess retinal pathologicalchanges.Determination of the apoptosis rate and apoptosis protein by TUNEL and Western blot. These standardized protocols for retinal sampling and evaluation of pathological changes are helpful in promoting the exploration of the mechanism of retinopathy and the discovery of novel and effective traditional herbs.

Multi-index evaluation on reinforcement programs for frame structures based on life cycle theory and time-varying reliability

Under the mandates of economic and environmental sustainability, the consideration of reinforcement engineering must extend beyond mere enhancement effects and short-term project costs. As a long-term engineering activity, reinforcement significantly impacts urban economies and environments. Although extensive research has evaluated the costs or environmental impacts of reinforcement engineering based on the whole life cycle theory, existing studies often focus on single indicators without adequately integrating them with other domains. Using a reinforced concrete frame structure as a case study, this paper develops a combined evaluation decision-making model integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process for subjective assessment and an enhanced Rough Set method for objective evaluation. This model comprehensively assesses the seismic performance, economic costs, and environmental impacts of various reinforcement strategies. The results indicate that the combined strategy of enlarging column sections and carbon fiber reinforced polymer strengthening beams performs best in seismic performance, long-term economic benefits, and environmental impacts. Grounded in practical projects, this study adjusts the whole life cycle cost model to better align with engineering maintenance realities and introduces Rough Set theory to address deficiencies in objective indicator weighting. This research offers insights and guidance for leveraging information technology in resolving multi-criteria evaluation decision-making challenges in reinforcement engineering solutions.

Study on Multi-Index Evaluation Technology of Seismic Performance of Green Ecological Building Structure

Traditional evaluation methods based on static elastic-plastic analysis usually produce results with low fitting degree compared with actual data. In this paper, a new seismic performance evaluation method is proposed. Firstly, several evaluation indexes of green ecological building structure are calculated. Subsequently, a cumulative damage model is established based on fatigue life curve and Miner criterion, which allows to determine the total dissipated strain energy and damage index. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, it is compared with the traditional static elastic-plastic analysis method through experimental tests. The results show that compared with the traditional method of 50% to 60%, the proposed method achieves a significantly higher fitting degree with the actual data, ranging from 70% to 92%. This emphasizes the superiority and reliability of the proposed method in evaluating the seismic performance of green ecological building structures, and provides insights for safer and more flexible building practices.

An Empirical Study of the Quality Governance Level of China’s Civil Aircraft Industry

The quality governance level of an industry is a multi-index evaluation problem that must consider multiple dimensions and factors. This study is the first to construct a comprehensive quality governance evaluation model for the civil aircraft industry of China (CAIC). The index system for the quality governance evaluation of CAIC was established using a literature review, enterprise investigation, expert interviews, and questionnaire surveys. An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine index weights. Based on the evaluation model, data from 53 aviation manufacturing enterprises were collected, and the quality governance level of the CAIC was empirically evaluated; thus, quantitative and qualitative evaluation results were obtained. This empirical study shows that the quality governance of the CAIC is currently at a “medium to low” level. Furthermore, critical factors and bottleneck indices restricting the quality governance level of the CAIC were identified.

Enhanced multi-task learning models for pile drivability prediction: Leveraging metaheuristic algorithms and statistical evaluation

As a crucial component in construction, piles find extensive use in transportation infrastructure. Drivability, a term commonly employed to gauge the ease of pile installation, encompasses various factors. To evaluate the drivability, various indexes, such as MCS (maximum compressive stresses), MTS (maximum tensile stresses) and BPF (blow per foot) are proposed. Despite the need for multiple indexes to evaluate pile drivability, these metrics often share underlying commonalities, as they collectively describe features of the hammer-pile-soil system comprehensively. Thus, leveraging multi-task learning techniques becomes advantageous for tackling the drivability prediction problem. This paper proposes two enhanced multi-task learning models improved from MLS-SVR (Multi-output least-squares support vector regression machines) and hybridized with metaheuristic algorithms. Based on 4072 pile installing samples, the models undergo development and hyperparameter optimization employing SA (Simulated Annealing) and YYPO (Yin-Yang-pair Optimization). Six statistical indexes are employed evaluate the accuracy of the models. The test results reveal the superiority of YYPO-MLS-SVR over SA-MLS-SVR. Furthermore, comparative analysis against single-task models from previous studies demonstrates the robust performance of hybridized MLS-SVR models, even when addressing multiple problems concurrently. This paper presents a novel approach for the multi-index evaluation of pile drivability.

New understandings of the applications of PDC cutters in oil and gas drilling

Today, the polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters have already reached a pretty high level of quality and are still keeping advancing. The formations drillability is positively related to the quality of PDC cutters. With advances in PDC cutters, most formations have become easy-to-drill. Years of improvements in the PDC cutter quality and the drilling techniques have also upended some long-hold knowledge and understandings about the cutter applications. PDC designs abandoned long ago are once again applicable, such as unleached, thin diamond table, small chamfer, and non-pure diamond mix. From the perspective of saving money and environmental protection, these long-abandoned PDC designs are worth a shot, but are suggested to be used in the well-understood formations and lithologies. On the other hand, why do PDC cutters always perform poorly in challenging formations? The results revealed that this is mainly due to the irregular dynamic impacts and inefficient rock cutting, which are the primary causes of the premature failure of PDC cutters and bits. The challenging formations as well as the unknown formations in the exploratory wells still prefer the cutters with the best quality, such as pure diamond mix, thicker diamond table, deep leaching, excellent residual stress management, and the ones from the best manufacturer. In addition, how to select the right cutters depends highly on the bit failure forensics and the multi-index evaluation. The emphasis of cutter selection is on selecting the right design and the right materials for the right formations, rather than the most expensive ones.

Eco-sustainable design of seawater sea-sand slag-based geopolymer mortars incorporating ternary solid waste

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of utilizing geopolymer as alternatives to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in marine engineering. Eco-friendly seawater sea-sand slag-based geopolymer mortars (SS-SGMs) were prepared by blending seawater, sea-sand, Basalt Fibres (BF), Polypropylene Fibres (PPF), and ternary solid waste. The effects of activator modulus, alkaline content, water-to-binder ratio, and the volume fractions of BF and PPF on the mechanical performance, environmental impact, and cost of SS-SGMs were researched using the L16(4)5 Taguchi orthogonal method. Three evaluation methods were used to assess the impact of the different factors. First, the influence of a single factor was analyzed using methods of range and variance analysis. Subsequently, three new evaluation metrics were proposed to consider the synergistic effects of mechanical performance, environment, and cost. Finally, a Gray-Technique of Ordering Preferences by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Gray-TOPSIS) model was established, and the influence weights of each factor were proposed, thereby determining the optimal solution in a multi-index evaluation system. The recommended optimal mix proportion for SS-SGMs was determined as follows: activator modulus of 1.0, alkaline content of 4%, water-to-binder ratio of 0.42, PPF volume fraction of 0.4%, and BF volume fraction of 0.3%. Compared to OPC with the same strength grade, SS-SGMs demonstrated similar costs, a reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 75–83%, a decrease in energy consumption by around 50–67%, and lower drying shrinkage than traditional geopolymer. Under the influence of seawater, the products of SS-SGMs were capable of forming chloride-ion adsorbing products like hydrotalcite and Brucite. Additionally, the formation of C4AH13 and ion clusters can enhance the matrix density, thereby improving the mechanical performance of SS-SGMs.

Communication network robust routing optimization in an integrated energy cyber–physical system based on a random denial-of-service attack

The integration of power grids and communication networks in smart grids enhances system safety and reliability but also exposes vulnerabilities to network attacks, such as Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks targeting communication networks. A multi-index evaluation approach is proposed to optimize routing modes in integrated energy cyber-physical systems (IECPS) considering potential failures from attacks. Security and economic service evaluation indexes are incorporated to quantify the significance of information flow routing. An optimization model for electric, heat, and gas routing in worst-case scenarios is formulated and solved using a column and constraint generation algorithm. The optimized routing method effectively circumvents specified attack areas, reducing the correlation degree of communication links within the attack area. Comparison with single-service optimization methods demonstrates the superiority of the proposed approach in mitigating the impact of network attacks on IECPS. The study highlights the importance of considering security and economic factors in optimizing routing modes to enhance the resilience of integrated energy cyber-physical systems against network attacks, particularly DoS attacks on communication networks. The evaluation index approach presented in this study provides a comprehensive method for assessing the importance of communication links in IECPS and optimizing routing modes to improve system robustness and reliability in the face of network attacks.

Multi-index evaluation of different parts of Amomum villosum

To investigate the quality differences between the seeds and husks of Amomum villosum and explore the rationality of using the seeds without husks, this study determined the content of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, epicatechin, quercitrin, volatile oil, water extract, and ethanol extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activities of seeds and husks. The quality differences between the seeds and husks were assessed through orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) combined with the entropy weight method(EWM). Significant differences(P<0.05) were observed in all 10 indicators between the seeds and husks. The levels of epicatechin, quercetin, and volatile oil were higher in the seeds, whereas those of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, water extract, and ethanol extract were higher in the husks. The seeds showed stronger scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals, while the husks showed a stronger scavenging effect on hydroxyl radicals. OPLS-DA significantly discriminated between the seeds and husks. Furthermore, volatile oil, water extract, DPPH radical scavenging rate, quercitrin, ABTS radical scavenging rate, hydroxyl radical scavenging rate, and vanillic acid were selected as the main differential indicators by variable importance in projection(VIP). Comprehensive scores calculated by AHP combined with EWM indicated that the seeds were superior to husks in terms of overall quality. However, there are still some dominant components and a certain antioxidant effect in the husks. Therefore, it is suggested to using Amomi Fructus with a certain amount of husks or utilizing the husks for other purposes.

Multi-method comparison and multi-index evaluation of cracking characteristics of asphalt mixture

The micro crack inside asphalt pavement are potential and antecedent factors for macroscopic cracking of the pavement. The position and quantity of micro cracks have a significant impact on the service life and failure mode of asphalt pavement. The purpose of this study was to conduct multi-scale analysis and multi-index evaluation on the whole process of generation, expansion, and transformation of micro-crack inside asphalt pavement (asphalt mixture) based on multiple testing methods. Firstly, synchronous tests were conducted on the cracking process of asphalt mixture by using three-point bending loading method, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring method, and digital image correlation (DIC) analysis method. Secondly, a three-dimensional finite element model of the asphalt mixture beam was established for AE source location simulation. Finally, the advantages and limitations of multi-methods were compared and analyzed. The principal strain points with different sizes were randomly distributed in the tensile area of the asphalt mixture beam bottom at the initial loading stage, and the number of the principal strain points increased with the decrease of the loading rate. The macroscopic main crack of the asphalt mixture beam generated and expanded from the maximum principal strain point (P1) at the later loading stage. The AE dominant-frequency distribution ranges of micro-crack expanding process, macro-crack generating process, and failure process of asphalt mixture beam were 78.125–156.25 kHz, 234.375–312.5 kHz, and 0–78.125 kHz, respectively. Four stages of damage evolution and cracking process inside the asphalt mixture beam were obtained by the AE source location simulation. A comprehensive and systematic evaluation of bending cracking characteristics of asphalt mixture beam was realized by obtaining multiple indexes from multiple scales with multiple methods.

Configuration size optimization of gas-electric hybrid power systems on ships considering energy density and engine load response

System component sizes and their energy densities impact the long-term ship energy efficiency and economics, whereas power source load response influences system transient behavior, posing challenges to system design and energy management when clean fuels are used onboard. In this paper, a novel component sizing method is proposed for integrating reciprocating gas engines and energy storage systems (ESS) on ships, considering energy density and load response simultaneously. By specifying gas engine powers and ESS capacities as normalized optimization variables by ship scales, this method optimizes them based on the A. J. Klee multi-index evaluation and single-objective particle swarm optimization (PSO). Energy densities of engines and ESS were introduced to demonstrate the trade-off between the power-splitting and increased system mass and hull resistance. The engine load response was incorporated into the rule-based energy management strategy (EMS) to limit power ramps. This method was examined in the case study by taking four cruise ships as examples. It can be found that implementing the proposed evaluation-based optimization can improve cruise ship energy efficiency while maintaining reliability over the voyage. It is possible to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 17.1% and 14.8%, respectively. The minimum system reliability can be increased from 0.025 to 0.475 during transients. Furthermore, ship life-cycle costs can be reduced compared to the original design method, and the payback period for gas engines, ESS, and fuel tanks can be shortened to less than six years. Among the various cases, the definition of normalized optimization variables broadens the applicability of this method away from a specific ship, allowing it to be applied to ships of various tonnages and types.

An overview of risk assessment and monitoring of malignant transformation in cirrhotic nodules.

Cirrhotic liver nodules can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through a multi-step carcinogenesis model, with dysplastic nodules being particularly high risk. Currently, monitoring the progression of non-HCC cirrhotic nodules is primarily through dynamic observation, but there is a lack of sensitive, efficient, and convenient methods. Dynamic monitoring and risk evaluation of malignant transformation are essential for timely treatment and improved patient survival rates. Routine liver biopsies are impractical for monitoring, and imaging techniques like ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are not suitable for all patients or for accurately assessing subcentimeter nodules. Identifying serum biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, and stability, and developing a multi-index evaluation model, may provide a more convenient and efficient approach to monitoring pathological changes in cirrhotic nodules.

Building Height Extraction Based on Joint Optimal Selection of Regions and Multiindex Evaluation Mechanism

Building Height Extraction Based on Joint Optimal Selection of Regions and Multiindex Evaluation Mechanism

Risk analysis of construction safety level of prefabricated buildings based on multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation

In order to accurately and quantitatively evaluate the safety risks caused by a series of uncertain factors in the construction process of prefabricated buildings, and analyze the factors affecting the construction of prefabricated buildings, a multi-factor and multi-index evaluation system with 5 evaluation criteria and 18 indexes of operators, construction organization, management system, prefabricated components and machinery and equipment was established. Multistage fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to determine the weight of each index, define the index grade, and construct the membership function combined with fuzzy mathematics to construct the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model. Based on this method, the construction safety level of prefabricated buildings in a community is analyzed and evaluated. The evaluation results are reasonable and effective, and the feasibility of multistage fuzzy comprehensive evaluation is verified.

A multi-index evaluation method of supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle for nuclear power plants design

ABSTRACT This paper investigated four different S-CO2 Brayton cycle layouts for nuclear energy conversion: simple recuperation cycle (SR), recompression cycle (RC), re-heating cycle (RH), and intercooling cycle (IC). We compared these S-CO2 Brayton cycle schemes for nuclear energy conversion using the G1+TOPSIS multi-index evaluation method. The evaluation results of different schemes based on their safety, thermodynamics, techno-economic and compactness are given. The results show that for Generation IV reactors with the same designed thermal power, the thermodynamic performance of the S-CO2 system is better for higher reactor exit temperature. Among the schemes, the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR)+RC scheme has the highest thermal efficiency (47.4%) and exergy efficiency (56.48%). The GFR+IC scheme has the lowest specific cost (1861.3$/W) and the internal rate of return (24.8%). The re-heating cycle (RH) has worse indexes, but it requires the lowest initial investment cost. The intercooling cycle (IC) has the lowest levelized cost of electricity (0.0134 $/KW•h) coupling to GFR. Considering all indexes of four aspects, the reactor’s performance ranking is MSR>LFR>SFR>GFR, and the S-CO2 system's performance ranking is RC>SR>IC>RH. For Generation IV nuclear energy conversion technologies, the molten salt reactor (MSR)+RC scheme should be given priority, while GFR+RH schemes should be carefully considered.

Assessing the impact of river connectivity on fish biodiversity in the Yangtze River Basin using a multi-index evaluation framework

The Yangtze River Basin, the world's third-largest river basin and a hot spot for global biodiversity conservation, is facing biodiversity crisis caused by reduced river connectivity. The deterioration arises from four dimensions: longitudinal, lateral, vertical and temporal. However, limited research has quantified the spatiotemporal connectivity of the Yangtze River Basin and further evaluated the consequent impact on fish biodiversity. In our study, a multi-index evaluation framework was developed to assess the variations in the four-dimensional connectivity of the Yangtze River Basin from 1980 to 2020, and fish biodiversity affected by reduced connectivity was detected by environmental DNA metabarcoding. Our results showed that the Yangtze River Basin suffers from a pronounced connectivity reduction, with 67% of assessed rivers experiencing deteriorated connectivity in recent years. The lost fish biodiversity along the river reaches with the worst connectivity was likely attributed to the construction of hydropower plants. The headwaters and the downstreams of most hydropower plants had a higher fish biodiversity compared with reservoirs. The free-flowing reaches in the downstream of the lowest hydropower station, had higher lotic fish abundance compared with that in the upstream. As for the entire Yangtze River Basin, 67% of threatened fish species, with 70% endemic species, were threatened by reduced river connectivity. Our result indicates that the massive loss of river connectivity changes the spatiotemporal patterns of fish community and threatens protected fish. More effective measures to restore the populations of affected fish in rivers with reduced river connectivity are required.

Enhancing indoor environmental quality: Personalized recommendation method for demand-oriented indoor ventilation strategy

In the context of indoor environmental control, users have varying preferences with respect to their ventilation demands. Currently, the design and control of ventilation schemes do not consider user preferences adequately. To optimize the ventilation strategies based on user demands, the weight coefficients of occupant ventilation demands were extracted in this study using questionnaire surveys. The distinctive characteristics of ventilation preferences among individuals were then analyzed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate ventilation schemes with multiple air supply parameters within an office environment, and a database of ventilation performance under different conditions was generated. A multi-index evaluation was conducted to determine the recommended air supply scheme. Finally, a backpropagation neural network was employed to establish a personalized recommendation model for the ventilation scheme. The model inputs include the environmental weight coefficients assigned by the occupants and objective environmental parameters. Its outputs include the ventilation performance and air supply parameters. The results demonstrate that the recommended model can align with user demands, providing suitable ventilation performance and air supply parameters. For user-oriented indoor environment construction, this method enables the rapid and accurate determination of recommended air supply parameters and performance, facilitating the creation of a healthy built environment.