Qualitative Indices Research Articles

Побудова мультиплікативно-адитивної згортки критеріїв в просторі кількі-сних і якісних показників для визначення пріоритетності проєктів

One of the main problems in scientific activity organization on a competitive basis is to improve methods of R&D project evaluation and priority determination. The project priority level may be determined using approaches based on the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT), whose development is the subject matter of many studies and publications. Despite of the large number of publications on the subject, the development of a scientifically substantiated mathematical apparatus for multicriteria project evaluation is still a topical and challenging problem. The complexity of the development of project priority determination methods is due to difficulties in the construction of a unified rating scale that would allow one to measure the value of project indices differing in physical content and dimension. That is, what is difficult is the structurization of a decision-making person (DMP)’s preferences and the formalization of preference evaluation. It is also difficult to construct a criterion-target model that would adequately represent the system of DMP preferences in the form of a scalar value function, which is termed a criteria convolution, an integral criterion, or an integral value function (IVF). MAUT-based computational algorithms widely use procedures of common criteria scaling, in which one quality index is replaced with another. Such algorithms have a resolution equal to one; however, they operate with quantitative criteria alone, thus significantly narrowing their application area. Another drawback of theirs is the lack of simple methods to determine the value function at indifference (DMP preference equality) points. The aim of this work is to eliminate these drawbacks in a multiplicative-additive IVF model. To do this, the following was done. Functional relationships between DMP preferences and alternative quality indices were established to give analytical expressions for evaluating local value functions at indifference points. A method was developed for constructing a multiplicative-additive criteria convolution to evaluate and rank alternatives in the space of quantitative and qualitative indices. An algorithm was developed to determine the priority of projects; the algorithm allows one to rank alternatives with a resolution equal to one. In this work, decision theory, multicriteria utility theory, and verbal decision analysis methods were used. The results obtained may be used in R&D efficiency evaluation, competitive project selection, and space program formation in the rocket space industry.

Habitat Use and Niche Partitioning of Regina septemvittata and Nerodia sipedon in a Small Appalachian Stream in West Virginia

The common water snake, Nerodia sipedon, and the queen snake, Regina septemvittata are two species of stream-dwelling water snakes in the Family Natricidae native to the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Nerodia sipedon is a large-bodied generalist, ranging up to 140 cm in length and 400 g in mass, which feeds on many fish and amphibian species. Regina septemvittata is a smaller specialist, reaching only 92 cm in length and 100 g in mass, which primarily consumes freshly molted crayfish. In an ongoing study conducted by students at West Virginia University, I studied the habitat preferences of both of these species in the North fork of Short Creek as there has been little research done on habitat preferences in small streams. Morphological, environmental, and behavioral data on each snake that was captured. Qualitative habitat evaluation indexes (QHEI) were also collected to assess stream health in conjunction with presence and abundance of both species. No significant differences were found in the presence or abundance as it relates to QHEI, but trends show higher rates of presence and abundance in sites with lower QHEI scores. These results suggest that there is minimal interspecific competition of habitat present between N. sipedon and R. septemvittata, as well as support the hypothesis that both species thrive in more disturbed habitats.

The Microhabitat Preferences Based on Relative Density and Stream Assessment of Regina septemvittata in a small West Virginia Stream

Regina septemvittata is a slim-bodied water snake in the family Natricidae that is native to the northeastern United States. Being the only species to consume exclusively freshly molted crayfish, R. septemvittata is categorized as a specialist. The selectivity of prey suggests possible other narrow range preferences including refuge and hunting locations. This study is being conducted in the North Fork of Short Creek in Ohio County, WV. In addition, Nerodia sipedon sipedon is also found within the study stream system. N. s. Sipedon is a generalist water snake species that has been shown to be larger and more aggressive than R. septemvittata. Both species are captured throughout their activity period, April - November, starting in 2018. In addition to environmental and morphological data being recorded at the time of collection, qualitative habitat evaluation indexes (QHEI) were recorded at the initiation of the project. QHEI allows for a more standardized evaluation of the quality of the stream system. The combination of the quality of the stream in 100-meter sections of the stream in addition to snake location data can show relative preferences of R. septemvittata throughout the stream system. The current data suggests a greater preference for disturbed habitat as well as a higher frequency of hot spots in the stream as opposed to their generalist counterparts N. s. sipedon.

Deep-seated toppling deformations at the dam site of the Miaowei Hydropower Station, Southwest China

The high and steep anti-dip slopes at the dam site of the Miaowei Hydropower Station, located in the Lancang River valley in southwest China, are subjected to clusters of deep-seated toppling deformations (DSTDs). Geological mapping, exploratory adits, electron spin resonance (ESR) dating, and kinematic monitoring were conducted on the right bank slopes to explore the causes of failure and kinematic patterns of the DSTDs. The studied DSTDs formed in anti-dip metamorphic rock layers during the youngest terraces owing to the rapid incision of the V-shaped river valley under high tectonic stress. The maximum horizontal depth of toppling rocks on right bank slopes was greater than 200 m. Quantitative indices concerning the dip angle of the toppled rock layers, tensile aperture, and elastic wave velocity of rock masses, as well as qualitative indices including rock weathering and unloading, can be used as a comprehensive indicator system for characterizing the intensity of toppling. Toppled rock layers can be categorized into four zones according to toppling intensity: extremely intense, intense, moderate, and weak, as characterized by complete block detachment, composite tensile-shear fracture, tensile fracture, and reverse slip, respectively. Excavation at the slope toe triggered shallow sliding failures along the toppling-induced cataclinal discontinuities in zones of extremely intense and intense toppling, which seriously affected dam construction.

State assessment of 750kV electric energy metering device based on grey theory and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

Abstract It is necessary to evaluate the operation state of 750kV electric energy metering device to predict stop loss. On the basis of previous studies, the state indexes and evaluation methods of electric energy metering devices are improved: the quantitative state indexes are described by nonlinear mathematical scoring model, the qualitative state indexes are clustered by grey theory, and the state weight of each index is determined based on the improved analytic hierarchy process, Finally, the state evaluation results are obtained with the help of weighted average model and fuzzy mathematics theory. The improved state evaluation strategy is more perfect and practical, and realizes the all-round supervision of the operation state of the electric energy metering device.

A New Maintainability Evaluation Method Based on Virtual-real Fusion Scene Construction

Maintainability is one important attribute of product quality. Maintainability evaluation is important to reduce maintenance cost and improve availability. With this research work, an effective maintainability evaluation method is proposed by mingling virtual environment and real world physical equipment. In order to reduce the cost of maintainability test scenario construction, the surrounding environment of physical equipment is replaced by virtual model for virtual-real fusion. The virtual environment is mainly used to simulate the impact on maintenance operation space. The difficulty of realizing the test concept deals with how to accurately identify the pose of the physical equipment and register the virtual environment around the physical equipment. In the proposed method, initially the ORB feature of the physical product is extracted through binocular vision. Secondly, the ICP method is used to match the physical product feature with the digital prototype feature, so as to identify the relative pose of the physical equipment. The virtual maintenance environment is then accurately superimposed. Thirdly, the experimental evaluation method of virtual reality fusion maintainability qualitative and quantitative indicators is formulated. Finally, taking an engine as an example, a virtual-real fusion maintainability test case study is carried out to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of maintainability evaluation based on virtual-real fusion test scenario. With 5 test groups, evaluation is carried out in three scenes-real environment, virtual-real fusion and without surrounding environment. Results of the evaluation revealed that error rate of the proposed virtual reality fusion maintainability method are somehow closer to maintainability in real environment. The average error rate of the three maintainability qualitative indexes in the virtual-real fusion scene is 9.90%, whereas the average error of the maintenance time is 3.25%. The proposed system offers an absorbing simulation environment where users are privileged to interact with the maintenance objects. The research work bears great significance in maintenance, product designing, visualization and related domains. As maintenance in real environment happens to be costlier and hazardous, the proposed method is suitable to ensure substantial cost reduction and safety in all stages of maintainability. Moreover, outcomes of the evaluation and the generated data of simulation can be generalized to improve maintainability of equipment.

Beneficiation properties of ash-and-slag dumps

Purpose. Development of a mathematical model for the indices of TPP ash-and-slag waste separation in closed flotation circuit when applying recleaning operations of enriched product. Methodology. The methods for calculating separation indices using the separation characteristics of separation processes and calculating the indices of the release of valuable mineral using statistical relationships between the particle size of the inclusion, ash content and particle size distribution function were used. Findings. Separation characteristics of rough and recleaning flotation operations were preliminarily determined experimentally, relations that allow calculating the indices of the release of coal particles in ash-and-slag dumps were defined, based on which the functions of particle distribution by their content of valuable mineral fractional composition were found. The separation characteristics of the connections of the separation blocks, including several operations of cleaning of the enriched froth product, were determined. Calculations to determine the quantitative and qualitative separation indices were performed. Originality. Analytical relationships to determine the indices of the release of coal inclusions in the process of material from ash-and-slag dumps grinding were obtained. Practical value. The established dependencies make it possible to justify the required grinding coarseness to achieve the specified parameters of the enrichment process based on the values of the beneficiation properties of ash-and-slag dumps.

Type synthesis of 2R1T remote center of motion parallel mechanisms with a passive limb for minimally invasive surgical robot

In view of the demands for medical imaging compatibility and efficient space occupation around the surgical site, this paper proposes remote center of motion (RCM) parallel mechanisms (PMs) with a passive limb to enable more flexible arrangement of the limbs and actuators in a RCM surgical manipulator. A type synthesis method is proposed to design the 2R1T RCM PMs with a passive limb based on the Lie group. The motion requirements for the RCM mechanism are first expressed in the form of Lie group. The motion arrangement and kinematic structure development are then implemented to obtain the active and passive limbs. By means of this approach, numerous 2R1T RCM PMs with a passive limb are synthesized. The actuated joints are then selected, and a few qualitative evaluation indices are proposed. Finally, the motion configurations of two generated mechanisms are validated through simulation. The proposed method is universally effective for the type synthesis of multi-degree of freedom RCM PMs with a passive limb.

Network analysis of comorbidity patterns in heart failure patients using administrative data

Background: Congestive Heart Failure (HF) is a widespread chronic disease characterized by a very high incidence in elder people. The high mortality and readmission rate of HF strongly depends on the complicated morbidity scenario often characterising it.
 Methods: Data were retrieved from the healthcare administrative datawarehouse of Lombardy, the most populated regional district in Italy. Network analysis techniques and community detection algorithms are applied to comorbidities registered in hospital discharge papers of HF patients, in 7 cohorts between 2006 and 2012.Results: The relevance network indexes applied to the 7 cohorts identified death, ipertension, arrythmia, renal and pulmonary diseases as the most relevant nodes related to HF, in terms of prevalence and closeness/strenght of the relationship. Moreover, 3 clusters of nodes have been identified in all the cohorts, i.e. those related to cancer, lung diseases and heart/circulation related problems.Conclusions: Network analysis can be a useful tool in epidemiologic framework when relational data are the objective of the investigation, since it allows to visualize and make inference on patterns of association among nodes (here HF comorbidities) by means of both qualitative indexes and clustering techniques.

واکنش ریحان (Ocimum bacilicum L.) به سیستم‌های مختلف تغذیه در کشاورزی اکولوژیک

Introduction: The tendency to produce aromatic and medicinal plants and the demand for natural products is increasing especially in the world of ecological agriculture. Ecological agriculture of medicinal plants guarantees their quality and reduces the possibility of negative effects on their medicinal quality and yield. One of the most important medicinal plant species is basil, which is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Common basil (Ocimum bacilicum L.) is the most important economic species of Ocimum and is cultivated and consumed in almost all warm and temperate regions. Evaluation of different plant nutrition systems is one of the important principles in the production planning of medicinal plants in order to achieve high yield and quality of effective ingredients. Proper fertilizer management is one of the important factors in agricultural production. Identification of fertilizers compatible with nature and suitable for plant growth can have favorable effects on quantitative and qualitative indices of the plant. Organic fertilizers are genuine and risk-free products that can be suitable for agricultural sustainability. Soil organic matter improves fertility and water retention, provides proper ventilation, long-term storage of plant nutrients and microorganisms, so replacing chemical fertilizers with fertilizers such as vermicompost and biofertilizer can reduce the above-mentioned effects. Biofertilizers are one of the operations that is nowadays in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture for soil fertility. Biofertilizers include the compost of one or more types of useful soil organisms or as metabolic by-products of these organisms that are used to provide the plant with the nutrients it needs in an agroecosystem.Materials and Methods: In order to investigate the effect of biochar and organic and biological fertilizers on the quantity and quality of Ocimum bacilicum L., a factorial experiment was done in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments included two levels of biochar (0 and 20 ton ha-1) and five levels of fertilizers (vermicompost (10 ton ha-1), Mycorrhiza, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas and no fertilizer application). Prior to planting sweet basil seed, biofertilizers and vermicompost were mixed with soil to the depth of 15 cm. Mycorrhizal fungi were mixed with seed. Azotobacter and Pseudomonas bacteria were also incubated with seeds (seed inoculated). It should be added that in this study no chemicals were used to control weeds and pests. Before flowering stage, morphological traits of basil (plant height, stem diameter and number of branches) were measured. Also, to measure the dry weight of the shoots, basil was scalped from one square meter and weighed, and their fresh weight was thus determined. Then, to determine the dry weight, the samples were transferred to an oven at 70 ° C for 48 hours and finally weighed. Also in the flowering stage, the amount of total phenol and flavonoids and antioxidant activity (DPPH) were evaluated. Finally, the data were analyzed using SAS statistical software and Excel software was used to draw the graphs. Also, the means were compared by LSD test at the level of 5%.Results and Discussion: According to the results, the highest height and number of main branches was in biochar application with vermicompost (49.37 cm and 7 respectively), which was significantly better than other treatments. The intraction effect of biochar and fertilizer had a significant effect on fresh and dry weight of leaf and stem of the plant. The results of the mean comparison of treatments showed that the highest leaf and stem fresh weight were obtained in biochar + Pseudomonas application (792 and 876 g m-2, respectively), which had no significant difference with biochar + vermicompost; and also, the maximum leaf dry weight and stem dry weight were obtained in biochar with Pseudomonas application (166 and 175 g m-2, respectively). The interaction between biochar and fertilizer on phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of basil showed a significant differences between treatments. ConclusionIn general, the results showed that the use of biochar and biological and organic fertilizers can be effective in both the quality and quantity of sweet bail, where, the use of the bacterium Azobacter and Pseudomonas with biochar had the greatest effect on the quality and quantity of sweet bail. Finally, it can be cocluded that the combined use of biochar with biological fertilizers have a significant impact on the quantitative and qualitative increase of sweet bail in ecological or low input agricultural.

Analysis of co-authorship networks among Brazilian graduate programs in computer science.

The growth and popularization of platforms on scientific production has been the subject of several studies, producing relevant analyses of co-authorship behavior among groups of researchers. Researchers and their scientific productions can be analysed as co-authorship social networks, so researchers are linked through common publications. In this context, co-authoring networks can be analysed to find patterns that can describe or characterize them. This work presents the analysis and characterization of co-authorship networks of academic Brazilian graduate programs in computer science. Data from Brazilian researchers were collected and modeled as co-authoring networks among the graduate programs that researchers take part in. Each network topology was analysed with complex network measurements and three proposed qualitative indices that evaluate the publication’s quality. In addition, the co-authorship networks of the computer science graduate programs were characterized in relation to the assessment received by CAPES, which attributes a qualitative grade to the graduate programs in Brazil. The results show the most relevant topological measurements for the program’s characterization and the evaluations received by the programs in different qualitative degrees, relating the main topological patterns of the co-authorship networks and the CAPES grades of the Brazilian graduate programs in computer science.

Оцінка впливу показників санітарно-гігієнічного і радіаційного станів на екологічну безпеку Рівненської області

The article gives research data of indicators of sanitary state of the soils in Rivne region as for the content of microelements and heavy metals, such as boron, manganese, zinc, cupre, plumb, cadmium, and radiative state as for the content of caesium-137 in soils, the density of radon flow out of their surface, the level of its ecological safety. It is recommended to carry out estimation of the state of ecological safety of the districts, as for indicators stimulators of the content of boron and manganese microelements in soils, according to dependencies which have the form of increasing parabolas of the second order, but as for indicators destimulators of the content of zinc, cupre, plumb, cadmium, caesium-137, the density of radon flow, it is recommended to use dependencies which have the form of descending parabolas of the second order. It is ascertained that ecological safety as for the content of boron is estimated by the following categories: 15 districts as “safety”, one district as “risk”, as for the content of manganese — by the categories 15 districts as “safety”, one district as “risk”; as for the content of zink — by the category “safety” — 16 districts; as for the content of plumb 15 districts — as “safety”, one district as “threat”, as for the content of cupre — by the categories “safety” 12 districts, “risk” — 1, “threat” 3 districts, as for the content of cadmium by the category “safety” — 16 districts. According to aggregated indices of ecological safety, sanitary state of region soils is estimated by quantitative and qualitative indices, namely, in Polissia zone from 0,85 to 0,91, that corresponds to 7 districts of the category “safety”, and in Forest and Steppe zone from 0,72 to 0,91, that also corresponds to the category “safety” for 9 districts. As for the content of caesium-137, ecological safety of the soils in Polissia zone is estimated by the following categories: 2 districts as “safety”, one — as “risk”, 2 districts as “threat”, 2 districts as “danger”, but in Forest and Steppe zone 9 districts are estimated as “safety”. As for the size of density of radon flow out of the soils surface in Polissia zone, ecological safety is estimated by the following categories: 6 districts as “safety”, one — as “threat” and in Forest and Steppe zone 3 districts as “risk”, 5 — as “threat”, one district as “danger”. According to aggregated indices of ecological safety of radiactive state of region soils it is estimated by quantitative and qualitative indices, namely, in Polissia zone from 0,27 to 0,81, that corresponds to the category “safety” for 3 districts, “risk” — for 2 districts, “threat” for 2 districts, and in Forest and Steppe zone from 0,62 to 0,80, that corresponds to the category “safety” for 3 districts, “risk” for 6 districts. In order to reduce the effect of destimulators, namely, a great content of caesium-137 in the soils of Polissia zone and its possible accumulation in agricultural products, it is recommended to keep positive balance of humus in arable lands et the expense of application of differentiated norms of organic fertilizers (from 1 to 16 t/ha) and soil liming; in case of increased release of radon out of soil surface and its entry into buildings it is recommended to ventilate them and arrange shielding of basements during construction.

Методика оцінки впливу показників якості довкілля на поширеність хвороб населення районів Рівненської області

The article presents materials based on the methods of evaluation of environmental quality indices influence on the prevalence and sickness rate of region agrosphere population. Within the period of the year 2018 the state of environment in the region and districts of Polissia zone was characterized by the existence of pollutants emission into atmosphere — from 1,6 to 7 kg per a person, discrepancy of fresh water quality to the state sanitary standards 2.2.4-171-10 according to chemical — from 11,4 to 33,5 % and microbiological indices — from 19,3 to 44 %, contents of Cesium-137 in the soils — from 0,06 to 0,94 cure per square kilometre, in Forest-Steppe zone by existence of forest areas — from 17 to 25 %; pollutants emission into atmosphere — from 1,9 to 47,7 kg per a person, discrepancy of fresh water quality to the state standards according to chemical — from 12,6 to 36,6 %, and microbiological indices — from 13,6 to 32,2 %, coming out radon from the soil surface — from 28 to 89 mBk (m2×c). The pointed out distinctions in the state of environment of regional districts promoted the differentiation of diseases spreading among population. It is ascertained that prevalence and population sickness rate in the districts and region, as well as death-rate of small children under a year of life, born alive, greatly depend from rather weak to moderate connection on the following indices of environment quality: stimulators — areas of forests and territories covered with woods, mobile forms of zinc; destimulators — values of radon flow density, emission of pollutants into atmosphere, indices of fresh water quality discrepancy to the standards. It is suggested to calculate qualitative and quantitative indices of region agrosphere ecological safety as to prevalence of respiration and digestion organs, systems of blood circulation, neoplasms, small children under a year of life mortality using dependencies which have the type of falling parabolas of the second order from min — 0 till — max that are determined for level of the region. The prevalence and sickness rate of region population concerning diabetes fluctuate in the limits of 236 to 406 cases out of 10000 people correspondingly. The results of regressive analysis prove that the increase of mobile forms of zinc contents in the soils of the region would promote the decrease of prevalence and sickness rate of region population suffering from diabetes.

Usefulness of quantitative 99mTc-pyrophosphate SPECT/CT for predicting the prognosis of patients with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

PurposeWild-type transthyretin-related amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure especially in elderly patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine retrospectively whether the quantitative indices of 99mTc-pyrophosphate (PYP) SPECT/CT help to predict the prognosis of ATTRwt-CM patients when compared with other clinical parameters.Materials and methodsSixty-eight patients with biopsy-proven ATTRwt-CM who underwent PYP SPECT/CT were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic parameters, and qualitative and/or quantitative indices of planar and SPECT/CT imaging in PYP scintigraphy for each patient were included. For quantitative analysis of SPECT/CT, the accumulation ratio of PYP in the septum, posterior, anterior, lateral, and apex walls to the cavity pool was calculated as the septal wall-to-cavity ratio (Se/C), lateral wall-to-cavity ratio (La/C), anterior wall-to-cavity ratio (An/C), inferior wall-to-cavity ratio (In/C), and apical wall-to-cavity ratio (Ap/C), respectively. Endpoints for prognostic accuracy evaluation were cardiac death or hospitalization due to heart failure. Event-free survival rate was evaluated through Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, providing estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Kaplan–Meier curves.ResultsHigh-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), La/C, age, interventricular septal thickness in diastole, and E/e′ ratio in the septal wall were significantly associated with event-free survival (P < 0.05). For a multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, hs-cTnT (HR 1.153; 95% CI 1.034–1.286; P < 0.01), La/C (HR 2.091; 95% CI 1.012–4.322; P = 0.046), and age (HR 1.116; 95% CI 1.007–1.238; P = 0.037) were significant independent prognostic factors.ConclusionThis study indicated that the quantitative indices of PYP SPECT/CT can help to predict the prognosis of ATTRwt-CM patients.

Investigating the Effect of Yeasts and their Derivatives on the Qualitative Indices of Red Wine

The study on the influence of yeast and yeast derivative autolyzes on the wine qualitative and quantitative characteristics has been conducted upon the first article of the series. Red grapes contain more than 1500 components, which are forming the taste and aroma of red wines, as well as the biological value of the product. One of the main technological operations in the production of red wines, which is related to the creation of favorable conditions for extracting phenolic and coloring compounds from the solid parts of the grape berry that are responsible for the color, taste, and aroma preserving them at the different stages of the wine formation and maturation, has been researched and analyzed.

КУЛЬТИВИРОВАНИЕ НЕКОТОРЫХ СОРТОВ КЛУБНИКИ БИОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИМИ МЕТОДАМИ С ЦЕЛЬЮ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ УРОЖАЙНОСТИ

The results of the current study showed that unlike traditionally produced strawberry planting materials, application of those treated per in vitro method has promoted reduction of plants infection level with various diseases (fungi, etc.). Meanwhile, the number of vegetative and generative organs of plants increased, which entailed to the considerable yield capacity increase. At the same time, the fruits’ qualitative indices remained unchanged.

STANDARDISATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF PRODUCT AND SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRY

The hospitality industry is a fast-growing sector of the economy, which contributes to the development of other sectors of the country’s economy. Cultural and business relations of Ukraine with other countries are expanding, the number of tourists requiring accommodation and service facilities meeting international standards is growing. Therefore, attention to the quality, safety, competitiveness and standardisation of hotel services has recently increased. The main task of hospitality industry enterprises is to serve guests of our country providing them with accommodation, arranging business meetings, satisfying their demand for high-quality recreation and entertainment. To study the quality of provided services expert methods based on a quality scoring scale are widely used in the field of hospitality. Unified legislative requirements, standards, quality analysis and verification of products and services provided by hospitality establishments is necessary to ensure the quality of services that meet the world standard requirements. Qualimetric assessment methods allow to convert qualitative indicators into quantitative ones, which simplifies the research process. To assess the quality of products and services a comprehensive method has been applied, which lies in the quality level assessment with a single number obtained by combining the used single qualitative indexes into one complex index. The research is about the services quality of the four-star Gagarinn Hotel in the city of Odesa. The survey has revealed that the quality service criterion is well-organized booking, reception and accommodation of the hotel. It has been found that the guests accommodated by group characteristics value professionalism and service culture the most, followed by convenience of payment and service standard. The composite assessment of the guest service quality in the accommodation establishment is 0.65. The results show that the quality of services provided at the stage of booking, reception and accommodation of guests in the studied hotel is at a sufficiently high level.

Effects of Bahá’í fasting on quantitative and qualitative health indices: a cohort study

Effects of Bahá’í fasting on quantitative and qualitative health indices: a cohort study

Indicators for measuring Europeanisation ad extra in the EU civilian mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina from 2003-2012

This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative measurement of the components of Europeanisation ad extra in the EU civilian mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina from 2003-2012. The study aims to show that Europeanisation ad extra affects third countries to a certain extent and it is thus a form of exporting the European organisational, normative, and axiological model. The exploration relates to a completed civil mission. For the needs of this study, the Author generated two basic indicators; one quantitative and one qualitative, and used them as tools for synthesising and categorising the studied area, based on the assumption that, in this way, it will be possible to measure the intensity of the Europeanisation process in the external trajectory (ad extra). The analysis of the quantitative and qualitative indices shows the number of activities in the area of security carried out in the framework of the civilian missions in question. As evidenced by these indicators, the export of European norms, values, solutions, and practices is more likely to succeed for the Balkans than for other continents where EU civilian missions are deployed. Measurement of the Europeanisation ad extra, taking the example of Bosnia and Hercegovina, proves that in its expeditionary policy, the European Union has a significant impact on third countries through transferring European standards in various areas of security such as social or axiological.

A new method of evaluating energy efficiency of public buildings in China

Traditional building energy evaluation methods usually adopt a single energy use indicator as the benchmark. However, such single-indicator based methods often lead to a paradox that switching off building service equipment or systems is equivalent to energy saving. To avoid such paradox for a more pragmatic and comprehensive evaluation of building energy use, this paper aims to establish a robust evaluation model of the operational energy efficiency for public buildings by coupling the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE). Firstly, 23 quantitative indexes and 7 qualitative indexes are extracted from existing building energy codes/standards in the input-output perspective of energy performance evaluations for public buildings. The AHP is then used to determine the weight of each index based on a proposed index correction method, which extends the range of applicability of the index system. Finally, a three-level comprehensive evaluation model is established for the operational energy efficiency of public buildings. Furthermore, a case study is conducted on a typical office building to validate the evaluation results with the proposed model. The case building achieves an overall score of 84.9 at a “Good” level, and corresponding recommendations are made for further improving building performance indexes. The proposed method is of great significance to developing building energy efficiency assessment systems and guidelines in China and over the world.