Relative Importance Weights Research Articles

A Novel Comprehensive Evaluation Method of Forest State Based on Unit Circle

Comprehensive evaluation of forest state is the precondition and critical step for forest management. To solve the problem that the radar plot and unit circle only focus on the value of each the evaluation index, this paper proposes a novel method for comprehensively and simultaneously evaluating the functionality and inhomogeneity of forest state based on the modified unit circle method. We evaluated the forest state of the Quercus aliena BL. var. acuteserrata Maxim. ex Wenz. broad-leaved mixed forest in the Xiaolong Mountains Forest Area of Gansu Province and the Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. broad-leaved mixed forest in Jilin Province in China. According to the principle of comprehensive, scientific and operability, 10 evaluation indices on forest structure and vitality were selected to construct the evaluation indicator system. Each index was normalized based on the assignment method and ensured to be strictly positive based on reciprocal transformation method. The areas and arc length of the closed graph, formed by connecting every two adjacent indicators, in the radar plot and unit circle were extracted. Based on the isoperimetric theorem (isoperimetric inequality), a comprehensive evaluation model was constructed. Compared with radar chart and unit circle method, each index in the newly proposed unit circle method is represented by an independent sector region, reflecting the contribution of the index to the overall evaluation result. Each index has the same relative importance weight, contributing to the estimation the relative sizes of each aspect of forest state. The unique area and arc length of the closed graph help summarize the overall performance with a global score. The expression effect of improved unit circle has been enhanced, and as an English proverb put it, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The new proposed method simultaneously evaluates the functionality and inhomogeneity of the forest state and it is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of forest state problems and the decision-making of forest management.

SEGMENTASI PEMILIHAN PERGURUAN TINGGI SWASTA (PTS) DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN TEKNIK ANALISIS KONJOIN

Education is essential for every one and the requirements for a good education, including higher education, progressively increases in line with global competition and industrial world demand. Many private universities (PTS) promotion packed with well attractive advertising in various media that offers facilities and services in order to get a number of university students. In determining which PTS to choose, candidates that mostly SMA graduates/leavers often regard main attributes and other factors that get character trade off. Which attribute is the most important one? Is one desired enough to sacrifice another? This research is intended to determine which attribute or combination of attributes is the most favored by SMU students in choosing PTS based on: school origin, parents’ income and which promotion media is utilized. There were 325 SMA leavers took part in this survey they come from Bogor City and Regency and its surrounding areas. Conjoin analysis was used to determine utility point for each attribute and its relative importance weight as a tool to predict preference of one given segment or as a whole. The common problem is that preferences for various attributes may be in conflict or there may not be enough resources to satisfy all the preferences ( a small price tag is not compatible with certain luxury features). Research results indicated that in general a respondent decides which level of utility value is most favored in terms of benefit it may offer. The most favored attribute was job guarantee (-0.7685) and the least favored one was academic title (1.1474). Therefore PTS attributes should combine the most favored one by respondents as a whole is PTS that gives job guarantee and has a good accreditation. In brief the respondents belief that they should choose PTS that is able to provide both job guarantee and has good accreditation mention above. It seems that other attributes such as school origin, parent’s income and media of promotion are not favored by candidates.

Risk Assessment of Ex-Post Transaction Cost in Construction Projects Using Structural Equation Modeling

The transaction cost (TC) escalation is the pervasive problem in the construction industry, which is continuously a threat to maintaining the life cycle cost of projects. Researchers have described the reality of risk for economic transactions. This study has taken the risk as a phenomenon to explore its influence on ex-post TC in construction projects. A questionnaire survey was undertaken from industry professionals to assess the risk of ex-post TC escalation in public-sector construction projects. In total, 475 surveys were conducted in Pakistan and used in the analysis. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and the measurement and structural model was validated to determine the influence of risk on ex-post TC. The final SEM results show that internal and external risk, including sub hypothesized risks, positively influence TC. The weight of relative importance shows technical risk (23.82%) and environmental risk (22.88%) as significant sub-contributors from internal and external sources, respectively. This study recommends substantial investment in human capacity development to reduce the deficiencies in the ex-ante phase of the projects that help to reduce the risk of ex-post TC escalation. It also suggests the adoption of strict policies on contingency claims, and recommends nontraditional ways of monitoring to overcome the risk of ex-post TC. This study’s results provide valuable information for industry professionals and practitioners to maintain life cycle costs as a contribution to sustainable construction.

Importance of Triple Aim outcome measures: do patients, partners, professionals, payers and policy makers differ in opinion?

Background: Economic evaluations of innovative integrated care interventions for persons with multi-morbidity require a broader approach than the conventional cost-per-QALY analysis. That is because these interventions aim to improve a wide array of outcomes, commonly categorised according to the Triple Aim. A particular programme may improve some outcomes but others not. In order to draw an overall conclusion about the added value of a programme, one would need to know the relative importance of these outcomes, especially when they point in different directions. The aim of this study is to elicit relative importance-weights for a ‘core set’ of eight outcomes and additional sets of programme-specific outcomes in different European countries and different groups of stakeholders. The core outcomes were: physical functioning, psychological well-being, social relationships and participation, enjoyment of life, resilience, person-centeredness, continuity of care, and total health- and social care costs. Methods: In the context of the EU Horizon2020 project SELFIE www.selfie2020.eu 40 weight elicitation studies were conducted among 5 groups of stakeholders in 8 European countries: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the UK. The groups of stakeholders included Patients, Partners i.e. informal caregivers, Professionals, Payers, and Policy makers 5P’s. Each country aimed to include 150 respondents per stakeholder group. The online weight elicitation questionnaire made use of two weighting methods: discrete choice experiment DCE and swing weighting SW. The DCE provided weights for the ‘core set’ of outcomes. SW was used to elicit weights for the same core set supplemented with programme-type specific outcomes for four different type of programmes directed at: 1 population health management, 2 frail elderly, 3 palliative and oncology care, and 4 persons with problems in multiple life domains. Results: Respondents across all stakeholder groups and across all countries valued enjoyment of life and continuity of care as most important, whereas total health- and social care cost was valued as least important. Informal caregivers in almost all countries valued continuity of care higher than patients. Patients in Croatia and Hungary assigned a relatively greater weight to person-centeredness than patients in the other countries. Of the programme-type specific outcomes, autonomy, was in the patients’ top 3 of most important outcomes in 2 of the 3 countries that included it in the weight-elicitation study. Conclusion: Different stakeholders generally agreed that ‘enjoyment’ of life was the most important outcome, whereas they differed in opinion about the importance of ‘experience with care’ outcomes. In future, these relative weights will be used in the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of the case studies in the SELFIE project.

Rapid methods including network meta-analysis to produce evidence in clinical decision support: a decision analysis

BackgroundConducting systematic reviews is time-consuming but crucial to construct evidence-based patient decision aids, clinical practice guidelines and decision analyses. New methods might enable developers to produce a knowledge base more rapidly. However, trading off scientific rigour for speed when creating a knowledge base is controversial, and the consequences are insufficiently known. We developed and applied faster methods including systematic reviews and network meta-analyses, assessed their feasibility and compared them to a gold standard approach. We also assessed the feasibility of using decision analysis to perform this comparison.MethodsLong-term treatment in bipolar disorder was our testing field. We developed two new methods: an empirically based, rapid network meta-analysis (NMA) and an expert NMA, and conducted a patient survey. We applied these methods to collect effect estimates for evidence-based treatments on outcomes important to patients. The relative importance of outcomes was obtained from patients using a stated preference method. We used multi-criteria decision analysis to compare a gold standard NMA with the rapid NMA in terms of the ability of the gold standard NMA to change the ranking and expected values of treatments for individual patients.ResultsUsing rapid methods, it was feasible to identify evidence addressing outcomes important to patients. We found that replacing effect estimates from our rapid NMA with estimates from the gold standard NMA resulted in relatively small changes in the ranking and expected value of treatments. The rapid method sufficed to estimate the effects of nine out of ten options. To produce a ranking of treatments accurate for more than 95% of patients, it was necessary to supplement systematic with rapid methods and to use relative importance weights in the analysis. Integrating estimates of the outcome “treatment burden” had a larger impact on rankings than replacing rapid with gold standard methods. Using patients’ importance weights only modestly affected results.ConclusionsThe transfer of knowledge to practice could benefit from faster systematic reviewing methods. The results in this preliminary assessment suggest that an improved rapid NMA approach might replace gold standard NMAs. Decision analysis could be used to compare evidence summarisation methods.

Defect- and component-based assessment model for manholes

Although manholes are significant assets in sewer networks, their assessment is receiving little attention compared to sewer pipelines. It was reported that more than three-million manholes in the United States (US) were structurally weak and prone to collapse. To avoid sudden failure, systematic manhole condition assessment model is required. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to develop a component-based condition assessment model for sewer access holes. The methodology was based on integrating the Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) techniques to study the causality relationship between the defects in the nine identified components of the manhole. The relative importance weights of the components were found by deploying the Analytic Network Process (ANP) and were used to compute the overall condition of the asset. Based on the results, the roots were the highest influence power in many of the components. In addition, the wall, cone, cover and frame, and seals components were higher importance weights compared to the remaining components. This model was tested on an actual case study from the city of Edmonton in Canada and compared with actual values. The model produced an average validity percentage (AVP) of 76.24%. The developed model is expected to enhance the assessment of manholes and therefore provide robust conclusions. Besides, the model offers a backward analysis to pinpoint critical components in the manhole. Consequently, better decisions are made pertinent to maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement interventions.

Implicit decision framing as an unrecognized source of confusion in endangered species classification.

Legal classification of species requires scientific and values-based components, and how those components interact depends on how people frame the decision. Is classification a negotiation of trade-offs, a decision on how to allocate conservation efforts, or simply a comparison of the biological status of a species to a legal standard? The answers to problem-framing questions such as these influence decision making in species classifications. In our experience, however, decision makers, staff biologists, and stakeholders often have differing perspectives of the decision problem and assume different framings. In addition to differences between individuals, in some cases it appears individuals themselves are unclear about the decision process, which contributes to regulatory paralysis, litigation, and a loss of trust by agency staff and the public. We present 5 framings: putting species in the right bin, doing right by the species over time, saving the most species on a limited budget, weighing extinction risk against other objectives, and strategic classification to advance conservation. These framings are inspired by elements observed in current classification practices. Putting species in the right bin entails comparing a scientific status assessment with policy thresholds and accounting for potential misclassification costs. Doing right by the species adds a time dimension to the classification decision, and saving the most species on a limited budget classifies a suite of species simultaneously. Weighing extinction risk against other objectives would weigh ecological or socioeconomic concerns in classification decisions, and strategic classification to advance conservation would make negotiation a component of classification. We view these framings as a means to generate thought, discussion, and movement toward selection and application of explicit classification framings. Being explicit about the decision framing could lead decision makers toward more efficient and defensible decisions, reduce internal confusion and external conflict, and support better collaboration between scientists and policy makers.

Evaluating the Benefits of New Drugs in Health Technology Assessment Using Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis: A Case Study on Metastatic Prostate Cancer With the Dental and Pharmaceuticals Benefits Agency (TLV) in Sweden.

Background. Multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) has been identified as a prospective methodology for assisting decision makers in evaluating the benefits of new medicines in health technology assessment (HTA); however, limited empirical evidence exists from real-world applications. Objective. To test in practice a recently developed MCDA methodological framework for HTA, the Advance Value Framework, in a proof-of-concept case study with decision makers. Methods. A multi-attribute value theory methodology was adopted applying the MACBETH questioning protocol through a facilitated decision-analysis modelling approach as part of a decision conference with four experts. Settings. The remit of the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (Tandvårds- och läkemedelsförmånsverket [TLV]) was adopted but in addition supplementary value dimensions were considered. Patients. Metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients were considered having received prior chemotherapy. Interventions. Abiraterone, cabazitaxel, and enzalutamide were evaluated as third-line treatments. Measurements. Participants’ value preferences were elicited involving criteria selection, options scoring, criteria weighting, and their aggregation. Results. Eight criteria attributes were finally included in the model relating to therapeutic impact, safety profile, socioeconomic impact, and innovation level with relative importance weights 44.5%, 33.3%, 14.8%, and 7.4% per cluster, respectively. Enzalutamide scored the highest overall weighted preference value score, followed by abiraterone and cabazitaxel. Dividing treatments’ overall weighted preference value scores by their costs derived “costs per unit of value” for ranking the treatments based on value-for-money grounds. Limitations. Study limitations included lack of comparative clinical effects across treatments and the small sample of participants. Conclusion. The Advance Value Framework has the prospects of facilitating the evaluation process in HTA and health care decision making; additional research is recommended to address technical challenges and optimize the use of MCDA for policy making.

User classified algorithm and model based gold jewelry design definition

Design has been deemed as a new driving force of innovation beside of technology and market recently, How to help an enterprise to capture user preference through product meaning innovation has attracted a wide research interest. The design-driven innovation theory puts forward the theoretical framework of hermeneutics to guide the radical meaning innovation research, but it loses sight of incremental meaning innovation. While in traditional research paradigm on Utilitarian-Hedonic dual customer perceived value, the conclusions are inconsistent due to the complexity and uncertainty of interaction between technology and meaning innovation. This paper eliminated or weakened the effect of technological innovation, took gold jewelry design as research subject and proposed the algorithms and model for product innovation of meaning based on the assumption that the incremental and radical meaning innovations are complementary. It adopted the grey correlation and grey clustering algorithm to merge similar image vocabularies and determine a design image board for gold jewelry, applied a quantitative scoring conjoint analysis algorithm to calculate the relative importance weights of series requirement attributes for each population, utilized the questionnaire survey to obtain big data, learned the design image preference for each population on basis of clustering analysis, mean value comparison algorithm and virtual regression model analysis, and finally clarified the users’ characteristic factors that may influence product design image preference as well as their influencing degree. The distributed algorithms and model can verify each other, and the design practice cases also verify their robustness. The combination of the algorithms and the model can not only solve the innovation of meaning for design-dominated products such as ornaments, but also provide reference for the research of incremental or radical meaning innovation of other products.

Relative importance of explanatory variables: Traditional method versus soft regression

This study focuses on the one of the most critical issues of modeling under severe conditions of uncertainty: determining the relative importance (weight) of the explanatory variables. The ability to determine relative importance of explanatory variables and the reliability of such outcome are of utmost importance to the decision makers, who utilize such models as components of decision support or decision making. We compare the reliability of traditional method multiple linear regression versus fuzzy logic-based soft regression. We provide a case study (cross-national model of background factors facilitating economic growth) to illustrate the performance of both methods. We conclude that soft regression is definitely more reliable and consistent tool to determine relative importance of explanatory variables.

IDENTIFIKASI KEBUTUHAN SISTEM MONITORING DAN PENGENDALIAN MULTI-PROYEK KONSTRUKSI DENGAN METODE HOUSE OF QUALITY Studi Kasus: Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kabupaten Gresik

Every year, the committing officer, then called as PPK, as the manager of the owner construction project in the local government and its team often handles more than 50 (fifty) construction projects termed “multi construction projects”. This study aims to identify the design needs of monitoring and controlling multi-construction projects system in the local government in order to be developed as a reference needs of monitoring and controlling system software. This study began by identifying the needs of PPK and stakeholders through interviews related to the system software that will be developed. The interview results were then grouped and described as “customer requirement attributes” and then made the “importance” level values of those attributes as a questionnaire. The quality result concluded that all customer requirements attributes were considered important with the total score range at 123–171 from the “importance” standard score is 105. Then a functional requirement was made for each customer requirement and analyzed using a method adopted from house of quality (HoQ) with final results are; the highest percentage from 36 (thirty six) of the relative importance weight from functional requirements is 6.42 percent and the lowest is 1.24 percent with 5 (five) highest sequences are 4.78 percent-6.42 percent.

Associations among fear, disgust, and eating pathology in undergraduate men and women

Fear and disgust are distinct emotions that have been independently linked with EDs and may motivate avoidance behaviors that may be relevant targets for ED interventions (e.g., food rejection). Despite similar motivational function, it is possible that one emotion is more strongly associated with ED symptoms, relative to the other. Given that emerging evidence suggests that disgust-based behavior may be more difficult to change than fear-based behaviors, research is needed to evaluate whether each emotion differentially relates to ED symptoms. Therefore, the current study tested the relative importance of fear and disgust in accounting for variance in ED symptoms. Participants included undergraduate men (n = 127) and women (n = 263) from a university in the northeast US. Participants completed self-report measures assessing demographics, disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and visual analog scales assessing fear and disgust responses to high-calorie food images, low-calorie food images, and non-food fear and disgust images. Bivariate correlations revealed significant positive associations among fear, disgust, and EDE-Q global symptom scores. Relative weights analysis results yielded relative importance weights that suggested disgust responding to high calorie food images accounts for the greatest total variance in EDE-Q global symptom scores in men, and fear responding to high calorie food images accounts for the greatest total variance in EDE-Q scores in women. Findings provide initial evidence that investigative and clinical efforts should consider fear and disgust as unique facets of negative affect with different patterns of relative importance to ED symptoms in undergraduate men and women.

Site suitability evaluation of an old operating landfill using AHP and GIS techniques and integrated hydrogeological and geophysical surveys.

Because of the outdated methods of common landfill selection, it is imperative to reevaluate the usage suitability. To assess the suitability of the existing waste landfill in Zanjan, Iran, we have used a combination of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS techniques, along with fieldwork surveys. Four major criteria and 12 subcriteria were considered, and the AHP was applied to assign the relative importance weights of criteria and subcriteria to each other. Finally, a landfill suitability map was generated and ranked based on the final suitability scores. The results show that the unsuitable areas are around Zanjan, in the middle parts of the plain. By contrast, the most suitable areas are uncultivated areas, located mostly in the west, north, and south. The results also indicate that the present landfill is a highly suitable site. After desk studies, geoelectrical surveys and infiltration measurements were conducted to make the final decision. Double-ring permeability tests confirm the landfill is an acceptable site. The electrical sounding shows that the leachate plume has a width of about ~ 450m, spreads to a depth of about ~ 55m, and migrates towards the northeast. Considering the groundwater depth, dry climate, and a low infiltration rate of the landfill soils, it can be concluded that leachate plumes will not contaminate groundwater within this decade. The proposed method can be implemented to reevaluate the suitability of any old operating reservoir such as oil reservoirs, petrol filling stations, heavy industrial tanks, and landfills, containing liquid hazardous materials.

Assessing the Importance of Treatment Goals in Patients with Psoriasis: Analytic Hierarchy Process vs. Likert Scales.

To define treatment benefit, the Patient Benefit Index contains a weighting of patient-relevant treatment goals using the Patient Needs Questionnaire, which includes a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("not important at all") to 4 ("very important"). These treatment goals have been assigned to five health dimensions. The importance of each dimension can be derived by averaging the importance ratings on the Likert scales of associated treatment goals. As the use of a Likert scale does not allow for a relative assessment of importance, the objective of this study was to estimate relative importance weights for health dimensions and associated treatment goals in patients with psoriasis by using the analytic hierarchy process and to compare these weights with the weights resulting from the Patient Needs Questionnaire. Furthermore, patients' judgments on the difficulty of the methods were investigated. Dimensions of the Patient Benefit Index and their treatment goals were mapped into a hierarchy of criteria and sub-criteria to develop the analytic hierarchy process questionnaire. Adult patients with psoriasis starting a new anti-psoriatic therapy in the outpatient clinic of the Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing at the University Medical Center Hamburg (Germany) were recruited and completed both methods (analytic hierarchy process, Patient Needs Questionnaire). Ratings of treatment goals on the Likert scales (Patient Needs Questionnaire) were summarized within each dimension to assess the importance of the respective health dimension/criterion. Following the analytic hierarchy process approach, consistency in judgments was assessed using a standardized measurement (consistency ratio). At the analytic hierarchy process level of criteria, 78 of 140 patients achieved the accepted consistency. Using the analytic hierarchy process, the dimension "improvement of physical functioning" was most important, followed by "improvement of social functioning". Concerning the Patient Needs Questionnaire results, these dimensions were ranked in second and fifth position, whereas "strengthening of confidence in the therapy and in a possible healing" was ranked most important, which was least important in the analytic hierarchy process ranking. In both methods, "improvement of psychological well-being" and "reduction of impairments due to therapy" were equally ranked in positions three and four. In contrast to this, on the level of sub-criteria, predominantly a similar ranking of treatment goals could be observed between the analytic hierarchy process and the Patient Needs Questionnaire. From the patients' point of view, the Likert scales (Patient Needs Questionnaire) were easier to complete than the analytic hierarchy process pairwise comparisons. Patients with psoriasis assign different importance to health dimensions and associated treatment goals. In choosing a method to assess the importance of health dimensions and/or treatment goals, it needs to be considered that resulting importance weights may differ in dependence on the used method. However, in this study, observed discrepancies in importance weights of the health dimensions were most likely caused by the different methodological approaches focusing on treatment goals to assess the importance of health dimensions on the one hand (Patient Needs Questionnaire) or directly assessing health dimensions on the other hand (analytic hierarchy process).

MODELS AND MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

The aim of the research is to improve the efficiency of decision making for increasable of the competitiveness of the university. The article proposes a mechanism for assessing the competitiveness of a higher educational institution in the market of educational services on the basis of simulation modeling. A system of indicators of the activity of a higher educational institution is proposed. The choice of factors for the development of the model was carried out in accordance with the Pareto principle: the parameters that have the greatest impact on the competitiveness of the university are taken into account. A cognitive map of the situation that determines the mutual influence of factors is constructed. A simulation model based on the integration of the principles of system dynamics and cognitive modeling, which allows you to manage the values of key parameters, is developed. The values of the variables in the model can be changed while determining the sensitivity of the vector of the output parameters. Using a method based on specifying control points, a scale of characteristics has been developed for each factor. The possibility of evaluating alternative scenarios and predicting the possible consequences of management decisions based on them is shown. The model based on real data is presented. The main stages of the algorithm for determining competitiveness are as follows: determination of the purpose of the evaluation; determination of the types of activities that are taken into account in the analysis; selection of the reference database; definition of characteristics to be measured; evaluation of selected characteristics; calculation of the generalized, integral indicator of competitiveness; conclusions about competitiveness. As can be seen from the algorithm, the effectiveness of assessing the competitive position of an organization depends on the choice of characteristics, the determination of their relative importance (weight in the overall estimate, %) and the evaluation of these characteristics for the university and its main competitors. To analyze the mutual influence of the competitiveness factors of the university, it is proposed to use a simulation model that combines the principles of system dynamics and cognitive modeling. The choice of development methodologies is determined by the fact that a simulation model is an effective tool for modeling dynamic controlled systems with a high level of abstraction and a multitude of feedbacks. The cognitive approach makes it possible to synchronize changes in parameter values and analyze the influence of model parameters on each other. For the development of the model, the AnyLogic system was selected, combining the possibilities of creating hybrid models based on models of system dynamics, discrete-event models, and the agent approach. The state of the system under investigation can be described using classical approaches of system theory, in particular, cognitive modeling. The cognitive model of a complex, weakly structured system and is represented by a functional graph whose vertices are the main factors (concepts), and the arcs are the connections of the mutual influence of factors on each other. The model of the influence of factors of the university competitiveness on each other is a dynamic system that is determined by a set of parameters and a set of direct and inverse relations between them.

Identifying Critical Bankability Criteria for PPP Projects: The Case of China

Public‐private partnership (PPP) projects employ a high leverage in terms of debt finance needed by the private consortium. Debt finance providers need to know the bankability‐related issues of PPP projects to make the timely arrangement of debt financing and avoid funding problems. However, there is still a lack of a systematic research on the bankability of PPP projects despite the worsening debt arrangement situation for PPP projects after the credit crisis and economic recession from 2008. To bridge this knowledge gap and enhance the practical debt arrangement of PPP projects, this study aims to identify and prioritize the critical bankability criteria of PPP projects. To achieve the objectives, 41 bankability‐related criteria were first identified from a comprehensive literature. A structured questionnaire survey was then conducted with 31 industry experts in China who worked in financial institutes and had experienced PPP projects to investigate the relative importance of each criterion. To handle the uncertainty and vagueness of the subjective evaluation from surveys, this study analyzed the relative importance weight of each criterion using a proposed fuzzy analytical hierarchy process‐based approach. The results showed that political environment, economic environment, shareholders’ credibility, financial market, legal system, public sector’s reliability, financial structure, and regulatory framework were ranked as the top eight critical bankability criteria. The findings of this study first contributed to the project finance body of knowledge for the bankability of PPP projects. Moreover, the outputs of this study would provide valuable information to the private and public sectors for formulating strategies on improving the bankability of PPP projects.

LANDFILL SITE SELECTION FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BY USING AHP METHOD IN GIS ENVIRONMENT: WASTE MANAGEMENT DECISION-SUPPORT IN SICILY (ITALY)

The goal of this work was to test a methodology, based on multi-criteria analysis and geographic information systems, aimed at identifying areas potentially suitable to host landfills for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Although the above-mentioned methodology was applied to three different areas (Western, South-western and Eastern) of Sicily, in this paper, we present the results of the western sector. The first step consisted of the division of the study area in excluded and potentially suitable sites, on the basis of the Italian current legislation. The suitable sites were subsequently re-evaluated based on additional criteria in order to choose the most suitable ones. This second step consisted of a multi-criteria analysis based on a scores and weights system. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to estimate the relative importance weights of the evaluation criteria. The suitability for landfill siting was finally evaluated with the aid of a simple additive weighting method. The resulting land suitability was reported on a scale of 0 to 10, respectively, from the least suitable to the most suitable sites. In order to reveal the most suitable sites, to provide a ranking and, consequently, a quick selection, a spatial clustering process was carried out. In relation to the data obtained, several suitable areas to host sites for MSW landfill in Western Sicily were identified. The application of multi-criteria analysis, together with the use of geographic information systems, provided a powerful tool for the identification of the most suitable site among those identified.

A Complete MCDM Model for NPD Performance Assessment in an LED-Based Lighting Plant Factory

Globally, industries and economies have undergone rapid development and expansion over the last several decades. As a result, global warming and environmental contaminations have resulted in climate change and jeopardized food security. In many developing countries, already decreasing crop yields are threatened by extreme weather and soil damaged by genetically modified food, making environmental problems worse and increasing food and organic product prices. For these reasons, this study proposes a hybrid multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model for new product development (NPD) in the light-emitting diode- (LED-) based lighting plant factory. First, literature reviews and expert interviews are employed in constructing a list of decision-making objectives and criteria for new product development. Then, a fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) is used to screen the elements of the objectives and criteria, while a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) is used to determine the relationships among the objectives and criteria. Finally, a fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) and a composite priority vector (CPV) are manipulated to determine the relative importance weights of the critical objectives and criteria. Results show that the proposed method can create a useful and assessable MCDM model for decision-making applications in new product development, and a case study is herein performed to validate the feasibility of the proposed model in a Taiwanese LED-based lighting plant factory, which not only provides the decision-makers with a feasible hierarchical data structure for decision-making guidance but also increases the competitive advantages of trade-offs on developing novel products.

Betahistine dihydrochloride transdermal delivery via optimized thermosensitive gels: percutaneous absorption evaluation using rat growth as a biomarker.

The aim of this study was to develop and optimize a betahistine dihydrochloride (BH) thermoreversible bioadhesive gel intended for transdermal delivery. The gels were obtained via cold method. A full factorial design was employed to investigate the joint effect of Poloxamer 407 concentration (18 and 20%), adhesive polymer type (Polyvinyl pyrolidone, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and Carbopol 934), and adhesive polymer concentration (0.5 and 1.5%) on gelling temperature, viscosity at 37°C, and adhesion strength. Data collected were analyzed using multiple linear regression. A desirability index approach with relative importance weight was used to choose the most desirable formulation. F4 (20% Poloxamer+1.5% Carbopol) was selected for further characterization. F4 released 96.97% drug in 12h across hairless rat skin. F4 gelation temperature and time were 36 ± 0.35°C, and 6 ± 0.7min, respectively. F4 adhesive force was 8835.68dyne/cm2. F4 was tested for its appetite suppressing effect in a rat model and it was evaluated histopathologically. Rats' chow intake and weight gain was significantly decreased with no signs of inflammation or lipolysis when the optimized BH gel formulation, F4, was compared with untreated animals and animals treated with BH free gel. The results suggest that BH is percutaneously absorbed from the gel base and that the BH gel is tolerable. The desirability index approach with relative importance weight of responses was effective in determination of the optimum formulation. BH is systemically effective and well-tolerated when applied topically in hydrogel-based systems. The Carbopol-Poloxamer gel is a promising modality for transdermal delivery of BH.

Estimation of potential zones for offshore mariculture in the Indian Sea using geographical information system as a management tool

Coastal mariculture is now facing tremendous pressures, especially from the anthropogenic activities, variable environment, and multi-user conflict. Hence, offshore mariculture is envisioned to enhance the production by promoting the commercial farming (floating cages) of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) and other fin fishes. Essential environmental parameters for mariculture have been selected and converted into thematic layers using Geographical Information System (GIS) tool. Weights of relative importance were assigned to each layer and integrated together through overlay analysis to provide a final model suggesting possible offshore floating marine fish cage deployment sites. In the present study, it is estimated that from 368,009 km2 area within 100 m depth of Indian Exclusive Economic Zone available for mariculture activities, about 161,188 km2 area is appropriate for deploying cages. There are 76,396 km2 of highly suitable and approximately 84,792 km2 of suitable areas available for mariculture in India including Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. Analysis of variance (ANOVA-one way) showed significant (p < 0.05) spatial variation for sea surface current, total suspended matter, and chlorophyll-a. This study is an attempt to integrate the weighing criteria and GIS to derive a suitable criterion for deployment of floating cages in the offshore environment, which could serve as a model for similar cases, particularly in the maritime nations for sustainable mariculture.