Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a popular branch of decision theory in which many methods have been proposed to solve MCDM real-world problems. However, in spite of the multiple methods, it ...is common that different of them provide the same solutions. Therefore, this paper analyzes the causes of the same solutions from different MCDM methods, studies why different normalization methods can achieve the same solutions in MCDM methods through the theory of MCDM methods, and discusses the relationship between different MCDM methods by category. To achieve such goals, MCDM methods are classified into three categories according to their ranking methods. Some traditional MCDM methods are then extended by considering general normalization methods and distance measures. Finally, the characteristics of various MCDM methods are discussed by category and their evaluation indexes are also compared. The comparison results are represented by tables and flowchart models. The relationship between different categories of MCDM methods is shown through the comparison of the evaluation indexes. The aim of the proposed method is not to replace existing MCDM methods, but to fill some present research gaps about MCDM methods.
•General normalization methods and distance measures are considered in MCDM methods.•The causes of the same solutions from different MCDM methods are examined.•The characteristics of various MCDM methods are discussed by category.•The relationship between different MCDM methods is summarized.
Purpose
This paper aims to review some effective methods for fully fourth-order nonlinear integral boundary value problems with fractal derivatives.
Design/methodology/approach
Boundary value ...problems arise everywhere in engineering, hence two-scale thermodynamics and fractal calculus have been introduced. Some analytical methods are reviewed, mainly including the variational iteration method, the Ritz method, the homotopy perturbation method, the variational principle and the Taylor series method. An example is given to show the simple solution process and the high accuracy of the solution.
Findings
An elemental and heuristic explanation of fractal calculus is given, and the main solution process and merits of each reviewed method are elucidated. The fractal boundary value problem in a fractal space can be approximately converted into a classical one by the two-scale transform.
Originality/value
This paper can be served as a paradigm for various practical applications.
•Methods of meso scale modelling are discussed with challenges and possible remedies.•Continuum analysis methods and discrete analysis methods are discussed.•Geometry generation, placing algorithms ...and material constitutive laws are discussed.•Applications of mesoscale modelling in fracture and durability are investigated.
Concrete can be considered as a heterogeneous material at mesoscale comprising of several constituents such as aggregates, mortar and Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ). Mechanical behavior as well as the durability characteristics of concrete is highly dependent on the mesostructure of concrete and investigating the complex phenomena surrounding concrete at mesoscale considering the heterogeneity presents an important tool to understand these complex mechanisms. Presenting the state-of-the-art developments in mesoscale modelling of concrete considering different analysis methods such as continuum Finite Element Modelling (FEM), Lattice Element Method (LEM), Rigid Body Spring Method (RBSM), Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Lattice Discrete Particle Method (LDPM) is the focus of this review paper. Effective methods to generate the geometry of consisting phases in the mesoscale models including different particle shapes and placing algorithms, selecting suitable material constitutive relations for the consisting phases are discussed for these different methods of mesoscale modelling. Potential applications including fracture mechanics and strengths and weaknesses of each technique are highlighted with possible methods to overcome the challenges of mesoscale modelling of concrete.
Aim
To assess the accuracy of guided surgery (mucosa and bone‐supported) compared to mental navigation or the use of a surgical template, in fully edentulous jaws, in a randomized controlled study.
...Material and Methods
Fifty‐nine patients (72 jaws), requiring four to six implants (maxilla or mandible), were consecutively recruited and randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups; guidance via Materialise Universal®/mucosa, Materialise Universal®/bone, Facilitate™/mucosa, Facilitate™/bone, or mental navigation or a pilot‐drill template. The precision was assessed by matching the planning computed tomography (CT) with a post‐operative cone beam CT.
Results
A significant lower mean deviation at the entry point (1.4 mm, range: 0.3–3.7), at the apex (1.6 mm, range: 0.2–3.7) and angular deviation (3.0°, range: 0.2–16°) was observed for the guiding systems when compared to mental navigation (2.7 mm, range: 0.3–8.3; 2.9 mm, range: 0.5–7.4 and 9.9°, range: 1.5–27.8) and to the surgical template group (3.0 mm, range: 0.6–6.6; 3.4 mm, range: 0.3–7.5 and 8.4°, range: 0.6–21.3°). Differences between bone and mucosa support or type of guidance were negligible. Jaw and implant location (posterior–anterior, left–right), however, had a significant influence on the accuracy when guided.
Conclusion
Based on these findings, guided implant placement appears to offer clear accuracy benefits.
A new 3-D domain decomposition based hybrid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)/finite-element time-domain (FETD) method is introduced to facilitate electromagnetic modeling by exploiting both the ...computational efficiency of FDTD and the meshing flexibility of FETD. The proposed hybrid method allows the FETD mesh and the FDTD grid to be nonconformal based on domain decomposition technique. It implements the hybridization with a buffer zone, which functions as a transition region between FDTD and FETD. The buffer zone helps the proposed hybrid method obviate the interpolation approach for field coupling of the nonconformal mesh and hence overcome the late-time instability issue. The discontinuous Galerkin method is utilized to couple different regions, thus improving the coupling accuracy compared with that using the Dirichlet boundary condition. Moreover, the hybrid method allows further division of the FETD region into multiple subdomains when the degrees of freedom in this region are large. For temporal discretization, a global leapfrog time integration scheme is implemented to sequentially update the fields in the FDTD, buffer, and FETD regions. The numerical results are shown to demonstrate the meshing flexibility and computational efficiency of the proposed hybrid method inherited from FETD and FDTD methods.
The NIH-funded National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) aims to increase the representation and success of underrepresented groups (URGs) in biomedical research by enhancing the training and career ...development of individuals from diverse backgrounds, communities, and cultures. The national scope of NRMN, its wide array of innovative programs in mentor and mentee matching and training across the career spectrum, requires a collaborative evaluation strategy that addresses both internal and external evaluation needs. Due to the variety of programs implemented for each target group, the NRMN program is responsible for its own process and short-term outcome evaluations and the national Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC) is responsible for assessing the medium and long-term effectiveness of the implemented strategies and program sustainability. Using a collaborative, utilization-focused evaluation framework, both internal NRMN evaluators and the CEC are working to translate findings into information that can be used to make both short term and long-term decisions about the efficacy and reach of the NRMN model. This important information can then inform efforts to institutionalize the current programs and potentially replicate them elsewhere.
The overall evaluation of NRMN is guided by both outcome and process questions that are tailored for each target group. The different target groups include faculty and others who serve as mentors, mentees across academic training and career stages, and researchers without a history of independently funded research. NRMN is also building the capacity for training those pursuing biomedical careers by developing "master trainers" for both mentoring and grantsmanship programs in organizations and institutions that can support expanded training efforts aimed at diversifying the biomedical workforce.
Results of this evaluation will be used to inform the design and implementation of sustainable, effective, and comprehensive mentoring and career development initiatives that promote diversity in the biomedical research workforce. Our collaborative evaluation design, theoretically-derived measurement instruments, efficient data systems, and timely reporting serve as an example of how to put evaluation principles described into practice for large, multi-site, and multi-dimensional research training programs like NRMN.
In the last 10 years, the barriers preventing the uptake of foreign DNA by clinical
isolates have been identified and powerful mutagenesis techniques such as allelic exchange are now possible in most ...genotypes. However, these targeted approaches can still be cumbersome, and the construction of unmarked deletions/point mutations may take many weeks or months. Here, we introduce a streamlined allelic exchange protocol using IMxxB
and the plasmid pIMAY-Z. With this optimized approach, a site-specific mutation can be introduced into
in 5 days, from the start of cloning to isolation of genomic DNA for confirmatory whole-genome sequencing. This streamlined protocol considerably reduces the time required to introduce a specific, unmarked mutation in
and should dramatically improve the scalability of gene-function studies.
Summary
This paper presents a hybrid element‐free Galerkin (HEFG) method for solving wave propagation problems. By introducing the dimension split method, the three‐dimensional wave propagation ...problems are transformed into a series of two‐dimensional ones in other one‐dimensional directions. The two‐dimensional problems are solved using the improved element‐free Galerkin (IEFG) method, and the finite difference method is used in the one‐dimensional splitting direction and the time space. Then, the formulas of the HEFG method for three‐dimensional wave propagation problems are obtained. Numerical examples are selected to show the effectiveness and the advantage of the HEFG method. The convergence and error analysis of the HEFG method are discussed according to the numerical results under different splitting directions, weight functions, node distributions, scale parameters of the influence domain, penalty factors, and time steps. The numerical results are given to show the convergence and advantages of the HEFG method over the IEFG method. Comparing with the IEFG method, the HEFG method has greater computational precision and speed for three‐dimensional wave propagation problems.
Introduction:
Alpha angle (AA) is a widely used imaging measure of hip shape that is commonly used to define cam morphology, a bulging of the lateral aspect of the femoral head. Cam morphology has ...shown strong associations with hip osteoarthritis (OA) making the AA a clinically relevant measure. In both clinical practice and research studies, AA tends to be measured manually which can be inconsistent and time-consuming.
Objective:
We aimed to (i) develop an automated method of deriving AA from anterior-posterior dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans; and (ii) validate this method against manual measures of AA.
Methods:
6,807 individuals with left hip DXAs were selected from UK Biobank. Outline points were manually placed around the femoral head on 1,930 images before training a Random Forest-based algorithm to place the points on a further 4,877 images. An automatic method for calculating AA was written in Python 3 utilising these outline points. An iterative approach was taken to developing and validating the method, testing the automated measures against independent batches of manually measured images in sequential experiments.
Results:
Over the course of six experimental stages the concordance correlation coefficient, when comparing the automatic AA to manual measures of AA, improved from 0.28 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.43 for the initial version to 0.88 0.84-0.92 for the final version. The inter-rater kappa statistic comparing automatic versus manual measures of cam morphology, defined as AA ³≥60°, improved from 0.43 80% agreement for the initial version to 0.86 94% agreement for the final version.
Conclusions:
We have developed and validated an automated measure of AA from DXA scans, showing high agreement with manually measuring AA. The proposed method is available to the wider research community from
Zenodo
.
Connected and automated vehicles have become more common in recent years, increasing the need to assess their societal level impacts. In this paper a methodology is presented to explore and define ...these impacts as a starting point for quantitative impact assessment. The many interrelations between impacts increases the complexity of obtaining a complete overview. Therefore, a structured approach is used, which shows many similarities with the modelling of causal-loop-diagrams. Feedback loops between impacts are taken into account at an early stage and both literature review and expert interviews are used to produce a holistic overview of impacts. The methodology was developed and applied in the European H2020 project LEVITATE. The impact taxonomy and interrelations between impacts resulting from this project are presented and further steps needed to perform a quantitative evaluation of the impacts are discussed.
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