Design and laboratory evaluation of fog-sealed chip seal on epoxy asphalt pavement for steel bridge deck

In order to improve the surface performace of epoxy asphalt pavement （EAP） for steel bridge deck, an epoxy asphalt chip seal （ ECS） covered by a cationic emulsified asphalt fog seal （i. e., fog-sealed chip seal） isproposed and a laboratory study is conducted to design and evaluate te fog-sealed chip seal. First, the evaluation indices and methods of te chip seal on steel bridge deck pavement were proposed. Secondly, the worst pavement conditions during te maintenance time were simulated by te small traffic load simulation system MMLS3 and the short-term aging test for minimizing the failure probability of chip seal. Finally, the design parameters of fog-sealed chip seal were determined by the experimental analysis and the performance of the designed fog-sealed chip seal was evaluated in thelaboratory. Results indicate that the proposed simulation method of pavement conditions is effective and the maximal load repetitions on the EAPslab specimen are approximately 925 300 times. Moreover, the designed fog-sealedchip sealcan provide a dense surface with sufficient skid resistance,aggregate-asphalt aahesive performance and interlayer shearing resistance.

Selecting suitable key supplier for core components during smart complex equipment central-private enterprises collaborative development process:from two different forms of evaluation information and matching perspective

With the development of central-private enterprises integration,selecting suitable key suppliers are able to provide core components for smart complex equipment.We consider selecting suitable key suppliers from matching perspective,for it not only satisfies natural development of smart complex equipment,it is also a good implementation of equipment project in central-private enterprises integration context.In in this paper,we carry out two parts of research,one is evaluation attributes based on comprehensive analysis,and the other is matching process between key suppliers and core components based on the matching attribute.In practical analysis process,we employ comprehensive evaluated analysis methods to acquire relevant attributes for the matching process that follows.In the analysis process,we adopt entropy-maximum deviation method(MDM)-decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory(DEMATEL)-technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution(TOPSIS)to obtain a comprehensive analysis.The entropy-MDM is applied to get weight value,DEMATEL is utilized to obtain internal relations,and TOPSIS is adopted to get ideal evaluated solution.We consider aggregating two types of evaluation information according to similarities of smart complex equipment based on the combination between geometric mean and arithmetic mean.Moreover,based on the aforementioned attributes and generalized power Heronian mean operator,we aggregate preference information to acquire relevant satisfaction degree,then combine the constructed matching model to get suitable key supplier.Through comprehensive analysis of selecting suitable suppliers,we know that two-sided matching and information aggregation can provide more research perspectives for smart complex equipment.Through analysis for relevant factors,we find that leading role and service level are also significant for the smart complex equipment development process.

Understanding Applications and Best Practices of DEMATEL:A Method for Prioritizing Key Factors in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory(DEMATEL)method is a powerful tool for understanding and visualizing the causal relationships among factors in complex decision-making problems.The method uses diagrams and matrixes to map out the causal relationships and interdependencies among factors,allowing decision-makers to identify key drivers and potential solutions to the problem.DEMATEL has a wide range of application areas,including supply chain management,environmental planning,healthcare,finance,and engineering,among others.The DEMATEL method is a valuable tool for decision-makers who need to understand the complex causal relationships among factors in order to make informed decisions.The method provides a structured approach for analyzing and prioritizing factors and for identifying potential solutions to complex problems.This paper describes the main features of this method,its application areas as well as the main process steps in the DEMATEL method.

Evaluating Marketability of Ten Selected Cultivars of Mango

Mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world due to its attractive color, delicious taste, and excellent nutritional properties. Mango is among the most economically and culturally important tropical fruits. Mangos have become a standard food crop in south Iran. Quality determination of fruits is at present characterized by the overwhelming use of sensory. Quality indices include primarily external properties, such as appearance, size, shape, colour, texture, and flavour. Mangoes are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are really necessary for human diet and a healthy and longer life. Numerous phytochemicals are present in mango peel and pulp, such as the triterpene, lupeol which is under basic research for its potential biological effects. Thus high quality will attract people to the high consumption of fruits. Cultivars prepared with the origin of the Iran, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. In this study, 10 cultivars were compared in terms of some indicators of quality in Ahvaz. One of the mango quality evaluation methods is sensory laboratory evaluation (panel test). This research carried out at 2013 in Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. The result indicated that the most quality was related to Alphonso cultivar. On this basis, fruit features such as mango flesh and skin color are an important component role in consumer acceptability.

Assessing and Mapping Land Suitability Units for Maize (Zea mays L) Production Using Integrated DEMATEL-ANP Model and GIS in the Foumbot Agricultural Basin (Cameroon Western Highlands)

Land suitability assessment (LSA) is an essential step in the process of determining environmental limits for sustainable crop production. Up to date, studies on LSA for crop production in Cameroon have been based on empirical methods which are limited as they consider similar singnificance levels for all evaluation criteria and do not consider the interrelationships of criteria in the best-fit models. In the present study a qualitative land suitability evaluation by an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach and geographic information system (GIS) was tested to assess and map suitable land units for maize (Zea mays L) production in Cameroon Western highland. Eight environmental criteria identified as the most relevant for maize production in the area of interest (AOI) saw their thematic maps prepared using ArcGIS 10.8. The relationship between criteria was considered by the DEMATEL method. The criteria were weighted using the ANP method. Thereafter, the land suitability map was obtained using the weighted overlay analysis (WOA) in ArcGIS. The results obtained indicated that slope has the highest specific weight and consequently the greatest influence on land suitability for maize production in the locality. The land suitability map generated showed that Foumbot’s agricultural land suitability for maize production varies from very high to marginally suitable (99% of the surface area). Specifically, 11% (8056 ha) is very highly suitable, 29% (21,119 ha) is highly suitable, 38% (27,405 ha) are moderately suitable and 20% (14,422 ha) are marginally suitable. The remaining 1% that falls under non suitable class represents 606 ha and is located on the steep slopes around the Mount Mbappit. The kappa analysis reveals a total overall accuracy of 78.67% and a kappa value of 0.7256 with an asymptotic error of 0.058 which is good. Then the model used in this research is highly recommended for future land evaluation works in Cameroon and similar ecosystems around the world.

A Novel Risk Assessment Model for Privacy Security in Internet of Things

Aiming at the issues of privacy security in Internet of Things （IoT） applications, we propose an effective risk assessment model to handle probabilistic causality of evaluation factors and derive weights of influence-relation of propagation paths. The model undertakes probabilistic inference and generates values of risk probability for assets and propagation paths by using Bayesian causal relation-network and prior probability. According to Bayes- ian network （BN） structure, the risk analysts can easily find out relevant risk propagation paths and calculate weight values of each path by using decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory （DEMATEL）. This model is applied to determine the risk level of assets and each risk propagation path as well as implement countermeasure of recommendation in accordance with evaluation results. The simulation analysis shows that this model efficiently revises recommendation of countermeasures for decision-makers and mitigates risk to an acceptable range, in addition, it provides the theoretical basis for decision-making of privacy security risk assessment （PSRA） for further development in lot area.

Traceability implementation in food supply chain: A grey-DEMATEL approach

Numerous incidents of food adulteration,fraudulence and foodborne disease outbreaks have shaken the consumer confidence towards the food they consume.These incidents compel the Food Supply Chain(FSC)partners to implement an appropriate traceability system in their respective supply chains to sustain the consumer confidence.The objective of this research is to identify the drivers(major factors)which play a significant role in the successful implementation of the traceability system in FSC and evaluate the causal relationships developing therein.Twelve drivers are identified towards implementation of the traceability system in FSC through literature review and supported with expert’s opinion.The grey-based DEMATEL approach is identified to evaluate these relationships among the drivers according to their net effect.Further,these drivers ranked based on the prominence and effect score.The finding of this research shows that the drivers are clustered into two groups namely:influential(cause)and influenced(effect)group.Four drivers belong to the influential group,and remaining eight are from the influenced group.The most influential driver is the “food safety and quality”which provide a significant effect on the implementation of a traceability system.This research can be a building block to develop a framework to implement the traceability system within FSC and assist the policymakers,and practitioners to identify and evaluate drivers related to the implementation of traceability system in FSC.This paper also provides a useful insight&support to the practitioners and managers in decision making for traceability implementation related issues。

Risk identification and prioritization in banking projects of payment service provider companies:An empirical study

ldentifying risks and prioritizing is important for payment service provider(PSP)companies to get banking projects and gain more market share.However,studies regarding the identification of risks and causal relationships are insufficient in the lranian PSP industry and the industry is unique because of its characteristics.In this study,30 experts involved with PSP companies are employed as the research sample.Eleven key risks and 46 sub-risks are also ientified.Subsequently,the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory technique is applied to determine the effective and affected risks and the severity of their effects on each other.Finally,all risks are ranked.Due to the interal interrelationships of the main risks,the weight of each risk is calculated via the fuzy analytic network process.As the second-level risks have no significant interrelationships,they are ranked via the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process.Moreover,the best-worst method is used to ensure that the obtained rankings are reliable.This study identifies the risks affecting the loss of banking projects and determines the impacts of these risks on each.A sensitivity analysis is then conducted on the weights of the criteria,and the results are compared.