A novel approach to multi attribute group decision making based on trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets

Soft set theory, originally proposed by Molodtsov, has become an effective mathematical tool to deal with uncertainty. A type-2 fuzzy set, which is characterized by a fuzzy membership function, can provide us with more degrees of freedom to represent the uncertainty and the vagueness of the real world. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets are the most widely used type-2 fuzzy sets. In this paper, we first introduce the concept of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers and present some arithmetic operations between them. As a special case of interval type-2 fuzzy sets, trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers can express linguistic assessments by transforming them into numerical variables objectively. Then, by combining trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy sets with soft sets, we propose the notion of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets. Furthermore, some operations on trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets are defined and their properties are investigated. Finally, by using trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets, we propose a novel approach to multi attribute group decision making under interval type-2 fuzzy environment. A numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

The extended QUALIFLEX method for multiple criteria decision analysis based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets and applications to medical decision making

QUALIFLEX, a generalization of Jacquet-Lagreze’s permutation method, is a useful outranking method in decision analysis because of its flexibility with respect to cardinal and ordinal information. This paper develops an extended QUALIFLEX method for handling multiple criteria decision-making problems in the context of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets contain membership values that are crisp intervals, which are the most widely used of the higher order fuzzy sets because of their relative simplicity. Using the linguistic rating system converted into interval type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, the extended QUALIFLEX method investigates all possible permutations of the alternatives with respect to the level of concordance of the complete preference order. Based on a signed distance-based approach, this paper proposes the concordance/discordance index, the weighted concordance/discordance index, and the comprehensive concordance/discordance index as evaluative criteria of the chosen hypothesis for ranking the alternatives. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed methods are illustrated by a medical decision-making problem concerning acute inflammatory demyelinating disease, and a comparative analysis with another outranking approach is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

The trapezoidal fuzzy soft set and its application in MCDM

Soft set theory is a newly emerging mathematical tool to deal with uncertain problems. Since the trapezoidal fuzzy number, as a vital concept of fuzzy set, can express linguistic assessments by transforming them into numerical variables objectively, this paper aims to extend classical soft sets to trapezoidal fuzzy soft sets based on trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Then, some operations on a trapezoidal fuzzy soft set are defined, such as complement operation, “AND” operation, and “OR” operation. Finally, a Multiple Criterion Decision-Making (MCDM) problem under a fuzzy environment is analyzed by trapezoidal fuzzy soft sets with the demonstration of a numerical example. This paper also uses traditional fuzzy soft sets to deal with the MCDM problem. The result shows that the method provided by this paper outperforms the traditional one.     

Fuzzy adaptive network in presidential elections

Several scientific forecasting models for presidential elections have been suggested. However, most of these models are based on traditional statistics approaches. Since the system is linguistic, vague, and dynamic in nature, the traditional rigorous mathematical approaches are inappropriate for the modeling of this kind of humanistic system. This paper presents a combined neural fuzzy approach, namely a fuzzy adaptive network, to model and forecast the problem of a presidential election. The fuzzy adaptive network, which is ideally suited for the modeling of vaguely defined humanistic systems, combines the advantages of the representation ability of fuzzy sets and the learning ability of a neural network. To illustrate the approach, experiments were carried out by first formulating the problem, then training the network, and, finally, predicting the election results based on the trained network. The experimental results show that a fuzzy adaptive network is an ideal approach for the modeling and forecasting of national presidential elections.     

A note on the paper “The trapezoidal fuzzy soft set and its application in MCDM”

We propose a new concept which is a generalization of fuzzy soft subset and fuzzy soft equal. Using such notions, we will be able to consider the distributive law of fuzzy soft sets. Using the distributive law of fuzzy soft sets, we point out that the distributive law of trapezoidal fuzzy soft sets as proposed by Xiao et al. (2012) is not true. The correction will further improve further extensions of the results of Xiao et al. (2012). We will also establish the generalized distributive law of trapezoidal fuzzy soft sets along with illustrative examples.     

Switching regression analysis by fuzzy adaptive network

A nonparametric switching regression approach is proposed based on the Sugeno fuzzy inference system and a fuzzy adaptive network. The present approach possesses both the ability of handling linguistic terms and the easiness in developing learning algorithms. Two numerical examples are used to illustrate the approach and the convergence behavior is compared with the results in the literature.     

Neuro-fuzzy approach to processing inputs with missing values in pattern recognition problems

An approach to dealing with missing data, both during the design and normal operation of a neuro-fuzzy classifier is presented in this paper. Missing values are processed within a general fuzzy min–max neural network architecture utilising hyperbox fuzzy sets as input data cluster prototypes. An emphasis is put on ways of quantifying the uncertainty which missing data might have caused. This takes a form of classification procedure whose primary objective is the reduction of a number of viable alternatives rather than attempting to produce one winning class without supporting evidence. If required, the ways of selecting the most probable class among the viable alternatives found during the primary classification step, which are based on utilising the data frequency information, are also proposed. The reliability of the classification and the completeness of information is communicated by producing upper and lower classification membership values similar in essence to plausibility and belief measures to be found in the theory of evidence or possibility and necessity values to be found in the fuzzy sets theory. Similarities and differences between the proposed method and various fuzzy, neuro-fuzzy and probabilistic algorithms are also discussed. A number of simulation results for well-known data sets are provided in order to illustrate the properties and performance of the proposed approach.     

A note on “A novel approach to multi attribute group decision making based on trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets”

Zhang and Zhang (2013) proposed the arithmetic operations of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers having different left and right heights and hence the arithmetic operations of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets having different left and right heights. In this paper, it is pointed out that the complement operation of a trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy number, proposed by Zhang and Zhang, is not valid and hence, the complement operation of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft set as well as all the results, proposed by Zhang and Zhang in which complement operation is used, are not valid. The results, proposed by Zhang and Zhang, are valid only for such trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers and trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets in which left and right heights are equal.     

A Performance evaluation of neural network models in traffic volume forecasting

Forecasting traffic volume is an important task in controlling urban highways, guiding drivers' routes, and providing real-time transportation information. Previous research on traffic volume forecasting has concentrated on a single forecasting model and has reported positive results, which has been frequently better than those of other models. In addition, many previous researchers have claimed that neural network models are better than linear statistical models in terms of prediction accuracy. However, the forecasting power of a single model is limited to the typical cases to which the model fits best. In other words, even though many research efforts have claimed the general superiority of a single model over others in predicting future events, we believe it depends on the data characteristics used, the composition of the training data, the model architecture, and the algorithm itself.In this paper, we have studied the relationship in forecasting traffic volume between data characteristics and the forecasting accuracy of different models, particularly neural network models. To compare and test the forecasting accuracy of the models, three different data sets of traffic volume were collected from interstate highways, intercity highways, and urban intersections. The data sets show very different characteristics in terms of volatility, period, and fluctuations as measured by the Hurst exponent, the correlation dimension. The data sets were tested using a back-propagation network model, a FIR model, and a time-delayed recurrent model.The test results show that the time-delayed recurrent model outperforms other models in forecasting very randomly moving data described by a low Hurst exponent. In contrast, the FIR model shows better forecasting accuracy than the time-delayed recurrent network for relatively regular periodic data described by a high Hurst exponent. The interpretation of these results shows that the feedback mechanism of the previous error, through the temporal learning technique in the time-delayed recurrent network, naturally absorbs the dynamic change of any underlying nonlinear movement. The FIR and back-propagation model, which have claimed a nonlinear learning mechanism, may not be very good in handling randomly fluctuating events.     

A genetic design of linguistic terms for fuzzy rule based classifiers

The determination of fuzzy information granules including the estimation of their membership functions play a significant role in fuzzy system design as well as in the design of fuzzy rule based classifiers (FRBCSs). However, although linguistic terms are fundamental elements in the process of elucidating expert’s knowledge, the problem of linguistic term design along with their fuzzy-set-based semantics has not been fully addressed, since term-sets of attributes have not been interpreted as a formalized structure. Thus, the essential relationship between linguistic terms, as syntax, and the constructed fuzzy sets, as their quantitative semantics, or in other words, the problem of the natural semantics of terms behind the linguistic literal has not been addressed. In this paper, we introduce the problem of the design of optimal linguistic terms and propose a method of the design of FRBCSs which may incorporate with the design of linguistic terms to ensure that the presence of linguistic literals are supported not only by data but also by their natural semantics. It is shown that this problem plays a primordial role in enhancing the performance and the interpretability of the designed FRBCSs and helps striking a better balance between the generality and the specificity of the desired fuzzy rule bases for fuzzy classification problems. A series of experiments concerning 17 Machine Learning datasets is reported.     

直觉梯形模糊语言Frank算子及其在决策中的应用

本文在直觉梯形模糊语言集的基础上,引入了Frank算子,提出一组新的算子——直觉梯形模糊语言Frank集结算子,并将其应用到多属性决策中。首先,本文提出了直觉梯形模糊语言集Frank算子的表达式,并给出相应的运算规则。然后提出了直觉梯形模糊语言Frank加权算术平均(ITrFLFWA)算子、直觉梯形模糊语言Frank加权几何平均(ITrFLFWG)算子、直觉梯形模糊语言Frank广义加权平均(ITrFLGFWA)算子等,并证明了其具有幂等性、有界性、单调性等性质。最后,通过实例验证了直觉梯形模糊语言Frank算子可以有效解决直觉梯形模糊语言环境下的多属性决策问题。     

Interpretability assessment of fuzzy knowledge bases: A cointension based approach

Computing with words (CWW) relies on linguistic representation of knowledge that is processed by operating at the semantical level defined through fuzzy sets. Linguistic representation of knowledge is a major issue when fuzzy rule based models are acquired from data by some form of empirical learning. Indeed, these models are often requested to exhibit interpretability, which is normally evaluated in terms of structural features, such as rule complexity, properties on fuzzy sets and partitions. In this paper we propose a different approach for evaluating interpretability that is based on the notion of cointension. The interpretability of a fuzzy rule-based model is measured in terms of cointension degree between the explicit semantics, defined by the formal parameter settings of the model, and the implicit semantics conveyed to the reader by the linguistic representation of knowledge. Implicit semantics calls for a representation of user’s knowledge which is difficult to externalise. Nevertheless, we identify a set of properties - which we call “logical view” - that is expected to hold in the implicit semantics and is used in our approach to evaluate the cointension between explicit and implicit semantics. In practice, a new fuzzy rule base is obtained by minimising the fuzzy rule base through logical properties. Semantic comparison is made by evaluating the performances of the two rule bases, which are supposed to be similar when the two semantics are almost equivalent. If this is the case, we deduce that the logical view is applicable to the model, which can be tagged as interpretable from the cointension viewpoint. These ideas are then used to define a strategy for assessing interpretability of fuzzy rule-based classifiers (FRBCs). The strategy has been evaluated on a set of pre-existent FRBCs, acquired by different learning processes from a well-known benchmark dataset. Our analysis highlighted that some of them are not cointensive with user’s knowledge, hence their linguistic representation is not appropriate, even though they can be tagged as interpretable from a structural point of view.     

Modelling credit rating by fuzzy adaptive network

Human judgment plays an important role in the rating of enterprise financial conditions. The recently developed fuzzy adaptive network (FAN), which can handle systems whose behaviour is influenced by human judgment, appears to be ideally suited for the modelling of this credit rating problem. In this paper, FAN is used to model the credit rating of small financial enterprises. To illustrate the approach, the data of the credit rating problem is first represented by the use of fuzzy numbers. Then, the FAN network based on inference rules is constructed. And finally, the network is trained or learned by using the fuzzy number training data. The main advantages of the proposed network are the ability for linguistic representation, linguistic aggregation and the learning ability of the neural network.     

不确定多属性群决策中混合信息的集结

在不确定多属性群决策中,研究专家给出的评价信息为语言和三角模糊数混合型的决策问题.提出一种转化方法,先将模糊数转化为语言短语集上的模糊集,然后,再将此模糊集转化为二元语义.同时在信息集结过程中,也均以二元语义的形式,以防止信息的过分丢失.最后,给出一个算例来说明此种处理方法的有效性和实用性.     

基于模糊聚类分析的小波神经网络模型在径流预测中的应用

提出了一种在对预报因子集进行模糊聚类分析基础上构建径流预测模型的新方法:先通过模糊C-均值聚类将历史径流数据进行分类,然后利用小波神经网络分别建立预报因子集类别变量特征值与观测值之间的局部预测模型,并设计了特征值分类识别器,自动搜寻相适应的局部网络模型进行预测.通过西南某水库2011年日平均入库来流的计算实例对简单小波神经网络预测模型和所建的基于FCM与小波神经网络的预测模型进行了比较,结果较为满意.     

犹豫模糊语言Heronian平均算子在多属性决策中的应用

针对输入变量之间的相互影响以及评价值为犹豫模糊语言信息的多属性决策问题,提出一种基于犹豫模糊语言Heronian平均算子的多属性决策方法。由于Heronian平均(HM)算子具有能够反映输入变量之间相互关联的良好特性,在犹豫模糊语言信息环境下,提出了两种新的集成算子,即犹豫模糊语言Heronian平均(HFLHM)算子和犹豫模糊语言几何Heronian平均(HFLGHM)算子,同时研究了它们的一些特性。考虑到输入变量具有不同的重要程度,还定义了犹豫模糊语言加权Heronian平均(HFLWHM)算子和犹豫模糊语言加权几何Heronian平均(HFLWGHM)算子。最后提出了基于HFLWHM算子和HFLWGHM算子的犹豫模糊语言多属性决策方法,并通过实例验证了这些算子的合理性和可行性。     

人工神经网络BP算法的改进和结构的自调整

本文解决了BP神经网络结构参数和学习速率的选取问题,并对传统的BP算法进行了改进,提出了BP神经网络动态全参数自调整学习算法,又将其编制成计算机程序,使得隐层节点和学习速率的选取全部动态实现,减少了人为因素的干预,改善了学习速率和网络的适应能力。计算结果表明：BP神经网络动态全参数自调整算法较传统的方法优越。训练后的神经网络模型不仅能准确地拟合训练值,而且能较精确地预测未来趋势。     

基于二元语义的犹豫模糊语言决策方法

当决策者在给出语言评价信息而表示出犹豫时,决策信息更适合用犹豫模糊语言术语集表达。为了减少语言决策过程中信息的丢失,得到较精准的评价结果,本文提出基于二元语义的犹豫模糊语言决策方法。首先定义了犹豫模糊二元语义集、犹豫模糊二元语义集的均值函数、方差函数及其集结算子,然后用集结算子求出各方案的综合评价值,通过犹豫模糊二元语义的均值函数和方差函数确定方案排序。最后通过实例说明了该方法的实用性和有效性。     

Fuzzy neural network modeling for product development

A fairly general product development model is formulated and analyzed based on multiple attribute decision making with emphasis on the treatment of the linguistic and vague aspects by fuzzy logic and up-dating or learning by neural network. Due to the representative ability of fuzzy set theory and the learning or intelligent ability of neural network, the proposed approaches appear to be an effective tool for handling vague and not well-defined systems.