Using a partially observable Markov chain model to assess colonoscopy screening strategies – A cohort study

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is notoriously hard to combat for its high incidence and mortality rates. However, with improved screening technology and better understanding of disease pathways, CRC is more likely to be detected at early stage and thus more likely to be cured. Among the available screening methods, colonoscopy is most commonly used in the U.S. because of its capability of visualizing the entire colon and removing the polyps it detected. The current national guideline for colonoscopy screening recommends an observation-based screening strategy. Nevertheless, there is scant research studying the cost-effectiveness of the recommended observation-based strategy and its variants. In this paper, we describe a partially observable Markov chain (POMC) model which allows us to assess the cost-effectiveness of both fixed-interval and observation-based colonoscopy screening strategies. In our model, we consider detailed adenomatous polyp states and estimate state transition probabilities based on longitudinal clinical data from a specific population cohort. We conduct a comprehensive numerical study which investigates several key factors in screening strategy design, including screening frequency, initial screening age, screening end age, and screening compliance rate. We also conduct sensitivity analyses on the cost and quality of life parameters. Our numerical result demonstrates the usability of our model in assessing colonoscopy screening strategies with consideration of partial observation of true health states. This research facilitates future design of better colonoscopy screening strategies.     

Integrated Fuzzy AHP–TOPSIS for selecting the best plastic recycling method: A case study

Due to the rapid depletion of natural resources and undesired environmental changes in a global scale, it is necessary to conserve the natural resources and protect the environment. Industries which manufacture plastic based products have the necessity to recycle plastics. There are number of methods to recycle plastics. Since the selection of the best recycling method involves complex decision variables, it is considered to be a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. This article develops an evaluation model based on the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to enable the industry practitioners to perform performance evaluation in a fuzzy environment. The purpose of the study is to determine the best method for recycling plastics among the various plastic recycling processes. By observing the results, it is identified that mechanical recycling process is found to be the best plastic recycling process using the integrated approach.     

基于不完全偏好信息的多阶段应急群决策方法

针对灾害事件的多阶段演化特征,研究多阶段应急群决策方法。在复杂的决策环境下,为了解决决策专家难以对应急方案进行准确评价的问题,允许专家以残缺精确数与残缺模糊数判断矩阵给出偏好信息;而且,多阶段应急群决策模型通过构建目标规划模型对决策专家进行分阶段赋权,并解得各决策阶段下群体的方案偏好,最后通过求解决策阶段权重,获取全局群体偏好最优解。应用于危险化学品液态苯泄漏的应急处置案例验证了该方法的可行性与有效性。     

二维区间密度加权算子及其应用

针对不确定多属性决策中的属性信息分布不均匀,且评价信息多数为二维信息的情况,本文提出了二维区间密度加权算子(TDIDW算子)的属性信息集结方法.依据密度算子的集结过程特点,文章首先定义了二维区间密度加权算子及其合成算子,然后介绍了基于灰色区间聚类法的评价信息分组方法以及基于非线性模型的密度加权向量确定方法,最后进行了算例验证.验证结果表明,该方法可以有效地解决由于属性信息分布不均匀而导致评价结果不准确的问题.     

A choice model with imprecise ordinal evaluations

We consider multicriteria choice problems where the actions are evaluated on ordinal criteria and where they can be assessed imprecisely. In order to select the subset of best actions, the pairwise comparisons between the actions on each criterion are modeled by basic belief assignments (BBAs). Dempsterʼs rule of combination is used for the aggregation of the BBAs of each pair of alternatives in order to express a global comparison between them on all the criteria. A model inspired by ELECTRE I is also proposed and illustrated by a pedagogical example.     

一种基于相关系数矩阵的TOPSIS决策方法

在多属性决策分析中,传统的TOPSIS法是基于欧氏距离来计算各方案到正负理想点的距离,但欧氏距离没有考虑各属性之间的相关性;从这一角度出发,将相关系数矩阵与欧式距离结合,从而弥补了欧氏距离的不足,最后进行了实例分析.     

基于时间敏感需求及随机完工期的承诺交货期决策

在新的经济形势和高新技术指引下,产品更新换代的速度加快,基于时间的竞争成为供应链竞争的焦点.在制造商为核心的供应链中,产品需求除了与价格有关外,与承诺交货期也有一定关联,且部分客户愿意为快速交货而支付更高价格.当需求与时间及价格具有敏感性且实际完工期服从一定的随机分布时,建立利润最大化及服务水平约束的承诺交货期决策模型,并对模型进行讨论及优化分析.通过算例验证了模型的有效性,通过参数敏感性分析得出的结论是:当客户服务水平达到一定阈值时,最优承诺交货期将发生改变;价格及交货期敏感系数不影响承诺交货期,但影响产品需求及最终利润;最优承诺交货期与单位提早完工成本是反向变动的关系而与单位延迟完工成本是正向变动的关系;随着完工期均值及标准差的不断增大,最优承诺交货期呈上升趋势,利润、市场需求及价格不断下降.     

基于改进的粗糙集条件信息熵和灰关联投影法的工程项目投标决策研究

投标决策是建筑企业面临的一大难题.在分析建设工程投标风险因素的基础上,提出一种基于改进的粗糙集条件信息熵和灰关联投影法的投标决策方法.文中投标风险因素的客观权重经两次修正,更具全面性和合理性;然后结合依靠专家经验确定的主观权重得到综合权重;最后将综合权重应用于灰关联投影法进行投标决策.通过应用实例,验证决策方法的可操作性和合理性,为承包商实际的投标工作提供一定的借鉴和参考.