An Evaluation of the Pugh Controlled Convergence Method

Author(s):  
Daniel D. Frey ◽  
Paulien M. Herder ◽  
Ype Wijnia ◽  
Eswaran Subrahmanian ◽  
Konstantinos Katsikopoulos ◽  
...  

This paper evaluates a method known as Pugh Controlled Convergence and its relationship to recent developments in design theory. Computer executable models are proposed simulating a team of people involved in iterated cycles of evaluation, ideation, and investigation. The models suggest that: 1) convergence of the set of design concepts is facilitated by the selection of a strong datum concept; 2) iterated use of an evaluation matrix can facilitate convergence of expert opinion, especially if used to plan investigations conducted between matrix runs; and 3) ideation stimulated by the Pugh matrices can provide large benefits both by improving the set of alternatives and by facilitating convergence. As a basis of comparison, alternatives to Pugh’s methods were assessed such as using a single summary criterion or using a Borda count. The models we developed suggest that Pugh’s method, under a substantial range of assumptions, results in better design outcomes than those from these alternative procedures.

Author(s):  
Guido N. J. Tytgat

This narrative review summarizes a selection of recent, clinically-important novel gastrointestinal developments, presented and discussed at the European Gastro Update In Budapest. The selected topics reflect what the distinguished faculty considered of vital importance to be communicated to the astute busy gastro-hep clinician, who is eager to stay well informed of important novel developments in his discipline. Whenever appropriate a personal comment or addition was added to further raise the educational value of this review. Given its narrative character, statements and conclusions are largely expert opinion-based and referencing is limited to the selected images.


This series is devoted to original philosophical work in the foundations of ethics. It provides an annual selection of much of the best new scholarship being done in the field. Its broad purview includes work being done at the intersection of ethical theory and metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind. The chapters included in the series provide a basis for understanding recent developments in the field. Chapters in this volume explore topics including the nature of reasons, the tenability of moral realism, moral explanation and grounding, and a variety of epistemological challenges.


Author(s):  
D. Josephine Selvarani Ruth

AbstractNickel Titanium Naval Ordinance Laboratory (NiTiNOL) is widely called as a shape memory alloy (SMA), a class of nonlinear smart material inherited with the functionally programmed property of varying electrical resistance during the transformation enabling to be positioned as a sensing element. The major challenge to instrument the SMA wires is to suppress the wires’ nonlinearity by proper selection of two important factors. The first factor is influenced by the mechanical biasing element and the other is to identify the sensing current for the sensing device (SMA wires + biasing). This paper focuses on developing SMA wires for sensing in different orientation types and configurations by removing the non-linearity in the system’s output by introducing inverse hysteresis to the wires through the passive mechanical element.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1279
Author(s):  
Rabeay Y.A. Hassan ◽  
Ferdinando Febbraio ◽  
Silvana Andreescu

Microbial electrochemical systems are a fast emerging technology that use microorganisms to harvest the chemical energy from bioorganic materials to produce electrical power. Due to their flexibility and the wide variety of materials that can be used as a source, these devices show promise for applications in many fields including energy, environment and sensing. Microbial electrochemical systems rely on the integration of microbial cells, bioelectrochemistry, material science and electrochemical technologies to achieve effective conversion of the chemical energy stored in organic materials into electrical power. Therefore, the interaction between microorganisms and electrodes and their operation at physiological important potentials are critical for their development. This article provides an overview of the principles and applications of microbial electrochemical systems, their development status and potential for implementation in the biosensing field. It also provides a discussion of the recent developments in the selection of electrode materials to improve electron transfer using nanomaterials along with challenges for achieving practical implementation, and examples of applications in the biosensing field.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 2858-2873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Francke

Due to the fact that the major portion of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals contains heterocyclic units and since the overall number of commercially used heterocyclic compounds is steadily growing, heterocyclic chemistry remains in the focus of the synthetic community. Enormous efforts have been made in the last decades in order to render the production of such compounds more selective and efficient. However, most of the conventional methods for the construction of heterocyclic cores still involve the use of strong acids or bases, the operation at elevated temperatures and/or the use of expensive catalysts and reagents. In this regard, electrosynthesis can provide a milder and more environmentally benign alternative. In fact, numerous examples for the electrochemical construction of heterocycles have been reported in recent years. These cases demonstrate that ring formation can be achieved efficiently under ambient conditions without the use of additional reagents. In order to account for the recent developments in this field, a selection of representative reactions is presented and discussed in this review.


2014 ◽  
Vol 597 ◽  
pp. 472-475
Author(s):  
Yin Dong Zhang ◽  
Yang Liu

The decision method based on Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation is presented to achieve skimmer selection in oil spill response. Firstly, the evaluation index system of skimmer is determined. Secondly, the fuzzy set theory is introduced to achieve quantification of skimmer qualitative indexes and the evaluation matrix of skimmer is established by expert investigation. Then the alternative skimmers are evaluated by the method of Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation, and the optimal selection of skimmer can be obtained.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Pikousová ◽  
Petr Průša

The evaluation and selection of suppliers are important tasks in any organisation. Each organisation needs to have a supplier evaluation matrix or model in place. The goal of this article is not only to give an overview of supplier performance evaluation techniques but also to present an example of such a supplier evaluation matrix used in practice. The article shows that suppliers’ qualities, strategies and abilities affect a buying company’s business. Reliable suppliers can help to develop stabile, long-term relationships that will be beneficial to both parties. Effective sourcing and purchasing require high-quality suppliers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-282
Author(s):  
Samson Esayas ◽  
Dan Svantesson

There is a clear trend of a hardening attitude towards digital platforms. In Australia this trend is exemplified by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s current inquiry specifically into digital platforms. Further, it can also be seen in court decisions. Having discussed one such court decision, we give a brief overview of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s digital platforms inquiry. We then seek to bring attention to a selection of particularly relevant European developments that may usefully inform how Australia proceeds in this arena and that may be considered in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s final report due to be provided to the Treasurer on 3 June 2019.


IEEE Access ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 85216-85242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Y. Metwly ◽  
Mahmoud S. Abdel-Majeed ◽  
Ayman S. Abdel-Khalik ◽  
Ragi A. Hamdy ◽  
Mostafa S. Hamad ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Crum

Neuroimaging and neuropsychological methods have contributed much toward an understanding of the information processing systems of the human brain in the last few decades, but to what extent do cognitive neuroscientific findings represent and generalize to the inter- and intra-brain dynamics engaged in adapting to naturalistic situations? If it is not marked, and experimental designs lack ecological validity, then this stands to potentially impact the practical applications of a paradigm. In no other domain is this more important to acknowledge than in human clinical neuroimaging research, wherein reduced ecological validity could mean a loss in clinical utility. One way to improve the generalizability and representativeness of findings is to adopt a more “real-world” approach to the development and selection of experimental designs and neuroimaging techniques to investigate the clinically-relevant phenomena of interest. For example, some relatively recent developments to neuroimaging techniques such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) make it possible to create experimental designs using naturalistic tasks that would otherwise not be possible within the confines of a conventional laboratory. Mental health, cognitive interventions, and the present challenges to investigating the brain during treatment are discussed, as well as how the ecological use of fNIRS might be helpful in bridging the explanatory gaps to understanding the cultivation of mental health.


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