Factors Influencing College Choice of Nepalese Undergraduate Students

Background: College choice decision remains one of the major issues for the students and parents especially during the time of admission. Objective: Understanding this problem, this research, taking colleges of Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University as the samples, assesses which of the characteristics― institutional, marketing, and social are more dominant in this decision. Method: The study, based on the primary survey; uses the questionnaire to collect data among the management students of bachelor’s level in Lalitpur and Kathmandu district, shows that academic program, quality of education, and social factors are the key factors that impact college choice decision. The study employs convenient sampling techniques. The tendency of students to make college choice decisions depends on the colleges’ academic programs that they have concentrated. Result: The results suggest that college should focus their eyes to apply different types of academic programs, adopt quality education in terms of appointing highly qualified faculties and even contribute certain margin to social support, employability of the students over the market and position of enrolment of the students in higher education. These characteristics enable the colleges to run and sustain in the long run. Conclusion: To mitigate the moderating impact on college choice, the variable gender is used, however, its impact on the relationship of college fees and college choice is not supported by the study.

Shortest path algorithm of a network via spherical fuzzy digraphs

Many extension and generalization of fuzzy sets have been introduced and studied in the literature. Picture fuzzy set acquired more concentration in the domain of decision making, as many real time circumstances might have choices of more than one and researchers are looking for optimum choice/decision. Spherical fuzzy digraph is a generalization of intuitionistic fuzzy set and fuzzy graph. In this paper, we redefine some preliminary operations of Spherical fuzzy graph and it is referred as spherical fuzzy digraph. We discuss some arithmetic operations and relations among spherical fuzzy digraph. We further proposed a method to solve a shortest path problem using score function.

Trigger-Based Dexterous Operation with Multimodal Sensors for Soft Robotic Hand

This paper focuses on how to improve the operation ability of a soft robotic hand (SRH). A trigger-based dexterous operation (TDO) strategy with multimodal sensors is proposed to perform autonomous choice operations. The multimodal sensors include optical-based fiber curvature sensor (OFCS), gas pressure sensor (GPS), capacitive pressure contact sensor (CPCS), and resistance pressure contact sensor (RPCS). The OFCS embedded in the soft finger and the GPS series connected in the gas channel are used to detect the curvature of the finger. The CPCS attached on the fingertip and the RPCS attached on the palm are employed to detect the touch force. The framework of TDO is divided into sensor detection and action operation. Hardware layer, information acquisition layer, and decision layer form the sensor detection module; action selection layer, actuator drive layer, and hardware layer constitute the action operation module. An autonomous choice decision unit is used to connect the sensor detecting module and action operation module. The experiment results reveal that the TDO algorithm is effective and feasible, and the actions of grasping plastic framework, pinching roller ball pen and screwdriver, and handshake are executed exactly.

Target-Oriented User Equilibrium Considering Travel Time, Late Arrival Penalty, and Travel Cost on the Stochastic Tolled Traffic Network

In this paper, we employ a target-oriented approach to analyze the multi-attribute route choice decision of travelers in the stochastic tolled traffic network, considering the influence of three attributes, which are (stochastic) travel time, (stochastic) late arrival penalty, and (deterministic) travel cost. We introduce a target-oriented multi-attribute travel utility model for this analysis, where each attribute is assigned a target by travelers, and travelers’ objective is to maximize their travel utility that is determined by the achieved targets. Moreover, the interaction between targets is interpreted as complementarity relationship between them, which can further affect their travel utility. In addition, based on this travel utility model, a target-oriented multi-attribute user equilibrium model is proposed, which is formulated as a variational inequality problem and solved with the method of successive average. Target for travel time is determined via travelers’ on-time arrival probability, while targets for late arrival penalty and travel cost are given exogenously. Lastly, we apply the proposed model on the Braess and Nguyen–Dupuis traffic networks, and conduct sensitivity analysis of the parameters, including these three targets and the target interaction between them. The study in this paper can provide a new perspective for travelers’ multi-attribute route choice decision, which can further show some implications for the policy design.

The influence of parental demographics on school choice decision-making in Western Gauteng, South Africa

Major political changes since 1994 have initiated the pace of change in the South African education system. Parents’ values, traditions and practices that served in the past were no longer relevant in the new dynamic educational environment. Parental school choice and “the right to choose” movement has subsequently come to the fore. The purpose of this article elucidates findings regarding the demographics of active school choice engagement among middle class parents in Western Gauteng, South Africa. The study, situated in the Gauteng province, South Africa, followed a conclusive research design with a post positivist paradigm. Parent questionnaires were distributed to different types of urban schools to establish the perceptions of parents regarding the factors, anxieties, aspirations and strategies influencing school choice decision-making. Findings reveal that language, income and education not only have a definitive influence on active school choice engagement but also affect the level of importance attached to specific school choice factors. Education in South Africa can thus be viewed as a unique complex system embedded in a political, cultural and economic context.

Robot-Assisted Surgery Adopting Artificial Intelligence Procedures

Surgery is a methodology done in current medication to distinguish, keep away from and fix any approaching affliction which could genuinely influence the presence of any living being. Henceforth medical procedures structure a basic piece of people/creatures in guaranteeing life or improvement in the current condition to lead a cheerful and sound life. The utilization of Artificial Intelligence as a piece of choice decision supportive networks (AI) to work on the exhibition of explicit undertakings (by clinical robots) is standing out enough to be noticed as a piece of mechanical mediation in medical services. This paper endeavours to feature the advancement, restriction, openings and difficulties in utilizing AI-based innovations in robot-assisted medical procedures. We additionally propose an AI-based system for abnormality discovery and situating of the careful apparatus dependent on the information got from the processed pictures. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Medical Robot, Medical Image Processing, Surgery

Conceptions of Choice, Equity, & Rurality in Educational Research

Although school choice advocates often promote a vision of additional schooling options for all students, the predominant target of school choice researchers has been densely populated, urban cores in the United States. However, this belies the fact that many rural communities have similarly engaged in forms of school choice decision-making. While we do not argue for further encroachment of school choice policies in rural contexts, we believe there are myriad, novel opportunities for meaningful education research regarding school choice, equity, and conceptions of rurality. To advance toward a robust agenda for rural school choice, we review the existing literature on school choice and rural education, provide key recommendations, and assert the need for additional consideration of the following: critical socio-political histories and theories; methodological diversity; issues of race, racism, sexual orientation, and equity; social-emotional learning and development; impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic; and broadened understandings of rurality.

Social Medial Promotional Activities Influence on Purchase Choice Decision and Price of Perishable Food Items during COVID-19 in Lagos, Nigeria

This study aimed to research if promotional activities on social media influence purchase choice decisions, consumers impulse buying, the price for perishable food items, like vegetables, fruits, beef, fish, and others during the COVID-19 pandemics. Likewise, if there are differences between the original market price of goods before the COVID-19 pandemic and the promotional online prices during the pandemic, to investigate if the online price of delivering goods to consumer homes influence consumer quantity purchase decision, and if there is any relationship between consumer location and price of goods delivery during the COVID-19 pandemics. The results suggest that promotional activities on social media for perishable food items during the pandemic does not necessarily influence consumers purchase choice decision, but rather, influence consumer quantity purchase, and there is a difference between the original market price of goods before the COVID-19 – pandemic and the promotional online price during the pandemic. Likewise, there is a relationship between consumer location and price of goods delivery during the COVID-19 pandemics. The findings of the study showcase a typical situation of things during a crisis in a developing country, where people take advantage of situations to exploit the helpless. Prices of goods increased, and people had no choice but had to buy because man cannot do without food.

Analyzing Prospective Owners’ Choice Decision towards Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Urban India: A Stated Preference Discrete Choice Experiment

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) can help decarbonize road transport in urban India. To accelerate the diffusion of PHEVs, investigation of commuter preferences towards the attributes of PHEVs is necessary. Therefore, the present study analyzes prospective owners’ choice decisions towards PHEVs in a typical Indian context. A stated preference survey was designed to collect responses from the current owners of conventional vehicles (CVs) in Delhi, India, and Mixed Logit (ML) models were developed to estimate commuters’ Willingness To Pay (WTP) for a set of key PHEV-specific attributes. The decomposition effect of prospective owners’ sociodemographic characteristics and trip characteristics on the mean estimates of random parameters was investigated by developing ML models with heterogeneity. Subsequently, the influence of improvement of each PHEV-specific attribute on prospective owners’ choice probability was investigated by calculating marginal effects. Among the various PHEV-specific attributes considered in the present study, high WTPs are observed for decrease in battery recharging time, reduction in tailpipe emission and increase in electric range. Therefore, an added emphasis on these attributes by vehicle manufacturers is likely to enhance the attractiveness of PHEVs to Indian commuters. The results also highlight the importance of government subsidy for promoting PHEVs in the Indian market. Prospective owners’ income, availability of home-based parking space, and average daily trip length are found to significantly influence the choice decision of Indian commuters towards PHEVs.

Consumption behaviour analyses of cassava products among rural household in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

This study provides empirical evidence on consumption behavior of cassava products among households in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to collect data from 120 households using structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ordered Probit and Spearman correlation models. The study finds garri, fufu (pounded cassava) and tapioca as the three major cassava products consumed while rice, yam and beans as three the major substitute of garri by the households in the area. The households preferred garri over other cassava products as the factors of household choice, nutritional value and availability. The coefficient for age was negative while coefficients of cost of cassava products, marital status and household size were positively related to choice of cassava products consumed in the study area. The study therefore recommended for policies that will effectively promote cassava product consumption should emphasize on the adult population and household size. Key words: Choice, decision, garri, ordered Probit