Multi‐criteria group decision‐making method based on TODIM with probabilistic interval‐valued hesitant fuzzy information

Probabilistic interval‐valued hesitant fuzzy sets (PIV‐HFSs) are suitable for aggregating information from different groups because the probabilistic information of all the groups can be included by using interval values. Moreover, decision makers (DMs) prefer to use interval values to provide evaluation information. Furthermore, the traditional multi‐criteria group decision‐making (MCGDM) approach has some limitations, such as obtaining the DMs' weights with inappropriate methods and neglecting the interactions amongst the criteria and the psychological characteristics of DMs. Motivated by these research background, the main contents of this study are as follows. First, PIV‐HFSs are proposed, and the convex combination operation is extended into PIV‐HFSs. Second, a hybrid MCGDM approach with PIV‐HFSs is suggested that is based on the maximizing deviation method, fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) and TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for interactive and multi‐criteria decision‐making model). Third, an evaluation case of health management centres based on the service‐specific failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is considered. The results show that the most crucial secondary factor is frequency (0.35775) and that the most serious failure mode is the inaccurate check‐in. The results demonstrate that the proposed model can evaluate service quality effectively and that it performs better than other methods.     

Z‐uncertain probabilistic linguistic variables and its application in emergency decision making for treatment of COVID‐19 patients

Probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTSs) have many applications in the field of group decision making (GDM) because it includes both linguistic evaluation and probabilistic distribution when expressing preference information. However, the difference of information credibility in PLTSs is ignored, resulting in an inaccurate representation of decision information and unreasonable probability calculation. In this paper, we first consider the credibility of the information and propose the concept of Z‐uncertain probabilistic linguistic variables (Z‐UPLVs). Subsequently, the operational rules, normalization, distance and similarity measures, and comparison method of Z‐UPLVs are introduced. Then, a probability calculation method based on credibility, an extended TOPSIS method, and some operators are proposed, which can be applied to emergency decision making in the Z‐uncertain probabilistic linguistic (Z‐UPL) environment. Finally, an emergency decision‐making case of COVID‐19 patients and comparative analysis illustrate the necessity and effectiveness of this method.     

Weighted‐selective aggregated majority‐OWA operator and its application in linguistic group decision making

This paper focuses on the aggregation operations in the group decision‐making model based on the concept of majority opinion. The weighted‐selective aggregated majority‐OWA (WSAM‐OWA) operator is proposed as an extension of the SAM‐OWA operator, where the reliability of information sources is considered in the formulation. The WSAM‐OWA operator is generalized to the quantified WSAM‐OWA operator by including the concept of linguistic quantifier, mainly for the group fusion strategy. The QWSAM‐IOWA operator, with an ordering step, is introduced to the individual fusion strategy. The proposed aggregation operators are then implemented for the case of alternative scheme of heterogeneous group decision analysis. The heterogeneous group includes the consensus of experts with respect to each specific criterion. The exhaustive multicriteria group decision‐making model under the linguistic domain, which consists of two‐stage aggregation processes, is developed in order to fuse the experts’ judgments and to aggregate the criteria. The model provides greater flexibility when analyzing the decision alternatives with a tolerance that considers the majority of experts and the attitudinal character of experts. A selection of investment problem is given to demonstrate the applicability of the developed model.     

Interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy GRA method for multiple‐attribute decision making with incomplete weight information

In this paper, the concept of multiple‐attribute group decision‐making (MAGDM) problems with interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy information is developed, in which the attribute values are interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy numbers and the information about the attribute weight is incomplete. Since the concept of interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy sets is the generalization of interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy set. Thus, due the this motivation in this paper, the concept of interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy Choquet integral average (IVPFCIA) operator is introduced by generalizing the concept of interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral average operator. To illustrate the developed operator, a numerical example is also investigated. Extended the concept of traditional GRA method, a new extension of GRA method based on interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy information is introduced. First, utilize IVPFCIA operator to aggregate all the interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy decision matrices. Then, an optimization model based on the basic ideal of traditional grey relational analysis (GRA) method is established, to get the weight vector of the attributes. Based on the traditional GRA method, calculation steps for solving interval‐valued Pythagorean fuzzy MAGDM problems with incompletely known weight information are given. The degree of grey relation between every alternative and positive‐ideal solution and negative‐ideal solution is calculated. To determine the ranking order of all alternatives, a relative relational degree is defined by calculating the degree of grey relation to both the positive‐ideal solution and negative ideal solution simultaneously. Finally, to illustrate the developed approach a numerical example is to demonstrate its practicality and effectiveness.     

Fuzzy rough set on probabilistic approximation space over two universes and its application to emergency decision‐making

Probabilistic approaches to rough sets are still an important issue in rough set theory. Although many studies have been written on this topic, they focus on approximating a crisp concept in the universe of discourse, with less effort on approximating a fuzzy concept in the universe of discourse. This article investigates the rough approximation of a fuzzy concept on a probabilistic approximation space over two universes. We first present the definition of a lower and upper approximation of a fuzzy set with respect to a probabilistic approximation space over two universes by defining the conditional probability of a fuzzy event. That is, we define the rough fuzzy set on a probabilistic approximation space over two universes. We then define the fuzzy probabilistic approximation over two universes by introducing a probability measure to the approximation space over two universes. Then, we establish the fuzzy rough set model on the probabilistic approximation space over two universes. Meanwhile, we study some properties of both rough fuzzy sets and fuzzy rough sets on the probabilistic approximation space over two universes. Also, we compare the proposed model with the existing models to show the superiority of the model given in this paper. Furthermore, we apply the fuzzy rough set on the probabilistic approximation over two universes to emergency decision‐making in unconventional emergency management. We establish an approach to online emergency decision‐making by using the fuzzy rough set model on the probabilistic approximation over two universes. Finally, we apply our approach to a numerical example of emergency decision‐making in order to illustrate the validity of the proposed method.     

An approach to group decision making with hesitant information and its application in credit risk evaluation of enterprises

Hesitant multiplicative preference relation (HMPR) contains much more comprehensive information than the traditional multiplicative preference relations. The HMPR is a useful tool to help the decision makers express their preferences in group decision making under uncertainty. The key of group decision making with the HMPR is to derive the priority weights from the HMPR. Thus, an efficient and practical priority method should be put forward so as to ensure the reasonability of the final decision result. In order to do that, in this paper, we first introduce the expected value and the geometric average value of hesitant multiplicative element (HME) which is the component of the HMPR. Then from different perspectives, we utilize the error-analysis technique to put forward three novel methods for the priorities of the HMPR, i.e., the expectation value method, the geometric average value method, and the multiplicative deviation method. We also investigate the relationships among these methods, and develop an approach to group decision making with the HMPR by using the methods and the possibility degree formula. Finally, by constructing the indicator system for credit risk evaluation of supply chain enterprises, we make a detailed case study concerning Lu-Zhou-Lao-Jiao (the well-known liquor enterprise in China) to demonstrate our approach.     

An improved MULTIMOORA method with combined weights and its application in assessing the innovative ability of universities

Innovative ability plays a critical role in the sustainable development of universities. Although the assessment of universities' innovative ability is a significant undertaking, it is difficult work. This challenge can be addressed as a typical multiple attribute decision making (MADM) problem, in which multiple attributes should be considered with different levels of importance. This paper aims to propose an integrated MADM method to solve this issue. To do so, we first introduce the least square method with the hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set to determine the subjective attribute weights. Considering that the selected attributes are not always in conflict with each other due to the complexity of objective things, we further present a correlation coefficient‐based method to calculate another kind of attribute weight. The final weights are the combined form of these two types of attribute weights. In addition, we enhance the robust ranking method, MULTIMOORA, with the Borda rule to calculate the utility values of universities and derive their rankings. Finally, after establishing an index system, the assessment of the innovative ability of 26 world‐class construction universities in China is conducted by using the proposed method. The advantages and disadvantages of the assessed universities are analysed.     

Uncertain linguistic hesitant fuzzy sets and their application in multi‐attribute decision making

To denote the quantitative and qualitative fuzzy information simultaneously, this paper introduces a new type of fuzzy sets called uncertain linguistic hesitant fuzzy sets, which are denoted by an uncertain linguistic variable with several possible interval membership degrees. Considering the application of this type of fuzzy sets, several basic operational laws are defined, and several properties are studied. Meanwhile, an ordered relationship is introduced. Then, two types of uncertain linguistic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators are defined. One uses additive measures, and the other is based on λ‐fuzzy measures. Then, a similarity measure is presented, by which models for the optimal weight vector are constructed. After that, an approach to uncertain linguistic hesitant fuzzy multi‐attribute decision making is developed. Finally, an illustrative example for evaluating corporate environmental performance is offered to show the concrete practicality of the procedure.     

A novel direct matching network synthesis technique and its application to broadband class‐J power amplifier

A novel direct matching network (MN) synthesis method improving the conventional simplified real frequency technique (SRFT) is presented in this article. By straightforwardly optimize the characteristic impedance (physical width) and electrical length (physical length) of each distributed element in a preselected configuration, the proposed method has one more degree of design freedom by comparison with the SRFT, and therefore increases design flexibility and matching effects. To demonstrate its effectiveness, a broadband class‐J power amplifier (PA) is devised for which both the input and output MNs are realized using the proposed method. The simultaneous manipulation of fundamental and second harmonic impedances is successfully realized by defining a novel target function that indicates the degree of proximity for the realized impedances to the optimal transistor impedances. Comprehensive equations and complete design procedures of the new technique are given. The measured class‐J PA implemented for verification achieves an output power of 39.2 to 42.3 dBm and power‐added efficiency of 61.8% to 71.6% over the frequency range of 2.5 to 3.8 GHz using a 10‐W GaN HEMT. A 20‐MHz LTE‐A signal is employed to validate the linearization capability of this class‐J PA. An adjacent channel leakage ratio level around ?43.8 dBc is achieved after utilizing digital predistortion technique.     

A perceptual computing-based method to prioritize failure modes in failure mode and effect analysis and its application to edible bird nest farming

A failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) procedure that incorporates a novel Perceptual Computing (Per-C)–based Risk Priority Number (RPN) model is proposed in this paper. The proposed model considers linguistic uncertainties and vagueness of words, because it is more natural to use words, instead of numerals, for an FMEA user to express his/her knowledge when he/she provides an assessment. Therefore, it is important to consider the inherited uncertainties in words used by humans for assessment as an additional risk factor in the entire FMEA reasoning process. As such, we propose to use Per-C to analyze the uncertainties in words provided by different FMEA users. There are three potential sources of risks. Firstly, the risk factors of Severity (S), Occurrence (O), and Detection (D) are graded using words by each FMEA user, and indicated as interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs). Secondly, the relative importance of S, O, and D are reflected by the weights given by each FMEA user in words, which are indicated as IT2FSs. Thirdly, the expertise level of each FMEA user is reflected by words, which are expressed as IT2FSs too. The proposed Per-C-RPN model allows these three sources of risks from each FMEA user to be considered and combined in terms of IT2FSs. A case study related to edible bird nest farming in Borneo Island is reported. The results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed model. In summary, this paper contributes to a new Per-C-RPN model that utilizes imprecise assessment grades pertaining to group decision making in FMEA.