Developing a Fuzzy Risk Allocation Model for PPP Projects in China

Equitable allocation of risks between the government and the private sector in concession agreement is essential to the success of public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The decision-making process, based on the established risk allocation principles expressed in linguistic terms, requires qualitative judgment and experiential knowledge of construction experts. However, it is subjective, partial, and implicit in actual application. This paper aims to develop a fuzzy synthetic evaluation model for determining an equitable risk allocation between the government and the private sector. By doing so, it assists the PPP project practitioners to transform the risk allocation principles in linguistic terms into a more usable and systematic quantitative-based analysis using fuzzy set. Twenty-three principles and influencing factors for risk allocation were identified through a comprehensive literature review. Nine critical risk allocation criteria (RACs) that evaluate the risk carrying capability of project participants were further identified, validated, and compiled based on the experts’ knowledge via face-to-face interviews. On the other hand, the weighting for each critical risk allocation criterion was determined through a two-round Delphi questionnaire survey. A set of knowledge-based fuzzy inference rules was then established to set up the membership function for the nine RACs. Based on the research findings, a fuzzy synthetic evaluation model was finally established to determine an equitable risk allocation between the government and the private sector.     

One-step concentration of analytes based on dynamic change in pH in capillary zone electrophoresis

A novel strategy for one-step concentration of analytes during capillary electrophoresis (CE) is presented. A short platinum wire was inserted into the 75-microm-i.d. separation capillary. When a high voltage was applied for CE separation, a sharp pH gradient along the capillary was created dynamically by the electrolysis of water in the running buffer. Concentration of a large volume of injected analytes was accomplished by the change in analyte charge due to the dynamic pH gradient. Depending on the polarity of the applied potential and the direction of electroosmotic flow, either anions or cations can be concentrated. Several hundredfold concentration factors were achieved. Fluorescence imaging by a CCD camera was used to monitor 10 cm of the capillary near the platinum wire during the concentration process. The observations are consistent with a sweeping mechanism.     

Reliability and validity of self-reported assessment of exposure and outcome variables for manual lifting tasks: a preliminary investigation

The reliability and validity of self-reported assessment of exposure and outcome variables were examined for manual lifting activities among ten physiotherapists. In this study, the participants evaluated the effects of five lifting variables on perceived effort, twice separated by a one-week period. One hundred and sixty-two lifting conditions were evaluated by each subject. The exposure and outcome lifting variables were described in linguistic terms. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC(1,1)) analysis revealed a mean value of 0.62 for all lifting activities. The self-reported assessment was cross-validated with the NIOSH lifting index by mapping the linguistic variables into numerical ranges. Moderate correlations (r = 0.54 and 0.53, p<0.01) were obtained between perceived physical exertion/perceived risk and lifting index. The findings of this study provide preliminary indications that human-based methodologies may be further explored on experienced workers.     

CPE: a parallel library for financial engineering applications

The Clustertech parallel environment is an object-oriented C++ library that uses abstractions to simplify parallel programming for financial engineering applications. The message passing interface ensures CPE's portability and performance over a wide range of parallel cluster and symmetric multiprocessing machines.     

Bidirectional deformable matching with application to handwritten character extraction

To achieve integrated segmentation and recognition in complex scenes, the model-based approach has widely been accepted as a promising paradigm. However, the performance is still far from satisfactory when the target object is highly deformed and the level of outlier contamination is high. In this paper, we first describe two Bayesian frameworks, one for classifying input patterns and another for detecting target patterns in complex scenes using deformable models. Then, we show that the two frameworks are similar to the forward-reverse setting of Hausdorff matching and that their matching and discriminating properties are complementary to each other. By properly combining the two frameworks, we propose a new matching scheme called bidirectional matching. This combined approach inherits the advantages of the two Bayesian frameworks. In particular, we have obtained encouraging empirical results on shape-based pattern extraction, using a subset of the CEDAR handwriting database containing handwritten words of highly varying shape.     

Combinatorial screening of enzyme activity by using multiplexed capillary electrophoresis

Efficient and comprehensive screening of enzyme activity was accomplished in a combinatorial array of 96 reaction microvials. Quantitation of the extent of the reaction at well-defined time intervals was achieved by using 96-capillary array electrophoresis coupled with a multiplexed absorption detector. Capillary electrophoresis provides high separation resolution to isolate the product from the reactants. Absorption detection provides universal applicability to combinatorial screening. For the conversion of NADH to NAD+, the catalytic activity of LDH was confirmed to be the highest at pH 7. This scheme should be useful for high-throughput drug discovery, clinical diagnosis, substrate binding, as well as combinatorial synthesis.     

Criteria to determine food allergen priority

The emergent health issue of food allergens presents an important challenge to the food industry. More than 170 foods have been reported in the scientific literature as causing allergic reactions. Clearly, it would be impossible to deal with the presence of trace amounts of all these in the context of food labeling. If the decision to classify major allergens is based solely on the knowledge and experience of allergists and food scientists in the field, without scientifically defined criteria, it is likely to lead to a proliferation of lists. Such practices may lead to an unnecessary elimination of foods containing important nutrients. This paper defines food allergy, food intolerance, and food anaphylaxis and identifies criteria for classifying food allergens associated with frequent allergic reactions. A practical list of food allergens that may result in potentially life-threatening allergic reactions is provided. A mechanism-based (i.e., immunoglobulin E mediated), acute life-threatening anaphylaxis that is standardized and measurable and reflects the severity of health risk is proposed as the principal inclusion criterion for food allergen labeling. Where available, prevalence in the population and threshold levels of allergens should be used as an additional guide to identify possible future labeling needs.     

Multiplexed automated DNA sequencing directly from single bacterial colonies

Sample preparation has been one of the major bottlenecks for large-scale DNA sequencing projects in terms of time and cost. To improve sample throughput and to integrate the front-end tasks to capillary-array DNA sequencers, protocols for directly sequencing the plasmids from a single bacterial colony in fused-silica capillaries were developed. After the colony is picked, lysis is accomplished in situ in the plastic sample tube using either a thermocycler or a heating block. Upon heating, the plasmids are released while chromosomal DNA and membrane proteins are denatured and precipitate to the bottom of the tube. After adding enzyme and Sanger reagents, the resulting solution was aspirated into the reaction capillaries by a syringe pump, and cycle sequencing was initiated. No deleterious effect upon the reaction efficiency, the on-line purification system, or the capillary electrophoresis separation was observed, even though the crude lysate was used as the template. Multiplexed online DNA sequencing data from 8 parallel channels allowed base calling up to 620 bp with an accuracy of 98%. The entire system can be automatically regenerated for repeated operation. By the marriage of colony sequencing with the capillary array sequencer, both the front end and the back end of DNA sequencing are combined in a miniaturized format. This protocol will ultimately reduce the cost of sequencing to well below current levels.