Dispersion of relative importance values contributes to the ranking uncertainty: sensitivity analysis of Multiple Criteria Decision-Making methods

Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods are widely used in research and industrial applications. These methods rely heavily on expert perceptions and are often sensitive to the assumptions made. The reliability and robustness of MCDM analysis can be further tested and verified by a computer simulation and sensitivity analysis. In order to address this, five different MCDM approaches, including Weighted Sum Model (WSM), Weighted Product Model (WPM), revised Analytic Hierarchy Process (rAHP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS) are explored in the paper. Real data of the case study for assessing housing affordability are used for testing the robustness of alternative ranking and finding the most sensitive criteria to the change of criterion weight. We identify the most critical criteria for any and best ranking alternatives. The paper highlights the significance of sensitivity analysis in assessing the robustness and reliability of MCDM outcomes. Furthermore, randomly generated and model-based data sets are used to establish relationship between the dispersion of relative importance values of alternatives and ranking uncertainty. Our findings demonstrate that the dispersion of relative importance values of alternatives correlate with the Euclidian distances of aggregated values. We conclude that the dispersion of relative importance values contributes directly to the ranking uncertainty and can be used as a measure for finding critical criteria

Decision support framework to rank and prioritise the potential land areas for comprehensive land consolidation

In Europe and often worldwide, national and local government authorities utilise different means to stimulate economic development and environmental protection of the land through the application of land consolidation. The direction of these efforts should take into consideration the fact that some administrative regions may have a higher potential for land consolidation than others. This is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that advises on the identification of favourable regions for implementation of pilot land consolidation projects. In many European countries, especially those receiving European Union (EU) support for implementation land consolidation projects, the scrupulous allocation of funds to the best suitable regions is very important. The research in this paper identifies a key set of criteria and offers multiple-criteria analysis-based approach to rank and prioritise administrative regions for implementation of land consolidation. This methodology is applied in the case study identifying Klaipeda district as a municipality with the highest potential for land consolidations in the Western part of Lithuania. The proposed framework will enable national and local authorities to identify and prioritise regions for land consolidation in a transparent way ensuring efficient management of resources and fair allocation of financial support

RAMESES publication standards: realist syntheses

PMCID: PMC3558331This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Systematic Reviews in Educational Research: Methodology, Perspectives and Application

This chapter explores the processes of reviewing literature as a research method. The logic of the family of research approaches called systematic review is analysed and the variation in techniques used in the different approaches explored using examples from existing reviews. The key distinctions between aggregative and configurative approaches are illustrated and the chapter signposts further reading on key issues in the systematic review process

Discovery of peptide ligands targeting a specific ubiquitin-like domain– binding site in the deubiquitinase USP11

© 2019 Spiliotopoulos et al. Published by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) reverse ubiquitination and regulate virtually all cellular processes. Defined noncatalytic domains in USP4 and USP15 are known to interact with E3 ligases and substrate recruitment factors. No such interactions have been reported for these domains in the paralog USP11, a key regulator of DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination. We hypothesized that USP11 domains adjacent to its protease domain harbor unique peptide-binding sites. Here, using a next-generation phage display (NGPD) strategy, combining phage display library screening with next-generation sequencing, we discovered unique USP11-interacting peptide motifs. Isothermal titration calorimetry disclosed that the highest affinity peptides (K D of 10 M) exhibit exclusive selectivity for USP11 over USP4 and USP15 in vitro. Furthermore, a crystal structure of a USP11–peptide complex revealed a previously unknown binding site in USP11’s noncatalytic ubiquitin-like (UBL) region. This site interacted with a helical motif and is absent in USP4 and USP15. Reporter assays using USP11-WT versus a binding pocket– deficient double mutant disclosed that this binding site modulates USP11’s function in homologous recombination–mediated DNA repair. The highest affinity USP11 peptide binder fused to a cellular delivery sequence induced significant nuclear localization and cell cycle arrest in S phase, affecting the viability of different mammalian cell lines. The USP11 peptide ligands and the paralog-specific functional site in USP11 identified here provide a framework for the development of new biochemical tools and therapeutic agents. We propose that an NGPD-based strategy for identifying interacting peptides may be applied also to other cellular targets

Harnessing energies, resolving tensions: acknowledging a dual heritage for qualitative evidence synthesis

Qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) encompasses more than 20 methods for synthesizing qualitative accounts of research phenomena documenting real-life contexts. However, tensions frequently arise from the different heritages that shape QES methodology: namely, systematic reviews of effectiveness and primary qualitative research. Methodological innovations either derive from each heritage or are stimulated when both are in juxtaposition; it is important to broker a rapprochement. This article draws on practical experience from a range of syntheses and methodological development work conducted with the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. The legacy of both heritages is briefly characterized. Three stages of the QES process offer exemplars: searching/sampling, quality assessment, and data synthesis. Rather than an antagonistic clash of research paradigms, this dual heritage offers an opportunity to harness the collective energies of both paradigms. Future methodological research is needed to identify further applications by which this dual heritage might be optimally harnessed

Evaluation of a text supported weight maintenance programme ‘Lighten Up Plus’ following a weight reduction programme: randomised controlled trial

Background Many overweight people find it difficult to maintain weight loss after attending a weight reduction programme. Self-weighing and telephone support are known to be useful methods for self-monitoring for weight loss. We examined the effectiveness of an SMS-text messaging based weight maintenance programme to encourage regular self-weighing in adults who had completed a 12 week commercial weight loss programme. Methods Randomised controlled trial of 380 obese or overweight men and women. The intervention group (n=190) received a single maintenance support phone call and SMS-text based weight maintenance messages over 12 weeks to encourage regular self-weighing after completing their weight loss programme. The primary outcome was change in weight at nine months follow up. Results Our sample (N=380) had a mean age of 47.4 years (SD 13.4), mean baseline weight and BMI of 93.1kg (16.1) and 34.4 kg/m2 (5.0) respectively, as well as majority female (87.3%) and White British (80.0%). Using intention to treat analysis both groups regained weight at nine months follow up; the intervention group regained an average of 1.36 kg while the control group regained 1.81 kg. Adjusting for covariates resulted in a mean difference of 0.45 kg (95% CI -0.78, 1.67) favouring the intervention group at nine month follow up. Conclusions We found no evidence that an SMS based weight maintenance intervention encouraging adults to weigh themselves weekly prevented weight regain at three or nine months after completing a commercial weight loss programme. <br/

Reflections on the Methodological Approach of Systematic Reviews

The concept of systematic reviewing of research literatures became influential in the second half of the 20th century, in the context of the longstanding, and challenging, issue of how to ‘translate’ research findings into reliable guidance for practical decision-making—to determine which policies, programs, and strategies should (and should not) be adopted (Hammersley 2014; Nisbet and Broadfoot 1980)