Search results

1 – 10 of 23
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 14 February 2022

Wenjun Jiang, Shuli Liu and Susan Li

Green economy and economic development with high quality have set higher requirements for the development of the urban logistics industry. It can grasp the recent development…

233

Abstract

Purpose

Green economy and economic development with high quality have set higher requirements for the development of the urban logistics industry. It can grasp the recent development level of the urban logistics industry by measuring its environmental efficiency to guide its future development direction. The purpose of this study is to improve the environmental efficiency and development level of the urban logistics industry by using a reasonable evaluation method.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses information entropy to directly aggregate index weights from different models to acquire comprehensive index weights (CIWs) for calculating peer-evaluation efficiency. Then, we weight self and peer-efficiencies to obtain final efficiency. The environmental efficiencies of the urban logistics industry in Anhui Province in 2019 are obtained according to the above method.

Findings

Several findings are summarized below. The logistics industry in Anhui is in urgent need of improving environmental efficiency. The environmental efficiency of the logistics industry in North Anhui is the highest one, showing that the logistics industry in North Anhui has achieved a relative balance between economic development and environmental protection. Their final cross-efficiency values based on the CIWs are smaller than those based on the comprehensive efficiency. And the environmental efficiency of almost all urban logistics industries is lower than its economic efficiency. The findings show that the proposed method is feasible and more reasonable. More economic implications and suggestions are proposed.

Originality/value

This paper proposes an extended cross-efficiency evaluation method based on information entropy to measure the environmental efficiency of the urban logistics industry, effectively avoiding the overestimation of efficiency results.

Details

Journal of Modelling in Management, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-5664

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 21 September 2022

Sifeng Liu and Wei Tang

The purpose of this paper is to explore new ways and lay a solid foundation to solve the problem of reliability growth analysis of major aerospace equipment with various…

231

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore new ways and lay a solid foundation to solve the problem of reliability growth analysis of major aerospace equipment with various uncertainty data through propose new concepts of general uncertainty data (GUD) and general uncertainty variable (GUV) and build the operation system of GUVs.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics of reliability growth data of major aerospace equipment and the limitations of current reliability growth models have been analyzed at first. The most commonly used uncertainty system analysis methods of probability statistics, fuzzy mathematics, grey system theory and rough set theory have been introduced. The concepts of GUD and GUV for reliability growth data analysis of major aerospace equipment are proposed. The simplified form of GUV based on the “kernel” and the degree of uncertainty of GUV is defined. Then an operation system of GUVs is built.

Findings

(1) The concept of GUD; (2) the concept of GUV; (3) The novel operation rules of GUVs with simplified form.

Practical implications

The method exposed in this paper can be used to integrate complex reliability growth data of major aerospace equipment. The reliability growth models based on GUV can be built for reliability growth evaluation and forecasting of major aerospace equipment in practice. The reliability evaluation example of a solid rocket motor shows that the concept and idea proposed in this paper are feasible. The research of this paper opens up a new way for the analysis of complex uncertainty data of reliability growth of major aerospace equipment. Moreover, the operation of GUVs could be extended to the case of algebraic equation, differential equation and matrix which including GUVs.

Originality/value

The new concepts of GUD and GUV are given for the first time. The novel operation rules of GUVs with simplified form were constructed.

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 22 February 2022

Na Zhang and Shuli Yan

In the process of group decision-making, there may be multilayer subjects. In other words, members of the decision-making group may come from different layers and there is…

223

Abstract

Purpose

In the process of group decision-making, there may be multilayer subjects. In other words, members of the decision-making group may come from different layers and there is interest game among decision experts. Therefore, it is an extremely important topic to aggregate the information of decision experts who are involved in hierarchical relations and gaming relations so as to effectively address game conflicts and reach game cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a programming model is established to minimize the difference of expert opinions in hierarchical decision-making, and the method to solve the optimal solution is given. Second, the cooperative game model and its properties are discussed by using cooperative game and Shapley value, and the method to determine the weight vector between layers is also proposed.

Findings

This model can quickly aggregate information and achieve game equilibrium among decision-makers with hierarchical relationships. It can be widely used in decision evaluation with hierarchy structure and has certain practical value.

Originality/value

In order to solve the problem that experts at different levels may have conflicts of interest in multilayer grey situation group decision-making process, cooperative game and Shapley value theory are introduced into the study, and a multilayer grey situation group decision-making model based on cooperative game is constructed. The validity and practicability of the model are illustrated by an example.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 12 February 2025

Ruizhi Li, Fangzhou Wang, Siqi Liu, Ruiqi Xu, Minghao Yin and Shuli Hu

Maximum k vertex cover problem is a significant combinatorial optimization problem with various applications, such as transportation planning, social networks and sensor…

9

Abstract

Purpose

Maximum k vertex cover problem is a significant combinatorial optimization problem with various applications, such as transportation planning, social networks and sensor placement. Up to now, no practical algorithm has ever been proposed to solve this problem. Therefore, this paper aims to present an efficient local search algorithm LSKVC combining three methods for it.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the quick incremental evaluation method is proposed to update the related vertex scores following each addition or removal incrementally rather than recalculating them, which can speed up the algorithm. Second, the configuration checking method forbids vertices whose configuration has not changed since the last removal from being added into the candidate solution again, which can avoid the cycling problem effectively. Third, the two-stage exchange method swaps the pairs of inside and outside vertices separately rather than simultaneously, which can guarantee the tradeoff between the accuracy and complexity of the algorithm.

Findings

The proposed algorithm LSKVC is compared with the traditional GRASP algorithm and the well-known commercial solver CPLEX on DIMACS and BHOSLIB benchmarks. For the best solutions, the LSKVC algorithm is significantly superior to GRASP and CPLEX on DIMACS instances and the CPLEX solver fails, and the LSKVC algorithm slightly outperforms GRASP on the BHOSLIB instances. In addition, we undertake comparative studies of the offered methodologies and demonstrate their efficacy.

Originality/value

In previous research, the focus on the maximum k-vertex cover problem primarily centered around exact algorithms and approximation algorithms, with limited application of heuristic algorithms. While heuristic algorithms have been well-explored for the closely related Minimum Vertex Cover problem, they have seen limited application in the context of the maximum k-vertex cover problem. Consequently, existing algorithms designed for the Minimum Vertex Cover problem do not exhibit satisfactory performance when applied to the maximum k-vertex cover problem. In response to this challenge, we have undertaken algorithmic improvements specifically tailored to address this issue.

Details

Data Technologies and Applications, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9288

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 17 January 2025

Shuli Yan, Xiaoyu Gong and Xiangyan Zeng

Meteorological disasters pose a significant risk to people’s lives and safety, and accurate prediction of weather-related disaster losses is crucial for bolstering disaster…

6

Abstract

Purpose

Meteorological disasters pose a significant risk to people’s lives and safety, and accurate prediction of weather-related disaster losses is crucial for bolstering disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities and for addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Based on the uncertainty of meteorological disaster sequences, the damping accumulated autoregressive GM(1,1) model (DAARGM(1,1)) is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the autoregressive terms of system characteristics are added to the damping-accumulated GM(1,1) model, and the partial autocorrelation function (PACF) is used to determine the order of the autoregressive terms. In addition, the optimal damping parameters are determined by the optimization algorithm.

Findings

The properties of the model were analyzed in terms of the stability of the model solution and the error of the restored value. By fitting and predicting the losses affected by meteorological disasters and comparing them with the results of four other grey models, the validity of the new model in fitting and prediction was verified.

Originality/value

The dynamic damping trend factor is introduced into the grey generation operator so that the grey model can flexibly adjust the accumulative order of the sequence. On the basis of the damping accumulated grey model, the autoregressive term of the system characteristics is introduced to take into account the influence of the previous data, which is more descriptive of the development trend of the time series itself and increases the effectiveness of the model.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 15 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 17 May 2023

Shuli Yan and Luting Xia

As an important measure to promote sustainable development, green finance has developed rapidly in recent years. In order to comprehensively analyze the positive and negative…

157

Abstract

Purpose

As an important measure to promote sustainable development, green finance has developed rapidly in recent years. In order to comprehensively analyze the positive and negative indicators of the influencing factors of green finance, this paper puts forward a grey relational method of spatial-temporal panel data from the perspective of the development trend of the object dimension indicators and the performance difference between the time dimension indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

From the different perspectives of object dimension and time dimension, the positive and negative indicators are standardized differently considering the reverse of indicators and characterizing factors. The grey absolute relational degree is used to define the matrix sequence. This method reflects the development trend of objects in time and the difference characteristics among objects, which comprehensively represents the correlation between the reference panel and the comparison panel.

Findings

The results show that: (1) The object dimension reflects the internal driving force of the development of green finance in each provincial administrative region and the time dimension reflects the relationship between regional differences of influencing factors and green finance. (2) From the object dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are economic development potential, economic development level, air temperature, policy support, green innovation and air quality. (3) From the time dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are green innovation, air quality, economic development potential, economic development level, policy support and air temperature.

Originality/value

The different standardized processing methods of positive and negative indicators proposed in this paper not only eliminate the sample dimension, but also study the grey relational degree among the indicator panels from different reference dimensions. The proposed model is applied to identify the influencing factors of green finance, which expands the practical application scope of the grey relational model. The research results can provide reference for relevant departments to better promote the development of green finance.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 23 October 2023

Haoze Cang, Xiangyan Zeng and Shuli Yan

The effective prediction of crude oil futures prices can provide a reference for relevant enterprises to make production plans and investment decisions. To the nonlinearity, high…

82

Abstract

Purpose

The effective prediction of crude oil futures prices can provide a reference for relevant enterprises to make production plans and investment decisions. To the nonlinearity, high volatility and uncertainty of the crude oil futures price, a matrixed nonlinear exponential grey Bernoulli model combined with an exponential accumulation generating operator (MNEGBM(1,1)) is proposed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the original sequence is processed by the exponential accumulation generating operator to weaken its volatility. The nonlinear grey Bernoulli and exponential function models are combined to fit the preprocessed sequence. Then, the parameters in MNEGBM(1,1) are matrixed, so the ternary interval number sequence can be modeled directly. Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) is chosen to optimize the nonlinear parameters. Finally, the Cramer rule is used to derive the time recursive formula.

Findings

The predictive effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by comparing it with five comparison models. Crude oil futures prices in Cushing, OK are predicted and analyzed from 2023/07 to 2023/12. The prediction results show it will gradually decrease over the next six months.

Originality/value

Crude oil futures prices are highly volatile in the short term. The use of grey model for short-term prediction is valuable for research. For the data characteristics of crude oil futures price, this study first proposes an improved model for interval number prediction of crude oil futures prices.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 February 2016

Shuli Yan and Sifeng Liu

With respect to multi-stage group risk decision-making problems in which all the attribute values take the form of grey number, and the weights of stages and decision makers are…

336

Abstract

Purpose

With respect to multi-stage group risk decision-making problems in which all the attribute values take the form of grey number, and the weights of stages and decision makers are unknown, the purpose of this paper is to propose a new decision-making method based on grey target and prospect theory.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the sequencing and distance between two grey numbers are introduced. Then, a linear operator with the features of the “rewarding good and punishing bad” is presented based on the grey target given by decision maker, and the prospect value function of each attribute based on the zero reference point is defined. Next, weight models of stages and decision makers are suggested, which are based on restriction of stage fluctuation, the maximum differences of alternatives and the maximum entropy theory. Furthermore, the information of alternatives is aggregated by WA operator, the alternatives are selected by their prospect values.

Findings

The comprehensive cumulative prospect values are finally aggregated by WA operator, alternatives are selected or not are judged by the sign of the comprehensive prospect theory, if the prospect value of alternative is negative, the corresponding alternative misses the group decision makers’ grey target, on the contrary, if the prospect value of alternative is positive, the corresponding alternative is dropped into the group decision makers’ grey target, the alternative with positive prospect value whose value is the maximum is selected.

Originality/value

Compared with the traditional decision-making methods using expected utility theory which suppose the decision makers are all completely rational, the proposed method is based on irrational which is more in line with the decision maker’s psychology. And this method considers the decision maker’s psychological expectation values about every attribute, different satisfactory grey target about attributes will directly affect decision-making result.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 9 February 2021

Qi Wang and Virpi Timonen

Existing research focuses on the pension systems and reforms in China from a macro-level and financial perspective. The expectations of mid-life Chinese people regarding their…

1901

Abstract

Purpose

Existing research focuses on the pension systems and reforms in China from a macro-level and financial perspective. The expectations of mid-life Chinese people regarding their retirement and pensions have been ignored to date, and this research set out to address this lacuna.

Design/methodology/approach

The application of qualitative research methods is relatively novel in Chinese social science. As a grounded theory (GT) study, the research reported here deployed semi-structured interviews to investigate middle-aged Chinese women's and men's perceptions of their pensions and retirement. In total, 36 interviews were conducted, following the constructivist GT method.

Findings

The data point to disparities between the choices and perceptions of individuals on the one hand and the official assumptions underlying the current pension regime on the other hand. Research participants had varying interpretations of the inequality in retirement incomes in China, the main division being between enterprise workers and public-sector employees.

Originality/value

Although there are in principle rigidly fixed retirement ages for men and women in contemporary China, the phenomena of early retirement and working post-retirement are increasing. There are trade-offs between work/retirement and family needs, which influence the choices of middle-aged citizens. Retirement pathways are increasingly individualised, reflecting broader patterns of individualisation and inequality in China.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 41 no. 13/14
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 1 August 2016

Shuli Yan, Sifeng Liu and Xiaqing Liu

The purpose of this paper is to present a new method about dynamic decision problems with three-parameter grey numbers from other angle of view which not only aggregates the…

128

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new method about dynamic decision problems with three-parameter grey numbers from other angle of view which not only aggregates the attribute values of alternatives of all the periods, but also excavates changes of attribute values about alternatives between the adjacent periods.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt grey target method to calculate the distance between every alternative and the best, worst bull’s eye, the distance between change series and the best, worst change bull’s eye, then both distances can be aggregated to reflect information about two aspects.

Findings

This dynamic decision-making method not only aggregates the existing state of alternatives all of the stages, but also excavates the change information from vertical and horizontal direction, the decision result conforming to decision maker’s psychological behavior is obtained though adjusting the priority parameter.

Originality/value

The paper considers on change of alternative’s attribute values from one period to the next period, and the dynamic characteristic has been reflected adequately. The grey target decision-making method reflects the distance between alternative and bull’s eye, the comprehensive target distance between alternative and positive, worst bull’s eye about change series are separately provided. And the final target distance reflecting both existing state and change trend is constructed.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

1 – 10 of 23
Per page
102050