The aim of this paper is to present and analyze the factors, motivations and criteria considered in the decision-making processes of the actors belonging to the biodiesel production chain in Brazil. The biodiesel prod...The aim of this paper is to present and analyze the factors, motivations and criteria considered in the decision-making processes of the actors belonging to the biodiesel production chain in Brazil. The biodiesel production chain consists of three main agents： the farmers, the soybean processing plants and the oil refinery/distributor. For the farmers organized in cooperatives the central decision is whether to sell oil-bearing crops for the production of biodiesel. In contrast, for the soybean processing plants that convert the crops into vegetable and/or biodiesel, the decision to produce this fuel is based on the wish to expand their market portfolio. Government tax incentives strongly influence both decisions regarding which oil-bearing crop to use and the amount of vegetable oil to be transformed into biodiesel. Finally, the oil refinery/distributor is obliged by law to mix the biodiesel with the mineral diesel and perceives this as a liability. The results show the existence of different characteristics linked to the decision-making process and a significant lack of synchronicity in the aims and motivations behind the agents＇ decisions. This state of decisional misalignment leads to heightened uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the Brazilian biodiesel production program.展开更多
Community participation and community based management are topical themes in current policy and discussion revolving around decision-making processes especially those dealing with natural resources management.This rev...Community participation and community based management are topical themes in current policy and discussion revolving around decision-making processes especially those dealing with natural resources management.This review shows that while governments have accepted the need to either cede or devolve control and management of natural resources to the local communities,the communities are not part and parcel of the planning and budgeting which are crucial in decisionmaking.Communities were seen to be more involved in the implementation of natural resource management programs but lacked ownership of the projects.This causes lack of commitment to the programs and at times hostile reaction from the communities.The communities are always at the receiving end when it pertains to losses in the exchange.Community participation was shown to be effective when the local population is involved not as co-operating users but as natural resource managers or owner managers.展开更多
Decision-making is the process of deciding between two or more options in order to take the most appropriate and successful course of action in order to achieve sustainable mangrove management. However, the distinctiv...Decision-making is the process of deciding between two or more options in order to take the most appropriate and successful course of action in order to achieve sustainable mangrove management. However, the distinctiveness of mangrove as an ecosystem, and thus the attendant socio-economic and governance ramifications, causes the idea of decision making to become relatively distinct from other decision making process As a result, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact that community engagement plays in the decision-making process as it relates to the establishment of governance norms for sustainable mangrove management in Lamu County. In this study, a correlational research design was applied, and the researchers employed a mixed techniques approach. The target population was 296 respondents. The research used questionnaires and interviews to collect data. A descriptive statistical technique was utilized to perform an inspection and analysis on the data that was gathered. The findings indicated that having awareness about governance standards is beneficial during the process of making decisions. In addition, the findings demonstrated that respondents had the impression that the decision-making process was not done properly. On the other hand, the participants pointed out the positive aspects of the decision-making process and agreed that the participation of both gender was essential for the sustainable management of mangroves. Based on these data, it appeared that full community engagement in decision-making is necessary for sustainable management of mangrove forests.展开更多
Dear Editor, This letter proposes a multimodal data-driven reinforcement learning-based method for operational decision-making in industrial processes. Due to the frequent fluctuations of feedstock properties and oper...Dear Editor, This letter proposes a multimodal data-driven reinforcement learning-based method for operational decision-making in industrial processes. Due to the frequent fluctuations of feedstock properties and operating conditions in the industrial processes, existing data-driven methods cannot effectively adjust the operational variables. In addition, multimodal data such as images, audio.展开更多
The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a pati...The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a patient's health status directly from their perspective,encompassing various domains such as symptom severity,functional status,and overall quality of life.By integrating PROMs into routine clinical practice and research,healthcare providers can achieve a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences and tailor treatments accordingly.The deployment of PROMs supports dynamic patient-provider interactions,fostering better patient engagement and adherence to tre-atment plans.Moreover,PROMs are pivotal in clinical settings for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy,particularly in chronic and mental health conditions.However,challenges in implementing PROMs include data collection and management,integration into existing health systems,and acceptance by patients and providers.Overcoming these barriers necessitates technological advancements,policy development,and continuous education to enhance the acceptability and effectiveness of PROMs.The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and policy-making aimed at optimizing the use and impact of PROMs across healthcare settings.展开更多
To solve problems of poor security guarantee and insufficient training efficiency in the conventional reinforcement learning methods for decision-making,this study proposes a hybrid framework to combine deep reinforce...To solve problems of poor security guarantee and insufficient training efficiency in the conventional reinforcement learning methods for decision-making,this study proposes a hybrid framework to combine deep reinforcement learning with rule-based decision-making methods.A risk assessment model for lane-change maneuvers considering uncertain predictions of surrounding vehicles is established as a safety filter to improve learning efficiency while correcting dangerous actions for safety enhancement.On this basis,a Risk-fused DDQN is constructed utilizing the model-based risk assessment and supervision mechanism.The proposed reinforcement learning algorithm sets up a separate experience buffer for dangerous trials and punishes such actions,which is shown to improve the sampling efficiency and training outcomes.Compared with conventional DDQN methods,the proposed algorithm improves the convergence value of cumulated reward by 7.6%and 2.2%in the two constructed scenarios in the simulation study and reduces the number of training episodes by 52.2%and 66.8%respectively.The success rate of lane change is improved by 57.3%while the time headway is increased at least by 16.5%in real vehicle tests,which confirms the higher training efficiency,scenario adaptability,and security of the proposed Risk-fused DDQN.展开更多
Due to the numerous variables to take into account as well as the inherent ambiguity and uncertainty,evaluating educational institutions can be difficult.The concept of a possibility Pythagorean fuzzy hypersoft set(pP...Due to the numerous variables to take into account as well as the inherent ambiguity and uncertainty,evaluating educational institutions can be difficult.The concept of a possibility Pythagorean fuzzy hypersoft set(pPyFHSS)is more flexible in this regard than other theoretical fuzzy set-like models,even though some attempts have been made in the literature to address such uncertainties.This study investigates the elementary notions of pPyFHSS including its set-theoretic operations union,intersection,complement,OR-and AND-operations.Some results related to these operations are also modified for pPyFHSS.Additionally,the similarity measures between pPyFHSSs are formulated with the assistance of numerical examples and results.Lastly,an intelligent decision-assisted mechanism is developed with the proposal of a robust algorithm based on similarity measures for solving multi-attribute decision-making(MADM)problems.A case study that helps the decision-makers assess the best educational institution is discussed to validate the suggested system.The algorithmic results are compared with the most pertinent model to evaluate the adaptability of pPyFHSS,as it generalizes the classical possibility fuzzy set-like theoretical models.Similarly,while considering significant evaluating factors,the flexibility of pPyFHSS is observed through structural comparison.展开更多
Accurate medical diagnosis,which involves identifying diseases based on patient symptoms,is often hindered by uncertainties in data interpretation and retrieval.Advanced fuzzy set theories have emerged as effective to...Accurate medical diagnosis,which involves identifying diseases based on patient symptoms,is often hindered by uncertainties in data interpretation and retrieval.Advanced fuzzy set theories have emerged as effective tools to address these challenges.In this paper,new mathematical approaches for handling uncertainty in medical diagnosis are introduced using q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets(q-ROFS)and interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets(IVq-ROFS).Three aggregation operators are proposed in our methodologies:the q-ROF weighted averaging(q-ROFWA),the q-ROF weighted geometric(q-ROFWG),and the q-ROF weighted neutrality averaging(qROFWNA),which enhance decision-making under uncertainty.These operators are paired with ranking methods such as the similarity measure,score function,and inverse score function to improve the accuracy of disease identification.Additionally,the impact of varying q-rung values is explored through a sensitivity analysis,extending the analysis beyond the typical maximum value of 3.The Basic Uncertain Information(BUI)method is employed to simulate expert opinions,and aggregation operators are used to combine these opinions in a group decisionmaking context.Our results provide a comprehensive comparison of methodologies,highlighting their strengths and limitations in diagnosing diseases based on uncertain patient data.展开更多
Current research on heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes(HAOPs)predominantly emphasizes catalyst iteration and innovation.Significant efforts have been made to regulate the electron structure and optimize the el...Current research on heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes(HAOPs)predominantly emphasizes catalyst iteration and innovation.Significant efforts have been made to regulate the electron structure and optimize the electron distribution,thereby increasing the catalytic activity.However,this focus often overshadows an equally essential aspect of HAOPs:the adsorption effect.Adsorption is a critical initiator for triggering the interaction of oxidants and contaminants with heterogeneous catalysts.The efficacy of these interactions is influenced by a variety of physicochemical properties,including surface chemistry and pore sizes,which determine the affinities between contaminants and material surfaces.This dispar ity in affinity is pivotal because it underpins the selective removal of contaminants,especially in complex waste streams containing diverse contaminants and competing matrices.Consequently,understanding and mastering these interfacial interactions is fundamentally indispensable not only for improving pro cess efficiency but also for enhancing the selectivity of contaminant removal.Herein,we highlight the importance of adsorption-driven interfacial interactions for fundamentally elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of HAOPs.Such interactions dictate the overall performance of the treatment processes by balancing the adsorption,reaction,and desorption rates on the catalyst surfaces.Elucidating the adsorption effect not only shifts the paradigm in understanding HAOPs but also improves their practical ity in water treatment and wastewater decontamination.Overall,we propose that revisiting adsorption driven interfacial interactions holds great promise for optimizing catalytic processes to develop effective HAOP strategies.展开更多
BACKGROUND Understanding a patient's clinical status and setting priorities for their care are two aspects of the constantly changing process of clinical decision-making.One analytical technique that can be helpfu...BACKGROUND Understanding a patient's clinical status and setting priorities for their care are two aspects of the constantly changing process of clinical decision-making.One analytical technique that can be helpful in uncertain situations is clinical judgment.Clinicians must deal with contradictory information,lack of time to make decisions,and long-term factors when emergencies occur.AIM To examine the ethical issues healthcare professionals faced during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic and the factors affecting clinical decision-making.METHODS This pilot study,which means it was a preliminary investigation to gather information and test the feasibility of a larger investigation was conducted over 6 months and we invited responses from clinicians worldwide who managed patients with COVID-19.The survey focused on topics related to their professional roles and personal relationships.We examined five core areas influencing critical care decision-making:Patients'personal factors,family-related factors,informed consent,communication and media,and hospital administrative policies on clinical decision-making.The collected data were analyzed using the χ^(2) test for categorical variables.RESULTS A total of 102 clinicians from 23 specialties and 17 countries responded to the survey.Age was a significant factor in treatment planning(n=88)and ventilator access(n=78).Sex had no bearing on how decisions were made.Most doctors reported maintaining patient confidentiality regarding privacy and informed consent.Approximately 50%of clinicians reported a moderate influence of clinical work,with many citing it as one of the most important factors affecting their health and relationships.Clinicians from developing countries had a significantly higher score for considering a patient's financial status when creating a treatment plan than their counterparts from developed countries.Regarding personal experiences,some respondents noted that treatment plans and preferences changed from wave to wave,and that there was a rapid turnover of studies and evidence.Hospital and government policies also played a role in critical decision-making.Rather than assessing the appropriateness of treatment,some doctors observed that hospital policies regarding medications were driven by patient demand.CONCLUSION Factors other than medical considerations frequently affect management choices.The disparity in treatment choices,became more apparent during the pandemic.We highlight the difficulties and contradictions between moral standards and the realities physicians encountered during this medical emergency.False information,large patient populations,and limited resources caused problems for clinicians.These factors impacted decision-making,which,in turn,affected patient care and healthcare staff well-being.展开更多
Magnesium and magnesium alloys,serving as crucial lightweight structural materials and hydrogen storage elements,find extensive applications in space technology,aviation,automotive,and magnesium-based hydrogen industr...Magnesium and magnesium alloys,serving as crucial lightweight structural materials and hydrogen storage elements,find extensive applications in space technology,aviation,automotive,and magnesium-based hydrogen industries.The global production of primary magnesium has reached approximately 1.2 million tons per year,with anticipated diversification in future applications and significant market demand.Nevertheless,approximately 80%of the world’s primary magnesium is still manufactured through the Pidgeon process,grappling with formidable issues including high energy consumption,massive carbon emission,significant resource depletion,and environmental pollution.The implementation of the relative vacuum method shows potential in breaking through technological challenges in the Pidgeon process,facilitating clean,low-carbon continuous magnesium smelting.This paper begins by introducing the principles of the relative vacuum method.Subsequently,it elucidates various innovative process routes,including relative vacuum ferrosilicon reduction,aluminum thermal reduction co-production of spinel,and aluminum thermal reduction co-production of calcium aluminate.Finally,and thermodynamic foundations of the relative vacuum,a quantitative analysis of the material,energy flows,carbon emission,and production cost for several new processes is conducted,comparing and analyzing them against the Pidgeon process.The study findings reveal that,with identical raw materials,the relative vacuum silicon thermal reduction process significantly decreases raw material consumption,energy consumption,and carbon dioxide emissions by 15.86%,30.89%,and 26.27%,respectively,compared to the Pidgeon process.The relative vacuum process,using magnesite as the raw material and aluminum as the reducing agent,has the lowest magnesium-to-feed ratio,at only 3.385.Additionally,its energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are the lowest,at 1.817 tce/t Mg and 7.782 t CO_(2)/t Mg,respectively.The energy consumption and carbon emissions of the relative vacuum magnesium smelting process co-producing calcium aluminate(12CaO·7Al_(2)O_(3),3CaO·Al_(2)O_(3),and CaO·Al_(2)O_(3))are highly correlated with the consumption of dolomite in the raw materials.When the reduction temperature is around 1473.15 K,the critical volume fraction of magnesium vapor for different processes varies within the range of 5%–40%.Production cost analysis shows that the relative vacuum primary magnesium smelting process has significant economic benefits.This paper offers essential data support and theoretical guidance for achieving energy efficiency,carbon reduction in magnesium smelting,and the industrial adoption of innovative processes.展开更多
This paper conducted a more comprehensive review and comparative analysis of the two heavy to blizzard processes that occurred in the Beijing area during December 13-15,2023,and February 20-21,2024,in terms of compreh...This paper conducted a more comprehensive review and comparative analysis of the two heavy to blizzard processes that occurred in the Beijing area during December 13-15,2023,and February 20-21,2024,in terms of comprehensive weather situation diagnosis,forecasting,and decision-making services,and summarized the meteorological service support experience of such heavy snow weather processes.It was found that both blizzard processes were jointly influenced by the 700 hPa southwesterly warm and humid jet stream and the near-surface easterly backflow;the numerical forecast was relatively accurate in the overall description of the snowfall process,and the forecast bias of the position of the 700 hPa southwesterly warm and humid jet stream determined the bias of the snowfall magnitude forecast at a certain point;when a deviation was found between the actual snowfall and the forecast,the cause should be analyzed in a timely manner,and the warning and forecast conclusions should be updated.With the full cooperation of relevant departments,it can greatly make up for the deviation of the early forecast snowfall amount,and ensure the safety and efficiency of people's travel.展开更多
Objectives This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the content of proxy decision-making made by families of patients with malignant brain tumors regarding treatment policies and daily care and the cues le...Objectives This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the content of proxy decision-making made by families of patients with malignant brain tumors regarding treatment policies and daily care and the cues leading to those decisions.Methods Semi-structured personal interviews were used to collect data.Seven family members of patients with malignant brain tumors were selected to participate in the study by purposive sampling method from June to August 2022 in the Patient Family Association of Japan.Responses were content analyzed to explore the relationship between the content of decisions regarding“treatment policies”and“daily care”and the cues influencing those decisions.Semi-structured interviews were analyzed by using thematic analysis.Results The contents of proxy decisions regarding“treatment policies”included implementation,interruption,and termination of initial treatments,free medical treatments,use of respirators,and end-of-life sedation and included six cues:treatment policies suggested by the primary physician,information and knowledge about the disease and treatment obtained by the family from limited resources,perceived life threat from symptom worsening,words and reactions from the patient regarding treatment,patient’s personality and way of life inferred from their treatment preferences,family’s thoughts and values hoping for better treatment for the patient.Decisions for“daily care”included meal content and methods,excretion,mobility,maintaining cleanliness,rehabilitation,continuation or resignation from work,treatment settings(outpatient or inpatient),and ways to spend time outside and included seven cues:words and thoughts from the patient about their way of life,patient’s reactions and life history inferred from their preferred way of living,things the patient can do to maintain daily life and roles,awareness of the increasing inability to do things in daily life,family’s underlying thoughts and values about how to spend the remaining time,approval from family members regarding the care setting,advice from medical professionals on living at home.Conclusions For“treatment policies,”guidelines from medical professionals were a key cue,while for“daily care,”the small signs from the patients in their daily lives served as cues for proxy decision-making.This may be due to the lack of information available to families and the limited time available for discussion with the patient.Families of patients with malignant brain tumors repeatedly use multiple cues to make proxy decision-making under high uncertainty.Therefore,nurses supporting proxy decision-making should assess the family’s situation and provide cues that facilitate informed and confident decisions.展开更多
Group living is widespread across diverse taxa,and the mechanisms underlying collective decision-making in contexts of variable role division are critical for understanding the dynamics of group stability.While studie...Group living is widespread across diverse taxa,and the mechanisms underlying collective decision-making in contexts of variable role division are critical for understanding the dynamics of group stability.While studies on collective behavior in small animals such as fish and insects are well-established,similar research on large wild animals remains challenging due to the limited availability of sufficient and systematic field data.Here,we aimed to explore the collective decision-making pattern and its sexual difference for the dimorphic Tibetan antelopes Pantholops hodgsonii(chiru)in Xizang Autonomous Region,China,by analyzing individual leadership distribution,as well as the joining process,considering factors such as calving stages and joining ranks.The distinct correlations of decision participants’ratio with group size and decision duration underscore the trade-off between accuracy and speed in decision-making.Male antelopes display a more democratic decision-making pattern,while females exhibit more prompt responses after calving at an early stage.This study uncovers a partially shared decision-making strategy among Tibetan antelopes,suggesting flexible self-organization in group decision processes aligned with animal life cycle progression.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mesalamine is the recommended first-line treatment for inducing and maintaining remission in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis(UC).However,adherence in real-world settings is frequently suboptimal.Encoura...BACKGROUND Mesalamine is the recommended first-line treatment for inducing and maintaining remission in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis(UC).However,adherence in real-world settings is frequently suboptimal.Encouraging collaborative patient-provider relationships may foster better adherence and patient outcomes.AIM To quantify the association between patient participation in treatment decisionmaking and adherence to oral mesalamine in UC.METHODS We conducted a 12-month,prospective,non-interventional cohort study at 113 gastroenterology practices in Germany.Eligible patients were aged≥18 years,had a confirmed UC diagnosis,had no prior mesalamine treatment,and provided informed consent.At the first visit,we collected data on demographics,clinical characteristics,patient preference for mesalamine formulation(tablets or granules),and disease knowledge.Self-reported adherence and disease activity were assessed at all visits.Correlation analyses and logistic regression were used to examine associations between adherence and various factors.RESULTS Of the 605 consecutively screened patients,520 were included in the study.The median age was 41 years(range:18-91),with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1.0.Approximately 75%of patients reported good adherence at each study visit.In correlation analyses,patient participation in treatment decision-making was significantly associated with better adherence across all visits(P=0.04).In the regression analysis at 12 months,this association was evident among patients who both preferred and received prolonged-release mesalamine granules(odds ratio=2.73,P=0.001).Patients reporting good adherence also experienced significant improvements in disease activity over 12 months(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Facilitating patient participation in treatment decisions and accommodating medication preferences may improve adherence to mesalamine.This may require additional effort but has the potential to improve long-term management of UC.展开更多
Information plays a crucial role in guiding behavioral decisions during public health emergencies. Individuals communicate to acquire relevant knowledge about an epidemic, which influences their decisions to adopt pro...Information plays a crucial role in guiding behavioral decisions during public health emergencies. Individuals communicate to acquire relevant knowledge about an epidemic, which influences their decisions to adopt protective measures.However, whether to disseminate specific information is also a behavioral decision. In light of this understanding, we develop a coupled information–vaccination–epidemic model to depict these co-evolutionary dynamics in a three-layer network. Negative information dissemination and vaccination are treated as separate decision-making processes. We then examine the combined effects of herd and risk motives on information dissemination and vaccination decisions through the lens of game theory. The microscopic Markov chain approach(MMCA) is used to describe the dynamic process and to derive the epidemic threshold. Simulation results indicate that increasing the cost of negative information dissemination and providing timely clarification can effectively control the epidemic. Furthermore, a phenomenon of diminishing marginal utility is observed as the cost of dissemination increases, suggesting that authorities do not need to overinvest in suppressing negative information. Conversely, reducing the cost of vaccination and increasing vaccine efficacy emerge as more effective strategies for outbreak control. In addition, we find that the scale of the epidemic is greater when the herd motive dominates behavioral decision-making. In conclusion, this study provides a new perspective for understanding the complexity of epidemic spreading by starting with the construction of different behavioral decisions.展开更多
Decision-making of connected and automated vehicles(CAV)includes a sequence of driving maneuvers that improve safety and efficiency,characterized by complex scenarios,strong uncertainty,and high real-time requirements...Decision-making of connected and automated vehicles(CAV)includes a sequence of driving maneuvers that improve safety and efficiency,characterized by complex scenarios,strong uncertainty,and high real-time requirements.Deep reinforcement learning(DRL)exhibits excellent capability of real-time decision-making and adaptability to complex scenarios,and generalization abilities.However,it is arduous to guarantee complete driving safety and efficiency under the constraints of training samples and costs.This paper proposes a Mixture of Expert method(MoE)based on Soft Actor-Critic(SAC),where the upper-level discriminator dynamically decides whether to activate the lower-level DRL expert or the heuristic expert based on the features of the input state.To further enhance the performance of the DRL expert,a buffer zone is introduced in the reward function,preemptively applying penalties before insecure situations occur.In order to minimize collision and off-road rates,the Intelligent Driver Model(IDM)and Minimizing Overall Braking Induced by Lane changes(MOBIL)strategy are designed by heuristic experts.Finally,tested in typical simulation scenarios,MOE shows a 13.75%improvement in driving efficiency compared with the traditional DRL method with continuous action space.It ensures high safety with zero collision and zero off-road rates while maintaining high adaptability.展开更多
Bridge networks are essential components of civil infrastructure,supporting communities by delivering vital services and facilitating economic activities.However,bridges are vulnerable to natural disasters,particularl...Bridge networks are essential components of civil infrastructure,supporting communities by delivering vital services and facilitating economic activities.However,bridges are vulnerable to natural disasters,particularly earthquakes.To develop an effective disaster management strategy,it is critical to identify reliable,robust,and efficient indicators.In this regard,Life-Cycle Cost(LCC)and Resilience(R)serve as key indicators to assist decision-makers in selecting the most effective disaster risk reduction plans.This study proposes an innova-tive LCC-R optimization framework to identify the most optimal retrofit strategies for bridge networks facing hazardous events during their lifespan.The proposed framework employs both single-and multi-objective opti-mization techniques to identify retrofit strategies that maximize the R index while minimizing the LCC for the under-study bridge networks.The considered retrofit strategies include various options such as different mate-rials(steel,CFRP,and GFRP),thicknesses,arrangements,and timing of retrofitting actions.The first step in the proposed framework involves constructing fragility curves by performing a series of nonlinear time-history incre-mental dynamic analyses for each case.In the subsequent step,the seismic resilience surfaces are calculated using the obtained fragility curves and assuming a recovery function.Next,the LCC is evaluated according to the pro-posed formulation for multiple seismic occurrences,which incorporates the effects of complete and incomplete repair actions resulting from previous multiple seismic events.For optimization purposes,the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II(NSGA-II)evolutionary algorithm efficiently identifies the Pareto front to represent the optimal set of solutions.The study presents the most effective retrofit strategies for an illustrative bridge network,providing a comprehensive discussion and insights into the resulting tactical approaches.The findings underscore that the methodologies employed lead to logical and actionable retrofit strategies,paving the way for enhanced resilience and cost-effectiveness in bridge network management against seismic hazards.展开更多
This study examined the effects of design thinking pedagogy on undergraduates’career decision-making selfefficacy and employability in career education.Using a quasi-experimental design,Chinese college students(N=93)...This study examined the effects of design thinking pedagogy on undergraduates’career decision-making selfefficacy and employability in career education.Using a quasi-experimental design,Chinese college students(N=93)were participants in two wings.The experimental group(n=47)received the design thinking pedagogy,while the control group(n=46)followed the regularly teacher-centered method.The students completed the career decision-making self-efficacy scale and employability scale before and after the intervention.Independent samples t-test results showed that design thinking pedagogy significantly improves students’career decision-making self-efficacy and employability.The ANCOVA results showed that the pretest scores of career decision-making self-efficacy and employability had no significant association with the experimental intervention.There was no interaction between the treatment and pretest scores.It would seem that experimental design thinking pedagogy implemented in career guidance courses has little effect compared to the usual course presentation.Nonetheless,prospects for the implementation of design thinking-guided learning activities to support interdisciplinary learning for improved higher education and career development outcomes need further exploration.展开更多
文摘The aim of this paper is to present and analyze the factors, motivations and criteria considered in the decision-making processes of the actors belonging to the biodiesel production chain in Brazil. The biodiesel production chain consists of three main agents： the farmers, the soybean processing plants and the oil refinery/distributor. For the farmers organized in cooperatives the central decision is whether to sell oil-bearing crops for the production of biodiesel. In contrast, for the soybean processing plants that convert the crops into vegetable and/or biodiesel, the decision to produce this fuel is based on the wish to expand their market portfolio. Government tax incentives strongly influence both decisions regarding which oil-bearing crop to use and the amount of vegetable oil to be transformed into biodiesel. Finally, the oil refinery/distributor is obliged by law to mix the biodiesel with the mineral diesel and perceives this as a liability. The results show the existence of different characteristics linked to the decision-making process and a significant lack of synchronicity in the aims and motivations behind the agents＇ decisions. This state of decisional misalignment leads to heightened uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the Brazilian biodiesel production program.
文摘Community participation and community based management are topical themes in current policy and discussion revolving around decision-making processes especially those dealing with natural resources management.This review shows that while governments have accepted the need to either cede or devolve control and management of natural resources to the local communities,the communities are not part and parcel of the planning and budgeting which are crucial in decisionmaking.Communities were seen to be more involved in the implementation of natural resource management programs but lacked ownership of the projects.This causes lack of commitment to the programs and at times hostile reaction from the communities.The communities are always at the receiving end when it pertains to losses in the exchange.Community participation was shown to be effective when the local population is involved not as co-operating users but as natural resource managers or owner managers.
文摘Decision-making is the process of deciding between two or more options in order to take the most appropriate and successful course of action in order to achieve sustainable mangrove management. However, the distinctiveness of mangrove as an ecosystem, and thus the attendant socio-economic and governance ramifications, causes the idea of decision making to become relatively distinct from other decision making process As a result, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact that community engagement plays in the decision-making process as it relates to the establishment of governance norms for sustainable mangrove management in Lamu County. In this study, a correlational research design was applied, and the researchers employed a mixed techniques approach. The target population was 296 respondents. The research used questionnaires and interviews to collect data. A descriptive statistical technique was utilized to perform an inspection and analysis on the data that was gathered. The findings indicated that having awareness about governance standards is beneficial during the process of making decisions. In addition, the findings demonstrated that respondents had the impression that the decision-making process was not done properly. On the other hand, the participants pointed out the positive aspects of the decision-making process and agreed that the participation of both gender was essential for the sustainable management of mangroves. Based on these data, it appeared that full community engagement in decision-making is necessary for sustainable management of mangrove forests.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFB1713800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (92267205)+1 种基金the Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate (CX2022 0267)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University (2022ZZTS0181)。
文摘Dear Editor, This letter proposes a multimodal data-driven reinforcement learning-based method for operational decision-making in industrial processes. Due to the frequent fluctuations of feedstock properties and operating conditions in the industrial processes, existing data-driven methods cannot effectively adjust the operational variables. In addition, multimodal data such as images, audio.
文摘The critical role of patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)in enhancing clinical decision-making and promoting patient-centered care has gained a profound significance in scientific research.PROMs encapsulate a patient's health status directly from their perspective,encompassing various domains such as symptom severity,functional status,and overall quality of life.By integrating PROMs into routine clinical practice and research,healthcare providers can achieve a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences and tailor treatments accordingly.The deployment of PROMs supports dynamic patient-provider interactions,fostering better patient engagement and adherence to tre-atment plans.Moreover,PROMs are pivotal in clinical settings for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy,particularly in chronic and mental health conditions.However,challenges in implementing PROMs include data collection and management,integration into existing health systems,and acceptance by patients and providers.Overcoming these barriers necessitates technological advancements,policy development,and continuous education to enhance the acceptability and effectiveness of PROMs.The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and policy-making aimed at optimizing the use and impact of PROMs across healthcare settings.
基金Supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFE0117100)National Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52102468,52325212)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘To solve problems of poor security guarantee and insufficient training efficiency in the conventional reinforcement learning methods for decision-making,this study proposes a hybrid framework to combine deep reinforcement learning with rule-based decision-making methods.A risk assessment model for lane-change maneuvers considering uncertain predictions of surrounding vehicles is established as a safety filter to improve learning efficiency while correcting dangerous actions for safety enhancement.On this basis,a Risk-fused DDQN is constructed utilizing the model-based risk assessment and supervision mechanism.The proposed reinforcement learning algorithm sets up a separate experience buffer for dangerous trials and punishes such actions,which is shown to improve the sampling efficiency and training outcomes.Compared with conventional DDQN methods,the proposed algorithm improves the convergence value of cumulated reward by 7.6%and 2.2%in the two constructed scenarios in the simulation study and reduces the number of training episodes by 52.2%and 66.8%respectively.The success rate of lane change is improved by 57.3%while the time headway is increased at least by 16.5%in real vehicle tests,which confirms the higher training efficiency,scenario adaptability,and security of the proposed Risk-fused DDQN.
基金supported by the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Qassim University(QU-APC-2024-9/1).
文摘Due to the numerous variables to take into account as well as the inherent ambiguity and uncertainty,evaluating educational institutions can be difficult.The concept of a possibility Pythagorean fuzzy hypersoft set(pPyFHSS)is more flexible in this regard than other theoretical fuzzy set-like models,even though some attempts have been made in the literature to address such uncertainties.This study investigates the elementary notions of pPyFHSS including its set-theoretic operations union,intersection,complement,OR-and AND-operations.Some results related to these operations are also modified for pPyFHSS.Additionally,the similarity measures between pPyFHSSs are formulated with the assistance of numerical examples and results.Lastly,an intelligent decision-assisted mechanism is developed with the proposal of a robust algorithm based on similarity measures for solving multi-attribute decision-making(MADM)problems.A case study that helps the decision-makers assess the best educational institution is discussed to validate the suggested system.The algorithmic results are compared with the most pertinent model to evaluate the adaptability of pPyFHSS,as it generalizes the classical possibility fuzzy set-like theoretical models.Similarly,while considering significant evaluating factors,the flexibility of pPyFHSS is observed through structural comparison.
文摘Accurate medical diagnosis,which involves identifying diseases based on patient symptoms,is often hindered by uncertainties in data interpretation and retrieval.Advanced fuzzy set theories have emerged as effective tools to address these challenges.In this paper,new mathematical approaches for handling uncertainty in medical diagnosis are introduced using q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets(q-ROFS)and interval-valued q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets(IVq-ROFS).Three aggregation operators are proposed in our methodologies:the q-ROF weighted averaging(q-ROFWA),the q-ROF weighted geometric(q-ROFWG),and the q-ROF weighted neutrality averaging(qROFWNA),which enhance decision-making under uncertainty.These operators are paired with ranking methods such as the similarity measure,score function,and inverse score function to improve the accuracy of disease identification.Additionally,the impact of varying q-rung values is explored through a sensitivity analysis,extending the analysis beyond the typical maximum value of 3.The Basic Uncertain Information(BUI)method is employed to simulate expert opinions,and aggregation operators are used to combine these opinions in a group decisionmaking context.Our results provide a comprehensive comparison of methodologies,highlighting their strengths and limitations in diagnosing diseases based on uncertain patient data.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC3205300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22176124).
文摘Current research on heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes(HAOPs)predominantly emphasizes catalyst iteration and innovation.Significant efforts have been made to regulate the electron structure and optimize the electron distribution,thereby increasing the catalytic activity.However,this focus often overshadows an equally essential aspect of HAOPs:the adsorption effect.Adsorption is a critical initiator for triggering the interaction of oxidants and contaminants with heterogeneous catalysts.The efficacy of these interactions is influenced by a variety of physicochemical properties,including surface chemistry and pore sizes,which determine the affinities between contaminants and material surfaces.This dispar ity in affinity is pivotal because it underpins the selective removal of contaminants,especially in complex waste streams containing diverse contaminants and competing matrices.Consequently,understanding and mastering these interfacial interactions is fundamentally indispensable not only for improving pro cess efficiency but also for enhancing the selectivity of contaminant removal.Herein,we highlight the importance of adsorption-driven interfacial interactions for fundamentally elucidating the catalytic mechanisms of HAOPs.Such interactions dictate the overall performance of the treatment processes by balancing the adsorption,reaction,and desorption rates on the catalyst surfaces.Elucidating the adsorption effect not only shifts the paradigm in understanding HAOPs but also improves their practical ity in water treatment and wastewater decontamination.Overall,we propose that revisiting adsorption driven interfacial interactions holds great promise for optimizing catalytic processes to develop effective HAOP strategies.
文摘BACKGROUND Understanding a patient's clinical status and setting priorities for their care are two aspects of the constantly changing process of clinical decision-making.One analytical technique that can be helpful in uncertain situations is clinical judgment.Clinicians must deal with contradictory information,lack of time to make decisions,and long-term factors when emergencies occur.AIM To examine the ethical issues healthcare professionals faced during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic and the factors affecting clinical decision-making.METHODS This pilot study,which means it was a preliminary investigation to gather information and test the feasibility of a larger investigation was conducted over 6 months and we invited responses from clinicians worldwide who managed patients with COVID-19.The survey focused on topics related to their professional roles and personal relationships.We examined five core areas influencing critical care decision-making:Patients'personal factors,family-related factors,informed consent,communication and media,and hospital administrative policies on clinical decision-making.The collected data were analyzed using the χ^(2) test for categorical variables.RESULTS A total of 102 clinicians from 23 specialties and 17 countries responded to the survey.Age was a significant factor in treatment planning(n=88)and ventilator access(n=78).Sex had no bearing on how decisions were made.Most doctors reported maintaining patient confidentiality regarding privacy and informed consent.Approximately 50%of clinicians reported a moderate influence of clinical work,with many citing it as one of the most important factors affecting their health and relationships.Clinicians from developing countries had a significantly higher score for considering a patient's financial status when creating a treatment plan than their counterparts from developed countries.Regarding personal experiences,some respondents noted that treatment plans and preferences changed from wave to wave,and that there was a rapid turnover of studies and evidence.Hospital and government policies also played a role in critical decision-making.Rather than assessing the appropriateness of treatment,some doctors observed that hospital policies regarding medications were driven by patient demand.CONCLUSION Factors other than medical considerations frequently affect management choices.The disparity in treatment choices,became more apparent during the pandemic.We highlight the difficulties and contradictions between moral standards and the realities physicians encountered during this medical emergency.False information,large patient populations,and limited resources caused problems for clinicians.These factors impacted decision-making,which,in turn,affected patient care and healthcare staff well-being.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2023T160088)the Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52304324).
文摘Magnesium and magnesium alloys,serving as crucial lightweight structural materials and hydrogen storage elements,find extensive applications in space technology,aviation,automotive,and magnesium-based hydrogen industries.The global production of primary magnesium has reached approximately 1.2 million tons per year,with anticipated diversification in future applications and significant market demand.Nevertheless,approximately 80%of the world’s primary magnesium is still manufactured through the Pidgeon process,grappling with formidable issues including high energy consumption,massive carbon emission,significant resource depletion,and environmental pollution.The implementation of the relative vacuum method shows potential in breaking through technological challenges in the Pidgeon process,facilitating clean,low-carbon continuous magnesium smelting.This paper begins by introducing the principles of the relative vacuum method.Subsequently,it elucidates various innovative process routes,including relative vacuum ferrosilicon reduction,aluminum thermal reduction co-production of spinel,and aluminum thermal reduction co-production of calcium aluminate.Finally,and thermodynamic foundations of the relative vacuum,a quantitative analysis of the material,energy flows,carbon emission,and production cost for several new processes is conducted,comparing and analyzing them against the Pidgeon process.The study findings reveal that,with identical raw materials,the relative vacuum silicon thermal reduction process significantly decreases raw material consumption,energy consumption,and carbon dioxide emissions by 15.86%,30.89%,and 26.27%,respectively,compared to the Pidgeon process.The relative vacuum process,using magnesite as the raw material and aluminum as the reducing agent,has the lowest magnesium-to-feed ratio,at only 3.385.Additionally,its energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are the lowest,at 1.817 tce/t Mg and 7.782 t CO_(2)/t Mg,respectively.The energy consumption and carbon emissions of the relative vacuum magnesium smelting process co-producing calcium aluminate(12CaO·7Al_(2)O_(3),3CaO·Al_(2)O_(3),and CaO·Al_(2)O_(3))are highly correlated with the consumption of dolomite in the raw materials.When the reduction temperature is around 1473.15 K,the critical volume fraction of magnesium vapor for different processes varies within the range of 5%–40%.Production cost analysis shows that the relative vacuum primary magnesium smelting process has significant economic benefits.This paper offers essential data support and theoretical guidance for achieving energy efficiency,carbon reduction in magnesium smelting,and the industrial adoption of innovative processes.
文摘This paper conducted a more comprehensive review and comparative analysis of the two heavy to blizzard processes that occurred in the Beijing area during December 13-15,2023,and February 20-21,2024,in terms of comprehensive weather situation diagnosis,forecasting,and decision-making services,and summarized the meteorological service support experience of such heavy snow weather processes.It was found that both blizzard processes were jointly influenced by the 700 hPa southwesterly warm and humid jet stream and the near-surface easterly backflow;the numerical forecast was relatively accurate in the overall description of the snowfall process,and the forecast bias of the position of the 700 hPa southwesterly warm and humid jet stream determined the bias of the snowfall magnitude forecast at a certain point;when a deviation was found between the actual snowfall and the forecast,the cause should be analyzed in a timely manner,and the warning and forecast conclusions should be updated.With the full cooperation of relevant departments,it can greatly make up for the deviation of the early forecast snowfall amount,and ensure the safety and efficiency of people's travel.
文摘Objectives This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the content of proxy decision-making made by families of patients with malignant brain tumors regarding treatment policies and daily care and the cues leading to those decisions.Methods Semi-structured personal interviews were used to collect data.Seven family members of patients with malignant brain tumors were selected to participate in the study by purposive sampling method from June to August 2022 in the Patient Family Association of Japan.Responses were content analyzed to explore the relationship between the content of decisions regarding“treatment policies”and“daily care”and the cues influencing those decisions.Semi-structured interviews were analyzed by using thematic analysis.Results The contents of proxy decisions regarding“treatment policies”included implementation,interruption,and termination of initial treatments,free medical treatments,use of respirators,and end-of-life sedation and included six cues:treatment policies suggested by the primary physician,information and knowledge about the disease and treatment obtained by the family from limited resources,perceived life threat from symptom worsening,words and reactions from the patient regarding treatment,patient’s personality and way of life inferred from their treatment preferences,family’s thoughts and values hoping for better treatment for the patient.Decisions for“daily care”included meal content and methods,excretion,mobility,maintaining cleanliness,rehabilitation,continuation or resignation from work,treatment settings(outpatient or inpatient),and ways to spend time outside and included seven cues:words and thoughts from the patient about their way of life,patient’s reactions and life history inferred from their preferred way of living,things the patient can do to maintain daily life and roles,awareness of the increasing inability to do things in daily life,family’s underlying thoughts and values about how to spend the remaining time,approval from family members regarding the care setting,advice from medical professionals on living at home.Conclusions For“treatment policies,”guidelines from medical professionals were a key cue,while for“daily care,”the small signs from the patients in their daily lives served as cues for proxy decision-making.This may be due to the lack of information available to families and the limited time available for discussion with the patient.Families of patients with malignant brain tumors repeatedly use multiple cues to make proxy decision-making under high uncertainty.Therefore,nurses supporting proxy decision-making should assess the family’s situation and provide cues that facilitate informed and confident decisions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant no.32101237)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant no.2021M691522)+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program(Grant no.2022YFC3202104)the Tibet Major Science and Technology Project(Grant no.XZ201901-GA-06).
文摘Group living is widespread across diverse taxa,and the mechanisms underlying collective decision-making in contexts of variable role division are critical for understanding the dynamics of group stability.While studies on collective behavior in small animals such as fish and insects are well-established,similar research on large wild animals remains challenging due to the limited availability of sufficient and systematic field data.Here,we aimed to explore the collective decision-making pattern and its sexual difference for the dimorphic Tibetan antelopes Pantholops hodgsonii(chiru)in Xizang Autonomous Region,China,by analyzing individual leadership distribution,as well as the joining process,considering factors such as calving stages and joining ranks.The distinct correlations of decision participants’ratio with group size and decision duration underscore the trade-off between accuracy and speed in decision-making.Male antelopes display a more democratic decision-making pattern,while females exhibit more prompt responses after calving at an early stage.This study uncovers a partially shared decision-making strategy among Tibetan antelopes,suggesting flexible self-organization in group decision processes aligned with animal life cycle progression.
文摘BACKGROUND Mesalamine is the recommended first-line treatment for inducing and maintaining remission in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis(UC).However,adherence in real-world settings is frequently suboptimal.Encouraging collaborative patient-provider relationships may foster better adherence and patient outcomes.AIM To quantify the association between patient participation in treatment decisionmaking and adherence to oral mesalamine in UC.METHODS We conducted a 12-month,prospective,non-interventional cohort study at 113 gastroenterology practices in Germany.Eligible patients were aged≥18 years,had a confirmed UC diagnosis,had no prior mesalamine treatment,and provided informed consent.At the first visit,we collected data on demographics,clinical characteristics,patient preference for mesalamine formulation(tablets or granules),and disease knowledge.Self-reported adherence and disease activity were assessed at all visits.Correlation analyses and logistic regression were used to examine associations between adherence and various factors.RESULTS Of the 605 consecutively screened patients,520 were included in the study.The median age was 41 years(range:18-91),with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1.0.Approximately 75%of patients reported good adherence at each study visit.In correlation analyses,patient participation in treatment decision-making was significantly associated with better adherence across all visits(P=0.04).In the regression analysis at 12 months,this association was evident among patients who both preferred and received prolonged-release mesalamine granules(odds ratio=2.73,P=0.001).Patients reporting good adherence also experienced significant improvements in disease activity over 12 months(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Facilitating patient participation in treatment decisions and accommodating medication preferences may improve adherence to mesalamine.This may require additional effort but has the potential to improve long-term management of UC.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 72174121)the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning, and the Soft Science Research Project of Shanghai (Grant No. 22692112600)。
文摘Information plays a crucial role in guiding behavioral decisions during public health emergencies. Individuals communicate to acquire relevant knowledge about an epidemic, which influences their decisions to adopt protective measures.However, whether to disseminate specific information is also a behavioral decision. In light of this understanding, we develop a coupled information–vaccination–epidemic model to depict these co-evolutionary dynamics in a three-layer network. Negative information dissemination and vaccination are treated as separate decision-making processes. We then examine the combined effects of herd and risk motives on information dissemination and vaccination decisions through the lens of game theory. The microscopic Markov chain approach(MMCA) is used to describe the dynamic process and to derive the epidemic threshold. Simulation results indicate that increasing the cost of negative information dissemination and providing timely clarification can effectively control the epidemic. Furthermore, a phenomenon of diminishing marginal utility is observed as the cost of dissemination increases, suggesting that authorities do not need to overinvest in suppressing negative information. Conversely, reducing the cost of vaccination and increasing vaccine efficacy emerge as more effective strategies for outbreak control. In addition, we find that the scale of the epidemic is greater when the herd motive dominates behavioral decision-making. In conclusion, this study provides a new perspective for understanding the complexity of epidemic spreading by starting with the construction of different behavioral decisions.
基金Supported by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB2503203)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1964206).
文摘Decision-making of connected and automated vehicles(CAV)includes a sequence of driving maneuvers that improve safety and efficiency,characterized by complex scenarios,strong uncertainty,and high real-time requirements.Deep reinforcement learning(DRL)exhibits excellent capability of real-time decision-making and adaptability to complex scenarios,and generalization abilities.However,it is arduous to guarantee complete driving safety and efficiency under the constraints of training samples and costs.This paper proposes a Mixture of Expert method(MoE)based on Soft Actor-Critic(SAC),where the upper-level discriminator dynamically decides whether to activate the lower-level DRL expert or the heuristic expert based on the features of the input state.To further enhance the performance of the DRL expert,a buffer zone is introduced in the reward function,preemptively applying penalties before insecure situations occur.In order to minimize collision and off-road rates,the Intelligent Driver Model(IDM)and Minimizing Overall Braking Induced by Lane changes(MOBIL)strategy are designed by heuristic experts.Finally,tested in typical simulation scenarios,MOE shows a 13.75%improvement in driving efficiency compared with the traditional DRL method with continuous action space.It ensures high safety with zero collision and zero off-road rates while maintaining high adaptability.
文摘Bridge networks are essential components of civil infrastructure,supporting communities by delivering vital services and facilitating economic activities.However,bridges are vulnerable to natural disasters,particularly earthquakes.To develop an effective disaster management strategy,it is critical to identify reliable,robust,and efficient indicators.In this regard,Life-Cycle Cost(LCC)and Resilience(R)serve as key indicators to assist decision-makers in selecting the most effective disaster risk reduction plans.This study proposes an innova-tive LCC-R optimization framework to identify the most optimal retrofit strategies for bridge networks facing hazardous events during their lifespan.The proposed framework employs both single-and multi-objective opti-mization techniques to identify retrofit strategies that maximize the R index while minimizing the LCC for the under-study bridge networks.The considered retrofit strategies include various options such as different mate-rials(steel,CFRP,and GFRP),thicknesses,arrangements,and timing of retrofitting actions.The first step in the proposed framework involves constructing fragility curves by performing a series of nonlinear time-history incre-mental dynamic analyses for each case.In the subsequent step,the seismic resilience surfaces are calculated using the obtained fragility curves and assuming a recovery function.Next,the LCC is evaluated according to the pro-posed formulation for multiple seismic occurrences,which incorporates the effects of complete and incomplete repair actions resulting from previous multiple seismic events.For optimization purposes,the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II(NSGA-II)evolutionary algorithm efficiently identifies the Pareto front to represent the optimal set of solutions.The study presents the most effective retrofit strategies for an illustrative bridge network,providing a comprehensive discussion and insights into the resulting tactical approaches.The findings underscore that the methodologies employed lead to logical and actionable retrofit strategies,paving the way for enhanced resilience and cost-effectiveness in bridge network management against seismic hazards.
基金supported by Hanshan Normal University Research Initiation Program(QD2024214).
文摘This study examined the effects of design thinking pedagogy on undergraduates’career decision-making selfefficacy and employability in career education.Using a quasi-experimental design,Chinese college students(N=93)were participants in two wings.The experimental group(n=47)received the design thinking pedagogy,while the control group(n=46)followed the regularly teacher-centered method.The students completed the career decision-making self-efficacy scale and employability scale before and after the intervention.Independent samples t-test results showed that design thinking pedagogy significantly improves students’career decision-making self-efficacy and employability.The ANCOVA results showed that the pretest scores of career decision-making self-efficacy and employability had no significant association with the experimental intervention.There was no interaction between the treatment and pretest scores.It would seem that experimental design thinking pedagogy implemented in career guidance courses has little effect compared to the usual course presentation.Nonetheless,prospects for the implementation of design thinking-guided learning activities to support interdisciplinary learning for improved higher education and career development outcomes need further exploration.
