Systems

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4.3

2.895 Journals Systems

Spillover Network among Economic Sentiment and Economic Policy Uncertainty in Europe

Knowledge Management as a Domain, System Dynamics as a Methodology

A Systems Model for Evaluating Public Health Efforts Addressing Chronic Disease

The Digital Value Stream Twin Journal Description Systems Systems is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on systems theory in practice, including fields such as systems engineering management, systems based project planning in urban settings, health systems, environmental management and complex social systems, published bimonthly online by MDPI. The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is affiliated with Systems and its members receive a discount on the article processing charges. Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions. High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), dblp, and other databases. Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q2 (Modeling and Simulation) Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 15.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2022). Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done. Impact Factor: 2.895 (2021) ; 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.410 (2021) subject Imprint Information get_app Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2079-8954 Latest Articles get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Open AccessEssay Against All Odds: How Eindhoven Emerged as a Deeptech Ecosystem by

A. Georges L. Romme Systems 2022, 10(4), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040119 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2022 Abstract The Brainport-Eindhoven region has developed into a leading location for deeptech entrepreneurship in Europe. Against all odds, it has transformed itself from a region that heavily depended on the multinational company Philips, into a diverse and fast-growing deeptech ecosystem. While this success has [...] Read more. The Brainport-Eindhoven region has developed into a leading location for deeptech entrepreneurship in Europe. Against all odds, it has transformed itself from a region that heavily depended on the multinational company Philips, into a diverse and fast-growing deeptech ecosystem. While this success has not gone unnoticed, there is not yet a clear account of how and why the Eindhoven region emerged as a global hotspot for deeptech innovation and entrepreneurship. Moreover, such an account might provide an exemplary model of a collaborative ecosystem, one that provides an alternative to the “winner-takes-all” entrepreneurial culture of Silicon Valley. This essay explores the performance of the Eindhoven region in terms of three structural conditions. First, the focus on deeptech R&D and entrepreneurship appears to be deeply rooted in the region’s history as well as strong competencies in systems engineering, design thinking, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Second, a collaborative approach to regional policy gives industrial, academic, and governmental actors a correlative position in its “triple helix” governance. Finally, the Eindhoven region benefits from a systemic approach toward co-locating R&D and entrepreneurial activities on five campuses. Overall, the huge complexity of deeptech systems and products apparently requires a truly collaborative approach at all levels of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Full article get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Open AccessArticle Stability Analysis of Low-Carbon Technology Innovation Cooperation under a Reward and Punishment Mechanism by

Min Wang,

Runxin He,

Kai Ren,

Youshi He and

Jianya Zhou Systems 2022, 10(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040118 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2022 Abstract In this study, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for a large-scale enterprise (A), a small-scale enterprise (B), and a government, based on finite rationality and information asymmetry. First, we investigated and analyzed the stakeholders of low-carbon technology innovation (LCTI) and constructed [...] Read more. In this study, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for a large-scale enterprise (A), a small-scale enterprise (B), and a government, based on finite rationality and information asymmetry. First, we investigated and analyzed the stakeholders of low-carbon technology innovation (LCTI) and constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model. Then, we analyzed the conditions for the stability of different equilibrium points. Finally, we carried out numerical simulations using MATLAB 2020b to analyze the evolutionary processes and patterns of the different parameters. We found that the government’s strategic choice is always to participate in LCTI, which is conducive to a healthy LCTI environment. Governments can participate in LCTI consortiums through policy-driven reward and punishment mechanisms. Our simulation demonstrated that the size of enterprises influences their choice of LCTI strategy, and government reward and punishment mechanisms influence both large and small firms. Large firms are more prepared to accept the risks of LCTI and maintain a reciprocal LCTI strategy even in a high-cost scenario, while small firms are more sensitive to the costs and benefits. Thus, government reward and punishment mechanisms should take full account of small-scale enterprises. We propose a sound reward and punishment mechanism for LCTI that limits the opportunistic behavior of enterprises. Therefore, this paper is a complement to theories such as innovation systems and provides new thinking for low-carbon technology innovation cooperation of enterprises. Meanwhile, the reward and punishment mechanism proposed in this paper has important practical value for the government. Full article get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle A Federated Mixed Logit Model for Personal Mobility Service in Autonomous Transportation Systems by

Linlin You,

Junshu He,

Juanjuan Zhao and

Jiemin Xie Systems 2022, 10(4), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040117 (registering DOI) - 10 Aug 2022 Abstract Looking ahead to the future-stage autonomous transportation system (ATS), personal mobility service (PMS) aims to provide the recommended travel options based on both microscopic individual travel demand and the macroscopic supply system objectives. Such a goal relies on massive heterogeneous data to interpret [...] Read more. Looking ahead to the future-stage autonomous transportation system (ATS), personal mobility service (PMS) aims to provide the recommended travel options based on both microscopic individual travel demand and the macroscopic supply system objectives. Such a goal relies on massive heterogeneous data to interpret and predict user travel intentions, facing the challenges caused by prevalent centralized approaches, such as an unbalanced utilization rate between cloud and edge, and data privacy. To fill the gap, we propose a federated logit model (FMXL), for estimating user preferences, which integrates a discrete choice model—the mixed logit model (MXL), with a novel decentralized learning paradigm—federated learning (FL). FMXL supports PMS by (1) respectively performing local and global estimation at the client and server to optimize the load, (2) collaboratively approximating the posterior of the standard mixed logit model through a continuous interaction mechanism, and (3) flexibly configuring two specific global estimation methods (sampling and aggregation) to accommodate different estimation scenarios. Moreover, the predicted rates of FMXL are about 10% higher compared to a flat logit model in both static and dynamic estimation. Meanwhile, the estimation time has been reduced by about 40% compared to a centralized MXL model. Our model can not only protect user privacy and improve the utilization of edge resources but also significantly improve the accuracy and timeliness of recommendations, thus enhancing the performance of PMS in ATS. Full article ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Optimization of the Decision-Making System for Advertising Strategies of Small Enterprises—Focusing on Company A by

Jihoon Jeong,

Dongchul Hong and

Sekyoung Youm Systems 2022, 10(4), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040116 (registering DOI) - 06 Aug 2022 Abstract In the post-COVID-19 era, the founding rates of micro enterprises and startups will increase due to the low youth employment rates and increased retirement of baby boomers. Therefore, the portion of small enterprises among all enterprises is expected to grow. The rapid change [...] Read more. In the post-COVID-19 era, the founding rates of micro enterprises and startups will increase due to the low youth employment rates and increased retirement of baby boomers. Therefore, the portion of small enterprises among all enterprises is expected to grow. The rapid change in consumption patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the entry of small enterprises into the online advertising market. However, advertising costs spent in running the businesses are taking up a large portion of their sales budgets due to intense competition and various advertising platforms. This study examines the decision-making system to optimize advertising expenditures considering the difference in advertising costs depending on various media types and keywords based on limited advertising budgets for stable management of small enterprises. To this end, this study modeled the advertising system of small enterprise A (Company A) with system dynamics and used the Java-based simulation software AnyLogic. Through simulation modeling, we conducted optimization analysis of two scenarios, maximum buyers and minimum advertising costs, in the post-COVID-19 era. Based on the results, this study forecast the conditions for optimization of decision-making in each advertising platform. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Open AccessArticle Evolutionary Game Analysis between Local Government and Enterprises on Bridge Employment from the Perspective of Dynamic Incentive and Punishment by

Junjie Dong,

Shumin Yan and

Xiaowei Yang Systems 2022, 10(4), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040115 (registering DOI) - 05 Aug 2022 Abstract The popularization of bridge employment is conducive to the realization of active aging, which requires not only the subjective initiative of retirees but also the active cooperation of local governments and relevant enterprises. This study combined evolutionary game theory with system dynamics to [...] Read more. The popularization of bridge employment is conducive to the realization of active aging, which requires not only the subjective initiative of retirees but also the active cooperation of local governments and relevant enterprises. This study combined evolutionary game theory with system dynamics to model and simulate the behavior of local government and enterprises on bridge employment, aiming to highlight the importance of government behavior and enterprise actions in the process of active aging and to analyze the effectiveness of different incentive and punishment mechanisms in promoting bridge employment. Results show that the system with dynamic incentive and punishment is easier to keep stable than the system with static incentive and punishment; specifically, the dynamic mechanism with low incentive intensity and high punishment intensity is better than other mechanisms. Finally, this study emphasized the importance of government policy to bridge employment and put forward relevant management implications. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science) get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Assessing Risks in Dairy Supply Chain Systems: A System Dynamics Approach by

Maryam Azizsafaei,

Amin Hosseinian-Far,

Rasoul Khandan,

Dilshad Sarwar and

Alireza Daneshkhah Systems 2022, 10(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040114 - 04 Aug 2022 Abstract Due to the dynamic nature of the food supply chain system, food supply management could suffer because of, and be interrupted by, unforeseen events. Considering the perishable nature of fresh food products and their short life cycle, fresh food companies feel immense pressure [...] Read more. Due to the dynamic nature of the food supply chain system, food supply management could suffer because of, and be interrupted by, unforeseen events. Considering the perishable nature of fresh food products and their short life cycle, fresh food companies feel immense pressure to adopt an efficient and proactive risk management system. The risk management aspects within the food supply chains have been addressed in several studies. However, only a few studies focus on the complex interactions between the various types of risks impacting food supply chain functionality and dynamic feedback effects, which can generate a reliable risk management system. This paper strives to contribute to this evident research gap by adopting a system dynamics modelling approach to generate a systemic risk management model. The system dynamics model serves as the basis for the simulation of risk index values and can be explored in future work to further analyse the dynamic risk’s effect on the food supply chain system’s behaviour. According to a literature review of published research from 2017 to 2021, nine different risks across the food supply chain were identified as a subsection of the major risk categories: macro-level and operational risks. Following this stage, two of the risk groups identified first were integrated with a developed system dynamics model to conduct this research and to evaluate the interaction between the risks and the functionality of the three main dairy supply chain processes: production, logistics, and retailing. The key findings drawn from this paper can be beneficial for enhancing managerial discernment regarding the critical role of system dynamics models for analysing various types of risks across the food supply chain process and improving its efficiency. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Supply Chain Management) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Open AccessArticle Key Factors Influencing Elderly Persons’ Willingness to Rent Assistive Devices via a Product Service System by

Hsing-Tzu Chang,

Jui-Che Tu,

Yen-Pei Liu and

Tsai-Feng Kao Systems 2022, 10(4), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040113 - 03 Aug 2022 Abstract This study examined elderly persons’ attitudes toward renting assistive devices through a product service system and the key factors influencing this decision. First, potentially influencing factors were extrapolated from the existing literature, expert interviews, and questionnaires. Next, a logistic regression model was used [...] Read more. This study examined elderly persons’ attitudes toward renting assistive devices through a product service system and the key factors influencing this decision. First, potentially influencing factors were extrapolated from the existing literature, expert interviews, and questionnaires. Next, a logistic regression model was used to examine the factors impacting elderly persons’ willingness to rent assistive devices. The results showed that the practicability dimension of “key features of rented assistive device” significantly influences elderly persons’ willingness to rent assistive devices. The findings offer key policy implications and insights for industries formulating assistive device rental strategies for the elderly population. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Educational Systems and Digital Transformations in Education) get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Distance-Based Decision Making, Consensus Building, and Preference Aggregation Systems: A Note on the Scale Constraints by

İbrahim Gürler,

Ozan Çakır and

Bora Gündüzyeli Systems 2022, 10(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040112 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract Distance metrics and their extensions are widely accepted tools in supporting distance-based decision making, consensus building, and preference aggregation systems. For several models of this nature, it may be necessary to elucidate the problem output in the original input domain. When a particular [...] Read more. Distance metrics and their extensions are widely accepted tools in supporting distance-based decision making, consensus building, and preference aggregation systems. For several models of this nature, it may be necessary to elucidate the problem output in the original input domain. When a particular parameter of interest is desired to be produced in this original domain, i.e., the scale, the decision makers simply resort to constraints that function in parallel with this goal. However, there exist some cases where such a membership is guaranteed by the mathematical properties of the distance metric utilized. In this paper, we argue that the scale constraints utilized in this manner under the distance-metric optimization framework are, in some cases, completely redundant. We provide necessary mathematical proofs and illustrate our arguments through an abstract physical system, examples, a case study, and a brief computational experiment. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Transfer EEG Emotion Recognition by Combining Semi-Supervised Regression with Bipartite Graph Label Propagation by

Wenzheng Li and

Yong Peng Systems 2022, 10(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040111 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract Individual differences often appear in electroencephalography (EEG) data collected from different subjects due to its weak, nonstationary and low signal-to-noise ratio properties. This causes many machine learning methods to have poor generalization performance because the independent identically distributed assumption is no longer valid [...] Read more. Individual differences often appear in electroencephalography (EEG) data collected from different subjects due to its weak, nonstationary and low signal-to-noise ratio properties. This causes many machine learning methods to have poor generalization performance because the independent identically distributed assumption is no longer valid in cross-subject EEG data. To this end, transfer learning has been introduced to alleviate the data distribution difference between subjects. However, most of the existing methods have focused only on domain adaptation and failed to achieve effective collaboration with label estimation. In this paper, an EEG feature transfer method combined with semi-supervised regression and bipartite graph label propagation (TSRBG) is proposed to realize the unified joint optimization of EEG feature distribution alignment and semi-supervised joint label estimation. Through the cross-subject emotion recognition experiments on the SEED-IV data set, the results show that (1) TSRBG has significantly better recognition performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art models; (2) the EEG feature distribution differences between subjects are significantly minimized in the learned shared subspace, indicating the effectiveness of domain adaptation; (3) the key EEG frequency bands and channels for cross-subject EEG emotion recognition are achieved by investigating the learned subspace, which provides more insights into the study of EEG emotion activation patterns. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Research on the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urban Rail Transit System and Sustainable Urban Development by

Liudan Jiao,

Fengyan Wu,

Yinghan Zhu,

Qiudie Luo,

Fenglian Luo and

Yu Zhang Systems 2022, 10(4), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040110 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit [...] Read more. With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit (URT) systems are crucial to the sustainable development of cities. This paper collects data related to URT and sustainable urban development (SUD) in 42 cities in China in 2020, constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system, and quantitatively analyzes the coupling coordination degree of the two systems using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method and coupling coordination degree model. Then, the influencing factors of the coupling coordination degree of URT and SUD are analyzed by combining the grey correlation analysis method. The results of this study show that: (1) There are significant differences between URT system development and SUD in 42 cities in China. (2) The average coupling coordination between URT development and SUD is 0.4406. More than half of the cities are in the slightly unbalanced category. (3) Factors, such as resident population, income level and urban built-up area, significantly influence the coupling and coordination level of URT and SUD. It is hoped that the research in this paper will advance the in-depth research on the level of coordination between URT and SUD coupling, provide a solid basis for future URT planning and construction in China and even other countries in the world, and make the planning and construction of URT in China more scientific and reasonable, to promote the sustainable development of cities. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle The Study on the Performance Evaluation of Spatial Governance of Village and Town Business Communities by

Xiaoqing Zhu,

Hanyuan Shi,

Zhixing Li,

Yuebin Zhong and

Kening Zhu Systems 2022, 10(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040109 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR [...] Read more. In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR (pressure–state–response) model. In the study, twelve village and town business communities of different types in the Anji County of China are selected as empirical cases; field research and information interviews are conducted in each sample community; the constructed project libraries and constructed ledgers in the past three years are adopted. The GIS 10.2 software is used to draw a policy fund distribution map for spatial governance, compare and study the core characteristics of financial investment for spatial governance in each sample community, and reveal how important the application of the evaluation system is for its performance analysis. The “precise strategies” and “driving foundations” of the spatial governance of village and town business communities are summarized. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Stock Price Crash Warning in the Chinese Security Market Using a Machine Learning-Based Method and Financial Indicators by

Shangkun Deng,

Yingke Zhu,

Shuangyang Duan,

Zhe Fu and

Zonghua Liu Systems 2022, 10(4), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040108 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract Stock price crashes have occurred frequently in the Chinese security market during the last three decades. They have not only caused substantial economic losses to market investors but also seriously threatened the stability and financial safety of the security market. To protect against [...] Read more. Stock price crashes have occurred frequently in the Chinese security market during the last three decades. They have not only caused substantial economic losses to market investors but also seriously threatened the stability and financial safety of the security market. To protect against the price crash risk of individual stocks, a prediction and explanation approach has been proposed by combining eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). We assume that financial indicators can be adopted for stock crash risk prediction, and they are utilized as prediction variables. In the proposed method, XGBoost is used to classify the stock crash and non-crash samples, while NSGA-II is employed to optimize the hyperparameters of XGBoost. To obtain the essential features for stock crash prediction, the importance of each financial indicator is calculated, and the outputs of the prediction model are explained by SHAP. Compared with the results of benchmarks using traditional machine learning methods, we found that the proposed method performed best in terms of both prediction accuracy and efficiency. Especially for the small market capitalization samples, the accuracy of classifying all samples reached 78.41%, and the accuracy of identifying the crash samples was up to 81.31%. In summary, the performance of the proposed method demonstrates that it could be employed as a valuable reference for market regulators engaged in the Chinese security market. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle AHP-RAPS Approach for Evaluating the Productivity of Engineering Departments at a Public University by

Omer A. Bafail,

Reda M. S. Abdulaal and

Mohammad R. Kabli Systems 2022, 10(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040107 - 29 Jul 2022 Abstract Education is an essential component for nations preparing to take advantage of the opportunities and confront the challenges of the 21st century. Universities, colleges, and research centers must work effectively and efficiently to achieve maximum results. In order to provide a comparable and [...] Read more. Education is an essential component for nations preparing to take advantage of the opportunities and confront the challenges of the 21st century. Universities, colleges, and research centers must work effectively and efficiently to achieve maximum results. In order to provide a comparable and verifiable evaluation of such institutions’ efforts, administrators need to adopt measurement tools such as those offered by multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). The use of MCDM to solve complex real-world problems in the educational sector has dramatically increased in the past decade. This paper ranked the Engineering departments in a public university from 2019 to 2021 using combined MCDM methods between Analytical Hierarchy Analysis (AHP) and Ranking Alternatives by Perimeter Similarity (RAPS). The AHP technique assisted in the weighting for each evaluation criterion covered in this study. The RAPS technique assisted in ranking the Engineering departments using weights derived from the AHP technique. For the first time, the use of RAPS in the educational sector is presented in this paper. The findings revealed some of the departments under investigation’s vulnerabilities, indicating that they require assistance from the institution’s administration. Moreover, the results demonstrate that combining the AHP and RAPS techniques to evaluate and rank university departments is a successful method. Full article ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Open AccessArticle A Hybrid Group Decision Approach Based on MARCOS and Regret Theory for Pharmaceutical Enterprises Assessment under a Single-Valued Neutrosophic Scenario by

Yuan Rong,

Wenyao Niu,

Harish Garg,

Yi Liu and

Liying Yu Systems 2022, 10(4), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040106 - 28 Jul 2022 Abstract Evaluating pharmaceutical enterprises with sustainable and high-quality development ability (SHQDA) can not only provide strategies for the pharmaceutical management department in formulating enterprise development plans, but also provide suggestions and guidance for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness. Nevertheless, the prior research possesses [...] Read more. Evaluating pharmaceutical enterprises with sustainable and high-quality development ability (SHQDA) can not only provide strategies for the pharmaceutical management department in formulating enterprise development plans, but also provide suggestions and guidance for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness. Nevertheless, the prior research possesses several deficiencies in coping with the assessment of enterprises with SHQDA under uncertain environments to predict the psychological behavior of the evaluator and the correlation among the evaluation criteria. To conquer the aforementioned defects, we propose an integrated framework for rating pharmaceutical enterprises that incorporates regret theory, measurement alternatives and ranking based on the compromise solution (MARCOS) and Heronian mean operating within a single-value neutrosophic set (SVNS) environment. First, the single-valued neutrosophic number (SVNN) is employed to portray the assessment information of experts. Then, a novel single-valued neutrosophic score function is presented to enhance the rationality of the SVNN comparison. Next, a combined criteria weight model is constructed by synthesizing the best and worst method (BWM) and criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) approach to attain more reasonable and credible weight information. Furthermore, the integrated assessment framework combining regret theory-MARCOS method and Heronian mean operator is put forward to assess and select the enterprises with SHQDA under a single-valued neutrosophic setting. Ultimately, an empirical concerning the pharmaceutical enterprises assessment is presented within SVNS to illustrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the presented SVNS regret theory-MARCOS method. Thereafter, the sensitivity analysis and comparison analysis are implemented to provide evidence for the rationality and superiority of the proposed method. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Process and Its Application to Business Analytic) get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Research on the Evolutionary Path of Eco-Conservation and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin Based on an Agent-Based Model by

Aiwu Zhao,

Jingyi Wang,

Zhenzhen Sun and

Hongjun Guan Systems 2022, 10(4), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040105 - 27 Jul 2022 Abstract The high-quality economic and social development of the Yellow River Basin is a combined system comprising the coordinated development of “economy–resources–environment–society”, with resources and the ecological environment bearing capacity as the constraints, and green innovative development as the driving force. Based on the [...] Read more. The high-quality economic and social development of the Yellow River Basin is a combined system comprising the coordinated development of “economy–resources–environment–society”, with resources and the ecological environment bearing capacity as the constraints, and green innovative development as the driving force. Based on the systematic analysis of the structural dimensions of the composite system, this paper uses the balanced indicators and their coordinated development effectiveness to describe the development quality of the macro-composite system. In order to reveal the mechanism of the evolutionary path of the macro system, the resource- and environment-bearing capacity, regional high-quality development potential, regional innovation capacity, and high-quality development guarantee capacity are adopted as the main attributes and decision-making basis of the autonomous agents. The simulation results show that, under the existing development model, the economic development of all of the provinces in the Yellow River Basin will be constrained by resources and the environment. However, different policy scenarios significantly affect the evolutionary trends of economic development, resource consumption, and the environmental pollution situation. The mechanisms to overcome the bottleneck of the resource and ecological constraints are different for these policies, and the effects of the same policy in different provinces are also not the same. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Practical Applications of Agents, Multi-Agent Systems and Simulating Complex Systems) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Attention Training for Elementary School Students by

Wernhuar Tarng,

I-Chun Pan and

Kuo-Liang Ou Systems 2022, 10(4), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040104 - 26 Jul 2022 Abstract This study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) on attention training for elementary school students. A pre-test and post-test design of the quasi-experimental method was adopted and 66 third and fourth graders from an elementary school in Hsinchu, Taiwan [...] Read more. This study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) on attention training for elementary school students. A pre-test and post-test design of the quasi-experimental method was adopted and 66 third and fourth graders from an elementary school in Hsinchu, Taiwan were used as experimental subjects, divided into a control group and experimental group. The former used the computerized Attention Process Training (APT) system and the latter used the proposed VR system for attention training, both for two weeks. The attention scale for elementary school children was used to evaluate the participant’s attention before and after training, including the dimensions of focused attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention, and divided attention. A questionnaire survey was conducted to measure the learning anxiety and cognitive load during the training process. The experimental results indicated: (1) The overall attention was significantly improved after the training process for both groups, and the VR system was more effective than the computerized APT in improving children’s attention. (2) The questionnaire results showed that the experimental group had lower learning anxiety and cognitive load than the control group. According to the experimental results, VR training is more effective in improving the attention of participants while reducing their learning anxiety and cognitive load. Therefore, it is a useful tool for attention training in elementary schools. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Educational Systems and Digital Transformations in Education) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle Exploring Uber Taxi Application Using the Technology Acceptance Model by

Joonho Moon,

Jimin Shim and

Won Seok Lee Systems 2022, 10(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040103 - 24 Jul 2022 Abstract The goal of this study was to investigate the accountability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for Uber taxi applications. As antecedents of usefulness, this study selected three elements: time information, price information, and driver information. Data was collected using a survey on [...] Read more. The goal of this study was to investigate the accountability of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for Uber taxi applications. As antecedents of usefulness, this study selected three elements: time information, price information, and driver information. Data was collected using a survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk. The survey participants were users of the Uber taxi application. The number of valid observations for the data analysis was 412. For data analysis, frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation matrix, and structural equation modeling were utilized. The results show that the usefulness is significantly influenced by time and driver information. They further indicate that ease of use positively affects both usefulness and attitude. In addition, usefulness significantly determines attitude, and attitude toward the Uber taxi application exerts a substantial effect on intention to use. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the explanatory power of TAM using the Uber taxi application as a research subject. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Systems Practice in Social Science) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle The Digital Value Stream Twin by

Nicholas Frick and

Joachim Metternich Systems 2022, 10(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040102 - 17 Jul 2022 Abstract The Value Stream Method (VSM) is widely used in manufacturing to analyze and redesign value streams. The aim is to improve processes, reduce waste and create a thorough product flow. Despite having many benefits, VSM also comes with disadvantages regarding modern dynamic production [...] Read more. The Value Stream Method (VSM) is widely used in manufacturing to analyze and redesign value streams. The aim is to improve processes, reduce waste and create a thorough product flow. Despite having many benefits, VSM also comes with disadvantages regarding modern dynamic production environments. It fails to meet the requirement of providing reliable information for a realistic Value Stream Design (VSD) followed by targeted improvement activities. As a result, the VSM is usually subject to uncertainty and relies on expert knowledge. Digitalization, on the other hand, is leading to an increasing availability of production data. The use of data has the potential to support the VSM with targeted data preparation. In this regard, the concept of Digital Twin (DT) offers the capability of providing the required database to systematically collect and condense this data. This paper provides a framework for the Digital Value Stream Twin (DVST). In addition, requirements for the implementation of a DVST in practice will be elaborated. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twin with Model Driven Systems Engineering) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle The Integration of Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability into Model-Based Systems Engineering by

Kyle Diatte,

Bryan O’Halloran and

Douglas L. Van Bossuyt Systems 2022, 10(4), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040101 - 15 Jul 2022 Abstract Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods have developed a strong foothold in the design space in industry. These methods have proven fruitful when the right method is applied to the right problem. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) is an equally important area. Currently, there [...] Read more. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods have developed a strong foothold in the design space in industry. These methods have proven fruitful when the right method is applied to the right problem. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) is an equally important area. Currently, there is a gap in applying a methodology to integrate the two in the design process, particularly when the design is complex. This work attempts to provide a methodology that results in the successful integration of RAM and MBSE that can be used during the early phases of design. The methodology was developed after an extensive literature review, followed by the illustration of the methodology through an example of a steam turbine fuel system. Each step of the method is applied and explained in the illustrative example, to include figures, tables, and calculations demonstrating the effectiveness of the method, concluding with evidence for validation. Full article (This article belongs to the Section Systems Engineering) ►▼ Show Figures

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get_app subject View online as: Abstract Page Full-Text HTML Open AccessArticle How to Promote Online Education through Educational Software—An Analytical Study of Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling with Chinese Users as an Example by

Zheng Wang,

Qianling Jiang and

Zichao Li Systems 2022, 10(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040100 - 11 Jul 2022 Abstract Online learning has emerged as a fresh method to successfully prevent teacher and student gatherings as well as the propagation of viruses in the context of the ongoing influence of the COVID-19. A problem deserving of consideration is how to increase users’ desire [...] Read more. Online learning has emerged as a fresh method to successfully prevent teacher and student gatherings as well as the propagation of viruses in the context of the ongoing influence of the COVID-19. A problem deserving of consideration is how to increase users’ desire to participate in online learning through online class APPs, identify the variables that affect users’ use of them, and create a useful assessment scale. In this study, user ratings from 68 students who had used an online class APP were collected using the combination of qualitative and quantitative research, and 200 online questionnaires were sent out to complement the interview findings, based on which 328 assessment questionnaires were gathered and 23 valid items were obtained. The influencing elements that had an impact on users’ online learning experiences were identified using factor analysis, and the relationships among the components were investigated using structural equation modeling. Perceived benefits are the main influencing factors, subjective norms and functional quality are the direct factors influencing users’ perceived benefits, and self-efficacy is influenced by subjective norms while promoting the perception of functional quality. The factors influencing users’ use of online class APPs are ultimately identified as perceived benefits, functional quality and self-efficacy. In order to facilitate users’ online learning, user psychological traits, social ties and software functions should be integrated into a cohesive system while designing online class APPs. Full article (This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Educational Systems and Digital Transformations in Education) ►▼ Show Figures

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