In this paper, we examine a possible application of ordered weighted average (OWA for short) aggregation operators in the insurance industry. Aggregation operators are essential tools in decision-making when a single value is needed instead of a couple of features. Information aggregation necessarily leads to information loss, at least to a specific extent. Whether we concentrate on extreme values or middle terms, there can be cases when the most important piece of the puzzle is missing. Although the simple or weighted mean considers all the values there is a drawback: the values get the same weight regardless of their magnitude. One possible solution to this issue is the application of the so-called Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operators. This is a broad class of aggregation methods, including the previously mentioned average as a special case. Moreover, using a proper parameter (the so-called orness) one can express the risk awareness of the decision-maker. Using real-life statistical data, we provide a simple model of the decision-making process of insurance companies. The model offers a decision-supporting tool for companies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and their families faced various risk factors, which in some cases resulted in divorce. Adolescents in such families had to grapple with COVID-19 across the world, the risk factors faced by adolescents have largely been under-risk factors associated with COVID-19 and divorce. Despite the rise of divorce during studied, especially among adolescents in South Africa. This study aimed to explore the risk factors experienced by adolescents from divorced households during the COVID-19 pandemic and make recommendations for policy and development. This study employed a phenomenological research design in alignment with qualitative research. Purposive sampling was used to recruit five female adolescents in Johannesburg. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Data was analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six steps of data analysis. The findings revealed that conflict at home, mental illness, physical and social isolation, a lack of paternal support, and diminished educational performance emerged as risk factors faced by the participants. These findings underscore the need for psychological interventions to help address the risk factors faced by adolescents whose parents divorced during the pandemic and those who face similar circumstances during future crises.
Consumers’ interest in green consumption has increased rapidly in recent years with heightening concerns for environmental, social, and health risks. However, increased concerns and interest of consumers may not translate to their behavioral outcome which may be attributed to socio-economic and consumers’ internal stimuli. Furthermore, contextual differences in the marketplace may influence how consumers form their green attitudes and behavior. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of consumers’ intrinsic traits such as consumers’ personal values, their self-motivation for sustainable consumption (i.e., perceived consumer effectiveness), green skepticism, and environmental involvement in their green attitude and behavior, and to see if the country-specific contextual condition may influence consumers’ behavior. In addition, price sensitivity and environmental protection emotions are considered moderating constructs to explain the gap between green attitude and green behavior. Findings from this study provide insights into understanding Chinese and Singaporean consumers’ green behavior which is driven by their intrinsic traits and by extrinsic conditions. This understanding can help companies to develop effective green marketing communication strategies and to enhance consumer engagement in sustainable activities and consumption.
Electrical energy is known as an essential part of our day-to-day lives. Renewable energy resources can be regenerated through the natural method within a reasonably short time and can be used to bridge the gap in extended power outages. Achieving more renewable energy (RE) than the low levels typically found in today’s energy supply network will entail continuous additional integration efforts into the future. This study examined the impacts of integrating renewable energy on the power quality of transmission networks. This work considered majorly two prominent renewable technologies (solar photovoltaic and wind energy). To examine the effects, IEEE 9-bus (a transmission network) was used. The transmission network and renewable sources (solar photovoltaic and wind energy technologies) were modelled with MATLAB/SIMULINK®. The Newton-Raphson iteration method of solution was employed for the solution of the load flow owing to its fast convergence and simplicity. The effects of its integration on the quality of the power supply, especially the voltage profile and harmonic content, were determined. It was discovered that the optimal location, where the voltage profile is improved and harmonic distortion is minimal, was at Bus 8 for the wind energy and then Bus 5 for the solar photovoltaic source.
This paper presents a practical approach to empowering software entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia through a unique course offered by the Software Engineering department at Prince Sultan University. The course, SE495 Emergent Topics in Software Engineering: Software Entrepreneurship, combines software engineering and entrepreneurship to equip students with the necessary skills to develop innovative software solutions that solve real-world problems. The course covers a range of topics, including platform development, market research, and pitching to investors, and features guest speakers from the industry. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deep understanding of the software development process and its intersection with entrepreneurship and will be able to develop a working prototype of a software solution that solves a real-world problem. The course’s practical approach ensures that students are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the digital and software sectors and succeed in an ever-changing business landscape.
This article evaluates the Didactic Strategies for Teaching Mathematics (DSTM) program, designed to enhance the teaching of mathematical content in primary and secondary education in a hybrid modality. In alignment with SENACYT’s Gender-STEM-2040 Policy, which emphasizes gender equality as a foundational principle of education, this study aims to assess whether initial teacher training aligns with this policy through the use of mathematical strategies promoting gender equality. A descriptive-correlational approach was applied to a sample of 64 educators, selected based on their responses during the training, with the goal of improving teaching and data collection methodologies. Findings indicate that, although most teachers actively engage in training, an androcentric approach persists, with sexist language and a curriculum that renders girls invisible, hindering the fulfillment of the National Gender Equality Policy in Science, Technology, and Innovation of Panama (Gender-STEM Policy 2040). Additionally, through a serendipitous finding, a significant gap in student activity levels, especially in secondary school, was discovered. While in primary school, activity levels were similar between genders, a decline in active participation among girls in secondary school was observed. This discovery, not initially contemplated in the study’s objectives, provides valuable insights into gender differences in active participation, particularly in higher educational stages. The serendipity suggests the need for further exploration of social, environmental, and family factors that may influence this decrease in girls’ active participation. The article concludes with a preliminary diagnosis and a call to deepen gender equality training and the effective implementation of coeducation in Panama’s educational system.
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