Plácido Rogério Pinheiro

Challenging the Incomparability Problem: An Approach Methodology Based on ZAPROS

Aiming the reduction of incomparability cases between alternatives, for the presentation of a complete and satisfactory result, it is presented a new approach for aiding the decision making process on Verbal Decision Analysis, structured basically on ZAPROS III method. A tool applying the methodology was developed. Some optimizations were done to the method through some differentials on the process, considering similar tools which support solving ill-structured problems. Computational experiments applied to the tool presented promising results.

A Multicriteria Model Applied in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease: A Bayesian Network

This study considers the construction of a multicriteria model to assist in the diagnosis of Alzheimerpsilas disease. Alzheimerpsilas disease is considered the most frequent of the dementias and it is responsible for about 50% of the cases. Due to this fact and the therapeutical limitations in the most advanced stage of the disease, diagnosis of Alzheimerpsilas disease is extremely important and it can provide better life conditions to patients and their families. The main focus of this work is to develop a multicriteria model for aiding in decision making for the diagnosis of Alzheimerpsilas disease, using Bayesian networks as a modeling tool. In this work, the modeling and evaluation processes have been conducted with the aid of a medical expert, bibliographic sources and battery of standardized assessments. The construction of cardinal value scales was implemented through Hiview and Macbeth.

A co-evolutionary interaction design of digital TV applications based on verbal decision analysis of user experiences

Since mobile TV represents a new paradigm for interaction design, many different candidate solutions of interaction can be possible. Following this concept, a study was accomplished with the objective of finding a better interaction solution for an application of mobile digital TV. Three executable prototypes of an application of mobile TV were built. A multicriteria model of verbal decision analysis was applied to those three alternatives by aiming at investigating the favourite characteristics of each prototype based on users experience and their intentions of use. This model resulted in a method that supports designers in the qualitative analysis of alternatives and collaborative conception of the best solution of interaction to innovative products.

Project management aided by verbal decision analysis approaches: a case study for the selection of the best SCRUM practices

Agile methodologies, in particular the framework SCRUM, are popular in software development companies. Most of the time, however, it is not feasible for these companies to apply every characteristic of the framework. This paper presents a hybrid application of verbal decision analysis methodologies in order to select some of the most relevant SCRUM approaches to be applied by a company. A questionnaire was developed and a group of experienced ScrumMasters was selected to answer it, aiming at characterizing every SCRUM approach into criteria values. The hybrid application consists in dividing the SCRUM practices into groups (stage supported by the ORCLASS method application), using the ORCLASSWEB tool. Then, the rank of the preferred practices will be generated by the application of the ZAPROS-LM method.

A Novel Multicriteria Model Applied to Cashew Chestnut Industrialization Process

The industrialization process of cashew chestnut involves a decision making based on subjective criteria. It must be analyzed by the production manager, representing the decision maker, always aiming the choice of alternatives that maximize the entire almond index at the end of the process. Currently, this choice is carried out by the historical data verification, or considering the tacit experience of the manager. Therefore, the decision maker tends to miss the choice of the best possible solution. Due to the problem nature and to the necessity of the presentation of a good solution, the ZAPROS method was applied to the process. In the case study, the ZAPROS method application result was the relative and absolute ordinance of the alternatives, according to the DM’s preferences. A case study was realized at the most critical part of the industrialization process of the cashew chestnut.

A Model for Mobile Television Applications Based on Verbal Decision Analysis

The emergence of Digital Television - DTV brings the necessity to select an interface that may be used in Digital Television for Mobile Devices. Many different candidate solutions for interaction applications can be possible. This way, usability specialists prototyped interfaces that were analyzed according to users’ preferences through usability test, considering criteria classified in accordance with users’ preferences and alternatives, which were obtained from a ranking modeled by verbal decision analysis. Results revealed great influence of the application’s functions evidence in the ease of navigation.

An Approach for the Neuropsychological Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Hybrid Model in Decision Making

This work presents a hybrid model, combining Influence Diagrams and the Multicriteria Method, for aiding to discover, from a battery of tests, which are the most attractive questions, in relation to the stages of Clinical Dementia Rating in decision making for the diagnosis of Alzheimers disease. This disease is the most common dementia. Because of this and due to limitations in treatment at late stages of the disease early diagnosis is fundamental because it improves quality of life for patients and their families. Influence Diagram is implemented using GeNie tool. Next, the judgment matrixes are constructed to obtain cardinal value scales which are implemented through MACBETH Multicriteria Methodology. The modeling and evaluation processes were carried out through a battery of standardized assessments for the evaluation of cases with Alzheimers disease developed by Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimers disease (CERAD).

Towards the Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease via a Multicriteria Classification Model

The very early detection of Alzheimers disease (AD) has been deeply investigated in numerous studies in the past years. These studies have demonstrated that the pathology usually arises decades before the clinical diagnosis is effectively made, and so a reliable identification of AD in its earliest stages is one of the major challenges clinicians and researchers face nowadays. In the present study, we introduce a new approach developed upon a specific Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) classification method to assist in the early AD diagnosis process. The MCDA method is centered on the concept of prototypes, that is, alternatives that serve as class representatives related to a given problem, and has its performance index very dependent upon the choice of values of some control parameters. In such regard, two techniques, one based on ELECTRE IV methodology and the other on a customized genetic algorithm, are employed in order to select the prototypes and calibrate the control parameters automatically. Moreover, a new database has been designed taking as reference both the functional and cognitive recommendations of the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology and a neuropsychological battery of exams made available by the well-known Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimers Disease (CERAD). Various experiments have been performed over this database in a manner as to either fine-tune the components of the MCDA model or to compare its performance level with that exhibited by other state-of-the-art classification algorithms.

Towards the Applied Hybrid Model in Decision Making: A Neuropsychological Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Study Case

A hybrid model, combining influence diagrams and a multicriteria method, is presented in order to assist with the decision making process about which questions would be more attractive to the definition of the diagnosis of Alzheimers disease, considering the stages of Clinical Dementia Rating. The modeling and evaluation processes were carried out through a battery of standardized assessments for the evaluation of cases with Alzheimers disease developed by Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimers disease.

Applying a decision making model in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

This study considers the construction of a multicriteria model to assist in the early diagnosis of Alzheimers disease. Alzheimers disease is considered the most frequent of the dementias and it is responsible for about 50% of the cases. Due to this fact and the therapeutical limitations in the most advanced stage of the disease, early diagnosis of Alzheimers disease is extremely important and it can provide better life conditions to patients and their families.