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Purpose: The study aims to analyze real estate market value uncertainty, focusing on its impact on decision-making processes. It identifies uncertainty sources and evaluates their consequences for market participants. The hypotheses tested are: (H1) Market value lacks a single definitive level, (H2) Uncertainty is intrinsic to valuation and persists even in controlled conditions, and (H3) Its magnitude is significantly greater under real market conditions. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a research experiment involving two groups: (a) undergraduate students and (b) appraiser candidates. Participants estimated a commercial property's value using the income approach with simple capitalization and DCF techniques, all based on identical input data. Findings: The study revealed significant discrepancies in value estimates, stemming from varying interpretations of inputs in the valuation model. It confirmed that valuation uncertainty is intrinsic, present even in controlled environments, and amplifies under market conditions, necessitating a revised approach to presenting results. Research limitations/implications: The experiment was conducted under lab conditions, which limits the influence of external market factors. Future research should take into account more complex information environments. It is expected that the level of uncertainty will then be significantly higher. Practical implications: The study emphasizes the need to revise valuation result presentations, as single-point estimates can mislead market participants. It suggests incorporating tools like numerical ranges, sensitivity analyses, and scenario analyses into reports to address inherent uncertainty and enable more informed decision-making in the real estate market. Social implications: Transparency and standardization of valuation processes contribute to stabilizing the real estate market and more effective management. The topic of valuation uncertainty undertaken so far, mainly by very narrow specialists, has important social and practical implications and should be disseminated to decision-makers in the private and public sectors. Originality/value: The article contributes to the literature by providing experimental evidence on the sources and extent of uncertainty in real estate valuation. The findings underscore the need for professionalization and standardization to enhance market stability and decisionmaking quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are considered a primary alternative treatment for adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate or do not respond to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, supported by substantial scientific evidence. While a range of designs and materials for MADs are commercially available, there is a lack of clear diagnostic guidelines to assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate device based on a multidisciplinary evaluation of OSA patients. This narrative review seeks to outline the key characteristics of MADs that clinicians should evaluate during both the diagnostic and treatment phases for patients with OSA. Methods: An extensive search of academic databases was conducted to gather relevant studies that address therapeutic and diagnostic recommendations for the design and titration of MADs. The search was carried out across EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science up to May 2024. From a total of 1445 identified citations, 1103 remained after duplicate removal. Based on the inclusion criteria, the full text of 202 articles was retrieved, and 70 studies were ultimately included in this review. The extracted data were organized to generate clinical insights, aimed at guiding orthodontists in optimizing diagnostic and decision-making processes for treating OSA patients with MADs. Results: The analysis led to the identification of key clinical questions that can assist orthodontists in enhancing their approach and choosing the appropriate appliance basing on the diagnosis and clinical dento-orofacial characteristics. Conclusions: Bibloc appliances could be preferred over mono-bloc devices due to the possibility of arranging the mandibular advancement according to the patient's clinical condition and orofacial symptoms. Provisional devices could be used as screening tools to verify the patient's adherence to the therapy. Regardless of the MAD design, type and programmed advancement, it must be under-lined that the rule of the orthodontist/dental specialist is secondary to the other sleep-medicine specialists (ORL, pulmonologist) and must be related to (1) a preliminary assessment of MAD usage (dental anatomical conditions), (2) testing a diagnostic MAD usable during a sleep examination (PSG or DISE), (3) final treatment with a definitive MAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to examine the decision-making processes of teachers and explore their selfassessments of teaching competency levels based on the competency indicators proposed by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) in Turkey. The study adopts a constructivist perspective, offering a fresh look at the cognitive levels of teachers and their decision-making mechanisms. Additionally, it integrates neutrosophic science principles to address the uncertainties and indeterminacies present in teachers' self-evaluation and decision-making processes. Data were gathered using the "General Competencies for Teaching Profession (GCTP)" scale, which was developed according to the competencies defined by the MoNE. This new scale, featuring 15 Likert-type items, was validated and tested for reliability before being administered to a sample of 320 volunteering teachers from various disciplines in Turkey. The scale measures data within the "Professional skills" domain and captures teachers' self-perceived competency beliefs related to their professional skills, considering factors such as years of teaching experience, gender, subjects taught, and the type of school (primary or secondary) where they are employed. SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis and to obtain descriptive statistics for the item results. The analysis revealed that primary school teachers scored higher on the GCTP scale compared to high school teachers. By incorporating neutrosophic science, the study effectively navigates the uncertainties in assessing teaching competencies, offering a more nuanced understanding of the factors that influence teachers' decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of responsible marketing on customers' orientations towards Islamic banks in Algeria. A sample of 162 participants was surveyed using an electronic questionnaire that included constructs of responsible marketing and the decision-making process. The results indicated that customers of Islamic banks in Algeria showed a stronger commitment to responsible marketing principles compared to those of traditional banks. Additionally, the study found a statistically significant effect of responsible individuals on customer orientation towards Islamic banks, which explained 32.1% of the variance. However, other variables related to responsible marketing mix elements did not show a statistically significant effect on customers' orientations towards Islamic banks in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Management based on the O-RADS MRI scoring system could allow avoidance of non - essential surgery in 88.2% cases. • This strategy would lead to 8 false negative cases: 6 with borderline and 2 with invasive lesions. • The use of the O-RADS MRI scoring system to refine surgical indications should be promoted. To assess the potential impact of the O-RADS MRI score on the decision-making process for the management of adnexal masses. EURAD database (prospective, European observational, multicenter study) was queried to identify asymptomatic women without history of infertility included between March 1st and March 31st 2018, with available surgical pathology or clinical findings at 2-year clinical follow-up. Blinded to final diagnosis, we stratified patients into five categories according to the O-RADS MRI score (absent i.e. non adnexal, benign, probably benign, indeterminate, probably malignant). Prospective management was compared to theoretical management according to the score established as following: those with presumed benign masses (scored O–RADS MRI 2 or 3) (follow-up recommended) and those with presumed malignant masses (scored O–RADS MRI 4 or 5) (surgery recommended). The accuracy of the score for assessing the origin of the mass was of 97.2 % (564/580, CI 95% 0.96–0.98) and was of 92.0 % (484/526) for categorizing lesions with a negative predictive value of 98.1 % (415/423, CI95% 0.96–0.99). Theoretical management using the score would have spared surgery in 229 patients (87.1 %, 229/263) with benign lesions and malignancy would have been missed in 6 borderline and 2 invasive cases. In patients with a presumed benign mass using O-RADS MRI score, recommending surgery for lesions >= 100 mm would miss only 4/77 (4.8 %) malignant adnexal tumors instead of 8 (50 % decrease). The use of O-RADS MRI scoring system could drastically reduce the number of asymptomatic patients undergoing avoidable surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removing small legacy dams can help improve habitat connectivity along rivers, re-establish the flow of sediments and nutrients, support anadromous fish populations, and reduce the risk of flooding to upstream and downstream communities. However, decisions around dams are often controversial and can lead to lengthy and contested debates. Given the growing number of dam removal cases that have failed or been delayed due to community resistance, new methods for involving communities in the decision-making process around dams are necessary. Yet there is limited research and few examples to guide efforts to create quality public engagement that might contribute to a better decision-making process around dams. This article presents a structured and collaborative approach to involving the public in the decision-making process around small legacy dams. We take a transdisciplinary approach, bringing together public engagement tools from the design and planning disciplines with Structured Decision Making. We tested these methods in a public workshop in Keene, New Hampshire, using a pre- and post-survey. This article contributes to existing discourses concerning the role of the public in ecological restoration and environmental management decisions and aims to provide a framework that can help support decision making at other complex dam sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern world is undergoing rapid changes in various fields of activity, and development of board game design is no exception. One of the most exciting and promising directions in this field has become the use of neural networks for image generation, which has already received its own name — Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI). This opens up new horizons for board game designers, allowing them to quickly and with minimal expenditure of money to create attractive design elements. GAI stands out as a tool capable of generating images based on text queries. The paper examines the decision-making process, that the designer and GAI specialist make during development of illustrations for a board game. In this process, the designer formulates a request and a technical task, based on which the GAI specialist creates a number of images, from which, under designer guidance, the most acceptable in terms of content, style and other special conditions of the image are selected, remaining for further refinement. After finishing with the help of a neural network the most acceptable images, the illustrations are refined by the designer himself to bring these images to look necessary for the task, but with those aspects, that the neural network is not able to solve due to technical limitations. So, thanks to the neural network, it is possible to quickly obtain unique images for a technical task; the chain of specialists needed to work on this task is reduced, thereby reducing financial and time costs for product production.

Background. Decision making issues are key for any organization. The problem in the decision-making process is the high uncertainty regarding the results of decisions made due to the subjectivity of experts. To solve this urgent problem, the article aims to develop a method for processing subjective information from experts in the decision-making process in an organization through the use of fuzzy logic. Materials and methods. The research used scientific works of foreign and domestic scientists devoted to study in the field of decision making, fuzzy logic, category theory and data mining aimed at reducing the subjectivity of experts. Results. The article proposes a structure of decision-making elements in an organization for a decision support system, formulates expressions for the quantitative assessment of fuzzy sets for typical situations using evaluative categories built on the basis of expert assessments and develops an example for a typical situation of a procurement business process in an organization. Conclusions. There was developed and tested a method for processing subjective expert information using fuzzy logic, suitable for use in decision making at an industrial enterprise.

Making optimal decisions is a process whose aim is to select the best solution from the perspective of efficiency, economy and rationality. This process includes a group of logically related mental and computational operations. They lead to the selection of the best possible decision-making option. To optimize decision-making processes and increase their quality, various methods and techniques based on mathematics and statistics are used. Decision-making is a basic condition for solving management and economic problems in an organization, whether traditional, process-based or project-based. Rational models, where the issue of rationality in the decision-making process is considered in relation to: conditions and assumptions that must be met in order for decisions to be classified as rational, practical recommendations (how a rational manager should act), model approaches to decision-making processes (how how decision-making processes should proceed). Behavioral models of bounded rationality. Here, the decision-maker follows the rules of full rationality, but is not "perfect" in his tasks. He is prevented from acting fully rationally by certain limitations: cognitive, motivational, organizational or emotional. Heuristic models - they assume a complete departure from full rationality, present real decision-making processes, akin to the "double process" mozel - integrate an approach oriented on rational analysis with an approach oriented on intuition

The Gulf War (1990–1991) became a watershed event for Japan’s foreign policy, testing its readiness to address the challenges of the post-Cold War world. However, one can hardly say that Japan successfully passed this test. Despite substantial pressure from the United States and heated debates in the Diet and beyond it, Japan failed to make any contribution to the resolution of the crisis other than providing financial aid. Neither the plan to send peacekeepers to assist the U.S.-led coalition nor the proposal to dispatch JASDF aircraft for the evacuation of refugees were realized. The only “human contribution” Japan made was sending JMSDF minesweeper vessels to the Persian Gulf, but even this was done after the active phase of the hostilities was over. This severely harmed Japan’s image in the world and simultaneously served as stimulus for change, leading to Japan assuming a more active international role from the 1990s on. The present article focuses on the domestic political background of Japan’s reaction to the Gulf crisis. It shows how the factors including the political weakness of the prime minister, factional nature of the ruling party, the situation of the “twisted Diet,” where the LDP did not control the House of Councillors, as well as political opportunism of the opposition, insufficient support for the government’s proposals from public opinion, and the general focus on minor and technical details, rather than strategic foreign policy goals, combined to cause a paralysis of the decision-making mechanism. The study of this historical episode will, among other things, help us to better understand the roots of present-day Japanese foreign policy.

The dynamic environment in which healthcare systems operate highlights the importance of the decision-making process, especially considering the fact that it influences the quality of services and the well-being of patients. The aim of this research is to examine the conceptual link between the concepts "decision", "decision making process", "healthcare", and "management" and how they interact in the literature. Thus, the research aims to identify common trends and patterns in these areas. The research carries out scientific mapping using a three-stage methodological approach: bibliographic data collection through refined searches in the Web of Science database, data analysis using Biblioshiny, and subsequent bibliometric analysis of the 259 scientific documents collected. The main results of the analyses carried out illustrated an increase in scientific publications over time, especially in 2023, when most academic materials were published. International collaboration is in its infancy, with the US and China leading such collaborations. The theoretical implications are centered around the methodological approach to research in the healthcare field. Regarding the practical implications, the research provides information to decision-makers in the medical sector by identifying current contexts in the lives of organizations, but also to academics, with the research having the role of revealing publication sources and other information of interest to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research objectives so that the quality of decisions made by leaders in the organization can be measured using valid and reliable measurement tools measured by using valid and reliable measuring instruments. Method literature review, questionnaire formulation, validity & reliability test validity & reliability of the questionnaire. Results The questionnaire is valid and reliable to be used as a measuring tool for Decision Quality. Contribution this study aims to provide a research instrument that is to measure Decision Quality. The quality of the decision is the quality that results from the results of the decision that has been applied or tested to the maximum and the results are seen to the maximum and assessed to the maximum as well. From the results of data processing using SPSS, it produces a Scale Statistics Mean of 46.8829, Variance 41.133, Std Deviation 6.41352, Validity respondent 205, Crochbach Alpa 0.888. Product Moment Correlation coefficient or rcount > 0.3, so it can be said that all statement items on the questionnaire have good validity. Meanwhile, the entire Cronbach's Alpha coefficient value obtained for all items is > 0.872 so it can be stated that all statement items on the questionnaire have good reliability (> 0.6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestreaming shopping platforms have emerged as dynamic and innovative channels for e-commerce, mobile commerce, and social commerce, revolutionizing the way consumers engage with online retail. Drawing upon the Technology Acceptance Model 3 framework, this research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between perceived risk, trust, innovativeness and deal proneness in shaping consumers' purchasing behavior in the livestreaming social commerce context. A snowball sampling method was applied to collect data from 675 Chinese livestreaming customers in December 2022. A PLS-SEM analysis was used to measure the proposed model. The results confirm that the present model has weak explanatory power except for medium predictive accuracy in explaining consumers' purchasing behavior in the livestreaming social commerce context (R2 = 0.35; Q2 = 0.31). This research contributes to the social commerce literature by extending the Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM 3) to the novel domain of the livestreaming social commerce context, offering insights into the unique drivers of consumers' purchasing behavior. It also provides practical implications for platform developers and marketers aiming to enhance consumer experiences and increase sales performance, thereby increasing economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this paper is to provide a robust user satisfaction evaluation of an educational distance-learning platform with the use of multicriteria satisfaction analysis (MUSA), an innovative and consistent decision-making algorithm, which leads to analytical satisfaction charts and improvement action charts. The educational platform evaluated is Moodle. MUSA algorithm criteria used for the purposes of the present analysis are: (1) technical dimension, (2) possibilities of teachers, (3) possibilities of participants, (4) pedagogical dimension, and (5) automated functions. The originality of this re-search is the fact that MUSA algorithms criteria weights are calculated both for the total number of participants in the present study and for smaller sample subgroups, which represent various levels of satisfaction (above average grade represents overall satisfied users and below average grade represents overall dissatisfied users), age, gender and identity (teachers or university students). The selected cluster sampling leads to differentiated criteria weights and action diagram in MUSA algorithm. The selected methodology is a crucial step for the optimization of the existing user satisfaction algorithm and leads to more robust and valid results. As a result, the modified method is called cluster sampling MUSA algorithm (CSMUSA) and leads to an enhanced decision-making procedure, which is considered fundamental for the constant improvement of any educational platform and software and could be implemented by software companies during the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Prenatal information may be obtained through invasive diagnostic procedures and non-invasive screening procedures. Several psychological factors are involved in the decision to undergo a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) but little is known about the decision-making strategies involved in choosing a specific level of in-depth NIPT, considering the increased availability and complexity of NIPT options. The main aim of this work is to assess the impact of psychological factors (anxiety about pregnancy, perception of risk in pregnancy, intolerance to uncertainty), and COVID-19 pandemic on the type of NIPT chosen, in terms of the number of conditions that are tested. Methods A self-administered survey evaluated the decision-making process about NIPT. The final sample comprised 191 women (Mage = 35.53; SD = 4.79) who underwent a NIPT from one private Italian genetic company. Based on the test date, the sample of women was divided between “NIPT before COVID-19” and “NIPT during COVID-19”. Results Almost all of the participants reported being aware of the existence of different types of NIPT and more than half reported having been informed by their gynecologist. Results showed no significant association between the period in which women underwent NIPT (before COVID-19 or during COVID-19) and the preferences for more expanded screening panel. Furthermore, regarding psychological variables, results showed a significant difference between perceived risk for the fetus based on the NIPT type groups, revealing that pregnant women who underwent the more expanded panel had a significantly higher level of perceived risk for the fetus than that reported by pregnant women who underwent the basic one. There was no statistically significant difference between the other psychological variables and NIPT type. Conclusions Our findings indicate the paramount role of gynecologist and other health care providers, such as geneticists and psychologists, is to support decision-making process in NIPT, in order to overcome people’s deficits in genetic knowledge, promote awareness about their preferences, and control anxiety related to the unborn child. Decision-support strategies are critical during the onset of prenatal care, according to the advances in prenatal genomics and to parent’s needs.

This study intends to evaluate the mediating role of employees performance in the relationship between delegation of authority, organizational functionality, and the decision making process among the employees of police department at Dubai. The study has collected data in the various police stations at Dubai from 380 employees through questionnaires based survey using random sampling technique. The study noted that employees performance has mediating role between the delegation of authority, organizational functionality, and the decision making process among the police employees at Dubai. The results of this research contributed substantially to the current body of knowledge in the domain of delegation of authority in Arab context. The novelty of this study stem from the reality that the issues and problems of power delegation in Dubai police department was assessed in terms of decision-making process.

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We encounter many situations that require lifelong decision making. Decision making is that the individual prefers the most suitable one from different options. Individuals shape their own future in line with their decisions. Decisions taken not only produce personal results for the individual but also cause social consequences. Therefore, decision making is important in terms of affecting both individual and social life. Decision making is a gradual process that is affected by many individual and environmental factors. It is very important for decision makers to recognize the steps of this process and consider the variables that affect the decision making process. The fact that individuals make forward-looking, positive and personalized decisions is largely related to decision-making processes. The proliferation of options in every field in today's world makes it difficult to make the right decision. Depending on the development and change experienced, individuals need to manage the decision making process well, know what factors have an impact on the decisions, make timely decisions and think rationally about the options. In this study, recent studies that stand out in the literature on decision-making processes and the factors affecting decisions are examined and it is emphasized how more effective and better decisions can be made in this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at the studying of the planning and forecasting process, as well as the formation of a dynamic model of customs revenues to the state budget (on the example of Ukraine). The methodology of the regression data analysis was used to assess the receipt of customs payments to the budget. The parameters of the regression models are selected by the least squares method. To assess the significance of the regression parameters, their variances and the covariance matrix, the diagonal elements of which are the variance parameters, are calculated. Along with the linear and power model, the Brandon model is considered. The adequacy of the model for forecasting customs revenues was assessed using the coefficient of determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the decision-making process as a procedural feature of the management process with multiple economic and psychosociological conditions. Decision-making can be considered in two senses. In a broad sense, it is a complex process that consists of recording and evaluating information, identifying the decision problem and applying the adopted selection criterion, defining and issuing the decision (decision task), and recording information on its execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the decision-making process as a procedural feature of the management process with multiple economic and psychosociological conditions. Decision-making can be considered in two senses. In a broad sense, it is a complex process that consists of recording and evaluating information, identifying the decision problem and applying the adopted selection criterion, defining and issuing the decision (decision task), and recording information on its execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construct of the osteopathic structure-function models is reported as a cornerstone of clinical reasoning and treatment processes. Nevertheless, there are no shared procedures described for their use in clinical practice. The present narrative review aims to analyze a more comprehensive perspective on the phenomenon. A structured narrative review was conducted. A database search was conducted using Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed papers without specifying limits on dates and design were included. Twenty-five findings were reported and grouped into two main themes: 1) Debate on models and theoretical frameworks for osteopathic care; 2) Clinical reasoning and decision-making process in the osteopathic field. An integrated osteopathic care approach based on the structure/function models represents a starting point to establish a shared osteopathic diagnostic and clinical reasoning and an evidence-informed practice promoting health in an interdisciplinary person-centered care process. The present review highlights the limited amount of literature on using osteopathic conceptual models in decision-making and treatment strategies. A research plan is required to develop a common framework for an evidence-based osteopathic practice that promotes well-being in an interdisciplinary person-centered care process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment-based instruments, which countries will integrate into investment-oriented sectors according to their own conjunctures, are of great importance in the process of achieving the sustainable development goal. Transportation, which is among the investment-oriented sectors, has a significant impact on the functioning and efficiency of other sectors, both as an activity and as a land use. For this reason, all studies with different scopes for the transportation sector support important issues from a local to national perspective. In this study, it is stated that the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) should be implemented, including policies, in the transportation sector planning hierarchy in Turkey. For this purpose, first of all, the legal and administrative documentation on the subject was searched. Then, the limiting actors were determined. Then, a methodology proposal was developed for the application of SEA to all sectoral policies with a spatial dimension, as well as to transport sector policies. As a conclusion of the study, a general assessment has been made for the implementation of SEA in the transport sector for Turkey and recommendations aimed at effective functioning in the sectoral perspective have been developed.

Dubai has witnessed the growth of numbers in population and global visitors, which makes it necessary for the city to have an excellent police department to secure all citizens, residents and visitors. This is necessary for improving Dubai's security and financial condition and cementing the city's importance in the world. The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the delegation of authority, organizational functionality and decision-making process among the employees in Dubai police department UAE. A total of 380 employees were selected as the study sample using a multistage sampling method. Questionnaires were used in data collection and responses were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis. The results showed that the delegation of authority affects decision-making among the target population. Moreover, delegation of authority helps the organisation in achieving the objectives with accordance to the imperative’s factors of organizational functionality of the organisation. The results of this research contributed substantially to the current body of knowledge in the domain of delegation of authority in Arab context. The novelty of this study stem from the reality that the issues and problems of power delegation in Dubai police department was assessed in terms of decision-making process. From these results some recommendations are also suggested which are quite helpful especially, with regards to the latest global models of contemporary leadership and the latest approaches and methods of modern decision-making.

This paper aims to present the impact of online communication channels in the consumer decision-making process. Through this research we will create knowledge about the Kosovo market and the impact of these channels (Email Marketing, Online Advertising and Social Media). The paper is based on empirical analysis, for sampling probabilistic samples were selected (simple random sample), part of the sample are 200 consumers in Kosovo. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed and processed with SPSS program, while the study hypotheses were verified through factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis - PCA) and multiple regression analysis. From the results of this study we conclude that digital channels such as: social media and online advertising have a positive impact on the consumer decision-making process while e-mail marketing does not have a high impact on this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the decision-making process for consumers participating in sports centers based on an extended goal-directed behavior model (EMGB), and to provide empirical data for establishing effective operation strategies for sports centers, including additional risk perception of consumers during pandemic. METHODS A total of 446 surveys were used as the final sample. For data analysis, SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0 were used for frequency analysis, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation model analysis. RESULTS Except for hypothesis 2 and 9, all of the hypothesis were chosen. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggested that extended goal-oriented behavior models can increase consumers' cognitive and emotional factors through emotional aspirations, suggesting that a lower risk perception of COVID19 increases their desire to participate in sports centers, and provides academic fundamental data on how to increase and activate sports centers.

The utilization of Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) in Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a concept that has been introduced previously and published research is available on this subject. However, the main research s’ubject of this paper, fusing MDA and decision aspects as autonomous building blocks that form a full SOA, is a ground-breaking concept. This paper proposes an integrated model-driven solution method that will help develop service-oriented architectures while being aware of the need for decisions. Furthermore, our goal is to explore the standard models at every defined level; this is one of our primary reasons for utilizing the Service oriented architecture Modeling Language (SoaML) and the Decisional Model Notation (DMN) standard in designing several services. We also present a service taxonomy that defines the new set of concepts needed to model three dimensions. The proposed approach is called MDA4SOA+d (Model Driven Architecture for SOA with Decision Aspect), and it offers, among other benefits, a more comprehensive understanding of the entire system and the platform-independent development. It also enhances the reusability of the designs and simplifies the system’s evolution, thus enhancing productivity. The proposed approach will be illustrated with a case study for an IT Equipment Bid Evaluation process.

This research identified and analyzed, by a systematic review of the literature, the relationship between information and values in supporting the decision making, in the corporate sustainability context. It was verified that the relationships between information and values, in the researched context, take place from three "macro processes": Information and Knowledge Management, Informational Strategy, and Dissemination of Information. These relationships range all the stages of the decision making, affecting the rationale applied by the decision-maker regarding the adherence of corporate sustainability practices. This suggests that the organizations may benefit themselves when developing information presentation strategies aligned, not only to the stakeholders’ values, but also in the way that these values engage with the information.

Background: Prenatal information may be obtained through invasive diagnostic procedures and non-invasive screening procedures. Several psychological factors are involved in the decision to undergo a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) but little is known about the decision-making strategies involved in choosing a specific level of in-depth NIPT, considering the increased availability and complexity of NIPT options. The main aim of this work is to assess the impact of psychological factors (anxiety about pregnancy, perception of risk in pregnancy, intolerance to uncertainty), and COVID-19 pandemic on the type of NIPT chosen, in terms of the number of conditions that are tested. Methods: A self-administered survey evaluated the decision-making process about NIPT. The final sample comprised 191 women (Mage = 35.53; SD = 4.79) who underwent a NIPT from one private Italian genetic company. Based on the test date, the sample of women was divided between "NIPT before COVID-19" and "NIPT during COVID-19". Results: Almost all of the participants reported being aware of the existence of different types of NIPT and more than half reported having been informed by their gynecologist. Results showed no significant association between the period in which women underwent NIPT (before COVID-19 or during COVID-19) and the preferences for more expanded screening panel. Furthermore, regarding psychological variables, results showed a significant difference between perceived risk for the fetus based on the NIPT type groups, revealing that pregnant women who underwent the more expanded panel had a significantly higher level of perceived risk for the fetus than that reported by pregnant women who underwent the basic one. There was no statistically significant difference between the other psychological variables and NIPT type. Conclusions: Our findings indicate the paramount role of gynecologist and other health care providers, such as geneticists and psychologists, is to support decision-making process in NIPT, in order to overcome people's deficits in genetic knowledge, promote awareness about their preferences, and control anxiety related to the unborn child. Decision-support strategies are critical during the onset of prenatal care, according to the advances in prenatal genomics and to parent's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities represent the places with the highest environmental and energy impact in the world. Transforming them in a sustainable way has the potential to reduce the pressures of these areas. The building stock could be the driving force behind the energy transition of cities. With this in mind, understanding the priorities of undertaking a massive green regeneration operation becomes crucial to optimizing the use of public funds such as those of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) that EU Member States have at their disposal. For this purpose, a multi-criteria ELECTRE TRI-B (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant La REalité TRI-B) model was used to provide useful information in prioritizing intervention on the existing building stock to achieve the sustainability targets set at European and international levels. The model was tested on a real case study located in Turin (Italy) to improve the management process by classifying intervention on a building stock characterized by different typologies and construction periods. Looking at the results, the retrofit operations with the highest priority relate to the apartment building sector from 1946 to 1970 and the multifamily building sector from 1919 to 1960. Despite the high initial investment requirements, an ecological transformation of this stock would result in significant reductions in health impacts, more green jobs, and lower resources consumption. The model is useful for managing public policies in this area by providing guidance to the project manager on how to proceed in the provision of ad hoc funds and could optimize the process of local community energy generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Investment is closely associated with the risk and opportunities. Without risk, there is no profit. However, one should develop analytical abilities, study various factors influencing market conditions and then invest accordingly. This is because there are a number of global, national, local, socio-economic conditions, reforms, government decisions influencing markets from time to time. The present article aims to evaluate the key factors influencing the buying behaviour and the decision-making process of investors in Hyderabad city. The author had conducted the primary study by collecting the responses from the investors in the financial market by using the questionnaire with the deployment of open and close ended questions in the survey. For this purpose, the author had used the non-probabilistic convenient sampling technique in this regard. Total, 100 samples were collected from the different investors belonging to the banks, financial institutions and broking agencies. To study the background of the investors the author had used the frequency distribution method, for the factors that are influencing the buying behaviour of investors for the decision making process of investors in the Hyderabad city they had used the descriptive statistic of mean value and to find out the difference of opinion among the investors regarding the factors influencing buying behaviour and decision making process of investors in Hyderabad the author had used the non-parametric test called Kruskal Wallis Test and it had been found that there is a significant difference of opinion among the investors for the factors influencing buying behaviour of investors in the Hyderabad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a general concept where companies voluntarily decide to adopt social, economic and environmental responsibilities for a better society and environment. Researchers in the management field have created various CSR models and theories. Moreover, enterprises are working out to strength its competitiveness performance though adopting CSR approaches. For that, decision makers in an enterprise have to target the most appropriate CSR approach that fit with the environment and the nature of their enterprise. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been presented through the article in order to help an organization take decision toward the most convenient CSR method according to many characteristics and criteria.

The Treaty of Lisbon comes with considerable gains by recognizing the European Union as a legal personality which must be assumed by all its signatories. The Treaty brings unexpected opportunities for the active involvement of citizens and civil society, through representation, in the European Union’s decision-making process. The compulsory new legal obligation to observe the provisions and values of the Treaty comes with the ex-ante political control tool of national parliaments supplemented with ex-post judicial control. The newly brought opportunities for the civil society to be actively involved in establishing the European Union’s agenda have developed, being backed up by the principle of subsidiarity. It brings provisions on the democratic functioning of the Union by delimiting competences, introducing control procedures and legal obligation for respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union. This article is devoted to the identification and subsequent analysis of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union towards the permissiveness of lobbying, as a public institution, acting through the principles of participatory democracy.

The authors undertake the issues of security in prison units. Basing on the results of research, analysis of statistical data, literature on the subject and their own experience in work for state security, they analyse selected aspects of decision-making aimed at preventing undesirable events in penitentiary units. Prevention plays an essential role in effective action against different incidents. Professional implementation of duties in this area prevents crisis situations. The circumstances in which these decisions are made, research suggests, may influence staff to follow their intuition.

This paper examines the impact that unconscious cognitive biases have on the leaders’ strategy. It shows how cognitive biases affect the decision-making proc-ess, particularly during a crisis, reducing efficacy and cost-effectiveness of its out-comes. The paper highlights the essential role played by cognitive biases and the need to involve social scientists in the development of public health policies.