Advances in Fuzzy Systems

Electronic government (e-government) allows citizens to contact government authorities directly through computers, smartphones, and the Internet. In the return reducing face-to-face interaction with government employees decreases their permissive role and the potential for corruption, hence enabling the government to be more effective and trustworthy and provide transparency and accountability. However, e-government is not the only aspect of the larger battle against corruption; it is not the only way to reduce corruption. e-government is successful in the fight against trivial and administrative corruption. In spite of that, broad governmental actions, including both preventative and perhaps disciplinary anticorruption measures are required to combat corruption. This research aims to identify the factors that affect success in reducing the level of corruption in e-government, and then evaluate these factors by developing a model that determines the effective factors that impact the mitigation of corruption. We believe that a soft computing-fuzzy logic algorithm is an appropriate method for evaluating and determining the effective factors, and hence might lead to a feasible way to the success of e-government. The findings revealed that the model is adaptable and may be used in e-government performance applications for government authorities and experts.

This paper investigates the properties and results of (Q,L)-fuzzy soft subhemirings ((Q,L)-FSSHR) of a hemiring R. The motivation behind this study is to utilize the concept of L-fuzzy soft set of a hemiring and to derive a few specific outcomes on (Q, L)-FSSHR. The concepts of strongest Q-fuzzy soft set relation, Q-isomorphism, pseudo-Q-fuzzy soft coset, and some of their related properties are implemented while analyzing the results. Finally, the properties are verified with a numerical example from the 2000 AMS subject classification: 05C38, 05A15, and 15A18.

Composite indices are a great tool for researchers and policymakers alike as they provide a simplification of reality of complex phenomena, as well as their enabling ability for cross-country comparisons. A troublesome issue with constructing composite indices is the selection of the weighting system as it can greatly influence the results of the index developed. One of the most reliable weighting systems is the expert weighting system, where experts on the topic being studied are delegated the weight selection process, and the average of their responses are then transformed into weights. The limitation of this method, however, is the high subjectivity, uncertainty, and inconsistency of the expert responses. This paper seeks to address this limitation by providing a guide to researchers on how to improve the expert weights by subjecting them to the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method for multicriteria decision making (MCDM) to compute the fuzzy weights, a more objective and reliable weights relative to expert weights. That said, and despite the benefits of the FAHP method, it can produce weights that can skew the composite index results. To address this limitation, the study introduces the interval weights, which are calculated by finding the midpoint between the expert weights and the fuzzy weights. The resulting interval weights exhibit the benefits of both principal component analysis (PCA) and the FAHP process, the difference being that PCA cannot be applied for noncompensatory indices.

Energy storage systems are becoming increasingly important, with a growing focus on renewable energy sources that provide highly fluctuating output. Therefore, sound decisions regarding the energy storage systems to be employed need to be made, especially with a systematic and semantic approach. This paper considers the problem of evaluation and selection of energy storage technologies (ESTs). The objective of the proposed research is to decide the best technology for energy storage under the novel idea of hybrid multicriteria decision-making technique under fuzzy environment, that is, fuzzy AHP with fuzzy VIKOR. Electrochemical storage, electrical storage, magnetic storage, mechanical storage, and chemical storage are considered as five alternative energy storage technologies. Energy density, life cycles, cycle efficiency, investment level, suitability to climatic conditions, and required space are considered as six main evaluation criteria. Under each of the main criteria, a set of subcriteria are also considered. The weights of main criteria and subcriteria are determined using fuzzy AHP. With the help of the weights of each set of subcriteria, the weights of alternatives are determined using fuzzy VIKOR. Further, with the help of the main criteria weights and the weights of alternatives determined with respect to each set of subcriteria, the final normalized weights of alternatives are determined. Based on these weights, energy storage technologies are ranked. In addition, the sensitivity analysis is carried out to analyze the variation in ranking pattern of alternatives. From the research findings of this paper, the results are found to be more practical as the evaluation is carried out on an objective basis.

This paper deals with the finite-time synchronization problem of a class of fuzzy neural networks with hybrid delays and uncertain nonlinear perturbations. By applying the famous finite-time stability theory, combining differential inequality techniques, and the analysis approach, several new algebraic sufficient criteria are obtained to realize finite-time synchronization between the drive system and the response system by designing a state feedback controller and an adaptive controller. Taking discrete delays, distributed delays, and uncertain nonlinear perturbations into account in fuzzy cellular neural networks makes the neural system more general than most existing cellular neural networks. Two different novel types of controllers designed to achieve finite-time synchronization can not only effectively overcome the influence of time delays and perturbations but also change their form according to the change of system state or perturbation to achieve a better control effect. Meanwhile, some algebraic sufficient criteria obtained in this paper can be proved by the parameters of the system itself, and the complex calculation of matrix inequality is avoided. Finally, the validity of our proposed results is confirmed by several examples and simulations. Furthermore, a secure communication problem is presented to further illustrate the fact of the obtained results.

In this paper, a new notion of fuzzy local function called -fuzzy local function is introduced, and some properties are given in a fuzzy ideal topological space in Šostak sense. After that, the concepts of fuzzy upper (resp., lower) almost -continuous, weakly -continuous, and almost weakly -continuous multifunctions are introduced. Some properties and characterizations of these multifunctions along with their mutual relationships are discussed with the help of examples.