Search

The paper proposed a Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making (FMCDM) approach for banking performance evaluation. Drawing on the four perspectives of a Balanced Scorecard (BSC), this research first summarized the evaluation indexes synthesized from the literature relating to banking performance. Then, for screening these indexes, 23 indexes fit for banking performance evaluation were selected through expert questionnaires. Furthermore, the relative weights of the chosen evaluation indexes were calculated by Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). And the three MCDM analytical tools of SAW, TOPSIS, and VIKOR were respectively adopted to rank the banking performance and improve the gaps with three banks as an empirical example. The analysis results highlight the critical aspects of evaluation criteria as well as the gaps to improve banking performance for achieving aspired/desired level. It shows that the proposed FMCDM evaluation model of banking performance using the BSC framework can be a useful and effective assessment tool. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A system identification procedure is developed to identify the physical parameters of structures with seismic isolation using the friction pendulum systems (FPSs). The superstructure is assumed to be linear on account of substantial reduction of seismic forces with the installation of FPS. Hysteretic models of both Coulomb''s and Mokha''s friction mechanism have been considered for the FPS. Simulation results indicate that the physical parameters of the FPS and superstructure can be successfully identified by the proposed scheme. Experimental verification has been conducted further via shaking table tests using realistic earthquake scenarios. The identified parameters from seismic response data indicate that the FPSs behave in better agreement with Mokha''s friction mechanism than Coulomb''s. Feasibility of the proposed scheme in the identification of FPS-isolated structures using seismic data has been verified. This may facilitate in-situ performance assessment of structures isolated with sliding-type isolation systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports the impacts of \NH3 plasma treatment time, oxide overetching depth, and gate oxide thickness on symmetric vertical-channel Ni-salicided poly-Si thin-film transistors (VSA-TFTs) for the first time. off-state currents may be improved by increasing the oxide overetching depth. The on/ off current ratio may be also improved by increasing the oxide overetching depth. The \NH3 plasma optimum treatment time of VSA-TFTs is significantly shorter than that of conventional top-gate horizontal-channel TFTs. The performance of VSA-TFTs is degraded by \NH3 plasma treatment for too long a time. VSA-TFTs with 15-nm gate oxide thickness display better subthreshold swing ( < 150 mV/dec) than VSA-TFTs with 30-nm gate oxide thickness. off-state currents can be improved by increasing Lmask, even when the oxide overetching depth and the gate oxide thickness are changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]