Metaheuristic algorithms are preferred by the many researchers to reach the reliability based design optimization (RBDO) of truss structures. The cross-sectional area of the elements of a truss is considered as design variables for the size optimization under frequency constraints. The design of dome truss structures are optimized based on reliability by a popular metaheuristic optimization tec...

INTRODUCTION There is an ongoing shortage of rural healthcare providers relative to urban healthcare providers worldwide. Many strategies have been implemented to increase the distribution of rural healthcare providers, and financial incentives such as loan repayment programs have become popular means to both recruit and retain healthcare providers in rural communities. Studies detailing the ef...

the purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of the timing of bank failure/merger in 10 asian countries over the period of 1999-2007 using a multivariate logit model and a split population duration analysis. apart from bank-specific information, we also focus on the effects of macroeconomic and financial characteristics. the following empirical findings are obtained. first, the resu...

Due to the probabilistic nature and uncertainties of structural parameters, reliability-based optimization will enable engineers to account for the safety of the structures and allow for its decision making applicability. Thus, reliability-based design will substitute deterministic rules of codes of practice. Space structures are of those types that have an exceedingly high range of applicabili...

A student loans scheme (SLS) came into effect recently in Thailand, covering both upper secondary and tertiary level schooling. The central objective of the scheme is social — to increase access of poor students and to prevent student dropout. The loans scheme is highly subsidized owing to the extremely favorable repayment conditions, which in turn calls into question the longer-term financial ...

slope stability is one of the major and determiner parameters in the economy and safety of open pit mines. failure and consequently rupture of the slope caused no compensable economic and humanity losses. so, probability assessment of the further failure for presentation of damages and additional costs is of prime importance. in this research, stability analysis and probability assessment of th...

Often they are high-dimensional expected values: Example: In 1995 Traub and Paskov computed values of ‘mortgage-backed obligations’. In the USA people buying a house borrow money from a bank. In return, the bank holds a ’mortgage’. US mortgages last for 30 years, and may be repaid at the end of any month, making 30 × 12 = 360 repayment possibilities. The monthly change in the interest rate is t...

The study investigated the loan repayment, its determinants and socio-economic characteristics of microfinance loan beneficiaries in the Southeast states of Nigeria. It was carried out in three states of the five southeast states. Using a multistage sampling technique, a total of 144 loan beneficiaries in the three segments of MFIs, namely; formal (commercial and development banks); semi-formal...