Keputusan terakhir yang dicari dalam menyelesaikan masalah berbilang kriteria ialah satu pangkat kedudukan unit yang dianalisis berdasarkan prestasi keseluruhan unit-unit tersebut. Satu cara untuk mendapatkan prestasi keseluruhan setiap unit adalah dengan menggabungkan prestasi dan wajaran kriteria masing-masing melalui pelbagai kaedah pengagregatan. Kajian tertumpu kepada penerapan tiga kaedah asas pangkat dalam menilai kepentingan kriteria yang melibatkan satu panel penilai dengan kewibawaan berbeza. Hanya dua pendekatan pengagregatan berasaskan kaedah pemurataan tertib berpemberat sesuai diutarakan agar hasil akhir boleh dicapai. Setiap pendekatan pengagregatan yang dicadangkan diringi dengan contoh pengiraan.
Masalah berbilang kriteria merupakan satu masalah yang terdiri daripada satu kumpulan unit yang dinilai berasaskan beberapa kriteria tertentu. Keputusan terakhir yang dihajati ialah satu pangkat kedudukan unit yang dianalisis berasaskan prestasi keseluruhan masing-masing. Satu cara untuk mendapatkan prestasi keseluruhan setiap unit ialah dengan menggabungkan prestasi dan wajaran kriteria masing-masing melalui pelbagai kaedah pengagregatan. Kajian tertumpu kepada penerapan tiga kaedah asas pangkat dalam menilai kepentingan kriteria yang melibatkan satu panel penilai. Empat pendekatan pengagregatan berasaskan kaedah pemurataan tertib berpemberat dicadangkan untuk dimanfaatkan agar hasil akhir boleh dicapai. Setiap pendekatan pengagregatan yang dicadangkan diringi dengan contoh pengiraan.
In a multiethnic nation, it is not uncommon for doctors to encounter patients of different cultural backgrounds. Often, patients' cultural beliefs influence their perception of health and illnesses, and their treatment option. Many Chinese cultural beliefs are influenced by the Taoist concept of yin-yang balance.
Epimedium (family Berberidaceae), commonly known as Horny Goat Weed or Yin Yang Huo, is commonly used as a tonic, aphrodisiac, anti-rheumatic and anti-cancer agent in traditional herbal formulations in Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. The major bioactive compounds present within this plant include icariin, icaritin and icariside II. Although it is best known for its aphrodisiac properties, scientific and pharmacological studies suggest it possesses broad therapeutic capabilities, especially for enhancing reproductive function and osteoprotective, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and immunoprotective effects. In recent years, there has been great interest in scientific investigation of the purported anti-cancer properties of icariin and its derivatives. Data from in vitro and in vivo studies suggests these compounds demonstrate anti-cancer activity against a wide range of cancer cells which occurs through various mechanisms such as apoptosis, cell cycle modulation, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis and immunomodulation. Of note, they are efficient at targeting cancer stem cells and drug-resistant cancer cells. These are highly desirable properties to be emulated in the development of novel anti-cancer drugs in combatting the emergence of drug resistance and overcoming the limited efficacy of current standard treatment. This review aims to summarize the anti-cancer mechanisms of icariin and its derivatives with reference to the published literature. The currently utilized applications of icariin and its derivatives in cancer treatment are explored with reference to existing patents. Based on the data compiled, icariin and its derivatives are shown to be compounds with tremendous potential for the development of new anti-cancer drugs.