Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Rank dependent social evaluation function"

In the context of the dual decomposition of the rank dependent social evaluation functions we examine the k-PTS principle introduced by Gajdos and introduce a new property with balanced sensitivity to both tails of the distribution. In particular we analyse its implications for the S-Gini family.

Inferring the relative rank (i.e., status) of others is essential to navigating social hierarchies. A survey of the expanding social psychological and neuroscience literatures on status reveals a diversity of focuses (e.g., perceiver vs. agent), operationalizations (e.g., status as dominance vs. wealth), and methodologies (e.g., behavioral, neuroscientific). Accommodating this burgeoning literature on status in person perception, the present review offers a novel social neuroscientific framework that integrates existing work with theoretical clarity. This framework distinguishes between five key concepts: (1) strategic pathways to status acquisition for agents, (2) status antecedents (i.e., perceptual and knowledge-based cues that confer status rank), (3) status dimensions (i.e., domains in which an individual may be ranked, such as wealth), (4) status level (i.e., one’s rank along a given dimension), and (5) the relative importance of a given status dimension, dependent on perceiver and context characteristics. Against the backdrop of this framework, we review multiple dimensions of status in the nonhuman and human primate literatures. We then review the behavioral and neuroscientific literatures on the consequences of perceived status for attention and evaluation. Finally, after proposing a social neuroscience framework, we highlight innovative directions for future social status research in social psychology and neuroscience.

Abstract:Stochastic dominance (SD) is commonly used to rank income distributions and assess social policies. The literature argues that SD is a robust criterion for policy evaluation because it requires minimal knowledge of the social welfare function. We argue that, on the contrary, SD is not a robust criterion. We do this by carefully introducing microfoundations into a model by Chu and Koo (1990) who use SD to provide support to family-planning programs aiming at reducing the fertility of the poor. We show that fertility restrictions are generally detrimental for both individual and social welfare in spite of the fact that SD holds. Our findings are an application of the Lucas’ Critique.

This paper studies linear factor models that have arbitrarily dependent factors. Assuming that the coefficients are known and that their matrix representation satisfies rank conditions, we identify the nonparametric joint distribution of the unobserved factors using first and then second-order partial derivatives of the log characteristic function of the observed variables. In conjunction with these identification strategies the mean and variance of the vector of factors are identified. The main result provides necessary and sufficient conditions for identification of the joint distribution of the factors. In an illustrative example, we show identification of an earnings dynamics model with a subset of arbitrarily dependent income shocks. Closed-form formulas lead to estimators that converge uniformly and despite being based on inverse Fourier transforms have tight confidence bands around their theoretical counterparts in Monte Carlo simulations.

This paper describes a unique meta-heuristic technique for hybridizing bio-inspired heuristic algorithms. The technique is based on altering the state of agents using a logistic probability function that is dependent on an agent’s fitness rank. An evaluation using two bio-inspired algorithms (bat algorithm (BA) and krill herd (KH)) and 12 optimization problems (cross-in-tray, rotated hyper-ellipsoid (RHE), sphere, sum of squares, sum of different powers, McCormick, Zakharov, Rosenbrock, De Jong No. 5, Easom, Branin, and Styblinski–Tang) is presented. Furthermore, an experimental evaluation of the proposed scheme using the industrial three-bar truss design problem is presented. The experimental results demonstrate that the hybrid scheme outperformed the baseline algorithms (mean rank for the hybrid BA-KH algorithm is 1.279 vs. 1.958 for KH and 2.763 for BA).

PT Sarana Utama Adimandiri (SUA) which is engaged in the construction sector implements an IMS application in its purchasing activity. This paper aims at describing the evaluation of employee acceptance of the information system at PT SUA using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) approach. TAM has two main variables i.e: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use which function as independent variables, while the dependent variable is acceptance of IT (integrated management system/IMS applications). The population and sample in this study were all employees of PT SUA, which was used to obtain research data through the distribution of structured questionnaires. The instrument was tested using validity and reliability tests, and data was analyzed by using spearman rank test. This study suggests that there is a strong effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on acceptance of IT.

Introduction: The degradation of cognitive function present early dementia in elderly. Brain gym is one of the alternative implementation to improve the cognitive function of elderly. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of brain gym to the improvement of cognitive function in elderly.Methods: This study used Quasy Experimental design. The populations were elderly in Social Service Unit Tresna Werdha Lamongan. The samples were recruited using purposive sampling, consist of 30 respondents, taken according to the inclusion criteria. Samples then divided into 2 groups, experimental groups and control groups. The independent variable of research this study was brain gym and the dependent variable was cognitive function at elderly. Data were collected by using MMSE score and then analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and Mann Whitney Test with level of significance α ≤ 0.05.Results: Result showed that there is an effect of brain gym to the improvement of cognitive function in elderly (p = 0.001). The difference of cognitive function also seen between experimental groups and control groups (p = 0.001).Conclusion: The conclusion of this research is brain gym improve cognitive function in elderly. The simple movement of brain gym able to coordinate the brain function so the brain activity become more optimal hence the improvement of memory function, recall and concentration.

14039 Background: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has been linked to hypertension (HTN) and arterial thrombo-embolic events that may involve changes in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Methods: 25 patients (pts) with advanced cancer, normal renal function and blood pressure (BP), no increased risks for anti-VEGF toxicities, and not on medications known to confound biomarker studies (including anti-hypertensives) were treated with bevacizumab (BV) 15mg/kg d1, then 10mg/kg q2 week. Prior to biomarker assessment, all patients were placed on a calorie-, nitrate-, and salt-restricted diet for 72 hr. All measures were taken pre-treatment (preRx) and on day 28 of treatment (onRx). Dependant variables included; a) Brachial artery reactivity (BAR) following hyperemic flow stimulus (endothelium-dependent) and sub-lingual nitroglycerine (NTG; endothelium-independent); b) exhaled and plasma/urine total NO2/NO3 using chemiluminescence (Sievers 280NOA) with either KI or VCl3 in HCl as the reductants; c) blood pressure. Additionally, we measured multiple regulators of vascular tone and injury. Comparisons were analyzed using Spearman signed rank tests. Results: Of 25 pts (16 F, 9 M) treated, 21 patients were fully evaluable. Significant changes or strong trends were observed upon comparing preRx vs. onRx for BP (SBP +12.4, DBP +5.6, MAP +7.9 mm Hg), and flow-mediated BAR (-2.0%) with no changes in hyperemic flow/shear stimulus or smooth muscle function (BAR NTG), indicating a decrease in brachial artery endothelial responsiveness. Exhaled NO decreased (-0.8% d1vs d28 and -0.6% pre/post infusion day1). Measurement and data analysis of urinary/plasma NO2/NO3, as well as angiogenic markers, are almost complete and will be reported. Conclusions: After one month of treatment, BV increased BP and decreased endothelium- dependent BAR and exhaled NO, suggesting potentially broad, mechanism-based effects on NO bioavailability in patients. [Table: see text]

We have previously shown that a diet containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and beta-alanine is not effective in improving either cognitive or muscle function in aged (18 month) mice (Gibbons et al., Behav. Brain Res., 2014, 272:131–140; Pence et al., Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab., 2016, 41(2): 181–190). However, this diet reduced oxidative stress in the brain, and previous studies using longer term interventions and other doses have documented beneficial effects in cognitive and muscle function, especially with EGCG. Here we hypothesized that a different dose of EGCG or longer feeding period would be more efficacious in improving cognition. Aged (21–25 mo) Balb/cByJ male mice underwent 63 days of feeding with EGCG at 0, 0.091, or 3.67 mg/g AIN-93M diet and were then subjected to a battery of cognitive and muscle function tests. EGCG feeding at either of the 2 doses did not alter preference for novel versus familiar arm in the Y-maze test (p = 0.29) and did not affect learning in the active avoidance test (p = 0.76). Similarly, EGCG did not affect preference for novel versus familiar mice in a social discrimination test (p = 0.17). Likewise, there was no effect of EGCG on muscle function by grip strength (p = 0.16), rotarod (p = 0.18), or treadmill test to exhaustion (p = 0.25). EGCG reduced mortality in a dose-dependent fashion (p = 0.05, log-rank test for trend), with 91% of high EGCG, 72% of low EGCG, and 55% of control mice surviving to the end of the study. In conclusion, EGCG improves survival in aged mice but does not affect cognitive or muscle function.

AbstractThe multifactorial etiology of stress-related disorders necessitates a constant interrogation of the molecular convergences in preclinical models of stress that use disparate paradigms as stressors spanning from environmental challenges to genetic predisposition to hormonal signaling. Using RNA-sequencing, we investigated the genomic signatures in the ventral hippocampus common to mouse models of stress. Chronic oral corticosterone (CORT) induced increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior in wild-type male mice and male mice heterozygous for the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met, a variant associated with genetic susceptibility to stress. In a separate set of male mice, chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) led to a susceptible or a resilient population, whose proportion was dependent on housing conditions, namely standard housing or enriched environment. Rank-rank-hypergeometric overlap (RRHO), a threshold-free approach that ranks genes by their p value and effect size direction, was used to identify genes from a continuous gradient of significancy that were concordant across groups. In mice treated with CORT and in standard-housed susceptible mice, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were concordant for gene networks involved in neurotransmission, cytoskeleton function, and vascularization. Weighted gene co-expression analysis generated 54 gene hub modules and revealed two modules in which both CORT and CSDS-induced enrichment in DEGs, whose function was concordant with the RRHO predictions, and correlated with behavioral resilience or susceptibility. These data showed transcriptional concordance across models in which the stress coping depends upon hormonal, environmental, or genetic factors revealing common genomic drivers that embody the multifaceted nature of stress-related disorders.

Questa tesi ha per oggetto la teoria della tassazione ottima del reddito e analizza l’effetto di differenti obiettivi redistributivi sul sistema fiscale. In particolare, si identifica la struttura di un sistema fiscale volto a conseguire la riduzione della diseguaglianza e della polarizzazione dei redditi. A tal fine, in linea con Kanbur et. al (2006) e Saez e Stantcheva (2016) si adotta un approccio “non-welfarista” (n.w.) e si esaminano sistemi di tassazione“a scaglioni” (piecewise). Come noto, la distinzione principale tra approccio welfarista e n.w. è data dall'argomento della funzione di benessere sociale adottata. In particolare, l’approccio n.w. è caratterizzato dallo spostamento dell’interesse dall'utilità al reddito. Esso risulta il più adatto quando si assumono obiettivi di riduzione della diseguaglianza, povertà e polarizzazione. Il sistema di tassazione ottimale scaturisce da un esercizio di massimizzazione vincolata di una funzione di benessere sociale basata sui redditi netti degli individui, ordinati in ordine crescente e pesati secondo la posizione occupata nella relativa distribuzione. La specifica forma della funzione di pesi adottata identifica l’obiettivo n.w. Si considerano due diverse funzioni di pesi che permettono di esprimere gli obiettivi redistributivi in termini di variazioni di un indice di diseguaglianza (Gini) o di un indice di polarizzazione. Il sistema fiscale considerato, oltre ad essere il più diffuso, è lo strumento più idoneo a identificare gli effetti dovuti alla variazione degli obiettivi redistributivi. I risultati ottenuti evidenziano la relazione tra lo specifico obiettivo redistributivo e la struttura del sistema fiscale ottimale. Quando la tassazione è finalizzata a raccogliere un certo livello di gettito, senza ridistribuire le risorse raccolte, il risultato cambia se l’obiettivo è ridurre la diseguaglianza oppure la polarizzazione. Con offerta di lavoro fissa, il sistema fiscale finalizzato alla riduzione della diseguaglianza richiede di tassare con l’aliquota massima consentita tutti i redditi al di sopra di una certa soglia, mentre per tutti quelli al di sotto di tale soglia la tassazione è zero. La soglia è fissata in modo da raccogliere il gettito richiesto. Per ridurre la polarizzazione, invece, la soluzione ottima prevede tre scaglioni reddituali con aliquote marginali nulle nel primo e nell'ultimo scaglione, e la massima consentita in quello centrale, che include il reddito mediano. Con offerta di lavoro variabile ed elasticità costante su tutta la distribuzione, i risultati sono qualitativamente in linea con quelli ottenuti con offerta fissa; pertanto il sistema fiscale per ridurre la diseguaglianza è “convesso” con aliquote marginali crescenti, mentre quello per ridurre la polarizzazione è “non-convesso” con aliquota marginale ridotta per l’ultimo scaglione. Il ricorso a trasferimenti “lump-sum” rende il sistema fiscale ottimale indipendente dal livello di gettito richiesto; il segno del trasferimento è dato dalla differenza tra il gettito raccolto e quello richiesto. Il sistema fiscale per ridurre la diseguaglianza è convesso, tranne i casi in cui l’elasticità dell’offerta di lavoro è alta oppure quando il livello iniziale di diseguaglianza non è molto elevato. Per ridurre la polarizzazione il sistema ottimale è sempre non-convesso. In entrambi i casi le aliquote marginali si riducono all'aumentare dell’elasticità, assunta costante su tutta la distribuzione. L’utilizzo di sussidi o tasse “lump-sum” dipende dalla combinazione tra il livello iniziale di dispersione e il valore dell’elasticità. La tassazione a somma fissa risulta preferibile per ridurre la polarizzazione. Infine, con elasticità non costante e senza ridistribuzione, i risultati sono in linea con quelli ottenuti con elasticità costante. Tuttavia, rispetto a quest’ultimo caso le aliquote marginali risultano inferiori per i redditi che occupano i percentili più bassi associati a elasticità più elevate.
This dissertation focuses on optimal income taxation theory and analyses the effect of different redistributive objectives on the shape of the optimal tax system. In particular, we investigate how the optimal tax system should be designed in order to achieve inequality and polarization reduction objectives. To this end, in line with the works by Kanbur et al. (2006) and Saez and Stantcheva (2016) we adopt a “non-welfarist” (n.w.) approach and focus on piecewise linear tax systems. By choosing the n.w. approach we recognize that redistributive objectives are crucial per se to the determination of the optimal tax schedule, and not necessarily because of the shape of the agents’ utility function. The main difference between welfarism and n.w. is that in the latter the argument of the social welfare function is different from individuals’ utility. Therefore, we focus on income as the most appropriate variable to investigate when the government’s objective is the reduction of inequality, poverty or polarization. We formalize the n.w. objective by assuming that the government maximizes a rank-dependent social evaluation function defined over individuals’ net income, subject to a budget constraint. Then, the evaluation of the income distribution can be summarized by the mean income of the distribution and a linear index of dispersion dependent on the choice of the weighting function. Specifically, we consider two weighting functions which allow to formalize redistributive objectives expressed in terms of changes in the Gini index of income in case of inequality considerations. Then, by suitable modifications of the positional weights it is possible, within the same model, to move towards evaluations concerned with the income polarization. We consider piecewise linear tax systems that represent the most adopted scheme and the easiest way to identify changes in the tax schedule when the government objectives move from inequality to polarization reduction. The results we obtain highlight the relationship between the redistributive objective and the theoretical optimal shape of the tax system. In particular, when redistribution is not allowed and the focus is only on the socially desirable mechanism collecting a given level of per-capita revenue, the optimal tax schemes substantially differ depending on whether the government is inequality or polarization sensitive. With fixed labour supply the optimal tax system reducing inequality requires a no tax area until a given threshold and the maximal admissible taxation above that threshold, which is set in order to satisfy the revenue requirement. As to polarization reduction, the optimal tax system requires to tax with the maximal admissible tax rate all incomes within the central bracket, including also the median income. Tax rates in the two external brackets are set equal to zero. When we introduce constant labour supply elasticity the results are qualitatively confirmed. The optimal tax systems reducing inequality and polarization are respectively convex and non-convex. By introducing the possibility to use lump-sum transfers (tax and subsidy) the design of the optimal tax system is independent of the revenue requirement and the sign of the lump-sum transfer depends on the difference between the collected amount and the required revenue. The optimal tax system reducing inequality (polarization) is convex (non-convex), with marginal tax rates decreasing in the level of the constant labour supply elasticity. The lump-sum transfer is positive or negative depending on the combination of the level of gross income dispersion and the value of labour supply elasticity. Then, the lump-sum taxation is more likely to be used to reduce polarization. Finally, when redistribution is not allowed and assuming non-constant labour supply elasticity the results are qualitatively in line with the case of constant elasticity. However, marginal tax rates are lower for income percentiles exhibiting higher elasticity.

AbstractRecently, the “social brain” (i.e., how the brain works in social context and the mechanisms for our social behavior) has gained focus in neuroscience literature – largely due to the fact that recently developed techniques allow studying different aspects of human social cognition and its brain correlates. In this context, hyperscanning techniques (Montague et al., Neuroimage 16(4):1159–1164, 2002) open the horizon for human interaction studies, allowing for the evaluation of interbrain connectivity. These techniques represent methods for simultaneously recording signals from different brains when subjects are interacting. In this chapter, we will explore the potentials of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which are techniques based on blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal. We will start with a brief explanation of the BOLD response basic principles and the mechanisms involved in fMRI and fNIRS measurements related to brain function. We will then discuss the foundation of the social brain, based on the first studies, with one subject per data acquisition, to allow for understanding the new possibilities that hyperscanning techniques offer. Finally, we will focus on the scientific literature reporting fMRI and fNIRShyperscanning contribution to understand the social brain.

This chapter explains how to evaluate the distributional consequences of health programmes by comparing inequality penalized measures of population health. The approach taken is founded on use of rank-dependent social welfare functions (SWFs) that evaluate population health outcomes in terms of equity-weighted average health, using weights that depend only on rank in the distribution of health. The underlying ethical principles and resource allocation implications are compared with those of the level-dependent welfare function approach introduced in the next chapter. Conditions under which quantitative results derived from a rank-dependent SWF are consistent with the preference ordering of programmes established by dominance analysis are identified. The approach is easily extended to allow for aversion to health inequality in relation to an equity-relevant variable, such as socioeconomic status.

This chapter explains how you can use level-dependent social welfare functions (SWFs) to evaluate health distributions in a manner that is founded on explicit, challengeable, and consistent ethical principles. A level-dependent social welfare function (SWF) weights health gains for one person or group relative to another as a function of their absolute health levels. By contrast, a rank-dependent SWF weights health gains for one person or group relative to another as a function of their health ranks in the wider population. A level-dependent SWF is also called a prioritarian SWF. The basic prioritarian principle is a specific value judgment giving priority to the worse-off based on their absolute level of health. The aim of this chapter is to describe level-dependent SWFs and how they can be used to conduct equity-efficiency trade-off analysis. A SWF can be consistent with many different sets of weights, which vary according to the chosen value of an equity parameter. We show how level-dependent equity parameters can be used to perform a systematic sensitivity analysis of how different degrees of concern for the worse-off have different policy implications.

Background: Elderly people face health problems associated with reduced health and increased disability. Dependent elderly on caregivers who cause a burden affecting the quality of life of caregivers. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the burden and quality of life among dependent elderly caregivers. Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pakuncen Village, Yogyakarta. The study subjects were 30 informal caregivers who cared for their family member aged ≥ 60 years with moderate dependence. Instruments used to screen dependent elderly included Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrument Activities of Daily Living (IADL) to measure level of independence, MMSE and AD-8 to assess cognitive function of elderly. Caregivers aged ≥ 60 years underwent MMSE and those with scores <24 was excluded. Caregivers’ burden ware measured using The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA). Measurements of quality of life among caregivers was conducted by WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analyzed using Spearman-rank correlation. Results: Out of 30 caregivers, 24 were female and 6 were male with an average age of 49 years. Most respondents had light to moderate burden (Mean= 34.27; SD=18.94). Caregivers’ quality of life were low (<60) in psychological (Mean= 58.17; SD= 12.31), social relation (Mean= 59.77; SD= 9.04), and the environment domains (Mean= 51.90; SD= 10.00). Caregivers’ quality of life was high (≥60) in physical health domain (Mean= 63.30; SD=12.83). There were negative correlations between caregiver burden (ZBI and CRA) and the quality life of caregivers (WHOQOL-BREF). Conclusion: In Yogyakarta, the burden of caregivers (ZBI and CRA) and the quality of caregivers’ lives (WHOQOL-BREF) are negatively correlated. Keywords: caregiver, burden, quality of life, dependent, elderly Correspondence: Herose Cendrasilvinia. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Duta Wacana Christian, Yogyakarta. Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo 5-25 Yogyakarta, 55224. Email: herosecendrasilvinia@gmail.com. Mobile: 081226466770. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.01.08

Solar energy systems are becoming potential option for numerous applications. It has been shown that the application of solar energy system is strongly dependent on criteria’s used in their evaluation. Single criteria evaluation of solar energy systems has shown its deficiency due to limited possibility to compare them with other potential options. In particular, present economic system is based on the econometric analysis with priority given to the optimum obtained by the economically justified optimization function. For this reason, it has become needed to introduce multi-criteria evaluation procedure in the assessment of solar energy system and its comparison with other potential options. This paper presents evaluation of the solar photovoltaic system and its comparison with other renewable energy system options for stand-alone application. In this evaluation following energy systems will be taking into a consideration: grid electric energy supply, wind energy system, gas turbine with cogeneration, small hydro energy system and solar photo-voltaic energy system. In the evaluation of these systems the multi-criteria evaluation procedure is used. The multi-criteria evaluation procedure will comprise a following criteria’s: economic, environmental, technological and social indicators. Each of indicators will be based on the sub-criteria which are defined in the paper. The sustainability index as the agglomeration function indicators will be used in the determination of the rating among the options under consideration. Special emphasize in evaluation is given to to the conditional priority of indicators leading to the investigation of the effect of the indicator priority to the finale rating among options.

Abstract In recent years, carbon neutrality has emerged as an important social and political focus globally, where carbon sequestration plays a key role. The present work is aimed at introducing ASCAPE (Aquifer Storage CAPacity Evaluation tool), a fast and flexible tool useful in case of CO2 aquifer sequestration to preliminarily evaluate the required storage capacity as a function of the maximum allowable pressure increment. ASCAPE is based on the volumetric method included in SPE "Guidelines for Applications of the CO2 Storage Resources Management System" (SPE, 2020) for aquifer sequestration. The analytical formula was integrated to include additional physical phenomena as CO2 solubility in water, pressure control through water production, effect of gas pools connected to aquifer. The tool, implemented in Excel/VBA environment, allows to easily obtain a theoretical Pressure increment vs. Aquifer Volume curve useful to estimate the required aquifer volume to store a given quantity of CO2. ASCAPE results were validated comparing to a simplified 3D model simulated by a compositional commercial dynamic simulator. The validation showed a very good alignment with the 3D dynamic simulation results under several conditions. Many tests were performed with and without the CO2 solubility model, demonstrating that this phenomenon acts as pressure increment reducer. The original volumetric model can be therefore considered slightly conservative, since it neglects this physical contribution, which allowed to improve the reliability of the proposed analytical model. The proposed methodology is a general-purpose application being not related to a specified candidate and, therefore, it can be tailored on the specific scenario to be evaluated. ASCAPE was developed for preliminary screening of CO2 sequestration concepts in greenfield development areas, where the absence of brown or exhausted fields makes the storage in aquifer the only viable solution. Different aquifers were compared under certain assumptions of carbon to be stored with and without water production, allowing a preliminary evaluation that will be used to rank the concepts in terms of technical/economic feasibility.

The basic power piping creep life calculations consider the important variables of time, temperature and stress for the creep rupture properties of the unique material. Some engineering evaluations of remaining life estimate the applied stress as the design stress obtained from a conventional piping stress analysis. Other remaining life evaluations may assume that a conservative estimate of the applied stress is no greater than the hoop stress due to pressure. The creep rupture properties of the unique material are usually obtained from the base material creep rupture properties. The typical methodologies to estimate remaining life do not consider the actual applied stress due to malfunctioning supports, multiaxial stress effects, axial and through-wall creep redistribution, time-dependent material-specific weldment creep rupture properties, residual welding stresses, and actual operating temperatures and pressures. It has been determined that the initiation and propagation of Grade 91 creep damage is a function of stress to about the power of 9 at higher applied stresses. There have been many examples of malfunctioning piping supports creating unintended high stresses. When the axial stress is nearly as high as the hoop stress, the applicable corresponding uniaxial stress for creep rupture life is increased about 30%. Multiaxial stress effects in circumferential weldments (e.g., when the axial stress is nearly as high as the hoop stress) can reduce the weldment creep life to less than 1/6th of the predicted life assuming a uniaxial stress or hoop stress due to pressure only. Since 2012, the ASME B31.1 Code has required that significant piping displacement variations from the expected design displacements shall be considered to assess the piping system’s integrity [1]. This paper discusses a strategy for an enhanced creep life evaluation of power piping circumferential weldments. Piping stresses can vary by a factor greater than 2.0. Consequently, the range of circumferential weldment creep rupture lives for a single piping system may vary by a factor as high as 40. Although there is uncertainty in the operating times at temperatures and pressures, all of the weldments within the piping system have the same time, temperatures, and pressures, so the corresponding uncertainties for these three attributes are normalized within the same piping system. Since the applied stresses are the most important weld-to-weld variable within a piping system, it is necessary to have an accurate evaluation of the applied stresses to properly rank the creep rupture lives of the circumferential weldments. This methodology has been successfully used to select the lead-the-fleet creep damage in circumferential weldments over the past 15 years.