This article models a novel driving-day-based tradable credit scheme (DD-TCS) to alleviate urban traffic congestion. In this model, car-using allowances (in terms of the number of days in a month, termed as "cred...This article models a novel driving-day-based tradable credit scheme (DD-TCS) to alleviate urban traffic congestion. In this model, car-using allowances (in terms of the number of days in a month, termed as "credit") are freely and uniformly allocated to all travellers, who are also allowed to trade them in a market according to his/her travel needs (e.g. driving more or fewer days than the free endowment). As opposed to most studies on TCS, this paper explicitly considers the transaction cost (e.g. infor-mation cost of finding potential traders) in the trading market. To assess the feasibility of DD-TCS, we compare it against the license plate rationing (LPR) scheme, which has been practically implemented in many cities such as Beijing and Chengdu in China. Taking the performance of LPR as a benchmark, we quantify the threshold values of the transaction cost in DD-TCS when the two schemes yield equivalent performance (in terms of the total gener-alized cost). In numerical studies, we also compare the DD-TCS and LPR with the no-action case and the congestion pricing case (representing the theoretical optimum). Results show that both DD-TCS and LPR outperform the no-action case under certain conditions. With small trans-action cost, DD-TCS may achieve a lower system cost that can be very close to the ideal optimum. In addition, parameter analysis shows that DD-TCS performs better than LPR in a wide range of transaction cost, where the threshold values appear to account for a considerable portion of the auto travel time. This implies that DD-TCS will be more appealing than LPR in practice because a transaction cost lower than the extremely large threshold values can be easily achieved for the trading market, e.g. via a mobile platform and modern communication techniques.展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong> Inquiry evidence-based practice (IBP) improves healthcare quality, reliability, and patient outcomes as well as reduces variations in care and costs. IBP and its practice in he...<strong>Background:</strong> Inquiry evidence-based practice (IBP) improves healthcare quality, reliability, and patient outcomes as well as reduces variations in care and costs. IBP and its practice in health care promote also many advantages, such as improvements of practices based on the attitudes and cognitive ideas. This study aims to assess the inquiry based on evidence (IBP) and its practices in two Health Care Facilities (HCFs) of Bujumbura to help the practitioners to understand its importance. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study design was used to analyze the importance of IBP and its practice in these two hospitals. The probability-sampling technique was used also to select 104 nurses from the Military Hospital of Kamenge and 55 nurses from the Van Norman Clinic. A questionnaire was used to collect data with two mains components, demographic data and knowledge and attitudes addressing the following parameters: evidence practice during inquiry, nursing theory, current analysis in nursing care oriented the evidence, prioritization of care, rational diagnostic, monitoring and assessment. <strong>Results:</strong> The findings from this study revealed a poor knowledge and attitude among participants towards Inquiry Based Practice. In all variables, participants were scoring less than 10%. However, majority of participants (76.5%) know the indicators of patients’ satisfaction with nursing interventions through survey-based practice and 74.1% argued to analyze their information collected. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study revealed a weak awareness on IBP and its importance during nursing practice among participants as for almost all variables, participants were scoring less than 10%, except for the indicators of patients’ satisfaction with nursing interventions through survey-based practice (76.5%). Therefore, in-service training and curriculum revision had been highlighted and recommended another to provide the best rational diagnosis and achieve the patient’s outcomes.展开更多
Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents th...Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents the only liquid system supporting the recovery of all types of bacteria (aerobic, anaerobic, and fastidious bacteria). In addition, LBM offers advantages in the efficiency of microorganism recovery and ease of sampling, transport, and storage. LBM also allows the introduction of true automation in the laboratory: either by using Copan ? (Walk-Away Specimen Processor) or any other commercially available specimen processor that utilizes LBM. In this paper, we illustrate how LBM can positively change laboratory workflow by illustrating several years of our experience with LBM. LBM allows clinical specimen optimization and has several important advantages: cost reduction (due to the smaller number of different devices used), time savings for medical or nursing staff (less confusion in collection device selection and fewer samples being collected), time savings for laboratory staff (fewer samples to access and handle for individual investigations), and patient comfort improvement (multiple sample collection can be avoided). A unique collection device for several investigations also guarantees quality due to the uniformity of the sample and standardization of procedures.展开更多
Based on rational Bézier curves given by Ron Goldman, a new fractional rational Bézier curve was first defined in terms of fractional Bernstein bases. Moreover, some basic properties were dicussed and a theo...Based on rational Bézier curves given by Ron Goldman, a new fractional rational Bézier curve was first defined in terms of fractional Bernstein bases. Moreover, some basic properties were dicussed and a theorem connected to Poisson curves was obtained. Some examples in this paper were given by the visual results.展开更多
Through the joint efforts of editorial staff and multitudinous readers, Asian Agricultural Research eventually passes the extremely strict appraisal, to be indexed by CABI’s full text repository. CABI is globally acc...Through the joint efforts of editorial staff and multitudinous readers, Asian Agricultural Research eventually passes the extremely strict appraisal, to be indexed by CABI’s full text repository. CABI is globally acclaimed as one of the most author-itative and prestigious abstract data bases concerning agriculture and forestry. Since inception of publication, Asian Agri-cultural Research has also been indexed by AGE Database, Naresuan University Library, Rural Development Foundation of India, Royal Tropical Institute and CSA Illumina.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No.51608455)
文摘This article models a novel driving-day-based tradable credit scheme (DD-TCS) to alleviate urban traffic congestion. In this model, car-using allowances (in terms of the number of days in a month, termed as "credit") are freely and uniformly allocated to all travellers, who are also allowed to trade them in a market according to his/her travel needs (e.g. driving more or fewer days than the free endowment). As opposed to most studies on TCS, this paper explicitly considers the transaction cost (e.g. infor-mation cost of finding potential traders) in the trading market. To assess the feasibility of DD-TCS, we compare it against the license plate rationing (LPR) scheme, which has been practically implemented in many cities such as Beijing and Chengdu in China. Taking the performance of LPR as a benchmark, we quantify the threshold values of the transaction cost in DD-TCS when the two schemes yield equivalent performance (in terms of the total gener-alized cost). In numerical studies, we also compare the DD-TCS and LPR with the no-action case and the congestion pricing case (representing the theoretical optimum). Results show that both DD-TCS and LPR outperform the no-action case under certain conditions. With small trans-action cost, DD-TCS may achieve a lower system cost that can be very close to the ideal optimum. In addition, parameter analysis shows that DD-TCS performs better than LPR in a wide range of transaction cost, where the threshold values appear to account for a considerable portion of the auto travel time. This implies that DD-TCS will be more appealing than LPR in practice because a transaction cost lower than the extremely large threshold values can be easily achieved for the trading market, e.g. via a mobile platform and modern communication techniques.
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> Inquiry evidence-based practice (IBP) improves healthcare quality, reliability, and patient outcomes as well as reduces variations in care and costs. IBP and its practice in health care promote also many advantages, such as improvements of practices based on the attitudes and cognitive ideas. This study aims to assess the inquiry based on evidence (IBP) and its practices in two Health Care Facilities (HCFs) of Bujumbura to help the practitioners to understand its importance. <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study design was used to analyze the importance of IBP and its practice in these two hospitals. The probability-sampling technique was used also to select 104 nurses from the Military Hospital of Kamenge and 55 nurses from the Van Norman Clinic. A questionnaire was used to collect data with two mains components, demographic data and knowledge and attitudes addressing the following parameters: evidence practice during inquiry, nursing theory, current analysis in nursing care oriented the evidence, prioritization of care, rational diagnostic, monitoring and assessment. <strong>Results:</strong> The findings from this study revealed a poor knowledge and attitude among participants towards Inquiry Based Practice. In all variables, participants were scoring less than 10%. However, majority of participants (76.5%) know the indicators of patients’ satisfaction with nursing interventions through survey-based practice and 74.1% argued to analyze their information collected. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study revealed a weak awareness on IBP and its importance during nursing practice among participants as for almost all variables, participants were scoring less than 10%, except for the indicators of patients’ satisfaction with nursing interventions through survey-based practice (76.5%). Therefore, in-service training and curriculum revision had been highlighted and recommended another to provide the best rational diagnosis and achieve the patient’s outcomes.
文摘Liquid-based microbiology (LBM) is the future for the technological development of microbiology laboratories. In particular, the Eswab system (by Copan) simplifies and streamlines specimen collection and represents the only liquid system supporting the recovery of all types of bacteria (aerobic, anaerobic, and fastidious bacteria). In addition, LBM offers advantages in the efficiency of microorganism recovery and ease of sampling, transport, and storage. LBM also allows the introduction of true automation in the laboratory: either by using Copan ? (Walk-Away Specimen Processor) or any other commercially available specimen processor that utilizes LBM. In this paper, we illustrate how LBM can positively change laboratory workflow by illustrating several years of our experience with LBM. LBM allows clinical specimen optimization and has several important advantages: cost reduction (due to the smaller number of different devices used), time savings for medical or nursing staff (less confusion in collection device selection and fewer samples being collected), time savings for laboratory staff (fewer samples to access and handle for individual investigations), and patient comfort improvement (multiple sample collection can be avoided). A unique collection device for several investigations also guarantees quality due to the uniformity of the sample and standardization of procedures.
文摘Based on rational Bézier curves given by Ron Goldman, a new fractional rational Bézier curve was first defined in terms of fractional Bernstein bases. Moreover, some basic properties were dicussed and a theorem connected to Poisson curves was obtained. Some examples in this paper were given by the visual results.
文摘Through the joint efforts of editorial staff and multitudinous readers, Asian Agricultural Research eventually passes the extremely strict appraisal, to be indexed by CABI’s full text repository. CABI is globally acclaimed as one of the most author-itative and prestigious abstract data bases concerning agriculture and forestry. Since inception of publication, Asian Agri-cultural Research has also been indexed by AGE Database, Naresuan University Library, Rural Development Foundation of India, Royal Tropical Institute and CSA Illumina.
