PREFERENCE AND EVOLUTION IN THE ITERATED PRISONER'S DILEMMA

Game theory is extensively used to study strategy-making and actions of play- ers. The authors proposed an analysis method for study the evolutionary outcome and behaviors of players with preference in iterated prisoner＇s dilemma. In this article, a preference parameter k was introduced in the payoff matrix, wherein the value of k denotes the player＇s degree of egoism and altruism （preference）. Then, a game-theoretic dynamical model was formulated using Birth-and-Death process. The authors studied how preference influences the evolutionary equilibrium and behaviors of players. The authors get the general results： egoism leads to defection, and altruism can make players build trust and maintain cooperation, and so, the hope of the Pareto optimal solution. In the end, the simulation experiments proved the efficiency of the method.

Do inflammatory bowel disease patient preferences from treatment outcomes differ by ethnicity and gender?A cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)patients’expectations of treatment outcomes may differ by ethnicity.AIM To investigate treatment preferences of Jewish and Arabs patients.METHODS This prospective survey ranked outcomes treatment preferences among Arab IBD patients,based on the 10 IBD-disk items compared to historical data of Jews.An anonymous questionnaire in either Arabic or Hebrew was distributed among IBD patients.Patients were required to rank 10 statements describing different aspects of IBD according to their importance to the patients as treatment goals.Answers were compared to the answers of a historical group of Jewish patients.RESULTS IBD-disk items of 121 Arabs were compared to 240 Jewish patients.The Jewish patients included more females,[151(62.9%)vs 52(43.3%);P<0.001],higher education level(P=0.02),more urban residence[188(78.3%)vs 54(45.4%);P<0.001],less unemployment[52(21.7%)vs 41(33.9%);P=0.012],higher income level(P<0.001),and more in a partnership[162(67.8%)vs 55(45.4%);P<0.001].Expectations regarding disease symptoms:abdominal pain,energy,and regular defecation ranked highest for both groups.Arabs gave significantly lower rankings(range 4.29-6.69)than Jewish patients(range 6.25-9.03)regarding all items,except for body image.Compared to Arab women,Jewish women attached higher priority to abdominal pain,energy,education/work,sleep,and joint pain.Multivariable regression analysis revealed that higher patient preferences were associated with Jewish ethnicity(OR 4.77;95%CI 2.36-9.61,P<0.001)and disease activity.The more active the disease,the greater the odds ratio for higher ranking of the questionnaire items(1-2 attacks per year:OR 2.13;95%CI 1.02-4.45,P=0.043;and primarily active disease:OR 5.29;95%CI 2.30-12.18,P<0.001).Factors inversely associated with higher patient preference were male gender(OR 0.5;95%CI 0.271-0.935,P=0.030),UC(OR 0.444;95%CI 0.241-0.819,P=0.009),and above average income level(OR 0.267;95%CI:0.124-0.577,P=0.001).CONCLUSION The highest priority for treatment outcomes was symptom relief.,Patients preferences were impacted by ethnicity,gender,and socio-economic disparity.Understanding patients'priorities may improve communication and enable a personalized approach.

Application Research of Ingroup Preference in Employee Relationship Management

With stepwise development of Chinese enterprise,management problem is increasingly prominent,especially human resource management issues. Facing international environment of entering into World Trade Organization,the country accelerates construction pace of human resource management subject in colleges and universities,which provides professional channel for management efficiency and market competition ability of Chinese enterprise,but it is still far from practice. In this paper,the concept,origin and inhibition factors of ingroup preference are elaborated. Based on the visual angle of ingroup preference,started from four dimensions( enterprise incentive system,talent management idea,psychological contract and employee communication consciousness),main problems existing in employee relationship management of modern enterprise are explored. It is specially emphasized that manager often holds the blame in front of dealing with the crisis after contradiction,which is " fatal point" neglected in employee relationship management of modern enterprise. To improve its core competitive power,enterprise must value harmonious relationship with employees.

Multi-national observational study to assess quality of life and treatment preferences in patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas

BACKGROUND Patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)are at risk of developing complications such as perianal fistulas.Patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas(CPF)are affected by fecal incontinence(FI),bleeding,pain,swelling,and purulent perianal discharge,and METHODS This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in patients with CD aged 21-90 years via a web-enabled questionnaire in seven countries(April-August 2021).Patients were recruited into three cohorts:Cohort 1 included patients without perianal fistulas;cohort 2 included patients with perianal fistulas without fistula-related surgery;and cohort 3 included patients with perianal fistulas and fistula-related surgery.Validated patient-reported outcome measures were used to assess quality of life.Drivers of treatment preferences were measured using a discrete choice experiment(DCE).RESULTS In total,929 patients were recruited(cohort 1,n=620;cohort 2,n=174;cohort 3,n=135).Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores were worse for patients with CPF(cohorts 2 and 3)than for those with CD without CPF(cohort 1):Mean score 3.8 and 3.7 vs 4.1,respectively,(P<0.001).Similarly,mean Revised FI and FI Quality of Life scores were worse for patients with CPF than for those with CD without CPF.Quality of Life with Anal Fistula scores were similar in patients with CPF with or without CPF-related surgery(cohorts 2 and 3):Mean score 41 and 42,respectively.In the DCE,postoperative discomfort and fistula healing rate were the most important treatment attributes influencing treatment choice:Mean relative importance 35.7 and 24.7,respectively.CONCLUSION The burden of illness in CD is significantly higher for patients with CPF and patients rate lower postoperative discomfort and higher healing rates as the most desirable treatment attributes.

Generic Framework for Context-Aware Communication Services in Visitor’s Guides

Ubiquitous computing plays an increasing role in our lives. Typically, applications in ubiquitous computing environ-ments are context aware, namely, they react to the situations of their users at a given moment in time. One example for such environment is visitor’s guides in cultural heritage sites, supporting visits of individuals or small groups, such as families or friends. In such environments, it is well known that interaction among visitors enhances the overall visit experience. Recently, some research prototypes of visitor’s guides have started supporting such interaction through textual communication services embedded in them. However, these applications have so far been developed separately in an ad-hoc manner, despite common features and infrastructures they share. The research described here generalizes communication services offered by different visitor’s guides and suggests a systematic and generic framework for developing context-aware communication services for visitor’s guides. The specific communication services are abstracted into a domain model, later used in practice for adapting and tailoring the different concepts to the specific requirements of the applications. The framework is demonstrated in the specific setting of a multi-agent museum visitor’s guide system. We also show that the suggested framework is not limited to the specific museum visitor’s guide system but may facilitate the development of context-aware communication applications in general.

Location Attractiveness as a Major Factor in Museum Visitors＇Choice and Satisfaction

This paper is intended to give a contribution to the debate on the functional relationship between the museum and the local territory; more specifically, the aim of this study is to understand the role of a museum location in attracting visitors and influencing their processes of choice and satisfaction. The study follows, in particular, a previous study conducted by Mariani and Mussini （2013） based on Fondazione di Venezia data, with a view to better contextualization level. Previous studies have examined the role of museums in enhancing the image of a destination and in attracting and conveying additional tourists＇ fluxes, arguing that although not all museums are a destination of choice for visitors, a great museum or a strong exhibition program still does represent a national and international attraction. This paper overturns this argument investigating whereas an appealing location （such as a tourist destination） can influence prospective visitors about the level of attractiveness of a pay cultural event taking place therein. A questionnaire was developed and data were collected at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy, in 2007, during the art exhibition ＂Venezia e l＇Islam 829-1797＂, via 501 face-to-face visitors interviews. The research model analyzes data through the conjoint analysis and the descriptive statistics. Results show that the exhibition location has been a relevant factor in influencing the visitors＇ decision process linked to the attendance of the event. Data show that, for the majority of visitors, the exhibition had been located elsewhere, they would not have visited it. Thus, an appealing location or a structured tourist destination may function as an attractive platform that may contribute to enforce the overall visitor＇s satisfaction with regard to his or her attendance to a cultural event. Furthermore, such a fact depends on specific objective variables （e.g., level of education, age）, although no significant differences were reported between segments based on other socio-demographic characteristics such as sex. To conclude, arts and cultural managers should market and position cultural events in locations that can function as attractive, thus as emotionally driven experience consumption sites. Furthermore, they should consider both the cognitive and the emotional aspects of visitor＇s experience when designing and planning their events, as well as when assessing visitor＇s satisfaction. Cognitive and emotional aspects should be considered simultaneously when measuring visitors＇ satisfaction. In shaping visitors＇ satisfaction, emotions, such as the pleasure to be in a particular location, are more significant than cognitive aspects, such as the theme of the exhibition.

基于游客自愿拍摄法(VSEP)的旅游审美研究方法探索

旅游活动是一项审美实践活动。旅游者旅游审美偏好的影响因素是什么?西方学界强调以照片为基础的景观偏好(landscape preference)研究,中国学界重视经验性思考,但至今未有共识性结论。数码相机的普及使通过考察大众游客的摄影动机与行为来研究其审美行为成为可能。本文以游客受雇拍摄法(VEP)为基础,提出了"游客自愿拍摄法"(VSEP);通过探测九寨沟、张家界、嵩山3个知名旅游地大众旅游者摄影动机与影响因素,研究检验了以往以照片为基础的景观偏好影响因素部分结论,探索了"游客自愿拍摄法"(VSEP)在研究旅游审美方面的可行性,并在此基础上有新的研究发现。

基于TOPSIS的出行方案评价指标权重的确定方法

旅客出行偏好选择问题是旅客出行行为分析理论的一个重要部分,而旅客对出行方案的选择是基于对各种方案的评价指标的综合分析.但旅客对各评价指标的侧重程度,即属性权重的计算,目前常用方法都有一定的局限性.本文以旅客出行偏好选择为背景,借助多指标评价方法TOPSIS的评价准则,以实际的大规模旅客调查数据为基础,分析、确定旅客对出行方案各属性指标的权重,为旅客出行行为分析提供重要、客观、可靠的依据.经过实例验证,证明了该方法的有效性,并将计算结果代入多项Logit模型,进一步验证了计算结果的合理性.此外,该方法计算简便、易于实现,对于各种交通方式下的旅客出行偏好选择问题具有普遍适用性.

基于D-S证据理论的地震应急救援群决策

为解决地震应急救援群决策中专家偏好冲突问题,提出一种基于登普斯特-沙弗尔(DS)证据理论的专家偏好型应急救援群决策方法。首先,考虑方案执行时间和方案资源的客观属性以及专家的主观偏好,在传统地震救援群决策过程基础上,设计改进的专家偏好型群决策过程;然后,借鉴应急协商模型,设计考虑方案执行时间和资源的偏好函数,基于三角模糊数定义专家主观偏好程度,并运用D-S证据理论综合专家偏好度作方案选择;最后,以2017年九寨沟地震为试验算例,开展方法对比性试验和偏好敏感性试验。结果表明:与仅考虑方案执行时间和资源或基于三角模糊偏好相比,考虑方案执行时间和资源偏好的决策方案更能满足实际地震应急救援需求,且专家的平衡性偏好更有利于地震应急救援方案的正确选择。

Measuring Recreational Value of World Heritage Sites Based on Contingent Valuation Method:A Case Study of Jiuzhaigou

World heritage possesses various kinds of use value and non-use value. Measuring the recreational value of world heritage sites is a key issue in the heritage tourism. This paper employs Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), which is an evaluation instrument on the basis of tourists′ attitude and preference, to measure the recreational value of Jiuzhaigou, one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China, and analyzes the biases in the survey. The results show that: 1) In 2009, Jiuzhaigou′s recreational value was 3.46×108 yuan (RMB), and the per capita Willingness to Pay (WTP) was 137.31 yuan by CVM. Compared with the results of other methods, this result is significantly low. 2) Among the factors that influence Jiuzhaigou tourists′ WTP, psychological perception factors have the greatest effect while demographic and socio-economic characteristics have a small effect on WTP. 3) The virtuality in CVM creates biases both from CVM itself and in the procedures that CVM was implemented. The former includes hypothetical bias, information bias, protest response bias, and strategic bias; and the latter includes the questionnaire design, population and sample definition, sampling and data processing. The paper analyses those biases and illustrates their potential in-fluences on the accuracy of CVM measurement. 4) Although there are various defects in CVM measurement, it is still an effective valuation method.

模糊全区间序导出的T-S弱序及严格T-S弱序

以可加的φ-模糊偏好结构为基础,研究由模糊全区间序结构导出的T-S弱序及严格T-S弱序。首先,我们证明了在一个模糊全区间序结构中,大偏好及严格偏好的右迹均为T-S弱序。其次,通过严格偏好关系P及大偏好关系R给出普通偏好结构下两个严格弱序Q_1及Q_2的等价形式,并据此进行模糊化,在(T,S,N_φ)是一个De Morgan三元组及T是旋转不变t-模的情况下,通过对模糊全区间序结构进行详细讨论,从而得出Q_1及Q_2均为严格T-S弱序。

Assessment of the Impacts of Livestock Grazing on Endangered Red Panda (<i>Ailurus fulgens</i>) Habitat in Eastern Nepal

Disturbances caused by livestock grazing are considered as a key attributable factor for the habitat loss of red panda. The present study was carried out in Eastern Nepal mainly focusing on the habitat preferences of red panda and impacts of livestock grazing on it. In total, 15 linear transects were delineated at an elevation interval of 100 m assessing indirect signs of red panda and livestock. Habitat preferences of red panda, vegetation abundance, coverage percentage of vegetation layers (canopy and shrub layer) and distance to water source were recorded using randomly plotted 58 quadrats of 10 m × 10 m. Questionnaire survey and Key Informant Interviews were carried out to evaluate the perception of local community on conservation threats and importance of red panda conservation. Jaccard’s similarity index was used to determine the spatial habitat overlap of livestock and red panda. Litsea elongata, Lithocarpus pachyphylla and Rhododendron falconeri were the most common species in the study area. Grazing signs were observed from 51% of red panda habitats in the study area. Livestock herding has induced negative impacts on the habitat of red panda inside the community forests. The study findings will extend the existing body of knowledge regarding the status of red panda in Eastern Himalayas. In addition, this research will help in the formulation of effective legal and strategic framework of sustainable grazing management.

严格偏好关系T-S-半传递性相关性质的研究

基于可加的φ-模糊偏好结构,研究了严格偏好关系的T-S-半传递性相关性质.首先,给出了严格偏好关系的T-S-半传递性的一个充分条件;其次,得出了PTPTIP与(PTP)∩T(ITI)=之间的一个等价命题;最后,研究了(PTP)∩T(ITI)=与S2条件之间的等价性.这些结论丰富了模糊偏好结构的研究.

基于碳交易政策考虑CSR和消费者低碳偏好的低碳供应链决策

在“双碳”目标下,低碳供应链如何定价和投入碳减排决策是实现供应链低碳发展的重要问题。为了研究企业的社会责任对低碳供应链定价和碳减排技术决策的影响,文章构建了一个由制造商、零售商和具有低碳偏好的消费者构成的二级低碳供应链博弈模型,对比分析制造商考虑企业社会责任程度和消费者低碳偏好对供应链决策的影响,并确认了企业社会责任程度的最优范围,根据数值分析验证了结论的有效性。研究结果表明:制造商考虑企业社会责任程度在一定值域内才能够有效地降低低碳产品价格,提高供应链的碳减排量以及制造商和零售商的利润,对使用减排技术实现双碳目标方面具有实践意义和管理启示。

基于D-S证据理论的直觉模糊群决策信息集结方法

在处理直觉模糊多属性群决策问题时,可根据D-S证据理论完成信息的集结。利用直觉模糊熵和模糊偏好关系确定权重,通过加权-证据融合的方法得到专家对方案集的融合证据。在专家信息集结方面,结合欧氏证据距离求解证据间的冲突度,得到专家权重,并将群体专家对方案集的证据信息进行修正和融合。最后结合算例证明了所提方法具有很高的实用价值。

基于改进D-S证据和融合权集的安全风险评估

针对信息化系统安全风险评估过程中安全风险因素指标的重要性难以赋权的问题,本文以建筑工地施工现场为应用场景,提出一种基于改进的D-S证据理论与融合权集结合的安全风险评估模型.首先,在充分研究建筑工地安全风险评估流程和要素的基础上,建立建筑工地安全评价体系;其次,采用基于权值分配和矩阵分析的D-S合成算法改进AHP法和基于数据的熵权法计算评价体系中指标层中各指标的主、客观权重;然后,运用改进的D-S证据融合算法进行多源证据的合成,获取指标权重,避免单一赋权的片面性,得到最优综合权重;最后,根据TOPSIS评价算法计算建筑工地综合评价指数.分析表明,基于改进D-S证据理论-融合权集的安全风险评估模型,能有效评估建筑工地施工现场的安全性,降低评估结果的不确定性,提高风险评估结果可信度.

Instructions for Submissions

Asian Agricultural Research, as a monthly academic journal, is mainly engaged in research and dis- cussion of agricultural economic issues. Papers on this topic will be preferred. Other topics may touch upon farmers, rural development, rural environment, rural public goods, land science, etc.

Instructions for Submissions

Asian Agricultural Research, as a monthly academic journal, is mainly engaged in research and dis- cussion of agricultural economic issues. Papers on this topic will be preferred. Other topics may touch upon farmers, rural development, rural environment, rural public goods, land science, etc.

Private Medical Practice: The Gold Coast Colony’s Christiansborg Infant Welfare Clinic

As the British colonized West Africa, Africans worked as medical officers. John Farrell Easmon practiced private medicine that in 1897 affected his work as the chief medical officer. The Secretary of State for the Colonies Joseph Chamberlain investigated the complaints of medical officers and fashioned the policy of the West African Medical Staff in 1902. During the Great Depression, the West African Medical Staff and Staff Pay shaped how African medical officers and European women medical doctors earned salaries as colonial government workers. Percy Selwyn-Clarke the deputy director of health service employed European women medical doctors in preventive health at infant and child welfare clinics. In 1935, health visitor Christian challenged the government for paying European woman medical doctor Nora Vane-Percy ￡10 to treat destitute African women and children at the Christiansborg infant welfare clinic.

What Is the Personal Experience of IBD Patients about Their Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy?

AIM: To evaluate and compare the patients opinion on the two types of anti- TNF-α therapies in a Hungarian cohort of IBD patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicentre, questionnaire-based observational study carried out in three Hungarian tertiary centres. From April to September 2014, an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD), who have received infliximab (IFX) and/or adalimumab (ADA). The survey focused on the preferences of the two anti-TNF-α therapies on the basis of the efficacy, the administration routes and the side effects. RESULTS: 292 IBD patients, 216 CD, 75 UC and 1 indeterminate colitis patient completed the questionnaire. The mean duration of biological therapy was 1.7 (1 - 7) years. IFX treated patients noticed improvement of symptoms at 4 - 5 weeks while ADA treated patients noticed at 5 - 6 weeks. There was no difference between the patients’ satisfaction regarding the types of anti-TNF-α therapy if they received both. However, subcutaneous administration was preferred by ADA-treated patients previously receiving IFX (p = 0.007) compared to intravenous route and they did not intend to change the mode of therapy (p = 0.040). 90% of the patients, receiving only IFX or ADA were satisfied with their present therapy. The majority of patients (186/292, 63.7%) would not switch therapy. 63 of 291, 22% of the patients reported to have some concern with biological therapy—the majority (32/63, 50.8%) due to fear from side effects. CONCLUSION: Generally, patients preferred and would not change the present anti-TNF-α therapy, however, subcutaneous administration was preferred among those patients who had have experience with both.