Application of Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation in Development of Animal Husbandry Technology

[Objective] This study aimed to provide references for the application of participatory monitoring and evaluation in the development of animal husbandry tech- nology. [Method] With the livelihood improvement program for agricultural and pas- toral area in northern Yunnan as the example, the development process of partici- patory animal husbandry was overviewed. And the monitoring and evaluation pro- cesses of participatory animal husbandry were introduced and analyzed. [Result] The monitoring and evaluation indicator system of participatory animal husbandry technol- ogy included 4 layers, namely technology, institutional system, personnel ability con- struction and effectiveness, and 11 third-level indicators, namely, technical characteristics, superiority-inferiority comparison, community and farmers, technical personnel, project personnel, economic indicators and social indicators. [Conclusion] This study provided the references for the application of participatory monitoring and evaluation in the development of animal husbandry technology.

A Review of Approaches and Challenges of BIM Education in Construction Management

As BIM （building information modeling） became the gold standard of the architecture, construction, and engineering industry, lack of skilled BIM professionals is considered one of the major challenges. It is therefore of significant importance that CM （construction management） programs train future construction professionals in the capabilities and advantages of BIM technology. This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive review of the implementation of BIM education in CM programs and summarizes the process of BIM adoption, existing educational approaches, and identified challenges in the implementation process. The information presented in this paper serves as a guide to CM programs that are new to and in the progress of implementing BIM education.

An evaluation on using soil aggregate stability as the indicator of interrill erodibility

Aggregate stability is a very important predictor of soil structure and strength, which influences soil erodibility. Several aggregate stability indices were selected erodibility of four soil properties from temperate for estimating interrill types with contrasting and subtropical regions of China. This study was conducted to investigate how closely the soil interrill erodibility factor in the Water Erosion Prediction Project （WEPP） model relates to soil aggregate stability. The mass fractal dimension （FD）, geometric mean diameter （GMD）, mean weight diameter （MWD）, and aggregate stability index （ASI） of soil aggregates were calculated. A rainfall simulator with a drainable flume （3.0 m long × 1.0 m wide × 0.5 m deep） was used at four slope gradients （5°,10 °,15° and 20°）, and four rainfall intensities （0.6, 1.1, 1.7 and 2.5 mm/min）. Results indicated that the interriU erodibility （Ki） values were significantly correlated to the indices of ASI, MWD, GMD, and FD computed from the aggregate wet-sieve data. The Kihad a strong positive correlation with FD, as well as a strong negative correlation with ASI, GMD, and MWD. Soils with a higher aggregate stability and lower fractal dimension have smaller Ki values. Stable soils were characterized by a high percentage of large aggregates and the erodible soils by a high percentage of smaller aggregates. The correlation coefficients of Ki with ASI and GMD were greater than those with FD and MWD, implying that both the ASI and GMD may be better alternative parameters for empirically predicting the soil Ki factor. ASI and GMD are more reasonable in interrill soil erodibility estimation, compared with Ki calculation in original WEPP model equation. Results demonstrate the validation of soil aggregation characterization as an appropriate indicator of soil susceptibility to erosion in contrasting soil types in China.

On quantitative prediction of mine structure and application of the method

Coal mining activity is often restricted by geologic structural conditions, so it is very important to know the distribution situation of mine structures in advance of mining. For this reason, traditional qualitative procedure must give way to quantitative prediction method backed by mathematics theory and computer technology. This paper explores some relevant problems with the method, introducing a software, MSPS, used to predict automatically and quantitatively the relative complexities of geologic structures in different blocks of a coal mining area, with an application example employing the software to select the most suitable mining sites.

Partnerships for Success： An Evaluation of Head to Toe, a Family Centered Childhood Obesity Intervention that Partners with an Obesity Clinic

The prevalence of childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States and as of 2014 its prevalence among children ages two to 19 was 17.0%. Without intervention, obese children are at risk for negative health consequences and for the increased likelihood of staying obese through adulthood. St. Louis Children＇s Hospital provides HTT （Head to Toe）, an interactive 12-session fimess, nutrition, and social well-being class focuses on adopting healthier lifestyles through daily exercise, and proper nutrition. One program referral method is through a partnership with the hospital＇s HSC （Healthy Start Clinic）, a multi-disciplinary obesity clinic. Pretest and posttest assessments are used to measure changes in body metrics, health behaviors, knowledge, readiness to change, and self-concept. Between August 2011 and May 2016, 485 children and at least one parent or guardian with them were enrolled in the program, and up to 235 children completed at least one pretest- or post-assessment. Analysis determined multiple statistically significant improvements in body metrics, health behaviors, knowledge, including questions related to nutrition and food guidelines, readiness to change assessment, and self-concept. Total knowledge increased by 22%; questions related to nutrition increased by 28.2%, social emotional by 18.9% and physical activity by 17.8%. Findings suggest that the Head to Toe program is effective in improving nutrition, physical activity, social emotional knowledge and behaviors among participants. Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic and creating a relationship with a pediatric obesity clinic can increase the total number of children and teens that are introduced to weight management programs.

An epidemiological study of resistant tuberculosis in Chongqing,China

Background The epidemiological characteristics of drug-resistant tuberculosis （DR-TB） is fundamental to improving the prevention and control of DR-TB. Mutations in katG315 is thought to be the most predictive molecule markers for Isoniazid （INH） resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis （MTB）. However, mutations to these genes have not been thoroughly studied in China, and epidemiological evidence of their expression levels are especially lacking in the southwest of China, which has a high TB burden within the population. Methods MTB isolates were obtained from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis at the TB dispensary and Chest hospital in Chongqing city between June 2003 and June 2006. Proportion methods were used to test the sensitivity to INH, RFP, SM and EMB of cultured MTB. A total of 100 MTB isolates were also randomly selected for analysis of the molecular mutation spectrum of katG by DNA sequencing. Results Totally 1 089 MTB isolates that completed positive sputum cultures and evaluated for their sensitivity to the four first-line drugs among 2 777 patients with TB. The prevalence of DR-TB and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis （MDR-TB） were 27.7% （302/1 089） and 7.3% （79/1 089）, respectively. The resistance to anti-TB drugs was found to be highest for SM （16.3%） and INH （14.0%）. There was also a significant increase in the prevalence of resistance to RFP and EMB （P〈0.01）, and an increase in MDR-TB between June 2003 and June 2004 and between July 2005 and June 2006. The total mutation rate of katG315 was 75＂5% （37/49） in INH-resistant MTB, and mutation sites included $315T, $315N and $315I with mutation rates of 81.1% （30/37）, 13.5% （5/37） and 5.4% （2/37）, respectively No katG315 mutants were found in any of the 48 INH-sensitive MTB. Our preliminary diagnostic results suggest that mutations in katG315 may potentially serve as molecular markers that can be used to diagnose the resistance to anti-TB drug of INH. Conclusion In the Chongqing, DR-TB and MDR-TB are increasing, and are becoming key problems for tuberculosis control. The use of katG315 mutations as potential molecule markers for drug resistance to INH may help improve patient treatment and decrease the spread of the disease

The role of e-readiness assessment criteria in accepting e-commerce for small and medium size enterprisesmDevelopment of technology acceptance model

This paper develops Davis technology acceptance model by adding two criteria of e-readiness assessment. For small and medium size enterprises, the paper evaluates the credit of developed model in studying the efficient factors in internet technology acceptance, which is one of the most applicable communication tools in e-commerce. The added factors, taken from models and means of e-readiness assessment, are ＂existing information technology infrastructures＂ as well as ＂organization＇s training＂. The authors study 45 small and medium size enterprises in the city of Tehran, which are active in information technology products and services. Using Lisrel structural equation modelling, it is shown that there is a meaningful relationship between the added factors and the variables indicating internet network usage. Therefore, the better factors of e-readiness assessment lead to the higher acceptance level of electronic communication tools in e-commerce.

Concrete Containing Marginal Aggregates for Use in Concrete Pavement

The study presented an analysis accessing the feasibility of using concrete containing marginal aggregates in concrete pavement slabs. The physical properties of aggregates were first determined and concrete was produced from them. Marginal aggregates were found to have higher fines, absorption, soundness loss, micro-Deval abrasion loss, LA （Los Angeles） abrasion loss and lower specific gravity and unit weight when compared with standard aggregates. Workability of concrete containing marginal aggregate was found to be similar to concrete containing normal aggregates when Shilstone mix design method was used to optimize the concrete mixes. The compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of concrete containing marginal aggregates were determined and found to be generally lower than concrete containing standard aggregates. A typical concrete pavement in Florida was modeled in FEACONSIV （finite element analysis of concrete slab） software developed at the University of Florida. Laboratory determined mechanical and thermal properties of concrete were inputted in FEACONS IV and analyzed for maximum induced stresses. Critical stress to strength ratios, i.e., ratio between maximum computed stresses obtained from FEACONS IV to modulus of rupture （strength） of concrete, was used as evaluation criterion for different concrete pavement mixes. It was found that, in general, concrete containing marginal aggregates have higher stress to strength ratios as compared with concrete containing standard aggregates.

The Establishment of Performance Evaluation Index Based on Enterprise Structure Adjustment

This paper mainly makes a performance evaluation for the industrial structure adjustment of the industrial enterprises, establishing a set of evaluation index system. It uses the mathematics statistics knowledge and management knowledge to establish a scientific and operable performance evaluation model for the industrial structure adjustment of the industrial enterprises. Based on the model, it can make a performance evaluation for the internal industrial structure adjustment of the industrial enterprises and also it can evaluate the performance of the industrial structure adjustu^ent of different industries.

浅谈工程建设评标质量的控制

评标是工程建设项目招标投标流程中极其重要的环节,对彰显招标投标工作的公开、公平、公正和诚实信用原则、维护招标投标工作的公信力、准确遴选最优中标对象、提高项目营运和投资效率、预防腐败等方面都将起到十分关键的作用。近年来,无论是在立法层面还是在实践层面,都对评标工作进行了大量有益的探索。在立法层面,《招标投标法》、《招标投标法实施条例》(以下简称《实施条例》)以及有关部门规章乃至规范性文件,对评标专家资格认定。

Exploratory study on performance evaluation of drug administration at provincial level in China

To construct a reliable indicator system to evaluate drug administration performance at provincial level in China, we referred to theories on government performance evaluation and practice of health performance evaluation, conducted field investigation, key person interview, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation and multi-round Delphi to build a three-dimensional evaluation indicator system of ＂input-process-outcome＂. Weight of indicators was determined by the analytic hierarchy process （AHP）. The related data were from Food and Drug Administration Statistical Yearbook for 2010 and China Statistical Yearbook for 2010. Thirty provinces were included in the rankings except Tibet for the unavailability of data. The ranking was highly accepted by officials from central and provincial drug administration agencies, which indicated the three-dimensional evaluation indicator system is feasible to assess drug administration performance at provincial level in China.

A new evaluation method for site selection of large underground water-sealed petroleum storage depots

Scientific site selection is the first step in constructing underground water-sealed petroleum storage depots, but no uniform standard and code for such activity has been established. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to propose an evaluation method for the site selection of an underground water-sealed petroleum storage depot. The first large underground water-sealed petroleum storage depot being built in China served as the background of this study. The following 12 indexes were used as evaluation factors based on comprehensive evaluation criteria and specifications for key project site selection: geographic structure development feature, topographic feature, lithostratic formation feature, crustal stress, strength of rock mass, joint development feature, hydrogeological conditions, long-term water sealing conditions, environmental/ecological vulnerability, regional stability, technical and economic conditions, and meteorological and hydrological conditions. The weight back analysis and power coefficient methods were also used to evaluate the site selected for the first underground water-sealed petroleum storage depot project. Petroleum site classification models based on the two aforementioned methods were established and used to verify the feasibility of the evaluation criteria and methods, and the evaluation results show the grade of the site selected for the underground water-sealed petroleum storage depot in Huangdao, China is good. The study results may be used as a reference for the site selection of future underground water-sealed petroleum storage depots.