Water allocation based on multiple criteria has the potential to maximize the total benefits to be gained from the use of a single unit of water. However most of the multi-criteria methods inherently include a conside...Water allocation based on multiple criteria has the potential to maximize the total benefits to be gained from the use of a single unit of water. However most of the multi-criteria methods inherently include a considerable degree of subjectivity. In this study, we have attempted to reduce the subjectivity factor from water allocation decision-making process by introducing a conjoint analysis method. Opinions on the importance of a number of water allocation criteria were sought from a large number of irrigation farmers. The opinion survey data were then analyzed using the traditional conjoint analysis method which is widely used to analyze marketing surveys. The analysis allowed objective determination of the relative importance of five water allocation criteria (i.e. net farm income, percent of family working on the farm, amount paid to irrigation agency for canal water share). Each water allocation criteria was divided into three levels and utility values for each criteria level were estimated from the farmers’ preferences on five water allocation criteria (attributes). The conjoint survey results revealed that the respondents prefer that “annual net farm income” be the most important attribute in water allocation decisions. As would be expected the vast majority of the respondents overwhelmingly placed the “water price” in the last position.展开更多
Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) prevents human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection, but its use remains low among U.S. military men who have sex with men(MSM), likely due to mis-matching with personal pre...Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) prevents human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection, but its use remains low among U.S. military men who have sex with men(MSM), likely due to mis-matching with personal preferences. We conducted a study to characterize preferences to PrEP measures within this population.Methods: HIV-negative military MSM were recruited through a closed, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered(LGBT) military social media group. The survey was anonymous, and consisted of five experimentally varied attributes in service delivery: dosing method, provider type, visit location, lab work evaluation location, and dispensing venue.Relative importance and part-worth utility scores were generated using hierarchical bayes(HB) estimation, and the randomized first choice model was used to examine participation interest across eight possible PrEP program scenarios.Results: A total of 429 participants completed the survey. Among the eight scenarios with varying attributes, the most preferred scenario featured a daily tablet, PrEP injection or implant, along with a military provider, smartphone/telehealth visit, and on-base locations for lab evaluation and medication pick-up. The results also emphasized the importance for providers to be familiar with PrEP prescription knowledge, and to provide interactions sensitive to sexual identity and mental health.Conclusions: A PrEP program consisting of daily tablet is preferred in military healthcare settings is preferred. Longacting implants and injections are also desired.展开更多
This paper applies conjoint analysis approach to simulate and determine the optimal marketing mix for a Romanian company that struggles to face the market higher competition. The company intends to launch its product ...This paper applies conjoint analysis approach to simulate and determine the optimal marketing mix for a Romanian company that struggles to face the market higher competition. The company intends to launch its product into a new market and surveys the likelihood of getting international. The survey helps the company to gather information from clients regarding product characteristics, price, method of distribution, and promotion, according to customer preferences. Having these data, it is made a marketing simulation using conjoint analysis in order to get the optimal marketing mix in launching the product on a new market. The optimal marketing mix is given by the highest mix of utility for the clients, but sometimes the marketing manager would choose a little bit lower utility mix, forced by the company restrictions.展开更多
AIM To identify unique clusters of patients based on their concerns in using analgesia for cancer pain and predictors of the cluster membership.METHODS This was a 3-mo prospective observational study(n = 207).Patients...AIM To identify unique clusters of patients based on their concerns in using analgesia for cancer pain and predictors of the cluster membership.METHODS This was a 3-mo prospective observational study(n = 207).Patients were included if they were adults(≥ 18 years), diagnosed with solid tumors or multiple myelomas, and had at least one prescription of around the clock pain medication for cancer or cancer-treatment-related pain.Patients were recruited from two outpatient medical oncology clinics within a large health system in Philadelphia.A choice-based conjoint(CBC) analysis experiment was used to elicit analgesic treatment preferences(utilities).Patients employed trade-offs based on five analgesic attributes(percent relief from analgesics, type of analgesic, type of sideeffects, severity of side-effects, out of pocket cost).Patients were clustered based on CBC utilities using novel adaptive statistical methods.Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of cluster membership.RESULTS The analyses found 4 unique clusters: Most patients made trade-offs based on the expectation of pain relief(cluster 1, 41%).For a subset, the main underlying concern was type of analgesic prescribed, i.e., opioid vs non-opioid(cluster 2, 11%) and type of analgesic side effects(cluster 4, 21%), respectively.About one in four made trade-offs based on multiple concerns simultaneously including pain relief, type of side effects, and severity of side effects(cluster 3, 27.5%).In multivariable analysis, to identify predictors of cluster membership, clinical and socioeconomic factors(education, health literacy, income, social support) rather than analgesic attitudes and beliefs were found important; only the belief, i.e., pain medications can mask changes in health or keep you from knowing what is going on in your body was found significant in predicting two of the four clusters [cluster 1(-); cluster 4(+)].CONCLUSION Most patients appear to be driven by a single salient concern in using analgesia for cancer pain.Addressing these concerns, perhaps through real time clinical assessments, may improve patients' analgesic adherence patterns and cancer pain outcomes.展开更多
背景与目的:胶质瘤是中枢神经系统常见且预后较差的恶性肿瘤,手术后联合替莫唑胺(temozolomide,TMZ)同步放化疗是胶质瘤的主要治疗方案。O6-甲基鸟嘌呤DNA甲基转移酶(O6-methylguanine DNA methyltranferase,MGMT)基因启动子甲基化(MGMT...背景与目的:胶质瘤是中枢神经系统常见且预后较差的恶性肿瘤,手术后联合替莫唑胺(temozolomide,TMZ)同步放化疗是胶质瘤的主要治疗方案。O6-甲基鸟嘌呤DNA甲基转移酶(O6-methylguanine DNA methyltranferase,MGMT)基因启动子甲基化(MGMT promoter methylation,MGMTmet)状态可预测胶质瘤患者对TMZ治疗的敏感性,但其与临床病理学特征的关系及如何更好地预测治疗效果及患者预后尚需深入研究。本研究旨在分析胶质瘤中MGMTmet状态及其与临床病理学特征和其他常见分子异常的相关性,探讨MGMTmet与其他分子异常联合分析对胶质瘤患者预后和TMZ治疗效果判断的价值。方法:回顾性收集复旦大学附属肿瘤医院病理科2019年7月—2022年9月诊断的205例胶质瘤患者的临床病理学资料,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQPCR)法检测MGMTmet状态;采用Sanger测序法检测异柠檬酸脱氢酶(isocitrate dehydrogenase,IDH)1和IDH2端粒酶反转录酶(telomerase reverse transcriptase,TERT)基因突变情况;采用荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测1号染色体短臂和19号染色体长臂(the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19,1p19q)缺失情况。结果:205例患者中,女性患者的MGMTmet发生率高于男性。相比于胶质母细胞瘤(47.3%),星形细胞瘤(74.1%)和少突胶质细胞瘤(100.0%)中MGMT基因启动子更易发生甲基化(P<0.05)。在MGMTmet组中,IDH1突变(mutant,mut)率和1p19q共缺失(co-deletion,co-del)率明显提高,且MGMTmet与IDH1mut和1p19qco-del具有相关性(P<0.05)。MGMTmet、年龄小于55岁、少突胶质细胞瘤及世界卫生组织(World Health Organization,WHO)1~3级的患者均表现出较长的总生存期(overall survival,OS),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。相比于单个影响因素,双/三基因联合分析[MGMTmet/IDH1mut、MGMTmet/1p19q co-del或MGMTmet/IDH1mut/1p19q co-del]预测患者预后的效果更好(P<0.05),后两者是独立预后因素。在TMZ治疗患者中,MGMTmet(MGMTmet/TMZ+)患者比其他组预后好,如果患者联合存在IDH1mut,患者预后得到进一步提高(P<0.05)。结论:MGMTmet好发于女性和少突胶质细胞瘤患者中;其与IDH1mut及1p19 qco-del呈正相关。MGMTmet的患者与TMZ治疗效果及预后较好有关,且MGMTmet联合IDH突变和1p19q co-del分析可能具有更好的TMZ治疗效果和预后提示价值。展开更多
文摘Water allocation based on multiple criteria has the potential to maximize the total benefits to be gained from the use of a single unit of water. However most of the multi-criteria methods inherently include a considerable degree of subjectivity. In this study, we have attempted to reduce the subjectivity factor from water allocation decision-making process by introducing a conjoint analysis method. Opinions on the importance of a number of water allocation criteria were sought from a large number of irrigation farmers. The opinion survey data were then analyzed using the traditional conjoint analysis method which is widely used to analyze marketing surveys. The analysis allowed objective determination of the relative importance of five water allocation criteria (i.e. net farm income, percent of family working on the farm, amount paid to irrigation agency for canal water share). Each water allocation criteria was divided into three levels and utility values for each criteria level were estimated from the farmers’ preferences on five water allocation criteria (attributes). The conjoint survey results revealed that the respondents prefer that “annual net farm income” be the most important attribute in water allocation decisions. As would be expected the vast majority of the respondents overwhelmingly placed the “water price” in the last position.
基金supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),under award number 1F31NR018620-01A1supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH),Center for HIV Identification,Prevention,and Treatment Services (CHIPTS) under award number P30MH059107。
文摘Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) prevents human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection, but its use remains low among U.S. military men who have sex with men(MSM), likely due to mis-matching with personal preferences. We conducted a study to characterize preferences to PrEP measures within this population.Methods: HIV-negative military MSM were recruited through a closed, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered(LGBT) military social media group. The survey was anonymous, and consisted of five experimentally varied attributes in service delivery: dosing method, provider type, visit location, lab work evaluation location, and dispensing venue.Relative importance and part-worth utility scores were generated using hierarchical bayes(HB) estimation, and the randomized first choice model was used to examine participation interest across eight possible PrEP program scenarios.Results: A total of 429 participants completed the survey. Among the eight scenarios with varying attributes, the most preferred scenario featured a daily tablet, PrEP injection or implant, along with a military provider, smartphone/telehealth visit, and on-base locations for lab evaluation and medication pick-up. The results also emphasized the importance for providers to be familiar with PrEP prescription knowledge, and to provide interactions sensitive to sexual identity and mental health.Conclusions: A PrEP program consisting of daily tablet is preferred in military healthcare settings is preferred. Longacting implants and injections are also desired.
文摘This paper applies conjoint analysis approach to simulate and determine the optimal marketing mix for a Romanian company that struggles to face the market higher competition. The company intends to launch its product into a new market and surveys the likelihood of getting international. The survey helps the company to gather information from clients regarding product characteristics, price, method of distribution, and promotion, according to customer preferences. Having these data, it is made a marketing simulation using conjoint analysis in order to get the optimal marketing mix in launching the product on a new market. The optimal marketing mix is given by the highest mix of utility for the clients, but sometimes the marketing manager would choose a little bit lower utility mix, forced by the company restrictions.
基金National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research,No.NIH/NINR RC1-NR011591
文摘AIM To identify unique clusters of patients based on their concerns in using analgesia for cancer pain and predictors of the cluster membership.METHODS This was a 3-mo prospective observational study(n = 207).Patients were included if they were adults(≥ 18 years), diagnosed with solid tumors or multiple myelomas, and had at least one prescription of around the clock pain medication for cancer or cancer-treatment-related pain.Patients were recruited from two outpatient medical oncology clinics within a large health system in Philadelphia.A choice-based conjoint(CBC) analysis experiment was used to elicit analgesic treatment preferences(utilities).Patients employed trade-offs based on five analgesic attributes(percent relief from analgesics, type of analgesic, type of sideeffects, severity of side-effects, out of pocket cost).Patients were clustered based on CBC utilities using novel adaptive statistical methods.Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of cluster membership.RESULTS The analyses found 4 unique clusters: Most patients made trade-offs based on the expectation of pain relief(cluster 1, 41%).For a subset, the main underlying concern was type of analgesic prescribed, i.e., opioid vs non-opioid(cluster 2, 11%) and type of analgesic side effects(cluster 4, 21%), respectively.About one in four made trade-offs based on multiple concerns simultaneously including pain relief, type of side effects, and severity of side effects(cluster 3, 27.5%).In multivariable analysis, to identify predictors of cluster membership, clinical and socioeconomic factors(education, health literacy, income, social support) rather than analgesic attitudes and beliefs were found important; only the belief, i.e., pain medications can mask changes in health or keep you from knowing what is going on in your body was found significant in predicting two of the four clusters [cluster 1(-); cluster 4(+)].CONCLUSION Most patients appear to be driven by a single salient concern in using analgesia for cancer pain.Addressing these concerns, perhaps through real time clinical assessments, may improve patients' analgesic adherence patterns and cancer pain outcomes.
文摘背景与目的:胶质瘤是中枢神经系统常见且预后较差的恶性肿瘤,手术后联合替莫唑胺(temozolomide,TMZ)同步放化疗是胶质瘤的主要治疗方案。O6-甲基鸟嘌呤DNA甲基转移酶(O6-methylguanine DNA methyltranferase,MGMT)基因启动子甲基化(MGMT promoter methylation,MGMTmet)状态可预测胶质瘤患者对TMZ治疗的敏感性,但其与临床病理学特征的关系及如何更好地预测治疗效果及患者预后尚需深入研究。本研究旨在分析胶质瘤中MGMTmet状态及其与临床病理学特征和其他常见分子异常的相关性,探讨MGMTmet与其他分子异常联合分析对胶质瘤患者预后和TMZ治疗效果判断的价值。方法:回顾性收集复旦大学附属肿瘤医院病理科2019年7月—2022年9月诊断的205例胶质瘤患者的临床病理学资料,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQPCR)法检测MGMTmet状态;采用Sanger测序法检测异柠檬酸脱氢酶(isocitrate dehydrogenase,IDH)1和IDH2端粒酶反转录酶(telomerase reverse transcriptase,TERT)基因突变情况;采用荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测1号染色体短臂和19号染色体长臂(the short arm of chromosome 1 and the long arm of chromosome 19,1p19q)缺失情况。结果:205例患者中,女性患者的MGMTmet发生率高于男性。相比于胶质母细胞瘤(47.3%),星形细胞瘤(74.1%)和少突胶质细胞瘤(100.0%)中MGMT基因启动子更易发生甲基化(P<0.05)。在MGMTmet组中,IDH1突变(mutant,mut)率和1p19q共缺失(co-deletion,co-del)率明显提高,且MGMTmet与IDH1mut和1p19qco-del具有相关性(P<0.05)。MGMTmet、年龄小于55岁、少突胶质细胞瘤及世界卫生组织(World Health Organization,WHO)1~3级的患者均表现出较长的总生存期(overall survival,OS),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。相比于单个影响因素,双/三基因联合分析[MGMTmet/IDH1mut、MGMTmet/1p19q co-del或MGMTmet/IDH1mut/1p19q co-del]预测患者预后的效果更好(P<0.05),后两者是独立预后因素。在TMZ治疗患者中,MGMTmet(MGMTmet/TMZ+)患者比其他组预后好,如果患者联合存在IDH1mut,患者预后得到进一步提高(P<0.05)。结论:MGMTmet好发于女性和少突胶质细胞瘤患者中;其与IDH1mut及1p19 qco-del呈正相关。MGMTmet的患者与TMZ治疗效果及预后较好有关,且MGMTmet联合IDH突变和1p19q co-del分析可能具有更好的TMZ治疗效果和预后提示价值。
