A deep learning access controlmodel based on user preferences is proposed to address the issue of personal privacy leakage in social networks.Firstly,socialusers andsocialdata entities are extractedfromthe social netw...A deep learning access controlmodel based on user preferences is proposed to address the issue of personal privacy leakage in social networks.Firstly,socialusers andsocialdata entities are extractedfromthe social networkandused to construct homogeneous and heterogeneous graphs.Secondly,a graph neural networkmodel is designed based on user daily social behavior and daily social data to simulate the dissemination and changes of user social preferences and user personal preferences in the social network.Then,high-order neighbor nodes,hidden neighbor nodes,displayed neighbor nodes,and social data nodes are used to update user nodes to expand the depth and breadth of user preferences.Finally,a multi-layer attention network is used to classify user nodes in the homogeneous graph into two classes:allow access and deny access.The fine-grained access control problem in social networks is transformed into a node classification problem in a graph neural network.The model is validated using a dataset and compared with other methods without losing generality.The model improved accuracy by 2.18%compared to the baseline method GraphSAGE,and improved F1 score by 1.45%compared to the baseline method,verifying the effectiveness of the model.展开更多
BACKGROUND Primary thumb carpometacarpal(CMC)osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions encountered by hand surgeons.Of the vast number of operations that have been proposed,none have demonstrated results sig...BACKGROUND Primary thumb carpometacarpal(CMC)osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions encountered by hand surgeons.Of the vast number of operations that have been proposed,none have demonstrated results significantly superior to trapeziectomy alone.AIM The purpose of our study was to determine why surgeons opt for their technique in treating CMC arthritis.METHODS A cross-sectional survey of active members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand was conducted to evaluate the reasons behind their preferred technique in the treatment of isolated thumb CMC arthritis.Surgeons were contacted by email once and provided with a link to a de-identified survey consisting of 5 treatment questions and 5 demographic questions.RESULTS Of 950 responses were received.40.5%of surgeons preferred trapeziectomy+ligament reconstruction tendon interposition(LRTI),followed by trapeziectomy+suspensionplasty(28.2%),suture button suspension(5.9%),trapeziectomy alone(4.6%),prosthetic arthroplasty(3.2%),arthrodesis(1.1%),and other(6.6%).Proponents of trapeziectomy+LRTI cited familiarity(73.2%),exposure during fellowship(48.8%)and less proximal migration(60%)to be the main reasons affecting their decision.Surgeons who preferred trapeziectomy+suspensionplasty most reported simplicity(74.9%),fewer complications(45.3%),less proximal migration(43.8%),and avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(42.7%).Advocates of suture button suspension cited avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(80.4%),shorter immobilization(76.8%),and quicker recovery(73.2%)with their technique.Advocates of trapeziectomy alone cited simplicity(97.7%),fewer complications(86.4%),and avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(59.1%).In their comments,45%of surgeons choosing trapeziectomy alone cited evidence as an additional rationale.Advocates of prosthetic arthroplasty cited improved pinch strength(83.3%)and improved range of motion(63.3%),while those preferring arthrodesis cited better pinch strength(90%)and frequently in their comments,durability.Of the surgeons who preferred a technique other than LRTI,41.8%reported they had tried LRTI in the past,citing complexity of the procedure,flexor carpi radialis harvest,and longer operative time as reasons for moving on.CONCLUSION Our study provides an update on current treatment trends and offers new insight into the reasons behind surgeons'decision making in the management of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.Despite strong Level 1 evidence supporting the use of trapeziectomy alone,our findings demonstrate that most surgeons continue to supplement trapeziectomy with other techniques such as LRTI or suspensionplasty.Several factors including familiarity,personal experience(Level 4 evidence),and comfort may be more influential than Level 1 evidence in determining the techniques in a surgeon's armamentarium.Further prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal technique for surgical management of Eaton stages II-IV CMC arthritis and how these studies will affect surgeons’choice.展开更多
Introduction: Females with sickle cell disease (SCD), despite having a delayed pubertal development, are subject to many worries relating to their abilities to conceive, their capacity to maintain a maternofetal-risk-...Introduction: Females with sickle cell disease (SCD), despite having a delayed pubertal development, are subject to many worries relating to their abilities to conceive, their capacity to maintain a maternofetal-risk-free pregnancy till term and give birth to healthy children without sickle cell disease. Knowing that unplanned pregnancies are more likely to increase maternofetal morbidity and mortality, we sought out to explore the pregnancy preferences in female patients with sickle cell disease to promote healthy conception and childbirth in this vulnerable population. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving female patients of child-bearing age with sickle cell disease followed at Laquintinie Hospital Douala or who were members of a local sickle cell association. Pregnancy preferences were determined using the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale. Factors associated with pregnancy preferences were determined using multivariable linear regression model. Threshold for significance was set at p Results: Seventy-seven patients were included with a mean age of 24.71 ± 5.53 years. Forty patients (51.95%) had one sexual partner and thirteen women (32.5%) used contraceptive methods. Most patients (46.0%) responded “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” to the statement “it would be a good thing for me if I became pregnant in the next 3 months”. The mean DAP score was 1.63 ± 0.91 [1.28 ± 0.82 in those who had a sexual partner and 1.99 ± 0.86 in those who had no sexual partner]. Factors that were positively associated with DAP score were students (b = 0.32, 95% CI [0.21, 0.95], p = 0.003), monthly income ≥ 100,000 FCFA (b = 0.24, 95% CI [0.07, 0.81], p = 0.022), and not having a sexual partner (b = 0.26, 95% CI [0.11, 0.85], p = 0.012). Conclusion: Most female patients with SCD have a low desire to avoid pregnancy. This is especially true for patients who are not students, have a partner and have a low monthly income.展开更多
Farmers’contract breach behavior is cited as one of the major stumbling blocks in the sustainable expansion of contract farming in many developing countries.This paper examines farmers’contract breach decisions from...Farmers’contract breach behavior is cited as one of the major stumbling blocks in the sustainable expansion of contract farming in many developing countries.This paper examines farmers’contract breach decisions from the perspective of time preferences.The empirical analysis is based on a household survey and economic field experiments of poultry households participating in contract farming conducted in Jiangsu Province,China.A discounted utility model and a maximum likelihood technique are applied to estimate farmers’time preferences and the effect of time preferences on contract breach in the production and sales phases are explored with a bivariate probit model.The results show that,on average,the poultry farmers in the sample are generally present biased and impatient regarding future utility.The regression results show that farmers with a higher preference for the present and a higher discount rate are more likely to breach contracts,and time preferences play a greater role in the production phase than in the sales phase.When considering heterogeneity,specific investments and transaction costs promote contract stability only for farmers with a low degree of impatience.Moreover,compared with large-scale farmers,small-scale farmers’contract breach decisions are more significantly affected by their time preferences.These results have implications for contract stability policies and other issues that are impacted by the linking of behavioral preferences to agricultural decisions.展开更多
Climate change which is mainly caused by carbon emissions is a global problem affecting the economic development and well-being of human society.Low-carbon agriculture is of particular significance in slowing down glo...Climate change which is mainly caused by carbon emissions is a global problem affecting the economic development and well-being of human society.Low-carbon agriculture is of particular significance in slowing down global warming and reaching the goal of“carbon peak and carbon neutrality”.Therefore,taking straw incorporation as an example,this paper aims to investigate the impact of risk preferences on farmers’low-carbon agricultural technology(LCAT)adoption.Based on a two-phase micro-survey data of 1038 rice farmers in Jiangsu,Jiangxi,and Hunan provinces,this paper uses experimental economics methods to measure farmers’risk aversion and loss aversion to obtain the real risk preferences information of the farmers.We also explore the data to examine the actual LCAT adoption behavior of farmers.The results revealed that both risk aversion and loss aversion significantly inhibit farmers’LCAT adoption:more risk-averse or more loss-averse farmers are less likely to adopt LCAT.It is further found that crop insurance,farm scale and governmental regulations can alleviate the negative impact of risk aversion and loss aversion on farmers’LCAT adoption.Therefore,we propose that local governments need to promote low-carbon agricultural development by propagating the benefits of LCAT,extending crop insurance,promoting appropriate scale operations,and strengthening governmental regulations to promote farmers’LCAT adoption.展开更多
The residential sector contributes a large part of the energy to the global energy balance.To date,housing demand has mostly been uncontrollable and inelastic to grid conditions.Analyzing the performance of a home ene...The residential sector contributes a large part of the energy to the global energy balance.To date,housing demand has mostly been uncontrollable and inelastic to grid conditions.Analyzing the performance of a home energy manage-ment system requires the creation of various profiles of real-world residential demand,as residential demand is complex and includes multiple factors such as occupancy,climate,user preferences,and appliance types.Average Peak Ratio(A2P)is one of the most important parameters when managing an efficient and cost-effective energy system.At the household level,the larger relative magni-tudes of certain energy devices make managing this ratio critical,albeit difficult.Various Demand Response(DR)and Demand Side Management(DSM)systems have been proposed to reduce this ratio to 1.The main ways to achieve this are economic incentives,user comfort modeling and control,or preference-based.In this study,we propose a unique opportunistic social time approach called the Time Utility Based Control Feature(TUBCF),which uses the concept of a utility function from economics to model and control consumer devices.We propose a DR model for residential customers to reduce Peak-to-Average Ratio(PAR)and improve customer satisfaction by eliminating Appliance Wait Time(WTA)during peak periods.For PAR reduction and WTA,we propose a system architecture and mathematical formulation.Our proposed model automatically schedules devices based on their temporal preferences and considers six households with different device types and operational characteristics.Simulation results show that using this strategy can reduce A2P by 80%and improve user comfort during peak hours.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
BACKGROUND The evidence on preferences for oral-vs blood-based human immunodeficiency virus self-testing(HIVST)has been heterogenous and inconclusive.In addition,most evaluations have relied on hypothetical or stated ...BACKGROUND The evidence on preferences for oral-vs blood-based human immunodeficiency virus self-testing(HIVST)has been heterogenous and inconclusive.In addition,most evaluations have relied on hypothetical or stated use cases using discreet choice experiments rather than actual preferences among experienced users,which are more objective and critical for the understanding of product uptake.Direct head-to-head comparison of consumer preferences for oral-versus bloodbased HIVST is lacking.AIM To examine the existing literature on preferences for oral-vs blood-based HIVST,determine the factors that impact these preferences,and assess the potential implications for HIVST programs.METHODS Databases such as PubMed,Medline,Google Scholar,and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January 2011 to October 2022.Articles must address preferences for oral-vs blood-based HIVST.The study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist to ensure the quality of the study.RESULTS The initial search revealed 2424 records,of which 8 studies were finally included in the scoping review.Pooled preference for blood-based HIVST was 48.8%(9%-78.6%),whereas pooled preference for oral HIVST was 59.8%(34.2%-91%)across all studies.However,for male-specific studies,the preference for blood-based HIVST(58%-65.6%)was higher than that for oral(34.2%-41%).The four studies that reported a higher preference for blood-based HIVST were in men.Participants considered blood-based HIVST to be more accurate and rapid,while those with a higher preference for oral HIVST did so because these were considered non-invasive and easy to use.CONCLUSION Consistently in the literature,men preferred blood-based HIVST over oral HIVST due to higher risk perception and desire for a test that provides higher accuracy coupled with rapidity,autonomy,privacy,and confidentiality,whereas those with a higher preference for oral HIVST did so because these were considered non-invasive and easy to use.Misinformation and distrust need to be addressed through promotional messaging to maximize the diversity of this new biomedical technology.展开更多
Background:The midwife plays a critical role in health counselling and education,not just for women but also for their families and communities.At the current time,with the growth of the midwifery workforce globally,t...Background:The midwife plays a critical role in health counselling and education,not just for women but also for their families and communities.At the current time,with the growth of the midwifery workforce globally,there is still a lack of understanding regarding the full scope and role of the midwife.Aim:To evaluate the current situation of knowledge of midwives’role among women in Makkah.In addition,this study identifies the effect of women’s knowledge on their preferences for receiving maternity care from health professionals.Methods:This study employed a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional method.The total resultant sample size(N)equalled 379 global respondents,of which 306,with a response rate=of 80.73%completed the entire survey as requested.An electronic questionnaire in the Arabic language was used in this study.Results:Results revealed that most women had incorrect knowledge regarding three aspects of the midwives’roles during pregnancy 53.9%,labour 52.8%and childbirth 61.9%.Also,results presented that most women preferred obstetricians to follow up on an uncomplicated pregnancy,labour,childbirth,and maternity care 69.6%,53.9%,64.7%and 46.1%,respectively.The study found that the women’s knowledge about midwives’roles affects their preferences for healthcare professionals in receiving maternity care(P<0.05).Conclusion:Responses showed that most participants had no experience and had negative views about midwives’roles.Thus,it would affect their health professionals’preferences for receiving maternity care.Therefore,midwifery services and maternity care professionals should prioritize educating women about midwives’competencies in maternity care.展开更多
This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2...This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021.We first described consumers’experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates,and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment.The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat(ABM),combined with different countries of origin(COO),taste labels,and prices.Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food;85 and 82%of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food,respectively.More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food(58%),or were interested in healthy food(56%).Income,religion,and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’experiences in PBM food consumption.Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79%of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger.We also found that 99.8 and 83%of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label,with a willingness to pay(WTP)of 208 and 120 CNY,respectively.The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree,higher income,religious beliefs,and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.展开更多
Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and ...Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and globally. Providing appropriate long-term care (LTC) for PLWH has thus become increasingly critical. Our study aimed to describe LTC setting preferences and related factors among middle-aged and older Japanese people living with HIV. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two hospitals in Tokyo. One hundred seventy-five outpatients aged 40 years and above participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to assess where they wanted to live once they could no longer care for themselves. Approximately 52.0% preferred a designated facility for older adults or LTC, while 30.3% preferred their home or living with family, a partner, or a friend (“familiar housing”). Bivariate analyses revealed that LTC setting preference was significantly associated with marital status, whether or not the participant had at least one child, and household composition. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that participants living with non-kin were less likely to prefer living in designated housing facilities for older adults or LTC (adjusted odds ratio = 0.17, 95% confidence interval: 0.05 - 0.63). The study findings suggest that family make-up and composition of cohabiters are critical indicators for LTC setting preference in this population. These findings can be the foundation for future care planning and delivery to meet the unique LTC needs and expectations of the aging population with HIV in Japan and similar global settings.展开更多
AIM:To identify current trends in anaesthesia technique for cataract surgery and make this information available to ophthalmologists.METHODS:An electronic survey was created and distributed to members of online ophtha...AIM:To identify current trends in anaesthesia technique for cataract surgery and make this information available to ophthalmologists.METHODS:An electronic survey was created and distributed to members of online ophthalmology forums;results were subsequently analysed in spreadsheet software.RESULTS:In total there were 71 completed surveys.The most preferred anaesthesia technique in cataract cases was topical anaesthesia with intracameral injection(n=34,47.9%),and the least preferred techniques were retrobulbar(n=1,1.4%) and peribulbar blocks(n=1,1.4%).The most commonly preferred local anaesthetic was lidocaine 2%(n=41,57.7%).CONCLUSION:Topical anaesthesia techniques with lidocaine 2% appear to be the most preferred method of anaesthesia in cataract surgery in our survey.Compared with previous literature our survey shows that topical anaesthesia is being increasingly used in cataract surgery,especially in conjunction with intracameral injection.The predominant reasons for this seem to be patient comfort and ease of technique.展开更多
In this work, we make an investigation on the preferences of orientations between amino acids using the orientation defined based on the local geometry of the amino acids concerned. It is found that there are common p...In this work, we make an investigation on the preferences of orientations between amino acids using the orientation defined based on the local geometry of the amino acids concerned. It is found that there are common preferences of orientations (70°, 30°, 140°) and (110°, 340°, 100°) for various pairs of amino acids. Different side chains may strengthen or weaken the common preferences, which is related to the effect of packing. Some amino acids having specific local flexibility may possess some preferences of orientations besides the common ones, such as (10°, 280°, 210°). Another analysis on the pairs of the amino acids with different secondary-structure preferences shows that the directional interaction may affect the distribution of orientation more effectively than the packing or local flexibility. All these results provide us some insight of the organization of amino acids in protein, and their relation with some related interactions.展开更多
As a physical model, the cellular automata (CA) model is widely used in many areas, such as stair evacuation. However, existing CA models do not consider evacuees' walk preferences nor psychological status, and the...As a physical model, the cellular automata (CA) model is widely used in many areas, such as stair evacuation. However, existing CA models do not consider evacuees' walk preferences nor psychological status, and the structure of the basic model is unapplicable for the stair structure. This paper is to improve the stair evacuation simulation by addressing these issues, and a new cellular automata model is established. Several evacuees' walk preference and how evacuee's psychology influences their behaviors are introduced into this model. Evacuees' speeds will be influenced by these features. To validate this simulation, two fire drills held in two high-rise buildings are video-recorded. It is found that the simulation results are similar to the fire drill results. The structure of this model is simple, and it is easy to further develop and utilize in different buildings with various kinds of occupants.展开更多
Considering that the assumption of time consistency does not adequately reveal the mechanisms of exit decisions of venture capital(VC),this study proposes two kinds of time-inconsistent preferences(i.e.,time-flow inco...Considering that the assumption of time consistency does not adequately reveal the mechanisms of exit decisions of venture capital(VC),this study proposes two kinds of time-inconsistent preferences(i.e.,time-flow inconsistency and time-point incon-sistency)to advance research in this field.Time-flow inconsistency is in line with the previous time inconsistency literature,while time-point inconsistency is rooted in the VC fund’s finite lifespan.Based on the assumption about the strategies guiding future behaviors,we consider four types of venture capitalists:time-consistent,time-point-inconsistent,naïve,and sophisticated venture capitalists,of which the latter three are time-inconsistent.We derive and compare the exit thresholds of these four types of venture capitalists.The main results include:(1)time-inconsistent preferences acceler-ate the exits of venture capitalists;(2)the closer the VC funds expiry dates are,t`he more likely time-inconsistent venture capitalists are to accelerate their exits;and(3)future selves caused by time-flow inconsistency weaken the effect of time-point inconsist-ency.Our study provides a behavioral explanation for the empirical fact of young VCs’grandstanding.展开更多
The aim of this study explored the importance of colour application on clothing and investigated whether there is a preference of colour on clothing among children under hospital environment. A modified colour associa...The aim of this study explored the importance of colour application on clothing and investigated whether there is a preference of colour on clothing among children under hospital environment. A modified colour associated test based on the Luster Color Test was used to carry out the survey. Fifty child patients aged four to sixteen were asked to look at two specially designed colour cards and to name their preferences and associations on each of the colour.展开更多
In order to rank searching results according to the user preferences,a new personalized web pages ranking algorithm called PWPR(personalized web page ranking)with the idea of adjusting the ranking scores of web page...In order to rank searching results according to the user preferences,a new personalized web pages ranking algorithm called PWPR(personalized web page ranking)with the idea of adjusting the ranking scores of web pages in accordance with user preferences is proposed.PWPR assigns the initial weights based on user interests and creates the virtual links and hubs according to user interests.By measuring user click streams,PWPR incrementally reflects users’ favors for the personalized ranking.To improve the accuracy of ranking, PWPR also takes collaborative filtering into consideration when the query with similar is submitted by users who have similar user interests. Detailed simulation results and comparison with other algorithms prove that the proposed PWPR can adaptively provide personalized ranking and truly relevant information to user preferences.展开更多
Over the last decade, the popularity of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) as a mode of travel has been increasing at a steady pace. This trend <span style="font-family:Verdana;">highlights the im...Over the last decade, the popularity of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) as a mode of travel has been increasing at a steady pace. This trend <span style="font-family:Verdana;">highlights the importance of identifying the determinants that influence transportati</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on users to adopt TNCs as a preferred mode choice and the impacts of su</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ch preferences on their travel patterns and transportation network o</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">peration. This paper reports on a recent study undertaken in Birmingham, AL aiming at understanding and documenting the factors that influence transportation users to select TNCs (such as Uber/Lyft) for completing typical day trips. In </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">doing so, a travel diary questionnaire survey was developed in accordance with</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Manual on Transportation Engineering Studies using the Qualtrics Research Core platform. The que</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">stionnair</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">e was used to survey over 450 transportation users in the Birmingham Metro area. The survey participants provided detailed trip information for a </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">typical 24-hr day along with demographic data and travel preference informatio</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">n. The survey responses provide high-resolution micro-level indicators </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of travel preferences and behaviors in a TNC-served area, which is a much-needed </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">type of information for researchers and transportation planning agencies.</span>展开更多
Objective: To assess preferences for participation in shared decision making in a representative sample of psychiatric outpatients with affective disorders and to understand how clinical and socio-demographic variable...Objective: To assess preferences for participation in shared decision making in a representative sample of psychiatric outpatients with affective disorders and to understand how clinical and socio-demographic variables influence patients’ preferences for participation. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 172 consecutive psychiatric outpatients with affective disorders attending at Community Mental Health Care setting was carried out. Patients expressed preferences on each of 3 aspects of decision making (seeking information, discussing options, making the final decision). The “CGI Severity and Improvement Scales” and the “Beck Depression Inventory” scale were used for severity assessment. Additionally the “Drug Attitude Inventory”, the “Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire” and the “Leeds Attitude toward Concordance Scale” were applied to all participants. Effects of variables considered on preferences were assessed using proportional odds regression models. Results: We registered a high response rate of 85%. Nearly all patients (91%) preferred to leave final decisions to their treating psychiatrists and 87% preferred to rely on psychiatrists for medical knowledge rather than seeking their own information. In contrast, 81% of patients preferred to be offered options and to be asked their opinion by their doctors. Gender, age, educational level, number of psychotropics used and belief about psychiatric medication overuse were significant predictors in decision making dimensions considered. Conclusion: Shared decision making approach of patients with affective disorder must take into consideration a more doctor-directed approach preferred by the patients in which the desire to be offered options is not automatically linked with the willingness of taking decisions or getting more knowledge.展开更多
An exploratory study of the traditional homestead forest of two different religious groups (Hindu and Muslim) in one selected floodplain area of Bangladesh was conducted over a period of six months from January to Jun...An exploratory study of the traditional homestead forest of two different religious groups (Hindu and Muslim) in one selected floodplain area of Bangladesh was conducted over a period of six months from January to June 2002. The species' (both tree and shrub) preferences, similarities, use and sources of planting materials, spacing and location of species in the homesteads of both Hindu and Muslim communities were studied. It was found thatMangifera indica as tree species andOcimum sanctum as shrub species were the best preferred species of the Hindu community.Artocarpus heterophyllus as tree species andLawsonia inermis as shrub species were found best preferred by the Muslim community. Floristic similarities between the two groups were found 86.57% in tree species and 78.48% in shrub species. Both seed and seedlings of tree and shrub species as planting materials were used by the highest percentage of both the religious communities. For tree species, homegarden was reported to be the highest source (39%) and for shrub species, nature was the highest source (40%), which was found in the Hindu community. Key words Species preferences - Species similarity - Planting materials - Hindu - Muslim - Homestead forests - Floodplain area - Bangladesh CLC number S72 Document code A Biography: Md. Danesh Miah (1971): male, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project(No.62302540)The Open Foundation of Henan Key Laboratory of Cyberspace Situation Awareness(No.HNTS2022020)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province Project(No.232300420422)The Natural Science Foundation of Zhongyuan University of Technology(No.K2023QN018)Key Research and Promotion Project of Henan Province in 2021(No.212102310480).
文摘A deep learning access controlmodel based on user preferences is proposed to address the issue of personal privacy leakage in social networks.Firstly,socialusers andsocialdata entities are extractedfromthe social networkandused to construct homogeneous and heterogeneous graphs.Secondly,a graph neural networkmodel is designed based on user daily social behavior and daily social data to simulate the dissemination and changes of user social preferences and user personal preferences in the social network.Then,high-order neighbor nodes,hidden neighbor nodes,displayed neighbor nodes,and social data nodes are used to update user nodes to expand the depth and breadth of user preferences.Finally,a multi-layer attention network is used to classify user nodes in the homogeneous graph into two classes:allow access and deny access.The fine-grained access control problem in social networks is transformed into a node classification problem in a graph neural network.The model is validated using a dataset and compared with other methods without losing generality.The model improved accuracy by 2.18%compared to the baseline method GraphSAGE,and improved F1 score by 1.45%compared to the baseline method,verifying the effectiveness of the model.
文摘BACKGROUND Primary thumb carpometacarpal(CMC)osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions encountered by hand surgeons.Of the vast number of operations that have been proposed,none have demonstrated results significantly superior to trapeziectomy alone.AIM The purpose of our study was to determine why surgeons opt for their technique in treating CMC arthritis.METHODS A cross-sectional survey of active members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand was conducted to evaluate the reasons behind their preferred technique in the treatment of isolated thumb CMC arthritis.Surgeons were contacted by email once and provided with a link to a de-identified survey consisting of 5 treatment questions and 5 demographic questions.RESULTS Of 950 responses were received.40.5%of surgeons preferred trapeziectomy+ligament reconstruction tendon interposition(LRTI),followed by trapeziectomy+suspensionplasty(28.2%),suture button suspension(5.9%),trapeziectomy alone(4.6%),prosthetic arthroplasty(3.2%),arthrodesis(1.1%),and other(6.6%).Proponents of trapeziectomy+LRTI cited familiarity(73.2%),exposure during fellowship(48.8%)and less proximal migration(60%)to be the main reasons affecting their decision.Surgeons who preferred trapeziectomy+suspensionplasty most reported simplicity(74.9%),fewer complications(45.3%),less proximal migration(43.8%),and avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(42.7%).Advocates of suture button suspension cited avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(80.4%),shorter immobilization(76.8%),and quicker recovery(73.2%)with their technique.Advocates of trapeziectomy alone cited simplicity(97.7%),fewer complications(86.4%),and avoidance of autogenous tissue harvest(59.1%).In their comments,45%of surgeons choosing trapeziectomy alone cited evidence as an additional rationale.Advocates of prosthetic arthroplasty cited improved pinch strength(83.3%)and improved range of motion(63.3%),while those preferring arthrodesis cited better pinch strength(90%)and frequently in their comments,durability.Of the surgeons who preferred a technique other than LRTI,41.8%reported they had tried LRTI in the past,citing complexity of the procedure,flexor carpi radialis harvest,and longer operative time as reasons for moving on.CONCLUSION Our study provides an update on current treatment trends and offers new insight into the reasons behind surgeons'decision making in the management of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.Despite strong Level 1 evidence supporting the use of trapeziectomy alone,our findings demonstrate that most surgeons continue to supplement trapeziectomy with other techniques such as LRTI or suspensionplasty.Several factors including familiarity,personal experience(Level 4 evidence),and comfort may be more influential than Level 1 evidence in determining the techniques in a surgeon's armamentarium.Further prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal technique for surgical management of Eaton stages II-IV CMC arthritis and how these studies will affect surgeons’choice.
文摘Introduction: Females with sickle cell disease (SCD), despite having a delayed pubertal development, are subject to many worries relating to their abilities to conceive, their capacity to maintain a maternofetal-risk-free pregnancy till term and give birth to healthy children without sickle cell disease. Knowing that unplanned pregnancies are more likely to increase maternofetal morbidity and mortality, we sought out to explore the pregnancy preferences in female patients with sickle cell disease to promote healthy conception and childbirth in this vulnerable population. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving female patients of child-bearing age with sickle cell disease followed at Laquintinie Hospital Douala or who were members of a local sickle cell association. Pregnancy preferences were determined using the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale. Factors associated with pregnancy preferences were determined using multivariable linear regression model. Threshold for significance was set at p Results: Seventy-seven patients were included with a mean age of 24.71 ± 5.53 years. Forty patients (51.95%) had one sexual partner and thirteen women (32.5%) used contraceptive methods. Most patients (46.0%) responded “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” to the statement “it would be a good thing for me if I became pregnant in the next 3 months”. The mean DAP score was 1.63 ± 0.91 [1.28 ± 0.82 in those who had a sexual partner and 1.99 ± 0.86 in those who had no sexual partner]. Factors that were positively associated with DAP score were students (b = 0.32, 95% CI [0.21, 0.95], p = 0.003), monthly income ≥ 100,000 FCFA (b = 0.24, 95% CI [0.07, 0.81], p = 0.022), and not having a sexual partner (b = 0.26, 95% CI [0.11, 0.85], p = 0.012). Conclusion: Most female patients with SCD have a low desire to avoid pregnancy. This is especially true for patients who are not students, have a partner and have a low monthly income.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72003082 and 71573130)the Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province of China(2020SJA1015)+1 种基金the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,China(PAPD)the China Center for Food Security Studies,Nanjing Agricultural University,China。
文摘Farmers’contract breach behavior is cited as one of the major stumbling blocks in the sustainable expansion of contract farming in many developing countries.This paper examines farmers’contract breach decisions from the perspective of time preferences.The empirical analysis is based on a household survey and economic field experiments of poultry households participating in contract farming conducted in Jiangsu Province,China.A discounted utility model and a maximum likelihood technique are applied to estimate farmers’time preferences and the effect of time preferences on contract breach in the production and sales phases are explored with a bivariate probit model.The results show that,on average,the poultry farmers in the sample are generally present biased and impatient regarding future utility.The regression results show that farmers with a higher preference for the present and a higher discount rate are more likely to breach contracts,and time preferences play a greater role in the production phase than in the sales phase.When considering heterogeneity,specific investments and transaction costs promote contract stability only for farmers with a low degree of impatience.Moreover,compared with large-scale farmers,small-scale farmers’contract breach decisions are more significantly affected by their time preferences.These results have implications for contract stability policies and other issues that are impacted by the linking of behavioral preferences to agricultural decisions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72103115)the Humanities and Social Science Research General Project of the Ministry of Education of China(21XJC790008)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020T130393)the Social Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province,China(2021D028)。
文摘Climate change which is mainly caused by carbon emissions is a global problem affecting the economic development and well-being of human society.Low-carbon agriculture is of particular significance in slowing down global warming and reaching the goal of“carbon peak and carbon neutrality”.Therefore,taking straw incorporation as an example,this paper aims to investigate the impact of risk preferences on farmers’low-carbon agricultural technology(LCAT)adoption.Based on a two-phase micro-survey data of 1038 rice farmers in Jiangsu,Jiangxi,and Hunan provinces,this paper uses experimental economics methods to measure farmers’risk aversion and loss aversion to obtain the real risk preferences information of the farmers.We also explore the data to examine the actual LCAT adoption behavior of farmers.The results revealed that both risk aversion and loss aversion significantly inhibit farmers’LCAT adoption:more risk-averse or more loss-averse farmers are less likely to adopt LCAT.It is further found that crop insurance,farm scale and governmental regulations can alleviate the negative impact of risk aversion and loss aversion on farmers’LCAT adoption.Therefore,we propose that local governments need to promote low-carbon agricultural development by propagating the benefits of LCAT,extending crop insurance,promoting appropriate scale operations,and strengthening governmental regulations to promote farmers’LCAT adoption.
基金supported by King Saud University through Researchers Supporting Project number(RSP-2021/387),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘The residential sector contributes a large part of the energy to the global energy balance.To date,housing demand has mostly been uncontrollable and inelastic to grid conditions.Analyzing the performance of a home energy manage-ment system requires the creation of various profiles of real-world residential demand,as residential demand is complex and includes multiple factors such as occupancy,climate,user preferences,and appliance types.Average Peak Ratio(A2P)is one of the most important parameters when managing an efficient and cost-effective energy system.At the household level,the larger relative magni-tudes of certain energy devices make managing this ratio critical,albeit difficult.Various Demand Response(DR)and Demand Side Management(DSM)systems have been proposed to reduce this ratio to 1.The main ways to achieve this are economic incentives,user comfort modeling and control,or preference-based.In this study,we propose a unique opportunistic social time approach called the Time Utility Based Control Feature(TUBCF),which uses the concept of a utility function from economics to model and control consumer devices.We propose a DR model for residential customers to reduce Peak-to-Average Ratio(PAR)and improve customer satisfaction by eliminating Appliance Wait Time(WTA)during peak periods.For PAR reduction and WTA,we propose a system architecture and mathematical formulation.Our proposed model automatically schedules devices based on their temporal preferences and considers six households with different device types and operational characteristics.Simulation results show that using this strategy can reduce A2P by 80%and improve user comfort during peak hours.
文摘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.
文摘BACKGROUND The evidence on preferences for oral-vs blood-based human immunodeficiency virus self-testing(HIVST)has been heterogenous and inconclusive.In addition,most evaluations have relied on hypothetical or stated use cases using discreet choice experiments rather than actual preferences among experienced users,which are more objective and critical for the understanding of product uptake.Direct head-to-head comparison of consumer preferences for oral-versus bloodbased HIVST is lacking.AIM To examine the existing literature on preferences for oral-vs blood-based HIVST,determine the factors that impact these preferences,and assess the potential implications for HIVST programs.METHODS Databases such as PubMed,Medline,Google Scholar,and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January 2011 to October 2022.Articles must address preferences for oral-vs blood-based HIVST.The study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist to ensure the quality of the study.RESULTS The initial search revealed 2424 records,of which 8 studies were finally included in the scoping review.Pooled preference for blood-based HIVST was 48.8%(9%-78.6%),whereas pooled preference for oral HIVST was 59.8%(34.2%-91%)across all studies.However,for male-specific studies,the preference for blood-based HIVST(58%-65.6%)was higher than that for oral(34.2%-41%).The four studies that reported a higher preference for blood-based HIVST were in men.Participants considered blood-based HIVST to be more accurate and rapid,while those with a higher preference for oral HIVST did so because these were considered non-invasive and easy to use.CONCLUSION Consistently in the literature,men preferred blood-based HIVST over oral HIVST due to higher risk perception and desire for a test that provides higher accuracy coupled with rapidity,autonomy,privacy,and confidentiality,whereas those with a higher preference for oral HIVST did so because these were considered non-invasive and easy to use.Misinformation and distrust need to be addressed through promotional messaging to maximize the diversity of this new biomedical technology.
文摘Background:The midwife plays a critical role in health counselling and education,not just for women but also for their families and communities.At the current time,with the growth of the midwifery workforce globally,there is still a lack of understanding regarding the full scope and role of the midwife.Aim:To evaluate the current situation of knowledge of midwives’role among women in Makkah.In addition,this study identifies the effect of women’s knowledge on their preferences for receiving maternity care from health professionals.Methods:This study employed a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional method.The total resultant sample size(N)equalled 379 global respondents,of which 306,with a response rate=of 80.73%completed the entire survey as requested.An electronic questionnaire in the Arabic language was used in this study.Results:Results revealed that most women had incorrect knowledge regarding three aspects of the midwives’roles during pregnancy 53.9%,labour 52.8%and childbirth 61.9%.Also,results presented that most women preferred obstetricians to follow up on an uncomplicated pregnancy,labour,childbirth,and maternity care 69.6%,53.9%,64.7%and 46.1%,respectively.The study found that the women’s knowledge about midwives’roles affects their preferences for healthcare professionals in receiving maternity care(P<0.05).Conclusion:Responses showed that most participants had no experience and had negative views about midwives’roles.Thus,it would affect their health professionals’preferences for receiving maternity care.Therefore,midwifery services and maternity care professionals should prioritize educating women about midwives’competencies in maternity care.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71861147003,71925009,72141014).
文摘This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021.We first described consumers’experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates,and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment.The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat(ABM),combined with different countries of origin(COO),taste labels,and prices.Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food;85 and 82%of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food,respectively.More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food(58%),or were interested in healthy food(56%).Income,religion,and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’experiences in PBM food consumption.Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79%of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger.We also found that 99.8 and 83%of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label,with a willingness to pay(WTP)of 208 and 120 CNY,respectively.The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree,higher income,religious beliefs,and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.
文摘Since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) has extended. This extension has led to an increase in the aging population in Japan and globally. Providing appropriate long-term care (LTC) for PLWH has thus become increasingly critical. Our study aimed to describe LTC setting preferences and related factors among middle-aged and older Japanese people living with HIV. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two hospitals in Tokyo. One hundred seventy-five outpatients aged 40 years and above participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to assess where they wanted to live once they could no longer care for themselves. Approximately 52.0% preferred a designated facility for older adults or LTC, while 30.3% preferred their home or living with family, a partner, or a friend (“familiar housing”). Bivariate analyses revealed that LTC setting preference was significantly associated with marital status, whether or not the participant had at least one child, and household composition. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis revealed that participants living with non-kin were less likely to prefer living in designated housing facilities for older adults or LTC (adjusted odds ratio = 0.17, 95% confidence interval: 0.05 - 0.63). The study findings suggest that family make-up and composition of cohabiters are critical indicators for LTC setting preference in this population. These findings can be the foundation for future care planning and delivery to meet the unique LTC needs and expectations of the aging population with HIV in Japan and similar global settings.
文摘AIM:To identify current trends in anaesthesia technique for cataract surgery and make this information available to ophthalmologists.METHODS:An electronic survey was created and distributed to members of online ophthalmology forums;results were subsequently analysed in spreadsheet software.RESULTS:In total there were 71 completed surveys.The most preferred anaesthesia technique in cataract cases was topical anaesthesia with intracameral injection(n=34,47.9%),and the least preferred techniques were retrobulbar(n=1,1.4%) and peribulbar blocks(n=1,1.4%).The most commonly preferred local anaesthetic was lidocaine 2%(n=41,57.7%).CONCLUSION:Topical anaesthesia techniques with lidocaine 2% appear to be the most preferred method of anaesthesia in cataract surgery in our survey.Compared with previous literature our survey shows that topical anaesthesia is being increasingly used in cataract surgery,especially in conjunction with intracameral injection.The predominant reasons for this seem to be patient comfort and ease of technique.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10204013, 90103031, 10074030, 10474041, 90403120 and 10021001), and the Nonlinear Project (973) of the National Science Ministry, China.
文摘In this work, we make an investigation on the preferences of orientations between amino acids using the orientation defined based on the local geometry of the amino acids concerned. It is found that there are common preferences of orientations (70°, 30°, 140°) and (110°, 340°, 100°) for various pairs of amino acids. Different side chains may strengthen or weaken the common preferences, which is related to the effect of packing. Some amino acids having specific local flexibility may possess some preferences of orientations besides the common ones, such as (10°, 280°, 210°). Another analysis on the pairs of the amino acids with different secondary-structure preferences shows that the directional interaction may affect the distribution of orientation more effectively than the packing or local flexibility. All these results provide us some insight of the organization of amino acids in protein, and their relation with some related interactions.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2012CB719705)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.91224008,91024032,and 71373139)
文摘As a physical model, the cellular automata (CA) model is widely used in many areas, such as stair evacuation. However, existing CA models do not consider evacuees' walk preferences nor psychological status, and the structure of the basic model is unapplicable for the stair structure. This paper is to improve the stair evacuation simulation by addressing these issues, and a new cellular automata model is established. Several evacuees' walk preference and how evacuee's psychology influences their behaviors are introduced into this model. Evacuees' speeds will be influenced by these features. To validate this simulation, two fire drills held in two high-rise buildings are video-recorded. It is found that the simulation results are similar to the fire drill results. The structure of this model is simple, and it is easy to further develop and utilize in different buildings with various kinds of occupants.
基金supported by the Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China under Grant No.17ZDA083the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.71932002the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality under Grant No.9192001.
文摘Considering that the assumption of time consistency does not adequately reveal the mechanisms of exit decisions of venture capital(VC),this study proposes two kinds of time-inconsistent preferences(i.e.,time-flow inconsistency and time-point incon-sistency)to advance research in this field.Time-flow inconsistency is in line with the previous time inconsistency literature,while time-point inconsistency is rooted in the VC fund’s finite lifespan.Based on the assumption about the strategies guiding future behaviors,we consider four types of venture capitalists:time-consistent,time-point-inconsistent,naïve,and sophisticated venture capitalists,of which the latter three are time-inconsistent.We derive and compare the exit thresholds of these four types of venture capitalists.The main results include:(1)time-inconsistent preferences acceler-ate the exits of venture capitalists;(2)the closer the VC funds expiry dates are,t`he more likely time-inconsistent venture capitalists are to accelerate their exits;and(3)future selves caused by time-flow inconsistency weaken the effect of time-point inconsist-ency.Our study provides a behavioral explanation for the empirical fact of young VCs’grandstanding.
文摘The aim of this study explored the importance of colour application on clothing and investigated whether there is a preference of colour on clothing among children under hospital environment. A modified colour associated test based on the Luster Color Test was used to carry out the survey. Fifty child patients aged four to sixteen were asked to look at two specially designed colour cards and to name their preferences and associations on each of the colour.
基金The Natural Science Foundation of South-Central University for Nationalities(No.YZZ07006)
文摘In order to rank searching results according to the user preferences,a new personalized web pages ranking algorithm called PWPR(personalized web page ranking)with the idea of adjusting the ranking scores of web pages in accordance with user preferences is proposed.PWPR assigns the initial weights based on user interests and creates the virtual links and hubs according to user interests.By measuring user click streams,PWPR incrementally reflects users’ favors for the personalized ranking.To improve the accuracy of ranking, PWPR also takes collaborative filtering into consideration when the query with similar is submitted by users who have similar user interests. Detailed simulation results and comparison with other algorithms prove that the proposed PWPR can adaptively provide personalized ranking and truly relevant information to user preferences.
文摘Over the last decade, the popularity of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) as a mode of travel has been increasing at a steady pace. This trend <span style="font-family:Verdana;">highlights the importance of identifying the determinants that influence transportati</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on users to adopt TNCs as a preferred mode choice and the impacts of su</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ch preferences on their travel patterns and transportation network o</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">peration. This paper reports on a recent study undertaken in Birmingham, AL aiming at understanding and documenting the factors that influence transportation users to select TNCs (such as Uber/Lyft) for completing typical day trips. In </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">doing so, a travel diary questionnaire survey was developed in accordance with</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Manual on Transportation Engineering Studies using the Qualtrics Research Core platform. The que</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">stionnair</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">e was used to survey over 450 transportation users in the Birmingham Metro area. The survey participants provided detailed trip information for a </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">typical 24-hr day along with demographic data and travel preference informatio</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">n. The survey responses provide high-resolution micro-level indicators </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of travel preferences and behaviors in a TNC-served area, which is a much-needed </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">type of information for researchers and transportation planning agencies.</span>
基金The Instituto de Salud Carlos III, FEDER Union Europea (Grant No. PI10/00955).
文摘Objective: To assess preferences for participation in shared decision making in a representative sample of psychiatric outpatients with affective disorders and to understand how clinical and socio-demographic variables influence patients’ preferences for participation. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 172 consecutive psychiatric outpatients with affective disorders attending at Community Mental Health Care setting was carried out. Patients expressed preferences on each of 3 aspects of decision making (seeking information, discussing options, making the final decision). The “CGI Severity and Improvement Scales” and the “Beck Depression Inventory” scale were used for severity assessment. Additionally the “Drug Attitude Inventory”, the “Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire” and the “Leeds Attitude toward Concordance Scale” were applied to all participants. Effects of variables considered on preferences were assessed using proportional odds regression models. Results: We registered a high response rate of 85%. Nearly all patients (91%) preferred to leave final decisions to their treating psychiatrists and 87% preferred to rely on psychiatrists for medical knowledge rather than seeking their own information. In contrast, 81% of patients preferred to be offered options and to be asked their opinion by their doctors. Gender, age, educational level, number of psychotropics used and belief about psychiatric medication overuse were significant predictors in decision making dimensions considered. Conclusion: Shared decision making approach of patients with affective disorder must take into consideration a more doctor-directed approach preferred by the patients in which the desire to be offered options is not automatically linked with the willingness of taking decisions or getting more knowledge.
文摘An exploratory study of the traditional homestead forest of two different religious groups (Hindu and Muslim) in one selected floodplain area of Bangladesh was conducted over a period of six months from January to June 2002. The species' (both tree and shrub) preferences, similarities, use and sources of planting materials, spacing and location of species in the homesteads of both Hindu and Muslim communities were studied. It was found thatMangifera indica as tree species andOcimum sanctum as shrub species were the best preferred species of the Hindu community.Artocarpus heterophyllus as tree species andLawsonia inermis as shrub species were found best preferred by the Muslim community. Floristic similarities between the two groups were found 86.57% in tree species and 78.48% in shrub species. Both seed and seedlings of tree and shrub species as planting materials were used by the highest percentage of both the religious communities. For tree species, homegarden was reported to be the highest source (39%) and for shrub species, nature was the highest source (40%), which was found in the Hindu community. Key words Species preferences - Species similarity - Planting materials - Hindu - Muslim - Homestead forests - Floodplain area - Bangladesh CLC number S72 Document code A Biography: Md. Danesh Miah (1971): male, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai