The individual as the key-stakeholder of Next Generation Infrastructure: Defining the social value of transport infrastructure in the United Kingdom

The idea of social value has arisen from the psychological approach, and more specifically it is based on the principle of “independence of irrelevant alternatives” from the game theory introduced by Luce and Raiffa1. According to this, each alternative situation has an utility/value for the individual, which is a function of the features of the alternative situation and of the features of the individual who makes the choice. Beyond that, it assumed that the individual, who makes the choice, has a clear and measurable knowledge of the value, which each choice provides. Although even after the evaluation of each choice, it is a tentative situation regarding the choice of the individual. In other words, there is an element of possibility. Under the same principle of Luce and Raiffa, the possibility of a choice is in direct ratio to its value. The above mentioned assumptions constitute the “strict utility choice mode”. The exponential form of the value function is achieved by simple transformations of the “strict utility choice mode”,where X and S have a linear correlation. The exponential functions of the total value have a sigmoid form relative to the linear function of the value of the possible choice. This means that the exponential function may have a sigmoid form relative to the X-axis or Y-axis, based on the defined axes and values. The key challenge addressed is a quantitative sense of value, when the perceptions of value are qualitative. To measure social value quantitatively is challenging, since it is observed that pricing systems are “not based primarily on the users’ identity or activity”, but on the ability and willingness of the final user to pay. The social value gained by the individual is difficult to calculate, since it is defined by human behaviour and human needs. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, these needs belong to specific groups with specific hierarchy. Maslow developed value (utility) curves of each category of need relative to the age of the individual. The sum of the curves gives an almost sigmoid curve. Winters et al. created a Transportation Hierarchy of Needs and they found the following transport hierarchy of needs: [1] safety and security, [2] time, [3] societal acceptance, [4] cost and [5] comfort and convenience. This research studied value as something holistically affected by all the above factors (time, cost, comfort and convenience, safety and security), without considering their ranking, by asking individuals representative of the UK’s demography to evaluate the social value of eight transport modes (walking, cycling, rail, bus, car, taxi, water and air) and each factor for each mode with a questionnaire survey. The hypothesis tested is that the value to the individual, collectively, from the aforementioned factors should have an almost sigmoid curve, which was verified

Next Generation Infrastructure Interdependencies: An economic deterministic model of transport interdependencies in the United Kingdom

The role of infrastructure interdependencies is challenging due to the complexity and dynamic environment of all infrastructures and vital for critical infrastructure systems. There is an ongoing debate about the value of the benefits of the five national infrastructure sectors (energy, water, transport, waste and communication) in the UK and how they interact in terms of social, economic and environmental wellbeing , . This study focuses only on one of the three aforementioned values, the economic value. The hypothesis tested is whether the transport sector is economically complemented by the energy, water and waste sectors and economically substituted by the communication sector1. The authors use the process analysis “networks and cohorts”, an analysis that uses tables, diagrams, models and networks of interactions along with organizational linkages . Of interest for this study in particular is the grand total of all revenues (capital value) which create incomes into other sectors and creates dependencies. This, by definition, is the Gross Value Added. The last five symmetric (product by product) Input-Output tables of gross value added are used: 2010, 2005, 1995, 1990 and 1984 . The theory underpinning the hypothesis was verified and one mathematical equation was developed based on the historical data of the gross value added by the value created in millions of pounds (£m) from the other critical sectors to transport

Research priorities for improving infant and young child feeding in humanitarian emergencies

Background There are many challenges during emergencies to ensure that optimal infant and young child feeding is protected, promoted and supported, but there is a dearth of evidence on strategies and programmes to improve Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) and a need to determine research priorities. Methods Based on interviews with key informants who are experts in the subject, we developed a list of 48 research questions on IYCF-E. A framework, following the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method to set priorities in child health research, was developed to rank the research questions. Four criteria were applied to create a ranking based on answerability, operational relevance, disease burden reduction and prevention, and originality. Using an on-line survey, prioritisation of research questions was done by 27 people from 14 NGOs, universities and research institutions, and UN organisations. Results The top-ten research questions identified focused on the following: • Use of cash-transfer to buy breast-milk substitutes; • Effectiveness of complementary feeding strategies; • Long-term effect of IYCF-E interventions; • Design of IYCF-E programmes in a context where breastfeeding rates are low and breast milk substitutes use is high; • Design of effective re-lactation interventions; • Provision of psychological support to young children’s care-takers; • Determination of number of beneficiaries and coverage of IYCF-E programmes; • Pros and cons of distributing ready-to-use infant formula compared with distributing powdered infant formula plus kit for safer use of BMS, when use of infant formula is necessary; • Assessment of the impact of specific IYCF-E programmes on nutritional status, morbidity and mortality; • Linking and mainstreaming IYCF-E interventions with other sectors such as health, WASH, food security and child protection. Conclusion The questions found by this study could form the basis of future research on IYCF-E and could be integrated into the agenda of relevant stakeholders. Results of studies based on these questions will be fundamental to fill the evidence gap in IYCF-E, improve IYCF-E programming and ultimately contribute to the reduction in morbidity and mortality among infants and young children in humanitarian emergencies

Intra- and interspecific polymorphisms ofLeishmania donovani andL. tropica minicircle DNA

A pair of degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers (LEI-1, TCG GAT CC[C,T] [G,C]TG GGT AGG GGC GT; LEI-2, ACG GAT CC[G,C] [G,C][A,C]C TAT [A,T]TT ACA CC) defining a 0.15-kb segment ofLeishmania minicircle DNA was constructed. These primers amplified not only inter- but also intraspecifically polymorphic sequences. Individual sequences revealed a higher intraspecific than interspecific divergence. It is concluded that individual sequences are of limited relevance for species determination. In contrast, when a data base of 19 different sequences was analyzed in a dendrographic plot, an accurate species differentiation was feasible

Effects of gestational age at birth on cognitive performance : a function of cognitive workload demands

Objective: Cognitive deficits have been inconsistently described for late or moderately preterm children but are consistently found in very preterm children. This study investigates the association between cognitive workload demands of tasks and cognitive performance in relation to gestational age at birth. Methods: Data were collected as part of a prospective geographically defined whole-population study of neonatal at-risk children in Southern Bavaria. At 8;5 years, n = 1326 children (gestation range: 23–41 weeks) were assessed with the K-ABC and a Mathematics Test. Results: Cognitive scores of preterm children decreased as cognitive workload demands of tasks increased. The relationship between gestation and task workload was curvilinear and more pronounced the higher the cognitive workload: GA2 (quadratic term) on low cognitive workload: R2 = .02, p<0.001; moderate cognitive workload: R2 = .09, p<0.001; and high cognitive workload tasks: R2 = .14, p<0.001. Specifically, disproportionally lower scores were found for very (<32 weeks gestation) and moderately (32–33 weeks gestation) preterm children the higher the cognitive workload of the tasks. Early biological factors such as gestation and neonatal complications explained more of the variance in high (12.5%) compared with moderate (8.1%) and low cognitive workload tasks (1.7%). Conclusions: The cognitive workload model may help to explain variations of findings on the relationship of gestational age with cognitive performance in the literature. The findings have implications for routine cognitive follow-up, educational intervention, and basic research into neuro-plasticity and brain reorganization after preterm birth

A Simple Algorithm of Mixing Technique of Digital Eddy Current Signals for Steam Generator Tubes

For PWR power plants, the steam generator (SG) provides a dynamic link between the reactor and the turbine generator. A steam generator typically consists of Inconel tubes anchored at intervals with stainless steel support plates. The primary coolant from the nuclear reactor circulates through these tubes. Heat, transferred to the secondary coolant by conduction through the tube wall, generating steam which is used for running the turbine

A double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial of DONepezil In Posterior cortical atrophy due to underlying Alzheimer's Disease: DONIPAD study.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated whether donepezil exerts symptomatic benefit in patients with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), an atypical variant of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: A single-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial was performed to assess the efficacy of donepezil in patients with PCA. Each patient received either donepezil (5 mg once daily in the first 6 weeks and 10 mg once daily in the second 6 weeks) or placebo for 12 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, each patient received the other treatment arm during the following 12 weeks followed by another 2-week washout period. The primary outcome was the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 12 weeks. Secondary outcome measures were five neuropsychological tests reflecting parieto-occipital function. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. For each outcome measure, carry-over effects were first assessed. If present, then analysis was restricted to the first 12-week period. Otherwise, the standard approach to the analysis of a 2 × 2 cross-over trial was used. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (13 females) were recruited (mean age 61.6 years). There was a protocol violation in one patient, who subsequently withdrew from the study due to gastrointestinal side effects. There was statistically significant (p 0.05). There were no statistically significant treatment effects on any of the five neuropsychological tests, except for digit span at 12 weeks (higher by 0.5 digits in favour of placebo, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.9). Gastrointestinal side effects occurred most frequently, affecting 13/18 subjects (72%), and were the cause of study discontinuation in one subject. Nightmares and vivid dreams occurred in 8/18 subjects (44%), and were statistically more frequent during treatment with donepezil. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, there was no statistically significant treatment effect of donepezil on the primary outcome measure (MMSE score at 12 weeks) in PCA patients, who appear to be particularly susceptible to the development of nightmares and vivid dreams when treated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN22636071 . Retrospectively registered 19 May 2010

Tumor markers in breast cancer - European Group on Tumor Markers recommendations

Recommendations are presented for the routine clinical use of serum and tissue-based markers in the diagnosis and management of patients with breast cancer. Their low sensitivity and specificity preclude the use of serum markers such as the MUC-1 mucin glycoproteins ( CA 15.3, BR 27.29) and carcinoembryonic antigen in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. However, serial measurement of these markers can result in the early detection of recurrent disease as well as indicate the efficacy of therapy. Of the tissue-based markers, measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors is mandatory in the selection of patients for treatment with hormone therapy, while HER-2 is essential in selecting patients with advanced breast cancer for treatment with Herceptin ( trastuzumab). Urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 are recently validated prognostic markers for lymph node-negative breast cancer patients and thus may be of value in selecting node-negative patients that do not require adjuvant chemotherapy. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel