Administrative Intervention Research Articles

Adaptive probabilistic caching technique for caching networks with dynamic content popularity

This paper presents a new adaptive probabilistic cache algorithm (AProb) for modern caching networks. AProb is based on three main techniques: (1) dynamic probabilistic caching; (2) ghost list; and (3) adaptive probing and protection. It enables caching systems to quickly adjust their cached data to dynamic content popularity without intervention of network administrators and synchronization. The criteria of this adjustment are based on hit events occurring in AProb data structures. By using AProb, a caching system continuously adapts a caching probability and the ratio between probing and protection partitions of its cache. AProb has constant time complexity and its space overhead is minimal. Extensive computer simulations, which consider various network topologies and traffic traces, show that AProb offers improvement in terms of server-hit ratio, footprint distance, and caching time compared with those provided by several existing cache algorithms.

Quiet time impacts on the neonatal intensive care unit soundscape and patient outcomes

Healthcare is currently transitioning from prioritizing survival to prioritizing patient care with the expectation of survival. In response, current research intends to explore and ultimately identify an optimal hospital environment. Intensive care units are often susceptible to noisier environments resulting from the requirements of urgent care. Administrative interventions such as Quiet Time are a strategy to reduce noise levels without sacrificing patient care. Despite gaining popularity, there is limited published research that rigorously evaluates the effectiveness of Quiet Time from both acoustical and medical perspectives. The presented work includes a longitudinal study of Quiet Time in multiple neonatal intensive care units. Both acoustical and patient physiological measures were taken with the intention of (1) characterizing the relationship between Quiet Time and the measured soundscape, (2) investigating potential relationships between Quiet Time and infant health, and (3) exploring potential relationships between the measured soundscape and infant health. Results including detailed acoustical analysis of traditional and newly developed metrics and statistical models relating both Quiet Time and soundscape to patient physiological response will be presented. Taken as a whole, the research provides insight into the effectiveness of Quiet Time interventions and the relationships between hospital noise and infant health.

THE IMPACTS OF GOVERNMENT R&D EXPENDITURE ON INNOVATION IN CHINESE PROVINCES: WHAT’S THE ROLE OF CORRUPTION

This study aims to investigate the moderating role of corruption on the effect of government R&D expenditure on enterprise innovation in China, using the annually data over the period 2002-2013 in a panel of 30 provinces. A dynamic panel system GMM model was used to explore the relationship among government R&D expenditure, corruption, and innovation. Our finding shows that though government R&D expenditure has no significant effects on patent applications, it does exhibit significantly positive effects on patents granted. However, when considering official corruption, the interaction term of government R&D expenditure and corruption has a statistically significantly positive effect on patent applications and patents granted, with corruption presenting significantly positive effects on the ratio of the number of patents granted to patent applications. It demonstrates that corruption is still a shortcut for overcoming red tapes and administrative intervention, especially in an economy in transition with lower institution quality and anti-corruption.

No effect of vitamin D administration plus dietary intervention on emerging cardiovascular risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome

BackgroundPatients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)VitD) levels. Low 25(OH)VitD has been associated with several emerging cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, while VitD administration may ameliorate them. AimTo study the effect of 25(OH)VitD supplementation plus dietary instructions on novel CVD risk factors in MetS patients. MethodsThis is a pre-specified analysis of a previously published study. Patients with MetS (n = 50, 52 ± 10 years) were given dietary instructions and were randomized to receive either 25(OH)VitD, 2.000 IU/day p.o. (Suppl group) or nothing (No-Suppl group). Serum 25(OH)VitD, small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL), as well as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) activity, leptin and adiponectin levels were measured at baseline and 3 months later. ResultsIn the Suppl group 25(OH)VitD levels increased by 90% [from 16.1 (3.3–35.1) to 30.6 (8.4–67.6) ng/mL, p = 0.001] and by 33.3% [from 9.9 (4.0–39.6) to 13.2 (3.5–36.8) ng/mL, p = NS] in the No-Suppl group. sdLDL serum levels, mean LDL size, LpPLA2 activity, leptin, adiponectin concentration and leptin to adiponectin ratio did not change significantly in both groups. ConclusionIn this small study the administration of 25(OH)VitD plus dietary intervention in patients with MetS were not associated with any significant change in various emerging CVD risk factors. (NCT01237769 ClinicalTrials.gov).

Will land development time restriction reduce land price? The perspective of American call options

Land speculation can increase idle or inefficient land use, thus causing a number of problems, which many countries around the world address with reasonable administrative intervention. According to China’s “Disposal Measures for Idle Land”, the land development time is limited to two years. If this time is exceeded, the government will restore the land use rights to the state without compensation for the developer.11China's “Disposal Measures for Idle Land” was adopted in 1999 and was revised and implemented on July 1, 2012. The second clause defines “vacant land” and stipulates the disposal method for vacant land in Article 14: Land idleness fees shall be paid at 20% of the land transfer or allocation price if the project has not been started for one year. The idle land fee shall not be included in the production cost. If the project has not been started in two years, the municipal and county land and resources authorities shall recover the right to use the state-owned construction land without compensation. Source: Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China www.mlr.gov.cn/zwgk/zytz/201206/t20120607_1107632.htm. Using the perspective of American call options, this study combines the Optimal Stopping Time and the Martingale Theory in Real Option Pricing Theory. Both land and house price data from 2010 to 2016 have been integrated for Beijing, Wuhan, and Nanning in China. Furthermore, an empirical analysis of the optimal stopping time for land development has been conducted in these three cities to study whether the imposed limit on land development time reduces land prices. The results show that the optimal stop-time fluctuation of land development is large due to factors such as house price and land price volatility as well as social rates of return. In addition, the optimal stopping time for land development differs in specific regions and periods of different levels of economic development. Limiting the land development time will sometimes lower the land price and exert a stronger impact on low-price areas. Although limiting the land development time can help certain areas to reduce idle land, the suppression of land speculation and the stabilization of land prices are not obvious. This strategy will, however, obstruct the development of real estate economy. The conclusions of this study will help the government to formulate a sound policy, control land speculation, improve land use efficiency, and reduce the occurrence of land waste.

Street Businesses in Addis Ababa: Causes, Consequences and Administrative Interventions

Street vending has long been a source of debate among development economists. It has been argued that direct government intervention that aids this sector will encourage rural to urban migration. Others have argued that this sector deserves government help as often more than 50% of the urban labor force is employed by this sector. This study is designed to assess the causes, consequences and administrative interventions of street vending in Addis Ababa with particular reference to Yeka sub-city. Data were collected from randomly selected samples of 330 street vendors, 14 code enforcers and 9 government officials through questionnaires and interview of key respondents. The finding shows most of the traders came from outside Addis Ababa in search of jobs. Street vending proliferated as a way of life and a coping mechanism adopted by those economically under privileged segment of the society. Factors that led to street vending were complex and varied. According to the findings, absence of opportunity in the formal sector was the main factor that led the operators to street vending. This is followed by the need to support their family and themselves. The authorities stated that unless managed well street vending will have negative impact on traffic movement, encroach on public space and create unfair completion with formal businesses. To mitigate these problems the City administration has issued street vending regulation No. 5 in 2018 so that specific vending plots are allocated and the vendors need to do their business legally and those who fail to do so will be dealt with by the law.

Are ergonomic interventions effective in reducing pain and dysfunction in sonography?

Introduction Two potentially career ending injuries were reported in sonographers from work practices in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) in 2015. A subsequent Health and Safety investigation revealed that 95% of sonographers had musculoskeletal pain they attributed to work and 85% reported upper limb pain, data which was comparable to global trends. According to the literature, one in five sonographers will suffer from a career ending injury and around 80-90% of sonographers scan in pain. The most commonly reported area of pain is the right shoulder. There appears to be a paucity of high quality studies investigating potential solutions despite multiple surveys detailing the health problem. Methods A systematic review, registered with PROSPERO1, was conducted as part of higher research degree. Results Initial literature searches identified very few studies involving sonography populations. To gain further data, the review authors decided to include studies from other health professional occupations with similar postural upper limb workloads that show comparable upper limb musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction data. The comprehensive literature search yielded 26 full paper publications from 1526 potential articles after abstract and full text screening. Included studies researched the effect of an ergonomic intervention on upper limb pain in sonographers, or other health professional occupations with related postural upper limb workloads such as dentists or surgeons. Environmental ergonomic interventions were the most commonly studied for their effect on reducing upper limb pain. Currently, data on the impact of administrative and individual ergonomic interventions in the relevant populations is lacking. No meta -analysis was performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies. Conclusion Only 2 of 26 articles featured sonographers as a population, highlighting the urgent need for more robust clinical trials in this high risk occupation. 1. ‘The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in reducing upper limb work- related musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction in sonographers and other health professions with related postural upper limb workloads. A systematic review.'

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ФОРМУЮЧОГО ОЦІНЮВАННЯ В ЕЛЕКТРОННОМУ НАВЧАЛЬНОМУ КУРСІ

Using e-learning gives students the opportunity to study at anytime and anywhere, they can master new disciplines and form additional competencies have already learned. Modern educators appreciate this type of education and place great hopes on it. It should be noted that e-learning is one of the most effective in training students in various fields and areas of education around the world. Famous teachers call e-learning as leading link in the 21st century. However, taking into account all the benefits of this type of training, it should be noted that electronic assessment is a challenge for the teacher, since it is difficult to assess the work that the teacher does not observe clearly. There is no guarantee that the student independently did this or that type of work, honestly fulfilled the task and understood the material provided. In the article a detailed analysis of the notion and process of evaluation of the student's level of education is made in general, and the solution of the problem of evaluation in electronic mode is proposed through the so-called formative assessment. The formative (internal) assessment is aimed at identifying the individual achievements of each student and does not imply either a comparison of the results demonstrated by different students and administrative interventions based on learning outcomes. The comparison of the evaluation process from the traditional to the formative has been made. A number of resources are proposed that will help to introduce a system of formative assessment in an electronic training course. The article also presents the tables that are used when introducing a formative assessment in an electronic training course. The author's example of the application of formative assessment in the electronic training course "Management of the system of electronic education of students of higher educational institutions" is demonstrated.

Empirical Study on Economic Innovation and Development of Qinghai Biological Park

The park is a specific area for the agglomeration and development of related enterprises, a booster for speeding up the transformation of China's economic development mode, and an important support for achieving sustainable development. Based on the theory of Park Economic development, this paper investigates the overall economic development status, Park innovation, overall benefits of park enterprises and environmental protection of Qinghai bio-industrial park. The three-level evaluation index system of economic innovation and development in bio-parks was constructed, and the weight of each index and the comprehensive evaluation value of economic innovation and development in bio-parks were calculated by using the entropy method. The analysis finds that there are some problems in the economic innovation development of Qinghai Biological Park, such as the low scientific and technological content of some enterprises, lack of competitiveness; vague definition of government functions, excessive administrative intervention; inadequate infrastructure of the park; low production technology level, high energy consumption, and so on. Functions, strengthening the transformation of infrastructure, increasing the support of enterprises and other countermeasures to promote the economic innovation and development of bio-park.

Tissue engineered vascular grafts

With the continuous increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the limited efficiency of conventional treatments, including diet and lifestyle modifications, pharmaceutical administration, and surgical interventions, there is an equally increased need for vascular grafts for the replacement of damaged blood vessels. Currently, autologous grafts represent the gold standard. However, due to the limited availability, intensive work has been performed in the field of vascular tissue engineering. Although there are many possibilities for obtaining synthetic vascular grafts, there is still no ideal solution for vascular replacements. In this paper, the main material categories and fabrication techniques are reviewed.

Study on the Influence of Value Creation on the Internal Embeddedness of the Parent Company of an Enterprise Group

The existing research has not reached a consistent conclusion on how the parent company can create value for enterprise group. In this paper, based on the data of parent companies and subsidiaries listed on the A-share market from 2010 to 2016, I studied the ways in which parent companies create value, which in turn confirms the view that parent company create value for enterprise groups. The research results show that the internal embeddedness of the parent company can have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the subsidiary; subsidiaries' administrative embeddedness plays an intermediary role between parent's internal embeddedness and subsidiary's competitiveness; Subsidiaries' competitiveness has a positive effect on the growth of subsidiaries. In order to give full play to the value creation function of the parent company and drive the development of subsidiaries and enterprise groups as a whole, the parent company should strive to maintain good ties with various subsidiaries, establish and improve the communication platform and personal deployment mechanism. With the soft approach to administrative intervention, the definite purpose of supervision and control should be achieved. Developing competitive advantage should be control should be achieved. Developing competitive advantage should be treated as a long-term strategy and strategic reform and innovation should be successfully completed to make it a powerful major node of group network.

Editorial del Nº 15 de la Revista Perspectivas de Políticas Públicas

Editorial del Nº 15 de la Revista Perspectivas de Políticas Públicas

Effect of combined vitamin D administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in patients with metabolic syndrome: A pilot randomized study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients can have low 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)VitD levels, which may be associated with increased oxidative stress. There is little data on the effect of 25(OH)VitD administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in these patients. To study the effect of 25(OH)VitD administration plus dietary intervention on oxidative stress markers in MetS patients. This is a pre-specified analysis of a previously published study (NCT01237769 ClinicalTrials.gov). MetS participants (n=50, 52±10 years) were given dietary instructions and were randomized to 25(OH)VitD 2.000 IU/day p.o. (Suppl group) or no supplementation (No-Suppl group). Serum 25(OH)VitD, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), paraoxonase activity (PON-1), arylesterase activity (ARYL) and urine 8-isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2a) levels were measured at baseline and after 3 months. MetS patients had low baseline 25(OH)VitD levels, which increased by 90% in the Suppl group [from 16.1 (3.3-35.1) to 30.6 (8.4-67.6) ng/mL, p=0.001] and by 33.3% in the No-Suppl group [from 9.9 (4.0-39.6) to 13.2 (3.5-36.8) ng/mL, p=NS] after intervention. Ox-LDL, PON-1 and ARYL did not change significantly at follow-up in both groups, except for urine 8-iso-PGF2a levels that decreased by 22.7% in the Suppl group [from 48.8 (26.8-137.1) to 37.7 (12.3-99.0) ng/mmol creatinine, p=0.015] and by 14.4% in No-Suppl group [from 45.8 (16.6-99.3) to 39.2 (13.3-120.1) ng/mmol creatinine, p=NS]. The reduction in 8-iso-PGF2a levels did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The administration of 25(OH)VitD plus dietary intervention in patients with MetS was not associated with meaningful reductions in oxidative stress markers compared with dietary intervention alone.

A14105 Management method of Chronic disease of hypertension based on “big data + intelligent hardware'

Objectives: By means of big data, Intelligent hardware realize normalization and efficiency of public health management, achieve extensive coverage of the group management, and establish the “three-dimensional management system for prevention and treatment". Based on family as a unit, integration of grass-roots doctors and expert resources, Forming a platform level collaborative service, Realization of life-long intervention and service. Taking home life as the center,forging Guiyang model of “big data + hypertension management". Methods: 1.Government guidance 2.administrative intervention 3.Expert guidance 4.technical support 5.Grass-roots linkage 6.Patient participation Results: It covers 32 community hospitals, In 8 counties (Lake District, Huaxi District, Yunyan District, Kaiyang County, Xifeng county and so on) carry out pilot training in 32 grass-roots medical community hospitals. In the construction of the Guiyang Chronic disease prevention and control system platform, nearly 30 thousand people subscribers to the contract have been signed, over 800 thousand people have been covered in the area.Awareness rate reached 77.02%, Standar, d management rate reached 46.12%, the standard rate of blood pressure increased from 20.39% to 39.03%.Adherence has been significantly improved from 53.2% to 84.5% Conclusion: Most of the contracted residents have deeply felt the ease and concern brought by this project through Internet technology and wearable devices to achieve home measurement convenience and timely data monitoring and early warning, and more willing to take the initiative to maintain close consultation and contact with the signed doctors’ team. It has realized benignant high frequency interaction between residents and hospitals and doctors. It is beneficial to improve the comprehensive ability.

“Feeling confident and equipped”: Evaluating the acceptability and efficacy of an overdose response and naloxone administration intervention to service industry employees in New York City

BackgroundThe problem of injection drug use in public bathrooms has been documented from the perspectives of people who inject drugs and service industry employees (SIEs). Previous studies suggest that SIEs are unaware of how to respond to opioid overdoses, yet there are no behavioral interventions designed for SIEs to address their specific needs. In response to this gap in the field, we constructed, implemented, and evaluated a three-module behavioral intervention for SIEs grounded in the Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills model. This paper focuses on the evaluation of one module, namely, the intervention component addressing overdose response and naloxone administration (ORNA). MethodsParticipants were SIEs (N = 18 from two separate business establishments) recruited using convenience sampling. The study utilized a pre-/post-test concurrent nested mixed method design and collected quantitative and qualitative data including an evaluation of the intervention module. The primary outcomes were opioid overdose-related knowledge and attitudes. Acceptability was also assessed. ResultsSIEs demonstrated significant improvements (p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = 1.45) in opioid overdose-related knowledge as well as more positive opioid overdose-related attitudes (p< 0.01, Cohen’s d = 2.45) following the intervention. Participants also reported high levels of acceptability of the module and suggestions for improvement (i.e., more role-playing). ConclusionsThis study highlights the acceptability and evidence of efficacy of the ORNA module, as well as the utility of training SIEs in ORNA. The expansion of this training to other SIEs and public employees (librarians, etc.) who manage public bathrooms warrants further investigation.

Student preferences and perceptions of learning from vSIM for Nursing™.

This study explored BSN students' perceptions of learning with vSim for Nursing™. Using a mixed methods design with 99 students, key points of learning were medication administration and respiratory interventions. Qualitative data demonstrated learning of assessment, prioritization, and emergency management. The top student preferences of how to use virtual simulation were as a clinical makeup or to enhance lecture. The findings support the use of virtual simulation and provide data to guide nurse educators to more strategically integrate virtual simulation exercises.

Experience and inspirations of the Mass Drug Administration Programme with artemisinin-piperaquine in Moheli Island of the Comoros assisted by China

Abstract Malaria is one of the major diseases threatening the lives of people in Africa. Over the past decade, China has provided anti-malaria assistance to Africa. In November 2007, fast control malaria team of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine cooperated with the Comoros health authority. In Moheli Island of the Comoros, the anti-malaria team adopted a new strategy of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and active intervention. They established an effective anti-malaria system and reporting system, as well as a local anti-malaria team. Furthermore, they treated patients with malaria in Moheli Island and implemended health education in local people. In a very short time, they have achieved remarkable results. This paper summarized the experiences of the project in order to provide useful reference for China to better carry out anti-malaria action in Africa and expand foreign health assistance.

Provincializing the Dutch State: South Holland in the 19th Century

Abstract In contrast to the image of the Netherlands as a solid state since the early modern period, this article argues that Dutch statehood was the product of a hard-won process that required a good part of the 19th century to reach any sort of administrative consolidation. We look at state building from a decentered perspective, not so much from above or below, but rather from the middle, concentrating on the province of South Holland, and from within, foregrounding the piecemeal fine-tuning of the administrative system at the provincial level. We show that every administrative intervention had a spatial element or – to put it differently – created its own spatiality. The province, in that sense, was not a fixed territorial entity, but an amalgamation of spatial properties, depending on the administrative issue at stake.

Placebo and nocebo responses in other movement disorders besides Parkinson's disease: How much do we know?

Among movement disorders and medicine in general, PD is one of the conditions for which there is a greater knowledge of the placebo and nocebo responses. In other movement disorders, the knowledge of placebo and nocebo responses is less. An advance in this field is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the nature of a therapeutic benefit in clinical research and clinical practice, and mechanisms of placebo and nocebo. We conducted a review on placebo and nocebo responses in other movement disorders besides PD by primarily examining meta-analyses of clinical trials assessing specifically the placebo and/or nocebo responses. Second, we examined both efficacy and safety results of a placebo arm in pivotal placebo-controlled trials for the different movement disorders. RLS is the movement disorder for which the most data exist, followed by tic disorders and Huntington's disease. Data available in other conditions document a placebo response in a varied phenomenology. We found different placebo responses according to clinical domains assessed, type of outcomes used for the same clinical domain, and modes of treatment administration, including rehabilitation and surgical interventions. Data on the nocebo response were very scarce. Although the data available are limited, RLS has the better documentation of placebo and nocebo responses. In contrast, atypical parkinsonisms are the group of movement disorders with the least knowledge. The clinical entities with a more robust placebo response are those that have the most beneficial available symptomatic treatments. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Changes in the rate of publicly financed knee arthroscopies: an analysis of data from the Norwegian patient registry from 2012 to 2016

ObjectiveTo examine rates of publicly financed knee arthroscopic surgery in Norway between 2012 and 2016.DesignAnalysis of anonymised data from the National Patient Registry.InterventionsBeginning in 2012, South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority...