Minimising emergency response time of ambulances through pre-positioning in Dhaka city,Bangladesh

This study conducted a large-scale survey in Dhaka, Bangladesh; the survey involved 95 major hospitals, more than 3000 emergency room patients, and 2 of the largest ambulance operators. Currently, most ambulances are parked within the vicinity of hospitals and are either dispatched or fetched by the acquaintances of the patient on demand, resulting in lengthy round trips. Reducing the response time of ambulances would certainly improve the emergency service, and pre-positioning of the ambulances could be a solution to reducing the response time. This study used two approaches to address the problem. First, the location-allocation problem was solved to find the optimal number of ambulance locations by maximising the demand coverage. Second, separate location-allocation for the peak and off-peaks, using K-means clustering, was applied to systematically optimise the ambulance positioning in small clusters near demand points. These approaches could substantially improve the existing emergency response time. Distributing ambulances near demand points yielded greater improvements in response time than when the ambulances are stationed near hospitals.     

利用气井历史生产数据计算动态储量新方法

气藏动态储量是指参与渗流的地下气体地质储量,计算动储量常采用物质平衡法,但是对于难以获得平均地层压力的致密气藏不适用。本文介绍了利用气井长时间生产数据计算动态储量的方法,并研究采用叠加时间函数(Super-t)分析变产量修正时间,使计算结果更加精确;同时应用该方法对苏东南区致密砂岩气藏部分气井进行单井动态储量计算,为该区动储量估算提供借鉴。     

Do people consider an acceptable travel time? Evidence from Berkeley,CA

This paper explores the extent to which people identify an acceptable travel time for each trip they want to make and investigates the primary characteristics of this behavioural threshold. We assume that an acceptable travel time is defined through utilitarian processes that are related to cognitive and affective evaluations of travel that develop throughout a person’s lifetime. We apply a mixed methods approach to explore our hypothesis, based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with a stratified, according to commuting mode, random sample of 20 individuals living in Berkeley, CA. Our results support the validity of the acceptable travel time concept and offer (a) initial evidence on its variation to the travel mode and sociodemographic characteristics and (b) insights into people’s perceptions, attitudes, feelings and experiences about their travel. Thus, our results can contribute to a better understanding of individuals’ travel decisions and valuation of travel time and can inform time–space and accessibility research.     

Resource conflict detection and removal strategy for nondeterministic emergency response processes using Petri nets

Correctness of an emergency response process specification is critical to emergency mission success. Therefore, errors in the specification should be detected and corrected at build-time. In this paper, we propose a resource conflict detection approach and removal strategy for emergency response processes constrained by resources and time. In this kind of emergency response process, there are two timing functions representing the minimum and maximum execution time for each activity, respectively, and many activities require resources to be executed. Based on the RT_ERP_Net, the earliest time to start each activity and the ideal execution time of the process can be obtained. To detect and remove the resource conflicts in the process, the conflict detection algorithms and a priority-activity-first resolution strategy are given. In this way, real execution time for each activity is obtained and a conflict-free RT_ERP_Net is constructed by adding virtual activities. By experiments, it is proved that the resolution strategy proposed can shorten the execution time of the whole process to a great degree.     

基于时间维度的组织学习理论——组织从过去经历中学习的模型

从经历中学习是组织学习的重要方面。从科学、严谨的研究范式出发,结合东方传统的"阴阳"哲学思想,基于时间维度提出了包含学习主体、经历样本、成功失败经历集、学习主体特征、"知"和"行"等要素的组织从过去经历中学习的模型,并对相关问题进行了探究。具体包括:学习主体从经历中学习的认知特性;不同类型经历对应的不同学习方法,成功经历和失败经历对学习效果的差异性影响,经历集影响"知"和"行"的7种自动的和有意的学习方式;"知"与"行"相互转化及其触发机制;客观世界从时间和空间两个维度客观展开的观点等。该系统模型为未来研究提供了理论框架和实证检验方向。     

Post encroachment time threshold identification for right-turn related crashes at unsignalized intersections on intercity highways under mixed traffic

Abstract

Unsignalized intersections in developing countries experience many serious conflicts between cross-traffic due to indiscipline traffic manoeuvrability. Historically, Post Encroachment Time (PET) has gained attention as a proximal indicator to analyze crossing conflicts. However, identifying an appropriate PET threshold to classify critical conflicts for highly heterogeneous traffic scenario is still an unexplored area. Consequently, this study proposes a novel approach of PET threshold identification with proof of application by collecting data from ten intersections located on four-lane intercity highways in the National Capital Region (NCR), India. Both crossing conflicts and right-turn related crash data (for the left-hand drive) are collected. Their correlations are thoroughly studied for each PET threshold using a quantitative technique considering all and individual vehicle categories. Finally, a qualitative analysis is done by ranking the sites based on cumulative PET and related crashes to verify the proposed quantitative technique. A PET threshold of 1?s is obtained from both the techniques which can be used to identify critical conflicts for unsignalized intersections located on four-lane intercity highways. The proposed methodology will serve as an alternative, faster and effective tool to evaluate the hazardousness of unsignalized intersections located on intercity highways under highly heterogeneous traffic condition.     

An explainable machine learning approach to improve take-off time predictions

Accurate aircraft trajectory predictions are necessary to compute exact traffic demand figures, which are crucial for an efficient and effective air traffic flow and capacity management. At present, the uncertainty of the take-off time is one of the major contributions to the loss of trajectory predictability. In the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre, the predicted take-off time for each individual flight relies on the information received from the Enhanced Traffic Flow Management System. However, aircraft do not always take-off at the times reported by this system due to several factors, which effects and interactions are too complex to be expressed with hard-coded rules. Previous work proposed a machine learning model that, based on historical data, was able to predict the take-off time of individual flights from a set of input features that effectively captures some of these elements. The model demonstrated to reduce by 30% the take-off time prediction errors of the current system one hour before the time that flight is scheduled to depart from the parking position. This paper presents an extension of the model, which overcomes this look-ahead time constraint and allows to improve take-off time predictions as early as the initial flight plan is received. In addition, a subset of the original set of input features has been meticulously selected to facilitate the implementation of the solution in an operational air traffic flow and capacity management system, while minimising the loss of predictive power. Finally, the importance and interactions of the input features are thoroughly analysed with additive feature attribution methods.     

Information congruity in scarcity appeal: A structural equation modeling study of time-limited promotions

Although market scarcity such as time restriction is widely used in retail advertisements, its impact on product message processing and product evaluation is still subject to controversy. In this study, analyses through structural equation modeling indicated that (i) scarcity had no impact on product message processing, (ii) scarcity had a direct impact on product evaluation as a heuristic cue when the value inferred from scarcity was congruous with the worth derived from product message, and (iii) scarcity lost its impact on product evaluation when the value inferred from scarcity was incongruous with the worth derived from product message, and the incongruity prompted scrutiny of product message, resulting in a mediated impact of product message on product evaluation through product message processing. In conclusion, the results supported an information congruity theory of market scarcity.     

Is There a Causal Effect of Working Part‐Time on Current and Future Wages?

In this paper, I study the causal effects of part‐time work on current and future wages. To estimate these effects, I use a random effects model with a wage equation capturing the employment history and a dynamic multinomial probit component for the choice of employment status. Exclusion restrictions from the institutional context are exploited to support identification. The results suggest that working part‐time with few hours has a large causal effect on current wages, but more extensive part‐time work does not reduce current wages. However, both types of part‐time work lead to negative long‐term wage effects.     

基于DEA方法的中国农业水资源利用效率研究

[目的]以我国各省市2008~2015年农业水资源利用效率为研究对象,探究我国农业水资源利用效率的规律与特点,并基于此提出促进农业水资源合理利用的建议。[方法]主要采用了文献研究法、统计分析法和数据包络分析(DEA)法。通过文献搜集我国各省市2008~2015年与农业水资源利用相关的数据,构建DEA模型,对我国近年来农业水资源利用效率进行评价。[结果]2008~2015年,我国农业水资源利用效率在0.80上下浮动。各省市农业水资源利用效率随时间变化趋势不同。甘肃和上海的农业水资源利用效率涨幅最大,年增长率分别为4.39%和2.74%;山西、江西以及陕西省的农业水资源利用效率整体趋于下降;浙江、湖南以及陕西和新疆的农业水资源利用效率有先上升后下降的特点,表现出明显的波动。此外,农业水资源利用效率区域分化明显。东部地区农业水资源利用效率一般高于0.80,中部地区位于0.60~0.80,西部地区农业水资源利用效率一般低于0.60。[结论]2008~2015年,我国农业水资源利用效率表现出一定的时间差异性和空间差异性。时间差异性:我国农业水资源利用效率一直处于较高水平并呈现逐年增长趋势,不同省份的农业水资源利用效率随时间变动趋势各异。空间差异性:东部地区农业水资源利用效率最高,中东部地区农业水资源利用效率甚至达到了最优,中部地区其次,西部省区农业水资源利用效率最低。农业水资源利用效率受当地政策、经济发展水平、农业发展水平、水资源总量和人口压力等因素影响严重,今后应针对不同地区采取不同措施解决实际问题。