The search for the best deal: How hotel cancellation policies affect the search and booking decisions of deal-seeking customers

This study examined cancellation policies and their role in shaping travelers’ deal-seeking behavior, exploring the impact of cancellation fees and deadlines on three, mutually exclusive, customers’ hotel booking behavior categories: “Book”, “Book and Search”, and “Search”. 291 subjects, who participated in a week long online “booking game”, attempted to book a room in a virtual hotel and get the best deal. The results were tested using small sample t-test for comparing proportions between two independent populations, non-parametric multiple pairwise comparisons, and multinomial logit regression models. The findings indicate that the cancellation deadline affected participants’ behavior while the size of the cancellation fee had no statistically significant impact. In addition, there was no significant difference between lenient cancellation deadline and no cancellation policy.     

The Internet of Things as an accelerator of advancement of broadband networks: A case of Thailand

The advanced development of broadband access is an inevitable step toward supportive daily lives and sustainable economic growth. However, the decisive outcome of the development relies heavily on the demand side. Consumer choice among advanced Internet broadband technologies will determine the achievement of the development. This study aims to illustrate that consumer decisions on choices of advanced Internet access are influenced by the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) applications. A bivariate probit model is applied to examine the effects of IoT, consumer's individual characteristics, and their current use of networks on their decision pertaining to the choice of advanced Internet access. Using Thailand as a case study, the result indicates that the emergence of IoT applications accelerates the adoption of both advanced mobile broadband (5G) and advanced fixed broadband (FTTH). This finding may help policy makers to optimize the future direction of the Internet infrastructure development in Thailand, and also countries in a similar stage.     

高等数学课程改革

高等数学是理工类专业的一门重要学科,高等数学的教学方式是多年来教师们研究的一个重要课题,作为一名数学专业的大学生,也经历了一次次得课程改革,本文就阐述了我对高等数学课程改革的一些看法。     

先进制造模式下创新在提高生产效率中的作用分析——以某船厂为例

中国从世界制造大国发展成为世界制造强国必须实行先进制造模式。而在造船领域,总装化造船则是一种先进制造模式。本文以新增长理论为基础,从新制度经济学的角度论述了专业化分工协作的造船体制等制度创新因素对提高造船效率的影响;建立某船厂造船量增长模型,并分析了造船模式创新、技术创新、人力资本创新等因素在造船量增长中的贡献率。测算表明,作为一种先进制造模式,造船模式的创新对生产效率的提高起到了非常重要的作用。     

中医辨证配合化疗治疗晚期肺癌临床分析

目的探究中医辨证配合化疗对晚期肺癌患者的临床治疗效果。方法将我院2011年1月～2012年1月接诊的53例晚期肺癌患者作为研究对象,随机分为研究组与对照组。对照组患者单纯采用化疗治疗,研究组则在对照组的基础上配合中医辨证治疗。对两组病患的治疗效果进行总结与对比。结果研究组治疗前平均分为58.45分,治疗后为71.35分,对照组治疗前平均分为58.13分,治疗后为49.63分;研究组27例患者半年的生存率为81.48%,一年的生存率为48.15%,对照组26例患者半年生存率为46.15%,一年生存率为15.38%;治疗效果上,研究组总有效率为40.74%,对照组总有效率为15.38%。结论对于晚期肺癌患者而言,采用中医辨证配合西医化疗治疗,除了可以提高患者对化疗的耐受性之外,还能明显提高患者的生存质量,当属一种值得临床推广及应用的治疗方法。     

The Determinants Of The Adoption Of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

The paper investigates empirically the decision of firms to adopt ‘Advanced Manufacturing Technologies’ (AMT) based on a comprehensive specification of a ‘rank model’ of technology adoption using firm-level data for Swiss manufacturing. The explanatory variables include numerous dimensions of (anticipated) benefits from and costs of technology adoption allowing for uncertainty as well as for information and adjustment costs. Moreover, the effect of complementarities between various functional groups of AMT (design, fabrication, communication, etc.) as well as of learning from the use of previous technology vintages within such functional groups is analyzed, Finally, the size-dependence of the adoption decision is studied in detail. The model yields a quite robust pattern of explanation across estimates with different adoption variables (time period of introduction of AMT, intensity of use of AMT, etc.) with plausible differences of the results based on the alternative adoption measures used.     

Cost-effectiveness of continuous subcutaneous apomorphine in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in the UK and Germany

Abstract

Background:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting ～5.2 million people worldwide. Continuous subcutaneous apomorphine (CSAI) represents an alternative treatment option for advanced PD with motor fluctuation. The purpose of this analysis was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of CSAI compared with Levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG), Deep-Brain-Stimulation (DBS) and Standard-of-care (SOC).

Methods:

A multi-country Markov-Model to simulate the long-term consequences, disease progression (Hoehn & Yahr stages 3–5, percentage of waking-time in the OFF-state), complications, and adverse events was developed. Monte-Carlo simulation accounted for uncertainty. Probabilities were derived from RCT and open-label studies. Costs were estimated from the UK and German healthcare provider’s perspective. QALYs, life-years (LYs), and costs were projected over a life-time horizon.

Results:

UK lifetime costs associated with CSAI amounts to £78,251.49 and generates 2.85 QALYs and 6.28 LYs (€104,500.08, 2.92 QALYs and 6.49 LYs for Germany). Costs associated with LCIG are £130,011.34, achieves 3.06 QALYs and 6.93 LYs (€175,004.43, 3.18 QALYs and 7.18 LYs for Germany). The incremental-cost per QALY gained (ICER) was £244,684.69 (€272,914.58). Costs for DBS are £87,730.22, associated with 2.75 QALYs and 6.38 LYs (€105,737.08, 2.85 QALYs and 6.61 LYs for Germany). CSAI dominates DBS. SOC associated UK costs are £76,793.49; 2.62 QALYs and 5.76 LYs were reached (€90,011.91, 2.73 QALYs and 6 LYs for Germany).

Conclusions:

From a health economic perspective, CSAI is a cost-effective therapy and could be seen as an alternative treatment to LCIG or DBS for patients with advanced PD.     

浅谈高职高专院校数学教学方法与手段的改革

教学方法与教学手段的改革是高校教学改革的重点之一。高职高专院校的数学教学应采取多种形式的教学方法,比如启发式教学法、形象解析法等等。只有恰当和正确地设计教学方法和教学手段.才能达到高质量的教学效果,进而针对性地提高学生运用数学思维解决实际问题的能力。     

动态无效率产生的原因解析——对David Romer《高级宏观经济学》教科书观点的修正

美国经济学家David Romer通过一个特例说明有可能存在动态无效率的现象,而没有深究为什么会存在这种现象,这种做法在美国高级宏观经济学教科书中一脉相承。通过对拉姆齐模型和世代交叠模型的比较,本研究发现,动态无效率的现象源于世代交叠模型两期寿命的假定,导致实际利率的变化缺少了约束,会低于持平投资的增长率。本研究指出:动态无效率不是来源于资本动态学方程的特例,而是来源于模型的期限结构,内生于模型的结构。萨缪尔森世代交叠模型可以证明本研究的结论。     

Identifying the global transmission of the 2007–2009 financial crisis in a GVAR model

The paper analyses and compares the role that the tightening in liquidity conditions and the collapse in risk appetite played for the global transmission of the financial crisis. Dealing with identification and the large dimensionality of the empirical exercise with a Global VAR approach, the findings highlight the diversity of the transmission process. While liquidity shocks have had a more severe impact on advanced economies, it was mainly the decline in risk appetite that affected emerging market economies. The tightening of financial conditions was a key transmission channel for advanced economies, whereas for emerging markets it was mainly the real side of the economy that suffered. Moreover, there are some striking differences also within types of economies, with Europe being more adversely affected by the fall in risk appetite than other advanced economies.