The relevance of personal characteristics in health care rationing: what the Australian public thinks and why

This article examines the preferences of the general public in Australia regarding health care resource allocation. While previous studies have revealed that the public is willing to give priority to particular groups of patients based on their personal characteristics, the present article goes beyond previous efforts in attempting to explain these results. In the present study, there was strong support among respondents for giving “equal priority” to people regardless of their personal characteristics. However, respondents did reveal a preference for married patients over single, for children over adults, for carers of children and the elderly, sole breadwinners, and good community contributors. Further, they would give a lower priority to those perceived as “self-harmers”—smokers, individuals with unhealthy diets, and those who rarely exercise. Variation in the answers according to broad economic and social beliefs across seven different categories (“factors”) influenced the pattern of the public's attitudes towards rationing. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) indicated that most of the items in our survey are associated with seven factors that explain or capture much of the variation. These relate to a patient's avoidance of self-harm behaviors (Safe Living), their Life Style (diet, exercise, etc.), their contribution to the community through caring for others (Caring), their talents (Gifted), their sexual behavior (Sexuality), their age and marital status (Family), and whether they are an Australian citizen or employed (Citizen). The strength of social preferences—e.g., how strongly respondents would “discriminate” against a recreational drug user or preference a person with a healthy diet—is related to the particular class of preferences.     

“阿斗”中华

如今看来,当年华晨中国向母公司出售中华轿车业务是一步好棋.今年华晨中国的股价从最低点9.73元一路上涨至高点15.97元,涨幅达到惊人的60％.而自从2009年末剥离中华轿车业务后,华晨中国股价涨幅超过1200％.得益于构成集团主业绩的华晨宝马业务大幅增长,华晨中国最新半年报显示,今年上半年期内盈利35.79亿元,去年同期则为20亿元.     

Building a clinical ladder for ambulatory care

Finding innovative rewards for nursing service will be integral in meeting the challenges of future shortages of nursing staff. A clinical ladder is one tool worth exploring and perfecting to address those challenges. Exploration of a case study demonstrates a method for developing a clinical ladder. Steps and pitfalls in developing a clinical path are illustrated. Future uses, benefits, and opportunities for clinical ladders are suggested.     

新版美国波奖卓越绩效准则术语解读（四）

四、与“过程管理”、“知识管理”和“过程有效性评价”有关的术语 “过程管理”、“知识管理”和“过程有效性评价”是组织追求卓越经营管理必不可少的过程。波奖卓越绩效准则在“过程管理”、“知识管理”和“过程有效性评价”方面提出了具体、明确的实施和评价要求，以下相关术语的解读，可以帮助读者按照卓越绩效管理模式的要求重新加以理解和思考。     

Who Gains from the Demographic Dividend? Forecasting Income by Age

Changes in the population age structure are known to influence the total income per person, but little is known about whether the changes are equally shared across the population or are concentrated on particular age groups and/or birth cohorts. The answer to this question has potentially important implications for income inequality, human capital investment, and fertility decision-making. We propose a new model of intergenerational transfers which distinguishes between the effects of changes in population structure and the effects of changes in family age structure. Using age-specific data from annual income and expenditure surveys of Taiwan between 1978 and 1998, we show that changes in age structure have had a very favorable effect on Taiwan's income growth. The gains are not equally shared by all age groups, however. Children and young adults have benefited the most, while the elderly have benefited the least. The population and family age structures have independent effects on per capita income; the effect of the population age structure is most important. Generational differences in per capita income are closely related to intergenerational differences in earnings, suggesting only a weak form of altruism. Finally, we predict that, on average, population aging will adversely influence the per capita income growth in Taiwan in the coming decades.     

“深夜书房”：盈利增收还是释放情怀？

在实体书店入不敷出的今天,有越来越多的书店逆势而为,将营业时间开放至24小时,试图扭转书店这一城市文化坐标的下落趋势。不过,杀死书店的不仅仅是电商或高昂租金,也许还有读者阅读习惯的悄然改变。     

机器人的未来

当你走进餐厅里下单后,机器人服务员将从厨房通道出发,殷勤地为你端菜,并用温柔的女声对你说“请慢用”.     

"太空幽灵"包围地球

在距离地球2000公里范围的近地空间内，有许多“小邻居”正在绕着它“流浪”，它们是一些星体的残骸，它们的总重量加起来不到200千克，却在地球周围高速运动着，其中不少速度超过每秒20公里。它们就像一颗颗致命的“流星子弹”，虽然伤害不了地球上的人类，但人造卫星和宇宙飞船却偶尔免不了成为牺牲品。