Societal preferences for fertility treatment in Australia: a stated preference discrete choice experiment

Objective: To investigate preferences for fertility treatment from the Australian general population with the aims of calculating the willingness to pay in tax contribution for attributes (characteristics) that make up treatment and for an “ideal” fertility treatment program. We also assessed whether willingness-to-pay varies by the relationship status or sexual orientation of the patient.

Methods: A stated preference discrete choice experiment was administered to a panel of 801 individuals representative of the Australian general population. Seven attributes of fertility treatment under three broad categories were included: outcome, process, and cost. Attributes were identified through published literature, focus group discussions, expert knowledge, and a pilot study. A Bayesian fractional experimental design was used, and data analysis was performed using a generalized multinomial logit model. Further analyses included interaction terms and latent class modeling.

Results: Six of the seven attributes influenced the choice of a treatment program. Under process attributes, individuals preferred: continuity of care of clinic staff, where patients are seen by the same doctor but different nurses at each visit; “alternative” treatments being offered to all patients; and onsite clinic counseling and peer-support groups. Personalization and tailoring of the treatment journey were not important. Among outcome attributes, the improved success rate of having a baby per cycle and significant side-effects were considered important. Cost of treatment also influenced the choice of treatment program. Individual preferences for fertility treatment were not associated with patients’ relationship status or sexual orientation. Latent class modeling revealed sub-groups with distinct fertility treatment preferences.

Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the attributes that influence the preferences of fertility treatment in Australia. It also estimates socially-inclusive willingness-to-pay values in tax contributions for an “ideal” package of treatment. The results can inform economic evaluations of fertility treatment programs.     

生态农业模式构建与应用——以广饶县为例

本文从农业可持续发展、资源永续利用的原则出发,探讨了构建生态农业模式的原则,以山东省广饶县为例,系统分析了在该县构建和应用生态农业模式的优势条件和制约因素,具体论述了适合广饶县发展的三种生态农业模式:农—牧—沼型、上粮下渔型和草—畜—乳型生态农业模式。     

江苏省湿地的基本特征及保护

本文论述了江苏省湿地的基本特征,从可持续发展的角度,深入剖析目前湿地现状及存在问题,并提出了江苏省湿地生态系统保护利用的科学对策。     

龙丽高速公路(K92+945-K93+105)石方路基控爆施工

文章详细介绍了浙江龙丽高速公路K92+945-K93+105段高陡石方路堑在保证其下方的省道通行安全及交通畅通的情况下所采取的安全防护、控制爆破及施工组织措施。     

基于可靠度理论的现役框架结构的维修设计

现役建筑结构经过一段时间的使用，其抗力和荷载效应都与设计时的不同。本文根据实际情况，采用串联分析模型，计算结构体系的失效概率。并通过对结构体系的失效概率直接进行调整，实现对现役结构可靠度的维修设计。以此对结构的安全性进行评估，为框架结构的维修决策提供了依据。     

On exact D-optimal designs with 2 two-level factors and n autocorrelated observations

In this paper we consider the exact D-optimal designs for estimation of the unknown parameters in the two factors, each at only two-level, main effects model with autocorrelated errors. The vector of the n random errors in the observed responses is assumed to follow a first-order autoregressive model (AR(1)). The exact D-optimal designs seek the optimal combinations of the design levels as well as the optimal run orders, so that the determinant of the information matrix of BLUEs for the unknown parameters is maximized. Bora-Senta and Moyssiadis (1999) gave some conjectures about the exact D-optimal designs based on their experience of several exhaustive searches. In this paper their conjectures are partially proved to be true.Received: January 2003 / Accepted: October 2003Partially supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan, R.O.C. under grant NSC 91-2115-M-008-013.Supported in part by the National Science Council of Taiwan, R.O.C. under grant NSC 89-2118-M-110-003.     

绿色农业的农村妇女道路研究

妇女作为人类生命的孕育者，对人类赖以生存的地球环境，有着息息相关的感情和强烈的责任意识，从而更容易成为环境保护的理论先驱和积极实践者。本文阐述了农村妇女与绿色农业的内在关联，认为构建绿色农业必须要大力开发农村妇女这一人力资源。     

东北区域创新体系建设的行政协调体系研究

在对区域行政协调体系理论进行研究的基础上，通过研究借鉴“长三角”和“泛珠三角”以及发达国家区域行政协调机制的经验，对东北区域创新体系的行政协调模式、行政协调的组织架构以及各机构职能设计做出了初步的探索，并提出了一些具体操作建议。     

物流过程教学实训系统研究

综述了物流过程教学实训系统设计的思想与建设目标;详细地阐述了系统的软硬件构成和运作原理;系统地介绍了该系统所支持的教学实验,尤其对商业物流实训系统、第三方物流实训系统、生产物流实训系统三大部分,对其具体实验进行了设计开发,这对促进学科的发展,提升物流工程专业教学科研水平,具有重要的积极意义。     

工业设计——再造企业竞争优势的重要手段

工业设计为企业产品创新、差异化战略、企业文化、持续性经营发展提供广泛支持。我国工业企业应强化设计理念 ,注意“人—产品—环境—社会”的协调 ,将产品加工技术和产品开发创新并重。