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.     

长江中游根治洪灾策略与措施的探讨

长江中游是长江自然—经济—社会复合生态系统的重要组成部分,当前洪涝灾害频繁而严重。按照长江洪水发生的自然规律调整好人与自然的关系,改变长期以来舍南保北、以堵为主、重蓄轻泄的做法,实施疏泄为主的防洪策略,并采取相应的工程和非工程措施(如下荆江裁弯、开辟分流洪道、四口建闸、洞庭湖水系南北分流、疏浚河道、南水北调及平垸行洪等),同时配合进行水源生态工程及江河库湖调蓄工程建设,才能根治长江中游洪涝灾害。     

高校旅游管理专业"饭店管理"实验教学模式的探讨

高等院校“旅游管理”专业开设的“饭店管理”实验是为了培养学生的动手能力和心智技能。通过分析当前高等院校“饭店管理”实验教学中存在的问题,讨论了多种实验类型和开放实验在“饭店管理”实验教学中的合理运用,以及如何通过延伸“饭店管理”实验提高教学质量。     

关于实验会计科学的探讨

该文以实验经济学的基本原理为理论基点,研究并举例说明了会计实验及实验会计学的基本概念及方法原理;进而提出会计实验或实验会计学既是描述性的,又是建设性的会计科学活动,其重点是建设性的会计科学验证及发现和科学研究,会计实验或实验会计学对于全面总结具有中国特色的会计准则、理论与方法提供科学方法论,同时又是会计模拟实习的必然发展结果和趋势等观点。     

Method in Experiment: Rhetoric and Reality

The methodological ideal of experimentalists, E, is easily stated: derive a testable hypothesis, H, from a well-specified theory, T; implement experiments with a design; implicitly in the latter are auxiliary hypotheses, A, that surface in the review/discussion of completed research reports (payoffs are 'adequate,' Ss are 'relevant,' instructions, context are 'clear,' etc.). We want to be able to conclude, if statistical test outcomes support not-H, that T is 'falsified.' But this is not what we do; rather we ask if there is a flaw in the test, i.e. not-A is supported, and we do more experiments. This is good practice—much better than the statistical rhetoric of falsificationism. Undesigned social processes allow E to accumulate technical and instrumental knowledge that drive the reduction of experimental error and constitute a more coherent methodology than falsificationism.     

某城区排涝泵站设计流量计算方法初探

采用平均排除法、最大24 h雨型洪水流量时程分配法和产流汇流法3种方法分别计算了某城区电排站的设计流量,并将3种方法的计算结果进行对比分析,选用合适电排站的设计流量,可为类似工程设计流量的确定提供参考。     

双库连通水库调洪演算的方法研究

该文以合肥市杜集水库为例,分析和研究双库连通水库受下游河道影响的调洪演算的理论方法,通过建立双库连通水库计算模型进行调洪演算;计算结果表明,该方法理论合理,操作性强,成果可靠,可应用于双库连通水库的防洪调度和调洪演算。     

基于竖向标高设计理念的城市防洪排涝规划

以南沙明珠湾区水系规划为对象,研究城市水系竖向标高系统。进行水利计算,初定防洪规划下的的布局与堤防高程,确定防潮堤结构形式为超级堤,对滨海城市防洪(潮)堤防结构形式的选择具有参考意义。采用“调蓄、自排、抽排”等多种排涝模式相结合,确定平时内河涌管控水位和排涝安全管控水位,实现了河涌多种功能之间的协调和衔接,这对满足水生态文明建设对城市河涌多功能要求,具有一定参考价值。     

防汛抢险训练场渗透破坏段设计方案试验分析

建设仿真性的防汛抢险训练场,提供有实战氛围的防汛抢险演练环境,在国内外尚属首次。为支撑江苏省防汛抢险训练场渗透破坏段方案设计,基于土体渗透破坏的基本理论并考虑到防汛演练的实际需求,首先确定用于堤坝填筑土料的料源,并对此进行了物理力学特性试验研究,根据粒径分布曲线推求非饱和渗流分析参数。然后开展两种不同比尺的水工模型渗透破坏试验,并与数值计算结果进行对比,验证数值分析的可靠性和合理性。最后对演练模型进行数值分析,根据上述试验和数值分析结果对设计方案提出相应的建议。上述设计方案基于均质土,实际填筑过程中土料的不均匀性较大,其合理性尚有待于实际工程的进一步验证。     

巢湖兆河分洪闸泄流特性试验研究

受周边地形条件及环境限制,巢湖兆河分洪闸与河道呈垂直布置,进流条件不利。针对分洪闸与河道垂直布置这一特征,分别对开敞式和涵洞式分洪闸进行了水工模型进口流态试验分析,结果表明涵洞式分洪闸进流流态优于开敞式分洪闸,能更好地保证各闸孔的均匀进流。针对涵洞式分洪闸方案,研究了分洪闸敞泄和控泄的泄流能力,指出敞泄状态下进口行近流速对流量计算影响明显,在水闸规划设计中,应计入行近流速影响。为改善消能效果及出口水流与下游的衔接,进行了多方案消能防冲改进试验,结果表明尾坎作为一种冲击式消能工布置在挖深式消力池末端,可使出口水流流速分布更加均匀并与下游水流衔接更为平顺,明显增强消能防冲效果。