Making plans is a good idea,but every one's schedule looks differe nt.You may have to talk about your plans before you're able to make some.It could sound like this:You ask,"Do you have plans this Friday ...Making plans is a good idea,but every one's schedule looks differe nt.You may have to talk about your plans before you're able to make some.It could sound like this:You ask,"Do you have plans this Friday night?"If the person already has plans,they may say,"I do.But I'm free on Saturday."If that day doesn't work for you,you can say,"I'm not available that day.How about Sunday after no on?"After you figure out the day and time,mark it on your calendar.展开更多
Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches...Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.展开更多
Objective： Conventional external beam irradiation techniques for nasopharyngeal carcinoma have limitations, and improving external beam irradiation techniques is needed to enhance the curative rate. This study was de...Objective： Conventional external beam irradiation techniques for nasopharyngeal carcinoma have limitations, and improving external beam irradiation techniques is needed to enhance the curative rate. This study was designed to cvaluate the difference in dose distribution of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy （3D CRT） and conventional treatment plan in early untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma using a three dimensional treatment planning system. Methods： Twenty-two patients with early untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected. Conventional and 3D CRT plans were made for each of them and compared with respect to target volume coverage （V95）,normal tissue sparing （D50, D33 and D5, etc）, normal tissue complication probability （NTCP）. Results： The average volumetric dose comparison indicated that the V95 of PTVnx70 were 98.22% and 99.99% （P=0.06）, and PTVnd60, 98.41% and 99.63% （P=1.00）, PTV,x60, 98.44% and 99.98% （P=0.03）, PTVnx50, 98.85% and 99.63% （P=0.02） in conventional and 3DCRT treatment plans respectively. With respect to normal tissue sparing, the average D50 of unilateral parotid glands were 51.91 Gy and 64.30 Gy （P=0.00） respectively, and the unilateral temporomandibular joints, 49.98 Gy and 64.47 Gy （P=0.00）, the Dlcc of spinal cords, 44.98 Gy and 48.09 Gy （P=0.00） in 3D CRT and conventional plans. Conclusion： Though only a little bit better dose coverage of target volume in subclinical lesion region was reached in 3D CRT plans, it spared more normal tissues e.g. parotid glands and temporomandibular joints etc and decreased their NTCP while it got the similar dose distribution in target volumes as conventional plans did for these early nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases.展开更多
Rapidly-exploring Random Tree(RRT)and its variants have become foundational in path-planning research,yet in complex three-dimensional off-road environments their uniform blind sampling and limited safety guarantees l...Rapidly-exploring Random Tree(RRT)and its variants have become foundational in path-planning research,yet in complex three-dimensional off-road environments their uniform blind sampling and limited safety guarantees lead to slow convergence and force an unfavorable trade-off between path quality and traversal safety.To address these challenges,we introduce HS-APF-RRT*,a novel algorithm that fuses layered sampling,an enhanced Artificial Potential Field(APF),and a dynamic neighborhood-expansion mechanism.First,the workspace is hierarchically partitioned into macro,meso,and micro sampling layers,progressively biasing random samples toward safer,lower-energy regions.Second,we augment the traditional APF by incorporating a slope-dependent repulsive term,enabling stronger avoidance of steep obstacles.Third,a dynamic expansion strategy adaptively switches between 8 and 16 connected neighborhoods based on local obstacle density,striking an effective balance between search efficiency and collision-avoidance precision.In simulated off-road scenarios,HS-APF-RRT*is benchmarked against RRT*,GoalBiased RRT*,and APF-RRT*,and demonstrates significantly faster convergence,lower path-energy consumption,and enhanced safety margins.展开更多
Accelerated life test(ALT) is currently the main method of assessing product reliability rapidly, and the design of efficient test plans is a critical step to ensure that ALTs can assess the product reliability accura...Accelerated life test(ALT) is currently the main method of assessing product reliability rapidly, and the design of efficient test plans is a critical step to ensure that ALTs can assess the product reliability accurately, quickly, and economically. With the promotion of the national strategy of civil-military integration, ALT will be widely used in the research and development(R&D) of various types of products, and the ALT plan design theory will face further challenges. To aid engineers in selecting appropriate theories and to stimulate researchers to develop the theories required in engineering, with focus on the demands for theory research that arise from the implementation of ALT, this paper reviews and summarizes the development of ALT plan design theory. The development of the theory and method for planning optimal ALT for location-scale distribution, which is the most applied and mature theory of designing the optimal ALT plan, are described in detail. Taking this as the center of radiation, some problems that ALT now faces, such as the verification of the statistical model, limitation of sample size, solutions of resource limits, optimization of the test arrangement, and management of product complexity, are discussed, and the general ideas and methods of solving these problems are analyzed. Suggestions for selecting appropriate ALT plan design theories are proposed, and the urgent solved theory problems and opinions of their solutions are proposed. Based on the principle of convenience for engineers to select appropriate methods according to the problems found in practice, this paper reviews the development of optimal ALT plan design theory by taking the engineering problems arising from the ALT implementation as the main thread, provides guidelines on selecting appropriate theories for engineers, and proposes opinions about the urgent solved theory problems for researchers.展开更多
The optimum design of equivalent accelerated life testing plan based on proportional hazards-proportional odds model using D-optimality is presented. The defined equivalent test plan is the test plan that has the same...The optimum design of equivalent accelerated life testing plan based on proportional hazards-proportional odds model using D-optimality is presented. The defined equivalent test plan is the test plan that has the same value of the determinant of Fisher information matrix. The equivalent test plan of step stress accelerated life testing （SSALT） to a baseline optimum constant stress accelerated life testing （CSALT） plan is obtained by adjusting the censoring time of SSALT and solving the optimization problem for each case to achieve the same value of the determinant of Fisher information matrix as in the baseline optimum CSALT plan. Numer- ical examples are given finally which demonstrate the equivalent SSALT plan to the baseline optimum CSALT plan reduces almost half of the test time while achieving approximately the same estimation errors of model parameters.展开更多
A workshop on National Plans of Action for Nutrition: Constraints, Key Elements for Success, and Future Plans was convened and organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in collaboration with the In...A workshop on National Plans of Action for Nutrition: Constraints, Key Elements for Success, and Future Plans was convened and organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research Malaysia and co sponsored with FAO and UNICEF from 25—29 October 1999. It was attended by representatives of 25 countries in the region and resource persons, representatives from WHO and other international agencies. The objectives of the workshop were to review the progress of countries in developing, implementing and monitoring national plans of action for nutrition (NPANs) in the Western Pacific Region and to identify constraints and key elements of success in these efforts. Most of the countries have NPANs, either approved and implemented or awaiting official endorsement. The Plan formulation is usually multisectoral, involving several government ministries, non governmental organizations, and international agencies. Often official adoption or endorsement of the Plan comes from the head of state and cabinet or the minister of health, one to six years from the start of its formulation. The NPAN has stimulated support for the development and implementation of nutrition projects and activities, with comparatively greater involvement of and more support from government ministries, UN agencies and non-governmental agencies compared to local communities, bilateral and private sectors and research and academic institutions. Monitoring and evaluation are important components of NPANs. They are, however, not given high priority and often not built into the plan. The role of an intersectoral coordinating body is considered crucial to a country's nutrition program. Most countries have an intersectoral structure or coordinating body to ensure the proper implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their NPANs. The workshop identified the constraints and key elements of success in each of the four stages of the NPAN process: development, operationalization, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Constraints to the NPAN process relate to the political and socioeconomic environment, resource scarcity, control and management processes, and factors related to sustainability. The group's review of NPAN identified successful NPANs as those based on recent, adequate and good quality information on the nutritional situation of the country, and on the selection of strategies, priorities and interventions that are relevant to the country and backed up by adequate resources. Continued high level political commitment, a multisectoral approach, and adequate participation of local communities are other key elements for success. The participants agreed on future actions and support needed from various sources for the further development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their NPANs. The recommendations for future actions were categorized into actions pertaining to countries with working NPAN, actions for countries without working NPAN and actions relevant to all countries. There was also a set of suggested actions at the regional level, such as holding of regular regional NPAN evaluation meetings, inclusion of NPAN on the agenda of regional fora by the regional organizations, and strengthening of regional nutrition networks.展开更多
We introduce a new two-parameter model related to the inverted Topp–Leone distribution called the power inverted Topp–Leone(PITL)distribution.Major properties of the PITL distribution are stated;including;quantile m...We introduce a new two-parameter model related to the inverted Topp–Leone distribution called the power inverted Topp–Leone(PITL)distribution.Major properties of the PITL distribution are stated;including;quantile measures,moments,moment generating function,probability weighted moments,Bonferroni and Lorenz curve,stochastic ordering,incomplete moments,residual life function,and entropy measure.Acceptance sampling plans are developed for the PITL distribution,when the life test is truncated at a pre-specified time.The truncation time is assumed to be the median lifetime of the PITL distribution with pre-specified factors.The minimum sample size necessary to ensure the specified life test is obtained under a given consumer’s risk.Numerical results for given consumer’s risk,parameters of the PITL distribution and the truncation time are obtained.The estimation of the model parameters is argued using maximum likelihood,least squares,weighted least squares,maximum product of spacing and Bayesian methods.A simulation study is confirmed to evaluate and compare the behavior of different estimates.Two real data applications are afforded in order to examine the flexibility of the proposed model compared with some others distributions.The results show that the power inverted Topp–Leone distribution is the best according to the model selection criteria than other competitive models.展开更多
The air quality directive （2008/50/EC （of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008）） requires European Member States to design appropriate AQPs （air quality plans） for zones and agglomerations w...The air quality directive （2008/50/EC （of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008）） requires European Member States to design appropriate AQPs （air quality plans） for zones and agglomerations where the air quality does not comply with the limit values and to assess possible emission reduction measures to decrease concentration levels. The Portuguese agglomeration of Porto Litoral is one of the several European Union urban areas that had to develop and implement AQPs to reduce particulate matter （PM10）. The AQPs were initially designed based on a scenario approach and using an air quality model, which was applied over the study region for the reference situation with the current PM10 emissions, and for a reduction scenario with PM10 emissions re-estimated considering the implementation of abatement measures. Aiming to cost-efficiently optimize Porto Litoral PM10 abatement measures, the assessment procedure was repeated using an optimization approach based on the RIAT ＋ （regional integrated assessment tool ＋）. Porto Litoral urban area＇s technical and non-technical measures were characterized （including associated costs） and, through the application of the air quality model to 20 emissions abatement scenarios, S-R （source-receptor） relationships were created. This paper comparatively describes the air quality plans designed to improve PM10 levels in the Porto Litoral agglomeration based on both the scenario analysis and the optimization approach.展开更多
In this paper,we considered the Length-biased weighted Lomax distribution and constructed new acceptance sampling plans(ASPs)where the life test is assumed to be truncated at a pre-assigned time.For the new suggested ...In this paper,we considered the Length-biased weighted Lomax distribution and constructed new acceptance sampling plans(ASPs)where the life test is assumed to be truncated at a pre-assigned time.For the new suggested ASPs,the tables of the minimum samples sizes needed to assert a specific mean life of the test units are obtained.In addition,the values of the corresponding operating characteristic function and the associated producer’s risks are calculated.Analyses of two real data sets are presented to investigate the applicability of the proposed acceptance sampling plans;one data set contains the first failure of 20 small electric carts,and the other data set contains the failure times of the air conditioning system of an airplane.Comparisons are made between the proposed acceptance sampling plans and some existing acceptance sampling plans considered in this study based on the minimum sample sizes.It is observed that the samples sizes based on the proposed acceptance sampling plans are less than their competitors considered in this study.The suggested acceptance sampling plans are recommended for practitioners in the field.展开更多
Athens International Airport ＂Eleftherios Venizelos＂ （AIA） is considered a pioneer international Public-Private Partnership, being the first major int. airport constructed with the participation of the private sec...Athens International Airport ＂Eleftherios Venizelos＂ （AIA） is considered a pioneer international Public-Private Partnership, being the first major int. airport constructed with the participation of the private sector with the BOOT method （Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer）. AIA＇s 1st day of operation was in March 2001 and the aircraft traffic on 2006 reached 191.000 movements ＆ 15.1 million passengers. According to the European Directive 49/2002 and the Joint Ministerial Decision 13586/724-28/3/06, Athens International Airport （AIA） is included in the category of＂large airports＂ and it consequently comes under the authority of the above mentioned legislation on the evaluation and management of environmental noise. A complete Study on Aircraft Noise [1], according to the European Directive 49/2002 [2] and Joint Ministerial Decision 13586/724-28/3/06 was undertaken under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Energy ＆ Climate Change, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, and AIA S.A. In this article the following results are presented： （1） The 2006 Strategic Noise Map （SNM） of both indicators Lden and Lnight based on the ECAC.CEAC Doc 29 methodology ＂Report on Standard Method of Computing Noise Contours around Civil Airports＂, 1997 [3], （2） A statistical analysis of predicted vs measured noise levels based on the existing Noise Monitoring System, （3） Effects from the removal of marginally accepted chapter 3 aircraft, （4） A complete evaluation of results regarding calculation of area/land uses and number of individuals living in residences inside blocks exposed in various levels of noise, and （5） A full evaluation of Noise Action Plans （NAP） regrouping existing and foreseen actions FOR 2006 ＆ 2011 scenarios, especially regarding among others, noise abatement procedures, a comprehensive noise insulation legal framework.展开更多
The 13th Five-year Plan period ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.During this period,China’s economy transitioned from rapid to high-quality growth and weathered the storms of the trade wa...The 13th Five-year Plan period ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.During this period,China’s economy transitioned from rapid to high-quality growth and weathered the storms of the trade war with the United States and the COVID-19 outbreak.Chinese policymakers embraced new development concepts,and fought to cut overcapacity and excess inventory,deleverage,lower costs,and bolster weak areas under the theme of supply-side structural reforms.In fighting the three tough battles of major risk prevention,targeted poverty reduction and pollution abatement,China has largely resolved myriad structural contradictions and maintained rapid domestic economic growth and stability.Most targets for the 13th Five-year Plan period have been achieved ahead of time or are near completion on time.Institutional sophistication has bolstered high-quality development.展开更多
Objective We aimed to determine the ef ects of low- and high-energy intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） photon beams on the target volume planning and on the critical organs in the case of prostate can-cer....Objective We aimed to determine the ef ects of low- and high-energy intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） photon beams on the target volume planning and on the critical organs in the case of prostate can-cer. Methods Thirty plans were generated by using either 6 MV or 15 MV beams separately, and a combination of both 6 and 15 MV beams. Al plans were generated by using suitable planning objectives and dose con-straints, which were identical across the plans, except the beam energy. The plans were analyzed in terms of their target coverage, conformity, and homogeneity, regardless of the beam energy. Results The mean percentage values of V70 Gy for the rectal wal for the plans with 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-energy beams were 16.9%, 17.8%, and 16.4%, respectively, while the mean percentage values of V40 Gy were 53.6%, 52.3%, and 50.4%. The mean dose values to the femoral heads for the 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-en-ergy plans were 30.1 Gy, 25.5 Gy, and 25.4 Gy, respectively. The mean integral dose for the 6 MV plans was 10% larger than those for the 15 MV and mixed-energy plans.Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that mixed-energy IMRT plans may be advantageous with respect to the dosimetric characteristics of low- and high-energy beams. Although the reduction of dose to the organs at risk may not be clinical y relevant, in this study, IMRT plans using mixed-energy beams exhibited better OAR sparing and overal higher plan quality for deep-seated tumors.展开更多
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate necessity to inform relevant parties about engineering-geological conditions for various practical purposes, especially including appropriate land-use planning. However, t...The objective of this paper is to demonstrate necessity to inform relevant parties about engineering-geological conditions for various practical purposes, especially including appropriate land-use planning. However, the relationship between relevant geological information and the geological environment is vital for foundation engineering purposes, especially where demanding structures are involved. This information is most conveniently structured when accumulated information concerning engineering-geological zones is utilized. This necessarily includes knowledge of rock workability and also of the pre-Quaternary bedrock, and these characteristics were then related to the current built-up area and future development according to the land-use plans in a case study are from the Petrvald Region （Czech Republic）. The geological environment of area has been severely influenced by anthropogenic effects of deep black coal mining. Results of this research showed that future development should be founded on spoil banks, dumps, and settling basins. According to the land-use plan, this zone occupies 44.9% of the area of interest, and its materials predominantly emanate from mining in the Ostrava-Karvina Coal District. For future foundation structures planned there, it is imperative to consult detailed engineering-geological study. However, attention to and reliance on this necessity is not reflected in the existing land-use plan.展开更多
The room’s plan shape,the area of the window,and the impact of the materials are significant parameters in determining the thermal needs of buildings.In traditional houses of the hot and dry climate of Iran,the plan ...The room’s plan shape,the area of the window,and the impact of the materials are significant parameters in determining the thermal needs of buildings.In traditional houses of the hot and dry climate of Iran,the plan shape of the room,the ratio of the window area to the floor area,and the comparison between traditional and prevalent materials have been less studied.This study investigated the thermal performance of seven different models of the plan shape,five different ratios of window area to plan area,and three material structures in a selected room of Yazd City using EnergyPlus software.Seven models have different plan shapes but the same floor area,whose thermal balance process calculations have been performed by the CTF method.The results show that the best thermal comfort conditions for the residents are at the window area to floor area ratio of 12%for the brick buildings and 15%for the buildings with thermal insulation and proposed materials.The lowest cooling and heating needs are obtained in a room with an east-west extension and a length-to-width ratio of about 1.38,which indicates the proper plan shape of the selected room.This research can be considered as a climatic strategy to improve the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Yazd.展开更多
The purpose of our study was to clarify variables associated with suicide ideation and plans in a Japanese population. We conducted a random-sampling survey on mental health and suicide using a self-administered quest...The purpose of our study was to clarify variables associated with suicide ideation and plans in a Japanese population. We conducted a random-sampling survey on mental health and suicide using a self-administered questionnaire for Hamamatsu City residents aged 15-79 yrs between May and June, 2008. This included questions about gender, age, outpatient treatment, alcohol problems, depression, living ar-rangements, marital status, annual family income, industry types as well as suicide ideation and plans. The correlation between these variables and suicide ideation or plans was then analyzed with multiple logistic regression analysis by gender. A total of 1051 responded to this questionnaire (response rate, 53.9%). Variables statistically associated with suicide ideation in males included alcohol problems, depression, lower annual family income, and ac-commodations/eating/drinking services, while in females, the variables were younger age, outpatient treatment, depression, living alone, being single, being separated, lower annual family income, accommodations/eating/drinking services and unemployment. On the other hand, variables statistically associated with suicide plans in males were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, and lower annual family income, while in females they were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, being separated, lower annual family income, manufacturing, and accommodations/eating/drinking services. Ex-cept for industry types, variables associated with suicide ideation or plans were consistent with previous studies. The reason why workers engaging in manufacturing, or accommoda-tions/eating/drinking services were more likely to have suicide ideation or plans may be attributed to the structures and/or stresses unique to those industries.展开更多
Functional behavior assessment(FBA)and behavioral intervention plans(BIPs)can be effective for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD);however,teachers may face difficulties when implementing FBA pr...Functional behavior assessment(FBA)and behavioral intervention plans(BIPs)can be effective for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD);however,teachers may face difficulties when implementing FBA procedures and,in turn,BIPs because of lack of time,insufficient training,and multiplicity of beliefs.Thus,it is important to identify the difficulties teachers may face and the obstacles that can deter them from implementing intervention plans.This is a worthwhile endeavor because nearly all classrooms will have students with behavioral problems who will benefit from specifically designed educational interventions.This study aimed to identify the difficulties in applying FBA and the barriers in implementing BIPs among Saudi teachers in specialized ADHD programs.Using the descriptive-analytical approach,a questionnaire targeting difficulties and barriers was admi-nistered to 209 public school teachers from specialized ADHD programs in Saudi Arabia.The results revealed that the difficulty level of applying FBA in ADHD programs was high.The level of barriers in implementing BIPs was moderate.Finally,the study indicated that barriers in implementing BIPs could be predicted by the difficulties of applying FBA.The results suggest the importance offinding better practices,restructuring the provision of ADHD programs,training teachers,improving assessment tool availability,and ensuring cooperation between school administrators and teachers.展开更多
The Bayesian sampling plans for exponential distributions are studied based on type-Ⅱ hybrid censored samples. The optimal Bayesian sampling plan is derived under a general loss function which includes the sampling c...The Bayesian sampling plans for exponential distributions are studied based on type-Ⅱ hybrid censored samples. The optimal Bayesian sampling plan is derived under a general loss function which includes the sampling cost, time-consuming cost, salvage value,and decision loss. It is employed to determine the Bayes risk and the corresponding optimal sampling plan. An explicit expression of the Bayes risk is derived. Furthermore,for the conjugate prior distribution,the closed-form formula of the Bayes decision rule can be obtained under either the linear or quadratic decision loss.展开更多
Water safety plan as conceived by WHO can lead to prevention of pollution in each component of water supply chain which leads to ensuring safe drinking water. Risk assessment is one of the key components during the de...Water safety plan as conceived by WHO can lead to prevention of pollution in each component of water supply chain which leads to ensuring safe drinking water. Risk assessment is one of the key components during the development of water safety plan, achieved by identifying hazardous events and estimating their risk towards implementing control measures. This study reports the risk assessment from catchment to consumers in Maiduguri water treatment plant in Northeast Nigeria. Tools such as the field visits, key informant interviews, questionnaire and water quality monitoring were used to identify the hazards and estimate their risk using semi-quantitative matrix. With the existing control measures, the study showed a total of 33 hazardous events;5 in catchment, 16 in treatment plant, 6 in distribution system and 6 at consumers’ points. The risk score indicated 6 are of medium risk and 9 of high risk. Catchment activities, upgrade of treatment facilities and lack of routine maintenance in the treatment plant, pipeline damages in distribution lines, and consumers’ lack of hygiene knowledge and awareness were found to be the major contributory factors which affect the desired quality. Therefore participation and commitment by all relevant stakeholders are fundamental requisite to manage the identified health risks.展开更多
The Port of Durban is one of the largest ports in the Southern Hemisphere and is the main port for the Southern African region. However, the port is reaching its capacity limit and it is apparent that for South Africa...The Port of Durban is one of the largest ports in the Southern Hemisphere and is the main port for the Southern African region. However, the port is reaching its capacity limit and it is apparent that for South Africa＇s economic growth this port needs to expand. In order to expand the port needs to not only expand its waterside infrastructure but it would need to provide new logistics corridors though the city of Durban. The city of Durban has completely surrounded the port making expansion options difficult and intertwined with the planning of the city. This paper examines the various options and timelines for port expansion as well as the issues from the city perspective. Areas of possible conflict in this process revolve around traffic capacity and related road/rail infrastructure, environmental issues, social and economic impacts.展开更多
文摘Making plans is a good idea,but every one's schedule looks differe nt.You may have to talk about your plans before you're able to make some.It could sound like this:You ask,"Do you have plans this Friday night?"If the person already has plans,they may say,"I do.But I'm free on Saturday."If that day doesn't work for you,you can say,"I'm not available that day.How about Sunday after no on?"After you figure out the day and time,mark it on your calendar.
基金supported by the Government of the Northwest Territories in Canada and the John McMurry Research Chair in Environmental Geography at Wilfrid Laurier University.
文摘Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.
基金This project was supported by a grant from Guangdong Medical Research Foundation (No.Al999214).
文摘Objective： Conventional external beam irradiation techniques for nasopharyngeal carcinoma have limitations, and improving external beam irradiation techniques is needed to enhance the curative rate. This study was designed to cvaluate the difference in dose distribution of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy （3D CRT） and conventional treatment plan in early untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma using a three dimensional treatment planning system. Methods： Twenty-two patients with early untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected. Conventional and 3D CRT plans were made for each of them and compared with respect to target volume coverage （V95）,normal tissue sparing （D50, D33 and D5, etc）, normal tissue complication probability （NTCP）. Results： The average volumetric dose comparison indicated that the V95 of PTVnx70 were 98.22% and 99.99% （P=0.06）, and PTVnd60, 98.41% and 99.63% （P=1.00）, PTV,x60, 98.44% and 99.98% （P=0.03）, PTVnx50, 98.85% and 99.63% （P=0.02） in conventional and 3DCRT treatment plans respectively. With respect to normal tissue sparing, the average D50 of unilateral parotid glands were 51.91 Gy and 64.30 Gy （P=0.00） respectively, and the unilateral temporomandibular joints, 49.98 Gy and 64.47 Gy （P=0.00）, the Dlcc of spinal cords, 44.98 Gy and 48.09 Gy （P=0.00） in 3D CRT and conventional plans. Conclusion： Though only a little bit better dose coverage of target volume in subclinical lesion region was reached in 3D CRT plans, it spared more normal tissues e.g. parotid glands and temporomandibular joints etc and decreased their NTCP while it got the similar dose distribution in target volumes as conventional plans did for these early nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases.
基金supported in part by 14th Five Year National Key R&D Program Project(Project Number:2023YFB3211001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62273339,U24A201397).
文摘Rapidly-exploring Random Tree(RRT)and its variants have become foundational in path-planning research,yet in complex three-dimensional off-road environments their uniform blind sampling and limited safety guarantees lead to slow convergence and force an unfavorable trade-off between path quality and traversal safety.To address these challenges,we introduce HS-APF-RRT*,a novel algorithm that fuses layered sampling,an enhanced Artificial Potential Field(APF),and a dynamic neighborhood-expansion mechanism.First,the workspace is hierarchically partitioned into macro,meso,and micro sampling layers,progressively biasing random samples toward safer,lower-energy regions.Second,we augment the traditional APF by incorporating a slope-dependent repulsive term,enabling stronger avoidance of steep obstacles.Third,a dynamic expansion strategy adaptively switches between 8 and 16 connected neighborhoods based on local obstacle density,striking an effective balance between search efficiency and collision-avoidance precision.In simulated off-road scenarios,HS-APF-RRT*is benchmarked against RRT*,GoalBiased RRT*,and APF-RRT*,and demonstrates significantly faster convergence,lower path-energy consumption,and enhanced safety margins.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51275480,51305402,51405447)International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China(Grant No.2015DFA71400)
文摘Accelerated life test(ALT) is currently the main method of assessing product reliability rapidly, and the design of efficient test plans is a critical step to ensure that ALTs can assess the product reliability accurately, quickly, and economically. With the promotion of the national strategy of civil-military integration, ALT will be widely used in the research and development(R&D) of various types of products, and the ALT plan design theory will face further challenges. To aid engineers in selecting appropriate theories and to stimulate researchers to develop the theories required in engineering, with focus on the demands for theory research that arise from the implementation of ALT, this paper reviews and summarizes the development of ALT plan design theory. The development of the theory and method for planning optimal ALT for location-scale distribution, which is the most applied and mature theory of designing the optimal ALT plan, are described in detail. Taking this as the center of radiation, some problems that ALT now faces, such as the verification of the statistical model, limitation of sample size, solutions of resource limits, optimization of the test arrangement, and management of product complexity, are discussed, and the general ideas and methods of solving these problems are analyzed. Suggestions for selecting appropriate ALT plan design theories are proposed, and the urgent solved theory problems and opinions of their solutions are proposed. Based on the principle of convenience for engineers to select appropriate methods according to the problems found in practice, this paper reviews the development of optimal ALT plan design theory by taking the engineering problems arising from the ALT implementation as the main thread, provides guidelines on selecting appropriate theories for engineers, and proposes opinions about the urgent solved theory problems for researchers.
文摘The optimum design of equivalent accelerated life testing plan based on proportional hazards-proportional odds model using D-optimality is presented. The defined equivalent test plan is the test plan that has the same value of the determinant of Fisher information matrix. The equivalent test plan of step stress accelerated life testing （SSALT） to a baseline optimum constant stress accelerated life testing （CSALT） plan is obtained by adjusting the censoring time of SSALT and solving the optimization problem for each case to achieve the same value of the determinant of Fisher information matrix as in the baseline optimum CSALT plan. Numer- ical examples are given finally which demonstrate the equivalent SSALT plan to the baseline optimum CSALT plan reduces almost half of the test time while achieving approximately the same estimation errors of model parameters.
文摘A workshop on National Plans of Action for Nutrition: Constraints, Key Elements for Success, and Future Plans was convened and organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research Malaysia and co sponsored with FAO and UNICEF from 25—29 October 1999. It was attended by representatives of 25 countries in the region and resource persons, representatives from WHO and other international agencies. The objectives of the workshop were to review the progress of countries in developing, implementing and monitoring national plans of action for nutrition (NPANs) in the Western Pacific Region and to identify constraints and key elements of success in these efforts. Most of the countries have NPANs, either approved and implemented or awaiting official endorsement. The Plan formulation is usually multisectoral, involving several government ministries, non governmental organizations, and international agencies. Often official adoption or endorsement of the Plan comes from the head of state and cabinet or the minister of health, one to six years from the start of its formulation. The NPAN has stimulated support for the development and implementation of nutrition projects and activities, with comparatively greater involvement of and more support from government ministries, UN agencies and non-governmental agencies compared to local communities, bilateral and private sectors and research and academic institutions. Monitoring and evaluation are important components of NPANs. They are, however, not given high priority and often not built into the plan. The role of an intersectoral coordinating body is considered crucial to a country's nutrition program. Most countries have an intersectoral structure or coordinating body to ensure the proper implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their NPANs. The workshop identified the constraints and key elements of success in each of the four stages of the NPAN process: development, operationalization, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Constraints to the NPAN process relate to the political and socioeconomic environment, resource scarcity, control and management processes, and factors related to sustainability. The group's review of NPAN identified successful NPANs as those based on recent, adequate and good quality information on the nutritional situation of the country, and on the selection of strategies, priorities and interventions that are relevant to the country and backed up by adequate resources. Continued high level political commitment, a multisectoral approach, and adequate participation of local communities are other key elements for success. The participants agreed on future actions and support needed from various sources for the further development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their NPANs. The recommendations for future actions were categorized into actions pertaining to countries with working NPAN, actions for countries without working NPAN and actions relevant to all countries. There was also a set of suggested actions at the regional level, such as holding of regular regional NPAN evaluation meetings, inclusion of NPAN on the agenda of regional fora by the regional organizations, and strengthening of regional nutrition networks.
文摘We introduce a new two-parameter model related to the inverted Topp–Leone distribution called the power inverted Topp–Leone(PITL)distribution.Major properties of the PITL distribution are stated;including;quantile measures,moments,moment generating function,probability weighted moments,Bonferroni and Lorenz curve,stochastic ordering,incomplete moments,residual life function,and entropy measure.Acceptance sampling plans are developed for the PITL distribution,when the life test is truncated at a pre-specified time.The truncation time is assumed to be the median lifetime of the PITL distribution with pre-specified factors.The minimum sample size necessary to ensure the specified life test is obtained under a given consumer’s risk.Numerical results for given consumer’s risk,parameters of the PITL distribution and the truncation time are obtained.The estimation of the model parameters is argued using maximum likelihood,least squares,weighted least squares,maximum product of spacing and Bayesian methods.A simulation study is confirmed to evaluate and compare the behavior of different estimates.Two real data applications are afforded in order to examine the flexibility of the proposed model compared with some others distributions.The results show that the power inverted Topp–Leone distribution is the best according to the model selection criteria than other competitive models.
文摘The air quality directive （2008/50/EC （of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008）） requires European Member States to design appropriate AQPs （air quality plans） for zones and agglomerations where the air quality does not comply with the limit values and to assess possible emission reduction measures to decrease concentration levels. The Portuguese agglomeration of Porto Litoral is one of the several European Union urban areas that had to develop and implement AQPs to reduce particulate matter （PM10）. The AQPs were initially designed based on a scenario approach and using an air quality model, which was applied over the study region for the reference situation with the current PM10 emissions, and for a reduction scenario with PM10 emissions re-estimated considering the implementation of abatement measures. Aiming to cost-efficiently optimize Porto Litoral PM10 abatement measures, the assessment procedure was repeated using an optimization approach based on the RIAT ＋ （regional integrated assessment tool ＋）. Porto Litoral urban area＇s technical and non-technical measures were characterized （including associated costs） and, through the application of the air quality model to 20 emissions abatement scenarios, S-R （source-receptor） relationships were created. This paper comparatively describes the air quality plans designed to improve PM10 levels in the Porto Litoral agglomeration based on both the scenario analysis and the optimization approach.
基金funding this work through the Research Groups Program under Grant Number R.G.P.2/68/41.I.A.
文摘In this paper,we considered the Length-biased weighted Lomax distribution and constructed new acceptance sampling plans(ASPs)where the life test is assumed to be truncated at a pre-assigned time.For the new suggested ASPs,the tables of the minimum samples sizes needed to assert a specific mean life of the test units are obtained.In addition,the values of the corresponding operating characteristic function and the associated producer’s risks are calculated.Analyses of two real data sets are presented to investigate the applicability of the proposed acceptance sampling plans;one data set contains the first failure of 20 small electric carts,and the other data set contains the failure times of the air conditioning system of an airplane.Comparisons are made between the proposed acceptance sampling plans and some existing acceptance sampling plans considered in this study based on the minimum sample sizes.It is observed that the samples sizes based on the proposed acceptance sampling plans are less than their competitors considered in this study.The suggested acceptance sampling plans are recommended for practitioners in the field.
文摘Athens International Airport ＂Eleftherios Venizelos＂ （AIA） is considered a pioneer international Public-Private Partnership, being the first major int. airport constructed with the participation of the private sector with the BOOT method （Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer）. AIA＇s 1st day of operation was in March 2001 and the aircraft traffic on 2006 reached 191.000 movements ＆ 15.1 million passengers. According to the European Directive 49/2002 and the Joint Ministerial Decision 13586/724-28/3/06, Athens International Airport （AIA） is included in the category of＂large airports＂ and it consequently comes under the authority of the above mentioned legislation on the evaluation and management of environmental noise. A complete Study on Aircraft Noise [1], according to the European Directive 49/2002 [2] and Joint Ministerial Decision 13586/724-28/3/06 was undertaken under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Energy ＆ Climate Change, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, and AIA S.A. In this article the following results are presented： （1） The 2006 Strategic Noise Map （SNM） of both indicators Lden and Lnight based on the ECAC.CEAC Doc 29 methodology ＂Report on Standard Method of Computing Noise Contours around Civil Airports＂, 1997 [3], （2） A statistical analysis of predicted vs measured noise levels based on the existing Noise Monitoring System, （3） Effects from the removal of marginally accepted chapter 3 aircraft, （4） A complete evaluation of results regarding calculation of area/land uses and number of individuals living in residences inside blocks exposed in various levels of noise, and （5） A full evaluation of Noise Action Plans （NAP） regrouping existing and foreseen actions FOR 2006 ＆ 2011 scenarios, especially regarding among others, noise abatement procedures, a comprehensive noise insulation legal framework.
文摘The 13th Five-year Plan period ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.During this period,China’s economy transitioned from rapid to high-quality growth and weathered the storms of the trade war with the United States and the COVID-19 outbreak.Chinese policymakers embraced new development concepts,and fought to cut overcapacity and excess inventory,deleverage,lower costs,and bolster weak areas under the theme of supply-side structural reforms.In fighting the three tough battles of major risk prevention,targeted poverty reduction and pollution abatement,China has largely resolved myriad structural contradictions and maintained rapid domestic economic growth and stability.Most targets for the 13th Five-year Plan period have been achieved ahead of time or are near completion on time.Institutional sophistication has bolstered high-quality development.
文摘Objective We aimed to determine the ef ects of low- and high-energy intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） photon beams on the target volume planning and on the critical organs in the case of prostate can-cer. Methods Thirty plans were generated by using either 6 MV or 15 MV beams separately, and a combination of both 6 and 15 MV beams. Al plans were generated by using suitable planning objectives and dose con-straints, which were identical across the plans, except the beam energy. The plans were analyzed in terms of their target coverage, conformity, and homogeneity, regardless of the beam energy. Results The mean percentage values of V70 Gy for the rectal wal for the plans with 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-energy beams were 16.9%, 17.8%, and 16.4%, respectively, while the mean percentage values of V40 Gy were 53.6%, 52.3%, and 50.4%. The mean dose values to the femoral heads for the 6 MV, 15 MV, and mixed-en-ergy plans were 30.1 Gy, 25.5 Gy, and 25.4 Gy, respectively. The mean integral dose for the 6 MV plans was 10% larger than those for the 15 MV and mixed-energy plans.Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that mixed-energy IMRT plans may be advantageous with respect to the dosimetric characteristics of low- and high-energy beams. Although the reduction of dose to the organs at risk may not be clinical y relevant, in this study, IMRT plans using mixed-energy beams exhibited better OAR sparing and overal higher plan quality for deep-seated tumors.
基金Czech Science Foundation for their support of project(GACR-105/09/1631)
文摘The objective of this paper is to demonstrate necessity to inform relevant parties about engineering-geological conditions for various practical purposes, especially including appropriate land-use planning. However, the relationship between relevant geological information and the geological environment is vital for foundation engineering purposes, especially where demanding structures are involved. This information is most conveniently structured when accumulated information concerning engineering-geological zones is utilized. This necessarily includes knowledge of rock workability and also of the pre-Quaternary bedrock, and these characteristics were then related to the current built-up area and future development according to the land-use plans in a case study are from the Petrvald Region （Czech Republic）. The geological environment of area has been severely influenced by anthropogenic effects of deep black coal mining. Results of this research showed that future development should be founded on spoil banks, dumps, and settling basins. According to the land-use plan, this zone occupies 44.9% of the area of interest, and its materials predominantly emanate from mining in the Ostrava-Karvina Coal District. For future foundation structures planned there, it is imperative to consult detailed engineering-geological study. However, attention to and reliance on this necessity is not reflected in the existing land-use plan.
文摘The room’s plan shape,the area of the window,and the impact of the materials are significant parameters in determining the thermal needs of buildings.In traditional houses of the hot and dry climate of Iran,the plan shape of the room,the ratio of the window area to the floor area,and the comparison between traditional and prevalent materials have been less studied.This study investigated the thermal performance of seven different models of the plan shape,five different ratios of window area to plan area,and three material structures in a selected room of Yazd City using EnergyPlus software.Seven models have different plan shapes but the same floor area,whose thermal balance process calculations have been performed by the CTF method.The results show that the best thermal comfort conditions for the residents are at the window area to floor area ratio of 12%for the brick buildings and 15%for the buildings with thermal insulation and proposed materials.The lowest cooling and heating needs are obtained in a room with an east-west extension and a length-to-width ratio of about 1.38,which indicates the proper plan shape of the selected room.This research can be considered as a climatic strategy to improve the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Yazd.
文摘The purpose of our study was to clarify variables associated with suicide ideation and plans in a Japanese population. We conducted a random-sampling survey on mental health and suicide using a self-administered questionnaire for Hamamatsu City residents aged 15-79 yrs between May and June, 2008. This included questions about gender, age, outpatient treatment, alcohol problems, depression, living ar-rangements, marital status, annual family income, industry types as well as suicide ideation and plans. The correlation between these variables and suicide ideation or plans was then analyzed with multiple logistic regression analysis by gender. A total of 1051 responded to this questionnaire (response rate, 53.9%). Variables statistically associated with suicide ideation in males included alcohol problems, depression, lower annual family income, and ac-commodations/eating/drinking services, while in females, the variables were younger age, outpatient treatment, depression, living alone, being single, being separated, lower annual family income, accommodations/eating/drinking services and unemployment. On the other hand, variables statistically associated with suicide plans in males were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, and lower annual family income, while in females they were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, being separated, lower annual family income, manufacturing, and accommodations/eating/drinking services. Ex-cept for industry types, variables associated with suicide ideation or plans were consistent with previous studies. The reason why workers engaging in manufacturing, or accommoda-tions/eating/drinking services were more likely to have suicide ideation or plans may be attributed to the structures and/or stresses unique to those industries.
基金The author extends his appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for supporting this research work.
文摘Functional behavior assessment(FBA)and behavioral intervention plans(BIPs)can be effective for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD);however,teachers may face difficulties when implementing FBA procedures and,in turn,BIPs because of lack of time,insufficient training,and multiplicity of beliefs.Thus,it is important to identify the difficulties teachers may face and the obstacles that can deter them from implementing intervention plans.This is a worthwhile endeavor because nearly all classrooms will have students with behavioral problems who will benefit from specifically designed educational interventions.This study aimed to identify the difficulties in applying FBA and the barriers in implementing BIPs among Saudi teachers in specialized ADHD programs.Using the descriptive-analytical approach,a questionnaire targeting difficulties and barriers was admi-nistered to 209 public school teachers from specialized ADHD programs in Saudi Arabia.The results revealed that the difficulty level of applying FBA in ADHD programs was high.The level of barriers in implementing BIPs was moderate.Finally,the study indicated that barriers in implementing BIPs could be predicted by the difficulties of applying FBA.The results suggest the importance offinding better practices,restructuring the provision of ADHD programs,training teachers,improving assessment tool availability,and ensuring cooperation between school administrators and teachers.
基金Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China(No.2016A030307019)the Higher Education Colleges and Universities Innovation Strong School Project of Guangdong Province,China(No.2016KTSCX153)
文摘The Bayesian sampling plans for exponential distributions are studied based on type-Ⅱ hybrid censored samples. The optimal Bayesian sampling plan is derived under a general loss function which includes the sampling cost, time-consuming cost, salvage value,and decision loss. It is employed to determine the Bayes risk and the corresponding optimal sampling plan. An explicit expression of the Bayes risk is derived. Furthermore,for the conjugate prior distribution,the closed-form formula of the Bayes decision rule can be obtained under either the linear or quadratic decision loss.
文摘Water safety plan as conceived by WHO can lead to prevention of pollution in each component of water supply chain which leads to ensuring safe drinking water. Risk assessment is one of the key components during the development of water safety plan, achieved by identifying hazardous events and estimating their risk towards implementing control measures. This study reports the risk assessment from catchment to consumers in Maiduguri water treatment plant in Northeast Nigeria. Tools such as the field visits, key informant interviews, questionnaire and water quality monitoring were used to identify the hazards and estimate their risk using semi-quantitative matrix. With the existing control measures, the study showed a total of 33 hazardous events;5 in catchment, 16 in treatment plant, 6 in distribution system and 6 at consumers’ points. The risk score indicated 6 are of medium risk and 9 of high risk. Catchment activities, upgrade of treatment facilities and lack of routine maintenance in the treatment plant, pipeline damages in distribution lines, and consumers’ lack of hygiene knowledge and awareness were found to be the major contributory factors which affect the desired quality. Therefore participation and commitment by all relevant stakeholders are fundamental requisite to manage the identified health risks.
文摘The Port of Durban is one of the largest ports in the Southern Hemisphere and is the main port for the Southern African region. However, the port is reaching its capacity limit and it is apparent that for South Africa＇s economic growth this port needs to expand. In order to expand the port needs to not only expand its waterside infrastructure but it would need to provide new logistics corridors though the city of Durban. The city of Durban has completely surrounded the port making expansion options difficult and intertwined with the planning of the city. This paper examines the various options and timelines for port expansion as well as the issues from the city perspective. Areas of possible conflict in this process revolve around traffic capacity and related road/rail infrastructure, environmental issues, social and economic impacts.
