A Probabilistic Transmission Model to Assess Infection Risk from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Commercial Passenger Trains

The objective of this article is to characterize the risk of infection from airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli exposure in commercial passenger trains based on a risk‐based probabilistic transmission modeling. We investigated the tuberculosis (TB) infection risks among commercial passengers by inhaled aerosol M. tuberculosis bacilli and quantify the patterns of TB transmission in Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR). A deterministic Wells‐Riley mathematical model was used to account for the probability of infection risk from M. tuberculosis bacilli by linking the cough‐generated aerosol M. tuberculosis bacilli concentration and particle size distribution. We found that (i) the quantum generation rate of TB was estimated with a lognormal distribution of geometric mean (GM) of 54.29 and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 3.05 quantum/h at particle size ≤ 5 μm and (ii) the basic reproduction numbers (R₀) were estimated to be 0.69 (0.06–6.79), 2.82 (0.32–20.97), and 2.31 (0.25–17.69) for business, standard, and nonreserved cabins, respectively. The results indicate that commercial passengers taking standard and nonreserved cabins had higher transmission risk than those in business cabins based on conservatism. Our results also reveal that even a brief exposure, as in the bronchoscopy cases, can also result in a transmission when the quantum generation rate is high. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of TB transmission in commercial passenger trains by assessing the relationship between TB infectiousness, passenger mobility, and key model parameters such as seat occupancy, ventilation rate, and exposure duration.     

从手动工具形态分析产品的安全性设计

从手动工具的形态处理出发,研究产品外形和安全性的关系,对手动工具技术要点和安全性进行了阐释,同时基于人机工程学及其相关学科理论知识,分析手动工具的安全性设计。结合实际案例,指出在手动工具设计中,设计者既要在形态处理方面达到产品外形的美观,同时又要保证产品的安全性。     

Children with challenging behaviour: past and present in the United Kingdom

The aim of this paper is to give a brief overview of the historical and current understanding of and care for children with learning difficulties who displayed challenging behaviour in the United Kingdom. It is clear that challenging behaviour is not a new phenomenon but has existed throughout the history of learning difficulty.     

Socioeconomic Status,Psychosocial Factors and Health in Urban Guyana

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-reported indicators of physical and mental health in an urban Third World context. The data come from a probability sample of 654 adult residents of Georgetown, Guyana. There is a significant inverse association between formal education and morbidity for four of the six measures of health status. In this research the extent to which self-concept, health behaviors, stress and social ties are linked to health status and SES, and can explain SES differences in health status is explored. Psychosocial factors, especially the self-concept measures (self-esteem and mastery) play a moderate role in accounting for educational differences in health status.     

Single‐Period Two‐Product Assemble‐to‐Order Systems with a Common Component and Uncertain Demand Patterns

We consider a single‐period assemble‐to‐order system that produces two types of end products to satisfy two independent and stochastic customer orders. Each type of product is used to fulfill a particular customer order and these two products share a common component. Furthermore, one customer may confirm her order before the other one, and the manufacturer needs to make a commitment immediately upon the receipt of each customer order on how many products to be delivered. We propose a model for optimizing the inventory and production decisions under the above ATO environment. We also extend our model to the situation where the manufacturer can fulfill the unsatisfied low‐priority demand using the left‐over inventories after fulfilling the high‐priority demand, in case the low‐priority customer arrives first. Numerical experiments are conducted, which provide some interesting insights on the impact of uncertain demand pattern.     

环境法视野下的环境伦理

在环境问题频发的社会大背景下,以环境法的视角研究环境伦理以及环境伦理与环境法的关系,并将环境伦理运用到环境保护的法律实践中就显得尤为重要。在界定环境伦理基本内涵的基础上,对环境伦理与环境法之间相互影响、相互转化的重要关系进行分析,并以此对环境伦理本体进行反思与重构,以期为环境保护提供法律与伦理道德的双重支撑。     

Optimal Bootstrap Sample Size in Construction of Percentile Confidence Bounds

In traditional bootstrap applications the size of a bootstrap sample equals the parent sample size, n say. Recent studies have shown that using a bootstrap sample size different from n may sometimes provide a more satisfactory solution. In this paper we apply the latter approach to correct for coverage error in construction of bootstrap confidence bounds. We show that the coverage error of a bootstrap percentile method confidence bound, which is of order O ( n ^−2/2) typically, can be reduced to O ( n ⁻¹) by use of an optimal bootstrap sample size. A simulation study is conducted to illustrate our findings, which also suggest that the new method yields intervals of shorter length and greater stability compared to competitors of similar coverage accuracy.     

办公室工作与公共关系

公共关系作为一门现代管理科学，近年来取得了快速发展，已被广泛应用于企业、政府、学校等组织。办公室是组织的综合协调部门，是组织对外联络交往的窗口，办公室工作体现了组织的形象。公共关系是办公室的一项重要职能。文章通过对公共关系概念的定义和辨别，对办公室搞好公共关系的重要性和方法作了阐述     

Approximation Algorithms in Batch Processing

A polynomial approximation scheme for minimizing makespan in a batch processing system under dynamic job arrivals is presented. A lower bound of on the competitive ratio of any on-line algorithm is proved. This is matched by an on-line algorithm for the special case of unbounded machine capacity.