Relating supply performance to aircraft availability

This paper describes how the effectiveness of the supply of vital repairable items for an aircraft or weapon system can be measured in terms of the expected number of aircraft grounded because of supply shortages. The properties of this measure are compared with the three alternative methods of assessing supply performance, none of which are directly aircraft or weapon system related. The present applicability of this measure to various situations at RAF Squadron and station level are discussed, together with possible future areas of application.     

盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆的临床疗效观察

目的观察盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆的疗效。方法102例血管性痴呆患者随机分为2组，治疗组51例，在常规治疗的基础上给予盐酸多奈哌齐5mg，每日1次；对照组54例，给予常规治疗，两组患者疗程均为12周，观察治疗前后认知功能（MMSE、HDS）及日常生活自理能力（ADL）的改善程度。结果治疗12周时，治疗组MMSE、HDS及ADL评分明显改善，较对照组有显著性差异（P〈0．05），自身对照结果显示，盐酸多奈哌齐治疗12周，治疗后MMSE、HDS及ADL评分较治疗前改善（P〈0．01），在治疗4周时，MMSE、HDS及ADL评分已有提高。结论盐酸多奈哌齐治疗血管性痴呆疗效确切，对患者认知功能及日常生活能力均为改善，无明显副作用，值得临床推广。     

Central bank independence, economic freedom, and inflation rates

Measures of central bank independence combine many attributes that may or may not affect inflation. Central bank attributes are chosen as a result of political calculations over the distribution of resources between competing interest groups. Simultaneity bias results from regressions of central bank independence or of economic and political freedom on inflation or growth. Our estimates demonstrate the connections between economic and political freedom and central bank attributes that lead to inflation. Countries showing high degrees of economic freedom adopt structures that lead to lower inflation; those that show high degrees of political freedom do not adopt inflation-reducing institutional structures.     

So you want to earn a Ph.D. in economics: how much do you think you'll make?

Using data from individuals who earned a Ph.D. in economics in 1996-97, this study identifies factors associated with securing full-time permanent positions and determinants of starting salaries for new Ph.D. economists. Where individuals attend graduate school and factors including the field of specialization and work as a teaching/research assistant impact whether graduates obtain full-time permanent jobs. Choice of graduate program and amount of time spent in the program influence starting salary, as does obtaining a position outside academia or in a research-oriented academic institution, both of which entail higher salaries relative to employment at a B.A.-level academic institution.     

Operational research techniques in Hong Kong

This paper presents the results of a survey of the use and organisational place of operational research techniques in different sectors of Hong Kong industry. The factors assisting the rapid growth of industry in the city-state are presented and the effect these have on the use of OR techniques is discussed. For a newly industralised country such as Hong Kong the conclusion of the authors is that OR techniques are best introduced and practised in a multi-discipline management services department rather than in a designated OR department.