842 research outputs found
(L-R) Lynne Cameron (BCAC Chair), Merylann Ochieng, Brian Keith (Dean of Library Services)
No full textMerylann Ochieng receives an honorable mention in the graduate category.https://thekeep.eiu.edu/lib_awards_2024_photos/1006/thumbnail.jp
Building an agricultural research for development system in Africa.
No full textThis paper discusses how impact-oriented agricultural research for development systems in Africa can be better organized and managed. Specifically, the paper puts forth the argument that achieving the development targets set by African leaders and the international community, for example, through the Millennium Development Goals, will be extremely difficult without a satisfactory re-orientation of the organization and management of African research for development systems. Such a re-orientation involves carefully linking the agricultural research agenda with national development priorities; improving coordination, interaction, interlinkages, partnerships, and networks among system agents—that is, agricultural research institutes, extension systems, higher education institutions, farmer organizations, civil society, and the private sector—and finding innovative financing and resourcing mechanisms to support the numerous components of the system
Improving End-of-Life Care in the Primary Care Setting: Implementation of the Serious Illness Care Program
No full textabstract: Early and effective end-of-life care are associated with increased quality of life for those patients who may be nearing the end-of-life (EOL). However, evidence suggests that most non-palliative healthcare providers lack the skills and confidence to initiate EOL conversations. Consequently, about 70% of Americans would prefer to die at home with their families, yet only 25% die according to their wishes (State of California Department of Justice, n.d). In alignment with the Peaceful End of Life Theory, the purpose of this evidence-based project is to increase primary healthcare providers’ level of skills and confidence in end-of-life discussions. This project utilized a pre and post study design. A total of 11 participants were recruited using convenience sampling from three primary care clinics in Phoenix, Arizona. Due to the small sample size and assumption of a non-normal distribution of the data, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. There were clinical and statistical significant improvements in the EOL knowledge of the participants after the implementation of the two-and-a-half-hour Serious Illness Care Program (Z = -2.950, p = .003) with a large effect size (r = -0.62). The project evaluation also demonstrated that most participants deemed that the intervention was effective. A brief and systematic education session, such as the SICP can be utilized to improve non-palliative healthcare providers’ skills in having more and effective end-of-life conversations
Road network maintenance and repair considering day-to-day traffic dynamics and transient congestion
No full textRoad maintenance and repair (M&R) are essential for keeping the performance of traffic infrastructure at a satisfactory level, and extending their lifetime to the fullest extent possible. For road networks, effective M&R plans should not be constructed in a myopic or ad-hoc fashion regardless of the subsequent benefits and costs associated with those projects considered. A hallmark of road M&R studies is the use of user equilibrium (UE) models to predict network traffic for a given set of road conditions with or without M&R. However, UE approaches ignore the traffic disequilibrium states and transient congestion as a result of M&R derived disruptions to network traffic on a day-to-day (DTD) time scale, which could produce additional substantial travel costs. As shown in the numerical studies on a M&R plan of the Sioux Falls network, the additional maintenance derived travel cost is about 4 billion, which is far exceed the actual M&R construction cost of 0.2 billion. Therefore, it is necessary to recognise the substantial social costs induced by maintenance-derived disruptions in the form of transient congestion when planning M&R. This realistic and pressing issue is not properly addressed by the road M&R planning problems with traffic equilibrium constraints.
This thesis proposes a dual-time-scale road network M&R model aiming to simultaneously capture the long-term effects of M&R activities under traffic equilibria, and the maintenance-derived transient congestion using day-to-day (DTD) traffic evolutionary dynamics. The notion of ‘day’ is arbitrarily defined (e.g. weeks or months). The proposed M&R model consists of three sub-models: (1) a within-day dynamic network loading (DNL) model; (2) a day-to-day dynamic traffic assignment (DTD DTA) model; and (3) a day-to-day road quality model. The within-day traffic dynamics is captured by the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards (LWR) fluid dynamic network loading model. The day-to-day phase of the traffic dynamics specify travellers’ route and departure time choices in a stochastic manner based on a sequential mixed multinomial or nested Logit model. Travel information sharing behaviour is further integrated into this macroscopic doubly dynamic (both within-day and day-to-day dynamic) traffic assignment (DDTA) model to account for the impact of incomplete information on travel experiences. A deterministic day-to-day road quality model based on an exponential form of traffic flow is employed to govern the road deterioration process, where a quarter-car index (QI) is applied. All these dynamics are incorporated in a holistic dual-time-scale M&R model, which captures realistic phenomena associated with short-term and long-term effects of M&R, including physical queuing and spillback, road capacity reduction, temporal-spatial shift of congestion due to on-going M&R activities, and the tendency to converge to an equilibrium after M&R actions.
Following the dual-time-scale road network M&R model, a bi-level road M&R optimisation model is proposed, where the aforementioned three sub-models are incorporated into the lower-level problem, while the upper-level is to minimise M&R expenditure and network travel costs while maintaining a satisfactory level of road quality. The M&R planning horizon is long yet finite (e.g. years or decades). A ‘quality-usage’ feedback mechanism is investigated in the proposed bi-level M&R model, namely, (1) the DTD road quality evolution as a result of DTD traffic loads and the M&R effectiveness; and (2) the evolution of DTD traffic in response to both DTD road deterioration and the improved road quality after M&R activities.
The effectiveness of developed M&R optimisation model is demonstrated through case studies on the Sioux Falls network. A metaheuristic Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach is employed to solve the M&R problems given its highly nonlinear, nonconvex and non-differentiable nature. Explicit travellers’ choice behaviour dynamics and complex traffic phenomena such as network paradoxes arising from M&R activities are illustrated. Through a comparison with the results under the dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) method, the proposed DTD method achieves significant reduction in network travel cost of $ 25 million, approximately 20% of the total cost. This points to the benefit of using the DTD dynamics for capturing network’s responses to M&R in a more realistic way. The M&R model proposed in this thesis could provide valuable managerial insights for road M&R planning agencies.Open Acces
Chapter 5. The role of diverse values of nature in visioning and transforming towards just and sustainable futures
No full textThese documents correspond to Chapter 5 of the IPBES methodological assessment of the diverse values and valuation of nature and its supplementary material.Suggested citation: Martin A., O'Farrell P., Kumar R., Eser U., Faith D.P., Gomez-Baggethun E., Harmackova Z., Horcea-Milcu A.I., Merçon J., Quaas M., Rode J., Rozzi R., Sitas N., Yoshida Y., Ochieng T.N., Koessler A.K., Lutti N., Mannetti L., Arroyo-Robles G. (2022). Chapter 5: The role of diverse values of nature in visioning and transforming towards just and sustainable futures. In: Methodological assessment of the diverse values and valuation of nature of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. M. Christie, P. Balvanera, U. Pascual, B. Baptiste, D. González-Jiménez (eds). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.652232
Geographic information system‐based evaluation of spatial accessibility to maternal health facilities in Siaya County, Kenya
No full textMaternal mortality is a major problem in middle‐income and low‐income countries, and the availability and accessibility of healthcare facilities offering safe delivery is important in averting maternal deaths. Siaya County, in Kenya, has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country—far more than the national average. This study aimed to evaluate geographic access to health facilities offering delivery services in Siaya County. A mixed‐methods approach incorporating geographic information system analysis and individual data from semi‐structured interviews was used to derive travel time maps to facilities using different travel scenarios: AccessMod5 and ArcGIS were used for these tasks. The derived maps were then linked to georeferenced household survey data in a multilevel logistic regression model in R to predict the probability of expectant women delivering in a health facility. Based on the derived travel times, 26 per cent (13,140) and 67 per cent (32,074) of the estimated 46,332 pregnant women could reach any facility within one and two hours, respectively, while walking with the percentage falling to seven per cent (3,415) and 20 per cent (8,845) when considering referral facilities. Motorised transport significantly increased coverage. The findings revealed that the predicted probability of a pregnant woman delivering in a health facility ranged between 0.14 and 0.86. Significant differences existed in access levels with transportation‐based interventions significantly increasing coverage. The derived maps can help health policy planners identify underserved areas and monitor future reductions in inequalities. This work has theoretical implications for conceptualising healthcare accessibility besides advancing the literature on mixed methodologies
Mathematical Model on the Effect of Disinfection and Treatment on the Transmission of Melioidosis
No full textAbstract: Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkoldera pseudomallei bacteria. In this study, we have developed a Mathematical model on the effects of disinfection and treatment on the transmission of Melioidosis. From analyzing how disinfection and treatment affect different compartments, we have demonstrated that varying the rate of these two control measures will vary the rate of transmission of melioidosis disease. The R0 was developed and the model stability and the existence of equilibrium points determined. From the quantitative analysis of the study, it was found that the local stability existed when R0 <1. The D.F.E is also globally stable when R0 <1. The numerical analysis determined that disinfecting the environment and treating the infected reduces the rate of infection of the disease.
Keywords: Melioidosis, Modelling, disinfection, treatment, stability, transmission, contamination, stability, equilibrium.
Title: Mathematical Model on the Effect of Disinfection and Treatment on the Transmission of Melioidosis
Author: Joseph Ochieng Obuya, Brian Nyanaro Nyasagare, Okumu Argan Wekesa
International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics
ISSN 2394-9651
Vol. 10, Issue 1, January 2023 - April 2023
Page No: 10-19
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 07-February-2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7615727
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Mathematical%20Model%20on%20the%20Effect-07022023-3.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics, ISSN 2394-9651, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Improving Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes through Formal Education
No full textabstract: Background and Purpose: Over 30 million people in the United States (U.S.) have diabetes mellitus, which comprises about 9% of the population, and about 90% of individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Adults with type 2 diabetes at a local internal medicine clinic were consistently having high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, demonstrated by data collected from the electronic health record (EHR), and there was no ordering process for referring patients to diabetes management education and support (DSMES) services. The purpose of this project was to improve glycemic control, demonstrated by lower HbA1C levels, and reach a diabetes education attendance rate of 62.5% at an internal medicine clinic in Chandler, Arizona.
Methods: An electronic health record (EHR) template was created and brief staff training was completed to connect patients with diabetes in the community to a local formal diabetes education program. HbA1C levels were measured before and three months after adults with education program. HbA1C levels were measured before and three months after adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) received physicians’ orders for a DSMES program, and rates of attendance to the program were calculated. Data was collected through the EHR and through feedback from the DSMES program. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis.
Outcomes: The participants’ results did not demonstrate significant differences in pre-referral and post-referral HbA1C results after they were ordered DSMES services (p = .506). The proportion of education attendance (30%) was lower than the project goal of 62.5%, but increased from the clinic baseline.
Conclusions: EHR template implementation for referral to DSMES may increase rates of formal diabetes education and improve glycemic control. Larger sample sizes, longer project periods, alternative methods of communication, and increased follow-up of participants may be required to produce significant results
Voucher privatization with investment funds : an institutional analysis
No full textCommon wisdom among post-socialist reformers has beento use voucher investment funds to provide the corporate governance needed to restructure newly privatized enterprises after mass privatization efforts. The idea has been that mass privatization would spread the ownership too wide and make corporate governance difficult. The author examines the likely institutional behavior of voucher funds and the possible effects of their development on a transition economy. Since most policy advice has been in favor of voucher privatization with investment funds, the author can be seen as playing the devil's advocate, but his argument is institutional, not statistical. Policymaking requires insight and foresight into how institutions will tend to function. He concludes that voucher funds will introduce a bias in the economy away from the real industrial sector toward an ersatz"financial sector"that will have little if any positive financial role but will be well-protected by friendly regulators. One long-term consequence of voucher privatization with investment funds, according to this view, is a de facto"industrial policy"of real sector decapitalization in favor of short-term rent-seeking by fund managers through board sinecures and lucrative side deals with portfolio companies and through financial market manipulation and paper entrepreneurship in the"financial sector."Without strong corporate governance from the funds and without stable ownership of their own, many enterprise managers will exploit the post-socialist version of the"separation of ownership and control"to grab what they can in the form of salaries, bonuses, perquisites, and side deals. The most likely results of the strategy of voucher privatization with investment funds may be a two-sided grab fest by fund managers and enterprise managers -- together with the accompanying drift, stagnation, and decapitalization of the privatized industrial sector.Economic Adjustment and Lending,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Adjustment and Lending,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research
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