A four-stage DEA-based efficiency evaluation of public hospitals in China after the implementation of new medical reforms.

This study applied the non-parametric four-stage data envelopment analysis method (Four-Stage DEA) to measure the relative efficiencies of Chinese public hospitals from 2010 to 2016, and to determine how efficiencies were affected by eight factors. A sample of public hospitals (n = 84) was selected from Chongqing, China, including general hospitals and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals graded level 2 or above. The Four-Stage-DEA method was chosen since it enables the control of the impact of environment factors on efficiency evaluation results. Data on the number of staff, government financial subsidies, the number of beds and fixed assets were used as input whereas the number of out-patients and emergency department patients and visits, the number of discharged patients, medical and health service income and hospital bed utilization rate were chosen as study outputs. As relevant environmental variables, we selected GDP per capita, permanent population, population density, number of hospitals and number of available sickbeds in local medical institutions. The relative efficiencies (i.e. technical, pure technical, scale) of sample hospitals were also calculated to analyze the change between the first stage and fourth stage every year. The study found that Four-Stage-DEA can effectively filter the impact of environmental factors on evaluation results, which sets it apart from other models commonly used in existing studies

Attachment of marine sponge cells of Hymeniacidon perleve on microcarriers

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Design and Experiment of Side-Shift Stubble Avoidance System for No-Till Wheat Seeder Based on Deviation-Perception Fusion Technology

To improve the stubble avoidance rate of no-till wheat seeders under the environment of corn stubble, the side-shift stubble avoidance system was developed in the present study based on deviation-perception fusion technology. Firstly, the amount of implement deviation compensation was accurately obtained by the information sensing system. Then, a fuzzy PID algorithm was proposed to optimize the performance of the control system. Finally, the simulation model of the control system was developed by Matlab/Simulink. The simulation results showed that the regulation time required for the system response curve to reach the steady state was 1.0 s, and the maximum overshoot was 8.2%. To verify the performance of the side-shift stubble avoidance system, an orthogonal test was conducted. The optimal combination of parameters was obtained, including the operation speed of 1.3 m/s, the hydraulic cylinder speed of 25 mm/s, and the straw mulch amount of 1.2 kg/m2. The field verification test was performed under the optimal parameters, showing the stubble avoidance rate was 90.6%, and the mean value of the sowing variation coefficient was 27.12%, which fully satisfied the requirements of stubble avoidance and sowing operation

Modelling and Control Methods in Path Tracking Control for Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles: A Review of State of the Art and Challenges

This paper provides a review of path-tracking strategies used in autonomous agricultural vehicles, mainly from two aspects: vehicle model construction and the development and improvement of path-tracking algorithms. Vehicle models are grouped into numerous types based on the structural characteristics and working conditions, including wheeled tractors, tracked tractors, rice transplanters, high clearance sprays, agricultural robots, agricultural tractor–trailers, etc. The application and improvement of path-tracking control methods are summarized based on the different working scenes and types of agricultural machinery. This study explores each of these methods in terms of accuracy, stability, robustness, and disadvantages/advantages. The main challenges in the field of agricultural vehicle path tracking control are defined, and future research directions are offered based on critical reviews. This review aims to provide a reference for determining which controllers to use in path-tracking control development for an autonomous agricultural vehicle

Selective S-arylation of Sulfenamides with Arynes: Facile Access to Sul-filimines

Sulfilimines, the aza-analogues of sulfoxides, are of increasing interests in medicinal and agrochemical research programs. However, the development of efficient routes for their synthesis remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we report a transition metal-free, selective S-arylation reaction between sulfenamides and arynes, enabling the facile preparation of structurally diverse sulfilimines under mild and redox-neutral condition in good yields. The application value of our method was further demonstrated by scale-up synthesis, downstream derivatization, and robustness screen

Selective S‑Arylation of Sulfenamides with Arynes: Access to Sulfilimines

Sulfilimines, the aza analogues of sulfoxides, are of increasing interest in medicinal and agrochemical research programs. However, the development of efficient routes for their synthesis has remained relatively unexplored. In this study, we report a transition metal-free, selective S-arylation reaction between sulfenamides and arynes, enabling the facile preparation of structurally diverse sulfilimines under mild and redox-neutral conditions in good yields. The application value of our method was further demonstrated by scale-up synthesis, downstream derivatization, and robustness screen

Biopotentials of marine sponges from China oceans; past and future

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