Mobility on Demand in the United States

The growth of shared mobility services and enabling technologies, such as smartphone apps, is contributing to the commodification and aggregation of transportation services. This chapter reviews terms and definitions related to Mobility on Demand (MOD) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS), the mobility marketplace, stakeholders, and enablers. This chapter also reviews the U.S. Department of Transportation’s MOD Sandbox Program, including common opportunities and challenges, partnerships, and case studies for employing on-demand mobility pilots and programs. The chapter concludes with a discussion of vehicle automation and on-demand mobility including pilot projects and the potential transformative impacts of shared automated vehicles on parking, land use, and the built environment

Ecodriving and Carbon Footprinting: Understanding How Public Education Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Use

Ecodriving is a collection of changes to driving behavior and vehicle maintenance designed to impact fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in existing vehicles. Because of its promise to improve fuel economy within the existing fleet, ecodriving has gained increased attention in North America. One strategy to improve ecodriving is through public education with information on how to ecodrive. This report provides a review and study of ecodriving from several angles. The report offers a literature review of previous work and programs in ecodriving across the world. In addition, researchers completed interviews with experts in the field of public relations and public message campaigns to ascertain best practices for public campaigns. Further, the study also completed a set of focus groups evaluating consumer response to a series of websites that displayed ecodriving information. Finally, researchers conducted a set of surveys, including a controlled stated-response study conducted with approximately 100 University of California, Berkeley faculty, staff, and students, assessing the effectiveness of static ecodriving web-based information as well as an intercept clipboard survey in the San Francisco Bay Area. The stated-response study consisted of a comparison of the experimental and control groups. It found that exposure to ecodriving information influenced people’s driving behavior and some maintenance practices. The experimental group’s distributional shift was statistically significant, particularly for key practices including: lower highway cruising speed, driving behavior adjustment, and proper tire inflation. Within the experimental group (N = 51), fewer respondents significantly changed their maintenance practices (16%) than the majority that altered some driving practices (71%). This suggests intentionally altering driving behavior is easier than planning better maintenance practices. While it was evident that not everyone modifies their behavior as a result of reviewing the ecodriving website, even small shifts in behavior due to inexpensive information dissemination could be deemed cost effective in reducing fuel consumption and emissions

Terceiras Sesióis d'Estudio del Occidente (A Caridá (El Franco), 19 y 20 de octubre de 2012)

The study explored the attitude and behavior of general people towards suicide with particular focus on role of counseling for suicide prevention in Bangladesh. Seventeen national newspapers were reviewed to look at the extent of suicide in Bangladesh and opinion of 50 people from different age, sex and profession was collected through Focus Group Discussions and an individual questionnaire. The analysis of reported news revealed that women committed suicide 5.68 times higher than men did; married people committed suicide more than unmarried people did. The data also revealed that the number of suicide is highest at age range of 16 to 20 years and family conflict is the number one cause of suicide in Bangladesh. Hanging from the ceiling and poison are the most popular method for committing suicide. Focused group discussions revealed a common belief of suicide as a sin and considered not as a right decision. All the participants undoubtedly believed that counseling is helpful in preventing suicidal behavior. The result of personal questionnaire showed that 20% of the participants thought about ending their life in their lifetime

Patterns of Orthopaedic Complications of Haemophilia at Khartoum Haemophilia Clinic

Background: Haemophilia is a common hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factor VIII (Type A) factor IX (Type B) with A:B 5:1. Severity of the disease depends on the level of the circulating factor. Bleeding tendency is the presenting feature and musculoskeletalinvolvement is a common presenting feature.Objectives: To study the demographic characteristics, clinical and radiological patterns of musculoskeletal disorders associated with haemophilia in patients presented to Khartoum Haemophilia Clinic (KHC).Patients and Methods: Demographic characteristics, patterns of clinical and radiological features of 78 patients with haemophilia A and B who presented to KHC, between March 2004 and June 2005 were analyzed.Results: There were 78 patients; all were males, their ages ranging between 1.5 and 50 years. 80% of them were either of preschool or school age groups. Haemophilia A: B was 4.5:1. Over 80% had articular involvement and the knee joint was involved in more than 50% of cases.Radiological findings were less severe in patients with haemophilia B, and were more severe in patients older than 30 years of age.Conclusion: We conclude that most of patients present with sequelae of recurrent musculoskeletal bleeds. Thus we observed that most of cases presented late with already destroyed joints. We recommend here to give treatment as prophylactic rather than on demand as it is now practiced asinevitable destruction of joints with repeated bleeds will be the presenting feature

A community-engaged infection prevention and control approach to Ebola.

The real missing link in Ebola control efforts to date may lie in the failure to apply core principles of health promotion: the early, active and sustained engagement of affected communities, their trusted leaders, networks and lay knowledge, to help inform what local control teams do, and how they may better do it, in partnership with communities. The predominant focus on viral transmission has inadvertently stigmatized and created fear-driven responses among affected individuals, families and communities. While rigorous adherence to standard infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions and safety standards for Ebola is critical, we may be more successful if we validate and combine local community knowledge and experiences with that of IPC medical teams. In an environment of trust, community partners can help us learn of modest adjustments that would not compromise safety but could improve community understanding of, and responses to, disease control protocol, so that it better reflects their 'community protocol' (local customs, beliefs, knowledge and practices) and concerns. Drawing on the experience of local experts in several African nations and of community-engaged health promotion leaders in the USA, Canada and WHO, we present an eight step model, from entering communities with cultural humility, though reciprocal learning and trust, multi-method communication, development of the joint protocol, to assessing progress and outcomes and building for sustainability. Using examples of changes that are culturally relevant yet maintain safety, we illustrate how often minor adjustments can help prevent and treat the most serious emerging infectious disease since HIV/AIDS

Influence of Culture and Management Systems on PMS

Purpose: The aim of this study is to find and explore the relationships between organizational culture, management Systems and the implementation and Operationalisation aspects of Performance Measurement Systems (PMS). Design/methodology/approach: The relevant literature on organizational culture, Organizational behavior, Strategic management and management accounting, in the context of performance measurement systems, will be examined. A structured questionnaire will be used to survey the views of the top management teams of a suitable sample of organizations. The survey implementation process will follow four steps: pre-­‐notification, initial mailing, first follow up and, second follow up. Findings: As this is a developmental paper, it is not possible to provide definite findings at this point. However, it is anticipated to find out relationship between Culture, Management systems and PMS. Practical implications: The findings of this study will provide managers with better understanding of the relationship between organizational culture, management systems and PMS. This will in turn help them to provide a successful PMS. Originality/value: No research has been done to find out the relationship between organizational culture, management systems and two aspects of PMS, namely implementation and operationalisation aspects, using a large-­‐scale sample approach. The findings of this research therefore will provide useful insights and methods for future researchers in this area

Randomised controlled trial: comparing effects of metformin versus myoinositol versus metformin and myoinositol on ovarian functions and metabolic factors in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) characterized by anovulation and features of hyperandrogenism (clinical or biochemical) and insulin resistance. Metformin and myoinositol being insulin sensitizers improve clinical and biochemical parameters. This study was done to compare the effects of these drugs on clinical features and biochemical profile.Methods: A randomized, comparative, clinical study was conducted on 72 patients. The patients were randomized with the help of computer-generated random numbers and were allocated to either of the three treatment groups A, B and C. Patients in group A received metformin 500 mg TDS, group B received myoinositol 1000 mg BD, group C received combination of metformin 500 mg and myoinositol 550 mg BD for 24 weeks. At first visit patients detailed history and baseline investigations were recorded. Follow up was done 24 weeks after start of therapy to assess the improvement in clinical and biochemical profile.Results: There was significant improvement in menstrual irregularities, cutaneous manifestations, pregnancy rate, LH/FSH ratio, insulin sensitivity and HOMA-IR after 24 weeks of treatment in all three groups (p value <0.05), although there was greater improvement in cases treated with combination of metformin and myoinositol than metformin and myoinositol alone.Conclusions: The combination of metformin and myoinositol has resulted in more significant reduction in insulin resistance and improvement in metabolic and hormonal profile along with regularization of menstrual cycles and spontaneous conception than metformin and myoinositol alone

Frequent use of paracetamol and risk of allergic disease among women in an Ethiopian population

Introduction The hypothesis that paracetamol might increase the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases have gained support from a range of independent studies. However, in studies based in developed countries, the possibility that paracetamol and asthma are associated through aspirin avoidance is difficult to exclude. Objectives To explore this hypothesis among women in a developing country, where we have previously reported aspirin avoidance to be rare. Methods In 2005/6 a population based cohort of 1065 pregnant women was established in Butajira, Ethiopia and baseline demographic data collected. At 3 years post birth, an interview-based questionnaire administered to 945 (94%) of these women collected data on asthma, eczema, and hay fever in the past 12 month, frequency of paracetamol use and potential confounders. Allergen skin tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and cockroach were also performed. The independent effects of paracetamol use on allergic outcomes were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Findings The prevalence of asthma, eczema and hay fever was 1.7%, 0.9% and 3.8% respectively; of any one of these conditions 5.5%, and of allergen sensitization 7.8%. Paracetamol use in the past month was reported by 29%, and associations of borderline significance were seen for eczema (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 8.51 (1.68 to 43.19) for 1–3 tablets and 2.19 (0.36 to 13.38) for ≥4 tablets, compared to no tablets in the past month; overall p = 0.055) and for ‘any allergic condition’ (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.73 (1.22 to 6.11) for 1–3 tablets and 1.35 (0.67 to 2.70) for ≥4 tablets compared to 0 in the past month; overall p = 0.071). Conclusions This study provides further cross-sectional evidence that paracetamol use increases the risk of allergic disease