Formulation and properties of a divergence used to compare probability measures without absolute continuity

This paper develops a new divergence that generalizes relative entropy and can be used to compare probability measures without a requirement of absolute continuity. We establish properties of the divergence, and in particular derive and exploit a representation as an infimum convolution of optimal transport cost and relative entropy. Also included are examples of computation and approximation of the divergence, and the demonstration of properties that are useful when one quantifies model uncertainty.

Road Freight Transport Cost

The goal of this research was to measure the cost of road freight transport in the 20 European countries with the highest recorded quantity of tonne-kilometres and assess their competitiveness. Cost competitiveness was measured by four main cost categories: fuels, drivers' wages, tyres and tolls, and the results show large cost variances between countries. The countries with the lowest road freight transport cost were Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania, and those with the highest costs were Norway, Austria, and the UK. The largest differences in costs were met in tolls and other road taxes, followed by drivers' wages, fuels, and finally, tyres.

Achieving Blue Economy goals by implementing digital technologies in the maritime transport sector

This paper analyses how digital technologies implementation in the maritime transport sector companies can help in achieving the Blue Economy goals. Previous research offering a comprehensive overview of digital technologies in the maritime transport sector within the context of the Blue Economy is scarce. To fill this research gap, the economic effects of maritime transport are investigated, and the positive impacts of digital technologies on maritime transport are analyzed, all in the context of the Blue Economy. The authors have concluded that by implementing digital technologies in the maritime transport sector, the Blue Economy goals related to maritime transport (for example transport cost reduction, decreased harmful emissions generated during the voyage and at the berth) can better be achieved, etc.

Optimal Transport Scenario With Rotary Air Transport for Access to Endovascular Therapy Considering Patient Outcomes and Cost: A Modeling Study

Background and Purpose: For an ischemic stroke patient whose onset occurs outside of the catchment area of a hospital that is capable of Endovascular Treatment (EVT) and whose stroke is suspected to be caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO), a transportation dilemma exists. Bypassing the nearest stroke hospital will delay Alteplase but expedite EVT. Not bypassing allows for confirmation of an LVO diagnosis before transfer to an EVT-enabled facility, but ultimately delays EVT. Air transport can reduce a patient's overall time to treatment however, it is costly. We expanded on an existing model to predict where Drip-and-Ship vs. Mothership provides better outcomes by including rotary air transport, and we also included prediction of where either the transport method was most cost effective.Methods: An existing model predicts the outcome of patients who screen positive for an LVO in the field based on how they were transported, Drip-and-Ship (alteplase-only facility first, then EVT-enabled facility) or Mothership (direct to EVT-enabled facility). In our model, the addition of rotary wing transportation was conditionally applied to inter-facility transfer scenarios where it provided a time advantage. Both patient outcome and transport cost functions were developed for Mothership and Drip-and-Ship strategies including transfers via either ground or air depending on the conditional probabilities. Experiments to model real world scenarios are presented by varying the driving time between the alteplase-only and EVT-enabled facility, time to treatment efficiencies at the alteplase-only facility, and EVT eligibility for LVO patients. Patient outcome and transport costs were evaluated for Mothership and Drip-and-Ship strategies.Results: The results are presented in temporospatial diagrams that are color coded to indicate which strategy optimizes the objectives. In most regions, there was overall agreement between the optimal solution when considering patient outcomes or transport costs. Small regions exist where outcome and cost are divergent; however, the difference between the divergence in Mothership and Drip-and-Ship in these regions is marginal.Conclusions: The optimal transport method can be optimized for both patient outcomes and transport costs.

International Demand for Medical Tourism in Malaysia: Evidence from Panel Data

The present paper attempts to investigate the significance influence of some selected economic variables on the international demand for medical tourism in Malaysia by utilizing Pooled Mean Group (PMG)/Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model based on panel data set of ASEAN-4 countries spanning from 2001 to 2017. Findings of the study indicate that the price of medical tourism, travelling cost, real per capita income, exchange rate and health expenditure are statistically significant in influencing international demand for medical tourism in Malaysia for both long run and short run. Moreover, price of tourism in the substitute destination (Indonesia) and inflation are also statistically significant in determining international demand for medical tourism in Malaysia in the short run. The findings are in line with the economic theory. Therefore, to attract more international medical tourists, Malaysia needs to maintain it price competitiveness relative to other substitute destinations in the region, reduce the transport cost as well as improve the quality of medical services provided. Besides, private operators and market participants should influence necessary changes in medical tourism framework to ensure that services are effective and efficient. Ultimately, market players in medical tourism sector should practice Sustainable Responsible Investment (SRI) with aim to stabilize between medical tourism development and social responsibility.

Market Survey of Fresh and Marine Water Fishes and Socioeconomic Conditions of Fish Retailers in Three Markets of Chattagram City

The study was carried out to survey the fresh and marine water fishes sold out in three markets of Chattagram city and socioeconomic condition of the fish retailers. Overall 29 fresh water and 24 marine water fish species were found to be sold in the three markets. Prices of fishes were higher in Kazirdewri Bazar followed by Riazuddin Bazar and Bohaddarhat Bazar. Data of fish retailers were collected through questionnaires in terms of age, income source, living standards, family size, financial facilities, literacy and education. Sole income came from fish business for 97% of the fish retailers, whilst 3% of the retailers did other business as well. Among 45 retailers interviewed, 40% were below 45 years, 53% were between 45-55 years and remaining 7% were above 55 years age. For coping with the business, 15% of the retailers were self-sufficient, 53% took loan from bank, whilst 32% took loan from local money lenders. Of the fish retailers, 34% was illiterate and 66% was literate, where 36% received up to primary level, 16% secondary level, 10% S.S.C and 4% H.S.C levels of education. In comparison with their education status their children were more educated (93%). Although their income was low, they tried to make their children educated, which is a good sign for our education sector. Transport cost, unhygienic market place, lack of sanitary facilities, poor ice-supply, exploitation by the middlemen, lack of proper management, lack of capital and the political disturbances were the common constraints of fish marketing. Necessary measures were recommended to overcome these problems. Bangladesh J. Zool. 49 (2): 277-288, 2021

Optimal Transport-Based Distributionally Robust Optimization: Structural Properties and Iterative Schemes

We consider optimal transport-based distributionally robust optimization (DRO) problems with locally strongly convex transport cost functions and affine decision rules. Under conventional convexity assumptions on the underlying loss function, we obtain structural results about the value function, the optimal policy, and the worst-case optimal transport adversarial model. These results expose a rich structure embedded in the DRO problem (e.g., strong convexity even if the non-DRO problem is not strongly convex, a suitable scaling of the Lagrangian for the DRO constraint, etc., which are crucial for the design of efficient algorithms). As a consequence of these results, one can develop efficient optimization procedures that have the same sample and iteration complexity as a natural non-DRO benchmark algorithm, such as stochastic gradient descent.

Evaluation of the Socio-Economic Factors Impeding Production of Cashew in Ogaji, North Central Nigeria

The paper examined socio-economic factors affecting cashew production in Ogaji, Ankpa LGA, Northcentral Nigeria. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and interview administered to 143 registered farmers. Data obtained were analyzed descriptively using inferential statistics of mean score ranking, frequency tables and graph. Results showed that majority of the farmers were within the age of 26-35 and have been into farming since birth. Also there was moderate literacy level among the farmers as 50% of total respondents have formal education. Findings reveals that the socio-economic factor affecting production were; Access to and use of credit facilities, farmers-herders conflict, income level, transportation problem, lack of access to capital and poor extension services agent relations were the major socio-economic factors affecting cashew production in the study area. The study amongst others recommends that; the government should encourage private sectors such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to invest in credits facilities like small-scale bank to offer credit to farmers at affordable rate, proactive measures should be taken to quell the farmer-herders crisis as it poses threat to farming activities. Government should strive to develop roads; this will increase small holder’s economic opportunities by reducing transport cost and allowing farmers to get access to marketing information and small holder’s cashew profitability. Extension service agent should try to understand the rural dwellers and their educational level to help them have access to extension services in other to improve their knowledge of farm management.

Feasibility of a randomized clinical trial evaluating a community intervention for household tuberculosis child contact management in Cameroon and Uganda

BackgroundOne of the main barriers of the management of household tuberculosis child contacts is the necessity for parents to bring healthy children to the facility. We assessed the feasibility of a community intervention for tuberculosis (TB) household child contact management and the conditions for its evaluation in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Cameroon and Uganda.MethodsWe assessed three dimensions of feasibility using a mixed method approach: (1) recruitment capability using retrospective aggregated data from facility registers; (2) acceptability of the intervention using focus group discussions with TB patients and in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and community leaders; and (3) adaptation, integration and resources of the intervention in existing TB services using a survey and discussions with stakeholders.ResultsReaching the sample size is feasible in all clusters in 15 months with the condition of regrouping 2 facilities in the same cluster in Uganda due to decentralization of TB services. Community health worker (CHW) selection and training and simplified tools for contact screening, tolerability and adherence of preventive therapy were key elements for the implementation of the community intervention Healthcare providers and patients found the intervention of child contact investigations and TB preventive treatment management in the household acceptable in both countries due to its benefits (competing priorities, transport cost) as compared to facility-based management. TB stigma was present, but not a barrier for the community intervention. Visit schedule and team conduct were identified as key facilitators for the interventionConclusionsThis study shows that evaluating a community intervention for TB child contact management in a cluster randomized trials is feasible in Cameroon and Uganda.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03832023. Registered on February 6th 2019