In this research, we study an optimal overhaul–replacement policy of a multi-degraded repairable system sold with a free replacement warranty. In the proposed replacement policy, a maintenance action and failure are dependent on a system degradation level and the system age, and hence the replacement model will provide more effective maintenance decisions. Failure of the system is modeled using...

BACKGROUND This study aims to explore the use of traditional medicines to cope with climate sensitive diseases in areas vulnerable to climate change. We assessed the extent to which traditional or alternative medicines were used for the treatment of the climate sensitive diseases by villagers as part of their health-coping strategies. METHODS The study deployed a mixed-method research design ...

Oil price shocks are the main source of macroeconomic fluctuations in oil exporting countries. It is believed that appropriate monetary policy can help to stabilize these unwanted variations toward optimal allocations. A stochastic dynamic general equilibrium model featuring the properties of both cost push and wealth effect transmission channels is developed for the Iranian economy. In thi...

The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) remains prevalent in most developing countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa and India. Health care provision in these three countries continues to depend on both orthodox and traditional systems. This paper seeks to explore how the political, social and economic backgrounds have previously influenced and continue to influence CAM healt...

BACKGROUND The pursuit of unproven stem cell-based interventions ("stem cell tourism") is an emerging issue that raises various concerns. Physicians play different roles in this market, many of which engage their legal, ethical and professional obligations. In Canada, physicians are members of a self-regulated profession and their professional regulatory bodies are responsible for regulating th...

during assisted reproductive technology (art) procedures, the transfer of a single embryo dramatically reduces the rate of multiple pregnancy. proper information, therefore, should be delivered to patients before embryo transfer. in many countries, regulations limit, according to age of the patient, the number of embryos to be transferred. selective fetal reduction should not be considered as a...

■ Abstract The field of foreign policy analysis needs a common set of concepts and analytical frameworks to facilitate comparison of alternative policy options. Not only is general agreement lacking, there is not even a common understanding of what is meant by success. In order to build policy-relevant knowledge concerning success and failure in foreign policy, the following questions must be a...

We document a potential flaw in the current SCTP retransmission policy. The current scheme intends to improve the chance of success by exploiting the redundant paths between multihomed endpoints, but we have found that the current SCTP retransmission policy often degrades performance. We comparatively evaluate an alternative retransmission policy and show that the current SCTP retransmission po...

P policy by nature is prospective (i.e., it antici­ pates future events); research, however, is primarily retrospective (i.e., it analyzes past events). Public policy to reduce alcohol­involved problems is best formu­ lated when decisionmakers are aware of the potential cost and future effects of each prevention strategy alternative. Projecting policy outcomes is a difficult task, one that must...