Modelling access to services, using cost path analysis and distance decay models, can be improved if travel time rather than just distance is taken into account. If just straight line distance is used then traffic congestion in urban areas and rough bendy rural roads are not considered in the analysis and the results are subsequently distorted. An accurate road network layer that shows travel s...

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the Farmer Field School (FFS) intervention among small-scale tomato farmers in Beijing. Using data collected by face-to face-interview from 358 households on 426 planting plots in 2009, we evaluate the yield effect and find evidence of positive impact. We then examine the determining factors of farmers’ FFS attendance using the zero-inflated Poisson m...

We introduce Flip Feng Shui (FFS), a new exploitation vector which allows an attacker to induce bit flips over arbitrary physical memory in a fully controlled way. FFS relies on hardware bugs to induce bit flips over memory and on the ability to surgically control the physical memory layout to corrupt attacker-targeted data anywhere in the software stack. We show FFS is possible today with very...

INTRODUCTION Studies of obesity require the estimation of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM); therefore it is important to validate methods that evaluate these measurements. OBJECTIVE We sought to compare two different bioelectrical impedance analysis systems (BIAs) to estimate FM and FFM using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as reference. METHODS We used a cross-sectional design....

The purpose of this study was to determine the flexural strength and flexural fatigue strength of a machinable composite (GN-I) and three hybrid composites (Artglass, Estenia, and Gradia). Specimens (2 x 2 x 25 mm) were polymerized in a laboratory photo-curing unit and then immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 24 h, 6 months, and 1 year. After each immersion period, flexural strengths (4-PFS) ...

OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this paper is to compare cervical cancer screening rates of family physicians in Ontario's two dominant reformed practice models, Family Health Group (FHG) and Family Health Organization (FHO), and traditional fee-for-service (FFS) model. Both reformed models formally enrol patients and offer extensive pay-for-performance incentives; however, they differ by r...

PURPOSE To determine the relationship between the American Medical Association's (AMA) functional vision score (FVS) and vision-specific quality of life in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients using the National Eye Institute's Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25). METHODS One hundred eight patients with RP participated in the study. We measured best-corrected visual acuity, conducted ...

OBJECTIVE To prospectively compare inpatient and outpatient utilization rates between prepaid (PPD) and fee-for-service (FFS) insurance coverage for patients with chronic disease. DATA SOURCE/STUDY SETTING Data from the Medical Outcomes Study, a longitudinal observational study of chronic disease patients conducted in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. STUDY DESIGN A four-year prospective st...

Professor Naoki Ikegami’s “Fee-for-service payment – an evil practice that must be stamped out” summarizes many of the failings of alternatives to fee-for-service (FFS) payment systems. His article also offers several suggestions for improving FFS systems. However, even powerful arguments against many of the alternatives to FFS, does not make a convincing argument for FFS systems. In addition, ...

Windstorms may have negative consequences on forest ecosystems, industries, and societies. Extreme events related to extra-tropical cyclonic systems remind us that better recognition understanding of the factors driving damage are needed for more efficient risk management planning. In present study, we statistically modelled caused by windstorm Klaus in south-west France. This event occurred 24...