Showing papers on "Cost effectiveness published in 1973"
TL;DR: It is argued that a user's subjective evaluation of the personal utility of a retrieval system's output to him, if it could be properly quantified, would be a near-ideal measure of retrieval effectiveness.
Abstract: It is argued that a user's subjective evaluation of the personal utility of a retrieval system's output to him, if it could be properly quantified, would be a near-ideal measure of retrieval effectiveness. A hypothetical methodology is presented for measuring this utility by means of an elicitation procedure. Because the hypothetical methodology is impractical, compromise methods are outlined and their underlying simplifying assumptions are discussed. The more plausible the simplifying assumptions on which a performance measure is based, the better the measure. This, along with evidence gleaned from ‘validation experiments’ of a certain kind, is suggsted as a criterion for selecting or deriving the best measure of effectiveness to use under given test conditions.
253 citations
TL;DR: A computer code for the transportation problem that is even more efficient than the primal-dual method is developed by a benefit-cost investigation of the possible strategies for finding an initial solution, choosing the pivot element, finding the stepping-stone tour, etc.
Abstract: A computer code for the transportation problem that is even more efficient than the primal-dual method is developed. The code uses the well-known (primal) MODI method and is developed by a benefit-cost investigation of the possible strategies for finding an initial solution, choosing the pivot element, finding the stepping-stone tour, etc. A modified Row Minimum Start Rule, the Row Most Negative Rule for choice of pivot, and a modified form of the Predecessor Index Method for locating stepping-stone tours were found to perform best among the strategies examined. Efficient methods are devised for the relabeling that is involved in moving from one solution to another. The 1971 version of this transportation code solves both 100 × 100 assignment and transportation problems in about 1.9 seconds on the Univac 1108 Computer, which is approximately the same time as that required by the Hungarian method for 100 × 100 assignment problems.An investigation of the effect on mean solution time of the number of significant digits used for the parameters of the problem indicates that the cost parameters have a more significant effect than the rim parameters and that the solution time “saturates” as the number of significant digits is increased. The Minimum Cost Effect, i.e. the fact that total solution time asymptotically tends to the time for finding the initial solution as the problem size is increased (keeping the number of significant digits for the cost entries constant), is illustrated and explained. Detailed breakup of the solution times for both transportation and assignment problems of different sizes is provided. The paper concludes with a study of rectangular shaped problems.
139 citations
TL;DR: An experiment was conducted to establish the incremental transfer effectiveness of a representative ground-based general aviation trainer to serve as a basis for the evaluation of its incremental cost effectiveness.
Abstract: Link trainers and similar synthetic flight-training devices have been used with varying effectiveness since before World War II. Currently available ground-based flight trainers differ widely in their degree and fidelity of simulation and in their associated costs. To provide a rational basis for trainer procurement, a method of assessing their cost effectiveness is needed.An experiment was conducted to establish the incremental transfer effectiveness of a representative ground-based general aviation trainer to serve as a basis for the evaluation of its incremental cost effectiveness. Four groups of student pilots were given, respectively, 0, 3, 7, and 11 hours of instruction in the Link GAT-1 concurrently with flight instruction in the Piper Cherokee airplane. Average flight times for the four groups to reach the private pilot criterion reflected the postulated negatively decelerated nature of the incremental transfer effectiveness function.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the transfer of training research has been conducted on actual training systems to determine: (1) the effectiveness of present training; (2) whether the training can be improved; and (3) how the training might be improved.
Abstract: Transfer of training research has been conducted on actual training systems to determine: (1) the effectiveness of present training; (2) whether the training can be improved; and, (3) how the training might be improved. The present paper includes some major methodological and analytical considerations in performing this research—the experimental and descriptive models to use in investigating and expressing transfer, cost effectiveness evaluations, and aspects of the training system to be included in the study. A number of conclusions are derived from the transfer research and some popular research themes are identified. Desirable features for an applied research program for military training purposes are presented. Problems arising from the use of the transfer of training model are traced to operational constraints placed on experimental manipulation and control, and to the inadequacy of performance measurement systems. Solutions to these problems are discussed. One solution provides alternate methods to ...
36 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1973
TL;DR: A review of more than 200 bus priority treatments in the United States and elsewhere is presented in this article, based on a review of ongoing and completed research, which reflects the experience of bus drivers, high levels of vehicle maintenance, and relatively light bus volumes needed to accommodate heavy passenger flows.
Abstract: This report, based on a review of ongoing and completed research, reflects the experience of more than 200 bus priority treatments in the United States and elsewhere. The types of treatments, the number of people they serve, and the design details they utilize vary widely. Treatments can be grouped into three broad categories: those relating to freeways, arterials, and terminals. Most bus priority treatments consist of reserved bus lanes on downtown city streets. Bus-ways and other freeway-related treatments are ground or proposed mainly in large U.S. cities with rail transit systems, large downtown employment, and/or heavy peak-hour transit use. These specialized treatments, however, were of greatest concern to public officials, for they involved larger expenditures and produced the most significant benefits. Design standards should consider the driving skills of professional bus drivers, the high levels of vehicle maintenance, and the relatively light bus volumes needed to accommodate heavy passenger flows. It is significant to note that most existing express bus priority treatments represent either contra-flow operations on existing radial freeways or special treatments to bypass queues. Most major proposals, however, call for exclusive bus roadways. Yet, measured in capital costs per person-minute saved, busways are far cost-effective than contra-flow lanes and other operational treatmens. The importance of ramp metering, downtown distribution facilities, fringe parking effective enforcement of arterial buslanes, and the importance of allowing for future conversion to other systems are also discussed.
34 citations
TL;DR: Denning as mentioned in this paper proposes a structure within which an executive can assess the effort being devoted to appraising his business environment, and offers guidance in appraising the direction and scope of effort to obtain and select information.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, critical issues in the development and use of synthetic flight trainers are discussed as key design considerations and problems in measurement of original learning, transfer, and retention are presented.
Abstract: Critical issues in the development and use of synthetic flight trainers are reviewed. Degree of simulation and fidelity of simulation are discussed as key design considerations. Problems in measurement of original learning, transfer, and retention are presented. Both transfer effectiveness and cost effectiveness are described as critical factors in the evaluation of flight trainers. Recent training innovations, such as automatically adaptive training, computer-assisted instruction, cross-adaptive measurement of residual attention, computer graphics, incremental transfer effectiveness measurement, and response surface methodology, are discussed as potential techniques for improving synthetic flight training. It is concluded that broader application of simulation is necessary to meet the new demands of pilot training, certification, and currency assurance in air transportation.
25 citations
TL;DR: The findings indicated that employment of expanded functions auxiliaries is practical from all three points of view.
Abstract: A four-year project was carried out to determine the feasibility of dental practice utilizing auxiliaries with expanded functions in relation to quality, amounts and types of service, and economic considerations The findings indicated that employment of expanded functions auxiliaries is practical from all three points of view The individual dentist must decide the number of auxiliary personnel he will employ, depending on potential patient load, his speed, and the types of services he provides
25 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large group of consistent parametric fighter designs has been evaluated in a sequence of detection, intercept and close-in combat and their impact on these three phases of air-to-air combat is discussed.
Abstract: aircraft loss rates during a military conflict. This fleet de- terioration has been calculated by application of suitable Lancaster equations2 and a computerized war game. Points 2 and 3 are, in this paper, completely covered only for the battlefield air superiority role, in particular the combat air patrol mission. Section 2 of this paper de- scribes some weight-cost performance relationships de- rived from the systematic variation of important design parameters, such as wing loading, wing shape and thrust to weight ratio. Computations were based on state of the art rubberized engines. Design parameter values range from 0.5 to 1.7 thrust to weight ratio, 40-90 lb/ft2 wing loading and 1.2-2.4 max Mach number. A large group of consistent parametric fighter designs has been evaluated in a sequence of detection, intercept and close-in combat. Some of the relevant system param- eter combinations and their impact on these three phases of air-to-air combat are discussed in Sec. 3. Fighter designs with parameter combinations which achieve maximum individual combat results at a giveri level of system cost are discussed in Sec. 4. The effective- ness of these fighter designs has been analyzed in a fleet environment under constant budget cost. It is shown that an optimum combination of thrust/weight and wing loading can be found for a defined scenario. The concluding sec- tion tries to answer some of the questions which are vital in the design for air combat: 1) Can missile maneuver- ability compensate for lack of air vehicle maneuverabili- ty? 2) Are requirements for offensive and defensive com-
24 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that the general rule for optimal resource allocation requires simply that the absolute value of the marginal factor cost of repair services divided by the marginal product cost be equal to the arrival rate of end products to repair.
Abstract: : The paper demonstrates how to determine the minimal cost combination of end products and investment in repair service capability in order to maintain a given level of operating end products. The model is then applied to the problem of determining the optimal size of the Navy's F-4 aircraft pipeline. (Author)
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify four aspects of decentralization: (1) pluralization of facilities (e.g., service points or channels); (2) dispersal in geographic space; (3) specialization by function or kind of service; and (4) adaptation to the specific requirements of each case through repeated feedback passes or negotiating queries.
Abstract: Under what conditions is decentralization of facilities rational for a client-centered system of service or administration, and when is great centralization more cost-effective? Four aspects of decentralization are identified: (1) pluralization of facilities (e.g., service points or channels); (2) dispersal in geographic space; (3) specialization by function or kind of service; and (4) adaptation to the specific requirements of each case through repeated feedback passes or negotiating queries. Different functions or kinds of service are treated as being located in a function space; the distances among them correspond to the number and cost of adjustment steps which a server or a service facility needs to shift from one function to another. For calculating the optimal number of facilities, n, the most important variables, calculated as averages, are the service load; the geographic distance; the cost of time spent in transporting a request and the response to it, and the transport speed; the functional dis...
01 Jul 1973
TL;DR: A review of the properties of electroluminescent phosphors of the zinc sulfide family is presented in this article, where it is concluded that such technology offers potential advantages to display systems and should be considered viable candidates to satisfy future display requirements, especially in cases where cost effectiveness and ruggedness are overriding restrictions.
Abstract: A review of the properties of electroluminescent phosphors of the zinc sulfide family is presented. In the past, these phosphors found few device applications because of material limitations that resulted in inadequate brightness and poor life as well as drive problems. The properties of two particular configurations are discussed in detail: ac-excited evaporated films of Zns:Mn and dc-excited powder layers of ZnS:Mn, Cu. These configurations exhibit such properties as high efficiency, low-duty-cycle operation, high contrast, high discrimination ratio, and acceptable operating lifetimes. In addition, the basic technology can result in inexpensive and rugged devices, which may be fabricated in unlimited symbol configurations and in a wide range of sizes. It is concluded that such technology offers potential advantages to display systems and should be considered viable candidates to satisfy future display requirements, especially in cases where cost effectiveness and ruggedness are overriding restrictions.
01 Sep 1973
TL;DR: In this paper, two models customized to the management needs of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) are detailed.
Abstract: : Designs of two models customized to the management needs of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force (ROTC) Reserve Officers Training Corps are detailed. The model, upon implementation, would permit administrators to obtain answers to various 'what if....' management questions. The design of these models was based on a situation analysis of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force ROTC and a state-of-the-art analysis of existing educational cost models. No solution was attempted for the difficult problem of obtaining good measures of the effectiveness of educational systems: these are resource requirements prediction models. This effort has produced customer participation and acceptance; implementation is for the future. (Modified author abstract)
TL;DR: It appears that human factors, such as the differences among users of a system, probably should be a major factor in the design, operation and evaluation of retrieval systems, and it appears that consideration of these factors will improve system cost-performance.
01 Jan 1973
01 May 1973
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted a study of the effect of deterministic gradient stiffness on the performance of a single-lead, 4-wheel load on a highway.
Abstract: THE RESULTS OF A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF DIAPHRAGMS ON LOAD DISTRIBUTION OF CONTINUOUS, STRAIGHT, RIGHT SLAB AND GIRDER HIGHWAY BRIDGES ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. THE PARAMETERS FOR THE STUDY ARE: THE RELATIVE GIRDER STIFFNESS, H; THE RATIO OF THE GIRDER SPACING TO SPAN, B/A; THE BEAM SPACING, B; AND THE POSITION AND THE STIFFNESS OF THE DIAPHRAGMS. LOAD DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF BRIDGES SUBJECTED TO A SINGLE LOAD, 4-WHEEL LOADINGS ALIGNED IN THE TRANSVERSE DIRECTION AND TWO TRUCK LOADINGS WERE STUDIED. IN GENERAL, THE CRITERION FOR COMPARISON IS THE MAXIMUM MOMENTS, BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE, IN THE BEAMS DUE TO 4-WHEEL LOADINGS. THE VARIATIONS OF THE MAXIMUM MOMENTS WITH DIAPHRAGM STIFFNESS WERE STUDIED, AND THE CONCLUSIONS OF THIS INVESTIGATION WERE BASED ON THE ANALYSES OF A THREE-SPAN CONTINUOUS BRIDGE AND VARIOUS TWO-SPAN CONTINUOUS BRIDGES ALTHOUGH DIAPHRAGMS MAY IMPROVE THE LOAD DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME BRIDGES WHICH HAVE A LARGE B/A RATIO, THE USEFULNESS OF DIAPHRAGMS IS MINIMAL AND THEY ARE HARMFUL IN MOST CASES. ON THE GROUND OF COST EFFECTIVENESS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DIAPHRAGMS NOT BE INSTALLED IN HIGHWAY BRIDGES. THE COMPARISON OF THE DESIGN MOMENT COEFFICIENTS AS OBTAINED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND THE AASHO RECOMMENDED DESIGN VALUES SHOWS THAT THE AASHO DESIGN COEFFICIENTS ARE UNCONSERVATIVE IN MANY CASES AND UNDULY CONSERVATIVE IN OTHERS.
01 Mar 1973
TL;DR: In this paper, a Taylor series approach is used for structural analysis of large complex structures undergoing design modifications, such as an aircraft fuselage midsection, and the results show that satisfactory analyses of modified structures can be obtained with the proposed technique, even for large changes in member sizes, for only a small fraction of the computational cost of a full reanalysis.
Abstract: Recent developments in computer-aided structural design indicate a need for computerized structural analysis techniques which are efficient for the repetitive analysis of large complex structures undergoing design modifications. This paper describes such a technique based on a Taylor series approach. Results are presented for an idealized aircraft fuselage midsection to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the technique. The results show that satisfactory analyses of modified structures may be obtained with the proposed technique, even for large changes in member sizes, for only a small fraction of the computational cost of a full reanalysis.
TL;DR: Barbados has one of the lowest fertility levels in the world, with a crude birth rate of only 20·5 per 1,000 in 1970, which is the lowest in any country of similar economic development anywhere in the World.
Abstract: Of the Caribbean islands, Barbados has the lowest fertility level. The crude birth rate in 1970 was only 20·5 per 1,000, which is one of the lowest found in any country of similar economic development anywhere in the world. In 1960 the crude birth rate was much higher, at about 33·6 and for almost 40 years before that had fluctuated around a value of 33. Thus, a decline of about 40% has been achieved within the comparatively short period of a decade. The reasons for this rapid decline are of particular interest to all those concerned with population growth and economic development in the less developed areas. In Barbados, the importance of population control and the role of family planning was recognised early by the government and other civic agencies, and the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA), an autonomous national family planning agency, was established. Since its modest beginning in 1955 the BFPA has grown to be a major social institution, comprising 14 clinics situated in various ...
01 Jan 1973
TL;DR: The authors compared the effectiveness of a training procedure involving groups of elementary school students to an individualized training procedure, both of which utilized the Raven Learning Potential (LP) measure to assess improved performance.
Abstract: This study compared the effectiveness of a training procedure involving groups of elementary school students to an individualized training procedure, both of which utilized the Raven Learning Potential (LP) measure to assess improved performance The development of a group training procedure using the Raven Progressive Matrices aimed at an increase in cost effectiveness The study demonstrated the appropriateness of a group trainingiprocedure with the Raven LP measure where results of group training with intellectually normal children resembled those achieved through individual training The significant interaction between training group and pretest score suggests that the individual training procedure may be more effective with lower n children since they-are more likely than normal children to have low pretest scores (Author/LAA) S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FDLICATiON NELF ARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUC AT ION 11, '1,1 , I ,11 1,1,0 I I) I At 11 RI (I I IRON, 1 6,0N OuGANI1q0N VII +A ON 01,NiONS SI AllD NO, NI ( SsAFtil RERRE N, CI, I 0$ FO,Jf A, (')P, oat POI y
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In an experiment conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, changes in numbers of motorcycle patrols showed no clear net benefit, but accidents were reduced when warnings only were issued to offenders.
Abstract: In an experiment conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, changes in numbers of motorcycle patrols showed no clear net benefit, but accidents were reduced when warnings only were issued to offenders.
TL;DR: This paper deals with cost analysis in section II and III, which discusses cost allocation studies that use the tools of classical cost accounting, and activity analysis and optimization analysis.
Abstract: There is no unique answer to the question of what an ongoing program costs in medical schools. The estimates of program costs generated by classical methods of cost accounting are unsatisfactory because such accounting cannot deal with the joint production or joint cost problem. Activity analysis models aim at calculating the impact of alternative combinations of school activities. As now practiced, activity analysis yields the incremental cost of an activity given all other school activities, that is, pure program costs. Such analysis is a potentially useful management tool. Input/output analysis is a special form of activity analysis in which some activities provide both final outputs and input into other activities. Following the introduction in Section I, this paper deals with cost analysis in section II and III. Section II discusses cost allocation studies that use the tools of classical cost accounting. Section III analyzes the use of linear regression as a tool for cost allocation, and Section IV examines activity analysis and optimization analysis. (Author/PG) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY ACTIVITY ANALYSIS AND COST ANALYSIS IN MEDICAL SCHOOLS