Differential equations are extensively used for modeling dynamics of physical processes in many scientific fields such as engineering, physics, and biomedical sciences. Parameter estimation of differential equation models is a challenging problem because of high computational cost and high-dimensional parameter space. In this article, we propose a novel class of methods for estimating parameter...

To succeed commercially, shipyards must be able to accurately estimate costs. Cost estimating is necessary for the bid process, for change orders, and for trade-off studies. Numerous cost estimating approaches exist. They are based on extrapolations from previously-built ships, detailed bottoms-up parametrics, and integrated physics-based analyses. Cost estimating can be frustrating to shipyard...

We aimed to use the willingness to pay (WTP) method to calculate the cost of traffic injuries in Iran in 2013. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 846 randomly selected road users. WTP data was collected for four scenarios for vehicle occupants, pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and motorcyclists. Final analysis was carried out using Weibull and maximum likelihood method. Me...

We address the problem of applying resource-bounded functional programming languages in practice on object-oriented virtual machines which include calls to native methods coded in low-level languages without garbage collection support. We consider the application of a functional language with a high-level type system which incorporates measures of heap space consumption in types on such an exec...

Various research works indicate that the maintenance stage consumes most of the resources needed for a software project. Thus, this stage must be especially considered in productivity studies. Maintainability is the quality factor including all those software characteristics designed to make the product easier to maintain towards the end of achieving greater productivity in the maintenance stag...

BACKGROUND Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the groups most at risk for HIV infection in Japan. However, size estimates of MSM populations have not been conducted with sufficient frequency and rigor because of the difficulty, high cost and stigma associated with reaching such populations. This study examined an innovative and simple method for estimating the size of the MSM population...

Recreation is one of the ecosystem’s secondary values of a well conserved natural ecosystem, associated with the direct use individuals make of these natural assets. In this paper we define and estimate the total economic recreation value to visitors of a particular natural area, a national park. An on-site individual observation Travel Cost Model, Count Data distributions, and a version of hyp...

Many clinical practice guidelines fail to account for the preferences of the individual patient. Approaches that seek to include the preferences of the individual patient in the decision-making process (e.g., interactive videodisks for patient education), however, may incur substantial incremental costs. Developers of clinical practice guidelines must therefore determine whether it is appropria...

BACKGROUND Diabetes costs represent a large burden to both patients and the health care system. However, few studies that examine the economic consequences of diabetes have distinguished between the two major forms, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, despite differences in underlying pathologies. Combining the two diseases implies that there is no difference between the costs of type 1 and type 2 diab...