Search

In response to biodiversity declines worldwide, over 190 nations committed to protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030 (hereafter, 30×30). Systematic conservation planning and return on investment analysis can be helpful tools for determining where protection efforts could deliver the most efficient and effective reserve design, and supporting decision‐making when trade‐offs among objectives are required. Here, we propose a framework for efficient “30×30” implementation and apply it to the state of California (USA). Because conservation of a region's full suite of biodiversity is the primary objective of the global initiative, we prioritized representation in our analysis. We used Zonation to identify networks that close the gap in representation of major habitat types in California's protected area network and that also conserve the places important for biodiversity or climate change mitigation. We identified networks that are efficient relative to metrics likely to be important in implementation including land acquisition cost, number of transactions, and conservation benefit per hectare, and we illustrate not only trade‐offs associated with these metrics but also differences in the co‐benefits achieved. Five of the eight major habitat types in California are not currently protected at a 30% level statewide, and if representation was achieved solely through private land acquisition, targets could be met for as little as $5.84 billion, with as few as 364 transactions, or with 2.18 million additional conserved hectares. Implementation of 30×30 will likely require more flexibility than a single network design. A “no regrets” action would be to protect properties that were prioritized across all networks and additional implementation should include properties with characteristics of any of the individual networks. Our analytical framework and implementation guidance can be applied to other geographies and jurisdictions to increase the likelihood of both meeting 30×30 targets and delivering the conservation benefits they aim to secure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we look at the impact of the scientific production of Brazilian research institutions. Data were collected from SciVal and InCites for governmental research institutions (state and federal), and then we focussed on the two largest: Embrapa (Agriculture) and Fiocruz (Health). Institutions in the area of health, environment and physics tended to show higher impact than other areas, those in physics showed low first, last and corresponding authorships (<20%). Health institutions had a high profile in Policy and Patents, especially abroad, while agriculture had a more local impact. Citations in policy documents increased impact by 220%. Brazilian institutions in Defence, Agriculture, Energy & Nuclear, and Economic areas generally perform below world means. While some institutions may show a higher impact on specific indicators, the present study raises the need for an in-depth analysis of these institutions and their return on investments. Information contained here can help these institutions in strategic planning to improve impact results, including the uptake of science by the Brazilian government. While Fiocruz seems to meet this demand, Embrapa still needs to reaffirm its space within the system. Discussion on the return on investment (monetary and other resources) made in institutions these institutions require future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of the CEO's supervisory role as an independent director on firm performance, utilizing measures such as Return on Equity (ROE) and Tobin's Q. The supervisory effect is assessed through the remuneration of directors and supervisors. Empirical findings indicate a significant supervisory role when the CEO also serves as an independent director. Whether viewed from the perspective of shareholders' equity or company growth, the CEO's involvement as an independent director positively influences firm performance. Furthermore, the concurrent roles of CEO and independent director contribute to enhanced firm performance, irrespective of their relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As construction projects have become larger and more complex, collaboration between project participants and the integration of work processes have become essential elements in delivering a successful project. Collaboration and integration strategies serve as vehicles to enhance these aspects and are known to significantly improve project outcomes. However, limited organizational resources may make it challenging to employ all these strategies on a single project. A project team needs proper guidance in selecting the most appropriate strategies to maximize its return on investment. Previous research has primarily focused on measuring and estimating the effectiveness and efficiency of these strategies rather than on providing a systematic approach for selecting them before a project begins. Given that these strategies often involve significant behavioral changes and financial investments, the implementation of a systematic decision-making framework is imperative. In this study, we developed a decision-making framework that enables project participants to systematically identify the most suitable collaboration and integration strategies based on the specific risks associated with a construction project. A multicriteria decision-making technique based on the elimination and choice translating reality III (ELECTRE III) algorithm was applied in this research, and industry-wide questionnaire survey responses provided input to the model. In this study, we used three hypothetical scenarios to demonstrate the decision-making process and validated the framework with two case study projects. The proposed risk-based decision-making framework aligned with actual practices and turned out to be reliable and effective. The findings of this study are expected to aid project stakeholders and participants in selecting optimal combinations of collaboration and integration strategies that can provide maximum value to projects. The proposed framework will enhance project participants' decision-making capabilities by providing a systematic approach that takes multiple project risks into account simultaneously and maximizes decision flexibility. Practical Applications: Collaboration among project participants and the integration of work processes are essential for improving project outcomes in the construction industry. A range of strategies is available for promoting collaboration and integration, enhancing project value and performance. The selection of the most suitable strategies is crucial, considering limited organizational resources that must be allocated wisely in order to maintain competitiveness. In this study, we identified 22 collaboration and integration strategies and proposed a risk-based decision-making framework for the selection of the optimal strategies. Project participants can systematically prioritize these strategies based on a project's risk profile, which is established in the early stages of a project. This framework offers flexibility in decision-making and allows for hierarchical prioritization. It serves as a valuable tool for project participants who may lack experience with or knowledge of collaboration and integration strategies, facilitating well-informed decisions that take project-specific risks into account. Furthermore, the framework provides insights into bundling strategies, which can reduce redundancy and minimize organizational investment. These benefits contribute to a more streamlined decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic is one of the most significant vegetable crops; however, western Ethiopian agricultural land soils are limited by acidic soil, and garlic yield and profit margins continue to be low. The objective of the current experiment was to determine whether the economic viability of garlic production in Gimbi, Western Ethiopia, could be supported by the simultaneous application of biochar, lime, and inorganic fertilizer. The experiment comprised 14 treatments laid out in a RCBD with 3 replicates. The use of combined coffee husk biochar (CHB), soil test‐based value lime (STV), and inorganic fertilizer (NPSB) rates at comb4 and comb11, respectively, resulted in the maximum net benefit costs of 955,461.25 ETB ha−1 in farm 1 and 1,086,776.22 ETB ha−1 in farm 2, whereas costs were incurred with total variable costs of 21,317.75 ETB ha−1 and 16,038.78 ETB ha−1, respectively. The treatments with the highest marginal rates of return in farms 1 and 2 were those that included CHB, STV, and NPSB at comb4 (marginal rate of return = 266,932.80%) and comb12 (marginal rate of return = 29,558.12%), respectively. The difference in economic benefit may have originated from the soil buffer capacity response to ameliorant rates, as the soils of farms 1 and 2 were strongly acidic and very strongly acidic soils. This variation influences plant nutrient uptake, biomass yield, and yield components by enhancing the fertility characteristics of the soil. Therefore, the combined CHB, STV, and NPSB rates at comb4 per hectare in strongly acidic soils and comb12 per hectare in very strongly acidic soils could result in the highest economic return rate for the production of garlic and improve soil fertility. Since only two locations were studied, multilocation research is needed to give a firm recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsWork-related mental health problems impose significant economic and personal burdens. eHealth interventions may offer low-cost, practical solutions, but guidance on their cost-effectiveness in workplace mental health is limited.The objective of this study was to systematically review economic evaluations of workplace eHealth interventions for mental health, offering insights into methodologies and cost-effectiveness outcomes.Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, PsycInfo and EconLit databases in May 2022, selecting peer-reviewed papers that performed economic evaluations on workplace eHealth interventions for adult mental health. Quality was assessed using the Drummond checklist.From 3213 references, eight met the inclusion criteria. These studies varied in economic perspective, types of economic analysis type, primary outcome measures, intervention focus (e.g. stress, alcohol, insomnia & return-to-work) and direct non-medical costs. Five eHealth interventions were found to be cost-effective and/or have a positive return on investment, with seven studies rated as high quality according to the Drummond checklist.The study outcomes unveiled the potential cost-effectiveness of eHealth interventions targeting mental health issues, particularly these focusing on workplace stress. However, generalization is challenging due to variations in the methodologies across studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing solar energy for the conversion of CO2 into value‐added chemicals and fuels represents a promising strategy for sustainable development. Photo‐to‐thermal (PTT) conversion, an often‐underestimated factor, offers a remarkable approach to enhance the photocatalytic transformation of CO2, by reducing the activation energy of catalytic reactions and accelerating reaction kinetics. In order to achieve a higher energy return on investment (EROI), in this study, a sulfur‐vulcanized, multi‐layer Ti3C2 MXene is unveiled, capable of efficient sunlight‐driven CO2 photoreduction, by capitalizing on PTT conversion across the full visible‐to‐near‐infrared (NIR) spectrum. The vulcanization strategy is pivotal here, as it not only introduces an abundance of reactive sites but also extends the NIR response (peaking at 1095 nm) of MXene. The resulting rapid PTT and synergistic photo‐thermal‐catalytic CO2 reduction constitute a significant advance in this area, where CH4 (12.03 mmol g−1 h−1) and C2H4 (3.55 mmol g−1 h−1) yields are achieved with a C2+ selectivity of 29.76% under concentrated natural sunlight. This work sets a new benchmark for EROI with an average solar‐to‐carbon‐fuel (STF) conversion efficiency greater than 0.045%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the performance of digital banks in Indonesia during 2020-2023 as a real form of digitalization, focusing on the effect of Cash Ratio, Debt to Equity Ratio, and Return on Equity on Economic Value Added (EVA) in digital banks. The research method used is quantitative method with descriptive and verification approaches. The data source used is secondary data with purposive sampling and the companies selected from the criteria are 7 digital bank companies for 4 periods, so that the sample used in this study is 28 samples. The data used in this study are secondary data in the form of annual reports going public on the bank company website. The analysis technique used in this research is regression with panel data using the Eviews program. The results of this study indicate that the significance value of the cash ratio t test T count -0.910149 < T table 2.05553, and a sig value of 0.3718> 0.05 means that the Cash Ratio has no effect on Economic Value Added in 7 digital bank companies. The significance value of the Debt to Equity Ratio T test shows the value of T count -2.272184> T table 2.05553, and the sig value of 0.0323 <0.05. The significance value of the Return on Equity T test shows the value of T count -0.608342 < T table 2.05553, and the sig value of 0.35487> from 0.05 means that Return on Equity has no effect on Economic Value Added in 7 digital bank companies in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the efficacy of an enzymatic preparation primarily with α-galactosidase activity for improving the quality of white sugar from poor-quality sugar beets. Focused on overcoming raffinose accumulation challenges in sugar beets, especially those harvested prematurely or stored for extended periods, an innovative exploration of enzymatic application in an industrial setting for the first time was conducted. By integrating theoretical calculations and experimental data, the findings reveal that α-galactosidase preparation notably diminishes raffinose content in beet juice, thus enhancing the sucrose yield and overall sugar quality. A reliable method to process lower-quality beets, promising enhanced efficiency in sugar production, was presented. The study also highlights the economic benefits of incorporating enzyme preparation into the production process, demonstrating a notable return on investment and underscoring the potential of enzymatic treatments to address industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilient systems can absorb and recover from disturbances and adapt to changed conditions to maintain system functionality. Uncertainty about the meaning of resilience and the attributes it requires has limited the application of resilience thinking in biosecurity. However, considering increasing pressures from trade, travel and climate change, enhancing the resilience of biosecurity systems is likely to be critical to reduce the impacts of pests and diseases on economies, societies and environments.Here we provide a pathway for resilience thinking into risk management. Based on a literature review we discuss its benefits, develop an operational definition of resilience for biosecurity systems and identify the fundamental attributes that support resilience.We show that resilient biosecurity systems can anticipate disturbances, cope with low‐probability high‐impact events and adapt to new and changing circumstances. The status of biosecurity system resilience can be measured using evaluative rubrics, which give decision‐makers an overall performance rating and insight into system weaknesses. General measures, objective functions and simulation approaches are potential avenues for quantifying biosecurity system resilience in practice.Policy implications: Adopting resilience thinking into biosecurity risk management has the potential to reduce the damages caused by invading pests and diseases. If resilience thinking is used alongside traditional risk analysis, then regulators can more effectively address and prepare for the systemic consequences of high‐impact incursions and outbreaks of pests and diseases, which are unpredictable, low‐probability events. However, the design of resilience‐enhancing measures should be guided by economic principles and consider the rate of return of these measures over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education accreditation has spread internationally as a vehicle for quality assurance and improvement but is strongly influenced by accreditation practices in the United States. The organisational structure and processes of seven United States health professions accreditors were analysed to identify common characteristics that reflect general fitness for purpose and infrequent features that show potential to enhance the effectiveness of accreditation processes, increase engagement of and support by accredited institutions and programmes and provide greater transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how university students assess the coordination of the courses their programmes contain and how course coordination affects how content they are with their studies. The study is based on survey data from more than 5700 students, collected through Lund University's Student Barometer. The survey examines the students' views on course coordination based on content, workload, administrative procedures and whether or not teachers of different courses provide coherent information. The analysis shows that the coordination of courses has a significant impact on how students experience their studies. The better the course coordination, the more satisfaction students will get from their studies; and the correlation remains stable when several other factors of importance for student satisfaction are included in the analysis. The conclusion of the study is thus that course coordination clearly contributes to explaining variations in students' appreciation of their university studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education is often framed as a means to social mobility and increased earnings. However, the value of university education in the United States is coming under scrutiny in regard to its costs. This article examines a university education's return on investment (ROI) from attending different types of universities in the United States. Unlike previous research, this study focuses on the variation of university institutional characteristics and their impact on ROI. This study analysed data from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, focusing on institutional factors, such as public/private, student body characteristics, research intensity, student diversity and selectivity. The results confirm that highly selective universities have a greater ROI, public universities overall have a better ROI, Research 1 universities have the higher ROI and private Research 1 institutions have the highest ROI. Implications for educational administration and university selection criteria are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste is utilized aggressively for food, product packaging, cosmetics, toys, clothes, and even furniture. As a result, discarded plastic as a waste has grown uncontrollably worldwide, most of it ending up as landfill. With increasing concern, researchers have made efforts to convert this plastic waste into a more useful product. Along these lines, this study focuses on producing 10 tons of diesel per day through fast pyrolysis at 450 °C in the fluidized bed reactor for a feed rate of 3000 kg of plastic waste per hour. The production was simulated in Aspen HYSYS V11 to ensure the desired yield. Further, a detailed economic analysis is carried out to estimate the return on investment and total cost per year, as well as the payback period and the profit for different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study objective is to document value created by real-world evidence from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) for regulatory decisions. The ACHQC is a national effort that generates data on hernia repair techniques and devices. Methods: Two retrospective cohort evaluations compared cost and time of ACHQC analyses to traditional postmarket studies. The first analysis was based on 25 reports submitted to the European Medicines Agency of 20 mesh products for post-market surveillance. A second analysis supported label expansion submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health for a robotic-assisted surgery device to include ventral hernia repair. Estimated costs of counterfactual studies, defined as studies that might have been done if the registry had not been available, were derived from a model described in the literature. Return on investment, percentage of cost savings, and time savings were calculated. Results: 45,010 patients contributed to the two analyses. The cost and time differences between individual 25 ACHQC analyses (41,112 patients) and traditional studies ranged from $1.3 to $2.2 million and from 3 to 4.8 years, both favoring use of the ACHQC. In the second label expansion analysis (3,898 patients), the estimated return on investment ranged from 11 to 461% with time savings of 5.1 years favoring use of the ACHQC. Conclusions: Compared to traditional postmarket studies, use of ACHQC data can result in cost and time savings when used for appropriate regulatory decisions in light of key assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, developers of new drugs, biologics, and devices have increasingly leveraged digital health technologies (DHTs) to assess clinical trial digital endpoints. To our knowledge, a comprehensive assessment of the financial net benefits of digital endpoints in clinical trials has not been conducted. We obtained data from the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) Library of Digital Endpoints and the US clinical trials registry, ClinicalTrials.gov. The benefit metrics are changes in trial phase duration and enrollment associated with the use of digital endpoints. The cost metric was obtained from an industry survey of the costs of including digital endpoints in clinical trials. We developed an expected net present value (eNPV) model of the cash flows for new drug development and commercialization to assess financial value. The value measure is the increment in eNPV that occurs when digital endpoints are employed. We also calculated a return on investment (ROI) as the ratio of the estimated increment in eNPV to the mean digital endpoint implementation cost. For phase II trials, the increase in eNPV varied from $2.2 million to $3.3 million, with ROIs between 32% and 48% per indication. The net benefits were substantially higher for phase III trials, with the increase in eNPV varying from $27 million to $40 million, with ROIs that were four to six times the investment. The use of digital endpoints in clinical trials can provide substantial extra value to sponsors developing new drugs, with high ROIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential component of the nation's overall development is its infrastructure development. India is regarded as the centre of the service sector, where infrastructure development is crucial. The main issue is what contractors usually have when choosing the best equipment. Given the circumstances, a contractor's inquiry would likely focus heavily on machinery and plants' upkeep and operating costs. Due to the substantial capital required for the purchase, rental, lease, and operation of the plant and equipment, it must be managed to maximize return on investment, and productivity, and minimize operating, maintenance, and repair costs. Therefore, careful planning and selection are necessary to ensure that the project is completed successfully. The kind of apparatus chosen typically relies on the properties of the material to be worked with. Using tracks or wheeled equipment; power or dragline excavator use a shovel, among other common inquiries that should be responded to by the construction equipment planner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between selected audit committee attributes (gender diversity, size, meeting, independence, expertise) and company performance that are assessed as return on equity (ROE) and return on asset (ROA). As one of the primary corporate governance mechanisms facilitating corporate efficiency, audit committees positively impact company performance. Methodology: This quantitative cross-sectional study underpinned the agency theory through the target population: public listed companies under the Bursa Malaysia. Secondary data were gathered from the corporate annual report of 106 companies and Eikon database between 2018 and 2020 and subsequently analyzed with Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression using SPSS. Findings: Resultantly, a positive gender diversity-size correlation was identified with company performance as opposed to meeting, independence, and expertise. Furthermore, a significant gender diversity-size relationship was determined with company performance while no substantial counterparts between (i) meeting and independence and (ii) expertise and company performance were identified for the selected public listed companies. In this vein, audit committee attributes (gender diversity and size) could be utilized as a mechanism for high company performance. Contributions: The study outcomes offer useful insights into optimizing current corporate governance structures and regulations for relevant authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence in the tails of the joint distribution of two random variables is generally assessed using χ-measure, the limiting conditional probability of one variable being extremely high given the other variable is also extremely high. This work is motivated by the structural changes in χ-measure between the daily rate of return (RoR) of the two Indian airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We model the daily maximum and minimum RoR vectors (potentially transformed) using the bivariate Hüsler-Reiss (BHR) distribution. To estimate the changepoint in the χ-measure of the BHR distribution, we explore two changepoint detection procedures based on the Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) and Modified Information Criterion (MIC). We obtain critical values and power curves of the LRT and MIC test statistics for low through high values of χ-measure. We also explore the consistency of the estimators of the changepoint based on LRT and MIC numerically. In our data application, for RoR maxima and minima, the most prominent changepoints detected by LRT and MIC are close to the announcement of the first phases of lockdown and unlock, respectively, which are realistic; thus, our study would be beneficial for portfolio optimization in the case of future pandemic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coaching Psychology literature suggests that coaching is effective and associated with a range of positive gains. Outcome research, however, is largely quantitative and assesses short-term gains with coachees who are managers receiving coaching in work contexts. This qualitative study provides new insight into the learning gained from coaching that enables sustained change. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather narratives from nine participants who had finished a period of coaching, applied across work and life domains, after a delay. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022) was used to analyse participant responses to a set of novel questions designed to assess learning in the months following coaching. Four non-linear interconnected themes were created reflecting that the enablers of sustained change were a changed relationship with: self, action, others and coaching. Profound internalised deep learnings worked together to sustain change. A model suggests the presence of an 'inner coach' as a sustainer of lasting change and continued development. The implications for the development of evaluation tools, return on investment (ROI) and ethical conversations about coaching impact are discussed. The study provides a new lens through which to explore coaching as a tool for sustainable change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) are a key facet of plans for long term habitats on other celestial bodies. With the Artemis program headed to the moon and SpaceX pushing towards Mars the roadmap is about 10–20 years. Therefore it is vital to consider how BLSS will work with the traditional physicochemical Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS). Biological systems are complicated. Their inputs and outputs cannot be turned on and off the way physicochemical systems can. Therefore the accurate monitoring and prediction of these systems is fundamental to integrating the BLSS into the life support system as a whole. This paper will summarize the history of BLSS research, the system requirements for integrating a BLSS into the ECLSS, and the research needed to meet these requirements. As the world looks towards the future of humans living on other celestial bodies, there is a lot of work to do to support keeping them safe and healthy. Bioregenerative Life Support Systems have potential to provide massive support, if they are effectively integrated with the physicochemical systems. • Explores the systems requirements of physicochemical and bioregenerative systems. • Provides updated equivalent system mass estimates using LED lighting technologies. • Calculates return on investment time for bioregenerative food production. • Suggests future research directions for bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the influence of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Good Corporate Governance (GCG) on the performance and profitability of companies among 30 insurance companies in the ASEAN-5 countries during the period of 2018-2022. The Panel Data Regression method is utilized to analyze data obtained from financial reports and corporate sustainability reports. The results of the analysis indicate that the simultaneous implementation of ERM and GCG does not have a significant positive influence on the financial performance of insurance companies, measured by indicators such as Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Loss Ratio, Combine Ratio, and Tobins Q. It is noteworthy that some individual parameters show a positive influence on company performance. This suggests that ERM and GCG play a crucial role in enhancing performance and profitability in the context of insurance companies in the ASEAN region during the research period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individualized case management services that identify and provide support for treatment, housing, and employment may improve opportunities for success for those housed in community residential facilities (CRFs) upon release, particularly when evaluated against the goals of reducing the length of stay in the CRF and reducing the rate of return to prison among a targeted parole population with severe mental health needs and moderate-to-high criminogenic risk. Following an experimental design with random assignment design, this study evaluated 349 participants who were eligible for specialized case management services while housed and released from a CRF between January 2018 and June 2019. Findings reveal that participants who received specialized service referrals significantly decreased their length of stay in the CRF compared to the control group. Successful program completion was further related to a reduced length of stay and a significant reduction in the likelihood of returning to prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The board of directors is an important corporate governance mechanism as it is responsible for the operation of a firm and protects the value of the investment made by investors in the firm. Therefore, board members should be supplied with an appropriate incentive to properly discharge their duties. One of the most important incentive mechanisms is remuneration. This study aims to reveal the effect of board members' remuneration on the firm performance. Regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. 210 firm-year observations obtained from 76 non-financial firms traded in the BIST 100 between the 2018-2020 period were used. The indicators of firm performance return on assets, return on equity, and earnings per share. As a consequence of the study, the relationship between board members' remuneration and firm performance was found to be positive and statistically significant. These results show that the board members' remuneration is a strong incentive used to increase the firm performance and that a suitable remuneration policy should be established for directors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capital structure is briefly expressed as the resource composition of companies. Resources are generally divided into two categories: debt and equity. Analyzing effects of changes in composition of debt and equity on the firm's value and cost of capital forms the basis for capital structure decisions. Furthermore, capital structure decisions are of great significance in analyzing the optimal capital structure that will maximize the profitability and the firm's value. This study aims to investigate whether the capital structures of non-financial sector companies listed in the relevant indices of E7 and G7 countries between 2016 and 2022 affect their profitability. In the study, which applies the Panel Data Regression Analysis method, total assets, profitability, and return on equity ratios are used as profitability indicators, while total debt/total assets and total debt/equity are selected as representative ratios for capital structure. In addition, variables such as asset size, fixed tangible assets/total assets ratio, current ratio, and business risk are used as control variables. The research results generally indicate a significant and inverse relationship between ROA and ROE variables and capital structure ratios for E7 and G7 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evaluation of different methodologies for assessing the return on investment (ROI) of higher education using data from the College Scorecard (CSC). It analyzes five distinct CSC-based systems that measure educational ROI by balancing college costs with graduates' earnings in various ways. It highlights how these methodologies differ in their approach to calculating ROI, such as the Price-to-Earnings Premium (PEP), median earnings benchmarks, and net present value.

Vietnam's economy and education system have had remarkable success in recent decades, yet there are concerns about the declining returns to higher education since 2008. We document this decline in returns to higher education and propose four hypotheses to explain it. Analysis of the VLSS/VHLSS and LFS data provides little evidence for three of four hypotheses. The fourth hypothesis is that changes in the demand for highly educated labor in Vietnam, perhaps due to recent changes in foreign direct investment inflows, rather than the labor supply, are perhaps the most important determinant of the returns to education across different levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State and federal governments invest millions of dollars in providing accurate and relevant information on expected outcomes to students pursuing higher education, but whether such information targets what students value about college is unclear. We use new survey data to identify the extent to which conventional indicators for college quality and returns correlate with collegegoers' satisfaction with their education. We find that alumni are on average very satisfied with their education, even among those with poor labor market outcomes. Our results suggest the consumptive value of higher education is much higher than economic models of college choices typically assume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates returns to education during a period of sharp wage cuts in Greece, considering both the endogenous nature of education and women's self-selection. Findings suggest that dramatic wage declines were followed by sharp decreases in returns to education, while the documented convergence of returns between genders is an added benefit. Once endogeneity is examined, using parental education and number of siblings in the household as instruments, and self-selection is accounted for, returns to education almost double compared to OLS. These findings are verified using several robustness tests and alternative specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We contribute to the higher education returns discourse by examining perceptions among college graduates. Using 2021 U.S. Survey of Household Economics of Decisionmaking data, we observe that over 80% of degree holders perceive that they received positive financial returns from college, while only 7% of college degree holders regret their decision to go to university. However, 39% regret their major choice, and 24% regret their institution choice. Logistic regression reveals perceptions and regrets vary with field of study, gender, type of institution attended, student debt load, and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of educational attainment on employment and earnings in Nepal. Using the Nepal Labour Force Survey 2017–2018 cycle, we employ an extended earnings function derived from the foundational Mincer equation to estimate returns to education. The results underscore the overall positive impact of education (1.76, 3.73, 7.68 and 11.00% increase in earnings by primary, secondary, bachelor's and master's degrees, respectively), which is lower than the average observed in other low– and middle– income countries, except in higher education. The results also indicate persisting disparities for females and disadvantaged groups. The study emphasizes the need for strategic interventions, improved educational infrastructure and inclusive policies to foster equitable opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new estimates of the internal rate of return to early childhood education. Utilizing the nationwide expansion of preschool education in Japan between 1960 and 1980, we initially assess the impact of preschool attendance on high school graduation and college enrollment for men. Subsequently, we compute the social rate of return to preschool attendance for men by drawing upon national wage statistics to project expected wage trajectories and referencing government documents to account for the social cost of preschools. Our findings indicate a social rate of return ranging from 5.7% to 8.1%, consistent with previous estimates in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the Mincerian approach in an experimental way to examine the impact of education on household incomes (not labor earnings) of all workers (not just employees) across 162 countries. Our results are broadly similar to the conventionally estimated rates of return to education after allowing for the fact that earnings are only a part of total household incomes. We then apply the results to the case of Arab countries and find that our experimental approach can promisingly be used for the study of the impact of education not just on individual earnings of employees but also on total household incomes of all workers and more broadly on the economy and the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hotel managers in New Zealand do not calculate Human Capital Return on Investment (HCROI) and are unaware if they are over or underinvesting in their HC. While literature reports the complexity of such measurement, given the challenges of attracting, retaining and ongoing training of HC, it is surprising little has been done to examine how HCROI can add value to hotels and how it can be calculated. Hotel practitioners and hospitality researchers must collaborate to examine and define better HCROI and measurement tools to enable hotel managers to make more strategic HC decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study conceptualizes and simulates a methanol production process through the direct hydrogenation of captured CO2. CuO/ZnO/ZrO2 was employed as the catalyst and Aspen HYSYS was used for the process simulation. Configurational optimization of the process flowsheet was carried out using a step-by-step hierarchical approach. Many alternate flowsheets have resulted, and their capital investment, product cost, and profitability measures were calculated. The discrimination among the competing flowsheets was carried out based on net profit and percent return on investment. The retained flowsheet was further analyzed for optimizing the recycle ratio and evaluating the effect of the price of captured CO2, green H2, natural gas (fuel), and catalyst on the economic performance of the plant. The optimum value of the recycle ratio was computed to be 4.23. Additionally, it was found that the price of H2 is the most important parameter in defining the feasibility and profitability of the process. Mathematical correlations were also developed that relate the profitability and price of the above-mentioned feed materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen-driven approaches are promising to overcome the challenges in the energy transition of geographical islands. However, the economic profitability of related activities must be ensured to achieve the intrinsic and sustainable uptake of related solutions in an island's communities. Here, we investigate the long-term (2020–2054) economic profitability of solar-based prosumption on islands belonging to the European Union (EU), soft-linking energy system modelling and actor-related cash-flow analysis. This combination considerably extends common assessments of the profitability of renewable energy technology and long-term projections of island energy systems. We base our case study on the French overseas territory of Mayotte, discussing household affordability and the socio-economic impact of prosumerism. These topics are relevant to transferability on non-EU islands. The profitability of investments in PV depends on (i) the size of the PV system, with larger systems (>9 kWp) profiting from lower specific investment costs compared to smaller systems; (ii) the time of investment, with more profitable investments to be expected in early periods; (iii) the level of decarbonization of the entire energy sector, with an ongoing decarbonization reducing the compensation or energy-saving possibilities; and (iv) the market behavior, with the practice of feeding in all electricity produced rather than self-consuming energy offering a higher expected return on investment under current feed-in-tariff (FiT) compensation schemes. We introduce various policy measures to improve solar rooftop PV profitability and discuss their trade-offs and effectiveness. While indirect subsidies via FiT are generally effective in improving PV profitability, they undermine efforts to incentivize decentralized self-consumption. From the perspective of harmonizing efforts in the energy transition of African and European islands, we recommend a careful evaluation of the trade-offs in relevant regulations required for the economic incentivization of prosumers to achieve compatibility with the principles of a citizen-driven and just energy transition. Particular attention must be paid to context-specific socio-economic characteristics, including low access to financial resources and non-financial access barriers, including legal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) involves anterior knee pain and functional. Platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) is a promising biological therapy for tendinopathies. We examined a cohort of PT patients treated with tendon debridement and autologous PRFM at the 24-month follow-up to assess whether the combined treatment facilitated return to sports and yielded satisfactory clinical and functional scores. Methods: Baseline and 24-month visual analogue scale (VAS), Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment Scale for Patellar Tendinopathy (VISA-P), Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), and Blazina scores were compared to evaluate treatment effectiveness. The Friedman test was used to compare repeated observations of VAS, VISA-P, TAS, and Blazina Score values. Return to sport rate, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TKS) score and patient satisfaction were collected at 24 months. Results: The postoperative clinical scores demonstrated significant improvement compared with their preoperative values (all p < 0.001). Specifically, the VISA-P score was 80.32 (±20.58), 92.10% of patients had resumed sports activities and patient satisfaction was 9.21 (±1.21) at 24 months. Conclusions: Surgical debridement and autologous PRFM application in patients with chronic PT resulted in a higher rate of return to sports when compared to solely surgical treatment, significantly improved clinical outcomes and excellent patient satisfaction at 24 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Energy Return On Investment (EROI) is a recognised indicator for assessing the relevance of an energy project in terms of net energy delivered to society. For woody biomass divergences remain on the right methodology to assess the EROI leading to large variations in the published estimates. This article presents an in‐depth discussion about the EROI of woody biomass in three different forms: woodchips, pellets and liquid fuels. The conceptualisation of EROI is further developed to reach a consistent definition for biomass post‐processed fuels. It considers, on top of the external energy investments, the grey energy associated with the energy used to enrich the fuel. With the proposed methodology, all woodchips have an EROI of the same order of magnitude, between 20 and 37, depending on forestry types, operations and machineries. For secondary residues, the first estimate is 170 if, as co‐products, no energy investment is allocated to the forestry operations and transport. On the basis of a mass allocation for forestry operations and transport, the EROI for secondary residues becomes of the same order of magnitude as that for wood chips. Woodchips can be further post‐processed into pellets or liquid fuels. Pellets have an EROI of 4–7 if the heat is externally supplied and 8–23 if internally supplied (self‐consumption of part of the raw material). Liquid fuels derived from primary wood and residues through gasification and Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis have an EROI between 4 and 16. Fuel enhancement with hydrogen (Power & Biomass to Liquids) impacts negatively the EROI due to the low EROI of hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. However, these fuels offer other advantages such as improved carbon efficiency. A correct estimate of EROI for forestry biomass, as proposed in this work, is a necessary dimension in assessing the suitability of a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Return to preinjury levels of performance (RTP) is the main goal after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL‐R) for athletes when ACL graft rupture is a career‐threatening event. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the associated factors for RTP and subsequent ACL injury after ACL‐R using bone‐patellar tendon‐bone (BPTB) or hamstring (HT) autograft in high‐level athletes with a minimum postoperative follow‐up of 24 months. Methods: This retrospective study included 157 patients who had preinjury Tegner activity level of 9 and underwent primary ACL‐R using BPTB (average age, 16.9 years; 35 males and 36 females) or HT (average age, 17.2 years; 49 males and 37 females). The mean follow‐ups were 33.6 months in BPTB and 44.5 months in HT, respectively. The data were obtained based on routine clinical follow‐ups and telephone interviews performed by the surgeon. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association of patient variables with RTP and subsequent ACL injury. Results: Ninety‐nine patients (63.1%) were able to RTP. The rate of RTP in BPTB (74.6%) was significantly higher than that of HT (53.5%) (p < 0.05). The overall average timing of RTP after ACL‐R was 10.0 months while that was significantly earlier in BPTB (9.7 months) than in HT (10.5 months) (p < 0.05). Twenty‐three (14.6%) and 21 patients (13.4%) had ACL graft ruptures and ACL injuries in the contralateral knees, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that BPTB (odds ratio [OR], 2.590; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.300–5.160; p = 0.007) was associated with a higher potential for RTP after ACL‐R. The incidence of ACL graft rupture after ACL‐R decreased with BPTB (OR, 0.861; 95% CI, 0.770–0.962; p = 0.009). Conclusions: The use of BPTB autograft was associated with a higher rate of RTP and a lower incidence of ACL graft rupture compared to ACL‐R using HT autograft. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this research was to assess how the profitability and liquidity of the company "Central de Cooperativas Mineras Rinconada y Lunar de Oro Limitada" were impacted by COVID-19 between the periods 2018 and 2022. This study is classified as basic and explanatory in nature, and it is non-experimental. For data collection, the documentation technique and observation were used, and the company's Balance Sheet and Income Statement were analyzed. The results indicate that, based on the analysis of profitability through Return on Assets (ROA), in 2019, it showed a negative value (-0.21). In contrast, in 2020, it recorded a value of 78.02. On the other hand, the analysis of Return on Equity (ROE) revealed a value of -0.14 in 2019, while in 2020, a significant value was recorded in the ratios (65.01). Regarding the liquidity of the mining company, the Current Ratio in 2019 was 15.46, and in 2020, it was 0.78. Furthermore, the Quick Ratio values were 15.46 in 2019 and 0.78 in 2020. Conclusions: the mining company experienced a significant decline in liquidity; however, it managed to maintain strong economic and financial profitability. Although a company may be profitable, the lack of liquidity represents a significant risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: There is little published information on how long it takes for the performance of phosphorus (P)-deficient mature cows to improve once they start receiving P supplements, or whether their long-term performance is impaired by P deficiency early in life. Aims: The performance of mature P-deficient and P-adequate Brahman cows was compared over 3 years to investigate the time it takes for the performance of P-deficient mature cows to improve once they are supplemented with P, and whether their long-term performance is compromised by P deficiency early in life. Methods: Cows that had been a part of a P-supplementation trial at Victoria River Research Station from weaning until they were 5.5 years old were used for this study. One treatment group had received continuous P supplement (P+) since weaning and the other treatment had never received any P supplement (P−). At the conclusion of the original trial, 42 cows were randomly selected from each treatment and then grazed together in the same paddock for 3 years, during which time they were given P supplement continuously. Performance attributes were measured and compared. Key results: This study found that P supplementation rapidly improved the liveweight, body condition, reproductive performance and survival rate of the P-deficient (P−) mature cows. Within a year of receiving P supplement, their performance improved to be similar to that of P+ cows. However, P deficiency early in life did have some residual stunting effects, resulting in lower mean hip height and liveweights of P− cows. Conclusions: The performance of P-deficient mature cows improved rapidly once they were given P supplements and matched that of cows that had always been supplemented. However, P deficiency early in life caused stunting, resulting in mature cows being shorter and lighter. Implications: Cattle producers in P-deficient country should see a rapid improvement in performance and return on investment once they start supplementing P-deficient cows. However, it is better to supplement cattle throughout their lives in P-deficient areas to avoid stunting. This study investigated how long it takes for the performance of phosphorus (P)-deficient mature cows to improve once they are supplemented with P, and whether their long-term performance is compromised by P deficiency early in life. The performance of P-deficient cows improved to be similar to that of P-adequate cows within a year of P supplementation commencing. However, P deficiency early in life did have some residual stunting effects, resulting in lower hip height and liveweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the United States largest learning health system. The Diffusion of Excellence (DoE) program is a large-scale model of diffusion that identifies and diffuses evidence-informed practices across VHA. During the period of 2016-2021, 57 evidence-informed practices were implemented across 82 VHA facilities. This setting provides a unique opportunity to understand sustainment determinants and pathways. Our objective was to characterize the longitudinal pathways of practices as they transition from initial implementation to long-term sustainment at each facility. Methods: A longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation of 82 VHA facilities. Eighty-two facility representatives, chosen by leadership as points-of-contact for 57 DoE practices, were eligible for post-implementation interviews and annual sustainment surveys. Primary outcomes (implementation, sustainment), and secondary outcomes (institutionalization, effectiveness, anticipated sustainment) at four time-points were collected. We performed descriptive statistics and directed content analysis using Hailemariam et al.'s factors influencing sustainment. Results: After approximately five years post-implementation (e.g., 2021 sustainment outcomes), of the 82 facilities, about one-third fully sustained their practice compared to one-third that did not fully sustain their practice because it was in a "liminal" stage (neither sustained nor discontinued) or permanently discontinued. The remaining one-third of facilities had missing 2021 sustainment outcomes. A higher percentage of facilities (70%) had inconsistent primary outcomes (changing over time) compared to facilities (30%) with consistent primary outcomes (same over time). Thirty-four percent of facilities with sustained practices reported resilience since they overcame implementation and sustainment barriers. Facilities with sustained practices reported more positive secondary outcomes compared to those that did not sustain their practice. Key factors facilitating practice sustainment included: demonstrating practice effectiveness/benefit, sufficient organizational leadership, sufficient workforce, and adaptation/alignment with local context. Key factors hindering practice sustainment included: insufficient workforce, not able to maintain practice fidelity/integrity, critical incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizational leadership did not support sustainment of practice, and no ongoing support. Conclusions: We identified diverse pathways from implementation to sustainment, and our data underscore that initial implementation outcomes may not determine long-term sustainment outcomes. This longitudinal evaluation contributes to understanding impacts of the DoE program, including return on investment, achieving learning health system goals, and insights into achieving high-quality healthcare in VHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers traditional and online stores under the context of a dual-channel retailing system. Fully refunded returns are permissible in both forms: same-channel and cross-channel. We examined three different coordination strategies that may form between the retailer and a third-party logistics and service provider. The provider was tasked to manage the online store's orders through transaction-based fees, flat-based fees, and gain-sharing contracts. For each of those strategies, we found the online store's optimal pricing policy and the seasonal fee, if applicable. The performance ratings of the partners under the different strategies were compared, and the managerial insights were provided using analytical as well as numerical analysis. It was found that the retailer is always more profitable under the flat-based fee strategy compared to the gain-sharing strategy, while the provider was almost always more profitable under the latter strategy. Moreover, a low rate of return encouraged the retailer to have more independence by implementing the transaction-based fee strategy, while a high rate pushed the retailer to have more logistical involvement and support through the implementation of either the flat-based fee or gain-sharing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial system of production-sharing contracts has more complications in comparison with other oil contracts, especially production participation contracts. The financial system and the conditions governing the payment and repayment of production-sharing contracts can be modeled at various times during the implementation of these contracts, and by using this modeling, the profitability of the plan for the parties of the contract can be evaluated, and an optimal decision can be made based on the results of the modeling In the research literature, the economic analysis of oil production-sharing contracts in the middle stages of contract implementation has not been done or very little has been done from the perspective of the investor. In this paper, economic mathematical modeling of oil production-sharing contracts with the aim of maximizing the investor's internal rate of return is presented. In this model, the data is derived from a real contract that has been delayed for approximately 30 months, as well as payment and repayment forecasts for the next 56 months. To optimize the model, we have simulated monthly payments and repayments were generated by observing their minimum and maximum values in 2000 times and each time, the rate of return was calculated, and the optimal payment and repayment amount was determined. Results specify that if the contract has been delayed, the investor can improve the internal rate of return by managing the timing of payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is prioritized among crops that enhance food security and reduce malnutrition in Ghana. The production is expanding faster than other food crops owing to its superior nutrient composition. This study evaluates integrated approaches to increase on‐farm productivity, income, and utilization of sweetpotato. The first part evaluated the agronomic yield performance, financial return, and sensory quality of 10 varieties under different fertilizer treatments. The second part of activities assessed both storage root and leaf composition (i.e., total sugars, dry matter, protein, Fe, Zn, Ca, total phenolic, total monomeric anthocyanins, lutein, zeaxanthin, α‐tocopherol, β‐carotene, and total carotenoids). Third, storage stability characteristics were assessed (i.e., shelf life and the incidence of decay). Application of NPK of 40:40:70 at 300 kg ha−1 significantly (p < 0.001) increased storage root yield from 12.4 to 17.3 t ha−1, which represents a 32% increase in yield compared to farmers' standard practice. The variety SARI‐JanLow (where SARI is Savanna Agricultural Research Institute) was outstanding for root yield (23.5 t ha−1) and β‐carotene content (20.8 Mg 100 g−1). SARI‐Tiemeh was consistently ranked among the three most preferred varieties by the sensory panel across the production hubs. At locations Nyankpala and Nikongo, the most responsive varieties to fertilizer application with regard to marketable storage root yield were SARI‐Tiemeh (108%) and PGA14351‐4 (79%), respectively. The varieties SARI‐Nyumengre (1.4%), SARI‐Nyoriberi‐gu (1.4%), and PGA14351‐4 (1.6%) were the least susceptible to sweetpotato weevil attack. Considering the benefit–cost ratio and a return on investments, the four most economically viable varieties appear to be SARI‐JanLow, SARI‐Suyolo, SARI‐Tiemeh, and SARI‐Nyoriberi‐gu. Core Ideas: Fertilizer application increased storage root yield productivity by 36%–108% compared to farmers' standard practice.The benefit–cost ratio of 4.1:6 and a return on investment of 306%–501% were recorded in high‐yielding varieties.SARI‐JanLow (where SARI is Savanna Agricultural Research Institute) recorded the highest storage root yield and β‐carotene content, but SARI‐Tiemeh possesses superior sensory qualities.At the 40% decay threshold, SARI‐Nyoriberi‐gu, SARI‐Nyumengre, and SARI‐Nan showed longer shelf‐life.Leaf nutrients are compared favorably with vegetables such as Amaranthus spp. and Colocasia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investment decisions in personal financial management especially for students is crucial because investment is a process of learning to manage finances, starting now and in the future. Low knowledge about planning an often makes students experience fraud, because offers from investment returns are also very tempting. Based on the phenomenon, this study aims to determine the effect of financial technology, investment literacy, investment interest, and return investment tolerance on investment decisions. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to respondents with the criteria of students at the University of Sidoarjo city in study program, economy &; business class. The number of research respondents was 288 students and data management used SmartPLS 3.2.8 analysis techniques. The results of this study state that financial technology, investment literacy, investment interest has a positive and significant effect on investment decisions, while return investment have a insignificant effect on investment decisions of University student University of Sidoarjo city in study program economy & business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foam flooding has been successfully implemented in solving problems that arise during gas flooding as it increases gas viscosity and reduces gas relative permeability resulting in favorable mobility ratios and better volumetric sweep efficiency. This research study aims to evaluate the effect of different flood patterns on field performance during foam enhanced oil recovery. A three-dimensional reservoir simulation model was developed with a reservoir simulator and each flood pattern including normal and inverted four, five, seven, and nine-spots were modeled and simulated separately under consistent conditions of field gas injection rate, bottom-hole pressure of production wells, and surfactant concentration. Field Oil Efficiency (FOE), Net Present Value (NPV), Rate of Return (ROR), and Payout Time (POT) were used in making comparisons. An Original Oil in Place of 139.43 MMSTB was found at the initialization. Simulation results showed that a normal and an inverted five-spot pattern were more effective in their respective categories as they resulted respectively in higher FOE, lower FGOR, higher NPV and ROR, and shorter POT. An inverted five-spot resulted in an FOE of 4.36 %, an NPV of $ 83.48 million, and an ROR of 13.64% higher than that obtained for a normal five spot, and a payout time of 1.54 years shorter than that obtained for the normal five spots. The findings highlight the superior efficiency of the normal and inverted five-spot patterns, with the inverted five-spot pattern demonstrating significantly better performance in terms of FOE, NPV, ROR, and POT. Based on the presented results, an inverted five-spot pattern was recommended in this paper as the best flood pattern during foam-enhanced oil recovery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]