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Background: Childhood injury has been recognized as a major threat to child survival and health, as well as economic burden, which includes the cost to government and out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) to families. Child-To-Child Approach is an innovative technique to reduce childhood injuries and expenses on their treatment. Objectives: To assess economic benefit in the treatment of unintentional childhood injuries, including OOPE by families, by the implementation of the child-To-Child approach. Materials and Methods: The present study is part of a quasi-experimental before-and-after intervention study conducted in the rural area of Delhi for the prevention of childhood injuries through intervention by the child-To-Child approach. Cost of injury treatment, including travel and accommodation expenses, and wage loss were noted. The projected gain in the total cost and out-of-pocket expenditure on injury treatment throughout 20 years of childhood and adolescence were calculated. Results: Both incidences of injuries and total expenditure for treatment of injuries had decreased during the postintervention period in the intervention group, against a rise in the control group. The proportion of OOPE for availing private health care facilities for treatment of injuries, which was more than one-fourth of total expenses, also had decreased in the intervention group during the postintervention period. On economic analysis, it is projected that there will be enormous gain in cost by the implementation of child-To-Child approach in the study area in 20 years, along with saving of OOPE of the families. Conclusion: Child-To-Child approach is effective in preventing childhood injuries and reducing the cost of treatment of injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Power electronic devices such as soft open point (SOP) and voltage source converter (VSC) begin to be applied to distribution networks, which are developed into hybrid AC/DC distribution networks. Both power electronic equipment and conventional control devices, such as tie switches, coexist in a hybrid AC/DC distribution network, and the coordination optimisation of these control devices can eliminate the risks caused by high-penetration renewable energy generation (REG) integration. Here, the structure of the hybrid AC/DC distribution networks with SOP and VSC is analysed. A multi-stage coordination control method is proposed, including day-ahead stage, inner-day stage, and real-time stage. In the day-ahead stage, a sequential coordination optimisation model considering network reconfiguration by switches is established; in the inner-day stage, a loop-locked rolling optimisation control model based on model predictive control is built, to reduce the influence of the REG randomness output; in the real-time stage, voltage deviations are minimised in risk scenarios by regulating powers of SOP and VSC. Mixed-integer second-order cone programming algorithm is adopted to realise the coordination optimisation of SOP, VSC, and tie switch. The results show that the proposed method can increase REG penetrations and improve voltage quality and economic benefit of the hybrid AC/DC distribution network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of micro-grid renewable energy system in China has achieved rapid growth in recent years, and the micro-grid renewable energy system has been drawing more and more attention by its flexible operation. Due to the randomness, fluctuation, uncertainty of the wind and photovoltaic renewable generation, abundant flexibility is required to meet the needs of safe, reliable and independent operation of the micro-grid energy system. We need to connect large energy systems to accept outside assistance when the micro-grid renewable energy system is short of adjustment capability. Independent operation and network operation will affect the economic benefit of the micro-grid energy system, so it is practically meaningful to study on the economic benefit evaluation of the micro-grid renewable energy system. This paper proposes a micro-grid energy system operation simulation model about wind and photovoltaic generation, the uncertainty of which is tackled based on the scenario generation and extraction techniques. Based on the proposed indices, the economic benefit could be evaluated by simulating the micro-grid energy system operation. The proposed method is validated by a real micro-grid energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Increasing attention is being paid to physical methods to control pests such as insect trapping. In order to examine how pesticides can reasonably be combined with the use of an insect‐trapping lamp and by how much this can reduce the amount of pesticide used, five treatments were applied to a winter wheat–summer maize rotation system in eastern China: a treatment in which only pesticides were used; a treatment with only insect‐trapping lamps; insect‐trapping lamps plus one application of pesticides; insect‐trapping lamps plus two applications of pesticides; insect‐trapping lamps plus three applications of pesticides. RESULTS: The results showed that, when pesticides were reduced by 25–35%, the insect‐trapping lamps controlled the insect population well and yields were not decreased but were actually increased, with pesticides being applied only at 2 days before winter wheat planting, at winter wheat flowering and at the big flare stage of summer maize. Reducing pesticides by 35–65% had no adverse effect on crop yields, and thus had the potential to reduce the costs of pest control and produce the greatest economic benefit. When no pesticides were used in the insect‐trapping lamp control area, the annual yield was still >15 t hm‐2. CONCLUSION: If pesticides are used in a timely fashion and at the appropriate stage, their use may be greatly reduced with the help of an insect‐trapping lamp. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is a precious resource, both for yield and quality. This paper demonstrates the imaginative, progressive and innovative approaches of simulated renovations giving substantial advantages to the general public. Utilising groundwater to stimulate wells, in conjunction with a rainwater conservation framework, is proposed in this review. The unique plan and cost correlations as well as groundwater quality change are examined for the procedures of the tempest water seepage framework with and without reviving wells. The region chosen for study is Bhimrad, a new urban centre in Surat City in Gujarat State, India. Two rainwater structures are considered: (1) a traditional rainwater water drainage system excluding groundwater revive wells, and (2) a rainwater drainage system including groundwater revive wells. This paper shows that due to determination of the optimal diameter of revive wells, cost saving in the modified system is possible, along with improvement in groundwater contamination. The use of a modified rainwater drainage system would economically benefit the SMC (Surat Municipal Corporation) by conserving 25.43% of their reserve funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cost of leg ulcers in the UK was estimated to be £1.94 billion (Guest et al, 2016). Leg ulcers are a common ailment that have a negative impact on patients' quality of life, often resulting in lengthy healthcare professional consultations, out-patient appointments and hospital admissions. An evaluation was undertaken to establish the clinical outcomes and experiences for patients and healthcare professionals of using an electroceutical treatment in the community setting. The treatment had a significant effect on the patient group with all patients experiencing either complete healing and/or reduction in wound size, pain and exudate as well as decreased nursing visits. This in turn had a positive effect on patients' quality of life and demonstrated a cost improvement for the Trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relay intercropping of garlic with full-season cotton is currently one of the dominant cropping systems in China, but the net benefit is decreasing because the system is labor-intensive. Direct planting of short-season cotton after garlic harvest may increase net revenue through reducing labor and material input. Three field experiments were consecutively conducted in Jinxiang County of China, to determine the effects of plant density and soil fertility on yield, yield components, boll load and leaf senescence in the 1st and 2nd experiments. In the third experiment, we compared the economic benefits of the two cropping systems. Data from the 1st experiment showed that plant density affected yield and yield components, with the optimum plant density being 3.0 plants m −2 for full-season cotton and 9.0 plants m −2 for short-season cotton. In the 2nd experiment, the seedcotton yield of full-season cotton was 9.1% higher under high than medium soil fertility, but there was no yield difference between the two soil fertility levels for short-season cotton. Full-season cotton exhibited larger boll load, earlier leaf senescence and lower boll weight under medium than high fertility. Results of the third experiment showed that seedcotton yield or output value of short-season cotton was 14.5% lower than that of full-season cotton, but the gross return for short-season cotton was 69.2% higher than that for full-season cotton because the short-season cotton required 27.3% less labor and material inputs. The overall results showed that late planted short-season cotton after garlic harvest can be a promising alternative for enhancing the benefits of garlic-cotton production in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed pests directly impact crop quality and yield. We compared three different treatments on weed diversity and structure, and assessed the economic benefits of each on corn ( Zea mays ) production. The treatments included: raising geese in corn fields (hereinafter referred to as RGICF), conventional corn production with weed management (CCP) and corn fields without weed management (CK). A Shannon-Wiener diversity index and richness indicated that fields with RGICF and CK had higher weed diversity than CCP fields at early growth stages (60 and 90 days after planting, hereinafter referred to as d.a.p.), but low evenness. In RGICF fields the dominance of the major weed species populations sharply decreased because of geese feeding and trampling activity. As a consequence, weed population abundances were more evenly distributed and the evenness index, richness, and Shannon-Wiener index differed from CK and CCP treatments at 120 d.a.p. The RGICF treatment resulted in a yield reduction of corn. This loss, however, was compensated by the economic gains obtained from geese production and RGICF production without herbicide application should be considered as a production approach for sustainable agriculture operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboveground weed biomass, species density and cabbage yield were influenced by applied weed management treatments. Significantly lower biomass and species density were recorded on plots with mechanical cultivation 3 weeks after transplanting. Post-emergence chemical application did not manage to control late emerging weeds, particularly summer annuals. Organic mulch also failed to protect transplanted cabbage from weeds, particularly allowing grass weeds to develop above the straw layer. The most effective method for transplanted cabbage in highly infested north Croatian fields was mechanical cultivation which had the highest yield and the only positive net return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chang, J.I. and Yoon, S., 2016. The Economic Benefit of Coastal Erosion Control in Korea. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1317 - 1321. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The Korean coastal zone is regarded as a highly valuable environmental asset and provides important space for human life. Korean counties with a coastline have a deep interest in finding the most appropriate and sustainable management policy for their coastal resources and ecosystems. Korean coastal zone is now experiencing environmental pressure and is under threat from a diverse range of destructive forces. Thus, this study analyzes the economic benefits of Korea's coastal erosion control project (CECP). The main results of the study are as follows. (1) First, the study identifies the benefit factors of coastal erosion control, such as damage control services, recreational services, and other coastal ecosystem services. (2) Second, this study assesses the economic benefits of the CECP in Korea by applying choice experiment, a non-market valuation method. The annual benefit is estimated at 31,824 KRW (26.56 USD) per household, and the total annual economic benefit of the CECP is estimated at 587.7 billion KRW (490.8 million USD). The findings provide policymakers with a useful methodological framework and quantitative information for decision making on costal management policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study presents an assessment of the skill and economic benefits of a seasonal forecast carried out by nine-member ensembles of regional and global models over southern Africa for the period of 1991-2002. The regional ensemble seasonal hindcasts were conducted at a resolution of 25 km by driving RegCM4 with the corresponding ensembles of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ( ECMWF) seasonal hindcasts. Skill and cost/loss ratio analysis were carried out on the probabilistic hindcasts to assess how much added value a regional model would bring over the driving ECMWF forecasts. RegCM4 shows an added value over most areas of southeastern Africa where the skill of the global circulation model ( GCM) is already positive. In terms of economic benefits, RegCM4 brings additional benefits for southeastern Africa either by benefiting more users with interest in larger cost/loss ratio or by providing a higher economic value for users with small cost/loss ratio. Additional RegCM4 simulations with the same resolution were performed using a near 'perfect' boundary conditions with 'continuous (climate)' and 'reinitialized' modes to test the impact of land surface initialization/ spin up time on the seasonal mean precipitation simulation. Evaluation of the 'perfect' boundary forced simulations reveals that the regional model not only generates finer spatial-scale features that are missing in the ECMWF GCM, in terms of the December to April ( DJFMA) climatology, but also reduced the wet bias of the driving GCM. Land surface initialization is found to have less impact on the DJFMA seasonal mean rainfall for forecasts initialized on 1 November, suggesting that 1 month is enough to recover from the shock of poor soil moisture initialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the economic benefit of Bt cotton adoption in the short-run has been well documented, the dynamics of this benefit remain unclear. In particular, the possibility of pest resistance build-up and secondary pest outbreaks has caused concern regarding the sustainability of this economic benefit in the long run. Hence, this study analyzes the economic impact of Bt cotton and its dynamics in China. Using nationally representative long panel data for 1997–2012, we show that this economic benefit continues 15 years after the commercialization of Bt cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to try to empirically answer whether the economic benefit of Bt cotton is dying away in China. As the development of the pest resistance and the outbreak of the secondary pest, it was believed that economic benefit of Bt cotton is dying away. And reduction of cotton sown area in recent years had been considered as one of the consequences. This study empirically estimates the impact of Bt cotton adoption on cotton sown area. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses regression techniques based on provincial level data. In addition, the fixed-effects model is used to control the impact of those time-consistent variables. Finally, several scenarios are estimated for the robustness of the estimation results. Findings – This study shows that the adoption of Bt cotton has positive impact on cotton sown area. On the other hand, the increasing labor cost and decreasing cotton price might be the real reasons behind the decrease of cotton sown area. Originality/value – This, it is believed, is one of the first studies to empirically answer the impact of Bt cotton adoption on cotton sown area in China, using national representative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, only a few attempts have been done to estimate the contribution of Mediterranean ecosystems to the global carbon cycle. Within this context, shrub species, composition and structure of the Mediterranean shrublands developing along the Latium coast (Italy) were analyzed in order to evaluate their contribution to carbon (C) sequestration, also taking into consideration the economic benefits at a national level. The considered shrublands had a shrub density of 1,200 ± 500 shrubs ha −1. Shrubs were classified into small (S), medium (M) and large (L), according to their volume (V) and leaf area index (LAI). The total yearly carbon dioxide (CO 2) sequestration per species (SC y) was calculated multiplying the total photosynthetic leaf surface area (spt) of each species by the mean yearly photosynthetic rate and the total yearly photosynthetic activity time (in hours). Q. ilex and A. unedo had the highest SC y (46.2 ± 15.8 kg CO 2 year −1, mean value), followed by P. latifolia (17.5 ± 6.2 kg CO 2 year −1), E. arborea, E. multiflora, C. incanus, P. lentiscus, R. officinalis, and S. aspera (6.8 ± 4.2 kg CO 2 year −1, mean value). The total yearly CO 2 sequestration per shrub (SC shy) was 149 ± 5 kg CO 2 year −1 in L, decreasing 30 % in M and 80 % in S shrubs. Taking into account the frequency of S, M and L and their SC shy, the total CO 2 sequestration of the Mediterranean maquis was quantified in 80 Mg CO 2 ha −1 year −1, corresponding to 22 Mg C ha −1 year −1. From a monetary viewpoint, this quantity could be valued to more than 500 US$ ha −1 year −1. Extending this benefit to the Mediterranean shrublands throughout the whole country, we obtained a nationwide estimated annual benefit in the order of $500 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellowstone National Park visitor data were obtained from a survey collected for the National Park Service by the Park Studies Unit at the University of Idaho. Travel cost models have been conducted for national parks in the United States; however, this study builds on these studies and investigates how benefits vary by types of visitors who participate in different activities while at the park. Visitor clusters were developed based on activities in which a visitor participated while at the park. The clusters were analyzed and then incorporated into a travel cost model to determine the economic value (consumer surplus) that the different visitor groups received from visiting the park. The model was estimated using a zero-truncated negative binomial regression corrected for endogenous stratification. The travel cost price variable was estimated using both 1/3 and 1/4 the wage rate to test for sensitivity to opportunity cost specification. The average benefit across all visitor cluster groups was estimated at between $235 and $276 per person per trip. However, per trip benefits varied substantially across clusters; from $90 to $103 for the 'value picnickers,' to $185-$263 for the 'backcountry enthusiasts,' $189-$278 for the 'do it all adventurists,' $204-$303 for the 'windshield tourists,' and $323-$714 for the 'creature comfort' cluster group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several techniques have been proposed in the literature to forecast electricity market prices and improve forecast accuracy. However, no studies have been reported examining the economic impact of price forecast inaccuracies on forecast users. Therefore, in this paper, the application of electricity market price forecasts to short-term operation scheduling of two typical and inherently different industrial loads is examined and the associated economic impact is analyzed. Using electricity market price forecasts as the expected next-day electricity prices, optimal operating schedules and the associated costs are determined for each load. These costs are compared with those of a "perfect" price forecast scenario in which actual prices are used to determine the operating schedules. Numerical results and discussions are provided based on price forecasts with different error characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Iowa has severe water-induced soil erosion and associated water quality concerns because of intense agricultural activities. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and economic benefits of selected conservation practices in sediment reduction by water erosion in major soil areas of Iowa. One farm was selected to represent the typical soil and slope gradient in each of the eight Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) in Iowa. Three tillage systems [no-tillage (NT), strip-tillage (ST), and chisel-plow tillage (CP)] and three conservation structures [grassed waterways (GS), grass filter strips (FS), and terrace systems (TS)] were investigated under a corn–soybean rotation using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. Corn yields of some areas were statistically lower under NT than under CP while soybeans showed little response to tillage operations. Estimated annual sediment yield with the chisel plow system ranged between 0.7 and 56.9Tha−1. The WEPP simulations showed that NT and ST systems were very effective in reducing soil erosion and sediment yield by approximately 90% in highly erodible lands compared to the CP system. The combination of conservation tillage with soil erosion control structures further mitigated soil loss and was more effective in areas with high water erosion potential than in the flat areas. The costs and benefits analysis indicated that the simulated conservation practices could increase the net benefit by up to $300ha−1 compared to the CP system after the cost of eroded soil was taken into account. The findings suggest that NT and conservation structures have greater environmental and economic benefits in areas with high water erosion potential. The use of no-till in flat areas such as central Iowa may not be economically favorable because of the limited benefit in reducing soil water erosion. Overall, the study findings suggest that structural conservation practices coupled with tillage systems effectiveness were area-specific based on the soil and landscape in each area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is significant to arrange suitable design and placement of best management practices (BMPs) for reaching the aim that can not only satisfy environmental quality standards, but also decrease the total cost of BMPs. This study applied WinVAST model to predict watershed responses. The objective of this work was to discuss both the economic costs and benefits of BMPs and the control efficiency of discharge and pollutant exports, and to create some suitable standards for the optimal BMPs placement strategies. It is significant to find an optimal number and location of BMPs. In the case study herein, the number of BMPs including a detention pond and a grassy swale would be better to be given by four. The number of BMPs should also be determined by the environmental standards. Moreover, the result shows that the optimal location of BMPs placement is in the downstream area near the outlet and on the mainstream of the catchment. When the BMPs are set in these regions, it cannot only reduce the peak flow and peak pollutant exports, but also have slow time to peak watershed responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors of the local acceptance for a radioactive disposal facility in Korea, which is a typical potentially hazardous facility. For this, a structural equation model (SEM) of four factors, perceived economic benefit, risk perception, trust and perceived competition was constructed, and hypothetical tests of each factor was done. The data was created by a survey of Gyeongju citizens and the results are as follows. The SEM has identified four relevant factors that influence the local acceptance of a hazardous facility: perceived economic benefit (0.51), risk perception (−0.37), trust (0.24) and perceived competition (0.32). Like previous literature, risk perception has strong negative effects on local acceptance, but the most important factor in this model was perceived economic benefit. Following this result, we can conclude that the success of Gyeongju siting case is a result of the combination of open approaches which increased residents’ trust level, strong economic benefits, and implementing smart siting procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ecotourism is widely promoted as a conservation tool and actively practiced in protected areas worldwide. Theoretically, support for conservation from the various types of stakeholder inside and outside protected areas is maximized if stakeholders benefit proportionally to the opportunity costs they bear. The disproportional benefit distribution among stakeholders can erode their support for or lead to the failure of ecotourism and conservation. Using Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas (China) as an example, we demonstrate two types of uneven distribution of economic benefits among four major groups of stakeholders. First, a significant inequality exists between the local rural residents and the other types of stakeholder. The rural residents are the primary bearers of the cost of conservation, but the majority of economic benefits (investment, employment, and goods) in three key ecotourism sectors (infrastructural construction, hotels/restaurants, and souvenir sales) go to other stakeholders. Second, results show that the distribution of economic benefits is unequal among the rural residents inside the reserve. Most rural households that benefit from ecotourism are located near the main road and potentially have less impact on panda habitat than households far from the road and closer to panda habitats. This distribution gap is likely to discourage conservation support from the latter households, whose activities are the main forces degrading panda habitats. We suggest that the unequal distribution of the benefits from ecotourism can be lessened by enhancing local participation, increasing the use of local goods, and encouraging relocation of rural households closer to ecotourism facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of economic and environmental benefits arc associated with the use of no till in production agriculture in the United States. There are lower labor, energy, and machinery costs associated with no till farming relative to conventional tillage systems and other types of conservation tillage. The reduced erosion and runoff associated with no till also lead to a number of environmental benefits including a reduction in water quality impairment. In order to properly associate the benefits of no till with its use, it is important that farmers' perception of what constitutes no till and their actual use of no till he consistent. An analysis of the Agricultural Resource Management Study survey data for 1996 shows that for soybeans, winter wheat, spring wheat, and durum wheat, farmers perceptions are consistent withreality. In the case of corn, however, nearly 18 percent of corn farmers believe they are using no till while in actuality, only slightlymore than 12 percent are using this tillage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic benefits of the adoption of conservation tillage dependon site-specific factors including soil characteristics, local climatic conditions, cropping patterns, and other attributes of the overall farming operation. While it is possible to draw some general inferences about components of economic returns and costs, a comprehensive assessment of the net private benefits from greater use of conservation tillage is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]