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Objective: We examine the small amount of research to date that describes and/or evaluates waitlist interventions as a precursor to treatment for an eating disorder (ED) with the intent to provide recommendations for future research that can further test the efficacy and effectiveness of waitlist interventions. Method: A review of published studies showed the standard of proof about the usefulness of waitlist interventions to be slight, with important gaps in our knowledge. One such gap was whether recovered people with lived experience could provide support to adults waiting for treatment. We briefly present new research evaluating this approach (N = 40), where people waiting for treatment were randomized to waitlist as usual or guided self‐help with a trainee psychologist or a person with lived experience. Results: Eight published studies across 10 different programs are described; N = 7 addressed waitlists for children and adolescents, and only three were randomized controlled trials. Our new research did not support the involvement of people with lived experience at this stage of the treatment journey. Discussion: The results suggest some promise of waitlist interventions. Parents waiting for family‐based treatment were able to improve weight and nutritional health in their children and experienced improved self‐efficacy with respect to managing the ED. Provision of a waitlist intervention to adults may increase the probability of later engagement in treatment. It is still not possible to conclude whether waitlist interventions improve outcomes over treatment compared to those who did not receive such an intervention. We make five recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examine the factors in the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation system (HEIS) for socio-economic development in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Multi-stage sampling is used to select the sample of 400 farmers (200 HEIS adopters and 200 non-adopters) from major districts of south Punjab. The results demonstrated that determinants including average landholding, age, education and awareness of HEIS all had a significant impact on the adoption of HEIS. The adoption rate of HEIS was also found to be impacted by energy crises, operational and maintenance issues, high installation prices and a lack of experienced employees. A higher proportion of participants strongly believed that HEIS might increase agricultural productivity while simultaneously saving water for future use. Additionally, respondents believed that shifting HEIS to high-value crops improves social status, particularly in rural areas. BCR values for wheat, guava and citrus using SI and DI were found to be larger than 1. The SI system's NPV values for the wheat crop ranged from Rs. 248034 to Rs. 463191. Similarly, the results are consistent for DI for guava and citrus orchards (BCR > 1 and NPV positive values demonstrate that HEIS project is more economically feasible and viable than TI). Moreover, the benefit-cost ratio demonstrated that, when compared to conventional irrigated growers, the yield and net benefit due to HEIS of a variety of crops, including citrus, wheat, and guava, improved significantly to 48.48%, 70%, 44.83%, 102%, 178% and 107%, respectively. Water productivity of HEIS-irrigated wheat, guava and citrus were calculated as 1.2, 2.6 and 2.5 kg/m³, respectively and increased highly significantly than TI. The findings suggested that government initiatives should focus to enhance adoption rate of HEIS. This could be accomplished by providing modest subsidized HEIS and imparting awareness to farmers about the socioeconomic benefits of HEIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We retrospectively studied the societal value of lost health due to alcohol use and compared it with excise taxes on alcohol sales for India in 2019. Methods: We estimated the overall alcohol‐attributable disease burden using disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALY) for India and its 30 states for all causes with alcohol use as a risk factor from the GBD 2019 Study. The societal value of lost health was calculated using value of life‐year (VLY) approach by multiplying region‐specific factors from 'Global Health 2035', 2019–2020 GDP per capita and DALYs. We acquired the national and state‐level (top 10 states) alcohol sales excise taxes from the Reserve Bank of India. Net losses were assessed by subtracting the revenue collected from excise taxes from VLY. All values are in Indian rupees (INR). Results: The societal value of health lost due to alcohol use in India was 6.2 (95% uncertainty interval 4.8, 7.8) trillion INR in 2019. The absolute state‐level values varied from 7.3 (4.7, 10.4) billion INR in Mizoram to 1.1 (0.8, 1.4) trillion INR in Maharashtra. The per capita values ranged from 950.2 (642.9, 1285.3) INR for Bihar to 61,332 (39,273.7, 87,288.5) INR for Mizoram. Nationally, excise tax collection from alcohol sales was 1.8 trillion INR depicting a net loss of 4.4 (3.1, 6.0) trillion. Maharashtra had the largest absolute and per capita net loss. Discussion and Conclusions: These are novel estimates depicting the net losses due to alcohol use in India with direct policy implications to disincentivise sales and adequately raise taxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) on patients, medical teams, and costs by gathering global insights and exploring current limitations. Background: NMP for ex situ liver graft perfusion is gaining increasing attention for its capability to extend graft preservation. It has the potential to transform liver transplantation (LT) from an urgent to a purely elective procedure, which could revolutionize LT logistics, reduce burden on patients and health care providers, and decrease costs. Methods: A 31-item survey was sent to international transplant directors to gather their NMP experiences and vision. In addition, we performed a systematic review on cost-analysis in LT and assessed studies on cost-benefit in converting urgentto- elective procedures. We compared the costs of available NMPs and conducted a sensitivity analysis of NMP's cost benefits. Results: Of 120 transplant programs contacted, 64 (53%) responded, spanning North America (31%), Europe (42%), Asia (22%), and South America (5%). Of the total, 60% had adopted NMP, with larger centers ( > 100 transplants/year) in North America and Europe more likely to use it. The main NMP systems were OrganOx-metra (39%), XVIVO (36%), and Trans- Medics-OCS (15%). Despite NMP adoption, 41% of centers still perform > 50% of LTs at nights/weekends. Centers recognized NMP's benefits, including improved work satisfaction and patient outcomes, but faced challenges like high costs and machine complexity. 16% would invest $100,000 to 500'000, 33% would invest $50,000 to 100'000, 38% would invest $10,000 to 50'000, and 14% would invest < $10,000 in NMP. These results were strengthened by a cost analysis for NMP in emergency-to-elective LT transition. Accordingly, while liver perfusions with disposables up to $10,000 resulted in overall positive net balances, this effect was lost when disposables' cost amounted to > $40,000/ organ. Conclusions: The adoption of NMP is hindered by high costs and operational complexity. Making LT elective through NMP could reduce costs and improve outcomes, but overcoming barriers requires national reimbursements and simplified, automated NMP systems for multiday preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has evolved beyond its initial association with cryptocurrencies to become a foundational technology poised to revolutionize various industries. Its decentralized, transparent, and immutable structure offers unique opportunities to improve operational efficiency, enhance security, and drive innovation across financesector. This paper explores the transformative impact of blockchain, focusing on how it changes economic structures, reduces costs, and generates new business models. It also examines the cost-benefit implications of adopting blockchain, addressing both short-term challenges and long-term advantages.

Abstract Aims The objective of this study was to perform a cost–benefit analysis of the CardioMEMS HF System (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) in a heart failure (HF) clinic in Spain by evaluating the real‐time remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures, which has been shown to reduce HF‐related hospitalizations and improve the quality of life for selected HF patients. Particularly, the study aimed to determine the value of CardioMEMS in Southern Europe, where healthcare costs are significantly lower and its effectiveness remains uncertain. Methods and results This single‐centre study enrolled all consecutive HF patients (N = 43) who had been implanted with a pulmonary artery pressure sensor (CardioMEMS HF System); 48.8% were females, aged 75.5 ± 7.0 years, with both reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction; 67.4% of them were in New York Heart Association Class III. The number of HF hospitalizations in the year before and the year after the sensor implantation was compared. Quality‐adjusted life years gained based on a literature review of previous studies were calculated. The rate of HF hospitalizations was significantly lower at 1 year compared with the year before CardioMEMS implantation (0.25 vs. 1.10 events/patient‐year, hazard ratio 0.22, P = 0.001). At the end of the first year, the usual management outperformed the CardioMEMS HF System. By the end of the second year, the CardioMEMS system is estimated to reduce costs compared with usual management (net benefits of €346). Conclusions Based on the results, we suggest that remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure with the CardioMEMS HF System represents a midterm and long‐term efficient strategy in a healthcare setting in Southern Europe.

Blockchain technology has evolved beyond its initial association with cryptocurrencies to become a foundational technology poised to revolutionize various industries. Its decentralized, transparent, and immutable structure offers unique opportunities to improve operational efficiency, enhance security, and drive innovation across financesector. This paper explores the transformative impact of blockchain, focusing on how it changes economic structures, reduces costs, and generates new business models. It also examines the cost-benefit implications of adopting blockchain, addressing both short-term challenges and long-term advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern industrial systems are typically characterised by their multiple elements (technological, communicational, physical, etc.). These elements are interconnected and structured in such a way as to make them "immune" to, or only marginally affected by, any harmful events. On the basis of this assertion, the traditional bimodal definition (which only considers functional and failure states) is inadequate for understanding the behaviour of complex systems. It is in this context that the concept of resilience has caught on in both the academic and corporate fields because it is capable of taking into account all the ways a system may behave following a harmful event, from the so-called "reaction and absorption" of shocks, to recovery and adaptation of the system to new operating conditions. In a previous paper (Ventura in Eur Bus Law Rev 34(2):239–268, 2023) introduced a model set within a wider system of corporate compliance management drawn up in accordance with the NIST and ISO international standards. This model is based on the joint use of Erik Hollnagel's Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) and Saaty's Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). After defining its properties, from a purely methodological viewpoint, the proposed model was then applied to a very common case study in the Italian industrial context: the acquisition of a plant with features making it eligible for tax credit both for Investments in the South and for Industry 4.0. This paper sets out to go further by evaluating the validity of this model also from a cost-benefit analysis point of view. The three possible situations will be analysed (without any risk assessment, risk assessment using the FRAM method, risk assessment using the FRAM/AHP method), establishing which of the three is most useful for corporate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the impact of two different humid levels on the reliability measures of a stochastic model for a gas turbine system composed of a gas turbine and a steam turbine. To enhance the system's overall performance, we prioritize gas turbine repair over steam turbine repair in addition to a combined inspection and preventative maintenance approach. To find some reliability measures, such as the mean time to system failure, availability, etc., semi-Markov process and regenerating point technique are utilized. These measures are analysed graphically based on the data obtained from a gas turbine power plant in Delhi, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extended phenotype of helical burrowing behavior in animals has evolved independently many times since the Cambrian explosion (~540 million years ago [MYA]). A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of helical burrowing in certain taxa, but no study has searched for a general explanation encompassing all taxa. We reviewed helical burrowing in both extant and extinct animals and from the trace fossil record and compiled 10 hypotheses for why animals construct helical burrows, including our own ideas. Of these, six are post‐construction hypotheses—benefits to the creator or offspring, realized after burrow construction—and four are construction hypotheses reflecting direct benefits to the creator during construction. We examine the fit of these hypotheses to a total of 21 extant taxa and ichnotaxa representing 59–184 possible species. Only two hypotheses, antipredator and biomechanical advantage, cannot be rejected for any species (possible in 100% of taxa), but six of the hypotheses cannot be rejected for most species (possible in 86%–100% of taxa): microclimate buffer, reduced falling sediment (soil), anticrowding, and vertical patch. Four of these six are construction hypotheses, raising the possibility that helical burrowing may have evolved without providing post‐construction benefits. Our analysis shows that increased drainage, deposit feeding, microbial farming, and offspring escape cannot explain helical burrowing behavior in the majority of taxa (5%–48%). Overall, the evidence does not support a general explanation for the evolution of helical burrowing in animals. The function and evolution of the helix as an extended phenotype seems to provide different advantages for different taxa in different environments under different physicochemical controls (some traces/tracemakers are discussed in more detail due to their association with body fossils and well‐constrained physicochemical parameters). Although direct tests of many of the hypotheses would be difficult, we nevertheless offer ways to test some of the hypotheses for selected taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Molecular screening for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) can lead to rapid empirical treatment inception and reduce hospitalization time and complementary diagnostic tests. However, in low-prevalence settings, the cost-benefit balance remains controversial due to the high cost. Methods: We used a Markov model to perform an economic analysis to evaluate the profit after implementing molecular MTB screening (Period B) compared with conventional culture testing (Period A) in respiratory samples from 7,452 consecutive subjects with presumed tuberculosis (TB). Results: The proportion of positivity was comparable between both periods (P > 0.05), with a total of 2.16 and 1.78 samples/patient requested in periods A and B, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean length of hospital stay was 8.66 days (95%CI: 7.63–9.70) in Period B and 11.51 days (95%CI: 10.15–12.87) in Period A (P = 0.001). The healthcare costs associated with diagnosing patients with presumed TB were reduced by €717.95 per patient with PCR screening. The probability of remaining hospitalized and the need for a greater number of outpatient specialty care visits were the variables with the most weight in the model. Conclusion: Employing PCR as an MTB screening method in a low-prevalence setting may increase the profits to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to maritime vessel traffic accidents, there is a scarcity of available, and only incomplete, accident data for inland waterway accidents. Additionally, the characteristics of different waterway segments vary significantly, and the factors affecting navigation safety risks and their mechanisms may also differ. Meanwhile, in recent years, extreme weather events have been frequent in inland waterways, and there has been a clear trend towards larger vessels, bringing about new safety hazards and management challenges. Currently, research on inland waterway navigation safety risks mainly focuses on risk assessment, with scarce quantitative studies on risk mitigation measures. This paper proposes a new method for improving inland waterway traffic safety, based on a cost-effectiveness trade-off approach to mitigate the risk of vessel traffic accidents. The method links the effectiveness and cost of measures and constructs a comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation model using fuzzy Bayesian and quantification conversion techniques, considering the reduction effects of risk mitigation measures under uncertain conditions and the various costs they may incur. Taking the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River as examples, this research evaluates key risk mitigation measures for different waterway segments and provides the most cost-effective strategies. Findings reveal that, even if different waterways share the same key risk sources, the most cost-effective measures vary due to environmental differences. Moreover, there is no inherent correlation between the best-performing measures in terms of benefits and the lowest-cost measures, nor are they necessarily recommended. The proposed method and case studies provide theoretical support for scientifically formulating risk mitigation measures in complex environments and offer guidance for inland waterway management departments to determine future key work directions. [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]

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, pre-weaning young stock mortality (YSM) is in the order of 20 to 30% across most livestock species and production systems. High YSM has significant economic implications for livestock keepers, but few studies provide estimates of the “cost of YSM.” This study explores a bio-economic herd modeling approach to estimate the “cost of YSM” at farming/livestock system level. Methods: The static zero-growth version of DYNMOD was used to calculate the annual physical and monetary output of a sheep flock consisting of 100 breeding females at dierent levels of lamb mortality. Production parameter values and prices were taken from recently published research. Calculations were carried out for values of lamb mortality decreasing from 30% to 0% in 5% intervals, with 20% representing the “baseline” YSM. Calculations were repeated for a “high” fertility scenario (100% vs. 59% parturition rate) to gauge the sensitivity of the cost of YSM to another parameter determining flock productivity. Results: The relation of revenue per head and YSM is close to linear over the range of analyzed YSM with 1% decrease in YSM resulting in an increase in revenue per animal of approximately 1%. At the higher fertility rate, the absolute cost of YSM to sheep farmers is higher while the relative increase in revenue per animal resulting from YSM reduction is lower. The estimated dierence in revenue of the 100-ewe flock between the 20% and 0% lamb mortality scenarios (at baseline fertility) amounts to approximately USD 90 per additionally surviving lamb, which is far above its market value. Discussion: Reduced lamb mortality ultimately impacts flock revenue through increased sales of “mature” animals, which embody the value of a lamb plus the revenue/profit from raising it to marketable age/weight. The modeling results suggest that foregone profit is an important component of the systemic “cost of YSM.” Consequently, expected profit per animal, in addition to its current market value, is essential for estimating the absolute cost of YSM at farming system level [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Australians who work outdoors (notably, farmers and graziers) routinely kill venomous snakes. We argue that this attitude is misguided and dangerous. Despite their fearsome reputation, venomous Australian snakes pose little risk to human health (snakes kill an average of less than three people per year in Australia). Also, snakes confer a substantial benefit by consuming agricultural pests such as rodents. We estimate the magnitude of that benefit with data on snake diets, feeding rates and abundances. The most valuable rodent‐controllers are Brownsnakes (genus Pseudonaja), which are rodent‐specialists as adults and are abundant in agroecosystems across much of Australia. We calculate that a free‐living adult Eastern Brownsnake consumes at least 50 mice per year (probably twice that number), and that population densities of Brownsnakes in agricultural areas can exceed 100 per km2. Thus, Brownsnakes remove thousands of mice per square kilometre of farmland per year. That offtake plausibly reduces rodent densities because Brownsnakes take all age classes and both sexes of rodents by hunting in burrows. Tolerating Brownsnakes also would benefit the environment (e.g. less reliance on toxic chemicals) and the health of humans and domestic pets (fewer rodent‐mediated diseases) and counter‐intuitively, might reduce rates of snakebite (because many bites occur when a snake is attacked). In summary, a societal policy of coexisting with highly venomous snakes would confer multiple benefits to Australian farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, became the most important maize pest in Africa in 2016, with management based on chemical pesticides. High yield losses across the continent were predicted based on farmers' perceptions, but existing agroecological differences were not considered. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, experiments were conducted to assess fall armyworm damage and yield losses in maize farms with and without treatment. The study included 2 seasons in the Kipopo wetland in 2020 and 2021, one rainy season in Kanyameshi in 2021, 2 rainy seasons in Mulungu in 2020 and 2021, and one season in a wetland on the Bishibiru site in 2020. In addition, the research was also conducted at 4 sites in Cameroon from September to December 2020 and from March to July 2021. High levels of damage incidences were recorded, but the density of larvae per plant was low, with low to moderate levels of damage severities in different seasons and sites. Treatment significantly reduced the number of fall armyworm larvae and their damage severity. However, the high infestation levels did not significantly reduce yield. Cost–benefit ratios were either negative or, in most cases, less than 1. In the best case, the use of pesticides only allowed the recovery of the amount used for the intervention. We discussed the implications of these findings for fall armyworm management in humid tropical agroecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The objective of this study was to perform a cost–benefit analysis of the CardioMEMS HF System (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) in a heart failure (HF) clinic in Spain by evaluating the real‐time remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures, which has been shown to reduce HF‐related hospitalizations and improve the quality of life for selected HF patients. Particularly, the study aimed to determine the value of CardioMEMS in Southern Europe, where healthcare costs are significantly lower and its effectiveness remains uncertain. Methods and results: This single‐centre study enrolled all consecutive HF patients (N = 43) who had been implanted with a pulmonary artery pressure sensor (CardioMEMS HF System); 48.8% were females, aged 75.5 ± 7.0 years, with both reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction; 67.4% of them were in New York Heart Association Class III. The number of HF hospitalizations in the year before and the year after the sensor implantation was compared. Quality‐adjusted life years gained based on a literature review of previous studies were calculated. The rate of HF hospitalizations was significantly lower at 1 year compared with the year before CardioMEMS implantation (0.25 vs. 1.10 events/patient‐year, hazard ratio 0.22, P = 0.001). At the end of the first year, the usual management outperformed the CardioMEMS HF System. By the end of the second year, the CardioMEMS system is estimated to reduce costs compared with usual management (net benefits of €346). Conclusions: Based on the results, we suggest that remote monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure with the CardioMEMS HF System represents a midterm and long‐term efficient strategy in a healthcare setting in Southern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study was conducted to determine the growth performance of bulls from Harar, Jersey×Horro crossbred, Arsi, and Ogaden cattle breeds fed a corn-silage based finishing diet. A total of 12 bulls, 3 from each breed, were used for the study. A completely randomized design (CRD) was implemented to assign experimental bulls in a breed factor arrangement of treatment. The results of the study revealed that the breed of cattle had a significant (p

ObjectiveTo analyze the cost-effectiveness of a colorectal cancer screening program using fecal DNA testing as initial screening in Wuhan, Hubei province, and to provide evidence for colorectal cancer screening decision making. MethodsWe collected detection results of 101 217 individuals who participated in a colorectal cancer screening program using stool DNA-based SDC2/AHDFE1/PPP2R5C methylation test as initial screening from October 20, 2021 to December 31, 2022 in Wuhan city. Patient costs associated with colorectal cancer screening and treatment were estimated through on-site surveys of 998 colorectal cancer patients at three tertiary hospitals in Wuhan city and a literature review of cost-effectiveness analyses of colorectal cancer screening. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess colonoscopy compliance among screened individuals. ResultsOf the 101 217 individuals who received the non-invasive colorectal cancer gene test, 4 483 (4.43%) were diagnosed with positive colorectal lesions and 3 200 underwent colonoscopy, of which 2 345 (71.38%) were found to have abnormalities. The total cost of the colorectal cancer screening program with fecal DNA testing was 34.8043 million Chinese yuan, the estimated total benefit was 297.5828 million yuan, and the estimated net benefit was 262.7785 million yuan, yielding a cost-benefit ratio of 1 : 8.55 for this screening program. Sensitivity analysis suggested that increasing colonoscopy compliance to 80%, 90%, and 100% could increase the cost-effectiveness ratio to 1 : 9.15, 1 : 9.78, and 1 : 10.36, respectively. ConclusionThe colorectal cancer screening program using fecal DNA testing for initial screening in Wuhan city has a high cost-benefit ratio, with increased colonoscopy compliance likely to result in even greater economic benefits.

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Herbaceous isolated wetlands in the North American Southeastern Coastal Plain are important breeding sites for many imperiled amphibians. However, most are degraded from alterations to historic fire disturbance and hydrologic regimes. Without fire, encroaching woody vegetation can transition wetlands to more terrestrial conditions and negatively impact amphibian breeding habitat, yet few studies have experimentally tested the efficacy, cost, or temporal requirement of current methods to restore herbaceous wetland vegetation. Here, we tested the interaction of manipulating wetland canopy and leaf litter/duff to promote herbaceous vegetation within one year (i.e., one breeding season) in degraded herbaceous wetlands in South Carolina. We assessed plant response via herbaceous cover, composition, and species similarity to the wetland seed bank and then related treatment performance to treatment cost. Removing trees combined with burning, disturbing, or removing duff significantly increased herbaceous cover and proportions of wetland plants and graminoids. Removing trees alone did not improve herbaceous cover compared to closed-canopy controls, and manipulating duff alone had limited positive effects on plant cover and composition. The most expensive yet effective treatment was Tree Removal-Duff Removal, while Tree Removal-Duff Disturbance was the most cost-effective. At a minimum, we recommend removing trees and burning to kickstart herbaceous recovery. Promisingly, comparisons of our data with previous seed bank studies from these same wetlands indicate there was limited seed bank attrition during 30 years of woody encroachment. Results from this study should aid practitioners in choosing wetland restoration techniques to better conserve at-risk species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Open Abdomen (OA) cases represent a significant surgical and resource challenge. AbClo is a novel non-invasive abdominal fascial closure device that engages lateral components of the abdominal wall muscles to support gradual approximation of the fascia and reduce the fascial gap. The study objective was to assess the economic implications of AbClo compared to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alone on OA management. Methods: We conducted a cost-minimization analysis using a decision tree comparing the use of the AbClo device to NPWT alone among patients with midline laparotomy for trauma or acute abdominal surgery who were ineligible for primary fascial closure. The time horizon was limited to the length of the inpatient hospital stay, and costs were considered from the perspective of the US Medicare payer. Clinical effectiveness data for AbClo was obtained from a randomized clinical trial. Cost data was obtained from the published literature. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed. The primary outcome was incremental cost. Results: The mean cumulative costs per patient were $76 582 for those treated with NPWT alone and $70,582 for those in the group treated with the AbClo device. Compared to NPWT alone, AbClo was associated with lower incremental costs of −$6012 (95% CI −$19 449 to +$1996). The probability that AbClo was cost-savings compared to NPWT alone was 94%. Conclusions: The use of AbClo is an economically attractive strategy for management of OA in in patients with midline laparotomy for trauma or acute abdominal surgery who were ineligible for primary fascial closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of telehealth in school-based health centers (SBHCs) is increasing rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effect on school absences and cost-benefit of telehealth-exclusive SBHCs at 6 elementary schools from 2015–2017. The effect of telehealth on absences was estimated compared to students without telehealth using negative binomial regression controlling for absences and health suite visits in 2014 and sociodemographic characteristics. The sample included 7,164 observations from 4,203 students. Telehealth was associated with a 7.7% (p = 0.025; 95% CI: 1.0%, 14%) reduction in absences (0.60 days/year). The program cost $189,000/yr and an estimated total benefit of $384,995 (95% CI: $60,416; $687,479) and an annual net benefit of $195,873 (95% CI: −$128,706; $498,357). While this cost-benefit analysis is limited by a lack of data on total healthcare utilization, the use of telehealth-exclusive SBHCs can improve student health and attendance while delivering cost savings to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 2017-2022, the achievement of the PTSL program have been less than optimal due to internal and external factors. From the target of issuing land certificates for 126 million plots in 2025, there is still a shortfall of 50.8 million plots that must be completed within 2 years. In order to accelerate the achievement of the PTSL target, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency issued the Regulation Number 6 of 2018 on the Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL). Purpose: This research aims to analyze the optimization of the complete systematic land registration implementation through the Ministerial Regulation of ATR/BPN Number 6/2018. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted qualitatively using Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). Findings/Result: The research results indicated that the regulation had increased the optimization of accelerating the achievement of PTSL target. However, the regulation required managerial regulation reinforcement at the operational level to better optimize the acceleration and sustainability of the PTSL target achievement. Conclusion: First, the Ministerial Regulation of ATR/BPN Number 6/2018 has been effective to optimize the complete systematic land registration performance. Second, by revoking Ministerial Regulation of ATR/BPN Number 6/2018, the policy option"continuing Ministerial Regulation of ATR/BPN No 6/2018" is considered the best. However, this policy option requires strengthening of technical regulations underneath it in the form of technical guidelines (Juknis) to update the strategy for implementing outreach activities (socialization), developing coordination mechanisms among stakeholders, managing human resources, and monitoring and evaluating PTSL target achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the peer effect on climate risk information disclosure by analyzing A-share listed companies in China. We find that industry peers influence target firms’ climate risk information disclosure through active (passive) imitation resulting from cost–benefit considerations (institutional pressures). Leader companies are more likely to be emulated by within-industry follower companies and target firms prefer to learn from similar within-industry firms. Executive overconfidence and performance pressure negatively affect target firms’ willingness to emulate their peers. Finally, the peer effect of climate risk information disclosure demonstrates a regional aspect. Our findings have implications for reasonable climate risk information disclosure at the micro level and effective regulation to move toward achieving carbon peak/neutrality at the macro level.

Abstract The extended phenotype of helical burrowing behavior in animals has evolved independently many times since the Cambrian explosion (~540 million years ago [MYA]). A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of helical burrowing in certain taxa, but no study has searched for a general explanation encompassing all taxa. We reviewed helical burrowing in both extant and extinct animals and from the trace fossil record and compiled 10 hypotheses for why animals construct helical burrows, including our own ideas. Of these, six are post‐construction hypotheses—benefits to the creator or offspring, realized after burrow construction—and four are construction hypotheses reflecting direct benefits to the creator during construction. We examine the fit of these hypotheses to a total of 21 extant taxa and ichnotaxa representing 59–184 possible species. Only two hypotheses, antipredator and biomechanical advantage, cannot be rejected for any species (possible in 100% of taxa), but six of the hypotheses cannot be rejected for most species (possible in 86%–100% of taxa): microclimate buffer, reduced falling sediment (soil), anticrowding, and vertical patch. Four of these six are construction hypotheses, raising the possibility that helical burrowing may have evolved without providing post‐construction benefits. Our analysis shows that increased drainage, deposit feeding, microbial farming, and offspring escape cannot explain helical burrowing behavior in the majority of taxa (5%–48%). Overall, the evidence does not support a general explanation for the evolution of helical burrowing in animals. The function and evolution of the helix as an extended phenotype seems to provide different advantages for different taxa in different environments under different physicochemical controls (some traces/tracemakers are discussed in more detail due to their association with body fossils and well‐constrained physicochemical parameters). Although direct tests of many of the hypotheses would be difficult, we nevertheless offer ways to test some of the hypotheses for selected taxa.

Recent research has seen a rapid expansion in the reference to front-end forensics as an indication of the untapped value of forensic science. While some of these contributions have centered on development of forensic intelligence from a single area of investigation, others call for a more fundamental change in the relationship between crime laboratories and policing, particularly relating early laboratory analysis with big datasets to provide leads to investigators. We highlight several recently implemented tactical strategies of crime laboratories that contribute to the body of forensic intelligence. Beyond the scientific gains from these tactical applications, the corresponding details on associated efficiencies, costs, time savings, and quality improvements offer insights towards patterns of success for the community of crime laboratories. Further details expand an interpretation of what constitutes success with an eye on the contributions of the crime laboratory towards public health, safety, and protection of the innocent in addition to societal gains from conviction of the guilty. The economic interpretation of the value provided by the forensic laboratory assists in the cost–benefit review of strategic and tactical decisions and supports the justification for laboratory public funding with measures of the return on investment from public support of the forensic laboratory. Examples of the cost savings from crimes avoided include the returns from testing the backlog of unsubmitted sexual assault kits with USD 81 of costs avoided for each USD 1 spent to high-efficiency laboratories achieving gains of USD 646 for each UD 1 spent on de novo case submissions.

Various interventions in agricultural production are aimed at maximizing agricultural revenue, and key enterprises to improve livelihood and reduce poverty. This study assessed cost and benefits of Rain-Fed Farming Systems (RFFS) and Irrigated Farming System (IRFS) of sugarcane production in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Using primary data collected in a three-stage purposive sampling procedure from a total of 231 sugarcane farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, farm budgetary techniques, Z-statistics, and Likert scale. The farmers mean age was 43 years with an average of 7 years of formal education. There were significant differences in the level of income with a profitability ratio of 1.14 RFFS and 1.85 IRFS respectively. The major constraints include inadequate capital and access to credit facilities, excessively high labour and transportation costs. The study recommends improved education and extension services to sensitize sugarcane farmers on how to appropriately employ improved technologies to optimize their production outcomes. Also, there should be implementation of policies that improves marketing activities by reducing the transports costs and ensuring better connection between producers and mills. Productivity should be improved by increasing yields with more policies supporting producers directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carnivorous habit has been interpreted as an outstanding adaptation that let some plants the acquisition of mineral nutrients in habitats characterized by a chronic scarcity of nutrients. Substantial evidence indicates how carnivorous plants benefit from its interaction with prey. However, fitness of carnivorous plants depends not only on the interaction with their prey but on other interactions such as pollination, herbivory, and kleptobiosis. It is also known that evolutionary ecology of carnivorous plants is regulated by the cost–benefit ratio that is imposed majorly by the abiotic environment limiting photosynthesis. We analyzed how these three little explored interactions in carnivorous plants could promote scenarios rising additional costs to those that are hypothesized to occur linked to the evolution of botanic carnivory. In specific, we (i) explained a general ecological context of each interaction, (ii) reviewed how the interactions increase costs in carnivorous plants, (iii) identified factors that regulate the negative effect on carnivorous plants, and (iv) identified lines for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aims to interpret the cost-benefit concept based on a socio-psychological perspective. This research uses an interpretive paradigm with a case study research design approach. The result found that the meaning of cost-benefit is divided into two groups, namely 1) the concept of material cost-benefit based on a socio-psychological perspective, where costs are interpreted as economic sacrifices and benefits are interpreted as society’s perception of dignity (social and material status), 2) the non-material cost-benefit concept based on a socio-psychological perspective where costs are interpreted as a sense of pride (prestige) and strengthening family relationships. This study contributes to theory and practice which the interpretation of the costbenefit concept in accounting has a broader context where costs are interpreted not just material (money) but there are non-material values that are formed because of the social and psychological environment and in terms of policy in the company, this interpretation can be taken into consideration inmaking policies.The novelty istrying to look at the concept of cost-benefit from a different perspective from accounting science, namely from a social psychology perspective which is expected to raise human awareness for the better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides information on the risk of Japanese encephalitis (JE) infection for short-term travelers to endemic areas. It includes case studies of individuals who traveled to JE-endemic regions and discusses their activities, vaccination status, and outcomes. The document emphasizes that even brief exposure to mosquito bites can pose a substantial risk of infection for unvaccinated travelers. It also discusses the different types of JE vaccines available and suggests considering cost and vaccine type when making vaccination decisions. The document concludes by highlighting the importance of assessing individual itineraries and considering cumulative risks when making vaccination recommendations. [Extracted from the article]

This experiment was conducted to determine the influence of solid-state fermented wheat offal (SSFWO) on the productive indices and egg quality traits of egg-type chickens using 180 ISA brown chickens aged 0 -- 42 weeks. The chickens were divided into six (6) treatment units of thirty birds with three replications of ten birds each following a completely randomized design (CRD). For the chick (0 -- 8 weeks); grower (9-16 weeks) and layer (30 - 42 weeks) stages, SSFWO was used to formulate six diets, which were included at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of the diets. The results of the study showed an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in feed consumption, declining daily weight gain and final weight of the birds as the level of SSFWO increases at both chick and grower phases. Groups on the T1 (0% SSFWO) had a lower cost per gain than the groups fed 5-25% SSFWO. Hens on 25% SSFWO diet had delayed onset of lay. Feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were highest (P ≤ 0.05) in chickens on T6 (25% SSFWO). The group also had lower (P ≤ 0.05) hen-day egg production. Egg length, egg width, yolk height and width decreased while albumen weight and Haugh unit showed an increasing trend as the level of SSFWO advances. It was concluded that dietary SSFWO had no detrimental effect on productive performance and egg quality characteristics of egg-type chickens [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity and soil quality are deteriorating due to continuous disturbances in ecosystems caused by human interference. However, agroforestry is considered a good approach to minimizing environmental problems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the impacts of participatory agroforestry on restoring soil fertility, farm productivity and biodiversity in the degraded Madhupur Sal forest of Bangladesh. The study purposefully selected 40 common agroforestry programs in Madhupur Sal forest for the collection of soil and plant data from 2020 to 2023. Agroforestry programs have improved soil organic matter, soil carbon, pH, and available N, P and K content to a substantial degree and protected soil degradation, enhancing yield. The soil improvement index represents the potentiality of agroforestry in restoring soil nutrients and carbon in the form of organic matter, which is an important indicator for carbon sequestration and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The resultant cost–benefit and land equivalent ratios were steadily higher, which corroborates the greater productivity and profitability of agroforestry compared to monoculture systems. In contrast, agroforestry restored 31 plant species, opening up opportunities for restoring plant species in the threatened forest ecosystem. Therefore, this study recommended selecting appropriate site-specific species for managing agroforestry and restoring ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the escalation of environmental protests amid worsening pollution in rural China, this study examines the responses of grassroots authorities to environmental protests. Through an analysis of several cases, it reveals that grassroots leadership suppresses, mediates, and sometimes even leads these movements. Accordingly, I raise the following questions: (1) How does China's grassroots leadership respond to environmental protests? (2) Why does it choose to lead them? To answer these questions, this study posits local cadres as actors intending to maximize their self-interest within conflicting incentives, reaching the conclusion that under certain conditions, leading a protest can be a better option for their cost-benefit considerations. I argue that the varying behaviors of local cadres are contingent upon two crucial factors: (1) the degree of economic benefits derived from polluting companies; and (2) the degree of social unrest resulting from environmental protests. These factors are pivotal in shaping the economic and political interests of local cadres that influence their responses toward environmental activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has seen a rapid expansion in the reference to front-end forensics as an indication of the untapped value of forensic science. While some of these contributions have centered on development of forensic intelligence from a single area of investigation, others call for a more fundamental change in the relationship between crime laboratories and policing, particularly relating early laboratory analysis with big datasets to provide leads to investigators. We highlight several recently implemented tactical strategies of crime laboratories that contribute to the body of forensic intelligence. Beyond the scientific gains from these tactical applications, the corresponding details on associated efficiencies, costs, time savings, and quality improvements offer insights towards patterns of success for the community of crime laboratories. Further details expand an interpretation of what constitutes success with an eye on the contributions of the crime laboratory towards public health, safety, and protection of the innocent in addition to societal gains from conviction of the guilty. The economic interpretation of the value provided by the forensic laboratory assists in the cost–benefit review of strategic and tactical decisions and supports the justification for laboratory public funding with measures of the return on investment from public support of the forensic laboratory. Examples of the cost savings from crimes avoided include the returns from testing the backlog of unsubmitted sexual assault kits with USD 81 of costs avoided for each USD 1 spent to high-efficiency laboratories achieving gains of USD 646 for each UD 1 spent on de novo case submissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration is considered an essential activity as we attempt to repair anthropogenic degradation. Yet, resources are limited and it is important that efforts focus on activities that are effective and yield successful restoration. Structured decision making (SDM) is an organized framework that is designed to incorporate differing values across stakeholders and evaluate alternatives. The SDM framework typically consists of six steps: define the decision problem, define objectives and evaluation criteria, develop alternatives, estimate consequences, evaluate trade-offs, and decide, implement, and monitor. Here, we posit that SDM is well suited for ecological restoration, yet remains underused. Specifically, tools such as stakeholder surveys, conceptual modeling, and multi-criteria decision analysis are notably useful in ecological restoration and can be applied under the SDM framework to ensure robust and transparent decision making. We illustrate the application of SDM to ecological restoration with case studies that used SDM alongside ecosystem service assessments, for species-as-risk management, and to assess action desirability across large and diverse stakeholder groups. Finally, we demonstrate how SDM is equipped to handle many of the challenges associated with ecological restoration by identifying commonalities. We contend that increased use of SDM for ecological restoration by environmental managers has the potential to yield wise use of limited resources and more effective restoration outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper tailings are a category of solid waste discharged after the beneficiation process in mining plants. The significant concern raising stringent environmental issues give impetus to explore the multi-channel utilization of copper tailings in a sustainable manner. Concerning the fact that no study has systematically compared properties of copper tailings filled (CTP) asphalt mastic with conventional limestone filler mastic (LP) at different filler-to-asphalt ratios, multiscale and multi-dimensional comparisons between the characteristics of CTP-asphalt and LP-asphalt mastics were made in this study to thoroughly explore the feasibility and potential of recycling CTP as alternative filler in asphalt materials. Four ratios from 0.3 to 1.2 were used to manufacture asphalt mastics. The in-service pavement performance of asphalt mastics including resistances to rutting, low-temperature cracking and moisture damage was explored. Finally, the environmental and economic perspectives regarding the recycling of copper tailings are analyzed. Results indicate that CTP possesses a rougher surface, a larger specific surface area, and a more uniform pore size distribution than LP, particularly across the mesopores range. These characteristics could promote the adsorption of asphalt on its particle surface, potentially leading to enhanced filler-particle interaction. Regarding pavement performance, CTP-asphalt mastic outperforms LP-asphalt mastic in terms of high-temperature performance. Meanwhile, its low-temperature performance and moisture stability are only limitedly declined with the acceptable performance. Further, heavy metals leaching tests suggest that the risk for the substantial utilization of CTP in paving asphalt is absent. The related outcomes have verified the promising potential of CTP as an alternative candidate to substitute the conventional filler in paving asphalt from comprehensive consideration of in-service performance, and environmental and economic benefits.

IntroductionIn sub-Saharan Africa, pre-weaning young stock mortality (YSM) is in the order of 20 to 30% across most livestock species and production systems. High YSM has significant economic implications for livestock keepers, but few studies provide estimates of the “cost of YSM.” This study explores a bio-economic herd modeling approach to estimate the “cost of YSM” at farming/livestock system level.MethodsThe static zero-growth version of DYNMOD was used to calculate the annual physical and monetary output of a sheep flock consisting of 100 breeding females at different levels of lamb mortality. Production parameter values and prices were taken from recently published research. Calculations were carried out for values of lamb mortality decreasing from 30% to 0% in 5% intervals, with 20% representing the “baseline” YSM. Calculations were repeated for a “high” fertility scenario (100% vs. 59% parturition rate) to gauge the sensitivity of the cost of YSM to another parameter determining flock productivity.ResultsThe relation of revenue per head and YSM is close to linear over the range of analyzed YSM with 1% decrease in YSM resulting in an increase in revenue per animal of approximately 1%. At the higher fertility rate, the absolute cost of YSM to sheep farmers is higher while the relative increase in revenue per animal resulting from YSM reduction is lower. The estimated difference in revenue of the 100-ewe flock between the 20% and 0% lamb mortality scenarios (at baseline fertility) amounts to approximately USD 90 per additionally surviving lamb, which is far above its market value.DiscussionReduced lamb mortality ultimately impacts flock revenue through increased sales of “mature” animals, which embody the value of a lamb plus the revenue/profit from raising it to marketable age/weight. The modeling results suggest that foregone profit is an important component of the systemic “cost of YSM.” Consequently, expected profit per animal, in addition to its current market value, is essential for estimating the absolute cost of YSM at farming system level.

Abstract Background The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic sparked numerous studies on policy options for managing public health emergencies, especially regarding how to choose the intensity of prevention and control to maintain a balance between economic development and disease prevention. Methods We constructed a cost-benefit model of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control policies based on an epidemic transmission model. On this basis, numerical simulations were performed for different economies to analyse the dynamic evolution of prevention and control policies. These economies include areas with high control costs, as seen in high-income economies, and areas with relatively low control costs, exhibited in upper-middle-income economies. Results The simulation results indicate that, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, both high-and low-cost economies tended to enforce intensive interventions. However, as the virus evolved, particularly in circumstances with relatively rates of reproduction, short incubation periods, short spans of infection and low mortality rates, high-cost economies became inclined to ease restrictions, while low-cost economies took the opposite approach. However, the consideration of additional costs incurred by the non-infected population means that a low-cost economy is likely to lift restrictions as well. Conclusions This study concludes that variations in prevention and control policies among nations with varying income levels stem from variances in virus transmission characteristics, economic development, and control costs. This study can help researchers and policymakers better understand the differences in policy choice among various economies as well as the changing trends of dynamic policy choices, thus providing a certain reference value for the policy direction of global public health emergencies.

Costs and benefits should be considered alongside each other so that decisions can be made regarding the efficient delivery of scarce health care resources. So, if costs are high, benefit might also be large. Similarly, no health intervention can be efficient just because it is of low cost. An intervention may be of low cost and have no benefits. So, the important question when informing efficient decision making is how to compare costs and benefits associated with alternative interventions with each other. This is where economic evaluations are used. Types of economic evaluation are: (1) cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) which uses uni-dimensional measures of benefit (expressed in health units) and as such is generally used to address questions of technical efficiency; (2) Cost Minimization Analysis (CMA) which is considered to be a special case of CEA where alternative interventions are equivalent in terms of effectiveness and are compared only in terms of cost; (3) Cost-utility analysis (CUA) in which outcomes are considered in terms of changes in both quality and quantity of life. Here a cost per quality adjusted life years (QALY) ratio is estimated. The advantage of using this broader form of analysis is that it can address questions of both technical and allocative efficiency across various health producing programs; (4) Cost benefit analysis (CBA) expresses benefits and costs in monetary terms. By allowing costs to be compared directly to benefits, CBA is able to address questions of allocative efficiency (both within and beyond the health sector).

Compared to maritime vessel traffic accidents, there is a scarcity of available, and only incomplete, accident data for inland waterway accidents. Additionally, the characteristics of different waterway segments vary significantly, and the factors affecting navigation safety risks and their mechanisms may also differ. Meanwhile, in recent years, extreme weather events have been frequent in inland waterways, and there has been a clear trend towards larger vessels, bringing about new safety hazards and management challenges. Currently, research on inland waterway navigation safety risks mainly focuses on risk assessment, with scarce quantitative studies on risk mitigation measures. This paper proposes a new method for improving inland waterway traffic safety, based on a cost-effectiveness trade-off approach to mitigate the risk of vessel traffic accidents. The method links the effectiveness and cost of measures and constructs a comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation model using fuzzy Bayesian and quantification conversion techniques, considering the reduction effects of risk mitigation measures under uncertain conditions and the various costs they may incur. Taking the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River as examples, this research evaluates key risk mitigation measures for different waterway segments and provides the most cost-effective strategies. Findings reveal that, even if different waterways share the same key risk sources, the most cost-effective measures vary due to environmental differences. Moreover, there is no inherent correlation between the best-performing measures in terms of benefits and the lowest-cost measures, nor are they necessarily recommended. The proposed method and case studies provide theoretical support for scientifically formulating risk mitigation measures in complex environments and offer guidance for inland waterway management departments to determine future key work directions.