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Copyright of Agronomy Journal / Agronomski Glasnik (0002-1954) is the property of Croatian Society of Agronomists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study was aimed to determine the influence of performing primary tillage by moldboard plow and planting operation by four rows Gaspardo planter on some performance and economic indicators of Armatrac tractor 854e 84 hp (62kw). The system calculates and measures slippage percentage, draft force, energy requirements, and total costs for planting and tillage operation at three practical velocities and two depths. Planting operation performed at 5 and 7 cm depth under 2.90, 4.27, and 5.28 km.h-1 . while ploughing operation performed at 15 and 20 cm tillage depth under 3.89, 5.28, and 6.67 km.h-1 . Two factorial experiments were carried out using randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications. The results of analysis of variance showed that increases of practical velocity results in increase of slippage percentage and draft force but results in decrease of energy requirements and total costs. Furthermore, this study revealed that increases the depth of operation results in increase of slippage percentage, draft force, energy requirements, and total costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and utilization patterns of palliative care among the kidney cancer patients using a large-scale representative population-based sample. We retrospectively analyzed National Inpatient Sample hospitalization data from January 2020 to December 2020 to explore disparities in delivering palliative care to deceased kidney cancer patients and assess its impact on healthcare usage, focusing on hospital costs and length of stay (LoS). We used ICD-10 CM codes (International Classification of Diseases-classifying diagnoses and reasons for visits in all healthcare settings) to categorize the study population. We conducted univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses to calculate coefficients and odds ratios, considering relevant variables and addressing potential confounding factors. We studied 1437 deceased kidney cancer patients, with 53.9% receiving palliative care. Those receiving palliative care had lower total costs ($99,804 vs. $1,34,731) and a shorter LoS (7.19 days vs. 7.66 days), compared to those who didn't. No significant difference was discovered in LoS. Private insurance, higher income, and female patients were more likely to receive palliative care. Race, hospital teaching status, and hospital size showed no significant differences. This study revealed insights into palliative care use among deceased kidney cancer patients, with cost-saving benefits evident. Disparities showed that individuals with private insurance and higher income more likely accessed palliative care, and females received it more often than males. Physicians and policymakers must consider these findings for equitable resource allocation and improved access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose technological principles for determining rational parameters of the supply chain in order to establish a balance between demand and supply for goods in the chain links under conditions of variable demand and optimisation of total costs for all cargo delivery participants, which will affect the final cost of goods to customers. For the experimental research of the supply chain functioning, the forecast values of demand were determined based on the study of demand trends. As a result of the research conducted using mathematical modelling, regularities of the influence of supply chain parameters on the total costs of delivery participants have been established and rational parameters of the supply chain for consumer goods customers in international connections have been determined, minimising additional costs and ensuring a minimum level of total costs. The positive results of the economic effect estimate demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions.

AimsIn the year 2021, human brucellosis ranked fifth in terms of the number of cases among all statutorily notifiable infectious diseases in China, thus remaining a significant concern for public health. This study aims to provide insights into the financial burden of human brucellosis by examining hospital stays and associated costs for affected individuals.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we gathered updated data from 467 inpatient cases primarily diagnosed with human brucellosis at eight major tertiary hospitals in Beijing, China, spanning from 2013 to 2023. To comprehensively explore the economic impact on individuals, we not only analyzed the duration of hospital stays and total costs but also examined various charge types, including drug, lab test, medical imaging, medical treatment, surgical procedures, medical supplies and consumables, inpatient bed care, nursing services, and other services costs. Statistical analysis was employed to compare differences among gender, age, ethnicity, type of health insurance, condition at admission, comorbidity index, the performance of surgery, and the site of infection.ResultsBoth the length of stay and total cost exhibited significant variations among insurance, surgery, and infection site groups. Utilization categories demonstrated significant differences between patients who underwent surgery and those who did not, as well as across different infection sites. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the condition at admission, Elixhauser comorbidity index, infection site, and surgery influenced both hospital stay and total cost. In addition, age and insurance type were associated with total costs.ConclusionBy delving into various utilization categories, we have addressed a significant gap in the literature. Our findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the allocation and management of health resources based on the influencing factors identified in this study.

Abstract Objective: Using a model-based analysis, we calculated the total costs associated with the exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) and breast milk substitute (BMS) usage for one infant for six months within select humanitarian contexts to (a) determine if there is a notable difference in costs and (b) use these results to inform future creation of data-informed humanitarian response standard operating procedures. Design: The inputs and costing data were drawn from a mixture of local e-commerce vendors, peer-reviewed literature and personal communications with field-based humanitarian responders. To account for cost fluctuations, each input’s costs along with low and high parameters are presented. All costs are presented in 2021 United States Dollars. Setting: Humanitarian responses within Indonesia and Jordan. Participants: Not applicable. Results: There was a notable difference in the total cost of care in both selected locations across the study arms (Indonesia: $542; Jordan: $892). Conclusions: Given the reality of limited funding for comprehensive humanitarian response around the world and the necessity of prioritising certain interventions, humanitarian response organisations should consider the notable cost difference between EBF and BMS usage (along with the proven health benefits of EBF). This difference should play a role in informing the future creation of standard operating procedures while also ensuring that all infants within a humanitarian crisis receive appropriate feeding.

Abstract Background Although diagnosis and treatment services for tuberculosis (TB) are provided free of charge in most countries, direct non-medical and indirect costs due to absenteeism, also place a significant burden on patients and their families. Sichuan Province has the second highest incidence of TB in China, with an incidence of approximately 100 cases per 100 000 people. However, there are limited research on out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and its influencing factors in TB patients in Sichuan Province. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on TB patients in designated medical institutions for TB in Sichuan Province from 2017-2021. A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted to obtain the information related to hospitalization of patients, and the multi-level regression model was used to analyse the factors that influence OOPE and total out-of-pocket expenditure (TOOPE) of TB patients. Results A total of 2644 patients were investigated, and 74.24% of TB patients and their families experienced catastrophic total costs due to TB. The median total cost was 9223.37 CNY (1429.98 USD), in which the median direct and indirect costs of TB patients were 10185.00 CNY (1579.07 USD) and 2400.00 CNY (372.09 USD), respectively, and indirect costs contributed to 43% of total costs. The median OOPE and TOOPE costs were 6024.00 CNY (933.95 USD) and 11890.50 CNY (1843.49 USD), respectively. OOPE and TOOPE had common influencing factors including whether the patient's family had four or more members, a history of hospitalization, combination with other types of TB, the number of visits before diagnosis, and co-occurrence with chronic disease. Conclusions The OOPE and TOOPE for TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province are still heavy. In the long run, it is necessary to strengthen education and awareness campaigns on TB related knowledge, disseminate basic medical knowledge to the public, improve healthcare-seeking behavior, and enhance the healthcare infrastructure to improve the accuracy of TB diagnosis and reduce the significant OOPE and TOOPE faced by TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province.

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and utilization patterns of palliative care among the kidney cancer patients using a large-scale representative population-based sample. We retrospectively analyzed National Inpatient Sample hospitalization data from January 2020 to December 2020 to explore disparities in delivering palliative care to deceased kidney cancer patients and assess its impact on healthcare usage, focusing on hospital costs and length of stay (LoS). We used ICD-10 CM codes (International Classification of Diseases-classifying diagnoses and reasons for visits in all healthcare settings) to categorize the study population. We conducted univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses to calculate coefficients and odds ratios, considering relevant variables and addressing potential confounding factors. We studied 1437 deceased kidney cancer patients, with 53.9% receiving palliative care. Those receiving palliative care had lower total costs ($99,804 vs. $1,34,731) and a shorter LoS (7.19 days vs. 7.66 days), compared to those who didn’t. No significant difference was discovered in LoS. Private insurance, higher income, and female patients were more likely to receive palliative care. Race, hospital teaching status, and hospital size showed no significant differences. This study revealed insights into palliative care use among deceased kidney cancer patients, with cost-saving benefits evident. Disparities showed that individuals with private insurance and higher income more likely accessed palliative care, and females received it more often than males. Physicians and policymakers must consider these findings for equitable resource allocation and improved access.

Objective: Using a model-based analysis, we calculated the total costs associated with the exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) and breast milk substitute (BMS) usage for one infant for six months within select humanitarian contexts to (a) determine if there is a notable difference in costs and (b) use these results to inform future creation of data-informed humanitarian response standard operating procedures. Design: The inputs and costing data were drawn from a mixture of local e-commerce vendors, peer-reviewed literature and personal communications with field-based humanitarian responders. To account for cost fluctuations, each input's costs along with low and high parameters are presented. All costs are presented in 2021 United States Dollars. Setting: Humanitarian responses within Indonesia and Jordan. Participants: Not applicable. Results: There was a notable difference in the total cost of care in both selected locations across the study arms (Indonesia: $542; Jordan: $892). Conclusions: Given the reality of limited funding for comprehensive humanitarian response around the world and the necessity of prioritising certain interventions, humanitarian response organisations should consider the notable cost difference between EBF and BMS usage (along with the proven health benefits of EBF). This difference should play a role in informing the future creation of standard operating procedures while also ensuring that all infants within a humanitarian crisis receive appropriate feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the analysis of expenditure functions within the framework of economic cybernetics, a discipline that applies automatic control theory principles to manage economic processes, a concept particularly pertinent to socialist economies. The investigation delves into total expenditures, average expenditures, and marginal expenditures, and presents a methodology for determining the elasticity coefficient for each expenditure type. There are several coefficients and particularly they serve as a key metrics for economists to asses importance of variables and their impact in each other having in mind the relationships they have in economy. The paper introduces a novel approach to associating these expenditures with linear and non-linear programming. It is known that for a given amount of production, the corresponding amount of production elements must be consumed. Therefore, this is predicted on the idea that consumption of resources (factors of production) dictates the amount of output produced because production necessitates the usage of resources. The examination of the expenditure function through the lens of economic cybernetics offers deeper insights into the evolving economic landscape of the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although diagnosis and treatment services for tuberculosis (TB) are provided free of charge in most countries, direct non-medical and indirect costs due to absenteeism, also place a significant burden on patients and their families. Sichuan Province has the second highest incidence of TB in China, with an incidence of approximately 100 cases per 100 000 people. However, there are limited research on out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and its influencing factors in TB patients in Sichuan Province. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on TB patients in designated medical institutions for TB in Sichuan Province from 2017-2021. A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted to obtain the information related to hospitalization of patients, and the multi-level regression model was used to analyse the factors that influence OOPE and total out-of-pocket expenditure (TOOPE) of TB patients. Results: A total of 2644 patients were investigated, and 74.24% of TB patients and their families experienced catastrophic total costs due to TB. The median total cost was 9223.37 CNY (1429.98 USD), in which the median direct and indirect costs of TB patients were 10185.00 CNY (1579.07 USD) and 2400.00 CNY (372.09 USD), respectively, and indirect costs contributed to 43% of total costs. The median OOPE and TOOPE costs were 6024.00 CNY (933.95 USD) and 11890.50 CNY (1843.49 USD), respectively. OOPE and TOOPE had common influencing factors including whether the patient's family had four or more members, a history of hospitalization, combination with other types of TB, the number of visits before diagnosis, and co-occurrence with chronic disease. Conclusions: The OOPE and TOOPE for TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province are still heavy. In the long run, it is necessary to strengthen education and awareness campaigns on TB related knowledge, disseminate basic medical knowledge to the public, improve healthcare-seeking behavior, and enhance the healthcare infrastructure to improve the accuracy of TB diagnosis and reduce the significant OOPE and TOOPE faced by TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Greenation Ilmu Teknik (JGIT) is the property of Greenation Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the field of electricity production, factors such as the restricted availability of investment resources and the state of the surrounding environment are among the most significant factors that influence this process. Minimizing the cost and the harmful effects of the environment has always been and will be the concern of experts. The method of generating electricity using geothermal power plants is being highlighted due to the gravity of the issue of environmental protection as well as the security of electricity. Obviously, the resources necessary for investment in our country are overshadowed by environmental issues. Now, the main question is whether it is possible to replace fossil power plants with geothermal ones, or at least in the future? Given the high cost of electricity production by geothermal power plants and the state of electricity production costs in the country, this study tried to do an economic study of the aforementioned issue, taking into account the social costs. In this study, the total cost of electricity generation per kilowatt hour (kWh) in each of the power plants has been calculated. Then, a necessary evaluation has been made taking into account the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants along with the imposed external costs. At the end, it was found that the production of electricity by geothermal power plants is not economically justified, compared to fossil power plants in scenarios 1 and 2. However, this can be taken into consideration in scenario 3, and it is economic in scenarios 4 and 5. Finally, it seems using energy from fossil power plants based on scenarios 1 and 2 will not be economically justified in the not-too-distant future given the rise in electricity demand, the scarcity of fossil resources, and the high level of pollution from these sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to identify the costs and revenues of dairy products manufacturing projects, as well as calculating the financial evaluation indicators for these projects through a simple random sample of dairy products manufacturing projects in Qalyubia governorate. The sample included about 24 projects. The most important results of the study: The average total revenue of dairy products manufacturing projects amounted to about 2.25 million pounds. It was found that the producers of this production mode achieve a positive net profit, and cover all types of costs, even implicit, and it turns out that there is field for expansion in this production activity with a profit, as the annual net profit of the dairy production plant amounted to about 492.67 thousand pounds, While the net profit per ton of raw milk amounted to about 4105.57 pounds. The internal rate of return reached about 44.45%, which is a high rate that far exceeds the interest rate in commercial banks (return on investment in commercial banks), which indicates the high economic feasibility of investing in dairy production activity . The ratio of benefits to costs amounted to about 1.33 pounds, which indicates that each pound spent in the production of dairy products generates total benefits estimated at about 1.33 pounds, that is, it generates net benefits estimated at about 0.33 pounds, and this indicates the feasibility High economic investment in the production of dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

هدفت الدراسة الى الكشف عن وجود علاقة بين متغير المقاولة من الباطن والتكاليف الكلية للإنتاج، من أجل ذلك تم طرح فرضية الدراسة المتمثلة في أنه يوجد علاقة ارتباط بين المقاولة من الباطن تخفيض التكاليف الكلية للإنتاج في مؤسسة السويدي كابل، وذلك من أجل تسليط الضوء على المقاولة من الباطن والتطرق الى بعض الجوانب منها ومحاولة معرفة دورها في تخفيض تكاليف الإنتاج من خلال دراسة ميدانية، وبغية الاجابة على الإشكالية والتحقق من فروض الدراسة تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي. توصلنا الى نتيجة أنه يوجد 0.0 .( بين المقاولة من الباطن وخفض التكاليف الكلية ≤α( علاقة ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى معنوية للإنتاج The study aimed to reveal the relationship between subcontracting, and the total costs of production, for that the hypothesis of the study was put forward that: there is a correlation between subcontracting and the reduction of the total costs of production in the El Sewedy Cables Corporation, to shed light on the subcontracting, to answer the problem and verify the hypotheses of the study, we used the descriptive approach. We concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship at the level of significance (α≤ 0.05) between subcontracting and reducing the total costs of production.

Copyright of Revista Gestão & Tecnologia is the property of Revista Gestao & Tecnologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the accelerated technical and technological development in the field of agricultural production of the 21st century, which aims to increase production quantitatively, the quality of primary agricultural products is in many cases unfairly neglected. This has directly aroused consumer awareness of the inevitable transition to purchasing products from alternative production methods (self-produced "healthy food", organic food production). For these reasons, the consumer alternative is to switch to environmentally friendly and health-safe products obtained from agricultural production and to use them in the future. A very promising product of this kind in the Republic of Serbia is vermicompost. Vermicompost is widely used in primary agricultural production: fruits and vegetables, mushroom production, horticulture, nurseries, green areas, parks, green sports fields, and in all segments of organic plant production. The benefits that farmers have from using vermicompost are a prerequisite for this product to be marketed in Serbia. This paper describes the benefits for both vermicompost manufacturers and consumers and the wider community.

The fast-growing prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) creates a heavy burden for society and the health care system. Although different ways to mitigate the economic burden of PD have been discussed in the literature, including several effective treatments, few studies have paid attention to the effect of care rehabilitation (CR) on PD costs over a long-term care period. This study tracked medical expenses, care costs, and total costs of elderly individuals with PD for 3 years based on medical claims data merged with long-term care insurance (LTCI) claims data, and determined whether CR reduced PD costs. Using a retrospective, longitudinal cohort design, 3950 elderly individuals with PD who received LTCI services from April 2014 to March 2017 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan were followed. PD costs were compared between the CR group and the non-CR group, and a hierarchical linear model was used to examine whether CR was associated with medical expenses, care costs, and total costs. The mean value of total costs in fiscal years 2014, 2015, and 2016 were ¥3,124,944 (US$29,504), ¥3,328,398 (US$31,425), and ¥3,615,892 (US$34,140), respectively. In a hierarchical linear model, CR alone was not associated with medical expenses and care costs; additionally, CR had a positive association with higher total costs. However, the interaction term between CR and baseline care needs level significantly reduced care costs and total costs. That indicates that if older PD patients with higher care needs level receive CR, their care costs and total costs will be reduced. Further research is needed to clarify how CR reduces these patients' costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivation of citrus in Egypt receives great attention because of its economic and agricultural importance, and citrus is the main fruit crop in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The most important types of Egyptian fruits, in terms of economic and nutritional importance and export value, and the high nutritional value of orange fruits is due to the high content of its juice from vitamins A, B1, B6, and the research problem was represented in the many complaints of orange producers in Sharkia Governorate about the decrease in their share of the consumer pound, which The increase in the cultivated area of citrus at the end of the last century led to a decrease in the prices of oranges By studying the function of the average total costs of producing a ton of the summer orange crop in pounds, and the marginal costs function of producing a ton of the summer orange crop in pounds, the most important results came as follows: The curve of the average total costs per ton of summer oranges takes the form of a letter U and this is consistent with the concept of economic theory, which means that the average total cost of a ton of summer oranges decreases with the increase in productivity up to a certain level (25.7 tons), then the average total costs start at The increase involves two stages. The first stage: The production of an additional ton of summer oranges up to the level (25.7 tons) adds less to the average total costs than the previous one, due to the production efficiency of the production elements used in the production process. It can be concluded that the production volume, which is the lowest average total cost of producing a ton of summer oranges, is about 25.7 tons, with an average production cost estimated at 745.29 pounds per ton. The actual average productivity per acre of flanichia oranges in the old lands was estimated at 14.3 tons, with an average actual cost per ton estimated at 1449.65 pounds per ton, as the average actual total costs amounted to about 20,730.01 pounds per acre, and the actual average total revenue was about 51,999 pounds per acre. The actual net return is about 18,338.21 pounds per acre. The actual average productivity per acre of summer oranges in the old lands was estimated at 14.3 tons, with an average actual cost per ton estimated at 1449.65 pounds per ton, as the average actual total costs amounted to about 20,730.01 pounds per acre, and the actual average total revenue was about 51,999 pounds per acre. The actual net return is about 18,338 pounds per acre. It is recommended to search as follows: Farmers must use production elements in combinations that lead to the use of these elements with the highest economic efficiency in order to be able to obtain the highest possible production and the highest possible return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers various basic feeder schemes of urban distribution networks from the standpoint of economy, reliability, and technical limits. Presented are the mathematical models for the analysis of feeders' annual costs, reliability performances, voltage drops and cable loading in normal and critical emergency situations. The suggested approach takes into account the uncertainty of various basic data by modeling them as grey inputs, which can have any value within the intervals of values experienced in practice. It was implied that adequate statistical data for the construction of probability distribution functions for uncertain parameters are missing, which is often the case. The proposed mathematical model could serve as a useful tool in planning new or expanding existing distribution networks. As a numerical illustration, the presented calculation methods have been applied for the analysis of the performances of the considered feeder schemes in the Belgrade area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Little is known about risk factors for emergency department (ED) attendance for chronic pain (CP) management and the relative service burden. We examined ED utilisation in patients with CP, identified risk factors associated with attendance for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), and estimated the comparative cost of treatment. The study cohort comprised a random sample of 3700 adults from the general population in Tayside, Scotland. Linked regional extracts, spanning a 12-month period, were obtained from national registers, providing information on ED attendances, community-dispensed prescribing, and outpatient clinic attendances. The National Health Service Scotland Cost Book was used to ascertain the current average cost of an ED attendance (£130; ∼$167). All-cause ED attendance was higher in those with CP (68.5%; n = 252) than without (29.3%; n = 967). In the entire cohort, more patients attended the ED for the treatment of CMP than for any other medical condition (n = 119; 32.3% of those with CP). Risk factors for ED attendance for CMP were: recent analgesic dose decreases (OR = 4.55); and transitioning from opioid to nonopioid analgesics (OR = 5.08). Characteristics protective of ED attendance for CMP were: being in receipt of strong opioids (OR = 0.21); transitioning from nonopioid to opioid analgesics (OR = 0.25); recent analgesic dose increases (OR = 0.24); and being prescribed tricyclic antidepressants (OR = 0.10), benzodiazepines (OR = 0.46), or hypnotics (OR = 0.45). Chronic musculoskeletal pain was one of the most expensive conditions to treat (£17,680 [∼$22,668] per annum), conferring a substantial burden on ED services. Improved understanding of the risk/protective factors could inform healthcare redesign to reduce avoidable ED attendances for CMP management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In the year 2021, human brucellosis ranked fifth in terms of the number of cases among all statutorily notifiable infectious diseases in China, thus remaining a significant concern for public health. This study aims to provide insights into the financial burden of human brucellosis by examining hospital stays and associated costs for affected individuals., Methods: In this retrospective study, we gathered updated data from 467 inpatient cases primarily diagnosed with human brucellosis at eight major tertiary hospitals in Beijing, China, spanning from 2013 to 2023. To comprehensively explore the economic impact on individuals, we not only analyzed the duration of hospital stays and total costs but also examined various charge types, including drug, lab test, medical imaging, medical treatment, surgical procedures, medical supplies and consumables, inpatient bed care, nursing services, and other services costs. Statistical analysis was employed to compare differences among gender, age, ethnicity, type of health insurance, condition at admission, comorbidity index, the performance of surgery, and the site of infection., Results: Both the length of stay and total cost exhibited significant variations among insurance, surgery, and infection site groups. Utilization categories demonstrated significant differences between patients who underwent surgery and those who did not, as well as across different infection sites. Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the condition at admission, Elixhauser comorbidity index, infection site, and surgery influenced both hospital stay and total cost. In addition, age and insurance type were associated with total costs., Conclusion: By delving into various utilization categories, we have addressed a significant gap in the literature. Our findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the allocation and management of health resources based on the influencing factors identified in this study., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ma, Wang, Wu, Zheng, Liu, Bai, Zhang, Li and Liu.)

Purpose: The contribution of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) to healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to estimate both inpatient and outpatient HCRU and costs associated with acute GVHD during the 100-day and 1-year periods after allogeneic HCT in the USA. Methods: A retrospective analysis of administrative claims from the Optum® Research Database of patients aged ≥ 12 years who received HCT between 2010 and 2016 was conducted. Costs and HCRU among patients with acute GVHD and no GVHD were compared during the 100-day (acute GVHD, n = 723; no GVHD, n = 385) and 360-day (acute GVHD, n = 445; no GVHD, n = 227) periods after HCT. Results: Patients with acute GVHD had significantly more (P < 0.001) mean office visits (47 vs 32), hospital outpatient visits (71 vs 35), and inpatient stays (2.8 vs 1.1) than patients with no GVHD during 360 days post-HCT; similar findings were observed over the 100-day period. Mean total all-cause costs were significantly higher (P < 0.001) for patients with acute GVHD versus no GVHD during both post-HCT periods (100-day, $316,458 vs $215,229; 360-day, $466,720 vs $263,568). Additional factors associated with increased 360-day costs included young age (12–17 years; P < 0.001) and peripheral blood as graft source (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Acute GVHD was associated with significant HCRU and costs in the first 100 days of transplant, increasing over the first year post-HCT. Inpatient care was the primary driver, but outpatient care and related costs were also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension, particularly untreated, leads to serious complications and contributes to high costs incurred by the whole society. The aim of the review was to carry out a social and economic comparison of various categories of hypertension costs from different countries.Material and Methods: The study was a systematic review. PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched. Hypertension costs were analyzed in 8 cost categories. An attempt was made to determine whether selected economic and social factors (such as HDI or GDP) influenced hypertension costs.Results: The review included data from 15 countries: Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, USA, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The papers included in the review were heterogeneous with respect to cost categories, which made comparisons difficult. The average total costs of hypertension for all the studied countries, calculated per person, amounted to 630.14 Int$, direct costs - 1,497.36 Int$, and indirect costs - 282.34 Int$. The ranking of countries by costs and by selected economic and social indices points at the possible relationship between these indices and hypertension costs.Conclusions: The costs of hypertension calculated per country reached the region of several dozen billion Int$. Other sources usually showed lower costs than those presented in this review. This indicates a growth in costs from year to year and the future increasing burden on society. Globally uniform cost terminology and cost calculation standards need to be developed. That would facilitate making more informed decisions regarding fund allocation in hypertension management schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inpatient healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs for acute versus no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) up to 100 days post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) were assessed. • Acute GVHD was associated with greater inpatient HCRU and total costs compared with no GVHD. • Inpatient HCRU and costs were especially high with steroid-refractory acute GVHD. • Acute GVHD was associated with high 100-day post-HCT inpatient mortality. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) contributes to poor outcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Data are limited regarding the economic burden of acute GVHD, particularly steroid-refractory or high-risk (SR/HR) disease. This retrospective analysis of the Premier Healthcare Database reports inpatient healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), costs, and mortality during initial hospitalization for allogeneic HCT and through 100 days post-HCT among patients who developed acute GVHD, including a subgroup with SR/HR disease, compared with patients without GVHD. The analysis included adults discharged for first HCT between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2016 (acute GVHD, n = 906; SR/HR acute GVHD, n = 158; no GVHD, n = 1529). During the initial hospitalization for HCT, patients with acute GVHD and SR/HR acute GVHD (n = 455 and 125, respectively) had significantly longer median lengths of stay (31 and 46 days versus 24 days) and higher median total costs ($153,849 and $205,880 versus $97,417) versus patients with no GVHD (n = 1529; P <.0001 for all). During the 100-day post-HCT period, patients with acute GVHD and SR/HR acute GVHD had higher readmission rates (78.3% and 77.2% versus 28.3%; P <.0001) and inpatient mortality rates (20.2% and 35.4% versus 8.9%; P <.0001) versus patients with no GVHD. In summary, acute GVHD, especially SR/HR disease, is associated with longer inpatient stays, higher readmission rates, and higher inpatient mortality compared with no GVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peter Bo Poulsen,1 Søren Paaske Johnsen,2 Morten Lock Hansen,3 Axel Brandes,4 Steen Husted,5,† Louise Harboe,6 Lars Dybro7 1Pfizer Denmark ApS, Ballerup, 2Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, 3Department of Cardiology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, 4Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, 5Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital West Jutland, Herning, 6Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark, Virum, 7Pfizer Denmark, Ballerup, Denmark †Steen Husted passed away on December 28, 2016 Aim: Resources devoted to health care are limited, therefore setting priorities is required. It differs between countries whether decision-making concerning health care technologies focus on broad economic perspectives or whether focus is narrow on single budgets (“silo mentality”). The cost perspective as one part of the full health economic analysis is important for decision-making. With the case of oral anticoagulants in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), the aim is to discuss the implication of the use of different cost perspectives for decision-making and priority setting. Methods: In a cost analysis, the annual average total costs of five oral anticoagulants (warfarin and non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants [NOACs; dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban]) used in daily clinical practice in Denmark for the prevention of stroke in NVAF patients are analyzed. This is done in pairwise comparisons between warfarin and each NOAC based on five potential cost perspectives, from a “drug cost only” perspective up to a “societal” perspective.Results: All comparisons of warfarin and NOACs show that the cost perspective based on all relevant costs, ie, total costs perspective, is essential for the choice of therapy. Focusing on the reimbursement costs of the drugs only, warfarin is the least costly option. However, with the aim of therapy to prevent strokes and limit bleedings, including the economic impact of this, all NOACs, except rivaroxaban, result in slightly lower health care costs compared with warfarin. The same picture was found applying the societal perspective.Conclusion: Many broad cost-effectiveness analyses of NOACs exist. However, in countries with budget focus in decision-making this information does not apply. The present study’s case of oral anticoagulants has shown that decision-making should be based on health care or societal cost perspectives for optimal use of limited resources. Otherwise, the risk is that suboptimal decisions will be likely. Keywords: atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulants, priority setting, drug costs, total costs, silo thinking

At the time of the appearance of the ABC method, many specialists considered that they found the most opportune method of calculation to allocate the overhead costs on the cost objects, otherwise said to be able to calculate the total cost of a product or service. Because the method is based on determining the total cost, we can consider that the ABC method is not a method of costing, but rather a method of cost management. Unfortunately, in the specialized literature of Roumania there are many approaches which consider that the ABC method is a method of costing in the traditional way, although in our opinion it is not. Application of ABC method to a regional operator of water and sewerage shows us the possibilities of the method, the possibilities that are offered in the field of cost and administration overhead management, respectively of the establishment of the accounting result on the different cost objects. In case of the regional operator the calculation object is the city or township in which provides the services of water and sewage.

Forecasting plays a central role in the efficient operation of a supply chain – i.e., the total costs and fill rate. As forecasts of demand are required on a regular basis for a very large number of products, the methods developed should be fast, flexible, user-friendly, and able to produce results that are reliable and easy to interpret by a manager. In this paper we show that the supply chain costs cannot be optimal if the forecasting method is treated separately from the inventory model. We analyse the performance of the joint optimization of the modified Holt-Winters forecasting method and a stock control policy and investigate the effect of different penalties for unsatisfied demand on the total cost and fill rate of the supply chain. From the results obtained with 1,428 real time series from M3-Competition we show that an essential reduction of supply chain costs and an increase of fill rate can be achieved if we use the joint model with the modified Holt-Winters method.

Query optimization is a stimulating task of any database system. A number of heuristics have been applied in recent times, which proposed new algorithms for substantially improving the performance of a query. The hunt for a better solution still continues. The imperishable developments in the field of Decision Support System (DSS) databases are presenting data at an exceptional rate. The massive volume of DSS data is consequential only when it is able to access and analyze by distinctive researchers. Here, an innovative stochastic framework of DSS query optimizer is proposed to further optimize the design of existing query optimization genetic approaches. The results of Entropy Based Restricted Stochastic Query Optimizer (ERSQO) are compared with the results of Exhaustive Enumeration Query Optimizer (EAQO), Simple Genetic Query Optimizer (SGQO), Novel Genetic Query Optimizer (NGQO) and Restricted Stochastic Query Optimizer (RSQO). In terms of Total Costs, EAQO outperforms SGQO, NGQO, RSQO and ERSQO. However, stochastic approaches dominate in terms of runtime. The Total Costs produced by ERSQO is better than SGQO, NGQO and RGQO by 12%, 8% and 5% respectively. Moreover, the effect of replicating data on the Total Costs of DSS query is also examined. In addition, the statistical analysis revealed a 2-tailed significant correlation between the number of join operations and the Total Costs of distributed DSS query. Finally, in regard to the consistency of stochastic query optimizers, the results of SGQO, NGQO, RSQO and ERSQO are 96.2%, 97.2%, 97.45 and 97.8% consistent respectively.

Underpasses play an important role in ensuring permeability of line traffic structures (motorways, expressways) for feral species. There are many studies, articles and methodological guidebooks available describing proper design principles for technical parameters of underpasses and their placement within the terrain. Width, height and length are the main technical parameters affecting wildlife migration. Wildlife behaviour and their requirements for the mentioned technical parameters of underpasses also have been examined in depth. In practically all cases, underpass functionality grows with increasing width and height. Of course, this also results in greater construction costs. The objective should therefore be to find a balanced compromise enabling “sufficient” functionality while maintaining “reasonable” costs. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) provides a way to identify “good” solutions in the sense of “sufficient” underpass functionality with “reasonable” total costs. Underpass functionality calculations were based on a methodology for calculating migration potentials (Žák and Florian, 2013). Total costs were established according to actual construction work prices in the Czech Republic, including prices for preparations, design, construction, maintenance, and demolition. The results indicate that DEA can be used to find “good” solutions and can be of assistance in particular when planning measures to ensure motorways are permeable to wildlife.

Purpose: Retail sales growth has been sluggish in the recent decade in North European countries. Number of factors have caused this, like problems in macro-economy, sanctions and the effect of ageing population. Also increasing amount of e-commerce from China has taken its share. Future development paths need to be researched further to identify the outlook of North European retail. Methodology/Approach: Four different imported items were examined, which were hypothetically planned to be brought on Estonian consumer markets from China. We take into account freight costs, custom duties, VAT and profit margin requirement. Also lead time performance is being examined. Findings: Analysis shows that company based imports is not that viable model as profit margin requirement as well as governmental costs (duty and VAT) take lion share from overall costs. Even if profit requirement of company importing the products would decrease, wage inflation in Asia and freight will probably lead to higher product prices. Therefore, e-commerce needs to enlarge to lower cost manufacturing locations and/or use more direct sales to consumers. Total lead time soughts new solutions too (e.g. railway connection to Europe). Research Limitation/implication: Examination is limited to small Estonian market, and their custom tariffs and VAT. Also logistics costs to Northern Europe are higher than to Central Europe. Originality/Value of paper:Research is one of the first based on the examination of products and overall costs. It adds value through understanding of import cost structures.

The state of development and application of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in Serbia is presented, together with a review of their number in some European countries and cities. After several years of operation of these buses in the largest fleets in Serbia (Belgrade and Novi Sad), an analysis of their economic benefits and ecological characteristics has been carried out. Special attention is paid to the operational costs and possible savings achievable by CNG buses compared to diesel buses. Ecological characteristics of these buses are presented through the measurements of exhaust emissions on one type of these buses and through presentation and analysis of data from the literature on emissions of the buses of identical or similar engines. The preformed investigations show that application of CNG buses brings significant savings as regards total costs during their operational lifecycle compared to diesel buses. On the other hand, CNG buses have a significant ecological potential as regards fulfilling stringent requirements for exhaust emissions standards.

Pinch methodology was applied to the heat exchangers network (HEN) synthesis of nitric acid production. The integration is analyzed in two ways, and the results are presented as two different solutions: (i) the first solution is based on the original heat transfer equipment arrangement, (ii) in order to eliminate the shortages of the first solution the second HEN was obtained using process simulation with optimized process parameters. Optimized HEN, with new arrangement of heat exchangers, gave good results in energy and process optimization. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. P172063]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on healthcare systems has been tremendous and it is having a huge economic impact. The objective of this paper is to carry out a systematic literature review of the publications that have analysed the costs derived from COVID-19 from the patient's perspective. Not only is this study aimed at measuring the impact of COVID-19 in economic terms, but also in qualitative terms, analysing, for instance, the types of costs (direct and indirect) and their variations depending on the geographical area under study. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus. The time frame for the analysis was from the start of the pandemic until 9th December 2021. A total of 322 papers were found. The number of articles assessed for eligibility was 32, and after applying the exclusion criteria, 13 papers were included in the qualitative synthesis. Most of the studies analysed only direct costs (69.23%) and were focused on Asia (61.54%), where the larger indirect costs, as well as the greater total costs, were found. However, the higher costs per patient and year were shown for the United States. This investigation showed the importance of COVID-19 in national, regional and local budgets. More studies are to be developed in Europe due to both the existing differences in the health care systems and financing by country and the difference in the incidence of COVID-19 by country and wave., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has the potential for curative outcomes for a variety of hematologic malignancies. Current allo-HCT studies often describe the outcomes and costs in the near term; however, research on the lifetime economic burden post-allo-HCT remains limited. This study was conducted to estimate the average total lifetime direct medical costs of an allo-HCT patient and the potential net monetary savings from an alternative treatment associated with improved graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS). A disease-state model was constructed using a short-term decision tree and a long-term semi-Markov partitioned survival model to estimate the average per-patient lifetime cost and expected quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for an allo-HCT patient from a US healthcare system perspective. Key clinical inputs included overall survival, GRFS, incidence of both acute and chronic GVHD, relapse of the primary disease, and infections. Cost results were reported as ranges based on varying the percentage of chronic GVHD patients that remained on treatment after 2 years (15% or 39%). Over a lifetime, the average per-patient medical cost of allo-HCT was estimated to range from $942,373 to $1,247,917. The majority of the costs were for chronic GVHD treatment (37% to 53%), followed by the allo-HCT procedure (15% to 19%). The expected lifetime QALYs of an allo-HCT patient were estimated as 4.7. Lifetime per-patient treatment costs often exceed $1,000,000 for allo-HCT patients. Innovative research efforts focused on the reduction or elimination of late complications, particularly chronic GVHD, may provide the greatest value to improved patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study discusses the evolution of agritourism in central region of Italy such as Latium region and as the staying time in farm has had direct effects on the level of farmer's income. This research has proposed three different scenarios in terms of staying time of agritourists (3.5 days, 5 and 10 days per person) in order to assess the total costs and the total revenue for farmers. Findings have pointed out as there is not a return to scale between staying time and total revenue. The growth of agritourisms in Latium region has been strongly supported by fi nancial aids and other payments allocated by the European Common Agricultural Policy even if the land fragmentation of farms and the aging of farmers are two main constraints in a mounting growth of agritourisms. Outcomes have pointed out a not significant role of a most famous touristic centre as Rome in attracting agritourists and in increasing the amount of time spent in agritourisms. This has corroborated the hypothesis according to which agritourism is not an alternative and cheaper typology of tourism in antithesis of traditional one but it has got an own independence with specific needs and expectations of agritourists towards the agritourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV testing is free in Malawi, but users may still incur costs that can deter or delay them accessing these services. We sought to identify and quantify these costs among HIV testing service clients in Malawi. We asked residents of communities participating in a cluster randomised trial investigating the impact of HIV self-testing about their past HIV testing experiences and the direct non-medical and indirect costs incurred to access HIV testing. We recruited 749 participants whose most recent HIV test was within the past 12 months. The mean total cost to access testing was US$2.45 (95%CI: US$2.11-US$2.70). Men incurred higher costs (US$3.81; 95%CI: US$2.91-US$4.50) than women (US$1.83; 95%CI: US$1.61-US$2.00). Results from a two-part multivariable regression analysis suggest that age, testing location, time taken to test, visiting a facility specifically for an HIV test and district of residence significantly affected the odds of incurring costs to testing. In addition, gender, wealth, age, education and district of residence were associated with significant user costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Retail sales growth has been sluggish in the recent decade in North European countries. Number of factors have caused this, like problems in macroeconomy, sanctions and the effect of ageing population. Also increasing amount of e-commerce from China has taken its share. Future development paths need to be researched further to identify the outlook of North European retail. Methodology/Approach: Four different imported items were examined, which were hypothetically planned to be brought on Estonian consumer markets from China. We take into account freight costs, custom duties, VAT and profit margin requirement. Also lead time performance is being examined. Findings: Analysis shows that company based imports is not that viable model as profit margin requirement as well as governmental costs (duty and VAT) take lion share from overall costs. Even if profit requirement of company importing the products would decrease, wage inflation in Asia and freight will probably lead to higher product prices. Therefore, e-commerce needs to enlarge to lower cost manufacturing locations and/or use more direct sales to consumers. Total lead time soughts new solutions too (e.g. railway connection to Europe). Research Limitation/implication: Examination is limited to small Estonian market, and their custom tariffs and VAT. Also logistics costs to Northern Europe are higher than to Central Europe. Originality/Value of paper: Research is one of the first based on the examination of products and overall costs. It adds value through understanding of import cost structures. Category: Research paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic broiler chicken production has recently received more attention worldwide. This study carried out an economic analysis to compare the profitability of organic versus conventional growing systems per unit of broiler meat production. In this study, 400 slow-growing broilers (Hubbard Red-JA) were reared in an organic production system and the same number of fast-growing broilers (Ross-308) were reared in a conventional system. Profitability was deduced from an economic analysis that compared total costs and net income. Results showed that organic broiler meat can cost from 70% to 86% more with respect to variable and fixed costs when compared with conventional production. The main reasons for the higher cost of organic broiler meat were feed, labor, certification, and outdoor area maintenance. The proportion of fixed costs in total costs was 1.54% in the conventional system and 7.48% in the organic system. The net income per kg of chicken meat in the organic system was €0.75, which is 180% higher compared with the conventional system (€0.27); however, organic broiler meat was sold at a twice as high price than the conventional one. In conclusion, organic broiler meat production was more economical than conventional rearing.

The European Horizon2020 project MORE-CONNECT on prefabricated deep energy renovation of residential dwellings also covers pilot demonstration projects, which are to be carried out in six of the participating countries. For each country a unique, climate specific concept development analysis is carried out. The concept development follows the MORE-CONNECT methodology and thus aims towards a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) level or if cost limitations require nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB). For the Danish situation, this means that the energy requirement for heating purpose is to be brought down from around 100 kWh/m2 to below 20 kWh/m2. As the pilot project has not yet been identified, concept development calculations has been conducted for a generic building. The technologies to be considered for this energy renovation are: Insulation of the façade, insulation of the roof, low-energy windows, heat-recovery ventilation, solar domestic hot water and a PV-system. Within the MORE-CONNECT two technologies are under development in Denmark. The first is a new PV-roof solution in which the PVcells are fully integrated in the roofing elements. This PV-roof can be fitted into any roof surface shape. It can also be constructed as a PVT-roof connected to a heat pump for heating purposes. The second technology under development is 3-D finishing of a new layer of façade insulation by an industry robot. When an insulation layer has been placed on any given façade a finishing layer of plaster can be added and finished with any desired patterns or painting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the revenues and production costs of a dairy sheep farm to optimize the number of livestock. Statistical methods, comparative analysis are used. The results obtained show that the optimum number of sheep on the farm should be 500. The performed analysis about the activities of dairy Bulgarian Synthetic Dairy Population sheep farm, allowed concluding that: Over the three years of the analysed period, revenues from sales of milk had the greatest share in total revenues of the farm (45-52 %). In fact this confirmed the profile of the farm as dairy farm. The percentage of meat varied within a narrow range with lamb meat occupying the greatest share of meat revenues (26 - 29 %). The participation of other types of meat in farm's revenues was minor. The share of wool as element of revenues was insignificant over the 3-yar period. Wool production was rather a concomitant production therefore serious revenues from wool are not expected as at the time of the study, there is no market demand for this product. Among variable costs, the feed costs proportion was the greatest (40 - 44 %). Then followed labour, insurances and fuel costs. It should be mentioned that during the last year of the analysed period, costs for purchase of shearing machine and sharpening device are planned. Permanent costs did not change in 2016-2018. The share of depreciation costs from total costs was approximately 3 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]