Relating plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) recruitment to deteriorating habitat quality: effects of macroalgal blooms in coastal nursery grounds

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1184-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Pihl ◽  
Johan Modin ◽  
Håkan Wennhage
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Pleuronectes Platessa ◽  
Macroalgal Blooms ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Nursery Habitats ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Algal Distribution

Concentration of juveniles of marine fishes in nurseries may act as a bottleneck during the life cycle, where quantity and quality of nurseries determine population size. Macroalgal blooms have become a common phenomenon in eutrophic shallow waters worldwide, and matforming algae may now cover many essential nursery habitats. In this investigation, the aim was to assess the quantitative effect of algal mats on the recruitment of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) from nurseries in the Swedish Skagerrak archipelago. A model was constructed using data on nursery size, settling density, and mortality of plaice combined with data on algal distribution. Recruitment of 0-group plaice from nurseries could be reduced by 30%–40% due to algae. The largest negative effect occurred during high settlement, reducing the important influence of strong year classes on stock size. The model predicted a reduction of juveniles due to algae of 45–46 × 106 individuals at high settlement. This amounts to 68% of the output at medium settlement and equals the amount of plaice produced during 5 years of low settlement. Up to 75% of the total reduction could occur in one quarter of the study area. With limiting resources, management actions should not be generally applied but rather be concentrated to optimize the cost-benefit of measures taken.

scholarly journals Ultrasound scan as a potential source of nosocomial and cross-infection: a literature review

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 319-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Hadyme Miyague ◽  
Fernando Marum Mauad ◽  
Wellington de Paula Martins ◽  
Augusto César Garcia Benedetti ◽  
Ana Elizabeth Gomes de Melo Tavares Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
Ultrasound Scan ◽  
Benefit Ratio ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
The Cost

AbstractThe authors review the main concepts regarding the importance of cleaning/disinfection of ultrasonography probes, aiming a better comprehension by practitioners and thus enabling strategies to establish a safe practice without compromising the quality of the examination and the operator productivity. In the context of biosafety, it is imperative to assume that contact with blood or body fluids represents a potential source of infection. Thus, in order to implement cleaning/disinfection practice, it is necessary to understand the principles of infection control, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of the measures to be implemented, and most importantly, to comprehend that such measures will not only benefit the health professional and the patient, but the society as a whole.

scholarly journals Are the Triptans for Migraine Therapy Worth the Cost?

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Major Advance ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Migraine Therapy ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Severe Migraine

ABSTRACT:The triptans represent a major advance in migraine therapy but their cost per dose greatly exceeds that of many older treatments. There is evidence that for a significant proportion of migraine patients these new drugs can show a positive cost benefit and also improve quality of life. Cost benefit would be expected to be greatest in patients with more severe migraine attacks.

Do family meetings for hospitalised palliative care patients improve outcomes and reduce health care costs? A cluster randomised trial

2020 ◽  
pp. 026921632096728
Author(s):  
Peter Hudson ◽  
Afaf Girgis ◽  
Kristina Thomas ◽  
Jennifer Philip ◽  
David C Currow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cluster Randomised Trial ◽  
Family Meetings ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Health Utilisation ◽  
The Cost

Background: Family meetings facilitate the exploration of issues and goals of care however, there has been minimal research to determine the benefits and cost implications. Aims: To determine: (1) if family caregivers of hospitalised patients referred to palliative care who receive a structured family meeting report lower psychological distress (primary outcome), fewer unmet needs, improved quality of life; feel more prepared for the caregiving role; and receive better quality of end-of-life care; (2) if outcomes vary dependant upon site of care and; (3) the cost-benefit of implementing meetings into routine practice. Design: Pragmatic cluster randomised trial involving palliative care patients and their primary family caregivers at three Australian hospitals. Participants completed measures upon admission (Time 1); 10 days later (Time 2) and two months after the patient died (Time 3). Regression analyses, health utilisation and process evaluation were conducted. Results: 297 dyads recruited; control ( n = 153) and intervention ( n = 144). The intervention group demonstrated significantly lower psychological distress (Diff: –1.68, p < 0.01) and higher preparedness (Diff: 3.48, p = 0.001) at Time 2. No differences were identified based on quality of end of life care or health utilisation measures. Conclusions: Family meetings may be helpful in reducing family caregiver distress and enhancing their preparedness for the caregiving role and it appears they may be conducted without increased hospital health utilisation impacts; although opportunity costs need to be considered in order to routinely offer these as a standardised intervention. Additional health economic examination is also advocated to comprehensively understand the cost-benefit implications. Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000200583

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of dignity in people with multiple sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 686-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarína Žiaková ◽  
Juraj Čáp ◽  
Michaela Miertová ◽  
Elena Gurková ◽  
Radka Kurucová
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Fighting Spirit ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Using Data

Background: Dignity is a fundamental concept in healthcare. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis have a negative effect on dignity. Understanding of lived experience of dignity in people with multiple sclerosis is crucial to support dignity in practice. Research aim: The aim was to explore the sense of dignity experienced by people with multiple sclerosis. Research design and participants: An interpretative phenomenological analysis design was adopted, using data collected through face-to-face interviews with 14 participants. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the faculty Ethical Committee (No. EC 1828/2016). Findings: Four interconnected superordinate themes emerged from analysis: Loss of a fully-fledged life: Violating the dignity-of-self; To accept and fight: Promoting the dignity-of-self; Contempt and rudeness: Indignity-in-relation; and Those who know and see, help: Promoting dignity-in-relation. The loss of former fully-fledged life has a dramatic impact on integrity and impaired dignity-of-self. Accepting illness and changed identity impaired by multiple sclerosis was the step that the participants considered to be important for reacquiring the sense of dignity. The participants encountered misunderstandings, prejudices, embarrassment, insensitive remarks, labelling, unwillingness and impersonal treatment as indignities. Acceptance of their condition, needed support, the feeling of being part of a group, sensitivity and the sharing of problems had a positive effect on their dignity. Discussion: Continual changes in functional ability threaten an individual’s identity and were experienced as violations of dignity. Based on this, participant’s dignity-of-self was not a moral, but much more existential value. Acceptance of changed identity and fighting spirit were important for restoring their dignity-of-self. The misunderstandings, prejudices and unwillingness had a negative impact on their dignity-in-relation. On the other side, support from others in fighting promoted their dignity-in-relation. Conclusion: Dignity is manifested as a complex phenomenon of lived experience of people with multiple sclerosis and also an umbrella concept for providing good quality of person-centred care.

Home telehealth for chronic disease management: A systematic review and an analysis of economic evaluations

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (03) ◽  
pp. 339-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Polisena ◽  
Doug Coyle ◽  
Kathryn Coyle ◽  
Sarah McGill
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Healthcare Decision Making ◽  
Home Telehealth ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Cost

Objectives:The research objectives were two-fold: first, to systematically review the literature on the cost-effectiveness of home telehealth for chronic diseases, and second to develop a framework for the conduct of economic evaluation of home telehealth projects for patients with chronic diseases.Methods:A comprehensive literature search identified twenty-two studies (n= 4,871 patients) on home telehealth for chronic diseases published between 1998 and 2008. Studies were reviewed in terms of their methodological quality and their conclusions.Results:Home telehealth was found to be cost saving from the healthcare system and insurance provider perspectives in all but two studies, but the quality of the studies was generally low. An evaluative framework was developed which provides a basis to improve the quality of future studies to facilitate improved healthcare decision making, and an application of the framework is illustrated using data from an existing program evaluation of a home telehealth program.Conclusions:Current evidence suggests that home telehealth has the potential to reduce costs, but its impact from a societal perspective remains uncertain until higher quality studies become available.

College Quality and Wages in the United States

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Black ◽  
Kermit Daniel ◽  
Jeffrey Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Cost ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
The United States ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
College Quality ◽  
Using Data ◽  
As Effects ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Identification Strategy

Abstract We estimate the effects of the quality of the college a student attends on their later earnings using data from a cohort of US college students from the late 1970s and early 1980s. We rely on a linear selection on observables identification strategy, which is justified in our context by a very rich set of conditioning variables. We find economically important earnings effects of college quality for men and women, as well as effects on educational attainment, spousal earnings and other demographic variables. These effects remain roughly constant over time and result primarily from effects on wages, rather than from effects on hours or labor force participation. We find that, over the lower part of the range of college quality, increases in college quality (which entail higher expenditures per student) pass a simple social cost-benefit test.

scholarly journals Verification as a service to bring more transparency on forecast accuracy to weather services and users

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Müller ◽  
Jan Hoffmann ◽  
Dennis Schulze
Keyword(s):  
Forecast Accuracy ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Forecast Horizon ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Industry Applications ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Forecast Quality

&lt;p&gt;Actual, continuously available information on the accuracy of forecasts can support both weather services and users of forecasts in quality assurance during operations and identify systematic weaknesses. Comparing the forecast success of different forecasting methods allows decision makers in the weather service and on the user side to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of available forecasting approaches, be it different models, DMO and post-processing, or different providers. Finally, in addition to on-off experiments for version comparison, the success of developments to the forecast system can be seen in the comparison of time series of verification results against those of other forecasts.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From the development of the forecasting process to daily operations to the use of forecasts in subsequent industry applications, stakeholders have very different questions about the quality of weather forecasts. From the weather room, there is a particular need for up-to-date information on the previous day's forecast success and rapid access to case verification analyses following unusual events. Especially in B2B, case-specific comparison with the success of other forecasts is also in demand. For management, on the other hand, longer-term trends in forecast quality are the focus of interest. Finally, users often base their choice of a forecasting provider not only on procurement costs and convenience of access, but also take into account the current forecast accuracy of their relevant parameters, in their region, in the forecast horizon relevant to them. Especially weather-sensitive industries such as road weather services, energy production and transmission, but also media often agree with forecast suppliers on continuous monitoring of forecast quality.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We present different perspectives and questions and show possible answers as use cases in a verification portal.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals On the Cost-Benefit Tradeoffs of Cloud Storage Services for End Users and Service Providers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glauber Gonçalves ◽  
Alex Vieira ◽  
Jussara Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Storage ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
End Users ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cloud Storage Services

Cloud Storage is a very popular Internet service. It allows users to backup data to the cloud as well as to perform collaborative work while sharing content. Despite the increasing interest in cloud storage, a thorough investigation on the costs and benefits of this service for providers and end users has not been conducted yet. This dissertation aims at investigating such cost-benefit tradeoffs for both providers and end users jointly. Using data collected from a real service (Dropbox), we developed new models, methodologies and tools to support providers and users in improving jointly their benefits in cloud storage.

A Method for Estimating Moisture Separator Effectiveness on a Reheat Nuclear Unit

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Kautzmann ◽  
Robert A. Ransom
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Actual Operating ◽  
Moisture Separator ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Cost

Having a better understanding of the level of moisture separator performance is an important component in evaluating the cost benefit of a turbine or MSR improvement or retrofit. The documented methods of determining Moisture Separator Effectiveness (MS η) on a reheat nuclear cycle require extensive station instrumentation, which may not be available in many power plants, or the introduction of radioactive (or other) tracers into the plant system. Because of these difficulties and associated costs, moisture separator performance is typically not adequately evaluated or monitored. This situation can lead to significant misconceptions about the actual operating moisture separator effectiveness. Using data from field tests of multiple GE-designed horizontal moisture separators, important relationships between MS performance and certain operating parameters were established that form the basis of this proposed Moisture Separator test method. This test method is specifically designed to remove many of the known difficulties associated with the current testing methods while maintaining reasonable accuracy levels. By removing many of the roadblocks in testing moisture separators, MS η can now be calculated on a regular basis and will allow for periodic performance monitoring and performance degradation detection.

scholarly journals Cost–benefit analysis of a staff recreation centre project: build or lease? – A Case Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Monica Singhania
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Employee Morale ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Community Centre

This case study aims at comprehensively assessing a decision by XYZ Ltd (name withheld due to confidentiality), New Delhi, on whether to build or to lease a recreation centre for its rank-and-file employees. Based on a cost–benefit analysis, we concluded that the centre should be built since the company would recover its investment within 11 years. Apart from the financial considerations, the recreation centre could be considered a long-term investment in employee morale, as it would lead to a better quality of life for the staff and their families, and is likely to enhance their sense of belonging and improve productivity. To date, what little space there is available for hosting family functions is reserved for the use of the officers, and only officers and their families are invited to most company functions. Thus, the other employees feel neglected by the management. Hiring a community centre external to the organisation for a function would involve spending a lot of money as the company is located in a prime real estate area where the cost of land and rentals is huge, and sometimes even availability is an issue. Most of the staff cannot afford such places and are generally under a lot of stress whenever they have a family function. This, in turn, tends to affect their productivity. 

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