scholarly journals PHYTO-THREATS: Addressing Threats to UK Forests and Woodlands from Phytophthora; Identifying Risks of Spread in Trade and Methods for Mitigation

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1617
Author(s):  
Sarah Green ◽  
David E. L. Cooke ◽  
Mike Dunn ◽  
Louise Barwell ◽  
Bethan Purse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Phytophthora Species ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Horizon Scanning ◽  
The Uk

The multidisciplinary ‘Phyto-threats’ project was initiated in 2016 to address the increasing risks to UK forest and woodland ecosystems from trade-disseminated Phytophthora. A major component of this project was to examine the risk of Phytophthora spread through nursery and trade practices. Close to 4000 water and root samples were collected from plant nurseries located across the UK over a three-year period. Approximately half of the samples tested positive for Phytophthora DNA using a metabarcoding approach with 63 Phytophthora species identified across nurseries, including quarantine-regulated pathogens and species not previously reported in the UK. Phytophthora diversity within nurseries was linked to high-risk management practices such as use of open rather than closed water sources. Analyses of global Phytophthora risks identified biological traits and trade pathways that explained global spread and host range, and which may be of value for horizon-scanning. Phytophthoras having a higher oospore wall index and faster growth rates had wider host ranges, whereas cold-tolerant species had broader geographic and latitudinal ranges. Annual workshops revealed how stakeholder and sector ‘appetite’ for nursery accreditation increased over three years, although an exploratory cost-benefit analysis indicated that the predicted benefits of introducing best practice expected by nurseries outweigh their costs only when a wider range of pests and diseases (for example, Xylella) is considered. However, scenario analyses demonstrated the significant potential carbon costs to society from the introduction and spread of a new tree-infecting Phytophthora: Thus, the overall net benefit to society from nurseries adopting best practice could be substantial.

Future challenges to asset investment in the UK water industry: the wastewater asset investment risk mitigation offered by minimising principal operating cost risks

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Price Volatility ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Water Industry ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
The Uk

This paper defines challenges currently facing the water industry globally that will affect water industry asset investment and development now and in the near future. Those challenges include energy price volatility, climate change regulation, asset capital costs and strategic resource considerations. This paper presents potential answers to these challenges in the context of the UK water industry and described a methodology developed to assess them and provide accurate cost-benefit analysis. A best practice approach which allows sustainable investment to offer water utilities operational efficiency benefits, including cost benefits, is described and the critical elements of the best practice developed by the author identified.

scholarly journals Farm practices as they affect NH3 emissions from beef cattle

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Sheppard ◽  
S. Bittman
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
The West ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Using Data

Sheppard, S. C. and Bittman, S. 2012. Farm practices as they affect NH 3 emissions from beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 525–543. Beef cattle farms in Canada are very diverse, both in size and management. Because the total biomass of beef cattle in Canada is larger than any other livestock sector, beef also has the potential for the largest environmental impact. In this study we estimate NH3 emissions associated with beef cattle production across Canada using data on farm practices obtained from a detailed survey answered by 1380 beef farmers in 11 Ecoregions. The farms were various combinations of cow/calf, backgrounding and finishing operations. The proportion of animals on pasture varied markedly among Ecoregions, especially for cows and calves, and this markedly affected the estimated NH3 emissions. The crop components of feed also varied among Ecoregions, but the resulting crude protein concentrations were quite consistent for both backgrounding and finishing cattle. Manure was stored longer in the west than in the east, and fall spreading of manure was notably more common in the west, especially when spread on tilled land. The estimated NH3 emissions per animal were relatively consistent across Ecoregions for confinement production, but because the proportion of animals on pasture varied with Ecoregion, so did the overall estimated NH3 emissions per animal. Temperature is a key factor causing Ecoregion differences, although husbandry and manure management practices are also important. Hypothetical best management practices had little ability to reduce overall emission estimates, and could not be implemented without detailed cost/benefit analysis.

scholarly journals Student Course Evaluations In Traditional And Blended Courses: A Case Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gadis Nowell
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Course Satisfaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Net Benefit

It is generally held that blended learning is gaining acceptance and being adopted at college campuses throughout the U.S.  Accompanying this trend has been an expansion of the research efforts in this area. These efforts have been guided mainly by the five pillars of the Sloan Consortium Quality Framework (Sloan-C) and two large questions.    One question is, “Is blended learning better than other learning environments?"   In this study, this question was examined from the perspective of the Sloan-C's student satisfaction pillar.  The research question was stated as follows:  “Is the level of student course satisfaction generated by blended learning higher than that which is generated by traditional face-to-face classroom learning?”  The results of this study revealed "no differences" between blended and traditional learning on the student course satisfaction variable.  In this regard, it is important to note that this finding of "no differences" is consistent with the existing research findings on student learning effectiveness as well.  Given this combined evidential pattern the following question is relevant and has implications for future research efforts in this area:  "Within the context of cost/benefit analysis, why should an institution invest the additional resources needed to effectively implement a blended format when, in accordance with the existing research evidence, there is little or no net benefit in terms of its impact on students; i.e., either in terms of student satisfaction or student learning?".

scholarly journals Cost-benefit analysis of pharmacist interventions over 36 months in a university hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Maurilio de Souza Cazarim ◽  
João Paulo Vilela Rodrigues ◽  
Priscila Santos Calcini ◽  
Thomas Einarson ◽  
Leonardo Régis Leira Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Marginal Cost ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
Hospital Perspective ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Tertiary Teaching

OBJECTIVE: To perform a cost-benefits analysis of a clinical pharmacy (CP) service implemented in a Neurology ward of a tertiary teaching hospital. METHODS: This is a cost-benefit analysis of a single arm, prospective cohort study performed at the adult Neurology Unit over 36 months, which has evaluated the results of a CP service from a hospital and Public Health System (PHS) perspective. The interventions were classified into 14 categories and the costs identified as direct medical costs. The results were analyzed by the total and marginal cost, the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and the net benefit (NB). RESULTS: The total 334 patients were followed-up and the highest occurrence in 506 interventions was drug introduction (29.0%). The marginal cost for the hospital and avoided cost for PHS was US$182±32 and US$25,536±4,923 per year; and US$0.55 and US$76.4 per patient/year. The BCR and NB were 0.0, -US$26,105 (95%CI -31,850 – -10,610), -US$27,112 (95%CI -33,160–11,720) for the hospital and; 3.0 (95%CI 1.97–4.94), US$51,048 (95%CI 27,645–75,716) and, 4.6 (95%CI 2.24–10.05), US$91,496 (95%CI 34,700–168,050; p < 0.001) for the PHS, both considering adhered and total interventions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CP service was not directly cost-benefit at the hospital perspective, but it presented savings for forecast cost related to the occurrence of preventable morbidities, measuring a good cost-benefit for the PHS.

scholarly journals The Losses in the Rice Harvest Process: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9627
Author(s):  
Xue Qu ◽  
Daizo Kojima ◽  
Laping Wu ◽  
Mitsuyoshi Ando
Keyword(s):  
Rural Women ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Harvest Management ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Harvesting Techniques ◽  
Poor Infrastructure

We review existing studies on rice harvest loss from the aspects of estimation methods, magnitudes, causes, effects, and interventions. The harvest losses examined occurred from the field reaping to storage processes, including threshing, winnowing, and field transportation. We find that existing studies on rice harvest losses have focused on quantitative losses in Asia and Africa. Lack of knowledge, inadequate harvesting techniques, poor infrastructure, and inefficient harvest management practices are considered critical contributors to the losses. The magnitudes and causes of rice harvest losses are now better understood than interventions, which have simply been presented but lack an assessment of the effects and a cost–benefit analysis. Interestingly, reduction in harvest losses may threaten some farmers’ profits, such as rural women who make their living from post-production manual operations. Considering the current status of the literature, future researchers should examine how to balance social and individual welfare since farmers are key stakeholders in intervention implementation. A good understanding of the existing researches can help clarify future efforts for loss reduction, thereby reducing the burden of increasing agricultural production and promoting sustainable development of resources and the environment.

Costing for ALARP

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirous F. Yasseri ◽  
Peter Menhennett
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Safety Level ◽  
Risk Reduction Measure ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Design Options ◽  
The Cost

A key principle for achieving Tolerable Risk under the UK Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) approach is the reduction of risks to “As Low As Reasonably Practicable” or ALARP. This principle is founded on the ideal of reducing risks to a point of diminishing returns where additional risk reduction would cost “disproportionally” more than the risk reduction benefit achieved. The HSE approach of estimating the degree of disproportionality between the cost and benefits associated with a potential risk reduction measure is a variation of the Cost Effectiveness approach to ALARP Evaluation. A probabilistic cost-benefit analysis method is outlined for evaluating design options and establishing whether the conditions of ALARP are met. This paper demonstrates the value of probabilistic cost-benefit analysis for the selection of a target safety level and also presents an example of its practical application by way of a case history.

scholarly journals What Is the Best Practice Method for Quantifying the Health and Economic Benefits of Active Transport?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6186
Author(s):  
Holger Möller ◽  
Fiona Haigh ◽  
Rema Hayek ◽  
Lennert Veerman
Keyword(s):  
Active Transport ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Practice Method

The aim of this study was to identify a best practice method to cost the health benefits of active transport for use in infrastructure planning in New South Wales, Australia. We systematically reviewed the international literature covering the concept areas of active transport and cost and health benefits. Original publications describing a method to cost the health benefits of active transport, published in 2000–2019 were included. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed against criteria identified in interviews with key government stakeholders. A total of 2993 studies were identified, 53 were assessed for eligibility, and 19 were included in the review. The most commonly studied active transport modes were cycling (n = 8) and walking and cycling (n = 6). Exposures considered were physical activity, road transport related injuries and air pollution. The most often applied economic evaluation method was cost benefit analysis (n = 8), and costs were commonly calculated by monetising health outcomes. Based on evaluation of models against the criteria, a Multistate Life Table model was recommended as the best method currently available. There is strong and increasing interest in quantifying and costing the health benefits of active transport internationally. Incorporating health-related economic benefits into existing regulatory processes such as cost benefit analyses could provide an effective way to encourage the non-health sector to include health impacts in infrastructure measures.

scholarly journals Cost-benefit Analysis of Seedling Production on Floating Beds in a Few Selected Areas of Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Mohammod Akbar Kabir ◽  
Md. Moniruzzaman ◽  
Kawsar Jahan ◽  
Md. Shahjahan
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Seedling Production ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
Government Aid ◽  
Combat Climate Change ◽  
The Cost

The aim of this study was to calculate the cost benefit analysis and economic viability of seedling production on the floating bed at Nazirpur Upazila in Pirojpur district of Bangladesh. The study area was selected purposively and 50 households (HHs) were surveyed through purposive sampling technique from a population of 80 households. From the results of those primary data, it was found that 68% farmers were engaged in seedling production as business purpose, and 30% as both own and business, 21 vegetables and spices seedlings were cultivated in the studied area. Average per square meter cost for floating seedling cultivation found BDT (Bangladeshi taka) 281 and benefit was BDT 401. The net benefit of floating agriculture found BDT 120 and with a BCR of 1.43. Income from floating seedlings mainly utilized in winter vegetable cultivation (Kandi), mainstream agriculture, business, house development and land purchase etc. Fifty percent (50%) of the floating farmers mentioned various constraints regarding floating seedling production such as lack of government aid, higher interest from NGOs and lack of capital. Among the surveyed respondents, 64% agreed that floating cultivation is effective to combat climate change and 76% replied as beneficial to the environment. Although floating agriculture is an indigenous age-old practice in the South-western region of Bangladesh, it can be replicated with the help of subsidy and agro-technology.

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