Unequal Distribution of Innovation Efforts for Neglected Tropical Diseases: The Role of Funding Evaluation Criteria

Background: International research and innovation efforts for neglected tropical diseases have increased in recent decades due to disparities in overall health research funding in relation to global burden of disease. However, within the field of neglected tropical diseases some seem far more neglected than others. In this research the aim is to investigate the distribution of resources and efforts, as well as the mechanisms that underpin funding allocation for neglected tropical diseases. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted to establish a comprehensive overview of known indicators for innovation efforts related to a wide range of neglected tropical diseases. Articles were selected based on a subjective evaluation of their relevance, the presence of original data, and the breadth of their scope. This was followed by thirteen in-depth open-ended interviews with representatives of private, public and philanthropic funding organizations, concerning evaluation criteria for funding research proposals. Results: The findings reveal a large difference in the extent to which the individual diseases are neglected with notable differences between absolute and relative efforts. Criteria used in the evaluation of research proposals relate to potential impact, the probability of success and strategic fit. Private organizations prioritize strategic fit and economic impact;philanthropic organizations prioritize short-term societal impact;and public generally prioritize the probability of success by accounting for follow-up funding and involvement of industry. Funding decisions of different types of organizations are highly interrelated. Conclusions: This study shows that the evaluation of funding proposals introduces and retains unequal funding distribution, reinforcing the relative neglect of diseases. Societal impact is the primary rationale for funding but application of it as a funding criterion is associated with significant challenges. Furthermore, current application of evaluation criteria leads to a primary focus on short-term impact. Through current practice, the relatively most neglected diseases will remain so, and a long-term strategy is needed to resolve this.

Research on the Legal Framework of Content Regulations for Network Platforms

In the era of the Internet,various network platforms have evolved into new hubs for information dissemination.Currently,China has established a platform-centered content regulation framework,wherein platforms proactively enforce content regulations in accordance with legal censorship obligations.Additionally,platform policies and user agreements augment their authority in content regulation.The platforms can achieve cost-effective and highly efficient content regulation by leveraging their strategic advantages enabled by their own technical capabilities and extensive coverage.The platform self-regulation model,however,still faces challenges.First,accurately evaluating content remains a formidable task;second,ensuring effective platform publicity through self-regulation poses difficulties;third,users may potentially face disadvantages due to the platform’s right of self-regulation;and fourth,digital copyright owners face challenges when defending digital copyright disputes under the safe harbor rule.Therefore,it is imperative to establish,review,and revise the legal framework for content regulation of network platforms in order to enhance the efficiency of their governance systems.The formulation of the legal framework for content regulation of network platforms may encompass the following aspects:rationalizing obligations pertaining to platform content regulations,enhancing supervision over platform self-regulation,and establishing a dual-track responsibility system for digital copyright content regulation.This will ensure a harmonious balance among public interests,users’personal rights and interests,and commercial benefits through regulating the content on network platforms.

Primary and Secondary Microplastic and Nanoplastic Regulations: Perspectives on Water Industry Impacts

Plastic pollution, both primary and secondary, is an environmental challenge, prompting regulatory actions at global and regional levels. With increasing research about the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on ecosystems and human health, governments worldwide have undertaken efforts to address this issue. The global community has advanced regulatory efforts that have led to the implementation of national laws or regulations in numerous countries. These measures ban or restrict the use of primary and secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. An overview of global and European regulatory frameworks is presented to provide context for the United States (US). In the endeavor to document plastics regulation development in the US, a description of regulatory agencies and their roles in advancing policy and rules as well as future direction and areas for improvement in regulating plastics are introduced. A discussion of what emerging regulations mean to utilities and industries is also provided along with a comparison of regulatory frameworks.

Research funding and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, 2019-2020

Purpose:The goal of this study is a comparative analysis of the relation between funding(a main driver for scientific research)and citations in papers of Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine over 2019-2020 and the same relation in these research fields as a whole.Design/methodology/approach:This study utilizes a power law model to explore the relationship between research funding and citations of related papers.The study here analyzes 3,539 recorded documents by Nobel Laureates in physics,chemistry and medicine and a broader dataset of 183,016 documents related to the fields of physics,medicine,and chemistry recorded in the Web of Science database.Findings:Results reveal that in chemistry and medicine,funded researches published in papers of Nobel Laureates have higher citations than unfunded studies published in articles;vice versa high citations of Nobel Laureates in physics are for unfunded studies published in papers.Instead,when overall data of publications and citations in physics,chemistry and medicine are analyzed,all papers based on funded researches show higher citations than unfunded ones.Originality/value:Results clarify the driving role of research funding for science diffusion that are systematized in general properties:a)articles concerning funded researches receive more citations than(un)funded studies published in papers of physics,chemistry and medicine sciences,generating a high Matthew effect(a higher growth of citations with the increase in the number of papers);b)research funding increases the citations of articles in fields oriented to applied research(e.g.,chemistry and medicine)more than fields oriented towards basic research(e.g.,physics).Practical implications:The results here explain some characteristics of scientific development and diffusion,highlighting the critical role of research funding in fostering citations and the expansion of scientific knowledge.This finding can support decision-making of policymakers and R&D managers to improve the effectiveness in allocating financial resources in science policies to generate a higher positive scientific and societal impact.

The relation between funding by the National Institutes of Health and the burden of disease

Background:The Institute of Medicine has proposed that the amount of disease-specific research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)be systematically and consistently compared with the burden of disease for society.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study comparing estimates of disease-specific funding in 1996 with data on six measures of the burden of disease.

The relation between funding by the National Institutes of Health and the burden of disease

Background:The Institute of Medicine has proposed that the amount of disease-specific research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health(NIH)be systematically and consistently compared with the burden of disease for society.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study comparing estimates of disease-specific funding in 1996 with data on six measures of the burden of disease.The measures were total mortality,years of life lost,and number of hospital days in 1994 and incidence,prevalence,and disability-adjusted life-years(one disability-adjusted life-year is defined as the loss of one year of healthy life to disease)in 1990.With the use of these measures as explanatory variables in a regression analysis,predicted funding was calculated and compared with actual funding.

Exploration and Practice of “Construction Engineering Regulations” Course Reform

Based on the analysis of the existing teaching situation of the“Construction Engineering Regulations”course,this paper divides the course content into three parts according to the course characteristics and content,and explores three corresponding teaching modes.The proportion of student-led relationships in the three teaching modes is 80%,60%,and 90%,respectively,realizing a teaching mechanism centered on students and stimulating students’interest in independent learning.Teaching methods such as problem-oriented learning,group discussion,student reporting,MOOC(massive open online course),case analysis,etc.,have been used to establish a variety of comprehensive examination mechanisms such as quiz games,follow-up tests,and work displays.Practice has shown that after adopting these three teaching modes,classroom teaching efficiency has significantly improved,and students’abilities in exploration,expression,innovation,and team cooperation have also been enhanced.

Aortic Dissection Research in China:Analysis of Studies Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Objective The National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)has made great progress in promoting the development of aortic dissection research in recent years.This study aimed to examine the development and research status of aortic dissection research in China so as to provide references for future research.Methods The NSFC projects data from 2008 to 2019 were collected from the Internet-based Science Information System and other websites utilized as search engines.The publications and citations were retrieved by Google Scholar,and the impact factors were checked by the InCite Journal Citation Reports database.The investigator’s degree and department were identified from the institutional faculty profiles.Results A total of 250 grant funds totaling 124.3 million Yuan and resulting in 747 publications were analyzed.The funds in economically developed and densely populated areas were more than those in underdeveloped and sparsely populated areas.There was no significant difference in the amount of funding per grant between different departments’investigators.However,the funding output ratios of the grants for cardiologists were higher than those for basic science investigators.The amount of funding for clinical researchers and basic scientific researchers in aortic dissection was also similar.Clinical researchers were better in terms of the funding output ratio.Conclusion These results suggest that the medical and scientific research level of aortic dissection in China has been greatly improved.However,there are still some problems that urgently need to be solved,such as the unreasonable regional allocation of medical and scientific research resources,and the slow transition from basic science to clinical practice.

State Council Issued the “Regulations on the Control of Foreign Funded Financial Institutions”

The Xinhua News Agency has released the full text of the No.340 order of the State Council signed by Premier Zhu Rongji, on the publication of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Control of Foreign Funded Financial Institutions, which will take effect on the date of February 1 in 2002.

New Regulations on the Supervision of Foreign-funded Banks in China

Foreign banks have achievedremarkable development in China since theintroduction in 1980, and so far there are 135institutions doing business in our country.With the increasing number of foreign-fundedfinancial institutions and the developmentof their businesses, China has made someadjustments to its policies and laws governingforeign banks in recent years, which aredemonstrated in the following aspects.Ⅰ Regions: In August, 1994, 11 cities wereapproved to set up business institutions offoreign banks. So far, the number of suchcities has increased to 24, as follows: Beijing,

Blue paper on BRI environmental policies,regulations and standards released

The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI),proposed by China,is an important platform for regional cooperation,serving the international economic and trade exchanges.The BRI Green Innovation Conference 2023 was held on August 20 in Shenzhen,Guangdong province.Themed“high-quality development promoting green construction of BRI”,the conference was held by Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of Ministry of Ecology and Environment,BRI International Green Development Coalition,Shenzhen Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau,and Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences,and hosted by the Belt and Road Environmental Technology Exchange and Transfer Center(Shenzhen).

Sri Lanka Gets Closer To IMF Funds After China Support

This October,International Monetary Fund(IMF)staff and the Sri Lankan authorities reached a stafflevel agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month Extended Fund Facility(EFF)-supported programme.Sri Lanka will have access to Special Drawing Right(SDR)254 million(about US$330 million)in financing once the review is approved by IMF Management and IMF Executive Board.

Regulations On online cosmetics management and supervision is scheduled to be implemented in September

On April 4th,2023,National Medical Products Administration introduced the announcement(No.36,2023)as regards the Regulations on Online Cosmetics Management and Supervision which will be implemented on September 1st,2023.The Regulations contains five chapters consisted of 35 articles which involve general provisions,platform management,management concerning cosmetics managers at the platform,supervision and management of cosmetics operators within the platform.

Copper-based bimetallic electrocatalysts for CO_(2) reduction:From mechanism understandings to product regulations

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2) RR)is a promising method to solve current environment and energy issues.Copper-based catalysts have been widely studied for converting CO_(2) into value-added hy-drocarbon products.Cu monometallic catalyst has been proved to have some shortcomings,including relatively high energy barriers and diverse reaction pathways,leading to low reaction activities and poor product selec-tivity,respectively.Recently copper-based bimetallic tandem catalysts have attracted extensive attentions due to their special catalyst structure,which can be easily regulated to achieve high CO_(2) RR reactivity and product selectivity.With the development of quantum chemistry calculations and spectroscopic characterization methods,deep understandings of CO_(2) RR from the mechanism perspective provide a broad horizon for the design of effi-cient catalysts.This review offers a good summary of reaction mechanisms and product regulation strategies over copper-based bimetallic catalysts,along with a brief discussion on future directions towards their practical applications.

Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine: International Experience and China’s Path

The eradication of poliomyelitis is a landmark achievement in the history of public health, providing strong protection for children’s health. The introduction of the Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine is a prerequisite and safeguard for the large-scale production and use of domestically produced live poliovirus vaccines, serving as an indispensable component of vaccine safety. This article, based on archival documents, letters, collections of essays, and oral interviews, examines the historical experience of the development of Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine. It contends that the emphasis on localization and the active engagement in international cooperation are critical factors in the swift introduction of Chinese Regulations for the Manufacture and Control of Live Poliovirus Vaccine.

Making Sense of Anything thru Analytics: Employees Provident Fund (EPF)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has always been a hot topic, from the previous Government permitted “withdrawals” during the pandemic to the present Government disallowing further withdrawals (afraid it would lead to a financial crisis) and allowing emergency loans through an EPF collateral agreement. The latter used median studies to “contribute” MYR 500 to EPF members with less than RM 10,000 in their accounts. Baffled/bewildered by the current Government’s generosity and highlighted in this paper, I used Monte Carlo simulation, a method used by analysts when determining the size of a client’s portfolio to support their desired retirement lifestyle, to establish a reference-type table displaying ideal savings when reaching 50. The Government could use the table mentioned above to give more meaningful contributions to EPF members, apart from EPF active and inactive members, knowing where they stand concerning their current EPF savings.

Strategies for China’s Response to and Improvement of Third-Party Funding in International Investment Arbitration

China should prioritize the establishment and enhancement of a third-party funding system.It should actively refine the existing arbitration rules,addressing any loopholes in the current regulatory framework.Comprehensive measures should be implemented to regulate third-party funding,aligning with international trends.This is crucial not only to safeguard the foreign investment of the Chinese government and enterprises but also to position China as a globally influential arbitration center.

The Impact of Population Aging on the Expenditure of Medical Insurance Fund for Urban Workers in China

Objective To explore the impact of population aging on the expenditures of medical insurance funds against the background that great changes in population structure influences economic development.Methods Through analyzing the impact of the population aging,the income and accumulated balance of the medical insurance fund,and other related factors on the expenditure of the medical insurance fund,development status of the medical insurance fund for urban employees in China since 2003 was obtained.Stata 16.0 was used to perform multiple linear regression analysis on related factors to determine the correlation between population aging and the change in medical insurance expenditures.Results and Conclusion The factors that have a greater impact on the expenditure of the medical insurance fund are the amount of income from the medical insurance,followed by the number of people over the age of 65 in China and the urban retired employees participating in medical insurance.We should focus on the sustainable development of the urban employee medical insurance fund to deal with the threat of aging.

Research on Accounting Issues of the Pension Insurance Fund for Urban Employees

Pension insurance is a vital component of China's social security system,ensuring the welfare of the general publie.This study centers on the revenue and expenses of City S's urban employee basic pension insurance fund.It introduces and analyzes the fund's accounting status from four key perspectives:fund raising.expenditure,financial statement system,and accounting information disclosure.The research identifes existing problems in City S's accounting system and conducts in-depth research on these issues.Furthermore,an empirical analysis is conducted on the management of the pension insurance fund.Through this empirical study,the paper aims to offer insights and recommendations for promoting stable and healthy development measures for City S'8 urban employee basic pension insurance fund.

优化地方政府投资基金运作的路径与思考

政府投资基金是落实宏观经济政策的重要手段、支持产业发展的有力方式、破解企业融资瓶颈的有效渠道。我国政府投资基金从初步探索、快速发展转向高质量发展。但在运营方面仍存在诸多不足,政策导向和盈利导向之间存在矛盾,市场化运作受决策程序、产业发展方向制约,资本逐利影响了产业政策落实,基金投资与市场主体争利问题突出等。本文分析了济宁市政府投资基金运作的困境压力,提出优化政府投资基金运作需要进一步明确支持方向、完善投后管理和赋能机制、强化基金投资运作过程管理等。济宁市政府投资基金优化运营,重点应加大基金注入,完善基金制度体系,围绕项目、突出平台、强化联动,提升基金投放质效。