Ningza No.21, a new hybrid rapeseed cultivar, was used as the test mate-rial in this study. The common planting models in large-scale production (3 trans-planting models and 2 direct-seeding models) were adopted. Ba...Ningza No.21, a new hybrid rapeseed cultivar, was used as the test mate-rial in this study. The common planting models in large-scale production (3 trans-planting models and 2 direct-seeding models) were adopted. Based on the high-yield cultivation, the yield and economic benefits of different planting models were investi-gated. ln addition, the labor costs, agricultural production materials costs and agri-cultural machinery costs of different planting model were analyzed to explore the low-costs and high-economic benefits planting model. The results showed the yields of the 5 planting models were al relatively high with average yield of 3 282.30 kg/hm2, ranging from 2 899.50 to 3 642.00 kg/hm2. Although the average yield and output value of transplanting models were higher than that of direct-seedling models by 429.25 kg/hm2 and 2 189.18 yuan/hm2 respectively, the production costs of trans-planting models were higher than that of direct-seedling model by 2 098.81 yuan/hm2 and the economic benefits were basical y equal. Among the costs of rapeseed pro-duction, the labor costs accounted for more than 60%. ln the labor costs, the har-vesting labor costs represented about 50%. Therefore, under current production con-ditions, the direct seeding and mechanized harvesting should be adopted in the rapeseed production to reduce production costs and improve economic benefits.展开更多
Barrett's esophagus is a condition resulting from chronic gastro-esophageal reflux disease with a documented risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Current strategies for improved survival in patients with Barrett'...Barrett's esophagus is a condition resulting from chronic gastro-esophageal reflux disease with a documented risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Current strategies for improved survival in patients with Barrett's adenocarcinoma focus on detection of dysplasia. This can be obtained by screening programs in high-risk cohorts of patients and/or endoscopic biopsy surveillance of patients with known Barrett's esophagus (BE). Several therapies have been developed in attempts to reverse BE and reduce cancer risk. Aggressive medical management of acid reflux, lifestyle modifications, antireflux surgery, and endoscopic treatments have been recommended for many patients with BE. Whether these interventions are cost-effective or reduce mortality from esophageal cancer remains controversial. Current treatment requires combinations of endoscopic mucosal resection techniques to eliminate visible lesions followed by ablation of residual metaplastic tissue. Esophagectomy is currently indicated in multifocal high-grade neoplasia or mucosal Barrett's carcinoma which cannot be managed by endoscopic approach.展开更多
The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed ...The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis.There is an increasing volume of evidence-although mostly retrospective-that if traditional conservative management is adopted,there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who continue to develop recurrent symptoms.On the other hand,the routine adoption of emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in patients presenting with appendiceal mass obviates the need for a second admission and an operation for I.A with a considerable complication rate.It also abolishes misdiagnoses and deals promptly with any unexpected ileo-cecal pathology.Moreover,it may prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment even without I.A due to a much shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of intravenous antibiotic administration.If emergency LA is to become the standard of care for appendiceal mass,I.A will certainly become 'something' of the past.展开更多
Due to high price of Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) for bio-diesel production, the use of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) will be cost effective. Furthermore, utilization of WCO will refrain waterways pollution and endanger...Due to high price of Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) for bio-diesel production, the use of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) will be cost effective. Furthermore, utilization of WCO will refrain waterways pollution and endanger ecosystem. In Malaysia, more than 50-tone of WCO from various sources was produced every day. This study evaluates combustion performance and exhaust emission characteristics of several WCOs with different sources. Modification on fuel properties has been done to improve the combustion and exhaust emission of using WCO as diesel fuel. Regular diesel fuel also has been used for comparison in the test. A 0.6 liter, single-cylinder, air-cooled direct injection diesel engine was used to perform this experiment. Experiment was done at variable engine loads at constant speed.展开更多
Pit limit design has,up to date,focused mainly on maximization of economic profit alone,with environmental and social issues largely ignored.This paper focuses on incorporating both environmental and social issues in ...Pit limit design has,up to date,focused mainly on maximization of economic profit alone,with environmental and social issues largely ignored.This paper focuses on incorporating both environmental and social issues in the pit limit design process and provides an approach to pit limit optimization that is in compliance with sustainable development.The case study demonstrates that ecological costs have a substantial down-sizing effect and social benefits have a substantial up-sizing effect on the optimal pit limit.When the ecological costs are factored in,the optimal pit limit is 37.5%smaller than the economically optimal pit limit.However,when the social benefits are factored in,the optimal pit limit is 48.3%larger than the economically optimal one.The overall optimal pit limit,with the economic profit,ecological costs and social benefits simultaneously considered,is a result of balancing conflicting goals of maximizing economic profit,minimizing ecological cost,and maximizing social benefit.展开更多
The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so far...The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so farmers were investing their time/labour in less risky and more profitable livelihoods activities. The assumption in this assessment was that fish farming is an economic activity, and that for farmers to adopt or choose it over other livelihoods, the benefit-cost ratio of fish farming must be higher than that of alternative livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess why local farmers failed to adopt modem market oriented aquaculture production systems introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in rural Sierra Leone. Two hundred farmers owning fishponds on family lands were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and farmers' responses were analyzed using statistical tools (SPSS 16.0). The mean contributions of different livelihoods to total annual incomes of farmers and the social values they attached to these livelihoods were compared. Results of the study suggested that traditional fish fanning was economically viable across the range of pond sizes sampled; but the medium-sized ponds were more profitable than the smallest and largest ponds, and labour accounted for 70% of total annual production costs in the systems assessed. The average benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 for fish fanning was favorable compared with that of 0.83 for rice farming, which was ranked as most popular livelihood activity by farmers. The payback period for traditional aquaculture investments was less than five years using informal investment loans (without interest), and was favorably compared with that for tree crops fanning, which was also popular among farmers. Additional benefits of fish fanning included social capital and maintenance of kinship relationships.展开更多
The quality standard ISO 9001 helps and enables organizations, regardless of the sector where they exist, to implement the quality management properly. Recent years have attracted attention to the possibilities of imp...The quality standard ISO 9001 helps and enables organizations, regardless of the sector where they exist, to implement the quality management properly. Recent years have attracted attention to the possibilities of implementing this standard in the health sector and the economic viability of that long-term investment. Health care organizations are recognizing the value system that combines all the criteria for managing quality, including management of business, compliance and management of procedural steps, and most importantly, the total quality management. In general, the implementation of ISO 9001:2008 standard for quality in health care institutions is seen as an opportunity to improve the quality of health care, and the entire process is to be completed by reducing costs and improving services in the sector. The implementation of a quality standard is directed towards patients, medical staff, and management in order to achieve reduction and complete relief from the pain, correct and professional services, conducted services with an appropriate skilled and professional care to obtain results that are comparable to known standards, and protection services with appropriate insurance policies, and the management expects the implementation of a quality system to justify and return their investments. The methods used in this paper are based on the quality standard ISO 9001:2008--Quality Management System and the Guidelines for Improving Performance, developed based on ISO 9004:2000: Quality Management System-43uidelines for Continuous Improvement. These guidelines contain a big part of the text in ISO 9004:2000, but they are supplemented with specific guidelines for their implementation in the health sector. The implementation of the system and monitoring guidelines evidently contributes to the overall resolution and closure of problems in over 50% of cases. This not only results in saving money for the institution, but it also globally leads to reduced variations in the healing process. Expected benefits from implementing the system in the health care sector in the Republic of Macedonia relate to providing a substantial foundation for obtaining all the necessary facilities and reduction of the costs by reducing the inappropriate staff in exactly determined departments. Implementation of future accreditation processes can be accomplished in a much shorter period of time, especially when there is good communication and cooperation among the departments. Improved working systems, processes, and final results inevitably contribute to happy and healthy patients.展开更多
Methylotrophic yeast has been used as a cost-effective and valuable host for expression of recombinant protein due to its unique methanol utilisation pathway. It has an AOX (alcohol oxidase) protein which has been c...Methylotrophic yeast has been used as a cost-effective and valuable host for expression of recombinant protein due to its unique methanol utilisation pathway. It has an AOX (alcohol oxidase) protein which has been characterised to be a strong and tightly methanol-inducible dependent promoter. Metabolomics is the systematic study and inclusive analysis of small molecules called metabolites in a biological system. Metabolomics plays an important part in connecting the phenotype and genotype gap because it magnifies the modifications in the proteome and provides a better phenotype representation of an organism. This quantitative study has provided a new perception on the metabolic burden derived from the overexpression of recombinant protein in methylotrophic yeast. In this review, we discuss the fundamental aspect of metabolomics in methylotrophic yeast followed by their latest developments.展开更多
The study was aimed at evaluating growth response of Heteroclarias fingerlings fed diet in which fish meal was substituted with graded levels of earthworm meal. The replacement levels were 0.00%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100...The study was aimed at evaluating growth response of Heteroclarias fingerlings fed diet in which fish meal was substituted with graded levels of earthworm meal. The replacement levels were 0.00%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% designated as Eo, E25, Es0, E75 and El00, respectively. Fingerlings used for the work were obtained through artificial insemination of brood stock (purchased from local farmers) with ovaprim in the laboratory. The resulting fry were reared and fed with cultured plankton for 2 weeks followed by 100% fish meal for another two weeks. Thereafter sixteen fingerlings weighing 4.73 g and measuring 6.512 mm standard length (on the average) were starved over night and reared in five indoors tanks (0.8 ~ 0.5 ~ 0.5 m) in duplicate for eight weeks. Fingerlings were fed on graded earthworm meals of 40% protein twice daily at 08:00 and 16:00. The highest mean weight (6.77 g), specific growth rate (0.86) and protein efficiency ratio (0.6) were obtained at 50% replacement level. Also, Food conversion ratio was the highest at 50% substitution level and lowest at 0.00% substitution, indicating that fingerlings use earthworm containing meal more efficiently. Furthermore, cost benefit analysis revealed that the profit index for 50% inclusion of earthworm meal was the highest (1.71) and the highest net profit of N374.32 (circa $2.3) was achieved at this level. Water quality parameters observed were within tolerable values for the fingerlings well being. Consequently, farmers are advised to use 50% earthworm meal in place of fish meal for formulation of Heteroclarias fingerlings diet. This will drastically reduce production cost, increase farmers profit and enhance the biological value of our menu.展开更多
Filgrastim is used to accelerate hematopoietic recovery after ABMT (allogeneic bone marrow transplantation). Its impact on the total cost of patient care remains to be explored. We therefore undertook a cost effecti...Filgrastim is used to accelerate hematopoietic recovery after ABMT (allogeneic bone marrow transplantation). Its impact on the total cost of patient care remains to be explored. We therefore undertook a cost effectiveness analysis in the context of a randomized single blinded clinical trial of Filgrastim versus placebo in post ABMT. A primary endpoint, duration of myelosuppression, and three secondary end points (number of days of fever, length of hospital stay, survival at one hundred days) were used to assess efficacy. Direct costs were evaluated and allowed the calculation of the ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios) for the major endpoint of the trial. Sixteen patients were included in the study. The duration of myelosuppression was significantly decreased in the Filgrastim arm with medians of 15 days vs. 19 days in the placebo arm (p = 0.023). Cost analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two arms. According to the calculation of ICER, Filgrastim was more costly and more effective than placebo for the number of days of aplasia avoided and the number of days with fever avoided. Placebo strictly dominated filgrastim for days of hospitalization avoided. Filgrastim has proven effective in reducing the duration of aplasia without increasing costs.展开更多
Human-wildlife conflict is one of the biggest conservation challenges throughout the world.Various conservation strategies have been employed to limit these impacts,but often they are not adequately monitored and thei...Human-wildlife conflict is one of the biggest conservation challenges throughout the world.Various conservation strategies have been employed to limit these impacts,but often they are not adequately monitored and their effectiveness assessed.Recently,electric fencing has been constructed as a means to mitigate humanwildlife conflict surrounding many Nepalese protected areas.To date,there are no other studies analyzing the cost effectiveness and efficacy of fencing for conservation.This study aims to examine the cost effectiveness of electric fencing in the eastern sector of Chitwan National Park,Nepal,where the fencing has recently been constructed.Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros(Rhinoceros unicornis),wild boar(Sus scrofa),Asian elephant(Elephas maximus),and tiger(Panthera tigris) were the main wildlife species involved in human-wildlife conflict in the buffer zone area surrounding the park,where the fencing was deployed.Electric fencing was significantly effective in reducing crop damage by 78% and livestock depredation by 30%–60%.Human mortality was not reduced significantly in the study areas and continued at low levels.Our analysis suggested that total net present value of the cost of electric fence in Kagendramalli User Committee(KMUC) and Mrigakunja User Committee(MKUC) was 1 517 959 NPR(Nepalese Rupees,21 685 USD) and 3 530 075 NPR(50 429 USD) respectively up to the fiscal year 2009/10.Net present benefit in KMUC and MKUC was 16 301 105 NPR(232 872 USD) and 38 304 602 NPR(547 208 USD) respectively up to 2009/10.The cost-benefit ratio of electric fence up to base fiscal year 2009/10 in KMUC is 10.73,whereas MKUC is 10.85.These results illustrate that the electric fencing program is economically and socially beneficial in reducing human-wildlife conflict(crop damage and livestock depredation) around the protected areas where large mammals occur.展开更多
Polygynous males can change their mating tactics across their lifetime, but information is scarce on the flexibility of this trait within a given season and the relative costs and benefits of using different tactics. ...Polygynous males can change their mating tactics across their lifetime, but information is scarce on the flexibility of this trait within a given season and the relative costs and benefits of using different tactics. Here, we monitored individually marked male reindeer Rangifer tarandus and classified their mating tactics as harem-defense, sneaking, or mixed. The costs of the male reproductive effort were assessed using both direct (i.e. percentage of body mass lost) and indirect measures (i.e. activity patterns such as feeding, standing, and walking), while mating group size and reproductive success were recorded as mating ef- fort benefits. Our results show that reindeer males may switch between the harem-defense and sneaking tactics throughout the same breeding season, providing further support to the notion that reproductive tactics are flexible in ungulates. The costs and benefits of male mating effort vary according to the mating tactic, reaching the highest values in harem-holders and the lowest values in sneaking males. Moreover, males who switched between the sneaking tactic and the harem-defence tactic tended to achieve higher mating success than males who consistently used the least costly tactic. Indeed, all harem-holders successfully sired offspring, whereas only two out of three mixed-tactic males sired one calf, and sneaking males did not sire any calves. In conclusion, our results show that reindeer males can modulate their mating efforts during the same breeding season by switching between the most costly harem-defense tactic and the least costly sneaking tactic, suggesting individual solutions to the balance between reproductive effort and mating opportunities [Current Zoology 61 (5): 802-810, 2015].展开更多
Immunoassays are useful for many bioassays. Many new techniques and materials are introduced into the immunoassay to improve the efficiency. This paper reviews recent progress in the application of microfluidic system...Immunoassays are useful for many bioassays. Many new techniques and materials are introduced into the immunoassay to improve the efficiency. This paper reviews recent progress in the application of microfluidic systems and gold nanoparticles in immunoassay. The micro/nano technologies and materials can offer good sensitivity, fast detection, cost-effectiveness and easy signal readout. In particular, the miniaturization of microfluidics and colorimetric assays based on gold nanoparticles have dramatically improved the efficiency of immunoassays.展开更多
Design-manufacturing chain (D-MC) is the most important link of the supply chain with the greatest possibility in cost reduction. How to strengthen the effective management of interracial relationship between design...Design-manufacturing chain (D-MC) is the most important link of the supply chain with the greatest possibility in cost reduction. How to strengthen the effective management of interracial relationship between designer and manufacturer and increase the efficency of interface management concerns the efficiency of the whole supply chain. In order to evaluate and improve the impacts of D-MC interfacial relationship, first we should construct the evaluation index system and then we should analyze the total cost and benefit of the interfacial relationship betterment, including the cost of member units in D-MC, the opportunity cost of cooperation partners, and the market returns resulted from the interfacial relationship improvement, which will advance the whole supply chain efficiency as well as enhance the management performance of D-MC.展开更多
基金Supported by National Key Technology Research and Development Program(2010BAD01B06)Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Support Program(BE2012327)Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund(CX(14)2003)~~
文摘Ningza No.21, a new hybrid rapeseed cultivar, was used as the test mate-rial in this study. The common planting models in large-scale production (3 trans-planting models and 2 direct-seeding models) were adopted. Based on the high-yield cultivation, the yield and economic benefits of different planting models were investi-gated. ln addition, the labor costs, agricultural production materials costs and agri-cultural machinery costs of different planting model were analyzed to explore the low-costs and high-economic benefits planting model. The results showed the yields of the 5 planting models were al relatively high with average yield of 3 282.30 kg/hm2, ranging from 2 899.50 to 3 642.00 kg/hm2. Although the average yield and output value of transplanting models were higher than that of direct-seedling models by 429.25 kg/hm2 and 2 189.18 yuan/hm2 respectively, the production costs of trans-planting models were higher than that of direct-seedling model by 2 098.81 yuan/hm2 and the economic benefits were basical y equal. Among the costs of rapeseed pro-duction, the labor costs accounted for more than 60%. ln the labor costs, the har-vesting labor costs represented about 50%. Therefore, under current production con-ditions, the direct seeding and mechanized harvesting should be adopted in the rapeseed production to reduce production costs and improve economic benefits.
文摘Barrett's esophagus is a condition resulting from chronic gastro-esophageal reflux disease with a documented risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Current strategies for improved survival in patients with Barrett's adenocarcinoma focus on detection of dysplasia. This can be obtained by screening programs in high-risk cohorts of patients and/or endoscopic biopsy surveillance of patients with known Barrett's esophagus (BE). Several therapies have been developed in attempts to reverse BE and reduce cancer risk. Aggressive medical management of acid reflux, lifestyle modifications, antireflux surgery, and endoscopic treatments have been recommended for many patients with BE. Whether these interventions are cost-effective or reduce mortality from esophageal cancer remains controversial. Current treatment requires combinations of endoscopic mucosal resection techniques to eliminate visible lesions followed by ablation of residual metaplastic tissue. Esophagectomy is currently indicated in multifocal high-grade neoplasia or mucosal Barrett's carcinoma which cannot be managed by endoscopic approach.
文摘The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis.There is an increasing volume of evidence-although mostly retrospective-that if traditional conservative management is adopted,there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who continue to develop recurrent symptoms.On the other hand,the routine adoption of emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in patients presenting with appendiceal mass obviates the need for a second admission and an operation for I.A with a considerable complication rate.It also abolishes misdiagnoses and deals promptly with any unexpected ileo-cecal pathology.Moreover,it may prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment even without I.A due to a much shorter hospital stay and a shorter period of intravenous antibiotic administration.If emergency LA is to become the standard of care for appendiceal mass,I.A will certainly become 'something' of the past.
文摘Due to high price of Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) for bio-diesel production, the use of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) will be cost effective. Furthermore, utilization of WCO will refrain waterways pollution and endanger ecosystem. In Malaysia, more than 50-tone of WCO from various sources was produced every day. This study evaluates combustion performance and exhaust emission characteristics of several WCOs with different sources. Modification on fuel properties has been done to improve the combustion and exhaust emission of using WCO as diesel fuel. Regular diesel fuel also has been used for comparison in the test. A 0.6 liter, single-cylinder, air-cooled direct injection diesel engine was used to perform this experiment. Experiment was done at variable engine loads at constant speed.
基金The authors are grateful for the financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52074061,51974060,U1903216)Northeastern University Doctoral Basal Research Fund,China(No.N2001006).
文摘Pit limit design has,up to date,focused mainly on maximization of economic profit alone,with environmental and social issues largely ignored.This paper focuses on incorporating both environmental and social issues in the pit limit design process and provides an approach to pit limit optimization that is in compliance with sustainable development.The case study demonstrates that ecological costs have a substantial down-sizing effect and social benefits have a substantial up-sizing effect on the optimal pit limit.When the ecological costs are factored in,the optimal pit limit is 37.5%smaller than the economically optimal pit limit.However,when the social benefits are factored in,the optimal pit limit is 48.3%larger than the economically optimal one.The overall optimal pit limit,with the economic profit,ecological costs and social benefits simultaneously considered,is a result of balancing conflicting goals of maximizing economic profit,minimizing ecological cost,and maximizing social benefit.
文摘The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so farmers were investing their time/labour in less risky and more profitable livelihoods activities. The assumption in this assessment was that fish farming is an economic activity, and that for farmers to adopt or choose it over other livelihoods, the benefit-cost ratio of fish farming must be higher than that of alternative livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess why local farmers failed to adopt modem market oriented aquaculture production systems introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in rural Sierra Leone. Two hundred farmers owning fishponds on family lands were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and farmers' responses were analyzed using statistical tools (SPSS 16.0). The mean contributions of different livelihoods to total annual incomes of farmers and the social values they attached to these livelihoods were compared. Results of the study suggested that traditional fish fanning was economically viable across the range of pond sizes sampled; but the medium-sized ponds were more profitable than the smallest and largest ponds, and labour accounted for 70% of total annual production costs in the systems assessed. The average benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 for fish fanning was favorable compared with that of 0.83 for rice farming, which was ranked as most popular livelihood activity by farmers. The payback period for traditional aquaculture investments was less than five years using informal investment loans (without interest), and was favorably compared with that for tree crops fanning, which was also popular among farmers. Additional benefits of fish fanning included social capital and maintenance of kinship relationships.
文摘The quality standard ISO 9001 helps and enables organizations, regardless of the sector where they exist, to implement the quality management properly. Recent years have attracted attention to the possibilities of implementing this standard in the health sector and the economic viability of that long-term investment. Health care organizations are recognizing the value system that combines all the criteria for managing quality, including management of business, compliance and management of procedural steps, and most importantly, the total quality management. In general, the implementation of ISO 9001:2008 standard for quality in health care institutions is seen as an opportunity to improve the quality of health care, and the entire process is to be completed by reducing costs and improving services in the sector. The implementation of a quality standard is directed towards patients, medical staff, and management in order to achieve reduction and complete relief from the pain, correct and professional services, conducted services with an appropriate skilled and professional care to obtain results that are comparable to known standards, and protection services with appropriate insurance policies, and the management expects the implementation of a quality system to justify and return their investments. The methods used in this paper are based on the quality standard ISO 9001:2008--Quality Management System and the Guidelines for Improving Performance, developed based on ISO 9004:2000: Quality Management System-43uidelines for Continuous Improvement. These guidelines contain a big part of the text in ISO 9004:2000, but they are supplemented with specific guidelines for their implementation in the health sector. The implementation of the system and monitoring guidelines evidently contributes to the overall resolution and closure of problems in over 50% of cases. This not only results in saving money for the institution, but it also globally leads to reduced variations in the healing process. Expected benefits from implementing the system in the health care sector in the Republic of Macedonia relate to providing a substantial foundation for obtaining all the necessary facilities and reduction of the costs by reducing the inappropriate staff in exactly determined departments. Implementation of future accreditation processes can be accomplished in a much shorter period of time, especially when there is good communication and cooperation among the departments. Improved working systems, processes, and final results inevitably contribute to happy and healthy patients.
文摘Methylotrophic yeast has been used as a cost-effective and valuable host for expression of recombinant protein due to its unique methanol utilisation pathway. It has an AOX (alcohol oxidase) protein which has been characterised to be a strong and tightly methanol-inducible dependent promoter. Metabolomics is the systematic study and inclusive analysis of small molecules called metabolites in a biological system. Metabolomics plays an important part in connecting the phenotype and genotype gap because it magnifies the modifications in the proteome and provides a better phenotype representation of an organism. This quantitative study has provided a new perception on the metabolic burden derived from the overexpression of recombinant protein in methylotrophic yeast. In this review, we discuss the fundamental aspect of metabolomics in methylotrophic yeast followed by their latest developments.
文摘The study was aimed at evaluating growth response of Heteroclarias fingerlings fed diet in which fish meal was substituted with graded levels of earthworm meal. The replacement levels were 0.00%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% designated as Eo, E25, Es0, E75 and El00, respectively. Fingerlings used for the work were obtained through artificial insemination of brood stock (purchased from local farmers) with ovaprim in the laboratory. The resulting fry were reared and fed with cultured plankton for 2 weeks followed by 100% fish meal for another two weeks. Thereafter sixteen fingerlings weighing 4.73 g and measuring 6.512 mm standard length (on the average) were starved over night and reared in five indoors tanks (0.8 ~ 0.5 ~ 0.5 m) in duplicate for eight weeks. Fingerlings were fed on graded earthworm meals of 40% protein twice daily at 08:00 and 16:00. The highest mean weight (6.77 g), specific growth rate (0.86) and protein efficiency ratio (0.6) were obtained at 50% replacement level. Also, Food conversion ratio was the highest at 50% substitution level and lowest at 0.00% substitution, indicating that fingerlings use earthworm containing meal more efficiently. Furthermore, cost benefit analysis revealed that the profit index for 50% inclusion of earthworm meal was the highest (1.71) and the highest net profit of N374.32 (circa $2.3) was achieved at this level. Water quality parameters observed were within tolerable values for the fingerlings well being. Consequently, farmers are advised to use 50% earthworm meal in place of fish meal for formulation of Heteroclarias fingerlings diet. This will drastically reduce production cost, increase farmers profit and enhance the biological value of our menu.
文摘Filgrastim is used to accelerate hematopoietic recovery after ABMT (allogeneic bone marrow transplantation). Its impact on the total cost of patient care remains to be explored. We therefore undertook a cost effectiveness analysis in the context of a randomized single blinded clinical trial of Filgrastim versus placebo in post ABMT. A primary endpoint, duration of myelosuppression, and three secondary end points (number of days of fever, length of hospital stay, survival at one hundred days) were used to assess efficacy. Direct costs were evaluated and allowed the calculation of the ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratios) for the major endpoint of the trial. Sixteen patients were included in the study. The duration of myelosuppression was significantly decreased in the Filgrastim arm with medians of 15 days vs. 19 days in the placebo arm (p = 0.023). Cost analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two arms. According to the calculation of ICER, Filgrastim was more costly and more effective than placebo for the number of days of aplasia avoided and the number of days with fever avoided. Placebo strictly dominated filgrastim for days of hospitalization avoided. Filgrastim has proven effective in reducing the duration of aplasia without increasing costs.
基金supported by National Trust for Nature Conservation,Nepal
文摘Human-wildlife conflict is one of the biggest conservation challenges throughout the world.Various conservation strategies have been employed to limit these impacts,but often they are not adequately monitored and their effectiveness assessed.Recently,electric fencing has been constructed as a means to mitigate humanwildlife conflict surrounding many Nepalese protected areas.To date,there are no other studies analyzing the cost effectiveness and efficacy of fencing for conservation.This study aims to examine the cost effectiveness of electric fencing in the eastern sector of Chitwan National Park,Nepal,where the fencing has recently been constructed.Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros(Rhinoceros unicornis),wild boar(Sus scrofa),Asian elephant(Elephas maximus),and tiger(Panthera tigris) were the main wildlife species involved in human-wildlife conflict in the buffer zone area surrounding the park,where the fencing was deployed.Electric fencing was significantly effective in reducing crop damage by 78% and livestock depredation by 30%–60%.Human mortality was not reduced significantly in the study areas and continued at low levels.Our analysis suggested that total net present value of the cost of electric fence in Kagendramalli User Committee(KMUC) and Mrigakunja User Committee(MKUC) was 1 517 959 NPR(Nepalese Rupees,21 685 USD) and 3 530 075 NPR(50 429 USD) respectively up to the fiscal year 2009/10.Net present benefit in KMUC and MKUC was 16 301 105 NPR(232 872 USD) and 38 304 602 NPR(547 208 USD) respectively up to 2009/10.The cost-benefit ratio of electric fence up to base fiscal year 2009/10 in KMUC is 10.73,whereas MKUC is 10.85.These results illustrate that the electric fencing program is economically and socially beneficial in reducing human-wildlife conflict(crop damage and livestock depredation) around the protected areas where large mammals occur.
文摘Polygynous males can change their mating tactics across their lifetime, but information is scarce on the flexibility of this trait within a given season and the relative costs and benefits of using different tactics. Here, we monitored individually marked male reindeer Rangifer tarandus and classified their mating tactics as harem-defense, sneaking, or mixed. The costs of the male reproductive effort were assessed using both direct (i.e. percentage of body mass lost) and indirect measures (i.e. activity patterns such as feeding, standing, and walking), while mating group size and reproductive success were recorded as mating ef- fort benefits. Our results show that reindeer males may switch between the harem-defense and sneaking tactics throughout the same breeding season, providing further support to the notion that reproductive tactics are flexible in ungulates. The costs and benefits of male mating effort vary according to the mating tactic, reaching the highest values in harem-holders and the lowest values in sneaking males. Moreover, males who switched between the sneaking tactic and the harem-defence tactic tended to achieve higher mating success than males who consistently used the least costly tactic. Indeed, all harem-holders successfully sired offspring, whereas only two out of three mixed-tactic males sired one calf, and sneaking males did not sire any calves. In conclusion, our results show that reindeer males can modulate their mating efforts during the same breeding season by switching between the most costly harem-defense tactic and the least costly sneaking tactic, suggesting individual solutions to the balance between reproductive effort and mating opportunities [Current Zoology 61 (5): 802-810, 2015].
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (90813032, 20890020 & 21025520)the Ministry of Science and Technology (2009CB930000 & 2011CB933201)+2 种基金the Ministry of Health (2008ZX10001-010)Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJCX2-YW-M15)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry
文摘Immunoassays are useful for many bioassays. Many new techniques and materials are introduced into the immunoassay to improve the efficiency. This paper reviews recent progress in the application of microfluidic systems and gold nanoparticles in immunoassay. The micro/nano technologies and materials can offer good sensitivity, fast detection, cost-effectiveness and easy signal readout. In particular, the miniaturization of microfluidics and colorimetric assays based on gold nanoparticles have dramatically improved the efficiency of immunoassays.
基金the Chinese Public Service Platform for Science and Technology Management (No. 06DZ22924)the Economic Globalization and Innovation(No. 08692106700)
文摘Design-manufacturing chain (D-MC) is the most important link of the supply chain with the greatest possibility in cost reduction. How to strengthen the effective management of interracial relationship between designer and manufacturer and increase the efficency of interface management concerns the efficiency of the whole supply chain. In order to evaluate and improve the impacts of D-MC interfacial relationship, first we should construct the evaluation index system and then we should analyze the total cost and benefit of the interfacial relationship betterment, including the cost of member units in D-MC, the opportunity cost of cooperation partners, and the market returns resulted from the interfacial relationship improvement, which will advance the whole supply chain efficiency as well as enhance the management performance of D-MC.