Cost-benefit Research Articles

Assessing the Feasibility and Socioecological Benefits of Climate-Smart Practices at the Watershed Scale

Resource allocation in climate-smart productive practices depends on the explicit recognition and accountability of the expected costs and benefits in socioeconomic and ecological terms. This study assessed the private and social costs and benefits of 10 practices compatible with the transition to sustainable agricultural practices under an integrated landscape management (ILM) approach. First, the financial and economic viability of the alternatives was evaluated with a cost-benefit analysis. Then, the potential contribution of these practices in terms of carbon sequestration and landscape connectivity was determined in an ILM scenario where at least three practices (live fences, isolated trees in pastures, and riparian vegetation recovery) could be implemented and assessed at the watershed scale. These practices were evaluated in three Mexican pilot watersheds with contrasting biophysical and sociocultural contexts but with high importance in biodiversity conservation and cattle production. The results showed that most climate-smart practices are viable in the medium and long term from a private standpoint. However, more significant benefits are achievable over a shorter period when social co-benefits are included. The results could contribute to decision-making in terms of public policy, providing evidence of the financial and economic feasibility of the analyzed climate-smart practices that also have ecological benefits. In this sense, decision-makers who promote such practices have more arguments to seek funding for implementation.

Calculation of the ecological and economic effect of collecting rainwater with «green» roofs

The problem of the availability of fresh water on the planet is substantiated and the main concepts of sustainable rainwater management, such as: "SuDS", "BMP", "LID", "GI", as well as the concept of "green" structures, are analyzed. The classification and characteristics of the main types of «green» roofs, as well as their main ecological advantages, are presented. The global market for green roofs is shown growing from USD 1.4 billion in 2020 to a CAGR of 17% from 2020 to 2027, to reach USD 4.2 billion by 2027, and is projected to the extensive type will account for more than half of the total market share. The problem of high costs for installation and maintenance of environmentally friendly solutions for the roof is highlighted, therefore the aim of the work is to calculate the ecological and economic effect of collecting rainwater obtained from "green" roofs, in contrast to traditional roofs, and to conduct an economic analysis of social and cost benefits. what green roofs generate over their life cycle using the Net Present Value (NPV) method. The ecological and economic effect of collecting rainwater with "green" roofs was calculated for four cities of Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Lviv. According to the results of calculations, the ecological effect of EE ranges from 394,000 m3 in the city of Dnipro and 450,000 m3 in Kharkiv to 567,000 m3 in Kyiv and 647,000 m3 in Lviv. The difference in the obtained calculations depends primarily on the selected area of "green" roofs, which was the lowest in the city of Dnipro (1.47 million m2) and the highest in the city of Kyiv (2.50 million m2), the values of which were chosen conditionally, as well as from the indicator of the average annual amount of precipitation, which is the highest in the city of Lviv (740 mm). The average value of the ecological effect of EE in relation to water retention in the analyzed cities was calculated, which was 515,000 m3. By multiplying EE and water price, the average ECE for these 4 cities was determined to be $380,500. It was concluded that the price of water is a decisive dependent variable in the calculation of ECE. The calculation of the economic analysis of the profitability of investments in "green" roofs corresponding to 1 m2 of intensive and extensive "green" roofs, which was carried out on the basis of the net present value method (NPV). It is shown that investment costs for "green" roofs include the following stages: design of "green" roofs; installation of the "green" roof system; installation of waterproofing; production of substrate for roofs and its installation; selection and planting of plants on the roof; installation of the irrigation system. It is substantiated that both intensive and extensive "green" roofs have a positive indicator of the net present value of NPV. The average NPV per 1 m2 of an intensive "green" roof is more than 10 times higher than the average NPV per 1 m2 of an extensive "green" roof.

Optimal allocation of customer energy storage based on power big data and improved LSTM load forecasting

This research explores the potential of energy storage investment with a focus on regional power users. An incentive-based demand response framework is constructed, emphasizing the aggregation of demand-side resources for active participation in the power market. Utilizing a data-driven approach, the improved Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) model is employed to predict customer behavior in response to incentives. The primary objective is to maximize the life cycle benefit while minimizing the payback period for users investing in energy storage. By harnessing big data analytics, suitable users for energy storage investment are identified and optimal capacity allocation is determined. Given the current energy storage parameters and dynamics of electricity pricing, boundary values for profitable user energy storage capacities are derived. This methodology filters users with capacities exceeding these thresholds, marking them as potential candidates for energy storage deployment. Furthermore, a measurement model for iron phosphate batteries is introduced. Analysis of adjustable resource capacity, duration, and benefits for potential users provides insights into optimal energy storage investment strategies. Integrating configured energy storage batteries with time-of-use tariffs substantially reduces energy storage costs, leading to enhanced economic efficiency.

Enhancing Renewable Energy Accommodation by Coupling Integration Optimization with Flexible Retrofitted Thermal Power Plant

Thermal power units (TPUs) play a crucial role in accommodating the high penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) like wind turbines (WTs) and photovoltaics (PVs). This paper proposes an evaluation framework to quantitatively analyze the flexibility potential of retrofitted TPUs in enhancing the accommodate capability of RESs through coupling integration and optimal scheduling. Firstly, the coordination framework for coupling TPUs with RESs is outlined, including a comprehensive analysis of benefits and implementation strategies. Secondly, an annual optimal scheduling model for TPUs and RESs is developed, incorporating deep peak regulation services, ladder-type constraints for retrofitted TPUs, and their operational characteristics before and after the coupling integration. Thirdly, indices to evaluate RES accommodation levels and TPU regulation capacities are proposed to quantify the performance of power sources. Finally, a real-world case study is conducted to demonstrate that integrating retrofitted TPUs with RESs through coupling significantly enhances RES utilization by 3.6% and boosts TPUs’ downward regulation capabilities by 32%.

A Cost–Benefit Analysis of Reinterview Designs for Estimating and Adjusting Mode Measurement Effects: A Case Study for the Dutch Health Survey and Labour Force Survey

Abstract Reinterview designs are a potential tool to estimate and adjust for mode measurement effects, that is, relative differences in mode-specific measurement error bias. In 2011, a reinterview design was successfully applied to the Dutch Crime Victimization Survey, which led to a redesign of the survey. Reinterview designs may, however, be very costly, especially when face to face is included as a survey mode. The crucial question is whether benefits outweigh costs, that is, whether the potential increase in the accuracy of survey statistics is worth the investment. The answer to this question depends heavily on the purpose of the reinterview, that is, assessment versus adjustment, the size of the measurement effects, and the relative cost of the modes. Reinterview designs also make a number of assumptions that will not hold for every setting. In this article, we perform a cost–benefit analysis for two surveys, the Dutch Health Survey and the Dutch Labour Force Survey, and discuss the utility and validity of reinterviews. We conclude that a reinterview may not be useful due to relatively small measurement differences for the Labour Force Survey, whereas it may be useful for the Health Survey.

Transformation of the company's business model in accordance with the circular economy principles

Subject. This article examines the problem of an enterprise's choice of the optimal way to transform its current business model into one of the types of circular business models. Objectives. The article aims to determine the most expedient way to transform the business model of a light industry enterprise according to economic criteria. Methods. For the study, we used a function modeling methodology (IDEF0) and the cost-benefit analysis. Results. A comparative analysis of the economic parameters of two waste management projects at a light industry enterprise shows that the most expedient is to create a spin-off enterprise to implement the open recycling model (that is, to search for permanent partners to organize the waste processing process at their production base).

Evaluating the economic sustainability of commercial complex greening based on cost-benefit analysis: A case study of Singapore’s Shaw center

Commercial complex greening is the alternative to leading the greening development of public buildings, reducing the negative impact of buildings on the environment, and achieving sustainable development goals. However, the economic sustainability of commercial complex greening remains underinvestigated. This study investigated traditional building greening economic evaluation indicators and quantitative methods according to the characteristics of commercial complexes in to provide ideas on the economic evaluation of it to fill in the blanks of CBA analysis applied to the economics of greening systems of commercial buildings. Applying cost-benefit analysis, this study evaluated the economic sustainability of vertical greening systems (VGS) and green roof systems (GRS) installed on a commercial complex in Singapore using Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PBP), and sensitivity analysis to quantify and integrate personal and social life cycle costs and benefits. The methodology was based on an extensive literature review in multiple fields and rational assumptions for unavailable data. The key findings were: 1) Commercial complex greening is a feasible investment. 2) VGS has a higher economic return value, whereas GRS can achieve faster payback. 3) Well-designed greening and vitality-boosting ideas bring more economic returns than tax incentives. 4) Property value improvement, maintenance cost, and fire risk reduction were sensitive factors affecting NPV, among which property value played a decisive role, especially for VGS. 5) Extensive construction and tax policies can reduce costs and improve the economy. 6) Personal benefits generated by greening are greater than social benefits. This critical case study of a commercial complex greening project provides greening developers and operators a better understanding of the economic competitiveness of commercial complex greening implementation to promote the market application and a rationale for governments to revise existing or formulate new measures to encourage the development of green industries. Although the conclusion of this study only focuses on the economic sustainability of greening in commercial complexes in Singapore due to sample size limitations, achieving a more significant localized evaluation is potential by collecting and replacing data corresponding to regions based on this research framework. Meanwhile, quantifying more economic indicators, comparing the economy of different greening modes in commercial complexes and arranging an international database about the economic sustainability of commercial complex greening are worth further exploration in the future.

Accountability analysis of health benefits related to National Action Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in China.

China is one of the largest producers and consumers of coal in the world. The National Action Plan on Air Pollution Prevention and Control in China (2013-2017) particularly aimed to reduce emissions from coal combustion. Here, we show whether the acute health effects of PM2.5 changed from 2013 to 2018 and factors that might account for any observed changes in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) and the surrounding areas where there were major reductions in PM2.5 concentrations. We used a two-stage analysis strategy, with a quasi-Poisson regression model and a random effects meta-analysis, to assess the effects of PM2.5 on mortality in the 47 counties of BTH. We found that the mean daily PM2.5 levels and the SO42- component ratio dramatically decreased in the study period, which was likely related to the control of coal emissions. Subsequently, the acute effects of PM2.5 were significantly decreased for total and circulatory mortality. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentrations was associated with a 0.16% (95% CI: 0.08, 0.24%) and 0.02% (95% CI: -0.09, 0.13%) increase in mortality from 2013 to 2015 and from 2016 to 2018, respectively. The changes in air pollution sources or PM2.5 components appeared to have played a core role in reducing the health effects. The air pollution control measures implemented recently targeting coal emissions taken in China may have resulted in significant health benefits.

Impact of Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme on Grape Beneficiary Farmers

Agriculture in India is extremely vulnerable to incidence of extreme weather events which leads to agrarian distress. Farmers are sensitive to agricultural risks and, as a result require insurance. Climate variability and extreme weather events have become a great threat to agricultural production in India. The projected increase in droughts, floods, heat and cold waves, cyclones, extreme precipitation events will result in greater instability in food production. Grape fruit crop is extremely sensitive to climate change; year by year many farmers are indebted due to very meager yields. Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) is one such scheme which was recent crop insurance launch by Government of India to mitigate the hardship of the insured farmers against the likelihood of financial loss on account of crop loss resulting from adverse weather conditions. Grape fruit crop was taken into consideration to assess the impact of the ‘RWBCIS’ on beneficiaries. The study was conducted in the year 2021-2022 in Nasik district of Maharashtra state. The sample consists of total 150 farmers, 75 beneficiary farmers and 75 non-beneficiary farmers of RWBCIS. With the help of tools like Crop diversification, Cropping intensity and Incremental cost benefit ratio an attempt is made to find out the impact of the RBWCIS on beneficiary farmers in comparison to non-beneficiary farmers. The results showed that there is no significant difference in crop diversification and cropping intensity between the two groups. Also, there is no noticeable difference between the creditworthiness of beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers of RWBCIS. Incremental Cost Benefit Ratio for beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries was more or less unity. There is no noticeable impact of RWBCIS on Grape beneficiary farmers.

Assessment of Water Productivity and Economic Viability of Greenhouse-Grown Tomatoes under Soilless and Soil-Based Cultivations

Water scarcity has necessitated the adoption of water-saving techniques in both protected and non-protected farming. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a water-saving soilless cultivation technique and compare it to conventional soil-based cultivation in protected farming. The soilless technique utilized local gravel and a mixture of peat moss, humin-substrate, and perlite in a 4:3:1.5 ratio. During the tomato growth cycle, three irrigation regimes were imposed using drip irrigation: 8 Lh−1 design discharge (D1) emitters, 6 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.75) emitters, and 4 Lh−1 design discharge (D0.5) emitters for both cultivation methods. Vegetative growth, fruit yield, and water consumption were measured and water productivity was determined. Additionally, an economic assessment was conducted by estimating and comparing economic coefficients for both cultivation methods. Estimated coefficients included revenues, net profit, benefit–cost ratio, breakeven levels of production and prices, revenues over variable cost, and revenues on investment. The tomato fruit yield under soil-based cultivation surpassed the yield under soilless cultivation. Water productivity under soilless cultivation was nearly double (24.3 kg m−3) that of soil-based cultivation (15.5 kg m−3). Soilless cultivation saved 50% of the irrigation water applied by the conventional soil-based method, conserving energy and protecting the soil from deterioration. Revenues and net profits, driven by higher yield and lower variable costs, favored soil-based cultivation. The economic assessment demonstrated that both cultivation methods were economically viable. However, the soil-based cultivation method was more profitable due to its higher fruit yield. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the soilless cultivation technique is a feasible option for water-saving cultivation. However, the soil-based cultivation method remains more profitable due to its superior fruit yield. The soilless cultivation technique offers significant water savings but needs further improvements to achieve comparable economic returns to traditional farming.

Investigating Land Cover Changes and Their Impact on Land Surface Temperature in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Restoration of degraded land is a significant concern in the 21st century in order to combat the impacts of climate change. For this reason, the provisional government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, initialized a Billion Tree Tsunami Project (BTTP) in 2013 and finished it in 2017. Although a few researchers have investigated the land use transitions under BTTP in the short term by merging all the vegetation types into one, analysis of the long-term benefits of the project and future persistence were missing. Furthermore, the previous studies have not discussed whether the prime objective of the BTTP was achieved. Considering the existing gaps, this research mainly involves analyzing (i) fluctuations in the green fraction by employing a land change modeler (LCM), along with the spatial location of gain-loss and exchange analysis using a high-resolution dataset (GLC30); (ii) forest cover changes under the influence of the BTTP; (iii) impacts of green fraction changes towards land surface temperature (LST) by utilizing the less-explored technique of curve fit linear regression modeling (CFLR); and finally, (iv) assessing the persistence of the NDVI and LST trends by employing the Hurst exponent. Research findings indicate that as an output of BTTP, despite the government’s claim of increasing the forest cover by 2%, a significant gain of grassland (3904.87 km2) was observed at the cost of bare land. In comparison, the overall increase in forest cover was only 0.39%, which does not satisfy the main objective of this project. On the other hand, the CFLRM-based actual contributions of land cover change (LCC) transition to LST indicate a significant decline in LST in the areas with gains in green fraction for both grassland and forest. At the same time, an increase was observed with reverse transitions. Although the results appear positive for climatic impacts in the short term, the HURST model-based persistence analysis revealed that the spatial locations of increasing vegetation and decreasing LST trends fall under the weakly persistent category, therefore these trends may not continue in the near future. Despite some positive impact on LST attributed to the green fraction increase, this project cannot be regarded as a complete success due to its failure to achieve its prime objective.

Social Return on Investment (SROI) from the Community Waste Bank Implementation under the Learning Center of Systematic Waste Management Innovation According to the Circular Economy Concept

This article presents the results of social return on investment (SROI) evaluation in the community’s waste bank program implemented in the Moo 7 and Moo 8 Villages of Tan Diao Subdistrict, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi Province during 2020–2022, which is a part of the Learning Centre of Systematic Waste Management Innovation According to the Concept of Circular Economy project. This research employed participatory action research to collect data on total cost for investment and income from selling recyclable waste through in-depth interviews and focus groups with a total of 40 stakeholders including: 25 community members, 5 community leaders, 3 representatives from Tan Diao Subdistrict Administrative Organization, 5 village health volunteers, and 2 private waste buyers. The SROI analysis of the Moo 7 and Moo 8 waste banks (2020–2022) by using the discount rate based on the government bond yield at 3% shows the total net present value at 106,166.60 Thai Baht (2,941.76 USD), a ratio of cost-benefit analysis at 12.74 times, the payback period at 4.7 months, and the SROI result is 2.65 Thai Baht (0.073 USD). In other words, for every 1 Thai Baht invested in the community waste banks during this period, the benefits generated were equivalent to 2.65 Thai Baht (0.073 USD). This translates to a positive return on investment. The contribution of community waste bank under the project, can significantly change in 1) community relations with an intensive engagement in community waste management, 2) economic perspective as it generates employment and income, and reduces transportation costs for landfilling, and 3) environment term, as it reduces household waste and waste disposal. The suggestions have been developed in terms of policies and action plans for community waste management together with local administrative organizations to develop Tan Diao Subdistrict as a model of waste management.

Viability of Medium-Scale Vermicompost Plant: a Case Study in Kushtia, Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, vermicomposting has been a popular environmentally friendly composting technique, primarily at small-scale levels. However, few studies have explored the feasibility of medium to large-scale operations. This study establishes a medium-scale vermicompost fertilizer plant in Kushtia, Bangladesh, processing 30 tons of waste monthly to produce 10 tons of fertilizer. Utilizing cow dung from nearby dairy farms and 0.1 million red worms (Eisenia foetida), the experiment runs for three cycles of 120 days each without indoor environmental controls. Over a year, the worm population quadruples to over 0.4 million. Lab tests confirm the fertilizer's pH level (7.69) and nutrient ratios (e.g., 1.792% nitrogen, 0.5217% phosphorus, and 1.514% potassium). The paper includes a cost-benefit analysis, suggesting the viability of such medium-scale setups for green farming in rural Bangladesh.

Integrated Weed Management in Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

The experiment was conducted at Regional Spices Research Centre, BARI, Magura during the cropping season of 2021-22 and 2022-23 to find out the best management practices for controlling the weed of turmeric. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Nine different treatments and a control plot were studied. Significant differences regarding yield and yield attributes were observed among different treatments. The results revealed that Cyperus rotundus was the major weed constituting 51% of the total weed flora. All treatments brought significant reduction in the count of weeds over control. The lowest number of these weeds was recorded in glyphosate @ 10 ml/L+ 1 HW at 70 DAP + straw mulch @ 5 t/ha treated plot. The highest fresh yield (64.63 t/ha in 2021-22 and 58.28 t/ha in 2022-23) was found from treatment T5 (glyphosate @ 10 ml/L+ 1 HW at 70 DAP + straw mulch @ 5 t/ha) and the lowest yield (20.16 kg/ha in 2021-22 and 20.07 in 2022-23) was found from control plot T10. Maximum weed control efficiency (91.97%) was found from treatment T5 (glyphosate @ 10 ml/L+ 1 HW at 70 DAP + straw mulch @ 5 t/ha). Benefit cost ratio (BCR) was highest under glyphosate @ 10 ml/L+ 1 HW at 70 DAP + straw mulch @ 5 t/ha (3.75) followed by T6 (Paraquat @ 10 ml/L+ 1 HW (70 DAP) + straw mulch 5 t/ha (3.33).

Pharmacoeconomics in Healthcare By IJISRT

Pharmacoeconomics is the study of the cost- effectiveness and accessibility of pharmaceutical treatments from the perspective of both individuals and the healthcare system as a whole. This field can help policymakers and healthcare providers make more informed decisions about patient care. The field of health economics saw its inaugural publication in 1973, while the idea of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis was originally put forth by University of Minnesota researchers McGhan, Rowland, and Bootman in 1978. In pharmacoeconomics, four main categories exist cost- utility analysis, cost-minimization analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Pharmacoeconomics was originally an applied discipline. Because of their relative youth, health economics, and pharmacoeconomics are still in the process of refining and evaluating their methods. Health economics has a lot of issues that make it hard to use in real life. The field of pharmacoeconomics offers valuable insights that healthcare practitioners can use in their practice. Drug policy and clinical decision-making are both aided by pharmacoeconomics.

Impact and adoption of feed technologies at Nharira-Lancashire Dairy Scheme

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the impact and adoption of nutrition technologies and their effect on milk production at the Nharira-Lancashire dairy scheme. Sixty households (30 from each scheme) were randomly selected and interviewed by use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Fisher’s exact and Monte Carlo tests were carried out to determine the association between farmer experience and feed technology. Logistic regression was used to rank farmers’ awareness and adoption of feed technologies. The results indicated that farmers have been exposed to at least five new feed technologies and adoption is influenced by education status, sex, age and gender of household head (P < 0.05). Feed technology adoption was in the order: silage 70.83% > sunflower cake 41.66% > legume reinforcement 27.1% > legume trees 16.66% > napier fodder 8.33% > urea treatment 4.17%. Milk yield was affected by month and year (P < 0.05). The impact of adoption was below anticipation, as indicated by lack of economic surpluses. A cost-benefit analysis needs to be carried out for all feed technologies within the study area to streamline viable options.

Indigenous knowledge and natural infrastructure resilience to climate change in developing countries: a bibliometric analysis

It is widely recognized that natural infrastructure plays a pivotal role in sustaining Indigenous communities globally. Natural infrastructure encompasses ecosystems and environments that either occur naturally or have been deliberately altered through human intervention to provide multiple benefits for the environment and human wellbeing. While there has been extensive scholarly discussion regarding the importance of natural infrastructure in securing the livelihoods of Indigenous populations in developing nations and passing down their critical knowledge from one generation to another, the literature has not explicitly analyzed how Indigenous knowledge has facilitated the protection and conservation of natural infrastructure. Also, there has been limited analysis of the economic benefits of their conservation efforts. This article, utilizing bibliometric analysis as its methodological approach, aims to unpack how Indigenous knowledge has facilitated the protection and conservation of natural infrastructure. Several key themes emerged from this bibliometric analysis, including Indigenous governance strategies aimed at mitigating deforestation and addressing climate change and collective action taken to preserve natural infrastructure. Among others, a positive economic consequence of all three themes lies in their ability to improve the livelihood of Indigenous peoples by creating opportunities to receive payment for ecosystem services.

Electrochemical sensing of strontium ions cyclic voltammetry and investigation of rosemary extract's effects on their behavior: Antibacterial properties of rosemary extract and molecular docking analysis for potential COVID-19 therapeutic benefits

This work presents an electrochemical sensing for the estimation of strontium ions by cyclic voltammetry and studies its electrochemical behavior in the presence and absence of rosemary using 18 an Karat Gold working electrode in 0.1 M KBr at 295.15 K. The potential therapeutic effects of carnosol and carnosic acid against COVID-19 were explored through molecular docking analysis, suggesting their antiviral effects. The results showed that the obtained cyclic voltammograms showed well-defined redox peaks, and the peak current was found to increase linearly with increasing strontium chloride concentration. Rosemary has been shown to have antioxidant properties, which affect the redox behavior of strontium ions, leading to changes in the peak current and potential observed. SrCl2 solution has higher oxygen solubility and is useful in various industries. Additionally, plant extract showed inhibition of the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria due to its antibacterial activity. Overall, this research offers a promising electrochemical approach for measuring strontium ions and, the antibacterial activity of the Rosemary extract and reveals the potential therapeutic benefits of it against COVID-19.

Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis of Nerve Implanted into Muscle versus Targeted Muscle Reinnervation versus Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface, for Treatment of the Painful Neuroma.

This study investigated the relative cost utility of three techniques for the management of symptomatic neuromas after neuroma excision: (1) implantation of nerve into muscle, (2) targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), and (3) regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI). The costs associated with each procedure were determined using Common Procedural Terminology codes in combination with data from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Physician and Facility 2020 Fee Schedules. The relative utility of the three procedures investigated was determined using changes in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores as reported per procedure. The relative utility of each procedure was reported in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), as is standard in the literature. The least expensive option for the surgical treatment of painful neuromas was nerve implantation into an adjacent muscle. In contrast, for the treatment of four neuromas, as is common postamputation, TMR without a microscope was found to cost $50,061.55 per QALY gained, TMR with a microscope was found to cost $51,996.80 per QALY gained, and RPNI was found to cost $14,069.28 per QALY gained. While RPNI was more expensive than nerve implantation into muscle, it was still below the standard willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY, while TMR was not. Evaluation of costs and utilities associated with the various surgical options for the management of painful neuromas suggest that nerve implantation into muscle is the least expensive option with the best improvement in QALY, while demonstrating comparable outcomes to TMR and RPNI with regard to pain symptoms.

Evaluation of farmers friendly IPM modules for the management of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) in maize in the hot semiarid region of India

Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a severe threat to global agriculture, with their impact projected to escalate due to climate change and expanding international trade. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), a native of the Americas, has rapidly spread across various continents, causing significant damage to several food crops, especially maize. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs are vital for sustainable FAW control, combining multiple strategies for sustainable results. Over three consecutive years, 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22, the field demonstrations were conducted in semiarid regions of India, testing a four-component IPM approach viz., pheromone traps, microbial, botanicals and ETL based applications of insecticides against farmers' practices (sole insecticide application). IPM implementation led to substantial reductions in FAW infestation. Furthermore, egg mass and larvae infestations were significantly lower in IPM-adopted villages compared to conventional practices. Pheromone-based monitoring demonstrated a consistent reduction in adult moth populations. The lowest technology gap (10.42), extension gap (8.33) and technology index (12.25) was recorded during 2020–21. The adoption of IPM led to increased maize yields (17.49, 12.62 and 24.87% over control), higher net returns (919, 906.20 and 992.93 USD), and favourable benefit–cost ratios (2.74, 2.39 and 2.33) compared to conventional practices respectively during 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22. The economic viability of IPM strategies was evident across three consecutive years, confirming their potential for sustainable FAW management in the semiarid region of India. These strategies hold promise for adoption in other parts of the world sharing similar climatic conditions.