Cost-benefit Evaluation Research Articles

Study on the Prevalence of Ectoparasitic Arthropods on Free Range Gallus domesticus in Two Communities in Awka

A survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods in free range domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) in Amansea and Ifite communities, in Awka Capital Territory, Anambra state. A total of 112 G. domesticus comprising of 42 Adult males, 30 adult females and 40 juveniles were examined during a house to house survey for ectoparasitic arthropods. The study was carried out between June and September, 2014. The domestic fowl were caught in their roosting places at night and were examined for ectoparasitic arthropod infestation. 73.21% prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods on the chicken was recorded. Male adult chicken had higher prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods than adult females and juvenile chicken. Six species of ectoparasitic arthropods namely; Argas persicus (29.46%), Menopon gallinae (23.21%), Dermanysus gallinae (16.07%), Lipeurus caponis (12.5%), Echidnophaga gallinacea (10.71%) Goniocotes gallinae (5.36%) were recovered from infested chicken. Argas persicus with the prevalence (29.46%) was the most prevalent parasite species. Amansea community had a higher prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods than Ifite community. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study has provided information on the various ectoparasitic arthropods of domestic chicken in Amansea and Ifite communities. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods between the two communities. Therefore, further study is needed to determine the impact of infestation on the health and productivity of these birds, and evaluation of cost benefit of various control strategies need to be investigated.

Why do voters choose corrupt candidates? The role of ideology on cognitive mechanisms

AbstractThere is evidence that people vote for corrupt candidates even when they have information that their representatives have been engaged in corruption in the past. Based on a survey experiment in Brazil, we find evidence that ideology is an important factor to explain this voting behavior. We also found evidence of two psychological mechanisms that explain this effect: a change in perception of corruption and a cognitive cost-benefit evaluation. This study expanded previous findings, showing that ideology can affect voting behavior when there is information about corruption even in a country where voters are supposedly less loyal to a single party.

An integrated physical and cost-benefit approach to assess groins as a coastal erosion mitigation strategy

Future investments required for the construction and maintenance of coastal defense interventions are expected to increase, due to increasing coastal erosion issues along social, environmental and economically valuable coastal areas. The high costs related with coastal defense interventions require improved knowledge on their performance, considering impacts, costs and benefits. Despite the existence of several cost-benefit approaches applied to coastal zones, in this study a well-defined, sequential and integrated methodology supported by already existent numerical models is developed and applied to assess the effectiveness (shoreline evolution impacts), costs and benefits of different coastal defense interventions. This methodology encompasses three integrated modules, including a shoreline evolution module (to estimate areas of territory maintained, gained or lost over time), a coastal structure pre-design module (to estimate material volumes of coastal works) and a cost-benefit evaluation module (to assess cost-benefit evaluation criteria). The approach allows for the physical and economic comparison of different coastal defense intervention scenarios, helping coastal management and planning entities to define strategies. In this study, the proposed methodology was applied to evaluate the performance of different groin scenarios, based on a hypothetical case study. The case study allowed highlighting the importance of the physical and economic analysis of different scenarios. Results show that the definition of coastal defense interventions is complex where, on the one hand, best physical solutions are sometimes related to very high costs and, on the other hand, best economic scenarios lead to high territory losses. Thus, the innovative approach presented in this study shows that an integrated analysis of shoreline evolution, coastal intervention design and subsequent costs and benefits allows to improve the physical and economic performances of coastal defense interventions.

Ten Lessons for Good Practice for the INHERIT Triple Win: Health, Equity, and Environmental Sustainability

The world’s challenges of climate change, damage to ecosystems, and social and health inequalities require changes in human behaviours at every level of organisation, among governments, business, communities, and individuals. An important question is how behaviour change can be enabled and supported at the scale and speed required. The research reported in this paper describes important lessons for good practice in changing contexts to modify behaviours for a triple win for health, equity and environmental sustainability. Authors synthesised learning from qualitative, quantitative and cost benefit evaluations of 15 case studies conducted in 12 countries in Europe. The case studies address ways of living (green spaces and energy efficient housing), moving (active transport) and consuming (healthy and sustainable diets) that support the triple win. Ten lessons for good practice were identified. These include bringing a triple win mindset to policy and practice in planning interventions, with potential to improve environmental sustainability, health and equity at the same time. The lessons for good practice are intended to support governmental and non-governmental actors, practitioners and researchers planning to work across sectors to achieve mutual benefits for health and environmental sustainability and in particular to benefit poorer and more socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

With Small Power, Comes Great Responsibility: Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Veteran and Military Mental Health Public Awareness Campaigns.

This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of conducting a cost-benefit evaluation of federally-funded media campaigns encouraging mental health help-seeking among United States military personnel and veterans. To calculate the necessary sample size for the evaluation, we obtained campaign costs, and determined the number of treatment seekers needed for the campaign to break even with its cost and the associated population change that an evaluation would need to detect. The sample size needed for an evaluation with 80% power was greater than the total population of U.S. military personnel and veterans. Given that the necessary sample size exceeds the population to be sampled, an appropriately powered outcome evaluation is not feasible. Other programs that would be cost effective with extremely small effect sizes should not be subject to underpowered and thus inaccurate empirical outcome evaluation.

Using Eco-Home Diagnosis to reduce household energy consumption: A case study on behavioral changes in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

The Eco-Home Diagnosis program was introduced to promote energy-saving actions in Japanese households. However, to date, no study has examined whether it contributes to actual energy reduction while evaluating psychological factors that lead to energy-saving actions by participants. Hence, this paper reports on a case study in Fukuoka Prefecture that evaluated these effects. The findings revealed that 33 participants performed 3.3 energy-saving actions on average. They opted primarily for curtailment actions, but these had a small impact on electricity use relative to efficiency actions, which require high initial costs. The analysis of factors determining participants’ energy-saving actions showed that, before the program, behavioral intentions were influenced by cost–benefit evaluations. However, this changed after the program: Their interest was raised by perceived effectiveness, and this was seen to be linked to their motivation and behavioral intentions. It is recommended that enhancement of the perceived effectiveness should be further considered during the diagnosis process, while more feedback by advisors is needed to keep participants aware of energy-saving actions. The program is likely to be more effective if it targets those who are planning to build or renovate their homes.

Cost-benefit analysis of clinical pharmacist intervention in preventing adverse drug events in the general chronic diseases outpatients.

Clinical pharmacy services are vital in the prevention of adverse drug events (ADEs) in clinical practice, extending beyond the hospital to chronic disease management in outpatient settings. This study sought to evaluate the cost benefit of a clinical pharmacy intervention in resolving treatment-related problems (TRPs) among hospital outpatients with chronic diseases. From the hospital system perspective, the cost-benefit analysis was based on a randomized clinical trial in the general outpatients of the major hospital in Jordan. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group. TRPs were identified in both study groups, but interventions were delivered only to the intervention group via a home medication management review (HMMR) by a clinical pharmacist. A follow-up in both groups took place 3months after recruitment. The total economic benefit was the sum of (a) cost savings due to intervention and (b) cost avoidance associated with preventable ADEs. The primary outcome measures were the net benefit and benefit-to-cost ratio with the clinical pharmacist-based HMMR. In both groups, 158 TRPs were identified, and 79 interventions were provided in the study group. The monthly cost of intervention was JD764 (US $1078), and the total monthly benefit was JD4570 (US $6444), leading to a benefit-to-cost ratio of 5.98 and an annual net benefit of JD45669 (US $64393). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of results. The RCT-based cost-benefit evaluation provided evidence-based insight into the economic benefit of a clinical pharmacist-provided HMMR for preventing ADEs in the general chronic diseases outpatients. This intervention method against the TRPs among outpatients is cost beneficial and offers substantial cost savings to the health care hospital payer in Jordan.

Resistance to change. The problem of high non-take up in implementing policy innovations in the Italian long-term care system

ABSTRACTThis article illustrates how the implementation of ‘interstitial’ innovation in welfare policy can be hampered by resistance to change on the part of its intended beneficiaries by means of a case study of a policy innovation in long-term care in Italy: the Home Care Premium (HCP) programme. In a policy area characterised by long-standing institutional inertia, HCP represents an innovative programme which provides a generous, conditional cash-for-care benefit to encourage the regular employment of in-house care assistants. However, the implementation of the scheme was hampered by high non-take up (NTU) rates, i.e. the percentage of beneficiaries who did not claim the cash-for-care benefit for which they were eligible.The article uses a ‘mixed method’ approach to show how high NTU rates can be explained by individually ‘situated’ decisions taken by the intended beneficiaries based on cost-benefit evaluations that are deeply rooted in social attitudes and adaptive practices shaped by the existing institutional context. The study also shows how the policy design of the programme partially failed to manage the institutional complementarity of different welfare programs effectively, thus weakening the capacity of this ‘interstitial’ policy to bring about policy innovation. The results of the case study may therefore be of interest to scholars interested in policy change and the role played by beneficiaries in policy implementation.Abbreviations: non-take up (NTU); long-term care (LTC)

Reinforcement reduces the size-latency phenomenon: A cost-benefit evaluation of saccade triggering.

Saccadic latencies are known to change as a function of target eccentricity and size. Recently, it has been shown that latencies consistently change according to the amplitude of the step in proportion to the size of the target (Madelain, Krauzlis, & Wallman, 2005; Harwood, Madelain, Krauzlis, & Wallman, 2008; De Vries, Azadi, & Harwood, 2016). This effect, called the size-latency phenomenon, might be seen as a function of a cost-benefit relationship: Longer latencies might be explained by the lower benefit of making a saccade while the target mostly remains within the attentional field. Here, we probe this hypothesis by manipulating the cost-benefit relationship using a reinforcement procedure. Participants tracked a target stepping horizontally with varying amplitudes and sizes such that the step-to-size ratio was equal to either 0.3 or 1.5. We used a dynamic-reinforcement criterion in the blocked conditions. In the 0.3-ratio condition, any latency shorter than the criterion was reinforced. In the 1.5-ratio condition, any latency longer than the criterion was reinforced. During baseline, we observed the size-latency effect with large differences in latencies depending on the ratio in force (229 and 161 ms, respectively, for 0.3 and 1.5). After learning, distributions shifted toward the shorter or longer value (198 and 236 ms, respectively, for 0.3 and 1.5). On average, latencies decreased by 31 ms and increased by 75 ms according to the ongoing reinforcement contingencies. Our results indicate that reinforcement contingencies can considerably affect saccadic-latency distributions, and support the idea of a cost-benefit evaluation of saccade triggering.

An empirical analysis of the welfare implications of the direct rebound effect

Improving the energy efficiency of an energy service, such as lighting, cooling, or driving, makes the service cheaper, normally leading consumers to demand more of it. This additional demand is known as the direct rebound effect. Rebound is often perceived negatively because it usually eliminates some of the expected energy savings. To determine if the direct rebound effect is welfare reducing, we undertake a cost-benefit analysis that compares the consumer surplus gained from direct rebound to the associated increase in negative externalities. Focusing on driving, the results reveal that the direct rebound effect is welfare reducing in most cases, as the consumer surplus gains were smaller than the increase in external costs. These external costs include greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, congestion, and accidents. Finally, we show that overlooking the costs and benefits of the direct rebound effect can lead to a misleading cost-benefit evaluation of energy efficiency, particularly when rebound effects are large.

A multi-stakeholder analysis of the economic efficiency of industrial energy efficiency policies: Empirical evidence from ten years of the Italian White Certificate Scheme

There is growing interest worldwide in more effective policies to promote industrial energy efficiency and mitigate climate change. The White Certificates Scheme is a market-based mechanism aimed at stimulating the adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures. The Italian White Certificates scheme - one of the most long-standing and articulated - is a successful example of industrial energy efficiency policies, considered an interesting and remarkable case by other countries, especially due to its robustness in terms of the volume of certificates traded. Despite the considerable interest in White Certificates, an in-depth analysis of the economic efficiency of the mechanism from the perspective of different stakeholders is still lacking. To address this gap, this study develops a cost-benefit evaluation framework and a multi-stakeholder economic efficiency analysis of the Italian White Certificates scheme focusing on the Italian State, utilities, players in the energy efficiency value chain, and energy users. Our findings (also corroborated with sensitivity analyses) show that the White Certificates Scheme has led to several positive impacts for almost all stakeholders involved, with the exception of energy utilities that have suffered a major economic loss mainly due to a reduction of energy sold to end users. Such loss is likely to promote a deep change in the role of utilities in the energy market in terms of the services they offer and their business models. Our findings, in addition to providing useful directions for future research, offer interesting insights and implications for policymakers who may take inspiration from the pros and cons of the Italian White Certificates scheme when promoting energy efficiency through incentive mechanisms.

Hospital based care at home; study protocol for a mixed epidemiological and randomized controlled trial

BackgroundIndividuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are prone to pressure ulcers (PUs) because of the loss of sensorimotor function involved as well as increased skin moisture. Treatment of PU after SCI is complicated, involving different specialties and with need for long-lasting follow-up. This study should identify risk factors for PU after SCI, and find an effective and less time-consuming treatment for the condition among different available methods for follow-up.Method/designThe first part of this research project aims to investigate the prevalence of PU among persons with SCI based on an epidemiological design. The study will identify possible risk factors for acquiring PU. A questionnaire focusing on previous and present PUs will be sent to persons who suffered SCIs between January 2004 and January 2014. In the second part we will compare two different treatment regimens of PU through a randomized controlled pilot trial (RCT) where we will compare outpatient SCI follow-up in a hospital versus outpatient follow-up from the patient’s home, using telemedicine (teleSCI) interventions. We will compare the healing of the PU in the two groups (usual care versus teleSCI). The Tissue, Infection, Moisture Edge (TIME) registration form, the Photographic Wound Assessment Tool (PWAT) and the change in the ulcer size will be used to monitor the healing. Changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the need for assistance will be assessed using the Five Dimensions European Quality of Life scale (EQ-5D), the generic Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) modified version, the International Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Data set (ISCI-QoL Data set), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure scale, version III (SCIM III). In addition to primary outcome measures, a cost-benefit evaluation and an assessment of patient satisfaction and participation will be performed, using customized questionnaires.DiscussionThe first part of the research project will reveal the epidemiology of PU after SCI, and explore the risk factors. This part enables further prevention of PU after SCI and this information will be used in the follow-up RCT. Videoconferencing in the outpatient follow-up of persons with SCI and PU will change clinical routines and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, communication and competence exchange among participants of the health care services. Our research protocol allows comparing methods for interaction between medical specialists at hospitals, local caregivers in the community, next of kin, and persons with SCI and PU. The RCT should identify advantages as well as challenges in the management of PU in different follow-up settings. This study aims to identify risk factors for PU after SCI, and find an effective and less time consuming treatment for the condition among different available methods for follow- up.Trial registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02800915, last update 9 October 2017.The National Regional Ethical Committee (REC) 2014/ 684/ REK-Nord. https://helseforskning.etikkom.no/prosjekterirek/prosjektregister/prosjekt?p_document_id=469163&p_parent_id=473640&_ikbLanguageCode=nhttps://app.cristin.no/projects/show.jsf?id=545284https://www.sunnaas.no/kliniske-studier/bruk-av-telemedisin-som-virkemiddel-til-samhandling-i-poliklinisk-oppfolging-av-pasienter-med-ryggmargsskade-og-trykksar

Programmes for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV infection transmission have made progress in Yunnan Province, China, from 2006 to 2015: a cost effective and cost-benefit evaluation

BackgroundPrevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programmes have substantially reduced HIV infections among infants in Yunnan Province, China. We conducted a macro-level economic evaluation of Yunnan’s PMTCT programmes over the 10 years from 2006 to 2015 from a policymaker perspective.MethodsThe study methodology was in accordance with the guidelines from the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement. We quantified the output from the Yunnan’s PMTCT programmes by estimating the number of paediatric HIV infections averted and the relative savings to both the health care system and society. The return-on-investment ratio (ROI) was calculated as the output (numerator) divided by the input (denominator).ResultsWe have found that the US$ 49 million investment in Yunnan’s PMTCT programmes over the period from 2006 to 2015 averted an estimated 2725 new paediatric HIV infections and resulted in an estimated 134,008 QALY acquired. It saved an estimated US$ 0.5 billion in treatment expenditures for Yunnan’s healthcare system and nearly US$ 3.9 billion in productivity. The ROI was 88.4, meaning every US$ 1 invested brought about US$ 88.4 in benefits.ConclusionsOur results support the ongoing investment in PMTCT programmes in Yunnan Province. The PMTCT strategy is a cost effective and cost-benefit strategy in the periods from 2006 to 2015. Despite higher investments in the future, the overall investment in the PMTCT programmes in Yunnan province could be offset by averting more paediatric infections.

Lot sizing and pricing problem in a recovery system with returns and one-way substitution option: Novel cost benefit evaluation based approaches

Abstract In this study, we investigate the joint pricing and lot-sizing problem in a hybrid manufacturing and remanufacturing system with one-way substitution option. The objective is to find the optimal prices and quantities over each period that maximizes the firm revenue, minimizes holding and production costs, and meets the customers’ demands. The considered system is a single production line where both operations of manufacturing and remanufacturing are hold. The items issued from the two processes are not of the same quality and price. The remanufacturing option is based on the collected used products called returns and generates products with less quality. In this paper two demand yields are considered, for new and remanufactured items. In the shortage case of remanufactured items, a one-way substitution option is assumed, so that the demand of these remanufactured items is satisfied by new ones. The objective is to find the optimal prices and quantities in each period that maximizes the firm revenue. The paper proposes a mixed integer-programming model to find optimal production and pricing strategy over a planning horizon, a novel adaptation of cost benefit evaluation heuristic and a memetic algorithm to find near optimal solutions. An extensive simulation analysis is performed for different values to confirm the performance of the proposed approaches.

呼伦贝尔草原草甸生态功能区建设效益评价

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 呼伦贝尔草原草甸生态功能区建设效益评价 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201812302851 作者: 作者单位: 中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所,中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所,北京林业大学自然保护区学院,中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所,中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所,中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家重点研发计划课题（2016YFC0503706，2016YFC0503403）；中国科学院科技服务网络计划项目资助（KFJ-STS-RKT-005）；中国科学院A类战略性先导科技专项资助（XDA20020402） Comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation of the Hulunbuir grassland meadow ecological function area Author: Affiliation: Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research,School of Conservation，Beijing Forestry University,Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:生态工程费用效益评价是对生态工程实施有效性及合理性的评估。基于费用效益理论，分析了呼伦贝尔草原草甸生态功能区建设费用投入情况，在区分气候与人类活动因素对生态效益变化的贡献率的基础上，采用遥感和统计数据从生态、经济和社会三个方面评价了该功能区的综合效益，计算功能区建设工程的效益-费用比，综合评估了呼伦贝尔草原草甸生态功能区建设的经济性。结果表明：（1）2010-2014年该功能区重点生态功能区相关领域建设总投入为84.31亿元，其中重点生态功能区建设投入为1.18亿元，占总投入的1.40%；（2）利用残差趋势分析法计算出人类活动因素对研究区产生生态效益变化的贡献率为37.25%，2011-2015年该功能区重点生态功能区建设产生的生态效益为12458.13万元；（3）2011-2015年该功能区重点生态功能区建设产生的经济效益和社会效益分别为4877.74万元和2804.85万元；（4）呼伦贝尔草原草甸生态功能区建设的工程效益-费用比为1.71，效益高于费用，证明该工程具有一定的经济性。研究将为国家重点生态功能区工程的不断完善以及加快推进实现国家重点生态功能区的功能定位提供一定的科学支撑。 Abstract:The cost-benefit evaluation of ecological engineering is an assessment of the effectiveness and rationality of ecological engineering implementation. Based on the cost-benefit theory, this study analyzed the investment cost of the Hulunbuir grassland meadow ecological function area (HGMEFA). In addition, based on the remote sensing and statistical data, we evaluated the comprehensive benefits of the HGMEFA from ecological, economic, and social perspectives and calculated the benefit-cost ratio of the project to comprehensively evaluate the economic efficiency of HGMEFA construction. The results showed that:(1) From 2010 to 2014, the total investment in the relevant fields of HGMEFA construction was 84.31 hundred million yuan, while the construction cost of the HGMEFA was 1.18 hundred million yuan, accounting for 1.40% of the total investment; (2) The contribution rate of ecological construction was 37.25%, and the ecological benefit of HGMEFA construction from 2011 to 2015 was 1.25 hundred million yuan; (3) The economic and social benefits of HGMEFA construction from 2011 to 2015 were 0.49 hundred million yuan and 0.28 hundred million yuan, respectively; (4) The engineering construction benefit-cost ratio of the HGMEFA was 1.71, with benefits higher than the investments, thereby proving that the project was economical. This study will provide scientific support for continuous improvement of the national key ecological function area project and acceleration of the functional orientation of the national key ecological function area. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Method for the planning of IoT use cases in Smart Logistics Zones

The paper is describing approaches for a method aiming at early planning for the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in logistics processes. Based on the technical properties of single technologies and process requirements a classification of IoT technologies provides the basis for a use case specific evaluation of their technical feasibility. This developed classification is further combined with cost-benefit evaluation approaches. The current status of these developments is observed in the context of a logistics use case. The paper concludes with an outlook on the further development and discusses the contribution of IoT solutions to the creation of Smart Logistics Zones.

Regulatory Analysis the Modern Concept of Law: A Response

Regulatory analysis, which includes cost-benefit calculations, is based on a modern conception of law. It can only be understood—and certainly can only be improved—if that conception is fully recognized. In the pre-modern era, law was conceived as a set of normatively-based limits on human behavior designed to maintain public order. In the administrative state, law is treated as a means of implementing consciously-chosen policies designed to achieve public welfare. Regulatory analysis is based on this administrative conception of law. It does not address questions about whether an enactment is a correct interpretation of principle, but rather whether the enactment is likely to achieve some intended public welfare improvement. Professor Cary Coglianese has proposed that two elements of regulatory analysis, namely cost-benefit analysis and evaluation of regulatory consequences, be imposed by statute on independent agencies. This is an excellent suggestion, but the modern concept of law on which it is based suggests that we should go further, for both independent and executive agencies. We should not only require agencies to conduct cost benefit analysis, a component of policy analysis, but also require that they follow, and document, the whole policy analysis approach. We should not only require them to evaluate their regulations, but we should also incorporate funding for evaluation into virtually all budgetary allocations and fund the agency to experiment with different versions of a regulation as part of that evaluative process.

Blockade of dopamine D₁ receptors, but not D₂ receptors, decreases motivation in a novel effort-discounting paradigm in common marmosets.

Effort-based decision-making paradigms have recently been used to measure motivation in healthy subjects and patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, we developed a novel effort-discounting paradigm using a touch-panel system in common marmosets. Marmosets were trained to choose between a low-reward (a piece of cake) requiring low-effort (one touch response) versus high-reward (three pieces of cake) requiring one of three different effort levels (one, two, or four touch responses). Because the number of trials per session was kept constant, the selection of the high-reward choice was always the optimal strategy to receive the maximum number of rewards. Marmosets' high-reward rates were reduced as the physical effort requirement was increased, when they were tested using effort discounting in either ascending or descending order of effort intensity. It indicates that marmosets' decisions could be attributable to cost-benefit evaluation, but not to their fatigue or satisfaction with the reward during the progression of the paradigm. The high dose of dopamine D₁ receptor antagonist SCH-39166 (0.03 mg/kg) reduced the high-reward choice rate, only when more effort was required to obtain the high-reward than the low-reward. On the other hand, the D₂ receptor antagonist raclopride (0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg) unexpectedly did not affect the high-reward choice rate, but the high dose did increase omission rate. Our finding suggests that dopamine D₁ receptor signaling may play a more important role in effort-based decision making than D₂ receptor signaling in marmosets. Our novel behavioral paradigm would be useful in translational research focused on motivational deficits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Influence of evaporative cooling by urban forests on cooling demand in cities

Trees provide important ecosystem services to urban human society. Their absence can lead to more pronounced environmental and social consequences, for example the urban heat island effect. Evapotranspiration (Et) from trees reduces air temperature in the urban microclimate by converting sensible heat to latent heat. Quantification and valuation of the ecosystem services provided by urban trees is important for improving cost-benefit evaluations in support of protecting tree planting and maintenance budgets and, thus, for building climate change resilience into cities. Inclusion of Et cooling could improve ecosystem service valuation models by producing a more complete picture of the benefits that urban trees provide to society.This study explores two approaches for evaluating climate regulation as an ecosystem service of urban trees. Firstly, an enthalpy-based approach was adopted to valuate latent heat of evaporation from tree transpiration (in three case study urban forests) by equating it to an equivalent service from an active direct evaporative cooling system. Secondly, energy savings to air-conditioned buildings was modelled using TRNSYS and TRNFLOW simulation programs with and without air precooled and humidified by urban trees.Trees are shown to provide substantial urban cooling with an annual valuation of £84 m estimated using the enthalpy-based approach, or ranging from £2.1 m to £22 m using TRNSYS and TRNFLOW dynamic simulation programs; both for inner London case study. The latter savings arose from a modelled 1.28–13.4% reduction in air-conditioning unit energy consumption. Challenges around assumptions of homogeneity in both built form and urban forest canopy effects are discussed.The case study examples highlighted differences in Et cooling between tree species, with Castanea sativa, Prunus avium, Quercus petraea, Platanus hybrida and Fagus sylvatica typically providing more Et cooling than any of the other tree species commonly found in urban forests. The research highlighted a shortage of published Et data, particularly for urban environments.

A cost–benefit evaluation of direct seeding with and without protector for two native tree species in a tropical rainforest

A priority in restoration research is to seek methods that reach high levels of plant establishment at the lowest possible cost. Here, we test how direct seeding works with and without a plastic protector that covers seeds and seedlings in an early‐successional rainforest in Veracruz (Mexico). Two native species, Calophyllum brasiliense (barí) and Vochysia guatemalensis (corpo), at three topographic positions, were used. Germination rates with and without the protector were 84 versus 79% for C. brasiliense, and 98 versus 89% for V. guatemalensis, respectively. The protector significantly improved the germination only of V. guatemalensis. Plant survivorship of V. guatemalensis 27 months after seeding was significantly higher with the protector (78%) than without it (46%). For C. brasiliense, there were no differences in survivorship after 22 months with (61%) and without (54%) protector. In both species, the protector had no effect on height growth, which was significantly larger for seedlings located at the toeslope position. We developed a cost–benefit model that provides a threshold value at which the investment for protectors is justified by a resulting higher survivorship: If 27 months after seeding a treelet of V. guatemalensis is worth at least 0.83 USD on our sites, then the effect of the protector is worth the cost of its implementation (for C. brasiliense, survivorship was statistically undistinguishable with and without protector). We suggest that direct seeding with a plastic protector could be a promising alternative for forest restoration with suitable tree species.