Collection Policy Research Articles

Drug Procurement, R&D Models, and Innovation Performance of Pharmaceutical Companies

Under the multi-objective public policy of national centralized banded purchasing of medicines (“Drug Procurement”), winning pharmaceutical companies are faced with the dual dilemma of declining product profits and high investment in innovation. Although the centralized drug procurement policy significantly reduces drug prices and alleviates the burden of patients, the mechanism of its impact on the innovation performance of pharmaceutical companies is still unclear, and an in-depth study of this mechanism can help to comprehensively understand the effect of the implementation of the centralized drug procurement policy. By constructing a multi-period double-difference model to investigate the impact of the drug collection policy on the innovation activities of enterprises, the study finds that the drug collection policy significantly improves the innovation performance of selected enterprises through two paths, namely internal R&D and external cooperation. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the drug collection policy significantly enhances the innovation performance of larger enterprises and pharmaceutical enterprises whose leading products are chemicals, and has a more significant positive effect on the innovation performance of state-owned enterprises compared with that of non-state-owned enterprises. On the basis of empirical analysis, suggestions are made for policy improvement.

Continuous Improvement in State Vocational Rehabilitation: A Demonstration and Call to Action

Background State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (SVRAs) are the leading provider of employment services for disabled adults in the United States, with achievement of competitive integrated employment as their main outcome. Objective Current data collection policies and practices require counselors to record extensive information for case documentation purposes, however, these data offer limited utility for service planning or for determinations of whether services are having the intended impact. Available data is not structured to support continuous improvement for individual providers or to establish evidence of best practices in day-to-day service provision. Method In this article, we present the many potential benefits of including pre-post assessment of services in measuring the impact of SVRA services. Results The Transition Readiness Toolkit offers a concrete example of the advantages associated with pre-post assessment and continuous use of data to guide services and quality improvement in SVRAs. Conclusion Recommendations and implications for implementing pre-post assessment for other SVRA services are provided.

Crisis of Trust in International Institutions as a Factor of Russia’s Increasing Influence

The article examines the causes of the crisis of trust in international institutions: the inability to stop crises and wars in the modern world, dependence on the United States and the implementation of U.S. policy as a collective policy of all participating countries of international institutions, the unfair distribution of opportunities for countries to influence collective decisions, working with illegitimate representatives of different countries, selective negative labeling of individual countries and ignoring the violation factor the rights and freedoms of citizens in these countries. The author considers the crisis of trust in international institutions as an opportunity for Russia to strengthen and expand its influence on the formation of the modern world order by creating and increasing the power of existing institutions, primarily BRICS.

Modeling climate variability and global sugarcane production: Empirical consideration for collective policy action

The potential impacts of climate change and sugarcane production is well documented in the literature but majority of the studies have focused on models that look at national level impacts. This paper presents a global impact model on sugarcane production due to variations in temperature and rainfall with the intention to observe the collective challenges that sugarcane production is faced with across the world. The study conducted a trend analysis with time series data for sugarcane production, productivity per hectare of sugarcane lands, annual temperature and annual rainfall recorded for the top sugarcane exporters across the world. The study also developed a panel regression model to empirically establish the relationship between production levels and temperature and rainfall. The findings of the study showed that production levels are increasing in some countries while declining in others. Cyclical patterns of production was also observed that seem to vary with cyclical patterns of rainfall. The regression model showed a positive relationship between production and rainfall where a 1 % increase in rainfall can result in a 0.113 % increase in sugarcane production. The model also showed a negative relationship between production and temperature where a 1 % increase in temperature can result in a 0.176 % decrease in sugarcane production. The main conclusion drawn is that as global temperatures continue to increase, then there will be a global decline in the sugarcane industry. This global model for sugarcane and climate change is geared towards showing the collective impacts of climate change experienced by different countries and to encourage from an empirical standpoint, more collective policy actions to protect the industry as a global market.

Collection Policies and Requests for Reconsideration in Academic Libraries – a Kansas Perspective

Collection Policies and Requests for Reconsideration in Academic Libraries – a Kansas Perspective

The influence of policy advocacy and education on medical staff's adaptation to diagnosis related groups payment reform in China: an analysis of the mediating effect of policy cognition.

In recent years, China has been carrying out the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) payment reform, which has an impact not only on payment methods and medical expenses, but also on the behaviors of medical staff. Some of these behaviors are unexpected by policymakers, such as turning away critically ill patients, disaggregating hospitalization costs, setting up disease groups with higher points, and so on. This phenomenon attracted the attention of some scholars, who put forward a few positive intervention measures, mainly including policy advocacy and system improvement. The scholars believed that the former was more feasible. However, there is a lack of research on the effects and influencing processes of these interventions. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influence of policy advocacy and education on medical staff's adaptation to DRGs payment reform in China and the role of policy cognition in this process, in order to provide experiences for the smooth implementation and sustainable development of DRGs payment system. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 650 medical staff in five large general hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, to understand their participation and feedback on policy advocacy and education, their adaptation to the current DRGs payment reform, and their cognition of relevant policies. After descriptive statistical analysis, partial correlation analysis, multiple linear regression models and bias correction Bootstrap sampling method were used to analyze the mediating effect of policy cognition factors. All respondents had participated in organized collective policy advocacy and education activities in the past year, but the degree of satisfaction and recognition was not very high. 59.5 percent said their adaptation to the DRGs payment reform was average. Nearly half did not regularly pay attention to and participate in the management of the medical costs of patients with DRGs through compliance. And they had a low understanding of the specific rules of DRGs payment and did not form a high policy identity. The mediating effect values of policy cognition were 0.148, 0.152, 0.108, and 0.057, respectively, when the frequency and quality of policy advocacy and education influenced medical staff's adaptive perception and adaptive behaviors. The organized collective policy advocacy and education can promote medical staff's adaptation to DRGs payment reform by improving their policy cognition, and the action paths are diverse. Policymakers and hospital managers need pay attention to this phenomenon, and formulate demand-centered, value-oriented whole-process advocacy and education strategies while constantly improving the DRGs payment system. All of these provided a basis for further research and practice of positive intervention in DRGs payment reform.

Implementasi Moderasi Islam dalam Kegiatan Imtaq di MAN 2 Lombok Timur

Religious moderation has become a public discourse and has given birth to various meanings. This fact is one indicator of the importance of moderation, as seen in the development and variety of studies such as religious moderation, Islamic moderation, moderate Islam, and so on. This study aims to determine how the Madrasah Policy is in the implementation of Islamic moderation and the Implementation of Islamic moderation through Imtaq Activities at MAN 2 East Lombok. In this study, documentation, observation, and interviews are the methods used to collect data. The study results are the Madrasah Policy regarding the Implementation of Islamic Moderation Through Imtaq Activities at MAN 2 East Lombok. The efforts made by MAN2 East Lombok in implementing Islamic moderation through imtaq activities are as follows: 1) Information collection policy related to Islamic Moderation, 2) Integrative Policy of Islamic Moderation, and 3) Action policy towards instilling moderation values. Implementation of Religious Moderation in Learning at MAN 2 East Lombok The learning program has been integrated with the values ​​of religious moderation through teaching and learning activities (KBM), extracurricular activities (Imtaq), and habituation activities. In terms of content, these programs are related to the socio-cultural context, which not only teaches religion in the dzahiri aspect but also the spiritual aspect. However, in the implementation process, it is sometimes trapped in fanaticism and extremism which results in verbal violence and intolerance.

Emerging technologies and research ethics: Developing editorial policy using a scoping review and reference panel.

Emerging technologies and societal changes create new ethical concerns and greater need for cross-disciplinary and cross-stakeholder communication on navigating ethics in research. Scholarly articles are the primary mode of communication for researchers, however there are concerns regarding the expression of research ethics in these outputs. If not in these outputs, where should researchers and stakeholders learn about the ethical considerations of research? Drawing on a scoping review, analysis of policy in a specific disciplinary context (learning and technology), and reference group discussion, we address concerns regarding research ethics, in research involving emerging technologies through developing novel policy that aims to foster learning through the expression of ethical concepts in research. This paper develops new editorial policy for expression of research ethics in scholarly outputs across disciplines. These guidelines, aimed at authors, reviewers, and editors, are underpinned by: a cross-disciplinary scoping review of existing policy and adherence to these policies;a review of emerging policies, and policies in a specific discipline (learning and technology); and,a collective drafting process undertaken by a reference group of journal editors (the authors of this paper). Analysis arising from the scoping review indicates gaps in policy across a wide range of journals (54% have no statement regarding reporting of research ethics), and adherence (51% of papers reviewed did not refer to ethics considerations). Analysis of emerging and discipline-specific policies highlights gaps. Our collective policy development process develops novel materials suitable for cross-disciplinary transfer, to address specific issues of research involving AI, and broader challenges of emerging technologies.

Efficient Data Collection Strategy for Modeling the Dynamics of Floating Robotic Vehicles Using Neural Networks

As the hydrodynamic model of a surface vehicle is highly nonlinear and of high dimension, an extensive set of experiments is required to estimate the parameters of the model. Typically, the dynamic behavior of a surface vehicle is investigated through experimental tests such as planar motion mechanisms or free running tests in specialized test facilities. However, the cost of such tests is very high, and it is challenging to design effective and efficient test conditions, especially when the model is represented by numerous parameters such as neural networks. In this paper, we propose an efficient data collection strategy for modeling the dynamics of a floating robotic vehicle using neural networks. For generalized modeling, it is important to collect diverse data by exploring all the reachable state space of the vehicle. To achieve this, a data collection policy is built based on sampling-based planning toward reducing the uncertainty of the neural network-based model. The proposed method allows for collecting more comprehensive data than other commonly used random-based data collection policies. We show experimentally that the proposed method enables more accurate modeling of both fully actuated and under-actuated floating robotic vehicles, as demonstrated by the effective execution of various tasks.

Leverages of energy transition at home: a critical discussion of barriers and future trends

Abstract The transition of the residential sector to a more sustainable energy system is regarded as a crucial action. Thus, significant efforts have been spent to promote deep energy retrofitting of existing inefficient assets. In addition, in more recent times, academics have begun to consider the potential for behavioral change among households to generate energy savings for the sector. This has led to the emergence of a growing body of literature aimed at understanding how to mobilize energy demand reduction potential that can be prompted by households’ behavioral change. Based on findings from a systematic literature review by the Authors, the paper tries to speculate upon four main dichotomic approaches that are retrieved within. These include behavioral-driven versus technological-driven approaches, awareness-raising versus rewarding or incentive-based systems, structural measures such as home retrofitting or the shift to clean energy, and provisional measures such as subsidies and tax rebates for vulnerable consumers. The paper also considers individual/customized measures versus collective policies towards energy transition. Based on that, common grounds are sought to advance effective strategies enabling energy transition of the residential sector. The drivers and limitations of the various approaches are also discussed in this context.

Tax Morale, Governance Quality And Tax Compliance

This study aims to investigate the relationship between tax morale, governance quality, and tax compliance in Nigeria. The study used the library research approach, which involved examining books, academic journals, and conference papers. According to the evaluation, tax compliance in Nigeria remains below standard, resulting in low tax morale, which is influenced by people's perceptions of government services, a lack of justice, and trust. The study also discovers that tax morale has a significant impact on tax noncompliance, such as a decrease in foreign portfolio equity investment inflows for tax avoidance, self-employed tax payers, and perceptions of higher tax fines and difficulty evading taxes. The study also discovers a favourable link between government quality (excellent governance, views of government accountability and provisions) and tax compliance. Studies have shown a considerable association between tax morale, governance quality, and tax compliance. The study recommends that government put in place efficient and effective tax collection policies, through providing people with accessible ways of paying their taxes, simplifying the process and reduction of taxes imposed on lower income individuals.

The Impact of Digitalization on Credit Risk Management in Microfinance Institutions in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

The study examines the credit risk management practices of lending institutions in rural Nueva Ecija, Philippines, amidst their significant growth and the evolving economic landscape. Given their pivotal role in financial transactions, these institutions face inherent risks which necessitate effective management strategies. Employing a descriptive method, the research identified and evaluated credit risk management practices, focusing on credit analysis and collection policies. The study also assessed the impact of digitalization on these practices within microfinance institutions in the region. Findings indicated that while there was no significant relationship between credit risk management practices and loan collection performance, digitalization emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing efficiency and reducing risks. Metrics such as portfolio-at-risk, on-time repayment rate, and past due rate were used to evaluate loan collection performance. The study underscores the potential of digital tools and platforms in transforming credit risk management, offering opportunities to streamline operations and improve collection policies. It identifies current market challenges and outlines strategies to mitigate risks effectively, thereby enhancing the stability and efficacy of rural lending institutions in Nueva Ecija.

The credit risk management practices of lending companies in Nueva Ecija: Basis for risk mitigating plan

As the Philippine economy works toward greater stability and aims to improve the social and financial well-being of its citizens, the Central Bank of the Philippines must manage and oversee the movement of money across the country. The circulation of money helps to balance inflation and unemployment rates. In the rural areas of Nueva Ecija, Philippines, one can easily observe various establishments where individuals can apply for loans, particularly from lending companies. Over the past years, this type of business has grown, and as institutions that deal primarily with money, they inevitably face significant risks. This study, using a descriptive method, was conducted to examine the different credit risk management practices used by lending institutions in these municipalities, particularly focusing on credit analysis and collection policies. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the loan collection performance of these lending institutions, considering factors such as portfolio-at-risk, on-time repayment rate, and past-due rate. The results showed that the credit risk management practices of these lending companies do not significantly affect their loan collection performance. The study also identified weaknesses in the common practices of these institutions by analyzing the market. These identified shortcomings serve as the basis for the researchers to propose a plan to reduce the impact of unavoidable risks.

How do we make trade policy in Britain? How should we?

AbstractSince Brexit, the UK has been responsible for its own trade policymaking rather than inputting into the collective policy of the European Union. This paper starts by sketching how that policy has been developed and implemented and how it is turning out. Overall, it is not very complimentary about the UK Government's efforts and so it then moves on to consider how we might do better. One dimension of this is how trade policy could be made more inclusive in formulation. I propose three (sets of) institutional reforms: increasing Parliamentary (and other) scrutiny of the government's trade policy plans; after examining how the UK public thinks about trade policy, it asks whether (how) one should take into account public attitudes to trade policy issues; finally, it argues for creating an independent source of advice and analysis on trade policy. It concludes by noting that while recent history has been disappointing, trade policy by any government would be improved by the reforms recommended.

Commodifying Data: Analyzing Legal Regulations on Foreign Digital Payment Systems A Comparative Analysis Between the United States and the People’s Republic of China

This paper provides a comprehensive study on the intersection of digital payment platforms, particularly those originating from the People's Republic of China (PRC), such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, with the legal frameworks for data privacy in the United States. The research investigates whether the data collection policies of these Chinese digital payment systems comply with or violate existing U.S. laws designed to protect personal data. Given the rapid global expansion of these platforms and their necessity for facilitating modern economic activities, the paper emphasizes the significant trade-off users face by surrendering personal data to access digital payment services. This surrender of data, equated to a "pay-to-play" system, raises critical questions about the adequacy of current legal protections for users' data privacy in the U.S. This inquiry is crucial in understanding the broader implications of the global rise of digital payment platforms on privacy and consumer protection laws, particularly as these platforms become increasingly integrated into the international market. The paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on digital privacy and the need for modernized legal frameworks to address the challenges posed by the digital economy's global nature.

Identifying Candidates for Effective Utilization of Stored Autologous PBSCs in Salvage Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: Who Benefits Most?

Background/Objectives: High-dose chemotherapy (HD-CHT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the gold standard for eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients, even amidst evolving therapeutic options. Clinical trials have demonstrated ASCT's efficacy in MM, including its potential as salvage therapy after prolonged remission. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) are now the primary source of hematopoietic stem cells for ASCT. Collecting additional PBSCs post-initial myeloablative conditioning is challenging, leading many centers to adopt the practice of collecting and storing excess PBSCs during initial therapy to support tandem transplants or salvage treatments. The use of salvage ASCT may diminish in the face of novel, highly effective treatments like bispecific antibodies and cellular therapies for relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Despite available stored PBSC grafts, salvage ASCTs are underutilized due to various factors, including declining performance status and therapy-related comorbidities. A cost utilization analysis from 2013 revealed that roughly 70% of patients had unused PBSC products in prolonged cryopreservation, costing a significant portion of total ASCT expenses. The average cost for collecting, cryopreserving, and storing PBSCs exceeded $20,000 per person, with more than $6700 spent on unused PBSCs for a second ASCT. A more recent analysis from 2016 underscored the declining need for salvage ASCT, with less than 10% of patients using stored PBSC grafts over a decade. Methods: To address the dilemma of whether backup stem cells remain necessary for myeloma patients, the study investigated strategies to reduce the financial burden of PBSC collection, processing, and storage. It evaluated MM patients undergoing frontline ASCT from January 2012 to June 2022, excluding those with planned tandem transplants and those who had a single ASCT with no stored cells. Discussion: Among the 240 patients studied, the median age at PBSC collection was 61. Notably, only 7% underwent salvage ASCT, with nearly 90% of salvage ASCT recipients being ≤ 61 years old at the time of initial ASCT. The study revealed a decreasing trend in salvage ASCT use with increasing age, suggesting that PBSC collection for a single transplant among elderly patients (>60 years old) could be a cost-effective alternative. Most transplant centers aimed to collect 10 × 106 CD34 + cells/kg, with patients over 65 often requiring multiple collection days. Shifting towards single-transplant collections among the elderly could reduce costs and resource requirements. Additionally, the study recommended implementing strategies for excess PBSC disposal or repurposing on the collection day to avoid additional storage costs. In summary, the decreasing utilization of salvage ASCT in MM, alongside financial considerations, underscores the need for revised stem cell collection policies. Conclusions: The study advocates considering single-transplant PBSC collections for elderly patients and efficient management of excess PBSCs to optimize resource utilization.

711 Bullying Culture Within Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery Centres - a Scoping Review of the Current Social Inclusion Policy Surrounding Neurosurgical Practice in the United Kingdom

Abstract Aim Homogeneity within surgical academia has been shown to precipitate increased risks of erroneous diagnoses and impede innovation. Successive generations have introduced equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) to the surgical workforce. However, healthcare professionals, especially those in training, still experience bullying and harassment, particularly in neurosurgery and spinal surgery (SS). Therefore, a scoping review (SR) was conducted to evaluate bullying culture within neurosurgery and SS centres globally, focussing on British institutions. Method SR complied with the Arksey and O'Malley framework, where PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched between 2020-current. Only relevant papers were screened per inclusion criteria to keywords: ‘bully’, ‘harass’, ‘neurosurgery’, and ‘spine surgery’, adhering to PRISMA-SR guidelines. Using pretested forms, two separate reviewers conducted review selection and characterisation. Results Articles searched surmounted 13,298, where 37 select articles, of which 8 were included in final analysis. Of these, letters, editorials, and cross-sectional surveys accounted for 25%, 37.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. Common themes comprised EDI workforce embracement and collective policy implementation for dynamic social change (n=62.5%). Issues related to institutional reputation (n=50%), barriers to career prospects (n=25%), retaliation (n=12.5%), and stress (n=25%) amongst healthcare professionals raising concerns. Conclusions Facing discrimination, prejudice, and harassment is immoral and unethical in the context of neurosurgical or SS training. While original research evaluating EDI issues in surgery has proliferated, emphasis should be exercised when assessing this impact among neurosurgical and SS trainees. Our SR elucidates that social change remains contentious in neurosurgery and SS. Further work is warranted to establish such perspectives within the UK.

Implementation of an Online-Based Policy for Local Tax and Retribution Collection

Implementation of an Online-Based Policy for Local Tax and Retribution Collection

Executives’ income tax burden, earnings management and stock reduction

This paper selects companies that implemented equity incentives during 2011–2021 as a research sample, and delves into how executives avoid personal income tax burden and alleviate the pressure on tax-paying funds through earnings management and stock reductions. The results of the study show that as the amount of executives' true tax burden increases, the proportion of shares they reduce their holdings in the six months prior to the unlock date increases accordingly. In addition, the proportion of executives who reduced their holdings was significantly higher in the group with higher tax collection intensity than in the group with lower collection intensity. These findings are important for understanding the impact of executive tax behavior and tax collection policies.

Resource Policy of the Third Reich in the Reichskommissariat Ukraine: Waste Recycling in 1941-1943

This article explores the assortment and primary methods of waste collection within the Reichskommissariat Ukraine during the occupation by Nazi forces. The Ukrainian occupational press serves as the primary source for this article. It demonstrates that the extraction of various resources and the plundering of material valuables were directed towards supporting the economic and military power of the Third Reich, with waste collection policies being one of its facets. To facilitate this activity in this realm, the Nazis utilized existing infrastructure within the territory of Ukraine, including warehouses, factories, and offices of Soyuzutyl, established on the eve of the Second World War, as well as the infrastructure of the consumer cooperative system. It is shown that the specificity of Ukraine lies in assigning waste collection duties to consumer cooperatives, which transformed into the primary suppliers of various raw materials for the needs of the Third Reich. Local administrations and individual cooperatives actively participated in this endeavor, and special associations were also established. Additionally, the occupying authorities sought to involve schoolchildren and the broader population, developing various incentive systems for this purpose, although the participation of these actors was minimal. The article examines the peculiarities of waste collection propaganda within the territory of the Reichskommissariat Ukraine, which was based on ideological motives such as gratitude for liberation from Soviet rule, as well as economic motives related to the need for waste to produce consumer goods for the local population by enterprises of the Nazi regime. It is argued that primary attention was given to collecting scrap black and colored metals, as well as bones, paper, and rags. The author suggests that the scale of economic plundering of Ukraine was much larger than commonly believed, yet acknowledges that this requires further in-depth research involving a wide range of archival sources.