Future Allocation Research Articles

Water–Ecological Health Assessment Considering Water Supply–Demand Balance and Water Supply Security: A Case Study in Xinjiang

Water scarcity and ecological degradation in arid zones present significant challenges to regional ecological health. Despite this, integrating the water supply–demand balance and water supply security (SEC) into ecological health assessments—particularly through composite indicators—remains underexplored in arid regions. In this study, we assessed the ecological health changes in Xinjiang by utilizing multivariate remote sensing data, focusing on the balance between water supply and demand, the degree of SEC, and ecosystem resilience (ER). Our results indicate that while water supply and demand remained relatively stable in northern Xinjiang between 2000 and 2020, the conflict between supply and demand intensified in the southern and eastern agricultural regions. SEC evaluations revealed that 73.3% of the region experienced varying degrees of decline over the 20-year period. Additionally, ER assessments showed that 7.12% of the region exhibited a significant decline, with 78.6% experiencing overall reductions in ecological health. The indicators’ response to drought demonstrated that improvements in ecological health during wet conditions were less pronounced than declines during droughts. This study underscores the necessity of prioritizing areas with lower ecological health in future water allocation strategies to optimize water resource utilization.

Birsa Harit Gram Yojana: Fostering Rural Employment through Afforestation and Sustainable Development in Jharkhand, India

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of environmental concerns and the necessity for sustainable development. The Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY), a flagship initiative launched by the Government of Jharkhand, seeks to promote rural development through environmental conservation. Drawing inspiration from the vision of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, the scheme aims to revitalize rural landscapes, enhance livelihood opportunities, and promote sustainable growth. This article provides a detailed analysis of BHGY in Jharkhand, exploring its objectives, implementation strategies, impact on environmental sustainability and its role in generating employment. Based on government reports and academic research, the article emphasizes the importance of BHGY as a transformative initiative in rural development within Jharkhand. This article examines the year over year trends in total beneficiaries, land area covered and fruit trees planted under BHGY across all districts of the state during FY 2021-22 AND FY 2022-23. Using paired t-tests, the statistical significance between the data of the two fiscal years were analyzed. The results indicate no significant changes between the two years for the total number of beneficiaries, the total area in acres pr the total number of fruit trees planted with p-values of 0.2835, 0.4369 and 0.4444 respectively. These findings suggest that the scheme outcomes remained stable across the two years with ant observed differences likely due to random variation. The results highlight the consistency in scheme implementation and offer insights for future planning and resource allocation.

Navigating the changing landscape of transplant research: Trends, topics, and gender disparities

BackgroundTransplantation is a rapidly evolving field, reflecting advances in medical science and changing healthcare needs. This study aims to elucidate shifts in research focus over a decade, providing insights into emerging trends in transplant research. MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive analysis of 9,250 articles published in five high-impact transplant journals from 2012 to 2021. Article titles were processed to extract keywords using R Studio (v. 4.3.0). STATA 18 was used for t-tests and logistic regressions, with significance set at p ​< ​0.05. ResultsEmerging topics over the decade included outcomes and survival, surgical innovations, and lung transplantation. There was a downward trend in research on immunosuppression, genetics, and immunology. Over the decade, the odds of women's first authorship were higher for subjects such as public health, pediatric transplantation, infectious diseases, renal transplantation, and psychological aspects. Similarly, there were lower odds for women as first authors on surgical innovations, organ preservation, living donor transplantation, liver and lung transplantation, and multiorgan transplantation. Senior women authors had higher odds of publishing on the same topics as first author, plus immunology, kidney and heart transplantation. There were lower odds that a woman would be last author of regenerative medicine and xenotransplantation. Over the decade, there were higher odds of funding for research published on xenotransplantation, regenerative medicine, and immunology. Living donor, infectious diseases, and liver transplantation had lower odds of being funded over time. ConclusionThis cross-sectional study highlights the dynamic nature of transplant research, underscoring the importance of continuous observation of trends to anticipate future directions and needs in the field. The emergence of new focal areas, especially those related to technological advancements and social issues, reflects a broader trend in medical research responding to evolving challenges and opportunities. Notably, women's authorship was more prevalent in public health but less in surgical innovation. These insights can guide future research priorities, funding allocation, and clinical practices in transplantation.

Characteristics of deep soil layer water deficit under different artificial vegetation types of the Loess Plateau, China

AbstractSoil water is a crucial factor for the growth of vegetation and sustainable development in water‐limited areas. After large‐scale vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau, understanding the relationship between vegetation and deep soil moisture has become a crucial focus in current research. In this study, artificial forest (Pinus tabulaeformis [PT], Robinia pseudoacacia [RP] and Platycladus orientalis [PO]), apple orchard (AO), secondary forest (SF) and farmland (FL) were selected as the research objects, and grassland (GL) as the control, using soil‐drilling techniques. We systematically monitored the soil water content of 0–10 m soil layer over two hydrological years, and explored the effects of different vegetation types on soil water deficiency. The results showed that: (1) The deep soil water various significantly among different vegetation types. Compared with GL, the soil water content in all forest land was generally lower, and this difference became more pronounced in deeper soil layer (&gt;7 m), which indicating the depth of the influence of vegetation on soil water has reached 10 m. (2) The mean soil water deficit size (SWDS) values of PT (0.14), RP (0.17), PO (0.07), AO (0.15), SF (0.10) and FL (0.27) in 0–1 m were all positive, indicating that surface soil water had accumulated during more than half of the sampling periods. In the 2–10 m soil layer, mean SWDS was negative in all vegetation types except in FL, leading to soil desiccation. SWDS was found to fluctuate with soil depth. (3) SWDS was affected by a combination of soil properties and vegetation growth. Our results indicate that the current afforestation model could lead to the deficiency of deep soil water. Therefore, it is imperative to make reasonable vegetation structure according to the available local soil and water resources in future vegetation allocation and management.

Post-project financial auditing as a continuous improvement tool for SMEs

Post-project financial auditing is a critical tool for ensuring transparency, accountability, and financial accuracy within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As SMEs navigate project-based operations, it is essential to assess the financial outcomes of completed projects to inform future decision-making and resource allocation. This review explores the role of post-project financial auditing as a continuous improvement tool in SMEs, highlighting its ability to enhance financial discipline, improve cost control, and promote long-term financial sustainability. By examining key aspects of project revenues, expenditures, and profitability, post-project financial audits provide insights into financial performance that are essential for strategic planning. These audits help identify budget deviations, resource misallocations, and cost inefficiencies, enabling SMEs to adjust future financial planning and project management practices. In doing so, audits contribute to refining budgeting processes, promoting data-driven decision-making, and reducing financial risks in subsequent projects. The review also emphasizes the benefits of post-project auditing in fostering a culture of financial responsibility within SMEs. Through the audit process, SMEs can strengthen internal controls, monitor compliance with financial regulations, and ensure that project outcomes align with organizational financial goals. Additionally, the integration of audit findings into future financial strategies enables SMEs to continuously improve their profitability, mitigate risks, and enhance overall financial stability. Despite the clear advantages, challenges such as resource constraints, data management issues, and limited audit expertise can hinder the adoption of post-project audits in SMEs. The review offers practical recommendations to address these challenges, advocating for the use of scalable audit frameworks, digital tools, and ongoing staff training to support effective auditing practices. Ultimately, post-project financial auditing represents a vital mechanism for driving continuous improvement and ensuring the financial resilience of SMEs in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Otolaryngology Diagnoses at a Student-Run Community Clinic.

Purpose Compared to insured individuals who have established pathways for primary and specialist care, uninsured patients often delay seeking medical attention and are more likely to rely on emergency departments or community clinics for low-cost services. This study aims to identify the most prevalent otolaryngology (ENT) diagnoses at a free, student-run community clinic for uninsured patients. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate their management needs in order to inform strategies for enhancing support and care for this vulnerable population. Methods The electronic medical records for a free, student-run community clinic (St. Vincent's Hope Student Clinic in Galveston, Texas) were reviewed. Patient age, sex, chief complaint, date of medical encounter, and encounter diagnoses from April 2021 to May 2024 were recorded; medical diagnoses were then manually stratified into system categories and diagnostic subgroups. Diagnoses unrelated to ENT were excluded and likely represented secondary encounter diagnoses. Results A total of 38 patients were evaluated across 51 total ENT encounters. The average number of encounters per patient per year was 1.34 (1.05-1.63, 95% CI). The most common ENT category was throat (37%), and the most common individual diagnosis was balance problems (11% of total diagnoses). Conclusion The most common ENT system was the throat, followed by ear, nose, and other. Balance problems, reflux, and allergic rhinitis were the most common individual ENT diagnoses. The analysis of data collected for this study may help direct future care and resource allocation at this clinic.

Allocating inter-provincial CEA in China based on the utility perspective --a method for improving the variable weight function

Introduction:At different times, China has pursued different carbon emission reduction targets, so it is crucial to develop a reasonable and flexible allocation scheme for Chinese carbon emissions quotas, referred to as Chinese Emission Allowance (CEA), in order to achieve carbon reduction goals. As important responsible entities for carbon reduction, each province needs to rely on a well-designed CEA allocation scheme to help achieve their emission reduction goals.Methods:Therefore, based on the utility perspective, this paper constructs allocation principles and methods to formulate the inter-provincial CEA allocation scheme for China in 2030. Specifically, the entropy method, SBM model, improved variable weight function, and ARIMA time series model are sequentially adopted to simulate the re-allocation scheme, examine its rationality, and develop CEA allocation schemes under different principles.Results and Discussion:The following conclusions are drawn: 1) The allocation scheme formulated based on historical emission simulation methods, industry benchmark methods, and other current CEA allocation methods has certain irrationality, and future CEA allocation should not follow the original methods; 2) The improved variable weight function is better suited for allocation in CEA than the current original allocation method. The allocation scheme developed under this method, which balances fairness and efficiency principles, is more appropriate for the actual reduction of carbon emissions in China.

Evolution of ad hoc and routine data linkage in Australia

Australia has a rich history of utilising linked administrative data for health and human services research. The Population Health Research Network (PHRN), established in 2009, has developed national population-based data linkage capability and infrastructure. Australia-wide, specialist data linkage units have successfully linked their core population health data for over a decade, and within the network over 200 data collections are routinely linked. Data collections are typically classified as either routinely linked or linked on a project-by-project, ad hoc basis. Over time, linkage of data collections that were originally considered ad hoc, for example some longitudinal cohorts and clinical registries, has become ‘routine’. This paper reports on findings of a study that evaluated the volume and proportion of data linkage requests that have been facilitated through the PHRN over the past 5 years that include ad hoc linkage. The paper also reports on the type of data collections that have been linked on an ad hoc basis and details the type of research projects and fields of research currently supported via ad hoc linkage. Quantifying and characterising the type and most sought-after data collections for ad hoc linkage and the breadth of research being undertaken informs future planning and resource allocation for expanding the Australian national linkage capability. This paper explores the integration of ad hoc data linkage within the evolving landscape of expanded master linkage files and national linked data assets, responding to a growing range of data sources and research that could benefit from population-based data linkage.

Evaluation of Top Journals and Authors in Behavioral Economics: A Bibliometric Approach

Behavioral economics has become an essential subfield within economics, integrating psychological insights to better understand decision-making processes. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to evaluate the evolution of behavioral economics, identify key research themes, and map the contributions of influential authors. Using data sourced from the Google Scholar database, the study analyzes publication trends, co-authorship networks, and the temporal development of research areas. The findings reveal that core concepts such as behavioral finance, public policy, and experimental economics continue to dominate the field, while emerging areas like consumer behavior and insurance indicate new research directions. The co-authorship analysis highlights the importance of collaboration among scholars in shaping the field's development. These insights provide valuable implications for researchers, educators, policymakers, and funding bodies in guiding future research, curriculum development, and resource allocation. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intellectual structure and trajectory of behavioral economics.

Analysis of the Development Trends of Preschool Population and the Demand for Preschool Education Resources under the New Population Situation: Taking Beijing as an example

The development of preschool education has become an important task in the development of education in China. However, under the trend of fewer children and changes in new population policies, the development trend of preschool education population and the demand for semester education resources in China are not clear, which brings many challenges to the allocation of future education resources. This study uses a Population Development Environment Analysis (PDE) model to predict the demand for educational resources among the preschool population in Beijing from 2020 to 2040. The research results show that during the prediction period, the scale of education eligible young children, the scale of preschool children in the first three years, the scale of kindergarten buildings, and the demand for full-time teachers and caregivers all show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The demand for education funds and per capita funds is gradually increasing. The future allocation of preschool education resources needs to be adjusted reasonably based on the actual needs and usage of resources. After investing heavily in the allocation of preschool education resources, attention should be paid to the relative surplus of resources caused by the subsequent decrease in resource demand.

Transition of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease: Medications as modifiable risk factors.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding the transition probabilities across the disease continuum of AD, ranging from MCI to AD to Mortality is crucial for the economic modeling of AD and effective planning of future interventions and healthcare resource allocation decisions. This study uses the Multi-state Markov model to quantify the transition probabilities along the disease progression and specifically investigates medications as modifiable risk factors of AD associated with accelerated or decelerated transition times from MCI to AD, MCI to mortality, and AD to mortality. Individuals with MCI were identified from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center between September 2005 and May 2021. A three-state Markov model was postulated to model the disease progression among three states: MCI, AD, and mortality with adjustment for demographics, genetic characteristics, comorbidities and medications. Transition probabilities, the total length of stay in each state, and the hazard ratios of the use of medications for diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia (the known modifiable risk factors of AD) were evaluated for these transitions. 3,324 individuals with MCI were identified. The probability of developing AD after one year since the initial diagnosis of MCI is 14.9%. After approximately 6 years from the initial diagnosis of MCI, the probability of transitioning to AD increases to nearly 41.7% before experiencing a subsequent decline. The expected total lengths of stay were 5.38 (95% CI: 0.002-6.03) years at MCI state and 7.61 (95%CI: 0.002-8.88) years at AD state. Patients with active use of lipid-lowering agents were associated with significantly lower hazards of transitioning from MCI to AD (HR: 0.83, 95%CI:0.71-0.96), MCI to mortality (HR: 0.51, 95%CI:0.34-0.77), and AD to mortality (HR: 0.81, 95%CI:0.66-0.99). Results suggest that lipid-lowering agents may confer a protective effect, delaying the onset of AD. Additionally, lipid-lowering agents indicate a favorable association with a longer survival time.

Identifying health and healthcare priorities in rural areas: A concept mapping study informed by consumers, health professionals and researchers

BackgroundIt is vital that health service delivery and health interventions address patients’ needs or preferences, are relevant for practice and can be implemented. Involving those who will use or deliver healthcare in priority-setting can lead to health service delivery and research that is more meaningful and impactful. This is particularly crucial in rural communities, where limited resources and disparities in healthcare and health outcomes are often more pronounced. The aim of this study was to determine the health and healthcare priorities in rural communities using a region-wide community engagement approach.MethodsThis multi-methods study was conducted in five rural communities in the Grampians region, Western Victoria, Australia. It involved six concept mapping steps: (1) preparation, (2) generation (brainstorming statements and identifying rating criteria), (3) structuring statements (sorting and rating statements), (4) representation of statements, (5) interpretation of the concept map and (6) utilization. Community forums, surveys and stakeholder consultations with community members and health professionals were used in Step 2. An innovative online group concept mapping platform, involving consumers, health professionals and researchers was used in Step 3.ResultsOverall, 117 community members and 70 health professionals identified 400 health and healthcare issues. Six stakeholder consultation sessions (with 16 community members and 16 health professionals) identified three key values for prioritizing health issues: equal access for equal need, effectiveness and impact (number of people affected). Actionable priorities for healthcare delivery were largely related to access issues, such as the challenges navigating the healthcare system, particularly for people with mental health issues; the lack of sufficient general practitioners and other health providers; the high travel costs; and poor internet coverage often impacting technology-based interventions for people in rural areas.ConclusionsThis study identified actionable health and healthcare priorities from the perspective of healthcare service users and providers in rural communities in Western Victoria. Issues related to access, such as the inequities in healthcare costs, the perceived lack of quality and availability of services, particularly in mental health and disability, were identified as priorities. These insights can guide future research, policy-making and resource allocation efforts to improve healthcare access, quality and equity in rural communities.

Effect of bitter orange blossom distillate on anxiety and sleep disorder in mothers with infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit: A Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Mothers of neonates admitted to the intensive care unit are prone to sleep disorders due to stress and anxiety. Some herbs have anti-anxiety and sedative properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bitter orange blossom distillate on anxiety and sleep disorders in mothers with infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from 2021 May 15 to 2022 February 2, on 60 mothers with NICU-admitted infants in one of the medical teaching centers affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Permuted block randomization was used to assign the mothers to the experimental (bitter orange blossom distillate syrup) and control groups (syrup prepared from water and sugar). Given the impossibility of blinding the participants, allocation concealment was used to prevent the researcher from predicting the future allocation of the samples to the groups. In addition, the statistical consultant received coded data pertaining to the type of intervention in each group. A demographic questionnaire, the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the General Sleep Disorder Scale were employed to collect data. We assessed the level of anxiety and sleep disorder (in both groups before the intervention and again after the last day of the intervention). Data were analyzed using SPSS V22 software. A P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant. The mean and standard deviation of the sleep disorder score in the intervention group from (50.26±5.81) to (44.70±6.94) and in the control group from (50.46±6.95) to (48.53±8.62) changed. The covariance test showed that bitter orange blossom distillate syrup has a significant effect on the improvement of sleep disorders (P = 0.01, Effect size = 0.09), but there was no significant difference in the State and Trait anxiety level of mothers (P = 0.122, 0.144 and Effect size = 0.04, 0.03) respectively. Due to the positive effect of bitter orange blossom distillate syrup on sleep disorders of mothers with hospitalized babies, this low-cost and low-risk intervention is recommended. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as Trial ID = IRCT20201209049666N1.

Primary Care Telehealth Initiation and Engagement Among Veterans at High Risk, 2019-2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) expanded telehealth infrastructure. Understanding telehealth initiation and sustained engagement could inform future resource allocation for high-need populations. To describe and examine primary care use, including initiation, use, and engagement factors, of telehealth modalities (telephone, video visits, and secure messaging) from 2020 to 2022. This cohort study was conducted among 1 383 070 patients in the 75th or higher percentile for 90-day risk of hospitalization or mortality (using previously validated Care Assessment Need scores) engaged in VHA primary care from March 11, 2019, to March 10, 2022. Patient sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, race and ethnicity, and marital and housing status), health characteristics (chronic condition count, military service disability, serious mental illness, or substance use disorder diagnoses), geographic characteristics (driving distance to clinic and rural or urban location), and Federal Communications Commission-reported broadband speed among subgroups of patients at high risk categorized by telehealth use from 2020 to 2022. Primary care utilization by modality. A total of 1 383 070 patients at high risk were engaged in VHA primary care in March 2020 (median age, 73.0 years [IQR, 65-80 years]; 92.4% male; 77.7% regular telehealth users in 2019). With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2021, 92.7% of patients at high risk (1 158 804 of 1 250 438 retained in care) became regular telehealth users. The following year, most patients continued as telehealth users (83.4% [942 151 of 1 129 683 retained]), including 38.2% retention of users at high risk newly engaged in 2020. Between 2019 and 2022 among those living and engaged in VHA primary care, adjusted exploratory multinomial logit models estimated that new telehealth users in 2020 (both sustained or only transiently engaged) were more often Black non-Hispanic individuals with greater comorbidity burdens than those who never engaged in telehealth use (Black non-Hispanic with new persistent telehealth use: adjusted relative risk ratio [ARR], 1.18 [95% CI, 1.16-1.20]; Black non-Hispanic with transient telehealth use: ARR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.08-1.13]; ≥5 chronic conditions with new persistent telehealth use: ARR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.88-1.96]; ≥5 chronic conditions with transient telehealth use: ARR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.40-1.46]). This cohort study suggests that primary care telehealth initiation, use and sustained engagement differed among subgroups of patients at high risk throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Those never or only transiently engaged with telehealth had lower illness burdens and were less likely to identify as members of racial or ethnic minority groups. Variation in telehealth use among subgroups of patients at high risk during this period could inform future resource allocation.

Waitlist Outcomes for Pediatric Heart Transplantation in the Current Era: An Analysis of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society Database.

Waitlist mortality (WM) remains elevated in pediatric heart transplantation. Allocation policy is a potential tool to help improve WM. This study aims to identify patients at highest risk for WM to potentially inform future allocation policy changes. The Pediatric Heart Transplant Society database was queried for patients <18 years of age indicated for heart transplantation between January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021. Waitlist mortality was defined as death while awaiting transplant or removal from the waitlist due to clinical deterioration. Because WM is low after the first year, analysis was limited to the first 12 months on the heart transplant list. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank testing was conducted to compare unadjusted survival between groups. Cox proportional hazard models were created to determine risk factors for WM. Subgroup analysis was performed for status 1A patients based on body surface area (BSA) at time of listing, cardiac diagnosis, and presence of mechanical circulatory support. In total 5974 children met study criteria of which 3928 were status 1A, 1012 were status 1B, 963 were listed status 2, and 65 were listed status 7. Because of the significant burden of WM experienced by 1A patients, further analysis was performed in only patients indicated as 1A. Within that group of patients, those with smaller size and lower eGFR had higher WM, whereas those patients without congenital heart disease or support from a ventricular assist device (VAD) at time of listing had decreased WM. In the smallest size cohort, cardiac diagnoses other than dilated cardiomyopathy were risk factors for WM. Previous cardiac surgery was a risk factor in the 0.3 to 0.7 m2 and >0.7 m2 BSA groups. VAD support was associated with lower WM other than in the single ventricle cohort, where VAD was associated with higher WM. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mechanical ventilation were associated with increased risk of WM in all cohorts. There is significant variability in WM among status-1A patients. Potential refinements to current allocation system should factor in the increased WM risk we identified in patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or mechanical ventilation, single ventricle congenital heart disease on VAD support and small children with congenital heart disease, restrictive cardiomyopathy, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Water transfer contributes to water resources management: Crisis mitigation for future water allocation in the Yellow River basin

Optimizing water allocation is a crucial strategy for water planning in large basins, such as the Yellow River basin. The transforming water supply pattern, triggered by inter-basin water transfer, urges the optimization and refinement of water allocation. Here, we predict the future water demand for different sectors at the provincial level and carry out future water allocation based on a multi-objective allocation model. The results imply that "demand increases in midstream and water deficits in downstream" would persist by 2050, and the demand structure highlights potential sectoral rivalry for water resources in each province. Water transfer will be the "antidote" to water disputes and will account for 19.8% and 34.5% of the water demand in 2030 and 2050, respectively. This study provides a basis for the policymaking of water management and establishes the future allocation pattern from water resources to sectors in each province in the Yellow River basin.

Economic valuation of open research data: A conceptual framework and methodological approach

Abstract The economic significance of open research data is widely acknowledged, yet its quantification remains challenging. This paper presents an effective valuation instrument to help stakeholders understand and evaluate the economic benefits of open research data. By conducting a scoping review and prioritizing user engagement, this study introduces a comprehensive conceptual framework for the economic valuation of open research data. The valuation is based on economic value and willingness to pay, employing the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). It incorporates per-use models (view, download, and request) and periodic subscription models (monthly and yearly). An empirical survey was conducted at the National Basic Science Data Center (NBSDC) in China to verify this framework. Both pricing models, comprising five distinct tactics, was supported by surveyed users. Measuring economic value by views and by year was preferred, while willingness to pay by downloads and by year was considered more reasonable. Overall, the most applicable valuation approach is on a yearly basis. Through this case study at NBSDC, specific pricing tactics were identified, and the total economic value and users’ willingness to pay were assessed. This study is arguably the first to establish a conceptual framework with pricing tactics from a user perspective. This methodological approach for economic valuation of open research data provides evidence and tools for future research, policy formulation, and resource allocation in the context of open science and innovation.

Cost Evaluation of the Ontario Virtual Urgent Care Pilot Program: Population-Based, Matched Cohort Study.

In 2020, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Ontario, Canada, introduced a virtual urgent care (VUC) pilot program to provide alternative access to urgent care services and reduce the need for in-person emergency department (ED) visits for patients with low acuity health concerns. This study aims to compare the 30-day costs associated with VUC and in-person ED encounters from an MoH perspective. Using administrative data from Ontario (the most populous province of Canada), a population-based, matched cohort study of Ontarians who used VUC services from December 2020 to September 2021 was conducted. As it was expected that VUC and in-person ED users would be different, two cohorts of VUC users were defined: (1) those who were promptly referred to an ED by a VUC provider and subsequently presented to an ED within 72 hours (these patients were matched to in-person ED users with any discharge disposition) and (2) those seen by a VUC provider with no referral to an in-person ED (these patients were matched to patients who presented in-person to the ED and were discharged home by the ED physician). Bootstrap techniques were used to compare the 30-day mean costs of VUC (operational costs to set up the VUC program plus health care expenditures) versus in-person ED care (health care expenditures) from an MoH perspective. All costs are expressed in Canadian dollars (a currency exchange rate of CAD $1=US $0.76 is applicable). We matched 2129 patients who presented to an ED within 72 hours of VUC referral and 14,179 patients seen by a VUC provider without a referral to an ED. Our matched populations represented 99% (2129/2150) of eligible VUC patients referred to the ED by their VUC provider and 98% (14,179/14,498) of eligible VUC patients not referred to the ED by their VUC provider. Compared to matched in-person ED patients, 30-day costs per patient were significantly higher for the cohort of VUC patients who presented to an ED within 72 hours of VUC referral ($2805 vs $2299; difference of $506, 95% CI $139-$885) and significantly lower for the VUC cohort of patients who did not require ED referral ($907 vs $1270; difference of $362, 95% CI 284-$446). Overall, the absolute 30-day costs associated with the 2 VUC cohorts were $18.9 million (ie, $6.0 million + $12.9 million) versus $22.9 million ($4.9 million + $18.0 million) for the 2 in-person ED cohorts. This costing evaluation supports the use of VUC as most complaints were addressed without referral to ED. Future research should evaluate targeted applications of VUC (eg, VUC models led by nurse practitioners or physician assistants with support from ED physicians) to inform future resource allocation and policy decisions.

Navigation Resource Allocation Algorithm for LEO Constellations Based on Dynamic Programming

Navigation resource allocation for low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellations refers to the optimal allocation of navigational assets when the number and allocation of satellites in the LEO constellation have been determined. LEO constellations can not only transmit navigation enhancement signals but also enable space-based monitoring (SBM) for real-time assessment of GNSS signal quality. However, proximity in the frequencies of LEO navigation signals and SBM can lead to significant interference, necessitating isolated transmission and reception. This separation requires that SBM and navigation signal transmission be carried out by different satellites within the constellation, thus demanding a strategic allocation of satellite resources. Given the vast number of satellites and their rapid movement, the visibility among LEO, medium-earth-orbit (MEO), and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites is highly dynamic, presenting substantial challenges in resource allocation due to the computational intensity involved. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimal allocation algorithm for LEO constellation navigation resources based on dynamic programming. In this algorithm, a network model for the allocation of navigation resources in LEO constellations is initially established. Under the constraints of visibility time windows and onboard transmission and reception isolation, the objective is set to minimize the number of LEO satellites used while achieving effective navigation signal transmission and SBM. The constraints of resource allocation and the mathematical expression of the optimization objective are derived. A dynamic programming approach is then employed to determine the optimal resource allocation scheme. Analytical results demonstrate that compared to Greedy and Divide-and-Conquer algorithms, this algorithm achieves the highest resource utilization rate and the lowest computational complexity, making it highly valuable for future resource allocation in LEO constellations.

Multiple scenario land use simulation based on a coupled MOGA-PLUS model: a case of the Yellow River Basin.

Land use changes have profoundly influenced global environmental dynamics. The Yellow River (YR), as the world's fifth-longest river, significantly contributes to regional social and economic growth due to its extensive drainage area, making it a key global player. To ensure ecological stability and coordinate land use demand, modeling the future land allocation patterns of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) will assist in striking a balance between land use functions and the optimization of its spatial design, particularly in water and sand management. In this research, we used a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) with the PLUS model to simulate several different futures for the YRB's land use between 1990 and 2020 and predict its spatial pattern in 2030. An analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of land use changes in the YRB indicated that construction land expansion is the primary driver of landscape pattern and structure changes and ecological degradation, with climate change also contributing to the expansion of the watershed area. On the other hand, the multi-scenario simulation, constrained by specific targets, revealed that economic development was mainly reflected in land expansion for construction. At the same time, grassland and woodland were essential pillars to support the region's ecological health, and increasing the development of unused land emerged as a potential pathway towards sustainable development in the region. This study could be used as a template for the long-term growth of other large river basins by elucidating the impacts of human activities on land use and rationalizing land resource allocation under various policy constraints.