Principles Of Resource Allocation Research Articles

How to promote data sharing among enterprises based on dynamic evolutionary game analysis

ABSTRACT In traditional contexts, enterprises often hesitate to engage in data sharing due to the associated heightened risks and transaction costs. Blockchain technology, leveraging its encryption algorithms and smart contracts, effectively alleviates these challenges, thereby encouraging enterprises to actively participate in data sharing. The adoption of reasonable reward and penalty mechanisms can prevent opportunistic behaviours and stimulate data sharing among businesses. It is noteworthy that blockchain technology and data alliance have a mutually substitutive effect in terms of risk and communication costs, while they complement each other in regulatory and transaction costs. The integration of blockchain technology with data alliance can enhance collaborative revenue and reduce various costs. When distributing collaborative revenue, it is crucial to adhere to the guiding principle of ‘prioritizing efficiency while considering fairness’. Collaboration becomes a reality when all parties collectively achieve a substantial overall revenue threshold. Subsequently, in-depth exploration of fair resource allocation principles is crucial to ensure the equitable distribution of resources.

A computable quantification of multi-mode Gaussian coherence and complete monogamy relation

We propose a quantification CνGn of n-mode Gaussian coherence. The value of CνGn only depends on the covariance matrices and displacement vectors of continuous-variable states without any optimization procedures, and thus is easily calculated. For n=1, CνG1 is a proper Gaussian coherence measure of single-mode CV system. For n≥2, CνGn is invariant under any permutation of submodes, nonincreasing under any n-mode local incoherent Gaussian channels, vanishes at incoherent Gaussian states, and, satisfies the unification condition and the hierarchy condition that a multi-partite quantum correlation measure should obey. Thus CνGn is a multi-partite Gaussian correlation measure, which reveals, though the quantum coherence lives in single-partite systems, that the multi-mode coherence for continuous-variable systems can be regarded as a multipartite Gaussian correlation between modes, and such multi-partite Gaussian correlation is also a quantum resource. Moreover, we show that CνGn is completely monogamous as a multipartite Gaussian correlation measure. This means that the n-mode Gaussian coherence subjects to the principles of resource allocation. In addition, CνGn is an upper bound of the geometric-based single-mode Gaussian coherence measure CBu by the Bures distance at pure Gaussian states of mode ≤2 and can be used to detect coherence in any n-mode Gaussian states more efficiently.

Public preferences for the allocation of societal resources over different healthcare purposes

ObjectiveIncreasing healthcare expenditures require governments to make difficult prioritization decisions. Considering public preferences can help raise citizens’ support. Previous research has predominantly elicited preferences for the allocation of public resources towards specific treatments or patient groups and principles for resource allocation. This study contributes by examining public preferences for budget allocation over various healthcare purposes in the Netherlands. MethodsWe conducted a Participatory Value Evaluation (PVE) choice experiment in which 1408 respondents were asked to allocate a hypothetical budget over eight healthcare purposes: general practice and other easily accessible healthcare, hospital care, elderly care, disability care, mental healthcare, preventive care by encouragement, preventive care by discouragement, and new and better medicines. A default expenditure was set for each healthcare purpose, based on current expenditures. Respondents could adjust these default expenditures using sliders and were presented with the implications of their adjustments on health and well-being outcomes, the economy, and the healthcare premium. As a constraint, the maximum increase in the mandatory healthcare premium for adult citizens was €600 per year. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a Latent Class Cluster Analysis (LCCA). ResultsOn average, respondents preferred to increase total expenditures on all healthcare purposes, but especially on elderly care, new and better medicines, and mental healthcare. Three preference clusters were identified. The largest cluster preferred modest increases in expenditures, the second a much higher increase of expenditures, and the smallest favouring a substantial reduction of the healthcare premium by decreasing the expenditure on all healthcare purposes. The analyses also demonstrated substantial preference heterogeneity between clusters for budget allocation over different healthcare purposes. ConclusionsThe results of this choice experiment show that most citizens in the Netherlands support increasing healthcare expenditures. However, substantial heterogeneity was identified in preferences for healthcare purposes to prioritize. Considering these preferences may increase public support for prioritization decisions.

To have or not to have a penis? Phally polymorphism in minute, hermaphroditic gastropods from the Vertiginidae family

Abstract Phally polymorphism in snails offers an excellent opportunity to study the evolutionary basis of sexual polymorphism in animals. Phally polymorphism occurs when two or three sexual morphs co-occur in populations of hermaphroditic organisms. Euphallics have a fully developed and functional penis, hemiphallics have a reduced and non-functional penis, while aphallics have no penis. All morphs can self-fertilize, but only euphallics can donate sperm during copulation. In this study, we investigated the geographical pattern of phally polymorphism in minute Vertigo species by testing snails from Polish and Swedish populations. Considering the principle of resource allocation, we checked whether sexual morph reflects the size of the shell. Although the Swedish Vertigo snails tend to be smaller than the Polish ones, our results show no clear geographical pattern of sexual morph balance in the studied populations. Aphallics of V. angustior were bigger than the euphallics; conversely to V. substriata, where euphallics were bigger than aphallics. Such a result suggests a species-specific resource allocation towards the given sexual function. Since hemiphallics of V. antivertigo were smaller than euphallics, we discuss the possible trade-off when faced with resource depletion and the failure of attaining sexual maturity of euphallics.

Drug Shortages in Oncology: ASCO Clinical Guidance for Alternative Treatments.

To increase awareness, outline strategies, and offer clinical guidance on navigating the complexities of treatment planning amid antineoplastic drug shortages. A multidisciplinary panel of oncologists, ethicists, and patient advocates was assembled to provide rapid clinical guidance to help providers navigate appropriate patient care in cases where rationing or alternative therapies must be considered. The groups of content experts developed general principles for resource allocation during shortages and clinical guidance on alternative therapies for specific disease sites. The recommendations are supported by evidence when available. A total of 44 volunteers with content expertise formed the Advisory Group that developed general guidance on the prioritization of antineoplastic agents in limited supply. Disease site-specific clinical guidance was then produced by subgroups on the basis of members' specialties and expertise. The majority of alternative treatment options were developed in consideration of cisplatin and carboplatin shortages. All guidance is posted on ASCO's website. The prioritization of antineoplastic agents in limited supply should be based on specific goals of the therapy where evidence-based medicine has shown survival outcome and life-extending benefit in both early and advanced stages. Recommendations for specific disease sites are presented. While management options vary according to the disease site, alternatives are presented. For settings in which there are no alternatives with comparable efficacy and safety, it is recommended that patients are referred to an area where the necessary drug is available or can be obtained.Additional information is available at asco.org/drug-shortages.

Enhancing the Reach of Socially Missioned Nonprofits: Insights from a TOC-LP Application

Socially missioned nonprofit organizations exist to connect at-risk populations to critical healthcare, food, and financial services. However, these organizations face several internal (resource infrastructure, management capability) and external (multiple stakeholders, client demographics and capabilities) constraints within which they must work to attain their goal of helping people in need. The extant academic literature offers a variety of solutions to such allocation problems for use in for-profit organizations. Yet noted differences in the operational systems of for-profit and nonprofit operations limit practitioners’ capabilities to readily leverage these tools. Thus, in this paper, we extend the applicability of classic resource allocation principles to the context of nonprofit operations’ outreach efforts. We describe a detailed case study analysis at one nonprofit organization (SC Thrive) wherein we implemented the theory of constraints–linear programming framework to help maximize the effectiveness of outreach initiatives carried out by the organization. Based on the results from our stepwise, nonlinear yield model, SC Thrive is now capable of doubling the annual number of applications submitted by potential beneficiaries for assistance services. History: This paper was refereed.

Principles of resource allocation and triage during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic confronted Canadians with the fact that our health care systems may not always have enough to go around. Critical care resources, specifically, were stretched far beyond the limits of what was thought possible. In the spring of 2021, the exponential growth of patients with COVID-19 brought Ontario’s ICUs frighteningly near the breaking point. When a health system’s resources are overwhelmed by the demands placed upon them, allocation of scarce resources is typically performed by triage — a formalized system to determine who receives critical care resources and who does not. In this commentary, we will explain the rationale for the use of a formal triage protocol during times of resource scarcity; review the ethical foundations of an approach to resource allocation; outline the process of triage protocol development in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight some lessons learned for the future.

Dynamical Analysis and Optimization of a Generalized Resource Allocation Model of Microbial Growth

Gaining a better comprehension of the growth of microorganisms is a major scientific challenge, which has often been approached from a resource allocation perspective. Simple mathematical self-replicator models based on resource allocation principles have been surprisingly effective in accounting for experimental observations of the growth of microorganisms. Previous work, using a three-variable resource allocation model, predicted an optimal resource allocation scheme for the adaptation of microbial cells to a sudden nutrient change in the environment. We here propose an extended version of this model considering also proteins responsible for basic housekeeping functions, and we study their impact on predicted optimal strategies for resource allocation following changes in the environment. A full dynamical analysis of the system shows there is a single globally attractive equilibrium, which can be related to steady-state growth conditions of bacteria observed in experiments. We then explore the optimal allocation strategies using optimization and optimal control theory. We show that the solutions to this dynamical problem have a complicated structure that includes a second-order singular arc given in feedback form, and characterized by i) Fuller's phenomenon, and ii) the turnpike effect, producing a very particular asymptotic behaviour towards the solution of the static optimization problem. Our work thus provides a generalized perspective on the analysis of microbial growth by means of simple self-replicator models.

Новые принципы распределения ресурсов ЕС и их влияние на страны Балтийского региона

The Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021—2027 was adopted during the severe crisis caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the face of a rapidly deteriorating economic situation, EU countries took unprecedented steps radically changing the principles of resource allocation in the Union. These included the recovery plan for Europe, making the EU budget conditional on respect for the rule of law and the new EU resources system. This article seeks to identify the essential characteristics of the decisions made within the Multiannual Financial Framework and define their significance for advancing integration. The study attempts to answer two questions: do these decisions mark the transition to a new stage of integration and to what extent do they comply with the law of the Union. Several EU initiatives related to debt redistribution are analysed, along with the impact of these initiatives on Eastern European countries, particularly those of the Baltic Sea region. The research explores the decisions from the standpoint of legal and political science. In particular, it is stressed that, when reaching a compromise on making the budget conditional on respect for the rule of law, the EU and its member states had to use a mechanism for postponing the execution of an act of the Union, which contradicts the basic principles of EU law. From a political point of view, the adoption of a package of legislative acts within the Multiannual Financial Framework means growing dependence of the member states and an increase in solidarity and loyalty within the Union.

Global health and the COVID-19 pandemic: a care ethics approach

ABSTRACT This paper presents a case for a feminist care ethics approach to thinking about ethics and justice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the existing commentary has been focused on arriving at a universally-acceptable principle of resource allocation – specifically for the global allocation of vaccine doses. A feminist care ethics approach, by contrast, begins not with prescriptive principles, but with the everyday practices of people existing in relations of responsibility for and interdependence with others. It thus gives rise to an expanded moral imaginary beyond the ‘cosmopolitan-nationalism’ binary, encouraging contextualized and multi-scalar inquiry into the enduring hierarchies that perpetuate global injustice.

Public Preferences for Allocation Principles for Scarce Medical Resources in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: Comparisons With Ethicists' Recommendations.

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate public preferences regarding allocation principles for scarce medical resources in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly in comparison with the recommendations of ethicists.Methods:An online survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1509 adults residing in Korea, from November 2 to 5, 2020. The degree of agreement with resource allocation principles in the context of the medical resource constraints precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic was examined. The results were then compared with ethicists’ recommendations. We also examined whether the perceived severity of COVID-19 explained differences in individual preferences, and by doing so, whether perceived severity helps explain discrepancies between public preferences and ethicists’ recommendations.Results:Overall, the public of Korea agreed strongly with the principles of “save the most lives,” “Koreans first,” and “sickest first,” but less with “random selection,” in contrast to the recommendations of ethicists. “Save the most lives” was given the highest priority by both the public and ethicists. Higher perceived severity of the pandemic was associated with a greater likelihood of agreeing with allocation principles based on utilitarianism, as well as those promoting and rewarding social usefulness, in line with the opinions of expert ethicists.Conclusions:The general public of Korea preferred rationing scarce medical resources in the COVID-19 pandemic predominantly based on utilitarianism, identity and prioritarianism, rather than egalitarianism. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for discrepancies between public preferences and ethicists’ recommendations.

Optimizing the Subsidy Calculation Model of Urban Public Transport

In recent years, to alleviate and resolve the traffic problems in China, the government introduced a series of policies to subsidize public transportation. Accordingly, to effectively implement these financial subsidies, the formulation of a scientific model of urban public transport subsidy calculation, strict control of the total amount of financial subsidies, and clear identification of subsidy targets are necessary. In this study, a linear dual model is developed based on the principle of resource allocation and the economic meaning of shadow prices. The public transportation system of a city in China is considered an example, and both public transport operators and public interest stakeholders are considered. The subsidy calculation for service quality improvement is established for public transportation operations and vehicle transformation. Based on the validation using the above example, the calculation result is found to approximate the actual value, indicating the feasibility of the proposed model. Finally, this article presents suggestions pertaining to subsidy mechanism, operating environment, and service quality as a reference for urban public transport subsidies.

ANALISIS PENJADWALAN DAN ALOKASI SUMBER DAYA PADA PROYEK KONSTRUKSI MENGGUNAKAN MICROSOFT PROJECT (Studi Kasus Pekerjaan Struktur Proyek XYZ)

One of the computer applications that can be used in project management control is the Microsoft Project application. With Microsoft Project , information related to activities that fall into the critical trajectory and allocation of resource placement can be known, so that the project does not experience delays and a decrease in work productivity. Based on the results of the analysis using the Microsoft project, it is found that activities are included in the critical trajectory, namely: pile work, soldier pile, excavation, excavation fireplace, brickwork installation, work floor, pile cap and superstructure work. The results of the analysis show the need for the number of workers from the 1st month to the 8th month: 31, 43, 43, 40, 37, 31, 10. The needs of the foreman are: 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 , 2, 1. For crane operator resources in the 1st month and 2nd month is as many as 3 people. Subcontractor 1 and subcontractor 2 require as many as 1 person in the resources of the 2nd month to the 3rd month. A mason is needed from the 2nd to the 8th month: 12, 9, 8, 7, 7, 6, 2. Resource analysis for the head mason every month: 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1. Analysis of the allocation of resource placement can be carried out in several stages if a graph of the resources fluctuates or does not comply with the principle of resource allocation.

Priority setting at the clinical level: the case of nusinersen and the Norwegian national expert group

BackgroundNusinersen is one of an increasing number of new, expensive orphan drugs to receive authorization. These drugs strain public healthcare budgets and challenge principles for resource allocation. Nusinersen was introduced in the Norwegian public healthcare system in 2018. A national expert group consisting of physicians was formed to oversee the introduction and continuation of treatment in light of specific start and stop criteria.MethodsWe have studied experiences within the expert group with a special emphasis on their application of the start and stop criteria, rationing of treatment, and experienced moral dilemmas. A research interview with six members of the national expert group was performed, then analysed with manifest content analysis. The analysis was supplemented with publically available sources on priority setting and the process leading up to the introduction of nusinersen and the establishment of the expert group.ResultsSixty-six patients have received treatment within the first 25 months since the national expert group’s establishment. Treatment has not been discontinued for any patient. No patients under 18 years of age have been denied treatment, as those who were referred at this age were all deemed to fulfill the start criteria. The expert group has, however, increased geographical treatment equity and facilitated important cooperation at the national level. Furthermore, it has enhanced open and critical discussions of both medical issues and new ethical dilemmas.ConclusionAlthough facilitating equal access to treatment for SMA patients, the national expert group has not discontinued treatment for any patient. It is suggested that in order for clinicians to be able to ration care for individual patients, they require both adequate support and sufficient formal authority. Start and stop criteria need to be re-evaluated as more knowledge and experience are gained regarding the treatment.

Genetic and Disability Discrimination During COVID-19.

Genetic and Disability Discrimination During COVID-19.

Infective endocarditis in patients who use IV drugs: a single centre cohort

Abstract Background Managing endocarditis in intravenous drug use (IVDU) patients is challenging: unless patients successfully quit IVDU, the risk of re-infection is high. Clinicians often raise concerns with ethical and resource allocation principles when considering valve replacement surgery in this patient population. To help inform practice, we sought to determine the long-term outcomes of IVDU patients with endocarditis who underwent valve surgery in our center. Method After research ethics board approval, infective endocarditis cases managed surgically at our General Hospital between 2009 and 2018 were identified through the Cardiac Care Network. We reviewed patients' charts and included those with a history of IVDU in this study. We abstracted data on baseline characteristics, peri-operative course, short- and long-term outcomes. We report results using descriptive statistics. Results We identified 124 IVDU patients with surgically managed endocarditis. Mean age was 37 years (SD 11), 61% were females and 8% had redo surgery. During admission, 45% (n=56) of the patients had an embolic event: 63% pulmonary, 30% cerebral, 18% peripheral and 11% mesenteric. Causative organisms included Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (51%, n=63), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (15%, n=19), Streptococcus Viridans (2%, n=2), and others (31%, n=38). Emergency cardiac surgery was performed for 42% of patients (n=52). Most patients (84%) had single valve intervention: 53% tricuspid, 18% aortic and 13% mitral. Double valve interventions occurred in 15% (n=18). Overall, bioprosthetic replacement was most commonly chosen (79%, n=98). In-hospital mortality was 7% (n=8). Median length of stay in hospital was 13 days (IQR 8,21) and ICU 2 days (IQR 1,6). Mortality at longest available follow-up was 24% (n=30), with a median follow-up of 129 days (IQR 15,416). Valve reintervention rate was 11% (n=13) and readmission rate was 14% (n=17) at a median of 275 days (IQR 54,502). Conclusion Despite their critical condition, IVDU patients with endocarditis have good intra-hospital outcomes. Challenges occur after hospital discharge with loss of follow-up and high short-term mortality. IVDU relapse likely accounts for some of these issues. In-hospital and community comprehensive addiction management may improve these patients' outcomes beyond the surgical procedure. Annual rate 2009–2018 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Sword of Damocles: application of the ethical principles of resource allocation to essential cancer surgery patients requiring beds in limited supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sword of Damocles: application of the ethical principles of resource allocation to essential cancer surgery patients requiring beds in limited supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Triage of critical care resources in COVID-19: a stronger role for justice

Some ethicists assert that there is a consensus that maximising medical outcomes takes precedence as a principle of resource allocation in emergency triage of absolutely scarce resources. But the nature...

Model of Multi-branch Trees for Efficient Resource Allocation

Although exploring the principles of resource allocation is still important in many fields, little is known about appropriate methods for optimal resource allocation thus far. This is because we should consider many issues including opposing interests between many types of stakeholders. Here, we develop a new allocation method to resolve budget conflicts. To do so, we consider two points—minimizing assessment costs and satisfying allocational efficiency. In our method, an evaluator’s assessment is restricted to one’s own projects in one’s own department, and both an executive’s and mid-level executives’ assessments are also restricted to each representative project in each branch or department they manage. At the same time, we develop a calculation method to integrate such assessments by using a multi-branch tree structure, where a set of leaf nodes represents projects and a set of non-leaf nodes represents either directors or executives. Our method is incentive-compatible because no director has any incentive to make fallacious assessments.

Participants’ interaction with sharing economy platforms in Russia

PurposeThe objective of this contribution is to pinpoint the practices of users' interactions with sharing economy platforms in Russia, as well as explore the source of motivation to use such platforms on the three cases of sharing economy platforms in Russia: Darudar [Gift-to-gift] (sharing goods), Bank Vremeny [Timebank] (sharing time and services) and Couchsurfing (sharing accommodation and leisure).Design/methodology/approachEmpirical data were gathered from 25 in-depth interviews conducted for active users of the platforms and ethnographic observations of users' offline meetings as well as digital observations.FindingsThe results reveal that participants of the platforms tend to establish their own rules and norms of interaction, thus, fostering social connection. Findings suggest that users of sharing economy platforms are driven by the potential of minimising transaction costs and intrinsic motivation, such as getting experiences which have no market alternatives, upcycling and disposal of belongings, self-promotion and self-realisation.Original/valueIn this study, sharing as based in the sharing economy is conceptualised as a separate principle of resource allocation. The theory was applied to the empirical material of three Russian platforms, which has not been done previously in the paradigm of sharing. The current literature on the sharing economy is largely switched to the for-profit North American platforms, while case studies from other settings are lacking. This article aims to fill this gap by providing insights into non-profit platforms' operation in Russia.