Do I Spit or Do I Pass?

This study explores privacy concerns perceived by people with respect to having their DNA tested by direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com. Data collected from 510 respondents indicate that those who have already obtained a DTC genetic test have significantly lower levels of privacy and security concerns than those who have not obtained a DTC genetic test. Qualitative data from respondents of both these groups show that the concerns are mostly similar. However, the factors perceived to alleviate privacy concerns are more varied and nuanced amongst those who have obtained a DTC genetic test. Our data suggest that privacy concerns or lack of concerns are based on complex and multiple considerations including data ownership, access control of data and regulatory authorities of social, political and legal systems. Respondents do not engage in a full cost/benefit analysis of having their DNA tested.

The full cost of tonsillectomy at Children’s hospital 1 in 2019

Objective: Determine full cost of tonsillectomy at Children’s Hospital 1 in 2019. Methods: Coss–sectional descriptive study 304 tonsillectomy children at Children’s Hospital 1 in 2019. Results: The study results showed that the cost of tonsillectomy (excluding consultation fees and pre-operation tests) depend on surgery devices. The average cost of cautery tonsillectomy was 1,740, 869 VND (68% direct cost, 32% indirect cost), of the coblator tonsillectomy was 3,610,031 VND 84.58% direct cost, 15.46% indirect cost), and of the plasma peak tonsillectomy one was 3,600,124 VND (84.54% direct cost, 15.46% indirect cost). In 3 surgery methods, the percentage’s cost of drugs, medical disposible items, and operation team were the largest share in direct costs; in indirect costs, the percentage of human management was the highest proportion, followed by the percentage of facility maintenance cost, and the percentage of other regular expenses cost was very low. Conclusion: The average cost of cautery tonsillectomy was 1,740, 869 VND, of the coblator tonsillectomy was 3,610,031 VND, and of the plasma peak tonsillectomy one was 3,600,124 VND.This cost is higher than the current hospital fee the patient or the health insurance paid. This implies a mismatch between input costs and hospital rates. Key words: Tonsillectomy cost, Children’s Hospital 1, cautery, Coblator, Plasma Peak Blade.

Simple hydro-economic tools for supporting small water supply agencies on sustainable irrigation water management

In the Mediterranean countries, agriculture poses challenges in terms of its production expectations, resources availability, pollution, general management and implementation of economic tools (e.g. full cost of irrigation water, according to the Water Framework Directive). This study attempts to provide useful approaches for small water supply agencies facing multiple management, funding, environmental, and practical issues. A representative case in Central Greece is examined, in order to describe the situation in understandable terms supporting sustainable management. Simple hydro-economic tools were used to address these challenges; water balance, profits from agriculture, water value, water quality, management strategies, and full cost of irrigation water were simulated and incorporated into a Decision Support System (DSS), using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), involving experts on water resources management and local policymakers. This is the first hydro-economic study designed for a Greek rural agency, aiming to improve and encourage integrated monitoring and management at multiple levels, communicating more efficient water use approaches to local irrigation management communities.

Airborne methane surveys pay for themselves: An economic case study of increased revenue from emissions control

We present an economic analysis of an emissions monitoring and capture program for a mid-sized Permian Basin operator, Triple Crown Resources (“Triple Crown”). Data from this campaign was gathered using repeat airborne surveys provided by Kairos Aerospace (“Kairos”). Key findings include:- The total volume of detected emissions from Triple Crown operations decreased by 70% from the first to the second survey.- Captured gas revenue in the first month was approximately $139,000 and paid for the full cost of the first campaign (including survey, follow-up inspection, and repair) within 5 days.-Analysis of emissions detected from a range of anonymized Permian Basin operators show that a mid-sized operator with a median emissions profile could expect a campaign to pay back in 16.8 days.-Gas samples collected from various points across Triple Crown’s operation showed significant variation in gas value, with tank vapor gas priced as high as $22/MCF.- Kairos survey technology was found to be an effective and highly competitive option for carbon reduction relative to wind, solar, and LED lighting, achieving a cost of $0.54 for every one tonne of CO2e eliminated.

Interaction of Energy-Grid-Load Based on Demand Side Response of Full-cost Electricity Price

In the research of intelligent grids, people usually pay attention to the interaction between power source and load to absorb more new energy. In contrast, the utilization of power source and load on grid resources is less considered, and energy-grid-load is not fully explored. The profound benefits and value of the three interactions. To this end, the paper proposes the interactive mode and method of power supply, power grid, and load based on full-cost electricity price. The power source side needs to consider the impact of transmission costs when optimizing economic dispatch; the load side needs to calculate the full-cost electricity price based on the power flow tracking method, clarify the load’s use of power and grid resources, and reflect the “who benefits, who bears the cost” Principles and introduce demand-side response to reflect the meaning and value of full-cost electricity prices. The research found that the calculation example analysis based on the IEEE30-node system verifies that the method in this paper can reasonably allocate the cost of the power grid according to the user’s utilization of power grid resources, thereby improving the efficiency, fairness, orderliness and safety of power grid investment and operation.

Environmental Externalities

Many of the environmental changes that threaten biodiversity are negative externalities of agriculture, forestry, industrial production, infrastructural development, and urban growth. Examples include climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, and the spread of pests and pathogens. Chapter 9 considers the nature of environmental externalities: whether they are public or private, whether unidirectional or reciprocal, and how they relate to wider environmental and socioeconomic conditions. It also considers the instruments available to internalize externalities at different scales, either by confronting those whose actions harm others with the full cost of the actions, or by compensating those whose actions confer benefits on others. Instruments discussed include the assignment of property rights, regulations and legal controls, and economic instruments such as pollution charges or payments for ecosystem services.