The cost burden of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis depending on biologic treatment status – a Danish register-based study

Background Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease may be treated with biologics, depending on several medical and non-medical factors. This study investigated healthcare costs and production values of patients treated with biologics. Methods This national register study included patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) between 2003 and 2015, identified in the Danish National Patient Register (DNPR). Average annual healthcare costs and production values were compared for patients receiving biologic treatment or not, and for patients initiating biologic treatment within a year after diagnosis or at a later stage. Cost estimates and production values were based on charges, fees and average gross wages. Results Twenty-six point one percent CD patients and ten point seven percent of UC patients were treated with biologics at some point in the study period. Of these, 46.4 and 45.5 % of patients initiated biologic treatment within the first year after diagnosis. CD and UC patients treated with biologics had higher average annual healthcare costs after diagnosis compared to patients not treated with biologics. CD patients receiving biologics early had lower production values both ten years before and eight years after treatment initiation, compared to patients receiving treatment later. UC patients receiving biologics early had lower average annual production values the first year after treatment initiation compared to UC patients receiving treatment later. Conclusions CD and UC patients receiving biologic treatment had higher average annual healthcare costs and lower average annual production values, compared to patients not receiving biologic treatment. The main healthcare costs drivers were outpatient visit costs and admission costs.

EFFICIENCY OF THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT LLC «INSTITUTE STROYPROEKT»

An innovative project of LLC «Institute Stroyproekt» was chosen as the object of research. The program of construction and installation works, the average annual production capacity of a construction organization, the effectiveness of personnel policy and administrative and economic costs, indicators of proceeds from product sales are linked by the authors with the efficiency of the economic activity of the enterprise and prof-itability indicators. The analysis summarizes the payback of the innovative project and the payback step, as well as the project's net present value and the internal rate of return. The article presents an assessment of the effectiveness of an innovative project using a discounted method for assessing investment and innovation projects. The authors noted that the innovation process, in addition to fundamental research, includes the determination of rational ways of practical implementation of development results through the implementation of research and development work and development work aimed at reengineering means of production, ma-terials, technologies and business processes, with the preparation of technical and economic justification and subsequent commercialization.

ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTIVENESS OF SHALLOW TUBEWELL IRRIGATION IN DHANUSHA DISTRICT, NEPAL

A survey entitled “Assessment of effectiveness of Shallow tubewell irrigation in Dhanusha district” was carried to seek the status of Shallow tubewell irrigation and its effectiveness in agriculture. A total of 30 respondents were selected on the basis of simple random sampling method who uses shallow tubewell for irrigation. Major occupation of 77% of population of survey area was agriculture and about 73% of households were doing rainfed agriculture before installation of shallow tubewell. A total of 201.23 bigha of land was irrigated and 250 families were benefited from shallow tubewell irrigation. The area under cultivation and production of crops was also found to be increased after installation of shallow tubewell. The average annual production of cereals and vegetables after use of shallow tubewell was 6.01 ton and 1.08 ton respectively. The monoculture system of cropping was changed to multiple cropping system after installing shallow tubewell. Farmers now cultivated 1-5 types of crops before which 1-2 types before shallow tubewell irrigation. Rice, wheat and vegetables were cultivated in 1258 katha, 582 katha and 32 katha of land respectively before installing shallow tubewell but after installation cultivated in 1330 katha, 697 katha and 232 katha of land respectively. Similarly, productivity of rice. increased from 95.96 to 142.08 ton, wheat from 29.98 to 46.67 ton and vegetables from 7.52 to 27.9 ton after use of shallow tubewell irrigation. Poor supply of electricity was the major problem with the index value of 0.89 followed by canal problems.

Evaluation of the productivity and rooting of cuttings of ten Eucalyptus clones

Objective: evaluating the productivity of mother plants and the rooting percentage of cuttings of Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus urograndis. Design: Ten clones of each species were evaluated in a clonal miniature garden in a gutter system fitted with drip irrigation. Results: The assessed number of sprouts and viable cuttings variables registered high significant differences (P <0.0001) between clones: UP1 (17,947 shoots and 34.05 viable cuttings), UG2 (12,120 shoots and 22.96 viable cuttings) and G2 (10,254 shoots and 23.96 viable cuttings). Regard the measured parameters in the irrigation water, the average values of EC 0.5 mS/cm and pH 5 to 7 were obtained. The stem cuttings established in the module had high significant differences (P <0.0001) in terms of the rooting percentage. Three clones were superior, the best of which, clone G2, reports 78.58% rooting, which developed in environmental conditions of relative humidity greater than 80% and temperature between 25-30 ° C. Findings/conclusions: With the obtained values from the measured variables, a rooting productivity projection was carried out considering a 54 mother plants / m2 density, resulting in a minimum average annual production of viable cuttings from 10,000 to 27,000 depending on the clone, with 2,000 to 18,000 cuttings with rooting possibilities per square meter.

The analysis of the state and development of the vegetable oil market of East Kazakhstan

The current state and development of the oilseed market of the East Kazakhstan region, which is the country's main supplier of sunflower seeds, as well as raw materials for oil refineries, is investigated. This article analyzes the development of the oil and fat industry of East Kazakhstan region for 2015-2019 by the following indicators: gross yield of oilseeds; productivity; sown area; level of utilization of average annual production capacity. Volumes of vegetable oil production by their types, which are the main factor resources and sources of oilseed raw materials and their processing, are presented. Along with this, the main problems of the oil and fat industry of the region are identified, ways to solve them, also prospects for the development of internal and external sales markets are proposed. In order to increase the efficiency of the oil and fat industry in the region and Kazakhstan, the need for the production of high-quality raw materials, also the solution of other issues related to ensuring food security, was noted.Particularly, the formation and maintenance of the production cycle: selection - growing - storage, as well as oilseed processing. Providing state support in providing farmers with quality seeds and modern technology, monitoring the export of high-quality oilseeds, as well as stimulating the export of final products.

Risk Management of Dairy Product Losses as a Tool to Improve the Environment and Food Rescue

“Food loss”, defined as food produced for human consumption, which for various reasons leaves the supply chain, can be assigned to a group of new risks. Irrational use of food constitutes a risk to the environment. Moreover, food losses represent a missed opportunity to improve global food security. The aim of this study was to develop a risk management model for dairy product losses using the example of ripening cheese. The necessary data to develop the model were derived from a survey that was conducted in five dairies located in Poland. Total losses for nine products amounted to 1.1% of the average annual production, which accounted for more than 5635 t per annum. The studies that were conducted allowed the identification of three management methods of food loss in dairies: reprocessing, hand over for feed, and disposal. The level of risk was defined as “high” with two suggested courses of action: prevention and tolerance. Risks must be prevented by eliminating any errors that may result in a product of inadequate quality. Another solution is to redistribute or sell products at a reduced price, which despite their reduced quality, are nevertheless suitable for consumption. To some extent, this risk must be tolerated.

Experimental study and modeling of three grid-connected photovoltaic technologies of Meknes City

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most promising renewable energy source in Morocco due to its abundant solar irradiation. The Moroccan government has launched various renewable energy programs to encourage the use of PV systems. In this work we present a comparative study in terms of energy produced and the efficiency of a grid connected photovoltaic (PV) system installed on the roof of the building occupied by the “Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Meknes” (ESTM). The on-grid connected photovoltaic system has a total power of 5860 Watts (Wp). This system provides an average daily reduction of 30 kWh in the consumption of electrical energy at ESTM facilities; this will allow us to save fossil fuels and reduce emissions of greenhouse gas. The average annual production of electric power is estimated at 10.5 MWh, equivalent to burning 0.9 tons of oil, which will prevent the emission of about 2 tons / year of CO2 in the atmosphere. Three different commercial solar modules, manufactured with different materials and technologies in monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon were tested.

Employing Phenology to Delineate Wheat Agro-Climatic Zones in Afghanistan

<p>Afghanistan grows wheat on about 2.5 million hectares with an average annual production of about five million tonnes. The local research and development efforts make use of country wide research results to recommend varieties and other technologies. Afghanistan has wide ranging climatic variability and its wheat acreage therefore needs to be delineated into wheat climatic zones. A set of 10 different types of wheat varieties were scored for average number of days to 50% flowering (ADF) at 10 locations to delineate Afghan wheat acreage into homogeneous wheat climatic zones based on ADF values. The results obtained hinted at creating eastern, northern, south western and a highland zone for conducting research and recommending wheat technologies.</p>

Does the activity of producer group organizations improve the production of pigs?

There are many works dealing with the activities of small farms, however there is a lack of papers about production and economic performance of small farms associated in producer group organizations. The aim of the study was to compare the production parameters of selected pig producer groups over two years (2010-2011). The basis for the analysis were the results of surveys carried out in 174 individual farms, which were members of 4 groups of pig producers. The study was conducted through direct interviews using a personal questionnaire. The average herd size of sows increased in the next year by 18.5% and the average annual production volume of fatteners by 9.3%. Average meatiness increased from 53.8% to 54.5%. In order to estimate the revenues a model of factors dependent on the farmer was created, expressed as the production of 1 kg of raw material. Three independent variables were introduced into the model: meatiness of fatteners (X1), the size of produced fatteners (X2), weight of fatteners (X3). The model developed in the study was proposed to groups as a tool to measure the efficiency of production and is currently being used by them. The results indicate that the activities of pig producers have a positive effect on production effectiveness and confirms the validity of horizontal integration in agriculture. Managing production in accordance with the statute imposed on the producer group showed a similar quality of produced raw materials, while the average annual sales of fatteners increased, which may contribute to the ability to negotiate purchase prices.

Litterfall production in intact and selectively logged forests in southern of Amazonia as a function of basal area of vegetation and plant density

Nutrient recycling in the forest is linked to the production and decomposition of litter, which are essential processes for forest maintenance, especially in regions of nutritionally poor soils. Human interventions in forest such as selecttive logging may have strong impacts on these processes. The objectives of this study were to estimate litterfall production and evaluate the influence of environmental factors (basal area of vegetation, plant density, canopy cover, and soil physicochemical properties) and anthropogenic factors (post-management age and exploited basal area) on this production, in areas of intact and exploited forest in southern Amazonia, located in the northern parts of Mato Grosso state. This study was conducted at five locations and the average annual production of litterfall was 10.6 Mg ha-1 year-1, higher than the values for the Amazon rainforest. There were differences in litterfall productions between study locations. Effects of historical logging intensity on litterfall production were not significant. Effects of basal area of vegetation and tree density on litterfall production were observed, highlighting the importance of local vegetation characteristics in litterfall production. This study demonstrated areas of transition between the Amazonia-Cerrado tend to have a higher litterfall production than Cerrado and Amazonia regions, and this information is important for a better understanding of the dynamics of nutrient and carbon cycling in these transition regions.