Simulating WTP Values from Random-Coefficient Models

Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) designed to estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) values are very popular in health economics. With increased computation power and advanced simulation techniques, random-coefficient models have gained an increasing importance in applied work as they allow for taste heterogeneity. This paper discusses the parametrical derivation of WTP values from estimated random-coefficient models and shows how these values can be simulated in cases where they do not have a known distribution.willingness-to-pay, discrete choice, simulation, random-coe±cient models

Physician dispensing and the choice between generic and brand-name drugs – Do margins affect choice?

Many politicians blame physician dispensing (PD) to increase health care expenditure and to undermine independence of drug prescription and income leading to a suboptimal medication. Therefore, PD is not allowed in most OECD countries. In Switzerland, PD is allowed in some regions depending on the density of pharmacies. This enables to investigate the difference in prescribing behavior between physician which gain income from prescribing a specific drug and their colleagues which prescribe the drug but do not sell it. Because the considered drugs are bioequivalent we focus on the economic consequence of PD. We analyze the prescribing behavior of Swiss physicians using cross-sectional data between 2005 and 2007 for three important agents. The results support our hypothesis that dispensing physicians have a higher probability of prescribing the drug with the (most likely) higher margin compared to non-dispensing physicians. Further, generic drugs are prescribed more often to patients with higher cost-sharing while patients' cost-sharing is less influential with PD. High-income patients face a much higher probability to receive the brand-name drug due to their lower marginal utility of income. Today's administered reimbursement prices for generics seem to be high enough to gain physicians for prescribing generics because of their high margins.Physician dispensing, prescribing behavior, generics, brand-name drugs

GPs' preferences: What price fee-for-service?

In mixed health care systems a crucial condition for the success of Managed Care (MC) plans is to win over a su±cient number of general practitioners (GPs) acting as gatekeepers. This contribution reports on GPs' willingness-to-accept (WTA) or compensation asked, respectively, for changing from conventional fee-for-service to MC practice. Some 175 Swiss GPs participated in discrete choice experiments which permit to put a money value on their status quo bias. Regardless of whether effects coding or dummy coding is used to measure status quo bias, Swiss GPs require at least 16 percent of their current average income to give up fee-for-service in favor of MC practice.general practitioners, willingness-to-pay, preferences, market experiments, managed care, effects coding, status quo bias

Book of Hours: Number 28

Vellum is in poor condition, this is most likely because of the ageing of metal alloys used in the original production of the book.; Decorated initials with circular filigree. Floral, stem-like imagery. Separating the verses is a bar of red and blue with white filigree.; Angular Gothic Script; Brown, blue, red, silver, and gold inkshttps://digital.kenyon.edu/mdvlmanuscripts/1014/thumbnail.jp

Assessing the spectral diversity of managed grassland in the Lower Engadin

Biodiversity in grasslands is decreasing, worldwide as well as in the Swiss Alpine regions, which is why effective monitoring methods are needed. Remote sensing can provide broader spatial coverage, potentially addressing the limitations of conventional field surveys. This study investigated whether the spectral diversity of agriculturally managed plots in the Lower Engadin could serve as a proxy for biodiversity. Leveraging an object-based approach, it analysed the spectral diversity on plot level and related it to the management type. Remote sensing data (AVIRIS-NG, SwissImage RS and Sentinel-2) and agricultural plot data were processed, different data aggregation techniques and different quantification methods were tested. Most applications revealed significant differences between management types, but the results were not consistent across all datasets. However, consistent results could be achieved at different spatial and spectral resolutions. Important findings revealed that pastures exhibited higher spectral diversity than artificial meadows, most likely due to structural elements. Large differences were observed between mown and unmown plots, which suggests that a multitemporal analysis of the different conditions might be useful. Furthermore, the analysis highlighted the significance of dataset selection, aggregation, and applied spectral metrics. The study showed there is potential for spectral diversity to serve as a proxy for certain biodiversity parameters in alpine grasslands. While the object-based approach is feasible, careful interpretation and consideration of local conditions are essential. Overall, this research contributes to understanding spectral diversity's utility in assessing biodiversity and underscores the complexity of ecological relationships

Midwest Grape Production Guide

The Midwest Grape Production Guide (OSU Extension Bulletin 919) is a joint publication with The Ohio State University and Purdue University and a comprehensive guide on commercial grape production. There are 155 text pages in the bulletin, with 121 color pictures, 22 diagrams, and 18 tables. Sales of this publication have reached a total of more than 2,300 copies in 32 states, with the highest number of copies being sold in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, New York, and South Dakota. This bulletin would make an excellent resource guide for Midwest grape growers and Extension educators

Computational modelling of metal-mediated protein-ligand interactions

Although metalloproteins account for nearly half of all proteins in nature, computational modelling of metal-mediated protein-ligand interactions is understudied and molecular mechanics programs and force field parameters compatible to proteins and transition metals are not readily available. Within this thesis, various computational approaches were pursued towards the design of artificial metalloenzymes and the modelling of metal- mediated protein ligand interactions. Four challenges were identified and addressed. The first consisted of the identification of suitable protein scaffolds for the creation of artificial facial-triad motifs. The second part focused on the development of reliable force field parameters for the anchoring of sulfonamide bearing anchors within human carbonic anhydrase 2. In order to reliably predict the geometry of catalytically relevant piano stool artificial cofactors within host proteins, the third part aimed at developing force-field parameters (using the Valbond formalism) for d6 -piano stool complexes. Finally, the fourth step combined the above developments towards the reliable prediction of first and second coordination sphere environments around artificial cofactors/inhibitors