Cost-benefit analysis for health project evaluation (example of a Russian outpatient clinics' project in the Novosibirsk region)

IntroductionThe development of social infrastructure projects in medicine corresponds to transforming public priorities toward social development in general and health care in particular. Therefore, there is a need to develop comprehensive quantitative methods for evaluating such projects.MethodsThis paper uses a combination of two approaches: first, cost-benefit analysis taking into account the relationship between financial and economic efficiency; second, the study of the efficiency of participation in a public-private partnership concerning project efficiency. The model's financial bloc is focused on analyzing the return on investment in fixed and working capital, considering the terminal value. The economic bloc includes social and tax effects (along with environmental, price, indirect, and other specific public effects). We apply fixed effects regression models to calculate multipliers used to estimate the social effects. Multipliers are based on: public health expenditure, human development index, and life expectancy. The proposed methodology has been adapted for evaluating the Seven Polyclinics' project as a flagship project for developing social infrastructure in the Novosibirsk Region.Results and discussionThe evaluation results revealed a deficient level of financial efficiency of the project characterized by negative net present value and low internal rate of return. Simultaneously, the efficiency of participation in the project for private investors using the public-private partnership mechanism is characterized by high rates of return on private investment. In the transition to the economic analysis, the results fundamentally change, taking into account social and tax effects and detecting an exceptionally high level of all economic indicators of the project. As the project's primary beneficiaries, the economic analysis identified polyclinic patients who received the opportunity to acquire new medical services. At the same time, within the financial analysis framework, the mechanisms for implementing the project were determined, ensuring the consistency of interests. The distribution of effects among the project participants was compared for various funding methods, including the public-private partnerships mechanism. It is shown that the project implementation leads to significant social effects and provides a noticeable improvement in population health. The proposed methodology can be used for decision making on the implementation of similar projects

Obesity: Ethnic and Regional Differences in the Diet and Gut Microbiota (Review)

Problems of obesity, nutrition and microbiota are discussed in this review. In a world of constant economic and cultural changes traditional diet is being replaced by western diet, rich in free sugars, saturated fats, salt, and characterized by increased average daily dietary energy consumption intake. Such «western-style» diet is associated with high weight gain, leading to metabolic disorders, namely diet-related obesity, which is rapidly increasing globally. The impact of ethnicity to the development of obesity as inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic differences in dietary habits is showed. Dietary habits of different countries, including ethnic minorities, provide a specific pattern of gut microbiota and microbiome. In the context of globalization, international migration and rapid urbanization, changes in dietary habits occurred without proper adaptation of gut microbiota. Gut microbiota plays the fundamental role in regulation and pathogenesis of metabolic disorders due to making metabolites for normal human development, therefore gut microbiota dysbiosis may lead to metabolic dysfunction, including obesity. The review shows actual worldwide data of evolution of adult obesity over time, dietary energy consumption in different country and different climatic regions. It analyzes changes in gut microbiota composition depending on traditional or western diet, and on nationality and race

The use of foresight in technical systems

The study is intended for engineers designing technical systems. The analytic hierarchy process was used as the main tool of foresight. Nowadays, some experience in the design of technical systems is accumulated. However, in most cases, designers have to sort through all possible factors and parameters of devices. The involvement of experts will reduce the time range of research. The research results show a high Kendall’s coefficient of concordance 0.738. Research materials will allow planning experiments only with the most important factors. This will adjust the protocols for testing new technical systems and significantly reduce costs

Reforestation pipeline: case for quality management of NIR-region grading of Scots pine seeds and FLR-algorithm for information processing

When controlling the process of improving the quality of seeds by separating on a spectrometric basis, the primary information about the state of Scots pine seeds is carried by the wavelengths of optical fluxes and their amplitudes. The algorithm for analyzing the required characteristics of small forest seeds in the infrared range is a corresponding sequence of logical terms that provide the ability to determine the specified seed parameters by a combination of spectral frequencies and light flux amplitudes taken from the corresponding photodetectors. At ΔС = 0.5, the efficiency of the algorithm was 77.6 %, and at ΔС = 0.9, respectively, 99.5 %. In this regard, the choice of ΔС is the result of a compromise between the cost of rejection of high-quality seeds and losses when using unrecognized low-quality seeds and it is made according to the results of relevant experiments

Evaluation of Ukrainian banks’ business models by the structural and functional groups analysis method

A method of identifying banks’ business models and studying the features of their risk profile, considering the system of indicators featuring the structure of assets, liabilities, income, expenses, and other qualitative indicators based on monthly statistical reporting. Kohonen's self-organizing maps (SOM) are used to process large data sets, revealing objects’ hidden features by forming homogeneous groups according to similar values of a large system of indicators. The choice of the system of indicators that play the most significant role in describing the business models of modern banks is substantiated. The proposed method makes it possible to group banks with homogeneous characteristics into so-called structural-functional groups and studies the change in the characteristics of groups of banks over time to compare their behavior during periods of active development of the system and during a crisis. That approach is useful for studying the banking system at the macro level, as it provides a quantitative measure of its financial stability. The more banks are in groups with negative values of parameters, increased risks, and unprofitable performance, the worse the general state of the system. The method also allows studying the features of each structural and functional group and the business models’ features at the meso-level. The number and composition of banks inherent in any group change dynamically, which characterizes the features of the relevant business model in a particular period. The averages of each group reflect the objective changes in the banking system structure. In addition, the SOM trajectory can be built for each individual bank determining the development of its strategy, features of a particular business model, and risk profile. At the micro-level, it allows comparing the features of individual banks within the SFGB and models ways to improve efficiency and financial stability by forecast values for SOM. An extensive system of indicators used to form structural and functional groups of banks allows to quickly respond to changes in the banking system, identify areas of increased risk and explore the adequacy and effectiveness of banks’ business models

DEUTERIUM AS A TOOL FOR CHANGING THE PROPERTIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCES (REVIEW)

The review is devoted to the influence of the hydrogen isotope–deuterium on biological models of organisms and the biological activity of pharmaceutical substances. The positions of the influence of deuterium on the properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients are examined from different perspectives. The first position reflects an increase in the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) in processes involving known pharmaceutical substances in aqueous solutions with a deuterium/protium ratio (D/H) below natural. For the first time, the dose-response diagram shows the identity of deuterium with essential trace elements, when a deficiency and excess of an element reduces the organism's vitality. Improved kinetic characteristics are demonstrated for the molecular and organism levels of different hierarchical gradations. In particular, they consist in the possibility of increasing the dissolution rate of substances by influencing the carbohydrate mutarotation processes and the optical activity of chiral substances, increased accumulation of essential elements in medicinal plants and other processes associated with a possible change in metabolic pathways in the cell and the organism as a whole. The second considered position of the influence of deuterium is associated with the use of deuterated substances–new compounds or obtained by substitution of protium in known protium analogues. The KIE is presented, which is expressed in a decrease in the biotransformation rate as a result of deuteration, it allows predicting a rapid development of the new direction in the development of drugs. Having an identical therapeutic effect, deuterated analogs provide improved pharmacokinetic characteristics, such as reduced toxicity, blocked epimerization of optically active substances, and a change in the mechanisms of biotransformation. The obtained results make it possible to predict the mechanisms of the effect of deuterium on the biochemical transformations of pharmaceutical substances in the organism

Comportamiento destructivo de una persona en retrospectiva histórica: factores, diagnóstico y prevención

In conditions of the current development of society which is characterized by mounting social, economic and political crises, the problem of destructive behavior of an individual acquires special significance and topicality. The paper presents the results of a theoretical and methodological analysis of this problem in foreign and domestic literature in several areas: analysis of the attitude of society towards destructive behavior in its historical aspect; philosophical and theological approach; sociological and demographic areas in the study of destructive behavior, biological and biochemical; genetic approaches; psychological and socio-psychological aspects in the study of destructive behavior of a person. In view of the analysis of various approaches and areas in the study of destructive behavior, the conclusions have been drawn that destructive behavior is represented as a complex phenomenon, caused by biological factors (genetic predisposition, constitutional features of the body structure, the use of psychoactive substances, etc.), social (economic and social crises ), psychopathological (connection with mental disorders), psychological (especially the system of needs and motives of activity), socio-psychological (the impact of socio-psychological maladaptation and characteristics of the values and meaning sphere of an individual) plans. These factors are interconnected and each of them has its own specific role in the complex of destructive behavior, and therefore it is impossible to obtain a holistic view of the phenomenon under consideration taken separately from the entire system of interconnected components.En las condiciones del desarrollo actual de la sociedad, que se caracteriza por el aumento de las crisis sociales, económicas y políticas, el problema del comportamiento destructivo de un individuo adquiere un significado especial y actualidad. El artículo presenta los resultados de un análisis teórico y metodológico de este problema en la literatura extranjera y nacional en varias áreas: análisis de la actitud de la sociedad hacia el comportamiento destructivo en su aspecto histórico; enfoque filosófico y teológico; áreas sociológicas y demográficas en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo, biológico y bioquímico; enfoques genéticos; Aspectos psicológicos y socio-psicológicos en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo de una persona. En vista del análisis de varios enfoques y áreas en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo, se ha llegado a la conclusión de que el comportamiento destructivo se representa como un fenómeno complejo, causado por factores biológicos (predisposición genética, características constitucionales de la estructura del cuerpo, el uso de sustancias psicoactivas, etc.), sociales (crisis económicas y sociales), psicopatológicas (conexión con trastornos mentales), psicológicas (especialmente el sistema de necesidades y motivos de actividad), sociopsicológicas (el impacto de la mala adaptación sociopsicológica y las características de los valores y la esfera de significado de un individuo) planes. Estos factores están interconectados y cada uno de ellos tiene su propio papel específico en el complejo del comportamiento destructivo y, por lo tanto, es imposible obtener una visión holística del fenómeno en consideración tomado por separado del sistema completo de componentes interconectados

Peculiarities of Socio-economic Support of Federal Subjects of Russia

Economic support of the population in the Russian Federation suggests ways to interact with the help of which the specialists of social work have an impact on material and moral, national, family and other social interests and needs of subjects of social work. These methods play a leading role in the process of impact of social work on the individual and social groups. Socio-economic methods are applied in the form of natural and financial aid, establish benefits and lump sum benefits and compensation, patronage and consumer services, moral incentives and sanctions and so on. The correct application of economic methods in the technology of social work is assessed by their effectiveness, i.e. achieving the greatest social impact for clients and society with optimal expenses. Economic methods of support for population and social work occupy a Central place in the mechanism of social support; they affect the main aspects of the system of social protection, on the one hand, encouraging the individual to self-realization of its potential opportunities and self-sufficiency, providing individual, family, group specific socio-economic support in a crisis situation. Keywords: economic support, economic situation, economic methods, socio-economics JEL Classifications: H50, H53, L81, L84, M3

Destructive Behavior of a Person in Historical Retrospective: Factors, Diagnosis and Prevention

En las condiciones del desarrollo actual de la sociedad, que se caracteriza por el aumento de las crisis sociales, económicas y políticas, el problema del comportamiento destructivo de un individuo adquiere un significado especial y actualidad. El artículo presenta los resultados de un análisis teórico y metodológico de este problema en la literatura extranjera y nacional en varias áreas: análisis de la actitud de la sociedad hacia el comportamiento destructivo en su aspecto histórico; enfoque filosófico y teológico; áreas sociológicas y demográficas en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo, biológico y bioquímico; enfoques genéticos; Aspectos psicológicos y socio-psicológicos en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo de una persona. En vista del análisis de varios enfoques y áreas en el estudio del comportamiento destructivo, se ha llegado a la conclusión de que el comportamiento destructivo se representa como un fenómeno complejo, causado por factores biológicos (predisposición genética, características constitucionales de la estructura del cuerpo, el uso de sustancias psicoactivas, etc.), sociales (crisis económicas y sociales), psicopatológicas (conexión con trastornos mentales), psicológicas (especialmente el sistema de necesidades y motivos de actividad), sociopsicológicas (el impacto de la mala adaptación sociopsicológica y las características de los valores y la esfera de significado de un individuo) planes. Estos factores están interconectados y cada uno de ellos tiene su propio papel específico en el complejo del comportamiento destructivo y, por lo tanto, es imposible obtener una visión holística del fenómeno en consideración tomado por separado del sistema completo de componentes interconectados.In conditions of the current development of society which is characterized by mounting social, economic and political crises, the problem of destructive behavior of an individual acquires special significance and topicality. The paper presents the results of a theoretical and methodological analysis of this problem in foreign and domestic literature in several areas: analysis of the attitude of society towards destructive behavior in its historical aspect; philosophical and theological approach; sociological and demographic areas in the study of destructive behavior, biological and biochemical; genetic approaches; psychological and socio-psychological aspects in the study of destructive behavior of a person. In view of the analysis of various approaches and areas in the study of destructive behavior, the conclusions have been drawn that destructive behavior is represented as a complex phenomenon, caused by biological factors (genetic predisposition, constitutional features of the body structure, the use of psychoactive substances, etc.), social (economic and social crises ), psychopathological (connection with mental disorders), psychological (especially the system of needs and motives of activity), socio-psychological (the impact of socio-psychological maladaptation and characteristics of the values and meaning sphere of an individual) plans. These factors are interconnected and each of them has its own specific role in the complex of destructive behavior, and therefore it is impossible to obtain a holistic view of the phenomenon under consideration taken separately from the entire system of interconnected components

Optical properties of melanin in the skin and skin-like phantoms

ABSTRACT Experimental study and computer modeling were used to investigate the optical properties of melanin in the skin and skinlike phantoms. To investigate light scattering by melanosomes in skin we made skin-like phantoms on the base of gelatin with different content of melanin particles. Spectra of total transmittance and diffuse reflectance of the phantoms were obtained in the wavelength range from 400 to 800 nm. Absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of melanin were calculated. Mie theory was used to estimate the optical properties ofmelanin particles. Wavelength dependence of refractive indices of eumelanin particles (isolated and purified from the ink of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis) and synthetic melanin particles was estimated