Negative reality of the HIV positives: Evaluating welfare loss in a low prevalence country

Using primary household data from India we estimate family utility function parameters that measure the relative importance of consumption, schooling of children and health (both physical and mental) and find that mental health is far more important than consumption or children's schooling in determining household utility. We then estimate that the monetary equivalent of the welfare loss to an HIV family is Rs. 66,039 per month, whereas the losses to an HIV male and female are Rs.67,601 and Rs. 65,120 per month respectively. These figures are huge given that the average per capita consumption expenditure of the families in our sample is just Rs.1,019 per month. This huge magnitude is not surprising as it includes private valuation of one's own life as well as the cost of stigma for being HIV positive. In addition, the annual loss from external transfers (through debt, sale of assets and social insurance) accounts for 2.6 of annual health expenditure and 0.12 of GDP in 2004. The significance of mental health in welfare evaluation can be gauged from the fact that, for an average HIV family, a whopping 74 of the welfare loss comes from aspects of mental health.

Negative Reality of the HIV Positives: Evaluating Welfare Loss in a Low Prevalence Country

Using primary household data from India we estimate family utility function parameters that measure the relative importance of consumption, schooling of children and health (both physical and mental) and find that mental health is far more important than consumption or children’s schooling in determining household utility. We then estimate that the monetary equivalent of the welfare loss to an HIV family is Rs. 66,039 per month, whereas the losses to an HIV male and female are Rs. 67,601 and Rs. 65,120 per month respectively. These figures are huge given that the average per capita consumption expenditure of the families in our sample is just Rs. 1,019 per month. This huge magnitude is not surprising as it includes private valuation of one’s own life as well as the cost of stigma for being HIV positive. In addition, the annual loss from external transfers (through debt, sale of assets and social insurance) accounts for 2.6% of annual health expenditure and 0.12% of GDP in 2004. The significance of mental health in welfare evaluation can be gauged from the fact that, for an average HIV family, a whopping 74% of the welfare loss comes from aspects of mental health.HIV/AIDS; Mental Health; Physical Health; Welfare Loss; Family Preference

Integrating Mental Health in Welfare Evaluation: An Empirical Application

This paper presents simple measures of individual and family mental health indices based on axiomatic foundations and integrates mental health into a neoclassical model that allows for proper substitution possibilities in the family preferences and quantifies its significance in family utility. We find that mental health effects are far more important than the effect of consumption or children’s schooling in determining family utility. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach by considering the case of HIV/AIDS experience in India. Using our approach, we find that while there are no significant differences in per capita consumption and schooling between HIV and NON HIV families, the cost of HIV/AIDS are still considerably large due to the inclusion of mental health. Integrating mental health in a utility maximization framework helps us quantify these costs.

Integrating mental health in welfare evaluation: An Empirical application

This paper presents simple measures of individual and family mental health indices based on axiomatic foundations and integrates mental health into a neoclassical model that allows for proper substitution possibilities in the family preferences and quantifies its significance in family utility. We find that mental health effects are far more important than the effect of consumption or children's schooling in determining family utility. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach by considering the case of HIV/AIDS experience in India. Using our approach, we find that while there are no significant differences in per capita consumption and schooling between HIV and NON HOV families, the cost of HIV/AIDS are still considerably large due to the inclusion of mental health. Integrating mental health in a utility maximization framework helps us quantify these costs.

Neutron Spectroscopy and Computational Methods in investigation of Na ion Battery Materials: A Perspective

Adoption of renewable energy is essential to address the challenge of climate change, but that necessitates energy storage technologies. Lithium-ion batteries, the most ubiquitous solution, are insufficient for large-scale applications, so sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), an alternative, are of great current interest. To design and synthesise a commercially viable SIB with required performance, a fundamental understanding of the materials is imperative. Neutron diffraction and spectroscopy provide a unique insight of atomistic understanding of structure and dynamics in materials, therefore in this perspective we have explored how these techniques have been used in SIB research. As neutrons have high penetrability in materials and neutron-matter interaction probabilities are independent of the atomic number, they can provide unique information about motion of particles in bulk materials in the pico- to nanosecond time scales. This makes neutron scattering techniques important tools in battery research. Sodium has a low neutron cross section, which makes computational simulations essential for analysing neutron scattering data of SIB materials. With the availability of high flux neutron sources, high resolution instruments and high performance computers and simulations tools, neutron spectroscopy has been an emerging technique in the last decade for SIB research. In this perspective, we have shown that neutron diffraction is the most popular, while neutron spectroscopies, are just emerging. Computational simulation methods, both force field based and from first principles, are common but still are mostly used independent of neutron experiments. We have identified that suitable improvements of instrumentation, sample environments and simulations methodology will allow these techniques to be more accessible in future.Comment: 35 pages, 4 figures, 3 table

Growth and development of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans for engineering applications

A bioprocessing approach for the extraction of base, nuclear and precious metals from refractory and lean grade ores has been reviewed in this paper. Characteristic morphological features of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, the organism which has been extensively used for biooxidation of sulphide ores have been discussed. Mechanisms of chemoautotrophy and mineral oxidation have been illustrated. The current engineering applications of this microorganism have also been brought out. Various methods for accelerating the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans for faster biooxidation and genetic manipulation for development of desired strains have been outlined

Negative Reality of the HIV Positives: Evaluating Welfare Loss in a Low Prevalence Country

Using primary household data from India we estimate family utility function parameters that measure the relative importance of consumption, schooling of children and health (both physical and mental) and find that mental health is far more important than consumption or children’s schooling in determining household utility. We then estimate that the monetary equivalent of the welfare loss to an HIV family is Rs. 66,039 per month, whereas the losses to an HIV male and female are Rs. 67,601 and Rs. 65,120 per month respectively. These figures are huge given that the average per capita consumption expenditure of the families in our sample is just Rs. 1,019 per month. This huge magnitude is not surprising as it includes private valuation of one’s own life as well as the cost of stigma for being HIV positive. In addition, the annual loss from external transfers (through debt, sale of assets and social insurance) accounts for 2.6% of annual health expenditure and 0.12% of GDP in 2004. The significance of mental health in welfare evaluation can be gauged from the fact that, for an average HIV family, a whopping 74% of the welfare loss comes from aspects of mental health

Negative Reality of the HIV Positives: Evaluating Welfare Loss in a Low Prevalence Country

Using primary household data from India we estimate family utility function parameters that measure the relative importance of consumption, schooling of children and health (both physical and mental) and find that mental health is far more important than consumption or children’s schooling in determining household utility. We then estimate that the monetary equivalent of the welfare loss to an HIV family is Rs. 66,039 per month, whereas the losses to an HIV male and female are Rs. 67,601 and Rs. 65,120 per month respectively. These figures are huge given that the average per capita consumption expenditure of the families in our sample is just Rs. 1,019 per month. This huge magnitude is not surprising as it includes private valuation of one’s own life as well as the cost of stigma for being HIV positive. In addition, the annual loss from external transfers (through debt, sale of assets and social insurance) accounts for 2.6% of annual health expenditure and 0.12% of GDP in 2004. The significance of mental health in welfare evaluation can be gauged from the fact that, for an average HIV family, a whopping 74% of the welfare loss comes from aspects of mental health

Integrating Mental Health in Welfare Evaluation: An Empirical Application

This paper presents simple measures of individual and family mental health indices based on axiomatic foundations and integrates mental health into a neoclassical model that allows for proper substitution possibilities in the family preferences and quantifies its significance in family utility. We find that mental health effects are far more important than the effect of consumption or children’s schooling in determining family utility. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach by considering the case of HIV/AIDS experience in India. Using our approach, we find that while there are no significant differences in per capita consumption and schooling between HIV and NON HIV families, the cost of HIV/AIDS are still considerably large due to the inclusion of mental health. Integrating mental health in a utility maximization framework helps us quantify these costs