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A novel approach rooted in co-evolutionary game theory has been introduced to investigate how the interaction between human decision-making and the dynamics of the epidemic environment can shape vaccine acceptance during disease outbreaks. This innovative framework combines two key game concepts: the cooperation–defection game and the cost–benefit vaccination game. By doing so, it enables us to delve into the various factors that influence the success of a vaccination campaign amid an outbreak. Within this framework, individuals engage in a thorough evaluation of the risks, benefits and incentives associated with either cooperating by getting vaccinated or defecting by refusing the vaccine. Additionally, it involves a careful analysis of the costs and benefits linked to vaccine acceptance. The outcomes of this study stress the importance of two main factors: the effectiveness of the vaccine and the prevalence of a cooperative culture within society. This insight into the strategic interactions between individuals and their decisions about vaccination holds significant implications for public health policymakers. It equips to boost vaccination coverage and address vaccine hesitancy within society ultimately contributing to better public health outcomes during epidemic outbreaks.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the probability of norovirus foodborne illness by raw oyster consumption. One hundred fifty-six oyster samples were collected to examine the norovirus prevalence. The oyster samples were inoculated with murine norovirus and stored at 4°C-25°C. A plaque assay determined norovirus titers. The norovirus titers were fitted with the Baranyi model to calculate shoulder period (h) and death rate (Log PFU/g/h). These kinetic parameters were fitted to a polynomial model as a function of temperature. Distribution temperature and time were surveyed, and consumption data were surveyed. A dose-response model was also searched through literature. The simulation model was prepared with these data in @RISK to estimate the probability of norovirus foodborne. One sample of 156 samples was norovirus positive. Thus, the initial contamination level was estimated by the Beta distribution (2, 156), and the level was .5.3 Log PFU/g. The developed predictive models showed that the norovirus titers decreased in oysters under the storage conditions simulated with the Uniform distribution (0.325, 1.643) for time and the Pert distribution (10, 18, 25) for temperature. Consumption ratio of raw oyster was 0.98%, and average consumption amount was 1.82 g, calculated by the Pert distribution [Pert {1.8200, 1.8200, 335.30, Truncate (0, 236.8)}]. 1F1 hypergeometric dose-response model [1 -(1 + 2.55 × 10−3 × dose)-0.086] was appropriate to evaluate dose-response. The simulation showed that the probability of norovirus foodborne illness by raw oyster consumption was 5.90 × 10−10 per person per day. The annual socioeconomic cost of consuming raw oysters contaminated with norovirus was not very high.

Nature-based tourism, which includes visits to protected areas, is a growing trend. This may include consumptive and non-consumptive activities, with nature-based tourists being motivated to experience local culture and nature. Thus, tourism can contribute economically and socially to communities associated with protected areas, with the outcomes being both benefits and costs to local people. We carried out a systematic literature review to document and characterise the outcomes of nature-based tourism for people living in and around protected areas (terrestrial and inland waters). We evaluated 89 papers published from 1996 to 2020, most of which were conducted in low- and middle-income countries. The main benefits were employment, business opportunities and income, and the main costs were acculturation and abandonment of traditional lifestyle/practices, price inflation and conflict/crime. While most benefits were economic, most costs were socio-cultural. We found that benefits were most frequently experienced individually and costs experienced mostly at the collective or community levels. Inconsistencies in reporting of impacts suggests that future research should take a more consistent and systematic approach to evaluating benefits and costs of nature-based tourism from both the demographic and geographic perspectives, be more inclusive, and pay equal attention to objective and subjective measures of costs and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partaking in social distancing can contribute to a public good affected by the perceived risk of infection and socioeconomic cost. Although social distancing can save lives by slowing down the disease transmission before introducing any effective medical intervention, the economic fallout of social distancing can be brutal for the poorest, vulnerable, and marginalized members of society. We combined the epidemiological and evolutionary game theoretical (EGT) framework through the consolidations of the SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed) disease model to analyze behavior enticements in a social distancing dilemma situation with the complex behavioral decision-making aspect. Extensive theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that socioeconomic cost and infected individuals' compliance behavior are critical factors in reining disease spread in the community. Lower cost for maintaining relative safety distance encourages maximum avoidance of public interactions by a detected infected individual. The benefitted fraction due to compliance is parted from the naturally immunized population. People get insignificant benefits from social distancing when the disease transmission rate is too low or crosses critical higher values. Average Social Payoff (ASP) analysis suggests the correspondence of significant safety distance with lowest cost setting as the best strategy to derive the maximum goods. But mounting inherent cost converts social distancing obedience to a public good dilemma.

Socio-economic costs in society due to indoor air pollution can help determine the type of these indoor pollutants, their sources, situations that need to be prioritized and buildings with a high risk of pollution, thus facilitating the appropriate development of public policies at national level. It is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the population through the use of advanced and environmentally friendly materials in constructions, even if they entail additional costs for the producer (investments for the development of ecotechnologies supported by ecodesign). The research carried out so far shows that the benefits obtained through the implementation of technologies and implicitly the obtained results (ecological materials) are superior if we compare them with the costs during the lifetime use of materials and the environmental impact.

Presenteeism refers to the behavior of people who turn up for work despite complaints of ill health that should prompt rest and absence from work. The high incidence of presenteeism in the nurse population has been extensively investigated using self-reported methods to explore its effects on individual outcomes. However, few studies have examined nurse presenteeism using an “other's” perspective to verify self-reported information. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the prevalence, consequences, and causes of presenteeism in Chinese nurses from the perspectives of nurses and chief nurses. A sample of 481 nurses and 282 chief nurses from five hospitals in Henan Province, China, took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Sickness Presenteeism Questionnaire, Social Productivity Loss Questionnaire, and Causes of Nurse Presenteeism Questionnaire. The human capital method was used to estimate the monetary loss because of nurse presenteeism. We found that 94.25 and 82.08% of nurses experienced presenteeism in the past 6 months from the perspective of nurses and chief nurses, respectively. The annual monetary loss was estimated to be ¥4.38 billion and ¥2.88 billion based on the presenteeism reports from nurses and chief nurses, respectively. Workload, leave system, and conscientiousness are the main reasons for nurse presenteeism, and financial need is another important reason that is likely overlooked by chief nurses. This study provides a foundation for future research by presenting new knowledge about the prevalence, consequences, and causes of presenteeism in Chinese nurses. The findings emphasize the need for nursing managers and nursing departments to establish policy systems around paid sick leave, workload, and communication with managers to reduce nurse presenteeism and the subsequent socio-economic financial losses.

Presenteeism refers to the behavior of people who turn up for work despite complaints of ill health that should prompt rest and absence from work. The high incidence of presenteeism in the nurse population has been extensively investigated using self-reported methods to explore its effects on individual outcomes. However, few studies have examined nurse presenteeism using an "other's" perspective to verify self-reported information. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the prevalence, consequences, and causes of presenteeism in Chinese nurses from the perspectives of nurses and chief nurses. A sample of 481 nurses and 282 chief nurses from five hospitals in Henan Province, China, took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Sickness Presenteeism Questionnaire, Social Productivity Loss Questionnaire, and Causes of Nurse Presenteeism Questionnaire. The human capital method was used to estimate the monetary loss because of nurse presenteeism. We found that 94.25 and 82.08% of nurses experienced presenteeism in the past 6 months from the perspective of nurses and chief nurses, respectively. The annual monetary loss was estimated to be ¥4.38 billion and ¥2.88 billion based on the presenteeism reports from nurses and chief nurses, respectively. Workload, leave system, and conscientiousness are the main reasons for nurse presenteeism, and financial need is another important reason that is likely overlooked by chief nurses. This study provides a foundation for future research by presenting new knowledge about the prevalence, consequences, and causes of presenteeism in Chinese nurses. The findings emphasize the need for nursing managers and nursing departments to establish policy systems around paid sick leave, workload, and communication with managers to reduce nurse presenteeism and the subsequent socio-economic financial losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare policy decisions are driven by many factors, including cost, hence the need to show costs of diabetes mellitus-related lower limb amputations (DMLLA) to inform amendments to health care. Substantial decreases in amputation rates are associated with specialised podiatry foot clinics and ongoing foot education, as per national guidelines on the multidisciplinary team approach (MDTA) to diabetes health care. There are only two podiatry posts in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) state health department (DoH). Objectives: Aims were to draft the medical costs for 660 DMLLA at Greys Hospital for the period 2013–2017; to extrapolate costs on annual DMLLA in KZN; to outline socio-economic costs for future investigation; to present evidence that podiatry in the MDTA can decrease numbers of DMLLA. Methods: A retrospective review on clinical data captured in real time and maintained by the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service (PMTS) and Surgical Service (PMSS) was performed. Costs were analysed on data for 660 patients' DMLLA at Greys Hospital between 2013 and 2017, and psychological and socio-economic costs via literature review. Results: Medical care at Greys Hospital for 660 DMLLA in the five years cost in excess of ZAR 213 million. Extrapolated to the 1 231 diabetic amputations (2014) equals an annual cost to KZN DoH in excess of ZAR 398 million. Personal, family loss and socio-economic costs are estimated in excess of ZAR five million per amputee, resulting in further cost of ZAR 6.155 billion per annum to KZN. Extrapolation across 11 provinces signifies a national cost of at least ZAR 68 billion. Conclusions: We present a gauge of the cost of DMLLA to KZN and national health. Substantial possible socio-economic losses compound these. The role of podiatrists within MDTA teams has an evidence base to prevent DMLLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic costs in society due to indoor air pollution can help determine the type of these indoor pollutants, their sources, situations that need to be prioritized and buildings with a high risk of pollution, thus facilitating the appropriate development of public policies at national level. It is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the population through the use of advanced and environmentally friendly materials in constructions, even if they entail additional costs for the producer (investments for the development of ecotechnologies supported by ecodesign). The research carried out so far shows that the benefits obtained through the implementation of technologies and implicitly the obtained results (ecological materials) are superior if we compare them with the costs during the lifetime use of materials and the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chen, L.-S.; Liu, W.-H., and Yen, H.-L., 2019. Applying the system conservation planning method to the South Penghu Marine National Park marine protected area in Penghu. In: Yu, T.-s. (ed.), Environmental Sustainability: Water Resources Integrated Management and the Development of Coastal Environments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 96, pp. 50-61. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The South Penghu Marine National Park, Taiwan, has been established to protect special geological landscapes, traditional settlement buildings, and historical culture; at present, it is covered by coral reefs about 50% of the area. However, the desired level of protection may not be achieved without the adoption of systematic planning methods. Therefore, we applied the system conservation planning method, including stakeholder's participation, to the planning process of the Park. Then, according to the value of diversity of each site, we set the purpose and objectives of protection. The system conservation planning method aims to achieve the largest ecological conservation purposes with the minimum socio-economic cost, and to promote the development of the South Penghu Marine National Park marine protected area. Therefore, we used coral coverage rate and fish richness data, as well as socio-economic data on the harvest of the most used fishing techniques, i.e., fishing line, long line, trolling line, and gill net. The results of the Marxan analysis show that the coral coverage rate is notably high along the coast of the islands of Dongyu Pingyu, Xiyu Pingyu, and Dongjiyu, where the fishing industry is not fully developed because of the existing seabed type. Hence, this area can be considered to be established as an ecological marine protected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The project “Winter Model” started at the beginning of the 2000s. The idea was to try and predict the consequences of different winter maintenance strategies and to calculate the associated socio-economic costs. It is now possible to calculate and validate the impact that different winter maintenance measures have on road users, road authorities and local communities. This paper contains results of the first complete Winter Model calculations using existing conditions. Comparisons with different road classification standards have been carried out in order to determine the effect they have on socio-economic costs. Road classification standards dictate how much snow should fall before a maintenance action is initiated and how long it should take until the action is completed. Socio-economic costs increased for all comparisons when reductions in the classification standard were applied. As an example of how costs can vary: the scenario is a salted road using a combined plough and salt spreader where the allowed time to complete the action is 4 h that is changed to an unsalted road with an allowed time to complete the action of 5 h. Both scenarios have an action start criteria of 2 cm deep snow, and an annual average daily traffic flow of 2000. Comparison results show that the change from salted to unsalted road saves the most cost due to a reduction in salt use and required actions. However, the increased time to complete the action will result in slightly longer travel times and accident costs will increase by 24.2%. The extended action hour affect fuel consumption in a positive way, for example, consumption decreases slightly due to driving more often at lower speeds on unclear roads. By lowering the road classification standard like in this example, total socio-economic costs increased by 3.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last century, island biodiversity has become one of the most threatened in the world. Although many island conservation plans address biodiversity requirements at the species level, few plans address the spatial requirements of the biodiversity processes that underpin the persistence of these species. Using systematic conservation planning principles, we map the spatial components of biodiversity processes (SCBPs) and use these to design broad-scale conservation corridors for Réunion Island. Our method is based upon a literature review, expert knowledge, spatially explicit base data, conservation planning software, and spatial modelling. We combine a target-driven algorithm with least-cost path analyses to delineate optimal corridors for capturing key biodiversity processes while simultaneously considering biodiversity pattern targets, conservation opportunities, and future threats. We identify five SCBPs: the oceanic¿terrestrial interface; riverine corridors; macrohabitat interfaces; the boundaries of isolated topographic units; and lowland¿upland gradients. A large proportion of the SCBPs (81.3%) is currently untransformed, whereas 3% is irreversibly transformed by urbanisation and 15.7% is transformed but restorable. However, SCBPs are almost fully disrupted by urbanisation in the lowlands, thereby compromising functional corridors along full altitudinal gradients. This study is a contribution toward the reconciliation of conservation versus development objectives on Réunion Island but we believe that the delineation method is sufficiently general to be applied to other islands. Our results highlight the need for integrating marine, coastal and terrestrial conservation planning as a matter of urgency, given the rapid transformation of coastal areas on islands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the wake of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-19, the world has undergone a critical situation in which grave threats to global public health emerged. Among human populations across the planet, travel restraints, border enforcement measures, quarantine, and isolation provisions were implemented to control and limit the spread of the contagion. Decisions on implementing and enforcing various control policies should be determined based on available real-world evidence and theoretical prediction. Further, countries around the globe-imposed force-quarantine and strict lockdown against the spreading could be unsustainable in the long run because of economic burden and people's frustration. This study proposes a novel exportation- importation epidemic model associated with behavioral dynamics under the evolutionary game theory by considering the two-body system: a source country of a contagious disease and a neighboring disease-free state. The model is first applied to the original COVID-19 data in China, Italy, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and observed through consistent fitting results with equivalent goodness-of-fit. Then, the data are estimated per the appropriate parameters. Driven by these parametric settings and considering the normalized population, the numerical analysis, and epidemiological exploration, this work further elucidates the substantial impact of quarantine policies, healthcare facilities, socio-economic cost, and the public counter-compliance effect. Extensive numerical analysis shows that funds spent on the individual level as "emergency relief-package" can reduce the infection and improve quarantine policy success. Our results also explore that controlling border measurement can work well in the final epidemic stage of disease only if the cost is low., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)