UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to evaluate the fairness and efficiency of health resource allocation (HRAE) in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle after the new healthcare reform. This study also aimed to identify existing problems, providing empirical evidence for the government to formulate regional health plans scientifically and reasonably.
UNASSIGNED: The fairness of health resource allocation was analyzed using the Gini coefficient, Theil index, and agglomeration degree from population and geographical area perspectives. The three-stage data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist productivity index were used to analyze HRAE from static and dynamic perspectives.
UNASSIGNED: The Gini coefficient for population allocation in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle was 0.066-0.283, and the Gini coefficient for geographical area allocation was 0.297-0.469. The contribution rate within a region was greater than that between regions, and health resources were mainly concentrated in economically developed core areas. The overall fairness of Chengdu Economic Circle was relatively better than that of Chongqing Economic Circle. Moreover, the adjusted mean technical efficiency was 0.806, indicating room for HRAE improvement in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Stochastic Frontier Analysis found that different environmental variables have varying degrees of impact on HRAE. The adjusted mean total factor productivity change (Tfpch) was 1.027, indicating an overall upward trend in HRAE since the new healthcare reform. However, scale efficiency change (Sech) (0.997) limited the improvement of Tfpch.
UNASSIGNED: The fairness of health resources allocated by population was better than that allocated by geographical area. The unfairness of health resources mainly stemmed from intra-regional differences, with considerable health resources concentrated in core areas. Over the past 13 years, HRAE has improved but exhibited spatial heterogeneity and Sech-hindered productivity improvement. The study recommends strengthening regional cooperation and sharing to promote the integrated and high-quality development of the health and well-being in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.

A follow up to an online questionnaire survey (in a kind of a sequential study design), qualitative assessment was made on the views of selected animal health experts on disease prioritization methods, resource allocation and use of decision-support tools. This was done through in-depth interviews with experts working for national or international organizations and sectors. A semi-structured question guide was formulated based on the information generated in the online questionnaire and a systematic content analysis of animal and human health manuals for disease prioritization and resource allocation. In-depth, one-on-one, online interviews on the process of disease prioritization, animal health decision-making, types of prioritization tools and aspects of improvements in the tools were conducted during March and April 2022 with 20 expert informants. Prioritization approaches reported by experts were either single criterion-based or multiple criteria-based. Experts appreciated the single-criterion-based approach (quantitative) for its objectivity in contrast to multicriteria prioritization approaches which were criticized for their subjectivity. Interviews with the experts revealed a perceived lack of quality and reliable data to inform disease prioritization, especially in smallholder livestock production systems. It was found that outputs of disease prioritization exercises do not generally directly influence resource allocation in animal health and highlighted the paucity of funding for animal health compared to other agricultural sectors. The experts considered that the available decision-support tools in animal health need improvement in terms of data visualization for interpretation, management decision making and advocacy. Further recommendations include minimizing subjective biases by increasing the availability and quality of data and improving the translation of disease prioritization outputs into actions and the resources to deliver those actions. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The data can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request.

Optimal resource allocation is crucial for 5G and beyond networks, especially when connecting numerous IoT devices. In this paper, user clustering and power allocation challenges in the downlink of a multi-carrier NOMA system are investigated, with sum rate as the optimization objective. The paper presents an iterative optimization process, starting with user clustering followed by power allocation of the users. Although the simultaneous transmission for multiple users achieves high system throughput in NOMA, it leads to more energy consumption, which is limited by the battery capacity of IoT devices. Enhancing energy efficiency by considering the QoS requirement is a primary challenge in NOMA-enabled IoT devices. Currently, fixed user clustering techniques are proposed without considering the diversity and heterogeneity of channels, leading to poor throughput performance. The proposed user clustering technique is based on the partial brute force search (P-BFS) method, which reduces complexity compared to the traditional exhaustive search method. After the user clustering, we performed optimal power allocation using the Lagrangian multiplier method with Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) optimal conditions for each user assigned to a subchannel in each cluster. Lastly, a deep neural network (DNN) based proposed P-BFS scheme is used to reduce resource allocation\'s complexity further. The simulation results show a significant improvement in the sum rate of the network.

UNASSIGNED: Countries possessing robust primary healthcare (PHC) systems typically yield superior health outcomes, reduced inequality, and diminished healthcare expenses for their citizens. Moreover, PHC demonstrates a direct correlation with the efficient utilization of resources. However, the allocation of financial resources dedicated to PHC varies significantly among countries and lacks explicit clarity. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a review of published literature to ascertain the extent of resource allocation to PHC across diverse nations. In addition, it aims to explore associated factors, challenges, and mechanisms influencing this allocation.
UNASSIGNED: This scoping review protocol will adopt the Joanna Briggs Institute\'s scoping review methodology, which was updated in 2020. It will leverage library studies and refer to reputable databases. The inclusion criteria will include studies conducted between January 2000 and December 2023, focusing on criteria, amounts, mechanisms, and challenges associated with financial resource allocation to PHC globally. In addition, studies must be published in either English and Persian. Studies lacking full-text availability will be excluded from the review. Mendeley software will be utilized to organize and manage the collected studies. The study selection process will be visually depicted using the PRISMA-SCR diagram. Conventional content analysis will be employed to analyze the studies.
UNASSIGNED: Considering the position and role of primary health care in promoting the health of society, by implementing this protocol, the data obtained from the proposed scoping review will enable the managers and officials of the health system to follow the experiences of different countries in the field of scientific and fair allocation of financial resources to PHC, reinforcing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

暂无摘要。

Background: In polygynous species, the development of secondary sexual characters is usually decisive for male reproductive success. However, our understanding about the links between the growth of these traits and reproductive efficiency is still elusive. Most research efforts in this topic have been also focused on adult males, although the development of some secondary sexual characters, like bovid horns, typically starts after birth, continues during the puberty and in some species, such as the common eland, slows or even stops during adulthood. In this study, we investigated the relationships between horn size and testicular function during sexual development in common elands using a comprehensive approach that considers both spermatogenic and sperm parameters. Methods: Twenty-two non-sexually mature common elands were used for the present study. Horn size, body mass, testes mass, and gonadosomatic index were assessed. Spermatogenic activity was determined by cytological and histological analyses. Sperm concentration, morphology, morphometry, and intramale variation in sperm size were evaluated on epididymal sperm samples. Cluster analysis was performed to explore the influence of age on relationships between horn size and reproductive function. Results: We found that bigger horns are associated with increased Sertoli cell efficiency and reduced intramale variation in sperm size. Both parameters were not related to one another while they have shown to be associated with enhanced sperm quality in ungulates. Moreover, horn size was positively linked to the testis mass, sperm concentration, and testicular investment in the seminiferous epithelium. Spiral length and basal circumference were the horn traits most strongly correlated with spermatogenic and sperm parameters as well as those responsible for the sexual dimorphism in this species. Cluster analysis rendered two groups: the first one including males ≤30 months old, while the second one those >30 months old. Horn development and reproductive function were still correlated within age groups, with the strongest relationship found between horn size and sperm size homogeneity in males >30 months old. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate that horn size can be regarded as a good index of male reproductive potential during sexual development and provide insights into the role of secondary sexual characters in sexual selection dynamics.

UNASSIGNED: China is a large agricultural nation with the majority of the population residing in rural areas. The allocation of health resources in rural areas significantly affects the basic rights to life and health for rural residents. Despite the progress made by the Chinese government in improving rural healthcare, there is still room for improvement. This study aims to assess the spatial spillover effects of rural health resource allocation efficiency in China, particularly focusing on township health centers (THCs), and examine the factors influencing this efficiency to provide recommendations to optimize the allocation of health resources in rural China.
UNASSIGNED: This study analyzed health resource allocation efficiency in Chinese rural areas from 2012 to 2021 by using the super-efficiency SBM model and the global Malmquist model. Additionally, the spatial auto-correlation of THC health resource allocation efficiency was verified through Moran test, and three spatial econometric models were constructed to further analyze the factors influencing efficiency.
UNASSIGNED: The key findings are: firstly, the average efficiency of health resource allocation in THCs was 0.676, suggesting a generally inefficient allocation of health resources over the decade. Secondly, the average Malmquist productivity index of THCs was 0.968, indicating a downward trend in efficiency with both non-scale and non-technical efficient features. Thirdly, Moran\'s Index analysis revealed that efficiency has a significant spatial auto-correlation and most provinces\' values are located in the spatial agglomeration quadrant. Fourthly, the SDM model identified several factors that impact THC health resource allocation efficiency to varying degrees, including the efficiency of total health resource allocation, population density, PGDP, urban unemployment rate, per capita disposable income, per capita healthcare expenditure ratio, public health budget, and passenger traffic volume.
UNASSIGNED: To enhance the efficiency of THC healthcare resource allocation in China, the government should not only manage the investment of health resources to align with the actual demand for health services but also make use of the spatial spillover effect of efficiency. This involves focusing on factors such as total healthcare resource allocation efficiency, population density, etc. to effectively enhance the efficiency of health resource allocation and ensure the health of rural residents.

暂无摘要。

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop Service, Research and Policy priorities to prevent the impact of family adversity on child mental health and determine comparative priorities of diverse stakeholders to those with lived experience of adversity.
METHODS: Value-weighting approach conducted in a staged process: (i) professionals and experts with lived experience from health, education, justice and social care sectors attended a national symposium to identify priorities for family adversity and mental health and (ii) a subsequent resource allocation survey gathered views from participants and external experts on symposium priorities.
RESULTS: Consensus was reached on priorities. Service priorities included establishing intersectoral hubs for children and families and early childhood nurse home-visiting programs. Research priorities included scaling up evidence-based interventions and evaluating cross-sector, flexible funding models for services addressing childhood adversity. Policy priorities included developing evidence-based policies with evaluation and implementation plans and flexible funding models to support integrated care.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide detailed and actionable clarity on next steps to address family adversities.
CONCLUSIONS: The priorities call for a focus on cross-sectoral approaches to preventing or mitigating the effects of family adversity. The current Australian policy environment provides a timely opportunity to action the proposed interventions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to measure the effect of Construction of Healthcare Consortium (CHC) on the allocation and equity of human resources (HR) for primary health care (PHC) in China, at the same time, it provides some data to support the government\'s policies improvement in the next stage.
METHODS: Changes in the equity of allocation of HR for PHC by population are demonstrated through a three-stage approach to inequality analysis that includes the Gini coefficient (G), the Theil index (T), the Concentration index (CI) and Concentration curves. Trends in resource allocation from 2021 to 2030 were projected using the GM (1, 1) model.
RESULTS: The average rate of growth in volume of HR for PHC accelerates following the release of CHC in the 2016. Whilst some regions have seen their G and T rise between 2012 and 2016, their levels of inequality of allocation for resource shave gradually declined in the years following 2016, but there are exceptions, with the regions of northeast and northwest seeing the opposite. Eastern and northern region accounted for a larger contribution to intra-regional inequality. Concentration index and concentration curves indicate HR for PHC is related to economic income levels. GM (1, 1) projects a growing trend in allocation of resources from 2021 to 2030, but different regions differ in the average rate of growth of resources.
CONCLUSIONS: The inequality of HR for PHC in China is low, however, the inequality between regions has not been eliminated. We still need to take a long-term view to monitor the impact of CHC on the allocation of HR for PHC and its equity in China.