Objective This study explored the job choice preferences of Center for Disease Prevention and Control(CDC)workers to provide CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivat...Objective This study explored the job choice preferences of Center for Disease Prevention and Control(CDC)workers to provide CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivation policies.Methods A discrete choice experiment was conducted in nine provinces across China.Seven key attributes were identified to analyze the job preferences of CDC workers.Mixed logit models,latent class models,and policy simulation tools were used.Results A valid sample of 5,944 cases was included in the analysis.All seven attributes significantly influenced the job choices of CDC workers.Heterogeneity analyses identified two main groups based on different levels of preference for attribute utility.Income-prioritizers were concerned with income and opportunities for career development,whereas bianzhi-prioritizers were concerned with bianzhi and welfare benefits.The policy simulation analysis revealed that income-prioritizers had a relatively higher sensitivity to multiple job preference incentives.Conclusion Income and bianzhi were the two key attributes influencing the job choices and retention preferences of CDC workers.Heterogeneity in job preferences was also identified.Based on the preference characteristics of different subgroups,policy content should be skewed to differentiate the importance of incentives.展开更多
This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2...This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021.We first described consumers’experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates,and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment.The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat(ABM),combined with different countries of origin(COO),taste labels,and prices.Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food;85 and 82%of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food,respectively.More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food(58%),or were interested in healthy food(56%).Income,religion,and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’experiences in PBM food consumption.Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79%of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger.We also found that 99.8 and 83%of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label,with a willingness to pay(WTP)of 208 and 120 CNY,respectively.The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree,higher income,religious beliefs,and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.展开更多
Following a suggestion by Wheeler, several delayed choice experiments have been performed. However, in those experiments one fact has always been ignored： that due to the fact that the single photon is nonlocal in ti...Following a suggestion by Wheeler, several delayed choice experiments have been performed. However, in those experiments one fact has always been ignored： that due to the fact that the single photon is nonlocal in time, the outcome will change if one changes the time to switch the experimental configuration within the photon＇s wavepaeket. This study obtains some insights into this aspect by proposing an experimental scheme based on the delayed choice experiment and giving some related analysis. The result shows a transitional behavior from a particle to a wave, leading to a conclusion that the measuring operator could be time dependent and be changed in a single measurement.展开更多
Coffee Weather Index Insurance(WII)provides smallholders with a critical buffer against climate-related losses.This study aims to investigate Chinese coffee farmers’preferences for coffee WII using a choice experimen...Coffee Weather Index Insurance(WII)provides smallholders with a critical buffer against climate-related losses.This study aims to investigate Chinese coffee farmers’preferences for coffee WII using a choice experiment.The results show that a majority of farmers are willing to purchase coffee WII.Attributes including the premium rate,insured amount,premium subsidy,and type of protection significantly influence farmers’preferences.Specifically,farmers favor coffee WII with revenue protection,a lower insured amount,a higher premium subsidy,and a lower premium rate.Basis risk does not significantly deter uptake.Furthermore,farmers’gender,education level,and their anticipated impact of future high temperatures on coffee production play pivotal roles in shaping WII demand.These findings offer valuable insights for insurers and policymakers,informing the design of coffee WII policies that align with local preferences and can enhance the participation of coffee farmers in WII programs.展开更多
Effective programs and policies for cultivated land resource protection are often the focus of government policy-makers and researchers.Here we use survey data from Wuhan City,Hubei,China to attempt to apply a choice ...Effective programs and policies for cultivated land resource protection are often the focus of government policy-makers and researchers.Here we use survey data from Wuhan City,Hubei,China to attempt to apply a choice experiment for assessing main stakeholder preferences for cultivated land resource protection based on the hypothesis of market and policy.According to the basic principle of choice experiments,the area of cultivated land,quality of cultivated land,cost of cultivated land protection and cultivated land ecological landscape were included as attributes in the experimental design.Surveys were undertaken on two main stakeholders groups（farmers and urban residents）.Our results show strong divergence between farmers and urban residents regarding protecting attributes.We then analyzed and compared welfare changes affected by different attribute combination programs.The result of this study provides theoretical and decision-making support for farmland protection funds and agricultural subsidy systems.展开更多
Seeds of many hardwood trees are dispersed by scatter-hoarding rodents,and this process is often mediated by the traits of seeds.Although numerous studies have linked seed traits to seed preference by rodents,little i...Seeds of many hardwood trees are dispersed by scatter-hoarding rodents,and this process is often mediated by the traits of seeds.Although numerous studies have linked seed traits to seed preference by rodents,little is known about how rodents forage for seeds when multiple desirable and undesirable seed traits are available simultaneously.Here,we adopt a novel method of designing choice experiments to study how eastern gray squirrels(Sciurus carolinensis)select for 6 traits(caloric value,protein content,tannin concentration,kernel mass,dormancy period and toughness of shell)among seeds.From n=426 seed-pair presentations,we found that squirrels preferentially consumed seeds with short dormancy or tougher shells,and preferentially cached seeds with larger kernel mass,tougher shells and higher tannin concentrations.By incorporating random effects,we found that squirrels exhibited consistent preferences for seed traits,which is likely due to the fitness consequences associated with maintaining cached resources.Furthermore,we found that squirrels were willing to trade between multiple traits when caching seeds,which likely results in more seed species being cached in the fall.Ultimately,our approach allowed us to compute the relative values of different seed traits to squirrels,despite covariance among studied traits across seed species.In addition,by investigating how squirrels trade among different seed traits,important insights can be gleaned into behavioral mechanisms underlying seed caching(and,thus,seed survival)dynamics as well as evolutionary strategies adopted by plants to attract seed dispersers.We describe how discrete choice experiments can be used to study resource selection in other ecological systems.展开更多
The management of the coastal park environment is a major ecological and economic development issue. In developing effective policies, relevant information is essential, especially the economic valuation of various re...The management of the coastal park environment is a major ecological and economic development issue. In developing effective policies, relevant information is essential, especially the economic valuation of various recreation-related environmental attributes. This study used Dalian coastal parks as a pilot study area and estimated the willingness to pay(WTP) of tourists using three different discrete choice models. In this study, we analyzed the preference heterogeneity among the respondents regarding a combination of park attributes, and the individual respondent’s WTP values were estimated for each attribute. The results indicate that water quality amelioration and trash reduction had the highest economic values among the given attribute factors. In addition, the estimated tourist WTP varied considerably among different segments, such as among the visitors who preferred different recreational activities. These findings provide valuable information that will allow coastal park managers to develop policies which maintain a balance between tourism development and improvement of the coastal environment.展开更多
Background:This study aimed to investigate physicians’preferences in relation to Internet hospital consultations and to explore the factors influencing their choices.The study also assessed physicians’willingness to...Background:This study aimed to investigate physicians’preferences in relation to Internet hospital consultations and to explore the factors influencing their choices.The study also assessed physicians’willingness to participate in Internet-based hospital consultation services and the demand among physicians to do so.Methods:A total of 119 physicians from two general hospitals and three specialized hospitals in Beijing were selected for a questionnaire survey using a discrete choice experiment design.Physician preferences were analyzed using conditional logit regression.Findings:In descending order of importance,physicians’willingness to engage in Internet hospital consultations was influenced by changes in doctors’share of online diagnosis and treatment performance compared with offline consultations,daily working hours,and response time.Physicians were more likely to choose Internet hospital consultations when there was a 20%increase in the proportion of online consultations compared to offline consultations,a 10%increase in the weight of online consultations in the annual assessment,a 1-hour reduction in offline working hours and a 1-hour increase in online working hours,and a response time of less than 24 h.The subgroup analysis revealed variations in physicians’preferences based on age,professional titles,working years,and department.Younger doctors,those with fewer professional titles,and those with less work experience had higher expectations.Compared to internal medicine and pediatric doctors,surgeons exhibited a greater willingness to work longer hours.Interpretation:Increasing the proportion of online consultations,including online consultations in the annual assessment,reducing offline working hours,extending online availability,and ensuring timely responses can incentivize physicians to choose online hospital consultations.This approach promotes the high-quality development of Internet hospitals by combining economic and noneconomic incentives and optimizing workload distribution.展开更多
The native thelytokous(TH)and arrhenotokous(AR)strains of Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood)(Hymenoptera:Eulophidae)are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta(Meyrick)(Lepidoptera:Ge...The native thelytokous(TH)and arrhenotokous(AR)strains of Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood)(Hymenoptera:Eulophidae)are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta(Meyrick)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae).This study assessed the performance and preferences of these strains in choice experiments involving five host instar ratios and evaluated their functional responses to seven densities of 1st instar larvae(5 to 40 hosts).In host-attacking behavior assays,an increasing proportion of 1st instar larvae led to a significant rise in host mortality rates for both strains.Both strains exhibited strong preferences for parasitizing and attacking 1st instar larvae over later instars,with the TH strain demonstrating significantly greater host-killing efficacy than the AR strain.Functional response experiments revealed that the attack rates of both strains were positively correlated with host density.Parasitism by both strains and host-stinging behavior by the TH strain showed type Ⅲ functional responses,while host-feeding by both strains and host-stinging by the AR strain followed type Ⅱ functional responses.Early establishment of the TH strain in tomato agroecosystems could enhance the management of T.absoluta.These findings provide critical insights into the functional dynamics of the TH and AR strains of N.formosa that can inform the development of effective biocontrol programs for this globally significant pest.展开更多
Urbanization and environmental degradation have led to significant declines in water quality and aquatic ecosystem health,highlighting the urgent need for effective restoration efforts.This study applies an integrated...Urbanization and environmental degradation have led to significant declines in water quality and aquatic ecosystem health,highlighting the urgent need for effective restoration efforts.This study applies an integrated analysis approach to estimate the economic value and benefits of improvements in water quality and aquatic ecosystem services resulting from the Ecological Stream Restoration Project.Using survey data analyzed through the choice experiment(CE)method,we assessed respondents’preferences for various ecosystem services,including water-friendly services,ecological functions,water-level control,and water-quality purification.Three empirical analysis models—the Conditional Logit Model(CLM),Nested Logit Model(NL),and Error Component Logit Model(ECL)—were applied,with the ECL model identified as the most suitable for this study.From the physical impact assessment,we derived compensating variations to estimate the annual economic benefits of the project.The estimated annual economic value of water quality improvement due to the Anyangcheon Ecological Stream Restoration Project ranged from approximately KRW 10.54 billion to KRW 21.44 billion,while the economic value of aquatic ecosystem improvement was estimated to range from KRW 6.05 billion to KRW 12.30 billion annually.This study provides analytic framework that can inform future ecological restoration projects and sustainable water management policies.展开更多
Rapid growth in nature-based and super-premium tourism has increased environmental pressures on protected destinations such as Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park(KNP)in Indonesia,raising concerns about biodiversity ...Rapid growth in nature-based and super-premium tourism has increased environmental pressures on protected destinations such as Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park(KNP)in Indonesia,raising concerns about biodiversity conservation and responsible visitor behavior.Understanding how visitors value and support green tourism initiatives is therefore essential for designing effective and acceptable sustainability policies.This study explores visitor preferences and willingness to pay(WTP)for green tourism initiatives in Labuan Bajo and KNP,a renowned super-premium tourism destination in Indonesia.A choice experiment was employed to ascertain which green tourism options visitors prioritize.A total of 600 visitors completed surveys presenting different tourism scenarios.The data were then analyzed using statistical models to estimate to what extent visitors are willing to pay for each option.The study's primary focus was on five key aspects:green hotels,sustainable transportation,locally sourced products,environmental footprint reduction,and communication with locals.Three hypothetical scenarios were developed:Scenario 1 with a focus on eco-friendly accommodations;Scenario 2 with an emphasis on sustainable transportation and local engagement;and Scenario 3 with comprehensive green tourism initiatives.The findings showed robust support from visitors and clear WTP for programs such as green hotels,public transport,local food,and improved waste management.The findings also highlighted the significance of enhancing awareness regarding the protection of Komodo dragons and marine ecosystems as part of sustainable tourism.This study significantly contributes to the literature by quantifying visitor preferences within a United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)world heritage site and shows the potential for policies that support environmentally and socially responsible tourism in biodiversity-rich areas.展开更多
The article titled Job Preferences of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workers:A Discrete Choice Experiment in China(Yan Guo,Hanlin Nie,Hao Chen,Stephen Nicholas,Elizabeth Maitland,Sisi Chen,Lieyu Huang,Xium...The article titled Job Preferences of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workers:A Discrete Choice Experiment in China(Yan Guo,Hanlin Nie,Hao Chen,Stephen Nicholas,Elizabeth Maitland,Sisi Chen,Lieyu Huang,Xiumin Zhang,and Xuefeng Shi)was published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences,2025,38(6):740-750.展开更多
Background: Forest residues can be a feasible alternative for converting energy into fuels, electricity, or heat.Compared to other second-generation bioenergy sources, they do not compete for food, are relatively chea...Background: Forest residues can be a feasible alternative for converting energy into fuels, electricity, or heat.Compared to other second-generation bioenergy sources, they do not compete for food, are relatively cheap,abundant in forest-rich areas, and more importantly their energy balance is close to zero. Biomass estimations can help design energy strategies to reduce fossil fuels dependency. Because of the land property distribution in Mexico,biomass estimations should consider not only the physical availability, but also the willingness of landowners to extract such raw materials.Methods: This study presents a methodological approach for evaluating the potential use of forest residues as a feedstock to generate bioenergy in northern Mexico. Remote sensing and field forest inventory were used to estimate the quantity and distribution of forest residues. In addition, a discrete choice analysis evaluated landowners’ preferences towards bioenergy development, including the most important factors that influence their willingness to extract their products and the expected price.Results and conclusions: Considering both physical and socio-economic aspects, results showed that about59,000 metric tons per year could be available in the study area. The vast majority of landowners surveyed are willing to extract forest residues, as long as they are presented with extraction plans with the highest income. However, many showed concerns about the environmental impacts this activity can have on soils,plants, and fauna. These results can help evaluate the potential of these resources for bioenergy development.展开更多
Despite the number of studies focusing on the financial analysis of production activities, conducting on technical solutions, and improving water quality, no study has been conducted on the application of economic ins...Despite the number of studies focusing on the financial analysis of production activities, conducting on technical solutions, and improving water quality, no study has been conducted on the application of economic instruments that apply to water quality management in craft villages, and several studies of WTP also. This study aimed to estimate the households’ willingness-to-pay for wastewater treatment in selected traditional agro-food processing villages in Nhue-Day River Basin, Vietnam. A pilot Choice Experiment (CE) technique in Choice Modelling (CM) approach was applied for this study with 267 selected agro-food processing households by using the conditional logit (CL) and random parameter logit (RPL) models. The results showed that total annual environmental fee for wastewater treatment from agro-food processing households is estimated as 1089 million VND (equal to US$47,868 per year) for the total of 902 agro-food processing households in three research sites in Nhue-Day River Basin. This estimated budget for wastewater treatment accounted for 55.85% of total annual operation and maintenance costs only. In addition, the technology is improved to enable 90% of treated wastewater. Overall, the results of this study suggest the new wastewater treatment plant construction and improved wastewater collection system by increasing the investment in order to improve the water quality in Nhue-Day River Basin that brings about the reducing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and human health risks.展开更多
BACKGROUND Patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)are at risk of developing complications such as perianal fistulas.Patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas(CPF)are affected by fecal incontinence(FI),bleeding,pain,swelling...BACKGROUND Patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)are at risk of developing complications such as perianal fistulas.Patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas(CPF)are affected by fecal incontinence(FI),bleeding,pain,swelling,and purulent perianal discharge,and METHODS This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in patients with CD aged 21-90 years via a web-enabled questionnaire in seven countries(April-August 2021).Patients were recruited into three cohorts:Cohort 1 included patients without perianal fistulas;cohort 2 included patients with perianal fistulas without fistula-related surgery;and cohort 3 included patients with perianal fistulas and fistula-related surgery.Validated patient-reported outcome measures were used to assess quality of life.Drivers of treatment preferences were measured using a discrete choice experiment(DCE).RESULTS In total,929 patients were recruited(cohort 1,n=620;cohort 2,n=174;cohort 3,n=135).Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores were worse for patients with CPF(cohorts 2 and 3)than for those with CD without CPF(cohort 1):Mean score 3.8 and 3.7 vs 4.1,respectively,(P<0.001).Similarly,mean Revised FI and FI Quality of Life scores were worse for patients with CPF than for those with CD without CPF.Quality of Life with Anal Fistula scores were similar in patients with CPF with or without CPF-related surgery(cohorts 2 and 3):Mean score 41 and 42,respectively.In the DCE,postoperative discomfort and fistula healing rate were the most important treatment attributes influencing treatment choice:Mean relative importance 35.7 and 24.7,respectively.CONCLUSION The burden of illness in CD is significantly higher for patients with CPF and patients rate lower postoperative discomfort and higher healing rates as the most desirable treatment attributes.展开更多
Aims Plants with extrafloral nectaries(EFNs)are common in tropical and subtropical habitats and,despite many other arthropods also forage for EFN,most studies solely focused on the defense mutualisms between EFN plant...Aims Plants with extrafloral nectaries(EFNs)are common in tropical and subtropical habitats and,despite many other arthropods also forage for EFN,most studies solely focused on the defense mutualisms between EFN plants and ants.This study aims at a quantitative assessment of the entire arthropod community that visits EFN trees to compare visitor communities between different tree species to disentangle the mechanisms that may drive EFN visitor community composition.We also test for tree diversity effects on EFN visitors,as it is unknown if local tree species richness relates to the abundance and species richness of arthropods foraging for EFN.Methods We sampled EFN-visiting arthropods in the experimental tree species richness gradient of the BEF-China Experiment,the currently largest forest diversity experiment in the world,and tested if tree species richness affects EFN visitors and if visitor community composition differs between EFN tree species.In a second step,we analyzed the EFN of Ailanthus altissima and Triadica cochinchinensis,the two EFN tree species with highest visitor abundance,for sugars and amino acids(AA)to test if tree species-specific differences in nectar chemistry translate to differing visitor communities.Lastly,we conducted a choice experiment using different artificial nectar solutions to test if nectar quality affects foraging decisions of ants,the most frequent EFN visitors in our study sites.Important Findings EFN trees in young successional forests in subtropical South-East China are visited by a diverse assemblage of arthropods including ants,beetles,flies,and spiders.Albeit ants accounted for about 75%of all individuals,non-ant visitors were by far more species rich.Visitor abundance and species richness declined with increasing tree species richness,suggesting a resource dilution effect,because plots with more tree species had proportionally less EFN tree individuals and thus lower nectar availability.Ailanthus altissima and T.cochinchinensis were visited by different arthropods and their nectar had species-specific AA composition and sugar concentration,indicating that differences in visitors may,at least partly,be explained by differences in nectar chemistry.These findings are supported by the choice experiment,in which artificial nectars containing sugar solutions supplemented with essential AAs attracted more ants than pure sugar solutions or sugar solutions supplemented with non-essential AAs.Our results improve the understanding of the complex ecology of EFN trees,a plant life form that might be crucial for understanding how tree diversity influences patterns of tree growth in young successional tropical and subtropical forests.展开更多
We used a hypothetical choice experiment to estimate the effect of dwelling value and coverage limits on the probability of purchasing flood insurance while holding the probability of flooding and insurance price cons...We used a hypothetical choice experiment to estimate the effect of dwelling value and coverage limits on the probability of purchasing flood insurance while holding the probability of flooding and insurance price constant. The results indicate that demand for flood insurance is negatively associated with the amount of insurance coverage. For people assigned higher-valued dwellings, however, the opposite effect is observed. Since more coverage is generally preferred to less, all else being equal, differences in purchase probability dependent on dwelling value indicate an inconsistent approach to home protection. The higher probability of purchasing flood insurance from people in higher-valued dwellings may indicate an investment into the home as a financial asset, a strategy that is not observed to the same extent among people in lower-valued dwellings. This suggests that use of coverage limits may be differentially preferred based on dwelling value, such that low coverage insurance may have lower uptake for those in high-valued dwellings. As Canada evaluates a national flood insurance program, this research suggests that variable coverage maximums could be a way to increase accessibility and uptake of insurance.This research shows an inconsistent demand for flood insurance, dependent on dwelling value and independent of income.展开更多
Organic tea insurance is essential for protecting the livelihoods of tea farmers,yet its uptake remains limited due to a potential misalignment between the program’s design and farmers'objectives.This study used ...Organic tea insurance is essential for protecting the livelihoods of tea farmers,yet its uptake remains limited due to a potential misalignment between the program’s design and farmers'objectives.This study used a discrete choice experiment to explore how risk perceptions and information asymmetry influence farmers’decisions to purchase organic tea insurance.It also assessed the role of farmer cooperative organizations in facilitating these decisions.We collected data from 323 tea farmers in Anhui Province to estimate their willingness to pay(WTP)for specific insurance features.The results indicate a preference for having organic tea insurance,especially among farmers who have experienced agricultural disasters and are informed about insurance options.However,participation in farmer cooperatives did not significantly enhance mutual understanding or trust in the insurance scheme.Using a random parameter logit model,we found that the WTP varied significantly with changes in the insurance claim starting point(by 1258.44 yuan ha^(-1))and the government subsidy ratio(by 819.69 yuan ha^(-1)).In contrast,modifications in claim payment timing and total indemnity affected WTP minimally,the impact of claim payment time on WTP is 19.70 yuan ha^(-1),and the change in total indemnity has an impact of 0.32 yuan ha^(-1) on WTP.Applying a latent class model,we categorized farmers into two distinct groups based on their attribute preferences and price sensitivities,which remained consistent across robustness tests using an attribute non-attendance regression.This study offers new insights into farmers’preferences and behaviors toward organic tea insurance,emphasizing the significance of risk experience and information symmetry in their decision-making processes.展开更多
Evaluations connect ecosystem and human welfare to achieve restoration. There have been an increasing number of studies conducted on various ecosystem service assessments, but little research has focused on inland riv...Evaluations connect ecosystem and human welfare to achieve restoration. There have been an increasing number of studies conducted on various ecosystem service assessments, but little research has focused on inland river basins playing a critical role in development in northwestern China. The distinct differences in natural endowment, socioeconomic characteristics among the upper, middle and downstream inland river basin require heterogeneity during evaluation. The objective of this study was to verify the existence of population preference heterogeneity and examine impact factors using choice experiment surveys in the Shiyang River Basin, China. A mixed logit model using data from 714 households across the entire basin estimated mean willingness to pay and the standard deviation for ecological attributes. Ordinary least squares（OLS） was employed to estimate the effects of exogenous variables on all willingness to pay estimations. The results demonstrate that ecosystem service values are heterogeneous among people. Willingness to pay is affected by personal and regional characteristics. Government involvement will be required to seek differentiated ecosystem services values among populations and facilitate public support.展开更多
基金supported by the Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China(no.2022YFC3600801)the Operation of Public Health Emergency Response Mechanisms of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention(no.102393220020010000017)。
文摘Objective This study explored the job choice preferences of Center for Disease Prevention and Control(CDC)workers to provide CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivation policies.Methods A discrete choice experiment was conducted in nine provinces across China.Seven key attributes were identified to analyze the job preferences of CDC workers.Mixed logit models,latent class models,and policy simulation tools were used.Results A valid sample of 5,944 cases was included in the analysis.All seven attributes significantly influenced the job choices of CDC workers.Heterogeneity analyses identified two main groups based on different levels of preference for attribute utility.Income-prioritizers were concerned with income and opportunities for career development,whereas bianzhi-prioritizers were concerned with bianzhi and welfare benefits.The policy simulation analysis revealed that income-prioritizers had a relatively higher sensitivity to multiple job preference incentives.Conclusion Income and bianzhi were the two key attributes influencing the job choices and retention preferences of CDC workers.Heterogeneity in job preferences was also identified.Based on the preference characteristics of different subgroups,policy content should be skewed to differentiate the importance of incentives.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71861147003,71925009,72141014).
文摘This paper examined consumers’experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat(PBM)food and their respective correlates,based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021.We first described consumers’experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates,and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment.The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat(ABM),combined with different countries of origin(COO),taste labels,and prices.Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food;85 and 82%of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food,respectively.More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food(58%),or were interested in healthy food(56%).Income,religion,and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’experiences in PBM food consumption.Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79%of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger.We also found that 99.8 and 83%of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label,with a willingness to pay(WTP)of 208 and 120 CNY,respectively.The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree,higher income,religious beliefs,and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No 2011CB921200the Chinese Academy of Sciences+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 11274289,11325419 and 61327901the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No WK2470000011
文摘Following a suggestion by Wheeler, several delayed choice experiments have been performed. However, in those experiments one fact has always been ignored： that due to the fact that the single photon is nonlocal in time, the outcome will change if one changes the time to switch the experimental configuration within the photon＇s wavepaeket. This study obtains some insights into this aspect by proposing an experimental scheme based on the delayed choice experiment and giving some related analysis. The result shows a transitional behavior from a particle to a wave, leading to a conclusion that the measuring operator could be time dependent and be changed in a single measurement.
基金The Joint Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72261147759)The Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(2022YFAG-1004)。
文摘Coffee Weather Index Insurance(WII)provides smallholders with a critical buffer against climate-related losses.This study aims to investigate Chinese coffee farmers’preferences for coffee WII using a choice experiment.The results show that a majority of farmers are willing to purchase coffee WII.Attributes including the premium rate,insured amount,premium subsidy,and type of protection significantly influence farmers’preferences.Specifically,farmers favor coffee WII with revenue protection,a lower insured amount,a higher premium subsidy,and a lower premium rate.Basis risk does not significantly deter uptake.Furthermore,farmers’gender,education level,and their anticipated impact of future high temperatures on coffee production play pivotal roles in shaping WII demand.These findings offer valuable insights for insurers and policymakers,informing the design of coffee WII policies that align with local preferences and can enhance the participation of coffee farmers in WII programs.
基金National Social Science Foundation of China(12XGL011)the Youth Project of Ministry of Education(12YJC790136)the Central College Fund of Sichuan University(skqy201231)
文摘Effective programs and policies for cultivated land resource protection are often the focus of government policy-makers and researchers.Here we use survey data from Wuhan City,Hubei,China to attempt to apply a choice experiment for assessing main stakeholder preferences for cultivated land resource protection based on the hypothesis of market and policy.According to the basic principle of choice experiments,the area of cultivated land,quality of cultivated land,cost of cultivated land protection and cultivated land ecological landscape were included as attributes in the experimental design.Surveys were undertaken on two main stakeholders groups（farmers and urban residents）.Our results show strong divergence between farmers and urban residents regarding protecting attributes.We then analyzed and compared welfare changes affected by different attribute combination programs.The result of this study provides theoretical and decision-making support for farmland protection funds and agricultural subsidy systems.
基金The Fred M.Van Eck Forest Foundation for Purdue University and the McIntire-Stennis program provided funding.
文摘Seeds of many hardwood trees are dispersed by scatter-hoarding rodents,and this process is often mediated by the traits of seeds.Although numerous studies have linked seed traits to seed preference by rodents,little is known about how rodents forage for seeds when multiple desirable and undesirable seed traits are available simultaneously.Here,we adopt a novel method of designing choice experiments to study how eastern gray squirrels(Sciurus carolinensis)select for 6 traits(caloric value,protein content,tannin concentration,kernel mass,dormancy period and toughness of shell)among seeds.From n=426 seed-pair presentations,we found that squirrels preferentially consumed seeds with short dormancy or tougher shells,and preferentially cached seeds with larger kernel mass,tougher shells and higher tannin concentrations.By incorporating random effects,we found that squirrels exhibited consistent preferences for seed traits,which is likely due to the fitness consequences associated with maintaining cached resources.Furthermore,we found that squirrels were willing to trade between multiple traits when caching seeds,which likely results in more seed species being cached in the fall.Ultimately,our approach allowed us to compute the relative values of different seed traits to squirrels,despite covariance among studied traits across seed species.In addition,by investigating how squirrels trade among different seed traits,important insights can be gleaned into behavioral mechanisms underlying seed caching(and,thus,seed survival)dynamics as well as evolutionary strategies adopted by plants to attract seed dispersers.We describe how discrete choice experiments can be used to study resource selection in other ecological systems.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China (71640023)。
文摘The management of the coastal park environment is a major ecological and economic development issue. In developing effective policies, relevant information is essential, especially the economic valuation of various recreation-related environmental attributes. This study used Dalian coastal parks as a pilot study area and estimated the willingness to pay(WTP) of tourists using three different discrete choice models. In this study, we analyzed the preference heterogeneity among the respondents regarding a combination of park attributes, and the individual respondent’s WTP values were estimated for each attribute. The results indicate that water quality amelioration and trash reduction had the highest economic values among the given attribute factors. In addition, the estimated tourist WTP varied considerably among different segments, such as among the visitors who preferred different recreational activities. These findings provide valuable information that will allow coastal park managers to develop policies which maintain a balance between tourism development and improvement of the coastal environment.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality(grant number:9222003).
文摘Background:This study aimed to investigate physicians’preferences in relation to Internet hospital consultations and to explore the factors influencing their choices.The study also assessed physicians’willingness to participate in Internet-based hospital consultation services and the demand among physicians to do so.Methods:A total of 119 physicians from two general hospitals and three specialized hospitals in Beijing were selected for a questionnaire survey using a discrete choice experiment design.Physician preferences were analyzed using conditional logit regression.Findings:In descending order of importance,physicians’willingness to engage in Internet hospital consultations was influenced by changes in doctors’share of online diagnosis and treatment performance compared with offline consultations,daily working hours,and response time.Physicians were more likely to choose Internet hospital consultations when there was a 20%increase in the proportion of online consultations compared to offline consultations,a 10%increase in the weight of online consultations in the annual assessment,a 1-hour reduction in offline working hours and a 1-hour increase in online working hours,and a response time of less than 24 h.The subgroup analysis revealed variations in physicians’preferences based on age,professional titles,working years,and department.Younger doctors,those with fewer professional titles,and those with less work experience had higher expectations.Compared to internal medicine and pediatric doctors,surgeons exhibited a greater willingness to work longer hours.Interpretation:Increasing the proportion of online consultations,including online consultations in the annual assessment,reducing offline working hours,extending online availability,and ensuring timely responses can incentivize physicians to choose online hospital consultations.This approach promotes the high-quality development of Internet hospitals by combining economic and noneconomic incentives and optimizing workload distribution.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China(2021YFD1400200 and 2017YFC1200600)the Yunnan Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Program,China(202301AT070485)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(caascx-2021-2025-IAS and caas-zdrw202203)。
文摘The native thelytokous(TH)and arrhenotokous(AR)strains of Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood)(Hymenoptera:Eulophidae)are promising biocontrol agents against the invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta(Meyrick)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae).This study assessed the performance and preferences of these strains in choice experiments involving five host instar ratios and evaluated their functional responses to seven densities of 1st instar larvae(5 to 40 hosts).In host-attacking behavior assays,an increasing proportion of 1st instar larvae led to a significant rise in host mortality rates for both strains.Both strains exhibited strong preferences for parasitizing and attacking 1st instar larvae over later instars,with the TH strain demonstrating significantly greater host-killing efficacy than the AR strain.Functional response experiments revealed that the attack rates of both strains were positively correlated with host density.Parasitism by both strains and host-stinging behavior by the TH strain showed type Ⅲ functional responses,while host-feeding by both strains and host-stinging by the AR strain followed type Ⅱ functional responses.Early establishment of the TH strain in tomato agroecosystems could enhance the management of T.absoluta.These findings provide critical insights into the functional dynamics of the TH and AR strains of N.formosa that can inform the development of effective biocontrol programs for this globally significant pest.
基金funded by Korea Environmental Industry&Technology Institute(KEITI)through Wetland Ecosystem Value Evaluation and Carbon Absorption Value Promotion Technology Development Project of Korea Ministry of Environment(MOE)(RS-2022-KE002025).
文摘Urbanization and environmental degradation have led to significant declines in water quality and aquatic ecosystem health,highlighting the urgent need for effective restoration efforts.This study applies an integrated analysis approach to estimate the economic value and benefits of improvements in water quality and aquatic ecosystem services resulting from the Ecological Stream Restoration Project.Using survey data analyzed through the choice experiment(CE)method,we assessed respondents’preferences for various ecosystem services,including water-friendly services,ecological functions,water-level control,and water-quality purification.Three empirical analysis models—the Conditional Logit Model(CLM),Nested Logit Model(NL),and Error Component Logit Model(ECL)—were applied,with the ECL model identified as the most suitable for this study.From the physical impact assessment,we derived compensating variations to estimate the annual economic benefits of the project.The estimated annual economic value of water quality improvement due to the Anyangcheon Ecological Stream Restoration Project ranged from approximately KRW 10.54 billion to KRW 21.44 billion,while the economic value of aquatic ecosystem improvement was estimated to range from KRW 6.05 billion to KRW 12.30 billion annually.This study provides analytic framework that can inform future ecological restoration projects and sustainable water management policies.
文摘Rapid growth in nature-based and super-premium tourism has increased environmental pressures on protected destinations such as Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park(KNP)in Indonesia,raising concerns about biodiversity conservation and responsible visitor behavior.Understanding how visitors value and support green tourism initiatives is therefore essential for designing effective and acceptable sustainability policies.This study explores visitor preferences and willingness to pay(WTP)for green tourism initiatives in Labuan Bajo and KNP,a renowned super-premium tourism destination in Indonesia.A choice experiment was employed to ascertain which green tourism options visitors prioritize.A total of 600 visitors completed surveys presenting different tourism scenarios.The data were then analyzed using statistical models to estimate to what extent visitors are willing to pay for each option.The study's primary focus was on five key aspects:green hotels,sustainable transportation,locally sourced products,environmental footprint reduction,and communication with locals.Three hypothetical scenarios were developed:Scenario 1 with a focus on eco-friendly accommodations;Scenario 2 with an emphasis on sustainable transportation and local engagement;and Scenario 3 with comprehensive green tourism initiatives.The findings showed robust support from visitors and clear WTP for programs such as green hotels,public transport,local food,and improved waste management.The findings also highlighted the significance of enhancing awareness regarding the protection of Komodo dragons and marine ecosystems as part of sustainable tourism.This study significantly contributes to the literature by quantifying visitor preferences within a United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)world heritage site and shows the potential for policies that support environmentally and socially responsible tourism in biodiversity-rich areas.
文摘The article titled Job Preferences of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workers:A Discrete Choice Experiment in China(Yan Guo,Hanlin Nie,Hao Chen,Stephen Nicholas,Elizabeth Maitland,Sisi Chen,Lieyu Huang,Xiumin Zhang,and Xuefeng Shi)was published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences,2025,38(6):740-750.
文摘Background: Forest residues can be a feasible alternative for converting energy into fuels, electricity, or heat.Compared to other second-generation bioenergy sources, they do not compete for food, are relatively cheap,abundant in forest-rich areas, and more importantly their energy balance is close to zero. Biomass estimations can help design energy strategies to reduce fossil fuels dependency. Because of the land property distribution in Mexico,biomass estimations should consider not only the physical availability, but also the willingness of landowners to extract such raw materials.Methods: This study presents a methodological approach for evaluating the potential use of forest residues as a feedstock to generate bioenergy in northern Mexico. Remote sensing and field forest inventory were used to estimate the quantity and distribution of forest residues. In addition, a discrete choice analysis evaluated landowners’ preferences towards bioenergy development, including the most important factors that influence their willingness to extract their products and the expected price.Results and conclusions: Considering both physical and socio-economic aspects, results showed that about59,000 metric tons per year could be available in the study area. The vast majority of landowners surveyed are willing to extract forest residues, as long as they are presented with extraction plans with the highest income. However, many showed concerns about the environmental impacts this activity can have on soils,plants, and fauna. These results can help evaluate the potential of these resources for bioenergy development.
基金Southeast Asia Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research Agriculture(SEARCA)provide me the financial support to conduct this research.
文摘Despite the number of studies focusing on the financial analysis of production activities, conducting on technical solutions, and improving water quality, no study has been conducted on the application of economic instruments that apply to water quality management in craft villages, and several studies of WTP also. This study aimed to estimate the households’ willingness-to-pay for wastewater treatment in selected traditional agro-food processing villages in Nhue-Day River Basin, Vietnam. A pilot Choice Experiment (CE) technique in Choice Modelling (CM) approach was applied for this study with 267 selected agro-food processing households by using the conditional logit (CL) and random parameter logit (RPL) models. The results showed that total annual environmental fee for wastewater treatment from agro-food processing households is estimated as 1089 million VND (equal to US$47,868 per year) for the total of 902 agro-food processing households in three research sites in Nhue-Day River Basin. This estimated budget for wastewater treatment accounted for 55.85% of total annual operation and maintenance costs only. In addition, the technology is improved to enable 90% of treated wastewater. Overall, the results of this study suggest the new wastewater treatment plant construction and improved wastewater collection system by increasing the investment in order to improve the water quality in Nhue-Day River Basin that brings about the reducing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and human health risks.
文摘BACKGROUND Patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)are at risk of developing complications such as perianal fistulas.Patients with Crohn’s perianal fistulas(CPF)are affected by fecal incontinence(FI),bleeding,pain,swelling,and purulent perianal discharge,and METHODS This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in patients with CD aged 21-90 years via a web-enabled questionnaire in seven countries(April-August 2021).Patients were recruited into three cohorts:Cohort 1 included patients without perianal fistulas;cohort 2 included patients with perianal fistulas without fistula-related surgery;and cohort 3 included patients with perianal fistulas and fistula-related surgery.Validated patient-reported outcome measures were used to assess quality of life.Drivers of treatment preferences were measured using a discrete choice experiment(DCE).RESULTS In total,929 patients were recruited(cohort 1,n=620;cohort 2,n=174;cohort 3,n=135).Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores were worse for patients with CPF(cohorts 2 and 3)than for those with CD without CPF(cohort 1):Mean score 3.8 and 3.7 vs 4.1,respectively,(P<0.001).Similarly,mean Revised FI and FI Quality of Life scores were worse for patients with CPF than for those with CD without CPF.Quality of Life with Anal Fistula scores were similar in patients with CPF with or without CPF-related surgery(cohorts 2 and 3):Mean score 41 and 42,respectively.In the DCE,postoperative discomfort and fistula healing rate were the most important treatment attributes influencing treatment choice:Mean relative importance 35.7 and 24.7,respectively.CONCLUSION The burden of illness in CD is significantly higher for patients with CPF and patients rate lower postoperative discomfort and higher healing rates as the most desirable treatment attributes.
基金German Research Foundation(DFG FOR 891/2,KL 1849/6-1)the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion(GZ 785)the German Academic Exchange Service(PROMOS scholarship to J.M.).
文摘Aims Plants with extrafloral nectaries(EFNs)are common in tropical and subtropical habitats and,despite many other arthropods also forage for EFN,most studies solely focused on the defense mutualisms between EFN plants and ants.This study aims at a quantitative assessment of the entire arthropod community that visits EFN trees to compare visitor communities between different tree species to disentangle the mechanisms that may drive EFN visitor community composition.We also test for tree diversity effects on EFN visitors,as it is unknown if local tree species richness relates to the abundance and species richness of arthropods foraging for EFN.Methods We sampled EFN-visiting arthropods in the experimental tree species richness gradient of the BEF-China Experiment,the currently largest forest diversity experiment in the world,and tested if tree species richness affects EFN visitors and if visitor community composition differs between EFN tree species.In a second step,we analyzed the EFN of Ailanthus altissima and Triadica cochinchinensis,the two EFN tree species with highest visitor abundance,for sugars and amino acids(AA)to test if tree species-specific differences in nectar chemistry translate to differing visitor communities.Lastly,we conducted a choice experiment using different artificial nectar solutions to test if nectar quality affects foraging decisions of ants,the most frequent EFN visitors in our study sites.Important Findings EFN trees in young successional forests in subtropical South-East China are visited by a diverse assemblage of arthropods including ants,beetles,flies,and spiders.Albeit ants accounted for about 75%of all individuals,non-ant visitors were by far more species rich.Visitor abundance and species richness declined with increasing tree species richness,suggesting a resource dilution effect,because plots with more tree species had proportionally less EFN tree individuals and thus lower nectar availability.Ailanthus altissima and T.cochinchinensis were visited by different arthropods and their nectar had species-specific AA composition and sugar concentration,indicating that differences in visitors may,at least partly,be explained by differences in nectar chemistry.These findings are supported by the choice experiment,in which artificial nectars containing sugar solutions supplemented with essential AAs attracted more ants than pure sugar solutions or sugar solutions supplemented with non-essential AAs.Our results improve the understanding of the complex ecology of EFN trees,a plant life form that might be crucial for understanding how tree diversity influences patterns of tree growth in young successional tropical and subtropical forests.
基金supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)Canadian Flood Net(Grant Number:NETGP451456)。
文摘We used a hypothetical choice experiment to estimate the effect of dwelling value and coverage limits on the probability of purchasing flood insurance while holding the probability of flooding and insurance price constant. The results indicate that demand for flood insurance is negatively associated with the amount of insurance coverage. For people assigned higher-valued dwellings, however, the opposite effect is observed. Since more coverage is generally preferred to less, all else being equal, differences in purchase probability dependent on dwelling value indicate an inconsistent approach to home protection. The higher probability of purchasing flood insurance from people in higher-valued dwellings may indicate an investment into the home as a financial asset, a strategy that is not observed to the same extent among people in lower-valued dwellings. This suggests that use of coverage limits may be differentially preferred based on dwelling value, such that low coverage insurance may have lower uptake for those in high-valued dwellings. As Canada evaluates a national flood insurance program, this research suggests that variable coverage maximums could be a way to increase accessibility and uptake of insurance.This research shows an inconsistent demand for flood insurance, dependent on dwelling value and independent of income.
基金The National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFD1700205-4)The General Program of Humanities and Social Sciences Research of Ministry of Education of China(23YJCZH108)+1 种基金The Central Agricultural Office Soft Science Subjects of the Expert Advisory Committee on Rural Revitalization of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China(202331)The National Key Research and Development Program of the 14th Five-Year Plan of China(2023YFD1700205)。
文摘Organic tea insurance is essential for protecting the livelihoods of tea farmers,yet its uptake remains limited due to a potential misalignment between the program’s design and farmers'objectives.This study used a discrete choice experiment to explore how risk perceptions and information asymmetry influence farmers’decisions to purchase organic tea insurance.It also assessed the role of farmer cooperative organizations in facilitating these decisions.We collected data from 323 tea farmers in Anhui Province to estimate their willingness to pay(WTP)for specific insurance features.The results indicate a preference for having organic tea insurance,especially among farmers who have experienced agricultural disasters and are informed about insurance options.However,participation in farmer cooperatives did not significantly enhance mutual understanding or trust in the insurance scheme.Using a random parameter logit model,we found that the WTP varied significantly with changes in the insurance claim starting point(by 1258.44 yuan ha^(-1))and the government subsidy ratio(by 819.69 yuan ha^(-1)).In contrast,modifications in claim payment timing and total indemnity affected WTP minimally,the impact of claim payment time on WTP is 19.70 yuan ha^(-1),and the change in total indemnity has an impact of 0.32 yuan ha^(-1) on WTP.Applying a latent class model,we categorized farmers into two distinct groups based on their attribute preferences and price sensitivities,which remained consistent across robustness tests using an attribute non-attendance regression.This study offers new insights into farmers’preferences and behaviors toward organic tea insurance,emphasizing the significance of risk experience and information symmetry in their decision-making processes.
基金the National Social Science Major Funding(15ZDA052)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71373209)
文摘Evaluations connect ecosystem and human welfare to achieve restoration. There have been an increasing number of studies conducted on various ecosystem service assessments, but little research has focused on inland river basins playing a critical role in development in northwestern China. The distinct differences in natural endowment, socioeconomic characteristics among the upper, middle and downstream inland river basin require heterogeneity during evaluation. The objective of this study was to verify the existence of population preference heterogeneity and examine impact factors using choice experiment surveys in the Shiyang River Basin, China. A mixed logit model using data from 714 households across the entire basin estimated mean willingness to pay and the standard deviation for ecological attributes. Ordinary least squares（OLS） was employed to estimate the effects of exogenous variables on all willingness to pay estimations. The results demonstrate that ecosystem service values are heterogeneous among people. Willingness to pay is affected by personal and regional characteristics. Government involvement will be required to seek differentiated ecosystem services values among populations and facilitate public support.
