Sensitivity of Network-Level BMS MR&R Policies to Variations in Cost, Transition Probability, and Discount Factor

1998 ◽  
Vol 1642 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Teresa M. Adams ◽  
P. Robert Sianipar
Keyword(s):  
Current Practice ◽  
Transition Probabilities ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Transition Probability ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Discount Factor ◽  
Bridge Management ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Bridge Management System ◽  
The Cost

A sensitivity analysis of the recommendations obtained from the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MR&R) optimization model of the Pontis bridge management system (BMS) to changes in Wisconsin’s estimates of MR&R costs, transition probabilities, and discount factor is presented. The scope includes the MR&R actions for 25 bridge elements in Wisconsin. The analysis is based on scenarios of cost and transition probabilities that represent a range of low- to high-cost projects and slow to fast element deterioration. The potential cost savings per element from adopting special policies on extreme high- and low-cost projects were estimated. The analysis identified the MR&R actions that are sensitive to changes in cost or transition probability, the MR&R actions that are never recommended, and the cost and transition scenarios for which the optimal policy is to do nothing until failure. The optimal policies recommended by the BMS and the current practice at Wisconsin District 1 were compared. Recommendations for improving Wisconsin’s MR&R cost database are presented.

Cost-minimization analysis of drugs used in the treatment of Asthma and COPD diseases in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billu Payal ◽  
Anoop Kumar ◽  
Harsh Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Generic Drugs ◽  
Cost Minimization ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Pulmonary Medicine ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Maximum Cost ◽  
Cost Minimization Analysis ◽  
Cost Variation ◽  
The Cost

Background: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) are well known respiratory diseases affecting millions of peoples in India. In the market, various branded generics, as well as generic drugs, are available for their treatment and how much cost will be saved by utilizing generic medicine is still unclear among physicians. Thus, the main aim of the current investigation was to perform cost-minimization analysis of generic versus branded generic (high and low expensive) drugs and branded generic (high expensive) versus branded generic (least expensive) used in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Era Medical University, Lucknow for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Methodology: The current index of medical stores (CIMS) was referred for the cost of branded drugs whereas the cost of generic drugs was taken from Jan Aushadi scheme of India 2016. The percentage of cost variation particularly to Asthma and COPD regimens on substituting available generic drugs was calculated using standard formula and costs were presented in Indian Rupees (as of 2019). Results: The maximum cost variation was found between the respules budesonide high expensive branded generic versus least expensive branded generic drugs and generic versus high expensive branded generic. In combination, the maximum cost variation was observed in the montelukast and levocetirizine combination. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study inferred that substituting generic antiasthmatics and COPD drugs can bring potential cost savings in patients.

scholarly journals Textbook Alternative Incentive Programs at U.S. Universities: A Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 105-123
Author(s):  
Ashley Lierman
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
The United States ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Impact Measurement ◽  
Grant Programs ◽  
Incentive Programs ◽  
Financial Investments ◽  
Faculty Time ◽  
The Cost

Objective – This article reviews current literature on incentive grant programs for textbook alternatives at universities and their libraries. Of particular interest in this review are common patterns and factors in the design, development, and implementation of these initiatives at the programmatic level, trends in the results of assessment of programs, and unique elements of certain institutions’ programs. Methods – The review was limited in scope to studies in scholarly and professional publications of textbook alternative incentive programs at universities within the United States of America, published within ten years prior to the investigation. A comprehensive literature search was conducted and then subjected to analysis for trends and patterns. Results – Studies of these types of programs have reported substantial total cost savings to affected students compared to the relatively small financial investments that are required to establish them. The majority of incentive programs were led by university libraries, although the most successful efforts appear to have been broadly collaborative in nature. Programs are well-regarded by students and faculty, with benefits to pedagogy and access to materials beyond the cost savings to students. The field of replacing textbooks with alternatives is still evolving, however, and the required investment of faculty time and effort is still a barrier, while inconsistent approaches to impact measurement make it difficult to compare programs or establish best practices. Conclusion – Overall, the literature shows evidence of significant benefits from incentive programs at a relatively low cost. Furthermore, these programs are opportunities to establish cross-campus partnerships and collaborations, and collaboration seems to be effective at helping to reduce barriers and increase impact. Further research is needed on similar programs at community colleges and at higher education institutions internationally.

scholarly journals Open Source Digitally Replicable Lab-Grade Scales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Hubbard ◽  
Joshua M. Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Load Cell ◽  
Significant Cost ◽  
Load Cells ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cell Data ◽  
Precision Balance ◽  
Multiple Load

This study provides designs for a low-cost, easily replicable open source lab-grade digital scale that can be used as a precision balance. The design is such that it can be manufactured for use in most labs throughout the world with open source RepRap-class material extrusion-based 3-D printers for the mechanical components and readily available open source electronics including the Arduino Nano. Several versions of the design were fabricated and tested for precision and accuracy for a range of load cells. The results showed the open source scale was found to be repeatable within 0.1g with multiple load cells, with even better precision (0.01g) depending on load cell range and style. The scale tracks linearly with proprietary lab-grade scales, meeting the performance specified in the load cell data sheets, indicating that it is accurate across the range of the load cell installed. The smallest loadcell tested(100g) offers precision on the order of a commercial digital mass balance. The scale can be produced at significant cost savings compared to scales of comparable range and precision when serial capability is present. The cost savings increase significantly as the range of the scale increases and are particularly well-suited for resource-constrained medical and scientific facilities.

Evaluation of the dosing strategies of biologic agents and the theoretical impact of dose rounding

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Savannah Lindsey ◽  
Laura Beth Parsons ◽  
Lindsay Rosenbeck Figg ◽  
Jill Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Wholesale Price ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Cost Avoidance ◽  
The Cost

Introduction Monoclonal antibodies possess unique pharmacokinetic properties that permit flexible dosing. Increased use and high costs of these medications have led to the development of cost-containing strategies. This study aims to quantify the cost savings and clinical impact associated with dose rounding monoclonal antibodies to the nearest vial size. Methods This study was a single-arm, retrospective chart review assessing all monoclonal antibody doses dispensed at an outpatient community infusion center associated with an academic medical center between August 2014 and August 2015. All monoclonal antibody doses were reviewed to determine the cost of drug wasted using two methods. The waste-cost analysis described the amount of drug disposed of due to the use of partial vials. The theoretical dose savings described potential cost avoidance based on rounding the ordered dose to the nearest vial size. The theoretical rounded dose was compared to the actual ordered dose to explore clinical implications. Results A total of 436 doses were included. Of these, 237 were not rounded to the nearest vial size and included in the analysis. The cost of waste associated with these doses was $108,013.64 using actual wholesale price. The potential cost avoidance associated with the theoretical dose calculation was $83,595.53. Rounding these doses to the nearest vial size resulted in a median 6.7% (range, 1.4–20%) deviation from ordered dose. Conclusions Rounding monoclonal antibodies to the nearest vial size could lead to significant cost and waste savings with minimal deviation from the actual ordered dose.

scholarly journals 2694. Incidence of Pneumocytis jiroveci (PJP) Infection with 3-Month Prophylaxis of Aerosolized Pentamidine (AP) in Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S947-S947
Author(s):  
Sarah Perreault ◽  
Dayna McManus ◽  
Rebecca Pulk ◽  
Jeffrey E Topal ◽  
Francine Foss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Comparison ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
One Year ◽  
Relapsed Disease ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Autologous Hsct

Abstract Background HSCT patients are at an increased risk of developing PJP after transplant due to treatment induced immunosuppression. Given the risk of cytopenias with co-trimoxazole, AP is utilized as an alternative for PJP prophylaxis. A prior study revealed a 0% (0/19 patients) incidence when AP prophylaxis was given for one year post autologous HSCT. Current guidelines recommend a duration of 3 – 6 months for PJP prophylaxis in autologous HSCT. The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the incidence of PJP infection within one year post autologous HSCT in patients who received 3 months of AP. Secondary endpoint was a cost comparison of 3 months compared with 6 months of AP. Methods A single-center, retrospective study of adult autologous HSCT patients at Yale New Haven Hospital between February 2013 and December 2017 was performed. Patients were excluded if: <18 years of age, received < or >3 months of AP, changed to alternative PJP prophylactic agent or received no PJP prophylaxis, received tandem HSCT, deceased prior to one year post-transplant from a non PJP-related infection, HIV positive, or lost to follow-up. Pentamidine was given as a 300 mg inhalation monthly for 3 months starting Day +15 after autologous HSCT. Results A total of 288 patients were analyzed, no PJP infections occurred within one year post HSCT. Additionally, 187 (65%) patients received treatment post HSCT with 135/215 (63%) receiving maintenance immunomodulatory drugs for myeloma and 40/288 (14%) patients developing relapsed disease. 43% of the chemotherapy regimens for relapsed disease included high dose corticosteroids. The cost difference of using 3 months vs. 6 months of AP is $790, reflecting the cost of drug and its administration. Applying our incidence of 0%, potential cost savings of 3 months vs. 6 months of AP would be $330,000 over 5 years or $66,000 per year. Conclusion Three months of AP for PJP prophylaxis in autologous HSCT patients is safe and effective as well as cost-effective compared with a 6 month regimen. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЕ ГИДРОМЕЛИОРАТИВНЫХ МАШИНС  АВТОМАТИЗАЦИЕЙ ПРОЦЕССА ПОЛИВА

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Akhtyamov ◽  
A. Ryazantsev ◽  
O. Gavrilina ◽  
A. Boyko ◽  
S. Borychev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Hydraulic Drive ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Horizontal Arrangement

Целью исследования являлось теоретическое обоснование и практическая реализация нового способа полива гидромелиоративной машиной Фрегат с гидроприводом на сложном рельефе с минимальными затратами на модернизацию и энергозатратами. Объектом исследования является экспериментальный кранзадатчик скорости, устанавливаемый на гидромелиоративную машину. Исследования проводились в сравнении с показателями машин серийного производства. В ходе исследования было установлено, что существующая технология полива не отвечает необходимым требованиям гидромелиорации и имеет низкую степень экономической эффективности. Предлагаемая технология полива решает вопрос неравномерного распределения влаги по площади, повышает урожайность и снижает стоимость обслуживания машины вследствие уменьшения числа поломок. Имеющиеся модернизации дождевальной машины (ДМ) Фрегат , позволяющие работать по предлагаемой технологии, сложны по конструкции, ненадежны и имеют относительно высокую стоимость модернизации и сезонного обслуживания. С целью увеличения экономии средств и упрощения процесса модернизации серийных машин был разработан и протестирован кранзадатчик скорости, позволяющий снизить риск эрозии почв, застревания колес тележек и, тем самым, простой машины с необходимостью ее ремонта. Главной особенностью экспериментального краназадатчика скорости является его горизонтальное расположение относительно тележки. Два плеча с увеличенной длиной позволяют задавать поливную норму путем касания вех в начале каждого сектора, где необходимо сменить скорость движения машины. Таким образом, происходит регулирование поливной нормы, выдаваемой машиной при ее движении по орошаемой площади. Получившийся экономический эффект позволяет утверждать о положительных результатах в проведенных исследованияхThe aim of the research is the theoretical justification and practical implementation of the new method of irrigation irrigation and drainage machines Frigat with hydraulic drive for complex tasks of modernization and energy consumption. The object of the study is an experimental speedadjusting crane installed on a water reclamation machine. The studies were conducted in comparison with indicators of machine production. In the course of research it was found that the existing technology does not meet the requirements of irrigation and drainage and has a low degree of economic efficiency. The issue of uneven distribution of the owner by area, high productivity and low cost of maintenance is being addressed. DM Frigat, which allows you to work on the proposed technologies, does not require the cost of modernization and seasonal maintenance. In order to increase cost savings and develop new models of machines, a speed control crane has been developed and tested to reduce the risk of machine destruction. The operation of the trolley is the horizontal arrangement of the trolley. The speed of the machine can be increased. Thus, regulation of the irrigation rate occurs. The resulting economic effect allows us to argue about the positive results in the studies

scholarly journals Formatting Open Science: agile creation of multiple document types by writing academic manuscripts in pandoc markdown

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Krewinkel ◽  
Robert Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Collaborative Writing ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Online Publishing ◽  
Cost Distribution ◽  
The Cost

The timely publication of scientific results is essential for dynamic advances in science. The ubiquitous availability of computers which are connected to a global network made the rapid and low-cost distribution of information through electronic channels possible. New concepts, such as Open Access publishing and preprint servers are currently changing the traditional print media business towards a community-driven peer production. However, the cost of scientific literature generation, which is either charged to readers, authors or sponsors, is still high. The main active participants in the authoring and evaluation of scientific manuscripts are volunteers, and the cost for online publishing infrastructure is close to negligible. A major time and cost factor though is the formatting of manuscripts in the production stage. In this article we demonstrate the feasibility to write scientific manuscripts in plain markdown (MD) text files, which can be easily converted into common publication formats, such as PDF, HTML or EPUB, using pandoc. The simple syntax of markdown assures the long-term readability of raw files and the development of software and workflows. We show the implementation of typical elements of scientific manuscripts -- formulas, tables, code blocks and citations -- and present tools for editing, collaborative writing and version control. We give an example on how to prepare a manuscript with distinct output formats, a DOCX file for submission to a journal and a LATEX/PDF version for deposition as a PeerJ preprint. Reducing the work spent on manuscript formatting translates directly to time and cost savings for writers, publishers, readers and sponsors. Therefore, the adoption of the MD format contributes to the agile production of open science literature.

scholarly journals Cry for health: a quantitative evaluation of a hospital-based advocacy intervention for domestic violence and abuse

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Halliwell ◽  
Sandi Dheensa ◽  
Elisabetta Fenu ◽  
Sue K Jones ◽  
Jessica Asato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Safety Outcomes ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

Abstract Background Domestic violence and abuse damages the health of survivors and increases use of healthcare services. We report findings from a multi-site evaluation of hospital-based advocacy services, designed to support survivors attending emergency departments and maternity services. Methods Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) were co-located in five UK hospitals. Case-level data were collected at T1 (initial referral) and T2 (case closure) from survivors accessing hospital (T1 N = 692; T2 N = 476) and community IDVA services (T1 N = 3,544; T2 N = 2,780), used as a comparator. Measures included indicators of sociodemographic characteristics, experience of abuse, health service use, health and safety outcomes. Multivariate analyses tested for differences in changes in abuse, health and factors influencing safety outcomes. Health service use data in the six months pre-and post- intervention were compared to generate potential cost savings by hospital IDVA services. Results Hospital IDVAs worked with survivors less visible to community IDVA services and facilitated intervention at an earlier point. Hospital IDVAs received higher referrals from health services and enabled access to a greater number of health resources. Hospital survivors were more likely to report greater reductions in and cessation of abuse. No differences were observed in health outcomes for hospital survivors. The odds of safety increased two-fold if hospital survivors received over five contacts with an IDVA or accessed six or more resources / programmes over a longer period of time. Six months preceding IDVA intervention, hospital survivors cost on average £2,463 each in use of health services; community survivors cost £533 each. The cost savings observed among hospital survivors amounted to a total of £2,050 per patient per year. This offset the average cost of providing hospital IDVA services. Conclusions Hospital IDVAs can identify survivors not visible to other services and promote safety through intensive support and access to resources. The co-location of IDVAs within the hospital encouraged referrals to other health services and wider community agencies. Further research is required to establish the cost-effectiveness of hospital IDVA services, however our findings suggest these services could be an efficient use of health service resources.

scholarly journals Financial Impact of Cancer Drug Wastage and Potential Cost Savings From Mitigation Strategies

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. e646-e652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Y.W. Leung ◽  
Matthew C. Cheung ◽  
Lauren F. Charbonneau ◽  
Anca Prica ◽  
Pamela Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Drug Costs ◽  
Financial Impact ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Total Drug ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Drug Wastage ◽  
The Cost

Purpose: Cancer drug wastage occurs when a parenteral drug within a fixed vial is not administered fully to a patient. This study investigated the extent of drug wastage, the financial impact on the hospital budget, and the cost savings associated with current mitigation strategies. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in three University of Toronto–affiliated hospitals of various sizes. We recorded the actual amount of drug wasted over a 2-week period while using current mitigation strategies. Single-dose vial cancer drugs with the highest wastage potentials were identified (14 drugs). To calculate the hypothetical drug wastage with no mitigation strategies, we determined how many vials of drugs would be needed to fill a single prescription. Results: The total drug costs over the 2 weeks ranged from $50,257 to $716,983 in the three institutions. With existing mitigation strategies, the actual drug wastage over the 2 weeks ranged from $928 to $5,472, which was approximately 1% to 2% of the total drug costs. In the hypothetical model with no mitigation strategies implemented, the projected drug cost wastage would have been $11,232 to $149,131, which accounted for 16% to 18% of the total drug costs. As a result, the potential annual savings while using current mitigation strategies range from 15% to 17%. Conclusion: The financial impact of drug wastage is substantial. Mitigation strategies lead to substantial cost savings, with the opportunity to reinvest those savings. More research is needed to determine the appropriate methods to minimize risk to patients while using the cost-saving mitigation strategies.

Low-Cost Adhesives for Temporary Substrate Support

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (DPC) ◽  
pp. 1-60
Author(s):  
John Moore ◽  
Jared Pettit
Keyword(s):  
Current Practice ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Specific Design ◽  
Substrate Support ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rapid Removal ◽  
Green Factory ◽  
The Right ◽  
Simple Materials

Temporary adhesives are a key part to 3DIC integration. Choosing the right adhesive is critical as it defines your process, tooling needs, and by virtue of its chemistry, will control throughput and yield. Although several products and tooling exist in the market, few offer a clear path to achieve HVM at an affordable cost. [1] A wide range in materials and processes are available, most which can be tailored to a specific design or tooling objective. Multiple options in adhesives allow grinding and polishing to &lt;20um, protection during backside processing (e.g. TSVs), thermal resistance to &gt;400C, [2] CVD acceptance (Fig. 1), and rapid removal with cleans on a film frame (Fig. 2). Using batch processing, throughput is increased by a factor of 5 while cost is reduced by 50%, suggesting a COO that is 10% relative to current practice. Instituting simple materials and processes matched to a customer's design will provide benefits beyond cost savings, including “green factory” certification. This presentation reviews several current practices in the market and contrasts these options with alternative low-cost adhesives and processes that are tuned to a customer's product design and tooling. Examples include excerpts from handling thin substrates in semiconductor, solar, and TFT/LCD fabrication lines.

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