Fires within the built environment are a fact of life and through design and the application of the building regulations and design codes, the risk of fire to the building occupants can be minimised. However, the building regulations within the UK do not deal with property protection and focus solely on the safety of the building occupants. This research details the statistical analysis of the UK Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Protection Association's fire incident databases to create a loss model framework, allowing the designers of a buildings fire safety systems to conduct a cost benefit analysis on installing additional fire protection solely for property protection. It finds that statistical analysis of the FDR 1 incident database highlights the data collection methods of the Fire and Rescue Service ideally need to be changed to allow further risk analysis on the UK building stock, that the statistics highlight that the incidents affecting the size of a fire are the time from ignition to discovery and the presence of dangerous materials, that sprinkler activations may not be as high as made out by sprinkler groups and that the activation of an alarm system gives a smaller size fire. The original contribution to knowledge that this PhD makes is to analyse the FDR 1 database to try and create a loss model, using data from both the Fire Protection Association and the Fire and Rescue Service.

Diploma thesis is focused on data evaluation of economic efficiency of provisions for impoving of water quality in Macha's lake. Data estimation of economic value of chase in water quality in Macha's lake were acquired during on-site research in the area. Choice Experiment was used for modelling of recreational demand. The base of Choice Experiment is coming out from Lancaster's Attribution theory and Random utility function. Data presentation and its acquiring is a part of the diploma thesis, there is also discussed the new findings and the base of neoclassical methodology of Cost-Benefit Analysis that is suitable for judging of economic efficiency of provisions that help improving water quality in The Macha's lake. Macha's lake is a signifiant recreational area. While deciding about long term solution of the problem of water quality it is necessary to judge efficiency of invested ressources. Estimations of changes in water quality in Macha's lake is going to be used for Cost-Benefit Analysis. Cost-Benefit Analysis is based on measuring costs and benefits and their comparisons and this Analysis is main scope of the thesis.

Dentro do gerenciamento de recursos materiais destaca-se a importância dos desperdícios, definidos como todo consumo de produtos/serviços de forma ineficiente e ineficaz, que não agregam valor aos mesmos, portanto, devem ser minimizados e/ou eliminados. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram: identificar os tipos e as quantidades de materiais de consumo encaminhados, utilizados, estornados e desperdiçados nas cirurgias, durante o intraoperatório, classificar os desperdícios de materiais de consumo como evitáveis e não evitáveis; mensurar os custos dos materiais desperdiçados nos procedimentos cirúrgicos e calcular o índice de desperdício dos materiais de consumo no Centro Cirúrgico do Hospital Universitário da Universidade São Paulo (HU-USP). Trata-se de um estudo de caso, descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um formulário contendo duas partes: a primeira para o levantamento do consumo real dos materiais, e a segunda para os materiais desperdiçados. A amostra foi constituída por 105 tipos de materiais de consumo médico-hospitalares encaminhados a 275 cirurgias observadas, no período de fevereiro a maio de 2011. Os resultados mostraram que os itens, mais encaminhados, utilizados e estornados, foram luvas cirúrgicas e seringas descartáveis; os mais desperdiçados foram fios cirúrgicos, fio cirúrgico algodão, compressas gazes 45x45cm, 7,5x7,5cm e 30x30cm. O item que apresentou maior desperdício foi fios cirúrgicos, em média 1,3 unidades por cirurgias. O custo dos materiais utilizados nas 275 cirurgias foi de R$133.730,30; o de desperdício total foi de R$ 709,84, sendo R$ 327,48 referentes ao consumo evitável e R$ 382,36 ao não evitável. O percentual médio de desperdício na amostra foi de 9,34%, sendo 1,23% evitáveis e 8,14% não evitável. Assim, assume-se que o desperdício real foi de 1,23%. A falta de estudos sobre o tema não permite comparações, mas o índice apresentado pode ser considerado baixo para um hospital universitário / In the management of material resources the importance of waste is emphasizes, which is described as all products/services absorbed in an inefficient and ineffective mode; and as it adds no value to them, they must be minimized an/or eliminated. The objective of this research is to a) identify all types and quantity of consumable material in surgeries, which were utilized, returned/sent back, or wasted during the intra surgery period; b) classify the waste as avoidable or inevitable when the materials were unwrapped and not utilized; c) measure the cost of the wasted material on surgical proceedings and d) calculate the index of waste material in HU-USP Surgical Center. This is a descriptive and investigative case study with quantitative approach. For the data collection, we used a form divided in two parts, one for raising the real consumption of material and the other for waste material. The sample was composed by 105 types of hospital and medical consuming material which were addressed to 275 surgery observed between Feb and May 2011. The results showed that the most used and recoiled/returned material have been surgical gloves and disposable syringes; the most wasted items were Surgeries threads, Surgical cotton thread, 45x45cm, 7.5x7.5cm and 30x30cm compress gauze. Above all, the item most wasted material was Surgical thread on average of 1.3 unit by surgeries. The cost of the utilized materials was R$ 133.730,30; the cost of total waste R$ 709,84, where R$ 327,48 were avoidable and R$ 382,36 were inevitable. Therefore the average of the percentage on waste in this sample was 9.34% where 1,23% were avoidable and 8.14% inevitable. Thus, it is assumed that the real waste was 1.23%. The lack of studies on the subject does not allow for comparisons, but the content presented may be considered low for a university hospital

Dentro do gerenciamento de recursos materiais destaca-se a importância dos desperdícios, definidos como todo consumo de produtos/serviços de forma ineficiente e ineficaz, que não agregam valor aos mesmos, portanto, devem ser minimizados e/ou eliminados. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram: identificar os tipos e as quantidades de materiais de consumo encaminhados, utilizados, estornados e desperdiçados nas cirurgias, durante o intraoperatório, classificar os desperdícios de materiais de consumo como evitáveis e não evitáveis; mensurar os custos dos materiais desperdiçados nos procedimentos cirúrgicos e calcular o índice de desperdício dos materiais de consumo no Centro Cirúrgico do Hospital Universitário da Universidade São Paulo (HU-USP). Trata-se de um estudo de caso, descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um formulário contendo duas partes: a primeira para o levantamento do consumo real dos materiais, e a segunda para os materiais desperdiçados. A amostra foi constituída por 105 tipos de materiais de consumo médico-hospitalares encaminhados a 275 cirurgias observadas, no período de fevereiro a maio de 2011. Os resultados mostraram que os itens, mais encaminhados, utilizados e estornados, foram luvas cirúrgicas e seringas descartáveis; os mais desperdiçados foram fios cirúrgicos, fio cirúrgico algodão, compressas gazes 45x45cm, 7,5x7,5cm e 30x30cm. O item que apresentou maior desperdício foi fios cirúrgicos, em média 1,3 unidades por cirurgias. O custo dos materiais utilizados nas 275 cirurgias foi de R$133.730,30; o de desperdício total foi de R$ 709,84, sendo R$ 327,48 referentes ao consumo evitável e R$ 382,36 ao não evitável. O percentual médio de desperdício na amostra foi de 9,34%, sendo 1,23% evitáveis e 8,14% não evitável. Assim, assume-se que o desperdício real foi de 1,23%. A falta de estudos sobre o tema não permite comparações, mas o índice apresentado pode ser considerado baixo para um hospital universitário / In the management of material resources the importance of waste is emphasizes, which is described as all products/services absorbed in an inefficient and ineffective mode; and as it adds no value to them, they must be minimized an/or eliminated. The objective of this research is to a) identify all types and quantity of consumable material in surgeries, which were utilized, returned/sent back, or wasted during the intra surgery period; b) classify the waste as avoidable or inevitable when the materials were unwrapped and not utilized; c) measure the cost of the wasted material on surgical proceedings and d) calculate the index of waste material in HU-USP Surgical Center. This is a descriptive and investigative case study with quantitative approach. For the data collection, we used a form divided in two parts, one for raising the real consumption of material and the other for waste material. The sample was composed by 105 types of hospital and medical consuming material which were addressed to 275 surgery observed between Feb and May 2011. The results showed that the most used and recoiled/returned material have been surgical gloves and disposable syringes; the most wasted items were Surgeries threads, Surgical cotton thread, 45x45cm, 7.5x7.5cm and 30x30cm compress gauze. Above all, the item most wasted material was Surgical thread on average of 1.3 unit by surgeries. The cost of the utilized materials was R$ 133.730,30; the cost of total waste R$ 709,84, where R$ 327,48 were avoidable and R$ 382,36 were inevitable. Therefore the average of the percentage on waste in this sample was 9.34% where 1,23% were avoidable and 8.14% inevitable. Thus, it is assumed that the real waste was 1.23%. The lack of studies on the subject does not allow for comparisons, but the content presented may be considered low for a university hospital

The Master Thesis is focused on potential consequences of toll implication for vehicles under 3,5 tonnes. The main goal of this paper is to evaluate these consequences and propose a recommendation to the government whether to imply the toll or not. Quantitative research methods in a form of questionnaire were used in order to estimate the potential consequences of 0,4 CZK per km toll for vehicles under 3,5 tonnes. Moreover, was analysed the publicly accessible data of transportation, car accidents and deaths on roads in case of the Czech Republic. Theoretical part is focused on the currently used system on highways, the history of highways, system used in European countries and aspects of cost-benefit analysis. Three frequently used highways were examined in the practical part of this paper. A numerous of calculations were used in order to quantify all possible costs of toll implication. Toll implication costs and additional costs that arise due to avoiding expensive highways by some drivers represented the main aim of these calculations. Conclusion of this paper sums up key points of this paper and points out possible negative consequences of toll implication.

The aims of this thesis were to evaluate caries-preventive measures from a societal perspective, to demonstrate the use of resources in preventive dentistry, to develop and discuss techniques suitable for evaluating dental care costs and outcomes, and to test costs and consequences within a health economic decision model adapted to preventive dental care. The thesis is based on three separate studies with three separate cohorts. In the first study, performed at a single dental clinic, analysis was made of data on dental caries progression over four years in 92 adolescents, along with the use of resources for preventive treatment. In the second study, data from the intervention study “Evaluation of caries-preventive measures” (performed between 1995 and 1999 at 26 dental health clinics throughout Sweden) were used for economic evaluation. Three different approaches to calculating unit cost were discussed, each of which reflect the differences in treatment costs as influenced by the practitioner’s level of skill and competence (salary) and by methods of handling overhead cost allocation. These methods seem useful for evaluating costs in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The CEA showed an incremental cost-effectiveness over four years of SEK 2 043* per averted decayed (D) enamel (e) and dentine caries, missing (M) and filled (F) surface (S) (DeMFS). In the third study, 82 19-year-old individuals agreed to participate in a pilot exploratory case-control study. Individuals with high caries experience formed the test group while the control group consisted of individuals with no caries experience. To explore whether any differences existed between these two groups in perceived oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL), two OHRQOL measures were used. Additionally, the willingness of these individuals to pay (WTP) for a preventive strategy was elicited using the contingent valuation method (CVM) within a cost-benefit approach. Using these WTP values, the cost-benefit analyses showed positive net social benefit (NSB) values for both study groups, meaning that the benefits of prevention exceeded the costs. A new outcome measure, Value of Statistical Oral Health (VOSOH), was also presented. Consideration was also made, within the economic framework fundamental to this thesis, of the trend away from a strictly bio-medical paradigm towards a biopsychosocial perspective. The health economic decision model encompasses a number of different techniques for comparing costs with consequences, each with its own advantages and disadvantages and each with its own field of application. These techniques should be seen as complementary rather than competing. Preventive dentistry plays a central role in Swedish dental health care, and it is important that resources are used properly. Accurate evaluation methods are necessary in order to improve the basis for public decision-making; the methods proposed in this thesis seem to be of potential use in this endeavour. *SEK8.54 = US$1 (December 1999).

Background: In the ‘Arimidex’, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial, the aromatase inhibitor (AI) anastrozole had a ignificantly better efficacy and safety profile than tamoxifen as initial adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor-positive (HR+) early breast cancer (EBC) in postmenopausal patients. To compare the combined long-term clinical and economic benefits, we carried out a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of anastrozole versus tamoxifen based on the data of the 100- month analysis of the ATAC trial from the perspective of the German public health insurance. Patients and Methods: A Markov model with a 25-year time horizon was developed using the 100-month analysis of the ATAC trial as well as data obtained from published literature and expert opinion. Results: Adjuvant treatment of EBC with anastrozole achieved an additional 0.32 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained per patient compared with tamoxifen, at an additional cost of D 6819 per patient. Thus, the incremental cost effectiveness of anastrozole versus tamoxifen at 25 years was D 21,069 ($ 30,717) per QALY gained. Conclusions: This is the first CEA of an AI that is based on extended follow-up data, taking into account the carryover effect of anastrozole, which maintains the efficacy benefits beyond therapy completion after 5 years. Adjuvant treatment with anastrozole for postmenopausal women with HR+ EBC is a cost-effective alternative to tamoxifen. / Hintergrund: Bei der adjuvanten Therapie von postmenopausalen Patientinnen mit Hormonrezeptor-positivem (HR+) Mammakarzinom belegen die ATAC-100-Monatsdaten (ATAC-Studie: ‘Arimidex’, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination) einen signifikanten Vorteil von Anastrozol gegenüber Tamoxifen in Bezug auf Rezidivrisiko und Verträglichkeit. Es wurde eine Kosten-Nutzwert-Analyse von Anastrozol im Vergleich zu Tamoxifen aus der Sicht des deutschen Gesundheitssystems durchgeführt. Material und Methoden: Als Berechnungsbasis wurde ein Markov- Modell zur Abschätzung der Kosteneffektivität entwickelt. Der Modellierungszeitraum umfasste 25 Jahre. Die Daten wurden anhand der ATAC-100-Monatsdaten, vorliegender Literatur und durch ein interdisziplinäres Expertenteam ermittelt. Ergebnisse: Eine adjuvante Therapie mit Anastrozol erzielte 0,32 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) pro Patientin mehr, verglichen mit einer adjuvanten Tamoxifentherapie. Die zusätzlichen Kosten der Therapie mit Anastrozol lagen bei 6819 D pro Patientin. Im Vergleich mit Tamoxifen erzielte Anastrozol einen ICER (Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio) von 21 069 D (30 717 $)/QALY über den gesamten Modellierungszeitraum. Schlussfolgerung: Diese Kosten- Nutzwert-Analyse eines Aromatasehemmers basiert erstmals auf einer Datenanalyse, die auch das Follow-Up und den sogenannten Carryover- Effekt nach einer abgeschlossenen 5-Jahres-Therapie beinhaltet. Anastrozol ist auch nach dieser Analyse aus der Sicht des deutschen Gesundheitssystems eine kosteneffektive Therapieoption für postmenopausale Patientinnen mit einem HR+ frühen Mammakarzinom. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.