The economic viability of farming in Saskatchewan is eroding and the future of the industry is becoming uncertain given the current economic state. The combination of low commodity prices, increasing input and transportation costs, ongoing drought conditions, inadequate safety net programs, and environmental concerns resulting from agricultural greenhouse gas emissions has led to this uncertainty. One possible solution for producers to help overcome or at least minimize the negative trends occurring in agriculture, which is proposed, is afforestation of agricultural land. Afforestation not only provides net private benefits of timber income but external benefits, including carbon sequestration, and preservation of native forests, which provides areas for hunting, wildlife viewing, and conservation of land. The economic efficiency of afforestation was examined using a transitional benefit cost framework for both crop and pasture systems. This allowed for both private and social perspectives, along with the opportunity costs, to be included and the economic efficiency of afforestation from each perspective was determined. The potential conversion of agricultural land to afforestation was based solely on economic efficiency and assumed producers demonstrated an economically rational decision making process. The results from the benefit cost analysis indicated that the net private benefits from afforestation were never significant enough to warrant the conversion of either crop or pasture systems to afforestation. The results did however show that the net social benefits from afforestation would warrant the conversion of crop systems to afforestation for a limited number of situations. Crop systems on physically marginal land with a carbon payment of either $22.58 or $33.55 tonne of C would warrant conversion to afforestation, using either a single or infinite rotation. The infinite rotation resulted in a larger allocation of land to afforestation. The role afforestation can play in helping producers diversify and increase income levels is limited. The low price paid for timber and the high costs of establishment for afforestation are the main constraints. In order for afforestation to become economically efficient on a large scale the constraints facing producers needs to be addressed.

No description available.

Introduction: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in medium or long-term infusion therapy. This study aims to assess the costs associated with PICCs and its determinants. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients with PICCs inserted at the Hospital for Sick Children between Jan.1, 2008 and Dec.31, 2008, were reviewed and followed until their PICCs were removed. Cost analysis, theoretical cost comparison with peripheral intravenous therapy (PIV), and multiple linear regressions were applied from the societal perspective. Findings: The average total cost is $2763.75/catheter/day, including inpatient ward cost. Age, male, ward, home care, catheter dwell days, and complications were found to be significant factors influencing the total cost. PICCs can become a cost saving device, compared to PIV, but is affected by several factors. Conclusion: Information gleaned from this study will inform decision makers maximizing the benefits of better resource allocation.

Introduction: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in medium or long-term infusion therapy. This study aims to assess the costs associated with PICCs and its determinants. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patients with PICCs inserted at the Hospital for Sick Children between Jan.1, 2008 and Dec.31, 2008, were reviewed and followed until their PICCs were removed. Cost analysis, theoretical cost comparison with peripheral intravenous therapy (PIV), and multiple linear regressions were applied from the societal perspective. Findings: The average total cost is $2763.75/catheter/day, including inpatient ward cost. Age, male, ward, home care, catheter dwell days, and complications were found to be significant factors influencing the total cost. PICCs can become a cost saving device, compared to PIV, but is affected by several factors. Conclusion: Information gleaned from this study will inform decision makers maximizing the benefits of better resource allocation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This analysis addresses the value of a submarine base in the Arctic in relation to the growing Soviet threat in that region and the feasibility of constructing and operating such a submarine base. Location, command and control, force operation, logistic support and appropriate force size are elements of the analysis. Also included is the cost effectiveness of the Arctic submarine base both in peacetime and in wartime situations. Based upon this limited analysis, such a base appears to be only marginally cost effective in peacetime but substantially so in wartime. / http://archive.org/details/analysisofbuildi00best / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide (Kishore et al., 2011), therefore how to prevent and treat this condition is of great importance to health care professionals and patients. Patients struggle to afford these medications which can ultimately influence their health outcome. Treatment of cardiovascular disease conditions may require several drugs and this causes an increase in health cost to the patient (Burapadaja Siriporn et al., 2007).The promotion of the use of generic medication and generic substitution is seen as one of the approaches to improve access to cardiovascular medications (Kishore et al., 2011; Kesselheim et al., 2008). Generic medications play an important role in reducing health care costs and in increasing access to healthcare. A large number of branded or innovator drugs and molecules are no longer protected by their patents or will be reaching patent expiration soon. Therefore there is an increased interest in research on generic drug competition and its effect on the market. Once generics enter the market, they have many effects on areas such as market share, prices and quantities sold (Gonzalez et al., 2008). The objective of this study was to determine the usage patterns of generic cardiovascular medications and possible cost savings that can be achieved by maximum generic substitution in the private community pharmacy health care environment in the Johannesburg area. Ten oral solid drug pairs experiencing generic substitution were investigated at four private community pharmacies that provided pharmaceutical products and services. The study was a quantitative, retrospective study of medical claims. Data on computerized drug claims were provided by a South African pharmaceutical service provider. Data was extracted and analysed of patients who receive one or more cardiovascular drugs for the period of June 2009 to May 2011. The results of this study showed that the cardiovascular (CVS) medications under study accounted for 21 817 of the total number of 282 109 items dispensed at all pharmacies for the study period which equals to 7.7%. Of the total of 21 817, the innovator CVS drugs accounted for a volume of 6 527 (29.9%) and the generics 15 290 (70.1%) of all the study CVS items dispensed. There was a decline in terms of percentage of innovator products (9.7%) and a corresponding increase in generic products by the same percentage from beginning to end of the study period in terms of items dispensed. The total cost of the study CVS innovator and generic drugs was R3 249k. This accounted for 7.4% of the total cost of all items dispensed for all the study pharmacies which was R43 672k. Of the total of R3 249k, a cost of R1 240k (38.2%) accounted for the innovator items and R2 009k (61.8%) accounted for the generic items. The average cost per CVS item for the entire study period was R149. The innovator average cost per item dispensed was R190 (±R93.28) and for generic R131 (±R59.55). There was a 9.9% decrease in percentage of innovator total cost and a corresponding 9.9% increase in percentage of generic cost from the beginning until end of the study period. The following was also revealed: the average cost per item decreased by R18 (from R156 during P1 to R138 for P6). The average cost per innovator item dispensed decreased by R10 (from R191 during P1 to R181 for P6) and the average cost per generic item decreased by R14 (from R138 during P1 to R124 for P6). The cost prevalence index (CPI) for innovator items was fairly expensive compared to generic medicine because the value of CPI was larger than 1. Potential cost savings of R576k would have been achieved if the least expensive generic was substituted during each period for the entire study period. If the most expensive generic was substituted, the potential cost savings would have been R448k. (Note: k =1000). Recommendations in this field of study for future research were also done.

Background: Maternity services in South Africa like in many developing countries remains a challenge. The high mortality and morbidity rates recorded in the confidential enquiries to maternal death (CEMD) reports in South Africa support a need for more studies to be done to improve maternal health services. Although clinical procedures are an integral part of the maternal health services, little is known about the current-status of clinical procedures performed in the maternity units of district hospitals and related resource utilisation. The apparently “free” maternity services at government hospitals involve substantial hidden and unpredicted costs, which is not quantified. Aims of the study: To describe the cost of the specific clinical procedures performed at the maternity unit of Thebe District Hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study design involving a retrospective record review of all maternity patient records for a one-month period in 2009. The month of September is mid-month for the financial year and was chosen as it is reflected a stable month in terms of financial performance. The costing aspect of this study was based on the National Health Reference Price List and UPFS. Data was analysed with NCSS software. Results: The study found that NVD was the main clinical procedures, which is in line with the district hospital package. The CS rate was within acceptable norm but a significant number of BBA is of concern and would require further exploration. The majority of the patients who delivered at this unit are black, unemployed and had no medical aid. Most of them arrived by ambulance although it was not clear whether these patients were coming directly from home or were referred by PHC clinics and CHCs. There were no maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity during the study period. This study documented the direct cost of clinical procedures performed at a district hospital. The Human resources was the main cost driver. The calculated cost for this study was far lower than the costs prescribed in NHRPL for NVD and CS but higher than UPFS. This study highlighted the need for revising the UPFS. Conclusion: The research findings will inform the resource needs for performing specified clinical procedures in maternity section at the Thebe District Hospital and will hopefully be used as a benchmark for maternity sections at all district hospitals in Thabo Mofutsanyana District and elsewhere. It has provided reasonable indications about the costs of each procedure and evidence can be used to determine the costs of each procedure in various district hospitals in the country and worldwide. It can further be utilised to do proper planning for our district hospitals in the province and develop the scientific criteria for resource allocation.

Saul B. Gelfand, Sanjoy K. Mitter. / "August 20, 1985." / Bibliography: p. 32. / "U.S. Army Res. Off. ... Grant DAAG29-84-K-0005" "Air Force Off. of Scientific Res. ... Grant AFOSR 82-0135B"

Neste trabalho foi realizada a simulaÃÃo do processo de produÃÃo de biodiesel pelas rotas de transesterificaÃÃo alcalina convencional para o processamento de Ãleo refinado (P-01), a transesterificaÃÃo alcalina com Ãleo residual a partir da etapa de prÃ-tratamento do Ãleo (P-02) e por fim a transesterificaÃÃo supercrÃtica do Ãleo residual (P-03). A simulaÃÃo do processo das trÃs plantas foi realizada no software comercial ÂHysys 7.3, utilizando o modelo termodinÃmico NRTL. A anÃlise do capital total investido foi realizada pelo mÃtodo dos fatores individuais de Guthrie e o mÃtodo percentual disposto em Peters et al., (1991). O capital total investido obtido pelo mÃtodo do fator individual de Guthrie foi 14, 16,4 e 20 milhÃes de reais, para os processos P-01, P-02 e P-03, respectivamente. Em geral, o custo total de produÃÃo anual de biodiesel foi realizado levando em consideraÃÃo os custos diretos de produÃÃo, custo indiretos, custos fixos, despesas gerais e depreciaÃÃo. A anÃlise de custo da rota P-01 foi verificada para empresas que pagam a taxa geral, bem como as que dispÃem do selo social, considerando a isenÃÃo de 69 e 100% das contribuiÃÃes PIS/COFINS. Os Ãndices de rentabilidade utilizados para qualificar os processos foram o retorno do investimento e o perÃodo de retorno do investimento. Ãndices que levam em consideraÃÃo o valor do dinheiro no tempo como o VPL (valor presente lÃquido) e a taxa interna de retorno (TIR) tambÃm foram utilizados na avaliaÃÃo comparativa do projeto mais rentÃvel economicamente. A anÃlise dos Ãndices econÃmicos aponta que a unidade de transesterificaÃÃo supercrÃtica à a mais rentÃvel dentre as trÃs (retorno do investimento igual a 36%, perÃodo de retorno igual a 1,59 anos, VPL igual a R$ 19,41 milhÃes de reais e TIR igual a 33%). O segundo melhor investimento, com retorno de 20%, foi verificado para a unidade de transesterificaÃÃo alcalina com prÃ-tratamento do Ãleo residual. Todos os Ãndices financeiros avaliados foram negativos para a unidade de transesterficaÃÃo alcalina convencional processando Ãleo virgem. O custo de produÃÃo anual do biodiesel pelas rotas P-01, P-02 e P-03 foram 3,58 R$/kg, 1,81 R$/kg e 1,82 R$/kg, respectivamente. A anÃlise de sensibilidade mostrou que as variÃveis mais influentes na composiÃÃo do retorno do investimento sÃo o preÃo do Ãleo, biodiesel e do glicerol. Por fim, verificou-se o efeito da variaÃÃo dos custos de aquisiÃÃo destes componentes (entre +50 e -50%), nos Ãndices financeiros (retorno do investimento, VPL e TIR). / The simulation of three processes for biodiesel production has been developed: transesterified refined oil (P-01); transesterified residual oil pretreated (P-02) and finally the residual oil supercritical transesterification (P-03 ) from commercial software Hysys  7.3, using the NRTL thermodynamic model. The analysis of the total capital invested was performed by individual factors Guthrie and percentage method provided in Peters et al., (1991). The total invested capital obtained by the method of single factor Guthrie was $7, $8.2 and $10 million, for the processes P-01, P-02 and P-03, respectively. In general, the total cost of annual production of biodiesel was performed taking into account the direct production costs, indirect costs, fixed costs, overheads and depreciation. The cost of the plant P-01 was verified for companies that pay the general rate, as well as those that have the social fuel seal, considering the exemption of 69 and 100% of PIS / COFINS. Profitability ratios used to evaluate the processes were the return on investment and payback period of the investment. Indices that take into account the value of money over time as the NPV (net present value) and internal rate of return (IRR) were also used to determine the project economically more profitable. Analysis of economic indicators shows that the supercritical transesterification unit is the most profitable of the three (return on investment of 36%, payback period equal to 1.59 years, NPV of $9.7 million and TIR equal to 33%). The second best investment with a 20% return was seen in the plant P-02. All economic indicator evaluated were negative for the unit P-01. The cost of annual biodiesel production facilities by P-01, P-02 and P-03 were $1.79/kg, $0.9/kg and $0.91/kg respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most influential variables in the composition of investment return are the price of oil, biodiesel and glycerol. Finally, there was the effect of the variation of the acquisition costs of these components (between +50 and -50%), in the economic indicators (ROI, NPV and IRR).