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Journal articles on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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Sharp, I. H., and M. A. Schell. "Study of Recreational Use of Sydney Water Board and Fish River Water Supply Storages (Australia)." Water Science and Technology 21, no. 2 (February 1, 1989): 119–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1989.0037.
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Existing and potential recreational uses in a number of very different water supply catchments managed by two major N.S.W. authorities were investigated. Community attitudes to recreational use of both land based and water based activities were analysed together with reactions to increased charges to cover costs of ensuring safe water quality. Threats to water quality were studied and additional management and water quality control measures formulated.
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Wellings, C. R. "Puccinia striiformis in Australia: a review of the incursion, evolution, and adaptation of stripe rust in the period 1979 - 2006." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, no. 6 (2007): 567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar07130.
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The wheat stripe rust pathogen (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici; Pst) was first detected in Australia in 1979. The features of the initial pathotype suggested that it was of European origin, and later work provided evidence that it was most likely transmitted as adherent spores on travellers’ clothing. Despite long-held views that this cool temperature pathogen would not adapt to Australian conditions, Pst became endemic and progressively adapted to commercial wheat production through step-wise mutation. Several of these mutant pathotypes became frequent in the Pst population, causing widespread infection and significant costs to production (yield and quality losses; chemical control expenditure) in certain cultivars and seasons. Pathotype evolution, including adaptation to native barley grass (Hordeum spp.) populations, is described. The occurrence of an exotic pathotype of Pst in Western Australia in 2002, and its subsequent spread to eastern Australia, represented a major shift in the pathogen population. This pathotype dominated pathogen populations throughout Australia from 2003, with chemical control expenditure estimated at AU$40–90 million annually. Another exotic introduction was detected in 1998. Initial data indicated that certain isolates collected from barley grass were highly avirulent to wheat differentials, with the exception of partial virulence to Chinese 166. Further seedling tests revealed that these isolates, tentatively designated barley grass stripe rust (BGYR), were virulent on several Australian barleys, notably those of Skiff parentage. Data, including molecular studies, suggest that BGYR is a new forma specialis of P. striiformis. Field nurseries indicate that BGYR is likely to have little impact on commercial barley, although this may change with further pathotype evolution or the release of susceptible cultivars.
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Roy, Peter. "Maritime offshore operations—occupational noise monitoring, assessment and control." APPEA Journal 49, no. 2 (2009): 569. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/aj08042.
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With increasing emphasis on occupational health as a component of maritime safety case requirements for Australia, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA), in keeping with their goal of improving health and safety outcomes across the industry, has ramped up their expectations on noise management plans (NMP). Now the expectation includes noise risk assessments and evaluation and implementation of feasible engineering noise controls, and NOPSA have added scrutiny of ototoxic substances as well, all of which parallel international trends. NOPSA surveys have found rather poor industry compliance with noise management requirements overall, and have stated that they will continue to promote the issues and will not hesitate to take enforcement action to improve compliance. Occupational noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is 100% permanent and 100% preventable. Failing to prevent NIHL has significant human, economic, legal and operational impacts. NIHL results in diminished quality of life including isolation and communication problems that affect social interactions. The economic effects of NIHL include lost time and decreased productivity, loss of otherwise qualified and experienced workers through medical disqualification, workers’ compensation costs and disability settlements, retraining costs and expenses related to medical intervention and treatment. Noise-impaired communications affect workplace operational and health and safety performance, and noisy ship and maritime platform accommodations and common areas adversely affect staff comfort, fatigue, morale and general well-being.
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Jung, Brian, Niel Kritzinger, Steven van Wagensveld, and John Mak. "A case study for cost-effective design of relocatable deep dewpoint control gas plant." APPEA Journal 57, no. 2 (2017): 607. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/aj16030.
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Australia has significant smaller-capacity gas fields, in relatively remote areas. An economically viable design for the Australian market is a small to mid-size gas plant to produce pipeline-quality gas and recover attractive amounts of liquid products (NGLs) for export by truck. Such a plant has minimal equipment, is highly modularised to be cost-effective for remote locations with high labour costs, can be relocated, and can be implemented in a substantially shorter time frame than conventional projects. For the North and South American markets, we have developed a deep dewpointing process that combines high NGL recovery with simplicity of design, yet is flexible enough to accommodate a range of compositions and flow rates. This design is well suited for standardisation of small to medium-size gas plants where feed gas compositions may vary and capacity increases are not well known. A short implementation schedule provides first-to-market economic benefits. We have developed 3rd Generation ModularisationSM that is proven to significantly reduce a plant’s footprint compared with more traditional modularisation practices. This new approach makes it possible to design a gas processing facility as transportable modules that can be built in the most cost-effective location, are low cost to install and may be relocated in the future. This has been demonstrated in a recent project completed in 2015 for Shell in Canada. This paper presents the solution for the Australian market that combines the benefits of high gas liquids recovery with low investment, delivered in compact relocatable modules that enable very flexible field development strategies.
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Lee, Yong Yi, Cathrine Mihalopoulos, Mary Lou Chatterton, Susan L. Fletcher, Patty Chondros, Konstancja Densley, Elizabeth Murray, et al. "Economic evaluation of the Target-D platform to match depression management to severity prognosis in primary care: A within-trial cost-utility analysis." PLOS ONE 17, no. 5 (May 25, 2022): e0268948. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268948.
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Background Target-D, a new person-centred e-health platform matching depression care to symptom severity prognosis (minimal/mild, moderate or severe) has demonstrated greater improvement in depressive symptoms than usual care plus attention control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Target-D compared to usual care from a health sector and partial societal perspective across 3-month and 12-month follow-up. Methods and findings A cost-utility analysis was conducted alongside the Target-D randomised controlled trial; which involved 1,868 participants attending 14 general practices in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Data on costs were collected using a resource use questionnaire administered concurrently with all other outcome measures at baseline, 3-month and 12-month follow-up. Intervention costs were assessed using financial records compiled during the trial. All costs were expressed in Australian dollars (A$) for the 2018–19 financial year. QALY outcomes were derived using the Assessment of Quality of Life-8D (AQoL-8D) questionnaire. On a per person basis, the Target-D intervention cost between $14 (minimal/mild prognostic group) and $676 (severe group). Health sector and societal costs were not significantly different between trial arms at both 3 and 12 months. Relative to a A$50,000 per QALY willingness-to-pay threshold, the probability of Target-D being cost-effective under a health sector perspective was 81% at 3 months and 96% at 12 months. From a societal perspective, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 30% at 3 months and 80% at 12 months. Conclusions Target-D is likely to represent good value for money for health care decision makers. Further evaluation of QALY outcomes should accompany any routine roll-out to assess comparability of results to those observed in the trial. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000537459).
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Cheng, Qinglu, Stuart A. Kinner, Xing J. Lee, Kathryn J. Snow, and Nicholas Graves. "Cost–utility analysis of low-intensity case management to increase contact with health services among ex-prisoners in Australia." BMJ Open 8, no. 8 (August 2018): e023082. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023082.
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ObjectivesThe economic burden of incarceration is substantial in Australia. People released from prison are at high risk of poor health and this is an important predictor of recidivism. The ‘Passports Study’ was a randomised controlled trial of an intervention designed to increase health service utilisation after release from prison. The aim of this study is to conduct a cost–utility analysis of this transitional programme.SettingAustraliaDesignA hybrid simulation model was developed to estimate the changes to total economic costs and effectiveness expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from the adoption of the ’Passports’ intervention compared with the control group. Model parameters were informed by linked data from Queensland Corrective Services, Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Queensland Hospital Admission Patient Data Collection, Emergency Department Information System and National Death Index. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Short-Form 8 Health Survey (SF-8). The primary outcomes were the costs and estimated QALYs associated with the intervention group and the control group. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to test parameter uncertainties.ResultsCompared with the control group where no attempt was made to encourage health service utilisation, an average participant in the intervention group incurred an extra cost of AUD 1790 and experienced slightly reduced QALYs, which indicated that the intervention was dominated in the baseline analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis revealed that the transitional programme had a low probability of being cost-effective with the outcome measures selected.ConclusionThe findings of this study do not provide economic evidence to support the widespread adoption of the Passports intervention. Due to the reductionist nature of the cost–utility approach, it may be that important health-related benefits have been omitted. Another research approach using a wider range of health-related measures might generate different conclusions.
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Comans, Tracy, Victoria Visser, and Paul Scuffham. "Cost Effectiveness of a Community-Based Crisis Intervention Program for People Bereaved by Suicide." Crisis 34, no. 6 (November 1, 2013): 390–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000210.
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Background: Postvention services aim to ameliorate distress and reduce future incidences of suicide. The StandBy Response Service is one such service operating in Australia for those bereaved through suicide. Few previous studies have reported estimates or evaluations of the economic impact and outcomes associated with the implementation of bereavement/grief interventions. Aims: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of a postvention service from a societal perspective. Method: A Markov model was constructed to estimate the health outcomes, quality-adjusted life years, and associated costs such as medical costs and time off work. Data were obtained from a prospective cross-sectional study comparing previous clients of the StandBy service with a control group of people bereaved by suicide who had not had contact with StandBy. Costs and outcomes were measured at 1 year after suicide bereavement and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated. Results: The base case found that the StandBy service dominated usual care with a cost saving from providing the StandBy service of AUS $803 and an increase in quality-adjusted life years of 0.02. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicates there is an 81% chance the service would be cost-effective given a range of possible scenarios. Conclusion: Postvention services are a cost-effective strategy and may even be cost-saving if all costs to society from suicide are taken into account.
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Roebeling, P. C., M. C. Cunha, L. Arroja, and M. E. van Grieken. "Abatement vs. treatment for efficient diffuse source water pollution management in terrestrial-marine systems." Water Science and Technology 72, no. 5 (May 25, 2015): 730–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.259.
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Marine ecosystems are affected by water pollution originating from coastal catchments. The delivery of water pollutants can be reduced through water pollution abatement as well as water pollution treatment. Hence, sustainable economic development of coastal regions requires balancing of the marginal costs from water pollution abatement and/or treatment and the associated marginal benefits from marine resource appreciation. Water pollution delivery reduction costs are, however, not equal across abatement and treatment options. In this paper, an optimal control approach is developed and applied to explore welfare maximizing rates of water pollution abatement and/or treatment for efficient diffuse source water pollution management in terrestrial-marine systems. For the case of diffuse source dissolved inorganic nitrogen water pollution in the Tully-Murray region, Queensland, Australia, (agricultural) water pollution abatement cost, (wetland) water pollution treatment cost and marine benefit functions are determined to explore welfare maximizing rates of water pollution abatement and/or treatment. Considering partial (wetland) treatment costs and positive water quality improvement benefits, results show that welfare gains can be obtained, primarily, through diffuse source water pollution abatement (improved agricultural management practices) and, to a minor extent, through diffuse source water pollution treatment (wetland restoration).
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Gao, Lan, Phuong Nguyen, David Dunstan, and Marjory Moodie. "Are Office-Based Workplace Interventions Designed to Reduce Sitting Time Cost-Effective Primary Prevention Measures for Cardiovascular Disease? A Systematic Review and Modelled Economic Evaluation." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 5 (March 7, 2019): 834. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16050834.
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Objectives: To assess the cost-effectiveness of workplace-delivered interventions designed to reduce sitting time as primary prevention measures for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Australia. Methods: A Markov model was developed to simulate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of a workplace intervention for the primary prevention of CVD amongst office-based workers. An updated systematic review and a meta-analysis of workplace interventions that aim to reduce sitting time was conducted to inform the intervention effect. The primary outcome was workplace standing time. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated for this intervention measured against current practice. Costs (in Australia dollars) and benefits were discounted at 3% annually. Both deterministic (DSA) and probabilistic (PSA) sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: The updated systematic review identified only one new study. Only the multicomponent intervention that included a sit-and-stand workstation showed statistically significant changes in the standing time compared to the control. The intervention was associated with both higher costs ($6820 versus $6524) and benefits (23.28 versus 23.27, quality-adjusted life year, QALYs), generating an ICER of $43,825/QALY. The DSA showed that target age group for the intervention, relative risk of CVD relative to the control and intervention cost were the key determinants of the ICER. The base case results were within the range of the 95% confidence interval and the intervention had a 85.2% probability of being cost-effective. Conclusions: A workplace-delivered intervention in the office-based setting including a sit-and-stand desk component is a cost-effective strategy for the primary prevention of CVD. It offers a new option and location when considering interventions to target the growing CVD burden.
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Mazaheri, Mandana, Yvonne Scorgie, Richard A. Broome, Geoffrey G. Morgan, Bin Jalaludin, and Matthew L. Riley. "Monetising Air Pollution Benefits of Clean Energy Requires Locally Specific Information." Energies 14, no. 22 (November 15, 2021): 7622. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en14227622.
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Meeting the Paris Agreement on climate change requires substantial investments in low-emissions energy and significant improvements in end-use energy efficiency. These measures can also deliver improved air quality and there is broad recognition of the health benefits of decarbonising energy. Monetising these health benefits is an important part of a robust assessment of the costs and benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs (clean energy programs (CEP)) and a variety of methods have been used to estimate health benefits at national, regional, continental and global scales. Approaches, such as unit damage cost estimates and impact pathways, differ in complexity and spatial coverage and can deliver different estimates for air pollution costs/benefits. To date, the monetised health benefits of CEP in Australia have applied international and global estimates that can range from 2–229USD/tCO2 (USD 2016). Here, we calculate the current health damage costs of coal-fired power in New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, and the health benefits of CEP. Focusing on PM2.5 pollution, we estimate the current health impacts of coal-fired power at 3.20USD/MWh, approximately 10% of the generation costs, and much lower than previous estimates. We demonstrate the need for locally specific assessment of the air pollution benefits of CEP and illustrate that without locally specific information, the relative costs/benefits of CEP may be significantly over- or understated. We estimate that, for NSW, the health benefits from CEP are 1.80USD/MWh and that the current air pollution health costs of coal-fired power in NSW represent a significant unpriced externality.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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Johnson, David Robert. "Conformability analysis for the control of quality costs in electronic systems." Thesis, University of Hull, 2003. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:16059.
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The variations embodied in the production of electronic systems can cause that system to fail to conform to its specification with respect to Critical to Quality features. As a consequence of such failures the system manufacture may incur significant quality costs ranging from simple warranty returns up to legal liabilities. It can be difficult to determine both the probability that a system will fail to meet its specification and estimate the associated cost of failure. This thesis presents the Electronic Conformability Analysis (eCA) technique a novel methodology and supporting tool set for the assessment and control of quality costs associated with electronic systems. The technique addresses the three main elements of production affecting quality costs associated with electronic systems which are functionality, manufacturability and testability. Electronic Conformability Analysis combines statistical performance exploration with process capability indices, a modified form of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and a cost mapping procedure. The technique allows the quality costs associated with design and manufacture induced failures to be assessed and the effectiveness of test strategies in reducing these costs to be determined. Through this analysis of costs the technique allows the potential trade-offs between these costs and those associated with design and process modifications to be explored. In support of the Electronic Conformability Analysis technique a number of new analysis tools have been developed. These tools enable the methodology to cope with the specific difficulties associated with the analysis of electronic systems. The technique has been applied to a number of analogue and mixed signal, safety critical circuits from automotive systems. These case studies have included several different levels of system complexity ranging from relatively simple transistor circuits to highly complex mechatronic systems. These case studies have shown that the technique is effective in a commercial design and manufacturing environment.
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Sharma, Naresh Kumar. "Predicting and reducing warranty costs by considering customer expectation and product performance." Diss., Rolla, Mo. : Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2008. http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/thesis/pdf/Sharma_09007dcc80626d74.pdf.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2008.Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed March 2, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-220).
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Kuong-Lau, Kok-kin. "Quality assurance resource allocation using expert opinion and optimization." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/24331.
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Seawright, Larry L. "Reducing learning object inspection/evaluation costs in instructional design /." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2003. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd232.pdf.
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Cooper, Trudi. "Quality management in Australian higher education : A critical review." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/842.
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Quality management in higher education is a politically contentious issue in Australia. as it is in North America, New Zealand, and many European countries. The Australian government has instituted a quality management system for higher education that it claims will improve university efficiency, accountability and quality. Critics assert that the current quality management system is detrimental to universities and undermines the capability of universities to deliver maximal benefits to individuals and to society. Evaluation of the basis of conflicting claims is necessary to enable decisions about the usefulness of current practices and decisions about whether existing quality management arrangements should be retained, modified and developed, or replaced, or, abolished.
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Williams, Matthew J. "Development of a quality assurance plan for a microbrewery." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/979.
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Quality assurance (QA) has become a key factor to business success in the marketplace. Within Australia, companies normally approach QA by implementing formal systems which maintain the consistency of manufacturing processes, and hence, the quality of subsequent output. These systems have increasingly been based upon the international series of standards, ISO 9000.In the food industry, safety is a minimum requirement for food quality. As Governments and food authorities have endeavoured to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses, they have promoted the implementation of additional systems developed to a specific standard for food safety, namely Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). However, the cost of developing and maintaining separate systems to ISO 9000 and HACCP is prohibitive to many food companies, particularly smaller operators. As a consequence, a number of alternative standards have been recently developed that are more relevant to the needs of these companies (e.g. SQF 2000, HACCP-9000). The purpose of this study was to develop a QA plan which could be successfully applied by a particular small food manufacturer (Westoz Brewing), This was achieved by adopting a technique used in a number of these alternative standards, i.e. application of HACCP to both safety and wider quality issues. Due to time constraints, the study focussed on applying HACCP only to quality issues rather than to both quality and safety issues. In particular, these issues were associated with lager-style products manufactured at one of the client's breweries. As a result of this research, the client was provided with a practical plan suitable for the application of a QA system to the production of a Westoz beer. In addition to reducing costs associated with maintaining an integrated system, further savings would be made due to the preventative nature of HACCP, i.e, minimisation of product reworking and waste by ensuring that more products are manufactured "right first time". The developed plan also represented an initial step towards certification to recognised quality standards such as SQF 2000.
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Patterson, Jan. "Consumers and complaints systems in health care /." Title page, contents and summary only, 1996. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09php3174.pdf.
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Smit, Wiehahn. "Assessing the contribution of quality and efficiency initiatives to reduce productions costs at Distell's Green Park." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5042.
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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Manufacturers can gain a competitive advantage through lower production cost, better quality, better efficiencies and being more flexible and dependable than its competitors. Lower production cost can be a result of first-time-right quality products and efficient production processes in terms of throughput. Low production cost is not a destination but a journey where the goalpost will always move as competitors will continuously come up with ideas to lower prices and margins have to be cut in order to stay competitive. This is where manufacturers must come up with initiatives to continuously drive its operational metrics to remain competitive. This research report will explain how Distell's biggest bottling plant, Green Park, successfully introduced Process Control to increase its quality operational metric and a Six Sigma project to reduce downtime to increase its efficiency operational metric to drive its operational costs down. Process Control was introduced as a TOM initiative with a subsequent reduction in rework due to poor quality (thousands) from R1 585 to R484. This contributed to 'first-time-right' production, better efficiencies and not tying up valuable production time with reworks. The Six Sigma principles were used on a production line to introduce initiatives to reduce changeovers and unplanned downtime to improve its GEE. This initiative has a projected benefit of R687 (thousands). The report also indicated that a 1% increase in Green Park's overall GEE will result in 1% saving of production hours resulting in a 1% saving of variable cost. This will result in an OEE of 63% that will save 226 hours and R410(thousands).
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vervaardigers kan 'n kompeterende voorsprong verkry deur laer produksiekoste, beter gehalte en groter doeltreffendheid te bewerkstellig en deur meer buigbaar en betroubaar as hul teestanders te wees. Goeie gehalte produkte wat die eerste keer reg is en doeltreffende produksieprosesse vir verwerkingskapasiteit kan laer produksiekoste tot gevolg het. Lae produksiekoste is nie 'n bestemming nie, maar 'n reis waartydens die doelpale sal skuif met teestanders wat deurgaans met idees om pryse te verjaag, vorendag sal kom. Winsgrense sal moet verklein word om kompeterend te bly. Hier moet vervaardigers inisiatief aan die dag lê om hul operasionele meetbares te dryf om kompeterend te bly. Hierdie navorsingsverslag sal verduidelik hoe Distell se grootste botterings aanleg, Green Park, prosesbeheer (Process Control) suksesvol in werking gestel het om sy meetbares wat operasionele gehalte betref, te verhoog, en 'n Six Sigma-projek ingestel het om staantyd te verminder sodat sy meetbares wat operasionele doeltreffendheid betref, kan verhoog en sy operasionele koste sodoende besnoei word. Prosesbeheer is as algehele gehaltebestuursinisiatief ingestel met 'n gevolglike vermindering van herverwerking weens swak gehalte (duisende) van R1 585 na R484. Dit het bygedra tot groter doeltreffendheid met produksie wat uit die staanspoor reg is, en verhoed dat kosbare produksietyd op herverwerking gespandeer word. Die Six Sigma-beginsels is in 'n produksielyn gebruik om inisiatiewe in werking te stel om oorskakelings en onbeplande staantyd ter verbetering van die algehele toerustingsdoeltreffendheid (OEE), te verminder. Hierdie inisiatief hou 'n geprojekteerde voordeel van R687 (duisende) in. Die verslag dui verder aan dat 'n 1%-verhoging in Green Park se algehele OEE sal lei tot 'n 1% besparing in produksie-ure, wat 'n 1% besparing op veranderlike koste tot gevolg het. Dit sal tot 'n OEE van 63% lei, wat 226 uur en R410 (duisende) sal spaar.
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Santín, López Ignacio. "Application of control strategies in wastewater treatment plants for effluent quality improvement, costs reduction and effluent limits violations removal." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/305238.
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En este trabajo se aplican diferentes estrategias de control en las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales. El primer objetivo es la mejora del rendimiento de control. Básicamente, esto sirve como una prueba de que la estrategia de control propuesta se ha aplicado correctamente. El objetivo final es el efecto de la estrategia de control aplicada sobre el rendimiento de la planta. En concreto, mejorar la calidad del efluente, reducir costes de operación y evitar violaciones de los límites establecidos en el efluente.
La evaluación de las diferentes estrategias de control se lleva a cabo en primer lugar con el Benchmark Simulation Model No. 1 (BSM1), y en segundo lugar con Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2). BSM1 se centra en el tratamiento biológico mediante reactores de lodos activos, y la evaluación se basa en una semana de simulación. BSM2 es una versión extendida del BSM1, agregando el tratamiento de lodos y proporciona un afluente más elaborado y variable, con un año de evaluación.
Los enfoques de control se basan en Control Predictivo basado en Modelo, control difuso, funciones que relacionan las variables de entrada y las manipuladas, y Redes Neuronales Artificiales. El Control Predictivo basado en Modelo se propone para una mejora del tracking. El control difuso y las funciones se implementan para mejorar los procesos de desnitrificación o de nitrificación en base a los objetivos propuestos. Sus parámetros de sintonía se seleccionan mediante análisis trade-off. Las Redes Neuronales Artificiales se aplican para detectar riesgo de violaciones y obtener una selección automática de la estrategia de control adecuada.
Se muestran los resultados y se comparan con las estrategias de control por defecto y con la literatura. Para el rendimiento de control, se obtiene una mejora satisfactoria. En cuanto al rendimiento de la planta, en la mayoría de los casos se evitan violaciones de los límites establecidos de nitrógeno total y de amonio y nitrógeno amoniacal, mientras que también se consigue una mejora de la calidad del efluente y una reducción de costes de operación.In this work different control strategies are applied in wastewater treatment plants. The first objective is the control performance improvement. Basically, this serves as a proof that the proposed control strategy has been applied properly. The final objective is the effect of the applied control strategy on the plant performance. Specifically, the effluent quality improvement, costs reduction and avoiding violations of the established effluent limits. The evaluation of the different control strategies is carried out first with Benchmark Simulation Model No. 1 (BSM1), and secondly with Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2). BSM1 is focused on the biological wastewater treatment by activated sludge reactors, and the evaluation is based on a week of simulation. BSM2 is extended adding the sludge treatment and provides a more elaborated and variable influent with an assessment of one year. The control approaches are based on Model Predictive Control, Fuzzy Control, functions that relate the input and manipulated variables and Artificial Neural Networks. Model Predictive Control is proposed for tracking improvement, Fuzzy Controllers and functions are implemented to improve the denitrification or nitrification processes based on the proposed objectives. Their tuning parameters are selected by trade-off analyses. Artificial Neural Networks are applied to detect risk of violations for an automatic selection of the suitable control strategy. The results are presented and compared with the default control strategy and with the literature. For the control performance, a satisfactory improvement is obtained. Regarding the plant performance, in most of the cases, violations of the established limits of total nitrogen and ammonium and ammonia nitrogen are avoided, as well as an effluent quality improvement and cost reduction are achieved.
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Urbanová, Lucie. "Systém řízení jakosti společnosti a řízení reklamací." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-221733.
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This master’s thesis deals with system of quality management and its applications in Tyco Electronics EC Trutnov, s. r. o. company. The practical part is focused in management of complaint and implementation of costs of quality monitoring.
Books on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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American Society for Quality Control. Quality Costs Committee., ed. Guide for reducing quality costs. 2nd ed. Milwaukee, Wis: American Society for Quality Control, 1987.
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J, Costa Daniel, ed. Quality pays: Increasing profits through quality cost analysis. Wheaton, Ill: Hitchcock Pub. Co., 1988.
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Get competitive!: Cut costs and improve quality. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Liberty Hall Press, 1990.
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Rooney, E. M. Measuring quality related costs. London: Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 1992.
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J, Plunkett J., ed. Quality costing. 2nd ed. London: Chapman & Hall, 1995.
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J, Plunkett J., ed. Quality costing. London: Chapman and Hall, 1991.
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F, Grimm Andrew, Campanella Jack 1934-, and American Society for Quality Control. Quality Costs Committee., eds. Quality costs: Ideas & applications : a collection of papers. 2nd ed. Milwaukee: ASQC Quality Press, 1987.
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Poor-quality cost. New York: M. Dekker, 1987.
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Vatavuk, William M. Escalation indexes for air pollution control costs. Research Triangle Park, NC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, Innovative Strategies and Economics Group, 1995.
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Reidenbach, R. Eric. Six sigma marketing: From cutting costs to growing market share. Milwaukee, WI: ASQ Quality Press, 2009.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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Schneider, H., and P. Th Wilrich. "A Numerical Analysis of Sampling Plans Based on Prior Distribution and Costs." In Frontiers in Statistical Quality Control, 35–51. Heidelberg: Physica-Verlag HD, 1987. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-11787-3_3.
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Cao, Qilin, Xiyue Xiong, Yelin Ren, and Tingting Liu. "Analyst Following, Internal Control Quality, and Debt Financing Costs: Empirical Evidence from China." In Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Management Science and Engineering Management, 456–71. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49889-4_36.
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Liu, Dongyan, R. J. Morrison, and R. J. West. "Phytoplankton Assemblages as an Indicator of Water Quality in Seven Temperate Estuarine Lakes in South-East Australia." In Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control, 191–202. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_14.
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Maiwald, Detlef, Domenico Di Lisa, and Hans Peter Mnikoleiski. "Full Control of Pitch Burn During Baking: It’s Impact on Anode Quality, Operational Safety, Maintenance and Operational Costs." In Light Metals 2011, 875–80. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48160-9_150.
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Maiwald, Detlef, Domenico Di Lisa, and Hans Peter Mnikoleiski. "Full Control of Pitch Burn during Baking: It's Impact on Anode Quality, Operational Safety, Maintenance and Operational Costs." In Light Metals 2011, 875–80. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118061992.ch150.
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Kuhlmann, Sabine, and Sylvia Veit. "The Federal Ministerial Bureaucracy, the Legislative Process and Better Regulation." In Public Administration in Germany, 357–73. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53697-8_20.
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AbstractOver the last decades, Better Regulation has become a major reform topic at the federal and—in some cases—also at the Länder level. Although the debate about improving regulatory quality and reducing unnecessary burdens created by bureaucracy and red tape date back to the 1960s and 1970s, the introduction by law in 2006 of a new independent institutionalised body for regulatory control at the federal level of government has brought a new quality to the discourse and practice of Better Regulation in Germany. This chapter introduces the basic features of the legislative process at the federal level in Germany, addresses the issue of Better Regulation and outlines the role of the National Regulatory Control Council (Nationaler Normenkontrollrat—NKR) as a ‘watchdog’ for compliance costs, red tape and regulatory impacts.
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Morgan, Lynette. "Plant factories - closed plant production systems." In Hydroponics and protected cultivation: a practical guide, 229–45. Wallingford: CABI, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781789244830.0012.
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Abstract This chapter focuses on plant factories, which is an indoor, enclosed, crop cultivation system where the growing environment is precisely controlled to maximize production. Topics covered are the history and background of plant factories,advantages of plant factories, criticisms of plant factories, costs and returns of plant factories, domestic and other small-scale plant factories, crops produced including pharmaceuticals, vertical or multilevel systems, including moveable systems, crop nutrition in plant factories, plant factory environments, lighting, environmental control and plant quality in plant factories, and automation and robotization.
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Morgan, Lynette. "Plant factories - closed plant production systems." In Hydroponics and protected cultivation: a practical guide, 229–45. Wallingford: CABI, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781789244830.0229.
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Abstract This chapter focuses on plant factories, which is an indoor, enclosed, crop cultivation system where the growing environment is precisely controlled to maximize production. Topics covered are the history and background of plant factories,advantages of plant factories, criticisms of plant factories, costs and returns of plant factories, domestic and other small-scale plant factories, crops produced including pharmaceuticals, vertical or multilevel systems, including moveable systems, crop nutrition in plant factories, plant factory environments, lighting, environmental control and plant quality in plant factories, and automation and robotization.
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Saunders, Gordon, and Tobias Müller. "Application of a Standardized Design Procedure in the Development of Automated Micro-assembly Processes." In IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 25–35. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72632-4_2.
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AbstractAutomated precision assembly of e.g. optical systems requires development efforts in manifold domains, such as part feeding, handling, alignment, bonding and quality control. The use of systematic design procedure enables the rapid and complete development of new applications and use cases using existing equipment. Combined with modular equipment and subsystems, the use of a standardized design process significantly reduces development time and therefore costs. A generic methodology based on the functional decomposition of assembly task requirements and a coherent synthesis of functional process building blocks can be an answer to reduced process ramp-up time, more stable processes and enable concurrent engineering for novel tool and process development.
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Lasa, Rodrigo, Andrea Birke, Larissa Guillén, Martín Aluja, and Daniel Carrillo. "Pests." In Guava: botany, production and uses, 249–69. Wallingford: CABI, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9781789247022.0013.
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Abstract This chapter focuses on major pests of guava in the different production areas of the world. The most important insects and mites have been grouped into six categories that have been divided according to different species and their importance across the different guava-producing regions. The chapter also emphasizes the basic features of each group related to their feeding damage, biology, behaviour, ecology and biorational pest management strategies. Minor pests are also listed. It is suggested that the main focus of pest control measures should be targeted towards fruit flies, some coleopteran and lepidopteran species that bore fruit and stems, and some minor pests that include scales, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies and mites that increase guava production costs and reduce fruit quality and yields.
Conference papers on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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Sandhu, Ramandeep Singh, and Manik Gupta. "Quality Control & Monitoring in OTT Workflows." In SMPTE Australia Conference. IEEE, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.5594/m001741.
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Kawasaki, S., M. Tanaka, H. Taoka, J. Matsuki, and Y. Hayashi. "Cooperative power quality control by photovoltaic systems." In 2011 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT Australia). IEEE, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/isgt-asia.2011.6167110.
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Afandi, Izzah, Philip Ciufo, Ashish Agalgaonkar, and Sarath Perera. "Universal volt/var control strategy for different distribution networks in Australia." In 2018 18th International Conference on Harmonics and Quality of Power (ICHQP). IEEE, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ichqp.2018.8378900.
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Lyons, Ariel, Mahdi Sheikh Veisi, Amir Salehpour, Cinto Azwar, Shameed Ashraf, Lynden Duthie, and Steven Marshall. "Cementing the First Australian Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage Appraisal Well." In Offshore Technology Conference Asia. OTC, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.4043/31562-ms.
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Abstract Analysis has consistently shown that carbon capture and storage (CCS) has an important role in meeting emission-reduction targets (IPCC, 2018). CCS wells require special design considerations to ensure long-term zonal isolation when exposed to carbon dioxide (CO2) because a complex set of chemical reactions leads to carbonation and dissolution of conventional cement sheaths. Several studies conducted into the long-term stability of different cement systems when exposed to wet supercritical CO2 and CO2-saturated water showed that the novel CO2- resistant cement system provides enduring zonal isolation. Properties investigated included permeability, porosity, mass evolution, CO2 degradation front, and compressive strength. Given its superior mechanical properties, the novel CO2-resistant cement system was selected for use in the first Australian offshore CCS Gular-1 appraisal well. To ensure that the blend characteristics of the novel CO2-resistant cement system remained optimal, a stringent quality-control procedure was developed. The blend management process, supported by rigorous laboratory testing, covered the complete lifecycle of the blend. This lifecycle extended from sourcing chemical components, to blending the components in a bulk plant, to transporting the blend across land and sea, and ultimately, preparing the slurry mixing. By adhering to the project management process, all primary cement jobs were successfully performed without incident using conventional cementing equipment and practices. The novel approach of blending the product locally at a fit-for-purpose facility reduced costs compared with previous methods of importing a preblended product prepared at a special centralized facility. Blend homogeneity was maintained during transfer from a sea vessel to the jackup rig, with minimal change in density between samples received from the bulk plant and samples received from the rig. This blending, which verified the initial blend flow capability and the robustness tests performed at a regional laboratory using specialized equipment, concluded the blend is suitable for offshore operations. Selection of a suitable cement system to ensure long-term zonal isolation will prove essential to the continuing expansion of the CO2 injection market. Through this offshore CCS appraisal project, valuable best practices and lessons learned in design and execution have been captured. This paper presents the decision process used for selecting a suitable CO2-resistant cement system for Australia's first offshore CCS appraisal well, drilled by AGR as part of the CarbonNet Project in late 2019, as well as the project management processes implemented to ensure successful job execution. The experiences detailed in this paper will benefit other operators confronted by challenges associated with wells subjected to CO2 injection.
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Castro, Antonio J. M., and Eugenio Oliveira. "USING QUALITY COSTS IN A MULTI-AGENT SYSTEM FOR AN AIRLINE OPERATIONS CONTROL." In 11th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems. SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.5220/0001849800190024.
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Kurşunel, Fahri, and Salman Ebdülrzazade. "Quality Costs in Health Enterprises and Sample Application." In International Conference on Eurasian Economies. Eurasian Economists Association, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.36880/c10.02165.
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Changing the expectations and needs of customers over time has strengthened the quality prospects for the client. The goal of the company's assets is to satisfy the customer, keep the client and protect customer loyalty. At present, it is considered that the qualification in the health sector, in particular, has a strategic priority in the success of the business and that quality management is a sustainable competitive advantage.
Medical services are at the forefront of the services that people receive the most. For healthcare companies that perform these services, quality is expressed as a strategic tool used to create activities that will meet the client's needs, both current and future, and reduce costs with an effective cost control process. In this context, healthcare companies need to pay sufficient attention to the quality of their services to customers. Quality service offered to people has a significant cost that businesses have to endure. Healthcare enterprises want to know the cost of the services they want to achieve as a result of their activities. This cost is the result of activities carried out at the enterprise.
This study explains the concept of quality and the importance of quality and includes the cost of quality. Then the costs for quality, included in the total cost in the hospital, are processed separately in Baku (Azerbaijan).
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Varhelyi, Melinda, Marius Brehar, and Vasile-Mircea Cristea. "Control strategies for wastewater treatment plants aimed to improve nutrient removal and to reduce aeration costs." In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Automation, Quality and Testing, Robotics (AQTR). IEEE, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/aqtr.2018.8402750.
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Vorobieff, George. "Has Diamond Grinding Been A Cost Effective Pavement Preservation Treatment In Australia?" In 12th International Conference on Concrete Pavements. International Society for Concrete Pavements, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.33593/e39ac1sm.
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Australia introduced conventional longitudinal diamond grinding of highway concrete pavements in 2009 with the purchase of two "4‐foot" highway grinding machines by two contractors. The availability of these machines in Australia has enabled contractors to improve ride quality of new pavements, rather than accept a deduction to the tendered rate for the supply and placement of concrete pavement. Grinding of new concrete base is permitted up to an IRI of 3.5 m/km, thereby reducing the need to remove and replace concrete pavement which met the specified thickness, strength and density, but not ride quality. More importantly, with the introduction of the grinding machines, asset managers have the opportunity to use diamond grinding to treat existing concrete pavements that have a rough ride, or when the textured surface no longer meets specified levels for skid resistance. Although the primary use of diamond grinding was to improve ride quality of new and existing concrete pavements, it has also been used to: treat stepping across transverse contraction joints in PCP, improve skid resistance at roundabouts, improve both ride quality and texture for JRCP pavements (greater than 40 years of age) with a thin wearing course and spalling in the asphalt at transverse joints. The above treatments to concrete pavement allow asset preservation and avoid high reconstruction costs. The Austroads concrete pavement design procedure is based on the PCA design method and road smoothness is not a design parameter, unlike the USA approach to concrete pavement design where ride quality is a design input. There is still much work to be done to convince asset managers in Australia that the removal of the high areas of a concrete pavement to smooth the surface, reduces the dynamic wheel loading and minimises accumulated fatigue stress in the concrete. This paper reviews the last 10 years of diamond grinding projects and the success of this pavement preservation treatment for new and existing urban and rural concrete pavements in Australia. Recommendations to reduce the cost of diamond grinding concrete pavements and extend the use of this treatment are also provided.
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Ouwejan, Rachael, Roger Seyb, Greg Paterson, Matthew D. Davis, Ian Mayhew, Peter Kinley, and Brian Sharman. "Source Control or Traditional BMPs? An Assessment of Stormwater Quality Benefits and Costs in Auckland City (New Zealand)." In World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2007. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40927(243)303.
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Lajevardi, Sadegh, José Campos e Matos, and Paulo B. Lourenço. "Quality control index survey for railway bridge health monitoring." In IABSE Symposium, Guimarães 2019: Towards a Resilient Built Environment Risk and Asset Management. Zurich, Switzerland: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.2749/guimaraes.2019.1289.
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<p>Inspection and rehabilitation are the most important activities during any maintenance procedure. A maintenance project demands to manage resources with regard to data related to components’ condition, defined by a given index. In this manner, data sets obtained for each index, and for each case study, are used for finding the new quality control index with maximum value of data. In this approach, risk analysis is used for prioritization and reducing costs with increasing data value with focusing on important elements as well as maximizing value of information (VoI) in measurements and inspections. Risk analysis is the most common tool for data mining and intelligent judgment obtained from observations. Risk analysis results are usually calculated to find the weight for each data set index in terms of their scores, which are called factor scores and finding the new quality control indexed for each case.</p><p>Finally, the major and important index according to their weight and risk scores, is obtained and used for decision making in maintenance projects. An application is shown consisting of 29 Railway Bridges in suburban area with data obtained from periodic inspections. All of these bridges are constructed in reinforced concrete.</p><p>Finally, it is desirable to produce new check list with regard to important data and quality control indexes. The priority of each bridge in the railway network as well as the priority for each component in their structure could be obtained by the new quality control indexes. Resource planning usage for the network component could be determined by this approach after computation of the new quality control index. Resources planning consists of inspection intervals and their materials usage for maintenance activities.</p>
Reports on the topic "Quality control Australia Costs"
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Rankin, Nicole, Deborah McGregor, Candice Donnelly, Bethany Van Dort, Richard De Abreu Lourenco, Anne Cust, and Emily Stone. Lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography for high risk populations: Investigating effectiveness and screening program implementation considerations: An Evidence Check rapid review brokered by the Sax Institute (www.saxinstitute.org.au) for the Cancer Institute NSW. The Sax Institute, October 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.57022/clzt5093.
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Background Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death worldwide.(1) It is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia (12,741 cases diagnosed in 2018) and the leading cause of cancer death.(2) The number of years of potential life lost to lung cancer in Australia is estimated to be 58,450, similar to that of colorectal and breast cancer combined.(3) While tobacco control strategies are most effective for disease prevention in the general population, early detection via low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in high-risk populations is a viable option for detecting asymptomatic disease in current (13%) and former (24%) Australian smokers.(4) The purpose of this Evidence Check review is to identify and analyse existing and emerging evidence for LDCT lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals to guide future program and policy planning. Evidence Check questions This review aimed to address the following questions: 1. What is the evidence for the effectiveness of lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? 2. What is the evidence of potential harms from lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? 3. What are the main components of recent major lung cancer screening programs or trials? 4. What is the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening programs (include studies of cost–utility)? Summary of methods The authors searched the peer-reviewed literature across three databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase) for existing systematic reviews and original studies published between 1 January 2009 and 8 August 2019. Fifteen systematic reviews (of which 8 were contemporary) and 64 original publications met the inclusion criteria set across the four questions. Key findings Question 1: What is the evidence for the effectiveness of lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? There is sufficient evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of combined (pooled) data from screening trials (of high-risk individuals) to indicate that LDCT examination is clinically effective in reducing lung cancer mortality. In 2011, the landmark National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST, a large-scale randomised controlled trial [RCT] conducted in the US) reported a 20% (95% CI 6.8% – 26.7%; P=0.004) relative reduction in mortality among long-term heavy smokers over three rounds of annual screening. High-risk eligibility criteria was defined as people aged 55–74 years with a smoking history of ≥30 pack-years (years in which a smoker has consumed 20-plus cigarettes each day) and, for former smokers, ≥30 pack-years and have quit within the past 15 years.(5) All-cause mortality was reduced by 6.7% (95% CI, 1.2% – 13.6%; P=0.02). Initial data from the second landmark RCT, the NEderlands-Leuvens Longkanker Screenings ONderzoek (known as the NELSON trial), have found an even greater reduction of 26% (95% CI, 9% – 41%) in lung cancer mortality, with full trial results yet to be published.(6, 7) Pooled analyses, including several smaller-scale European LDCT screening trials insufficiently powered in their own right, collectively demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in lung cancer mortality (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73–0.91).(8) Despite the reduction in all-cause mortality found in the NLST, pooled analyses of seven trials found no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90–1.00).(8) However, cancer-specific mortality is currently the most relevant outcome in cancer screening trials. These seven trials demonstrated a significantly greater proportion of early stage cancers in LDCT groups compared with controls (RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.43–3.03). Thus, when considering results across mortality outcomes and early stage cancers diagnosed, LDCT screening is considered to be clinically effective. Question 2: What is the evidence of potential harms from lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals? The harms of LDCT lung cancer screening include false positive tests and the consequences of unnecessary invasive follow-up procedures for conditions that are eventually diagnosed as benign. While LDCT screening leads to an increased frequency of invasive procedures, it does not result in greater mortality soon after an invasive procedure (in trial settings when compared with the control arm).(8) Overdiagnosis, exposure to radiation, psychological distress and an impact on quality of life are other known harms. Systematic review evidence indicates the benefits of LDCT screening are likely to outweigh the harms. The potential harms are likely to be reduced as refinements are made to LDCT screening protocols through: i) the application of risk predication models (e.g. the PLCOm2012), which enable a more accurate selection of the high-risk population through the use of specific criteria (beyond age and smoking history); ii) the use of nodule management algorithms (e.g. Lung-RADS, PanCan), which assist in the diagnostic evaluation of screen-detected nodules and cancers (e.g. more precise volumetric assessment of nodules); and, iii) more judicious selection of patients for invasive procedures. Recent evidence suggests a positive LDCT result may transiently increase psychological distress but does not have long-term adverse effects on psychological distress or health-related quality of life (HRQoL). With regards to smoking cessation, there is no evidence to suggest screening participation invokes a false sense of assurance in smokers, nor a reduction in motivation to quit. The NELSON and Danish trials found no difference in smoking cessation rates between LDCT screening and control groups. Higher net cessation rates, compared with general population, suggest those who participate in screening trials may already be motivated to quit. Question 3: What are the main components of recent major lung cancer screening programs or trials? There are no systematic reviews that capture the main components of recent major lung cancer screening trials and programs. We extracted evidence from original studies and clinical guidance documents and organised this into key groups to form a concise set of components for potential implementation of a national lung cancer screening program in Australia: 1. Identifying the high-risk population: recruitment, eligibility, selection and referral 2. Educating the public, people at high risk and healthcare providers; this includes creating awareness of lung cancer, the benefits and harms of LDCT screening, and shared decision-making 3. Components necessary for health services to deliver a screening program: a. Planning phase: e.g. human resources to coordinate the program, electronic data systems that integrate medical records information and link to an established national registry b. Implementation phase: e.g. human and technological resources required to conduct LDCT examinations, interpretation of reports and communication of results to participants c. Monitoring and evaluation phase: e.g. monitoring outcomes across patients, radiological reporting, compliance with established standards and a quality assurance program 4. Data reporting and research, e.g. audit and feedback to multidisciplinary teams, reporting outcomes to enhance international research into LDCT screening 5. Incorporation of smoking cessation interventions, e.g. specific programs designed for LDCT screening or referral to existing community or hospital-based services that deliver cessation interventions. Most original studies are single-institution evaluations that contain descriptive data about the processes required to establish and implement a high-risk population-based screening program. Across all studies there is a consistent message as to the challenges and complexities of establishing LDCT screening programs to attract people at high risk who will receive the greatest benefits from participation. With regards to smoking cessation, evidence from one systematic review indicates the optimal strategy for incorporating smoking cessation interventions into a LDCT screening program is unclear. There is widespread agreement that LDCT screening attendance presents a ‘teachable moment’ for cessation advice, especially among those people who receive a positive scan result. Smoking cessation is an area of significant research investment; for instance, eight US-based clinical trials are now underway that aim to address how best to design and deliver cessation programs within large-scale LDCT screening programs.(9) Question 4: What is the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening programs (include studies of cost–utility)? Assessing the value or cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening involves a complex interplay of factors including data on effectiveness and costs, and institutional context. A key input is data about the effectiveness of potential and current screening programs with respect to case detection, and the likely outcomes of treating those cases sooner (in the presence of LDCT screening) as opposed to later (in the absence of LDCT screening). Evidence about the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening programs has been summarised in two systematic reviews. We identified a further 13 studies—five modelling studies, one discrete choice experiment and seven articles—that used a variety of methods to assess cost-effectiveness. Three modelling studies indicated LDCT screening was cost-effective in the settings of the US and Europe. Two studies—one from Australia and one from New Zealand—reported LDCT screening would not be cost-effective using NLST-like protocols. We anticipate that, following the full publication of the NELSON trial, cost-effectiveness studies will likely be updated with new data that reduce uncertainty about factors that influence modelling outcomes, including the findings of indeterminate nodules. Gaps in the evidence There is a large and accessible body of evidence as to the effectiveness (Q1) and harms (Q2) of LDCT screening for lung cancer. Nevertheless, there are significant gaps in the evidence about the program components that are required to implement an effective LDCT screening program (Q3). Questions about LDCT screening acceptability and feasibility were not explicitly included in the scope. However, as the evidence is based primarily on US programs and UK pilot studies, the relevance to the local setting requires careful consideration. The Queensland Lung Cancer Screening Study provides feasibility data about clinical aspects of LDCT screening but little about program design. The International Lung Screening Trial is still in the recruitment phase and findings are not yet available for inclusion in this Evidence Check. The Australian Population Based Screening Framework was developed to “inform decision-makers on the key issues to be considered when assessing potential screening programs in Australia”.(10) As the Framework is specific to population-based, rather than high-risk, screening programs, there is a lack of clarity about transferability of criteria. However, the Framework criteria do stipulate that a screening program must be acceptable to “important subgroups such as target participants who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from disadvantaged groups and people with a disability”.(10) An extensive search of the literature highlighted that there is very little information about the acceptability of LDCT screening to these population groups in Australia. Yet they are part of the high-risk population.(10) There are also considerable gaps in the evidence about the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening in different settings, including Australia. The evidence base in this area is rapidly evolving and is likely to include new data from the NELSON trial and incorporate data about the costs of targeted- and immuno-therapies as these treatments become more widely available in Australia.
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Pessino, Carola, and Teresa Ter-Minassian. Addressing the Fiscal Costs of Population Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Lessons from Advanced Countries. Inter-American Development Bank, April 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003242.
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This paper presents projections for 18 Latin America and Caribbean countries of pensions and health expenditures over the next 50 years, compares them to advanced countries, and calculates estimates of the fiscal gap due to aging. The exercise is crucial since life expectancy is increasing and fertility rates are declining in virtually all advanced countries and many developing countries, but more so in Latin America and the Caribbean. While the populations of many of the regions countries are still relatively young, they are aging more rapidly than those in more developed countries. The fiscal implications of these demographic trends are severe. The paper proposes policy and institutional reforms that could begin to be implemented immediately and that could help moderate these trends in light of relevant international experience to date. It suggests that LAC countries need to include an intertemporal numerical fiscal limit or rule to the continuous increase in aging spending while covering the needs of the more vulnerable. They should consider also complementing public pensions with voluntary contribution mechanisms supported by tax incentives, such as those used in Australia, New Zealand (Kiwi Saver), and the United States (401k). In addition, LAC countries face an urgent challenge in curbing the growth of health care costs, while improving the quality of care. Efforts should focus on improving both the allocative and the technical efficiency of public health spending.
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Mayfield, Colin. Higher Education in the Water Sector: A Global Overview. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, May 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.53328/guxy9244.
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Higher education related to water is a critical component of capacity development necessary to support countries’ progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) overall, and towards the SDG6 water and sanitation goal in particular. Although the precise number is unknown, there are at least 28,000 higher education institutions in the world. The actual number is likely higher and constantly changing. Water education programmes are very diverse and complex and can include components of engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, hydrology, hydrogeology, ecology, geography, earth sciences, public health, sociology, law, and political sciences, to mention a few areas. In addition, various levels of qualifications are offered, ranging from certificate, diploma, baccalaureate, to the master’s and doctorate (or equivalent) levels. The percentage of universities offering programmes in ‘water’ ranges from 40% in the USA and Europe to 1% in subSaharan Africa. There are no specific data sets available for the extent or quality of teaching ‘water’ in universities. Consequently, insights on this have to be drawn or inferred from data sources on overall research and teaching excellence such as Scopus, the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, the Times Higher Education, the Ranking Web of Universities, the Our World in Data website and the UN Statistics Division data. Using a combination of measures of research excellence in water resources and related topics, and overall rankings of university teaching excellence, universities with representation in both categories were identified. Very few universities are represented in both categories. Countries that have at least three universities in the list of the top 50 include USA, Australia, China, UK, Netherlands and Canada. There are universities that have excellent reputations for both teaching excellence and for excellent and diverse research activities in water-related topics. They are mainly in the USA, Europe, Australia and China. Other universities scored well on research in water resources but did not in teaching excellence. The approach proposed in this report has potential to guide the development of comprehensive programmes in water. No specific comparative data on the quality of teaching in water-related topics has been identified. This report further shows the variety of pathways which most water education programmes are associated with or built in – through science, technology and engineering post-secondary and professional education systems. The multitude of possible institutions and pathways to acquire a qualification in water means that a better ‘roadmap’ is needed to chart the programmes. A global database with details on programme curricula, qualifications offered, duration, prerequisites, cost, transfer opportunities and other programme parameters would be ideal for this purpose, showing country-level, regional and global search capabilities. Cooperation between institutions in preparing or presenting water programmes is currently rather limited. Regional consortia of institutions may facilitate cooperation. A similar process could be used for technical and vocational education and training, although a more local approach would be better since conditions, regulations and technologies vary between relatively small areas. Finally, this report examines various factors affecting the future availability of water professionals. This includes the availability of suitable education and training programmes, choices that students make to pursue different areas of study, employment prospects, increasing gender equity, costs of education, and students’ and graduates’ mobility, especially between developing and developed countries. This report aims to inform and open a conversation with educators and administrators in higher education especially those engaged in water education or preparing to enter that field. It will also benefit students intending to enter the water resources field, professionals seeking an overview of educational activities for continuing education on water and government officials and politicians responsible for educational activities
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Bhatt, Parth, Curtis Edson, and Ann MacLean. Image Processing in Dense Forest Areas using Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). Michigan Technological University, September 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.37099/mtu.dc.michigantech-p/16366.
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Imagery collected via Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms has become popular in recent years due to improvements in a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera (centimeter and sub-centimeter), lower operation costs as compared to human piloted aircraft, and the ability to collect data over areas with limited ground access. Many different application (e.g., forestry, agriculture, geology, archaeology) are already using and utilizing the advantages of UAS data. Although, there are numerous UAS image processing workflows, for each application the approach can be different. In this study, we developed a processing workflow of UAS imagery collected in a dense forest (e.g., coniferous/deciduous forest and contiguous wetlands) area allowing users to process large datasets with acceptable mosaicking and georeferencing errors. Imagery was acquired with near-infrared (NIR) and red, green, blue (RGB) cameras with no ground control points. Image quality of two different UAS collection platforms were observed. Agisoft Metashape, a photogrammetric suite, which uses SfM (Structure from Motion) techniques, was used to process the imagery. The results showed that an UAS having a consumer grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) onboard had better image alignment than an UAS with lower quality GNSS.
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Mazari, Mehran, Siavash F. Aval, Siddharth M. Satani, David Corona, and Joshua Garrido. Developing Guidelines for Assessing the Effectiveness of Intelligent Compaction Technology. Mineta Transportation Institute, January 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.31979/mti.2021.1923.
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Many factors affect pavement compaction quality, which can vary. Such variability may result in an additional number of passes required, extended working hours, higher energy consumption, and negative environmental impacts. The use of Intelligent Compaction (IC) technology during construction can improve the quality and longevity of pavement structures while reducing risk for contractors and project owners alike. This study develops guidelines for the implementation of IC in the compaction of pavement layers as well as performing a preliminary life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of IC technology compared to the conventional compaction approach. The environmental impacts of the improved construction process were quantified based on limited data available from the case studies. The LCCA performed in this study consisted of different scenarios in which the number of operating hours was evaluated to estimate the cost efficiency of the intelligent compaction technique during construction. The analyses showed a reduction in energy consumption and the production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the use of intelligent compaction. The LCCA showed that the use of IC technology may reduce the construction and maintenance costs in addition to enhancing the quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) process. However, a more comprehensive analysis is required to fully quantify the benefits and establish more accurate performance indicators. A draft version of the preliminary guidelines for implementation of IC technology and long-term monitoring of the performance of pavement layers compacted thereby is also included in this report.
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Johnson, Billy, and Zhonglong Zhang. The demonstration and validation of a linked watershed-riverine modeling system for DoD installations : user guidance report version 2.0. Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.), April 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/40425.
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A linked watershed model was evaluated on three watersheds within the U.S.: (1) House Creek Watershed, Fort Hood, TX; (2) Calleguas Creek Watershed, Ventura County, CA; and (3) Patuxent River Watershed, MD. The goal of this demonstration study was to show the utility of such a model in addressing water quality issues facing DoD installations across a variety of climate zones. In performing the demonstration study, evaluations of model output with regards to accuracy, predictability and meeting regulatory drivers were completed. Data availability, level of modeling expertise, and costs for model setup, validation, scenario analysis, and maintenance were evaluated in order to inform installation managers on the time and cost investment needed to use a linked watershed modeling system. Final conclusions were that the system evaluated in this study would be useful for answering a variety of questions posed by installation managers and could be useful in developing management scenarios to better control pollutant runoff from installations.
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Бондаренко, Ольга Володимирівна, Світлана Вікторівна Мантуленко, and Андрій Валерійович Пікільняк. Google Classroom as a Tool of Support of Blended Learning for Geography Students. CEUR-WS.org, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.31812/123456789/2655.
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Abstract. The article reveals the experience of organizing blended learning for geography students using Google Classroom, and discloses its potential uses in the study of geography. For the last three years, the authors have tested such in-class and distance courses as “Cartography and Basics of Topography”, “Population Geography”, “Information Systems and Technologies in Tourism Industry”, “Regional Economic and Social World Geography (Europe and the CIS)”, “Regional Economic and Social World Geography (Africa, Latin America, Asia, Anglo-America, Australia and Oceania)”, “Socio-Economic Cartography”. The advantages of using the specified interactive tool during the study of geographical disciplines are highlighted out in the article. As it has been established, the organization of the learning process using Google Classroom ensures the unity of in-class and out-of-class learning; it is designed to realize effective interaction of the subjects learning in real time; to monitor the quality of training and control the students’ learning achievements in class as well as out of it, etc. The article outlines the disadvantages that should be taken into account when organizing blended learning using Google Classroom, including the occasional predominance of students’ external motivation in education and their low level of readiness for work in the classroom; insufficient level of material and technical support in some classrooms; need for out-of-class pedagogical support; lack of guidance on the content aspect of Google Classroom pages, etc. Through the test series conducted during 2016-2017, an increase in the number of geography students with a sufficient level of academic achievements and a decrease of those with a low level of it was revealed.
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Kwesiga, Victoria, Zita Ekeocha, Stephen Robert Byrn, and Kari L. Clase. Compliance to GMP guidelines for Herbal Manufacturers in East Africa: A Position Paper. Purdue University, November 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284317428.
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With the global increase in the use of traditional and complementary remedies for the prevention and treatment of illness, the quality and safety of these medicines have become a significant concern for all regulatory authorities. Herbal medicines are the most commonly used form of traditional and complementary medicines in the world and the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines, like conventional medicines, largely depends on their quality from planting to harvesting, preprocessing and final processing. Due to the inherent complexity of herbal medicines, often containing an array of active compounds, the primary processing of herbal medicines has a direct influence on their quality. Quality concerns are the reason why the medicines regulatory agencies insist that manufacturers of medicines strictly follow Good Manufacturing Practices since it is an essential tool to prevent instances of contamination, mix-ups, deviations, failures and errors. However, a strict application of GMP requirements is expensive and would drive the prices of the manufactured products up. As a result, a maturity level grading of facilities is proposed as a way of justifying the costs incurred for manufacturers desiring to reach a broader market and investing in continuous improvement. 36 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection reports of local herbal manufacturers conducted by National Drug Authority were analyzed to establish the type and extent of deficiencies to GMP requirements for local herbal manufacturers in Uganda. The different GMP chapters and related sub-parameters constituted the variables used for the analysis of conformity to requirements. The primary outcome variable was the conclusion regarding compliance or noncompliance of the inspected local herbal manufacturing facility. GMP parameters that were frequently defaulted by local herbal manufacturers and the corresponding frequencies were identified. The Pearson Chi-square test was applied independently on each category to find the association that existed between conformity and the questions in each category. Only 22% (8) of the 30 inspected facilities were found to comply with GMP requirements, as per National Drug Authority (NDA) guidelines; while the majority of the facilities, 28 (78%), were found not to comply. Of the facilities inspected, 25 were undergoing GMP inspection for the first time. A total of 1,236 deficiency observations were made in the 36 inspection reports reviewed for the study. The mean for all deficiencies was 34.3, and the standard deviation was 15.829. 91.5% of the facilities did not have mechanisms for a record of market complaints; 80.9% did not meet documentation requirements; 78.9% did not have quality control measures in place, and 65.7% did not meet stores requirements. By encouraging a culture of self/voluntary improvement through the introduction of listing of manufacturers based on a maturity level grading, the National Drug Authority will improve the Herbal Medicines sector as per the mandate of improving the herbal medicine industry. Also, increased sensitization of all relevant stakeholders regarding the requirements for GMP should be intensified.
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James-Scott, Alisha, Rachel Savoy, Donna Lynch-Smith, and tracy McClinton. Impact of Central Line Bundle Care on Reduction of Central Line Associated-Infections: A Scoping Review. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, November 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.21007/con.dnp.2021.0014.
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Purpose/Background Central venous catheters (CVC) are typical for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Due to the invasiveness of this procedure, there is a high risk for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). These infections have been known to increase mortality and morbidity, medical costs, and reduce hospital reimbursements. Evidenced-based interventions were grouped to assemble a central line bundle to decrease the number of CLABSIs and improve patient outcomes. This scoping review will evaluate the literature and examine the association between reduced CLABSI rates and central line bundle care implementation or current use. Methods A literature review was completed of nine critically appraised articles from the years 2010-2021. The association of the use of central line bundles and CLABSI rates was examined. These relationships were investigated to determine if the adherence to a central line bundle directly reduced the number of CLABSI rates in critically ill adult patients. A summary evaluation table was composed to determine the associations related to the implementation or current central line bundle care use. Results Of the study sample (N=9), all but one demonstrated a significant decrease in CLABSI rates when a central line bundle was in place. A trend towards reducing CLABSI was noted in the remaining article, a randomized controlled study, but the results were not significantly different. In all the other studies, a meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, control trial, cohort or case-control studies, and quality improvement project, there was a significant improvement in CLABSI rates when utilizing a central line bundle. The extensive use of different levels of evidence provided an excellent synopsis that implementing a central line bundle care would directly affect decreasing CLABSI rates. Implications for Nursing Practice Results provided in this scoping review afforded the authors a diverse level of evidence that using a central line bundle has a direct outcome on reducing CLABSI rates. This practice can be implemented within the hospital setting as suggested by the literature review to prevent or reduce CLABSI rates. Implementing a standard central line bundle care hospital-wide helps avoid this hospital-acquired infection.
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Reisch, Bruce, Avichai Perl, Julie Kikkert, Ruth Ben-Arie, and Rachel Gollop. Use of Anti-Fungal Gene Synergisms for Improved Foliar and Fruit Disease Tolerance in Transgenic Grapes. United States Department of Agriculture, August 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2002.7575292.bard.
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Original objectives . 1. Test anti-fungal gene products for activity against Uncinula necator, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea. 2. For Agrobacterium transformation, design appropriate vectors with gene combinations. 3. Use biolistic bombardment and Agrobacterium for transformation of important cultivars. 4. Characterize gene expression in transformants, as well as level of powdery mildew and Botrytis resistance in foliage of transformed plants. Background The production of new grape cultivars by conventional breeding is a complex and time-consuming process. Transferring individual traits via single genes into elite cultivars was proposed as a viable strategy, especially for vegetatively propagated crops such as grapevines. The availability of effective genetic transformation procedures, the existence of genes able to reduce pathogen stress, and improved in vitro culture methods for grapes, were combined to serve the objective of this proposal. Effective deployment of resistance genes would reduce production costs and increase crop quality, and several such genes and combinations were used in this project. Progress The efficacy of two-way combinations of Trichoderma endochitinase (CHIT42), synthetic peptide ESF12 and resveratrol upon the control of growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum were evaluated in vitro. All pairwise interactions were additive but not synergistic. Per objective 2, suitable vectors with important gene combinations for Agrobacterium transformation were designed. In addition, multiple gene co-transformation by particle bombardment was also tested successfully. In New York, transformation work focused on cultivars Chardonnay and Merlot, while the technology in Israel was extended to 41B, R. 110, Prime, Italia, Gamay, Chardonnay and Velika. Transgenic plant production is summarized in the appendix. Among plants developed in Israel, endochitinase expression was assayed via the MuchT assay using material just 1-5 days after co-cultivation. Plants of cv. Sugraone carrying the gene coding for ESF12, a short anti-fungal lytic peptide under the control of the double 358 promoter, were produced. Leaf extracts of two plants showed inhibition zones that developed within 48 h indicating the inhibitory effect of the leaf extracts on the six species of bacteria. X fastidiosa, the causal organism of Pierce's disease, was very sensitive to leaf extracts from ESF12 transformed plants. Further work is needed to verify the agricultural utility of ESF12 transformants. In New York, some transformants were resistant to powdery mildew and Botrytis fruit rot. Major conclusions, solutions, achievements and implications The following scientific achievements resulted from this cooperative BARD project: 1. Development and improvement of embryogenesis and tissue culture manipulation in grape, while extending these procedures to several agriculturally important cultivars both in Israel and USA. 2. Development and improvement of novel transformation procedures while developing transformation techniques for grape and other recalcitrant species. 3. Production of transgenic grapevines, characterization of transformed vines while studying the expression patterns of a marker gene under the control of different promoter as the 35S CaMV in different part of the plants including flowers and fruits. 4. Expression of anti-fungal genes in grape: establishment of transgenic plants and evaluation of gene expression. Development of techniques to insert multiple genes. 5. Isolation of novel grape specific promoter to control the expression of future antimicrobial genes. It is of great importance to report that significant progress was made in not only the development of transgenic grapevines, but also in the evaluation of their potential for increased resistance to disease as compared with the non engineered cultivar. In several cases, increased disease resistance was observed. More research and development is still needed before a product can be commercialized, yet our project lays a framework for further investigations.