[en] Globally, construction sector labor-productivity growth averaged 1% a year over the past two decades, compares with 2,8% for the total world economy and 3,6% for manufacturing.

[en] The main task of studies departament, and sadly hardly the only one lot a number of construction manager, is the comparative studiy of the construction prices.

[en] Highlights: • A methodology for the protection of critical infrastructures based on LIMID was developed. • The methodology allows cost-effective allocation of security measures. • The developed LIMID is used to perform defend-attack-defend scenarios. • Given the security barriers, the shift in the preference of attackers can be modelled. • The methodology allowed identifying an optimal defensive strategy given an attack. -- Abstract: Security management of critical infrastructures is a complex task as a great variety of technical and socio-political information is needed to realistically predict the risk of intentional malevolent acts. In the present study, a methodology based on Limited Memory Influence Diagram (LIMID) has been developed for the protection of critical infrastructures via cost-effective allocation of security measures. LIMID is an extension of Bayesian network (BN) intended for decision-making, allowing for efficient modelling of complex systems while accounting for interdependencies and interaction of system components. The probability updating feature of BN has been used to investigate the effect of vulnerabilities on adversaries’ preferences when planning attacks. Moreover, the proposed methodology has been shown to be able to identify an optimal defensive strategy given an attack through maximizing defenders’ expected utility. Despite being demonstrated via a chemical facility, the methodology can easily be tailored to a wide variety of critical infrastructures.

[en] This Appendix presents an analysis of the UF data used in the cost assessments provided for the participating research reactors, including providing average values for ease of reference. The method of analysis used is also described.

[en] Process improvement is that part of process improvement, which drives beneficial change in process performance. Improvement in results can be accomplished in many ways. One way is by improving the ways by which the results are being measured. Results can often be improved by running the process with the planned resources and executing the tasks as planned. Failures are more often the result of people not running the process as planned - they take short cuts, make mistakes, and don't take action when necessary. From organizational perspective, Performance Indicators can offer powerful insights into the status of the Company activity and processes functioning. They enable consistent tracking of objectives and strategic alignment, definition of success and critical success factors, as well as visibility into launch plans, performance, and overall quality and timeliness. Successful performance measurement system adheres to the following main principles: Measure only what is important; Focus on customer needs; Involve employees in the design and implementation of the measurement system. Performance measurement is defined as a process of evaluation of company activities performance relative to a defined goal. The basic concept of performance measurement involves: Planning and meeting operating goals; Detecting deviations from planned levels of performance and restoring performance to the planned levels, or Achieving new levels of performance. Performance measurements are very important, because they can be used for: Control - Measurements help to reduce variation; Self-assessment - Measurements can be used to assess how well the process is doing, including improvements that have been made; Continuous improvement - Measurements can be used for identification of the process trends and to determine process efficiency and effectiveness, as well as opportunities for improvement; Management assessment - without measurements there is no way to be certain that the company meeting the objectives or that the company is being effective and efficient. The Performance measurement system is composed of three elements: Performance criteria - relative elements used for comparison at the performance evaluation; Performance indicators - specific values of the performance criteria over some specified time period, or 'numerical or quantitative indices that show how well each objective is being met'. Performance standards - accepted levels of performance for each criterion. The purpose of this report is to present an approach for measurement of business effectiveness of Consultancy Company, operating in energy sector. (author).

[en] This paper is devoted to assessing the presence of some regularities in the magnitudes of the earthquakes in Italy between January $24\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}$, 2016 and January $24\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}$, 2017, and to propose an earthquakes cost indicator. The considered data includes the catastrophic events in Amatrice and in the Marche region. To our purpose, we implement two typologies of rank-size analysis: the classical Zipf–Mandelbrot law and the so-called universal law proposed by Ausloos and Cerqueti (2016 PLoS One 11 e0166011). The proposed generic measure of the economic impact of earthquakes moves from the assumption of the existence of a cause-effect relation between earthquakes magnitudes and economic costs. At this aim, we hypothesize that such a relation can be formalized in a functional way to show how infrastructure resistance affects the cost. Results allow us to clarify the impact of an earthquake on the social context and might serve to strengthen the struggle against the dramatic outcomes of such natural phenomena. (paper: interdisciplinary statistical mechanics)

[en] Needs for efficient assembly process has led CV Citra Dragon, a medium-scale manufacturing enterprise of agricultural machinery, to utilize welding jig for assembly one part of thresher component as their high demanding product. That component is thresher’s cover that has the potential for productivity improvement hence cost savings. Due to categorize as a specific work-holding device for particular purpose and conditions, design processes of a welding jig has been carried out. This has resulted in the development of a welding jig for assembly of thresher’s cover. The design of welding jig has been evaluated from possibility to deflect during its operation, and it was identified that deflection magnitude of welding jig construction was relatively low. Thus, it can infer that this welding jig can resist operational loads. Furthermore, the productivity and cost-effectiveness analysis were also conducted to ensure the welding jig having fulfilled the objective of the proposal. The analysis indicated that the assembly process becomes efficient as a welding jig deployed. It was contributed by shortening of assembly cycle times that increase the production rate. Also, affordable cost savings can also be obvious especially for labor cost salary. (paper)

[en] The Stereotactic Ablative Radiation therapy for Comprehensive Treatment of Oligometastatic Tumors phase 2 randomized clinical trial found that stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) improved outcomes among cancer patients with oligometastatic disease. Yet, the cost of SABR along with the large number of patients with oligometastatic disease raises the important question of value. This study sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the addition of SABR compared with standard therapy alone among cancer patients with oligometastatic disease.

[en] To compare, using a cost-effectiveness analysis, the quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) and cost between the 2 treatment options for intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer: (1) radiation (RT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or (2) radical prostatectomy (RP) followed by adjuvant RT for patients with risk factors.

[en] In the present study, we develop and analyze an SEIR epidemic model to assess the consequences of media awareness program and treatment control. The disease transmission rate as well as the treatment function are taken in the saturated form. Different equilibrium points and their stability are discussed. The threshold parameter, basic reproduction number is obtained and it is seen that the system may posses a backward bifurcation. An optimal control problem is formulated with treatment and media awareness parameters as control parameters and solved it analytically. The cost-effectiveness analysis is performed to find out the best strategy to be applied to control the transmission of diseases. In addition to our analytical results, several numerical simulations are also illustrated. Finally, a brief discussion is given regarding the role of treatment and media awareness program.