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Excessive Cost (excessive + cost)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	50%

Selected Abstracts

Highly Purified 1000-cSt Silicone Oil for Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Facial Lipoatrophy: An Open Pilot Trial

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 10 2004
Derek H. Jones MD
Background. Among human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals, facial lipoatrophy has become epidemic. Those affected are stigmatized, leading to psychological distress, social and career impediments, and impaired compliance to human immunodeficiency virus medications. Temporary treatment options are limited by excessive cost, necessity of frequent treatments, and lack of a natural look or feel beneath the skin. Affected patients require more persistent, affordable, safe, and effective treatment options. Objective. The objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of highly purified 1000-cSt silicone oil injected by microdroplet serial puncture technique for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated lipoatrophy. Methods. Data on 77 patients with a complete correction were analyzed to determine the number of treatments, amount of silicone, and time required to reach complete correction, relative to initial severity. Results. The volume of silicone, number of treatments, and time required to reach a complete correction were directly related to initial severity of lipoatrophy (p < 0.0001). Supple, even facial contours were routinely restored, with all patients tolerating treatments well. No adverse events were noted. Conclusion. In this pilot trial, we have demonstrated that highly purified 1000-cSt silicone oil is a safe and effective treatment option for human immunodeficiency virus facial lipoatrophy. Longer-term safety and efficacy in human immunodeficiency virus patients remain to be proven. [source]

Resource Allocation Auctions within Firms

JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 5 2007
STANLEY BAIMAN
ABSTRACT There is growing interest in the use of markets within firms. Proponents have noted that markets are a simple and efficient mechanism for allocating resources in economies in which information is dispersed. In contrast to the use of markets in the broader economy, the efficiency of an internal market is determined in large part by the endogenous contractual incentives provided to the participating, privately informed agents. In this paper, we study the optimal design of managerial incentives when resources are allocated by an internal auction market, as well as the efficiency of the resulting resource allocations. We show that the internal auction market can achieve first-best resource allocations and decisions, but only at an excessive cost in compensation payments. We then identify conditions under which the internal auction market and associated optimal incentive contracts achieve the benchmark second-best outcome as determined using a direct revelation mechanism. The advantage of the auction is that it is easier to implement than the direct revelation mechanism. When the internal auction mechanism is unable to achieve second-best, we characterize the factors that determine the magnitude of the shortfall. Overall, our results speak to the robust performance of relatively simple market mechanisms and associated incentive systems in resolving resource allocation problems within firms. [source]

POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS1

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2008
Ronald D. Utt
From the 1930s onwards America's housing assistance policies have largely been shaped by the federal government's response to catastrophe, whether of an external nature (the Great Depression, the urban riots of the 1960s) or an internal nature (mismanagement, excessive costs). Consequently, today's collection of federal housing policies resemble more the results of an archaeological dig through 70 years of activity than a coherent approach to a longstanding problem. Nonetheless, one key theme that emerges is the shift from wholly government solutions to a hybrid public,private partnership approach in the early 1970s. [source]

Low-cost growth of AlN using vectored-flow epitaxy for the purpose of water sterilisation in a rural environment

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 2 2008
Matthew Branch
Abstract The high V/III ratio required for the Metalorganic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD) growth of AlN using the precursors trimethylaluminium and ammonia have contributed to the excessive costs of producing ultra violet light emitting diodes (UVLEDs) which can be used in water purification. This paper introduces a novel growth technique, vectored-flow epitaxy (VFE), which maintains the separation between gaseous reagents within the growth chamber. In addition, the VFE technique, which employs atmospheric pressure growth, also pre cracks the ammonia prior to injection and thereby significantly reduces the high V/III ratio required for the growth of this material. The pre cracked ammonia also removes the need for high growth temperatures, which is known to be necessary for its thermal decomposition. With this technique, 2 ,m/h growth is possible at a V/III ratio of 50. These advances will contribute to the development of a cost-effective solution to the treatment of drinking water in a rural environment. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]