A novel framework for discharge uncertainty quantification applied to 500 UK gauging stations.

A generalized framework for discharge uncertainty estimation is presentedAllows estimation of place-specific discharge uncertainties for many catchmentsLocal conditions dominate in determining discharge uncertainty magnitudes.

Economic assessment of a six-year project with extensive use of dental hygienists in the dental care of children: a pilot study.

The aim of the study was to assess the economic efficiency of an alternative division of labour based on an extensive use of dental hygienists combined with a reduced input of dentists. A test clinic was compared to a conventionally run public clinic in respect of dental and financial effects in the dental care of children. The study comprised 80 adolescents, born in 1975, in their 13th to 18th years. The assessment of economic efficiency was based on a cost/benefit analysis on the clinic level, in which the cost was defined as the difference between the test clinic and the control clinic in yearly running variable costs per child, and the benefit as the difference in the yearly caries increment multiplied by a value factor. The results showed statistically significant, lower caries incidence in the test group. Regression analyses, estimating a caries incidence function gave statistically significant explanation values for the variables "Caries prevalence" at 13 years of age' and 'Clinic'. The cost/benefit analysis showed a benefit/cost ratio of 1.48. The division of labour at the test clinic is discussed as a possible main factor for the outcome and suggests further experiments on a larger scale. The study can be regarded as a pilot, intended to be followed by a comprehensive study using a larger number of patients of different ages and more control clinics.

Intensive fluoride varnish program in Swedish adolescents: economic assessment of a 7-year follow-up study on proximal caries incidence.

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effect after 7 years of an intensive fluoride varnish program in the age interval 11-14 compared to a standard biannual fluoride varnish program. Special reference was made to factors explaining the individual variance in caries incidence between 11-14 and 11-17 years as well as the net benefit of the intensified fluoride varnish program. Two caries measures, one unweighted (DFS0) and one weighted (DFS1), were used. Besides three caries measures D1-D3 were used to distinguish different grades of decay where D1 is enamel lesion and D3 dentinal lesion. The results show statistically significant differences for the age interval 11-17 years according to mean values of DFS0, DFS1 and D1. Regression analyses for caries incidence in the time interval 11-14 gives only explanation (i.e. significant estimated coefficient value) for caries prevalence at 11 years of age irrespective of caries measure, but in the age interval 11-17 years regression analysis also gives explanation for the variable father's education and the fluoride preventive measures in the age interval 11-14. The cost/benefit analysis shows net total costs of 3,880 SEK and net total benefits of 5,000 SEK over a time span of 10 years discounted to 1982 using an annual discount rate of 5%.