Graduate Student Seminar

Speaker 1: Maria Deliyianni

Title

Well-Posedness of a Linear Plate Equation

Abstract

In this talk we will review the equations of motion that describe a linear plate under static forces and ask questions about the well-posedness of the corresponding Cauchy problem . Two tools would come in handy to that question, Galerkin's method and the method of semigroups.  For the first one, by finding the weak formulation of the problem, discretizing it and reducing it to a system of ODEs, we will be able to construct limits to the weak solution of the problem. For the semigroup approach, we will use a powerful theorem—the so called Lumer/Philips theorem—to easily obtain results for well-posedness.

Speaker 2: Aryana Arsham

Title

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Treatment Comparison

Abstract

Increasing health care costs make the economic evaluation of competing treatments necessary for resource allocation. The result is to prioritize a treatment intervention that is clinically effective and good value for the money. Cost-effectiveness analysis is statistical methodologies that are used to evaluate relative costs and outcomes for competing treatments. The analysis is meant to identify which competing treatment is more effective per unit increase in cost.  Two widely used cost-effectiveness analysis metrics are the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and the incremental net benefit. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is the cost per unit of benefit obtained from using one treatment over the other. The incremental net benefit is the overall net cost for a given willingness to pay per unit of benefit. The willingness to pay is the maximum monetary amount one is willing to pay for a unit increase in effectiveness. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental net benefit metrics are used in cost-effectiveness analysis of the symptomatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer trial data. Cost-effectiveness metrics used together provide evidence in making informed decisions for patient and policy makers.