scholarly journals Cost Analysis of a Novel Method for Ecological Compensation—A Study of the Translocation of Dead Wood

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6075
Author(s):  
Ola Lindroos ◽  
Malin Söderlind ◽  
Joel Jensen ◽  
Joakim Hjältén
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Ecological Compensation ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Delivery Times ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Translocation of dead wood is a novel method for ecological compensation and restoration that could, potentially, provide a new important tool for biodiversity conservation. With this method, substrates that normally have long delivery times are instantly created in a compensation area, and ideally many of the associated dead wood dwelling organisms are translocated together with the substrates. However, to a large extent, there is a lack of knowledge about the cost efficiency of different methods of ecological compensation. Therefore, the costs for different parts of a translocation process and its dependency on some influencing factors were studied. The observed cost was 465 SEK per translocated log for the actual compensation measure, with an additional 349 SEK/log for work to enable evaluation of the translocation’s ecological results. Based on time studies, models were developed to predict required work time and costs for different transportation distances and load sizes. Those models indicated that short extraction and insertion distances for logs should be prioritized over road transportation distances to minimize costs. They also highlighted a trade-off between costs and time until a given ecological value is reached in the compensation area. The methodology used can contribute to more cost-efficient operations and, by doing so, increase the use of ecological compensation and the benefits from a given input.

scholarly journals Cost efficiency of the Czech and Slovak banking sectors: an application of the data envelopment analysis

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iveta Palecková
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Banking Industry ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Variable Returns To Scale

The aim of the paper is to estimate the cost efficiency of the Czech and Slovak commercial banks within the period 2010-2014. For empirical analysis the Data Envelopment Analysis input-oriented model with variable returns to scale is applied on the data of the commercial banks. The intermediation approach is adopted to define the inputs and outputs. The Czech commercial banks are more cost efficient than Slovak commercial banks. The development of average cost efficiency is similar in the Czech and Slovak banking industry. The most efficient Czech banks are Ceská sporitelna and Sberbank in the Czech banking sector, the most efficient Slovak bank is Privatbanka with 100% efficiency.

scholarly journals Global Prospects of the Cost-Efficiency of Broiler Welfare in Middle-Segment Production Systems

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luuk S.M. Vissers ◽  
Ingrid C. de Jong ◽  
Peter L.M. van Horne ◽  
Helmut W. Saatkamp
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Middle Segment ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

In the 2000s, the idea of a so-called middle-segment arose in North-West Europe to address the criticism on intensive broiler production systems. Middle-segment systems being indoor housing of slower-growing broiler strains at a stocking density ≤38 kg/m2. Previous literature showed that Dutch middle-segment systems entail a relatively large gain in animal welfare at a relatively low increase in costs, i.e., have a high cost-efficiency. The question is to what extent these findings are applicable to other countries. Therefore, the aim of this study is to gain insight in the global prospects of middle-segment systems by exploring the cost-efficiency of these systems in other parts of the world. A set of representative countries, containing the Netherlands, United States and Brazil were selected. Cost-efficiency was defined as the ratio of the change in the level of animal welfare and the change in production costs. The level of animal welfare was measured by the Welfare Quality (WQ) index score. Data was collected from literature and consulting experts. Results show that in the Netherlands, United States and Brazil a change from conventional towards a middle-segment system improves animal welfare in a cost-efficient manner (the Netherlands 9.1, United States 24.2 and Brazil 12.1). Overall, it can be concluded that in general middle-segment production systems provide a considerable increase in animal welfare at a relatively small increase in production costs and therefore offer good prospects for a cost-efficient improvement of broiler welfare.

scholarly journals Cost-efficient inter-robot delivery for resource-constrained and interdependent multi-robot schedules

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 172988141982804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Chen ◽  
Xinjun Mao ◽  
Shuo Yang ◽  
Qiuzhen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Resource Constrained ◽  
Task Execution ◽  
Robot System ◽  
Sequential Execution ◽  
Constrained Environments ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Multi Robot

A multi-robot system in resource-constrained environments needs to obtain resources for task execution. Typically, resources can be fetched from fixed stations, which, however, can be costly and even impossible when fixed stations are unavailable, depleted or distant from task execution locations. We present a method that allows robots to acquire urgently required resources from those robots with superfluous residual resources, by conducting rendezvouses with these robots. We consider a scenario where tasks are organised into a schedule on each robot for sequential execution, with cross-schedule dependencies for inter-robot collaboration. We design an algorithm to systematically generate such rendezvouses for entire multi-robot system to increase the proportion of tasks whose resource demands are satisfied. We also design an algorithm that periodically reallocates tasks among robots to improve the cost-efficiency of schedules. Our experiment shows the synergetic effectiveness of both algorithms, when fixed stations are unavailable and all resources are fetched through inter-robot delivery. We also investigate the effectiveness of inter-robot delivery in scenarios where fixed stations are existent but distant from the locations of tasks.

National Cost Efficiency of Supported Employees With Intellectual Disabilities: 2002 to 2007

2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Cimera
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
The United States ◽  
Considerable Variability ◽  
United State ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Abstract The cost efficiency of supported employees with intellectual disabilities who were served by vocational rehabilitation agencies throughout the United State from 2002 to 2007 was explored. Findings indicate that, on average, supported employees with intellectual disabilities were cost-efficient from the taxpayers' perspective regardless of whether they had secondary disabilities. In addition, no changes in cost efficiency were found during the period investigated. The data, however, did demonstrate considerable variability in cost efficiency throughout the United States and its territories.

scholarly journals Performance of a Fly Ash Geopolymeric Based Binder with Calcium Hydroxide, Portland Cement and Metakaolin as Additives

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kheradmand ◽  
Z. Abdollahnejad ◽  
F. Pacheco-Torgal
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Fly Ash ◽  
Portland Cement ◽  
Calcium Hydroxide ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Efficient Solution ◽  
Mixed Design ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Background:Geopolymeric binders are especially indicated when reusing a wide diversity of wastes. This is an important feature, especially in the European context, in which a circular economy and future zero waste are targeted. Still, the cost of these materials, due to the use of high purity activators, prevents their commercialization as they are simply not competitive enough.Objective:The reduction in the amount of activators could be a cost-efficient solution if the associated decrease in the mechanical properties turned not to be excessive. This means that it is important to investigate the manner in which these additives can be used on their composition in order to compensate that mechanical reduction.Results and Conclusion:This paper discloses results concerning the mixed design of fly ash based geopolymeric mixtures using metakaolin, Portland cement (OPC) and calcium hydroxide as additives. Their influence on the mechanical properties, microstructure and cost-efficiency was studied. The results showed that the use of Portland cement as an additive leads to lower compressive strength. Results also show that geopolymers with different additives have different optimum Na2SiO3/NaOH ratios.

scholarly journals Role of community health workers in improving cost efficiency in an active case finding tuberculosis programme: an operational research study from rural Bihar, India

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e036625
Author(s):  
Tushar Garg ◽  
Manish Bhardwaj ◽  
Sarang Deo
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Active Case Finding ◽  
Notification Rate ◽  
Intervention Region ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

ObjectivesCost-efficient active case finding (ACF) approaches are needed for their large-scale adoption in national tuberculosis (TB) programmes. Our aim was to assess if community health workers’ (CHW) knowledge about families’ health status can improve the cost efficiency of the ACF programme without adversely affecting the delivery of other health services for which they are responsible.DesignQuasi-experimental design.InterventionsWe evaluated an ACF programme in the Samastipur district in Bihar, India, between July 2017 and June 2018. CHWs called Accredited Social Health Activists generated referrals of individuals at risk of TB and conducted symptom-based screening to identify patients with presumptive TB. They also helped them undergo testing and provided treatment support for confirmed TB cases.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe compared the notification rate from the intervention region with that from a control region in the same district with similar characteristics. We analysed operational data to calculate the cost per TB case diagnosed. We used routine programmatic data from the public health system to estimate the impact on other services provided by CHWs.FindingsCHWs identified 9895 patients with presumptive TB. Of these, 5864 patients were tested for TB, and 1236 were confirmed as TB cases. Annual public case notification rate increased sharply in the intervention region from 45.8 to 105.8 per 100 000 population, whereas it decreased from 50.7 to 45.3 in the control region. There was no practically or statistically significant impact on other output indicators of the CHWs, such as institutional deliveries (−0.04%). The overall cost of the intervention was about US$134 per diagnosed case. Main cost drivers were human resources, and commodities (drugs and diagnostics), which contributed 37.4% and 32.5% of the cost, respectively.ConclusionsACF programmes that use existing CHWs in the health system are feasible, cost efficient and do not adversely affect other healthcare services delivered by CHWs.

scholarly journals Cost efficiency of retrofit measures for typical masonry houses in Kosovo

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91
Author(s):  
Egzon Bajraktari ◽  
Violeta Nushi ◽  
Manuela Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Efficient Solution ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The University ◽  
Initial Results

A major challenge our society faces today is the energy consumption of buildings. Building stock is responsible for about 40% of energy consumption worldwide. The same applies to Kosovo, where a large number of houses are poorly weatherized and inefficient in terms of energy consumption. Most of the energy consumption in the household sector in Kosovo is dedicated to the needs for heating purposes. Furthermore, many of these houses use wood or coal for heating, releasing a lot of gases in the air and so contributing to an increased air pollution both indoors and outdoors. The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” aims to address the issue of energy efficiency for these houses. Specifically, in this study we intend to evaluate various retrofit measures applicable in the country for typical masonry houses and identify the cost-efficient solution. This paper reports the initial results of the study and discusses related challenges.

scholarly journals Calculating Corporate Compliance & The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian S. Haney
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Department Of Justice ◽  
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ◽  
Corporate Compliance ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Compliance Programs ◽  
Firm Compliance ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Technology is rapidly disrupting every industry and institution around the globe. Yet, corporate compliance has remained relatively unaffected by technological change when compared to other industries. If firms continue to lag behind in their compliance efforts, their risk exposure to the potentially lethal sanctions associated with major compliance failures will continue to increase with time. This is particularly true in the context of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Generally, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) is a regulatory statute that forbids bribery and false accounting for domestic firms doing business abroad. And, in the past decade the DOJ and SEC have begun aggressively enforcing the FCPA. Firms should begin using technology to develop more robust and cost-efficient compliance programs to insulate themselves from the FCPA’s harsh penalties. This Article provides an algorithm that allows firms to evaluate and improve their compliance programs in accordance with several published sources of guidance. Compliance scholars have made clear that it is critical for firms to maintain strong corporate compliance programs and have suggested different models and frameworks for internal evaluation and auditing. However, those suggestions fail to consider how technology may be used to improve the cost-efficiency of corporate compliance and ethics programs. This Article takes an informatics-based approach to evaluating and improving firm compliance by focusing on the most important compliance functions according to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), courts, and other Government actors. Indeed, firms may drastically improve the cost-efficiency of their compliance efforts by adopting the analytical framework proposed in this Article.

scholarly journals Cost Efficiency of Banks in Croatia

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 12-26
Author(s):  
Ivan Huljak
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Consolidation Process ◽  
Banking Efficiency ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Administrative Costs ◽  
Cost Efficiencies ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Foreign and larger banks in Croatia are generally considered to be more cost efficient compared with domestic and smaller banks. However, those views are often based on data from financial statements that can be misleading due to simultaneous consolidation process on the market and the existence of economies of scale. To contribute to the Croatian banking efficiency literature, we construct a panel of individual bank data for 1994-2014 period and conduct a frontier analysis to calculate bank specific X-efficiency. Our results suggest that efficiency scores depend on the cost definition as domestic and smaller banks are more efficient in managing administrative costs compared with foreign and larger banks but equally efficient in managing total costs. Results indicate that average bank relative efficiency increased on two occasions: one in the late 90s in the period of banking crisis and subsequent “market cleansing” and to a lesser extent in the period marked with financial crisis. Although the differences between bank cost efficiencies seem small, we conclude that the area is worth further research as significant gains in bank earnings could be achieved by increasing efficiency.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Cost Efficiency and Stock Price: Evidence from Bangladeshi Commercial Banks

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Chinmoy Das Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Stock Prices ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Stock Price ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Cost

This paper employs Stochastic Frontier Approach (SFA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure cost efficiency score of 30 listed private commercial banks in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and finds its influence on stock prices. Results suggest that, there is a significant impact of changes in share prices on the cost efficiency score. This suggests, those banks are most cost efficient, they are able to generate more return for their stockholder than those of inefficient banks. 

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