Cockpit crew pairing Pareto optimisation in a budget airline

Crew pairing is the primary cost checkpoint in airline crew scheduling. Because the crew cost comes second after the fuel cost, a substantial cost saving can be gained from effective crew pairing. In this paper, the cockpit crew pairing problem (CCPP) of a budget airline was studied. Unlike the conventional CCPP that focuses solely on the cost component, many more objectives deemed to be no less important than cost minimisation were also taken into consideration. The adaptive non-dominated sorting differential algorithm III (ANSDE III) was proposed to optimise the CCPP against many objectives simultaneously. The performance of ANSDE III was compared against the NSGA III, MOEA/D, and MODE algorithms under several Pareto optimal measurements, where ANSDE III outperformed the others in every metric.

Improved GA based power and cost management system in a grid-associated PV-wind system

Renewable hybrids play an essential part in assisting India with quickening the decarbonisation of power production and lowering power production expense in the medium term. PV and wind energy are complementary to each other, making the system to generate electricity almost throughout the year. In this paper, a grid-associated PV-wind energy system tied with a battery is analysed. PV, wind, grid and battery are the sources to be effectively scheduled for uninterrupted power and cost minimisation. Energy management controllers use optimisation strategies for effective utilisation of sources and cost minimisation. The methodologies are detailed as optimisation problems. Limiting the household energy cost is considered as objective, and the delivery ratio of power offered to the grid and utilised locally is treated as the optimisation variable. In this paper, an improved genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the formulated nonlinear optimisation problems. The time-of-use tariff is becoming popular in India; therefore, this article analyses the improved genetic algorithm based intelligent power and cost management system under time-of-use tariff. Using MATLAB, the proposed approach's performance is presented with the comparative analysis of conventional self-made for self-consumed and rest for sale mode and genetic algorithm-based energy management controller.

Potential and limitation of AI system in building services and control management system

In the construction industry, traditional method for analysing human comfort is time consuming. Thus, artificial intelligence (AI) has been slowly being applied in the software stimulation and building management system to solve the typical comfort analysis method. The potential and limitation of the AI system in the building service are presented through PRISMA review. The AI system enables the building service system to analysis in real-time, optimising energy efficiency, enhance occupant’s satisfaction, risk mitigation, cost minimisation and work efficiency increased. However, the AI system application in the building service still faces some challenges such as lack of big data and the varying parameter of data input in the software system, expensive initial cost and required expertise.

Predictive potential of the bankruptcy global models in the tourism industry

The globalisation process and the recent economic crises have increased the development of models to identify the factors related to business bankruptcy. The tourism industry is not immune to this concern, and in the previous literature, bankruptcy prediction models are generally focused on hotels or restaurants. However, there are no experiences of global models for tourism companies. This study develops a global bankruptcy prediction model capable of predicting any activities carried out in the tourism industry with high precision. To this end, a sample of 406 Spanish companies that have developed their activity in three tourism industry sectors (hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies) in the period 2017-2019 has been used. This sample includes bankrupt and non-bankrupt corporations and has allowed the comparison between a global model and various focused models applying artificial neural network techniques. The results have confirmed the superiority of the global model and provide different sample selection and cost minimisation solutions for bankruptcy prediction modelling in the tourism industry

Cost-minimisation analysis of a treat-and-extend regimen with anti-VEGFs in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Purpose Although intraocular anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGFs) are effective as treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), the (economic) burden on the healthcare system is considerable. A treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen is associated with a lower number of injections without compromising the effectiveness and can therefore help optimise nAMD treatment. This study investigates the per-patient costs associated with nAMD treatment, when using aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab with a T&E regimen. Methods In this cost-minimisation model, the per-patient costs in the Netherlands were modelled using a healthcare payers’ perspective over a 3-year time horizon with the assumption that efficacy of treatments is similar. Additionally, the break-even price of the different anti-VEGFs was calculated relative to the cheapest option and injection frequency. Results The injection frequency varied from 14.2 for aflibercept to 27.4 for bevacizumab in 3 years. Nonetheless, bevacizumab remains the cheapest treatment option (€14,215), followed by aflibercept (€18,202) and ranibizumab (€31,048). The medication covers the majority of the per-patient costs for aflibercept and ranibizumab, while administration covers the majority of the per-patient costs for bevacizumab. The break-even prices of aflibercept and ranibizumab are respectively €507 and €60.58 per injection. Brolucizumab was included in the scenario analysis and was more expensive than aflibercept (€20,446). Brolucizumab should reduce to 13.8 injections over 3 years to be as costly as aflibercept. Conclusion Bevacizumab is the cheapest anti-VEGF treatment. The list prices of all anti-VEGFs should reduce to be as costly as bevacizumab. Aflibercept is the second-choice treatment and so far brolucizumab is not.

Pharmaceutical supply chains and management innovation?

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the implementation of innovative programmes within the downstream domain of the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC), with the aim of informing improved service provision. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach was used to assess to what extent innovation could be adopted by hospital and community pharmacies to improve the delivery process of pharmaceutical products. Unstructured interviews and 130 questionnaires were collected and analysed to identify factors that facilitate or prevent innovation within PSC processes. Findings The analysis led to the creation of the innovative pharmaceutical supply chain framework (IPSCF) that provides guidance to health-care organisations about how supply chain management problems could be addressed by implementing innovative approaches. The results also indicated that the implementation of Lean and Reverse Logistics (RL) practices, supported by integrated information technology systems, can help health-care organisations to enhance their delivery in terms of quality (products and service quality), visibility (knowledge and information sharing), speed (response to customers and suppliers needs) and cost (minimisation of cost and waste). Practical implications The study’s recommendations have potential implications for supply chain theory and practice, particularly for pharmacies in terms of innovation adoption. The IPSCF provides guidance to pharmacies and health-care organisations to develop more efficient and effective supply chain strategies. Originality/value This research contributes to the academic literature as it adds novel theoretical insights to highly complex delivery process innovation.

Beyond Cost Minimisation: Farmers’ Perspectives on the Adoption of GM Fodder in Sweden

Swedish farmers were surveyed about their perceptions of genetically modified (GM) feed. Livestock in the EU are frequently given feed containing imported genetically modified (GM) crops, with GM fodder often being cheaper for farmers. However, there is also a growing market for ‘GM-free’ animal-based products. While public concerns about GMOs have been studied extensively, less is known about farmers’ views. The limited literature on farmers and GMOs tends to focus on the economic factors influencing their adoption. The present study contributes the perspective of farmers as members of the general public, thus including a broader set of factors known to be relevant for the public perception of GMOs. The results indicated that farmers were worried about: i) unforeseen consequences for the environment, ii) un­foreseen consequences for human and animal health, and iii) the dominance of multinational companies. Farmers who could expect their farm businesses to benefit from existing GMOs were more positive, whereas those who were unlikely to experience any benefits or who could expect their farm business to be adversely affected were more negative. Nevertheless, adherence to a broader set of positive or negative values suggests that Swedish farmers’ perspectives on GMOs go further than pure considerations of farm management.

A time and cost analysis of speech pathology paediatric feeding services delivered in-person versus via telepractice

Introduction Telepractice models of care have the potential to reduce the time and financial burdens that consumers may experience accessing healthcare services. The current study aimed to conduct a time and financial cost analysis of paediatric feeding appointments accessed via telepractice (using videoconferencing) compared to an in-person model. Methods Parents of 44 children with paediatric feeding disorders (PFDs) residing in a metropolitan area completed three questionnaires relating to (a) demographics, (b) time and cost for in-person care and (c) time and cost for telepractice. Both cost questionnaires collected data required for direct and indirect costs comparisons (e.g. out-of-pocket costs associated with the appointment (direct), time away from usual duties (indirect)). Average number of services accessed by each participant, and PFD appointments conducted annually by the service, were collected from service statistics. Analysis involved cost minimisation and cost modelling from a societal perspective. Results The telepractice appointment resulted in significant time ( p = 0.007) and cost (AUD$95.09 per appointment, SD = AUD$64.47, p = < 0.0001) savings per family. The health service cost was equivalent for both models (AUD$58.25). Cost modelling identified cost savings of up to AUD$475.45 per family if 50% of appointments in a 10-session block were converted to telepractice. Potential cost savings of AUD$68,750.07 per annum to society could be realised if 50% of feeding appointments within the service were provided via telepractice. Discussion The telepractice model offered both time and cost benefits. Future service re-design incorporating hybrid services (in-person and telepractice) will help optimise benefits and minimise burden for families accessing services for PFDs.