Comparative Economic Study Research Articles

A Comparative Economic Study on the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems versus Motorcycles to Transport Laboratory Samples in Liberia

Background: Laboratory sample transport in low and middle income countries is constrained by poor roads, difficult geographical terrain, and insecurity. This often leads to delayed laboratory diagnostic turn-around times, and hampers epidemic control or patient treatment efforts. While unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, may mitigate some of these transportation constraints, their cost-effectiveness relative to land-based transportation systems is unclear. Methods: We compared the costs and cost-effectiveness of UAS versus motorcycles in Liberia for laboratory sample transportation under routine and public health emergency conditions. We modeled three UAS systems with operational ranges of 30 km, 65 km, and 100 km, and compared them to an established motorcycle transport system. We included personnel, equipment, maintenance, and training costs, and conducted univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses for equipment operational lifespans, operational range, and accident/failure rates. Findings: Under the routine scenario, the per sample transport costs are $0·65 ($0·10:$2·85) for motorcycles and $0·82 ($0·66:$5·05) for UAS. Per sample costs under the emergency scenario are $24·06 ($21·14:$28·20) for motorcycles and $34·09 ($26·70: $127·40) for UAS. Motorcycles are more cost-effective than UAS under most scenarios with the exception of 100 km range aircraft with operational lifespans of more than 3,000 hours and prices less than $15,000. Interpretation: Given the current level of technology, purchase prices, equipment lifespans, and operational flying ranges, UAS are less cost-effective than motorcycles for routine transport of laboratory samples in Liberia. Field studies are needed to generate evidence on UAS lifespan, failure rates and performance under various weather conditions and payloads. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this paper. Declaration of Interest: The authors of this paper declare no financial conflicts of interest. Ethical Approval: We did not seek IRB approval consistent with Human Research Protection Policy {45CFR46.101(b)(4)}.

Comparative economic study of tulsi and paddy cultivation in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh

The present study for comparison of aromatic crop tulsi (Ocimum basilicum) and cereal crop paddy (Orzya sativa) cultivation has been carried out at farmers’ field of Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. The tulsi is an essential oil bearing plant. Oil of this plant is highly valuable and is used in flavour, cosmetic and pharmaceuticals industry. Paddy has been cultivated in our country as a major food grain crop since long time. During the study period 50 farmers under cultivating tulsi and paddy has been selected from Sitapur District of Uttar Pradesh. The primary data were collected from the selected farmer’s field on profitability comparison between tulsi and paddy cultivation. Simple statistical tools and technique has been used for data analysis of the socio-economic profile, cost of cultivation, profitability. It has been observed during the study that tulsi gives higher returns over paddy. However, the input cost of paddy is higher than tulsi crop but the net return of tulsi was more profitable than paddy. The benefit cost ratio has been observed 2.70 and 1.34 of tulsi and paddy respectively. It is suggested from the study that maximum profit is generated through tulsi cultivation followed by paddy crop. This study can set an example of profitability model for entrepreneurship development in other part of country.

A Comparative Economic Study on the Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems versus Motorcycles to Transport Laboratory Samples in Liberia

Background: Laboratory sample transport in low and middle income countries is constrained by poor roads, difficult geographical terrain, and insecurity. This often leads to delayed laboratory diagnostic turn-around times, and hampers epidemic control or patient treatment efforts. While unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, may mitigate some of these transportation constraints, their cost-effectiveness relative to land-based transportation systems is unclear. Methods: We compared the costs and cost-effectiveness of UAS versus motorcycles in Liberia for laboratory sample transportation under routine and public health emergency conditions. We modeled three UAS systems with operational ranges of 30 km, 65 km, and 100 km, and compared them to an established motorcycle transport system. We included personnel, equipment, maintenance, and training costs, and conducted univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses for equipment operational lifespans, operational range, and accident/failure rates. Findings: Under the routine scenario, the per sample transport costs are $0·65 ($0·10:$2·85) for motorcycles and $0·82 ($0·66:$5·05) for UAS. Per sample costs under the emergency scenario are $24·06 ($21·14:$28·20) for motorcycles and $34·09 ($26·70: $127·40) for UAS. Motorcycles are more cost-effective than UAS under most scenarios with the exception of 100 km range aircraft with operational lifespans of more than 3,000 hours and prices less than $15,000. Interpretation: Given the current level of technology, purchase prices, equipment lifespans, and operational flying ranges, UAS are less cost-effective than motorcycles for routine transport of laboratory samples in Liberia. Field studies are needed to generate evidence on UAS lifespan, failure rates and performance under various weather conditions and payloads. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this paper. Declaration of Interest: The authors of this paper declare no financial conflicts of interest. Ethical Approval: We did not seek IRB approval consistent with Human Research Protection Policy {45CFR46.101(b)(4)}.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of current treatment of individuals with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia in Bulgaria

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder which requires complex treatment and care. Although proof for effective, cost-effective and affordable treatment is available, health economic research is lacking in many low and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and outcomes for individuals with acute exacerbations of schizophrenia before and after inpatient admission and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the current treatment in the clinical practice. We used an ambispective comparative observational health economic study design. The participants were individuals with schizophrenia and their primary caregivers. Costs at baseline and follow-up were evaluated from a healthcare perspective. The primary outcomes were psychopathology, social functioning and quality of life for the patients and burden of informal care for the caregivers. Cost-effectiveness planes and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were generated to illustrate the cost-effectiveness of treating schizophrenia in the real clinical practice, compared to a do-nothing alternative. The main finding is that treatment of individuals with schizophrenia results in improved outcomes for both patients and caregivers, while it is associated with increased healthcare costs from 135.75 Euro (SD = 193.36) per patient before hospital treatment to 189.00 Euro (SD = 126.98) per patient in the follow-up (95% CI: −112.48; −2.31). After application of sensitivity analysis at a particular level of willingness to pay, the treatment remains cost-effective for all 4 outcomes. In conclusion, the treatment of patients with schizophrenia in Bulgaria is cost-effective at acceptable levels of willingness to pay for a unit of improvement on four different outcomes.

Comparative economic study of the use of corifollitropin alfa and daily rFSH for controlled ovarian stimulation in older patients: Cost-minimization analysis based on the PURSUE study.

This study presents an economic assessment of controlled ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology procedures in Spain, comparing the use of corifollitropin alfa and various forms of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) in women of advanced maternal age. A cost-minimization analysis (CMA) was performed to assess the cost per cycle of controlled controlled ovarian stimulation, including only direct costs associated with the stimulation phase. The CMA was based on the population characteristics, the protocol, and the results obtained from the PURSUE study, taking into account 9 days of controlled controlled ovarian stimulation and 300 IU rFSH/day. The primary analysis included pharmacological costs alone. Different scenarios were evaluated including various doses and possible additional days (0–5) for rFSH. For the alternative analyses, the total costs (direct pharmacological costs, costs of visits and follow-up tests, and any additional pharmacological costs) were considered in both the private and public sectors. Treatment with corifollitropin alfa resulted in a lower pharmacological cost compared with rFSH (€757.25 and €950.30, respectively), creating a saving of approximately -20%. The results of the scenario analyses showed that corifollitropin alfa reduced the pharmacological cost of controlled ovarian stimulation in comparison with daily administration of doses ≥ 250 IU rFSH (considering same daily dose for all days), regardless of the additional days required (7–12 days) (average -€223; range -€488 to -€44). In conclusion, in addition to the efficacy shown in the PURSUE study, the use of corifollitropin alfa results in a decrease in the direct costs associated with controlled ovarian stimulation in older women in Spain.

Optimization of waste heat based organic Rankine cycle powered cascaded vapor compression-absorption refrigeration system

In this paper, the thermo-economic optimization of the waste heat based organic Rankine cycle powered cascaded vapor compression-absorption refrigeration system is presented. Organic Rankine cycle with dry organic working fluid is used as a power generating cycle to provide input to the vapor compression refrigeration system. Moreover, the high temperature organic working fluid at the expander outlet is used to supply thermal need of the vapor absorption refrigeration system. The present system achieves low temperature cooling efficiently. However, initial capital cost and complexity are the practical limitations for the present system. The energetic efficiency of the present system for only cooling mode and cogeneration mode (cooling and heating) are calculated to be 22.3% and 79%, respectively. It may be noted that the extra heat available, apart from the thermal energy requirement of the vapor absorption system, is taken as process heat in the cogeneration mode. The simple payback period and break-even point are calculated (for the base case) to be 5.26 years and 4.22 years, respectively. The system size and annualized cost are optimized, using nonlinear programming based on conjugated directions method, to make the system potentially attractive for the industrial sector. Optimization results reveal that the annualized cost of the present system is decreased by about 12% compared to the base case. Moreover, the simple payback period and break-even point are reduced to 4.50 years and 3.48 years, respectively. The results of comparative economic study, between the present and stand-alone vapor compression refrigeration systems, show that the higher value of electricity price and the lower value of discount rate are favorable for the selection of the present system.

Levelized cost analysis of thermoelectric generation in Brazil: A comparative economic and policy study with environmental implications

A comprehensive economic comparison between the most commonly employed thermoelectric technologies in Brazil, such as natural gas, coal, biomass, and fuel oil is of great relevance for an assessment of the electricity mix status and potential. Multiple scenarios were evaluated through the application of a modified levelized cost of electricity (MLCOE), obtaining the overall thermoelectric generation cost in the country, given its specificities, the market, and other relevant issues. Moreover, the analysis of the produced data combined to an additional indicator, the levelized avoided cost of electricity (LACE), provides an extensive view of economic, environmental, and infrastructural aspects. The major modifications in the traditional LCOE methodology were the introduction of the cost of leakage in the natural gas production chain, the transmission costs, and the fuel prices analysis for the different technologies involved. Additionally, the recent discoveries of large gas reservoirs in the Brazilian ultra-deep waters, on the coast of Sao Paulo, the largest electricity market in South America, show a promising scenario, along with strategic investment and adequate policy, for a sustainable transition in the electricity mix of Brazil. This transition should occur through the use of natural gas-fired power stations, as part of strategic planning to avoid the shortage of electricity supply. In this context, results indicated that natural gas-fired generators are very competitive and efficient, in both economic and environmental aspects, when compared to other thermoelectric technologies, even when externalities such as leakage, transmission, and carbon costs were considered. In addition, this study concluded that the natural gas leakage has the same impact as the CO2 emissions from combustion, when the percentage of leakage goes beyond 4.0% on a mass basis. Above this percentage, the impact of the CH4 leakage begins to surpass that of CO2, to a level in which natural gas becomes as greenhouse gas intensive as biomass.

Comparative Economic Study Between the Different Methods of Aquaculture (Case Study in Both Matroh and El Beheira Governorates) دراسة اقتصادیة مقارنة بین الطرق المختلفة للأستزراع السمکی (دراسة حاله بمحافظتی مطروح والبحیره)

إن النقص الحادث في الانتاج الحيواني من الدواجن واللحوم الحمراء يرجع في المرتبه الأولي إلي نقص المنتج المحلي من الاعلاف، وحيث أن الأسماک هي بديل الدواجن واللحوم الحمراء بمصر. مشکلة البحث: تتبلور في دراسة الدور الذي يمکن أن يقوم به الاستزراع السمکي لمواجهه مشاکل توافر البروتين الحيواني في مصر، وسد الفجوة بين الإنتاج والاستهلاک من الأسماک، مع المحافظة علي الموارد المائية المتاحة. هدف البحث: دراسة الکفاءة الإقتصادية للطرق المختلفة للأستزراع السمکي، وصولا لأفضل الطرق التي تؤدي إلي الأستخدام الاقتصادي الرشيد للموارد الاقتصادية المتاحة في مصر وخاصة الموارد المائية.

A comparative economic study of two configurations of hydro-wind power plants

This paper presents a comparison between two options for operating a wind park in combination with a pumped-storage hydro-plant. First, we analyze the behavior of a wind farm that goes to the electricity market having previously forecasted the wind speed, while accepting the deviation penalties these forecasts may incur. Second, we study the possibility of the wind farm not going to the market individually, but as part of a hydro-wind power plant. Considerations about the optimal size of the wind farm and the hydro-pumped storage plant have previously been analyzed in the literature. However, most of these papers do not analyze dynamic considerations. The dimensioning of the system is not studied in our paper; its main feature will instead be the consideration of the dynamic optimal control problem. The use of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle allows us to obtain a very efficient optimization algorithm. The hydro-plant is modelled in great detail, using a variable-head model for the pumped hydro-plant. Our study provides a useful tool for electricity companies. The algorithm is able to solve the problem of the day-ahead market, a problem that is not solved in other studies.

A Comparative Economic Study on BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23 Production in a Selected Area of Dinajpur District

This study was designed to determine the costs, returns and relative profitability of BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23 production in Dinajpur district. In total 60 farmers were selected of whom 30 produced BARI GOM-23 and 30 produced BARI GOM-24 from two villages of Khanshama Upazila of Dinajpur district. Cost-return and functional analyses were done to achieve the objectives of the study. It was revealed that the cultivation of both BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23 were profitable for the farmers. Per hectare gross cost of production of BARI GOM-23 and BARI GOM-24 were Tk. 49898.54 and Tk. 54104.15, respectively and the corresponding gross returns were Tk. 77715.02 and Tk. 65608.44. The per hectare net returns of producing of BARI GOM-23 and BARI GOM-24 were Tk. 27816.48 and Tk. 11504.29, respectively. The results indicated that BARI GOM-24 was more profitable than BARI GOM-23. Cobb-Douglas production function was applied to address the effects of individual inputs on gross return of BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23. It was observed that most of the included variables had significant impact on gross return from BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23 production and gross return could be increased further by increasing the use of some inputs like human labour, seed and fertilizer. The study also identified some problems faced by the producers in producing BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations were made to improve the cultivation and management practices for BARI GOM-24 and BARI GOM-23 farming in order to increase the income of the farmers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v23i1-2.16576Progress. Agric. 23(1 & 2): 123 – 132, 2012

Influence of the New Spanish Legislation concerning the Management of Nuclear Waste

The aim of the present paper is to present and analyse the results obtained from a comparative economic feasibility study performed for the two main nuclear spent fuel management cycles: Once-Through Cycle and Twice-Through Cycle in a Spanish scenario, taking into account the new Spanish legislation with which new tax provisions for generation and storage of nuclear waste must be included in the cycle costs.

A comparative economic case study of switching from cattle farming to game ranching in the Northern Cape Province

Switching from cattle farming to game ranching has become commonplace in the Northern Cape Province. The need to assess the financial implication of such a switch arose from the question of whether game ranching is financially superior to cattle farming in this province. Comparative economics was used in this case study to analyse the profitability, as well as the financial feasibility of three scenarios to determine the financial implications of such a switch. Estimations were based primarily on hunting (biltong and trophy) and live game auctions, the two pillars of the game industry in this province. Results indicate that game ranching can be more profitable, i.e. generate a higher gross margin per hectare than cattle, although not in all cases. Despite this higher profitability, the results indicate further that it is not always financially viable to convert from cattle farming to game ranching, due to the high level of capital investment required. This may have tremendous cash flow implications for the first few years of operation.

Profile of organic dairy farming in Ontario

AbstractEight dairy farms located in western Ontario were surveyed as part of an ongoing comparative economic study. The sampled farms had been using organic methods for an average of 5.5 y ears and, therefore, were beyond the “transition” stage. Diversified cropping systems were characteristic of these farms, with most crop products (grain and straw) being used directly by the farms' livestock enterprises. Crop rotations were complex, and generally involved sequences of forages and small grains into which cover crops such as oilseed radish and red clover were integrated. Weed control, year-round soil cover, and production of feed and bedding all contributed to the design of cropping systems. Both solid and liquid manures were composted before application. No feed additives or growth hormones were used, but homeopathic remedies, probiotics, and antibiotics were commonly used. The high cost of synthetic fertilizer and concern for the environment were the main reasons given by the f armers f or adopting organic methods.

Rigorous Comparative Study of Energy-Integrated Distillation Schemes

This paper presents results of a rigorous study and comparison of conventional and energy-integrated distillation schemes for the separation of ternary mixtures. The major part of this work is devoted to the design and simulation of the fully thermally coupled distillation column (Petlyuk or Kaibel column) with particular emphasis on the question of the fractional recovery of the middle component in the prefractionator and as a consequence the internal recycle streams. A comparative economic parametric study is carried out for three different distillation schemes: conventional sequences, heat-integrated columns, and the fully thermally coupled distillation column. The heat-integrated columns show the best economic features over the other two schemes except the few cases when the concentration of the middle component in the feed is high and the A/B split is more difficult than the B/C split. In such rare cases the fully thermally coupled distillation column proves to be the cheapest solution. In the cases...

Energy possibilities from forest residues in the region of Castilla y León in Spain

This paper analyses the potential forest biomass existing in the autonomous region of Castilla y León in Spain. The presentation shows some possible applications for the use of forest biomass as fuel in previously adapted classic ovens. The text presents the gathering processes of the forest wastes and their transformation, both in the forest as well as in the milling plant. The paper also provides a comparative study of combustion tests in different ovens. Furthermore, this study analyses the economic result of the application of forest biomass for fuel. A comparative economic study of the use of forest biomass and other traditional fuels demonstrates the profitability of such biomass as a source of complementary energy.

Control of activated sludge settleability using preaeration and preprecipitation

This paper deals with the addition of a preaeration and a preprecipitation stage to a conventional activated sludge process. The experiments were carried out in a pilot plant using wastewater from the city of Valencia (Spain) as feed. The effect of the F/ M ratio and sludge age on sludge settleability was established. In both cases, process stability was observed to increase with respect to the conventional process. Good sludge settleability was thus assured in a greater F/M ratio range. A comparative economic study was also carried out.

Compensation for Delinquency in Debt Repayment: A Comparative Islamic Juristic and Economic Study

Compensation for Delinquency in Debt Repayment: A Comparative Islamic Juristic and Economic Study

Employment trends in the United States, Japan, and the European community: a comparative economic study

The unemployment figures in all western industrialized countries have shown a marked upward trend in the last ten years. However, there have been wide differences in the performance of individual countries and economic areas with respect to employment. The number of persons employed in the European Community contracted slightly overall, for example, but, the Federal Republic of Germany experienced an appreciable reduction. By contrast, in Japan employment increased by an average of .9 percent per year, and in the United States it expanded by as much as 1.7 percent per year. This study seeks to establish why the net supply of jobs has continued to increase in some countries while in others, job losses have outweighed the creation of new jobs, despite the fact that all of the countries were exposed to similar pressures from exogenous shocks such as the oil price crises and the changeover to floating exchange rates. The examination includes the United States, Japan, and the European Community's economically most important member states; France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. A variety of variables are examined in an effort to explain the differences in employment trends in individual countries including: differences in the pace and structure of growth; differences in real wage trends and in wage structure; differences in labor market flexibility and adaptability; and differences in fundamental concepts of economic policy, and socio-economic framework. The conclusions have major importance for those concerned with comparative national economic policy.

An Ex-ante economic appraisal of mono-cropping, mixed cropping and inter-cropping of annual and perennial crops

The paper makes a comparative economic study of mono-cropping, mixed cropping and inter-cropping of annual and perennial crops using discounted cashflow analysis and data from a case study of a village settlement project in Cameroon. The project faces the problems of high desertion, low production and low productivity, which results from the practice of mixed cropping. The study demonstrates that ‘intercropping’ or ‘planned multi-cropping’ is an important improvement on mixed cropping and that it reasonably meets the objectives of both the settlers and the project. The results also indicate that, apart from the sole cropping of plantains (the most profitable of the seven systems compared), the inter-cropped systems are more profitable and reliable than the mixed cropped systems, which, in turn, are more profitable and reliable than the sole cropped systems. General and specific implications are discussed and proposals made.

A comparative study of the economics of RO and MSF in the Middle East

Seawater desalination by multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) is still the predominant method, particularly in larger dual-purpose plants. However, the increased energy cost has increased the compatability of reverse osmosis very much during recent years. A comparative economic study of RO and MSF in the Middle East with capacities of up to 50 MIGD is discussed with particular reference to the parameters of influence. Different membranes have been taken into consideration, but the most extensive calculations have been made for the new Permasep B-10 6840 T Permeator from Du Pont with improved temperature and pressure characteristics as well as membrane flux decline. An important economic factor is the membrane replacement rate. A strategy for the control of membrane performance and the replacement of membranes in order to minimize the operation cost is proposed. This computer control will also indicate, whether or not the pre-treatment has to be improved. Competitive distillation systems other than MSF, such as multi-effect distillation methods, are included in the cost calculations for plants up to 10 MIGD capacity. Such systems, which have been developed recently, offer lower operation costs than MSF. The favourable economy offered by reverse osmosis suggests other RO applications apart from new desalination plants, viz. the retrofitting of old distillation plants. The hybrid RO-MSF desalination plant has several benefits, e.g. decreased post-treatment costs and improved water quality by blending distillate and RO permeate as well as greater flexibility and more efficient operation in dual-purpose plants.