Flight-scheduling optimization and automation for AnadoluJet

AnadoluJet, a leading Turkish domestic airline carrier provides high-service, low-price flights to 28 locations within Turkey. Each winter and summer, AnadoluJet typically generates a new flight schedule. The company's primary scheduling concerns are aircraft fleet utilization and the waiting times of transfer passengers. Balancing the trade-off between these two criteria in a flight schedule is crucial for AnadoluJet's profitability. In this paper, we present the results of our study of AnadoluJet's flight-scheduling process. We provide a mathematical model that addresses this problem and then extend our studies and implement a heuristic algorithm for the development of a decision support system for the company. The objectives of the models we generated are to maximize fleet utilization, minimize waiting times for the majority of transfer passengers, and generate flight schedules subject to various constraints. The schedules that result from our models are superior to those that AnadoluJet's generated using its previous manual process. AnadoluJet currently uses our decision support system in its flight-scheduling process. © 2016 INFORMS

Attitudes of cancer patients after diagnosis: How cancer affects social life? A Turkish Oncology Group study

PubMedID: 28365956Purpose: Each year, 12.7 million people leam that they have cancer and 8.2 million people die of= cancer worldwide. Cancer is a major public health issue which causes fundamental changes in the lives of patients and their families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lives of patients after diagnosis and determine the changes in their lifestyles. Methods: Between September 2013 to December 2013, a questionnaire consisting of 22 questions was administered during a face to face interview to patients at 13 different Oncology Units in Turkey. Each patient was queried during the administration of his/her chemotherapy. Eight of the questions featured independent choices, and 14 had dependent (multiple) choices. Results: A total of 1300 patients were included in the study. Of patients 9.5% were 71 years of age and older which was the oldest age group. The mean patient age was 54.6±13.8 years. Of the whole group of patients 58.5% were female and 41.5% male. After diagnosis, 64% of the patients reported that they were complying with guidelines for a healthy lifestyle and 80% said that they were eating healthier food. At the time they filled in the questionnaire, more than half of the patients (57.3%) felt optimistic about their disease. Conclusions: Diagnosis of cancer may change the patients' dietary and reading habits, social relationships, activities and more importantly, their point of life view