Cost Effective Optimal Task Scheduling Model in Hybrid Cloud Environment

In today’s world, Cloud Computing (CC) enables the users to accesscomputing resources and services over cloud without any need to own the infrastructure. Cloud Computing is a concept in which a network of devices, located inremote locations, is integrated to perform operations like data collection, processing, data profiling and data storage. In this context, resource allocation and taskscheduling are important processes which must be managed based on the requirements of a user. In order to allocate the resources effectively, hybrid cloud isemployed since it is a capable solution to process large-scale consumer applications in a pay-by-use manner. Hence, the model is to be designed as a profit-driven framework to reduce cost and make span. With this motivation, the currentresearch work develops a Cost-Effective Optimal Task Scheduling Model(CEOTS). A novel algorithm called Target-based Cost Derivation (TCD) modelis used in the proposed work for hybrid clouds. Moreover, the algorithm workson the basis of multi-intentional task completion process with optimal resourceallocation. The model was successfully simulated to validate its effectivenessbased on factors such as processing time, make span and efficient utilization ofvirtual machines. The results infer that the proposed model outperformed theexisting works and can be relied in future for real-time applications.

Decision-tree analysis for cost-effective management of solitary pulmonary nodules in China

AIM: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN) in China. METHODS: Decision analysis models were constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of four strategies for the management of SPN: computed tomography(CT) alone, CT plus CT-guided automated cutting needle biopsy(ACNB), CT plus positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT), CT plus diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(DWI) plus PET/CT. RESULTS: The prevalence of lung cancer among SPN discovered in the clinical setting was approximately 50%. The CT plus ACNB strategy had higher diagnostic accuracies(87% vs 81%), with a cost saving of $1945 RMB per patient, and reducing unnecessary thoracotomy by 16.5%; this was associated with a 4.5% missed diagnosis rate. CT plus DWI plus PET/CT strategy also had higher accuracies(95% vs 81%), with a cost saving of $590 RMB per patient, and reducing unneces-sary thoracotomy by 13.5%; this was accompanied by 0.3% missed diagnosis rate. CT plus PET strategy is cost effective at a prevalence rate of 0-34%, but there was a larger prevalence range of lung cancer for CT plus ACNB strategy(from 0 to 0.6) and CT plus DWI plus PET/CT strategy(from 0 to 0.64). CONCLUSION: CT plus DWI plus PET/CT strategy was cost-effective, and had a higher accuracy accompanied by a lower missed diagnosis rate than CT plus ACNB strategy.

Open Partial Nephrectomy: One Night Length of Stay Is Safe and Cost Effective

Objective: To review our open partial nephrectomy (OPN) experience and compare to known robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) data to determine whether length of stay (LOS) and morbidity are significant drivers in the surgical approach employed for partial nephrectomy. Methods: We reviewed our OPN experience during the last 3 years examining age, tumor size, LOS, pathology, blood loss, complications, recurences, and deaths. Results: Seventy-five patients underwent OPN during this period. Mean age was 59 years, tumor size 2.8 cm, percent malignant 75%, estimated blood loss 350 cc. With a median follow-up of 18 months, there was one urinoma managed by drain-age, one pseudo aneurysm that required embolization and one pulmonary embolism that required anticoagulation. There were no readmissions, no tumor recurences, and no deaths. Our major complication rate was 4% as compared to other trials that re-ported major complication rates between 1% - 9% for RPN and between 3% - 24% for OPN. In the first half of the experience (n = 37), median LOS was 57 hours. Using a pathway encouraging early ambulation and smaller incisions in the second half of the experience (n = 38), median LOS was 35 hours. This is much shorter than reported RPN LOS of 62 - 67 hours and OPN LOS of 108 - 142 hours. Conclusion: OPN can be performed safely and effectively with one night hospital stay. This provides a more cost-effective approach to partial nephrectomy with similar or better complication rates and calls into question the main value drivers of RPN.

Laboratory model study of newly deposited dredger fills using improved multiple-vacuum preloading technique

Problems continue to be encountered concerning the traditional vacuum preloading method in field during the treatment of newly deposited dredger fills.In this paper,an improved multiple-vacuum preloading method was developed to consolidate newly dredger fills that are hydraulically placed in seawater for land reclamation in Lingang Industrial Zone of Tianjin City,China.With this multiplevacuum preloading method,the newly deposited dredger fills could be treated effectively by adopting a novel moisture separator and a rapid improvement technique without sand cushion.A series of model tests was conducted in the laboratory for comparing the results from the multiple-vacuum preloading method and the traditional one.Ten piezometers and settlement plates were installed to measure the variations in excess pore water pressures and moisture content,and vane shear strength was measured at different positions.The testing results indicate that water dischargeetime curves obtained by the traditional vacuum preloading method can be divided into three phases:rapid growth phase,slow growth phase,and steady phase.According to the process of fluid flow concentrated along tiny ripples and building of larger channels inside soils during the whole vacuum loading process,the fluctuations of pore water pressure during each loading step are divided into three phases:steady phase,rapid dissipation phase,and slow dissipation phase.An optimal loading pattern which could have a best treatment effect was proposed for calculating the water discharge and pore water pressure of soil using the improved multiple-vacuum preloading method.For the newly deposited dredger fills at Lingang Industrial Zone of Tianjin City,the best loading step was 20 kPa and the loading of 40-50 k Pa produced the highest drainage consolidation.The measured moisture content and vane shear strength were discussed in terms of the effect of reinforcement,both of which indicate that the multiple-vacuum preloading method has a better treatment effect not only in decreasing the moisture content and increasing the bearing capacity,but also in increasing the process uniformity at different depths of foundation.

Effect of Roselle calyces extract on the chemical and sensory properties of functional cupcakes

Roselle calyces(RC)are a major crop for export and used to make a common drink in Egypt.Dried RC are commercially available and appreciated to obtain concentrated extracts which might be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries for color and heath benefits.The objective of this research was to determine the chemical and the sensory properties of cupcakes formulated with Roselle calyces extract(RCE).Proximate analysis,anthocyanins,ascorbic acid,titrable acidity,%retaining of anthocyanins,color and sensory evaluations were done.RC cupcakes had high sensory scores(P<0.05)compared to control cupcakes.The parameter a*was significantly red in the RC cupcakes compared to control cupcakes along with 77%retaining of anthocyanins.The consumption of 100 g of the RC cupcakes would provide 465 mg/100 g dry matter anthocyanin that is more than 2 folds of the minimum average of the daily intake of anthocyanins for Americans,along∼1/3 of the daily dietary fiber intake to achieve fiber adequacy according to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.RC cupcake can be a functional food and would have a“clean”label with cost effective advantage.

Analysis of Listeriosis Transmission Dynamics with Optimal Control

Listeriosis is an illness caused by the germ Listeria monocytogenes. Generally, humans are infected with listeriosis after eating contaminated food. Listeriosis mostly affects people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns. In this paper, a model describing the dynamics of Listeriosis is developed and analysed using ordinary differential equations. The model was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively for its local and global stability, basic reproductive number and parameter contributions to the basic reproductive number to understand the impact of each parameter on the disease spread. The Listeriosis model has been extended to include time dependent control variables such as treatment of both humans and animals, vaccination and education of humans. Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle was introduced to obtain the best optimal control strategies required for curbing Listeriosis infections. Numerical simulation was performed and the results displayed graphically and discussed. Cost effectiveness analysis was conducted using the intervention averted ratio (IAR) concepts and it was revealed that the most effective intervention strategy is the treatment of infected humans and animals.

Serum SCCA-IgM as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis

Aberrant Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCCA) expression is an early hepatocarcinogenetic event and circulating SCCA-IgM complexes are elevated in most HCC patients. We evaluated whether serum SCCA-IgM levels can identify HCV +ve cirrhotic patients at low HCC risk. In this retrospective study we enrolled 29 cirrhotic patients in whom serum SCCA-IgM was measured 8 - 69 months (median 31) before HCC diagnosis, and 28 cirrhotic patients who remained HCC- free, with SCCA-IgM measured 15 - 68 months (median 48) before the study end. The best discriminating value of SCCA-IgM was calculated and tested in predicting HCC diagnosis within 12, 24 and 36 months. Sensitivity analysis, considering different HCC incidence, was conducted to identify the patient subgroup with an annual cancer risk below the threshold of a cost-effective semiannual surveillance with ultrasound. Cumulative HCC incidence at 12, 24 and 36 months was 7.0%, 15.7% and 26.3%, respectively. SCCA-IgM levels were higher in HCC than in cirrhotic patients [median: 381 (95% C.I.: 50 - 5289) vs. 100 (70 - 493) AU/mL, P = 0.005]. The SCCA-IgM value ≤ 200 AU/mL accurately identified patients at low risk of HCC development in the subsequent year (sensitivity 75%, specificity 62%, positive predictive value 13% and negative predictive value 97%). Considering an annual HCC incidence ≤ 3%, patients with SCCA-IgM ≤ 200 AU/mL (60% of the whole patients) had an HCC risk below the accepted threshold of a cost-effective surveillance (1.5%). In conclusion, provided that our provocative results are confirmed in larger studies, SCCA-IgM serum measurement could permit implementation of a two step (with different costs) surveillance: an initial serological surveillance, based on the annual monitoring of this biomarker, and the conventional surveillance by semiannual US when SCCA-IgM becomes >200 AU/mL. This could improve the cost/effectiveness of surveillance of HCV infected patients at risk of HCC.

Perspectives of newborn hearing screening in resource constrained settings

Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome.However implementing universal screening strategy is a challenge in many resource constrained settings.There are various limitations towards successful implementation of hearing screening program in the developing countries.The cost effectiveness of the screening program also needs to be considered in a resource constrained settings.We attempt to provide a viewpoint that can be potentially helpful for the successful implementation of hearing screening in a resource constrained settings of the developing countries.

Environmental Mapping of Potential Habitats for Anthropod Vectors of Trypanosomiasis in Northern Nigeria

This paper presents analysis of a cost effective methodology using remotely sensed data analysed within a geographical systems (GIS) environment for mapping out potential habitats of anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in northern Nigeria. These geographical locations are areas with high population of livestock in Nigeria. Animal Trypanosomiasis is considered as an arthropod-borne viral disease which is endemic in about 37 countries of the sub-Saharan Africa and in particular northern Nigeria. This anthropod-borne viral disease remains a threat to both humans and livestock in many communities, and the outbreak of such diseases is shown to relate to fluctuations in the changing climate mostly experienced whenever there are changes in global precipitation which also relates to changes in sea surface temperatures otherwise known as “El Niňo Southern Oscillations” (ENSO). Monthly Satellite imageries in the form of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at 250 meters spatial resolution obtained from NASA-MODIS/CMD were subjected to principal component analysis utilizing the standardized principal components within a GIS environment and supplemented with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data in the analysis. Results from the maps showed that pockets of probable habitats of these anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis mostly located around forest islands characterized by dry woodland and savanna, and in some cases around gallery forests and few lowland and riverine areas. This study provides baseline information for policy makers in Nigeria and other stakeholders as a cost effective measure for mapping potential habitats for anthropod vectors responsible for trypanosomiasis in Northern Nigeria. Further studies are encouraged so as to clearly understand the magnitude and actual locations of the habitat of this vector and find ways of targeting their locations for minimizing or even eradicating these vectors.

A cost-effective 100-Gb/s transmitter with low-speed optoelectronic devices and high spectral efficiency

A 100-Gb/s high-speed optical transmitter is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Based on frequency-quadrupling technique, two sub-channels with a fixed 50-GHz spacing are obtained from one laser source. Using return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying （RZ-DQPSK） modulation format and polarization multiplexing （PolMux）, only low-speed electronic devices of 12.5 GHz are needed for the 100-Gb/s transmitter. This eliminates the need of ultrahigh-speed optoelectronic devices and thus greatly reduces the cost. The experimental results show that this transmitter can achieve good performance in dispersion tolerance of a 25-km single mode fiber （SMF）.

Theoretical analysis and experimental verification of a cost-effective chromatic dispersion monitoring method in a 40-Gb/s optical fiber communication system

A cost-effective technique for in-service chromatic dispersion monitoring in a 40-Gb/s optical communication system is proposed. Microwave devices are adopted to detect the electrical power of a specific frequency band. A simplified theoretical model is proposed and discussed focusing on the relationship between electrical power and chromatic dispersion at different frequency bands. The dynamic monitoring of chromatic dispersion is achieved using devices such as PIN detector, microwave amplifier, narrow-band microwave filter, and electrical power detector. The maximum detectable chromatic dispersion is 130 ps/nm and a resolution of 5.2 ps/nm/dB has been achieved in the frequency band centered at 12 GHz.

Discharging patients home from the intensive care unit:A new trend

Discharging patients directly to home from the intensive care unit(ICU)is becoming a new trend.This review examines the feasibility,benefits,challenges,and considerations of directly discharging ICU patients.By analyzing available evidence and healthcare professionals'experiences,the review explores the potential impacts on patient outcomes and healthcare systems.The practice of direct discharge from the ICU presents both opportunities and complexities.While it can potentially reduce costs,enhance patient comfort,and mitigate complications linked to extended hospitalization,it necessitates meticulous patient selection and robust post-discharge support mechanisms.Implementing this strategy successfully mandates the availability of home-based care services and a careful assessment of the patient's readiness for the transition.Through critical evaluation of existing literature,this review underscores the significance of tailored patient selection criteria and comprehensive post-discharge support systems to ensure patient safety and optimal recovery.The insights provided contribute evidence-based recommendations for refining the direct discharge approach,fostering improved patient outcomes,heightened satisfaction,and streamlined healthcare processes.Ultimately,the review seeks to balance patientcentered care and effective resource utilization within ICU discharge strategies.

Costs and cost-effectiveness of HIV early infant diagnosis in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review

Background:Continuing progress in the global pediatric human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)response depends on timely identification and care of infants with HIV.As countries scale-out improvements to HIV early infant diagnosis(EID),economic evaluations are needed to inform program design and implementation.This scoping review aimed to summarize the available evidence and discuss practical implications of cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of HIV EID.Methods:We systematically searched bibliographic databases(Embase,MEDLINE and EconLit)and grey literature for economic analyses of HIV EID in low-and middle-income countries published between January 2008 and June 2021.We extracted data on unit costs,cost savings,and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios as well as outcomes related to health and the HIV EID care process and summarized results in narrative and tabular formats.We converted unit costs to 2021 USD for easier comparison of costs across studies.Results:After title and abstract screening of 1278 records and full-text review of 99 records,we included 29 studies:17 cost analyses and 12 model-based cost-effectiveness analyses.Unit costs were 21.46-51.80 USD for point-of-care EID tests and 16.21-42.73 USD for laboratory-based EID tests.All cost-effectiveness analyses stated at least one of the interventions evaluated to be cost-effective.Most studies reported costs of EID testing strategies;however,few studies assessed the same intervention or reported costs in the same way,making comparison of costs across studies challenging.Limited data availability of context-appropriate costs and outcomes of children with HIV as well as structural heterogeneity of cost-effectiveness modelling studies limits generalizability of economic analyses of HIV EID.Conclusions:The available cost and cost-effectiveness evidence for EID of HIV,while not directly comparable across studies,covers a broad range of interventions and suggests most interventions designed to improve EID are cost-effective or cost-saving.Further studies capturing costs and benefits of EID services as they are delivered in real-world settings are needed.

The Cost-effectiveness and Risk Analysis of Dynamic Conflict Decision Making

This paper introduces the technique of cost effectiveness and risk analysis employed in decision making appraisal to the major processes of analysis of the dynamic conflict decision making modelling, and have obtained conflict state transfer, conflict decision making selection, cost effectiveness and risk computation appraisal model of enforcement under different patterns. This work has made the dynamic conflict decision modelling analysis more comprehensive, accurate and effective.

Sofosbuvir-based Regimens with Task Shifting Is Cost-effective in Expanding Hepatitis C Treatment Access in the United States

Background and Aims:The current paradigm of specialist physician-managed treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection(HCV)is inefficient in absorbing the approximately 3 million patients awaiting treatment in the United States.Task shifting—whereby specialist physicians screen patients for treatment eligibility but on-treatment monitoring is devolved to more abundant non-physician clinicians—achieves non-inferior treatment outcomes with second generation direct-acting antivirals(2^(nd)Gen DAAs),may increase treatment capacity,and may facilitate greater treatment access.We determined the cost effectiveness of 2^(nd)Gen DAAs with respect to interferon-based first-generation DAAs(1^(st)Gen DAAs)within a task-shifted treatment model.Methods:Using a previously described decision-analytic Markov structure,we modeled a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection over a lifetime horizon,based upon our outreach clinic's HCV treatment protocol.Treatment-naive and treatment-experienced HCV cohorts were modeled separately,based upon our outr8each clinic's demographics.Treatment response to 2^(nd)Gen DAAs was modeled based on our outreach clinic's data.Adverse events,utility,costing,and transition probabilities were sourced from the literature.Results:Driven by improved effectiveness and safety,as well as an expected increase in treatment capacity,2^(nd)Gen DAAs treatment monitored by non-physician clinicians was projected to improve health outcomes and be dominant from a cost-effective perspective versus that of 1^(st)Gen DAAs.Trends were consistent across all assessed patient subpopulations.Conclusions:Based on an assumption of increased treatment capacity accompanying a task-shifted treatment model,2^(nd)Gen DAAs-based treatment was cost effective and cost saving as compared to 1^(st)Gen DAAs-based treatment for all HCV patient subgroups assessed.

Cost-effectiveness of one-stage versus two-stage breast reconstruction in the United Kingdom

Aim:Permanent expanders allow for breast reconstruction as a single stage.These prostheses are more expensive than conventional tissue expanders,but this excess cost is markedly offset as only one operation is required.However,if the revision rate is sufficiently high,then this effect is negated.We aim to compare costs of one-stage vs.two-stage reconstruction at a single center,taking into account explantation and unexpected admissions following complications.Methods:A retrospective review was carried out on all patients who underwent one-stage and two-stage reconstruction over a 5-year period by a single surgeon.A cost analysis was performed taking into account,explantation and additional admissions.Results:One hundred and forty-three one-stage and 45 two-stage procedures were included.The explantation rate for one-stage procedures is 36%,at a mean of 12.9 months postimplantation,the majority of which were exchanged for silicone implants to improve cosmesis.Four(9%)of the two-stage procedures were explanted a mean of 18 months postreconstruction.Overall,one-stage reconstructions were significantly more expensive than the two-stage group(P=0.016).Conclusion:There are many benefits of one-stage breast reconstruction.However,it does not appear to be cost-effective when additional admissions for explantation surgery are taken into account.

Treatment of soybean wastewater by a wild strain Rhodobacter sphaeroides and to produce protein under natural conditions

The conventional treatment method of soybean wastewater is expensive and generates waste sludge that requires further handling.Purple nonsulfur bacteria(PNSB)wastewater treatment is a clean technology and can generate single cell protein while degrading pollutants.A wild strain of PNSB,Rhodobacter sphaeroides Z08,was isolated from local soil and was used to treat soybean wastewater.To develop a cost-effective process,the work was performed under natural conditions without artificial light,aeration,nutrients addition,or pH and temperature adjustment.The results showed that the wild strain Rhodobacter sphaeroides Z08 could grow well under natural conditions.The growth curve showed two quickgrowth periods and a turning point.The Z08 treatment of soybean wastewater was zero order reaction and COD reduction was 96%after 10 d.The major byproducts of the process were C2-C5 organic acids,predominantly butyric acid.No alcohol was found in the effluent.The initial COD/bacterial-mass ratio(F/M)had a significant effect on soybean wastewater treatment efficiency.When the initial F/M was lower than 10 mg-COD/mg-bacteria,a sufficient amount of time to achieve 90%of COD reduction was only three days.The Z08 biomass yield was 0.28 g·g^(–1),and the bacterial protein content was 52%.

Has Global Division of Labor Increased Markup of Chinese Enterprises?

The paper calculates the number of production stages for measurement of production segmentation,and discusses and depicts the microscopic impacts and effects of production segmentation of labor division of the global value chain on enterprise markup.The DLW method is used to calculate the markup of Chinese enterprises,the fi xed-effect model is used to analyze the impact of labor division of the global value chain on enterprise markup,and an instrumental variable method is constructed to relieve endogeneity.The research findings show that enterprises have significantly increased their markup by choosing global production segmentation,international production segmentation and domestic production segmentation.Global production segmentation can significantly increase the markup of low-productivity enterprises,hi-tech enterprises and private enterprises.Particularly,low-productivity enterprises choose international production segmentation and hi-tech enterprises choose domestic production segmentation.Production segmentation can offset to a certain extent low markup of export enterprises and domestic-oriented enterprises caused by the“competition effect”.In addition,enterprises’“technological progress effect”and“trade cost effect”are two possible channels by which production segmentation facilitates the increase of markup.The paper enriches and expands the literature about the impacts of labor division of the global value chain on enterprise markup,the robustness is analyzed from the perspectives of enterprise heterogeneity,industrial&technical heterogeneity and structure,and the impact mechanism is validated through the intermediate effect model.Our important findings are of important implications for solving the“low markup trap”of Chinese enterprises and enhancing labor division of the global value chain of enterprises.

Inter-domain traffic balancing with co-channel interference management in multi-domain heterogeneous network for LTE-A

Heterogeneous network （Het-Net） is part of the long-term evolution advanced （LTE-A） study item and represents cellular deployments with a mixture of cells of different overlapping coverage areas, e.g., a number of relay and pico cells overlaid by a macro cell in the same frequency. Traffic balancing and interference management are required in Het-Net design for LTE-A to maintain system performance. In this paper, we propose an inter-domain cooperative traffic balancing scheme focusing on reducing the effective resource cost and mitigating the co-channel interference in multi-domain Het-Net. We first set up the conception of multi-domain in Het-Net and incorporate the co-channel interference into the proposed traffic balancing scheme. Then we model the traffic balancing issue as a multi-domain traffic resource optimization problem for minimizing the effective resource cost. The detailed implementation for the proposed traffic balancing scheme is designed. In the numerical evaluation, the genetic algorithm （GA） as an optimization method is used to demonstrate that the total effective resource cost is significantly reduced through our proposed inter-domain traffic balancing scheme, comparing with the intra-domain traffic balancing scheme. The 43% of the resource cost is saved. In the system level simulation, the performance results of signal interference noise ratio （SINR） and throughput demonstrate that the proposed scheme has great advantages in interference management in Het-Net.

Indoor imaging visible light positioning with sampled sparse light source and mobile device

Indoor visible light positioning becomes attractive due to the increasing demands of location-based services. This Letter proposes an indoor imaging visible light positioning scheme with a sampled sparse light source, image sensor, and gyro. An indoor positioning cellular with a single reference light source and an off-the-shelf mobile device is demonstrated. Experimental results show that the 3-dimensional positioning error is only several centimeters even with a rotated, rolled, and pitched mobile device. The proposed scheme is convenient and cost effective because the transmitter takes advantage of the existing lighting infrastructure and the receiver is a commercial mobile phone without any extra accessories.