Complete Garment Costing with Major Cost Breakdown

Apparel business is one of the oldest global businesses. Emergence of different apparel manufacturing nations, rapid development of global supply chains and increasingly higher demand for fast fashion items are exposing the apparel manufacturers to competitive product prices. Alongside, the persistent global depression has also forced the apparel business to curtail the prices to remain sustainable in the industry. Garment costing is the systematic process of meticulously calculating the total cost of a certain quantity of garments from raw material purchase to converting them to the final products, plus other terms and conditions stated by the customers. The sum of these costs adding the profit margin is the selling price. This research outlines the process of preparing cost sheets for basic garment products. The research proposes a clear method of generating easily understandable, complete garment cost sheets for the apparel industry.

考虑资源稀缺性的路面养护措施综合效益全寿命周期费用评估

为提高道路工程中不可再生资源利用的合理性,建立养护措施综合效益的全寿命周期费用评价方法,推动交通运输基础设施的可持续发展,基于全寿命周期费用评价(life-cycle cost assessment,LCCA)理论,引入了资源稀缺性的评价指标,并基于存量稀缺、进口稀缺和技术稀缺3个评价维度,建立了适用于路用材料的项目级资源稀缺性评价体系,同时,将该指标量化为货币当量计入成本清单中。依托江苏省路面养护管理系统数据,将资源稀缺性、经济效益、性能发展3个维度统一,定量分析了再生类、铣刨重铺类和罩面类共3类、12个常见养护措施的综合效益。研究结果表明:考虑资源稀缺性,再生类养护措施旧料利用率较高,具有极佳的资源合理性;EC A-10薄层罩面处治厚度薄、耗材量小,与普通罩面相比能节省50%左右的资源;铣刨料直接废弃、石料来源选择不当将导致额外支出10%~20%的当量成本。考虑综合效益,各养护方案与施工特性(如施工工期、施工水平、工艺先进性等)相关的成本效益接近60%,其中用户间接的经济损失占比超过30%,直接由施工工期决定。因此,建议谨慎选择材料来源及去向以减少不可再生资源浪费,优化养护施工流程以降低用户的间接经济损失,提高施工水平以降低用户的直接油耗开支,开展科学养护决策以降低政府投入成本。

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Advances in microfluidic-based DNA methylation analysis

DNA methylation has been extensively investigated in recent years,not least because of its known relationship with various diseases.Progress in analytical methods can greatly increase the relevance of DNA methylation studies to both clinical medicine and scientific research.Microflu-idic chips are excellent carriers for molecular analysis,and their use can provide improvements from multiple aspects.On-chip molecular analysis has received extensive attention owing to its advantages of portability,high throughput,low cost,and high efficiency.In recent years,the use of novel microfluidic chips for DNA methylation analysis has been widely reported and has shown obvious superiority to conventional methods.In this review,wefirst focus on DNA methylation and its applications.Then,we discuss advanced microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis and describe the great progress that has been made in recent years.Finally,we summarize the advantages that microfluidic technology brings to DNA methylation analysis and describe several challenges and perspectives for on-chip DNA methylation analysis.This review should help researchers improve their understanding and make progress in developing microfluidic-based methods for DNA methylation analysis.

Resistance development,cross-resistance,and fitness costs associated with Aphis gossypii resistance towards sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid in different geographical regions

Aphis gossypii has become increasingly difficult to manage due to its strong insecticide resistance.In the laboratory,we established sulfoxaflor-resistant and acetamiprid-resistant strains in two A.gossypii populations with different basal insecticide resistance levels,and evaluated the effects of basal insecticide resistance on the resistance development and cross-resistance,as well as differences in fitness.Under the same selection pressure,Yarkant A.gossypii(with low basal insecticide resistance)evolved resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid more quickly than Jinghe A.gossypii(with high basal insecticide resistance),and the evolution of A.gossypii resistance to sulfoxaflor developed faster than acetamiprid in both Yarkant and Jinghe,Xingjiang,China.The sulfoxaflor-resistant strains selected from Yarkant and Jinghe developed significant cross-resistance to acetamiprid,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam and pymetrozine;while the acetamiprid-resistant strains developed significant cross-resistance to sulfoxaflor,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam,pymetrozine,and chlorpyrifos.The relative fitness of A.gossypii decreased as the resistance to sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid developed.The relative fitness levels of the sulfoxaflor-resistant strains(Yarkant-SulR and Jinghe-SulR)were lower than those of the acetamipridresistant strains(Yarkant-AceR and Jinghe-AceR).In addition,the relative fitness levels of sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant strains were lower in Jinghe than in Yarkant.In summary,basal insecticide resistance of A.gossypii and insecticide type affected the evolution of resistance to insecticides in A.gossypii,as well as cross-resistance to other insecticides.The sulfoxaflor-and acetamiprid-resistant A.gossypii strains had obvious fitness costs.The results of this work will contribute to the insecticide resistance management and integrated management of A.gossypii.

A Hybrid Model for Improving Software Cost Estimation in Global Software Development

Accurate software cost estimation in Global Software Development(GSD)remains challenging due to reliance on historical data and expert judgments.Traditional models,such as the Constructive Cost Model(COCOMO II),rely heavily on historical and accurate data.In addition,expert judgment is required to set many input parameters,which can introduce subjectivity and variability in the estimation process.Consequently,there is a need to improve the current GSD models to mitigate reliance on historical data,subjectivity in expert judgment,inadequate consideration of GSD-based cost drivers and limited integration of modern technologies with cost overruns.This study introduces a novel hybrid model that synergizes the COCOMO II with Artificial Neural Networks(ANN)to address these challenges.The proposed hybrid model integrates additional GSD-based cost drivers identified through a systematic literature review and further vetted by industry experts.This article compares the effectiveness of the proposedmodelwith state-of-the-artmachine learning-basedmodels for software cost estimation.Evaluating the NASA 93 dataset by adopting twenty-six GSD-based cost drivers reveals that our hybrid model achieves superior accuracy,outperforming existing state-of-the-artmodels.The findings indicate the potential of combining COCOMO II,ANN,and additional GSD-based cost drivers to transform cost estimation in GSD.

RISE Method Based on Rare Allele Infusion and Sanger Sequencing Estimation: A Simple, Cheap, and Efficient Method for Detecting Transgene Copy Number in Rice

Detecting exogenous gene copy numbers is crucial for examining genetically modified organisms. Traditional methods face a trade-off between feasibility and cost, highlighting the need for a high-precision and low-cost alternative. In this study, we introduced the RISE method, which is based on Rare Allele Infusion and Sanger Sequencing Estimation, for rice.

Analysis of a passive ankle exoskeleton for reduction of metabolic costs during walking

Modern conflicts demand substantial physical and psychological exertion,often resulting in fatigue and diminished combat or operational readiness.Several exoskeletons have been developed recently to address these challenges,presenting various limitations that affect their operational or everyday usability.This article evaluates the performance of a dual-purpose passive ankle exoskeleton developed for the reduction of metabolic costs during walking,seeking to identify a force element that could be applied to the target population.Based on the 6-min walk test,twenty-nine subjects participated in the study using three different force elements.The results indicate that it is possible to reduce metabolic expenditure while using the developed exoskeleton.Additionally,the comfort and range of motion results verify the exoskeleton's suitability for use in uneven terrain and during extended periods.Nevertheless,the choice of the force element should be tailored to each user,and the control system should be adjustable to optimise the exoskeleton's performance.

Capparis spinosa L waste activated carbon as an efficient adsorbent for crystal violet toxic dye removal: Modeling, optimization by experimental design, and ecological analysis

Textile dyes are dramatic sources of pollution and non-aesthetic disturbance of aquatic life and therefore represent a potential risk of bioaccumulation that can affect living species.It is imperative to reduce or eliminate these dyes from liquid effluents with innovative biomaterials and methods.Therefore,this research aims to highlight the performance of Capparis spinosa L waste-activated carbon(CSLW-AC)adsorbent to remove crystal violet(CV)from an aqueous solution.The mechanism of CV adsorption on CSLW-AC was evaluated based on the coupling of experimental data and different characterization techniques.The efficiency of the CSLW-AC material reflected by the equilibrium adsorption capacity of CV could reach more than 195.671 mg·g^(–1) when 0.5 g·L^(–1) of CSLW-AC(Particle size≤250μm)is introduced into the CV of initial concentration of 100 mg·L^(–1) at pH 6 and temperature 65℃ and in the presence of potassium ions after 60 min of contact time according to the one parameter at a time studies.The adsorption behavior of CV on CSLW-AC was found to be consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Frumkin's linear isothermal model.The thermodynamic aspects indicate that the process is physical,spontaneous,and endothermic.The optimization of the process by the Box Behnken design of experiments resulted in an adsorption capacity approaching 183.544 mg·g^(–1)([CV]=100 mg·L^(–1) and[CSLW-AC]=0.5 g·L^(–1) at 35 min).The results of the Lactuca sativa seeds germination in treated CV(70%),adsorbent solvent and thermal regeneration(more than 5 cycles),and process cost analysis(1.0484 USD·L^(–1))tests are encouraging and promising for future exploitations of the CSLW-AC material in different industrial fields.

Designing simple non-fused terthiophene-based electron acceptors for efficient organic solar cells

Low-cost photovoltaic materials are essential for realizing large-scale commercial applications of organic solar cells(OSCs).However,highly efficient OSCs based on low-cost photovoltaic materials are scarce due to a deficiency in understanding the structure-property relationship.Herein,we investigated two low-cost terthiophene-based electron acceptors,namely,3TC8 and 3TEH,with 3,4-bis(octan-3-yloxy)thiophene,differing only in the alkylated thiophene-bridges.Both acceptors exhibit low optical gaps(∼1.43 eV)and possess deep highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)levels(∼−5.8 eV).Notably,the single-crystal structure of 3TEH demonstrates highly planar conjugated backbone and strongπ-πstacking between intermolecular terminal groups,attributed to the presence of the bulky alkylated noncovalently conformational locks.Upon utilizing both acceptors to fabricate OSCs,the 3TC8-based device exhibited a power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 11.1%,while the 3TEH-based OSC demonstrated an excellent PCE of 14.4%.This PCE is the highest among OSCs based on terthiophene-containing electron acceptors.These results offer a new strategy for designing low-cost electron acceptors for highly efficient OSCs.

Design and implementation of low-cost geomagnetic field monitoring equipment for high-density deployment

The observation of geomagnetic field variations is an important approach to studying earthquake precursors.Since 1987,the China Earthquake Administration has explored this seismomagnetic relationship.In particular,they studied local magnetic field anomalies over the Chinese mainland for earthquake prediction.Owing to the years of research on the seismomagnetic relationship,earthquake prediction experts have concluded that the compressive magnetic effect,tectonic magnetic effect,electric magnetic fluid effect,and other factors contribute to preearthquake magnetic anomalies.However,this involves a small magnitude of magnetic field changes.It is difficult to relate them to the abnormal changes of the extremely large magnetic field in regions with extreme earthquakes owing to the high cost of professional geomagnetic equipment,thereby limiting large-scale deployment.Moreover,it is difficult to obtain strong magnetic field changes before an earthquake.The Tianjin Earthquake Agency has developed low-cost geomagnetic field observation equipment through the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei geomagnetic equipment test project.The new system was used to test the availability of equipment and determine the findings based on big data..

Depth First:Optimal Path Discovery Between Designated Nodes in Random Ring-Based Graphs

This paper focuses on optimally determining the existence of connected paths between some given nodes in random ring-based graphs.Serving as a fundamental underlying structure in network modeling,ring topology appears as commonplace in many realistic scenarios.Regarding this,we consider graphs composed of rings,with some possible connected paths between them.Without prior knowledge of the exact node permutations on rings,the existence of each edge can be unraveled through edge testing at a unit cost in one step.The problem examined is that of determining whether the given nodes are connected by a path or separated by a cut,with the minimum expected costs involved.Dividing the problem into different cases based on different topologies of the ring-based networks,we propose the corresponding policies that aim to quickly seek the paths between nodes.A common feature shared by all those policies is that we stick to going in the same direction during edge searching,with edge testing in each step only involving the test between the source and the node that has been tested most.The simple searching rule,interestingly,can be interpreted as a delightful property stemming from the neat structure of ring-based networks,which makes the searching process not rely on any sophisticated behaviors.We prove the optimality of the proposed policies by calculating the expected cost incurred and making a comparison with the other class of strategies.The effectiveness of the proposed policies is also verified through extensive simulations,from which we even disclose three extra intriguing findings:i)in a onering network,the cost will grow drastically with the number of designated nodes when the number is small and will grow slightly when that number is large;ii)in ring-based network,Depth First is optimal in detecting the connectivity between designated nodes;iii)the problem of multi-ring networks shares large similarity with that of two-ring networks,and a larger number of ties between rings will not influence the expected cost.

Feasibility of Scaling up the Cost-Competitive and Clean Electrolytic Hydrogen Supply in China

Scaling up clean hydrogen supply in the near future is critical to achieving China’s hydrogen development target.This study established an electrolytic hydrogen development mechanism considering the generation mix and operation optimization of power systems with access to hydrogen.Based on the incremental cost principle,we quantified the provincial and national clean hydrogen production cost performance levels in 2030.The results indicated that this mechanism could effectively reduce the production cost of clean hydrogen in most provinces,with a national average value of less than 2 USD·kg^(-1) at the 40-megaton hydrogen supply scale.Provincial cooperation via power transmission lines could further reduce the production cost to 1.72 USD·kg^(-1).However,performance is affected by the potential distribution of hydrogen demand.From the supply side,competitiveness of the mechanism is limited to clean hydrogen production,while from the demand side,it could help electrolytic hydrogen fulfil a more significant role.This study could provide a solution for the ambitious development of renewables and the hydrogen economy in China.

Cost-Efficient Edge Caching for NOMA-Enabled IoT Services

Mobile edge computing(MEC)is a promising paradigm by deploying edge servers(nodes)with computation and storage capacity close to IoT devices.Content Providers can cache data in edge servers and provide services for IoT devices,which effectively reduces the delay for acquiring data.With the increasing number of IoT devices requesting for services,the spectrum resources are generally limited.In order to effectively meet the challenge of limited spectrum resources,the Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access(NOMA)is proposed to improve the transmission efficiency.In this paper,we consider the caching scenario in a NOMA-enabled MEC system.All the devices compete for the limited resources and tend to minimize their own cost.We formulate the caching problem,and the goal is to minimize the delay cost for each individual device subject to resource constraints.We reformulate the optimization as a non-cooperative game model.We prove the existence of Nash equilibrium(NE)solution in the game model.Then,we design the Game-based Cost-Efficient Edge Caching Algorithm(GCECA)to solve the problem.The effectiveness of our GCECA algorithm is validated by both parameter analysis and comparison experiments.

The potential impact of increased whole grain consumption among Chinese adults on reducing healthcare costs and carbon footprint

Excessive consumption of refined grains harms human health and ecosystem viability.Whole grains,as a healthy and sustainable alternative to refined grains,can benefit individual health by providing dietary fiber,B vitamins,and bioactive substances.Additionally,they aid in improving the environment due to their higher extraction rate and lower carbon emission during the processing stage.However,few studies have attempted to evaluate the economic and social benefits of increasing the amount of whole grain in grain intake.This paper estimates the potential savings in healthcare costs and reduced food carbon footprints(CFs)that could result from a shift toward whole grain consumption following the Chinese Dietary Guidelines(CDG).We investigate hypothetical scenarios where a certain proportion(5–100%)of Chinese adults could increase their whole grain intakes as proposed by CDG to meet the average shortfall of 30.2 g.In that case,the healthcare costs for associated diseases(e.g.,type2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),cardiovascular disease(CVD),and colorectal cancer(CRC))are expected to reduce by a substantial amount,from USD 2.82 to 56.37 billion;the carbon emission levels are also projected to decrease by0.24–5.72 million tons.This study provides compelling evidence that advocating for the transition towards greater consumption of whole grain products could benefit individual health,the environment,and society,by reducing both healthcare costs and carbon emissions.

A digital twin model-based approach to cost optimization of residential community microgrids

This paper presents a peer-to-peer community cost optimization approach based on a single-prosumer energy management system.Its objective is to optimize energy costs for prosumers in the community by enhancing the consumption efficiency.This study was conducted along two main axes.The first axis focuses on designing a digital twin for a residential community microgrid platform.This phase involves data collection,cleaning,exploration,and interpretation.Moreover,it includes replicating the functionality of the real platform and validating the results.The second axis involves the development of a novel approach that incorporates two distinct prosumer behaviors within the same community microgrid,while maintaining the concept of peer-to-peer energy trading.Prosumers without storage utilize their individual PV systems to fulfill their energy requirements and inject excess energy into a local microgrid.Meanwhile,a single prosumer with a storage system actively engages in energy exchange to maximize the community’s profit.This is achieved by optimizing battery usage using a cost optimization solution.The proposed solution is validated using the developed digital twin.

CO_(2)capture costs of chemical looping combustion of biomass:A comparison of natural and synthetic oxygen carrier

Chemical looping combustion has the potential to be an efficient and low-cost technology capable of contributing to the reduction of the atmospheric concentration of CO_(2) in order to reach the 1.5/2°C goal and mitigate climate change.In this process,a metal oxide is used as oxygen carrier in a dual fluidized bed to generate clean CO_(2) via combustion of biomass.Most commonly,natural ores or synthetic materials are used as oxygen carrier whereas both must meet special requirements for the conversion of solid fuels.Synthetic oxygen carriers are characterized by higher reactivity at the expense of higher costs versus the lower-cost natural ores.To determine the viability of both possibilities,a techno-economic comparison of a synthetic material based on manganese,iron,and copper to the natural ore ilmenite was conducted.The synthetic oxygen carrier was characterized and tested in a pilot plant,where high combustion efficiencies up to 98.4%and carbon capture rates up to 98.5%were reached.The techno-economic assessment resulted in CO_(2) capture costs of 75 and 40€/tCO_(2) for the synthetic and natural ore route respectively,whereas a sensitivity analysis showed the high impact of production costs and attrition rates of the synthetic material.The synthetic oxygen carrier could break even with the natural ore in case of lower production costs and attrition rates,which could be reached by adapting the production process and recycling material.By comparison to state-of-the-art technologies,it is demonstrated that both routes are viable and the capture cost of CO_(2) could be reduced by implementing the chemical looping combustion technology.

Proactive Caching at the Wireless Edge:A Novel Predictive User Popularity-Aware Approach

Mobile Edge Computing(MEC)is a promising technology that provides on-demand computing and efficient storage services as close to end users as possible.In an MEC environment,servers are deployed closer to mobile terminals to exploit storage infrastructure,improve content delivery efficiency,and enhance user experience.However,due to the limited capacity of edge servers,it remains a significant challenge to meet the changing,time-varying,and customized needs for highly diversified content of users.Recently,techniques for caching content at the edge are becoming popular for addressing the above challenges.It is capable of filling the communication gap between the users and content providers while relieving pressure on remote cloud servers.However,existing static caching strategies are still inefficient in handling the dynamics of the time-varying popularity of content and meeting users’demands for highly diversified entity data.To address this challenge,we introduce a novel method for content caching over MEC,i.e.,PRIME.It synthesizes a content popularity prediction model,which takes users’stay time and their request traces as inputs,and a deep reinforcement learning model for yielding dynamic caching schedules.Experimental results demonstrate that PRIME,when tested upon the MovieLens 1M dataset for user request patterns and the Shanghai Telecom dataset for user mobility,outperforms its peers in terms of cache hit rates,transmission latency,and system cost.

Reliability-based life-cycle cost seismic design optimization of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials

Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of performance deterioration of reinforced concrete(RC)structures.Limited research has been performed to investigate the life-cycle cost(LCC)of coastal bridge piers with nonuniform corrosion using different materials.In this study,a reliability-based design optimization(RBDO)procedure is improved for the design of coastal bridge piers using six groups of commonly used materials,i.e.,normal performance concrete(NPC)with black steel(BS)rebar,high strength steel(HSS)rebar,epoxy coated(EC)rebar,and stainless steel(SS)rebar(named NPC-BS,NPC-HSS,NPC-EC,and NPC-SS,respectively),NPC with BS with silane soakage on the pier surface(named NPC-Silane),and high-performance concrete(HPC)with BS rebar(named HPC-BS).First,the RBDO procedure is improved for the design optimization of coastal bridge piers,and a bridge is selected to illustrate the procedure.Then,reliability analysis of the pier designed with each group of materials is carried out to obtain the time-dependent reliability in terms of the ultimate and serviceability performances.Next,the repair time of the pier is predicted based on the time-dependent reliability indices.Finally,the time-dependent LCCs for the pier are obtained for the selection of the optimal design.

Techno-economic and Environmental Assessments of SAF from Bioamss:An Review

This review presents a comprehensive techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of sustainable aviation fuel(SAF)production from biomass.The critical need for transitioning towards environmentally sustainable alternatives for liquid fuel and aviation industry is first discussed.Key insights encompass the evolutionary progression of biofuel production from first-generation to second-generation biofuels,with a focus on utilizing non-food sources like woody biomass for enhanced sustainability.Available data from the literature on techno-economic assessments of various SAF production pathways are analyzed including production costs,conversion efficiency,and scalability.Moreover,results of lifecycle assessments associated with different SAF production pathways are presented,providing essential insights for decision-making processes.The challenges of scaling up woody biomass-based SAF production are discussed based on the assessment results,and recommendations are proposed to steer stakeholders towards a greener and more sustainable trajectory for aviation operations.