Design and pricing of maintenance service contract based on Nash non-cooperative game approach

Nowadays manufacturers are facing fierce challenge.Apart from the products,providing customers with multiple maintenance options in the service contract becomes more popular,since it can help to improve customer satisfaction,and ultimately promote sales and maximize profit for the manufacturer.By considering the combinations of corrective maintenance and preventive maintenance,totally three types of maintenance service contracts are designed.Moreover,attractive incentive and penalty mechanisms are adopted in the contracts.On this basis,Nash non-cooperative game is applied to analyze the revenue for both the manufacturer and customers,and so as to optimize the pricing mechanism of maintenance service contract and achieve a win-win situation.Numerical experiments are conducted.The results show that by taking into account the incentive and penalty mechanisms,the revenue can be improved for both the customers and manufacturer.Moreover,with the increase of repair rate and improvement factor in the preventive maintenance,the revenue will increase gradually for both the parties.

Remaining Useful Life Prediction Method for Multi-Component System Considering Maintenance:Subsea Christmas Tree System as A Case Study

Maintenance is an important technical measure to maintain and restore the performance status of equipment and ensure the safety of the production process in industrial production,and is an indispensable part of prediction and health management.However,most of the existing remaining useful life(RUL)prediction methods assume that there is no maintenance or only perfect maintenance during the whole life cycle;thus,the predicted RUL value of the system is obviously lower than its actual operating value.The complex environment of the system further increases the difficulty of maintenance,and its maintenance nodes and maintenance degree are limited by the construction period and working conditions,which increases the difficulty of RUL prediction.An RUL prediction method for a multi-omponent system based on the Wiener process considering maintenance is proposed.The performance degradation model of components is established by a dynamic Bayesian network as the initial model,which solves the uncertainty of insufficient data problems.Based on the experience of experts,the degree of degradation is divided according to Poisson process simulation random failure,and different maintenance strategies are used to estimate a variety of condition maintenance factors.An example of a subsea tree system is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Azacitidine maintenance therapy for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm allograft: A case report

BACKGROUND Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm(BPDCN)is a rare,highly invasive malignant neoplasm.There is no universally accepted standard of care because of its rarity and the dearth of prospective research.It is still challenging for some patients to achieve persistent clinical remission or cure,despite the success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT),indicating that there is still a significant recurrence rate.We report a case of prevention of BPDCN allograft recurrence by azacitidine maintenance therapy and review the relevant literature.CASE SUMMARY We report a 41-year-old man with BPDCN who was admitted to hospital due to skin sclerosis for>5 mo’duration.BPDCN was diagnosed by combined clinical assessment and laboratory examinations.Following diagnosis,the patients underwent induction consolidation chemotherapy to achieve the first complete remission,followed by bridging allo-HSCT.Post-transplantation,azacitidine(75 mg/m2 for 7 d)was administered as maintenance therapy,with repeat administration every 4–6 wk and appropriate extension of the chemotherapy cycle.After 10 cycles,the patient has been disease free for 26 mo after transplantation.Regular assessments of bone marrow morphology,minimal residual disease,full donor chimerism,Epstein–Barr virus,and cytomegalovirus all yielded normal results with no abnormalities detected.CONCLUSION Azacitidine may be a safe and effective maintenance treatment for BPDCN following transplantation because there were no overt adverse events during the course of treatment.

Reliability-BasedModel for Incomplete Preventive ReplacementMaintenance of Photovoltaic Power Systems

At present,the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic power generation systems mainly comprise regular maintenance,breakdown maintenance,and condition-based maintenance,which is very likely to lead to over-or under-repair of equipment.Therefore,a preventive maintenance and replacement strategy for PV power generation systems based on reliability as a constraint is proposed.First,a hybrid failure function with a decreasing service age factor and an increasing failure rate factor is introduced to describe the deterioration of PV power generation equipment,and the equipment is replaced when its reliability drops to the replacement threshold in the last cycle.Then,based on the reliability as a constraint,the average maintenance cost and availability of the equipment are considered,and the non-periodic incomplete maintenance model of the PV power generation system is established to obtain the optimal number of repairs,each maintenance cycle and the replacement cycle of the PV power generation system components.Next,the inverter of a PV power plant is used as a research object.The model in this paper is compared and analyzed with the equal cycle maintenance model without considering reliability and the maintenance model without considering the equipment replacement threshold,Through model comparison,when the optimal maintenance strategy is(0.80,4),the average maintenance cost of this paper’s model are decreased by 20.3%and 5.54%and the availability is increased by 0.2395% and 0.0337%,respectively,compared with the equal-cycle maintenance model without considering the reliability constraint and the maintenance model without considering the equipment replacement threshold.Therefore,this maintenance model can ensure the high reliability of PV plant operation while increasing the equipment availability to improve the system economy.

Mediating role of social support in dysphoria,despondency,and quality of life in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND Dysphoria and despondency are prevalent psychological issues in patients undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis(MHD)that significantly affect their quality of life(QOL).High levels of social support can significantly improve the physical and mental well-being of patients undergoing MHD.Currently,there is limited research on how social support mediates the relationship between dysphoria,despondency,and overall QOL in patients undergoing MHD.It is imperative to investigate this mediating effect to mitigate dysphoria and despondency in patients undergoing MHD,ultimately enhancing their overall QOL.AIM To investigate the mediating role of social support in relationships between dysphoria,despondency,and QOL among patients undergoing MHD.METHODS Participants comprised 289 patients undergoing MHD,who were selected using a random sampling approach.The Social Support Rating Scale,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,Self-Rating Depression Scale,and QOL Scale were administered.Correlation analysis was performed to examine the associations between social support,dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD.To assess the mediating impact of social support on dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD,a bootstrap method was applied.RESULTS Significant correlations among social support,dysphoria,despondency,and quality in patients undergoing MHD were observed(all P<0.01).Dysphoria and despondency negatively correlated with social support and QOL(P<0.01).Dysphoria and despondency had negative predictive impacts on the QOL of patients undergoing MHD(P<0.05).The direct effect of dysphoria on QOL was statistically significant(P<0.05).Social support mediated the relationship between dysphoria and QOL,and this mediating effect was significant(P<0.05).Similarly,the direct effect of despondency on QOL was significant(P<0.05).Moreover,social support played a mediating role between despondency and QOL,with a significant mediating effect(P<0.05).CONCLUSION These findings suggest that social support plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between dysphoria,despondency,and QOL in patients undergoing MHD.

Research on Carbon Emission for Preventive Maintenance of Wind Turbine Gearbox Based on Stochastic Differential Equation

Time based maintenance(TBM)and condition based maintenance(CBM)are widely applied in many large wind farms to optimize the maintenance issues of wind turbine gearboxes,however,these maintenance strategies do not take into account environmental benefits during full life cycle such as carbon emissions issues.Hence,this article proposes a carbon emissions computing model for preventive maintenance activities of wind turbine gearboxes to solve the issue.Based on the change of the gearbox state during operation and the influence of external random factors on the gearbox state,a stochastic differential equation model(SDE)and corresponding carbon emission model are established,wherein SDE is applied to model the evolution of the device state,whereas carbon emission is used to implement carbon emissions computing.The simulation results indicate that the proposed preventive maintenance cannot ensure reliable operation of wind turbine gearboxes but reduce carbon emissions during their lifespan.Compared with TBM,CBM minimizes unit carbon emissions without influencing reliable operation,making it an effective maintenance method.

Translation Theory and Techniques in Optometry Literature: A Case Study of the “Optoform 80 Installation and Maintenance Manual”

Translation of specialized documents in optometry presents unique challenges,requiring a deep understanding of the professional context,terminology,and adherence to specific translation styles.This paper delves into the translation theory and techniques employed in the English-to-Chinese translation of the“Optoform 80 Installation and Maintenance Manual”,serving as a case study.Emphasizing Nida’s theory of functional equivalence,the paper explores the complexities of translating professional optometry literature,focusing on key points and common issues in translating installation and maintenance manuals for optometric devices.Special attention is given to the translation of professional terminology,employing methods such as addition,omission,conversion,and repetition.The translation process aims to meet specific requirements,ensuring accuracy and coherence while aligning with Chinese language conventions.The paper also analyzes translation methods and techniques concerning terminology,prepositions,conjunctions,and handling parallel elements based on practical insights from the Optoform 80 Manual.

A Maintenance Service Improvement Approach Based on Queue Networks: Application

The quest to increase the performance of production systems that have become complex leads to the transfer to the maintenance function of the responsibility of guaranteeing the availability of such systems. Also, we will never stop saying that maintenance must integrate into all of the company’s initiatives, to affirm its role, which is to ensure greater availability and sustainability of the means of production. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the reliability and availability of a system without knowing the distribution law of the operating times. Among the methods for evaluating dependability criteria (Fault Trees, Petri Nets, etc.), we are interested in queues that have the advantage of taking into account functional dependencies, thus allowing a quantified optimization of maintenance. Indeed, queues make it possible to model parallel or sequential processes, implementing operations taking place at the same time or one after the other, meeting the needs of modeling production systems. The main result of this paper is the study of the influence of availability on the reliability of a multi-state production system.

Analysis of Detection and Monitoring Technology in the Construction and Maintenance of Large Bridges

Currently,there is significant attention placed on the construction,management,and maintenance of large service bridges.Within the realm of bridge maintenance management,the utilization of detection and monitoring technology is indispensable.By employing these technologies,we can effectively identify any structural defects within the bridge,promptly uncover unknown risks,proactively establish maintenance strategies,and prevent the rapid deterioration of bridge conditions.This article aims to explore the advantages of applying bridge monitoring and testing technology and to discuss various methods for implementing detection and monitoring technology throughout the construction,management,and maintenance phases of large bridges.Ultimately,this will contribute to ensuring the safe operation of large bridges.

Instrument Automation Control System Faults and Maintenance

This article explores the topic of fault diagnosis and maintenance strategies for instrument automation control systems,analyzing them through specific cases.The aim of this research is to improve the stability and reliability of the system by conducting a thorough investigation of faults and maintenance in instrument automation control systems.By doing so,this research hopes to provide a strong guarantee for the smooth progress of industrial production.

Load Testing in Bridge Maintenance

Highway bridges are a crucial component in road transportation networks.These bridges must be maintained according to usage requirements regularly.Test results must be considered before devising a maintenance plan.Load testing is a vital method of assessing the quality and performance of highway bridges.The outcomes of these tests facilitate the formulation of maintenance plans.This article examines the definition of load testing,its significance,and the process of execution,with the goal of providing support for bridge inspection and maintenance.

Maintenance,Repair,and Reinforcement Measures for Dilapidated Small and Medium-Sized Bridges

The paper initiates by exploring the importance of maintaining,repairing,and reinforcing bridges.Subsequently,it delves into routine and preventative maintenance measures tailored for small to medium-sized bridges.Additionally,the paper examines repair and reinforcement techniques specifically designed for deteriorated small and medium-sized bridges,encompassing methods for fortifying both the bridge foundation and upper and lower structures.Lastly,the paper proposes suggestions aimed at fostering discussions and exchanges on the development of maintenance and repair processes for deteriorated small and medium-sized bridges.

Application Strategy of Digital Comprehensive Management and Maintenance System for Bridges

Effective application of digital integrated management and maintenance systems is essential for successful operation and maintenance management of bridge projects.This article analyzes the application strategy of such systems.It provides an overview of comprehensive digital management and maintenance of bridges,an analysis of the basic components of the integrated management and maintenance system,and its application strategies.This study aims to offer guidance for the application of the system and to improve the quality of modern bridge engineering management and maintenance work.

An estimation method for direct maintenance cost of aircraft components based on particle swarm optimization with immunity algorithm

A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm improved by immunity algorithm (IA) was presented. Memory and self-regulation mechanisms of IA were used to avoid PSO plunging into local optima. Vaccination and immune selection mechanisms were used to prevent the undulate phenomenon during the evolutionary process. The algorithm was introduced through an application in the direct maintenance cost (DMC) estimation of aircraft components. Experiments results show that the algorithm can compute simply and run quickly. It resolves the combinatorial optimization problem of component DMC estimation with simple and available parameters. And it has higher accuracy than individual methods, such as PLS, BP and v-SVM, and also has better performance than other combined methods, such as basic PSO and BP neural network.

Joint optimization of maintenance inspection and spare provisioning for aircraft deteriorating parts

With the wide application of condition based maintenance(CBM) in aircraft maintenance practice, the joint optimization of maintenance and inventory management, which can take full advantage of CBM and reduce the aircraft operational cost, is receiving increasing attention. In order to optimize the inspection interval, maintenance decision and spare provisioning together for aircraft deteriorating parts, firstly, a joint inventory management strategy is presented, then, a joint optimization of maintenance inspection and spare provisioning for aircraft parts subject to the Wiener degradation process is proposed based on the strategy.Secondly, a combination of the genetic algorithm(GA) and the Monte Carol method is developed to minimize the total cost rate.Finally, a case study is conducted and the proposed joint optimization model is compared with the existing optimization model and the airline real case. The results demonstrate that the proposed model is more beneficial and effective. In addition, the sensitivity analysis of the proposed model shows that the lead time has higher influence on the optimal results than the urgent order cost and the corrective maintenance cost, which is consistent with the actual situation of aircraft maintenance practices and inventory management.

Parents' participation in physical activity predicts maintenance of some,but not all, types of physical activity in offspring during early adolescence:A prospective longitudinal study

Purpose: We aimed to examine the longitudinal associations between parents' and youth's participation in physical activity(PA).Methods-: One hundred and ninety youth cuompleted self-admitiistered questionnaires 3 times per year from 2011 to 2015, and their parents completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire during a telephone interview once in2011-2012. Data on youth's and parents' activities were classified as interdependent or coactive/imdependent.Results: Youth with one or both parents who participated in interdependent activities were more likely to maintain participation in interdependent activities(hazard ratio(HR) = 3.63: 95% confidence interval(CI) = 1.30-10.17). Youth's sustained participation in coactive/independent activities was not associated with parents' participation in coactive/independent activities(HR= 0.97; 95%CI=0.46-2.06).Conclusion: Longitudinal associations between parents' and youth's participation in PA differed across type of PA. Encouraging parents' participation in interdependent activities may promote sustained participation in interdependent activities in youth.

Learning-Based Dynamic Connectivity Maintenance for UAV-Assisted D2D Multicast Communication

Unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) enable flexible networking functions in emergency scenarios.However,due to the movement characteristic of ground users(GUs),it is challenging to capture the interactions among GUs.Thus,we propose a learningbased dynamic connectivity maintenance architecture to reduce the delay for the UAV-assisted device-todevice(D2D) multicast communication.In this paper,each UAV transmits information to a selected GU,and then other GUs receive the information in a multi-hop manner.To minimize the total delay while ensuring that all GUs receive the information,we decouple it into three subproblems according to the time division on the topology:For the cluster-head selection,we adopt the Whale Optimization Algorithm(WOA) to imitate the hunting behavior of whales by abstracting the UAVs and cluster-heads into whales and preys,respectively;For the D2D multi-hop link establishment,we make the best of social relationships between GUs,and propose a node mapping algorithm based on the balanced spanning tree(BST) with reconfiguration to minimize the number of hops;For the dynamic connectivity maintenance,Restricted Q-learning(RQL) is utilized to learn the optimal multicast timeslot.Finally,the simulation results show that our proposed algorithms perfor better than other benchmark algorithms in the dynamic scenario.

The Maintenance of Peace in Mozambique: From GPA to the First Multiparty Elections, 1992-1994

After sixteen years of civil war the Mozambican government led by the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) have signed the General Peace Agreement (GPA) in Rome, Italy, on 4th October 1992. The agreement that ended the war resulted from a negotiation process initiated following the hurting stalemate situation between the two conflicting parties. In the context of the implementation of such agreement the country experienced, successfully, the first multiparty elections in 1994 with the participation of FRELIMO and RENAMO - former military enemies as well as other political parties without any case of war resumption. This article seeks to identify the determinants factors for peace maintenance in Mozambique from the General Peace Agreement (GPA) to the first multiparty elections. Besides the important support provided by the international community, this article argues that the implementation of power sharing arrangements established in the context of GPA, namely,(1) military power sharing,(2) administrative and territorial power sharing, and (3) power sharing within the electoral institutions played an important role for peace maintenance in Mozambique during the period mentioned above.

Multi-objective optimization in highway pavement maintenance and rehabilitation project selection and scheduling:A state-of-the-art review

The motivation for cost-effective management of highway pavements is evidenced not only by the massive expenditures associated with these activities at a national level but also by the consequences of poor pavement condition on road users.This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of multi-objective optimization(MOO)problems that have been formulated and solution techniques that have been used in selecting and scheduling highway pavement rehabilitation and maintenance activities.First,the paper presents a taxonomy and hierarchy for these activities,the role of funding sources,and levels of jurisdiction.The paper then describes how three different decision mechanisms have been used in past research and practice for project selection and scheduling(historical practices,expert opinion,and explicit mathematical optimization)and identifies the pros and cons of each mechanism.The paper then focuses on the optimization mechanism and presents the types of optimization problems,formulations,and objectives that have been used in the literature.Next,the paper examines various solution algorithms and discusses issues related to their implementation.Finally,the paper identifies some barriers to implementing multi-objective optimization in selecting and scheduling highway pavement rehabilitation and maintenance activities,and makes recommendations to overcome some of these barriers.

Maintenance Strategies and Spare Parts Inventory Management for Use of Reconditioned Items

The maintenance management of construction equipment occupies a prominent place in the overall strategy for managing the equipment fleet. It is also linked to the management of the stock of spare parts and particularly reconditioned spare parts. Because of the relatively low purchase cost of these, most companies are tempted by this option. The purpose of this article is precisely to study the impact of this category of parts in the stock and also in the optimization of maintenance costs, knowing that to do this;their use must obey certain constraints. It is therefore important to be able to characterize these reconditioned parts by estimating their optimal age, and studying their advantages and also their limits. The determination of the optimal age of reconditioned parts will be such that the total cost of replacement with used parts is at most equal to the total cost of replacement with new parts at the end of the operating period.