Implementing effective cost management approaches has recently gained momentum due to intense competition and increasing customer demands. Moreover, effective cost management approaches have contributed to firms＇ com...Implementing effective cost management approaches has recently gained momentum due to intense competition and increasing customer demands. Moreover, effective cost management approaches have contributed to firms＇ competitive advantage in relation to cost leadership strategy. Consequently, firms have implemented contemporary cost management systems, such as activity-based management, business process re-engineering, life-cycle costing, target costing, and theory of constraint （TOC）, to enable them to become low-cost producers and compete effectively and sustain their performance. Furthermore, focusing on cost management to improve profitability has led to the integration of activity-based costing （ABC） and TOC. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review literature and discuss how integration of ABC and TOC can result in improved and sustained cost management. While these methods have different approaches in addressing cost management, treating them as complementary cost management approaches can result in improved cost management due to improved product costing, improved cost reporting, improved product-mix decisions, and improved cycle-time management. Improvement in cost management will then result in sustained cost management. Sustained cost management is further enhanced with the investment in information customer and shareholder value technology that supports cross-functional decision making to continue creating to remain competitive in the market.展开更多
In order to evaluate and estimate me cosEs oi prouuct~ plt, uu^u e vironment properly, an improved activity-based costing （ABC） model is presented. By utilizing the input-output analysis method, the complex consumpt...In order to evaluate and estimate me cosEs oi prouuct~ plt, uu^u e vironment properly, an improved activity-based costing （ABC） model is presented. By utilizing the input-output analysis method, the complex consumption relationships in a complex manufacturing environment are first expressed. The consumption characteristics （mainly presented by the activity rates） of all production activities are extracted by solving these relationships. Then with the con- sumption characteristics and operating parameters of these activities, the detailed cost consumption of a product in its manufacturing process is estimated. A case study is finally given based on the compressor products of a manufacturing company, and its effectiveness is shown. As the cost influ- ence of complex consumption relationships is fully considered, the limitation of traditional ABC method is overcome, and therefore a high accuracy in product cost estimation under the complex manufacturing environment can be achieved.展开更多
Based on the theory of activity-based costing and the idea of value chain,activity optimization and cost control are carried out on the whole construction process of agricultural water conservancy projects. Through th...Based on the theory of activity-based costing and the idea of value chain,activity optimization and cost control are carried out on the whole construction process of agricultural water conservancy projects. Through the use of literature review,case analysis and statistical analysis and other methods,with agricultural water conservancy projects as the research object,and comparing activity-based costing with the traditional model of cost accounting,the writer carries out the corresponding value chain analysis,and comes to the following conclusion: the statistical calculation and analysis of the entire construction process based on activity-based costing can accurately and effectively control the costs of water conservancy projects. Through the use of activity-based costing,the cost data of agricultural water conservancy projects is more detailed and accurate,and cost management personnel can also find non-value-added activities,optimize the enterprise's value chain and achieve cost control objectives through the analysis of the activity chain and value chain of agricultural water conservancy projects.展开更多
Road transport is a flexible mode of transport and its importance in era of globalization increases. Management of road transport companies is, in this turbulent environment, exposed to many technical, legislative, an...Road transport is a flexible mode of transport and its importance in era of globalization increases. Management of road transport companies is, in this turbulent environment, exposed to many technical, legislative, and economic problems. Especially, the growing economic pressure leads to an urgent requirement of the manager and control system improvement. Activity-based costing （ABC） method is a very powerful tool to improve products, services, processes, and market strategies. ABC allows company management to understand what causes costs and how to manage them. Company under this scheme may get a glimpse of how efficiently a company converts the source value. The main objective of our research was to assess the possibility of application of the ABC method in a transport undertaking. ABC method as a fundamentally different view on the cost in the transport business helps to find the reasons of cost and thereby influences their levels to make better use of resources.. New managerial accounting methods aim to show management what information is needed, how and where this information can be obtained, and how they can be useful for the management of the company＇s proper planning, decision-making, and control. Information provided by management accounting is often a key factor in the analysis of alternative ways of solving problems. This article focuses on the transport enterprise management and helps to decide on the use of this method in business practice.展开更多
An organization’s costing system is a system that helps the management with the strategy planning while the system plays an important role in providing accurate cost information about the products and customers.In ot...An organization’s costing system is a system that helps the management with the strategy planning while the system plays an important role in providing accurate cost information about the products and customers.In other words,the costing management system is important to provide timely and quality information to help managers in their decision-making process.Producing quality graduates is the main objective of any university and the cost of quality or the cost of poor quality is one that is often difficult to measure in higher education.This can be partly attributed to the fact that most accounting systems are not structured to capture important cost-of-quality information.In order to succeed,many organizations tend to shift from conventional or traditional costing system to Activity-based costing(ABC).ABC provides both higher education administrators and policymakers with better information on which to base decisions.The use of multiple cost pools and drivers under ABC leads to more detailed and accurate product costing than that provided by traditional cost systems.This paper attempts to investigate the possibilities and limitations of implementing ABC in universities.More specifically the study makes use of the case study method to illustrate the implementation of activity-based costing of library services in a private university in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The research methodology of the case study is a combination of both descriptive and quantitative analyses.The study identified six categories of cost pools which are related to the activities of the library as well as 17 relevant cost drivers.Accordingly,ABC should lead to a better understanding of what drives costs and,by extension,what changes are necessary to reduce costs.Unnecessary activities that do not add value to services can be identified and eliminated.Further ABC is feasible in an academic library and that much can be gained from the process of analyzing activities.However,more work needs to be done in terms of designing accounting and other information systems to capture cost and activity transaction data in a more routine and disaggregated form for ABC analysis.展开更多
In order to find out the applicability of the optimal pricing decision model based on conventional cost behavior model after activity based costing has given strong shock to the conventional cost behavior model and it...In order to find out the applicability of the optimal pricing decision model based on conventional cost behavior model after activity based costing has given strong shock to the conventional cost behavior model and its assumptions, detailed analyses have been made using the activity based cost behavior and cost volume profit analysis model, and it is concluded from these analyses that the theory behind the construction of optimal pricing decision model is still tenable under activity based costing, but the conventional optimal pricing decision model must be modified as appropriate to the activity based costing based cost behavior model and cost volume profit analysis model, and an optimal pricing decision model is really a product pricing decision model constructed by following the economic principle of maximizing profit.展开更多
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for...BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for assessing this risk.In Gabon,early implementation of anticoagulation therapy and D-dimer testing has been crucial in managing COVID-19.This study hypothesizes that elevated Ddimer levels are linked to increased COVID-19 severity.AIM To determine the impact of D-dimer levels on COVID-19 severity and their role in guiding clinical decisions.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 patients admitted to two hospitals in Gabon between March 2020 and December 2023.The study included patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses and available D-dimer measurements at admission.Data on demographics,clinical outcomes,D-dimer levels,and healthcare costs were collected.COVID-19 severity was classified as non-severe(outpatients)or severe(inpatients).A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between D-dimer levels and disease severity,with adjusted odds ratios(OR)and 95%CI.RESULTS A total of 3004 patients were included,with a mean age of 50.17 years,and the majority were female(53.43%).Elevated D-dimer levels were found in 65.81%of patients,and 57.21%of these experienced severe COVID-19.Univariate analysis showed that patients with elevated D-dimer levels had 3.33 times higher odds of severe COVID-19(OR=3.33,95%CI:2.84-3.92,P<0.001),and this association remained significant in the multivariable analysis,adjusted for age,sex,and year of collection.The financial analysis revealed a substantial burden,particularly for uninsured patients.CONCLUSION D-dimer predicts COVID-19 severity and guides treatment,but the high cost of anticoagulant therapy highlights the need for policies ensuring affordable access in resource-limited settings like Gabon.展开更多
The ease of accessing a virtually unlimited pool of resources makes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds an ideal platform for running data-intensive workflow applications comprising hundreds of computational tas...The ease of accessing a virtually unlimited pool of resources makes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds an ideal platform for running data-intensive workflow applications comprising hundreds of computational tasks. However, executing scientific workflows in IaaS cloud environments poses significant challenges due to conflicting objectives, such as minimizing execution time (makespan) and reducing resource utilization costs. This study responds to the increasing need for efficient and adaptable optimization solutions in dynamic and complex environments, which are critical for meeting the evolving demands of modern users and applications. This study presents an innovative multi-objective approach for scheduling scientific workflows in IaaS cloud environments. The proposed algorithm, MOS-MWMC, aims to minimize total execution time (makespan) and resource utilization costs by leveraging key features of virtual machine instances, such as a high number of cores and fast local SSD storage. By integrating realistic simulations based on the WRENCH framework, the method effectively dimensions the cloud infrastructure and optimizes resource usage. Experimental results highlight the superiority of MOS-MWMC compared to benchmark algorithms HEFT and Max-Min. The Pareto fronts obtained for the CyberShake, Epigenomics, and Montage workflows demonstrate closer proximity to the optimal front, confirming the algorithm’s ability to balance conflicting objectives. This study contributes to optimizing scientific workflows in complex environments by providing solutions tailored to specific user needs while minimizing costs and execution times.展开更多
Along with the product price competition growing intensely, it is apparently important for reasonably distributing and counting cost. But, in sharing indirect cost, traditional cost accounting unveils the limitations ...Along with the product price competition growing intensely, it is apparently important for reasonably distributing and counting cost. But, in sharing indirect cost, traditional cost accounting unveils the limitations increasingly, especially in authenticity of cost information. And the accounting theory circles and industry circles begin seeking one kind of new accurate cost calculation method, and the activity based cost (ABC) method emerges as the times require. In this paper, we will build its mathematical model by the basic principle of ABC, and will improve its mathematical model further. We will establish its comparison mathematical model and make the ABC method go a step further to its practical application.展开更多
The release of a new artificial intelligence(AI)model,ironically,evokes a biblical memory.What has transpired in the past few days echoes the biblical story of David versus Goliath,in which the massive and wellarmed G...The release of a new artificial intelligence(AI)model,ironically,evokes a biblical memory.What has transpired in the past few days echoes the biblical story of David versus Goliath,in which the massive and wellarmed Goliath is defeated by the comparatively puny David,who comes to the battle with only his staff and sling.展开更多
Restructuring of power market not only introduces competition but also brings complexity which increases overloading of Transmission Lines(TL).To obviate this complexity,this paper aims to mitigate the overloading and...Restructuring of power market not only introduces competition but also brings complexity which increases overloading of Transmission Lines(TL).To obviate this complexity,this paper aims to mitigate the overloading and estimate the optimal location of Static Synchronous Compensator(STATCOM) by reducing congestion for a deregulated power system.The proposed method is based on the use of Locational Marginal Price(LMP) difference technique and congestion cost.LMPs are obtained as a by-product of Optimal Power Flow(OPF),whereas Congestion Cost(CC) is a function of difference in LMP and power flows.The effiectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by reducing the CC and solution space which can identify the TLs more suitable for placement of STATCOM.Importantly,total real power loss,reactive power loss and total CC are the three main objective functions in this optimization process.The process is implemented by developing an IEEE-69 bus test system which verifies and validates the effectiveness of proposed optimization technique.Additionally,a comparative analysis is enumerated by implementing two optimization techniques:Flower Pollination Algorithm(FPA) and Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO).The comparative analysis is sufficient to demonstrate the superiority of FPA technique over PSO technique in estimating an optimal placement of a STATCOM.The results from the load-flow analysis illustrate the reduction in CC,total real and reactive power loss using FPA technique compared to PSO technique.Overall,satisfactory results are obtained without using complex calculations which verify the effectiveness of optimization techniques.展开更多
To the editor:Peer workers-people with personal experiences of using mental health services,trained to provide support to others currently using similar services--are increasingly integrated into the workforce of ment...To the editor:Peer workers-people with personal experiences of using mental health services,trained to provide support to others currently using similar services--are increasingly integrated into the workforce of mental health systems internationally.展开更多
With the development of the new energy industry and the depletion of nickel sulfide ore resources,laterite nickel ore has become the main source of primary nickel,and nickel for power batteries has become a new growth...With the development of the new energy industry and the depletion of nickel sulfide ore resources,laterite nickel ore has become the main source of primary nickel,and nickel for power batteries has become a new growth point in consumption.This paper systematically summarizes the processes,parameters,products,recovery rates,environmental indicators,costs,advantages,disadvantages and the latest research progress of mainstream nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore.It also provides a comparative analysis of the environmental impact and economic efficiency of different nickel extraction processes.It is found that the current nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore globally for commercial production mainly include the RKEF process for producing ferronickel and the HPAL process for producing intermediate products.The former accounts for about 80%of laterite nickel ore production.Compared to each other,the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity for the RKEF is about 43000$,with an operational cost of about 16000$per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 77%–90%.Its products are mainly used in stainless steels.For the HPAL process,the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity is about 56000$,with an operational cost of about 15000$per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 83%–90%.Its products are mainly used in power batteries.The significant differences between the two lies in energy consumption and carbon emissions,with the RKEF being 2.18 and 2.37 times that of the HPAL,respectively.Although the use of clean energy can greatly reduce the operational cost and environmental impact of RKEF,if RKEF is converted to producing high Ni matte,its economic and environmental performance still cannot match that of the HPAL and oxygen-enriched side-blown processes.Therefore,it can be inferred that with the increasing demand for nickel in power batteries,HPAL and oxygen-enriched side blowing processes will play a greater role in laterite nickel extraction.展开更多
With the continuous application of new technologies in reconnaissance and attack, false camouflage plays a more important role in improving the survivability of targets, and the number of decoys plays a crucial role i...With the continuous application of new technologies in reconnaissance and attack, false camouflage plays a more important role in improving the survivability of targets, and the number of decoys plays a crucial role in the camouflaging effect. Based on the concept of cost-effectiveness ratio, according to the newly formulated Johnson criterion and the view of discovery and destruction, this paper proposes to take the identification probability as the probability of being destroyed and uses mathematical formulas to calculate the cost of a single use decoy. On this basis, a cost-effectiveness ratio model is established, with the product of the increase in the survival probability of the target and the cost of the target as the benefit, and the sum of the product of the probability of being destroyed and the cost of the decoy and the cost of a single use as the consumption cost. The model is calculated and analyzed, and the number of decoys that conform to the actual situation is obtained.展开更多
This article analyzes the development of an activity-based costing （ABC） system in a private Italian healthcare firm. Findings shed light on the role of the cost accounting system in price assessment： It outlines n...This article analyzes the development of an activity-based costing （ABC） system in a private Italian healthcare firm. Findings shed light on the role of the cost accounting system in price assessment： It outlines new opportunities for the identification of the service mix offered as well as for price optimization. Because private companies provide services both within the public system--where the National Health System （NHS） provides fixed reimbursement fees--and within the private system--where prices are defined by each company. Accurate cost information is extremely important to support managers in the analysis of the service mix profitability offered in each system. For the business segment in which companies do not have flexibility in setting prices, cost information enables managers to identify services which may present profitability problems. For the business segment where price flexibility exists, cost information supports the identification of pricing errors so that charges can be better defined.展开更多
The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of produ...The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of products.However, this approach is rarely introduced into the service sector.As to the hospitality industry, the profitability of the customer usually plays a decisive role in the business process.Therefore, this article takes the hotel service industry as the research point and allocates the costs of resources of each departments to customers according to time drivers.The focus of this paper is to calculate the costs of customers ,and then analyze the profitability of customers in order to take the appropriate marketing strategies to improve the hotel service industry Drofitabilitv.展开更多
Activity based costing (ABC) is a method which can solve many limitations of the traditional cost systems in manufacturing management. In this paper, we investigate how to integrate ABC with workflow technology, and ...Activity based costing (ABC) is a method which can solve many limitations of the traditional cost systems in manufacturing management. In this paper, we investigate how to integrate ABC with workflow technology, and build a workflow meta model supporting ABC. Firstly, the concept and concept model of activity based costing (ABC) are introduced. Next, the meta model of P -PROCE (Process, Product, Resource, Organization, and Cost & Evaluation) is presented. Then the cost meta model is defined by adding ABC to P -PROCE model. Object constraint language (OCL) is used to express meta model and constraints. Finally, we show an enterprise modeling and simulation tool based on the workflow meta model. We can systematically construct an enterprise model and easily and efficiently conduct simulation. Moreover it enables us to analyze and evaluate business processes and its costs.展开更多
文摘Implementing effective cost management approaches has recently gained momentum due to intense competition and increasing customer demands. Moreover, effective cost management approaches have contributed to firms＇ competitive advantage in relation to cost leadership strategy. Consequently, firms have implemented contemporary cost management systems, such as activity-based management, business process re-engineering, life-cycle costing, target costing, and theory of constraint （TOC）, to enable them to become low-cost producers and compete effectively and sustain their performance. Furthermore, focusing on cost management to improve profitability has led to the integration of activity-based costing （ABC） and TOC. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review literature and discuss how integration of ABC and TOC can result in improved and sustained cost management. While these methods have different approaches in addressing cost management, treating them as complementary cost management approaches can result in improved cost management due to improved product costing, improved cost reporting, improved product-mix decisions, and improved cycle-time management. Improvement in cost management will then result in sustained cost management. Sustained cost management is further enhanced with the investment in information customer and shareholder value technology that supports cross-functional decision making to continue creating to remain competitive in the market.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.61074136)the National Science and Technology Major Project of China(No.2009ZX04014)
文摘In order to evaluate and estimate me cosEs oi prouuct~ plt, uu^u e vironment properly, an improved activity-based costing （ABC） model is presented. By utilizing the input-output analysis method, the complex consumption relationships in a complex manufacturing environment are first expressed. The consumption characteristics （mainly presented by the activity rates） of all production activities are extracted by solving these relationships. Then with the con- sumption characteristics and operating parameters of these activities, the detailed cost consumption of a product in its manufacturing process is estimated. A case study is finally given based on the compressor products of a manufacturing company, and its effectiveness is shown. As the cost influ- ence of complex consumption relationships is fully considered, the limitation of traditional ABC method is overcome, and therefore a high accuracy in product cost estimation under the complex manufacturing environment can be achieved.
文摘Based on the theory of activity-based costing and the idea of value chain,activity optimization and cost control are carried out on the whole construction process of agricultural water conservancy projects. Through the use of literature review,case analysis and statistical analysis and other methods,with agricultural water conservancy projects as the research object,and comparing activity-based costing with the traditional model of cost accounting,the writer carries out the corresponding value chain analysis,and comes to the following conclusion: the statistical calculation and analysis of the entire construction process based on activity-based costing can accurately and effectively control the costs of water conservancy projects. Through the use of activity-based costing,the cost data of agricultural water conservancy projects is more detailed and accurate,and cost management personnel can also find non-value-added activities,optimize the enterprise's value chain and achieve cost control objectives through the analysis of the activity chain and value chain of agricultural water conservancy projects.
文摘Road transport is a flexible mode of transport and its importance in era of globalization increases. Management of road transport companies is, in this turbulent environment, exposed to many technical, legislative, and economic problems. Especially, the growing economic pressure leads to an urgent requirement of the manager and control system improvement. Activity-based costing （ABC） method is a very powerful tool to improve products, services, processes, and market strategies. ABC allows company management to understand what causes costs and how to manage them. Company under this scheme may get a glimpse of how efficiently a company converts the source value. The main objective of our research was to assess the possibility of application of the ABC method in a transport undertaking. ABC method as a fundamentally different view on the cost in the transport business helps to find the reasons of cost and thereby influences their levels to make better use of resources.. New managerial accounting methods aim to show management what information is needed, how and where this information can be obtained, and how they can be useful for the management of the company＇s proper planning, decision-making, and control. Information provided by management accounting is often a key factor in the analysis of alternative ways of solving problems. This article focuses on the transport enterprise management and helps to decide on the use of this method in business practice.
文摘An organization’s costing system is a system that helps the management with the strategy planning while the system plays an important role in providing accurate cost information about the products and customers.In other words,the costing management system is important to provide timely and quality information to help managers in their decision-making process.Producing quality graduates is the main objective of any university and the cost of quality or the cost of poor quality is one that is often difficult to measure in higher education.This can be partly attributed to the fact that most accounting systems are not structured to capture important cost-of-quality information.In order to succeed,many organizations tend to shift from conventional or traditional costing system to Activity-based costing(ABC).ABC provides both higher education administrators and policymakers with better information on which to base decisions.The use of multiple cost pools and drivers under ABC leads to more detailed and accurate product costing than that provided by traditional cost systems.This paper attempts to investigate the possibilities and limitations of implementing ABC in universities.More specifically the study makes use of the case study method to illustrate the implementation of activity-based costing of library services in a private university in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The research methodology of the case study is a combination of both descriptive and quantitative analyses.The study identified six categories of cost pools which are related to the activities of the library as well as 17 relevant cost drivers.Accordingly,ABC should lead to a better understanding of what drives costs and,by extension,what changes are necessary to reduce costs.Unnecessary activities that do not add value to services can be identified and eliminated.Further ABC is feasible in an academic library and that much can be gained from the process of analyzing activities.However,more work needs to be done in terms of designing accounting and other information systems to capture cost and activity transaction data in a more routine and disaggregated form for ABC analysis.
文摘In order to find out the applicability of the optimal pricing decision model based on conventional cost behavior model after activity based costing has given strong shock to the conventional cost behavior model and its assumptions, detailed analyses have been made using the activity based cost behavior and cost volume profit analysis model, and it is concluded from these analyses that the theory behind the construction of optimal pricing decision model is still tenable under activity based costing, but the conventional optimal pricing decision model must be modified as appropriate to the activity based costing based cost behavior model and cost volume profit analysis model, and an optimal pricing decision model is really a product pricing decision model constructed by following the economic principle of maximizing profit.
文摘BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for assessing this risk.In Gabon,early implementation of anticoagulation therapy and D-dimer testing has been crucial in managing COVID-19.This study hypothesizes that elevated Ddimer levels are linked to increased COVID-19 severity.AIM To determine the impact of D-dimer levels on COVID-19 severity and their role in guiding clinical decisions.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 patients admitted to two hospitals in Gabon between March 2020 and December 2023.The study included patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses and available D-dimer measurements at admission.Data on demographics,clinical outcomes,D-dimer levels,and healthcare costs were collected.COVID-19 severity was classified as non-severe(outpatients)or severe(inpatients).A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between D-dimer levels and disease severity,with adjusted odds ratios(OR)and 95%CI.RESULTS A total of 3004 patients were included,with a mean age of 50.17 years,and the majority were female(53.43%).Elevated D-dimer levels were found in 65.81%of patients,and 57.21%of these experienced severe COVID-19.Univariate analysis showed that patients with elevated D-dimer levels had 3.33 times higher odds of severe COVID-19(OR=3.33,95%CI:2.84-3.92,P<0.001),and this association remained significant in the multivariable analysis,adjusted for age,sex,and year of collection.The financial analysis revealed a substantial burden,particularly for uninsured patients.CONCLUSION D-dimer predicts COVID-19 severity and guides treatment,but the high cost of anticoagulant therapy highlights the need for policies ensuring affordable access in resource-limited settings like Gabon.
文摘The ease of accessing a virtually unlimited pool of resources makes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds an ideal platform for running data-intensive workflow applications comprising hundreds of computational tasks. However, executing scientific workflows in IaaS cloud environments poses significant challenges due to conflicting objectives, such as minimizing execution time (makespan) and reducing resource utilization costs. This study responds to the increasing need for efficient and adaptable optimization solutions in dynamic and complex environments, which are critical for meeting the evolving demands of modern users and applications. This study presents an innovative multi-objective approach for scheduling scientific workflows in IaaS cloud environments. The proposed algorithm, MOS-MWMC, aims to minimize total execution time (makespan) and resource utilization costs by leveraging key features of virtual machine instances, such as a high number of cores and fast local SSD storage. By integrating realistic simulations based on the WRENCH framework, the method effectively dimensions the cloud infrastructure and optimizes resource usage. Experimental results highlight the superiority of MOS-MWMC compared to benchmark algorithms HEFT and Max-Min. The Pareto fronts obtained for the CyberShake, Epigenomics, and Montage workflows demonstrate closer proximity to the optimal front, confirming the algorithm’s ability to balance conflicting objectives. This study contributes to optimizing scientific workflows in complex environments by providing solutions tailored to specific user needs while minimizing costs and execution times.
文摘Along with the product price competition growing intensely, it is apparently important for reasonably distributing and counting cost. But, in sharing indirect cost, traditional cost accounting unveils the limitations increasingly, especially in authenticity of cost information. And the accounting theory circles and industry circles begin seeking one kind of new accurate cost calculation method, and the activity based cost (ABC) method emerges as the times require. In this paper, we will build its mathematical model by the basic principle of ABC, and will improve its mathematical model further. We will establish its comparison mathematical model and make the ABC method go a step further to its practical application.
文摘The release of a new artificial intelligence(AI)model,ironically,evokes a biblical memory.What has transpired in the past few days echoes the biblical story of David versus Goliath,in which the massive and wellarmed Goliath is defeated by the comparatively puny David,who comes to the battle with only his staff and sling.
文摘Restructuring of power market not only introduces competition but also brings complexity which increases overloading of Transmission Lines(TL).To obviate this complexity,this paper aims to mitigate the overloading and estimate the optimal location of Static Synchronous Compensator(STATCOM) by reducing congestion for a deregulated power system.The proposed method is based on the use of Locational Marginal Price(LMP) difference technique and congestion cost.LMPs are obtained as a by-product of Optimal Power Flow(OPF),whereas Congestion Cost(CC) is a function of difference in LMP and power flows.The effiectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by reducing the CC and solution space which can identify the TLs more suitable for placement of STATCOM.Importantly,total real power loss,reactive power loss and total CC are the three main objective functions in this optimization process.The process is implemented by developing an IEEE-69 bus test system which verifies and validates the effectiveness of proposed optimization technique.Additionally,a comparative analysis is enumerated by implementing two optimization techniques:Flower Pollination Algorithm(FPA) and Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO).The comparative analysis is sufficient to demonstrate the superiority of FPA technique over PSO technique in estimating an optimal placement of a STATCOM.The results from the load-flow analysis illustrate the reduction in CC,total real and reactive power loss using FPA technique compared to PSO technique.Overall,satisfactory results are obtained without using complex calculations which verify the effectiveness of optimization techniques.
基金funded by National Institute for Health Research(NIHR)(RP-PG-1212-20019)。
文摘To the editor:Peer workers-people with personal experiences of using mental health services,trained to provide support to others currently using similar services--are increasingly integrated into the workforce of mental health systems internationally.
基金This research was jointly supported by the China Geological Survey Project(DD20211404)the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(2019LH05028).
文摘With the development of the new energy industry and the depletion of nickel sulfide ore resources,laterite nickel ore has become the main source of primary nickel,and nickel for power batteries has become a new growth point in consumption.This paper systematically summarizes the processes,parameters,products,recovery rates,environmental indicators,costs,advantages,disadvantages and the latest research progress of mainstream nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore.It also provides a comparative analysis of the environmental impact and economic efficiency of different nickel extraction processes.It is found that the current nickel extraction processes from laterite nickel ore globally for commercial production mainly include the RKEF process for producing ferronickel and the HPAL process for producing intermediate products.The former accounts for about 80%of laterite nickel ore production.Compared to each other,the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity for the RKEF is about 43000$,with an operational cost of about 16000$per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 77%–90%.Its products are mainly used in stainless steels.For the HPAL process,the investment cost per ton of nickel metal production capacity is about 56000$,with an operational cost of about 15000$per ton of nickel metal and a total nickel recovery rate of 83%–90%.Its products are mainly used in power batteries.The significant differences between the two lies in energy consumption and carbon emissions,with the RKEF being 2.18 and 2.37 times that of the HPAL,respectively.Although the use of clean energy can greatly reduce the operational cost and environmental impact of RKEF,if RKEF is converted to producing high Ni matte,its economic and environmental performance still cannot match that of the HPAL and oxygen-enriched side-blown processes.Therefore,it can be inferred that with the increasing demand for nickel in power batteries,HPAL and oxygen-enriched side blowing processes will play a greater role in laterite nickel extraction.
文摘With the continuous application of new technologies in reconnaissance and attack, false camouflage plays a more important role in improving the survivability of targets, and the number of decoys plays a crucial role in the camouflaging effect. Based on the concept of cost-effectiveness ratio, according to the newly formulated Johnson criterion and the view of discovery and destruction, this paper proposes to take the identification probability as the probability of being destroyed and uses mathematical formulas to calculate the cost of a single use decoy. On this basis, a cost-effectiveness ratio model is established, with the product of the increase in the survival probability of the target and the cost of the target as the benefit, and the sum of the product of the probability of being destroyed and the cost of the decoy and the cost of a single use as the consumption cost. The model is calculated and analyzed, and the number of decoys that conform to the actual situation is obtained.
文摘This article analyzes the development of an activity-based costing （ABC） system in a private Italian healthcare firm. Findings shed light on the role of the cost accounting system in price assessment： It outlines new opportunities for the identification of the service mix offered as well as for price optimization. Because private companies provide services both within the public system--where the National Health System （NHS） provides fixed reimbursement fees--and within the private system--where prices are defined by each company. Accurate cost information is extremely important to support managers in the analysis of the service mix profitability offered in each system. For the business segment in which companies do not have flexibility in setting prices, cost information enables managers to identify services which may present profitability problems. For the business segment where price flexibility exists, cost information supports the identification of pricing errors so that charges can be better defined.
文摘The time-driven activity-based costing has received extensive attention from scholars both at home and abroad in recent years,which has been applied to the calculation of manufacturing operations and the cost of products.However, this approach is rarely introduced into the service sector.As to the hospitality industry, the profitability of the customer usually plays a decisive role in the business process.Therefore, this article takes the hotel service industry as the research point and allocates the costs of resources of each departments to customers according to time drivers.The focus of this paper is to calculate the costs of customers ,and then analyze the profitability of customers in order to take the appropriate marketing strategies to improve the hotel service industry Drofitabilitv.
文摘Activity based costing (ABC) is a method which can solve many limitations of the traditional cost systems in manufacturing management. In this paper, we investigate how to integrate ABC with workflow technology, and build a workflow meta model supporting ABC. Firstly, the concept and concept model of activity based costing (ABC) are introduced. Next, the meta model of P -PROCE (Process, Product, Resource, Organization, and Cost & Evaluation) is presented. Then the cost meta model is defined by adding ABC to P -PROCE model. Object constraint language (OCL) is used to express meta model and constraints. Finally, we show an enterprise modeling and simulation tool based on the workflow meta model. We can systematically construct an enterprise model and easily and efficiently conduct simulation. Moreover it enables us to analyze and evaluate business processes and its costs.
