Cost Control Research Articles

Pixel Distillation: Cost-Flexible Distillation Across Image Sizes and Heterogeneous Networks.

Previous knowledge distillation (KD) methods mostly focus on compressing network architectures, which is not thorough enough in deployment as some costs like transmission bandwidth and imaging equipment are related to the image size. Therefore, we propose Pixel Distillation that extends knowledge distillation into the input level while simultaneously breaking architecture constraints. Such a scheme can achieve flexible cost control for deployment, as it allows the system to adjust both network architecture and image quality according to the overall requirement of resources. Specifically, we first propose an input spatial representation distillation (ISRD) mechanism to transfer spatial knowledge from large images to student's input module, which can facilitate stable knowledge transfer between CNN and ViT. Then, a Teacher-Assistant-Student (TAS) framework is further established to disentangle pixel distillation into the model compression stage and input compression stage, which significantly reduces the overall complexity of pixel distillation and the difficulty of distilling intermediate knowledge. Finally, we adapt pixel distillation to object detection via an aligned feature for preservation (AFP) strategy for TAS, which aligns output dimensions of detectors at each stage by manipulating features and anchors of the assistant. Comprehensive experiments on image classification and object detection demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ANNUAL CROPS SUBJECT TO BIOAGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT

The growing need for food worldwide causes changes in supply, which is not always concerned with the quality in which this food is being offered to consumers. That said, the concern with producing quality food, aiming at the maximum organic bases and available inputs, combined with the ability to produce one's own bioinputs on the farm, reduces dependence on external inputs, and greater control of production costs within the properties demonstrates a total internal interdependence for the production of food or raw materials. The research aims to evaluate the economic sustainability in the cultivation systems of the most important annual crops in the country; Soybeans, Corn, Wheat and Beans in the use of bioinputs on the farm to obtain a reduction in production costs. Research conducted in the municipality of Chapecó - SC during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 harvests. The research design is a factorial (3x6), factor A crop management, factor B different doses of basalt powder for the crops of Corn Harvest, Beans Off-season, Wheat Harvest and Soybean Harvest. Qualitative research on product/dose/target values. Economic results differed between production costing, attractive on a scale in R$/ha-¹ in biological management (A) and Bioagricultural (C) in the crops of corn, beans and soybeans. As well as the break-even point, the economic and financial results of the four crops evaluated were equivalent and positive in biological management (A). Expressively positive analysis in the economic indicators of profitability, between the different cultivable managements and doses of basalt powder.

The cost of sleeping sickness vector control in Yasa Bonga, a health district in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (gHAT), a neglected tropical disease caused by a parasite transmitted by tsetse flies, once inflicted over 30,000 annual cases and resulted in an estimated half a million deaths in the late twentieth century. An international gHAT control program has reduced cases to under 1,000 annually, encouraging the World Health Organization to target the elimination of gHAT transmission by 2030. This requires adopting innovative disease control approaches in foci where transmission persists. Since the last decade, case detection and treatment, the mainstay of controlling the disease, is supplemented by vector control using Tiny Targets, small insecticide-treated screens, which attract and kill tsetse. The advantages of Tiny Targets lie in their relatively low cost, easy deployment, and effectiveness. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bearing 65% of the 799 gHAT cases reported globally in 2022, introduced Tiny Targets in 2015. This study estimates the annual cost of vector control using Tiny Targets in the health district of Yasa Bonga in the DRC and identifies the main cost drivers. Economic and financial costs, collected from the provider's perspective, were used to estimate the average cost of tsetse control expressed as cost (i) per target used, (ii) per target deployed, (iii) linear kilometre of river controlled, and (iv) square kilometres protected by vector control. Sensitivity analyses were conducted on key parameters for results robustness. The estimated annual economic cost for protecting an area of 1,925 km2 was 120,000 USD. This translates to 5.3 USD per target used each year, 11 USD per target deployed in the field, 573 USD per linear km treated, and 62 USD per km2 protected. These costs in the DRC are comparable to those in other countries. The study provides valuable information for practitioners and policymakers making rational, evidence-based decisions to control gHAT.

Design and simulation of reconfigurable modular snake robots with bevel gear transmission

With the advancement of technologies, robotics is playing an increasingly important role in various fields. The snake robot has attracted widespread academic attention due to its efficient and flexible movement characteristics. Nevertheless, its popularity and application range are constrained by complex control, low durability, and high cost. Given this, this study proposed a modular design framework based on the concept of modular design and a reconfigurable modular snake robot using bevel gear transmission. The snake robot consists of several basic module units with the same structure, which are restructured and reconfigured to achieve different shapes and functions. A standardized interface and communication protocol were optimized and designed, with each module containing an autonomous control unit and several execution units. The robot realized motion and tasks through the collaborative work of multiple modules to adapt to various work and environmental requirements. In addition, the research analyzes distributed control, improved motion control (using PID algorithm), energy management, safety design and other aspects, based on the cost data, improvement measures were proposed. At the same time, the work risks of the robot are analyzed, such as mechanical damage to the human body, adverse environment and electromagnetic interference, and corresponding solutions are proposed, and problems are found through durability testing and material improvement measures are proposed. Finally, based on SolidWorks software, a three-dimensional modeling and simulation analysis was conducted on the robot to verify its correctness. This study can provide inspiration for the design and research of snake robots.

The Impact of BIM Technology on the Lifecycle Cost Control of Prefabricated Buildings: Evidence from China

The Impact of BIM Technology on the Lifecycle Cost Control of Prefabricated Buildings: Evidence from China

Preparation of Nonfouling Zwitterionic Coatings by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition under Ambient Pressure.

Nonspecific protein adsorption significantly impacts the performance of biomedical devices in both hemocompatibility and tissue compatibility. Polyzwitterionic coatings are a promising solution. However, conventional zwitterionic coatings always have to rely on sophisticated wet chemistry methods, leading to low controllability and high cost. In this work, zwitterionic coatings were prepared by nitrogen plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of precursors for 90 s under ambient pressure followed by hydrolysis. The results showed that the PECVD-coated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Tecoflex, effectively resists nonspecific protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and bacterial adhesion without changing the mechanic properties of TPU. This approach simplified the zwitterionic coating process with highly controllability, showing a promising potential for the surface modification of biomedical devices.

Performance Evaluation of Islamic Banking Services Industry: Evidence from GCC

This study documents the comparative financial performance of the Islamic Banking Services Industry (IBSI) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. After drawing the performance evaluation framework (based on the CAMEL framework), the research conducted data analysis of the Islamic Banking Services Industry (IBSI) in the GCC region for 31 quarters (2013Q4–2021Q4). The analysis examines capital adequacy, asset quality, management performance, earnings, and liquidity management. Objectively classified data trends are reported through graphs. Additionally, the research documents internal determinants of financial performance. Findings suggest that the GCC-IBSI has shown overall progress in achieving primary objectives (commercial performance), including healthy capital adequacy, cost control, equity returns, and liquidity management. Capital adequacy, cost control, and liquidity management significantly contribute to financial performance. Managerial implications include cost control, reduction in non-performing loans, and prudent liquidity management. There exist opportunities in the GCC-IBSI for investors, given the mismatch in demand and supply of Islamic financial services. This study contributes to the literature by documenting findings on the achievements of the primary objective of IBSI in multiple GCC-IBSI markets comparatively.

Model of cost management for the Jakarta Bandung High Speed Railway Project

The completion of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed railway (JBHSR) project in 2023 marks a significant milestone for Indonesia, showcasing enhanced connectivity between two cities of Jakarta and Bandung. Despite facing challenges, particularly in cost management, this study employs content validity ratio, factor analysis and structural equation modelling to address these issues. Surveying 404 stakeholders, it highlights the crucial role of cost planning in project success, aligning with existing literature on similar endeavors. The final model refines 108 cost management attributes as per PMBOK guidelines, namely, cost management process involves planning, estimation, budget determination, and cost control. The outcomes of the final structural equation model underscore the significance of cost control in enhancing both cost efficiency and project success, aligning with findings from literature on similar projects. The novelty of this study lies in its application of content validity ratio, factor analysis and structural equation modelling within the context of high-speed railway projects, adding to the existing literature on infrastructure development in Indonesia. This research offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers involved in the planning and execution of large-scale infrastructure projects, potentially leading to enhanced cost efficiency and project success in similar projects in the future.

One Class of Stackelberg Linear–Quadratic Differential Games with Cheap Control of a Leader: Asymptotic Analysis of an Open-Loop Solution

We consider a two-player finite horizon linear–quadratic Stackelberg differential game. For this game, we study the case where the control cost of a leader in the cost functionals of both players is small, which means that the game under consideration is a cheap control game. We look for open-loop optimal players’ controls of this game. Using the game’s solvability conditions, the obtaining such controls is reduced to the solution to a proper boundary-value problem. Due to the smallness of the leader’s control cost, this boundary-value problem is singularly perturbed. Asymptotic behavior of the solution to this problem is analyzed. Based on this analysis, the asymptotic behavior of the open-loop optimal players’ controls and the optimal values of the cost functionals is studied. Using these results, asymptotically suboptimal players’ controls are designed. An illustrative example is presented.

Intelligent Forecast Model for Project Cost in Guangdong Province Based on GA-BP Neural Network

Project cost forecasting is a complex and critical process, and it is of paramount importance for the successful implementation of engineering projects. Accurately forecasting project costs can help project managers and relevant decision-makers make informed decisions, thereby avoiding unnecessary cost overruns and time delays. Furthermore, accurately forecasting project costs can make important contributions to better controlling engineering costs, optimizing resource allocation, and reducing project risks. To establish a high-precision cost forecasting model for construction projects in Guangdong Province, based on case data of construction projects in Guangdong Province, this paper first uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to obtain the characteristic parameters that affect project costs. Then, a neural network training and testing dataset is constructed, and a genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the initial weights and biases of the neural network. The GA-BP neural network is used to establish a cost forecasting model for construction projects in Guangdong Province. Finally, by using parameter sensitivity analysis theory, the importance of the characteristic values that affect the project cost is ranked, and the optimal direction for controlling the project cost is obtained. The results showed: (1) The determination coefficient between the forecasting and actual values of the project cost forecasting model based on the BP neural network testing set is 0.87. After GA optimization, the determination coefficient between the forecasting and actual values of the GA-BP neural network testing set is 0.94. The accuracy of the intelligent forecast model for construction project cost in Guangdong Province has been significantly improved after optimization through GA. (2) Based on sensitivity analysis of neural network parameters, the most significant factor affecting the cost of construction projects in Guangdong Province is the number of above-ground floors, followed by the main structure type, foundation structure, above-ground building area, total building area, underground building area, fortification intensity, and building height. The results of parameter sensitivity analysis indicate the direction for cost control in construction projects. The research results of this paper provide theoretical guidance for cost control in construction projects.

A Cost Control System for Internal Economic Management of Enterprises Based On Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

A Cost Control System for Internal Economic Management of Enterprises Based On Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

The Influence of Regional Specialization in Agriculture on Farmers’ Pest Control Behaviors Based on a Dual Examination of Control Strategies and Control Costs

The pest control behaviors of agricultural producers are crucial not only for effectively managing pests and diseases but also for ensuring the sustainable development of agricultural production and the environment. Regional specialization in agriculture, as a typical method to optimize planting structure, influences farmers’ control behaviors through dual mechanisms. However, existing research has largely overlooked this issue. This paper systematically examines the influence and mechanisms of agricultural regional specialization on farmers’ pest control strategies and costs. Using village tracking research data and farmer data from the Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Jilin provinces of China over 15 years, the study employs fixed-effects models and the instrumental variable method to provide empirical evidence. The research results indicate that by reducing biological diversity, which exacerbates the occurrence and damage of pests and diseases, and increasing the homogeneity of cropping structures, the development of regional specialization in agriculture prompts farmers to shift their control strategy from “ex post treatment” to “ex ante prevention” and has increased the control costs. The policy implication is that farmers should be encouraged to practice moderate crop rotation in rapidly increasing regional specialization. Additionally, strengthening real-time monitoring of pest and disease dynamics is essential to guide farmers in early prevention and timely control.

Analisis varians biaya dalam mengukur efektivitas pengendalian biaya operasional pada Usaha Fellow Coffee Manado

Cost variance is the difference between budgeted costs and actual costs incurred. Operating costs are the expenses incurred by an organization to carry out its activities. When variances occur, controlling the costs associated with these variances is very important for the sustainability of business operations. Fellow Coffee Manado, as the object of research, is a cafe that sells coffee and non-coffee beverages as well as heavy meals. The purpose of this research is to measure the effectiveness of operational cost control at Fellow Coffee Manado using cost variance analysis. The research method used is qualitative descriptive, which aims to describe the effectiveness of operational cost control at Fellow Coffee Manado through cost variance analysis. The results of this study indicate the presence of cost variance in several components of operational costs, both favorable and unfavorable variances (unfavorable). The operational costs for the year 2023 that experienced unfavorable variances occurred in October, while favorable variances took place from January to September and from November to December. The causes of the variances in these costs should also be noted. For the control of the company's operating costs to be good and effective, it is due to the preparation of the budget and efforts to improve the budget and actual performance of Fellow Coffee Manado. The researcher hopes that in the future, the company will continue to prepare a better budget, along with monitoring and evaluation.

Financial Statement Analysis of BYD Company Limited

This paper takes BYD as an example to analyze its financial indicators and conduct a comprehensive DuPont analysis for the period from 2019 to 2023. The analysis reveals that the company achieved significant financial growth during this period. Both operating revenue and net profit showed an upward trend, with particularly strong growth momentum in 2022 and 2023, as net profit increased substantially. The gross profit margin and net profit margin also improved, indicating enhanced operational efficiency and effective cost control. At the same time, BYD's continuous increase in R&D investment has driven technological innovation and product upgrades. The total assets have continued to grow, reflecting the company's business expansion and strengthened capabilities. The cash flow position remains healthy, with net operating cash flow steadily increasing, providing stable financial support for the company. However, BYD faces challenges such as intensified market competition and fluctuations in raw material prices, which necessitate ongoing optimization of business strategies and operational models to maintain its leading position and competitiveness. Overall, BYD has performed outstandingly in the new energy vehicle sector, with promising prospects for future development.

Multi-Objective Optimization Design of Traditional Soil Dwelling Renovation Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process—Quality Function Deployment—Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II: Case Study in Tuyugou Village in Turpan, Xinjiang

As the socio-economic landscape expands and tourism flourishes, the traditional earthen dwellings of Tuyugou Village, Turpan, Xinjiang, face significant challenges, including low energy efficiency and suboptimal living comfort, necessitating data-driven and scientifically robust renovation strategies. Existing renovation methods, however, often lack empirical support and rely heavily on the subjective judgments of architects, thus hindering the effective preservation and transmission of cultural heritage. This research addresses the renovation of these traditional dwellings by employing the AHP method to systematically evaluate user requirements, with input from diverse stakeholders, including homeowners, tourists, experts, and government authorities. The study then applies the QFD method to construct the House of Quality, translating user needs into specific design attributes; this is followed by a comprehensive quantitative analysis for optimization. A novel multi-objective optimization model (MOP) is introduced, with materials as the central focus, addressing key aspects of engineering, culture, and energy conservation. The NSGA-II algorithm is utilized to generate optimal Pareto solutions, which are then further refined using the entropy-weighted VIKOR method. Among the ten pre-selected renovation solutions, the sixth design plan was identified as the optimal choice, excelling in cost control, cultural integration, and energy performance. Specifically, it achieved a unit construction cost of RMB 340.566/m2, a cultural adaptability score of 1.5364, and an energy cost of RMB 352.793/kWh, thereby demonstrating an effective balance between traditional architectural elements and modern requirements. The objective decision making enabled by the VIKOR method successfully balances cultural preservation with contemporary needs, enhancing both living standards and tourism appeal. This study offers innovative and empirically grounded renovation strategies for traditional dwellings in arid and semi-arid climates, providing a framework that effectively balances cultural preservation and modernization.

Exploration on the Application of Game Theory in Business Competition Strategies

This study delves into the application of game theory in business competition strategies, constructing game models to analyze the competition and cooperation among enterprises, encompassing market entry and exit, price competition, and advertising promotion strategies. Game theory aids enterprises in gaining a deeper understanding of their competitors’ strategies and formulating rational strategies. In the context of e-commerce price wars, an analysis of the “618” competition between Tmall and JD.com through a duopoly game model reveals that while price wars stimulate demand in the short term, they ultimately undermine profits in the long run. Consequently, enterprises must explore win-win mechanisms, incorporating differentiated competition, technological innovation, and cost control to maintain their leading market position.

Stereoconvergent Access to Z‐Allylborons from E/Z‐Mixed 1,3‐Dienes via Cu‐Guanidine Catalysis

Merging the stereoisomeric mixture of substrate into a single product through stereospecific transformation is a challenging but higher‐order synthetic strategy, which perfectly meets the demand of cost control in the precise chemical production. In this work, the stereoconvergent synthesis of Z‐allylic boronates was realized with protoborylation of E/Z‐mixed 1,3‐dienes catalyzed by a novel copper‐guanidine complex. The reaction could proceed smoothly under very mild conditions with good functional group tolerance, and convert diverse aryl‐substituted 1,3‐dienes into the desired Z‐1,4‐addition products with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivities in minutes. Detailed mechanistic studies also helped to disclose the origin of stereoconvergency. Both E‐ and Z‐diene were found directly undergoing a rapid borylation without E/Z isomerization of C=C bond, followed by a convergent formation of the same thermodynamically stable allylcopper intermediate before the slow protonation step occurred.

IT2‐Fuzzy‐Model‐Based Guaranteed Cost Control for Continuous‐Time MJSs With Non‐Consecutive Transmission and Quantization

ABSTRACTThis article addresses the asynchronous guaranteed cost control (GCC) problems for interval type‐2 (IT2) fuzzy continuous‐time Markov jump systems (C‐TMJSs) with quantization and non‐consecutive transmission. A dynamic event‐triggered mechanism (ETM) for IT2 fuzzy C‐TMJSs is designed to address the limited bandwidth and communication burden, which incorporates mode‐dependent thresholds and weighting matrices. An asynchronous IT2 fuzzy guaranteed cost controller possessing unmatched premise variable information is developed to stabilize the considered system, achieving desired GCC performance. The relationship between system mode and controller mode is described by the hidden Markov model (HMM). A quantizer is employed to quantize the signal prior to transmission to the next node, modeled as a stochastic quantization utilizing the HMM. Furthermore, an improved mode‐dependent and fuzzy‐dependent Lyapunov function is constructed for stability analysis, and the conditions of optimal GCC performance are derived. Finally, two examples are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Cooperative Strategies in Transboundary Water Pollution Control: A Differential Game Approach

This paper, based on differential game theory, examines governance models and cooperative strategies for managing cross-border water pollution in regions with uneven economic development. To address cross-regional water pollution, three differential game models are constructed under different scenarios: the Nash noncooperative mechanism, the pollution control cost compensation mechanism, and the collaborative cooperation mechanism. This study analyzes the dynamic changes in pollution emissions, governance investments, and economic returns within each model. The results indicate that the collaborative cooperation mechanism is the most effective, as it significantly reduces pollution emissions, maximizes overall regional benefits, and achieves Pareto optimality. In comparison, the pollution control cost compensation mechanism is suboptimal under certain conditions, while the Nash noncooperative mechanism is the least efficient, resulting in the highest pollution emissions. Furthermore, the research explores the influence of cooperation costs on the selection of governance models. It finds that high cooperation costs reduce local governments’ willingness to engage in collaborative cooperation. However, an appropriate compensation mechanism can effectively encourage less-developed regions to participate. Numerical analysis confirms the dynamic evolution of pollution stocks and economic returns under different models, and provides corresponding policy recommendations. This paper offers theoretical insights and practical guidance for cross-regional water pollution management, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation and cost-sharing in environmental governance.

A High Performance Nonlinear Longitudinal Controller for Fixed-Wing UAVs Based on Fuzzy-Guaranteed Cost Control

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have garnered more attention across various industries in recent years, leading to significant development in their design and application globally. Due to the high coupling between UAV states, model uncertainties, and various disturbances, precise longitudinal control of UAVs remains a significant research challenge. Oriented for the speed and altitude control of an electrical-powered fixed-wing UAV, this paper introduces a new control strategy based on the fuzzy guaranteed cost control (F-GCC) technique, which results in a nonlinear longitudinal state feedback control law with strict stability criterion, effectively addressing the issue of state coupling. Moreover, the strategy also includes a thrust estimation model of the electrical propulsion system to significantly reduce the nonlinearity, simplifying the controller design while effectively preserving tracking control performance. Through numerical validation, the UAV longitudinal nonlinear controller designed using the F-GCC technique offers better transient response and stronger robustness than the traditional linear and ADRC controllers.