Optimal Distribution Of Resources Research Articles

Algorithms and software for optimal management of raw materials, fuel and energy resources in blast furnace production

The structure of optimization model of optimal management of raw materials, fuel and energy resources in the blast-furnace shop of iron and steel works is represented. The following blocks are taken as system basis: 1) calculation of the set of parameters that characterize the thermal, gas-dynamic, slag and blasting modes for every blast furnaces of the shop during the base period; 2) calculation of linearized model coefficients (constants of transferring via different exposure pathways) individually for every blast furnace as well as properties of iron ore raw materials, fluxing additions, blasting parameters, parameters of fuel-enriched blast influencing the technical-and-economic indices of separate furnaces performance, their thermal, gas-dynamic and slag operation modes in the course of blast-furnace melting according to UrFU-MMK blast-furnace production model within the base period; 3) solution of tasks that consider the optimal allocation of raw materials, fuel and energy resources for the project period of blast furnaces operation; 4) analysis of obtained results and providing of recommendations on the optimization of blast furnaces parameters. The developed functional model of optimal distribution of raw materials, fuel and energy resources for the engineering and technology personnel of blast-furnace shop is illustrated; the main functions and interconnections between the separate functional blocks are defined. The functions of created “Optimal management of raw materials, fuel and energy resources in the blast-furnace production” software that is realized in the Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 (C# programming language) programming environment in the form of web application are pointed out. The program product provides the engineering and technology personnel of blast furnace shop of iron and steel works with the opportunity to solve the tasks of optimal distribution of fuel and energy resources (natural gas and oxygen consumption) within the group of blast furnaces in the different technological situations.

An Intelligent Edge-Computing-Based Method to Counter Coupling Problems in Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) have become more complex, more sophisticated, and more intelligent. In addition to this complexity, they have also been exposed to some important disturbances due to unintentional and intentional events since the number of cyber attacks has increased, and their behaviors have become more sophisticated. The openness, virtualization, and ubiquitous access traits of the combination of CPS and cloud computing may cause coupling problems. When malicious users or attackers simultaneously request the same physical nodes, it may lead to a failure of services as well as a security threat to the system. In this article, we design a low-coupling system based on the edge computing platform to counter coupling problems. The edge computing platform acts as a middleware platform and provides the scheduling method. Based on the edge computing platform and artificial intelligence technology, we design two buffer queues to reduce the coupling degree of the system in parallel. Moreover, we improve the Kuhn-Munkres algorithm to obtain the maximum matching between users' requests and resources to achieve optimal resource distribution. The experimental results indicate that the proposed edge-based scheme can effectively counter the coupling problem for CPSs.

Problems of energy resources allocation at decision-making stages in architecture and urban planning activities

All the levels of architecture and urban planning activities (management, designing, execution of construction works) bring up various questions of the optimal distribution of energy resources. This paper shows that the energy resources allocation is connected with different classes of tasks in optimal decisions making and belongs to mathematical programming problems. Optimization tasks at the stages of scientific research, substantiation and version design should be performed on the basis of dynamic system models of the type «population ↔ environment». The article justifies the need for deductive approach and system methods and evaluation criteria of energy resources distribution at the stages of design and quality evaluation of architectural objects. It is demonstrated that in architectural theory and practice, for the purpose of quantitative measurement of the quality of architectural and construction activity products, the scientific research of the new area – architectural metrology – is needed. The energy interpretation of the general optimality criterion of integral architectural objects as systems, functioning in accordance with general system principles, is discussed.

Abstract WP358: Comprehensive Integrated Stroke System: A Novel Approach to Optimizing Cerebrovascular Disease Care

Introduction: There is a need to deliver endovascular stroke therapy (EST) locally and rapidly, due to the time sensitivity of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the optimal distribution of resources, and means to maintain quality outcomes in patients with diseases that benefit from concentrated care at specialized centers, including subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is unknown. Methods: We performed a multicenter, observational cohort study across our 11-hospital network from Jan 2017 - Feb 2019, identifying AIS patients who received EST. From Jan 2017 - Aug 2017, there was one CSC in the system. Starting in Aug 2017, we implemented an Integrated Stroke System (ISS), in which 3 additional centers became CSCs, practices were standardized across a single physician group covering all 4 CSCs, and SAH care was centered at the original CSC, while EST was performed at 3 new CSCs. Logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, NIHSS, direct vs. transfer arrival, and time from onset to recanalization was used to assess likelihood of good outcome, defined as discharge to home or rehabilitation. Results are given as median [IQR] and OR [95% CI]. Results: Among 478 patients who received EST, median age was 68 [57-78], 47% were female, and 37% were white. Over the course of the study (Fig. 1), the number of monthly EST cases increased; EST volume at our original CSC remained stable, and an increasing EST was performed at the new CSCs (p<0.01). Monthly SAH case volume remained unchanged at the original CSC (29 cases vs. 30 cases, p=0.68). After implementation of our ISS, there was a decrease in the time from arrival to groin puncture (107 min [88-125] vs 92 min [67-120]; p<0.01). Among patients presenting 0-6 hours, there was a significant improvement in likelihood of good outcome after ISS (OR 2.59 [1.06-6.35]; p<0.05). Conclusions: By restructuring our stroke system of care and extending EST capability, we observed increased EST utilization and improvement in quality of care for AIS patients.

Dynamic programming method in the tasks of optimal labor capital distribution programs

This article shows the application of the dynamic programming method to the tasks of the optimal distribution of labor resources by region. It discusses possible options for the formulation of this task, describes two models of the optimal distribution of labor resources, provides numerical examples.

Політична еліта в інституційному середовищі.

This paper is a study of the subject-matter and features of the institutionalization of the elite in the process of modernization of the political system. It is proved that the functioning of the institutional environment takes place at the macro and micro levels. In this context, the article studies the degree of coherence of the institutional environment and its dependence on the consent of all the subjects to respect the rules and norms that ensure social and political order. The study reveals a set of legitimate rules of interaction and competitive political practices that form the basis of the institutional environment (functioning of the elite). It describes the communication processes that form such interactions in the institutional environment.It is concluded that clear rules and procedures of lobbying allow balancing the interests of public groups and political elites on the basis of compromise solutions. Accordingly, lobbying ensures a pluralism of legitimate opportunities for public participation in the development and adoption of political decisions, provides publicity to the process and activities of state authorities. Authors grounded that a set of legitimate rules of interaction and competitive political practices form the basis of the institutional environment of elite functioning. A holistic understanding of the rules of interaction and practices helps to determine the procedure of the elite institution in the political modernization processes, the dynamism of which is provided by the optimal choice of political technologies. Also, communication processes shape specific types of interaction in the institutional environment, facilitating feedback, optimal distribution of resources, and the use of political system capabilities to optimize modernization changes. The elite institute, forming and controlling communication processes, ensures the involvement of public initiative in the practical implementation of modernization projects on the basis of partnership and mutual responsibility.

New strategy for resource allocation using PSO-PFS hybrid

In this paper, the problem of resource allocation in a tri-sectorial cell taking into account the OFDM transmission technique used in wireless network, such as LTE, and the upcoming 5G, is studied. A new strategy for resource allocation scheme based on PSO-PFS hybrid (Particle Swarm Optimisation and Proportional Fair Scheduling) is proposed to help the users who are in a critical location and to have an optimal distribution of resources. The scheme leverages the PFS algorithm taking into consideration the channel state conditions of the users, where the PSO algorithm provides an optimal solution to the allocation problem and improves the performances of users according to their channel state. The simulation results show that the allocation of resources by the PSO-PFS hybrid guarantees a high throughput of the system by ensuring fairness through all users.

Application of game theory when taking decisions and choosing the best variant

The paper is devoted to a new way of determining optimal distribution of resources in performing construction and assembly work. Properly analyzed territorial features of the construction site, the local topography and housing density, the degree of the system reliability, available resources, and options for carrying out work may help reduce construction costs. That may be done after choosing the best variant relying on a number of criteria, which is one of the main goals for any organization and one of the main principles of efficient use of resources. As a simulation of this situation, it is offered to consider the theory of games. The solution of the antagonistic game in relation to the gasification of housing development by a construction and assembly organization is considered. A solution to this type of game in mixed and pure strategies is offered. The results obtained may be used for further engineering evaluation. Application of this approach at early stages of construction, namely while planning and designing, may cut energy costs, will significantly reduce the organization’s expenses and decrease the project implementation time by spending a little more time for taking decision at the preliminary stage. It was shown that the reliability of the system in diverse variants meets the regulatory requirements.

Решение задачи распределения ресурсов дискретного типа методами линейного программирования

Introduction. When planning projects, work packages, one often has to solve distribution-type problems associated with the optimal allocation of resources. Existing methods for solving such problems suggest the presence of an analytical dependence of a continuous type between the volumes of the distributed resource and performance indicators. However, optimization problems become inapplicable when the resource is discrete and dependencies are specified in tabular ways. Aim. To develop a mathematical model for solving the problem of the optimal distribution of resources of a discrete type with table-defined optimality criteria using linear programming methods. Describe the method of numerical solution of the problem using computer technology. Materials and methods. It is possible to solve the problem by forming an analytical dependence of a piecewise-continuous type between the volume of the distributed resource and the optimality criterion. This allows us to formulate an optimization problem solved by mathematical programming methods. It is possible to construct an analytical objective function by introducing additional parameters and restrictions. A numerical solution to the problem can be obtained both using mathematical packages of applied programs, such as, for example, “Mathcad”, and using programming systems. The paper describes the methodology for solving problems in the MS Excel environment using the add-on “Solver”. Results. A mathematical model is developed for solving a discrete distribution problem for the optimality criterion given in a table by integer linear programming methods. The technique of numerical solution in the MS Excel environment is described. Conclusion. Previously, such problems were solved by dynamic programming methods, which is more difficult in the computational plan. Conducted computational experiments showed high accuracy of model calculations and resistance to changes in the source data.

Пошук компромісних організаційних рішень засобами багатокритеріальної оптимізації

Managerial practice shows that always is a need to take into account several and simultaneously contradictory properties of available resources and their limitations, which is practically impossible to do, so they have to make the final compromise decision because of real conditions, determined by nature, staffing or budget. A typical example is trading, where the buyer and seller are interested, having conflicting goals: one counts on a minimum of expenses, the second — on a maximum of income, some trade-offs find a trade-off, which suits both. In the graph, these successive steps are the points on the plane that form the so-called the Pareto front (trade-off curve), which is the basis of the process of finding a balanced and well-founded solution and illustrated by the following examples of solving typical organizational management tasks. Finding a compromise is a completely natural phenomenon, a topical and real optimization problem is an extremely important and even critical act, because when for several conflicting purposes, for various reasons, insufficiently grounded political, organizational or engineering decisions are made and the result can be imprecise and inaccurate, spending in conflict situations, first and foremost, on the viability of the organization (state, industry, company) and the livelihood of the individual, family, crew, team or society. To find the balanced and well-grounded management solutions for complex organized system problem, the scientific and practical direction of compromise (multi-criteria, multi-purpose) or Pareto-optimization, popular anywhere, in general — with optimal distribution of limited resources of different types and properties, has been determined. Therefore, setting and solving a specific problem of multi-criteria optimization with taking into account constant changes in the values — of the initial data, prompt implementation of the compromise solutions obtained, the social, industrial, economic both organizational processes and the functioning of the respective objects are best ensured.

Value-based genomic screening: exploring genomic screening for chronic diseases using triple value principles

BackgroundGenomic screening has unique challenges which makes it difficult to easily implement on a wide scale. If the costs, benefits and tradeoffs of investing in genomic screening are not evaluated properly, there is a risk of wasting finite healthcare resources and also causing avoidable harm.Main textIf healthcare professionals – including policy makers, payers and providers – wish to incorporate genomic screening into healthcare while minimizing waste, maximizing benefits, and considering results that matter to patients, using the principles of triple value (allocative, technical, and personal value) could help them to evaluate tough decisions and tradeoffs. Allocative value focuses on the optimal distribution of limited healthcare resources to maximize the health benefits to the entire population while also accounting for all the costs of care delivery. Technical value ensures that for any given condition, the right intervention is chosen and delivered in the right way. Various methods (e.g. ACCE, HTA, and Wilson and Jungner screening criteria) exist that can help identify appropriate genomic applications. Personal value incorporates preference based informed decision making to ensure that patients are informed about the benefits and harms of the choices available to them and to ensure they make choices based on their values and preferences.ConclusionsUsing triple value principles can help healthcare professionals make reasoned and tough judgements about benefits and tradeoffs when they are exploring the role genomic screening for chronic diseases could play in improving the health of their patients and populations.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING ACTIVE AGING IN GALILEE

Increase in life expectancy has benefits, but also costs from increased expenses related to morbidity and prevention. These costs may be reduced by adopting a healthier lifestyle. The goal of the study was to quantify the economic value of a variety of activities in which older adults partake: e.g. cultural, intellectual, physical and nutritional activities. Research questions: Are the monetary benefits of improved health different when measured on a subjective willingness-to-pay (WTP) approach or on an objective Cost-of-Illness (COI) approach? Is the monetary benefit of active aging larger than the cost associated in doing that? 300 older adults participating in various activities of the local senior center and a control group not participating filled out a life style survey. A choice modelling (CM) approach estimated a subjective monetary welfare and compared it to an objective measure of benefit associated with the occurrence of different health symptoms associated with more active aging. An association was found between the various activities explored and the objective and subjective perspective of health. Moreover, all older adult activities passed the cost benefit test albite the order was different between objective and subjective estimations. Nutrition related activities were found to be the most beneficial. Cultural activity ranked second objectively and subjectively. Intellectual activity ranked last objectively and physical activity ranked last subjectively. Participants will understand the need to provide optimal policy and efficient resource distribution between the various activities offered to older adults. This will result in better health lowering public health expenditures.

HIV control strategies for sex worker-client contact networks.

Controlling the spread of HIV among hidden, high-risk populations such as survival sex workers and their clients is becoming increasingly important in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS. Several sociological and structural factors render general control strategies ineffective in these settings; instead, focused prevention, testing and treatment strategies which take into account the nature of survival sex work are required. Using a dynamic bipartite network model of sexual contacts, we investigate the optimal distribution of treatment and preventative resources among sex workers and their clients; specifically, we consider control strategies that randomly allocate antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis within each subpopulation separately. Motivated by historical data from a South African mining community, three main asymmetries between sex workers and clients are considered in our model: relative population sizes, migration rates and partner distributions. We find that preventative interventions targeted at female sex workers are the lowest cost strategies for reducing HIV prevalence, since the sex workers form a smaller population and have, on average, more sexual contacts. However, the high migration rate among survival sex workers limits the extent to which prevalence can be reduced using this strategy. To achieve a further reduction in HIV prevalence, testing and treatment in the client population cannot be ignored.

Control of Generalized Discrete-Time SIS Epidemics via Submodular Function Minimization

In this letter, we study a novel control method for a generalized SIS epidemic process. In particular, we use predictive control to design optimal protective resource distribution strategies which balance the need to eliminate the epidemic quickly against the need to limit the rate at which protective resources are used. We expect that such a controller may be useful in mitigating the spread of biological diseases which do not confer immunity to those who have been infected previously, with sexually transmitted infections being a prominent example of such. Technically, this letter provides a novel contribution in demonstrating that the particular combinatorial optimal control problem used to design resource allocations has an objective function which is submodular, and so can be solved in polynomial time despite its combinatorial nature. We test the performance of the proposed controller with numerical simulations, and provide some comments on directions for future work.

Improvement of the Model for Calculating the Operating Profit of Industrial Enterprises Taking into Account the Problem of Optimal Distribution of Productive Resources

On the ground of the conducted research, based on the stated goals and objectives, the model of calculating the operating profit of industrial enterprises, which is based on economic and mathematical dependencies, and takes into account the problem of optimal distribution of production resources in the system of operational management has been improved. Great attention has been paid to the analysis of the cost factors in the system of analysis of the ratio of “costs – volume – profit”, the definition of the optimal distribution of productive resources from the set of possible (admissible) ones in the organization of labor and production, the difference between accounting and economic approaches to calculating profit, the difference in approaches to the classification of overhead costs in terms of activity-based costing.

Decentralized price incentive energy interaction management for interconnected microgrids

Interconnection of wide-area microgrids encounters a lot of challenges in energy management. Energy interaction among microgrids requires more extensibility and flexibility in communication and decision-making compared to energy management of a single microgrid. To address the problem, two distributed interaction algorithms for both islanded and grid-connected modes are proposed here, where price signal motivates aggregators to adjust power consumption and generation. Privacy-preserving gossip algorithm is designed to avoid disclosing local privacy in islanded interaction. Demand response (DR), as an important means of interaction, can optimize resource distribution and realize virtuous and stable market operation in grid-connected mode. Perturbation primal-dual sub-gradient method is therefore designed to optimize distributed demand response (DDR) considering global predetermined inequal constraints. Finally, taking an actual multiple-microgrid system as an example, simulation verifies the effectiveness and robustness under communication uncertainties.

Distribution of enterprise management resources based on parameters of a surge in demand for product

All social and economic processes are characterized by the presence of a large number of low frequencies in the spectrum of the parameters describing them. In this case, it becomes possible to consider individual surges of a random process, which will be characterized by phase, average value and duration. According to these indicators, it is possible to prepare the enterprise for the production of precisely those products for which there is a surge in demand in the near future. It is accepted that the probability of a surge in demand for this type of product after a given time is a Markov nature and is described by the Kolmogorov equation. The overall probability of technology readiness can be defined as the product of the partial readiness probabilities in phase, duration and average amplitude, considering them to be independent events. The unavailability of technology decreases after each dosed management exposure. As a result, a methodology has been developed for the optimal distribution of control resources, which makes it possible to increase the availability of technology by more than a third compared to their equal distribution.

Resource distribution and performance of complex systems

This paper considers an entropic approach to solving the problem of finding the optimal resource distribution within a complex system and its sub-systems. We consider the indicator of uneven distribution of resources in a complex economic system and the adaptation potential based on the approximation of the Lorentz diagrams with one and two-parameter families of functions. The dependence of the adaptation potential on the values of the uneven distribution of resources is investigated. The entropic approach allows to not only monitor the optimality of resource distribution, but also develop recommendations on distribution readjustment in adaptive mode and dynamic conditions.

World Bicycle Relief: Social Enterprise Business Model

In this case, students assume the roles of FK Day and Dave Neiswander, leaders of the social enterprise World Bicycle Relief (WBR), which donates and sells bicycles in sub-Saharan Africa. As a social enterprise, WBR combines not-for-profit and for-profit activities. Starting as a traditional not-for-profit organization formed to donate bicycles after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, WBR eventually added a for-profit arm to facilitate growth and reduce its dependence on donations and grants. As a result, by 2017 WBR had distributed around 400,000 bicycles, primarily to schoolgirls, entrepreneurs, and health workers. As the organization grows, its leaders are interested in optimizing operations and entering new countries in Africa. What is the optimal distribution of WBR's resources between its for-profit and not-for-profit operations? How should it define the objective of its operations: should WBR maximize its social impact or the total number of bicycles in the field? Which countries should it enter? To answer those questions, students are required to analyze the social enterprise business model. This analysis starts at the strategic level and ties into the operational level. If desired, this analysis can be followed by an Excel optimization of WBR's operations. The case contains historical data on the organization and poses questions that can be analyzed from the perspectives of a number of academic fields. It can be used in various types of courses including strategy, not-for-profit organizations, operations, and finance. The instructor materials include a prepared Excel model that can be used to make the quantitative analysis accessible to students without quantitative backgrounds, videos from WBR, and a video that shows FK Day and Dave Neiswander answering questions in the inaugural use of the case at Kellogg.

Numerical study of models of optimal distribution of recreational resources

Numerical realization of the problems of optimal distribution of recreational resources adapted to the continuous non-linear multiproduct problem of optimal partitioning of sets, the solution of which can be interesting in the sense of the development of recreation and tourism, is carried out. The success of most management tasks depends on the best way to use resources. In general, this problem is reduced to the problems of optimal resource allocation. The tasks of this type include the tasks of optimal placement of tourist complexes on a given territory, which is attractive in the sense of the tourism industry. In this case, the models of functioning and development of tourist and recreational systems are considered that can be used for analysis and forecasting of the tourism industry, both at the regional and national and international levels. The problem of the optimal distribution of recreational resources in the conditions of the modern and perspective structure of recreational needs was investigated. A mathematical model of the problem is constructed, which is a nonlinear continuous multi-product problem of the optimal partition of a set into its disjoint subsets (among which there may be empty ones) with fixed coordinates of the centers of these subsets under constraints in the form of equalities and inequalities. An analytical solution of the problem is obtained, which includes parameters that are sought as the optimal solution of the auxiliary dual finite-dimensional optimization problem with a nonsmooth target functional. On the basis of the analytical solution of the problem studied, a theoretically grounded solution algorithm was developed. A numerical investigation of the problem is carried out. The presented research results can serve as a useful tool in the sense of effective optimal partitioning of the functioning zones of existing tourist and recreational facilities that are able to produce service complexes to meet the necessary needs of recreants from the service area in conditions of the optimal cost of recreational needs