Deep Reinforcement Learning for Resource Management in Network Slicing

Network slicing is born as an emerging business to operators, by allowing them to sell the customized slices to various tenants at different prices. In order to provide better-performing and cost-efficient services, network slicing involves challenging technical issues and urgently looks forward to intelligent innovations to make the resource management consistent with users' activities per slice. In that regard, deep reinforcement learning (DRL), which focuses on how to interact with the environment by trying alternative actions and reinforcing the tendency actions producing more rewarding consequences, is assumed to be a promising solution. In this paper, after briefly reviewing the fundamental concepts of DRL, we investigate the application of DRL in solving some typical resource management for network slicing scenarios, which include radio resource slicing and priority-based core network slicing, and demonstrate the advantage of DRL over several competing schemes through extensive simulations. Finally, we also discuss the possible challenges to apply DRL in network slicing from a general perspective.Comment: The manuscript has been accepted by IEEE Access in Nov. 201

An Evaluation of the Applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to Production Planning and Control in Manufacturing Industries

This study examined the factors that affect applications of Quantitative Techniques (QTs) to production planning and control in selected Nigerian manufacturing industries. Data were collected using questionnaire administered on 160 staff of 20 companies randomly chosen from each of the 8 purposively selected Nigerian Small-Scale Industries. Analysis of data was done descriptively and quantitatively using cross tabulations, percentages and inferential statistical tools respectively. Specifically, student t test was used to test the significance of the number of companies that apply QTs, The results showed that the types of QTs commonly in use include: Graphical and Charting Techniques, Control Charts, Forecasting Techniques (Simple Regression and Time Series Analyses), Inventory Model, Range, Variance and Standard Deviation, Capacity Utilization Model, and Acceptance Sampling. Control Charts topped the list with 14 (35 %). Also, 40 companies (25 %) of the 160 surveyed actually apply QTs. This number was significant at 0.05 level with t= 8.819. Metal Works industry led others in the applications of QTs with 8 (40 %) of the 20 companies surveyed in each selected industry; it also recorded 8 (20 %) of the 40 companies from all the selected industries. The study concluded that certain QTs are being applied to production planning and control by a significant number of companies from the selected Nigerian small-scale industries. Lack of adequate financial resources was the most important of all the assessed factors. Keywords: Product planning and control, Operations research models, resources utilization decision makin

Network emulation focusing on QoS-Oriented satellite communication

This chapter proposes network emulation basics and a complete case study of QoS-oriented Satellite Communication

Self-Evaluation Applied Mathematics 2003-2008 University of Twente

This report contains the self-study for the research assessment of the Department of Applied Mathematics (AM) of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) at the University of Twente (UT). The report provides the information for the Research Assessment Committee for Applied Mathematics, dealing with mathematical sciences at the three universities of technology in the Netherlands. It describes the state of affairs pertaining to the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008

Study of quality management in construction projects

This research explores preliminarily the practices of quality management, management commitment in quality management, and quality management implementation problems in construction projects in the context of Malaysian construction industry. The research applies semi-structured interview approach with twelve project management practitioners. The findings of the study indicate that the state of quality management in construction projects in Malaysia needs to be strengthened and there are problems in relation to quality management implementation that require attention and further research. The paper provides an insight on the state of quality management in construction projects in Malaysia

Data Accuracy and Completeness of Monthly Midwifery Returns Indicators of Ejisu Juaben Health Directorate of Ghana

The broad range of activities contained in the provision of Primary Health Care (PHC) places a burden on providers to make optimal use of limited resources to achieve maximal health benefit to the population served. All too often, ad hoc decisions and personal preferences guide PHC resource allocations, making accountability for results impossible. Problems constraining Routine Health Information System (RHIS) performance in low-income countries include: poor data quality; limited use of available information; weaknesses in how data are analyzed and poor RHIS management practices. This study sought to investigate these constraints. A non-experimental before and after study involving bassline assessment of data accuracy and completeness, application of innovative strategies such as mentoring and coaching of Health Information Officers in data quality improvement process. Coincidentally, the intervention improved both data accuracy and completeness performance significantly among the participating facilities. The outstanding performance may be attributed to management's new orientation and growing interest towards quality data. Engaging frontline staff in data quality improvement work and provision of regular feedback leads to improvement in data accuracy and completeness. This has implications for decision-making and resource allocation, especially in low-income countries, where the routine health information management system relies heavily on paper work

Water Integration for Squamscott Exeter (WISE): Preliminary Integrated Plan, Final Technical Report

This document introduces the goals, background and primary elements of an Integrated Plan for the Lower Exeter and Squamscott River in the Great Bay estuary in southern New Hampshire. This Plan will support management of point (wastewater treatment plant) and nonpoint sources in the communities of Exeter, Stratham and Newfields. The Plan also identifies and quantifies the advantages of the use of green infrastructure as a critical tool for nitrogen management and describes how collaboration between those communities could form the basis for an integrated plan. The Plan will help communities meet new wastewater and proposed stormwater permit requirements. Critical next steps are need before this Plan will fulfill the 2018 Nitrogen Control Plan requirements for Exeter and proposed draft MS4 requirements for both Stratham and Exeter. These next steps include conducting a financial capability assessment, development of an implementation schedule and development of a detailed implementation plan. The collaborative process used to develop this Plan was designed to provide decision makers at the local, state and federal levels with the knowledge they need to trust the Plan’s findings and recommendations, and to enable discussions between stakeholders to continue the collaborative process. This Plan includes the following information to guide local response to new federal permit requirements for treating and discharging stormwater and wastewater: Sources of annual pollutant load quantified by type and community; Assessment and evaluation of different treatment control strategies for each type of pollutant load; Assessment and evaluation of nutrient control strategies designed to reduce specific types of pollutants; Evaluation of a range of point source controls at the wastewater treatment facility based on regulatory requirements; Costs associated with a range of potential control strategies to achieve reduction of nitrogen and other pollutants of concern; and A preliminary implementation schedule with milestones for target load reductions using specific practices for specific land uses at points in time; Recommendations on how to implement a tracking and accounting program to document implementation; Design tools such as BMP performance curves for crediting the use of structural practices to support nitrogen accounting requirements; and Next Steps for how to complete this Plan