An optimal time incentive/disincentive -based compensation in contracts with multiple agents

This paper establishes an optimal time incentive/disincentive-based compensation in a contract between a principal and a team of agents. The establishment is based on solving an optimization problem. In order to validate the paper's theoretical development practitioners were engaged in a designed exercise. The paper demonstrates that, at the optimum: the proportion of time incentive/disincentive compensation among agents with the same risk-attitude should reflect the levels of their contributions; the proportion of time incentive/disincentive among agents with the same level of contribution should be lowered for agents with higher levels of risk aversion; and the proportion of time incentive/disincentive to a team of risk averse agents should reduce, and the fixed component of the team fee should increase, when the agents in the team become more risk-averse or the level of the uncertainty in project completion time increases. The paper’s outcome provides guidance to those involved in contracts design for choosing the best way to reward (penalise) multiple agents, form a team, and allow for any time saving (overrun) through the terms of a contract.   

Blockchain outlook for deployment of IoT in distribution networks and smart homes

Nowadays, unlike depleting fossil fuel resources, the integration of different types of renewable energy, as distributed generation sources, into power systems is accelerated and the technological development in this area is evolving at a frantic pace. Thus, inappropriate use of them will be irrecoverably detrimental. The power industry will reach a turning point in the pervasiveness of these infinite energy sources by three factors. Climate changes due to greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere; increased demand for energy consumption all over the world, especially after the genesis of Bitcoin and base cryptocurrencies; and establishing a comprehensive perspective for the future of renewable energy. The increase in the pervasiveness of renewable energy sources in small-scale brings up new challenges for the power system operators to manage an abundant number of small-scale generation sources, called microsources. The current structure of banking systems is unable to handle such massive and high-frequency transactions. Thus the incorporation of cryptocurrencies is inevitable. In addition, by utilization of IoT-enabled devices, a large body of data will be produced must be securely transferred, stored, processed, and managed in order to boost the observability, controllability, and the level of autonomy of the smart power systems. Then the appropriate controlling measures must be performed through control signals in order to serve the loads in a stable, uninterruptible, reliable, and secure way. The data acquires from IoT devices must be analyzed using artificial intelligence methods such as big data techniques, data mining, machine learning, etc. with a scant delay or almost real-time. These measures are the controversial issues of modern power systems, which are yet a matter of debate. This study delves into the aforementioned challenges and opportunities, and the corresponding solutions for the incorporation of IoT and blockchain in power systems, particularly in the distribution level and residential section, are addressed. In the last section, the role of IoT in smart buildings and smart homes, especially for energy hubs schemes and the management of residential electric vehicle supply equipment is concisely discussed

Optimal outcome sharing with a consortium of contractors

Where a consortium of contractors is involved, there exist no guidelines in the literature on what the outcome sharing arrangement should be. The paper addresses this shortfall. It derives the optimal outcome sharing arrangement for risk-neutral and risk-averse contractors within the consortium, and between the consortium and a risk-neutral owner. Practitioners were engaged in a designed exercise in order to validate the paper’s propositions. The paper demonstrates that, at the optimum: the proportion of outcome sharing among contractors with the same risk-attitude should reflect the levels of their contributions; the proportion of outcome sharing among contractors with the same level of contribu­tion should be lower for contractors with higher levels of risk aversion; a consortium of risk-neutral contractors should receive or bear any favourable or adverse project outcome respectively; and the proportion of outcome sharing to a con­sortium of risk-averse contractors should reduce, and the fixed component of the consortium fee should increase, when the contractors become more risk-averse or the level of the project outcome uncertainty increases. The paper proposes an original solution to the optimal sharing problem in contracts with a consortium of contractors, thereby contributing to current practices in contracts management. First published online: 14 Sep 201

A fast and accurate method to predict reliability of project completion time

To meet the target completion time of a construction project is one of the most important performance indi­cators of project management. This paper proposes a fast and accurate method for evaluating the reliability of project completion time in large construction projects, using reliability theory. The proposed method is developed to overcome the limitations of existing methods, including the inaccuracy of the program evaluation and review technique and the long computational time of the narrow reliability bounds method. The proposed method is established in three main parts: (i) calculating the statistics of paths duration in the network; (ii) truncating insignificant paths of the network; and (iii) proposing an innovative solution to accurate estimate for reliability of project completion time. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated using an example project. It is found that the results of the proposed method on the reliability of completion time are accurate. It is also found that the proposed method significantly reduces the number of analysed network paths and the computational effort. The method proposed here can serve as a fast and accurate tool for project managers and project planners in project planning, re-planning, and project control phases. First published online: 01 Jul 201

Advanced Sentiment Analysis for Managing and Improving Patient Experience: Application for General Practitioner (GP) Classification in Northamptonshire : Application for General Practitioner (GP) Classification in Northamptonshire

This paper presents a novel analytical approach for improving patients' experience in healthcare settings. The analytical tool uses a classifier and a recommend management approach to facilitate decision making in a timely manner. The designed methodology comprises of 4 key stages, which include developing a bot to scrap web data while performing sentiment analysis and extracting keywords from National Health Service (NHS) rate and review webpages, building a classifier with Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA), analyzing speech with Python, and using Microsoft Excel for analysis. In the selected context, a total of 178 reviews were extracted from General Practitioners (GP) websites within Northamptonshire County, UK. Accordingly, 4764 keywords such as "kind", "exactly", "discharged", "long waits", "impolite staff", "worse", "problem", "happy", "late" and "excellent" were selected. In addition, 178 reviews were analyzed to highlight trends and patterns. The classifier model grouped GPs into gold, silver, and bronze categories. The outlined analytical approach complements the current patient feedback analysis approaches by GPs. This paper solely relied upon the feedback available on the NHS' rate and review webpages. The contribution of the paper is to highlight the integration of easily available tools to perform higher level of analysis that provides understanding about patients' experience. The context and tools used in this study for ranking services within the healthcare domain is novel in nature, since it involves extracting useful insights from the provided feedback

The role of hepatitis B virus genome variations in HBV-related HCC: effects on host signaling pathways

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health issue, with a high prevalence in many regions. There are variations in the etiology of HCC in different regions, but most cases are due to long-term infection with viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for more than 50% of virus-related HCC, which highlights the importance of HBV in pathogenesis of the disease. The development and progression of HBV-related HCC is a complex multistep process that can involve host, viral, and environmental factors. Several studies have suggested that some HBV genome mutations as well as HBV proteins can dysregulate cell signaling pathways involved in the development of HCC. Furthermore, it seems that the pathogenicity, progression of liver diseases, response to treatment and also viral replication are different among HBV mutants. Understanding the relationship between HBV genome variations and host signaling pathway alteration will improve our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC. Furthermore, investigating commonly dysregulated pathways in HBV-related HCC is necessary to discover more specific therapeutic targets and develop more effective strategies for HCC treatment. The objective of this review is to address the role of HBV in the HCC progression and primarily focus on the impacts of HBV genome variations on HCC-related signaling pathways

Metformin inhibits polyphosphate-induced hyper-permeability and inflammation

Circulating inflammatory factor inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) released from activated platelets could enhance factor XII and bradykinin resulted in increased capillary leakage and vascular permeability. PolyP induce inflammatory responses through mTOR pathway in endothelial cells, which is being reported in several diseases including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, sepsis, and cancer. Systems and molecular biology approaches were used to explore the regulatory role of the AMPK activator, metformin, on polyP-induced hyper-permeability in different organs in three different models of polyP-induced hyper-permeability including local, systemic shortand systemic long-term approaches in murine models. Our results showed that polyP disrupts endothelial barrier integrity in skin, liver, kidney, brain, heart, and lung in all three study models and metformin abrogates the disruptive effect of polyP. We also showed that activation of AMPK signaling pathway, regulation of oxidant/ anti-oxidant balance, as well as decrease in inflammatory cell infiltration constitute a set of molecular mechanisms through which metformin elicits it's protective responses against polyP-induced hyper-permeability. These results support the clinical values of AMPK activators including the FDA-approved metformin in attenuating vascular damage in polyP-associated inflammatory diseases.Peer reviewe

W‌A‌T‌E‌R F‌O‌O‌T‌P‌R‌I‌N‌T M‌O‌D‌E‌L O‌F C‌E‌M‌E‌N‌T P‌R‌O‌D‌U‌C‌T‌I‌O‌N: A C‌A‌S‌E S‌T‌U‌D‌Y I‌N W‌E‌S‌T‌E‌R‌N I‌R‌A‌N

C‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s o‌f p‌a‌r‌t‌i‌c‌u‌l‌a‌r i‌m‌p‌o‌r‌t‌a‌n‌c‌e i‌n t‌h‌e c‌o‌n‌s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌n‌d‌u‌s‌t‌r‌y. H‌o‌w‌e‌v‌e‌r, c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s d‌e‌p‌e‌n‌d‌e‌n‌t o‌n w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n. I‌r‌a‌n i‌s l‌o‌c‌a‌t‌e‌d i‌n a d‌r‌y r‌e‌g‌i‌o‌n; t‌h‌u‌s, i‌n‌v‌e‌s‌t‌i‌g‌a‌t‌i‌n‌g w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f I‌r‌a‌n‌i‌a‌n c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌n‌d p‌r‌o‌v‌i‌d‌i‌n‌g s‌o‌l‌u‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s f‌o‌r w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌r‌i‌s‌i‌s o‌f s‌u‌c‌h p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s o‌f h‌i‌g‌h i‌n‌t‌e‌r‌e‌s‌t a‌m‌o‌n‌g c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌n‌d‌u‌s‌t‌r‌y p‌r‌a‌c‌t‌i‌t‌i‌o‌n‌e‌r‌s. F‌e‌w s‌t‌u‌d‌i‌e‌s h‌a‌v‌e c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d v‌i‌r‌t‌u‌a‌l w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌n‌d w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌n I‌r‌a‌n a‌n‌d a‌l‌l o‌f t‌h‌e w‌o‌r‌l‌d. T‌h‌i‌s p‌a‌p‌e‌r a‌d‌d‌r‌e‌s‌s‌e‌s t‌h‌i‌s k‌n‌o‌w‌l‌e‌d‌g‌e g‌a‌p. I‌t p‌r‌o‌p‌o‌s‌e‌s a c‌o‌m‌p‌r‌e‌h‌e‌n‌s‌i‌v‌e m‌o‌d‌e‌l f‌o‌r e‌v‌a‌l‌u‌a‌t‌i‌n‌g w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n b‌a‌s‌e‌d o‌n t‌h‌e t‌y‌p‌e o‌f e‌n‌e‌r‌g‌y c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n, t‌r‌a‌n‌s‌p‌o‌r‌t‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n, a‌n‌d h‌u‌m‌a‌n's e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t u‌s‌i‌n‌g a s‌y‌s‌t‌e‌m b‌o‌u‌n‌d‌a‌r‌y a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s. T‌h‌e r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s‌h‌i‌p b‌e‌t‌w‌e‌e‌n w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t a‌n‌d e‌n‌e‌r‌g‌y c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s h‌i‌g‌h‌l‌i‌g‌h‌t‌e‌d, a‌n‌d s‌o‌l‌u‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s t‌o t‌h‌e w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n p‌r‌o‌b‌l‌e‌m o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌r‌e p‌r‌o‌v‌i‌d‌e‌d. T‌o d‌e‌m‌o‌n‌s‌t‌r‌a‌t‌e t‌h‌e a‌p‌p‌l‌i‌c‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f t‌h‌e p‌r‌o‌p‌o‌s‌e‌d m‌e‌t‌h‌o‌d, a c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t m‌a‌n‌u‌f‌a‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌r l‌o‌c‌a‌t‌e‌d o‌n t‌h‌e w‌e‌s‌t‌e‌r‌n I‌r‌a‌n a‌s a c‌a‌s‌e s‌t‌u‌d‌y i‌s a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌z‌e‌d. A s‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌i‌v‌i‌t‌y a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌i‌s i‌s c‌o‌n‌d‌u‌c‌t‌e‌d t‌o s‌h‌o‌w t‌h‌e e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t‌s o‌f c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d p‌a‌r‌a‌m‌e‌t‌e‌r‌s o‌n t‌h‌e p‌r‌o‌p‌o‌s‌e‌d w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t m‌o‌d‌e‌l. T‌h‌e p‌a‌p‌e‌r s‌h‌o‌w‌s t‌h‌a‌t t‌h‌e t‌o‌t‌a‌l w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t a‌m‌o‌n‌g t‌h‌e s‌e‌l‌e‌c‌t‌e‌d c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t m‌a‌n‌u‌f‌a‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌r a‌c‌c‌o‌u‌n‌t‌s f‌o‌r 3614\t‌i‌m‌e‌s10^{3}m^{3} i‌n 2017, h‌i‌g‌h‌l‌i‌g‌h‌t‌i‌n‌g a h‌i‌g‌h c‌o‌n‌t‌r‌i‌b‌u‌t‌i‌o‌n t‌o c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌n w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌n‌d r‌i‌s‌k o‌f m‌a‌i‌n‌t‌a‌i‌n‌i‌n‌g t‌h‌e c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌n‌d‌u‌s‌t‌r‌y i‌n d‌r‌y r‌e‌g‌i‌o‌n‌s. T‌h‌e p‌a‌p‌e‌r a‌l‌s‌o s‌h‌o‌w‌s t‌h‌a‌t, f‌o‌r t‌h‌e s‌e‌l‌e‌c‌t‌e‌d c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t m‌a‌n‌u‌f‌a‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌r, v‌i‌r‌t‌u‌a‌l w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t i‌s e‌s‌t‌i‌m‌a‌t‌e‌d t‌o b‌e 11 t‌i‌m‌e‌s m‌o‌r‌e t‌h‌a‌t d‌i‌r‌e‌c‌t w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n, w‌h‌i‌c‌h c‌o‌n‌t‌r‌i‌b‌u‌t‌e‌s t‌o 90 p‌e‌r‌c‌e‌n‌t o‌f t‌h‌e t‌o‌t‌a‌l w‌a‌t‌e‌r f‌o‌o‌t‌p‌r‌i‌n‌t. I‌n a‌d‌d‌i‌t‌i‌o‌n, t‌h‌e p‌a‌p‌e‌r d‌e‌m‌o‌n‌s‌t‌r‌a‌t‌e‌s t‌h‌a‌t w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌n‌t‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y i‌n t‌h‌e s‌e‌l‌e‌c‌t‌e‌d c‌a‌s‌e s‌t‌u‌d‌y i‌s e‌s‌t‌i‌m‌a‌t‌e‌d t‌o b‌e 2.126$m^3$ p‌e‌r e‌a‌c‌h t‌o‌n o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌e‌d, w‌h‌i‌l‌e d‌i‌r‌e‌c‌t w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f e‌a‌c‌h t‌o‌n o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌s e‌s‌t‌i‌m‌a‌t‌e‌d t‌o b‌e 0.2$m^3$. T‌h‌e p‌a‌p‌e‌r's f‌i‌n‌d‌i‌n‌g‌s c‌a‌s‌t a n‌e‌w i‌n‌s‌i‌g‌h‌t i‌n‌t‌o w‌a‌t‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌s‌u‌m‌p‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌t‌i‌o‌n w‌i‌d‌e‌r t‌h‌a‌n c‌u‌r‌r‌e‌n‌t‌l‌y a‌v‌a‌i‌l‌a‌b‌l‌e. T‌h‌i‌s p‌a‌p‌e‌r c‌o‌n‌t‌r‌i‌b‌u‌t‌e‌s t‌o p‌r‌o‌d‌u‌c‌i‌n‌g e‌n‌v‌i‌r‌o‌n‌m‌e‌n‌t‌a‌l‌l‌y-f‌r‌i‌e‌n‌d‌l‌y c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t i‌n I‌r‌a‌n a‌n‌d a‌l‌l o‌f t‌h‌e w‌o‌r‌l‌d