An analysis applied to an existing building considering the whole service life, regulated or, if any, measured, of energy/technological upgrading action does not only require initial investments to be taken into accou...An analysis applied to an existing building considering the whole service life, regulated or, if any, measured, of energy/technological upgrading action does not only require initial investments to be taken into account. Of course, such investments are significant and will have to be considered at a first stage, but it is not the only aspect to be considered. Provisions of Construction Procurement Guidance, No.7 Whole Life Costs state: "All procurement must be made solely on the basis of value for money in terms of the optimum combination of global costs--and not only initial investment costs--and quality to meet the user's requirements".展开更多
During 2003-2016, China experienced an unprecedented housing market imbalance. The present paper applies the user cost approach to conduct a systematic analysis of this important phenomenon, examines the policy factor...During 2003-2016, China experienced an unprecedented housing market imbalance. The present paper applies the user cost approach to conduct a systematic analysis of this important phenomenon, examines the policy factors behind the persistent housing market imbalance, and explores policy options to correct the housing market imbalance. We found that during most of 2003-2016, the user cost was significantly lower than 2 percent, caused by high income growth, rapid credit expansion and low interest rates, which led to the persistent housing market imbalance. Therefore, the government should control bank credit and introduce property taxes during the possession of houses.展开更多
This article provides a coherent framework within which to understand China’s development model,as well as the successes and the failures of China’s decentralization approach to reform.The combination of political c...This article provides a coherent framework within which to understand China’s development model,as well as the successes and the failures of China’s decentralization approach to reform.The combination of political centralization and economic decentralization provide local government with enough incentives to develop local economies,in particular incentives to promote market privatisation locally.However,the relative evaluation-based incentive schemes lead to inter- regional market segmentation,increasing inter-regional development gaps and the unequal provision of certain public goods.The success of early-stage reform can be attributed to the benefits of the decentralization approach.The next stage reform should however focus on minimizing the associated costs.China’s gradualist reform can be seen as a mechanism design issue under the control of central government.Therefore,it is essential to take both the costs and benefits of the decentralization approach into account in the design of the next-stage reform package.展开更多
The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative pra...The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative practical data of thermo-physical properties of the dominant building envelope components in Ghana. This study aims to use cost-effective approach to characterize the thermo-physical properties of only cement-based mortar and concrete blocks used in Ghana for building components specifically wall design. Mixed methods research design was employed to achieving the aim. A questionnaire survey was used among sampled building fabric components manufacturers to pick representative data on thermos-physical properties of their mortar and concrete blocks. Also, an experimental procedure employing a transient technique with a TCi Thermal Analyser was used to determine the thermo-physical properties of selected mortar and concrete blocks from Ghana in addition to designed parametric mortar and concrete blocks with varied ratios obtained from the survey were undertaken at University of Nottingham. From the study, a trend of decreasing thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity with corresponding decreasing sand content was observed with all the different sand types. The thermal conductivities of both mortar and concrete parametric blocks meet the range of expected standard values outlined in Chattered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide A. The major limitation of the work is the dimension of the sample size;which is not inconsistent with standard block size due to the experimental setup used. It is expected that, the characterization of the predominant cement-based building fabrics components will contribute to improved building performance analysis with significant savings in electricity utilization for space cooling.展开更多
The large-scale optimization problem requires some optimization techniques, and the Metaheuristics approach is highly useful for solving difficult optimization problems in practice. The purpose of the research is to o...The large-scale optimization problem requires some optimization techniques, and the Metaheuristics approach is highly useful for solving difficult optimization problems in practice. The purpose of the research is to optimize the transportation system with the help of this approach. We selected forest vehicle routing data as the case study to minimize the total cost and the distance of the forest transportation system. Matlab software helps us find the best solution for this case by applying three algorithms of Metaheuristics: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), and Extended Great Deluge (EGD). The results show that GA, compared to ACO and EGD, provides the best solution for the cost and the length of our case study. EGD is the second preferred approach, and ACO offers the last solution.展开更多
合作是企业降低成本的有效策略之一,而合理测量与分配潜在好处是合作成功的关键。对具有竞争关系的合作者来说,其相对竞争力不应因合作而变化。本文首先基于数据包络分析(data envelopment analysis,DEA)与合作博弈论,构建成本DEA博弈,...合作是企业降低成本的有效策略之一,而合理测量与分配潜在好处是合作成功的关键。对具有竞争关系的合作者来说,其相对竞争力不应因合作而变化。本文首先基于数据包络分析(data envelopment analysis,DEA)与合作博弈论,构建成本DEA博弈,对决策单元(decision making unit, DMU)之间的合作行为进行定量刻画;然后针对该博弈的成本分配问题,提出平等竞争力方法(equal competitiveness method,ECM),最小化任意两个DMU(即合作参与人)在成本分配前后其相对竞争力变化的差异,使其尽可能保持原有的相对竞争力。基于行生成算法及字典式最小最大方法,ECM提供的成本分配方案满足唯一性、有效性、稳定性、对称性、虚拟参与人等性质。最后以3个DMU的算例和25家超市实际数据为例,通过对ECM分配结果、核、Shapley值以及核仁的对比,发现在成本分配后,ECM最能保持DMU的相对竞争力,为企业的合作决策及合作后的成本分配提供参考方案。展开更多
Selecting diets by quantitative techniques is becoming increasingly common. Linear programming is the most popular technique for the selection of least cost mixes of food to meet specific nutritional requirements for ...Selecting diets by quantitative techniques is becoming increasingly common. Linear programming is the most popular technique for the selection of least cost mixes of food to meet specific nutritional requirements for a particular group of persons for either general health or disease-related reason. Hypertension is a silent killer and its prevalence rate especially in the developing countries, which has been mostly associated to demographic, environmental and genetic factors, is becoming alarming. The DASH diet has been clinically proven to prevent and control hypertension. In this paper, a model that provides a Daily Optimal (minimum cost) DASH Diet plan for people with hypertension is formulated. The objective is to obtain daily minimum cost diet plans that satisfy the DASH Diets’ nutrients Tolerable Upper and Lower Intake for different daily Calorie Levels. The formulated DASH diet model was further illustrated using real data set with food samples gotten from the DASH eating plan chart. A DASH diet model for a hypertensive person with a 2000-daily-caloric need was formulated and its optimal diet plan for a day obtained with a total cost of 944.41 Naira. Optimal diet plans for other recommended daily calorie levels were also obtained.展开更多
文摘An analysis applied to an existing building considering the whole service life, regulated or, if any, measured, of energy/technological upgrading action does not only require initial investments to be taken into account. Of course, such investments are significant and will have to be considered at a first stage, but it is not the only aspect to be considered. Provisions of Construction Procurement Guidance, No.7 Whole Life Costs state: "All procurement must be made solely on the basis of value for money in terms of the optimum combination of global costs--and not only initial investment costs--and quality to meet the user's requirements".
文摘During 2003-2016, China experienced an unprecedented housing market imbalance. The present paper applies the user cost approach to conduct a systematic analysis of this important phenomenon, examines the policy factors behind the persistent housing market imbalance, and explores policy options to correct the housing market imbalance. We found that during most of 2003-2016, the user cost was significantly lower than 2 percent, caused by high income growth, rapid credit expansion and low interest rates, which led to the persistent housing market imbalance. Therefore, the government should control bank credit and introduce property taxes during the possession of houses.
基金This paper is one of the research results of China Centre for Economic Studies at Fudan University and also one of the research results of Fudan University 985 China International Economic Competitiveness Research and Innovation Institution.The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments of many domestic and foreign scholars on this paper.
文摘This article provides a coherent framework within which to understand China’s development model,as well as the successes and the failures of China’s decentralization approach to reform.The combination of political centralization and economic decentralization provide local government with enough incentives to develop local economies,in particular incentives to promote market privatisation locally.However,the relative evaluation-based incentive schemes lead to inter- regional market segmentation,increasing inter-regional development gaps and the unequal provision of certain public goods.The success of early-stage reform can be attributed to the benefits of the decentralization approach.The next stage reform should however focus on minimizing the associated costs.China’s gradualist reform can be seen as a mechanism design issue under the control of central government.Therefore,it is essential to take both the costs and benefits of the decentralization approach into account in the design of the next-stage reform package.
文摘The dominant property of building envelope fabric which contributes significantly to minimize electricity utilization in building is the thermo-physical properties. There is inadequate literature on representative practical data of thermo-physical properties of the dominant building envelope components in Ghana. This study aims to use cost-effective approach to characterize the thermo-physical properties of only cement-based mortar and concrete blocks used in Ghana for building components specifically wall design. Mixed methods research design was employed to achieving the aim. A questionnaire survey was used among sampled building fabric components manufacturers to pick representative data on thermos-physical properties of their mortar and concrete blocks. Also, an experimental procedure employing a transient technique with a TCi Thermal Analyser was used to determine the thermo-physical properties of selected mortar and concrete blocks from Ghana in addition to designed parametric mortar and concrete blocks with varied ratios obtained from the survey were undertaken at University of Nottingham. From the study, a trend of decreasing thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity with corresponding decreasing sand content was observed with all the different sand types. The thermal conductivities of both mortar and concrete parametric blocks meet the range of expected standard values outlined in Chattered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide A. The major limitation of the work is the dimension of the sample size;which is not inconsistent with standard block size due to the experimental setup used. It is expected that, the characterization of the predominant cement-based building fabrics components will contribute to improved building performance analysis with significant savings in electricity utilization for space cooling.
文摘The large-scale optimization problem requires some optimization techniques, and the Metaheuristics approach is highly useful for solving difficult optimization problems in practice. The purpose of the research is to optimize the transportation system with the help of this approach. We selected forest vehicle routing data as the case study to minimize the total cost and the distance of the forest transportation system. Matlab software helps us find the best solution for this case by applying three algorithms of Metaheuristics: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), and Extended Great Deluge (EGD). The results show that GA, compared to ACO and EGD, provides the best solution for the cost and the length of our case study. EGD is the second preferred approach, and ACO offers the last solution.
文摘合作是企业降低成本的有效策略之一,而合理测量与分配潜在好处是合作成功的关键。对具有竞争关系的合作者来说,其相对竞争力不应因合作而变化。本文首先基于数据包络分析(data envelopment analysis,DEA)与合作博弈论,构建成本DEA博弈,对决策单元(decision making unit, DMU)之间的合作行为进行定量刻画;然后针对该博弈的成本分配问题,提出平等竞争力方法(equal competitiveness method,ECM),最小化任意两个DMU(即合作参与人)在成本分配前后其相对竞争力变化的差异,使其尽可能保持原有的相对竞争力。基于行生成算法及字典式最小最大方法,ECM提供的成本分配方案满足唯一性、有效性、稳定性、对称性、虚拟参与人等性质。最后以3个DMU的算例和25家超市实际数据为例,通过对ECM分配结果、核、Shapley值以及核仁的对比,发现在成本分配后,ECM最能保持DMU的相对竞争力,为企业的合作决策及合作后的成本分配提供参考方案。
文摘Selecting diets by quantitative techniques is becoming increasingly common. Linear programming is the most popular technique for the selection of least cost mixes of food to meet specific nutritional requirements for a particular group of persons for either general health or disease-related reason. Hypertension is a silent killer and its prevalence rate especially in the developing countries, which has been mostly associated to demographic, environmental and genetic factors, is becoming alarming. The DASH diet has been clinically proven to prevent and control hypertension. In this paper, a model that provides a Daily Optimal (minimum cost) DASH Diet plan for people with hypertension is formulated. The objective is to obtain daily minimum cost diet plans that satisfy the DASH Diets’ nutrients Tolerable Upper and Lower Intake for different daily Calorie Levels. The formulated DASH diet model was further illustrated using real data set with food samples gotten from the DASH eating plan chart. A DASH diet model for a hypertensive person with a 2000-daily-caloric need was formulated and its optimal diet plan for a day obtained with a total cost of 944.41 Naira. Optimal diet plans for other recommended daily calorie levels were also obtained.