Usage of Two-Sided Motors as a Part of the Simultaneous Separate Operation Technology

The technology of simultaneous, separate operation is a mandatory condition within the framework of Russian legislation for the production of oil and gas from multilayer reservoirs, which implies a share of a load of several pumps on different reservoirs. To reduce high additional equipment costs and metal consumption of the well, an assembly of two ESPs with one engine was developed. More than forty Russian wells were supplied with double ESP system motors. The project implementation enabled using separate simultaneous operations with more wells and developing reservoirs more accurately. It became possible to develop each reservoir by employing separated data from gauges connected to two reservoirs. The use of two side motors allows using such complicated technologies as separate simultaneous operations for even small and previously not economically achievable reservoirs. According to well inflow calculations, using the most suitable pump, the correct amount of liquid from each reservoir has been produced during these operations.

Activity-Based Costing of Intensity-Modulated Proton versus Photon Therapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer

Purpose In value-based health care delivery, radiation oncologists need to compare empiric costs of care delivery with advanced technologies, such as intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). We used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to compare the costs of delivering IMPT and IMRT in a case-matched pilot study of patients with newly diagnosed oropharyngeal (OPC) cancer. Materials and Methods We used clinicopathologic factors to match 25 patients with OPC who received IMPT in 2011-12 with 25 patients with OPC treated with IMRT in 2000-09. Process maps were created for each multidisciplinary clinical activity (including chemotherapy and ancillary services) from initial consultation through 1 month of follow-up. Resource costs and times were determined for each activity. Each patient-specific activity was linked with a process map and TDABC over the full cycle of care. All calculated costs were normalized to the lowest-cost IMRT patient. Results TDABC costs for IMRT were 1.00 to 3.33 times that of the lowest-cost IMRT patient (mean ± SD: 1.65 ± 0.56), while costs for IMPT were 1.88 to 4.32 times that of the lowest-cost IMRT patient (2.58 ± 0.39) (P < .05). Although single-fraction costs were 2.79 times higher for IMPT than for IMRT (owing to higher equipment costs), average full cycle cost of IMPT was 1.53 times higher than IMRT, suggesting that the initial cost increase is partly mitigated by reductions in costs for other, non-RT supportive health care services. Conclusions In this matched sample, although IMPT was on average more costly than IMRT primarily owing to higher equipment costs, a subset of IMRT patients had similar costs to IMPT patients, owing to greater use of supportive care resources. Multidimensional patient outcomes and TDABC provide vital methodology for defining the value of radiation therapy modalities.

Determining the Number of Bariatric Beds Needed in a U.S. Acute Care Hospital

Aim: This project used historical hospital data to forecast demand for specialized bariatric beds. Models were evaluated that determined the relationship between the number of bariatric beds owned and service level for patients of size requiring these beds. A calculator was developed for minimizing the equipment costs of meeting demand. Background: Failing to provide enough bariatric beds may negatively affect outcomes for patients of size and healthcare workers, whereas owning more bariatric beds than required to meet demand means unnecessary cost. With rising rates of obesity increasing care costs, minimizing equipment costs is increasingly important. Method: One year of hospital admissions data were used to determine arrival rates and lengths of stay for patients of size. Two subsequent years verified the consistency of these rates. Simulations modeled the flow of patients of size through the hospital and the service level associated with the number of beds owned. A minimization function determined the optimal number of bariatric beds to be provided. A simplified, generalizable model was compared to the simulation. Results: The simplified model produced similar results to more complex simulation. The optimization was robust, or insensitive to small changes in inputs, and identified substantial opportunity for savings if demand for beds was substantially over- or underestimated. Conclusions: The simplified model and cost optimization could be used in many situations to prevent costly errors in equipment planning. However, hospitals should consider customized simulation to estimate demand for high-cost equipment or unique circumstances not fitting the assumptions of these models.

Costs of Point-of-Care Viral Load Testing for Adults and Children Living with HIV in Kenya

Background: The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in need of treatment monitoring in low-and-middle-income countries is rapidly expanding, straining existing laboratory capacity. Point-of-care viral load (POC VL) testing can alleviate the burden on centralized laboratories and enable faster delivery of results, improving clinical outcomes. However, implementation costs are uncertain and will depend on clinic testing volume. We sought to estimate the costs of decentralized POC VL testing compared to centralized laboratory testing for adults and children receiving HIV care in Kenya. Methods: We conducted microcosting to estimate the per-patient costs of POC VL testing compared to known costs of centralized laboratory testing. We completed time-and-motion observations and stakeholder interviews to assess personnel structures, staff time, equipment costs, and laboratory processes associated with POC VL administration. Capital costs were estimated using a 5 year lifespan and a 3% annual discount rate. Results: We estimated that POC VL testing cost USD $24.25 per test, assuming a clinic is conducting 100 VL tests per month. Test cartridge and laboratory equipment costs accounted for most of the cost (62% and 28%, respectively). Costs varied by number of VL tests conducted at the clinic, ranging from $54.93 to $18.12 per test assuming 20 to 500 VL tests per month, respectively. A VL test processed at a centralized laboratory was estimated to cost USD $25.65. Conclusion: POC VL testing for HIV treatment monitoring can be feasibly implemented in clinics within Kenya and costs declined with higher testing volumes. Our cost estimates are useful to policymakers in planning resource allocation and can inform cost-effectiveness analyses evaluating POC VL testing.

Tractor Speed and Spray Application Volume in Tall Pecan Trees: Effect on Spray Coverage at Different Heights in the Canopy

Scab (caused by Venturia effusa) is the most important disease of pecan in the southeastern U.S.A. The yield losses in susceptible cultivars, combined with costs of control amount to tens of millions of dollars annually. It is known that fungicide coverage from air-blast sprayers declines with height in the canopy, and conversely, disease severity increases. But how application volume (L/ha) and speed (km/h) affect spray coverage at different heights is unknown. Coverage was quantified using kromekote cards and Vision Pink™ dye at heights of 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 m in pecan canopies. An orchard air-blast sprayer was operated at 2.4 and 3.2 km/h applying 468, 935 or 1871 L/ha. Nozzles were selected to provide proportionally similar volumes to the upper and lower canopy positions at set speeds. Speeds tested did not affect spray coverage consistently. However, greater volumes resulted in significantly greater spray coverage, but most of that increase was at heights ≤12.5 m. Although there were significant differences among volumes applied at 12.5 m, they were numerically small. Card orientation had a profound effect on spray coverage at heights ≤12.5 m, with most spray being detected on the cards facing horizontally downwards, and least on those facing vertically backwards. The study demonstrates that higher volumes result in more coverage, but the effect declines rapidly with height. If disease control achieved with 470 L/ha is no different (or is more efficacious) compared to >470 L/ha and is the same at higher speeds (3.2 km/h), savings may be possible in terms of operating time and equipment costs.

IoT Trends

The internet of things indicates a kind of system to interface anything with the internet dependent on stipulated conventions through data detecting hardware to direct data trade and correspondences so as to accomplish acknowledgments, situating, figuring out, checking, and organization. IoT empowers various advances about its engineering, qualities, and applications, but what are the future difficulties for IoT? IoT frameworks enable clients to accomplish further mechanization, investigation, and joining inside a framework. They improve the scope of these regions and their precision. IoT uses existing and developing innovation for detecting, systems administration, and apply autonomy. IoT abuses ongoing advances in programming, falling equipment costs, and current frames of mind towards innovation. Its new and propelled components acquire significant changes the conveyance of items, products, administrations, financial, and political effect of those changes.

Analisis Pengaruh Biaya Preliminaries Terhadap Produktivitas Karyawan pada Proyek-Proyek PT. X

PT.X is a contractor that has productivity problem that is affected by the cost of preliminaries cost. Preliminaries cost for PT. X is divided into 5 parts consisting of employee costs, general costs, financial costs, preparation costs and equipment costs. Employee costs have the largest portion of the cost of other preliminaries. In this study, the authors intend to review the effect of cost preliminaries on productivity in PT. X. The results of the research show that employee costs are 43% of the total cost of preliminaries and 5% of the VOW value. Further research shows that the building type of the project, the number of employees, and employee salaries have a positive effect on the productivity value of a project. The strategy that companies can implement to increase productivity is to set project productivity targets of 480 million / person / month and 45 rp / rp.

Prospects for the development of air conditioning technology in transport with internal combustion engines

To achieve comfortable operating conditions, the car is equipped with air conditioning. The most common air conditioning devices in transport are air conditioners made on the basis of steam compression refrigerating machines. However, due to the introduction of virtually silent compressors of various capacities on the market, it became possible to return to the use of the simplest and cheapest method of air conditioning – using air-cooled machines. Their use will reduce overall equipment costs, make operation much easier, and increase the reliability of the equipment. The use of sorption refrigerating machines should be considered the most promising, since this will reduce fuel costs by using the energy emitted by the car along with hot exhaust gases.