scholarly journals An Optimal Control Approach to Malaria Prevention via Insecticide-Treated Nets

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana J. Silva ◽  
Delfim F. M. Torres
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Control ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Malaria Infection ◽  
Malaria Prevention ◽  
Insecticide Treated Nets ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Optimal Control Approach

Malaria is a life threatening disease, entirely preventable and treatable, provided that the currently recommended interventions are properly implemented. These interventions include vector control through the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). However, ITN possession is not necessarily translated into use. Human behavior change interventions, including information, education, communication (IEC) campaigns and postdistribution hang-up campaigns, are strongly recommended. In this paper, we consider a recent mathematical model for the effects of ITNs on the transmission dynamics of malaria infection, which takes into account the human behavior. We introduce in this model a supervision control, representing IEC campaigns for improving the ITN usage. We propose and solve an optimal control problem where the aim is to minimize the number of infected humans while keeping the cost as low as possible. Numerical results are provided, which show the effectiveness of the optimal control interventions.

scholarly journals Defending against Online Social Network Rumors through Optimal Control Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Da-Wen Huang ◽  
Lu-Xing Yang ◽  
Xiaofan Yang ◽  
Yuan Yan Tang ◽  
Jichao Bi
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Optimal Control ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
Computer Experiments ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Rumor Spreading ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Optimal Control Approach

Rumors have been widely spread in online social networks and they become a major concern in modern society. This paper is devoted to the design of a cost-effective rumor-containing scheme in online social networks through an optimal control approach. First, a new individual-based rumor spreading model is proposed, and the model considers the influence of the external environment on rumor spreading for the first time. Second, the cost-effectiveness is recommended to balance the loss caused by rumors against the cost of a rumor-containing scheme. On this basis, we reduce the original problem to an optimal control model. Next, we prove that this model is solvable, and we present the optimality system for the model. Finally, we show that the resulting rumor-containing scheme is cost-effective through extensive computer experiments.

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