June 28, 2010. This is the first issue of Optima under our society’s new name, Mathematical Optimization Society. After a vigorous and enlightening discussion, members approved the change by the decisive margin of 457 to 127, with an additional 38 voters registering an abstention. We are working through the many practical issues associated with the change, including a new web address mathopt.or...

Access control devices and systems comprise an important part of every security system. Even the simplest single-door access control system includes at least an electric strike to automatically unlock the door, a timer to make sure that the door does not stay open all day, and a bell or light to indicate when the door is opened or that it has not reclosed properly. In a large-scale security sys...

From 1969 to the end of 1983 in Norway, dementia was coded as the underlying cause of death from 2058 death certificates, and as a contributory cause from 19,459. This is 3.56% of the total number of deaths. It seems that a considerable proportion of dementia cases are noted on death certificates in Norway. Death rates based on dementia as the underlying cause of death have increased with time,...

-This paper examines the relationship between choice of career and perception of the medical labor market, as well as the effects of social origin, type of medical school, and place of internship. The data are derived from a survey of interns which was conducted in Mexico during 19:/8, when a substantial proportion of physicians was unemployed or underemployed. Career preferences were operation...

This paper describes an econometric investigation of the effects of population growth on the growth of output. A structural model yields an equation expressing output growth as a function of both demographic and nondemographic variables. This equation is estimated from data on 142 six-year growth periods in 85 countries at all levels of per capita output. Higher fertility is found to lower outp...