In this paper we introduce a family of languages called Deterministic-free Petri net languages (DPNLs) 5]. We show that the controllability of a DPNL K with respect to a DPNL L is decidable. That is, it is possible to decide if (i) K L, and (ii) KK u \ L K, where = u c and u \ c = ;. We also show that this family of languages strictly includes the family of Free-labeled Petri net languages (FLP...

Background In recent years, accreditation of private hospitals followed by decentralisation of the Italian National Health Service (NHS) into 21 regional health systems has provided a good empirical ground for investigating the Tiebout principle of “voting with their feet”. We examine the infra-regional trade-off between greater patient choice (due to an increase in hospital services supply) an...

We study competition between users over access to content in a telecom market that includes several access providers and several content providers. We focus situations where exclusive agreements exist between content and access providers, which allows access providers to offer content services for free for their subscribers. We call access providers having such agreements ”super” providers or ”...

Many modern diagnostic and surgical procedures rely heavily on the use of ionizing radiation. These procedures include computed tomography, nuclear medicine procedures, interventional radiology, and cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures. Recent trends toward increased patient visits and patients with multiple challenging comorbidities have meant that anesthesia providers are ...

This paper presents a framework about management in maintenance outsourcing in a service provider company. It proposes key aspects for taking decisions in a well-established and controlled organization. Cost is not the most important aspect to consider in outsourcing, the decision has to be a global and strategic idea inside the company. Of course, not only the directors must take part, but als...

We study a model of reputational concerns when doctors differ in their degree of altruism and they can signal their altruism by their (observable) quality. When reputational concerns are high, following the introduction or enhancement of public reporting, the less altruistic (bad) doctor mimics the more altruistic (good) doctor. Otherwise, either a separating or a semi-separating equilibrium ar...

Coming Soon: “Injectables Toolkit” Web site. Go to www. injectablestoolkit.org for job aids and information about injectable contraceptives M than twice as many women are using injectable contraceptives today as a decade ago, and the numbers keep growing. Women choose injectables because they are highly effective, long-acting, reversible, and private. At the same time many women do not choose i...

Internet Service Provider (ISP) peering has emerged as one of the most important and effective ways for ISPs to improve the efficiency of operation. Peering is defined as “an interconnection business relationship whereby ISPs provide connectivity to each others’ transit customers.” ISPs seek peering relationships primarily for two reasons. First, peering decreases the cost and reliance on purch...