In this paper the linear ordering problem with cumulative costs is approached. The best known algorithm solution for the problem is the tabu search proposed by Duarte. In this work an experimental study was performed to evaluate the intensification and diversification balance between these phases. The results show that the heuristic construction phase has a major impact on the tabu search algor...

BACKGROUND The use of guidelines in general practice is not optimal. Although evidence-based methods to improve guideline adherence are available, variation in physician adherence to general practice guidelines remains relatively high. The objective for this study is to transfer a quality improvement strategy based on audit, feedback, educational materials, and peer group discussion moderated b...

An inventory manager is typically concerned with a number of diierent products. His decision-making task is made complicated by such factors as interdependent uncertain product demands and competition for limited storage space. The stochastic inventory problem involving these complexities cannot in general be decomposed into a number of distinct single product problems. In the paper \Stochastic...

BACKGROUND The maximum surgical blood order schedule (MSBOS) is used to determine preoperative blood orders for specific surgical procedures. Because the list was developed in the late 1970s, many new surgical procedures have been introduced and others improved upon, making the original MSBOS obsolete. The authors describe methods to create an updated, institution-specific MSBOS to guide preope...

We study a fundamental model of online preference aggregation, where an algorithm maintains ordered list n elements. An input is stream preferred sets R_1, R_2, ..., R_t, ... Upon seeing R_t and without knowledge any future sets, has to rerank elements (change the ordering), so that at least one element found near front. The incurred cost sum update costs (the number swaps neighboring elements)...

In this paper, we consider a serial two-echelon periodic review inventory system with two supply modes at the most upstream stock point. As control policy for this system, we propose a natural extension of the dual-index policy, which has three base-stock levels. We consider the minimization of long run average inventory holding, backlogging, and both per unit and fixed emergency ordering costs...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine if screening by specialists could reduce unnecessary test ordering and reduce costs related to diagnostic workup in patients undergoing evaluation for tuberculosis. DESIGN Prospective evaluation of expert opinion in consecutive patients suspected of having tuberculosis. SETTING A large municipal hospital. PATIENTS Patients for whom sputum acid-fast smears were...

The single-item stochastic lot-sizing problem is to find an inventory replenishment policy in the presence of discrete stochastic demands under periodic review and finite time horizon. A closely related problem is the single-period newsvendor model. It is well known that the newsvendor problem admits a closed formula for the optimal order quantity whenever the revenue and salvage values are lin...