bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigations of Incorporating Source Directivity Into Room Acoustics Computer Models to Improve Auralizations
Authors: Vigeant Michelle C.
Published: November 2008

Room acoustics computer modeling and auralizations are useful tools when designing or modifying acoustically sensitive spaces. In this dissertation, the input parameter of source directivity has been studied in great detail to determine, first, its effect in room acoustics computer models and, second, how to better incorporate the directional source characteristics to improve auralizations. The room acoustics computer model was initially validated in terms of accurately incorporating the input source directivity. The next study demonstrated that using directional sources over an omnidirectional source in room acoustics computer models produces significant differences both in terms of calculated room acoustics parameters and auralizations. A recently proposed technique for creating auralizations using multichannel anechoic recordings has been examined with numerous subjective studies, applied to both solo instruments and an orchestra. Through these studies, this process was shown to be effective in terms of improving the realism and source width of the auralizations in a number of cases and also modeling different source orientations. In addition, this approach was applied to modeling an entire orchestra with individual sources, in three different configurations, for the first time. This method shows great promise as a new technique for auralizing both solo instruments and an entire orchestra. [Copies may be obtained from Michelle Vigeant, michelle.vigeant@gmail.com]
Dependence of Stress Resistance on a Spore Coat Heteropolysaccharide in
Dictyostelium
Authors: West Christopher M. , Nguyen Phuong , van der Wel Hanke , Metcalf Talibah , Sweeney Kristin R. , Blader Ira J. , Erdos Gregory W.
Published: November 2008

In
Dictyostelium
, sporulation occurs synchronously as prespore cells approach the apex of the aerial stalk during culmination. Each prespore cell becomes surrounded by its own coat comprised of a core of crystalline cellulose and a branched heteropolysaccharide sandwiched between heterogeneous cysteine-rich glycoproteins. The function of the heteropolysaccharide, which consists of galactose and
N
-acetylgalactosamine, is unknown. Two glycosyltransferase-like genes encoding multifunctional proteins, each with predicted features of a heteropolysaccharide synthase, were identified in the
Dictyostelium discoideum
genome.
pgtB
and
pgtC
transcripts were modestly upregulated during early development, and
pgtB
was further intensely upregulated at the time of heteropolysaccharide accumulation. Disruption of either gene reduced synthase-like activity and blocked heteropolysaccharide formation, based on loss of cytological labeling with a lectin and absence of component sugars after acid hydrolysis. Cell mixing experiments showed that heteropolysaccharide expression is spore cell autonomous, suggesting a physical association with other coat molecules during assembly. Mutant coats expressed reduced levels of crystalline cellulose based on chemical analysis after acid degradation, and cellulose was heterogeneously affected based on flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Mutant coats also contained elevated levels of selected coat proteins but not others and were sensitive to shear. Mutant spores were unusually susceptible to hypertonic collapse and damage by detergent or hypertonic stress. Thus, the heteropolysaccharide is essential for spore integrity, which can be explained by a role in the formation of crystalline cellulose and regulation of the protein content of the coat.
A LOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ROBUSTNESS, MUTANTS AND SPECIES IN COLONIES OF AGENTS
Authors: MARDARE RADU , CAVALIERE MATTEO , SEDWARDS SEAN
Published: November 2008

We study a modelling framework and computational paradigm called Colonies of Synchronizing Agents (CSAs), which abstracts intracellular and intercellular mechanisms of biological tissues. The model is based on a multiset of agents (cells) in a common environment (a tissue). Each agent has a local contents, stored in the form of a multiset of atomic objects (e.g., representing molecules), updated by multiset rewriting rules which may act on individual agents (intracellular action) or synchronize the contents of pairs of agents (intercellular action).

In this paper we investigate dynamic properties of CSAs, by means of temporal logic, and we give a logical characterization of some notions inspired by biology such as robustness, mutants and species. We reveal the relation that exists between the concept of robustness for CSAs and the bisimulation relation on colonies. We also present some decidability results for particular cases of robustness.
FIRST-PRINCIPLES STUDY OFNiADSORPTION ONMo(110)
Authors: ZHOU Y. G. , ZU X. T. , NIE J. L. , XIAO H. Y.
Published: November 2008

The adsorption of Ni atom on the Mo (110) surface has been studied within the density functional theory framework. It turned out that Ni–Mo surface alloy was formed with Ni atoms substituting Mo atom in the outermost layer. The subsurface site adsorption was found to be not preferred. Geometric analysis showed that the rumpling between substitutional Ni and Mo in the first alloy layer was about 0.108 Å at medium and low coverage (Θ). In addition, the diffusion of Ni on bare and Ni -substitutional Mo (110) surface has been investigated. It was shown that the diffusion energy barrier was reduced as the increase of coverage on bare Mo (110) surface, which supports the switch of growth mode layer-by-layer to Stranski–Krastanov as the function of coverage. Substitutional Ni atom only slightly increases the energy barrier for Ni diffusion on Mo (110) surface.
STUDY OF COLORATION ON EXCIMER LASER TREATED TITANIUM SURFACES
Authors: QIAN H. X. , ZHOU WEI , ZHENG H. Y.
Published: November 2008

Surface oxidation of Ti was carried out using KrF excimer laser in the presence of O 2. Different colors were obtained by varying the number of laser pulses at the fixed laser fluence. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the outmost surface is composed of TiO 2 and the inner layer consists of TiO and Ti 2 O 3 as well as TiO 2. Fractions of titanium chemical states stabilized at 33% TiO , 63% TiO 2, and 2% Ti 2 O 3 with increasing number of laser pulses. The surface roughness tends to increase with number of laser pulses. It is suggested that compositional variation and morphological difference contribute to the laser-induced surface coloration.
Genetics of Ovarian Differentiation: Rspo1, a Major Player
Authors: Chassot A.A. , Gregoire E.P. , Magliano M. , Lavery R. , Chaboissier M.C.
Published: November 2008

In mammals, the sex of the embryo is determined during development by its commitment either to the male or female genetic program regulating testicular or ovarian organogenesis. Major steps towards unraveling sex determination in mammals are achieved by the identification of key genes involved in human pathologies and the application of mouse genetics to analyze their function. While the expression of Sry and Sox9 is sufficient to induce the male devel- opmental program, the molecular pathways that specify ovarian differentiation were unclear before the recent demonstration that mutations in the RSPO1 gene induce female-to-male sex reversal in XX patients. By generating the corresponding mouse model, we have shown that Rspo1 is so far the earliest known gene controlling the female genetic developmental program. Rspo1 activates the canonical β-catenin signaling pathway required for female somatic cell differentiation and germ cell commitment into meiosis. The aim of this review is to describe the roles of R-spondins (Rspo)in developmental processes and disorders and the current knowledge obtained from murine models. A particular focus will be on Rspo1 and its crucial function in sex determination.
Incidence of Stroke Subtypes in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study (NEMESIS): Differences between Men and Women
Authors: Thrift Amanda G. , Dewey Helen M. , Sturm Jonathan W. , Srikanth Velandai K. , Gilligan Amanda K. , Gall Seana L. , Macdonell Richard A.L. , McNeil John J. , Donnan Geoffrey A.
Published: November 2008

Background and Purpose: Incidence rates of stroke subtypes may be imprecise when samples are small. We aimed to determine the incidence of stroke subtypes in a large geographically defined population. Methods: Multiple overlapping sources were used to ascertain all strokes occurring in 22 postcodes (population of 306,631) of Melbourne, Australia, between 1997 and 1999. Stroke subtypes were defined by CT, MRI and autopsy. The Mantel-Haenszel age-adjusted rate ratio (MH RR) was used to compare incidence rates between men and women. Results: We identified 1,421 strokes among 1,337 residents, 1,035 (72.8%) being first-ever strokes. Incidence (number/100,000 population/year), adjusted to the European population 45–84 years, was 197 (95% confidence interval, CI, 169–224) for ischemic stroke (IS), 47 (95% CI 33–60) for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and 19 (95% CI 10–27) for subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Compared with women, men in this age group had a greater incidence of IS (MH RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.39–1.96, p < 0.0001) and ICH (MH RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.01–2.10, p = 0.0420), but lesser rates of SAH (MH RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.69, p = 0.0031). Conclusions: In this population-based study, the incidence of IS and ICH was greater among men than women, while women had a greater incidence of SAH. More effort may need to be directed at modifying risk factors for IS and ICH in men.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Pediatric Patients With Refractory Epilepsy: Retrospective Study
Authors: Helmers Sandra L. , Wheless James W. , Frost Michael , Gates John , Levisohn Paul , Tardo Carmelo , Conry Joan A. , Yalnizoglu Dilek , Madsen Joseph R.
Published: November 2008

This six-center, retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of vagus nerve stimulation in children. Data were available for 125 patients at baseline, 95 patients at 3 months, 56 patients at 6 months, and 12 patients at 12 months. The typical patient, aged 12 years, had onset of seizures at age 2 years and had tried nine anticonvulsants before implantation. Collected data included preimplant history, seizures, implant, device settings, quality of life, and adverse events. Average seizure reduction was 36.1% at 3 months and 44.7% at 6 months. Common adverse events included voice alteration and coughing during stimulation. Rare adverse events, unique to this age group, included increased drooling and increased hyperactivity. Quality of life improved in alertness, verbal communication, school performance, clustering of seizures, and postictal periods. We concluded that vagus nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for medically refractory epilepsy in children. ( J Child Neurol 2001;16:843—848).
Symptomatic Late Recanalization of an Occluded Internal Carotid Artery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gohel Manj S. , Hamish Maher , Harri Jenkins I. , Davies Alun H.
Published: November 2008

The natural history of patients with carotid artery occlusion is poorly understood, and patients are usually offered conservative treatment as the difficulty and risks of surgical intervention are thought to outweigh the natural history of the condition. The case of a 71-year-old male patient with symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis in a previously occluded vessel is presented. This case suggests that symptomatic recanalization of an occluded carotid artery may occur and long-term duplex surveillance may be a justifiable strategy in this patient group.
Surgical Repair of True Gastroduodenal Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report
Authors: Matsuno Yukihiro , Mori Yoshio , Umeda Yukio , Imaizumi Matsuhisa , Takiya Hiroshi
Published: November 2008

Gastroduodenal artery aneurysms are uncommon. The majority of them are false or pseudoaneurysms, often seen in the setting of inflammation, specifically with pancreatitis. True aneurysms of gastroduodenal artery are extremely rare. As risk for rupture is unrelated to size, any gastroduodenal artery aneurysm should be considered for definitive treatment once the diagnosis has been made. A successful case of surgical repair of true gastroduodenal artery aneurysm in a patient with liver cirrhosis is reported in this study.
A Linear Programming Approach to Production and Employment Scheduling
Authors: Hanssmann Fred , Hess Sidney W.
Published: November 2008

The problem of production and employment scheduling may be stated as follows. Given the monthly demands for the product turned out by a factory, what should be the monthly production rates and work force levels in order to minimize the total cost of regular payroll and overtime, hiring and layoffs, inventory and shortages incurred during a given planning interval of several months? This problem has received a classical solution in two papers by Holt, Modigliani, Muth, and Simon (Holt, C. C., F. Modigliani, H. A. Simon. 1955. A linear decision rule for production and employment scheduling. Management Sci. (October); Holt, C. C., F. Modigliani, J. F. Muth. 1956. Derivation of a linear decision rule for production and employment. Management Sci. (January).). These authors assumed quadratic cost functions. Their treatment of the problem will be referred to as “quadratic programming.” It appears, however, that in the majority of practical applications and theoretical models the cost functions are assumed to be linear. It, therefore, seems desirable to have a method of solution for the linear case as well. In this paper it is shown that a solution can be obtained by linear programming methods. From the linear programming viewpoint, this paper is of an expository nature.

Management Technology, ISSN 0542-4917, was published as a separate journal from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 it was merged into Management Science.
A Problem in Materials Economy
Authors: Sterling A. G.
Published: November 2008

This paper describes a study of several factors influencing the cost of a particular raw material blank, the policy changes based on this study, and the cost reduction accomplished by means of these changes. This general approach may be employed to reduce the raw material cost of a variety of machined components.

The operation in question was to purchase hot rolled metal blanks and from these to machine closely dimensioned plates. To allow for process variabilities and to assure sufficient material removal to yield a high quality finished surface, we bought blanks thicker, hence heavier, than the finished plates. The material was expensive and the machining chips were not recoverable, so this excess blank weight represented a substantial annual cost. To minimize this loss we considered reducing the process variabilities, sorting blanks to narrow the range released for machining and to divert the others to less critical applications, and reducing the minimum thickness of blanks selected for machining, tolerating some loss due to machining rejects with the expectation that this would be outweighed by the reduction in cost of the average blank machined. As a result of these studies we were able to reduce the blank weight 8%, thus reducing our material cost for this single component more than $50,000 per year.

Management Technology, ISSN 0542-4917, was published as a separate journal from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 it was merged into Management Science.
On Rational Decision Making
Authors: Churchman C. West
Published: November 2008

The occasion of this meeting marks one more incident in peaceful international existence. The very spirit of the meeting itself, in which intellectuals and managers of different nations meet to discuss their mutual problems, is a sign of our times. We of Canada and the USA have learned to develop sound international relationships just as we are learning to establish sound relationships between science and management.

Management science and the profession of operations research are both based on the general supposition that sound relationships between different parties in a decision making situation do exist and can be found by diligent search and research. We follow the pathway of a great historical precedent, which generally goes under the name of rationalism. The precedent says that sound relationships between different parties in a decision making situation can be established by means of reason. It goes on to say that reason is something that all men share, and that when men come to understand clearly, they inevitably will decide in the same ways.

Management Technology, ISSN 0542-4917, was published as a separate journal from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 it was merged into Management Science.
Simulation of Finance Company Operations for Decision Making
Authors: Davis Gordon B. , Ambill Howard , Whitecraft Herbert
Published: November 2008

This paper describes the application of model building and computer simulation to planning, decision-making and budgeting. The discussion is based on the use of this approach for a proposed finance company. The mathematical model described in the paper was constructed and programmed for a computer. Various simulations on an IBM 7090 computer tested the feasibility of using the model as suggested. The examples in the text are from the simulation results.

Management Technology, ISSN 0542-4917, was published as a separate journal from 1960 to 1964. In 1965 it was merged into Management Science.
The Use of Mathematics in Production and Inventory Control
Authors: Vazsonyi Andrew
Published: November 2008

In the course of studying production and inventory control, the author of this paper found it repeatedly necessary to explain his mathematical theory to operating personnel, many of whom have had little or no formal training in mathematics at the college level. This paper, then, is an outgrowth of these presentations and has a twofold purpose: (1) to present a theory of a very small part of the problem of production and inventory control with the objective of acquainting the reader with the nature of the mathematical methodology, (2) to lay emphasis on a didactic presentation to show the principles involved in explaining these mathematical concepts.
Symposium: Management Science Today and Tomorrow—Decision Making
Authors: Flood Merrill M.
Published: November 2008

Economists and psychologists are interested in the theory of human decision making behavior. So are neurophysiologists and psychoanalysts. So also are statisticians, game theorists, cyberneticians, information theorists, operations researchers and many others among the management scientists.
On Some Theorems of Stochastic Linear Programming with Applications
Authors: Sengupta J. K. , Tintner G. , Millham C.
Published: November 2008

A linear programming problem is said to be stochastic if one or more of the coefficients in the objective function or the system of constraints or resource availabilities is known only by its probability distribution. Various approaches are available in this case, which may be classified into three broad types: ‘chance constrained programming’, ‘two-stage programming under uncertainty’ and ‘stochastic linear programming’. For problems of ‘stochastic linear programming’ a distinction is usually made between two related approaches to stochastic programming, the passive and the active approach respectively. In the passive approach to stochastic linear programming the statistical distribution of the optimum value of the objective function is estimated either exactly or approximately by numerical methods and optimum decision rules are based on the different characteristics of the estimated distribution. In the active approach, a new set of decision variables are introduced which indicate the proportions of different resources to be allocated to the various activities. One effect of introducing this set of new decision variables in the active approach is the truncation of the statistical distribution of optimal value of the objective function of the passive approach. In this aspect the active approach is useful in suggesting criteria for changing from one optimum decision rule to another, as the probability distribution of the objective function is specified less and less incompletely for different choices of the set of new decision variables. This paper investigates some mathematical relations between the active and passive approach and derives some inequalities for the case when the elements of the coefficient matrix of the inequalities are random variables. Since an ’approximate solution’ of a stochastic linear programming problem is defined usually by replacing each random element by its expected value and then solving the resulting non-stochastic program, some conditions have been derived under which the expected value of the objective function for the optimal solution will exceed the optimal value of the objective function for ’the approximate solution’. Based on the properties of the distribution of extreme values and other order statistics, some approximate bounds have also been specified for the passive approach, which can easily be extended to the active approach.
A Probabilistic Production and Inventory Problem
Authors: d'Epenoux F.
Published: November 2008

R. Howard (R. Howard.1960. Dynamic Programming and Markov Processes. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.) and A. Manne (A. Manne. 1960. Linear programming and sequential decisions. Management Science, April.) have suggested two methods for optimizing average costs per unit time by means of a sequential decision rule. This rule gives order quantities as a function of initial stock levels, and is based upon the assumption of a Markov process which is both homogenous and discrete. The formulation does not include any restrictive hypothesis on the structure of costs.

This paper presents a synthesis of both dynamic and linear programming methods applicable to the same kind of model for the case of time discounting.
Business Gaming for Organizational Research
Authors: Bass Bernard M.
Published: November 2008

A non-computer business game is described which can be used to test hypotheses about the effects of different organizational structures on material and social psychological outcomes. The competitive game requires firms of about 15 men each to compete in a common market. But, only one-third of the organization is allowed to meet face-to-face. Tangible products are produced out of IBM cards by cutting, assembling and fastening processes. Markets are based on managerial decisions of the competing firms. In the first three competitions, it was observed that the simpler organizational structure served more adequately than the more complex hierarchy that was designed for the problem. Whether or not a radically different structure, without a hierarchy, worked well, depended upon the extent the real-life managers operating the organization had been indoctrinated sufficiently into the rationale behind the innovation and had accepted it as desirable. Subsequent experiments are in progress using the game.
An Analysis of Vertical Market Structures
Authors: Baligh Helmy H. , Richartz Leon E.
Published: November 2008

Models of vertical market structures are developed and solved for equilibrium numbers and levels of middlemen. The models investigate the behavior of contact and communication costs, and middlemen's profits in the system, under various market imperfections. When market imperfections are assumed away, the model gives an unrealistically large equilibrium number of middlemen and levels of middlemen. The removal of some assumptions by considering a) rebates given by middlemen in order to gain cooperation, b) segmented markets, c) costs of information transmittal, d) conditions of minimum returns on investment, and e) strategy formulation render the model more realistic.
A General Model for Production and Operations Systems
Authors: Reisman Arnold , Buffa Elwood S.
Published: November 2008

This paper presents a structural and a mathematical framework for the analysis and/or synthesis of a large class of production systems. Service and/or goods producing enterprises are considered to be production systems.

The structural framework consists of a generalized schematic involving materials, energy, capital equipment, populations, orders, information and cash flows through transducing, policy, etc., operations. This framework recognizes feedback concepts. The mathematical framework consists of sets of k node or junction equations, m potential or branch equations, and n economic evaluation equations and a methodology for their application. These equations provide for nonlinear and transient behavior and recognize the time value of money.

The applicability of this model is demonstrated by industrially validated studies in the areas of manufacturing, hydraulic, heat transfer, and electrical systems analysis. The mentioned examples, though quite complex in nature, are shown to be special cases of this model.
Plant Location Under Economies-of-Scale—Decentralization and Computation
Authors: Manne Alan S.
Published: November 2008

An exploration of the margin of error entailed in using a “one-point move” algorithm for solving a class of fixed-charge problems. The algorithm is of interest both from the viewpoint of numerical analysis and also from the analogy with market mechanisms. Despite the presence of economies-of-scale, there is the possibility of operating a decentralized system. This is a two-price system; it implies discriminatory and also marginal cost pricing.
Bounds for the Optimal Scheduling of n Jobs on m Processors
Authors: Eastman W. L. , Even S. , Isaacs I. M.
Published: November 2008

The problem of scheduling n jobs on m identical processors has been introduced by R. McNaughton, but as yet no efficient algorithm has been found for determining an optimal sequencing of jobs. In this paper lower and upper bounds are given for the cost of an optimal schedule. Since the two bounds are not far apart, they may be helpful in practical scheduling problems. A procedure is described for obtaining a schedule which costs less than the given upper bound.
On the Need for Improvement in Implementation of O.R.
Authors: Malcolm D. G.
Published: November 2008

Two major aspects of the difficulty of implementing O.R. results are described: first, the difficulty in assessing the cost of implementation; and secondly, difficulties in successful performance of this phase. It is argued that O.R. should be approached as a continuum of effort, starting with basic research and leading up to implementation or development. This process is described as the Operations Research and Development Process. A procedure for establishing an OR&D program and criteria for initial project selection are described. It is suggested that the projects making up a program, in OR&D be packaged and scrutinized regularly for their contributions to the objectives of the organization.

It is stated that such an approach will increase the utility and effectiveness of operations research without destroying its research nature. Further, procedures for developing an operations research program and pre-planning the implementation phase exist and can be applied.

It is suggested that the ability to effectively implement operations research results may have a most important bearing on our national economic well-being, as well as on the competitive position of individual industrial organizations.

It is suggested that the O.R. group and individuals that face up to the challenge of defining a program through the implementation phase, securing management's continuing review and participation in defining and supporting the OR&D program, will find that a greater percentage of projects will produce meaningful results.
A Sequence of Service Stations with Arbitrary Input and Regular Service Times
Authors: Avi-Itzhak B.
Published: November 2008

In a queuing system with an ordered sequence of stations, the arrivals process is arbitrary and service times are regular at all stations. The case where each station consists of the same number of servers in parallel and the service times at all servers belonging to one station are the same is investigated and shown to possess the following properties: (a) The time spent in the system by any customer is independent of the order of the stations and of the allowable sizes of the intermediate queues; (b) The waiting time (not including service) of any customer equals the time the same customer would have been waiting in the queue of a single station system with regular service time, equaling the longest service time of the sequence (assuming the same arrivals process in both systems). These properties enable one to obtain waiting time distributions and other characteristics of such queuing processes.
Adaptation in the Production Process
Authors: Levy Ferdinand K.
Published: November 2008

The paper presents a new type of learning function useful in describing how firms improve their performances in new processes. The function, termed the “adaptation function,” is shown to be capable of being related to variables that may affect a firm's rate of learning. Next, these variables are discussed, and the adaptation function is fitted to some actual sets of data. Finally, the paper turns to some normative implications of the function. Specifically, the adaptation function is shown to be useful to firms in their budgeting of training and in aiding their equipment replacement decisions.
Contract Research Proposal Preparation Strategies
Authors: Dean Burton V. , Culhan Robert H.
Published: November 2008

A bidding model is developed and used to examine alternative contract research proposal preparation strategies. Expected profits due to sales from initial and follow-on production orders are related to proposal preparation cost, contract value, and the probability of contract award. Limited engineering resources may be allocated to proposal preparation effort so as to maximize total expected profits. The model is tested and applied in the proposal preparation activity of a company in the aerospace industry.
Models for Appraising Investments Yielding Stochastic Return
Authors: Gaver D. P.
Published: November 2008

This paper provides models for economic enterprises or projects whose returns vary randomly in time and which are subject to termination or “ruin” provided assets or net worth fall to a prescribed level. In particular, strategies for dealing with environmental changes, innovations, and catastrophe are considered.
Mathematical Solution of Parts Requirements Problems
Authors: Giffler Bernard
Published: November 2008

This paper describes a matrix algebraic theory and techniques for defining and solving general parts requirements problems. These include problems to check bills of materials for feasibility, to generate and up-date total requirements, to explode the gross requirements necessary to produce a given product mix, to net the gross requirements against surplus inventory and to generate the capacity and cost restraints in LP models to determine optimal product and resource mixes. The intent of the work is two-fold: (1) to demonstrate the use of matrix algebraic techniques to speed and compact the logical and numerical operations in solving parts requirements problems and (2) to develop a concise and unambiguous mathematical theory for parts requirements problems so that production engineers, mathematicians and programmers can cooperate more easily in their definition and solution.
Simple And Combined Inventory Policies, Production to Stock or to Order?
Authors: Popp W.
Published: November 2008

In an inventory model three strategies can be applied, where two of the strategies are simple and one is a combination of the simple strategies. Conditions for preferences between the strategies are discussed. The problem in planning inventories and production is, to decide between production to stock, production to order and production partly to stock and partly to order.
The Simplex Method: Two Basic Variables Replacement
Authors: Paranjape S. R.
Published: November 2008

The paper presents a method for solving the linear programming problems, which is itself a step towards the generalization of the classical Simlex Method. It replaces two basic variables by two non-basic variables at each iteration. Naturally this will reduce the total number of steps to reach the final solution. The paper also includes the solution of one example to illustrate the applicability of the method.
Dynamic Programming and Systems of Uncertain Duration
Authors: White D. J.
Published: November 2008

This paper deals with the application of dynamic programming to systems whose duration is uncertain, and which duration may or may not be a function of the decisionmaker's policy. It extends some of Bellman's work in that the transformed states at successive stages may not have the properties demanded by Bellman; e.g., the state norm need not diminish at all, and can, in fact, increase. The paper deals primarily with computational considerations since, in general, analytic solutions to functional equations are not forthcoming. Both discrete and continuous formulations are considered, the appropriate one to choose depending on the number of states one wishes to cater for, the continuous formulation having certain advantages which the discrete case does not have when a very large number of states are to be differentiated.
Management in the University
Authors: Berkner L. V.
Published: November 2008

Education is America's biggest single business. It uses more dollars than any other. Education is non-profit, so there is no immediate measure of profit in dollars to assess its performance. Yet the success of the university is at the very root of the economic, the cultural development, the welfare of the community. How should it be organized and managed? How can its performance be assessed so that its job is done most effectively?
Financial Measurement of Capital Investments
Authors: Williams A. C. , Nassar J. I.
Published: November 2008

Suppose each alternative in a capital investment decision can be represented as a cash flow without uncertainty, i.e., as a sequence of m + 1 real numbers. Then the problem of which financial criterion (e.g., present value, internal rate of return, return per unit expenditure, etc.) to use for the capital investment decision is the problem of defining a preference ordering (which usually means a utility function) on the vector space of dimension m + 1. A Set of axioms is proposed for the preference ordering. The axioms specify the directions of preference in case one cash flow dominates another in magnitude (at least as great in every period, greater in some period) or in time (same total revenue, but received sooner). Also, an axiom of marginal consistency is specified, i.e., one cash flow is preferred to another if and only if the difference (considered as a separate investment) is preferred to the do-nothing investment. In addition, there is an axiom of continuity. Our result is that the only consistent (i.e., consistent with the axioms) method for ranking investments according to their cash flows is to rank them according to the formula for “present value”, with positive (undetermined) rates of interest, possibly different for different time periods. Finally, an axiom specifying “temporal consistency” leads to the use of a single rate of interest. The viewpoint is that an overall corporate capital budgeting problem has two aspects: (1) the determination of a criterion, and (2) the determination of that capital program which maximizes the criterion, subject to the relevant constraints, e.g., on available projects, capital markets, etc. This paper is concerned with the first aspect only.
Communications to the Editor—Generalization of a Queueing Theorem of Palm to Finite Populations
Authors: Sherbrooke Craig C.
Published: November 2008

The purpose of this note is to point out that the proof in Appendix 1 of Feeney and Sherbrooke [Feeney, G. J., C. C. Sherbrooke. 1966. (s − 1, s) Inventory policy under compound poisson demand. Management Sci. 12(5, January) 391–411] can be adapted to generalize to arbitrary service a queueing formula known for exponential service [Saaty, T. L. 1961. Elements of Queueing Theory. McGraw-Hill, New York, 121.].
A New Approach to Stockout Penalties
Authors: Schwartz Benjamin L.
Published: November 2008

Classical inventory theory considers that stockouts generate penalty costs to the firm, often assumed to be proportional to the excess of demand over supply. While such a concept is sometimes appropriate, it does not correctly reflect the effect of loss of goodwill. The latter is characterized by the fact that a disappointed customer reacts in the future to change his purchasing habits. Thus the nature of the effect is that subsequent demand is perturbed, a phenomenon quite different from having an immediate penalty cost imposed. Models with this property are termed perturbed demand, abbreviated PD.

In this paper, this concept is defined precisely, and some of its properties are developed. Some typical cases are solved to determine optimal policies when PD prevails.
Report on a Group's Reaction to: “The Researcher and the Manager: A Dialectic of Implementation”
Authors: Ladd Donald E.
Published: November 2008

On April 5, 1965 the members of a class in Studies in Operations Research were presented with statements (appended) concerning the relationship of the scientist in industry with the industrial manager. There were four such statements, presented in written form, one at a time and in orders which differed for each individual. For each statement, the members were asked only to note whether they agreed or disagreed.
Conceptualization and Formalization—The Impossible and the Obvious
Authors: Littauer Sebastian B.
Published: November 2008

Comments about Churchman, C. W., A. H. Schainblatt. 1965. The researcher and the manager: A dialectic of implementation. Management Sci. 11 (4) B-69–B-87.
Commentary
Authors: Vollmer Howard M.
Published: November 2008

Comments about Churchman, C. W., A. H. Schainblatt. 1965. The researcher and the manager: A dialectic of implementation. Management Sci. 11 (4) B-69–B-87.
On Mutual Understanding
Authors: Churchman C. W. , Schainblatt A. H.
Published: November 2008

The breadth and scope of the reactions to our implementation paper are very gratifying. We, of course, had selected workers likely to be interested in our problem. What we had not expected was the emergence of so many parallelisms between our treatment of the problem of implementation and those of a wide range of investigations in the broad reaches of management decision theory.
Competitive Strategies for New Product Marketing Over the Life Cycle
Authors: Kotler Philip
Published: November 2008

This paper deals with the problem of formulating a long-run competitive marketing strategy for a new product introduced into a market with classic growth, seasonal, and merchandising characteristics. The paper is divided into four parts. The first part describes the market model as well as the accounting model used by the firm to compute its profits. The second part discusses nine conceptually different classes of marketing strategies. The third part reports the results of a duopoly confrontation involving various pairs of competitive strategies. The last part suggests additional variations in the market model and in the strategies which would increase the significance of the findings.
A Linear Approach to the Dynamic Inventory Problem
Authors: Diegel Adolf
Published: November 2008

The decision aspects of inventory management revolve around striking some balance between the costs of change and the costs of failing to change. However, in any but the simplest cases of economic order quantities it is difficult to specify precisely how one cost interacts with the other: by how much exactly do additional set-ups reduce the total cost of inventories or wasted production, or the total penalties for delayed deliveries or lost sales—supposing that units are taken out of inventory by some demand function and added to inventories by some production function?

This paper analyzes the interaction of the various costs and provides relatively simple optimizing formulae assuming that, mainly,

a) demand is reasonably well approximated by a linear function of time;

b) production proceeds at a constant rate between one set-up and the next;

c) demand and production overlap in time such that the total quantity produced in any one lot interval equals the total quantity consumed in that interval (a unit being consumed as soon as it is ready, though the run from which it comes is not yet completed); and if

d) inventories are permitted; that is, surplus production is storable and backorders are acceptable, though both are more or less costly.
Communications to the Editor—The Use of Regression Equations to Predict Manpower Requirements: Critical Comments
Authors: Livingstone John Leslie , Montgomery David Bruce
Published: November 2008

In a recent article in Management Science, [Drui, A. B. 1963. The use of regression equations to predict manpower requirements. Management Sci. 8(4, July) 669–677.] an application of multiple regression analysis to the prediction of departmental manpower requirements was described. Little information was given regarding the data of the study, and little attention was paid to the assumptions of the regression model. This calls into question the conclusions of the study, since the regression methodology contains a potentially serious bias. In view of the economic importance of the problem, the purpose of the present comment is to suggest improvements in the analysis.
Use of the Time-Sharing Computer in Business Planning and Budgeting
Authors: Raymond R. C.
Published: November 2008

The time-sharing computer system now being operated in Phoenix by the Computer Department offers any Company executive willing to spend a few days learning to use the system an entirely new capability to explore and prepare business forecasts. The system does the arithmetic and prints the results in the privacy of the user's office in a few minutes. The planner can explore a range of assumptions and estimates impossible to handle by manual methods and difficult and time-consuming by more traditional computer methods. With the system, the planner can state his basic data and assumptions, observe the results, and then modify any of the assumptions he chooses and get new results within a few minutes. By following this procedure several times it is possible to explore the effects of a variety of environmental assumptions, such as market and price structure for a new product, and to find out what budget of costs for the new product must be realized to yield acceptable business results. This procedure, which requires many days of the time of several individuals by manual methods, can be completed in most cases by one man in less than one day, including the initial programming. An example from a recent new business study is given.
Management Implementation of Scientific Research: An Attitudinal Study
Authors: Dyckman Thomas R.
Published: November 2008

This paper describes a study of the views of managers and researchers toward the problem of improved management implementation of scientific research. The work done here is an extension of the effort begun by Churchman and Schainblatt [Churchman, C. W., A. H. Schainblatt. 1965. The researcher and the manager: A dialectic of implementation. Management Sci. 11(4, Feb.) B-69–87.] and continued by Bennis [Bennis, W. G. 1965. Commentary. Management Sci. 12(2, Oct.) B-13–16.] and others. A controlled experimental situation was employed to obtain participant views toward the possible methods of improving the implementation situation.

The results of this study suggest that most managers and researchers view the implementation problem as involving more than a single aspect. Most refused to accept a single viewpoint as the most critical means of obtaining effective implementation. Nevertheless a large majority favored some attempt by one or both parties to improve their understanding of their own and the other participants' creative process. After some improvement of the experimental design, a position of mutual understanding dominated.

Finally, the study produced some evidence which suggests that it may be possible to attack the implementation problem in the short run by merely building trust and improving communication. In the longer run, however, it would seem that improved understanding is the key, and the study indicates that attitudes may be favorable to this development.
Optimal Strategy for Item Presentation in a Learning Process
Authors: Karush William , Dear R. E.
Published: November 2008

We treat a dynamic programming problem concerned with an application of tailoring programmed instruction to the individual student. We use a model of learning based on stimulus-sampling theory in which a subject is to be taught n items in the course of N trials. The problem is to determine a strategy of trial-by-trial item selection to maximize the expected terminal level of achievement of the subject; a trial consists of a test on a selected item followed by a reinforcement or teaching action relative to the item. A subject is either in the “conditioned” or “unconditioned” state with respect to an item. His response to a test is either correct or incorrect, and the probability of a correct response depends upon his state; thus, the state is not in exact correspondence with the response. The reinforcement action permits a probabilistic transition from the unconditioned to the conditioned state during a trial. States are not observable; a strategy is based upon the history of responses to items presented up to the current trial. Associated with a subject is a current state probability vector (λ1, λ2,…, λn), λi= probability of conditioned state relative to item i, given the subject's history to date. We prove that the following (locally optimal) strategy is (globally) optimal: In each trial, present any item for which the current probability of the conditioned state is least.
Parametric Production Planning
Authors: Jones Curtis H.
Published: November 2008

This paper proposes a heuristic approach to the determination of work force and production levels. The existence of two feed-back rules (one for work force and one for production) is postulated. The universe of possible parameters is searched to find the set of parameters that provides the lowest cost or highest profit for a particular firm. Each set of parameters is evaluated by comparing the costs or profits resulting from the application of rules bearing these parameter values to a likely sequence of sales forecasts and actual sales. Decision rules formed in this way give cost and profit results nearly equal to those resulting from the application of the optimal techniques to purely mathematical problems. In more complex and more realistic situations, the results obtained by Parametric Production Planning may be superior to those achieved by a linear programming approach or a linear decision rule.
Inventory Depletion Management with Stochastic Field Life Functions
Authors: Pierskalla William P.
Published: November 2008

Most inventory depletion analysis has been concerned with the case of a deterministic field life function. Since it is rarely the case that the exact field life function of a stock of items would be known, it is more reasonable to treat the case where the field life of an item is a random variable, X(S), which depends only on the age, S, of the item upon issuance. In this stochastic case, it is shown that the policy of issuing the oldest item first (FIFO) is optimal provided E[X(S)] = aS + b where 0 ≧ a > − 1, b > 0, i.e., where the items have a linearly decreasing mean value function, and where some additional, but behaviorally not restrictive, assumptions are made.