A Non-linear Multi-criteria Programming Approach for Determining County Emergency Medical Service Ambulance Allocations

In this paper an integer, non-linear mathematical programming model is developed to allocate emergency medical service (EMS) ambulances to sectors within a county in order to meet a government-mandated response-time criterion. However, in addition to the response-time criterion, the model also reflects criteria for budget and work-load, and, since ambulance response is best described within the context of a queueing system, several of the model system constraints are based on queueing formulations adapted to a mathematical programming format. The model is developed and demonstrated within the context of an example of a county encompassing rural, urban and mixed sectors which exhibit different demand and geographic characteristics. The example model is solved using an integer, non-linear goal-programming technique. The solution results provide ambulance allocations to sectors within the county, the probability of an ambulance exceeding a prespecified response time, and the utilization factor for ambulances per sector.     

Composing medical crews with equity and efficiency

The quality of the health care is directly connected to the equity and to the efficiency of the service delivered. Usually, the health care is delivered by crews composed of individuals working together sharing knowledge, experiences and skills. We consider the problem of composing medical crews in such a way that the health care service provided follows the principles of equity and efficiency. We present a general mathematical programming model for this problem and a solution algorithm based on Tabu Search methodology. Computational analysis proves the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Optimizing the Design of a CDMA Cellular System Configuration with Multiple Criteria

This paper deals with the mathematical modeling and optimization of a code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular system configuration that seeks the optimal location, power, and antenna height of each base station in a service area, in order to optimize call quality, service coverage and total cost of system configuration. The factors affecting optimum selection are the non-uniform spatial demand in the service area, the propagation environment, the interference among users and among base stations, and other factors intrinsic to CDMA technology. The simulated annealing method supplemented by a demand allocation algorithm is implemented in a software package to solve this complex multiobjective nonlinear optimization problem. This research shows that simulated annealing is a viable method for obtaining good quality solutions to the wireless system configuration problem. A realistic case study dealing with the design of a cellular system configuration for the city of Cambridge, MA, and its surroundings, is developed to illustrate the modeling concept and the steps of the algorithm. Sensitivity analysis is performed to further analyze the configuration decision.     

Reaction–diffusion systems for the microscopic cellular model of the cardiac electric field

The paper deals with a mathematical model for the electric activity of the heart at microscopic level. The membrane model used to describe the ionic currents is a generalization of the phase‐I Luo–Rudy, a model widely used in 2‐D and 3‐D simulations of the action potential propagation. From the mathematical viewpoint the model is made up of a parabolic reaction diffusion system coupled with an ODE system. We derive existence and some regularity results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

常系数线性微分方程组的基解矩阵的一种新求法

在求解常系数线性微分方程组时,关键是基解矩阵的计算.给出了利用哈密顿—凯莱定理计算基解矩阵的一种方法,并通过实例说明了这种方法的特点和在简化计算方面的有效性.     

Simulating the motion of the leech: A biomechanical application of DAEs

In this paper a mathematical model is developed for the dynamical behaviour of a hydrostatic skeleton. The basic configuration is taken from the worm-like shape of the medicinal leech. It consists of a sequence of hexahedra with damped elastic springs as edges to model the various parts of the musculature. The system is stabilized by the constraint of constant volume either in the whole body or in prescribed compartments. We set up Lagrange's equations of motion with the Lagrange multipliers being the pressure values in the compartments. The equations of motion lead to a large differential-algebraic system which is solved by an application of semi-explicit numerical methods. Though the model has not yet been adapted to experimental data, first simulations with a simplified set of parameters show that it is capable of generating basic movements of the leech such as crawling and swimming. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the well-posedness and conservation laws of a family of multiscale deconvolution models for the magnetohydrodynamics equations

We present a mathematical study of a large eddy simulation (LES) model for the incompressible magnetohydrodynamics equations. The classical closure problem arising for LES models is solved with the multiscale deconvolution technique developed by Dunca in [11]. We prove the model admits unique, regular weak solutions and provide a mathematical study of the modeling error.     

The combined manpower planning and preventive maintenance strategies by aggregate planning for the service division of vending machines

This paper presents a mathematical model of aggregate planning for the service division of vending machines, which determines its workforce size and the preventive maintenance level that may affect the failure rate. The unique aspect of this problem is that it exhibits two types of failures requiring different repair and preventive maintenance. The practice is to divide the service division into two groups, within which there are hierarchies according to these types of failures, and in each group, there are full-time workers with annual contracts and temporary workers hired only during the peak season. A case study based on actual operational data demonstrates how effective the introduced model and the policy are in reducing the total cost and improving the quality of service, and thus enhancing the overall system performance of the service division. We perform sensitivity analysis on key parameters, which helps us change maintenance strategies under diverse operating situations.     

Analysis of an optimal control problem for the three-dimensional coupled modified Navier-Stokes and Maxwell equations

The mathematical formulation and analysis of an optimal control problem associated with a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting fluid in a bounded three-dimensional domain with fixed perfectly conducting boundaries is considered. The objective of control is the matching of the velocity and magnetic fields to given target fields; control is effected through distributed mechanical force and current controls. The existence of optimal solutions is shown, the Gâteaux differentiability for the magnetohydrodynamic system with respect to controls is proved, and the optimality system is obtained.     

A Personnel Selection Problem in Healthcare System Using Fuzzy-TOPSIS Approach

The methods of multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) are increasingly becoming the most desired tools for making daily decisions in various fields of human endeavors. Staff employment in any sector requires a thorough evaluation of the applicant before selection to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. Besides, healthcare is one of the most complicated organizations dealing with human lives. This paper has developed a staff selection model considering a fuzzy environment by using the technique for order preference similar to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. For the delivery and promotion of quality healthcare systems, medical staff selection is crucial to the system. Therefore, the study evaluates medical staff by using the expert''s linguistic judgement under the criteria of skill, experience and ability to respond to a problem. The expert''s vagueness in judgments has been represented by using fuzzy triangular numbers. The study determines the closeness coefficient, the measures of separation and the ideal solutions of the TOPSIS method. The most appropriate medical staff are ranked and selected based on the available criteria. The Fuzzy-TOPSIS method is simple and can help other organizations achieve proper ranking, evaluation and selection of qualified candidates, as it takes imprecise information into account.     

Classroom mathematical practices and gesturing

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a methodological approach for empirically investigating the function of gesturing in the collective development of knowledge. We extend the earlier work of Stephan and Rasmussen [Stephan, M., & Rasmussen, C. (2002). Classroom mathematical practices in differential equations. Journal of Mathematical Behavior 21, 459-490] who analyzed classroom discourse and symbolizing to document the emergence of six classroom mathematical practices over the course of 22 days of instruction on first-order differential equations. We complement and extend this previous analysis by re-examining the same data for gesturing and coordinate this analysis with the evolution of the classroom mathematical practices as they developed in this particular community of learners. Our illustration of the methodology we developed suggests that (1) gestures and argumentation can function as a unit that supports the establishment of one or more taken-as-shared ideas, and (2) that a gesture/argumentation pair that develops while establishing one practice can change function to support the establishment of ideas embedded in other classroom mathematical practices.     

Combining simulation and goal programming for healthcare planning in a medical assessment unit

This paper describes a detailed simulation model for healthcare planning in a medical assessment unit (MAU) of a general hospital belonging to the national health service (NHS), UK. The MAU is established to improve the quality of care given to acute medical patients on admission, and to provide the organisational means of rapid assessment and investigation in order to avoid unnecessary admissions. The simulation model enables different scenarios to be tested to eliminate bottlenecks in order to achieve optimal clinical workflow. The link between goal programming (GP) and simulation for efficient resource planning is explored. A GP model is developed for trade-off analysis of the results obtained from the simulation. The implications of MAU management preferences to various objectives are presented.     

Using a Functional Model to Develop a Mathematical Formula

The unifying theme of models was incorporated into a required Science Capstone course for pre‐service elementary teachers based on national standards in science and mathematics. A model of a teeter‐totter was selectedfor use as an example of a functional model for gathering data as well as a visual model of a mathematical equation for developing the mathematical relationship for a Class 1 lever, M1D1=M1D1. In this study, 20 student groups (n=72) collected data using the model in an inquiry‐based activity. All groups developed the qualitative relationship, 13 groups developed a correct mathematical formula, 6 groups developed one‐half of the relationship (X = mass × distance), and 1 group attempted to develop a procedural relationship. The pre‐service elementary teachers used a variety of model types in the activity including visual/pictorial, functional/physical and mathematical‐both graphs and formulas. The use of the teeter‐totter model as a visual and functional model of a mathematical formula was a factor in developing the mathematical relationship.     

An evolutionary approach to rehabilitation patient scheduling: A case study

Focusing on real settings, this study aimed to develop an evolutionary approach based on genetic algorithm for solving the problem of rehabilitation patient scheduling to increase service quality by reducing patient waiting time and improve operation efficiency by increasing the therapy equipment utilization. Indeed, due to partial precedence constraints of rehabilitation therapies, the problem can be structured as a hybrid shop scheduling problem that has received little attention to date. In addition, a mixed integer programming model was also constructed as a benchmark to validate the solution quality with small problems. Based on empirical data from a Medical Center in Taiwan, several experiments were conducted to estimate the validity of the proposed algorithm. The results showed that the proposed algorithm can reduce patient waiting time and enhance resource utilization and thus demonstrated the practicality of the proposed algorithm. Indeed, a decision support system embedded with the developed algorithm has been implemented in this medical center.     

A new mathematical construction of the general nonlinear ODEs of motion in rigid body dynamics (Euler’s equations)

It is shown that the three nonlinear dynamic Euler ordinary differential equations (ODEs), concerning the motion of a rigid body free to rotate about a fixed point, are reduced, by means of a subsidiary function which is to be determined, to three Abel equations of the second kind of the normal form. Based on a recently developed mathematical construction concerning exact analytic solutions of the Abel nonlinear ODEs of the second kind, we perform a new mathematical solution for the classical dynamic Euler nonlinear ODEs.     

Capacitated emergency facility siting with multiple levels of backup

In many service systems, the primary objective is to provide continuous service and/or service within a prespecified time interval. In the public sector, emergency service systems fit into this category. In the private sector, systems providing repair service to critical production facilities and computers constitute another example. In these systems, the concept of multiple service facilities providing backup to each other becomes an important element in the design process. In this paper, we study the capacitated facility siting problem with multiple levels of backup coverage. The problem is formulated as a mathematical program; an efficient solution procedure is developed and computational experiments are reported.     

A two-phase heuristic approach to the bike repositioning problem

An approach to overcome the bike imbalance problem is to transfer excess bikes to branches with bike shortages. This study develops a constrained mathematical model to deal with a multi-vehicle bike-repositioning problem, and aims to minimize the sum of transportation and unmet demand costs over a planning horizon through bike-transfer strategies under a minimum service requirement. A two-phase heuristic based on linear programming was proposed to solve the problem and produce compromising solutions. In the first phase, the paper developed a linear programming model to quickly develop decisions related to bike inventory, unloading, and loading for all stations for each time slot. In the second phase, this paper proposed an iterative approach through two parameter sensitive mathematical models to sequentially reduce the problem scale to develop decisions related to bike transfers. Computational results show that the proposed approach is superior to a CPLEX optimizer and a hybrid heuristic based on a genetic algorithm. The proposed approach was used to analyze the bicycle system in Taiwan. The impacts of various system parameters on the system were also investigated.     

Kinetic modelling andelectoral competition

The structure of generalized kinetic models is developed to enquire how effectively theycan be used in the fields of human reactions and of the social sciences. In particular, a specific model is designed to describe the dynamics of a composite, structured society such as that of a competing bipartisan political system. The model structure contains terms with localized interactions and mean field terms. The first part of the paper deals with the mathematical framework. In the second part, a comprehensive model is proposed. Finally, some results of a set of simulations are mentioned and a critical analysis towards research perspectives is formulated.     

智能平台下考虑主体心理行为的医疗服务供需匹配方法

基于智能平台的新兴医疗服务模式,可以有效缓解患者“看病难”问题。本文针对智能平台下医疗服务供需双方匹配的现实问题,提出了一种考虑主体心理行为的决策方法。在该方法中,考虑了医疗服务过程中主体的期望和犹豫不确定的心理特征。首先,比较双方主体在不同指标下的期望水平和评价信息之间的差距,计算得到双方差异度,并通过集结运算分别获得了双方满意度;在此基础上,分别以医疗服务供需双方的满意度最大为目标,构建了智能平台下医疗服务供需匹配的多目标优化模型,通过模型求解可得到最优匹配结果;最后,通过算例分析说明了本文提出方法的可行性和有效性。     

Call Admission: A New Approach to Quality of Service

Quality of service guarantees are an important and much discussed aspect of ATM network design. However, there is no standard definition of quality of service. Moreover, some often-used criteria seem quite crude. We consider call admission to a bufferless ATM multiplexer with on/off sources. A new criterion for a guarantee on average cell loss is proposed. This criterion represents the quality of service from the point of view of the user, and is thus more reliable. We calculate the optimal policy that minimizes blocking subject to the guarantee, when there is only one type of user.The measure of cell-loss we propose is applicable to a wide range of models. It gives rise to a mathematical programming formulation, which we derive explicitly for our case.