Maximum Number Of Hours Research Articles

Analysis and Optimization of Operating Modes of Mini-CHP on Local Fuels in Conditions of Surplus Electric Power Capacities in the Unified Energy System of Belarus. Part 1

The paper presents the results of a study to determine the rational structure of mini-CHP (Cogeneration Heat and Power Plant) using local fuels types (LFT) for operation as part of the United Energy System (UES) of Belarus with a surplus of electricity generating capacity and dominance of imported types of energy resources (natural gas and nuclear fuel) in the fuel balance. When optimizing the operating modes of mini-CHPs using LFT and operating in parallel with the UES, which has a significant surplus of electricity generating capacity, it is necessary to separate options for existing stations and options for newly built ones. In the first case, due to the fact that the power of the equipment is known, it is advisable to consider two extreme options, i.e., the operation of the heating unit according to an electrical or thermal load schedule. In this case, in order to maintain the daily consumption traffic it is necessary to provide for the accumulation of thermal or electrical energy, respectively. In the case of new construction, the optimized parameter is the power of the generating equipment, so it is advisable to give preference to the option with the maximum number of hours of use of the rated power. In order to increase the economic attractiveness of mini-CHP, options for developing the structure of mini-CHP using LFT with the transition to multi-generation technologies and adaptation to the existing operating conditions of the UES of Belarus have been considered. The results of an analysis of commercially available technologies for storing excess electrical energy are presented in accordance with current and projected (until 2030) cost and operational indicators. For adapting mini-CHP to operate in the UES in conditions of a surplus of electrical power capacity, an electrical energy storage system using hydrogen as an intermediate energy carrier is of greatest interest. To utilize the excess electrical energy consumption from a mini-CHP with a heating ORC unit during the daily dips, a structural diagram configuration using an alkaline electrolysis module for hydrogen production is proposed. The efficiency of energy storage and use technology is considered depending on the specific energy intensity for various electrical energy storage technologies. The use of the two most energy-intensive energy storage technologies is proposed: accumulation based on electrochemical batte-ries and the “electricity-hydrogen” type. During the study, an analysis of the functioning of the ORC-installation Turboden 14 CHP ORC-installation operating as part of a mini-CHP using LFT was carried out. It was revealed that today the installation operates in a wide range of load changes (from 17 to 87 % of the rated electrical power), while the generation of electrical energy from thermal consumption varied in the range from 0.20 to 0.026 MW/MW. Due to the fact that the ORC installation under study is a component of the energy source with a high installed peak thermal power, in the current state there is no direct correlation between the outside air temperature and the generation power of the ORC installation. This circumstance indicates the need to continue the study of heat load trends to build functional models for short- and medium-term forecasting of heat load depending on the time of day and average hourly outside air temperature, which was implemented in the second part of the work.

Challenges navigating publicly funded home care in Ontario, Canada: Perspectives from unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia.

In Canada, persons living with dementia represent a sizable number of home care recipients. Although home care is not wholly publicly funded under provincial health insurance plans, some provinces like Ontario subsidize a maximum number of hours of home care provided by a personal support worker (PSW) on the basis of need. The public subsidization of home care may be interpreted as a mechanism of financial risk protection, enabling unpaid caregivers to maintain employment, income levels, and personal health. However, deficits in the availability of home care call into question how the organization of home care may be contributing to financial risk among unpaid caregivers. Inspired by qualitative phenomenology, this study describes the financial risks experienced by unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia navigating publicly funded homecare in Ontario. Based on 24 interviews conducted between August-December, 2020, we found financial risk emerges across three dimensions: 1) receiving information about publicly funded home care that anticipates future care needs; 2) receiving flexible hours of support from a PSW; and 3) maintaining consistent access to quality support. Financial risks included turning to privately funded home care options, or taking time off work to provide care. Findings may inform local and international home care reforms aiming to protect caregivers from financial risk.

Gender Gap in Access to the Driving Licence: Experimental Evidence from France

ABSTRACT In this article, we assess the gender difference in response from driving schools to a request for information about the requirements to pass the driving licence. To this purpose, we created fictitious profiles for two young candidates seeking a driving licence training, a woman and a man, who were similar in all other aspects. We conducted two waves of experiment on 290 driving schools randomly selected from an exhaustive list of French driving schools. The feedback received from driving schools that responded to both candidates is examined to investigate differences in treatment between the male and female applicants. Our analysis shows that driving schools propose a slightly significantly higher maximum number of hours of preparation for the road test when the candidate is a woman: on average, driving schools propose 1.5 more hours of training to women than to men. On the other hand, we do not find a significant gender difference in the price of the training offered and few differences in other variables related to the content of the response.

IMPACT OF SHIFT WORK ON SLEEP QUALITY AMONG SECURITY GUARDS

The current assess is to study the impact of sleep quality among security guards. The data for the current study was gathered using a systematic questionnaire and interview schedule, which include general prole, occupational prole and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. The study were randomly selected, working in same eld 150 respondents. The good sleep quality was observed in permanent based security guards as they sleep maximum number of hours at night (µ=1.17) and least step disturbance (µ=1.33). Temporary based Security guards met maximum step disturbed sleep (µ=1.57) as compare to contractual (µ= 1.56) and daily wages (µ=1.47). It was found that security personnels work both in day and night faced maximum sleep latency (µ=1.74), habitual sleep efciency and sleep disturbance (µ=1.58). Good sleep quality was observed in permanent based security guards. The study clears that sleeping quality is largely depend on the shift works which need to be inspect, more research and make precise strategies to mitigate the issues.

Employing Family Caregivers: An Innovative Health Care Model.

Employing Family Caregivers: An Innovative Health Care Model.

Comparative energy analysis of a laboratory building with different materials using eQUEST simulation software

In the context of global warming and climate change issues, the building sector is one of the major contributors to energy consumption and Green House Gas emissions. In view of this, the building concepts are shifting from the standard structures to the low-energy consumption structures through use of passive and active systems to save energy during the life expectancy of the buildingswithout compromising quality and comfort levels. The main aim of this study is to investigate the passive strategies (by using non-energy strategies) to achieve energy-efficient buildings. The work has been carried out for a laboratory building at Nitte, India. The laboratory with Galvanized Iron (GI) sheet roofing and concrete walls, due to which has an uncomfortable living space, has been used for the study. The US department of energy’s eQUEST (The Quick Energy Simulation Tool) software has been used for the simulations. The results show that it is possible to improve the human comfort to the acceptable standards by using the concept of economic thickness of insulation such as the use of 5 mm coconut pith insulation board on the wall and 5 mm jute fiber below the roof with 0.3 m air gap and also by using low emissivity glass window. The Temperature maintained is 75 to 80 ˚F (24 ˚C to 27 ˚C) for maximum number of hours and relative humidity is found to be in between 40 and 49 percent for maximum number of hours, both of which otherwise used to be much outside these comfortable limits.

TYPES OF OVERWORK AND JOBS THAT CANNOT BE OVERWORKED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LABOR LAW NO. 4857

The right to work has been recognized as a fundamental human right in almost all international human rights documents and in the constitutions of many countries. This right has been recognized and guaranteed as a fundamental human right also in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. However, not only recognizing and guaranteeing "work" as a fundamental human right but also regulating its implementation and functioning within the framework of laws is of great importance. The concept of overwork is a concept that has been mentioned in the Labor Law regarding the implementation and functioning of the concept of work and it is regulated in our Labor Law No. 4857. In order to talk about overwork, a limited working time is required. In this context, upon determining the maximum number of hours a worker can work per week by drawing a limit on working hours in Labor Law No. 4857, overwork, which is the subject of work exceeding this period, is defined. Furthermore, the types of overwork that arise depending on the reasons for overworking, as well as the jobs that cannot be overworked, are regulated in the same Law.

Performance and ferrography analysis for determining the wear of an external gear pump

The present work employs an experimental and analytical method to investigate the wear of an external gear pump. The first part of experimental method involves, running the gear pump on test rig for set number of working hours and the performance curves are plotted for studying any variation during the course of experiments. In the second part of experimental method the circulated oil was studied for any contamination. Contaminated oil is an indication of wear which is to be detected using ferrography. The gear pump therefore was run for maximum number of hours to study the variation in performance of gear pump due to wear during the running operation. The oil samples were collected after the pump has been run at a set discharge pressure for a certain number of hours. Wear was expected to occur to detect the presence of ferrous particles for checking whether the gear pump components have worn out after the operation. Direct ferrogram reading machine was used to detect small and large particle size concentration and based on this the wear severity index was found out analytically. Also the necessary conclusions using graphical trend are obtained between particle size concentrations and wear severity index with respect to time.

Satellite and telecommunication alert system for foot-hold trapping

Abstract ContextImproving the welfare outcomes for captured animals is critically important and should underpin ‘best-practice’ trapping. Most Australian States and Territories have regulations and guidelines that form a legal framework for the maximum number of hours an animal can be restrained in a trap. Because servicing all traps within preferred time frames (less than 24h) can be logistically difficult or is considered undesirable for efficacy reasons, some jurisdictions have adopted relatively long trap-checking intervals (up to 72 h). AimsWe developed and tested the signal transmission and alert efficacy of a foot hold-trap alert system, based on Celium technology, so as to advise trappers of the activation of individual foot-hold traps, even in remote locations. MethodsWe refined the Celium trap-alert system and designed a below-ground wireless node that transmits a message via satellite or by using the cellular system when a foot-hold trap is sprung. We tested signal transmission and alert efficacy in three locations, with a focus in Australia. Key resultsTransmission of signals from nodes to hubs and to a smart-phone application were used to resolve interference problems and to identify signal limitations and strengths. During the capture of 34 dingoes, 91% of captures resulted in an alert being received. False negatives were attributed to technical issues with nearby transmitters swamping signals, and software problems that have since been resolved. In 40 captures of dogs and foxes, only one trap-alert transmitter (mole) was uncovered by a target animal and no devices were damaged by animals post-capture. ConclusionsThis cable-less trap-alert system successfully uses both cellular and satellite networks to transmit messages from desert and coastal locations to trappers, in Australia. We confirmed that this trap-alert system is not detected by target predators in the areas tested and can be effectively used to alert trappers when traps have been sprung. ImplicationsThis trap-alert system provides a tool to improve welfare outcomes for trapped target and non-target animals through Australia and New Zealand and wherever trapping occurs. It, furthermore, provides a solution to checking traps daily when the distance to and between traps cannot be covered within an appropriate time frame. Although trap alerts can never replace the value of daily trap checking by the trapper, they provide a solution to a management problem, namely, one of accessibility to sites.

A time motion study of community mental health workers in rural India

BackgroundCommunity Health Workers (CHWs) are critical to providing healthcare services in countries such as India which face a severe shortage of skilled healthcare personnel especially in rural areas. The aim of this study is to understand the work flow of CHWs in a rural Community Mental Health Project (CMHP) in India and identify inefficiencies which impede their service delivery. This will aid in formulating a targeted policy approach, improving efficiency and supporting appropriate work allocation as the roles and responsibilities of the CHWs evolve.MethodsA continuous observation Time Motion study was conducted on Community Health Workers selected through purposive sampling. The CHWs were observed for the duration of an entire working day (9 am- 3 pm) for 5 days each, staggered during a period of 1 month. The 14 different activities performed by the CHWs were identified and the time duration was recorded. Activities were then classified as value added, non-value added but necessary and non-value-added to determine their time allocation.ResultsHome visits occupied the CHWs for the maximum number of hours followed by Documentation, and Traveling. Documentation, Administrative work and Review of work process are the non-value-added but necessary activities which consumed a significant proportion of their time. The CHWs spent approximately 40% of their time on value added, 58.5% of their time on non-value added but necessary and 1.5% of their time on non-value added activities. The CHWs worked for 0.7 h beyond the stipulated time daily.ConclusionThe CHW’s are “dedicated” mental health workers as opposed to being “generalists” and their activities involve a significant investment of their time due to the specialized nature of the services offered such as counselling, screening and home visits. The CHWs are stretched beyond their standard work hours. Non-value added but necessary activities consumed a significant proportion of their time at the expense of value-added activities. Work flow redesign and implementation of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) can mitigate inefficiencies.

Assessment of standalone solar PV-Battery system for electricity generation and utilization of excess power for water pumping

This study presents a developed assessment methodology for Photovoltaic-Battery power system featured with utilization of the dumbed power for secondary applications such as water pumping. Primary target is to meet the demand of 3.2 kWh/day for rural housing unit. The PV-Battery system size is determined by varying the number of PV’s and Battery capacity. At each configuration, having the Loss of Power Supply Probability of 0, the Levelized Cost of Energy is determined. It has been revealed that the number of PV panels are depending on a day with lowest solar irradiations. However, the required battery storage is contingent on the maximum number of hours the battery is required to supply power to the load. In the present study, the battery can supply power for maximum of 16 h such as starting from 4:00 PM to 7:00 AM next day. The selected size of PV-Battery system to meet the load demand of 3.2 kWh/day and utilize the excess power for water pumping consists of 2.44 kWp of PV’s and 3.55 kWh of installed battery capacity. The selected power system generates an average 9.807 kWh/day and provides the water pumping of 363 m3/day. The power yield in peak hours and Levelized Cost of Energy are 58.6% and 0.3750 $/kWh, respectively. It is reviled that the excess power is unavoidable, and it is recommended to be utilized for water pumping. If the water is pumped to elevated storage, it may be used for extra hydro power generation by hybrid PV-Battery-Hydro power.

A household-level score to predict the risk of tuberculosis among contacts of patients with tuberculosis: a derivation and external validation prospective cohort study

SummaryBackgroundThe epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of social protection and biomedical interventions for tuberculosis-affected households might be improved by risk stratification. We therefore derived and externally validated a household-level risk score to predict tuberculosis among contacts of patients with tuberculosis.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, we recruited tuberculosis-affected households from 15 desert shanty towns in Ventanilla and 17 urban communities in Callao, Lima, Peru. Tuberculosis-affected households included index patients with a new diagnosis of tuberculosis and their contacts who reported being in the same house as the index patient for more than 6 h per week in the 2 weeks preceding index patient diagnosis. Tuberculosis-affected households were not included if the index patient had no eligible contacts or lived alone. We followed contacts until 2018 and defined household tuberculosis, the primary outcome, as any contact having any form of tuberculosis within 3 years. We used logistic regression to identify characteristics of index patients, contacts, and households that were predictive of household tuberculosis, and used these to derive and externally validate a household-level score.FindingsBetween Dec 12, 2007, and Dec 31, 2015, 16 505 contacts from 3 301 households in Ventanilla were included in a derivation cohort. During the 3-year follow-up, tuberculosis occurred in contacts of index patients in 430 (13%, 95% CI 12–14) households. Index patient predictors were pulmonary tuberculosis and sputum smear grade, age, and the maximum number of hours any contact had spent with the index patient while they had any cough. Household predictors were drug use, schooling of the female head of a household, and lower food spending. Contact predictors were if any of the contacts were children, number of lower-weight (body-mass index [BMI] <20·0 kg/m2) adult contacts, number of normal-weight (BMI 20·0–24·9 kg/m2) adult contacts, and number of past or present household members who previously had tuberculosis. In this derivation cohort, the score c statistic was 0·77 and the risk of household tuberculosis in the highest scoring quintile was 31% (95% CI 25–38; 65 of 211) versus 2% (95% CI 0–4; four of 231) in the lowest scoring quintile. We externally validated the risk score in a cohort of 4248 contacts from 924 households in Callao recruited between April 23, 2014, and Dec 31, 2015. During follow-up, tuberculosis occurred in contacts of index patients in 120 (13%, 95% CI 11–15) households. The score c statistic in this cohort was 0·75 and the risk of household tuberculosis in the highest scoring quintile was 28% (95% CI 21–36; 43 of 154) versus 1% (95% CI 0–5; two of 148) in the lowest scoring quintile. The highest-scoring third of households captured around 70% of all tuberculosis among contacts. A simplified risk score including only five variables performed similarly, with only a small reduction in performance.InterpretationThis externally validated score will enable comprehensive biosocial, household-level interventions to be targeted to tuberculosis-affected households that are most likely to benefit.FundingWellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for International Development, Joint Global Health Trials consortium, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Innovation for Health and Development.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress in the first trimester of high-risk pregnancy

To survey the characteristics, career goals, and practice preferences of current urology applicants.An anonymous survey was emailed to applicants pursuing a residency position at the University of Florida for the 2017-2018 academic year Urology Match. The survey included questions on demographics, motivating factors to pursue urology, plans for fellowship training, and anticipated and desired practice patterns.A total of 151 of 295 applicants completed the survey, mean age 26.9± SD 2.3. Males had a higher interest in academics/research, cancer, men's health, and minimally invasive surgery technology. Females had a higher interest in public health, surgery, and mixture of surgical and medical management. A total of 64.1% planned on completing a fellowship. Males had a higher interest in urologic oncology and endourology. Females had a higher interest in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, andrology and sexual medicine, and pediatric urology. A total of 76.9% anticipated having an academic affiliation, 68.9% working in an urban setting, and 98% working full-time, with no difference based on gender. For desired quality of life after residency, maximum number of hours considered acceptable was 51-60 (36.4%) and 61-70 (35.1%). Regarding an acceptable call schedule, most considered 2-4 nights per month reasonable. Most felt an acceptable starting salary was $250,000-$400,000 and $200,001-$350,000 for private practice and academic urology, respectively.Current urology applicants desire to work in academics, urban settings, and pursue subspecialty fellowship training. What they consider acceptable work hours, call schedule, and financial compensation appear compatible with the current practice of urology.

Pension reform and return-to-work policies

AbstractFor many people, working after beginning retirement benefit collection is a way to enhance financial security by increasing income. Existing research has shown that retirees are sensitive to the Social Security earnings test, which restricts the amount of earnings some beneficiaries can receive. However, little is known about the effects of other types of policies on post-retirement employment. Instead of restricting earnings, many public pension plans restrict the number of hours beneficiaries can work. I use return-to-work rules limiting the number of hours of employment in a state's public pension plan and administrative data on employment and retirement to determine the rules’ effects on retirement decisions and post-retirement labor supply. I find that the increases in the maximum number of hours of post-retirement employment lead to no change in retirement benefit collection and to increases in part-time work among retirees. As such, these policies appear to be binding on the labor supply decisions of some employees. These results are relevant for designing policies aimed at extending work-lives or improving the health of pension systems.

Risk of penstock fatigue in pumped-storage power plants operating with variable speed in pumping mode

The upgrade of a pumped-storage power plant (PSPP) to allow variable speed operation offer several advantages in pumping and generating modes. However, in pumping mode at part load, both pressure and torque pulsations develop in the pump turbine runner. This paper evaluates the risk of fatigue damage in the penstock of a variable-speed PSPP due to the propagation of the pressure pulsations developing in the pump turbine runner at partial load in pumping mode. For that purpose, a simulation model of a variable-speed PSPP has been developed. The pressure and torque pulsations are generated each from a different set of sinusoidal functions calibrated from the results of a Computational Fluid Dynamic model, which was in turn validated from experimental data. A Monte Carlo simulation has been performed considering different temporal gaps between the sinusoidal functions reproducing the pressure pulsations in one and another pump turbine. The number of stress cycles that may cause fatigue damage in the penstock has been obtained from the results of the simulations and the fatigue curves defined in the Eurocode, and then transformed into the maximum number of hours per year the PSPP can operate at partial load in pumping mode to avoid fatigue damages.

Career Expectations and Preferences of Urology Residency Applicants

ObjectiveTo survey the characteristics, career goals, and practice preferences of current urology applicants. MethodsAn anonymous survey was emailed to applicants pursuing a residency position at the University of Florida for the 2017-2018 academic year Urology Match. The survey included questions on demographics, motivating factors to pursue urology, plans for fellowship training, and anticipated and desired practice patterns. ResultsA total of 151 of 295 applicants completed the survey, mean age 26.9± SD 2.3. Males had a higher interest in academics/research, cancer, men's health, and minimally invasive surgery technology. Females had a higher interest in public health, surgery, and mixture of surgical and medical management. A total of 64.1% planned on completing a fellowship. Males had a higher interest in urologic oncology and endourology. Females had a higher interest in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, andrology and sexual medicine, and pediatric urology. A total of 76.9% anticipated having an academic affiliation, 68.9% working in an urban setting, and 98% working full-time, with no difference based on gender. For desired quality of life after residency, maximum number of hours considered acceptable was 51-60 (36.4%) and 61-70 (35.1%). Regarding an acceptable call schedule, most considered 2-4 nights per month reasonable. Most felt an acceptable starting salary was $250,000-$400,000 and $200,001-$350,000 for private practice and academic urology, respectively. ConclusionCurrent urology applicants desire to work in academics, urban settings, and pursue subspecialty fellowship training. What they consider acceptable work hours, call schedule, and financial compensation appear compatible with the current practice of urology.

Eliciting Time versus Money: Time Scarcity Underlies Asymmetric Wage Rates

Marketing strategies are often tied to how consumers spend time (e.g., waiting in lines, searching across stores) in return for money (e.g., receiving a discount). Viewing such time-money tradeoffs in terms of a reservation wage rate for consumers, we identify a wage-rate asymmetry between two elicitation procedures: (a) Money-Elicit (MEL): state the minimum amount of money, M, that you would accept in return for spending a given number of hours, T; and (b) Time-Elicit (TEL): state the maximum number of hours, T, that you would spend in return for accepting a given amount of money, M. While these procedures are normatively equivalent, we propose that TEL (vs. MEL) wage rates are higher because time scarcity receives a higher weight in TEL judgments. In eight studies including both hypothetical and real settings, we document the wage-rate asymmetry, the time scarcity process, and a downstream consequence of TEL (vs. MEL) reducing the likelihood of accepting a time-money tradeoff. We discuss the implications for practice, and for research on wage rates, time versus money, procedural invariance, and scarcity.

Venous thromboembolism risk associated with protracted work- and computer-related seated immobility: A case-control study.

ObjectiveTo examine the association between venous thromboembolism and prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility.DesignA case-control study.Participants and settingCases were 200 patients attending venous thromboembolism clinics with a history of deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism in the past six months, and controls were 200 patients treated in fracture clinic for an upper limb injury in the past six months.Main outcome measuresLogistic regression was used to estimate the association between venous thromboembolism and prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility in the 28 days before the index event. Prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility was defined firstly as a categorical variable with at least 10 h seated in a 24-h period, including at least 2 h without getting up; and secondly as the actual time spent seated in a 24-h period.ResultsProlonged work- and computer-related seated immobility (categorical variable) was present in 36 (18%) cases and 31 (15.5%) controls. In multivariate analysis, there was no significant association between prolonged seated immobility and venous thromboembolism, odds ratio 1.18 (95% CI 0.56 to 2.48), P = 0.67. For the mean and maximum number of hours seated in a 24-h period, the odds ratios for the association per additional hour seated with venous thromboembolism were 1.08 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.6), P = 0.02 and 1.04 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.09), P = 0.08, respectively.ConclusionThis study found a weak association between venous thromboembolism and prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility, with increasing mean hours seated associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism.

Site selection for new PV power plants based on their observability

Despite the advantages that power plants based on renewable energies offer, there are some restrictions to the social acceptance of these facilities. One of these restrictions is the visual impact that large power plants may generate on people. This paper presents a new methodology for ranking the feasible places in a zone for the construction of new photovoltaic (PV) power plants according to their visibility. The methodology is based on the fuzzy viewshed and the distance decay methods, which enable to calculate the maximum number of hours in a mean day in which the new PV plant may be viewed by each possible observer. This number is related to the inhabitants in the zone, the size of the plant, the possible observers from paths and roads, and their distance to the PV plant. The proposed methodology is implemented in a Geographical Information System which allows the presentation of visual results that help to identify the best areas in the zone under study. This methodology can be useful to local authorities who have to authorize the installation of the new power plant, or investors who are trying to find the best locations from the point of view of visual impact.

A tabu search heuristic approach for allocating operating room capacity

In this paper, two methodologies for allocating hospital operating room (OR) capacity to medical specialties were developed. The first methodology integrates a linear programming (LP) model with a tabu search (TS) heuristic algorithm and the second methodology integrates a greedy search algorithm (GA) with a TS heuristic algorithm. The models determine a monthly operating room allocating template that minimises inpatients’ length of stay. A number of patient type priorities (e.g., emergency over inpatient) and clinical constraints (e.g., maximum number of hours allocated to each specialty) are included in the models. The proposed methodologies are tested using real data, analysed using various scenarios and compared in terms of solution quality and computational time.