Dr. Fran Vasko

Dr. Vasko

Professor Emeritus

Department of Mathematics

Special Projects

History of the Bethlehem Steel Research Department: Volume 3 1983-2003

Publications

For a copy of any paper below, please visit the journal website or e-mail Dr. Vasko

  1. F. J. Vasko and D. C. Friedel, "A Dynamic Programming Model for Determining Continuous- Caster Configurations", IIE Transactions, March 1982.

  2. F. J. Vasko and G. R. Wilson, "Using a Facility Location Algorithm To Solve Large Set Covering Problems", Operations Research Letters, 1984.

  3. F. J. Vasko and G. R. Wilson, "An Efficient Heuristic For Large Set Covering Problems", Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, 1984.

  4. F. J. Vasko and G. R. Wilson, "Hybrid Heuristics for Minimum Cardinality Set Covering Problems", Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, 1986.

  5. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, and K. L. Stott, "Optimal Selection of Ingot Sizes via Set Covering", Operations Research, V 35, N 3, 1987.

  6. F. J. Vasko and F. E. Wolf, "Solving Large Set Covering Problems on a Personal Computer", Computers and Operations Research, V 15, N 2, pp. 115-121, 1988.

  7. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf , and K. L. Stott, "A Practical Solution to a Fuzzy Cutting Stock Problem", Fuzzy Sets and Systems, V 29, pp. 259-275, 1989.

  8. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, K. L. Stott, and L. R. Woodyatt. "A Fuzzy Approach to Optimal Metallurgical Grade Assignment", Applications of Fuzzy Set Methodologies in Industrial Engineering, G. W. Evans, W. Karwowski, and M. R. Wilhelm, Editors, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1989.

  9. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, and K. L. Stott, "A Set Covering Approach to Metallurgical Grade Assignment", European Journal of Operational Research, V 38, N 1, 1989.

  10. F. J. Vasko, "An Improvement to Wang’s Two-Dimensional Cutting Stock Algorithm", Computers and Industrial Engineering, V 16, N 1, pp. 109-115, 1989.

  11. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, K. L. Stott, and J. W. Scheirer, "Selection of Optimal Ingot Sizes for Bethlehem Steel", Interfaces, V 19, N 1, 1989.

  12. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, and J. A. McNamara, "A Multiple Criteria Approach to Dynamic Cold Ingot Substitution", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V 40, N 4, 1989.

  13. K. L. Stott and F. J. Vasko, "Fuzzy Problem Formulation at Bethlehem Steel", Fuzzy Sets and Systems (Bulletin Section), V 33, N 1, 1989.

  14. F. J. Vasko, M. L. Cregger, L. G. Lutsko, D. D. Newhart, and D. J. Renn, "A Multiple Attribute-Based Expert Support System for Customer/Order Evaluation", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V 41, 1990.

  15. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, and J. A. Pflugrad, "An Efficient Heuristic for Planning Mother Plate Requirements at Bethlehem Steel", Interfaces, V 21, N 2, 1991 (journal cover article).

  16. F. J. Vasko, K. L. Stott, F. E. Wolf, and L. R. Woodyatt, "An Application of Fuzzy Metallurgical Grade Selection", proceedings of the May workshop of the North American Fuzzy Information Processing Society (NAFIPS) May, 1991.

  17. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, K. L. Stott, and O. Ehrsam, "Bethlehem Steel Combines Cutting Stock and Set Covering to Enhance Customer Service", Mathematical and Computer Modelling, V 16, N 1, January, 1992.

  18. L. R. Woodyatt, K. L. Stott, F. E. Wolf, and F. J. Vasko, "Using Fuzzy Sets to Assign Metallurgical Grades to Steel", Journal of Metals, V 44, N 2, pp. 28-31, February, 1992.

  19. D. D. Newhart, K. L. Stott, and F. J. Vasko, "Consolidating Product Sizes to Minimize Inventory Levels for a Multi-stage Production and Distribution System", Journal of the Operational Research Society, July, 1993.

  20. F. J. Vasko, F. E. Wolf, K. L. Stott, and L. R. Woodyatt, "Adapting Branch - and - Bound for Real-World Scheduling Problems", Journal of the Operational Research Society, May, 1993.

  21. L. R. Woodyatt, K. L. Stott, F. E. Wolf, and F. J. Vasko, "An Application Combining Set Covering and Fuzzy Sets to Optimally Assign Metallurgical Grades to Customer Orders", Fuzzy Sets and Systems, V 53, N 1, pp. 15-26, January, 1993.

  22. F. J. Vasko, "A Computational Note on the Martello-Toth Knapsack Algorithm", European Journal of Operational Research, V 73, May, 1994.

  23. F. J. Vasko, J. A. McNamara, D. D. Newhart, and F. E. Wolf, "A Practical Solution to a Cargo Loading Problem at Bethlehem Steel", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V45, N 11, pp. 1285-1292, 1994.

  24. F. J. Vasko, M. L. Creggar, D. D. Newhart, and K. L. Stott, "A Real-Time One-Dimensional Cutting Stock Algorithm for Balanced Cutting Patterns", Operations Research Letters, V 14, N 5, pp 275-282, 1993.

  25. F. J. Vasko and F. E. Wolf. "A Practical Approach for Determining Rectangular Stock Sizes", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V 45, N 3, pp 281-286, 1994.

  26. F. J. Vasko, M. L. Creggar, K. L. Stott, and L. R. Woodyatt, "Optimal Assignments of Slabs to Orders: An Example of Appropriate Model Formulation", Computers and Industrial Engineering, V 26, N 4, 1994.

  27. F. J. Vasko and K. L. Stott, "Optimizing Continuous Caster Product Dimensions: An Example of a Nonlinear Design Problem in the Steel Industry", SIAM Review, March, 1995.

  28. F. J. Vasko, D. D. Newhart, K.L. Stott, and F. E. Wolf, "Using a Facility Location Algorithm to Determine Optimal Bloom Lengths", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V47, N 3, pp. 341-346, 1996.

  29. P. A. Huegler and F. J. Vasko, "A Performance Comparison of Heuristics for the Total Weighted Tardiness Problem", Computers and Industrial Engineering, Vol.32, No.4, pp.753-767, October, 1997.

  30. D. J. Renn, K. L. Stott, and F. J. Vasko, "A Penalty Function Sequencing Strategy Implemented Within a Knowledge-Based System", Journal of the Operational Research Society, V50, N 3, pp. 205-210, 1999.

  31. F. J. Vasko, D. D. Newhart, and K. L. Stott, "A Hierarchical Approach for One-Dimensional Cutting Stock Problems in the Steel Industry that Maximizes Yield and Minimizes Overgrading", European Journal of Operational Research, Vol.114, No.1, pp. 72-82, 1999.

  32. F. J. Vasko, D. D. Newhart, and K. L. Stott, "A Hierarchical Approach for Cutting Stock Problems that Maximizes Yield and Minimizes Overgrading", 41st MWSP CONF. PROC., ISS, VOL. XXXVII, pp. 3-10, 1999.

  33. F. J. Vasko, H. L. Gilles D. H. Bright, B. Kocatulum, and F. E. Wolf, "Making Steel Cool: An Intelligent Search Strategy for Optimizing Water Spray Settings on a Continuous Caster", OR Insight, Vol. 12, Issue 4, pp. 2-10, 1999.

  34. F. J. Vasko, J. A. McNamara, R. N. Parkes, F. E. Wolf, and L. R. Woodyatt, "A Matching Approach for Replenishing Rectangular Stock Sizes", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 253-257, 2000.

  35. F. J. Vasko, D. D. Newhart, K. L. Stott, and F. E. Wolf, "Fiddler on the Roof: balancing trim loss and setups", OR Insight, Vol. 13, Issue 3, pp. 9-14, 2000.

  36. F. J. Vasko and F. E. Wolf, "A Heuristic Concentration Approach for Weighted Set Covering Problems", Locator: ePublication of Location Analysis, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 1-14, 2001.

  37. F. J. Vasko, "My Fair Share: a simple multiple attribute decision making approach to graduate assistantship allocation", OR Insight, Vol. 14, Issue 3, pp. 26-31, 2001.

  38. F. J. Vasko, R. S. Barbieri, B. Q. Rieksts, K. L. Reitmeyer, and K. L. Stott, "The Cable Trench Problem: Combining The Shortest Path and Minimum Spanning Tree Problems", Computers and Operations Research, Vol. 29, No. 5, pp. 441-458, 2002.

  39. F. J. Vasko and D. D. Newhart, “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose”, ORMS Today, Vol.29, No. 3, pp. 23, June 2002.

  40. F.J. Vasko, “What is the River Width?”, MATH HORIZONS, pp. 31, September 2002.

  41. F. J. Vasko, D. D. Newhart, K. L. Stott, and F. E. Wolf, "A Large-Scale Application of The Partial Coverage Uncapacitated Facility Location Problem", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 11-20, 2003.

  42. F. J. Vasko and D. D. Newhart, "Does Marilyn Know her Game Theory?," SIAM NEWS, Vol.36, No. 5, pp. 11-12, June 2003.

  43. F.J. Vasko, "Play Ball—Equally: Math Programming Lends a Hand to Little League Baseball", OR Insight, Vol.16, Issue 2, pp. 16-19, April-June 2003.

  44. F.J. Vasko, D.D.Newhart, and A.D.Strauss, “Coal Blending Models for Optimum Cokemaking and Blast Furnace Operation”, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp 235-243, March 2005.

  45. F.J. Vasko, P.J. Knolle, and D. S. Spiegel, "An Empirical Study of Hybrid Genetic Algorithms for the Set Covering Problem", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 56, No. 10, pp 1213-1223, October 2005.

  46. F. J. Vasko, A. J. Hamm, K. L. Reitmeyer, and L. R. Woodyatt, "A Hierarchical Approach for the Application of Slabs to Strip Products in the Steel Industry", OR Insight, Vol.18, Issue 3, pp. 24-37, July-September 2005.

  47. P. A. Huegler and F. J. Vasko, "Metaheuristics for Meltshop Scheduling in the Steel Industry", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 58, Issue 6, pp. 791-796, June 2007.

  48. F. J. Vasko and W. J. Peterson, "Can Teachers Trust the World Wide Web for Classroom Lesson Plans?", TechTrends, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 53-54, July-August 2007.

  49. M. Governale and F.J. Vasko, "Math Programming takes the fun out of SUDOKU Puzzles", PACISE Spring Conference Proceedings April 4-5, 2008.

  50. F. J. Vasko and K. L. Stott, "Strategic Planning: OR to the Rescue", OR Insight, Vol.21, Issue 3, pp. 26-32, July-September 2008.

  51. F. J. Vasko, P. S. Ache, L. K. McGhee and N. A. Snow, "Optimizing Performance Funding at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania", OR Insight, Vol.22, Issue 1, pp 45-53, April 2009.

  52. F. J. Vasko and C. L. Bartkowski, "Using Wang’s Two-Dimensional Cutting Stock Algorithm to Optimally Solve Difficult Problems", International Transactions in Operational Research, Vol. 16, Issue 6, pp 829-938, November 2009.

  53. F. J. Vasko, R. Wisemiller and P.S. Gorman, "A Women’s Collegiate Basketball Star Player Helps her Team with OR", OR Insight, Vol.23, Issue 2, pp 71-81, July 2010.

  54. N. Storozhyshina, F. Pargar and F. J. Vasko, "A Comprehensive Empirical Analysis of 16 Heuristics for the Transportation Problem", OR Insight, Vol.24, Issue 1, pp 63-76, March 2011.

  55. F.J. Vasko, J.D. Bobeck, M.A.Governale, D.J. Rieksts and J.D. Keffer, "A Statistical Analysis of Parameter Values for the Rank-Based Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm for the Traveling Salesperson Problem", Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 62, Issue 6, pp 1169-1176, June 2011.

  56. F. J. Vasko, J.D. Kunkel and P.S. Gorman, "Using an Interval Graph Approach to Efficiently Solve the Housing Benefit Data Retrieval Problem", International Transactions in Operational Research, Vol. 18, Issue 4, pp 449-453, July 2011.

  57. P.S. Gorman, J.D. Kunkel and F. J. Vasko, "Using Pinochle to Motivate the Restricted Combinations with Repetitions Problem", International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Vol.42, Issue 5, pp 679-684, 2011.

  58. F. J. Vasko and N. Storozhyshina, "Balancing a Transportation Problem: Is It Really That Simple?", OR Insight, Vol. 24, Issue 3, pp 205-215, September 2011.

  59. F. J. Vasko, "Ask Marilyn in the Mathematics Classroom: Probability Questions", International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Vol. 43, Issue 4, pp 499-503, 2012.

  60. C. Zimmerman and F. J. Vasko, "Bringing Pizza Delivery to the Operational Research Classroom", MSOR Connections, Vol. 12, No.2, pp28-30. Summer 2012.

  61. Y. Lu, F. J. Vasko, T.J. Drummond and L. E. Vasko. "Probability and Perception: The Representativeness Heuristic in Action", Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 108, Issue 2, pp 126-131, September 2014 (journal cover article).

  62. Y. Lu and F. J. Vasko, "An OR Practitioner’s Solution Approach for the Set Covering Problem", International Journal of Applied Metaheuristic Computing, Vol. 6, No.4, pp1-13, October-December 2015 (lead article).

  63. F. Vasko, G. Kresge, A. Tal, Y. Jiang, X. Papademetris and E. Landquist. "A Simple and Efficient Strategy for Solving Very Large-Scale Generalized Cable-Trench Problems", Networks: An International Journal, Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 199-208, May 2016.

  64. K. Zyma, Y. Lu and F.J. Vasko, "Teacher Training Enhances the Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization Metaheuristic when used to Solve Multiple-Choice Multidimensional Knapsack Problems", International Journal of Metaheuristics, Vol. 4, No. 3/4, pp 268-293, 2015.

  65. F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu and K. Zyma, "What is the Best Greedy-like Heuristic for the Weighted Set Covering Problem?", Operations Research Letters, Vol. 44, pp 366-369, 2016.

  66. K. Zyma, J.N. Girard, E. Landquist, G. Schaper, and F. J. Vasko, "Formulating and Solving a Radio Astronomy Antenna Connection Problem as a Generalized Cable-Trench Problem: An Empirical Study", International Transactions in Operational Research, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 943- 957, 2017.

  67. F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu and K. Zyma,  "An Empirical Study of Population-Based Metaheuristics for the Multiple-Choice Multidimensional Knapsack Problem", International Journal of Metaheuristics, Vol. 5, No. ¾, pp. 193-225, 2016.

  68. N. Betts and F.J. Vasko, "Solving the Unbalanced Assignment Problem: Simpler is Better", American Journal of Operations Research, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 296-299, July, 2016.

  69. D. Sienko, P. Ache, Y. Lu, F.J. Vasko, and T. Witryk, "An Undergraduate uses OR to improve Final Exam Schedules at her university", MSOR Connections, V15, N1, pp 33-38, 2016.

  70. E. Landquist, F. Vasko, G. Kresge, A. Tal, Y. Jiang, and X. Papademetris, "The Generalized Steiner Cable-Trench Problem with Applications to Error Correction in Vascular Image Analysis". Operations Research Proceedings 2016: Selected Papers of the Annual International Conference of the German Operations Research Society, Eds. Andreas Fink, Armin Fugenschuh, and Martin J. Geiger. Springer, Berlin, Germany (July, 2017).

  71. E. Landquist, C. Reigle and F.J. Vasko, "A Final Note on the Ones Assignment Method and its Variants: They Don’t Work", International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, V29, N3,pp 405-412, 2018.

  72. Z. Kern, Y. Lu and F.J. Vasko, "An OR Practitioner’s Solution Approach to the Multidimensional Knapsack Problem", International Journal of Industrial Engineering Computations, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp 1-10, 2020.

  73. Y. Lu and F. J. Vasko, "An Empirical Quantification of the Impact of Choice Constraints on Generalizations of the 0-1 Knapsack Problem using CPLEX®", Engineering Optimization, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0305215X.2019.1658748.

  74. D. Gaspar, Y. Lu, M.S. Song, and F.J. Vasko, "Simple Population-Based Metaheuristics for the Multiple Demand Multiple-Choice Multidimensional Knapsack Problem", International Journal of Metaheuristics. 2020, Vol.7, N4, 330-351.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJMHEUR.2020.111600

  75. S. Andris, B. Bailey, J. Ritzko, F. J. Vasko, "Math students help their community develop balanced refuse collection routes", MSOR Connections, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp 58-62,  2020

  76. B. Emerick, Y. Lu, F.J. Vasko, "Using machine learning to predict the number of alternative solutions to a minimum cardinality set covering problem", International Journal of Industrial Optimization, Vol. 2, No. 1, February 2021, pp. 1-16.  

  77. M.S. Song, B. Emerick, Y. Lu, F.J. Vasko, "When to use Integer Programming Software to solve large multi-demand multidimensional knapsack problems: a guide for operations research practitioners", Engineering Optimization, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.1080/0305215X.2021.1933965

  78. A. Dellinger, Y. Lu, B. McNally, M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko, "A Simple and Efficient Technique to Generate Bounded Solutions for the Generalized Assignment Problem: A Guide for OR Practitioners", Research Reports on Computer Science, 2021.  https://ojs.wiserpub.com/index.php/RRCS/article/view/1039

  79. Y. Lu, B. McNally, E. Shively-Ertas, F.J. Vasko, "A Simple and Efficient Technique to Generate Bounded Solutions for the Multidimensional Knapsack Problem: a Guide for OR Practitioners", International Journal of Circuits, Systems and Signal Processing, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.46300/9106.2021.15.178

  80. B. McNally, Y. Lu, E. Shively-Ertas, M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko, "A Simple and Effective Methodology for Generating Bounded Solutions for the Set K-Covering and Set Variable K-Covering Problems: A Guide for or Practitioners", Review of Computer Engineering Research, 2021.  https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.76.2021.82.76.95

  81. F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu, and B. McNally.  "A Simple Methodology that Efficiently Generates All Optimal Spanning Trees for the Cable-Trench Problem", Journal of Computational and Cognitive Engineering, Vol. 1 (1) 13-20, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewJCCE208918205514

  82. A. Dellinger, Y. Lu, M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko.  "Generating bounded solutions for multi-demand multidimensional knapsack problems: a guide for operations research practitioners", International Journal of Industrial Optimization, Vol 3, No 1, 1-17, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.12928/ijio.v3i1.5073

  83. M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu, K. Callaghan.  "Application of Metaheuristic Approaches for the Variable Selection Problem", International Journal of Applied Metaheuristic Computing, Volume 13, Issue 1, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.4018/IJAMC.298309

  84. A. Dellinger, Y. Lu, M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko.  "Simple strategies that generate bounded solutions for the multiple-choice multi-dimensional knapsack problem: a guide for OR practitioners", International Transactions in Operational Research, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.1111/itor.13144

  85. K.L. Stott, P.A. Huegler, D.D. Newhart, F.J. Vasko.  "Neither Fish nor Fowl: Historical Retrospectives of a Research-based OR/MS Group in an Integrated Steel Company", ORMS Today, 2022.  https://doi.org/10.1287/orms.2022.03.05

  86. E. Shively-Ertas, Y. Lu, M.S. Song, F.J. Vasko. "Using general-purpose integer programming software to generate bounded solutions for multiple knapsack problem: a guide for OR practitioners", International Journal of Industrial Optimization, Vol 4, No 1, 16-24, 2023. https://doi.org/10.12928/ijio.v4i1.6446

  87. B. Emerick, M.S. Song, Y. Lu and F. J. Vasko, “An Application of Machine Learning Tools to Predict the number of Solutions for Minimum Cardinality Set Covering Problem”, Optimization and Learning, 6th International Conference Proceedings, OLA 2023, Malaga, Spain, May 3-5, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34020-8

  88. F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu, and M.S. Song, "Solving Hard Combinatorial Optimisation Problems with General Purpose Integer Programming Software: A Guide for OR Practitioners", Inside OR, No. 627, 13, June 2023.

  89. F.J. Vasko, Y. Lu, E. Shively-Ertas and M.S, Song. "Efficiently Generating Bounded Solutions for Very Large Multiple Knapsack Assignment Problem, Journal of Computational and Cognitive Engineering, published online June 14, 2023. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewJCCE3202921