Vol. 13, Issue 07, July, 2026

This paper develops an Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model that incorporates three realistic features of modern inventory systems: linear time-dependent demand, linear deterioration of stocked items, and a partial backlogging rate that varies with waiting time. Many traditional EOQ models assume constant demand and exponential deterioration, which limits their applicability to industries where consumption patterns grow steadily and items deteriorate at a proportional rate. To address this gap, the proposed model formulates a deterministic framework in which demand increases or decreases linearly over time, and deterioration is represented through a linear deterioration coefficient. Shortages are permitted, and the willingness of customers to wait is modelled as a decreasing function of the waiting time, leading to time-dependent partial backlogging. The total cost function is derived by combining ordering, holding, deterioration, and shortage-related costs and the optimal replenishment cycle and order quantity are obtained using analytical methods. A numerical example and sensitivity analysis highlight the influence of key parameters on the optimal policy. The findings demonstrate that time-dependent backlogging significantly affects shortage decisions, while linear demand and deterioration jointly shape replenishment frequency. The developed model offers practical insights for inventory managers dealing with gradually changing demand trends and products vulnerable to deterioration.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in India despite being largely preventable through screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Delayed diagnosis, poor treatment compliance, and inadequate follow-up continue to compromise treatment outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings. Clinical audits provide an opportunity to evaluate institutional practices, identify deficiencies in patient care, and guide quality improvement initiatives. Objective: To evaluate the demographic and clinicopathological profile, treatment patterns, treatment compliance, clinical outcomes, treatment-related toxicities, and follow-up status of patients with carcinoma cervix managed at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective clinical audit was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra, India. Medical records of 283 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma cervix registered between January 2018 and December 2023 were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, FIGO stage, histopathology, treatment details, treatment compliance, response to therapy, treatment-related toxicities, and follow-up data were collected. Of the registered patients, 193 (68.2%) completed the planned treatment protocol and were included for response and toxicity assessment. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies, percentages, medians, and ranges. Results: The median age at presentation was 54 years (range, 18–69 years). Most patients presented with locally advanced disease (FIGO stage III–IV, 59.0%), while squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant histological subtype. Among the 193 patients who completed treatment, the majority received definitive radiotherapy with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. At the first post-treatment evaluation, 125 patients (65.0%) achieved a complete clinical response, whereas residual disease, progressive disease, and recurrence were observed in 11.0%, 19.0%, and 5.0% of patients, respectively. Anaemia was the most common acute treatment-related toxicity, while bladder and rectal complications represented the predominant late toxicities. Treatment default (31.8%) and poor long-term follow-up were identified as the principal deficiencies in patient management. Conclusion: This clinical audit demonstrates that a substantial proportion of patients continue to present with advanced-stage cervical cancer, reflecting persistent gaps in early detection and timely referral. Although satisfactory clinical response was achieved among patients completing definitive treatment, treatment completion and follow-up remained suboptimal. Strengthening community awareness, expanding cervical cancer screening, improving referral pathways, reducing treatment interruptions, and implementing structured patient-tracking systems are essential quality improvement measures to optimize cervical cancer care in resource-constrained settings.