In this paper we give a structural characterization and extend the tractability frontier of the Simple Temporal Problem (STP) by defining the class of the Extended Simple Temporal Problem (ESTP), which augments STP with strict inequalities and monotone Boolean formulae on inequations (i.e., formulae involving the operations of conjunction, disjunction and parenthesization). A polynomial-time algorithm is provided to solve ESTP, faster than previous state-of-the-art algorithms for other extensions of STP that had been considered in the literature, all encompassed by ESTP. We show the practical competitiveness of our approach through a proof-of-concept implementation and an experimental evaluation involving also state-of-the-art SMT solvers.

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AIROYoung is the Young Researchers Chapter of AIRO (Italian Association of Operations Research). In this work, we focus on the AIROYoung Workshop, an annual event which has been reuniting young researchers constituting this community from 2017. Describing all the editions of the initiative, we highlight the main guidelines we have been following so far to organize it (e.g., no registration fee, grants for free accommodation, no parallel sessions, and a look to sustainability). We analyze surveys filled by participants to present qualitative and quantitative data about our workshops and to show how interest and attendance have increased through the years. We talk about some innovations we have introduced to improve quality (e.g., the PhD school “from young researchers to young researchers” and the pitch talk session). We then share our personal opinion and, last but not least, we invite young researchers to join in the preparation of the next AIROYoung Workshops.

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Is the gender gap still a topic in the academic world and in particular in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)? What difficulties did women who pursue a career in academia have to overcome? What are the differences among countries and what has changed compared to the past? As women and members of a community of young researchers in Operations Research (OR), we have tried to find This article is part of the Topical Collection on The AIROYoung Experience: Operations Research for Young Enthusiasts