A Law of Large Numbers for the Zeroes of Heine–Stieltjes Polynomials

We determine the limiting density of the zeroes of Heine–Stieltjes polynomials (or of any set of points satisfying the conclusion of Heine–Stieltjes Theorem) in the thermodynamic limit and use this to prove a strong law of large numbers for the zeroes.     

Strategic commitment to price to stimulate downstream innovation in a supply chain

It is generally in a firm’s interest for its supply chain partners to invest in innovations. To the extent that these innovations either reduce the partners’ variable costs or stimulate demand for the end product, they will tend to lead to higher levels of output for all of the firms in the chain. However, in response to the innovations of its partners, a firm may have an incentive to opportunistically increase its own prices. The possibility of such opportunistic behavior creates a hold-up problem that leads supply chain partners to underinvest in innovation. Clearly, this hold-up problem could be eliminated by a pre-commitment to price. However, by making an advance commitment to price, a firm sacrifices an important means of responding to demand uncertainty. In this paper we examine the trade-off that is faced when a firm’s channel partner has opportunities to invest in either cost reduction or quality improvement, i.e. demand enhancement. Should it commit to a price in order to encourage innovation, or should it remain flexible in order to respond to demand uncertainty. We discuss several simple wholesale pricing mechanisms with respect to this trade-off.     

Pensions modelling

Valuable insights into the problem of how to fund defined benefitpension schemes can be obtained by analysis using the standardBlack–Scholes/Merton option pricing model, consideringthe pension fund finances jointly with those of the sponsoringcompany. The nature of the fund assets and liabilities is completelydifferent, and this lies behind current controversies aboutthe appropriate discount rate, valuation, financial accountingand preferential status for pension fund claimants in insolvency.     

基于突变论的林火蔓延分析

在对森林火灾进行能量和质量守恒分析的基础上,把尖点突变模型应用于森林火灾蔓延的预测,使突变理论在 森林火灾的模型中从理论上有了初步的应用。文中计算了林火发生突变时的一些分歧点,分析了林火突变的特点和变化规 律。     

Covering group and graph of discretized volumes

We consider a discretized volume V consisting of finite, congruent and attached copies of a tile t. We find a group L _V the orbit of which, when applied to t, is just V. We show the connection between the structural matrixQ in the formal solution of a boundary value problem formulated for volume V and the so called auxiliary matrix of the graph Γ _v associated with V. We show boundary value problems to be isomorphic if the graphs associated with the volumes are isomorphic, or, if the covering groups are Sunada pairs.     

Micromechanisms and Mechanics of Damage and Fracture in Thin Film/Substrate Systems

The purpose of this paper is to review the mechanisms and available theoretical methods for modeling the strength and failure of thin film/substrate systems     

Positive value of information in games

We exhibit a general class of interactive decision situations in which all the agents benefit from more information. This class includes as a special case the classical comparison of statistical experiments à la Blackwell. AMS 2000 Subject Classification:Primary 91A35.The work of Bruno Bassan and Marco Scarsini was partially supported by MIUR-COFIN. The authors express their thanks to Sylvain Sorin for enlightening comments.     

Lattice path combinatorics and asymptotics of multiplicities of weights in tensor powers

We give asymptotic formulas for the multiplicities of weights and irreducible summands in high-tensor powers V_λ^⊗N of an irreducible representation V_λ of a compact connected Lie group G. The weights are allowed to depend on N, and we obtain several regimes of pointwise asymptotics, ranging from a central limit region to a large deviations region. We use a complex steepest descent method that applies to general asymptotic counting problems for lattice paths with steps in a convex polytope.     

罗氏沼虾幼苗体内一种极小病毒的序列测定与分析

从患罗氏沼虾幼苗肌肉白浊病的幼虾体内分离到两种病毒颗粒,诺达病毒(MrNV)和直径只有15nm的小病毒颗粒(extrasmallvirus,XSV),本文通过建立病毒cDNA文库获得XSV基因组的部分序列,在此基础上合成探针,用从病虾组织中提取的总PNA进行Northern杂交,结果表明XSV基因组至少包括两条RNA片段.利用不同的方法对XSV的两端序列进行克隆和测定,分别得到了872、831和662bp3个相互重叠的序列片段,这3个序列的阅读框编码一个相同的大小在17×103左右的蛋白.     

Weighted approximation of functions on the real line by Bernstein polynomials

The authors give error estimates, a Voronovskaya-type relation, strong converse results and saturation for the weighted approximation of functions on the real line with Freud weights by Bernstein-type operators.