Amalgamation of partitions from multiple segmentation bases: A comparison of non-model-based and model-based methods

The segmentation of customers on multiple bases is a pervasive problem in marketing research. For example, segmentation service providers partition customers using a variety of demographic and psychographic characteristics, as well as an array of consumption attributes such as brand loyalty, switching behavior, and product/service satisfaction. Unfortunately, the partitions obtained from multiple bases are often not in good agreement with one another, making effective segmentation a difficult managerial task. Therefore, the construction of segments using multiple independent bases often results in a need to establish a partition that represents an amalgamation or consensus of the individual partitions. In this paper, we compare three methods for finding a consensus partition. The first two methods are deterministic, do not use a statistical model in the development of the consensus partition, and are representative of methods used in commercial settings, whereas the third method is based on finite mixture modeling. In a large-scale simulation experiment the finite mixture model yielded better average recovery of holdout (validation) partitions than its non-model-based competitors. This result calls for important changes in the current practice of segmentation service providers that group customers for a variety of managerial goals related to the design and marketing of products and services.     

Verifying a new identity for Green’s functions of the n=1 supersymmetric non-Abelian Yang-Mills theory with matter fields

We use the higher covariant derivative regularization to investigate a new identity for Green’s functions. It relates certain coefficients of the matter superfield vertex function for which one of the external matter legs is not chiral. Calculations in the first nontrivial order (for the two-loop vertex function) demonstrate that the new identity also holds in the non-Abelian Yang-Mills theory with matter fields. We demonstrate that the new identity follows because the three-loop integrals determining the Gell-Mann-Low function are integrals of total derivatives. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 156, No. 2, pp. 270–281, August, 2008.     

A major index for matchings and set partitions

We introduce a statistic pmaj(P) for partitions of [n], and show that it is equidistributed with cr₂, the number of 2-crossings, over all partitions of [n] with given sets of minimal block elements and maximal block elements. This generalizes the classical result of equidistribution for the permutation statistics inv and maj.     

A Newton type rational interpolation formula

We give a Newton type rational interpolation formula (Theorem 2.2). It contains as a special case the original Newton interpolation, as well as the interpolation formula of Liu, which allows to recover many important classical q-series identities. We show in particular that some bibasic identities are a consequence of our formula.     

Computing finest mincut partitions of a graph and application to routing problems

Let G=(V,E,w) be an n-vertex graph with edge weights w>0. We propose an algorithm computing all partitions of V into mincuts of G such that the mincuts in the partitions cannot be partitioned further into mincuts. There are O(n) such finest mincut partitions. A mincut is a non-empty proper subset of V such that the total weight of edges with exactly one end in the subset is minimal. The proposed algorithm exploits the cactus representation of mincuts and has the same time complexity as cactus construction. An application to the exact solution of the general routing problem is described.     

The Gold Partition Conjecture for 6-Thin Posets

We consider the Gold Partition Conjecture (GPC) that implies the 1/3–2/3 Conjecture. We prove the GPC in the case where every element of the poset is incomparable with at most six others. The proof involves the extensive use of computers. This paper contains results obtained using computer resources of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling (ICM), University of Warsaw.     

Euler's partition theorem and the combinatorics of ℓ-sequences

Euler's partition theorem states that the number of partitions of an integer N into odd parts is equal to the number of partitions of N in which the ratio of successive parts is greater than 1. It was shown by Bousquet-Mélou and Eriksson in [M. Bousquet-Mélou, K. Eriksson, Lecture hall partitions II, Ramanujan J. 1 (2) (1997) 165–185] that a similar result holds when “odd parts” is replaced by “parts that are sums of successive terms of an ℓ-sequence” and the ratio “1” is replaced by a root of the characteristic polynomial of the ℓ-sequence. This generalization of Euler's theorem is intrinsically different from the many others that have appeared, as it involves a family of partitions constrained by the ratio of successive parts.In this paper, we provide a surprisingly simple bijection for this result, a question suggested by Richard Stanley. In fact, we give a parametrized family of bijections, that include, as special cases, Sylvester's bijection and a bijection for the lecture hall theorem. We introduce Sylvester diagrams as a way to visualize these bijections and deduce their properties.In proving the bijections, we uncover the intrinsic role played by the combinatorics of ℓ-sequences and use this structure to give a combinatorial characterization of the partitions defined by the ratio constraint. Several open questions suggested by this work are described.     

Influence of poly(ethylene glycol) on the partition of a charged spin probe

The influence of poly(ethylene glycol) on the partition of a charged long chain spin probe between membranes and an external phase is studied. The partition coefficient is derived from the ESR spectra. Membranes of different properties are used (egg lecithin liposomes, erythrocytes) to differentiate between the influence of the external phase and the specific properties of the membrane.The partition coefficient is decreased in an exponential manner on increasing the PEG concentration, which indicates a lowering of the thermodynamic stability of the membranes. The determination of the change in the difference of the chemical potential is dependent on the PEG concentration.The membrane destabilization induced by PEG is caused in an indirect manner by a change of the chemical potential difference as result of the changed water structure and the osmotic pressure, surface tension and hydration of the membrane. This destabilization could be connected with the high fusogenic activity of PEG.