Real zeros of the zero-dimensional parametric piecewise algebraic variety

The piecewise algebraic variety is the set of all common zeros of multivariate splines. We show that solving a parametric piecewise algebraic variety amounts to solve a finite number of parametric polynomial systems containing strict inequalities. With the regular decomposition of semi-algebraic systems and the partial cylindrical algebraic decomposition method, we give a method to compute the supremum of the number of torsion-free real zeros of a given zero-dimensional parametric piecewise algebraic variety, and to get distributions of the number of real zeros in every n-dimensional cell when the number reaches the supremum. This method also produces corresponding necessary and sufficient conditions for reaching the supremum and its distributions. We also present an algorithm to produce a necessary and sufficient condition for a given zero-dimensional parametric piecewise algebraic variety to have a given number of distinct torsion-free real zeros in every n-cell in the n-complex. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10271022, 60373093, 60533060), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. Y7080068) and the Foundation of Department of Education of Zhejiang Province (Grant Nos. 20070628 and Y200802999)     

Enterprise security economics: A self‐defense versus cyber‐insurance dilemma

We propose a model that optimizes enterprise investments in cybersecurity using expected utility theory. The model allows computing (a) investment in self‐defense to reduce the risk of security breaches, (b) investment in cyber insurance to transfer the residual risk to insurance companies, and (c) investment in forensic readiness to make the insured firms capable of generating provable insurance claims about security breaches. A three‐phase–based model of vulnerability rate evolution over time is proposed and used to estimate the different planned security expenditures throughout the investment horizon. At the starting time of investment, a decision maker invests to cover the existing risk of breach and periodically spends to cover the additional risk observed due to the release of new vulnerabilities. In this work, the intermediate tranches are determined while considering three different attitudes of decision makers, namely, optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic. An analysis is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed models.     

Optimal investment and reinsurance of an insurer with model uncertainty

We introduce a novel approach to optimal investment–reinsurance problems of an insurance company facing model uncertainty via a game theoretic approach. The insurance company invests in a capital market index whose dynamics follow a geometric Brownian motion. The risk process of the company is governed by either a compound Poisson process or its diffusion approximation. The company can also transfer a certain proportion of the insurance risk to a reinsurance company by purchasing reinsurance. The optimal investment–reinsurance problems with model uncertainty are formulated as two-player, zero-sum, stochastic differential games between the insurance company and the market. We provide verification theorems for the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs (HJBI) solutions to the optimal investment–reinsurance problems and derive closed-form solutions to the problems.     

Optimal investment strategies and risk-sharing arrangements for a hybrid pension plan

A continuous time stochastic model is used to study a hybrid pension plan, where both the contribution and benefit levels are adjusted depending on the performance of the plan, with risk sharing between different generations. The pension fund is invested in a risk-free asset and multiple risky assets. The objective is to seek an optimal investment strategy and optimal risk-sharing arrangements for plan trustees and participants so that this proposed hybrid pension system provides adequate and stable income to retirees while adjusting contributions effectively, as well as keeping its sustainability in the long run. These goals are achieved by minimizing the expected discount disutility of intermediate adjustment for both benefits and contributions and that of terminal wealth in finite time horizon. Using the stochastic optimal control approach, closed-form solutions are derived under quadratic loss function and exponential loss function. Numerical analysis is presented to illustrate the sensitivity of the optimal strategies to parameters of the financial market and how the optimal benefit changes with respect to different risk aversions. Through numerical analysis, we find that the optimal strategies do adjust the contributions and retirement benefits according to fund performance and model objectives so the intergenerational risk sharing seem effectively achieved for this collective hybrid pension plan.     

Optimal consumption and investment with insurer default risk

We solve the optimal consumption and investment problem in an incomplete market, where borrowing constraints and insurer default risk are considered jointly. We derive in closed-form the optimal consumption and investment strategies. We find two main results by quantitative analysis. As insurer default risk increases, the proportion of wealth invested in stocks could increase when wealth is small, and decrease when wealth is large. As risk aversion increases, the voluntary annuity demand could increase when insurer default risk is low, and decrease when this risk is high.     

The solutions to some operator equations with corresponding operators not necessarily having closed ranges

In this paper, we study the solvability of the operator equations in the general setting of infinite-dimensional Hilbert space with corresponding operators no necessarily having closed range. We get the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existences of the solutions and obtain formulae in each case for the general selfadjoint, positive and real positive solutions to these operator systems.     

Some equivalent definitions of Besov spaces of generalized smoothness

In this paper, we present some alternative definitions of Besov spaces of generalized smoothness, defined via Littlewood–Paley‐type decomposition, involving weak derivatives, polynomials, convolutions and generalized interpolation spaces.     

Ash and Slag Waste as a Secondary Raw Material

In the process of industrial corporation activities a lot of waste, which pollutes the atmosphere, is generated, for example ash and slag. In Tomsk region, by estimates, ash stores occupy about 600 hectares, which contain about 25 million tons by weight. In Russian thermal power-stations ash disposal areas there are about 1.3 billion tons of ash, and only 10% of it is used. That is why this problem is topical enough. In this paper the scheme of producing ash ceramic bricks and complex ash and slag waste processing is shown. Besides, profitability of the project is presented.     

基于北斗导航的车载监控系统

为了解决车辆失窃以及车内盗窃事件因缺乏有力的证据等问题无法侦破的困难,提出了一种基于北斗导航的车载监控系统;系统采用软硬件结合的开发方法,基于S3C6410开发板进行研发,使用LINUX作为操作系统,实现了图像采集、北斗卫星导航定位以及GPRS无线传输等功能;系统可实时监控汽车,10 s内通过短信方式快速提供车载位置和图像信息,有效减少汽车失窃事件的发生,也能为破案提供直接的证据,在基于我国自主的北斗导航应用方面实现了创新,系统工作快速、灵活、稳定,市场前景广阔。