0–1 equivalent model representations for air traffic management

We present two equivalent representations of a 0–1 model for the Air Traffic Flow Management Problem. We show that the LP relaxation of the second representation is tighter than the LP relaxation of the first one. As a direct implication, the Branch-and-Cut effort can be reduced. Computational results are reported on a set of large-scale instances. The preparation of this paper is partially supported by DGICYT through grant PB95-0407     

Degenerate Evolution Equations in Weighted Continuous Function Spaces, Markov Processes and the Black-Scholes Equation — Part I

The present paper is mainly devoted to the study of initial boundary problems associated with a wide class of degenerate second-order differential operators on real intervals, in the framework of weighted continuous function spaces. Such operators are of particular interest, since they often occur, for instance, while building up theoretical models in Mathematical Finance. In order to develop our approach, essentially based on semigroup theory, we provide here some general tools which, perhaps, cover an interest on their own, being concerned with the generation of positive strongly continuous semigroups and their deep connection with Markov processes, in the setting of weighted spaces of continuous functions on a locally compact space. Due to its length, the paper is split up into two parts; the second part will appear in this same journal.     

Scattering Parameters of FSS on Anisotropic Layers at Millimeter Wave Frequencies

The analysis of periodic structures on anisotropic substrates is presented for incident millimeter waves. Frequency selective surface structures composed by a periodic array of conducting crossed dipoles on anisotropic layers are analyzed. A full-wave analysis for the problem of scattering is performed. The formulation uses the moment method in combination with the immitance approach, in the Fourier domain, to determine the scattering parameters of the considered structures. A set of entire-domain type basis functions is used in the expansion for the unknown induced current. This analysis is computationally efficient, and its accuracy is verified by the agreement between results obtained in this work and those available in the literature, for particular cases.     

Veronese embedding and two–character sets

Two infinite families of two–character sets in PG(5,q) arising from the Veronese surface of PG(5,q) are constructed.     

A timelike extension of Fermat's principle in general relativity and applications

We define a variational problem based on the arrival time functional for timelike curves on a Lorentzian manifold parameterized by a fixed constant multiple of their proper time. Under a causality assumption for the manifold , we prove that the stationary points of our problem are geodesics, obtaining an extension of the Fermat's Principle for light rays proven in [14] (see also [2]). Moreover, we study the compactness pr operties of the arrival time functional by global variational techniques. Under intrinsic assumptions on the metric of we get results of existence and multiplicity for geodesics with a given energy between an event and an observer of .     

Bayesian Analysis of Extreme Values by Mixture Modeling

Modeling of extreme values in the presence of heterogeneity is still a relatively unexplored area. We consider losses pertaining to several related categories. For each category, we view exceedances over a given threshold as generated by a Poisson process whose intensity is regulated by a specific location, shape and scale parameter. Using a Bayesian approach, we develop a hierarchical mixture prior, with an unknown number of components, for each of the above parameters. Computations are performed using Reversible Jump MCMC. Our model accounts for possible grouping effects and takes advantage of the similarity across categories, both for estimation and prediction purposes. Some guidance on the specification of the prior distribution is provided, together with an assessment of inferential robustness. The method is illustrated throughout using a data set on large claims against a well-known insurance company over a 15-year period.     

Influence of organotin compounds on phosphatidylserine membranes

Organotin compounds are widely distributed toxicants. They are membrane‐active molecules with broad biological toxicity. We have studied the interaction of tributyltin and triphenyltin with phosphatidylserine model membranes using differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques. Organotin compounds produced a broadening of the gel to the liquid‐crystalline phase transition of the phospholipid and a shifting of the phase transition temperature to lower values. Infrared spectroscopy experiments showed that tributyltin exerted a fluidizing effect on the apolar part of the bilayer, and that both tributyl‐ and triphenyltin interact with the interfacial region of the bilayer, making the carbonyl groups less accessible to water. As seen by X‐ray diffraction experiments, organotin compounds were unable to change the bilayer macroscopic organization of the phospholipid, but they were able to reduce the long‐range order of the multibilayer system and to disorder the packing of the phospholipid molecules. The observed interaction between organotin compounds and phosphatidylserine membranes promotes physical perturbations that could affect membrane function and may mediate some of their toxic effects. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis, characterization and optical response of polyene-cored stilbenoid dendrimers

The synthesis of first- and second-generation dendrimers bearing phenylenevinylene chromophores within the dendritic branches (stilbenoid dendrimers) and polyenes (3 and 5 double bonds) as cores is described. A preliminary study of the optical properties of the resulting compounds was conducted by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.