Bayesian demand updating in the lost sales newsvendor problem: A two-moment approximation

We consider Bayesian updating of demand in a lost sales newsvendor model with censored observations. In a lost sales environment, where the arrival process is not recorded, the exact demand is not observed if it exceeds the beginning stock level, resulting in censored observations. Adopting a Bayesian approach for updating the demand distribution, we develop expressions for the exact posteriors starting with conjugate priors, for negative binomial, gamma, Poisson and normal distributions. Having shown that non-informative priors result in degenerate predictive densities except for negative binomial demand, we propose an approximation within the conjugate family by matching the first two moments of the posterior distribution. The conjugacy property of the priors also ensure analytical tractability and ease of computation in successive updates. In our numerical study, we show that the posteriors and the predictive demand distributions obtained exactly and with the approximation are very close to each other, and that the approximation works very well from both probabilistic and operational perspectives in a sequential updating setting as well.     

Facile fabrication and characterization of polyimide nanofiber reinforced photocured hybrid electrolyte for Li‐ion batteries

In this study, a novel ion conductive polyimide (PI) nanofiber reinforced photocured hybrid electrolyte has been fabricated. Polyimide fibers were fabricated with the reaction between 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) followed by electrospinning and thermal imidization methods. Then, PI electrospun fibers were dipped into hybrid resin formulation containing bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate (BEMA), poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and 3‐(methacryloyloxy) propyltrimethoxysilane (MEMO) and then photocured to prepare PI nanofiber reinforced electrolyte membrane. Photocured membranes were soaked into lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) before measuring electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity of hybrid polyelectrolyte. The chemical structure and electrochemical performance of the electrolytes were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The incorporation of MEMO into organic matrix effectively increased the modulus from 2.83 to 5.91 MPa. The obtained results showed that a suitable electrolyte for Li‐ion batteries with high lithium uptake ratio, high conductivity (7.2 × 10^?3 S cm^?1) at ambient temperature and wide stability window above 5.5 V had been prepared. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On two classes of approximation processes of integral type

The paper aims to study two classes of linear positive operators representing modifications of Picard and Gauss operators. The new operators reproduce both constants and a given exponential function. Approximation properties in polynomial weighted spaces are investigated and the speed of convergence is measured using a certain weighted modulus of smoothness. Also, the asymptotic behavior of the integral operators are established. Finally, aspects on generalized convexity are analyzed.

     

Local coordination of Fe3+ in Li[Co(0.98)Fe(0.02)]O2 as cathode material for lithium ion batteries-multi-frequency EPR and Monte-Carlo Newman-superposition model analysis

The local coordination of the Fe(3+)-centers in Li[Co(0.98)Fe(0.02)]O(2) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries has been investigated by means of XRD and multi-frequency EPR spectroscopy. EPR clearly showed the Fe(3+) being in a high-spin state with S = 5/2. The set of spin-Hamiltonian parameters obtained from multi-frequency EPR experiments with Larmor frequencies ranging between 9.8 and 406 GHz was transformed into structural information by means of an expansion to standard Newton-superposition modeling, termed as Monte-Carlo Newman superposition modeling. Based on this analysis, an isovalent incorporation of the Fe(3+)-ions on the Co(3+)-sites, i.e. Fe(x)(Co), has been shown. With that respect, the positive sign of the axial second-order fine-structure interaction parameter B(0)(2) is indicative of an elongated oxygen octahedron, whereas B(0)(2) < 0 points to a compressed octahedron coordinated about the Fe(3+)-center. Furthermore, the results obtained here suggest that the oxygen octahedron about the Fe(3+)-ion is slightly distorted as compared to the CoO(6) octahedron, which in turn may impose mechanical strain to the cathode material.     

Subspace methods for three‐parameter eigenvalue problems

We propose subspace methods for three‐parameter eigenvalue problems. Such problems arise when separation of variables is applied to separable boundary value problems; a particular example is the Helmholtz equation in ellipsoidal and paraboloidal coordinates. While several subspace methods for two‐parameter eigenvalue problems exist, their extensions to a three‐parameter setting seem challenging. An inherent difficulty is that, while for two‐parameter eigenvalue problems, we can exploit a relation to Sylvester equations to obtain a fast Arnoldi‐type method, such a relation does not seem to exist when there are three or more parameters. Instead, we introduce a subspace iteration method with projections onto generalized Krylov subspaces that are constructed from scratch at every iteration using certain Ritz vectors as the initial vectors. Another possibility is a Jacobi–Davidson‐type method for three or more parameters, which we generalize from its two‐parameter counterpart. For both approaches, we introduce a selection criterion for deflation that is based on the angles between left and right eigenvectors. The Jacobi–Davidson approach is devised to locate eigenvalues close to a prescribed target; yet, it often also performs well when eigenvalues are sought based on the proximity of one of the components to a prescribed target. The subspace iteration method is devised specifically for the latter task. The proposed approaches are suitable especially for problems where the computation of several eigenvalues is required with high accuracy. MATLAB implementations of both methods have been made available in the package MultiParEig (see http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/47844-multipareig ).     

Discrepancy of Fractions with Divisibility Constraints

We provide bounds for the absolute discrepancy of sequences of fractions with denominators streaming in a given arithmetic progression and satisfying divisibility constraints. Supported by the CERES Program 4-147/2004 of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.     

Structural properties of Dirichlet series with harmonic coefficients

An infinite family of functional equations in the complex plane is obtained for Dirichlet series involving harmonic numbers. Trigonometric series whose coefficients are linear forms with rational coefficients in hyperharmonic numbers up to any order are evaluated via Bernoulli polynomials, Gauss sums, and special values of L-functions subject to the parity obstruction. This in turn leads to new representations of Catalan’s constant, odd values of the Riemann zeta function, and polylogarithmic quantities. Consequently, a dichotomy result is deduced on the transcendentality of Catalan’s constant and a series with hyperharmonic terms. Moreover, making use of integrals of smooth functions, we establish Diophantine-type approximations of real numbers by values of an infinite family of Dirichlet series built from representations of harmonic numbers.     

Generalized Hyperbolic Octonion Formulation for the Fields of Massive Dyons and Gravito-Dyons

The close analogy between electromagnetic theory and linear gravity is discussed by the hyperbolic (split) octonion formalism. Using the similarities between the relevant field equations of massive dyons in electromagnetic theory and gravito-dyons in linear gravity, a new mathematical model is proposed to formulate these fields in a compact and simple form. The generalized wave equation including both massive dyon and monopole terms is derived. Similarly, the most generalized form of hyperbolic octonionic Klein–Gordon equation is obtained for the hypothetical particle carrying simultaneously both electromagnetic and gravitational charges (masses).     

A novel amperometric glucose biosensor based on reconstitution of glucose oxidase on thiophene-3-boronic acid polymer layer

The biosensor was constructed for determination of glucose by using glucose oxidase enzyme immobilized on poly(thiophene-3-boronic acid) (PTBA). Boronic acid functionalized polythiophene layer was obtained by electrochemical polymerization of Thiophene (Th) and thiophene-3-boronic acid (TBA) with different monomer rations. The reconstitution of the apo-glucose oxidase (apo-GOx) on a complexed flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) linked to polythiophene boronic acid (PTBA) monolayer yields an electrically contacted enzyme monolayer. The GOx-reconstituted enzyme electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction and oxidation of hydrogen peroxide as well. The PTBA/FAD/GOx biosensor shows an excellent performance for glucose at +0.4 V with a high sensitivity (2.14 μA/mM) and lower response time (～5 s) in a wide concentration range of 0.5–18 mM (correlation coefficient of 0.9952). Furthermore, the effects of applied potential, pH, temperature, electroactive interference, stability and reusability of the biosensors were discussed.     

Experimental investigation of mixed convection heat transfer of nanofluids in a circular microchannel with different inclination angles

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, the characteristics of mixed convection heat transfer of nanofluids in circular microchannels with 500&nbsp;μm diameter were...