Optimal asset allocation for pension funds under mortality risk during the accumulation and decumulation phases

In a financial market with one riskless asset and n risky assets whose prices are lognormal, we solve in a closed form the problem of a pension fund maximizing the expected CRRA utility of its surplus till the (stochastic) death time of a representative agent. We consider a unique asset allocation problem for both accumulation and decumulation phases. The optimal investment in the risky assets must decrease during the first phase and increase during the second one. We accordingly suggest it is not optimal to manage the two phases separately, and outsourcing of allocation decisions should be avoided in both phases. JEL: G23, G11 MSC 2000: 62P05, 91B28, 91B30, 91B70, 93E20     

A rule-based risk decision-making approach and its application in China's customs inspection decision

This paper addresses a kind of risk decision-making problem existing widely in public administration and business management, which is characterized by (1) occurrence probabilities of states of nature can be estimated by analysing historical observations, but historical observations of different objects are unhomogeneous, (2) the relation between observations and occurrence probabilities of states of nature are affected by some qualitative and quantitative indicators, (3) it is a real-time decision-making problem, that is, there are many decisions for different objects to be made in a limited time, (4) considering decision's execution, impact of resource constrains is an important issue in decision-making process. In this paper, we develop a rule-based approach to address the problem. In the proposed approach, a two-step clustering method is employed to classify objects into categories, and observations in each category can be approximately viewed as homogeneous. For objects in each category, occurrence probabilities of states of nature are estimated by logistic regression, and the decision rule is obtained through solving an optimization model, which is to minimize the total decision risks while satisfying resource constrains. Effect and efficacy of our approach are illustrated through its application to China's customs inspection decision.     

AN IMPROVED SEARCH-EXTENTION METHOD FOR SOLVING SEMILINEAR PDES

This article will combine the finite element method, the interpolated coefftcient finite element method, the eigenfunction expansion method, and the search-extension method to obtain the multiple solutions for semilinear elliptic equations. This strategy not only grently reduces the expensive computation, but also is successfully implemented to obtain multiple solutions for a class of semilinear elliptic boundary value problems with non-odd nonlinearity on some convex or nonconvex domains. Numerical solutions illustrated by their graphics for visualization will show the efficiency of the approach.     

An Enhancement of the Drezner—Wesolowsky Algorithm for Single-Facility Location with Maximin of Rectilinear Distance

In this note, we examine the algorithm of Drezner and Wesolowsky for locating a facility with maximin rectilinear distance to a given set of demand points. The concept of the closest-point constraint is introduced as a technique for increasing the efficiency of the algorithm. This potential increase in efficiency is demonstrated by an example.     

Modelling treatment effects in the HIV/AIDS epidemic

Advances in recent treatments for HIV/AIDS patients have shown dramatic outcomes in extending the incubation period and AIDS survival time, while also providing significant improvements in the quality of patients' lives. A compartmental model is proposed to analyse the effects of the various treatment regimens which have been introduced. The results produced are in good agreement with routinely collected data relating to levels of HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence in the UK homosexual population. Some parameter values within the model are obtained from surveys, census results, etc, but others are derived using a maximum likelihood estimation procedure. Finally, the model is used to project levels of incidence and prevalence over the next few years, and to investigate several possible scenarios.     

On local optima in multiobjective combinatorial optimization problems

In this article, local optimality in multiobjective combinatorial optimization is used as a baseline for the design and analysis of two iterative improvement algorithms. Both algorithms search in a neighborhood that is defined on a collection of sets of feasible solutions and their acceptance criterion is based on outperformance relations. Proofs of the soundness and completeness of these algorithms are given.     

A note on the acyclicity of the Koszul complex of a module

We prove the vanishing of the Koszul homology group H _μ(Kos(M)_μ), where μ is the minimal number of generators of M. We give a counterexample that the Koszul complex of a module is not always acyclic and show its relationship with the homology of commutative rings.     

交换自同构群的若干结果

借助于环论的方法研究了具有交换自同构群的有限群,提出了一种新的自同构构作技术,并用之证明了这样的非交换有限群具有非循环的中心子群,以及其每个极大子群的中心子群也都非循环.     

Corrigendum to the paper ``Adjoining an Order Unit to a Matrix Ordered Space'

An error has been detected (and also corrected) in Theorem 2.8 of the paper entitled “Adjoining an Order Unit to a Matrix Ordered Space” (Positivity, (2005)9: 207–223; DOI ). Accordingly, some of the results of the paper have been modified. Also, a notion of C*-matricially, Riesz normed spaces has been introduced.     

合肥同步辐射软X射线显微术研究

合肥国家同步辐射实验室首期建设的光束线之一用于软Ｘ射线显微成像研究。实验站现已装置初型的扫描透射Ｘ射线显微镜，并正在进行亲一代的扫描显微建设，同时还使同步辐射光进行接触软Ｘ射线呈微成像研究，并对选取的一些生物样品进行了成像试验。本文介绍了合肥同步辐射光源上软Ｘ射线显微术实验线站的建设及完成的一些实验结果。