Existence and multiplicity for positive solutions of a second-order multi-point discrete boundary value problem

We investigate the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for a system of nonlinear second-order difference equations with multi-point boundary conditions.     

Uniqueness implies existence for (n,p) boundary value problems

The uniqueness of solutions of certain boundary value problems implies their existence for the nth order nonlinear ordinary differential equation y⁽ⁿ⁾=f(x,y,y^',y^'',....,y^(n-1)) This existence is established by using shooting methods and yields results for (n,p) boundary value problems.     

A nonlinear mesh-warping technique for correcting brain deformation after stroke

This article presents a warping technique for correcting brain tissue distortion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans due to stroke lesion growth and for mapping MRI scans to histological sections. Meshes are imposed upon the images for feature specification, and these features are exactly matched in the different images to be mapped, while the other voxels are matched by interpolation. This technique was tested on serial MR images and histological sections that were acquired in a nonhuman primate model of stroke. This technique was able to deliver satisfactory warping results. It is simple and robust and can be utilized in many applications for comparison of multimodality medical images and histological sections.     

Positive solutions for a system of second-order multi-point boundary value problems

In this paper, we present some results for positive solutions of a system of nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations subject to multi-point boundary conditions.     

Pricing longevity risk with the parametric bootstrap: A maximum entropy approach

In recent years, there has been significant development in the securitization of longevity risk. Various methods for pricing longevity risk have been proposed. In this paper we present an alternative pricing method, which is based on the maximization of the Shannon entropy in physics. Specifically, we propose implementing this pricing method with the parametric bootstrap (Brouhns et al., 2005), which is highly flexible and can be performed under different model assumptions. Through this pricing method we also quantify the impact of cohort effects and parameter uncertainty on prices of mortality-linked securities. Numerical illustrations based on longevity bonds with different maturities are provided.     

Corrigendum to: “Fractional Functional Differential Inclusions with Finite Delay” [Nonlinear Anal. 70(5) (2009) 2091–2105]

We correct an error made in the paper (J. Henderson and A. Ouahab, Fractional Functional Differential Inclusions with Finite Delay [Nonlinear Anal. 70(5) (2009) 2091–2015]), in an application of Theorem 4.1 in the proof of Theorem 4.2. We have revised the statement of Theorem 4.2 so that Theorem 4.1 is now applicable in its proof.     

An Optimization Based Approach to the Train Operator Scheduling Problem at Singapore MRT

Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) operates two train lines with 83 kilometers of track and 48 stations. A total of 77 trains are in operation during peak hours and 41 during off-peak hours. In this article we report on an optimization based approach to develop a computerized train-operator scheduling system that has been implemented at SMRT. The approach involves a bipartite matching algorithm for the generation of night duties and a tabu search algorithm for the generation of day duties. The system automates the train-operator scheduling process at SMRT and produces favorable schedules in comparison with the manual process. It is also able to handle the multiple objectives inherent in the crew scheduling system. While trying to minimize the system wide crew-related costs, the system is also able to address concern with respect to the number of split duties.