Sums and differences along Hamiltonian cycles

Given a finite abelian group G, consider the complete graph on the set of all elements of G. Find a Hamiltonian cycle in this graph and for each pair of consecutive vertices along the cycle compute their sum. What are the smallest and the largest possible number of distinct sums that can emerge in this way? What is the expected number of distinct sums if the cycle is chosen randomly? How do the answers change if an orientation is given to the cycle and differences (instead of sums) are computed? We give complete solutions to some of these problems and establish reasonably sharp estimates for the rest.     

Generalized implicit Euler method for hyperbolic functional differential equations

Nonlinear hyperbolic functional differential equations with initial boundary conditions are considered. Theorems on the convergence of difference schemes and error estimates of approximate solutions are presented. The proof of the stability of the difference functional problem is based on a comparison technique. Nonlinear estimates of the Perron type with respect to the functional variable for given functions are used. Numerical examples are given (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Accurate finite difference schemes for solving a 3D micro heat transfer model in an N-carrier system with the Neumann boundary condition in spherical coordinates

In this study, we propose a 3D generalized micro heat transfer model in an N-carrier system with the Neumann boundary condition in spherical coordinates, which can be applied to describe the non-equilibrium heating in biological cells. Two improved unconditionally stable Crank-Nicholson schemes are then presented for solving the generalized model. In particular, we delicately adjust the location of the interior grid point that is next to the boundary so that the Neumann boundary condition can be applied directly without discretization. As such, a second-order accurate finite difference scheme without using any fictitious grid points is obtained. The convergence rates of the numerical solution are tested by an example. Results show that the convergence rates of the present schemes are about 2.0 with respect to the spatial variable r, which improves the accuracy of the Crank-Nicholson scheme coupled with the conventional first-order approximation for the Neumann boundary condition.     

Pricing model of interest rate swap with a bilateral default risk

Under the foundation of Duffie & Huang (1996) [7], this paper integrates the reduced form model and the structure model for a default risk measure, giving rise to a new pricing model of interest rate swap with a bilateral default risk. This model avoids the shortcomings of ignoring the dynamic movements of the firm’s assets of the reduced form model but adds only a little complexity and simplifies the pricing formula significantly when compared with Li (1998) [10]. With the help of the Crank-Nicholson difference method, we give the numerical solutions of the new model to study the default risk effects on the swap rate. We find that for a one year interest rate swap with the coupon paid per quarter, the variance of the default fixed rate payer decreases from 0.1 to 0.01 only causing about a 1.35%’s increase in the swap rate. This is consistent with previous results.     

A compact local one‐dimensional scheme for solving a 3D N‐carrier system with Neumann boundary conditions

We consider a mathematical model for thermal analysis in a 3D N‐carrier system with Neumann boundary conditions, which extends the concept of the well‐known parabolic two‐step model for micro heat transfer. To solve numerically the complex system, we first reduce 3D equations in the model to a succession of 1D equations by using the local one‐dimensional (LOD) method. The obtained 1D equations are then solved using a fourth‐order compact finite difference scheme for the interior points and a second‐order combined compact finite difference scheme for the points next to the boundary, so that the Neumann boundary condition can be applied directly without discretizing. By using matrix analysis, the compact LOD scheme is shown to be unconditionally stable. The accuracy of the solution is tested using two numerical examples. Results show that the solutions obtained by the compact LOD finite difference scheme are more accurate than those obtained by a Crank‐Nicholson LOD scheme, and the convergence rate with respect to spatial variables is about 2.6. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2010     

CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED ENDEMIC SEABIRDS WITHIN A MULTI‐PREDATOR CONTEXT: THE BARAU'S PETREL IN RÉUNION ISLAND

Abstract Seabirds breeding on islands are vulnerable to introduced predators, such as rats and cats, and the removal of such predators is generally viewed as a priority for seabird conservation and restoration. However, multiple invasive mammal species interacting may generate unexpected outcomes following the removal (eradication) of one species. Generally these indirect interactions are not well understood or demonstrated. We propose and study a prey (seabird)‐mesopredator (rat)‐superpredator (cat) model, taking into account the juvenile stages in the prey population, in order to direct conservation management for seabird conservation. We give a more biologically realistic differential system than those studied before (Courchamp et al. [1999] ; Fan et al. [2005] ), in particular for long‐lived seabird species. We present a theoretical study and show existence and uniqueness of a positive solution as well as a qualitative study of the equilibria that may appear. Because standard numerical methods, usually implemented in scientific softwares, can fail to give the right biological approximations ( Anguelov et al. [2009] ), we propose a reliable algorithm that preserves most of the qualitative properties of the continuous system, using the theory of nonstandard finite difference methods. Finally, we use biologically realistic parameters available for the representative Barau's petrel (Pinet et al. [2008] ), an endemic species from Réunion island, to present numerical simulations that support the theoretical study. Cats play the major role in seabird prey population dynamics. Seasonality in seabird breeding delays but does not prevent extinction. In all scenarios, cat control (or preferably eradication) is imperative to prevent extinction of vulnerable long‐lived seabirds, like the Barau's petrel.     

标准混合差集矩阵的构造

通过利用差集矩阵和投影矩阵的正交分解之间的关系,首先提出了构造小的标准混合差集矩阵的一般方法.其次,给定一个阶为r+1的标准混合差集矩阵和一个阶为r的差集矩阵,首先提出了构造阶为r(r+1)的标准混合差集矩阵的一般方法.如果阶为r的差集矩阵不存在但一个试验次数为r~2的正交表存在,也可以通过它们构造阶数较大的标准混合差集矩阵.     

财务供应链管理提高企业短期财务绩效的实证研究

近几年来,无论是理论界还是实务界,对供应链管理理念在企业短期财务管理中的应用日益关注.负营运资本管理和类金融模式即是两种典型的形式.对2001-2006年间实施后一年较前一年的79个供应链管理样本进行细分,分为物理供应链样本25个,财务供应链样本54个,运用单样本t检验、单样本位置参数的Wilcoxon符号秩检验和一般线性回归法来深入探究两类供应链管理之间的关系以及二者对企业财务绩效的影响有何差异.实证结果显示:在物理供应链样本中,产成品周转率和存货周转率在10%的水平上有了显著的提高,但并未转化为盈利指标的改善.在财务供应链样本中,营业利润率和净资产收益率在5%的水平上有了显著的提高,即看到了盈利指标的改善.财务供应链管理对业绩的影响更为直接.但回归分析的结果显示:实施类金融模式会阻碍营业利润率的提高.该文的研究结论在更深入的层面上揭示了两类供应链管理之间的关系,有利于提高对供应链管理对企业财务绩效影响机制的认识.