Forecasting call frequency at a financial services call centre

A forecasting model is developed for the number of daily applications for loans at a financial services telephone call centre. The purpose of the forecasts and the associated prediction intervals is to provide effective staffing policies within the call centre. The model building process is constrained by the availability of only 2 years and 7 months of data. The distinctive feature of the data is that demand is driven in the main by advertising. The analysis given focuses on applications stimulated by press advertising. Unlike previous analyses of broadly similar data, where ARIMA models were used, a model with a dynamic level, multiplicative calendar effects and a multiplicative advertising response is developed and shown to be effective.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the palladium oxides NaPd3O4, Na2PdO3 and K3Pd2O4

NaPd₃O₄, Na₂PdO₃ and K₃Pd₂O₄ have been prepared by solid-state reaction of Na₂O₂ or KO₂ and PdO in sealed silica tubes. Crystal structures of the synthesized phases were refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. NaPd₃O₄ (space group Pm3¯n, a=5.64979(6) Å, Z=2) is isostructural to NaPt₃O₄. It consists of NaO₈ cubes and PdO₄ squares, corner linked into a three-dimensional framework where the planes of neighboring PdO₄ squares are perpendicular to each other. Na₂PdO₃ (space group C2/c, a=5.3857(1) Å, b=9.3297(1) Å, c=10.8136(2) Å, β=99.437(2)°, Z=8) belongs to the Li₂RuO₃-structure type, being the layered variant of the NaCl structure, where the layers of octahedral interstices filled with Na⁺ and Pd⁴⁺ cations alternate with Na₃ layers along the c-axis. Na₂PdO₃ exhibits a stacking disorder, detected by electron diffraction and Rietveld refinement. K₃Pd₂O₄, prepared for the first time, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (a=6.1751(6) Å, b=9.1772(12) Å, c=11.3402(12) Å, Z=4). Its structure is composed of planar PdO₄ units connected via common edges to form parallel staggered PdO₂ strips, where potassium atoms are located between them. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of K₃Pd₂O₄ reveal a Curie-Weiss behavior in the temperature range above 80 K.     

Crystal structure of the pyrovanadate K4V2O7

The crystal structure of anhydrous K₄V₂O₇ (I) is determined by powder X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system (a = 10.222(1) Å, b = 6.2309(8) Å, c = 7.282(1) Å, β = 101.31(1)°, space group C2/m, Z = 2). The structure contains layers of isolated V₂O₇ pyrovanadate groups separated by layers of potassium cations. The hydration and dehydration of I are studied by thermal analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The dehydration is accompanied by decomposition of the starting crystal hydrate to give intermediate compounds. Anhydrous compound I undergoes a reversible phase transition at 740°C. The high-temperature phase is assumed to have a hexagonal unit cell (a = 6.169(4) Å, c = 15.72(1) Å, Z = 2).     

Neutron activation determination of noble metals for the analysis of technological and natural materials

Two previously developed methods of noble metal neutron activation (NA) determination have been applied for the analysis of technological materials. While comparing the data obtained by both methods with those obtained in Central Chemical Laboratory the systematical discreapences have been shown to be absent. A new method of Pd, Au, Pt and Ir NA determination in natural and technological specimens based on the selective extraction of Pd and Au preliminary to irradiation has been developed. Results of the analysis of “Glomar Cellenger”'s deep-water drilling samples are discussed obtained by this method.     

Zur Kristallstruktur von CaLaAl3O7 und CaLaGa3−xAlxO7 (x = 0,66)

On the Crystal Structure of CaLaAl₃O₇ and CaLaGa_3?xAl_xO₇ (x = 0.66) Single crystals of (I): CaLaAl₃O₇ and (II): CaLaGa_2.34Al_0.66O₇ were grown from molten oxide mixtures and investigated by single crystal X-ray technique. Both compounds crystallize with tetragonal symmetry, space group D? P4 2₁m, (I): a = 7.8075; c = 5.1564 Å, (II): a = 7.9130, c = 5.2360 Å, Z = 2 and are isostructural with the Melilites. The crystal structure is discussed.