In this paper we generalize the primal--dual cone affine scaling algorithm of Sturm and Zhang to semidefinite programming. We show in this paper that the underlying ideas of the cone affine scaling algorithm can be naturely applied to semidefinite programming, resulting in a new algorithm....

A number of optimization methods require as a first step the construction of a dominating set (a set containing an optimal solution) enjoying properties such as compactness or convexity. In this note we address the problem of constructing dominating sets for problems whose objective is a...

With the advent of improved data collection techniques, the applied econometrician can nowadays have access to very large data bases. Sometimes, however, these can have fairly low informational content. For example, a typical response rate in direct mailings is below 1%. Given the small fraction...

In this paper we study a model to estimate the probability that a target group of an advertising campaign is reached by a commercial message a given number of times. This contact frequency distribution is known to be computationally difficult to calculate because of dependence between the...

This paper extends a fundamental result about single-item inventory systems. This approach allows more general performance measures, demand processes and order policies, and leads to easier analysis and implementation, than prior research. We obtain closed form expressions for the Laplace...

Disruptions of a railway system are responsible for longer travel times and much discomfort for the passengers. Since disruptions are inevitable, the railway system should be prepared to deal with them effectively. This paper explains that, in case of a disruption, rescheduling the timetable,...

This paper surveys recent developments related to the smooth transition autoregressive [STAR] time series model and several of its variants. We put emphasis on new methods for testing for STAR nonlinearity, model evaluation, and forecasting. Several useful extensions of the basic STAR model,...

The standard RFM models used by direct marketers include behavioral variables, but ignore the role of marketing communications. In addition, RFM models allow customer responsiveness to vary across different customers, but not across diiferent time periods. Hence, the authors first extend RFM...

The Elliptic Logarithm Method has been applied with great success to the problem of computing all integer solutions of equations of degree 3 and 4 defining elliptic curves. We extend this method to include any equation f(u,v)=0 that defines a curve of genus 1. Here f is a polynomial with integer...

We consider a consumer electronics (CE) manufacturer’s problem of controlling the inventory of spare parts in the final phase of the service life cycle. The final phase starts when the part production is terminated and continues until the last service contract or warranty period expires....