253 research outputs found
Maximizing Profit with Convex Costs in the Random-order Model
Get PDFSuppose a set of requests arrives online: each request gives some value v_i if accepted, but requires using some amount of each of d resources. Our cost is a convex function of the vector of total utilization of these d resources. Which requests should be accept to maximize our profit, i.e., the sum of values of the accepted demands, minus the convex cost?
We consider this problem in the random-order a.k.a. secretary model, and show an O(d)-competitive algorithm for the case where the convex cost function is also supermodular. If the set of accepted demands must also be independent in a given matroid, we give an O(d^3 alpha)-competitive algorithm for the supermodular case, and an improved O(d^2 alpha) if the convex cost function is also separable. Here alpha is the competitive ratio of the best algorithm for the submodular secretary problem. These extend and improve previous results known for this problem. Our techniques are simple but use powerful ideas from convex duality, which give clean interpretations of existing work, and allow us to give the extensions and improvements
Characteristics of Anupam Sud's art
No full textAnupam Sud is considered as one of the greatest contemporary artists in India. The author makes polish readers more familiar with this artist. We focused on Sud's main works – graphics, paintings and even a sculpture. The article contains discussion about one of Sud’s most widely used motifs– a woman in search of shakti. Moreover, it covers issues of human depravity, one’s contempt for another, and primarily it points out main problem being faced by Hindu women in a patriarchal society. We draw attention to the most characteristic features of Anupam Sud’s work – artwork as manifested (by which Sud tries to draw attention to the Hindu woman’s situation), chiaroscuro and anatomy.Anupam Sud jest zaliczana do grona najwybitniejszych współczesnych artystów w Indiach. Autorka w swoim tekście przybliża postać mało znaną polskiemu czytelnikowi. Omawia główne jej dzieła – graficzne, malarskie i jedną rzeźbiarską. Snuje rozważania na temat jednego z popularnych typów przedstawień kobiecych, chętnie ukazywanego przez artystkę – kobiety, która poszukuje śakti. Ponadto porusza problem zepsucia człowieka, gardzenia drugim, a przede wszystkim wskazuje na problemy, jakie towarzyszą Induskom w patriarchalnym społeczeństwie. Autorka prezentuje najbardziej charakterystyczne cechy twórczości Anupam Sud: szczegółowe przedstawianie anatomii, mistrzowskie operowanie światłocieniem oraz dzieła-manifesty, którymi graficzka stara się zwrócić uwagę odbiorców na sytuację kobiet w Indiach
The Average-Value Allocation Problem
Get PDFWe initiate the study of centralized algorithms for welfare-maximizing allocation of goods to buyers subject to average-value constraints. We show that this problem is NP-hard to approximate beyond a factor of e/(e-1), and provide a 4e/(e-1)-approximate offline algorithm. For the online setting, we show that no non-trivial approximations are achievable under adversarial arrivals. Under i.i.d. arrivals, we present a polytime online algorithm that provides a constant approximation of the optimal (computationally-unbounded) online algorithm. In contrast, we show that no constant approximation of the ex-post optimum is achievable by an online algorithm
A parameter back-calculation technique for pavements under moving loads
No full textMaintenance and rehabilitation strategies of pavements are usually made based on the results of performance evaluation. An efficient tool for pavement structural evaluation at network level is the traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) test. In order to deal with TSD measurements, this paper proposes a parameter back-calculation technique. Firstly, the sensitivity of the surface response for an elastic pavement structure with hysteretic damping to different structural parameters is investigated. Then, the ability of the parameter backcalculation technique is verified by conducting a case study. The results show that the proposed technique is able to back-calculate the structural parameters of pavements by analysing TSD measurements. The presented work contributes to the development of parameter back-calculation techniques for the TSD test.Accepted author manuscriptPavement EngineeringDynamics of Structure
The Folio: F. C. C. Magazine
No full textMaqbool Ahmad Bhatty-Editorial-Before We Part. pp. 1-2; Adya Sharan Sharma-Article-Swami Ram Tirtha. pp. 2-4; B. R. P.-The Master of My Ruined Garden. pp. 4; Ayoob Ali-Art. pp. 4-5; Gilani, S. A. S.-Poetry-The Sacred Shrine. pp. 5-6; Anupam Dhar-Kashmiri Marriages. pp. 6-8; Nazir Latif-The Bookworm. pp. 8; Hans-Article-Study of Macbeth as a Tragic Hero. pp. 9-10; Laroia, V. K.-Professional Error. pp. 10-11; Saran Singh-The Days of Our Glory. pp. 11-12; Manmohan Mehta-Article-The Short Story in England. pp. 12-13; [Hindi]. 4 p.; Punjabi Phulvari [Punjabi]. 4 p.; The Folio [Urdu]. 6 p.Dr. C. H. Rice, M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab. after page 1
All-norms and all-Lp-norms approximation algorithms
Get PDFwork was done while the author was at Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik, Saarbrücken, Germany
The Electronic Silk Road: How the Web Binds the World in Commerce
Get PDFOn the ancient Silk Road, treasure-laden caravans made their arduous way through deserts and mountain passes, establishing trade between Asia and the civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean. Today’s electronic Silk Roads ferry information across continents, enabling individuals and corporations anywhere to provide or receive services without obtaining a visa. But the legal infrastructure for such trade is yet rudimentary and uncertain. If an event in cyberspace occurs at once everywhere and nowhere, what law applies? How can consumers be protected when engaging with companies across the world?
In this accessible book, cyber-law expert Anupam Chander provides the first thorough discussion of the law that relates to global Internet commerce. Addressing up-to-the-minute examples, such as Google’s struggles with China, the Pirate Bay’s skirmishes with Hollywood, and the outsourcing of services to India, the author insightfully analyzes the difficulties of regulating Internet trade. Chander then lays out a framework for future policies, showing how countries can dismantle barriers while still protecting consumer interests
A generic domain specific language for financial contracts
No full textFinancial contracts require management, such as valuation, scheduling and generating legal documents. The current approach for managing financial contracts is inefficient, for lack of a universal language for representing contracts. Peyton Jones et al.'s proposed such a language, even though contracts are diverse and new ones are introduced often. We verify that Peyton Jones et al.'s language is expressive enough by using it to represent two new contracts: credit default swap and power reverse dual currency swap. We demonstrate its advantage by using the same
program to value all contracts represented. More generally, we need only one program for each contract management task.M.S.Includes bibliographical references (p. 46)
Mothercare:down or flourishing?
No full textMothercare is a British retailer specialising in expectant mother and kids wear, with a market capitalisation of GBP 74.99 million (July 2021). Mothercare has been experiencing financial troubles for a couple of years, with a net loss of GBP 76 million in 2018, which increased to GBP 93 million in 2019. In November 2019, the company closed all stores in the UK. The UK retail segment was put in administration as it was in debt and could not pay the money it owed. Students will be asked to answer why the company had to do so, and if the company will be able to survive and, if so, how? The case provides detailed information about the UK and the international segments (including both online and in-store) sales and profitability from 2015 to 2020, which allows an examination the financial performance, focusing on the continuing operating segments and the direction of growth. The case enables the student to dig deeper into the company’s operating segment analysis rather than analyse the company’s overall financial performance as a whole
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