Optimal pricing using online auction experiments: A P\'olya tree approach

We show how a retailer can estimate the optimal price of a new product using observed transaction prices from online second-price auction experiments. For this purpose we propose a Bayesian P\'olya tree approach which, given the limited nature of the data, requires a specially tailored implementation. Avoiding the need for a priori parametric assumptions, the P\'olya tree approach allows for flexible inference of the valuation distribution, leading to more robust estimation of optimal price than competing parametric approaches. In collaboration with an online jewelry retailer, we illustrate how our methodology can be combined with managerial prior knowledge to estimate the profit maximizing price of a new jewelry product.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/11-AOAS503 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Green Design and Construction of Site Offices

Research study and development of green site offices in Hong Kong. Green features include green roof, daylighting, energy efficiency, waste management, material reusepublished_or_final_versionhttp://www.hku.hk/bse/greensiteoffice/index.htm

Characterising the Pedagogical Practices in Mathematics Lessons among Selected Malaysian Primary Schools

This study aims to characterise the pedagogical practices of 45 observed primary mathematics lessons taught by 24 mathematics teachers in six national primary schools (SK) and six Chinese vernacular primary schools (SJKC). The data were collected using two video cameras, one focused on the teacher while the other camera focused on the pupils’ activities. The qualitative data were analysed based on two main activities in the classroom, which are teacher’s activities and pupils’ activities. The findings show that mathematics lessons conducted by SK teachers tended to engage the pupils in individual seatwork so as to assess pupils’ understanding. Conversely, SJKC teachers were focused more on explaining mathematical concepts to help the pupils build up their conceptual understanding. By characterising the pedagogical practices of mathematics lessons in various schools, the researcher hopes that the findings of this study will contribute to better understanding of the teaching and learning process in SK and SJKC mathematics classrooms. The results serve as a documentation of pedagogical practices in Malaysia to enable implementation of suitable programmes to help in improving teachers’ pedagogical practices from different types of primary schools. While the results are interesting and provide some directions, a much larger study would be needed to determine if the results are due to the teachers’ enthusiasm, geographical differences, cultural or social differences, or what is known as the Hawthorne Effect

Design and implementation of liquid cooling system for ArchiMITes vehicle

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 27).MIT Vehicle Design Summit is building ArchiMITes, a lightweight hybrid vehicle with a modular auxiliary power unit. For testing purposes, the vehicle platform will first be built as an all-electric vehicle. It will be powered by five lithium ion batteries that generate a total of 700 W of heat. Without a cooling system, the batteries will quickly rise above 50 'C and become damaged. This project seeks to design and put together a liquid cooling system to remove the heat from the batteries. Calculations indicate that the battery cell temperature will be 17.39 'C above the ambient temperature. This temperature difference incorporates a factor of safety of 2. Further studies on battery placement, working fluid fill methods, and fan and pump control are recommended.by Sam Hui.S.B