Tenders with Different Risk Preferences in Construction Industry

Underlying the fact that different tenderers have different preferences on risk-taking, this study investigates the different tenderers' behaviors in one-shot construction bid auctions. Our model extends the preconditions of previous assumption that all tenderers are characterized by neutral risk-taking in the original tendering model for lowest-price sealed tender. A general tendering model for the lowest-price sealed tender is established to explain the behavior of tenderers during the tendering. The results indicate that construction estimate is affected by the degree of uncertainties in the construction industry. Therefore, in a lowest-price sealed tender, risk-averse tenders would tender a higher price and conversely risk-seeking tenderers would tender a lower price when risk-neutral tenderers would tender a middle price. However, the risk-seeking tenderers are more likely to win the bid.Auction, tender, uncertainty, preference, construction industry

The Inverse Fundamental Operator Marching Method for Cauchy Problems in Range-Dependent Stratified Waveguides

The inverse fundamental operator marching method (IFOMM) is suggested to solve Cauchy problems associated with the Helmholtz equation in stratified waveguides. It is observed that the method for large-scale Cauchy problems is computationally efficient, highly accurate, and stable with respect to the noise in the data for the propagating part of a starting field. In further, the application scope of the IFOMM is discussed through providing an error estimation for the method. The estimation indicates that the IFOMM particularly suits to compute wave propagation in long-range and slowly varying stratified waveguides

Marching schemes for inverse scattering problems in waveguides with curved boundaries

A marching scheme is developed for inverse scattering problems of the Helmholtz equation in waveguides with curved boundaries. We implement a local orthogonal transform to transform the irregular waveguide in physical plane into a regular rectangle in computing plane. Then the modified Helmholtz system in computational domain is piecewise solved through a second order numerical marching scheme, and we propose a spectral projector based on the truncated local propagating eigenfunction expansion to regularize the marching scheme. In the end, the marching scheme is verified by extensive numerical experiments, and it is shown that the scheme is efficient, stable and accurate in rapidly varying waveguides with curved boundaries, even when the number of propagating modes in the main propagation direction is variable

Effects of temperature on photosynthetic performance and nitrate reductase activity in vivo assay in Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta)

Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis is an economically-valued species and widely cultured in China at present. After being acclimated to different growth temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees C) for 7 days, the relative growth rate (RGR), nitrate reductase activity, soluble protein content and chlorophyll a fluorescence of G. lemaneiformis were examined. Results show that RGR was markedly affected by temperature especially at 20 degrees C at which G. lemaneiformis exhibited the highest effective quantum yield of PSII [Y(II)] and light-saturated electron transport rate (ETRmax), but the lowest non-photochemical quenching. Irrespective of growth temperature, the nitrate reductase activity increased with the incubation temperature from 15 to 30 degrees C. In addition, the greatest nitrate reductase activity was found in the thalli grown at 20 degrees C. The value of temperature coefficient Q10 of alga cultured in 15 degrees C was the greatest among those of other temperatures tested. Results indicate that the optimum temperature for nitrate reductase synthesis was relatively lower than that for nitrate reductase activity, and the relationship among growth, photosynthesis, and nitrate reductase activity showed that the optimum temperature for activity of nitrate reductase in vivo assay should be the same to the optimal growth temperature

A Class of PDEs with Nonlinear Superposition Principles

Through assuming that nonlinear superposition principles (NLSPs) are embedded in a Lie group, a class of 3rd-order PDEs is derived from a general determining equation that determine the invariant group. The corresponding NLSPs and transformation to linearize the nonlinear PDE are found, hence the governing PDE is proved C-integrable. In the end, some applications of the PDEs are explained, which shows that the result has very subtle relations with linearization of partial differential equation

An Optimization Management Model for Countries with Mutually Competitive Regions

It is difficult to manage resources allocation and pollution in a multi-regional country with mutually competitive relations. This work therefore intends to propose an optimal control model for the management problem. Through introducing the union utility function to model competitive interactions, we construct an integrated economy, resource, and environment macroeconomic model according to the social practices in the country with some competitive regions. Numerical procedures are proposed to search for the optimal energy policy and antipollution strategy of the model. As shown, an optimal fair tradeoff between efficiency and equity can be balanced for each region in the country. More important, the model verifies the importance of the role of government for management problems in a country with complex internal competitive relation

Numerical Simulation on the specimen dynamic plastic deformation behaviour in the torsional split Hopkinson bar test

The torsional split Hopkinson bar (SHB) is an important method to study the dynamic shear behaviour and shear localization of materials under high strain rates. Different specimen sizes were used in literatures, and the size of the specimen might have an effect on the experimental results. Numerical simulation on torsional SHB tests was carried out with LS-DYNA. The strain signal on the incident and transmitted bars were obtained from the simulation just as the experiment. Then the numerical strain-stress relationship of the material was derived from the numerical strain signal using the experiments data process of torsional SHB. The agreement between numerically derived strain-stress results and the specimen material properties specified in numerical modelling indicates that the torsional SHB is applicable to study the dynamic shear behaviour of materials under high strain rates. The specimen gauge diameter has no significant effect on the dynamic torsional test result. However, higher adhesive strength is required to fix the larger gauge diameter specimen on the bars. The specimen gauge thickness has little effect on the experimental results with a modified formula to calculate the specimen stress. Still, the increase of specimen gauge thickness will lead to the increase of non-uniformity of specimen stress and strain (strain rate). Based on the simulation analysis, suggestions on the specimen size design are given as well

Numerical Simulation on the specimen dynamic plastic deformation behaviour in the torsional split Hopkinson bar test

The torsional split Hopkinson bar (SHB) is an important method to study the dynamic shear behaviour and shear localization of materials under high strain rates. Different specimen sizes were used in literatures, and the size of the specimen might have an effect on the experimental results. Numerical simulation on torsional SHB tests was carried out with LS-DYNA. The strain signal on the incident and transmitted bars were obtained from the simulation just as the experiment. Then the numerical strain-stress relationship of the material was derived from the numerical strain signal using the experiments data process of torsional SHB. The agreement between numerically derived strain-stress results and the specimen material properties specified in numerical modelling indicates that the torsional SHB is applicable to study the dynamic shear behaviour of materials under high strain rates. The specimen gauge diameter has no significant effect on the dynamic torsional test result. However, higher adhesive strength is required to fix the larger gauge diameter specimen on the bars. The specimen gauge thickness has little effect on the experimental results with a modified formula to calculate the specimen stress. Still, the increase of specimen gauge thickness will lead to the increase of non-uniformity of specimen stress and strain (strain rate). Based on the simulation analysis, suggestions on the specimen size design are given as well

On the Behavior of a System of Rational Difference Equations xn+1=xn-1/(ynxn-1-1),yn+1 = yn-1/(xnyn-1-1),zn+1=1/xnzn-1

We are concerned with a three-dimensional system of rational difference equations with nonzero initial values. We present solutions of the system in an explicit way and obtain the asymptotical behavior of solutions

Antioxidant, antibacterial and antischistosomal activities of extracts from Grateloupia livida (Harv). Yamada.

The present study was designated to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial and antischistosomal activities of Grateloupia livida (GL) extracts in vitro. A GL Ethanol extract (EE) was separated into petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butyl alcohol (BuOH) and aqueous (AQ) fractions to fractionate the polar and non-polar compounds in the EE. Extracts antioxidant activities were evaluated in vitro by DPPH radical-scavenging, deoxyribose radical scavenging, and β-carotene bleaching assays, all using butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as the reference antioxidant compound. The most effective antioxidant properties were observed in the PE fraction in all three assays. Antimicrobial testing showed that the PE fraction exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with the PE fraction also exhibiting strong activity against the human pathogenic trematode S. japonicum adult worm. In order to investigate the relationships between bioactivity and chemical composition, the chemical composition of the PE fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 25 components were identified in the PE fraction, most of which have known antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. However, none of the compounds have reported activity against Schistosoma, suggesting that the schistosomicidal activity of the PE fraction may be related to minor constituents present in the extract, or governed by more intricate synergistic or additive relationships. Finally, fractions with the greatest biological activity displayed neither cellular cytotoxicity, at concentrations up to 100 ug/ml, or acute oral toxicity in mice, at doses up to 2000 mg/kg. Based on antioxidant, antimicrobial, antischistosomal activities, and low toxicity, the PE fraction possesses properties useful for food preservation and overall improvement of human health