Kung-Traub’s conjecture states that an optimal iterative method based on d function evaluations for finding a simple zero of a nonlinear function could achieve a maximum convergence order of 2d−1. During the last years, many attempts have been made to prove this conjecture or develop optimal methods which satisfy the conjecture. We understand from the conjecture that the maximum order reached b...

Mario Ullrich, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria, is the winner of this annual award. The award is given for significant contributions to information-based complexity by a young researcher who has not reached their 35th birthday by September 30th the year of the award. The award consists of $1000 and a plaque. The plaque will be presented at the IBC Conference in Bedlewo, Poland, August...

In this paper, a family of Steffensen type methods of fourth-order convergence for solving nonlinear smooth equations is suggested. In the proposed methods, a linear combination of divided diferences is used to get a better approximation to the derivative of the given function. Each derivative-free member of the family requires only three evaluations of the given function per iteration. Therefo...

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between changes of efficiency, income inequality and life expectancy on the one hand and ∗Financial support by the German Federal Pension Insurance’s Research Network on Pensions (FNA) is gratefully acknowledged. Earlier versions of the paper were presented at the IIPF conference in Warwick, at the FNA workshop “Wohlstandverteilung und gesetzliche ...

In this paper, a family of Steffensen-type methods of optimal order of convergence with two parameters is constructed by direct Newtonian interpolation. It satisfies the conjecture proposed by Kung and Traub (J. Assoc. Comput. Math. 1974, 21, 634–651) that an iterative method based on m evaluations per iteration without memory would arrive at the optimal convergence of order 2m−1. Furthermore, ...

Endocytosis is a complex process that is used by eukaryotic cells to internalize fragments of plasma membrane, cell-surface receptors, and various soluble molecules. Many different mechanisms have been developed to achieve internalization of membrane-bound receptors and their ligands and they can be distinguished in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and nonclathrin internalization routes. In the cl...

The genus Eumolpianus Smit, 1983, a group of fleas infesting chipmunks mostly in western North America, is reviewed. Its host preferences and distribution are discussed and the relationships of the 7 currently recognized species are examined. It is concluded that E. eumolpi americanus (Hubbard, 1950) is a junior synonym of the nominate species. Although not formally synonymized, it is postulate...

Gryphopsylla maxomydis n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae), Medwayella rubrisciurae n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae) and Macrostylophora theresae n. sp. (Ceratophyllidae) are described from endemic rodents in Sulawesi. Gryphopsylla maxomydis was collected from the murids Maxomys musschenbroekii and Paruromys dominator in Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah). However, M. musschenbroekii appears to be the true host of ...