This paper provides analysis to a generalized version of the coupon collector problem, in which the collector gets d coupons each run and he chooses the one that he has the least so far. In the asymptotic case when the number of coupons n goes to infinity, we show that on average n log n d + n d (m−1) log log n+O(mn) runs are needed to collect m sets of coupons. An efficient exact algorithm is ...

At FC’05, Chen et al. introduced an elegant privacy protecting coupon (PPC) system, CESSS05 [13], in which users can purchase multi-coupons and redeem them unlinkably while being prevented from overspending or sharing the coupons. However, the costs for issuing and redeeming coupons are linear to the redeeming limit. Security of the system is not proved and only some arguments on system propert...

The authors investigate how different segments of consumers react to different coupon characteristics, such as face value and method of distribution. They utilize a latent segmentation approach to identify the underlying segments. The empirical analysis suggests that different segments of consumers place varying emphasis with regard to economic benefits, psychic benefits, effort costs, and subs...

A submerged dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor (underwater DBD) has been used to inactivate biofilm produced by three different food-borne pathogens, namely Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ATCC 438), Cronobacter sakazakii (ATCC 29004), and Staphylococcus aureus (KCCM 40050). The inactivation that were obtained after 90 minutes of plasma operation were found to measure 5.50 log CFU/coupon, 6....

We study in this paper a generalized coupon collector problem, which consists in determining the distribution and the moments of the time needed to collect a given number of distinct coupons that are drawn from a set of coupons with an arbitrary probability distribution. We suppose that a special coupon called the null coupon can be drawn but never belongs to any collection. In this context, we...

The management of coupon promotions is an important issue for marketing managers since it still is the major promotion medium. However, the distribution of coupons does not go without problems. Although manufacturers and retailers are investing heavily in the attempt to convince as many customers as possible, overall coupon redemption rate is low. This study improves the strategy of retailers a...

We consider the form and the comparative static properties of the price of a zero coupon bond with maturity T for a broad class of interest rate models. We first demonstrate that increased volatility increases the price of a T -claim whenever the price is convex as a function of the current short rate. We then present a class of diffusion models (including, for example, the Dothan, the Black–De...

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is a complex problem that affects various industries. Several techniques have been developed to monitor corrosion and elucidate corrosion mechanisms, including microbiological processes that induce metal deterioration. We used zero resistance ammetry (ZRA) in a split chamber configuration to evaluate the effects of the facultatively anaerobic Fe(III) reducing...

This paper discusses the use of parametric models for the term structure of interest rates and their uses. The paper focuses on a potential problem which arises out of the use of certain models. In most cases the process of parameter estimation involves the minimization or maximization of a function (for example, least squares or maximum likelihood). In some cases this function can have a globa...

Suppose an urn contains M balls, of different types, which are removed from the urn in a uniform random manner. In the hypergeometric coupon collection problem, we are interested in the set of balls that have been removed at the moment when at least one ball of each type has been removed. In its dual, we are interested in the set of removed balls at the first moment that this set contains all o...