ParisTech

About: ParisTech is a education organization based out in Paris, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Residual stress & Finite element method. The organization has 1888 authors who have published 1965 publications receiving 55532 citations. The organization is also known as: Paris Institute of Technology & ParisTech Développement.

Risk Aversion, Road Choice, and the One-Armed Bandit Problem

Abstract: This paper provides a theoretical analysis of advanced traveler information systems for road choice with risk-averse drivers who rationally learn over time, in a simple setting. For this purpose, we study the one-armed bandit problem where a driver selects, day after day, either a safe or a random road. Four information regimes are envisaged. The visionary driver knows beforehand, with certainty, the travel time on the random road, while the locally informed driver needs to select a road to acquire information on it. Two intermediary information regimes (fully and globally) are also envisaged. We analyze these four regimes and compare the optimal strategies and the individual benefits with respect to individual risk aversion. A numerical example also illustrates the impact of risk aversion on dynamic optimal strategies.

Natural α-Fe2O3 as an efficient catalyst for the p-nitrophenol reduction

Abstract: 4 nitrophenol (4-NP) is a recalcitrant water pollutant. It reduces to 4 aminophenol (4-AP), which is a less harmful compound. Typically, a noble metal catalyzes this reaction. However, its preparation is complex and expensive. Here, for the first time, we test hematite either from natural goethite calcination and compared with a synthetic hematite prepared by citrate or traditional precipitation method. We characterize the catalysts by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), particle size distribution (PSD), and nitrogen adsorption desorption at 77 K. 4-NP reacted in presence of NaBH4 as the reducing agent to 4-AP. Kinetic study and catalyst stability were performed. Particle morphology played an important role in the reaction. All samples exhibited high catalytic activity with first order kinetic constants of 0.024, 0.027, 0.037 s−1 for natural α-Fe2O3, hematite prepared by precipitation, and citrate method, respectively.