The Mathematical Institute Newsletter is maintained by Jan-Hendrik Evertse. The newsletter will be issued the first week of each month, except for July and August. The electronic version of the newsletter can be found on http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/~evertse/newsletter.shtml
(go to the homepage of the Mathematical Institute and click on "Newsletter").

Copy for the October newsletter, such as announcements, personal notes, visits to conferences, guests, lectures of general interest, Ph.D.-defenses, or other announcements of general interest should be sent by e-mail to evertse@math.leidenuniv.nl before September 27. Copy should be submitted in English plaintext, so that it can be inserted into the newsletter without time consuming typing or translating work.

Agenda and announcements
 

• General Colloquium
   
  Thursday September 18, 4:00-5:00 pm, room 174:
  J. Buhler (Reed College, Portland, Oregon): A problem in symmetric functions from phase determination in crystallography.
  For further information, see http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/~evertse/colloquium.shtml

• First year exams on Friday September 19
   
  See below.

• EIDMA-Stieltjes Onderwijsweek/Graduate Course on Cryptography from September 22-26
   
  From September 22-26 there is a course on cryptography at the Lorentz Center which is meant for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in mathematics, and anybody else interested. This course is meant as a preparation for the workshop Mathematics of Cryptology the week thereafter. On September 26 there is an overlap between this graduate course and the workshop, with lectures for a non-specialized audience. The course is coordinated by Ronald Cramer (BRICS, Aarhus, Denmark), Bas Edixhoven (University of Leiden) and Berry Schoenmakers (Technical University of Eindhoven). For further information, see http://www.math.leidenuniv.nl/~edix/oww/mathofcrypt

• Workshop Mathematics of Cryptology from September 26-October 2
   
  From September 26-October 2 there is a workshop Mathematics of Cryptology at the Lorentz Center. The workshop is coordinated by Ronald Cramer, Bas Edixhoven and Berry Schoenmakers. For further information, see http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/lc/web/2003/20030926/info.php3?wsid=98

Personal notes
 

• New employees (Ph-D students):
   
  

  - Bernadetta Tarigan (Prof.dr. Sara van de Geer)

  Bernadetta Tarigan will work in the project entitled "Classification and Adaptation"

Working visits/visits to conferences

- L.C.M. Kallenberg has attended the 18th International Symposium on Mathematical programming, which was held in Copenhagen from August 18-22. He has given an invited lecture.
- S.A. van de Geer will attend the workshop "Regularization in Statistics" at the Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery, September 6-September 11.

Technical reports

MI 2003-11		F. Merkl and L. Mohammadi: Optimal third root asymptotic bounds in the statistical estimation of thresholds.
MI 2003-12		F. Spieksma: Graphs, fluid paths and false fluid paths in exponential priority queues. I. Construction of graphs.
MI 2003-13		B. van de Rotten, S. Verduyn Lunel, A. Bliek: Efficient simulation of periodically forced reactions in 2-D.

Master's theses 2002-2003

- Mr. M. Kardal
title: Betrouwbaarheidsonderzoek schattingsmethode NEH-Systeem.
advisor: Prof.dr. S.A. van de Geer
specialization: Mathematical statistics
date: March 11, 2003
 
- Mr. H.J. Hupkes
title: Analysis of Newton's method to compute travelling wave solutions to lattice differential equations.
advisor: Prof.dr. S.M. Verduyn Lunel
specialization: Analysis
date: April 3, 2003
 
- Mr. K. Sahin
title: Generalised nonlinear Schrödinger equation.
advisor: Prof.dr.ir. L.A. Peletier
specialization: Analysis
date: April 10, 2003
 
- Mr. M.A. Swart
title: Airport Capacity Modelling for Dynamic Separation Distance Schemes.
advisor: Prof.dr. S.A. van de Geer
specialization: Mathematical Statistics
date: May 23, 2003
 
- Mrs. J.A.J. den Haag
title: Time of peak response in turnover models in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
advisor: Prof.dr.ir. L.A. Peletier
specialization: Analysis
date: June 25, 2003
 
- Mrs. E.C. Cleuver
title: Waiting lists and patient demand in health care.
advisors: Prof.dr. S.A. van de Geer, dr.ir. R.M.C.H. Douven (CPB)
specialization: Mathematical Statistics
date: August 18, 2003
 
- Mr. M. Onderwater
title: The expected exit time in applications. A two-sided approach.
advisor: Prof.dr. S.M. Verduyn Lunel
specialization: Analysis
date: August 27, 2003

First year exams on Friday September 19

Starting with the academic year 2003-2004, the first year exam ceremony will take place at our institute. The first such new style ceremony will be on Friday September 19 at 4:00 pm in room 174. After the ceremony there will be a drink. Both students and faculty of the Mathematical Institute are cordially invited to the ceremony and the drink. The following students will receive their first year certificates:
 
- Mr. T.H. Beuman (Math/Phys)
- Mrs. C. den Butter (Math)
- Mrs. B.E. van Dalen (Math/Astr)
- Mr. P.C. Hutter (Math/Comp.Sc)
- Mr. E. Jongsma (Math/Comp.Sc)
- Mrs. R.P.M.J. Jurrius (Math/Astr)
- Mrs. A. Keune (Math/Astr)
- Mr. J.H.J. Lukkezen (Math/Astr)
- Mr. M. van Ommen (Math/Astr)
- Mr. L. Rademaker (Math/Astr)
- Mrs. S.C. Raynor (Math)
- Mr. S. Scholtus (Math/Phys)
- Mrs. D.M. Schipper (Math/Comp.Sc)
- Mrs. M.A.C. Walenkamp (Math)