A Constraint Programming Approach to Extract the Maximum Number of Non-Overlapping Test Forms

This paper introduces a novel approach for extracting the maximum number of non-overlapping test forms from a large collection of overlapping test sections assembled from a given item bank. The approach involves solving maximum set packing problems (MSPs). A branch-and-bound MSP algorithm is developed along with techniques adapted from constraint programming to estimate lower and upper bounds on the optimal MSP solution. The algorithm is general and can be applied in other applications including combinatorial auctions. The results of computer simulations and experiments with an operational item bank are presented. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Achievable sets, brambles, and sparse treewidth obstructions

One consequence of the graph minor theorem is that for every k there exists a finite obstruction set Obs(TW?k). However, relatively little is known about these sets, and very few general obstructions are known. The ones that are known are the cliques, and graphs which are formed by removing a few edges from a clique. This paper gives several general constructions of minimal forbidden minors which are sparse in the sense that the ratio of the treewidth to the number of vertices n does not approach 1 as n approaches infinity. We accomplish this by a novel combination of using brambles to provide lower bounds and achievable sets to demonstrate upper bounds. Additionally, we determine the exact treewidth of other basic graph constructions which are not minimal forbidden minors.     

Artificial time integration

Many recent algorithmic approaches involve the construction of a differential equation model for computational purposes, typically by introducing an artificial time variable. The actual computational model involves a discretization of the now time-dependent differential system, usually employing forward Euler. The resulting dynamics of such an algorithm is then a discrete dynamics, and it is expected to be “close enough” to the dynamics of the continuous system (which is typically easier to analyze) provided that small – hence many – time steps, or iterations, are taken. Indeed, recent papers in inverse problems and image processing routinely report results requiring thousands of iterations to converge. This makes one wonder if and how the computational modeling process can be improved to better reflect the actual properties sought. In this article we elaborate on several problem instances that illustrate the above observations. Algorithms may often lend themselves to a dual interpretation, in terms of a simply discretized differential equation with artificial time and in terms of a simple optimization algorithm; such a dual interpretation can be advantageous. We show how a broader computational modeling approach may possibly lead to algorithms with improved efficiency. AMS subject classification (2000)  65L05, 65M32, 65N21, 65N22, 65D18     

受迫广义KdV-Burgers方程行波解的存在唯一性

本文研究具有受迫性的广义二维KdV-Burgers方程的周期行波解,为了获得周期行波解的存在唯一性定理,使唤用特定系数法和Schauder不动点定理获得了受迫广义KdV-Burgers方程周期行波解存在唯一性的条件.并获得了周期行波解的一些先验估计式.     

Lotka-Volterra型N-种群竞争系统的持久性和稳定性

本文研究一类具有无穷时滞的概周期Lotka-Volterra型N-种群竞争系统的持久性和全局渐近稳定性.一些新的充分条件被得到.     

The Exact Solutions of Some (2 + 1)-Dimensional Integrable Systems

The equivalence of three (2 1)-dimensional soliton equations is proved, and the quite generalsolutionswitha some arbitrary functions of x, t and y respectively are obtained. By selecting the arbitrary functions, many specialtypes of the localized excitations like the solitoff solitons, multi-dromion solutions, lump, and multi-ring soliton solutionsare obtained.     

高压电场作用下乙醇-水溶液体系变化红外光谱分析

本文报道了用红外光谱分析电磁场作用下乙醇 水溶液体系变化情况。分析结果表明 :当乙醇溶液受到 2 0kV·cm- 1 的交变电磁场处理 (5 0Hz)时 ,分子之间的氢键缔合先增大后减少 ;高乙醇含量溶液受到同样强度电场较长时间处理时 ,有乙醇发生氧化反应 ,从红外谱中可看到νCO 峰及ν(OH) (H2 O) 峰的出现 ;经处理后的溶液自然放置 7天再测定 ,其红外谱图基本保持不变。文中对各出现变化的峰进行了分析 ,并对其机理进行了推导     

简析"静止液体内部压强公式验证"实验的设计策略

“静止液体内部压强公式验证”在现行教材中有两种实验方法。通过分析实验的设计策略，说明其作用、效果及操作上的困难，指出合理的与不合理诸因素，从而提出改进实验的方法，化难为易，提高实验教学效果。     

Electronic properties of model quantum-dot structures in zero and finite magnetic fields

We have computed electronic structures and total energies of circularly confined two-dimensional quantum dots and their lateral dimers in zero and finite uniform external magnetic fields using different theoretical schemes: the spin-density-functional theory (SDFT), the current-and-spin-density-functional theory (CSDFT), and the variational quantum Monte Carlo (VMC) method. The SDFT and CSDFT calculations employ a recently-developed, symmetry-unrestricted real-space algorithm allowing solutions which break the spin symmetry. Results obtained for a six-electron dot in the weak confinement limit and in zero magnetic field as well as in a moderate confinement and in finite magnetic fields enable us to draw conclusions about the reliability of the more approximative SDFT and CSDFT schemes in comparison with the VMC method. The same is true for results obtained for the two-electron quantum dot dimer as a function of inter-dot distance. The structure and role of the symmetry-breaking solutions appearing in the SDFT and CSDFT calculations for the above systems are discussed. Received 16 October 2001 and Received in final form 17 January 2002     

Characteristics of transmission of electrons in a quantum wire tangentially attached to a superconductor ring threaded by magnetic flux

We present numerical investigations of the transmission properties of electrons in a normal quantum wire tangentially attached to a superconductor ring threaded by magnetic flux. A point scatterer with a δ -function potential is placed at node to model scattering effect. We find that the transmission characteristics of electrons in this structure strongly depend on the normal or superconducting state of the ring. The transmission probability as a function of the energy of incident electrons, in the case of a superconductor ring threaded by one quantum magnetic flux, emerges one deep dip, imposed upon the first broad bump in spectrum. This intrinsic conductance dip originates from the superconductor state of the ring. When increasing the magnetic flux from one quantum magnetic flux to two, the spectrum shifts toward higher energy region in the whole. This conductance dip accordingly shifts and appears in the second bump. In the presence of a point-scatterer at the node, the spectrum is substantially modified. Based on the condition of the formation of the standing wave functions in the ring and the broken of the time-reserve symmetry of Schr?dinger equation after switching magnetic flux, the characteristics of transmission of electrons in this structure can be well understood. Received 6 November 2001