Lower Bounds from State Space Relaxations for Concave Cost Network Flow Problems

In this paper we obtain Lower Bounds (LBs) to concave cost network flow problems. The LBs are derived from state space relaxations of a dynamic programming formulation, which involve the use of non-injective mapping functions guaranteing a reduction on the cardinality of the state space. The general state space relaxation procedure is extended to address problems involving transitions that go across several stages, as is the case of network flow problems. Applications for these LBs include: estimation of the quality of heuristic solutions; local search methods that use information of the LB solution structure to find initial solutions to restart the search (Fontes et al., 2003, Networks, 41, 221–228); and branch-and-bound (BB) methods having as a bounding procedure a modified version of the LB algorithm developed here, (see Fontes et al., 2005a). These LBs are iteratively improved by penalizing, in a Lagrangian fashion, customers not exactly satisfied or by performing state space modifications. Both the penalties and the state space are updated by using the subgradient method. Additional constraints are developed to improve further the LBs by reducing the searchable space. The computational results provided show that very good bounds can be obtained for concave cost network flow problems, particularly for fixed-charge problems.     

Index Heuristics for Multiclass M/G/1 Systems with Nonpreemptive Service and Convex Holding Costs

We consider the optimal service control of a multiclass M/G/1 queueing system in which customers are served nonpreemptively and the system cost rate is additive across classes and increasing convex in the numbers present in each class. Following Whittle's approach to a class of restless bandit problems, we develop a Langrangian relaxation of the service control problem which serves to motivate the development of a class of index heuristics. The index for a particular customer class is characterised as a fair charge for service of that class. The paper develops these indices and reports an extensive numerical investigation which exhibits strong performance of the index heuristics for both discounted and average costs.     

带有回报计划的动态客户关系管理模型及实验应用分析

在客户最大化效用及公司最大化CLV的动态环境下。对所提的带有回报计划的动态客户关系管理模型用于某超市的客户数据库中，发现模型的结果对这类客户是适用的。并给出了不同的客户状态空间对应的有效营销组合策略。结果表明：合适的回报计划可以促进客户的购买、提高公司的利润及缓解价格竞争。回报极限应该比客户的平均购买水平偏高，回报率应该与回报极限的改变方向一致。计划的时间范围应定在一年左右比较合适。对于累积购买水平较高的客户一般不邮寄商品信息。在回报计划的初期与末期不用打折。中期对那些购买次数很少的客户可以实行相应的降价策略。     

激光诱导间质肿瘤热疗的数值模拟和实验研究

本文在考虑生物组织物性动态变化的情况下建立了激光诱导间质肿瘤热疗(LITT)的物理数学模型,采用MonteCarlo方法数值模拟了LITT中激光能量在生物组织内的传输过程,基于Pennes生物传热方程和Arrhenius方程数值求解了组织内的温度分布和热损伤体积的变化,分析了热物性及血液灌注率的动态变化对LITT过程的影响,并与相应的离体实验结果进行了对比。数值模拟结果表明,组织的热物性及血液灌注率的动态变化对于热损伤体积的变化具有重要的影响。因此在激光诱导间质肿瘤热疗的数值模拟中应该考虑热物性及血液灌注率的动态变化以期为临床治疗方案的制定提供更为准确的依据。     

Polyelectrolyte complexes. VI. Polycation structure,polyanion molar mass,and polyion concentration effects on complex nanoparticles based on poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate)

The formation and characterization of some interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) nanoparticles based on poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate) (NaPAMPS), as a function of the polycation structure, polyanion molar mass, and polyion concentration, were followed in this work. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and two polycations (PCs) containing (N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐hydroxypropyleneammonium chloride) units in the backbone (PCA₅ and PCA₅D₁) were used as starting polyions. The complex stoichiometry, (n^?/n⁺)_iso, was pointed out by optical density at 500 nm (OD₅₀₀), polyelectrolyte titration, and dynamic light scattering. IPEC nanoparticle sizes were influenced by the polycation structure and polyanion molar mass only before the complex stoichiometry, which was higher for the more hydrophilic polycations (PCA₅ and PCA₅D₁) and for a higher NaPAMPS molar mass, and were almost independent of these factors after that, at a flow rate of the added polyion of about 0.28 mL × (mL PC)^?1 × h^?1. The IPEC nanoparticle sizes remained almost constant for more than 2 weeks, both before and after the complex stoichiometry, at low concentrations of polyions. NIPECs as stable colloidal dispersions with positive charges in excess were prepared at a ratio between charges (n^?/n⁺) of 0.7, and their storage colloidal stability, as a function of the polycation structure and polyion concentration (from 0.8 to ca. 7.8 mmol/L), was demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2495–2505, 2004     

Viscoelastic behavior of polypropylene/nitrile rubber thermoplastic elastomer blends: Application of Kerner's models for reactively compatibilized and dynamically vulcanized systems

The viscoelastic properties of binary blends of nitrile rubber (NBR) and isotactic polypropylene (PP) of different compositions have been calculated with mean‐field theories developed by Kerner. The phase morphology and geometry have been assumed, and experimental data for the component polymers over a wide temperature range have been used. Hashin's elastic–viscoelastic analogy principle is used in applying Kerner's theory of elastic systems for viscoelastic materials, namely, polymer blends. The two theoretical models used are the discrete particle model (which assumes one component as dispersed inclusions in the matrix of the other) and the polyaggregate model (in which no matrix phase but a cocontinuous structure of the two is postulated). A solution method for the coupled equations of the polyaggregate model, considering Poisson's ratio as a complex parameter, is deduced. The viscoelastic properties are determined in terms of the small‐strain dynamic storage modulus and loss tangent with a Rheovibron DDV viscoelastometer for the blends and the component polymers. Theoretical calculations are compared with the experimental small‐strain dynamic mechanical properties of the blends and their morphological characterizations. Predictions are also compared with the experimental mechanical properties of compatibilized and dynamically cured 70/30 PP/NBR blends. The results computed with the discrete particle model with PP as the matrix compare well with the experimental results for 30/70, 70/30, and 50/50 PP/NBR blends. For 70/30 and 50/50 blends, these predictions are supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations. However, for 30/70 blends, the predictions are not in agreement with SEM results, which reveal a cocontinuous blend of the two. Predictions of the discrete particle model are poor with NBR as the matrix for all three volume fractions. A closer agreement of the predicted results for a 70/30 PP/NBR blend and the properties of a 1% maleic anhydride modified PP or 3% phenolic‐modified PP compatibilized 70/30 PP/NBR blend in the lower temperature zone has been observed. This may be explained by improved interfacial adhesion and stable phase morphology. A mixed‐cure dynamically vulcanized system gave a better agreement with the predictions with PP as the matrix than the peroxide, sulfur, and unvulcanized systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1417–1432, 2004     

Relationship between the dynamic softening transition and wet sliding friction of elastomer compounds

For properly chosen elastomer compounds, thermorheological characterization is combined with an examination of the variation of the wet sliding friction with temperature. A conceptual argument leads to the assumption that the wet sliding friction should maximize at the energy dissipation peak associated with the dynamic softening transition at a characteristic frequency determined by the sliding speed and the effective smallest surface asperity scale. The dynamic softening transition is characterized with the peak in tan δ/G′ⁿ, where tan δ is the loss tangent, G′ is the elastic modulus, and n is a constant between 0 and 1. The William–Landel–Ferry transform is uncritically applied for extrapolating the position of the peak in tan δ/G′ⁿ at high frequencies. Even based on the criterion of tan δ, the results obtained on a concrete surface indicate that the effective smallest asperity scale is of order of 100 μm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2467–2478, 2004     

亚像元动态成像技术中系统调制传递函数的数值分析

亚像元动态成像技术是目前实现遥感器小型化非常有效的新方法,因而研究亚像元动态成像系统的调制传递函数MTF显得非常必要和重要.介绍了亚像元动态成像的基本原理及成像过程,指出了光程差对亚像元动态成像系统MTF的影响.对亚像元动态成像系统的MTF进行了数值分析,并指出了亚像元动态成像系统的成像质量及空间分辨率与一般成像系统相比较的优点.     

多孔介质BISQ模型中的慢纵波

着重研究了多孔介质BISQ模型中慢纵波的基本特性.给出了BISQ模型下慢纵波速度 和衰减的低频近似公式.与Biot理论对比，BISQ模型中慢纵波的衰减随频率降低急剧增大， 且随喷射流长度的减小而增加；相速度随喷射流长度的减小而增加，其低频极限值不是零； 孔隙流体位移与固相骨架位移之比的幅值随喷射流长度的增加而减小，其相位特点与Biot模 型预测的不同；在流体与孔隙介质的边界上可产生更大的渗流.为对比，同时也给出快纵波 的行为.依据BISQ模型可推断：非黏滞流体饱和孔隙介质中不存在喷射流机理；BISQ模型中 关键词： 多孔介质 喷射流 慢纵波 动力协调     

Piecewise Deterministic Markov Control Processes with Feedback Controls and Unbounded Costs

The control of piecewise-deterministic processes is studied where only local boundedness of the data is assumed. Moreover the discount rate may be zero. The value function is shown to be solution to the Bellman equation in a weak sense; however the solution concept is strong enough to generate optimal policies. Continuity and compactness conditions are given for the existence of nonrelaxed optimal feedback controls.