SPAR: stochastic programming with adversarial recourse

We consider a general adversarial stochastic optimization model. Our model involves the design of a system that an adversary may subsequently attempt to destroy or degrade. We introduce SPAR, which utilizes mixed-integer programming for the design decision and a Markov decision process (MDP) for the modeling of our adversarial phase.     

How much sweetness is there in the universe?

We continue investigations of forcing notions with strong ccc properties introducing new methods of building sweet forcing notions. We also show that quotients of topologically sweet forcing notions over Cohen reals are topologically sweet while the quotients over random reals do not have to be such. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Asymptotic properties of constrained Markov Decision Processes

We present in this paper several asymptotic properties of constrained Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) with a countable state space. We treat both the discounted and the expected average cost, with unbounded cost. We are interested in (1) the convergence of finite horizon MDPs to the infinite horizon MDP, (2) convergence of MDPs with a truncated state space to the problem with infinite state space, (3) convergence of MDPs as the discount factor goes to a limit. In all these cases we establish the convergence of optimal values and policies. Moreover, based on the optimal policy for the limiting problem, we construct policies which are almost optimal for the other (approximating) problems. Based on the convergence of MDPs with a truncated state space to the problem with infinite state space, we show that an optimal stationary policy exists such that the number of randomisations it uses is less or equal to the number of constraints plus one. We finally apply the results to a dynamic scheduling problem.This work was partially supported by the Chateaubriand fellowship from the French embassy in Israel and by the European Grant BRA-QMIPS of CEC DG XIII     

Calorimetric study of Diepoxide Chain-Extended Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)

A series of chain-extended PET samples were obtained by the use of different amounts of a diepoxide as chain extender, which was prepared for this purpose. These samples exhibited different intrinsic viscosities and degrees of branching or cross-linking. The effects of this differentiation on the thermal properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal parameters studied were the glass transition temperature (T_g), the cold-crystallization temperature (T_cc), the melting temperature (T_m), the enthalpy (ΔH_m) and the degree of crystallinity. The data revealed that, the higher the quantity of chain extender or the chain extension time, the higher T_gand T_cc, but the lower T_mand ΔH_m, i.e. the more amorphous the chain-extended samples, as also shown by density measurements. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Asymptotic behavior of energy band associated with a negative energy level

The mathematical foundation of the tight binding approximation is given. If ₀ is a negative energy level of a real potentialq, then there exists an energy band for a one-dimensional chain with period 2T of the same atoms which lies near ₀. We study this band whenT tends to infinity.On leave of absence from the Department of Physics, Leningrad State University, Leningrad, USSR.     

On concepts of directional differentiability

Various definitions of directional derivatives in topological vector spaces are compared. Directional derivatives in the sense of Gâteaux, Fréchet, and Hadamard are singled out from the general framework of -directional differentiability. It is pointed out that, in the case of finite-dimensional spaces and locally Lipschitz mappings, all these concepts of directional differentiability are equivalent. The chain rule for directional derivatives of a composite mapping is discussed.     

Random walks generated by affine mappings

This article is concerned with Markov chains on ^m constructed by randomly choosing an affine map at each stage, and then making the transition from the current point to its image under this map. The distribution of the random affine map can depend on the current point (i.e., state of the chain). Sufficient conditions are given under which this chain is ergodic.     

Spatial fluctuations in reaction-limited aggregation

A general method is used for describing reaction-diffusion systems, namely van Kampen's method of compounding moments, to study the spatial fluctuations in reaction-limited aggregation processes. The general formalism used here and in subsequent publications is developed. Then a particular model is considered that is of special interest, since it describes the occurrence of a phase transition (gelation). The corresponding rate constants for the reaction between two clusters of sizei and sizej areK _ij=ij (i, j=1, 2,). For thediffusion constants D _j of clusters of sizej the following class of models is considered:D _j=D if 1Js andD _j=0 ifj>s. The casess= ands< are studied separately. For the models= the equal-time and the two-time correlation functions are calculated; this modelbreaks down at the gel point. The breakdown is characterized by a divergence of the density fluctuations, and is caused by the large mobility of large clusters. For all models withs< the density fluctuations remain finite att _c, and the equal-time correlation functions in the pre- and in the post-gel stage are calculated. Many explicit and asymptotic results are given. From the exact solution the upper critical dimension in this gelling model isd _c=2.     

新的酰胺型开链冠醚的合成与性质

Simon在70年代开发了一类酰胺型开链冠醚,能选择性配位碱土金属离子并可作为中性载体制备离子选择性电极.由于酰胺型开链冠醚易于制备,因此受到人们广泛地重视.Vgtle等提出的“末端基”概念为开链冠醚的合成、设计起了重要的指导作用.前文报道2-甲氧基-1-氨甲基萘与三甘醇二碘化物在无水碳酸钠存在下于乙腈中反应得到双手臂的套索冠醚与碘化钠的配合物.X射线衍射晶体结构分析表明萘环上的甲氧基中的氧原子参加了与钠离子的配位,生成了扭曲的六边形双锥结构配合物.因此2-甲氧基-1-氨基萘可以作为开链冠醚的“末端基”.开链冠醚的合成路线是:     

MONTE CARLO STUDY ON THE CRITICAL ADSORPTION POINT OF BOND-FLUCTUATED POLYMER CHAINS TETHERED ON ADSORBING SURFACES

 The behavior of three-dimensional bond fluctuation model chains tethered on an adsorbing flat surface was simulated by the Monte Carlo method. The dependence of the number of surface contacts M on the interaction strength e and the chain length N was investigated by a finite-size scaling law M = N[a₀ + a₁N^1/v_k + O((N ^1/v_k)²)] for e near the critical adsorption point e_c, i.e., k ≡(e-e_c)/e_c closes to 0. The critical adsorption point was estimated to be e_c = 0.93, and the exponents &#61542; = 0.49 and 1/v= 0.57.