Solving policy design problems: Alternating direction method of multipliers-based methods for structured inverse variational inequalities

Inverse variational inequalities have broad applications in various disciplines, and some of them have very appealing structures. There are several algorithms (e.g., proximal point algorithms and projection-type algorithms) for solving the inverse variational inequalities in general settings, while few of them have fully exploited the special structures. In this paper, we consider a class of inverse variational inequalities that has a separable structure and linear constraints, which has its root in spatial economic equilibrium problems. To design an efficient algorithm, we develop an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) based method by utilizing the separable structure. Under some mild assumptions, we prove its global convergence. We propose an improved variant that makes the subproblems much easier and derive the convergence result under the same conditions. Finally, we present the preliminary numerical results to show the capability and efficiency of the proposed methods.     

Multistage stochastic demand-side management for price-making major consumers of electricity in a co-optimized energy and reserve market

In this paper, we take an optimization-driven heuristic approach, motivated by dynamic programming, to solve a class of non-convex multistage stochastic optimization problems. We apply this to the problem of optimizing the timing of energy consumption for a large manufacturer who is a price-making major consumer of electricity. We introduce a mixed-integer program that co-optimizes consumption bids and interruptible load reserve offers, for such a major consumer over a finite time horizon. By utilizing Lagrangian methods, we decompose our model through approximately pricing the constraints that link the stages together. We construct look-up tables in the form of consumption-utility curves, and use these to determine optimal consumption levels. We also present heuristics, in order to tackle the non-convexities within our model, and improve the accuracy of our policies. In the second part of the paper, we present stochastic solution methods for our model in which, we reduce the size of the scenario tree by utilizing a tailor-made scenario clustering method. Furthermore, we report on a case study that implements our models for a major consumer in the (full) New Zealand Electricity Market and present numerical results.     

Successively iterative method of nonlinear Neumann boundary value problems

Two successively iterative sequences are constructed for computing solutions of the nonlinear Neumann boundary value problems with time singularity. The sequences start off with some constants. Main tool is the fixed point theorem of increasing operator on the order interval. By considering convergence of the sequences, we prove the existence of nontrivial sign-changing solutions.     

考虑策略型消费者和退货的零售商降价促销决策研究

基于零售商降价促销问题,引入策略型消费者,考虑到异质性消费者有可能对商品不满意,构建两期决策模型,旨在从退货和价格路径优化两方面提高零售商利润。研究给出(不)允许退货时,零售商面对策略型消费者的定价建议,指出零售商制定价格要在一定程度上参考商品类型。订货量相同时,给出策略型消费者降低零售商的期望利润的条件;面对短视型或者策略型消费者时,允许退货可在特定条件下提升零售商利润。消费者退货成本越高,对策略型消费者消极影响的抑制作用越明显,零售商的利润增长越显著。最后,通过数值算例分析了在两种退货决策以及不同退货成本下产品类型对零售商定价的影响,以及退货措施对策略型消费者消极影响的作用。     

Large deviations for the 3D stochastic Navier-Stokes-Voight equations

In this paper, using the weak convergence method, a large deviation principle for 3D stochastic Navier–Stokes–Voight equations is proved.     

Em algorithm of the truncated multinormal distribution with linear restriction on the variables

A new expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed to estimate the parameters of the truncated multinormal distribution with linear restriction on the variables. Compared with the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation and the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) for the truncated multivariate normal distribution, the EM algorithm features in fast calculation and high accuracy which are shown in the simulation results. For the real data of the national college entrance exams (NCEE), we estimate the distribution of the NCEE examinees’ scores in Anhui, 2003, who were admitted to the university of science and technology of China (USTC). Based on our analysis, we have also given the ratio truncated by the NCEE admission line of USTC in Anhui, 2003.     

Local asymptotic behavior of the survival probability of the equilibrium renewal model with heavy tails

Recently, Tang established a local asymptotic relation for the ruin probability in the Cramer-Lundberg risk model. In this short note we extend the corresponding result to the equilibrium renewal risk model.