Solving multistage asset investment problems by the sample average approximation method

The vast size of real world stochastic programming instances requires sampling to make them practically solvable. In this paper we extend the understanding of how sampling affects the solution quality of multistage stochastic programming problems. We present a new heuristic for determining good feasible solutions for a multistage decision problem. For power and log-utility functions we address the question of how tree structures, number of stages, number of outcomes and number of assets affect the solution quality. We also present a new method for evaluating the quality of first stage decisions.     

混沌量子克隆算法求解认知无线网络频谱分配问题

对认知无线网络中的频谱进行有效分配是实现动态频谱接入的关键技术.考虑3次用户对频谱的需求和分配的公平性,给出了频谱分配的数学模型,并将其转换为以最大化网络收益为目标的带约束优化问题,进而提出一种采用混沌量子克隆优化求解的认知无线网络频谱分配算法, 并证明了该算法以概率1收敛.最后,通过仿真实验比较了本文算法与颜色敏感图着色算法、基于遗传算法的频谱分配、基于量子遗传算法的频谱分配的性能.结果表明:本文算法性能较优, 能更好地实现网络收益最大化. 关键词： 混沌量子克隆算法 认知无线网络 频谱分配     

Stochastic models for strategic resource allocation in nonprofit foreclosed housing acquisitions

Increased rates of mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. have had devastating social and economic impacts during and after the 2008 financial crisis. As part of the response to this problem, nonprofit organizations such as community development corporations (CDCs) have been trying to mitigate the negative impacts of mortgage foreclosures by acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties. We consider the strategic resource allocation decisions for these organizations which involve budget allocations to different neighborhoods under cost and return uncertainty. Based on interactions with a CDC, we develop stochastic integer programming based frameworks for this decision problem, and assess the practical value of the models by using real-world data. Both policy-related and computational analyses are performed, and several insights such as the trade-offs between different objectives, and the efficiency of different solution approaches are presented.     

On the core of cost-revenue games: Minimum cost spanning tree games with revenues

In this paper, we analyze cost sharing problems arising from a general service by explicitly taking into account the generated revenues. To this cost-revenue sharing problem, we associate a cooperative game with transferable utility, called cost-revenue game. By considering cooperation among the agents using the general service, the value of a coalition is defined as the maximum net revenues that the coalition may obtain by means of cooperation. As a result, a coalition may profit from not allowing all its members to get the service that generates the revenues. We focus on the study of the core of cost-revenue games. Under the assumption that cooperation among the members of the grand coalition grants the use of the service under consideration to all its members, it is shown that a cost-revenue game has a nonempty core for any vector of revenues if, and only if, the dual game of the cost game has a large core. Using this result, we investigate minimum cost spanning tree games with revenues. We show that if every connection cost can take only two values (low or high cost), then, the corresponding minimum cost spanning tree game with revenues has a nonempty core. Furthermore, we provide an example of a minimum cost spanning tree game with revenues with an empty core where every connection cost can take only one of three values (low, medium, or high cost).     

Single-machine group scheduling with processing times dependent on position,starting time and allotted resource

This article considers scheduling problems on a single machine with learning effect, deteriorating jobs and resource allocation under group technology (GT) assumption. We assume that the actual processing time of a job depends on the job position, the group position, the starting time and the amount of resource allocated to them concurrently, and the actual setup times of groups depend on the group position and the amount of resource allocated to them concurrently. Two resource allocation functions are examined for minimizing the weighted sum of makespan and total resource cost. We prove that the problems have polynomial solutions under the condition that the number of jobs in each group are the same.     

Black-Litterman投资组合模型的进一步推导分析

在理论上通过推导首次得出了Black-Litterman模型(B-L模型)最优权重与信心水平的公式.在各资产收益不相关及单一绝对观点的假设下,得出各资产的B-L模型最优权重与信心水平的简化表达式.借助于此,还对信心水平与最优权重公式的进一步理论分析,并以光大证券的"乌龙指"做实证,详细分析投资者在没有市场观点、拥有内幕信息、以及信心水平在某范围变化时,其所持各投资品权重的特点.     

基于多种用海功能的海域使用权拍卖机制研究

海域使用权拍卖是对海域资源进行市场化配置的重要方式.基于海域资源的立体性和层次性特征,提出了多种用海功能约束下的海域使用权拍卖机制,设计了综合效用函数,对海域使用权进行经济价值与生态补偿的综合评价,促进海域资源的多层次利用与开发.仿真结果表明:相比较于单一功能的海域使用权拍卖,多属性拍卖能够改善海域使用权拍卖效率,同时拍卖结果也提高了政府对海域使用权拍卖的满意度和最终效用,为我国海域使用权拍卖方式的创新提供了理论基础.     

Analytical models for supplier selection and order quantity allocation

In the literature, decision models and techniques for supplier selection do not often consider inventory management of the items being purchased as part of the analysis. In this article, two mixed integer nonlinear programming models are proposed to select the best set of suppliers and determine the proper allocation of order quantities while minimizing the annual ordering, inventory holding, and purchasing costs under suppliers’ capacity and quality constraints. The first model allows independent order quantities for each supplier while the second model restricts all order quantities to be of equal size, as it would be required in a multi-stage (supply chain) inventory model. Illustrative examples are used to highlight the advantages of the proposed models over a previous model introduced in the literature.     

Trade-offs between target hardening and overarching protection

Defenders concerned about protecting multiple targets can either protect them individually (through target hardening), or collectively (through overarching protections such as border security, public health, emergency response, or intelligence). Decision makers may find it relatively straightforward to choose which targets to harden, but are likely to find it more difficult to compare seemingly incommensurate forms of protection - e.g., target hardening, versus a reduction in the likelihood of weapons being smuggled across the border. Unfortunately, little previous research has addressed this question, and fundamental research is needed to provide guidance and practical solution approaches. In this paper, we first develop a model to optimally allocate resources between target hardening and overarching protection, then investigate the factors affecting the relative desirability of target hardening versus overarching protection, and finally apply our model to a case study involving critical assets in Wisconsin. The case study demonstrates the value of our method by showing that the optimal solution obtained using our model is in some cases substantially better than the historical budget allocation.