An algorithm and efficient data structures for the binary knapsack problem

A branch-and-bound algorithm for the binary knapsack problem is presented which uses a combined stack and deque for storing the tree and the corresponding LP-relaxation. A reduction scheme is used to reduce the problem size. The algorithm was implemented in FORTRAN. Computational experience is based on 600 randomly generated test problems with up to 9000 zero-one variables. The average solution times (excluding an initial sorting step) increase linearly with problem size and compare favorably with other codes designed to solve binary knapsack problems.     

Mean dimension and an embedding problem: An example

For any positive integer D, we construct a minimal dynamical system with mean dimension equal to D/2 that cannot be embedded into (([0, 1] ^D )^?, shift).     

Erratum: Scheduling jobs with position-dependent processing times

Bachman and Janiak provided a sketch of the proof that the problem 1∣r _i ,p _i (v)=a _i /v∣C_max is NP-hard in the strong sense. However, they did not show how to avoid using harmonic numbers whose encoding is not pseudo-polynomial, which makes the proof incomplete. In this corrigendum, we provide a new complete proof.     

Scheduling data transfers in a network and the set scheduling problem

In this paper we consider the online ftp problem. The goal is to service a sequence of file transfer requests given bandwidth constraints of the underlying communication network. The main result of the paper is a technique that leads to algorithms that optimize several natural metrics, such as max-stretch, total flow time, max flow time, and total completion time. In particular, we show how to achieve optimum total flow time and optimum max-stretch if we increase the capacity of the underlying network by a logarithmic factor. We show that the resource augmentation is necessary by proving polynomial lower bounds on the max-stretch and total flow time for the case where online and offline algorithms are using same-capacity edges. Moreover, we also give polylogarithmic lower bounds on the resource augmentation factor necessary in order to keep the total flow time and max-stretch within a constant factor of optimum.     

An inverse source problem with multiple frequency data

The Note is concerned with an inverse source problem for the Helmholtz equation, which determines the source from measurements of the radiated field away at multiple frequencies. Our main result is a novel stability estimate for the inverse source problem. Our result indicates that the ill-posedness of the inverse problem decreases as the frequency increases. Computationally, a continuation method is introduced to solve the inverse problem by capturing both the macro and the small scales of the source function. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the method.     

Scheduling with time dependent processing times: Review and extensions

In classical scheduling theory job processing times are constant. However, there are many situations where processing time of a job depends on the starting time of the job in the queue. This paper reviews the rapidly growing literature on single machine scheduling models with time dependent processing times. Attention is focused on linear, piecewise linear and non-linear processing time functions for jobs. We survey known results and introduce new solvable cases. Finally, we identify the areas and give directions where further research is needed.     

Scheduling malleable tasks with interdependent processing rates: Comments and observations

In this short paper, we examine the problem of scheduling malleable tasks on parallel processors. One of the main aims of the paper is to present a simple complexity interpretation for a number of results for cases with convex and concave processing speed functions. The contribution of this paper is a new unified view of results described in several recent papers. We briefly discuss the implications of our observations on this important family of scheduling problems.     

Scheduling with controllable release dates and processing times: Makespan minimization

The paper deals with the single-machine scheduling problem in which job processing times as well as release dates are controllable parameters and they may vary within given intervals. While all release dates have the same boundary values, the processing time intervals are arbitrary. It is assumed that the cost of compressing processing times and release dates from their initial values is a linear function of the compression amount. The objective is to minimize the makespan together with the total compression cost. We construct a reduction to the assignment problem for the case of equal release date compression costs and develop an O(n²) algorithm for the case of equal release date compression costs and equal processing time compression costs. For the bicriteria version of the latter problem with agreeable processing times, we suggest an O(n²) algorithm that constructs the breakpoints of the efficient frontier.     

Vaginal bleeding patterns — the problem and an example data set

Data concerning the vaginal bleeding patterns of women using different forms of fertility regulation are presented. The data were collected in the form of diaries which were completed by the women themselves by recording the presence or absence of vaginal bleeding on a daily basis. The object of the paper is to invite suggestions for suitable methods of presentation and analysis of such data so that the results of studies on methods of fertility regulation can be better summarized and interpreted.     

An Improved Genetic Algorithm for the Distributed and Flexible Job-shop Scheduling problem

The Distributed and Flexible Job-shop Scheduling problem (DFJS) considers the scheduling of distributed manufacturing environments, where jobs are processed by a system of several Flexible Manufacturing Units (FMUs). Distributed scheduling problems deal with the assignment of jobs to FMUs and with determining the scheduling of each FMU, in terms of assignment of each job operation to one of the machines able to work it (job-routing flexibility) and sequence of operations on each machine. The objective is to minimize the global makespan over all the FMUs. This paper proposes an Improved Genetic Algorithm to solve the Distributed and Flexible Job-shop Scheduling problem. With respect to the solution representation for non-distributed job-shop scheduling, gene encoding is extended to include information on job-to-FMU assignment, and a greedy decoding procedure exploits flexibility and determines the job routings. Besides traditional crossover and mutation operators, a new local search based operator is used to improve available solutions by refining the most promising individuals of each generation. The proposed approach has been compared with other algorithms for distributed scheduling and evaluated with satisfactory results on a large set of distributed-and-flexible scheduling problems derived from classical job-shop scheduling benchmarks.     

Scheduling with controllable release dates and processing times: Total completion time minimization

The single machine scheduling problem with two types of controllable parameters, job processing times and release dates, is studied. It is assumed that the cost of compressing processing times and release dates from their initial values is a linear function of the compression amounts. The objective is to minimize the sum of the total completion time of the jobs and the total compression cost. For the problem with equal release date compression costs we construct a reduction to the assignment problem. We demonstrate that if in addition the jobs have equal processing time compression costs, then it can be solved in O(n²) time. The solution algorithm can be considered as a generalization of the algorithm that minimizes the makespan and total compression cost. The generalized version of the algorithm is also applicable to the problem with parallel machines and to a range of due-date scheduling problems with controllable processing times.     

Hereditary properties of combinatorial structures: Posets and oriented graphs

A hereditary property of combinatorial structures is a collection of structures (e.g., graphs, posets) which is closed under isomorphism, closed under taking induced substructures (e.g., induced subgraphs), and contains arbitrarily large structures. Given a property , we write for the collection of distinct (i.e., non‐isomorphic) structures in a property with n vertices, and call the function the speed (or unlabeled speed) of . Also, we write for the collection of distinct labeled structures in with vertices labeled , and call the function the labeled speed of . The possible labeled speeds of a hereditary property of graphs have been extensively studied, and the aim of this article is to investigate the possible speeds of other combinatorial structures, namely posets and oriented graphs. More precisely, we show that (for sufficiently large n), the labeled speed of a hereditary property of posets is either 1, or exactly a polynomial, or at least . We also show that there is an initial jump in the possible unlabeled speeds of hereditary properties of posets, tournaments, and directed graphs, from bounded to linear speed, and give a sharp lower bound on the possible linear speeds in each case. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 56: 311–332, 2007     

Scheduling problems with position dependent job processing times: computational complexity results

In this paper, we analyse single machine scheduling problems with learning and aging effects to minimize one of the following objectives: the makespan with release dates, the maximum lateness and the number of late jobs. The phenomena of learning and aging are modeled by job processing times described by non-increasing (learning) or non-decreasing (aging) functions dependent on the number of previously processed jobs, i.e., a job position in a sequence. We prove that the considered problems are strongly NP-hard even if job processing times are described by simple linear functions dependent on a number of processed jobs. Additionally, we show a property of equivalence between problems with learning and aging models. We also prove that if the function describing decrease/increase of a job processing time is the same for each job then the problems with the considered objectives are polynomially solvable even if the function is arbitrary. Therefore, we determine the boundary between polynomially solvable and strongly NP-hard cases.     

An extended shortest path problem: A data envelopment analysis approach

A special and important network structured linear programming problem is the shortest path problem. Classical shortest path problems assume that there are unit of shipping cost or profit along an arc. In many real occasions, various attributes (various costs and profits) are usually considered in a shortest path problem. Because of the frequent occurrence of such network structured problems, there is a need to develop an efficient procedure for handling these problems. This paper studies the shortest path problem in the case that multiple attributes are considered along the arcs. The concept of relative efficiency is defined for each path from initial node to final node. Then, an efficient path with the maximum efficiency is determined.     

Scheduling jobs with release dates,equal processing times,and inclusive processing set restrictions

We consider the problem of scheduling a given set of n jobs with equal processing times on m parallel machines so as to minimize the makespan. Each job has a given release date and is compatible to only a subset of the machines. The machines are ordered and indexed in such a way that a higher-indexed machine can process all the jobs that a lower-indexed machine can process. We present a solution procedure to solve this problem in O(n²+mnlogn) time. We also extend our results to the tree-hierarchical processing sets case and the uniform machine case.     

An example from power residues of the critical problem of Crapo and Rota

A natural density arising from the author's recent work on a generalization of Artin's conjecture for primitive roots is shown to be essentially the characteristic polynomial of a geometric lattice, as defined by Crapo and Rota. Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained for the vanishing of this density.     

Scheduling parallel machines with inclusive processing set restrictions and job release times

We consider the problem of scheduling a set of jobs with different release times on parallel machines so as to minimize the makespan of the schedule. The machines have the same processing speed, but each job is compatible with only a subset of those machines. The machines can be linearly ordered such that a higher-indexed machine can process all those jobs that a lower-indexed machine can process. We present an efficient algorithm for this problem with a worst-case performance ratio of 2. We also develop a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) for the problem, as well as a fully polynomial time approximation scheme (FPTAS) for the case in which the number of machines is fixed.