Some Methods for Estimation in a Negative-Binomial Model

To clarify the advantage of using the quasilikelihood method, lack of robustness of the maximum likelihood method was demonstrated for the negative-binomial model. Efficiency calculations of the method of moments and the pseudolikelihood method in the estimation of extra-Poisson parameters in a negative-binomial model were carried out. Especially when the overdispersion parameter is small, both methods are relatively highly efficient and the pseudolikelihood estimate is more efficient than the method of moments estimate. Two examples of the quasilikelihood analyses of count data with overdispersion are given. The bootstrap method also is applied to the data to illustrate the advantage of the method of moments or pseudolikelihood method in the estimation of the standard errors of the mean parameter estimates under the negative-binomial model.     

Perturbation Approach to Sensitivity Analysis in Mathematical Programming

This paper presents a perturbation approach for performing sensitivity analysis of mathematical programming problems. Contrary to standard methods, the active constraints are not assumed to remain active if the problem data are perturbed, nor the partial derivatives are assumed to exist. In other words, all the elements, variables, parameters, Karush–Kuhn–Tucker multipliers, and objective function values may vary provided that optimality is maintained and the general structure of a feasible perturbation (which is a polyhedral cone) is obtained. This allows determining: (a) the local sensitivities, (b) whether or not partial derivatives exist, and (c) if the directional derivative for a given direction exists. A method for the simultaneous obtention of the sensitivities of the objective function optimal value and the primal and dual variable values with respect to data is given. Three examples illustrate the concepts presented and the proposed methodology. Finally, some relevant conclusions are drawn. The authors are indebted to the Ministry of Science and Education of Spain, Projects CICYT DPI2002-04172-C04-02 and CICYT DPI2003-01362, and to the Fulbright Commission for partial support. The authors are grateful to the referees for comments improving the quality of the paper.     

A new boundary-type scheme for sensitivity analysis using Trefftz formulation

This paper presents a new boundary-type scheme for a sensitivity analysis of the two-dimensional potential problem by using the Trefftz formulation.

Since the Trefftz method is the boundary-type solution procedure, input data generation is easier than the domain-type solution procedure. Moreover, the physical quantities are expressed by the regular equations, their sensitivities, which is derived from the direct differentiation of the original quantaties, are also regular. Therefore, they can be calculated more easily than the ordinary boundary element method using the singular boundary integral equation. The present schemes are applied to simple numerical examples in order to confirm the validity of the present formulation.     

求全局最优解的新算法

利用局部极大值点与动力系统的稳定奇点的对应性，计算代数方程的根、无约束极大值点、有约束极大值点、非线性规划解、及最小二乘解．我们采用了常微分方程数值解的Euler算法及网格初始点的循序迭代算法，并以具体的例子和程序说明创立的方法具有通用性，同时考虑了一些存在的问题以便在理论和算法上作进一步的改进。     

广义Pareto分布的广义有偏概率加权矩估计方法

广义Pareto分布(GPD)是统计分析中一个极为重要的分布,被广泛应用于金融、保险、水文及气象等领域.传统的参数估计方法如极大似然估计、矩估计及概率加权矩估计方法等已被广泛应用,但使用中存在一定的局限性.虽然提出很多改进方法如广义概率加权矩估计、L矩和LH矩法等,但都是研究完全样本的估计问题,而在水文及气象等应用领域常出现截尾样本.本文基于概率加权矩理论,利用截尾样本对三参数GPD提出一种应用范围广且简单易行的参数估计方法,可有效减弱异常值的影响.首先求解出具有较高精度的形状参数的参数估计,其次得出位置参数及尺度参数的参数估计.通过Monte Carlo模拟说明该方法估计精度较高.     

Stochastic actor‐oriented models for network change

A class of models is proposed for longitudinal network data. These models are along the lines of methodological individualism: actors use heuristics to try to achieve their individual goals, subject to constraints. The current network structure is among these constraints. The models are continuous time Markov chain models that can be implemented as simulation models. They incorporate random change in addition to the purposeful change that follows from the actors’ pursuit of their goals, and include parameters that must be estimated from observed data. Statistical methods are proposed for estimating and testing these models. These methods can also be used for parameter estimation for other simulation models. The statistical procedures are based on the method of moments, and use computer simulation to estimate the theoretical moments. The Robbins‐Monro process is used to deal with the stochastic nature of the estimated theoretical moments. An example is given for Newcomb's fraternity data, using a model that expresses reciprocity and balance.     

Optimality criteria coupled adaptive mesh method for optimal shape design of Stokes flow

An adaptive mesh method combined with the optimality criteria algorithm is applied to optimal shape design problems of fluid dynamics. The shape sensitivity analysis of the cost functional is derived. The optimization problem is solved by a simple but robust optimality criteria algorithm, and an automatic local adaptive mesh refinement method is proposed. The mesh adaptation, with an indicator based on the material distribution information, is itself shown as a shape or topology optimization problem. Taking advantages of this algorithm, the optimal shape design problem concerning fluid flow can be solved with higher resolution of the interface and a minimum of additional expense. Details on the optimization procedure are provided. Numerical results for two benchmark topology optimization problems are provided and compared with those obtained by other methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A dynamic genetic algorithm based on continuous neural networks for a kind of non-convex optimization problems

This paper presents a kind of dynamic genetic algorithm based on a continuous neural network, which is intrinsically the steepest decent method for constrained optimization problems. The proposed algorithm combines the local searching ability of the steepest decent methods with the global searching ability of genetic algorithms. Genetic algorithms are used to decide each initial point of the steepest decent methods so that all the initial points can be searched intelligently. The steepest decent methods are employed to decide the fitness of genetic algorithms so that some good initial points can be selected. The proposed algorithm is motivated theoretically and biologically. It can be used to solve a non-convex optimization problem which is quadratic and even more non-linear. Compared with standard genetic algorithms, it can improve the precision of the solution while decreasing the searching scale. In contrast to the ordinary steepest decent method, it can obtain global sub-optimal solution while lessening the complexity of calculation.     

Convergence theory for nonconvex stochastic programming with an application to mixed logit

Monte Carlo methods have extensively been used and studied in the area of stochastic programming. Their convergence properties typically consider global minimizers or first-order critical points of the sample average approximation (SAA) problems and minimizers of the true problem, and show that the former converge to the latter for increasing sample size. However, the assumption of global minimization essentially restricts the scope of these results to convex problems. We review and extend these results in two directions: we allow for local SAA minimizers of possibly nonconvex problems and prove, under suitable conditions, almost sure convergence of local second-order solutions of the SAA problem to second-order critical points of the true problem. We also apply this new theory to the estimation of mixed logit models for discrete choice analysis. New useful convergence properties are derived in this context, both for the constrained and unconstrained cases, and associated estimates of the simulation bias and variance are proposed. Research Fellow of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research     

Computational Discretization Algorithms for Functional Inequality Constrained Optimization

In this paper, a functional inequality constrained optimization problem is studied using a discretization method and an adaptive scheme. The problem is discretized by partitioning the interval of the independent parameter. Two methods are investigated as to how to treat the discretized optimization problem. The discretization problem is firstly converted into an optimization problem with a single nonsmooth equality constraint. Since the obtained equality constraint is nonsmooth and does not satisfy the usual constraint qualification condition, relaxation and smoothing techniques are used to approximate the equality constraint via a smooth inequality constraint. This leads to a sequence of approximate smooth optimization problems with one constraint. An adaptive scheme is incorporated into the method to facilitate the computation of the sum in the inequality constraint. The second method is to apply an adaptive scheme directly to the discretization problem. Thus a sequence of optimization problems with a small number of inequality constraints are obtained. Convergence analysis for both methods is established. Numerical examples show that each of the two proposed methods has its own advantages and disadvantages over the other.     

Global resonance optimization analysis of nonlinear mechanical systems: Application to the uncertainty quantification problems in rotor dynamics

An efficient method to obtain the worst quasi-periodic vibration response of nonlinear dynamical systems with uncertainties is presented. Based on the multi-dimensional harmonic balance method, a constrained, nonlinear optimization problem with the nonlinear equality constraints is derived. The MultiStart optimization algorithm is then used to optimize the vibration response within the specified range of physical parameters. In order to illustrate the efficiency and ability of the proposed method, several numerical examples are illustrated. The proposed method is then applied to a rotor system with multiple frequency excitations (unbalance and support) under several physical parameters uncertainties. Numerical examples show that the proposed approach is valid and effective for analyzing strongly nonlinear vibration problems with different types of nonlinearities in the presence of uncertainties.     

The discrete moment problem with fractional moments

Discrete moment problems (DMP) with integer moments were first introduced by Prékopa to provide sharp lower and upper bounds for functions of discrete random variables. Prékopa also developed fast and stable dual type linear programming methods for the numerical solutions of the problem. In this paper, we assume that some fractional moments are also available and propose basic theory and a solution method for the bounding problems. Numerical experiments show significant improvement in the tightness of the bounds.     

变量有广义界线性规划的直接对偶单纯形法

本文讨论变量有广义界线性规划问题借助标准形线性规划同单纯形法技术，建立问题的一个直接对偶单纯形法。分析了方法的性质，给出了初始对偶可行基的计算方法，并用实例说明方法的具体操作。     

Pseudospectral Chebyshev Optimal Control of Constrained Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

A pseudospectral method for generating optimal trajectories of linear and nonlinear constrained dynamic systems is proposed. The method consists of representing the solution of the optimal control problem by an mth degree interpolating polynomial, using Chebyshev nodes, and then discretizing the problem using a cell-averaging technique. The optimal control problem is thereby transformed into an algebraic nonlinear programming problem. Due to its dynamic nature, the proposed method avoids many of the numerical difficulties typically encountered in solving standard optimal control problems. Furthermore, for discontinuous optimal control problems, we develop and implement a Chebyshev smoothing procedure which extracts the piecewise smooth solution from the oscillatory solution near the points of discontinuities. Numerical examples are provided, which confirm the convergence of the proposed method. Moreover, a comparison is made with optimal solutions obtained by closed-form analysis and/or other numerical methods in the literature.     

On MIMO model reduction by the weighted equation–error approach

The paper deals with the problem of approximating a stable continuous-time multivariable system by minimizing the L ₂-norm of a weighted equation error. Necessary and sufficient conditions of optimality are derived, and the main properties of the optimal reduced-order models are presented. Based on these conditions and properties, two efficient procedures for generating approximants that retain different numbers of Markov parameters and time moments are suggested and applied to benchmark examples. The results show that both the transient and the steady-state behaviour of the original systems are reproduced satisfactorily.     

Epsilon-Ritz Method for Solving a Class of Fractional Constrained Optimization Problems

In this paper, epsilon and Ritz methods are applied for solving a general class of fractional constrained optimization problems. The goal is to minimize a functional subject to a number of constraints. The functional and constraints can have multiple dependent variables, multiorder fractional derivatives, and a group of initial and boundary conditions. The fractional derivative in the problem is in the Caputo sense. The constrained optimization problems include isoperimetric fractional variational problems (IFVPs) and fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs). In the presented approach, first by implementing epsilon method, we transform the given constrained optimization problem into an unconstrained problem, then by applying Ritz method and polynomial basis functions, we reduce the optimization problem to the problem of optimizing a real value function. The choice of polynomial basis functions provides the method with such a flexibility that initial and boundary conditions can be easily imposed. The convergence of the method is analytically studied and some illustrative examples including IFVPs and FOCPs are presented to demonstrate validity and applicability of the new technique.     

Solution of linear complementarity problems using minimization with simple bounds

We define a minimization problem with simple bounds associated to the horizontal linear complementarity problem (HLCP). When the HLCP is solvable, its solutions are the global minimizers of the associated problem. When the HLCP is feasible, we are able to prove a number of properties of the stationary points of the associated problem. In many cases, the stationary points are solutions of the HLCP. The theoretical results allow us to conjecture that local methods for box constrained optimization applied to the associated problem are efficient tools for solving linear complementarity problems. Numerical experiments seem to confirm this conjecture.This work was supported by FAPESP (grants 90-3724-6 and 91-2441-3), CNPq and FAEP (UNICAMP).     

A discrete dynamic convexized method for nonlinear integer programming

In this paper, we consider the box constrained nonlinear integer programming problem. We present an auxiliary function, which has the same discrete global minimizers as the problem. The minimization of the function using a discrete local search method can escape successfully from previously converged discrete local minimizers by taking increasing values of a parameter. We propose an algorithm to find a global minimizer of the box constrained nonlinear integer programming problem. The algorithm minimizes the auxiliary function from random initial points. We prove that the algorithm can converge asymptotically with probability one. Numerical experiments on a set of test problems show that the algorithm is efficient and robust.     

Closed formulas in local sensitivity analysis for some classes of linear and non-linear problems

This paper presents an integrated approach to sensitivity analysis in some linear and non-linear programming problems. Closed formulas for the sensitivities of the objective function and primal and dual variables with respect to all parameters for some classes of problems are obtained. As particular cases, the sensitivities with respect to all data values, i.e., cost coefficients, constraints coefficients and right hand side terms of the constraints are provided for these classes of problems as closed formulas. The method is illustrated by its application to several examples.      

Solving nonlinearly constrained global optimization problem via an auxiliary function method

This paper considers the nonlinearly constrained continuous global minimization problem. Based on the idea of the penalty function method, an auxiliary function, which has approximately the same global minimizers as the original problem, is constructed. An algorithm is developed to minimize the auxiliary function to find an approximate constrained global minimizer of the constrained global minimization problem. The algorithm can escape from the previously converged local minimizers, and can converge to an approximate global minimizer of the problem asymptotically with probability one. Numerical experiments show that it is better than some other well known recent methods for constrained global minimization problems.