Combinatorial approximation algorithms: a comparative review

This paper is a comparative review of three related books:Giorgio Ausiello, Pierluigi Crescenzi, Giorgio Gambosi, Viggo Kann, Alberto Marchetti-Spaccamela, Marco Protasi, Complexity and Approximation (Combinatorial Optimization Problems and Their Approximability Properties), second printing, Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 3-540-65431-3, 524 pp., €53.45 (first printing 1999).Juraj Hromkovi?, Algorithmics for Hard Problems (Introduction to Combinatorial Optimization, Randomization, Approximation, and Heuristics), second edition, Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 3-540-44134-4, 544 pp., €53.45 (first printing 2001).Vijay Vazirani, Approximation Algorithms, second printing, Springer, Berlin, 2002, ISBN 3-540-65367-8, 380 pp., €37.40 (first printing 2001).     

Review of the book by Alexander Schrijver: Combinatorial Optimization: Polyhedra and Efficiency

This article reviews the book by Alexander Schrijver, Combinatorial Optimization: Polyhedra and Efficiency, Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 3-540-44389-4, xxxvii+xxxiv+xxxiii+1881 pp., EUR € 89.00, $ 109.00.     

A new generation of applied probability textbooks

This article reviews the following books:

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S. Asmussen, Applied Probability and Queues, second ed., Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 0-387-00211-1, xii+438pp., EUR 85.55.

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H. Chen, D. Yao, Fundamentals of Queueing Networks, Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 0-387-95166-0, xviii+405pp., EUR 74,95.

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W. Whitt, Stochastic-Process Limits, Springer, Berlin, 2002, ISBN 0-387-95358-2, xxiv+602pp., EUR 106,95.

     

Book reviews

Desch, W.; F. Kappel; K. Kunisch: Estimation and Control of Distributed Parameter Systems. International Series of Numerical Mathematics. Vol. 100. Birkhauser Verlag AG Base1 1991, 396pp., DM 138, ISBN 3-7643-2676-X.

Klein, D. J.; M. RandiC: Mathematical Chemistry. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Mathematical Chemistry, Galveston (USA) March 1989. VCH Weinheim 1990, 416pp., 59 fig., DM265,ISBN 3-527-28240-0.

Mezey, P. C.: Mathematical Modeling in Chemistry. VCH Weinheim 1991,416 pp., DM 265,ISBN 3-527-28292-0.

Lewandowski, A.; V. Volkovich (eds.): Multiobjective Problems of Mathematical Programming. Proceedings Yalta, USSR 1988. Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems, Vol. 351. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London 1991, VII, 314 pp., Softcover, DM 61,- ISBN 3-540-532-6

Guddat, J.; F. Guerra Vasquez; H. Th. Jongen: Parametric Optimization: Singularities, Pathfollowing and Jumps. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Baffins Lane, Chichester 1990, 216 pp., $80.40, ISBN 0-471-92807-0.

van der Geer, G.; F. Oort; J. Steenbrink (eds.): Arithmetic Algebraic Geometry. Progress in Mathematics, Vol. 89. Birkhauser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin l991, 446 pp., SFr. 78.-, ISBN 3-7643-3513-0.

Solomon, A.: PC Viruses-Detection, Analysis and Cure. Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Paris, London 1991, IX, 288 pp., DM 74,ISBN 3-540-19691-9.     

Stochastic evolution equations. Linear Theory and Applications to Nonlinear Filtering

Stochastic evolution equations. Linear Theory and Applications to Nonlinear Filtering, by B. L, Rozovskii. Kluwer, Dordrecht/Boston/London, March 1991. 336 pp., $129. ISBN 0-7923-00370-8.

Stochastic equations in infinite dimensions Stochastic equations in infinite dimensions, by G. Da Prato & J. Zabczyk. Cambridge University Press, Port Chester/New York, March 1993. 454 pp., $89.95. ISBN 0-541-38529-6     

Book Review

Stuart Coles, An Introduction to Statistical Modeling of Extreme Values. A volume in the Springer Series in Statistics, Springer-Verlag, London, 2001, ISBN 1-85233-459-2, xiv+208 pp., 77 illus., hardback £45.00     

Tales of Hoffman

This paper is a review of the book edited by Charles A. Micchelli, Selected papers of Alan J. Hoffman - with commentary, World Scientific, New Jersey, 2003, ISBN 981-02-4198-4 , 492 pp., $106.     

Book reviews

d'Alessandro, P., A Conical Approach to Linear Programming Scalar and Vector Optimization Problems, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Australia Canada China France Germany India Japan Luxembourg Malaysia The Netherlands Russia Singapore Switzerland Thailand United Kingdom 1997, 312 pp., ISBN 90- 5699-031-4.

Fang, S.-C., Rajasekera, J. R. and Tsao, H. S. J., Entropy Optimization and Mathematical Programming, Kluwer's International Series. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston London Dordrecht, 1997, pp. 343, US $120.00; ISBN 0-7923-9939-0.

Golshtein, E. G. and Tretyakov, N. V., Modified Lagrangians Monotone Maps in Optimization, John Wiley & Sons, New York Chicester Brisbane Toronto Singapore 1996,438 pp., £55.00, ISBN 0-471-54821-9.

Hoffmann, K.-H., Leugering, G. and Troltzsch, F. (Eds.), Optimal Control of Partial Differential Equations, International Confa-ence in Chemnitz, Germany, April 20-25, 1998; International Series of Numerical Mathematics ISNM, Vol. 133, Birkhauser Verlag AG, Basel*Boston-Berlin 1999, viii+323 pp., DM 188.00, ISBN 3-7643- 6151-4.     

How to Choose Winning Lottery Numbers—Secret Ways to Win Big Money

Abstract

The New Bookstore in Town—Books Found on the Shelf

Reasoning with Statistics, Third ed. by Frederick Williams. New York: Holt, Reinhart and Winston, 1986, 224 pp., $16.95, paperback (ISBN 0-03-019536-5). Reviewed by Michael M. Meyer

Envisioning Information by Edward R. Tufte, Cheshire, Connecticut: Graphics Press, 1990, 126 pp., $48., hardcover (ISBN 0-961-3921-1-8). Reviewed by William F. Eddy     

International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences,Quotations, Volume 19

Abstract

The Drummer Was the First to Die by Liza Pennywitt Taylor. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992, 309 pp., $19.95 hardcover. Reviewed by Sally C. Morton

Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage by William Rathje and Cullen Murphy. New York: HarperCollins, 1992, 250 pp., $23.00 (ISBN 0-06-016603-7). Reviewed by Stephen E. Fienberg     

Book Reviews

Abstract

The Mathematical and Computational Sciences in Emerging Manufacturing Technologies and Management Practices by Avner Friedman, James Glimm, and John Lavery. Philadelphia: Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, 1992, 86 pp., free (ISBN 0-89871-307-2). Reviewed by Michael M. Meyer

The Physics of Chance by Charles Ruhla. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1992, 222 pp., $55 (hardcover), $27.95 (paperback) (ISBN 0-19-853960-6). Translated by G. Barton. Reviewed by Michael M. Meyer

The Future of the Survey of Income and Program Participation edited by Constance F. Citro and Graham Kalton. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1993, 284 pp. Reviewed by Michael M. Meyer     

Book reviews

Bauer, H., Maßund Integrationstheorie. De Gruyter Lehrbuch, Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin, New York, 1990, XVIII, 259 pp, DM 78, —, ISBN 3-11-012773-3 GB, DM 42, —, (ISBN 3-11-012772-5 KT).

?inlar, E. (ed.), Fitzsimmons, P. J., Williams, R. J. (managing eds.), Seminar on Stochastic Processes, 1990. Progress in Probability, Vol. 24, Birkhaüser Boston, Basel, Berlin 1991, VIII + 351 pp., DM 38,—, ISBN 0-8176-3488-6.

Spalt, D. D. (ed.). Rechnen mit dem Unendlichen. Beiträ zur Entwicklung der Nichtstandard Gegenstandes Birkhaüser Verlag Basel, Boston, Berlin, 1990, 243 pp. DM 49.80, ISBN 3-7643-2568-3.     

Book reviews

Devroye, L.; L. Györfi: Nonparametric Density Estimation: the L1 View. John Wiley & Sons New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore 1985, XI, 356 p., £ 45.90, ISBN 0-471816469

Gericke, H.: Mathematik in Antike und Orient. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1984, 140.Abb., 4 Kartenskizzen, XII, 292 S., DNI 98,-, ISBN 3-540-11647-8

K. ITö (ed.) StochasticAnalysis. Proceedings of the Traniguchi Internationaloal Symposium on Stochastic Analysis, Katata and Kyoto, 1982. North-Holland Mathematical Library, Vol. 32, North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam 1984, 488 pages, Dfl. 250.- ISBN 0-444-87588-3

Weizenbaum, J.: Die Macht der Computer und dic Ohnmaeht der Vernuutt, Suhrkamp Taschenbuch Wissenschaf't 274. Suhrkamp Verlag Frankfurt/M. 1978, 368 S., DM 16,-, ISBN 3-518-27874-6

Krylov, N.V.; R. Sh. Lipiser; A.A Novikov (eds.): Statistics and Control of Stochastic Processes. Steklov Seminar, 1984. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1985, XIII, 507 S., DM 198, -, ISBN 3.540-96101-1

Sachs, H. (ed.): Graphs, Hypergraphs and Applications. Proceedings of the Conference on Graph Theory held in Eyba, Oct. 1984.. 'I'eubner-Texte zur Mathematik 73 Teubner Verlagsgesellschaft Leipzig 1985, 224 S., 23,-M, ISBN 666275-5

Bhat, U. Narayan; Elements of Applied Stochastic Processes. 2. Ed. Jonoh Wilet & Sons New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore 1984, IX, 685 p., £ 52.00, ISBN 0-471-87826-X

Methods of Operations Research. Bd, 66. Verlag Anton Hain Meisenheim, Königstein 1985, 410 S., DM 120,-, ISBN 3..445..02400..6

Maier, T.: Intervall-Input-Ontput-Rechnung. Mathernat.ical Systems in Economics. 101. Verlag Anton Rain, Meisenheim GmbH InigiteinTs. 1985, X, 338 S., DM 72,-, ISBN 3-445-02399-9.

Sawaragi, Y.; H. Nakayama; T. Tanino: Theory of Multi-objective Optimization. Mathematics in Science and Engineering. 176. Academic Press Orlando, San Diego, New York, London, Toronto 1985, 320 pp., $ 48.00, ISBN 0-12-620370-9.

Krämer, W.: Trend in ökonometrischen Modellen. Mathematical Systems in Economics. 93. Athenaum/Hain Konigstein 1985, 172 S., DM 48,-, ISBN 3-445-02386-7.     

Book Reviews

Abstract

Housing America in the 1980s by John S. Adams. New York: The Russell Sage Foundation, 1988, 352 pp., $65 hardcover (ISBN 0-97154-003-7). Reviewed by Michael M. Meyer     

Statistical Whigmaleeries

Abstract

An Introduction to Regression Graphics by R. Dennis Cook and Sanford Weisberg New York: John Wiley, 1994, xiii + 253 pp., 2 disks. Hardcover: US $54.95, ISBN 0-471-00839-7. Reviewed by John D. Fox     

Differential geometry of frame bundles

Book Review

Differential geometry of frame bundlesLuis A. Cordero, C. T. J. Dodson, and Manuel de Leon: (Mathematics and Its Applications), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London, 1989, 244 pp., ISBN 0-7923-001-2, $74     

Book reviews

Griffiths, D.F. (ed.):Numerical Analysis. Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Conference held at Dundee, Scotland, Jun 28-Juli 1, 1983. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Vol. 1066. SpringerVerlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1984, XI, 275 p. DM 33.50, ISBN 2-540-13344-5.

Gross, D.; C.M. Harris:Fundamentals of Queueing Theory. 2. Ed. John Wiley & Sons Limited New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto 1985, XII, 587 p., £ 43.95, ISBN0-471-89067-7.

Miklosöko.; J.E.Kotov (eds.):Algorithms, Software and Hardware of Parallel Computers. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1984, 181 figs., 380 p., DM 89,-,ISBN 3-540-13657-6.

Dolcetta, I.C.; W.H. Fleming; T.Zolezzr (eds.):Recent Mathematical Methods in Dynamic Programming. Proceedings Corti. Rome, Mar 26-28, 1984. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Vol. 1119. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1985, VI, 202 S.DM 31,50, ISBN 3-540-15217-2.

Demyanov, V.F.; D.Pallaschke (eds.):Nondifferentiable Optimization:Motivations and Applications. Proceedings, Sopron, Hungary 1984. Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems. Vol. 255. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1985, VI, 349 S.

Kiwiel, K.C.:Methods of Descent for Nondifferentiable Optimization. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. VoL 1133. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1985, 'T1, 362 S., DM 51,50, ISBN 3-540-15642-9.

Remmert, R.:Funktionentheorie. Vol. 1. Grundwisaen Mat.hematik. Vol. 5. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo 1984, 65 Abb., XIII, 324 S., DM 44,-, ISBN:3;540-12782-8.

Walsh, G. R.:An Introduction to Linear Programming. 2. Ed. John Wiley & Sons Chichester, New York, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore 1985, IX, 240 p., ISBN 0-471-90719-7.

Törnig, W.;M. Kaspar:Numerische Ldsung von partiellen Differentialgleichungen der Technik. Mathematische Methoden in der Technik.. Bd.. 1. B. G. Teubner Stuttgart 1985, 181 S., DM 34,-, ISBN 3-519-02613-9.

Neunzert, H.(ed.):Proceedings of the Conference JIathematics in Industry, Oct 24 - 28, 1983 Oberwolfach. B. G. Teubner Stuttgart 1984, 287 S., 52,- DM, ISBN 3-519-02610-4.

Lösch, M.:Fixpunkt-Schätzvertahren für Modelle mit rationaien Erwartungen.. Mathematical Systems in Economics:" Vol. 94. Verlagsgruppe Athenäum, Hain, Hanstein Königstein 1984; 312 S.,DM 68,-,ISBN 3-445-02387-5.

Bultheel, A.; P.Dewilde (eds.):Rational Approximation in Systems Engineering. Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 1983, 244 pp., sFr. 72,-. ISBN 3-7643-3159-3.

Harrison, J. M.:Brownian ])Iotion and Stochastic Flow Systems. John Wiley & Sons New York, Chichester, Brisbane 1985, XIX, 140 pp., 36.95 £ ISBN 471-81939-5.     

On a question of Brown, Douglas, and Fillmore

In this note we answer an old question of Brown, Douglas, and Fillmore [L. Brown, R.G. Douglas, P. Fillmore, Unitary equivalence modulo the compact operators and extensions of C^∗-algebras, in: Proc. Conf. Operator Theory, in: Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 345, Springer, Berlin, 1973, pp. 58-128].     

Averaging the k largest distances among n: k-centra in Banach spaces

Given a Banach space X let A⊂X containing at least k points. In location theory, reliability analysis, and theoretical computer science, it is useful to minimize the sum of distances from the k furthest points of A: this problem has received some attention for X a finite metric space (a network), see, e.g., [Discrete Appl. Math. 109 (2001) 293]; in the case X=Eⁿ, k=2 or 3, and A compact some results have been given in [Math. Notes 59 (1996) 507]; also, in the field of theoretical computer science it has been considered in [T. Tokuyama, Minimax parametric optimization problems in multi-dimensional parametric searching, in: Proc. 33rd Annu. ACM Symp. on Theory of Computing, 2001, pp. 75-84]. Here we study the above problem for a finite set A⊂X, generalizing—among others things—the results in [Math. Notes 59 (1996) 507].