单可变资源最小化加权完工时间和排序问题的强NP-困难性

Baker和Nuttle提出了下述单可变资源排序问题：扎个工件利用某个单资源进行加工使得工件的完工时间的某个函数达到最小,而资源的可利用率是随着时间而变化的．当最小化的目标函数是工件的加权完工时间和时,Baker和Nuttle猜测该问题是NP-困难的．最近,Yuan、Cheng和Ng证明该问题在一般意义下是NP-困难的,但是问题的精确复杂性仍然是悬而未决的．本文我们证明了该问题是强NP-困难的．     

An exact algorithm to minimize mean squared deviation of job completion times about a common due date

We consider a deterministic n-job, single machine scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing the Mean Squared Deviation (MSD) of job completion times about a common due date (d). The MSD measure is non-regular and its value can decrease when one or more completion times increases. MSD problem is connected with the Completion Time Variance (CTV) problem and has been proved to be NP-hard. This problem finds application in situations where uniformity of service is important. We present an exact algorithm of pseudo-polynomial complexity, using ideas from branch and bound and dynamic programming. We propose a dominance rule and also develop a lower bound on MSD. The dominance rule and lower bound are effectively combined and used in the development of the proposed algorithm. The search space is explored using the breadth first branching strategy. The asymptotic space complexity of the algorithm is O(nd). Irrespective of the version of the problem – tightly constrained, constrained or unconstrained – the proposed algorithm provides optimal solutions for problem instances up to 1000 jobs size under different due date settings.     

A PTAS for the sparsest 2-spanner of 4-connected planar triangulations

A t-spanner of an undirected, unweighted graph G is a spanning subgraph of G with the added property that for every pair of vertices in G, the distance between them in is at most t times the distance between them in G. We are interested in finding a sparsest t-spanner, i.e., a t-spanner with the minimum number of edges. In the general setting, this problem is known to be NP-hard for all t2. For t5, the problem remains NP-hard for planar graphs, whereas for t{2,3,4}, the complexity of this problem on planar graphs is still unknown. In this paper we present a polynomial time approximation scheme for the problem of finding a sparsest 2-spanner of a 4-connected planar triangulation.     

Approximation of 3-Edge-Coloring of Cubic Graphs

The problem to find a 4-edge-coloring of a 3-regular graph is solvable in polynomial time but an analogous problem for 3-edge-coloring is NP-hard. We study complexity of approximation algorithms for invariants measuring how far is a 3-regular graph from having a 3-edge-coloring. We prove that it is an NP-hard problem to approximate such invariants by a power function with exponent smaller than 1.     

The single machine batching problem with identical family setup times to minimize maximum lateness is strongly NP-hard

In this paper, we consider the single machine batching problem with family setup times to minimize maximum lateness. Recently, Cheng et al. [T.C.E. Cheng, C.T. Ng, J.J. Yuan, The single machine batching problem with family setup times to minimize maximum lateness is strongly NP-hard, Journal of Scheduling 6 (2003) 483–490] proved that this problem is strongly NP-hard. This answers a long-standing open problem posed by J. Bruno and P. Downey [Complexity of task sequencing with deadlines, setup times and changeover costs, SIAM Journal on Computing 7 (1978) 393–404]. By a modification of the proof in Cheng et al. (2003), we show that this problem is still strongly NP-hard when the family setup times are identical.     

The Complexity of Minimum Ratio Spanning Tree Problems

We examine the complexity of two minimum spanning tree problems with rational objective functions. We show that the Minimum Ratio Spanning Tree problem is NP-hard when the denominator is unrestricted in sign, thereby sharpening a previous complexity result. We then consider an extension of this problem where the objective function is the sum of two linear ratios whose numerators and denominators are strictly positive. This problem is shown to be NP-hard as well. We conclude with some results characterizing sufficient conditions for a globally optimal solution.     

Application of an optimization problem in Max-Plus algebra to scheduling problems

The problem tackled in this paper deals with products of a finite number of triangular matrices in Max-Plus algebra, and more precisely with an optimization problem related to the product order. We propose a polynomial time optimization algorithm for 2×2 matrices products. We show that the problem under consideration generalizes numerous scheduling problems, like single machine problems or two-machine flow shop problems. Then, we show that for 3×3 matrices, the problem is NP-hard and we propose a branch-and-bound algorithm, lower bounds and upper bounds to solve it. We show that an important number of results in the literature can be obtained by solving the presented problem, which is a generalization of single machine problems, two- and three-machine flow shop scheduling problems. The branch-and-bound algorithm is tested in the general case and for a particular case and some computational experiments are presented and discussed.     

Single-machine scheduling problems with actual time-dependent and job-dependent learning effect

In this study, we introduce an actual time-dependent and job-dependent learning effect into single-machine scheduling problems. We show that the complexity results of the makespan minimization problem and the sum of weighted completion time minimization problem are all NP-hard. The complexity result of the maximum lateness minimization problem is NP-hard in the strong sense. We also provide three special cases which can be solved by polynomial time algorithms.     

On scheduling an unbounded batch machine

A batch machine is a machine that can process up to c jobs simultaneously as a batch, and the processing time of the batch is equal to the longest processing time of the jobs assigned to it. In this paper, we deal with the complexity of scheduling an unbounded batch machine, i.e., c=+∞. We prove that minimizing total tardiness is binary NP-hard, which has been an open problem in the literature. Also, we establish the pseudopolynomial solvability of the unbounded batch machine scheduling problem with job release dates and any regular objective. This is distinct from the bounded batch machine and the classical single machine scheduling problems, most of which with different release dates are unary NP-hard. Combined with the existing results, this paper provides a nearly complete mapping of the complexity of scheduling an unbounded batch machine.     

单可变资源最小化加权完工时间和排序问题的强NP-困难性

Baker和Nuttle提出了下述单可变资源排序问题：$n$个工件利用某个单资源进行加工使得工件的完工时间的某个函数达到最小,而资源的可利用率是随着时间而变化的.当最小化的目标函数是工件的加权完工时间和时,Baker和Nuttle猜测该问题是NP-困难的.最近,Yuan、Cheng 和 Ng 证明该问题在一般意义下是NP-困难的,但是问题的精确复杂性仍然是悬而未决的.本文我们证明了该问题是强NP-困难的.     

Scheduling three chains on two parallel machines

We consider the problem of scheduling n tasks subject to chain-precedence constraints on two identical machines with the objective of minimizing the makespan. The problem is known to be strongly NP-hard. Here, we prove that it is binary NP-hard even with three chains. Furthermore, we characterize the complexity of this case by presenting a pseudopolynomial time algorithm and a fully polynomial time approximation scheme.     

Parameterized computational complexity of finding small-diameter subgraphs

Finding subgraphs of small diameter in undirected graphs has been seemingly unexplored from a parameterized complexity perspective. We perform the first parameterized complexity study on the corresponding NP-hard s-Club problem. We consider two parameters: the solution size and its dual.     

The strong NP-hardness of the maximum lateness minimization scheduling problem with the processing-time based aging effect

In this paper, we analyse the single machine maximum lateness minimization scheduling problem with the processing time based aging effect, where the processing time of each job is described by a non-decreasing function dependent on the sum of the normal processing times of preceded jobs. The computational complexity of this problem was not determined. However, we show it is strongly NP-hard by proving the strong NP-hardness of the single machine maximum completion time minimization problem with this aging model and job deadlines. Furthermore, we determine the boundary between polynomially solvable and NP-hard cases.     

Perfect Packings of Squares Using the Stack-Pack Strategy

   Abstract. We consider the problem of packing an infinite set of square tiles into a finite number of rectangular boxes. We introduce a simple packing strategy that we call stack-pack. Using this strategy, we prove that if 1/2 < t < 2/3, then the squares of side n ^-t , for positive integers n , can be packed into some finite collection of square boxes of the same area ζ(2t) as the total area of the tiles.     

Perfect Packings of Squares Using the Stack-Pack Strategy

Abstract. We consider the problem of packing an infinite set of square tiles into a finite number of rectangular boxes. We introduce a simple packing strategy that we call stack-pack. Using this strategy, we prove that if 1/2 < t < 2/3, then the squares of side n ^-t , for positive integers n , can be packed into some finite collection of square boxes of the same area ζ(2t) as the total area of the tiles.     

The multi-item capacitated lot-sizing problem with setup times and shortage costs

We address a multi-item capacitated lot-sizing problem with setup times and shortage costs that arises in real-world production planning problems. Demand cannot be backlogged, but can be totally or partially lost. The problem is NP-hard. A mixed integer mathematical formulation is presented. Our approach in this paper is to propose some classes of valid inequalities based on a generalization of Miller et al. [A.J. Miller, G.L. Nemhauser, M.W.P. Savelsbergh, On the polyhedral structure of a multi-item production planning model with setup times, Mathematical Programming 94 (2003) 375–405] and Marchand and Wolsey [H. Marchand, L.A. Wolsey, The 0–1 knapsack problem with a single continuous variable, Mathematical Programming 85 (1999) 15–33] results. We also describe fast combinatorial separation algorithms for these new inequalities. We use them in a branch-and-cut framework to solve the problem. Some experimental results showing the effectiveness of the approach are reported.     

On the complexity of project scheduling to minimize exposed time

We consider project scheduling where the project manager’s objective is to minimize the time from when an adversary discovers the project until the completion of the project. We analyze the complexity of the problem identifying both polynomially solvable and NP-hard versions of the problem. The complexity of the problem is seen to be dependent on the nature of renewable resource constraints, precedence constraints, and the ability to crash activities in the project.     

Minimizing number of tardy jobs on a batch processing machine with incompatible job families

In this paper we consider the problem of minimizing number of tardy jobs on a single batch processing machine. The batch processing machine is capable of processing up to B jobs simultaneously as a batch. We are given a set of n jobs which can be partitioned into m incompatible families such that the processing times of all jobs belonging to the same family are equal and jobs of different families cannot be processed together. We show that this problem is NP-hard and present a dynamic programming algorithm which has polynomial time complexity when the number of job families and the batch machine capacity are fixed. We also show that when the jobs of a family have a common due date the problem can be solved by a pseudo-polynomial time procedure.     

Parallel machine scheduling problems with a single server

In this paper, we consider the problem of scheduling jobs on parallel machines with setup times. The setup has to be performed by a single server. The objective is to minimize the schedule length (makespan), as well as the forced idle time. The makespan problem is known to be NP-hard even for the case of two identical parallel machines. This paper presents a pseudopolynomial algorithm for the case of two machines when all setup times are equal to one. We also show that the more general problem with an arbitrary number of machines is unary NP-hard and analyze some list scheduling heuristics for this problem. The problem of minimizing the forced idle time is known to be unary NP-hard for the case of two machines and arbitrary setup and processing times. We prove unary NP-hardness of this problem even for the case of constant setup times. Moreover, some polynomially solvable cases are given.