Investigations on the approximability and computability of the Hilbert transform with applications

It was recently shown that on a large class of important Banach spaces there exist no linear methods which are able to approximate the Hilbert transform from samples of the given function. This implies that there is no linear algorithm for calculating the Hilbert transform which can be implemented on a digital computer and which converges for all functions from the corresponding Banach spaces. The present paper develops a much more general framework which also includes non-linear approximation methods. All algorithms within this framework have only to satisfy an axiom which guarantees the computability of the algorithm based on given samples of the function. The paper investigates whether there exists an algorithm within this general framework which converges to the Hilbert transform for all functions in these Banach spaces. It is shown that non-linear methods give actually no improvement over linear methods. Moreover, the paper discusses some consequences regarding the Turing computability of the Hilbert transform and the existence of computational bases in Banach spaces.     

On the Minimum Norm Solution of Linear Programs

This paper describes a new technique to find the minimum norm solution of a linear program. The main idea is to reformulate this problem as an unconstrained minimization problem with a convex and smooth objective function. The minimization of this objective function can be carried out by a Newton-type method which is shown to be globally convergent. Furthermore, under certain assumptions, this Newton-type method converges in a finite number of iterations to the minimum norm solution of the underlying linear program.     

Linear multiplicative programming

An algorithm for solving a linear multiplicative programming problem (referred to as LMP) is proposed. LMP minimizes the product of two linear functions subject to general linear constraints. The product of two linear functions is a typical non-convex function, so that it can have multiple local minima. It is shown, however, that LMP can be solved efficiently by the combination of the parametric simplex method and any standard convex minimization procedure. The computational results indicate that the amount of computation is not much different from that of solving linear programs of the same size. In addition, the method proposed for LMP can be extended to a convex multiplicative programming problem (CMP), which minimizes the product of two convex functions under convex constraints.     

Heuristic Methods for Linear Multiplicative Programming

The linear multiplicative programming is the minimization of the product of affine functions over a polyhedral set. The problem with two affine functions reduces to a parametric linear program and can be solved efficiently. For the objective function with more than two affine functions multiplied, no efficient algorithms that solve the problem to optimality have been proposed, however Benson and Boger have proposed a heuristic algorithm that exploits links of the problem with concave minimization and multicriteria optimization. We will propose a heuristic method for the problem as well as its modification to enhance the accuracy of approximation. Computational experiments demonstrate that the method and its modification solve randomly generated problems within a few percent of relative error.     

Integrating accounting and multiplicative calculus: an effective estimation of learning curve

Numerical interpolation methods are essential for the estimation of nonlinear functions and they have a wide range of applications in economics and accounting. In this regard, the idea of using interpolation methods based on multiplicative calculus for suitable accounting problems is self-evident. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to develop a way to better estimate the learning curve, which is an exponentially decreasing function, based on multiplicative Lagrange interpolation. The results of this study show that the proposed multiplicative method of learning curve provides more accurate estimates of labour costs when compared to the conventional methods. This is because the exponential functions are linear in multiplicative calculus. Furthermore, the results reveal that using the proposed method enables cost and managerial accountants to better calculate both cost of unused capacity and product cost in a cumulative production represented by a nonlinear function. The results of this study are also expected to help researchers, practitioners, economists, business managers, and cost and managerial accountants to understand how to construct a multiplicative based learning curve to improve such decisions as pricing, profit planning, capacity management, and budgeting.     

A unified approach to parallel space decomposition methods

We consider (relaxed) additive and multiplicative iterative space decomposition methods for the minimization of sufficiently smooth functionals without constraints. We develop a general framework which unites existing approaches from both parallel optimization and finite elements. Specifically this work unifies earlier research on the parallel variable distribution method in minimization, space decomposition methods for convex functionals, algebraic Schwarz methods for linear systems and splitting methods for linear least squares. We develop a general convergence theory within this framework, which provides several new results as well as including known convergence results.     

On the convergence rate for a penalty function method of exponential type

Recently, Kort and Bertsekas (Ref. 1) and Hartman (Ref. 2) presented independently a new penalty function algorithm of exponential type for solving inequality-constrained minimization problems. The main purpose of this work is to give a proof on the rate of convergence of a modification of the exponential penalty method proposed by these authors. We show that the sequence of points generated by the modified algorithm converges to the solution of the original nonconvex problem linearly and that the sequence of estimates of the optimal Lagrange multiplier converges to this multiplier superlinearly. The question of convergence of the modified method is discussed. The present paper hinges on ideas of Mangasarian (Ref. 3), but the case considered here is not covered by Mangasarian's theory.     

A very simple SQCQP method for a class of smooth convex constrained minimization problems with nice convergence results

We introduce a new and very simple algorithm for a class of smooth convex constrained minimization problems which is an iterative scheme related to sequential quadratically constrained quadratic programming methods, called sequential simple quadratic method (SSQM). The computational simplicity of SSQM, which uses first-order information, makes it suitable for large scale problems. Theoretical results under standard assumptions are given proving that the whole sequence built by the algorithm converges to a solution and becomes feasible after a finite number of iterations. When in addition the objective function is strongly convex then asymptotic linear rate of convergence is established.     

基于l1-l2范数的块稀疏信号重构

压缩感知(compressed sensing,CS) 是一种全新的信息采集与处理的理论框架,借助信号内在的稀疏性或可压缩性,可以从小规模的线性、非自适应的测量中通过求解非线性优化问题重构原信号.块稀疏信号是一种具有块结构的信号,即信号的非零元是成块出现的.受YIN Peng-hang, LOU Yi-fei, HE Qi等提出的l_1-2范数最小化方法的启发,将基于l₁-l₂范数的稀疏重构算法推广到块稀疏模型,证明了块稀疏模型下l₁-l₂范数的相关性质,建立了基于l₁-l₂范数的块稀疏信号精确重构的充分条件,并通过DCA(difference of convex functions algorithm) 和ADMM(alternating direction method of multipliers)给出了求解块稀疏模型下l₁-l₂范数的迭代方法.数值实验表明,基于l₁-l₂范数的块稀疏重构算法比其他块稀疏重构算法具有更高的重构成功率.     

Modeling of a Pneumatic Hybrid Actuator using an Exponential Approach for Approximation of the Valve-Actuator Behaviour

The present paper describes a mathematical model for the control of a hybrid actuator consisting of a fluidic muscle and a linear pressure spring which is inflated by a proportional directional control valve in 3/3-way function. The device is applied for physical simulation of arbitrary force/displacement relationships. The mathematical model of the system fluidic muscle/valve consists of the approximation of the pressure time-history by an exponential function. The coefficients of the exponential function are identified from corresponding measurement and Least Squares minimization. The advantages of this approximation are that the differential equation for the pressure becomes simple and the computations more efficient. This makes the approach suitable for model-based control. The paper shows that with the proposed model sufficient accuracy can be achieved such as to have a good mathematical model for feedback linearization. For later use the device can be employed in fields of biomechanics as well as in general environments such as motion simulations. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A QP Free Feasible Method

In [12], a QP free feasible method was proposed for the minimization of a smooth function subject to smooth inequality constraints. This method is based on the solutions of linear systems of equations, the reformulation of the KKT optimality conditions by using the Fischer-Burmeister NCP function. This method ensures the feasibility of all iterations. In this paper, we modify the method in [12] slightly to obtain the local convergence under some weaker conditions. In particular, this method is implementable and globally convergent without assuming the linear independence of the gradients of active constrained functions and the uniformly positive definiteness of the submatrix obtained by the Newton or Quasi Newton methods. We also prove that the method has superlinear convergence rate under some mild conditions. Some preliminary numerical results indicate that this new QP free feasible method is quite promising.     

Second-order negative-curvature methods for box-constrained and general constrained optimization

A Nonlinear Programming algorithm that converges to second-order stationary points is introduced in this paper. The main tool is a second-order negative-curvature method for box-constrained minimization of a certain class of functions that do not possess continuous second derivatives. This method is used to define an Augmented Lagrangian algorithm of PHR (Powell-Hestenes-Rockafellar) type. Convergence proofs under weak constraint qualifications are given. Numerical examples showing that the new method converges to second-order stationary points in situations in which first-order methods fail are exhibited.     

Utility Function Programs and Optimization over the Efficient Set in Multiple-Objective Decision Making

Natural basic concepts in multiple-objective optimization lead to difficult multiextremal global optimization problems. Examples include detection of efficient points when nonconvexities occur, and optimization of a linear function over the efficient set in the convex (even linear) case. Assuming that a utility function exists allows one to replace in general the multiple-objective program by a single, nonconvex optimization problem, which amounts to a minimization over the efficient set when the utility function is increasing. A new algorithm is discussed for this utility function program which, under natural mild conditions, converges to an -approximate global solution in a finite number of iterations. Applications include linear, convex, indefinite quadratic, Lipschitz, and d.c. objectives and constraints.     

An exponential penalty method for nondifferentiable minimax problems with general constraints

A well-known approach to constrained minimization is via a sequence of unconstrained optimization computations applied to a penalty function. This paper shows how it is possible to generalize Murphy's penalty method for differentiable problems of mathematical programming (Ref. 1) to solve nondifferentiable problems of finding saddle points with constraints. As in mathematical programming, it is shown that the method has the advantages of both Fiacco and McCormick exterior and interior penalty methods (Ref. 2). Under mild assumptions, the method has the desirable property that all trial solutions become feasible after a finite number of iterations. The rate of convergence is also presented. It should be noted that the results presented here have been obtained without making any use of differentiability assumptions.     

服务台不可靠的重试排队系统均衡分析

本文研究服务台不可靠的M/M/1常数率重试排队系统中顾客的均衡进队策略, 其中服务台在正常工作和空闲状态下以不同的速率发生故障。在该系统中, 服务台前没有等待空间, 如果到达的顾客发现服务台处于空闲状态, 该顾客可占用服务台开始服务。否则, 如果服务台处于忙碌状态, 顾客可以选择留下信息, 使得服务台在空闲时可以按顺序在重试空间中寻找之前留下信息的顾客进行服务。当服务台发生故障时, 正在被服务的顾客会发生丢失, 且系统拒绝新的顾客进入系统。根据系统提供给顾客的不同程度的信息, 研究队长可见和不可见两种信息情形下系统的稳态指标, 以及顾客基于收入-支出函数的均衡进队策略, 并建立单位时间内服务商的收益和社会福利函数。比较发现, 披露队长信息不一定能提高服务商收益和社会福利。     

On multiplicative and Volterra minimization methods

Theory and applications of multiplicative and Volterra calculi have been evolving rapidly over the recent years. As numerical minimization methods have a wide range of applications in science and engineering, the idea of the design of minimization methods based on multiplicative and Volterra calculi is self-evident. In this paper, the well-known Newton minimization method for one and two variables is developed in the frameworks of multiplicative and Volterra calculi. The efficiency of these proposed minimization methods is exposed by examples, and the results are compared with the original minimization method. One of the striking results of the proposed method is that the rate of convergence and the range of initial values are considerably larger compared to the original method.     

Local convergence analysis of inexact Gauss-Newton like methods under majorant condition

In this paper, we present a local convergence analysis of inexact Gauss-Newton like methods for solving nonlinear least squares problems. Under the hypothesis that the derivative of the function associated with the least squares problem satisfies a majorant condition, we obtain that the method is well-defined and converges. Our analysis provides a clear relationship between the majorant function and the function associated with the least squares problem. It also allows us to obtain an estimate of convergence ball for inexact Gauss-Newton like methods and some important, special cases.     

Subspace correction multi‐level methods for elliptic eigenvalue problems

In this work, we apply the ideas of domain decomposition and multi‐grid methods to PDE‐based eigenvalue problems represented in two equivalent variational formulations. To find the lowest eigenpair, we use a “subspace correction” framework for deriving the multiplicative algorithm for minimizing the Rayleigh quotient of the current iteration. By considering an equivalent minimization formulation proposed by Mathew and Reddy, we can use the theory of multiplicative Schwarz algorithms for non‐linear optimization developed by Tai and Espedal to analyse the convergence properties of the proposed algorithm. We discuss the application of the multiplicative algorithm to the problem of simultaneous computation of several eigenfunctions also formulated in a variational form. Numerical results are presented. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A NOTE ON THE GRADIENT PROJECTION METHOD WITH EXACT STEPSIZE RULE

In this paper, we give some convergence results on the gradient projection method with exact stepsize rule for solving the minimization problem with convex constraints. Especially, we show that if the objective function is convex and its gradient is Lipschitz continuous, then the whole sequence of iterations produced by this method with bounded exact stepsizes converges to a solution of the concerned problem.     

Primal-dual row-action method for convex programming

We present a primal-dual row-action method for the minimization of a convex function subject to general convex constraints. Constraints are used one at a time, no changes are made in the constraint functions and their Jacobian matrix (thus, the row-action nature of the algorithm), and at each iteration a subproblem is solved consisting of minimization of the objective function subject to one or two linear equations. The algorithm generates two sequences: one of them, called primal, converges to the solution of the problem; the other one, called dual, approximates a vector of optimal KKT multipliers for the problem. We prove convergence of the primal sequence for general convex constraints. In the case of linear constraints, we prove that the primal sequence converges at least linearly and obtain as a consequence the convergence of the dual sequence.The research of the first author was partially supported by CNPq Grant No. 301280/86.