Characterization of d.c. functions in terms of quasidifferentials

A characterization of d.c. functions f:Ω→R in terms of the quasidifferentials of f is obtained, where Ω is an open convex set in a real Banach space. Recall that f is called d.c. (difference of convex) if it can be represented as a difference of two finite convex functions. The relation of the obtained results with known characterizations is discussed, specifically the ones from [R. Ellaia, A. Hassouni, Characterization of nonsmooth functions through their generalized gradients, Optimization 22 (1991), 401-416] in the finite-dimensional case and [A. Elhilali Alaoui, Caractérisation des fonctions DC, Ann. Sci. Math. Québec 20 (1996), 1-13] in the case of a Banach space.     

Second-order subdifferentials and convexity of real-valued functions

In this paper we show that the positive semi-definiteness (PSD) of the Fréchet and/or Mordukhovich second-order subdifferentials can recognize the convexity of C¹ functions. However, the PSD is insufficient for ensuring the convexity of a locally Lipschitz function in general. A complete characterization of strong convexity via the second-order subdifferentials is also given.     

The maximal monotonicity of the subdifferentials of convex functions: Simons' problem

In the paper we deal with the problem when the graph of the subdifferential operator of a convex lower semicontinuous function has a common point with the product of two convex nonempty weak and weak^* compact sets, i.e. when graph (Q × Q ^*) 0. The results obtained partially solve the problem posed by Simons as well as generalize the Rockafellar Maximal Monotonicity Theorem.     

An upper estimate for the Clarke subdifferential of an infimal value function proved via the Mordukhovich subdifferential

The aim of this note is to give an alternative proof for a recent result due to Dorsch et al., which provides an upper estimate for the Clarke subdifferential of an infimal value function. We show the validity of this result under a weaker condition than the one assumed in the aforementioned paper, while the use of the Mordukhovich subdifferential, as an intermediate step, will considerably shorten its proof.     

The directed and Rubinov subdifferentials of quasidifferentiable functions, Part II: Calculus

We continue the study of the directed subdifferential for quasidifferentiable functions started in [R. Baier, E. Farkhi, V. Roshchina, The directed and Rubinov subdifferentials of quasidifferentiable functions, Part I: Definition and examples (this journal)]. Calculus rules for the directed subdifferentials of sum, product, quotient, maximum and minimum of quasidifferentiable functions are derived. The relation between the Rubinov subdifferential and the subdifferentials of Clarke, Dini, Michel-Penot, and Mordukhovich is discussed. Important properties implying the claims of Ioffe’s axioms as well as necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for the directed subdifferential are obtained.     

On the structure of singular sets of convex functions

Whenf is a convex function ofR ^h, andk is an integer with 0<k, then the set ^k (f)=x:dim(f(x)k may be covered by countably many manifolds of dimensionh–k and classC ² except an _h–k negligible subset.The author is supported by INdAM     

A geometrical approach to monotone functions in mathbb R^n

The paper is concerned with the fine properties of monotone functions on . We study the continuity and differentiability properties of these functions, the approximability properties, the structure of the distributional derivatives and of the weak Jacobians. Moreover, we exhibit an example of a monotone function u which is the gradient of a convex function and whose weak Jacobian Ju is supported on a purely unrectifiable set. Received October 9, 1996; in final form April 21, 1997     

Iterative algorithms for a new class of extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities

Some new classes of extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and the extended general Wiener-Hopf inclusions are introduced. By the projection technique, equivalence between the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and the fixed point problems as well as the extended general nonconvex Wiener-Hopf inclusions is proved. Then by using this equivalent formulation, we discuss the existence of solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities and construct some new perturbed finite step projection iterative algorithms with mixed errors for approximating the solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities. We also verify that the approximate solutions obtained by our algorithms converge to the solutions of the extended general nonconvex set-valued variational inequalities. The results presented in this paper extend and improve some known results from the literature.     

Stability of subdifferentials of nonconvex functions in Banach spaces

We investigate various notions of subdifferentials and superdifferentials of nonconvex functions in Banach spaces. We prove stability results of these subdifferentials and superdifferentials under various kind of convergences. Our proofs rely on a recent variational principle of Deville, Godefroy and Zizler. Connections between our results, the geometry of Banach spaces and existence theorems of viscosity solutions for first and second-order Hamilton-Jacobi equations in infinite-dimensional Banach spaces will be explained.     

Generalized invexity of nonsmooth functions

In this paper, the concepts of weak invexity and weak quasi invexity are introduced and the relations among several kinds of generalized invexity are studied for nonsmooth functions by means of the properties of limiting subdifferentials. In addition, the relations between generalized invexity of a nonsmooth function and generalized invariant monotonicity of its limiting subdifferential mapping are researched. Our results here are an extension and generalization of those presented by M. Soleimani-damaneh.     

On the approximate solutions of constrained inverse Lipschitz function problems and inverse function theorems

We present a principle of approximate solutions of constrained inverse Lipschitz function problems. As corollaries and applications of the principle, we obtain a result of convergence of an approximate solutions sequence for the constrained problems, a conclusion relating direct and inverse images of upper and lower limits of a sequence of subsets, and several versions of inverse Lipschitz function theorems. Finally we give local uniqueness criteria for solutions to constrained nonlinear problems in finite dimension spaces.     

A weaker regularity condition for subdifferential calculus and Fenchel duality in infinite dimensional spaces

In this paper we present a new regularity condition for the subdifferential sum formula of a convex function with the precomposition of another convex function with a continuous linear mapping. This condition is formulated by using the epigraphs of the conjugates of the functions involved and turns out to be weaker than the generalized interior-point regularity conditions given so far in the literature. Moreover, it provides a weak sufficient condition for Fenchel duality regarding convex optimization problems in infinite dimensional spaces. As an application, we discuss the strong conical hull intersection property (CHIP) for a finite family of closed convex sets.     

The optimal value and optimal solutions of the proximal average of convex functions

The proximal average of a finite collection of convex functions is a parameterized convex function that provides a continuous transformation between the convex functions in the collection. This paper analyzes the dependence of the optimal value and the minimizers of the proximal average on the weighting parameter. Concavity of the optimal value is established and implies further regularity properties of the optimal value. Boundedness, outer semicontinuity, single-valuedness, continuity, and Lipschitz continuity of the minimizer mapping are concluded under various assumptions. Sharp minimizers are given further attention. Several examples are given to illustrate our results.     

Expressions for subdifferential and optimization problems defined by nonsmooth homogeneous functions

In this paper, we prove a theoretical expression for subdifferentials of lower semicontinuous and homogeneous functions. The theoretical expression is a generalization of the Euler formula for differentiable homogeneous functions. As applications of the generalized Euler formula, we consider constrained optimization problems defined by nonsmooth positively homogeneous functions in smooth Banach spaces. Some results concerning Karush–Kuhn–Tucker points and necessary optimality conditions for the optimization problems are obtained.     

A new hybrid method for solving a generalized equilibrium problem, solving a variational inequality problem and obtaining common fixed points in Banach spaces, with applications

The purpose of this paper is to prove by using a new hybrid method a strong convergence theorem for finding a common element of the set of solutions for a generalized equilibrium problem, the set of solutions for a variational inequality problem and the set of common fixed points for a pair of relatively nonexpansive mappings in a Banach space. As applications, we utilize our results to obtain some new results for finding a solution of an equilibrium problem, a fixed point problem and a common zero-point problem for maximal monotone mappings in Banach spaces.     

Systems of generalized nonlinear variational inequalities and its projection methods

Based on relaxed cocoercive monotonicity, a new generalized class of nonlinear variational inequality problems is presented. Our results improve and extend the recent ones announced by [H. Y. Huang, M. A. Noor, An explicit projection method for a system of nonlinear variational inequalities with different (γ,r)$(\gamma ,r)$-cocoercive mappings, Appl. Math. Comput. 190 (2007) 356–361; S. S. Chang, H. W. Joseph Lee, C. K. Chan, Generalized system for relaxed cocoercive variational inequalities in Hilbert spaces, Appl. Math. Lett. 20 (2007) 329–334; R. U. Verma, Generalized system for relaxed cocoercive variational inequalities and its projection methods, J. Optim. Theory Appl. 121 (2004) 203–210; M. A. Noor, General variational inequalities, Appl. Math. Lett. 1 (1988) 119–121] and many others.     

Minimizing Sequences in Class-Qualified Deposit Problems

We study multidimensional control problems involving first-order partial differential equations. To ensure the existence of sufficiently regular multipliers (from the space ) in the first-order necessary optimality conditions, some restrictions of the feasible domain have to be added. In particular, we investigate ‘class-qualified’ problems where the weak derivatives of can be represented within a Baire function class. In the present paper, we prove conditions under which the original and the modified problems possess the same minimal values.