A study on the structure of planning behaviour

Although there is an abundance of literature on planning, it is largely either about how we actually plan, about how we should plan, or about how we should organize our planning, and little effort seems to have been contributed to investigate how we actually organize our planning, which should become the basis for the above three kinds of research. In this paper, we consider first the relationship between planning and decision-making with a simple example (Section 2), and then the benefits and costs of planning more specifically (Section 3). After these preparatory considerations, we postulate a hypothesis which describes planning behaviour of individuals and organizations, with necessary definitions and assumptions (Section 4). Some propositions attained from the hypothesis are also included. For testing the validity of the hypothesis, an organism model of organization which deals with an organization as an open system in the environment is introduced (Section 5.1). We make additional assumptions to let the model plan (Section 5.2), and the behaviour of the model is generally supported by the practitioners and researcher interviewed (Section 5.3). Finally we discussed briefly the methodology employed and the possible applications of the hypothesis (Section 6).     

Fuzzy power sets and fuzzy implication operators

The theory of fuzzy power sets, which has hitherto been insufficiently developed, is shown very naturally to require the use of a fuzzy implication operator (Section 1). Six such operators are gathered from the literature on multiple-valued logic (Section 2), and their effects on fuzzy power-set theory are compared throughout the rest of the paper. After certain fundamental definitions of set characteristics (Section 3), the six operators are carried in parallel while working out basic aspects of power-set theory. Among these are the properties of the set-inclusion relation and the set-equivalence relation (Section 4), two distinct concepts of disjointness (Section 5), questions of consistency in the relations between a set and its complement (Section 6), and a very concrete theorem on a difference among the operators with regard to the derivation of crisp conclusions from fuzzy premises (Section 7). Finally (Section 8), emphasis is placed on the dependence of the choice of operators upon the purposes the user has in hand.     

Machines Over the Reals and Non-Uniformity

We survey the research performed in the last few years on a specific topic: the power of real machines over binary inputs. This research attempts to characterize the classes of decision problems over a finite alphabet - say {0,1} - which can be decided by real machines working under several resource restrictions. Non-uniformity appears here in a natural way. However, since this is a technical concept which is not widely known, we summarize in Section 2 some of the intuitive notions, as well as a few basic theorems related to it. In Section 3 we do this for the subject of real machines and then, in Section 4 we present the state of the art of the surveyed topic. We devote Section 1 to introduce the main concepts of complexity theory. Proofs in this article are quite sketchy and are included more to convey intuitive ideas than to completely prove the claimed statements. Bibliographical references to the original literature are supplied for the latter purpose.     

A numerical approximation theory for second-order integral differential equations

This paper is a companion paper to “An Oscillation Theory for Second-Order Integral Differential Equations.” The underlying theme is that both topic (oscillation theory and numerical oscillation theory) follow as a corollary to an approximation theory of quadratic forms given previously by the author. In Section I we give the mathematical preliminaries; some of which are not included in the earlier paper. This includes the relationship between the fundamental quadratic form and its integral differential equation (the Euler-Lagrange equations). In Section II the approximating quadratic forms are defined on the approximating Hilbert space. In Section III we show that our approximating hypothesis are satisfied and give the fundamental inequality relationships [Eqs. (12) and (13)]. We also show that the mth oscillation point is a continuous function of our approximating parameter. Finally in Section IV we show how that the approximating indices may be easily obtained by computer algorithms.     

The minimax principle and random programs

The aim of the present article is to show that the minimax principle plays a fundamental part in defining a solution of a random program. By this principle, a random program is reduced to a convex program (linear or non-linear), under suitable conditions, and the solved by available techniques (if any). Section 1 deals with basic concepts related to deterministic programs, whereas Section 2 attempts to randomize the concepts discussed previously. Section 3 shows special cases of random programs which are the result of the minimax principle.     

Financial systems: a few theoretical and algebraic considerations for their modeling

In this paper I suggest that observable entities, usually named ‘financial systems’, may be related to the general conceptual framework of systems theory. Starting from the requisite properties of a (general) system, I derive a strong and operational concept for specific financial systems (Section 1). Then a general modeling procedure is proposed, mainly based upon graph theory (with an additional and complementary use of linear systems analysis), through which it is possible to establish the general static and almost dynamic properties of these specific systems and their implications for financial analysis itself (Section 2). A numerical example (Section 3) illustrates most of the concepts and ideas introduced throughout the paper.     

Bifurcation of periodic orbits in coupled chemical reactors II

In this part of the paper we deal with computational aspects of the bifurcation problem introduced in Part I, cf. [1]. It follows from Section 3 that the bifurcation behaviour is essentially determined by the expression KP(Ω) – ∧β, where β is some constant which was assumed to be nonzero, while P(Ω) is some 2π-periodic function which was implicitly defined in Section 2. In Section 4 we first derive easily computable expressions for P(Ω) and β from the definitions of Section 2. Secondly we offer a direct, although formal, derivation for these quantities. In Section 5 we briefly show how P(Ω). β can actually be computed by means of a high speed computer and discuss a number of examples. In Section 6 finally we give some asymptotic results for systems depending on an additional parameter.     

Cybernetic causality III: The qualitative theory of self-steering and social development

A mathematical connection, based on a representation postulate, is established between system dynamics and actor theory, as a result of which a general theorem concerning the double representation of causal recursion in action-systems can be proved (Section 1). For self-steering actors the theorem permits an indeterministic interpretation in terms of the existence of free will in such actors (Section 1.4). The laws of requisite variety and requisite hierarchy are connected with a stoachastic process of self-organization in complex self-regulating actors and actor-hierarchies, respectively (Sections 2 and 3). The mathematical apparatus created in Sections 1–3 is applied to a foundational study, in terms of dynamical systems, of the reasons for social development and underdevelopment (Section 4), and to an analysis of the governability of human society (Section 5).     

Measures of fuzzy sets and measures of fuzziness

The measures presented in this paper are defined by using Weber's concept of decomposable measures m of crisp sets, having in particular the Archimedean decomposable operations in view (Section 2). Measures $\text{m}$ of fuzzy sets are introduced as integrals with respect to m. For the Archimedean cases, Weber's integral will be used as alternative to Sugeno's and Choquet's concepts (Section 3). What ‘fuzziness’ means will be described by functions of fuzziness F (another name: entropy N-functions) with respect to a negation. In addition to the types of functions of fuzziness which are induced by concave functions, we discuss also the ones which are induced by fuzzy connectives (Section 4). Now, using m for measuring the ‘importance of items’ and F for the ‘fuzziness’ of the possible values of a fuzzy set ?, m?(F ° ?) serves us as a measure of the fuzziness $\text{F}$? of ?. The concepts of De Luca and Termini, Capocelli and De Luca, Kaufmann, Knopfmacher, Loo, Gottwald, Dombi and, under the restriction to the Archimedean cases, also the concepts of Trillas and Riera and Yager turn out to be special cases (Section 5).     

A methodology for sensitivity analysis in three-criteria problems: A case study in municipal management

This paper describes part of an on-going research project studying the issues of the application of Multicriteria Decision Aid Methodologies in real case-studies at the local level of the Portuguese Public Administration.In a first part, it address the complexity of decision situations in municipal management in general and the significance of decision analysis, namely multicriteria evaluation procedures, in conducting decision aid processes in that environment (Section 1).In a second part, a case study is described (Section 2), followed by its discussion in the ‘space of the weights’ in the context of different particular types of possible problem formulations (Section 3). For this purpose, an extension of Triangular Decision Technique is first proposed, followed by the presentation of a new Outranking approach, designated by ‘Outweigh’ analysis, which will permit the enrichment of the discussion.     

Trim-loss minimization in a crepe-rubber mill; optimal solution versus heuristic in the 2 (3) - dimensional case

The efficiency—waste minimization—of a production planning system (PPS), solving the 3-dimensional cutting problem in a crepe rubber mills, has had to be provedSection 1 points out the problem caused by material and production. Section 2 demonstrates an algorithms solving these problems optimally but with comparatively high CPU-time. Section 3 points out how a good heuristic for the same problem works. Section 4 compares the heuristic with the optimal solution. Section 5 compares the presently employed system with the heuristic.     

Darstellung durch definite ternäre quadratische Formen

We study the representation behaviour of a $\text{Z}$-lattice L on a positive definite ternary quadratic space V over $\text{Q}$. As a new tool for this we use the Bruhat-Tits building of the spingroup of the completion of V at a suitable prime p. In Section 2 we show how this can be described in an elementary way as a graph whose vertices are the $\text{Z}$_p-maximal lattices on V_p, and in Section 4 we let this graph induce a graph, whose vertices are lattices on V, which differ from L only at the prime p. In Section 3 we investigate which lattices from the graph defined in Section 2 have a given vector in common. The results are used in Sections 5 and 6 to obtain information on the representation behaviour of some special lattices. In Section 5 we get a list of lattices, which represent all numbers they represent locally everywhere; this list contains that given by Watson in [16]. In Section 6 we sharpen a result of Jones and Pall from [6].     

Solving multi-objective production scheduling problems using metaheuristics

Most of research in production scheduling is concerned with the optimization of a single criterion. However the analysis of the performance of a schedule often involves more than one aspect and therefore requires a multi-objective treatment. In this paper we first present (Section 1) the general context of multi-objective production scheduling, analyze briefly the different possible approaches and define the aim of this study i.e. to design a general method able to approximate the set of all the efficient schedules for a large set of scheduling models. Then we introduce (Section 2) the models we want to treat––one machine, parallel machines and permutation flow shops––and the corresponding notations. The method used––called multi-objective simulated annealing––is described in Section 3. Section 4 is devoted to extensive numerical experiments and their analysis. Conclusions and further directions of research are discussed in the last section.     

General methods for converting impulsive fractional differential equations to integral equations and applications

In this paper, we propose the concepts of Caputo fractional derivatives and Caputo type Hadamard fractional derivatives for piecewise continuous functions. We obtain general solutions of four classes of impulsive fractional differential equations (Theorem 3.1–Theorem 3.4) respectively. These results are applied to converting boundary value problems for impulsive fractional differential equations to integral equations. Some comments are made on recently published papers (see Section 4).     

随机度量理论及其应用在我国最近进展的综述

本旨在全面综述随机度量理论及其应用过去十年在我国发展过程中所获得的主要结果与思想方法。全由十节组成,第一节对我们工作的背景－概率度量空间与随机度量空间理论和一简单的介绍;第二节给出某些有关随机泛函分析及取值于抽象空间的可测函数的预备知识;第三节阐明随机泛函分析与原始随机度量理论（本称之为F－随机度量理论）的整体关系：主要结果是在随机元生成空间给出自然且合理的随机度量与随机范数的构造,从而将随机元与随机算子理论的研究纳入随机度量理论框架;主要思想是将随机泛函分析视为随机度量空间体系上的分析学而统一地发展,从而形成了发展随机泛函分析的一个新的途径－空间随机化途径;除此之外,在本节我们也从随机过程理论观点出发首次提出对应于随机度量理论原始版本的一种新的随机共轭空间理论（叫作F－ 随机共轭空间理论）,它的突出优点是能保持象随机过程的样本性质这样更精细的特性（本节由作的工作构成）;在第四节,基本作最近提出的随机度量理论的一个新的版本（本称之为E－随机度量理论）,从传统泛函分析的角度对过去已被发展起来的随机共轭空间理论（本称之为E－随机共轭空间理论）,从传统泛函分析的角度对过去已被发展起来的随机共轭空间理论（本称之为E－随机共轭空间理论）的基本结果进行系统整理并给以全新的处理（本节内容整体上由作最近后篇论构成,也尤其提到朱林户等人的重要工作）;在本节我们也相当的篇幅论述F－随机共轭空间理论与E－随机共轭空间理论的内存关系与本质差异。在下紧跟的两节,致力于E－随机共轭空间理论深层次的结果,尤其突出了E－随机赋范模与传统的赋范空间、E－随机共轭空间与经典共轭空间之间的内存联系;在第五节给出了几类E－随机赋范模的E－随机共轭空间的表示定理（主要由作的工作,作与游兆永及林熙合作的工作,还有巩馥州与刘清荣合作的工作组成）;在第六节给出完备E－随机赋范模为随机自反的特征化定理（主要由作及合作的工作组成）;在第六节给出完备E－随机赋范模为随机自反的特征化定理（主要由作及合作的工作组成）。尤其在第五及第六节中,我们给出随机度量理论在随机泛函分析及经典Banach空间中若干实质性的应用;第七节简要给出E－随机赋半范模及E－随机对偶系理论初步;第八节简单阐明随机度量理论与泛函分析的关系;第九节阐明了随机度量理论与概率度量空间理论的关系。最后在第十节结合随机度量理论,Banach空间理论及随机泛函分析对发展随机泛函分析的空间随机化途径的合理性与优越性作了进一步的分析。     

随机度量理论及其应用在我国最近进展的综述

本旨在全面综述随机度量理论及其应用过去十年在我国发展过程中所获得的主要结果与思想方法,本由十节组成,第一节对我们工作的背景-概率度量空间与随机度量空间理论作一简单的介绍;第二节给出某些有关随机泛函分析及取值于抽象空间的可测函数的预备知识,第三节阐明随机泛函分析与原始随机度量理论（本称之为F-随机度量理论）的整体关系,主要结果是在随机元生成空间上给出自然且合理的随机度量与随机范数的构造,从而将随机元与随机算子理论的研究纳入随机度量理论框架,主要思想是将随机泛函分析视为随机度量空间体系上的分析学而统一地发展;从而形成了发展随机泛函分析的一个新的途径-空间随机化途径;除此之外,在本节我们也从随机过程理论的观点出发首次提出对应于随机度量理论原始版本的一种新的随机共轭空间理论（叫作F-随机共轭空间理论）,它的突出优点是能保持象随机过程的样本性质这样更精细的特性（本节由作的工作构成）,在第四节,基于作最近提出的随机度量理论的一个新的版本（本称之为E-随机度量理论）,从传统泛函分析的角度对过去已被发展起来的随机共轭空间理论（本称之为E-随机共轭空间理论）的基本结果进行系统整理并给以全新的处理（本节内容整体上由作最近的一篇论构成,也尤其提到朱林户等人的重要工作）,在本节我们也以相当的篇幅论述F-随机共轭空间理论与E-随机共轭空间理论的内在关系与本质差异,在下面紧跟的两节,致力于E-随机共轭空间理论深层次的结果,尤其突出了E-随机赋范模与传统的赋范空间、E-随机共轭空间与经典共轭空间之间的内在联系;在第五节给出了几类E-随机赋范模的E-随机共轭空间的表示定理（主要由作的工作,作与游兆水及林熙合作的工作,还有巩馥州与刘清荣合作的工作组成）,在六节给出完备E-随机赋范模为随机自反的特征化定理（主要由作及合作的工作组成）,尤其是第五及第六节中,我们给出随机度量理论在随机泛函分析及经典Banach空间中若干实质性的应用;第七节简要给出E-随机赋半范模及E-随机对偶系理论初步;第八节简单阐明随机度量理论与泛函分析的关系;第九节简单阐明了随机度量理论与概率度量空间理论的关系,最后在第十节结合随机度量理论,Banach空间理论及随机泛函分析对发展随机泛函分析的空间随机化途径的合理性与优越性作了进一步的分析。     

On the Asymptotic Behaviour of Age Distributions in Manpower Systems

The literature on supply models for manpower planning shows that an important consideration is the size of the discrepancy between the age or length of service distribution of the population and the age distribution which would be reached if present policies were continued indefinitely. In the present paper we study the asymptotic behaviour of the age distribution in any manpower system. An application to a decision problem in a university system is given.     

The cultural roots linking Europe

It is argued that the cultural roots within Europe are powerful links and that there exist other regions as well, powerfully stamped by Indian, Chinese, Japanese, or Arabian and other cultures; we need a modus vivendi of “cooperative competition”; can OR/MS help (Section 1)? The history of European culture will be outlined (Section 2), particularly with a focus on European philosophy, beginning with the Greek pre-Socratics. Then, the influence of European philosophy on OR/MS will be sketched (Section 3) with respect to mathematics, state organisation, self-control, ethics, and philosophy of science. Finally, an extension of OR/MS education programmes toward philosophy will be recommended (Section 4).     

Multiobjective design of transportation networks: Taxonomy and annotation

Transportation planning is inherently multiobjective in nature. Transportation planning objectives include cost, accessibility, environmental concerns, revenue, and regional equity among others. Multiobjective techniques for the evaluation of transportation planning alternatives have appeared in the literature since the mid 1960's. However, few articles dealing with the multiobjective design of transportation planning alternatives appeared in the literature prior to the mid 1970's. Since then there has been an increase in research in this area. In this article we present a taxonomy to classify this research. An annotated bibliography of 42 selected references is included. A brief history of the use of multiobjective analysis in transportation planning is also presented.