Applying relational algebra and RelView to coalition formation

We present an application of relational algebra to coalition formation. This leads to specifications, which can be executed with the help of the RelView tool after a simple translation into the tool’s programming language. As an example we consider a simplification of the situation in Poland after the 2001 elections.     

Approximation of max independent set, min vertex cover and related problems by moderately exponential algorithms

Using ideas and results from polynomial time approximation and exact computation we design approximation algorithms for several NP-hard combinatorial problems achieving ratios that cannot be achieved in polynomial time (unless a very unlikely complexity conjecture is confirmed) with worst-case complexity much lower (though super-polynomial) than that of an exact computation. We study in particular two paradigmatic problems, max independent set and min vertex cover.     

A multiple criteria sorting method where each category is characterized by several reference actions: The Electre Tri-nC method

This paper presents Electre Tri-nC, a new sorting method which takes into account several reference actions for characterizing each category. This new method gives a particular freedom to the decision maker in the co-construction decision aiding process with the analyst to characterize the set of categories, while there is no constraint for introducing only one reference action as typical of each category like in Electre Tri-C (Almeida-Dias et al., 2010). As in such a sorting method, this new sorting method is composed of two joint rules. Electre Tri-nC also fulfills a certain number of natural requirements. Additional results on the behavior of the new method are also provided in this paper, namely the ones with respect to the addition or removal of the reference actions used for characterizing a certain category. A numerical example illustrates the manner in which Electre Tri-nC can be used by a decision maker. A comparison with some related sorting procedures is presented and it allows to conclude that the new method is appropriate to deal with sorting problems.     

Applying relation algebra and RelView to measures in a social network

We present an application of relation algebra to measure agents’ ‘strength’ in a social network with influence between agents. In particular, we deal with power, success, and influence of an agent as measured by the generalized Hoede–Bakker index and its modifications, and by the influence indices. We also apply relation algebra to determine followers of a coalition and the kernel of an influence function. This leads to specifications, which can be executed with the help of the BDD-based tool RelView after a simple translation into the tool’s programming language. As an example we consider the present Dutch Parliament.     

Eliciting Electre Tri category limits for a group of decision makers

Multiple criteria sorting aims at assigning alternatives evaluated on several criteria to predefined ordered categories. In this paper, we consider a well known multiple criteria sorting method, Electre Tri, which involves three types of preference parameters: (1) category limits defining the frontiers between consecutive categories, (2) weights and majority level specifying which coalitions form a majority, and (3) veto thresholds characterizing discordance effects. We propose an elicitation procedure to infer category limits from assignment examples provided by multiple decision makers. The procedure computes a set of category limits and vetoes common to all decision makers, with variable weights for each decision maker. Hence, the method helps reaching a consensus among decision makers on the category limits and veto thresholds, whereas finding a consensus on weights is left aside. The inference procedure is based on mixed integer linear programming and performs well even for datasets corresponding to real-world decision problems. We provide an illustrative example of the use of the method and analyze the performance of the proposed algorithms.     

A sparse counterpart of Reichel and Gragg’s package QRUP

We describe how to maintain the triangular factor of a sparse QR factorization when columns are added and deleted and Q cannot be stored for sparsity reasons. The updating procedures could be thought of as a sparse counterpart of Reichel and Gragg’s package QRUP. They allow us to solve a sequence of sparse linear least squares subproblems in which each matrix B_k is an independent subset of the columns of a fixed matrix A, and B_k+1 is obtained by adding or deleting one column. Like Coleman and Hulbert [T. Coleman, L. Hulbert, A direct active set algorithm for large sparse quadratic programs with simple bounds, Math. Program. 45 (1989) 373-406], we adapt the sparse direct methodology of Björck and Oreborn of the late 1980s, but without forming A^TA, which may be only positive semidefinite. Our Matlab 5 implementation works with a suitable row and column numbering within a static triangular sparsity pattern that is computed in advance by symbolic factorization of A^TA and preserved with placeholders.     

clever or smart: Strategies for the online target date assignment problem

In this paper, we consider the Online Target Date Assignment Problem (OnlineTDAP) for general downstream problems, where the downstream cost are nonnegative, additive and satisfy the triangle inequality.We analyze algorithm smart, which was introduced by Angelelli et al. [3] and give its exact competitive ratio depending on the number of requests. Since the obtained competitive ratio is at most we answer the question posed in Angelelli et al. [4] if smart has a competitive ratio strictly less than 2.Moreover, we introduce a new algorithm called clever and show that this strategy has a competitive ratio of 3/2. We show that this is asymptotically optimal by proving that no online algorithm can perform better than 3/2−ε.     

A graph associated with the p\pi-character degrees of a group

Let G be a group and $\pi$ be a set of primes. We consider the set ${\rm cd}^{\pi}(G)$ of character degrees of G that are divisible only by primes in $\pi$. In particular, we define $\Gamma^{\pi}(G)$ to be the graph whose vertex set is the set of primes dividing degrees in ${\rm cd}^{\pi}(G)$. There is an edge between p and q if pq divides a degree $a \in {\rm cd}^{\pi}(G)$. We show that if G is $\pi$-solvable, then $\Gamma^{\pi}(G)$ has at most two connected components.     

An interdisciplinary approach to coalition formation

A stable government is by definition not dominated by any other government. However, it may happen that all governments are dominated. In graph–theoretic terms this means that the dominance graph does not possess a source. In this paper we are able to deal with this case by a clever combination of notions from different fields, such as relational algebra, graph theory and social choice theory, and by using the computer support system RelView for computing solutions and visualizing the results. Using relational algorithms, in such a case we break all cycles in each initial strongly connected component by removing the vertices in an appropriate minimum feedback vertex set. In this way we can choose a government that is as close as possible to being un-dominated. To achieve unique solutions, we additionally apply the majority ranking recently introduced by Balinski and Laraki. The main parts of our procedure can be executed using the RelView tool. Its sophisticated implementation of relations allows to deal with graph sizes that are sufficient for practical applications of coalition formation.     

A tournament of order 14 with disjoint Banks and Slater sets

It is shown in this note that there exists a tournament of order 14 with disjoint Banks and Slater sets. Previously, the smallest such tournament was reported to be of order 16. In addition, it is shown that 11 is the minimum order of a tournament in which the Slater set is not a subset of the Banks set.     

An exact algorithm for MAX-CUT in sparse graphs

We study exact algorithms for the MAX-CUT problem. Introducing a new technique, we present an algorithmic scheme that computes a maximum cut in graphs with bounded maximum degree. Our algorithm runs in time O^*(2^(1-(2/Δ))n). We also describe a MAX-CUT algorithm for general graphs. Its time complexity is O^*(2^mn/(m+n)). Both algorithms use polynomial space.     

The final NETLIB-LP results

With standard linear programming solvers there is always some uncertainty about the precise values of the optimal solutions. We implemented a program using exact rational arithmetic to compute proofs for the feasibility and optimality of an LP solution. This paper reports the exact optimal objective values for all NETLIB problems.     

Feasibility of home-away-pattern sets for round robin tournaments

A Home-Away-Pattern (HAP) set defines each team’s venue in each period. We consider the decision problem of whether a round robin tournament can be arranged on the basis of a given HAP set. We give a necessary condition which can be checked in polynomial time and conjecture it to be sufficient.     

Chaı̂nes de Markov TripletTriplet Markov Chains

The Hidden Markov Chains (HMC) are widely applied in various problems. This succes is mainly due to the fact that the hidden process can be recovered even in the case of very large set of data. These models have been recetly generalized to ‘Pairwise Markov Chains’ (PMC) model, which admit the same processing power and a better modeling one. The aim of this note is to propose further generalization called Triplet Markov Chains (TMC), in which the distribution of the couple (hidden process, observed process) is the marginal distribution of a Markov chain. Similarly to HMC, we show that posterior marginals are still calculable in Triplets Markov Chains. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition that a TMC is a PMC, which shows that the new model is strictly more general. Furthermore, a link with the Dempster–Shafer fusion is specified. To cite this article: W. Pieczynski, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 275–278.     

Approximation algorithms for the bi-criteria weighted MAX-CUT problem

We consider a generalization of the classical MAX-CUT problem where two objective functions are simultaneously considered. We derive some theorems on the existence and the non-existence of feasible cuts that are at the same time near optimal for both criteria. Furthermore, two approximation algorithms with performance guarantee are presented. The first one is deterministic while the second one is randomized. A generalization of these results is given for the bi-criteria MAX-k-CUT problem.     

Dynamics near an isolated -semi-static homoclinic orbit

We show that there are infinitely many periodic orbits in any neighborhood of an isolated -semi-static orbit homoclinic to an Aubry set for time-periodic positive Lagrangian systems.     

Differential approximation of min sat, max sat and related problems

We present differential approximation results (both positive and negative) for optimal satisfiability, optimal constraint satisfaction, and some of the most popular restrictive versions of them. As an important corollary, we exhibit an interesting structural difference between the landscapes of approximability classes in standard and differential paradigms.     

Pointwise -convergence and -convergence in measure of sequences of functions

Let be an ideal. We say that a sequence of real numbers is -convergent to if for every neighborhood U of y the set of n's satisfying y_nU is in . Basing upon this notion we define pointwise -convergence and -convergence in measure of sequences of measurable functions defined on a measure space with finite measure. We discuss the relationship between these two convergences. In particular we show that for a wide class of ideals including Erdős–Ulam ideals and summable ideals the pointwise -convergence implies the -convergence in measure. We also present examples of very regular ideals such that this implication does not hold.     

Vectorized adaptive quadrature in MATLAB

Adaptive quadrature codes process a collection of subintervals one at a time. We show how to process them all simultaneously and so exploit vectorization and the use of fast built-in functions and array operations that are so important to efficient computation in MATLAB. Using algebraic transformations we have made it just as easy for users to solve problems on infinite intervals and with moderate end point singularities as problems with finite intervals and smooth integrands. Piecewise-smooth integrands are handled effectively with breakpoints.