Bicriteria efficiency/equity hierarchical location models for public service application

As is often the case in healthcare provision, public services may offer facilities at a hierarchy of levels in different locations, ranging from basic to specialised levels of care. In addition to efficiency objectives, with public services there is the concern of equity of provision when locating new facilities. We present, as a tool-kit for decision makers, a range of discrete hierarchical location models with bicriteria efficiency/equity objectives. These models are for use in location of facilities within hierarchical systems where a fair but efficient hierarchical service is sought. The hierarchical models have as efficiency criteria both p-median and maximal-covering types. These components are combined in a novel manner with appropriate equity objectives to give decision makers a range of choices of scenarios. We illustrate use of the models in a healthcare setting.     

Does Euclidean distance work well when the p-median model is applied in rural areas?

The p-median model is used to locate P centers to serve a geographically distributed population. A cornerstone of such a model is the measure of distance between a service center and demand points, i.e. the location of the population (customers, pupils, patients, and so on). Evidence supports the current practice of using Euclidean distance. However, we find that the location of multiple hospitals in a rural region of Sweden with a non-symmetrically distributed population is quite sensitive to distance measure, and somewhat sensitive to spatial aggregation of demand points.     

Dispersion points and continuous functions

The aim of this paper is to answer the following question raised by J. Cobb and W. Voxman in 1980:If X is a connected space with a dispersion point p, and if ƒ: X→X is a nonconstant continuous function, then is ƒ(p)=p?The answer to this question is negative, and we give a counterexample along with three theorems on a space with a dispersion point.     

Non-Archimedean White Noise,Pseudodifferential Stochastic Equations,and Massive Euclidean Fields

We construct p-adic Euclidean random fields \(\varvec{\Phi }\) over \(\mathbb {Q}_{p}^{N}\), for arbitrary N, these fields are solutions of p-adic stochastic pseudodifferential equations. From a mathematical perspective, the Euclidean fields are generalized stochastic processes parametrized by functions belonging to a nuclear countably Hilbert space, these spaces are introduced in this article, in addition, the Euclidean fields are invariant under the action of certain group of transformations. We also study the Schwinger functions of \(\varvec{\Phi }\).     

An analysis of p-median location problem: Effects of backup service level and demand assignment policy

Any solution to facility location problems will consider determining the best suitable locations with respect to certain criteria. Among different types of location problems, involving emergency service system (ESSs) are one of the most widely studied in the literature, and solutions to these problems will mostly aim to minimize the mean response time to demands. In practice, however, a demand may not be served from its nearest facility if that facility is engaged in serving other demands. This makes it a requirement to assign backup services so as to improve response time and service quality. The level of backup service is a key, strategic-level planning factor, and must be taken into consideration carefully. Moreover, in emergency service operations conducted in congested demand regions, demand assignment policy is another important factor that affects the system performance. Models failing to adopt sufficient levels of backup service and realistic demand assignment policies may significantly deteriorate the system performance.Considering the classic p-median problem (pMP) location model, this paper investigates the effects of backup service level, demand assignment policy, demand density, and number of facilities and their locations on the solution performance in terms of multiple metrics. For this purpose, we adopt a combined optimization and simulation approach. We will first modify the classic pMP to account for distances to backup services. Next, we employ a discrete event simulation to evaluate the performance of location schemes obtained from the deterministic mathematical model. Our results provide insights for decision-makers while planning ESS operations.     

Implementation of simultaneous memory address access in models that forbid it

Models of synchronized parallel computation in which all the processors have access to a common memory are considered. We focus on algorithms in models that allow simultaneous access to the same memory location, for both read and write instructions. Assume that such an algorithm uses p processors, d time units, and s memory space. We present a universal algorithm that implements this algorithm in models that forbid simultaneous access to the same memory location, using p processors, O(dlog²p) time units, and O (s + p) memory space his implementation algorithm is shown to compare favorably with its conventional naive counterpart, as the extra memory space it requires is independent of the implemented algorithm.     

Extrapolation with weights, rearrangement-invariant function spaces, modular inequalities and applications to singular integrals

We present an extrapolation theory that allows us to obtain, from weighted L^p inequalities on pairs of functions for p fixed and all A_∞ weights, estimates for the same pairs on very general rearrangement invariant quasi-Banach function spaces with A_∞ weights and also modular inequalities with A_∞ weights. Vector-valued inequalities are obtained automatically, without the need of a Banach-valued theory. This provides a method to prove very fine estimates for a variety of operators which include singular and fractional integrals and their commutators. In particular, we obtain weighted, and vector-valued, extensions of the classical theorems of Boyd and Lorentz-Shimogaki. The key is to develop appropriate versions of Rubio de Francia's algorithm.     

Weighted norm inequalities, off-diagonal estimates and elliptic operators. Part I: General operator theory and weights

This is the first part of a series of four articles. In this work, we are interested in weighted norm estimates. We put the emphasis on two results of different nature: one is based on a good-λ inequality with two parameters and the other uses Calderón-Zygmund decomposition. These results apply well to singular “non-integral” operators and their commutators with bounded mean oscillation functions. Singular means that they are of order 0, “non-integral” that they do not have an integral representation by a kernel with size estimates, even rough, so that they may not be bounded on all Lp spaces for 1<p<∞. Pointwise estimates are then replaced by appropriate localized Lp-Lq estimates. We obtain weighted Lp estimates for a range of p that is different from (1,∞) and isolate the right class of weights. In particular, we prove an extrapolation theorem “à la Rubio de Francia” for such a class and thus vector-valued estimates.     

The null spaces of elliptic partial differential operators in Rn

Overstability in a horizontal layer of a viscoelastic fluid is considered in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. The equations of motion appropriate to hydromagnetics in a Maxwellian fluid have been established and the analysis has been carried out in terms of normal modes. The proper solutions have been obtained for the case of two free boundaries. The dispersion relation obtained is found to be quite complex and involves the Prandtl number p₁, magnetic Prandtl number p₂, a parameter Q characterizing the strength of the magnetic field, and a parameter Γ which characterizes the elasticity of the fluid. Numerical calculations have been performed for different values of the parameters involved and the values of critical Rayleigh numbers, wave numbers, and frequencies for the onset of instability as overstability have been obtained. It is found that the magnetic field has a stabilizing influence on the overstable mode of convection in a viscoelastic fluid. Elasticity is found to have a destabilizing influence as in the absence of a magnetic field. Thus the effect of a magnetic field is the same as that for an ordinary viscous fluid.     

Classification of p-adic 6-dimensional filiform Leibniz algebras by solutions of x q = a

We study the p-adic equation x ^q = a over the field of p-adic numbers. We construct an algorithm which gives a solvability criteria in the case of q = p ^m and present a computer program to compute the criteria for any fixed value of m ≤ p ? 1. Moreover, using this solvability criteria for q = 2; 3; 4; 5; 6, we classify p-adic 6-dimensional filiform Leibniz algebras.     

A graph theoretical bound for the p-median problem

The p-median problem is a minisium network location problem that seeks to find the optimal location of p centres in a network. In the present paper a graph-theoretical bound is developed for the problem. This bound is based on shortest spanning trees and arborescences and other graphical properties of the problem. It is shown that the graph-theoretical bound dominates a bound based on shortest distances.     

The design of multiactivity multifacility systems

We consider a service/distribution system in which each of N activities is to be carried out at one or several facility locations. Each activity is to be assigned to one out of a specified set of configurations; each configuration is a specific subset of the set of L facilities being considered, along with a specific strategy for their use. We call such a system a multiactivity multifacility system and present a mathematical formulation for its optimal design that includes capacity restrictions at the facilities and the treatment of multiple criteria. The design problem is simply to choose an appropriate configuration for each of the N activities. We discuss various criteria, and we show that the multiactivity multifacility design problem includes many familiar discrete location problems as special cases. We introduce a 0–1 linear optimization model called the Team Generalized Assignment Problem (T-GAP) and show that parametric solution of a T-GAP will yield all efficient solutions of the multiactivity multifacility design problem with multiple criteria. Rather than attempting to find all efficient solutions, however, we advocate an interactive approach and describe an interactive branch-and-bound algorithm that solves the design problem as a finite sequence of T-GAP's.     

Dispersion and Strichartz estimates for some finite rank perturbations of the Laplace operator

We consider the dispersion properties in L^p spaces of Schrödinger hamiltonians with a large number of obstacles modelled by rank one perturbations. We obtain both for the dispersion an Strichartz estimates nonperturbative results with respect to the coupling constants.     

On an epidemiological model with nonlinear infection incidence: Local and global perspective

Though bilinear and standard incident rates have been used frequently in classical epidemic models, nonlinearity in infection incidence is considered to be an useful modification due to its proximity with various realistic situations of disease propagation among ecological populations. In the present research, we consider an epidemiological model with SIS disease in the population. Infection is assumed to propagate following nonlinear incidence. First, we perform a stability and bifurcation analysis of the system around different equilibria from a local perspective. It is observed that the infected incidence fraction (p) plays the key role in controlling the disease dynamics. Then, using an iteration scheme and comparison argument, we investigate the global stability criteria of the model system around the endemic state and infer that the disease will persist among the species in the long run. Numerical simulation study is also carried out to illustrate and augment the analytical findings.     

A comparison result for perturbed radial p-Laplacians

Consider the radially symmetric p-Laplacian for p?2 under zero Dirichlet boundary conditions. The main result of the present paper is that under appropriate conditions a solution of a perturbed (radially symmetric) p-Laplacian can be compared with the solution of the unperturbed one. As a consequence one obtains a sign preserving result for a system of p-Laplacians which are coupled in a nonquasimonotone way.     

Multicriteria tour planning for mobile healthcare facilities in a developing country

A multiobjective combinatorial optimization (MOCO) formulation for the following location-routing problem in healthcare management is given: For a mobile healthcare facility, a closed tour with stops selected from a given set of population nodes has to be found. Tours are evaluated according to three criteria: (i) An economic efficiency criterion related to the tour length, (ii) the criterion of average distances to the nearest tour stops corresponding to p-median location problem formulations, and (iii) a coverage criterion measuring the percentage of the population unable to reach a tour stop within a predefined maximum distance. Three algorithms to compute approximations to the set of Pareto-efficient solutions of the described MOCO problem are developed. The first uses the P-ACO technique, and the second and the third use the VEGA and the MOGA variant of multiobjective genetic algorithms, respectively. Computational experiments for the Thiès region in Senegal were carried out to evaluate the three approaches on real-world problem instances.     

Heuristic solution approaches for the maximum minsum dispersion problem

The Maximum Minsum Dispersion Problem (Max-Minsum DP) is a strongly NP-Hard problem that belongs to the family of equitable dispersion problems. When dealing with dispersion, the operations research literature has focused on optimizing efficiency-based objectives while neglecting, for the most part, measures of equity. The most common efficiency-based functions are the sum of the inter-element distances or the minimum inter-element distance. Equitable dispersion problems, on the other hand, attempt to address the balance between efficiency and equity when selecting a subset of elements from a larger set. The objective of the Max-Minsum DP is to maximize the minimum aggregate dispersion among the chosen elements. We develop tabu search and GRASP solution procedures for this problem and compare them against the best in the literature. We also apply LocalSolver, a commercially available black-box optimizer, to compare our results. Our computational experiments show that we are able to establish new benchmarks in the solution of the Max-Minsum DP.     

Morphisms inverted by profinite completion

It is shown that a map between nilpotent spaces becomes an equivalence upon P-profinite completion, where P is a collection of primes, if and only if it is an equivalence with respect to mod p homology for all p in P. Homological criteria for a homomorphism between nilpotent groups to become an isomorphism or an epimorphism under P-profinite completion are given. These results are relativised to nilpotent fibrations and relative groups.     

On similarity of quasinilpotent operators

Bounded linear operators on separable Banach spaces algebraically similar to the classical Volterra operator V acting on C[0,1] are characterized. From this characterization it follows that V does not determine the topology of C[0,1], which answers a question raised by Armando Villena. A sufficient condition for an injective bounded linear operator on a Banach space to determine its topology is obtained. From this condition it follows, for instance, that the Volterra operator acting on the Hardy space Hp of the unit disk determines the topology of Hp for any p∈[1,∞].     

Asymptotic Multivariate Dominance: A Financial Application

We propose a multivariate stochastic dominance relation aimed at ranking different financial markets/sectors from the point of view of a non-satiable risk averse investor. In particular, we assume that the vector of returns of a given market is in the domain of attraction of a symmetric stable Paretian law in order to take into account the asymptotic behaviour of the financial returns. We determine the stochastic dominance rule for stable symmetric distributions, where the stability parameter plays a crucial role. Consequently, the multivariate rule for ordering markets is based on a comparison between i) location parameters, ii) dispersion parameters, and iii) stability indices. Finally, we apply the method to the equity markets of the four countries with the highest gross domestic product in 2013, namely, the US, China, Japan and Germany. In this empirical comparison we examine the ex ante and ex post dominance between stock markets, either assuming that the returns are jointly (or conditionally, for a robust approach) Gaussian distributed, or in the domain of attraction of a stable sub-Gaussian law.