A parametric representation of linguistic hedges in Zadeh’s fuzzy logic

This paper proposes a model for the parametric representation of linguistic hedges in Zadeh’s fuzzy logic. In this model each linguistic truth-value, which is generated from a primary term of the linguistic truth variable, is identified by a real number r depending on the primary term. It is shown that the model yields a method of efficiently computing linguistic truth expressions accompanied with a rich algebraic structure of the linguistic truth domain, namely De Morgan algebra. Also, a fuzzy logic based on the parametric representation of linguistic truth-values is introduced.     

Characterizations of set order relations and constrained set optimization problems via oriented distance function

Set-valued optimization problems are important and fascinating field of optimization theory and widely applied to image processing, viability theory, optimal control and mathematical economics. There are two types of criteria of solutions for the set-valued optimization problems: the vector criterion and the set criterion. In this paper, we adopt the set criterion to study the optimality conditions of constrained set-valued optimization problems. We first present some characterizations of various set order relations using the classical oriented distance function without involving the nonempty interior assumption on the ordered cones. Then using the characterizations of set order relations, necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for four types of optimal solutions of constrained set optimization problem with respect to the set order relations. Finally, the image space analysis is employed to study the c-optimal solution of constrained set optimization problems, and then optimality conditions and an alternative result for the constrained set optimization problem are established by the classical oriented distance function.     

Using greedy clustering method to solve capacitated location-routing problem with fuzzy demands

In this paper, the capacitated location-routing problem with fuzzy demands (CLRP-FD) is considered. In CLRP-FD, facility location problem (FLP) and vehicle routing problem (VRP) are observed simultaneously. Indeed, the vehicles and the depots have a predefined capacity to serve the customers that have fuzzy demands. To model this problem, a fuzzy chance constrained programming model of that is designed based upon the fuzzy credibility theory. To solve this problem, a greedy clustering method (GCM) including the stochastic simulation is proposed. To obtain the best value of the dispatcher preference index of the model and to analyze its influence on the final solution, numerical experiments are carried out. Finally, to show the performance of the greedy clustering method, associated results are compared with the lower bound of the solutions.     

Robustness to uncertain optimization using scalarization techniques and relations to multiobjective optimization

In this paper, we propose two kinds of robustness concepts by virtue of the scalarization techniques (Benson’s method and elastic constraint method) in multiobjective optimization, which can be characterized as special cases of a general non-linear scalarizing approach. Moreover, we introduce both constrained and unconstrained multiobjective optimization problems and discuss their relations to scalar robust optimization problems. Particularly, optimal solutions of scalar robust optimization problems are weakly efficient solutions for the unconstrained multiobjective optimization problem, and these solutions are efficient under uniqueness assumptions. Two examples are employed to illustrate those results. Finally, the connections between robustness concepts and risk measures in investment decision problems are also revealed.     

Systems of quasi-variational relations with applications

In this paper, we introduce a system of quasi-variational relations (in short, SQVR) and present several examples which show that it is a very general and unified model of several problems. We establish the existence of solutions of SQVP, in general, and several other problems, in particular. As an application of our results, we derive maximal element theorems and a collectively fixed point theorem for a family of multivalued maps. As further applications, we study Ky Fan type inequality / inclusion problem for vector valued bifunctions which includes constrained Nash equilibrium problem as a special case. We also present a common fixed point theorem for a family of multivalued maps. The results of this paper improve and generalize several known results on (system of) quasi-equilibrium problems, (system of) quasi-variational inclusions, constrained Nash equilibrium problem, collectively fixed point theorem and KKM type theorems for a family of multivalued maps. Our results also contain several results which appeared in recent literature.     

On the resolution and optimization of a system of fuzzy relational equations with sup-T composition

This paper provides a thorough investigation on the resolution of a finite system of fuzzy relational equations with sup-T composition, where T is a continuous triangular norm. When such a system is consistent, although we know that the solution set can be characterized by a maximum solution and finitely many minimal solutions, it is still a challenging task to find all minimal solutions in an efficient manner. Using the representation theorem of continuous triangular norms, we show that the systems of sup-T equations can be divided into two categories depending on the involved triangular norm. When the triangular norm is Archimedean, the minimal solutions correspond one-to-one to the irredundant coverings of a set covering problem. When it is non-Archimedean, they only correspond to a subset of constrained irredundant coverings of a set covering problem. We then show that the problem of minimizing a linear objective function subject to a system of sup-T equations can be reduced into a 0–1 integer programming problem in polynomial time. This work generalizes most, if not all, known results and provides a unified framework to deal with the problem of resolution and optimization of a system of sup-T equations. Further generalizations and related issues are also included for discussion.     

Hedging insurance books

Complex insurance risks typically have multiple exposures. If available, options on multiple underliers with a short maturity can be employed to hedge this exposure. More precisely, the present value of aggregate payouts is hedged using least squares, ask price minimization, and ask price minimization constrained to long only option positions. The proposed hedges are illustrated for hypothetical Variable Annuity contracts invested in the nine sector ETF’s of the US economy. We simulate the insurance accounts by simulating risk-neutrally the underliers by writing them as transformed correlated normals; the physical and risk-neutral evolution is taken in the variance gamma class as a simple example of a non-Gaussian limit law. The hedges arising from ask price minimization constrained to long only option positions delivers a least cost and most stable result.     

Towards an analysis of linguistic modelling

In this paper an alternative to the numerical modelling approach, namely the linguistic modelling approach, will be analysed. Apart from a brief presentation of the main elements of the approach, the major part of the paper is devoted to the analysis of thedynamic behaviour of the linguistic model. The most important issue in this analysis is the problem of convergency of the model to some stable state. This convergency problem is treated from the point of view of a fuzzy relation matrix. Analytical results concerning the powers of a fuzzy matrix and fuzzy eigenvectors are discussed.     

非光滑向量极值问题的真有效解与最优性条件

讨论了赋范线性空间中非光滑向量极值问题的Hatley,Borwein,Benson真有效解之间的关系,指出了它们共同的标量极值问题的等价刻画,建立了问题（VMP）的广义KT-真有效解的充分条件,并给出了向量极小值问题在锥局部凸、拟凸、伪凸等条件下的最优性条件。     

Existence of Exact Penalty and Its Stability for Nonconvex Constrained Optimization Problems in Banach Spaces

In this paper we use the penalty approach in order to study two constrained minimization problems. A penalty function is said to have the generalized exact penalty property if there is a penalty coefficient for which approximate solutions of the unconstrained penalized problem are close enough to approximate solutions of the corresponding constrained problem. In this paper we show that the generalized exact penalty property is stable under perturbations of cost functions, constraint functions and the right-hand side of constraints.     

The constrained inverse eigenvalue problem and its approximation for normal matrices

In this paper, the constrained inverse eigenvalue problem and associated approximation problem for normal matrices are considered. The solvability conditions and general solutions of the constrained inverse eigenvalue problem are presented, and the expression of the solution for the optimal approximation problem is obtained.     

On consistency measures of linguistic preference relations

Inspired by the concept of deviation measure between two linguistic preference relations, this paper further defines the deviation measure of a linguistic preference relation to the set of consistent linguistic preference relations. Based on this, we present a consistency index of linguistic preference relations and develop a consistency measure method for linguistic preference relations. This method is performed to ensure that the decision maker is being neither random nor illogical in his or her pairwise comparisons using the linguistic label set. Using this consistency measure, we discuss how to deal with inconsistency in linguistic preference relations, and also investigate the consistency properties of collective linguistic preference relations. These results are of vital importance for group decision making with linguistic preference relations.     

A Direct Approach to Group Decision Making with Uncertain Additive Linguistic Preference Relations

In this paper, we study the group decision-making problem in which the preference information given by experts takes the form of uncertain additive linguistic preference relations. We define the concept of uncertain additive linguistic preference relation, and introduce a formula based on possibility measure for comparing two uncertain linguistic preference values. We introduce some aggregation operators such as the uncertain linguistic averaging (ULA) operator and uncertain linguistic weighted averaging (ULWA) operator, etc. Based on the ULA and ULWA operators, we develop a direct approach to group decision making with uncertain additive linguistic preference relations without loss of information. Finally, an illustrative numerical example is given to verify the developed approach.     

Euler integral symmetries for the confluent Heun equation and symmetries of the Painlevé equation PV

Euler integral symmetries relate solutions of ordinary linear differential equations and generate integral representations of the solutions in several cases or relations between solutions of constrained equations. These relations lead to the corresponding symmetries of the monodromy matrices for the differential equations. We discuss Euler symmetries in the case of the deformed confluent Heun equation, which is in turn related to the Painlevé equation PV. The existence of symmetries of the linear equations leads to the corresponding symmetries of the Painlevé equation of the Okamoto type. The choice of the system of linear equations that reduces to the deformed confluent Heun equation is the starting point for the constructions. The basic technical problem is to choose the bijective relation between the system parameters and the parameters of the deformed confluent Heun equation. The solution of this problem is quite large, and we use the algebraic computing system Maple for this.     

An Interactive Method as an Aid in Solving Bicriterion Mathematical Programming Problems

In this paper, a man-machine interactive method is presented as an aid in solving the bicriterion mathematical programming problem. It is assumed that the two objective functions are real-valued functions of the decision variables which are themselves constrained to some compact and nonempty set. The overall utility function is assumed to be unknown explicitly to the decision-maker but is assumed to be a real-valued function defined on the pairs of feasible values of the objective functions and monotone non-decreasing in each argument. The decision-maker is required only to provide yes or no answers to questions regarding the desirability of increase or decrease in objective function values of solutions that he will not accept as optimal. Convergence of the method is indicated and a numerical example is presented in order to demonstrate its applicability.     

Fuzzy approaches for multiple objective linear fractional optimization

The problem of finding a solution to a multiple objective linear fractional program arises in several real world situations.In this paper we advocate that fuzzy sets theory provides a basis for solving this problem with sufficient consistency and rigorousness.After representing imprecise aspirations of the decision maker by structured linguistic variables or converting the original problem via approximations or change of variables into a multiple objective linear program, techniques of fuzzy linear programming may be used to reach a satisfactory solution.It is shown that under reasonable restrictions, this solution is efficient (Pareto optimal) for the original problem. Numerical examples are also included for illustration.     

A No-Wait Flowshop Scheduling Heuristic to Minimize Makespan

The scheduling problem in the no-wait or constrained flowshop, with the makespan objective, is considered in this article. A simple heuristic algorithm is proposed on the basis of heuristic preference relations and job insertion. When evaluated over a large number of problems of various sizes, the solutions given by the proposed heuristic are found to be fairly accurate and much superior to those given by the two existing heuristics.     

Discrete optimization algorithms and problems of decision making in a fuzzy environment

An approach to solving optimization problems with fuzzy coefficients is described. It consists in formulating and analyzing one and the same problem within the framework of mutually related models by constructing equivalent analogs with fuzzy coefficients in objective functions alone. Since the approach is applied within the context of fuzzy discrete optimization problems, modified algorithms of discrete optimization are discussed. These algorithms are based on a combination of formal and heuristic procedures and allow one to obtain quasi-optimal solutions after a small number of steps, thus overcoming the computational complexity posed by the NP-completeness of discrete optimization problems. The subsequent contraction of the decision uncertainty regions is associated with reduction of the problem to multiobjective decision making in a fuzzy environment using techniques based on fuzzy preference relations. The results of the paper are of a universal character and are already being used to solve practical problems in several fields.     

A genetic tuning to improve the performance of Fuzzy Rule-Based Classification Systems with Interval-Valued Fuzzy Sets: Degree of ignorance and lateral position

Fuzzy Rule-Based Systems are appropriate tools to deal with classification problems due to their good properties. However, they can suffer a lack of system accuracy as a result of the uncertainty inherent in the definition of the membership functions and the limitation of the homogeneous distribution of the linguistic labels.The aim of the paper is to improve the performance of Fuzzy Rule-Based Classification Systems by means of the Theory of Interval-Valued Fuzzy Sets and a post-processing genetic tuning step. In order to build the Interval-Valued Fuzzy Sets we define a new function called weak ignorance for modeling the uncertainty associated with the definition of the membership functions. Next, we adapt the fuzzy partitions to the problem in an optimal way through a cooperative evolutionary tuning in which we handle both the degree of ignorance and the lateral position (based on the 2-tuples fuzzy linguistic representation) of the linguistic labels.The experimental study is carried out over a large collection of data-sets and it is supported by a statistical analysis. Our results show empirically that the use of our methodology outperforms the initial Fuzzy Rule-Based Classification System. The application of our cooperative tuning enhances the results provided by the use of the isolated tuning approaches and also improves the behavior of the genetic tuning based on the 3-tuples fuzzy linguistic representation.