The Sample Average Approximation Method Applied to Stochastic Routing Problems: A Computational Study

The sample average approximation (SAA) method is an approach for solving stochastic optimization problems by using Monte Carlo simulation. In this technique the expected objective function of the stochastic problem is approximated by a sample average estimate derived from a random sample. The resulting sample average approximating problem is then solved by deterministic optimization techniques. The process is repeated with different samples to obtain candidate solutions along with statistical estimates of their optimality gaps.We present a detailed computational study of the application of the SAA method to solve three classes of stochastic routing problems. These stochastic problems involve an extremely large number of scenarios and first-stage integer variables. For each of the three problem classes, we use decomposition and branch-and-cut to solve the approximating problem within the SAA scheme. Our computational results indicate that the proposed method is successful in solving problems with up to 2¹⁶⁹⁴ scenarios to within an estimated 1.0% of optimality. Furthermore, a surprising observation is that the number of optimality cuts required to solve the approximating problem to optimality does not significantly increase with the size of the sample. Therefore, the observed computation times needed to find optimal solutions to the approximating problems grow only linearly with the sample size. As a result, we are able to find provably near-optimal solutions to these difficult stochastic programs using only a moderate amount of computation time.     

An Application of Branch and Cut to Open Pit Mine Scheduling

The economic viability of the modern day mine is highly dependent upon careful planning and management. Declining trends in average ore grades, increasing mining costs and environmental considerations will ensure that this situation will remain in the foreseeable future. The operation and management of a large open pit mine having a life of several years is an enormous and complex task. Though a number of optimization techniques have been successfully applied to resolve some important problems, the problem of determining an optimal production schedule over the life of the deposit is still very much unresolved. In this paper we will critically examine the techniques that are being used in the mining industry for production scheduling indicating their limitations. In addition, we present a mixed integer linear programming model for the scheduling problems along with a Branch and Cut solution strategy. Computational results for practical sized problems are discussed.     

Nuclear superstructure {1/2, 0, 1/2} of an La<Subscript>0.93</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.07</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite orthorhombic crystal

The {1/2, 0, 1/2} nuclear superstructure in an La_0.93Sr_0.07MnO₃ manganite orthorhombic crystal is revealed using thermal-neutron diffraction. It is demonstrated that this superlattice belongs to the class of distortion-type structures and is directly associated with a 1/16-type ordering of Mn⁴⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions in a collinear ferromagnetic phase of the La_0.93Sr_0.07MnO₃ manganite.     

达草灭对莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) 品系遗传后效应的研究

通过将莱菌衣藻（Chlamydomonas reinhardtii）6种达草灭抗性突变株分别与野生型株、丧失合成叶绿素b能力的cbnI-43等基因突变株和精氨酸依赖型突变株杂交对其后代进行四分析与随机分析，发现在Nfr-4-Nfr-7突变株中达草灭抗性状只有单一核基因遗传的性质，而在Nfr-1、Nfr-3～Nfr-7抗性株的抗性性状都是由同一个nfr-1基因（norflurazon resisanse）的突变所决定的，而Nfr-4抗性株的抗性性状是由另一滚突变等位基因nfr-2所决定的。在Nfr-1和Nfr-3抗性株中除了nfr-1基因的突变还有nfr-3基因突变的参与。     

Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Pearlite Structure and Properties

The influence of ultrasonic shock treatment on variation in the pearlite structure and properties is studied in the surface layer of carburized steel. It is shown that plastic deformation results in carbon redistribution and formation of new phases.     

Decay of neutron-rich Ga isotopes near N = 50 at PARRNe

The PARRNe facility has been used to produce neutron-rich isotopes ^83,84Gaby the ISOL method. Their decay has been studied, and β-γ coincidence and γ-γ coincidence data were collected as a function of time. The first two excited levels in ⁸³Ge and the first excited level in ⁸⁴Ge have been measured for the first time.     

The effect of colossal magnetoresistance in SmCu3Mn4O12 perovskite-like oxide

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - The magnetoresistance effect in the SmCu3Mn4O12 compound with a perovskite-like structure is investigated for the first time. It is found that an...     

Detecting instabilities in flows of viscoelastic fluids

There is a growing interest in developing numerical tools to investigate the onset of physical instabilities observed in experiments involving viscoelastic flows, which is a difficult and challenging task as the simulations are very sensitive to numerical instabilities. Following a recent linear stability analysis carried out in order to better understand qualitatively the origin of numerical instabilities occurring in the simulation of flows viscoelastic fluids, the present paper considers a possible extension for more complex flows. This promising method could be applied to track instabilities in complex (i.e. essentially non‐parallel) flows. In addition, results related to transient growth mechanism indicate that it might be responsible for the development of numerical instabilities in the simulation of viscoelastic fluids. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Growth of 1-Periodic Graphs

A new class of graphs is introduced: 1-periodic graphs. A problem on the form of the growth of these graphs is stated. For certain classes of graphs, a self-similar growth in the form of a polygon is proved. Certain general conjectures on the form of the growth are stated. Bibliography: 1 title.     

Fixed points in the family of convex representations of a maximal monotone operator

Any maximal monotone operator can be characterized by a convex function. The family of such convex functions is invariant under a transformation connected with the Fenchel-Legendre conjugation. We prove that there exists a convex representation of the operator which is a fixed point of this conjugation.