A Study of Composite Heuristic Algorithms

When faced with a difficult combinatorial problem whose optimization may be prohibitively expensive, researchers frequently turn to the study of fast heuristic algorithms in an effort to guarantee near-optimal results. An important aspect in the evaluation of such an algorithm is the determination of its worst-case behaviour, relative to an optimization rule. We here focus attention on schemes for combining two or more heuristics so as demonstrably to improve the worst case that can occur. We survey successful, illustrative examples of such composite algorithms, concentrating on problems of central significance from domains such as scheduling, packing and routeing. We also attempt to illuminate the conditions under which these strategies can be successful and why.     

ON THE OPTIMAL POLICY FOR COMBINED HARVESTING OF INDEPENDENT SPECIES

By a combination of analytical reasoning and numerical experiment it is demonstrated that, for the combined harvesting of two ecologically independent species which grow logistically and are harvested at a rate proportional to both stock level and effort, there is a unique attainable equilibrium which yields positive revenue and to which the approach path satisfies all of Pontryagin's necessary conditions for maximizing the harvest's present value. A simple feedback law governs this approach and is conjectured to be the optimal policy. On that basis, criteria are found for the survival of the less productive species, as a function of the system parameters and initial stocks. An economic interpretation of the equilibrium is also given.     

Integrable non-linear σ models with fermions

The two-dimensional non-linear model on a Riemannian symmetric spaceM=G/H is coupled to fermions with quartic self-interactions. The resulting hybrid model is presented in a gauge-dependent formulation, with a bosonic field taking values inG and a fermionic field transforming under a given representation of the gauge groupH. General criteria for classical integrability are presented: they essentially fix the Lagrangian of the model but leave the fermion representation completely arbitrary. It is shown that by a special choice for the fermion representation (derived from the adjoint representation ofG by an appropriate reduction) one arrives naturally at the supersymmetric non-linear model onM=G/H. The issue of quantum integrability is also discussed, though with less stringent results.Work partially supported by CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), Brazil, and KFA Jülich, Federal Republic of GermanyOn leave of absence from Fakultät für Physik der Universität Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany     

First-order transitions in spherical models: Finite-size scaling

Finite-size behavior near the first-order phase boundary of ferromagnetic spherical models is investigated for block- and cylinder-shaped systems ind dimensions. The bulk thermodynamic singularities are rounded and, asymptotically for large size, obey appropriate scaling laws. Both short-range interactions and long-range couplings, decaying like 1/r^d+ with >0, are analyzed: the short-range results agree precisely with a recently developed scaling theory forO(n) symmetric systems in the limitn. More generally, the scaling functions are universal, depending only on . Explicit aspects of the shape and interactions enter only in the spin wave or Goldstone mode contributions which appear, technically, as corrections to scaling. An appendix analyzes the truncation error in the approximation, by many-fold sums, of multivariate integrals with integrands diverging like [_ja_{j j} ² ]^- as 0.     

N-labelling studies of the reaction of 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dienone with nitrogen dioxide; A revised mechanism

Reaction of the ¹⁵N-4-nitrodienone (1) with excess nitrogen dioxide in benzene for 16 h gives the 4,5,6-trinitro ketone (2), labelled (¹⁵NO₂) at C6 but not at C4, and recovered 4-nitrodienone (1) in which extensive loss of ¹⁵NO₂ has occurred. The mechanistic implications of these and related results are discussed.     

Periodic behavior of the stochastic Brusselator in the mean-field limit

Summary We prove a propagation of chaos result for the mean-field limit of a model for a trimolecular chemical reaction called Brusselator. Then we show that the pair of nonlinear (i.e. law-dependent) stochastic differential equations describing the evolution of the concentration of the molecules at a given site in the mean field limit has a solution with a periodic law (in t). Finally we identify the limit and establish a central limit theorem for the periodic law in the case where the noise tends to zero.Part of this work was performed while on leave at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and supported by NSERC operating grants of M. Csörgö and D. Dawson     

Elementarteiler von Inzidenzmatrizen symmetrischer Blockpläne

By a study of the integral code generated by the rows of the incidence matrix and its extention the following results are obtained: Let d ₁,...,d _V(d ₁|d ₂,d ₂|d ₃...) be the elementary divisors of the incidence matrix of a symmetric (v,n+, ) design. Then d _v=(n+)n/g.c.d. (n, ). Moreover, if p is a prime such that p|n, p and if x _p denotes the p-part of x, then (d _id_v+2–i) _p =n _p for 2iv. For projective planes it can be shown that d ₁=···=d _3n–2=1, hence and . The paper also contains some results about elementary divisors of incidence matrices G satisfying the condition G ^tG=nI+ J.

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Elementarteiler von Inzidenzmatrizen symmetrischer Blockpläne

     

On the low temperature magnetic properties of some sulfites of divalent iron

Zero field Mössbauer spectra and powder susceptibility measurements show that the condensed, hydrogen bonded network compound FeSO₃ 3H₂O orders antiferromagnetically (T_Néel 9.5 K). The related anhydrous material FeSO₃ also shows antiferromagnetic exchange but no evidence of long range three-dimenstional magnetic order to as low as 1.4 K.Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research—Solid State Chemistry Program Grant No. DMR 8313710.     

Phase Diagram and Properties of Glasses of the System Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>-AgI

The phase diagram of the system Sb₂S₃-AgI was constructed from data of the differential thermal and X-ray phase analyses. The physicochemical properties of glassy and crystalline alloys were studied.