A search technique for global optimization in a chaotic environment

We describe a new algorithm which uses the trajectories of a discrete dynamical system to sample the domain of an unconstrained objective function in search of global minima. The algorithm is unusually adept at avoiding nonoptimal local minima and successfully converging to a global minimum. Trajectories generated by the algorithm for objective functions with many local minima exhibit chaotic behavior, in the sense that they are extremely sensitive to changes in initial conditions and system parameters. In this context, chaos seems to have a beneficial effect: failure to converge to a global minimum from a given initial point can often be rectified by making arbitrarily small changes in the system parameters.     

Simulated annealing with noisy or imprecise energy measurements

The annealing algorithm (Ref. 1) is modified to allow for noisy or imprecise measurements of the energy cost function. This is important when the energy cannot be measured exactly or when it is computationally expensive to do so. Under suitable conditions on the noise/imprecision, it is shown that the modified algorithm exhibits the same convergence in probability to the globally minimum energy states as the annealing algorithm (Ref. 2). Since the annealing algorithm will typically enter and exit the minimum energy states infinitely often with probability one, the minimum energy state visited by the annealing algorithm is usually tracked. The effect of using noisy or imprecise energy measurements on tracking the minimum energy state visited by the modified algorithms is examined.The research reported here has been supported under Contracts AFOSR-85-0227, DAAG-29-84-K-0005, and DAAL-03-86-K-0171 and a Purdue Research Initiation Grant.     

Adaptive Algorithm for Constrained Least-Squares Problems

This paper is concerned with the implementation and testing of an algorithm for solving constrained least-squares problems. The algorithm is an adaptation to the least-squares case of sequential quadratic programming (SQP) trust-region methods for solving general constrained optimization problems. At each iteration, our local quadratic subproblem includes the use of the Gauss–Newton approximation but also encompasses a structured secant approximation along with tests of when to use this approximation. This method has been tested on a selection of standard problems. The results indicate that, for least-squares problems, the approach taken here is a viable alternative to standard general optimization methods such as the Byrd–Omojokun trust-region method and the Powell damped BFGS line search method.     

具有模糊数的模糊多目标群体决策优选模型与方法

多目标群体决策问题是运筹学的一个重要研究领域，目前已经提出了一些有效的决策方法。但对目标值和权重均为模糊数的模糊多目标群体决策问题却研究不多，本对此类模糊多目标群体决策问题进行了探讨，利用相对正理想方案与相对负理想方案概念定义了相对差异距离，进而建立了模糊多目标群体决策优选模型与方法，并通过战役决心方案的评价说明了该方法是可行、有效的，可作为军事决策与决策支持系统的备选方法。     

Patterns and Symmetries in the Visual Cortex and in Natural Images

As borders between different entities, lines are an important element of natural images. Indeed, the neurons of the mammalian visual cortex are tuned to respond best to lines of a given orientation. This preferred orientation varies continuously across most of the cortex, but also has vortex-like singularities known as pinwheels. In attempting to describe such patterns of orientation preference, we are led to consider underlying rotation symmetries: Oriented segments in natural images tend to be collinear; neurons are more likely to be connected if their preferred orientations are aligned to their topographic separation. These are indications of a reduced symmetry requiring joint rotations of both orientation preference and the underlying topography. This is verified by direct statistical tests in both natural images and in cortical maps. Using the statistics of natural scenes we construct filters that are best suited to extracting information from such images, and find qualitative similarities to mammalian vision. PACS84.35+i 89.70.+c 87.57.Nk     

Global and uniform convergence of subspace correction methods for some convex optimization problems

This paper gives some global and uniform convergence estimates for a class of subspace correction (based on space decomposition) iterative methods applied to some unconstrained convex optimization problems. Some multigrid and domain decomposition methods are also discussed as special examples for solving some nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems.

     

ON HYPERBOLIC TIME DISCOUNTING IN EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCE MODELS: AN APPLICATION TO WORLD OIL RESOURCES

ABSTRACT. Recent research on discounting in long term economic models involves hyperbolic discounting, in which the marginal discount rate shrinks as time passes. To investigate hyperbolic discounting and exhaustible resource allocation, this work develops a discrete‐time world oil model and model solution procedure, then uses the model to examine the consequences of adopting conventional (constant annual) discounting when hyperbolic discounting is appropriate, of adopting one hyperbolic discount rate path when a different hyperbolic path is appropriate, and of adopting hyperbolic discounting when conventional discounting is appropriate. Five conventional and two hyperbolic discount rate paths are considered. One hyperbolic path is that used by Nordhaus and Boyer [2000]; the other is that recommended by Weitzman [2001]. The generality of the findings is also assessed.     

叶型优化在非定常流动条件下效果的数值分析

本文对叶型优化在非定常流动条件下的效果进行数值研究。叶型优化基于比较成熟的在定常流动条件下的反问题解法，非定常流动则考虑到动静叶栅之间的相互作用，非定常流动的求解在Ｎ－Ｓ方程的基础上采用分区计算的方法来完成。数值计算的结果表明，定常流动条件下优化得到的叶型在非定常流动条件下同样具有较好的气动性能。     

一个线性约束优化问题的广义梯度投影法

本文对线性约束优化问题提出了一个新的广义梯度投影法，该算法采用了非精确线性搜索，并在每次迭代运算中结合了广义投影矩阵和变尺度方法的思想确定其搜索方向．在通常的假设条件下，证明了该算法的整体收敛性和超线性收敛速度．