Parallel Algorithm for Unconstrained Optimization Based on Decomposition Techniques

We present a numerical implementation of the parallel gradient distribution (PGD) method for the solution of large-scale unconstrained optimization problems. The proposed parallel algorithm is characterized by a parallel phase which exploits the portions of the gradient of the objective function assigned to each processor; then, a coordination phase follows which, by a synchronous interaction scheme, optimizes over the partial results obtained by the parallel phase. The parallel and coordination phases are implemented using a quasi-Newton limited-memory BFGS approach. The computational experiments, carried out on a network of UNIX workstations by using the parallel software tool PVM, show that parallelization efficiency was problem dependent and ranged between 0.15 and 8.75. For the 150 problems solved by PGD on more than one processor, 85 cases had parallelization efficiency below 1, while 65 cases had a parallelization efficiency above 1.     

Hybrid free radical/cationic frontal photopolymerizations

The irradiation of hybrid photopolymer systems consisting of a free radically polymerizable multifunctional acrylate monomer and a cationically polymerizable epoxide or oxetane monomer was conducted under conditions where only the free radical polymerization takes place. This results in the formation of a free‐standing polyacrylate network film containing quiescent oxonium ions along with the unreacted cyclic ether monomer. The subsequent application of a point source of heat to the film ignites a cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerization that emanates from that site and propagates to all portions of the irradiated sample. This article examines the impact of various molecular structural and experimental parameters on these novel hybrid frontal polymerizations that produce interpenetrating network polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4331–4340, 2007     

Identifying sets of key players in a social network

A procedure is described for finding sets of key players in a social network. A key assumption is that the optimal selection of key players depends on what they are needed for. Accordingly, two generic goals are articulated, called KPP-POS and KPP-NEG. KPP-POS is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of optimally diffusing something through the network by using the key players as seeds. KPP-NEG is defined as the identification of key players for the purpose of disrupting or fragmenting the network by removing the key nodes. It is found that off-the-shelf centrality measures are not optimal for solving either generic problem, and therefore new measures are presented. Stephen P. Borgatti is Professor of Organization Studies at the Carroll School of Management, Boston College. His research is focused on social networks, social cognition and knowledge management. He is also interested in the application of social network analysis to the solution of managerial problems.     

浙江中部夏熟作物田主要杂草生态相似性的数量分析

应用七级目测法对浙江中部地区27个夏熟作物田样点的杂草进行了优势等级调查，将所得数据转换成重要值，以杂草在27个样点中的重要值为运算指标，应用主成分分析法和图论聚类中的最小生成树法，对24种杂草的生态学相似性进行了比较，指出了长期使用单一的除草剂导致农田杂草种群迅速更迭的原因：杂草对除草剂的敏感性差异及不同杂草间的生态学特性的差异。     

具有时滞的细胞神经网络的全局指数稳定性

利用Liapunov函数方法,结合积分不等式技巧,分析了时滞细胞神经网络的平衡点存在的唯一性和全局指数稳定性,保证时滞细胞神经网络全局指数稳定的一个新的充分判据被得到.所得判据比已有文献具有更少的限制,为实际应用提供了方便.     

二维光电位置敏感器件的非线性修正

根据二维光电位置敏感器件 (PSD)的工作原理 ,分析了影响PSD线性度的主要因素 ,提出了一种用神经网络对PSD进行非线性修正的方法。以PSD的输入输出数据对作为样本训练的神经网络 ,利用神经网络所具有地能够以任意精度逼近非线性函数的能力 ,实现PSD的输出与实际光点位置之间的映射 ,在神经网络的输出端得到线性响应。该方法的优点是不需要很大的数据存储量即可得到很好的修正效果。结果表明 ,修正后的PSD能在较宽的位置范围内输出高线性度的信号     

多时滞随机神经网络的稳定性

通过构建李雅普偌夫函数的方法和利用半鞅收敛定理对一类随机时滞神经网络的全局指数稳定进行了分析,提出了易于判定随机时滞神经网络几乎必然指数稳定性新的代数判据,推广了[1]中的主要结论.     

现代优化计算方法在蛋白质结构预测中的应用

现代优化计算方法在蛋白质结构预测中占有重要地位.简要地介绍了模拟退火算法,遗传算法,人工神经网络和图论算法在蛋白质结构预测中的应用.对国内外近年来应用这些算法,特别是在蛋白质构象搜索问题中,解决蛋白质结构预测的研究作了回顾,并分析、比较了这几种算法的效果和特点.     

Non-Parametric Regression Methods

The nature of the financial time series is complex, continuous interchange of stochastic and deterministic regimes. Therefore, it is difficult to forecast with parametric techniques. Instead of parametric models, we propose three techniques and compare with each other. Neural networks and support vector regression (SVR) are two universally approximators. They are data-driven non parametric models. ARCH/GARCH models are also investigated. Our assumption is that the future value of Istanbul Stock Exchange 100 index daily return depends on the financial indicators although there is no known parametric model to explain this relationship. This relationship comes from the technical analysis. Comparison shows that the multi layer perceptron networks overperform the SVR and time series model (GARCH).