The fuzzy supersphere

We introduce the fuzzy supersphere as sequence of finite-dimensional, noncommutative ₂-graded algebras tending in a suitable limit to a dense subalgebra of the ₂-graded algebra of ^∞-functions on the (2|2)-dimensional supersphere. Noncommutative analogues of the body map (to the (fuzzy) sphere) and the super-deRham complex are introduced. In particular we reproduce the equality of the super-deRham cohomology of the supersphere and the ordinary deRham cohomology of its body on the “fuzzy level”.     

Nonlinear rescaling and proximal-like methods in convex optimization

The nonlinear rescaling principle (NRP) consists of transforming the objective function and/or the constraints of a given constrained optimization problem into another problem which is equivalent to the original one in the sense that their optimal set of solutions coincides. A nonlinear transformation parameterized by a positive scalar parameter and based on a smooth sealing function is used to transform the constraints. The methods based on NRP consist of sequential unconstrained minimization of the classical Lagrangian for the equivalent problem, followed by an explicit formula updating the Lagrange multipliers. We first show that the NRP leads naturally to proximal methods with an entropy-like kernel, which is defined by the conjugate of the scaling function, and establish that the two methods are dually equivalent for convex constrained minimization problems. We then study the convergence properties of the nonlinear rescaling algorithm and the corresponding entropy-like proximal methods for convex constrained optimization problems. Special cases of the nonlinear rescaling algorithm are presented. In particular a new class of exponential penalty-modified barrier functions methods is introduced. Partially supported by the National Science Foundation, under Grants DMS-9201297, and DMS-9401871. Partially supported by NASA Grant NAG3-1397 and NSF Grant DMS-9403218.     

Quasi-Newton method by Hermite interpolation

This paper describes a new attempt to solve the problem of computing a local minimizer of a sufficiently often differentiable unconstrained objective function. In every step of the iteration, a special Hermite interpolant is constructed. Old iteration points serve as points of support with the function value and gradient information. This yields a quasi-Newton algorithm with quadratic convergence order.     

On the longest circuit in an alterable digraph

Analterable digraph is a digraph with a subset of its edges marked alterable and their orientations left undecided. We say that an alterable digraph has an invariant ofk on the length of the longest circuit if it has a circuit of length at leastk regardless of the orientations over its alterable edges. Computing the maximum invariant on the length of the longest circuit in an alterable digraph is aglobal optimization problem. We show that it is hard to approximate the global optimal solution for the maximum invariant problem.Research supported in part by NSF grant CCR 9121472.     

Efficient algorithms for solving certain nonconvex programs dealing with the product of two affine fractional functions

Two algorithms for finding a global minimum of the product of two affine fractional functions over a compact convex set and solving linear fractional programs with an additional constraint defined by the product of two affine fractional functions are proposed. The algorithms are based on branch and bound techniques using an adaptive branching operation which takes place in one-dimensional intervals. Results from numerical experiments show that large scale problems can be efficiently solved by the proposed methods.     

Unification of basic and composite nondifferentiable optimization

There are two main classes of iterative methods in nondifferentiable optimization (NDO). In thebasic NDO, the information is limited to the objective function and at least one element of its subdifferential, while in thecomposite NDO, the objective function is split into a sum of a smooth and a nonsmooth function. Our work unifies these two approaches for benefiting of their respective advantages.     

基于Type-2型模糊集的动态生态位模型

复杂生态系统中,由于生物进化的高度非线性,使生物更容易适应环境的变化,生物与环境的交流要求用动态的观点来描述生态位及其相关概念。本文利用T ype-2型模糊集合的“宽带”效应,给出了具有动态特性的生态位模型,并相应的给出宽度和重叠的计算公式。应用于植物的生态位宽度和重叠的计算,与已有公式结果的比较,本文提出的模型可以全面的给出了物种在每个资源状态下的情形,同时反应了物种与环境之间的互动交流。为生物系统的应用研究和理论研究提出统一的数学模型。     

Binary fuzzy goal programming

Goal programming is an important technique for solving many decision/management problems. Fuzzy goal programming involves applying the fuzzy set theory to goal programming, thus allowing the model to take into account the vague aspirations of a decision-maker. Using preference-based membership functions, we can define the fuzzy problem through natural language terms or vague phenomena. In fact, decision-making involves the achievement of fuzzy goals, some of them are met and some not because these goals are subject to the function of environment/resource constraints. Thus, binary fuzzy goal programming is employed where the problem cannot be solved by conventional goal programming approaches. This paper proposes a new idea of how to program the binary fuzzy goal programming model. The binary fuzzy goal programming model can then be solved using the integer programming method. Finally, an illustrative example is included to demonstrate the correctness and usefulness of the proposed model.     

On duality bound methods for nonconvex global optimization

A counter-example is given to several recently published results on duality bound methods for nonconvex global optimization.     

Solving the maximum edge weight clique problem via unconstrained quadratic programming

The unconstrained quadratic binary program (UQP) is proving to be a successful modeling and solution framework for a variety of combinatorial optimization problems. Experience reported in the literature with several problem classes has demonstrated that this approach works surprisingly well in terms of solution quality and computational times, often rivaling and sometimes surpassing more traditional methods. In this paper we report on the application of UQP to the maximum edge-weighted clique problem. Computational experience is reported illustrating the attractiveness of the approach.