Continuity properties of the normal cone to the level sets of a quasiconvex function

Two main properties of the subgradient mapping of convex functions are transposed for quasiconvex ones. The continuity of the functionxf(x)^–1f(x) on the domain where it is defined is deduced from some continuity properties of the normal coneN to the level sets of the quasiconvex functionf. We also prove that, under a pseudoconvexity-type condition, the normal coneN(x) to the set {x:f(x)f(x)} can be expressed as the convex hull of the limits of type {N(x _n)}, where {x _n} is a sequence converging tox and contained in a dense subsetD. In particular, whenf is pseudoconvex,D can be taken equal to the set of points wheref is differentiable.This research was completed while the second author was on a sabbatical leave at the University of Montreal and was supported by a NSERC grant. It has its origin in the doctoral thesis of the first author (Ref. 1), prepared under the direction of the second author.The authors are grateful to an anonymous referee and C. Zalinescu for their helpful remarks on a previous version of this paper.     

New Results on Generalized $c$-Distance Without Continuity in Cone $b$-Metric Spaces over Banach Algebras

In this work, some new fixed point results for generalized Lipschitz mappings on generalized $c$-distance in cone $b$-metric spaces over Banach algebras are obtained, not acquiring the condition that the underlying cone should be normal or the mappings should be continuous. Furthermore, the existence and the uniqueness of the fixed point are proven for such mappings. These results greatly improve and generalize several well-known comparable results in the literature. Moreover, some examples and an application are given to support our new results.     

Prox-regular functions in variational analysis

The class of prox-regular functions covers all l.s.c., proper, convex functions, lower- functions and strongly amenable functions, hence a large core of functions of interest in variational analysis and optimization. The subgradient mappings associated with prox-regular functions have unusually rich properties, which are brought to light here through the study of the associated Moreau envelope functions and proximal mappings. Connections are made between second-order epi-derivatives of the functions and proto-derivatives of their subdifferentials. Conditions are identified under which the Moreau envelope functions are convex or strongly convex, even if the given functions are not.

     

A discrete method of optimal control based upon the cell state space concept

A discrete method of optimal control is proposed in this paper. The continuum state space of a system is discretized into a cell state space, and the cost function is discretized in a similar manner. Assuming intervalwise constant controls and using a finite set of admissible control levels (u) and a finite set of admissible time intervals (), the motion of the system under all possible interval controls (u, ) can then be expressed in terms of a family of cell-to-cell mappings. The proposed method extracts the optimal control results from these mappings by a systematic search, culminating in the construction of a discrete optimal control table.The possibility of expressing the optimal control results in the form of a control table seems to give this method a means to make systems real-time controllable.Dedicated to G. LeitmannThe material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. MEA-82-17471. The author is also indebted to Professor G. Leitmann for his many helpful comments.     

Scaling properties of ℤ k- 1 actions on the circle

We derive universal scaling properties for ^k–1 actions on the circle whose generators have rotation numbers algebraic of degreek. As fork=2 these properties can be explained for arbitraryk in terms of a renormalization group transformation. It has at least one trivial fixed point corresponding to an action whose generators are pure rotations. The spectrum of the linearized transformation in this fixed point is analyzed completely. The fixed point is hyperbolic with a (k–1)-dimensional unstable manifold. In the casek=2 the known results are therefore recovered.     

Topological degree of a family of convex functions and localization of nash equilibrium points

We define the degree of a family of convex functionsf _x, wherex , and prove that, if this degree is different from zero, one has at least one Nash equilibrium point in . This is a criterion of localization of such equilibrium points.     

Extended radial epiderivatives of non-convex vector-valued maps and parametric quasiconvex programming

In this paper, we consider extended vector-valued mappings defined on a normed linear space. Based on the recent semicontinuous regularizations related to hypographical and/or epigraphical profile mappings of the considered function introduced, we define semicontinuous radial epiderivatives. We, then, demonstrate that the properties of these epiderivatives amount to properties of hypographical and/or epigraphical profile mappings of the corresponding difference quotient of the underlying function, which simplify fairly well the proofs in the radial epiderivative formulaes. In particular, we stress the impact of semicontinuity, hence, we characterize with new arguments the radial epiderivatives in terms of the suprema and/or infima of the interiorly radial cone of the hypograph and/or epigraph of the considered function. Finally, we obtain optimality conditions for general non-convex constrained vector optimization problems. We apply thereafter the obtained pattern to a parametric quasiconvex programming problem for which we derive necessary and sufficient optimality conditions that are not sensitive to perturbation at the nominal level, yielding henceforth more – and strong at least under asymptotically regular constraints – information than the recent stability results obtained under additional conditions on the regularity of the normal cone to the adjusted sublevel sets of the underlying function.     

a-convex convergent alternating series

Teaching in a Mathematics Learning Centre requires special skills and knowledge of the theory of teaching and learning. This paper explores those skills and knowledge then considers how they can be applied to help students attain their full academic potential.     

On Convergence of Quasi ρ-preserving Locally Related Quasi-nonexpansive Mappings

The concept of quasi-nonexpansive mappings was initiated in Diaz and Metcalf (Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 73 (1967), 516–519), further it was generalized by Petryshyn and Williamson (Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications 43, no. 2 (1973): 459-497). Further investigating the above work, in this article a Banach space with a relation ρ has been considered, the notion of ρ-preserving and quasi ρ-preserving locally related quasi-nonexpansive mappings has been introduced. It has been shown that every ρ-preserving mapping is a quasi ρ-preserving and every nonexpansive mapping is locally related quasi-nonexpansive but converse may not hold. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the convergence of Picard, Mann and Ishikawa iterations of ρ-preserving, quasi ρ-preserving locally related quasi-nonexpansive mappings are presented.     

On some Fermat rules for set-valued optimization problems

The aim of this article is to obtain necessary optimality conditions for Pareto minima in set-valued optimization problems. We employ a new method to derive generalized Fermat rules for set-valued optimization. This method is based on openness results for multifunctions and allows recovery of a large number of results and, at the same time, getting several new ones.