Local linear convergence analysis of Primal–Dual splitting methods

In this paper, we study the local linear convergence properties of a versatile class of Primal–Dual splitting methods for minimizing composite non-smooth convex optimization problems. Under the assumption that the non-smooth components of the problem are partly smooth relative to smooth manifolds, we present a unified local convergence analysis framework for these methods. More precisely, in our framework, we first show that (i) the sequences generated by Primal–Dual splitting methods identify a pair of primal and dual smooth manifolds in a finite number of iterations, and then (ii) enter a local linear convergence regime, which is characterized based on the structure of the underlying active smooth manifolds. We also show how our results for Primal–Dual splitting can be specialized to cover existing ones on Forward–Backward splitting and Douglas–Rachford splitting/ADMM (alternating direction methods of multipliers). Moreover, based on these obtained local convergence analysis result, several practical acceleration techniques are discussed. To exemplify the usefulness of the obtained result, we consider several concrete numerical experiments arising from fields including signal/image processing, inverse problems and machine learning. The demonstration not only verifies the local linear convergence behaviour of Primal–Dual splitting methods, but also the insights on how to accelerate them in practice.     

基于串联两阶段网络DEA模型的供应链规模收益分析

数据包络分析(DEA)是评价供应链系统(Supply chain system)间相对有效性的一种重要的工具,但是传统的DEA不考虑供应链的内部结构,对系统效率评价偏高;而本文所研究两阶段串联供应链系统,考虑把部分中间产品作为最终产品输出,增加额外中间投入的情形.基于所提出的供应链系统结构,本文建立相应的串联结构下的网络DEA模型,并针对所建立模型进行相关理论的研究,给出了串联结构下的生产可能集和规模收益情况判定方法.最后,进行数值实验,以验证我们提出的结论.     

理想气体在热力学中的作用

指出热力学理论是普遍的,不依赖于理想气体.理想气体为热力学理论提供了一个简单的实例,为测量热力学温度提供了一种简单的温度计.     

Discretization of the solutions to Poisson’s equation

Sharp estimates (in the power scale) are obtained for the discretization error in the solutions to Poisson’s equation whose right-hand side belongs to a Korobov class. Compared to the well-known Korobov estimate, the order is almost doubled and has an ultimate value in the power scale.     

Scale Invariance Properties in the Simulated Annealing Algorithm

The Boltzmann distribution used in the steady-state analysis of the simulated annealing algorithm gives rise to several scale invariant properties. Scale invariance is first presented in the context of parallel independent processors and then extended to an abstract form based on lumping states together to form new aggregate states. These lumped or aggregate states possess all of the mathematical characteristics, forms and relationships of states (solutions) in the original problem in both first and second moments. These scale invariance properties therefore permit new ways of relating objective function values, conditional expectation values, stationary probabilities, rates of change of stationary probabilities and conditional variances. Such properties therefore provide potential applications in analysis, statistical inference and optimization. Directions for future research that take advantage of scale invariance are also discussed.     

Hydrophobicity-induced drying transition in alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer—water interface

During the course of our investigation of the electron transfer properties of some redox species through highly hydrophobic long chain alkanethiol molecules on gold in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, we obtained some intriguing results such as unusually low interfacial capacitance, very high values of impedance and film resistance, all of which pointed to the possible existence of a nanometer size interfacial gap between the hydrophobic monolayer and aqueous electrolyte. We explain this phenomenon by a model for the alkanethiol monolayer—aqueous electrolyte interface, in which the extremely hydrophobic alkanethiol film repels water molecules adjacent to it and in the process creates a shield between the monolayer film and water. This effectively increases the overall thickness of the dielectric layer that is manifested as an abnormally low value of interfacial capacitance. This behaviour is very much akin to the ‘drying transition’ proposed by Lum, Chandler and Weeks in their theory of length scale dependent hydrophobicity. For small hydrophobic units consisting of apolar solutes, the water molecules can reorganize around them without sacrificing their hydrogen bonds. Since for an extended hydrophobic unit, the existence of hydrogen bonded water structure close to it is geometrically unfavourable, there is a net depletion of water molecules in the vicinity leading to the possible creation of a hydrophobic interfacial gap.     

A quark model based on QCD scale anomaly

We consider a quark model based on QCD scale anomaly in which the quarks move in the field of an effective glueball field. Hadrons correspond to solitonic bags of higher energy density in a nonperturbative sea of condensed gluons. We calculate the static properties of nucleon in this model and find that the nucleon mass is far too large (2.4–4 GeV) and the proton charge radius (0.37–0.54 fm) is low. The proton gyromagnetic ratio and g_A/g_v are in reasonable agreement with the experimental numbers.     

Designing an effective federal biomass program

This article addresses two questions: Has the effectiveness of the US governments federal research and development (R&;D) spending suffered from the post-1980 strategic change from freely shared and publicly owned to privately owned scientific advances? What criteria would a federal R&;D program use to design a strategy that most effectively enhances the well-being of farmers and rural communities? Several studies found that the pre-1980 US Department of Agriculture research strategy was very effective. No comparable studies have analyzed the comparative effectiveness of the post-1980 strategy of restricting access to the results of public research. Recent experience and several analytical studies suggest that to significantly enhance the health of rural economies from an expanded use of plant matter as an industrial material, federal policy should channel scientific and engineering research into small- and medium-sized production and processing technologies and should encourage farmer-owned, value-added enterprises.     

相对论重离子碰撞实验中混合事件方法的研究

把RQMD(Relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics)产生器产生的数据输入作为原始事例取样,讨论了在比较复杂的背景情况下,一种新的混合事件方法,用以证实在相对论重离子碰撞实验中高能量激发共振态的存在.并以共振态重子Δ⁺⁺为例演示了这一方法的应用.     

上市公司资本成本面板数据模型与实证分析

本文利用我国上市公司1997至2002年的有关财务数据,建立了我国上市公司资本成本面板数据模型,运用该模型分析了我国上市公司资本成本与财务杠杆、企业规模的关系.结果表明,财务杠杆的提升、企业规模的扩大将使资本成本下降.该结论对我国上市公司优化资本结构、提高企业价值具有一定的参考价值.