Queueing Dynamics and Maximal Throughput Scheduling in Switched Processing Systems

We study a processing system comprised of parallel queues, whose individual service rates are specified by a global service mode (configuration). The issue is how to switch the system between various possible service modes, so as to maximize its throughput and maintain stability under the most workload-intensive input traffic traces (arrival processes). Stability preserves the job inflow–outflow balance at each queue on the traffic traces. Two key families of service policies are shown to maximize throughput, under the mild condition that traffic traces have long-term average workload rates. In the first family of cone policies, the service mode is chosen based on the system backlog state belonging to a corresponding cone. Two distinct policy classes of that nature are investigated, MaxProduct and FastEmpty. In the second family of batch policies (BatchAdapt), jobs are collectively scheduled over adaptively chosen horizons, according to an asymptotically optimal, robust schedule. The issues of nonpreemptive job processing and non-negligible switching times between service modes are addressed. The analysis is extended to cover feed-forward networks of such processing systems/nodes. The approach taken unifies and generalizes prior studies, by developing a general trace-based modeling framework (sample-path approach) for addressing the queueing stability problem. It treats the queueing structure as a deterministic dynamical system and analyzes directly its evolution trajectories. It does not require any probabilistic superstructure, which is typically used in previous approaches. Probability can be superposed later to address finer performance questions (e.g., delay). The throughput maximization problem is seen to be primarily of structural nature. The developed methodology appears to have broader applicability to other queueing systems.     

带有随机因素的逆DEA模型

本文讨论含有随机因素的逆 DEA模型 .逆 DEA模型解决的问题是 :对于某个决策单元 (DMU ) ,若增加其输入 ,在保持相对效率水平不变的情况下 ,估计 (预测 )输出应增加多少 .因此逆 DEA模型可用于短期预测问题 .带有随机因素的逆 DEA模型 ,是将该问题转化成机会约束的多目标规划问题 ,在某些特殊情况下 ,成为机会约束的线性规划问题 .     

Convex programs with an additional reverse convex constraint

A method is presented for solving a class of global optimization problems of the form (P): minimizef(x), subject toxD,g(x)0, whereD is a closed convex subset ofR ⁿ andf,g are convex finite functionsR ⁿ . Under suitable stability hypotheses, it is shown that a feasible point is optimal if and only if 0=max{g(x):xD,f(x)f( )}. On the basis of this optimality criterion, the problem is reduced to a sequence of subproblemsQ _k ,k=1, 2, ..., each of which consists in maximizing the convex functiong(x) over some polyhedronS _k . The method is similar to the outer approximation method for maximizing a convex function over a compact convex set.     

LocalH-theorem for a kinetic variational theory

A localH-theorem is derived for a recently proposed extension of Enskog kinetic theory to a dense model fluid composed of particles with interactions extending beyond a hard core.On leave from: Katedra Fizyki, Uniwersytetu Szczecinskiego, 70-451 Szczecin, Poland.     

A joint shape evolution approach to medical image segmentation using expectation-maximization algorithm

This study proposes an expectation–maximization (EM)-based curve evolution algorithm for segmentation of magnetic resonance brain images. In the proposed algorithm, the evolution curve is constrained not only by a shape-based statistical model but also by a hidden variable model from image observation. The hidden variable model herein is defined by the local voxel labeling, which is unknown and estimated by the expected likelihood function derived from the image data and prior anatomical knowledge. In the M-step, the shapes of the structures are estimated jointly by encoding the hidden variable model and the statistical prior model obtained from the training stage. In the E-step, the expected observation likelihood and the prior distribution of the hidden variables are estimated. In experiments, the proposed automatic segmentation algorithm is applied to multiple gray nuclei structures such as caudate, putamens and thalamus of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging in volunteers and patients. As for the robustness and accuracy of the segmentation algorithm, the results of the proposed EM-joint shape-based algorithm outperformed those obtained using the statistical shape model-based techniques in the same framework and a current state-of-the-art region competition level set method.     

基于随机效应Wiener退化模型的剩余寿命预测

针对退化率较高的产品具有不稳定的退化路径以及产品个体差异对退化过程的影响,建立了一种新的随机效应退化模型,即漂移参数和扩散参数均为随机变量且两者之间呈线性关系的Wiener退化过程模型.基于该模型获得了产品剩余寿命分布与可靠度函数,同时设计了估计模型参数的EM（expectation maximization）算法.最后,通过分析钛合金疲劳裂纹数据以及与现有模型结果的比较,验证了所建模型的有效性和准确性.     

用于波导阵列——光纤阵列自动对接的多目标演化算法的研究

开发设计了一种新的列阵自动对接方法,该方法将多目标演化法导入光纤—光波导列阵—光纤列阵的自动对接,并行操作次数较常规遗传法大幅减少.数值仿真表明,对于模场非对称因子为0.4%的单模波导列阵与光纤列阵的双芯对接,能实现0.04 dB的平均端面耦合损耗.用于1×8波导分支耦合器与通道间距误差在0.35 μm以内的光纤列阵对接,自动耦合仿真达到了小于0.1 dB的平均端面耦合损耗,最大值与最小值的差小于0.06 dB.     

An approach to find redundant objective function(s) and redundant constraint(s) in multi-objective nonlinear stochastic fractional programming problems

Structural redundancies in mathematical programming models are nothing uncommon and nonlinear programming problems are no exception. Over the past few decades numerous papers have been written on redundancy. Redundancy in constraints and variables are usually studied in a class of mathematical programming problems. However, main emphasis has so far been given only to linear programming problems. In this paper, an algorithm that identifies redundant objective function(s) and redundant constraint(s) simultaneously in multi-objective nonlinear stochastic fractional programming problems is provided. A solution procedure is also illustrated with numerical examples. The proposed algorithm reduces the number of nonlinear fractional objective functions and constraints in cases where redundancy exists.     

Optimal investment strategies for participating contracts

Participating contracts are popular insurance policies, in which the payoff to a policyholder is linked to the performance of a portfolio managed by the insurer. We consider the portfolio selection problem of an insurer that offers participating contracts and has an S-shaped utility function. Applying the martingale approach, closed-form solutions are obtained. The resulting optimal strategies are compared with portfolio insurance hedging strategies (CPPI and OBPI). We also study numerical solutions of the portfolio selection problem with constraints on the portfolio weights.     

The opportunity cost of mean–variance choice under estimation risk

Mean–variance portfolio choice is often criticized as sub-optimal in the more general expected utility framework. It is argued that the expected utility framework takes into consideration higher moments ignored by mean variance analysis. A body of research suggests that mean–variance choice, though arguably sub-optimal, provides very close-to-expected utility maximizing portfolios and their expected utilities, basing its evaluation on in-sample analysis where mean–variance choice is sub-optimal by definition. In order to clarify this existing research, this study provides a framework that allows comparing in-sample and out-of-sample performance of the mean variance portfolios against expected utility maximizing portfolios. Our in-sample results confirm the results of earlier studies. On the other hand, our out-of-sample results show that the expected utility model performs worse. The out-of-sample inferiority of the expected utility model is more pronounced for preferences and constraints under which in-sample mean variance approximations are weakest. We argue that, in addition to its elegance and simplicity, the mean–variance model extracts more information from sample data because it uses the covariance matrix of returns. The expected utility model may reach its optimal solution without using information from the covariance matrix.