Description:
The problem of finding a continuous piecewise linear function approximating a regression function is considered. This problem is formulated as a nonconvex nonsmooth optimization problem where the objective function is represented as a difference of convex (DC) functions. Subdifferentials of DC components are computed and an algorithm is designed based on these subdifferentials to find piecewise linear functions. The algorithm is tested using some synthetic and real world data sets and compared with other regression algorithms.
Description:
In this paper, a novel sharp Augmented Lagrangian-based global optimization method is developed for solving constrained non-convex optimization problems. The algorithm consists of outer and inner loops. At each inner iteration, the discrete gradient method is applied to minimize the sharp augmented Lagrangian function. Depending on the solution found the algorithm stops or updates the dual variables in the inner loop, or updates the upper or lower bounds by going to the outer loop. The convergence results for the proposed method are presented. The performance of the method is demonstrated using a wide range of nonlinear smooth and non-smooth constrained optimization test problems from the literature.
Description:
In this paper we develop point-based formulas for the calmness modulus of the feasible set mapping in the context of linear inequality systems with a fixed abstract constraint and (partially) perturbed linear constraints. The case of totally perturbed linear systems was previously analyzed in [Canovas MJ, Lopez MA, Parra J, et al. Calmness of the feasible set mapping for linear inequality systems. Set-Valued Var Anal. 2014;22:375-389, Section 5]. We point out that the presence of such an abstract constraint yields the current paper to appeal to a notable different methodology with respect to previous works on the calmness modulus in linear programming. The interest of this model comes from the fact that partially perturbed systems naturally appear in many applications. As an illustration, the paper includes an example related to the classical central path construction. In this example we consider a certain feasible set mapping whose calmness modulus provides a measure of the convergence of the central path. Finally, we underline the fact that the expression for the calmness modulus obtained in this paper is (conceptually) implementable as far as it only involves the nominal data.
Description:
In this paper we develop point-based formulas for the calmness modulus of the feasible set mapping in the context of linear inequality systems with a fixed abstract constraint and (partially) perturbed linear constraints. The case of totally perturbed linear systems was previously analyzed in [Canovas MJ, Lopez MA, Parra J, et al. Calmness of the feasible set mapping for linear inequality systems. Set-Valued Var Anal. 2014;22:375-389, Section 5]. We point out that the presence of such an abstract constraint yields the current paper to appeal to a notable different methodology with respect to previous works on the calmness modulus in linear programming. The interest of this model comes from the fact that partially perturbed systems naturally appear in many applications. As an illustration, the paper includes an example related to the classical central path construction. In this example we consider a certain feasible set mapping whose calmness modulus provides a measure of the convergence of the central path. Finally, we underline the fact that the expression for the calmness modulus obtained in this paper is (conceptually) implementable as far as it only involves the nominal data.
Description:
The paper deals with optimization problems with uncertain constraints and linear perturbations of the objective function, which are associated with given families of perturbation functions whose dual variable depends on the uncertainty parameters. More in detail, the paper provides characterizations of stable strong robust duality and stable robust duality under convexity and closedness assumptions. The paper also reviews the classical Fenchel duality of the sum of two functions by considering a suitable family of perturbation functions.
Description:
The paper deals with optimization problems with uncertain constraints and linear perturbations of the objective function, which are associated with given families of perturbation functions whose dual variable depends on the uncertainty parameters. More in detail, the paper provides characterizations of stable strong robust duality and stable robust duality under convexity and closedness assumptions. The paper also reviews the classical Fenchel duality of the sum of two functions by considering a suitable family of perturbation functions.
Description:
The core arguments used in various proofs of the extremal principle and its extensions as well as in primal and dual characterizations of approximate stationarity and transversality of collections of sets are exposed, analysed and refined, leading to a unifying theory, encompassing all existing approaches to obtaining ‘extremal’ statements. For that, we examine and clarify quantitative relationships between the parameters involved in the respective definitions and statements. Some new characterizations of extremality properties are obtained.
Description:
This paper provides new Farkas-type results characterizing the inclusion of a given set, called contained set, into a second given set, called container set, both of them are subsets of some locally convex space, called decision space. The contained and the container sets are described here by means of vector functions from the decision space to other two locally convex spaces which are equipped with the partial ordering associated with given convex cones. These new Farkas lemmas are obtained via the complete characterization of the conic epigraphs of certain conjugate mappings which constitute the core of our approach. In contrast with a previous paper of three of the authors (Dinh et al. in J Optim Theory Appl 173:357-390, 2017), the aimed characterizations of the containment are expressed here in terms of the data.
Description:
This paper provides new Farkas-type results characterizing the inclusion of a given set, called contained set, into a second given set, called container set, both of them are subsets of some locally convex space, called decision space. The contained and the container sets are described here by means of vector functions from the decision space to other two locally convex spaces which are equipped with the partial ordering associated with given convex cones. These new Farkas lemmas are obtained via the complete characterization of the conic epigraphs of certain conjugate mappings which constitute the core of our approach. In contrast with a previous paper of three of the authors (Dinh et al. in J Optim Theory Appl 173:357-390, 2017), the aimed characterizations of the containment are expressed here in terms of the data.
Description:
We generalize the outer subdifferential construction suggested by Cánovas, Henrion, López and Parra for max type functions to pointwise minima of regular Lipschitz functions. We also answer an open question about the relation between the outer subdifferential of the support of a regular function and the end set of its subdifferential posed by Li, Meng and Yang.
Description:
We generalize the outer subdifferential construction suggested by Cánovas, Henrion, López and Parra for max type functions to pointwise minima of regular Lipschitz functions. We also answer an open question about the relation between the outer subdifferential of the support of a regular function and the end set of its subdifferential posed by Li, Meng and Yang.
Description:
It was conjectured by Demyanov and Ryabova (Discrete Contin Dyn Syst 31(4):1273–1292, 2011) that the minimal cycle in the sequence obtained via repeated application of the Demyanov converter to a finite family of polytopes is at most two. We construct a counterexample for which the minimal cycle has length 4.
Description:
It was conjectured by Demyanov and Ryabova (Discrete Contin Dyn Syst 31(4):1273–1292, 2011) that the minimal cycle in the sequence obtained via repeated application of the Demyanov converter to a finite family of polytopes is at most two. We construct a counterexample for which the minimal cycle has length 4.
Description:
In this paper, we extend a number of important results of the classical Chebyshev approximation theory to the case of simultaneous approximation of two or more functions. The need for this extension is application driven, since such kind of problems appears in the area of curve (signal) clustering. In this paper, we propose a new efficient algorithm for signal clustering and develop a procedure that allows one to reuse the results obtained at the previous iteration without recomputing the cluster centres from scratch. This approach is based on the extension of the classical de la Vallee-Poussin procedure originally developed for polynomial approximation. We also develop necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for two curve Chebyshev approximation, which is our core tool for curve clustering. These results are based on application of nonsmooth convex analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. In this paper, we extend a number of important results of the classical Chebyshev approximation theory to the case of simultaneous approximation of two or more functions. The need for this extension is application driven, since such kind of problems appears in the area of curve (signal) clustering. In this paper, we propose a new efficient algorithm for signal clustering and develop a procedure that allows one to reuse the results obtained at the previous iteration without recomputing the cluster centres from scratch. This approach is based on the extension of the classical de la Vallee-Poussin procedure originally developed for polynomial approximation. We also develop necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for two curve Chebyshev approximation, which is our core tool for curve clustering. These results are based on application of nonsmooth convex analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Description:
In this paper, we extend a number of important results of the classical Chebyshev approximation theory to the case of simultaneous approximation of two or more functions. The need for this extension is application driven, since such kind of problems appears in the area of curve (signal) clustering. In this paper, we propose a new efficient algorithm for signal clustering and develop a procedure that allows one to reuse the results obtained at the previous iteration without recomputing the cluster centres from scratch. This approach is based on the extension of the classical de la Vallee-Poussin procedure originally developed for polynomial approximation. We also develop necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for two curve Chebyshev approximation, which is our core tool for curve clustering. These results are based on application of nonsmooth convex analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. In this paper, we extend a number of important results of the classical Chebyshev approximation theory to the case of simultaneous approximation of two or more functions. The need for this extension is application driven, since such kind of problems appears in the area of curve (signal) clustering. In this paper, we propose a new efficient algorithm for signal clustering and develop a procedure that allows one to reuse the results obtained at the previous iteration without recomputing the cluster centres from scratch. This approach is based on the extension of the classical de la Vallee-Poussin procedure originally developed for polynomial approximation. We also develop necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for two curve Chebyshev approximation, which is our core tool for curve clustering. These results are based on application of nonsmooth convex analysis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Description:
We state the problems discussed in the open problem session at Variational Analysis Down Under conference held in honour of Prof. Asen Dontchev on 19-21 February 2018 at Federation University Australia.
Description:
We state the problems discussed in the open problem session at Variational Analysis Down Under conference held in honour of Prof. Asen Dontchev on 19-21 February 2018 at Federation University Australia.
Description:
In this paper, an adaptive refinement strategy based on the scaled boundary finite element method on quadtree meshes for linear elasticity problems is discussed. Within this framework, the elements with hanging nodes are treated as polygonal elements and thus does not require special treatment. The adaptive refinement is supplemented with a novel error indicator. The local error is estimated directly from the solution of the scaled boundary governing equations. The salient feature is that it does not require any stress recovery techniques. The efficacy and the robustness of the proposed approach are demonstrated with a few numerical examples.
Description:
The aim of this paper is to introduce a new proximal double bundle method for unconstrained nonsmooth optimization, where the objective function is presented as a difference of two convex (DC) functions. The novelty in our method is a new escape procedure which enables us to guarantee approximate Clarke stationarity for solutions by utilizing the DC components of the objective function. This optimality condition is stronger than the criticality condition typically used in DC programming. Moreover, if a candidate solution is not approximate Clarke stationary, then the escape procedure returns a descent direction. With this escape procedure, we can avoid some shortcomings encountered when criticality is used. The finite termination of the double bundle method to an approximate Clarke stationary point is proved by assuming that the subdifferentials of DC components are polytopes. Finally, some encouraging numerical results are presented.
Description:
The aim of this paper is to introduce a new proximal double bundle method for unconstrained nonsmooth optimization, where the objective function is presented as a difference of two convex (DC) functions. The novelty in our method is a new escape procedure which enables us to guarantee approximate Clarke stationarity for solutions by utilizing the DC components of the objective function. This optimality condition is stronger than the criticality condition typically used in DC programming. Moreover, if a candidate solution is not approximate Clarke stationary, then the escape procedure returns a descent direction. With this escape procedure, we can avoid some shortcomings encountered when criticality is used. The finite termination of the double bundle method to an approximate Clarke stationary point is proved by assuming that the subdifferentials of DC components are polytopes. Finally, some encouraging numerical results are presented.
Description:
Groundwater microorganisms hardly ever cover the solid matrix uniformly–instead they form micro-scale colonies. To which extent such colony formation limits the bioavailability and biodegradation of a substrate is poorly understood. We used a high-resolution numerical model of a single pore channel inhabited by bacterial colonies to simulate the transport and biodegradation of organic substrates. These high-resolution 2D simulation results were compared to 1D simulations that were based on effective rate laws for bioavailability-limited biodegradation. We (i) quantified the observed bioavailability limitations and (ii) evaluated the applicability of previously established effective rate concepts if microorganisms are heterogeneously distributed. Effective bioavailability reductions of up to more than one order of magnitude were observed, showing that the micro-scale aggregation of bacterial cells into colonies can severely restrict the bioavailability of a substrate and reduce in situ degradation rates. Effective rate laws proved applicable for upscaling when using the introduced effective colony sizes.
Description:
Extraordinarily severe gas explosion accidents (ESGEAs) (thirty fatalities or more in one accident) have a high occurrence frequency in Chinese coal mines. There are 126 ESGEAs that occurred in China from 1950 to 2015, and they were investigated through statistical methods in this study to review the overall circumstances and to provide quantitative information on ESGEAs. Statistical characteristics about accident-related factors, such as gas accumulation, ignition sources, operating locations, accident time, coal mine regions and coal mine ownership, were assessed in this paper. The statistical analysis shows that disorganized ventilation fan management was the most frequent cause of gas accumulation in ESGEAs, while illegal blasting was the most prominent cause of the ignition source in ESGEAs. Furthermore, ESGEAs were found to occur frequently in certain provinces (e.g., Shanxi, Henan and Heilongjiang) and during November and December of the year. Moreover, most accidents and the largest death tolls generally occur in state-owned coal mines. Based on the results of statistical studies, some countermeasures were proposed in this study.
Description:
The scaled boundary finite element method coupled with the cohesive crack model is extended to investigate the hydraulic fracture at the dam-foundation interface. The concrete and rock bulk are modeled by the scaled boundary polygons. Cohesive interface elements model the fracture process zone between the crack faces. The cohesive tractions are modeled as side-face tractions in the scaled boundary polygons. The solution of the stress field around the crack tip is expressed semi-analytically as a power series. Accurate displacement field, stress field and stress intensity factors can be obtained without asymptotic enrichment or local mesh refinement. The proposed procedure is verified by the hydraulic fracture of a rectangular embankment on rigid foundation and applied to the modeling of hydraulic fracture on the dam-foundation interface of a benchmark dam. Different distributions of water pressure inside the crack are investigated. It is found that the water pressure inside the crack decreases the peak overflow to less than 20% of the case without water in the crack. Considering the water lag or not is significant to the response, while different distribution of pressure following the water lag region in the fracture process zone has negligible influence.