Supersaturated designs: Are our results significant?

Two-level supersaturated designs (SSDs) are designs that examine more than n−1 factors in n runs. Although SSD literature for both construction and analysis is plentiful, the dearth of actual applications suggests that SSDs are still an unproven tool. Whether using forward selection or all-subsets regression, it is easy to select simple models from SSDs that explain a very large percentage of the total variation. Hence, naive p-values can persuade the user that included factors are indeed active. We propose the use of a global model randomization test in conjunction with all-subsets (or a shrinkage method) to more appropriately select candidate models of interest. For settings where the large number of factors makes repeated use of all-subsets expensive, we propose a short-cut approximation for the p-values. Two state-of-the-art model selection methods that have received considerable attention in recent years, Least Angle Regression and the Dantzig Selector, were likewise supplemented with the global randomization test. Finally, we propose a randomization test for reducing the number of terms in candidate models with small global p-values. Randomization tests effectively emphasize the limitations of SSDs, especially those with a large factor to run size ratio.     

Obtaining more information from conjoint experiments by best-worst choices

Conjoint choice experiments elicit individuals’ preferences for the attributes of a good by asking respondents to indicate repeatedly their most preferred alternative in a number of choice sets. However, conjoint choice experiments can be used to obtain more information than that revealed by the individuals’ single best choices. A way to obtain extra information is by means of best-worst choice experiments in which respondents are asked to indicate not only their most preferred alternative but also their least preferred one in each choice set. To create D-optimal designs for these experiments, an expression for the Fisher information matrix for the maximum-difference model is developed. Semi-Bayesian D-optimal best-worst choice designs are derived and compared with commonly used design strategies in marketing in terms of the D-optimality criterion and prediction accuracy. Finally, it is shown that best-worst choice experiments yield considerably more information than choice experiments.     

Robust filtering for 2-D discrete-time linear systems with convex-bounded parameter uncertainty

This paper is concerned with the problems of robust H_∞ and H₂ filtering for 2-dimensional (2-D) discrete-time linear systems described by a Fornasini-Marchesini second model with matrices that depend affinely on convex-bounded uncertain parameters. By a suitable transformation, the system is represented by an equivalent difference-algebraic representation. A parameter-dependent Lyapunov function approach is then proposed for the design of 2-D stationary discrete-time linear filters that ensure either a prescribed H_∞ performance or H₂ performance for all admissible uncertain parameters. The filter designs are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed filter design methods.     

Filter design for LPV systems using quadratically parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions

This paper considers design problems of robust gain-scheduled H_∞ and H₂ filters for linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems whose state-space matrices are represented as parametrically affine matrices, using quadratically parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions, and proposes methods of filter design via parametrically affine linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). For robust filters, our design methods theoretically encompass those that use constant Lyapunov functions. Several numerical examples are included that demonstrate the effectiveness of gain-scheduled and robust filters using our proposed methods compared with robust filters using existing methods.     

A model reference approach to safe controller changes in iterative identification and control

A controller change from a current controller which stabilises the plant to a new controller, designed on the basis of an approximate model of the plant and with guaranteed bounds on the stability properties of the true closed loop, is called a safe controller change. In this paper, we present a model reference approach to the determination of safe controller changes on the basis of approximate closed loop models of the plant and robust stability results in the ν-gap.     

Robust observers for neutral jumping systems with uncertain information

In this paper, the problem of designing observer for a class of uncertain neutral systems. The uncertainties are parametric and norm-bounded. Both robust observation and robust H_∞ observation methods are developed by using linear state-delayed observers. In case of robust observation, sufficient conditions are established for asymptotic stability of the system, which is independent of time delay. The results are then extended to robust H_∞ observation which renders the augmented system asymptotically stable independent of delay with a guaranteed performance measure. Furthermore, a memoryless state-estimate feedback is designed to stabilize the closed-loop neutral system. In all cases, the gain matrices are determined by linear matrix inequality approach. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the validity of the theoretical results.     

Approximate dynamic programming-based approaches for input-output data-driven control of nonlinear processes

We propose two approximate dynamic programming (ADP)-based strategies for control of nonlinear processes using input-output data. In the first strategy, which we term ‘J-learning,’ one builds an empirical nonlinear model using closed-loop test data and performs dynamic programming with it to derive an improved control policy. In the second strategy, called ‘Q-learning,’ one tries to learn an improved control policy in a model-less manner. Compared to the conventional model predictive control approach, the new approach offers some practical advantages in using nonlinear empirical models for process control. Besides the potential reduction in the on-line computational burden, it offers a convenient way to control the degree of model extrapolation in the calculation of optimal control moves. One major difficulty associated with using an empirical model within the multi-step predictive control setting is that the model can be excessively extrapolated into regions of the state space where identification data were scarce or nonexistent, leading to performances far worse than predicted by the model. Within the proposed ADP-based strategies, this problem is handled by imposing a penalty term designed on the basis of local data distribution. A CSTR example is provided to illustrate the proposed approaches.     

Online computation with advice

We consider a model for online computation in which the online algorithm receives, together with each request, some information regarding the future, referred to as advice. The advice is a function, defined by the online algorithm, of the whole request sequence. The advice provided to the online algorithm may allow an improvement in its performance, compared to the classical model of complete lack of information regarding the future. We are interested in the impact of such advice on the competitive ratio, and in particular, in the relation between the size b of the advice, measured in terms of bits of information per request, and the (improved) competitive ratio. Since b=0 corresponds to the classical online model, and b=⌈log∣A∣⌉, where A is the algorithm’s action space, corresponds to the optimal (offline) one, our model spans a spectrum of settings ranging from classical online algorithms to offline ones.In this paper we propose the above model and illustrate its applicability by considering two of the most extensively studied online problems, namely, metrical task systems (MTS) and the k-server problem. For MTS we establish tight (up to constant factors) upper and lower bounds on the competitive ratio of deterministic and randomized online algorithms with advice for any choice of 1≤b≤Θ(logn), where n is the number of states in the system: we prove that any randomized online algorithm for MTS has competitive ratio Ω(log(n)/b) and we present a deterministic online algorithm for MTS with competitive ratio O(log(n)/b). For the k-server problem we construct a deterministic online algorithm for general metric spaces with competitive ratio k^O(1/b) for any choice of Θ(1)≤b≤logk.     

Guaranteed robustness bounds for matched-disturbance nonlinear systems

This paper considers input affine nonlinear systems with matched disturbances and shows how to compute an a priori upper bound of the H_∞ attenuation level achieved by the optimal L₂ controller and the suboptimal H_∞ central controller. The case where the disturbance contains a constant term is also discussed. These bounds are shown to depend only on the function mapping the control input to the performance variable. This result is used to derive a robust control design for a special, but practically important, class of non-input affine nonlinear systems consisting of the series connection of a nonlinear state and input dependent map and of a nonlinear input affine dynamical system. Approximate inversion of the nonlinear static map leads to a robust control problem which fits into the framework. The effectiveness of the theoretical results is shown by its use for the robust control design of a diesel engine test bench.     

Relationship between the eccentric connectivity index and Zagreb indices

For a (molecular) graph, the first Zagreb index M₁ is equal to the sum of the squares of the degrees of the vertices, and the second Zagreb index M₂ is equal to the sum of the products of the degrees of pairs of adjacent vertices. If G is a connected graph with vertex set V(G), then the eccentric connectivity index of G, ξ^C(G), is defined as, ∑_vi∈V(G)d_ie_i, where d_i is the degree of a vertex v_i and e_i is its eccentricity. In this report we compare the eccentric connectivity index (ξ^C) and the Zagreb indices (M₁ and M₂) for chemical trees. Moreover, we compare the eccentric connectivity index (ξ^C) and the first Zagreb index (M₁) for molecular graphs.     

Strong stability of the mono-tubular heat exchanger equation with output feedback

We investigate asymptotic behavior of the C₀-semigroup T(t) associated with the mono-tubular heat exchanger equation with output feedback by a perturbation method. It is shown that T(t) is bounded if a constraint is satisfied by the parameters and the spatial distribution function. Further, applying the Arendt-Batty-Lyubich-Vu theorem, a criterion is established to judge strong stability of T(t).     

A novel and quick SVM-based multi-class classifier

Use different real positive numbers p_i to represent all kinds of pattern categories, after mapping the inputted patterns into a special feature space by a non-linear mapping, a linear relation between the mapped patterns and numbers p_i is assumed, whose bias and coefficients are undetermined, and the hyper-plane corresponding to zero output of the linear relation is looked as the base hyper-plane. To determine the pending parameters, an objective function is founded aiming to minimize the difference between the outputs of the patterns belonging to a same type and the corresponding p_i, and to maximize the distance between any two different hyper-planes corresponding to different pattern types. The objective function is same to that of support vector regression in form, so the coefficients and bias of the linear relation are calculated by some known methods such as SVM^light approach. Simultaneously, three methods are also given to determine p_i, the best one is to determine them in training process, which has relatively high accuracy. Experiment results of the IRIS data set show that, the accuracy of this method is better than those of many SVM-based multi-class classifiers, and close to that of DAGSVM (decision-directed acyclic graph SVM), emphatically, the recognition speed is the highest.     

Some new sequence spaces derived by the domain of the triple band matrix

Let λ denote any of the classical spaces ?_∞,c,c₀, and ?_p of bounded, convergent, null, and absolutely p-summable sequences, respectively, and let λ(B) also be the domain of the triple band matrix B(r,s,t) in the sequence space λ, where 1<p<∞. The present paper is devoted to studying the sequence space λ(B). Furthermore, the β- and γ-duals of the space λ(B) are determined, the Schauder bases for the spaces c(B), c₀(B), and ?_p(B) are given, and some topological properties of the spaces c₀(B), ?₁(B), and ?_p(B) are examined. Finally, the classes (λ₁(B):λ₂) and (λ₁(B):λ₂(B)) of infinite matrices are characterized, where λ₁∈{?_∞,c,c₀,?_p,?₁} and λ₂∈{?_∞,c,c₀,?₁}.     

Fuzzy and possibilistic clustering for fuzzy data

The Fuzzy k-Means clustering model (FkM) is a powerful tool for classifying objects into a set of k homogeneous clusters by means of the membership degrees of an object in a cluster. In FkM, for each object, the sum of the membership degrees in the clusters must be equal to one. Such a constraint may cause meaningless results, especially when noise is present. To avoid this drawback, it is possible to relax the constraint, leading to the so-called Possibilistic k-Means clustering model (PkM). In particular, attention is paid to the case in which the empirical information is affected by imprecision or vagueness. This is handled by means of LR fuzzy numbers. An FkM model for LR fuzzy data is firstly developed and a PkM model for the same type of data is then proposed. The results of a simulation experiment and of two applications to real world fuzzy data confirm the validity of both models, while providing indications as to some advantages connected with the use of the possibilistic approach.     

Incorporating historical control information into quantal bioassay with Bayesian approach

A Bayesian approach with an iterative reweighted least squares is used to incorporate historical control information into quantal bioassays to estimate the dose-response relationship, where the logit of the historical control responses are assumed to have a normal distribution. The parameters from this normal distribution are estimated from both empirical and full Bayesian approaches with a marginal likelihood function being approximated by Laplace’s Method. A comparison is made using real data between estimates that include the historical control information and those that do not. It was found that the inclusion of the historical control information improves the efficiency of the estimators. In addition, this logit-normal formulation is compared with the traditional beta-binomial for its improvement in parameter estimates. Consequently the estimated dose-response relationship is used to formulate the point estimator and confidence bands for ED(100p) for various values of risk rate p and the potency for any dose level.     

H∞ filtering for discrete-time systems with randomly varying sensor delays

This paper investigates an H_∞ filtering problem for discrete-time systems with randomly varying sensor delays. The stochastic variable involved is a Bernoulli distributed white sequence appearing in measured outputs. This measurement mode can be used to characterize the effect of communication delays and/or data-loss in information transmissions across limited bandwidth communication channels over a wide area. H_∞ filtering of this class of systems is used to design a filter using the measurements with random delays to ensure the mean-square stochastic stability of the filtering error system and to guarantee a prescribed H_∞ filtering performance. A sufficient condition for the existence of such a filter is presented in terms of the feasibility of a linear matrix inequality (LMI). Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Split Bregman method for large scale fused Lasso

Ordering of regression or classification coefficients occurs in many real-world applications. Fused Lasso exploits this ordering by explicitly regularizing the differences between neighboring coefficients through an ?₁ norm regularizer. However, due to nonseparability and nonsmoothness of the regularization term, solving the fused Lasso problem is computationally demanding. Existing solvers can only deal with problems of small or medium size, or a special case of the fused Lasso problem in which the predictor matrix is the identity matrix. In this paper, we propose an iterative algorithm based on the split Bregman method to solve a class of large-scale fused Lasso problems, including a generalized fused Lasso and a fused Lasso support vector classifier. We derive our algorithm using an augmented Lagrangian method and prove its convergence properties. The performance of our method is tested on both artificial data and real-world applications including proteomic data from mass spectrometry and genomic data from array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH). We demonstrate that our method is many times faster than the existing solvers, and show that it is especially efficient for large p, small n problems, where p is the number of variables and n is the number of samples.     

Approximation capabilities of multilayer fuzzy neural networks on the set of fuzzy-valued functions

This paper first introduces a piecewise linear interpolation method for fuzzy-valued functions. Based on this, we present a concrete approximation procedure to show the capability of four-layer regular fuzzy neural networks to perform approximation on the set of all d_p continuous fuzzy-valued functions. This approach can also be used to approximate d_∞ continuous fuzzy-valued functions. An example is given to illustrate the approximation procedure.     

Makespan minimization on single batch-processing machine via ant colony optimization

This paper investigates the problem of minimizing makespan on a single batch-processing machine, and the machine can process multiple jobs simultaneously. Each job is characterized by release time, processing time, and job size. We established a mixed integer programming model and proposed a valid lower bound for this problem. By introducing a definition of waste and idle space (WIS), this problem is proven to be equivalent to minimizing the WIS for the schedule. Since the problem is NP-hard, we proposed a heuristic and an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm based on the theorems presented. A candidate list strategy and a new method to construct heuristic information were introduced for the ACO approach to achieve a satisfactory solution in a reasonable computational time. Through extensive computational experiments, appropriate ACO parameter values were chosen and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms was evaluated by solution quality and run time. The results showed that the ACO algorithm combined with the candidate list was more robust and consistently outperformed genetic algorithm (GA), CPLEX, and the other two heuristics, especially for large job instances.