Exact procedures for solving the discrete ordered median problem

The discrete ordered median problem (DOMP) integrates classical discrete location problems, such as the N-median, N-center and Uncapacitated Facility Location problems. It was introduced by Nickel (In: Fleischmann B, Lasch R, Derigs U, Domschke W, Rieder U, editors. Operations Research Proceedings 2000, Berlin: Springer, 2001. p. 71–76), who formulated it as both a nonlinear and a linear integer program. We propose an alternative integer linear programming formulation for the DOMP, discuss relationships between both integer linear programming formulations, and show how properties of optimal solutions can be used to strengthen these formulations. Moreover, we present a specific branch and bound procedure to solve the DOMP more efficiently. We test the integer linear programming formulations and this branch and bound method computationally on randomly generated test problems.     

A revised particle swarm optimization based discrete Lagrange multipliers method for nonlinear programming problems

In this paper, a new algorithm for solving constrained nonlinear programming problems is presented. The basis of our proposed algorithm is none other than the necessary and sufficient conditions that one deals within a discrete constrained local optimum in the context of the discrete Lagrange multipliers theory. We adopt a revised particle swarm optimization algorithm and extend it toward solving nonlinear programming problems with continuous decision variables. To measure the merits of our algorithm, we provide numerical experiments for several renowned benchmark problems and compare the outcome against the best results reported in the literature. The empirical assessments demonstrate that our algorithm is efficient and robust.     

Ant colony optimization algorithm to solve for the transportation problem of cross-docking network

This paper addresses the transportation problem of cross-docking network where the loads are transferred from origins (suppliers) to destinations (retailers) through cross-docking facilities, without storing them in a distribution center (DC). We work on minimizing the transportation cost in a network by loading trucks in the supplier locations and then route them either directly to the customers or indirectly to cross-docking facilities so the loads can be consolidated. For generating a truck operating plan in this type of distribution network, the problem was formulated using an integer programming (IP) model and solved using a novel ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm. We solved several numerical examples for verification and demonstrative purposes and found that our proposed approach finds solutions that significantly reduce the shipping cost in the network of cross-docks and considerably outperform Branch-and-Bound algorithm especially for large problems.     

Direct zigzag search for discrete multi-objective optimization

Multiple objective optimization (MOO) models and solution methods are commonly used for multi-criteria decision making in real-life engineering and management applications. Much research has been conducted for continuous MOO problems, but MOO problems with discrete or mixed integer variables and black-box objective functions arise frequently in practice. For example, in energy industry, optimal development problems of oil gas fields, shale gas hydraulic fracturing, and carbon dioxide geologic storage and enhanced oil recovery, may consider integer variables (number of wells, well drilling blocks), continuous variables (e.g. bottom hole pressures, production rates), and the field performance is typically evaluated by black-box reservoir simulation. These discrete or mixed integer MOO (DMOO) problems with black-box objective functions are more challenging and require new MOO solution techniques. We develop a direct zigzag (DZZ) search method by effectively integrating gradient-free direct search and zigzag search for such DMOO problems. Based on three numerical example problems including a mixed integer MOO problem associated with the optimal development of a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) project, DZZ is demonstrated to be computationally efficient. The numerical results also suggest that DZZ significantly outperforms NSGA-II, a widely used genetic algorithms (GA) method.     

A two-phase optimization procedure for integer programming problems

This paper presents a simple two-phase method for optimizing integer programming problems with a linear or nonlinear objective function subject to multiple linear or nonlinear constraints. The primary phase is based on a variation of the method of steepest descent in the feasible region, and a hem-stitching approach when a constraint is violated. The secondary phase zeros on the optimum solution by exploring the neighborhood of the suboptimum found in the first phase of the optimization process. The effectiveness of this method is illustrated through the optimization of several examples. The results from the proposed optimization approach are compared to those from methods developed specially for dealing with integer problems. The proposed method is simple, easy to implement yet very effective in dealing with a wide class of integer problems such as spare allocation, reliability optimization, and transportation problems.     

An identity-based cryptographic model for discrete logarithm and integer factoring based cryptosystem

In 1984, Shamir proposed the concept of the identity-based (ID-based) cryptosystem. Instead of generating and publishing a public key for each user, the ID-based scheme permits each user to choose his name or network address as his public key. This is advantageous to public-key cryptosystems because the public-key verification is so easy and direct. In such a way, a large publickey file is not required. Since new cryptographic schemes always face security challenges and many discrete logarithm and integer factorization problem-based cryptographic systems have been deployed, therefore, the purpose of this paper is to design a transformation process that can transfer all the discrete logarithm and integer factorization based cryptosystems into the ID-based systems rather than re-invent a new system. In addition, no modification of the original discrete logarithm and integer factorization based cryptosystems is necessary.     

A network flow model for clustering segments and minimizing total maintenance and rehabilitation cost

Because of shrinking budgets, transportation agencies are facing severe challenges in the preservation of deteriorating pavements. There is an urgent need to develop a methodology that minimizes maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) cost. To minimize total network M&R cost of clustering pavement segments, we propose an integer programming model similar to an uncapacitated facility location problem (UFLP) that clusters pavement segments contiguously. Based on the properties of contiguous clustered pavement segments, we have transformed the clustering problem into an equivalent network flow problem in which each possible clustering corresponds to a path in the proposed acyclic network model. Our proposed shortest-path algorithm gives an optimal clustering of segments that can be calculated in a time polynomial to the number of segments. Computational experiments indicate our proposed network model and algorithm can efficiently deal with real-world spatial clustering problems.     

Evolution strategies for solving discrete optimization problems

A method to solve discrete optimization problems using evolution strategies (ESs) is described. The ESs imitate biological evolution in nature and have two characteristics that differ from other conventional optimization algorithms: (a) ESs use randomized operators instead of the usual deterministic ones; (b) instead of a single design point, the ESs work simultaneously with a population of design points in the space of variables. The important operators of ESs are mutation, selection and recombination. The ESs are commonly applied for continuous optimization problems. For the application to discrete problems, several modifications on the operators mutation and recombination are suggested here. Several examples from the literature are solved with this modified ES and the results compared. The examples show that the modified ES is robust and suitable for discrete optimization problems.     

A modified particle swarm optimization for aggregate production planning

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) originated from bird flocking models. It has become a popular research field with many successful applications. In this paper, we present a scheme of an aggregate production planning (APP) from a manufacturer of gardening equipment. It is formulated as an integer linear programming model and optimized by PSO. During the course of optimizing the problem, we discovered that PSO had limited ability and unsatisfactory performance, especially a large constrained integral APP problem with plenty of equality constraints. In order to enhance its performance and alleviate the deficiencies to the problem solving, a modified PSO (MPSO) is proposed, which introduces the idea of sub-particles, a particular coding principle, and a modified operation procedure of particles to the update rules to regulate the search processes for a particle swarm. In the computational study, some instances of the APP problems are experimented and analyzed to evaluate the performance of the MPSO with standard PSO (SPSO) and genetic algorithm (GA). The experimental results demonstrate that the MPSO variant provides particular qualities in the aspects of accuracy, reliability, and convergence speed than SPSO and GA.     

基于粒子群优化的深度神经网络分类算法

针对神经网络分类算法中节点函数不可导,分类精度不够高等问题,提出了一种基于粒子群优化(PSO)算法的深度神经网络分类算法.使用深度学习中的自动编码机,结合PSO算法优化权值,利用自动编码机对输入样本数据进行编解码,为提高网络分类精度,以编码机本身的误差函数和Softmax分类器的代价函数加权求和共同作为PSO算法的评价函数,使编码后的数据更加适应分类器.实验结果证明:与其他传统的神经网络相比,在邮件分类问题上,此分类算法有更高的分类精度.     

OFDM系统中基于离散余弦变换的信道估计

提出了两种基于离散余弦变换（DCT）的信道估计方法,适用于多径衰落的正交频分复用（OFDM）系统。利用DCT的能量压缩特性,能有效消除传统基于离散傅立叶变换（DFT）估计算法在信道延时不是采样周期整数倍,或系统子栽波数不等于有用于载波数时产生的频谱泄漏。根据DCT与DFT的等效关系,通过构造不同的对称数据序列,推出两种相应的基于DCT信道估计,其中一种具有更好的性能,另一种更利于实现。仿真和分析结果表明：在多径衰落信道下,两种基于DCT的方法能有效降低频谱泄漏造成的信道估计误差,具有比基于DFT方法更好的性能。     

Adaptive large window correlation for optical flow estimation with discrete optimization

We propose a scheme for comparing local neighborhoods (window) of image points, to estimate optical flow using discrete optimization. The proposed approach is based on using large correlation windows with adaptive support-weights. We present three new types of weighting constraints derived from image gradient, color statistics and occlusion information. The first type provides gradient structure constraints that favor flow consistency across strong image gradients. The second type imposes perceptual color constraints that reinforce relationship among pixels in a window according to their color statistics. The third type yields occlusion constraints that reject pixels that are seen in one window but not seen in the other. All these constraints contribute to suppress the effect of cluttered background, which is unavoidably included in the large correlation windows. Experimental results demonstrate that each of the proposed constraints appreciably elevates the quality of estimations, and that they jointly yield results that compare favorably to current techniques, especially on object boundaries.     

A virtual network mapping algorithm based on integer programming

The virtual network （VN） embedding/mapping problem is recognized as an essential question of network virtualization. The VN embedding problem is a major challenge in this field. Its target is to efficiently map the virtual nodes and virtual links onto the substrate network resources. Previous research focused on designing heuristic-based algorithms or attempting two-stage solutions by solving node mapping in the first stage and link mapping in the second stage. In this study, we propose a new VN embedding algorithm based on integer programming. We build a model of an augmented substrate graph, and formulate the VN embedding problem as an integer program with an objective function and some constraints. A factor of topology-awareness is added to the objective function. The VN embedding problem is solved in one stage. Simulation results show that our algorithm greatly enhances the acceptance ratio, and increases the revenue/cost （R/C） ratio and the revenue while decreasing the cost of the VN embedding problem.     

On the validity of using small positive lower bounds on design variables in discrete topology optimization

It is proved that an optimal {ε, 1} ⁿ solution to a “ε-perturbed” discrete minimum weight problem with constraints on compliance, von Mises stresses and strain energy densities, is optimal, after rounding to {0, 1} ⁿ , to the corresponding “unperturbed” discrete problem, provided that the constraints in the perturbed problem are carefully defined and ε > 0 is sufficiently small.     

Firefly-inspired algorithm for discrete optimization problems: An application to manufacturing cell formation

The canonical firefly algorithm is basically developed for continuous optimization problems. However, lots of practical problems are formulated as discrete optimization problems. The main purpose of this paper is to present the discrete firefly algorithm (DFA) to solve discrete optimization problems. In the DFA, we define a firefly's position in terms of changes of probabilities that will be in one state or the other. Then by using this metaheuristic algorithm, the manufacturing cell formation problem is solved. To illustrate the behavior of the proposed model and verify the performance of the algorithm, we introduce a number of numerical examples to illustrate the use of the foregoing algorithm. The performance evaluation shows the effectiveness of the DFA. The proposed metaheuristic algorithm should thus be useful to both researchers and practitioners.     

An efficient ID-based cryptographic encryption based on discrete logarithm problem and integer factorization problem

ID-based encryption (identity-based) is a very useful tool in cryptography. It has many potential applications. The security of traditional ID-based encryption scheme wholly depends on the security of secret keys. Exposure of secret keys requires reissuing all previously assigned encryptions. This limitation becomes more obvious today as key exposure is more common with increasing use of mobile and unprotected devices. Under this background, mitigating the damage of key exposure in ID-based encryption is an important problem. To deal with this problem, we propose to integrate forward security into ID-based encryption. In this paper, we propose a new construction of ID-based encryption scheme based on integer factorization problem and discrete logarithm problem is semantically secure against chosen plaintext attack (CPA) in random oracle model. We demonstrate that our scheme outperforms the other existing schemes in terms of security, computational cost and the length of public key.     

An augmented weighted Tchebycheff method with adaptively chosen parameters for discrete bicriteria optimization problems

The augmented weighted Tchebycheff norm was introduced in the context of multicriteria optimization by Steuer and Choo [21] in order to avoid the generation of weakly nondominated points. It augments a weighted _l∞-norm$l_{\infty }\mathrm{-}\mathrm{norm}$ with an l₁-term, multiplied by a “small” parameter ρ>0$\rho >0$. However, the appropriate selection of the parameter ρ$\rho$ remained an open question: A too small value of ρ$\rho$ may cause numerical difficulties, while a too large value of ρ$\rho$ may lead to the oversight of some nondominated points.     

Evolutionary structural optimization for stress minimization problems by discrete thickness design

Stress minimization is a major aspect of structural optimization in a wide range of engineering designs. This paper presents a new evolutionary criterion for the problems of variable thickness design whilst minimizing the maximum stress in a structure. On the basis of finite element analysis, a stress sensitivity number is derived to estimate the stress change in an element due to varying the thickness of other elements. Following the evolutionary optimization procedure, an optimal design with a minimum maximum stress is achieved by gradually removing material from those elements, which have the lowest stress sensitivity number or adding material onto those elements, which have the highest stress sensitivity number. The numerical examples presented in this paper demonstrate the capacity of the proposed method for solving stress minimization problems. The results based on the stress criterion are compared with traditional ones based on a stiffness criterion, and an optimization scheme based on the combination of both the stress minimization and the stiffness maximization criteria is presented.     

基于Kinect的下肢体康复动作评估系统

针对中风患者下肢体的训练需求,设计了一个康复训练评估系统.利用Kinect 2.0体感设备实时采集下肢体康复动作的序列信息,提取相关关节的角度序列特征,与动作库中的标准动作序列特征对比后,计算相关度,再加入时间参量,综合得出评估结果.试验结果表明:该系统能准确地识别和引导受试者的康复动作;并且可以通过组建不同的姿势库来评估更多的康复动作.