A branch-and-price algorithm to solve the molten iron allocation problem in iron and steel industry

The molten iron allocation problem (MIAP) is to allocate molten iron from blast furnaces to steel-making furnaces. The allocation needs to observe the release times of the molten iron defined by the draining plan of the blast furnaces and the transport time between the iron-making and steel-making stages. Time window constraints for processing the molten iron must be satisfied to avoid freezing. The objective is to find a schedule with minimum total weighted completion time. This objective reflects the practical consideration of improving steel-making efficiency and reducing operation cost caused by the need for reheating. Such a problem can be viewed as a parallel machine scheduling problem with time windows which is known to be NP-hard. In this paper, we first formulate the molten iron allocation problem as an integer programming model and then reformulate it as a set partitioning model by applying the Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition. We solve the problem using a column generation-based branch-and-price algorithm. Since the subproblem of column generation is still NP-hard, we propose a state-space relaxation-based dynamic programming algorithm for the subproblem. Computational experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of solving problems with up to 100 jobs to optimality within a reasonable computation time.     

Stability analysis of network-based cooperative resource allocation strategies

Resource allocation involves deciding how to divide a resource of limited availability among multiple demands in a way that optimizes current objectives. In this brief paper we focus on one type of distributed resource allocation problem where via an imperfect communication network multiple processors can share the load presented by multiple task types. We introduce asynchronous “cooperative” resource allocation strategies, and show that they lead to a bounded cumulative demand.     

长治市水资源优化配置及对策

文中介绍了长治市水资源的特点和水资源开发利用现状，并总结了长治市水资源开发利用中存在的问题。针对性地提出了合理配置水资源、建设节水型社会、开发新水源、建立高效运行管理体制、运用市场经济机制以及改革现行的水价政策等一系列措施．从而实现全市水资源的优化配置和合理使用，促进全市经济的全面发展。     

Bandwidth allocation algorithms for weighted maximum rate constrained link sharing policy

This paper addresses the problem of bandwidth allocation under the weighted maximum rate constrained link sharing policy and proves a key theory in the condition of allocation termination. We propose several algorithms with various worst-case and average-case time complexities, and evaluate their computation elapse times.     

An evaluation of possible EU air transport emissions trading scheme allocation methods

The European Commission has been requested by member states to study the incorporation of air transport into their existing emissions trading scheme (ETS). Only CO₂ is to be included, at least initially.     

Energy efficiency maximization resource allocation algorithm in wireless-powered backscatter communication network

In order to alleviate the energy consumption problem caused by the increasing number of Internet of things (IoT) nodes,an energy-efficient (EE) maximization based resource allocation algorithm was proposed for multi-carrier wireless-powered backscatter communication network.Firstly,a multivariable and nonlinear resource allocation model was formulated to jointly optimize transmit power,transmission time,reflection coefficient,and energy-harvesting allocation coefficient,where the maximum transmit power constraint of the power station and the minimum harvested energy constraint at the backscatter device were considered.Then,the original non-convex optimization problem was transformed into a convex one which was solved by using Dinkelbach’s method and the variable substitution approach.Furthermore,the analytical solution of the resource allocation problem was obtained based on Lagrange dual theory.Simulation results verify that the proposed algorithm has better EE by comparing it with the existing algorithm under pure backscatter mode and algorithm under the harvested-then-transmit mode.     

Locational analysis for regionalization of Turkish Red Crescent blood services

After a series of earthquakes in 1999, Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) has engaged in a restructuring for all of its activities, including the blood services. Our study on the blood management system had been started as part of this initiative to restructure the blood services and improve both their effectiveness and efficiency. In the current system of TRC, not much consideration has been given to how the locational decisions affect the performance of blood centers, stations and mobile units. In recent years, however, there has been much discussion regarding the regionalization of the blood management system in Turkey. In this study, we develop several mathematical models to solve the location–allocation decision problems in regionalization of blood services. We report our computational results, obtained by using real data, for TRC blood services.     

机器人足球比赛系统中的机器人任务分配方法

针对基于遗传算法的多机器人任务分配方法中,由于初始种群是随机产生不能很好地表征整个解空间,而容易陷入局部最优解的问题,提出一种新的多机器人任务分配方法。该方法根据机器人效用函数值来确定个体基因,从而产生初始种群,并引进分层遗传算法来实现具有不同最优基因的群体分开演化。仿真实验表明,该方法比传统的遗传算法有更高的寻优效率和更快的收敛速度。     

移动边缘计算中基于中继辅助计算方法综述*

为了满足下一代网络在覆盖范围、部署成本以及容量方面的挑战,移动边缘计算（MEC）通常需要借助中继节点的辅助来完成计算密集型和延迟敏感型的任务。首先介绍了基于中继辅助MEC系统的基本架构,之后从任务卸载、资源分配和中继节点选择三方面对基于中继辅助MEC系统最新的研究方法进行归纳总结。更进一步,针对现有方法可能存在的问题与挑战进行了讨论与分析,并提出一些可行的解决方案为后续研究发展提供参考。     

Rainbow smelt population responses to species invasions and change in environmental condition

Invasive species can cause major disruptions in native food webs, yet the impact of species introductions and whether they will become invasive appears to be context-dependent. Rainbow smelt and alewife co-exist as invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and as native species on the Atlantic coast of North America, but in Lake Champlain rainbow smelt is the dominant native forage fish and alewife are invasive. Alewife became abundant by 2007, providing an opportunity to explore the dynamics of these two species in a system where only one is invasive. We used data from a 28-year forage fish survey to compare demographics of rainbow smelt populations in three basins of Lake Champlain with different volumes, nutrient levels, and predator abundances. Rainbow smelt catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) remained constant in the large, deep Main Lake before and after alewife invaded, but decreased in the two smaller basins. Declines were primarily a result of increased age-0 and age-1 mortality. Predation by top piscivores, system productivity, and competition for resources alone could not explain the patterns in CPUE across the basins. The mechanisms that allow alewife and rainbow smelt to co-exist could be related to system volume and oxythermal habitat availability, and may explain why the two species do not negatively affect each other in the Great Lakes. Summer hypoxia in the smaller basins could force individuals into smaller habitat volumes with higher densities of competitors and cannibalistic adult rainbow smelt. Habitat availability may mediate the impact of invasive alewife on native rainbow smelt.