Analysis of an algorithm for solution of conditional optimization problems with linear-fractional objective functions over permutations

A method is considered to solve a conditional optimization problem with a linear-fractional objective function over permutations. The performance of sub algorithms to solve this problem is evaluated. The practical efficiency of the algorithm is analyzed by conducting numerical experiments. __________ Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 4, pp. 133–146, July–August 2007.     

A new stereological principle for test lines in three-dimensional space

A new principle is presented to generate isotropic uniform random (IUR) test lines hitting a geometric structure in three-dimensional space (3D). The principle therefore concerns the estimation of surface area, volume, membrane thickness, etc., of arbitrary structures with piecewise smooth boundary. The principle states that a point-sampled test line on an isotropic plane through a fixed point in 3D is effectively an invariant test line in 3D. Particular attention is devoted to the stereology of particles, where an alternative to the surfactor method is obtained to estimate surface area. An interesting case arises when the particle is convex. The methods are illustrated with synthetic examples.     

A review on queueing network models with finite capacity queues for software architectures performance prediction

A review is carried out on how queueing network models with blocking have been applied so far into the performance evaluation and prediction of Software Architectures (SA). Queueing network models with finite capacity queues and blocking have recently been introduced and applied as more realistic models of systems with finite capacity resources and population constraints. Queueing network models have been often adopted as models for the evaluation of software performance. Starting from our own experience, we observe the need of a more accurate definition of the performance models of SA to capture some features of the communication systems. We consider queueing networks with finite capacity and blocking after service (BAS) to represent some synchronization constraints that cannot be easily modeled with queueing network models with infinite capacity queues. We investigate the use of queueing networks with blocking as performance models of SA with concurrent components and synchronous communication. Queueing theoretic analysis is used to solve the queueing network model and study the synchronous communication and performance of concurrent software components. Our experience is supported by other approaches that also propose the use of queueing networks with blocking. Directions for future research work in the field are included.     

Uncertainty,belief, and probability1

We introduce a new probabilistic approach to dealing with uncertainty, based on the observation that probability theory does not require that every event be assigned a probability. For a nonmeasurable event (one to which we do not assign a probability), we can talk about only the inner measure and outer measure of the event. In addition to removing the requirement that every event be assigned a probability, our approach circumvents other criticisms of probability-based approaches to uncertainty. For example, the measure of belief in an event turns out to be represented by an interval (defined by the inner and outer measures), rather than by a single number. Further, this approach allows us to assign a belief (inner measure) to an event E without committing to a belief about its negation -E (since the inner measure of an event plus the inner measure of its negation is not necessarily one). Interestingly enough, inner measures induced by probability measures turn out to correspond in a precise sense to Dempster-Shafer belief functions. Hence, in addition to providing promising new conceptual tools for dealing with uncertainty, our approach shows that a key part of the important Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence is firmly rooted in classical probability theory. Cet article présente une nouvelle approche probabiliste en ce qui concerne le traitement de l'incertitude; celle-ci est basée sur l'observation que la théorie des probabilityés n'exige pas qu'une probabilityé soit assignée à chaque événement. Dans le cas d'un événement non mesurable (un événement pour lequel on n'assigne aucune probabilityé), nous ne pouvons discuter que de la mesure intérieure et de la mesure extérieure de l'évenément. En plus d'éliminer la nécessité d'assigner une probabilityéà l'événement, cette nouvelle approche apporte une réponse aux autres critiques des approches à l'incertitude basées sur des probabilityés. Par exemple, la mesure de croyance dans un événement est représentée par un intervalle (défini par la mesure intérieure et extérieure) plutǒt que par un nombre unique. De plus, cette approche nous permet d'assigner une croyance (mesure intérieure) à un événement E sans se compromettre vers une croyance à propos de sa négation -E (puisque la mesure intérieure d'un événement et la mesure intérieure de sa négation ne sont pas nécessairement une seule et unique mesure). II est intéressant de noter que les mesures intérieures qui résultent des mesures de probabilityé correspondent d'une manière précise aux fonctions de croyance de Dempster-Shafer. En plus de constituer un nouvel outil conceptuel prometteur dans le traitement de l'incertitude, cette approche démontre qu'une partie importante de la théorie de l'évidence de Dempster-Shafer est fermement ancrée dans la theorie classique des probabilityés.     

Active set truncated-Newton algorithm for simultaneous optimization of distillation column

An active set truncated-Newton algorithm (ASTNA) is proposed to solve the large-scale bound constrained sub-problems. The global convergence of the algorithm is obtained and two groups of numerical experiments are made for the various large-scale problems of varying size. The comparison results between ASTNA and the subspace limited memory quasi-Newton algorithm and between the modified augmented Lagrange multiplier methods combined with ASTNA and the modified barrier function method show the stability and effectiveness of ASTNA for simultaneous optimization of distillation column.     

《周培德三角剖分不是最小权三角剖分》一文商榷——反例不成立

周培协三角剖分是否能得到最小权三角剖分，周培德在《周培德三角部分不是最小权三角剖分》一文撰写之前已有新的结论，本文还指出《周培德三角剖分不是最小权三角剖分》一文所举反例不成立。     

石油企业办社会的“悖理行为”辨疑

企业办社会虽与市场经济的客观要求相悖，但石油企业大量办社会的事实仍揭示了所具备的理性面。认为国家作为不受所有者监督的代理者对石油企业的要求，石油企业的行业特性以及在传统体制下长期运作所成的定热是石油企业办社会的主要原因。     

基于ATM的网络互连方式

ＡＴＭ技术能否在数据通信网中广泛采用取决于其是否能高效地支持现有业务，其中主要为非连接业务。本文介绍了几种基于ＡＴＭ 的非连接业务支持方式和协议体系结构，对其进行了评述并对ＩＰ分组到ＡＴＭ信元的封装效率进行了分析。     

巧用心理暗示提升高校图书馆服务质量

心理暗示是用含蓄、间接的方法,在无对抗的条件下,对人的心理和行为产生影响的过程。在高校图书馆的读者服务工作中,馆员们若能遵循目的性、权威性等原则,灵活掌握和运用言语暗示、行为暗示、环境暗示等方法,就能更好地利用心理暗示的积极作用,提升服务质量。     

美国食品安全管理法规与举措

以美国国会研究服务部对第107届国会就食品安全方面的一份报告为基础,主要对美国的公共健康问题现状、美国食品安全的联邦规范框架组成、美国食品安全控制最新进展和国会对食品安全提出的新议题做了综述,对我国的食品安全控制和管理体系的建设发挥一点借鉴作用。