Statistical decision analysis of stochastic linear programming problems

This paper presents a statistical decision analysis of a one-stage linear programming problem with deterministic constraints and stochastic criterion function. Procedures for obtaining numerical results are given which are applicable to any problem having this general form. We begin by stating the statistical decision problems to be considered, and then discuss the expected value of perfect information and the expected value of sample information. In obtaining these quantities, use is made of the distribution of the optimal value of the linear programming problem with stochastic criterion function, and so we discuss Monte Carlo and numerical integration procedures for estimating the mean of this distribution. The case in which the random criterion vector has a multivariate Normal distribution is discussed separately, and more detailed methods are offered. We discuss dual problems, including some relationships of this work with other work in probabilistic linear programming. An example is given in Appendix A showing application of the methods to a sample problem. In Appendix B we consider the accuracy of a procedure for approximating the expected value of information.     

基于马尔柯夫过程的武器系统目标分配问题决策分析

将防空作战中武器系统目标分配决策作为一个在动态随机系统中实现最优化的问题,并用马尔柯夫过程理论进行建模分析,提出新的算法并运用Matlab编程;通过对实行不同策略时武器系统长期平均效能的分析比较,指出在目标分配问题上仅靠原有的静态线性规划决策方法是不够的,还必须考虑动态随机对抗过程本身的特性.     

Convex/stochastic programming and multilocation inventory problems

This paper examines a convex programming problem that arises in several contexts. In particular, the formulation was motivated by a generalization of the stochastic multilocation problem of inventory theory. The formulation also subsumes some “active” models of stochastic programming. A qualititative analysis of the problem is presented and it is shown that optimal policies have a certain geometric form. Properties of the optimal policy and of the optimal value function are described.     

Modeling the operation of multireservoir systems using decomposition and stochastic dynamic programming

Stochastic dynamic programming models are attractive for multireservoir control problems because they allow non‐linear features to be incorporated and changes in hydrological conditions to be modeled as Markov processes. However, with the exception of the simplest cases, these models are computationally intractable because of the high dimension of the state and action spaces involved. This paper proposes a new method of determining an operating policy for a multireservoir control problem that uses stochastic dynamic programming, but is practical for systems with many reservoirs. Decomposition is first used to reduce the problem to a number of independent subproblems. Each subproblem is formulated as a low‐dimensional stochastic dynamic program and solved to determine the operating policy for one of the reservoirs in the system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006     

一种新的装备配置优化模型

传统的装备配置优化问题一般采用确定性的数学规划方法解决,难以满足高技术条件下现代战争中需要对大量随机现象和模糊现象进行精确定量分析的实际要求。在分析了高技术条件下装备配置问题一般特性的基础上,根据机会约束规划和模糊机会约束规划的思想,提出了一种新的建立装备配置优化模型的思路和方法,并给出了基于随机模拟的遗传算法的实值算例,算例结果与实际情况基本相符,反映了模型的科学性与实用性。     

A selective newsvendor approach to order management

Consider a supplier offering a product to several potential demand sources, each with a unique revenue, size, and probability that it will materialize. Given a long procurement lead time, the supplier must choose the orders to pursue and the total quantity to procure prior to the selling season. We model this as a selective newsvendor problem of maximizing profits where the total (random) demand is given by the set of pursued orders. Given that the dimensionality of a mixed‐integer linear programming formulation of the problem increases exponentially with the number of potential orders, we develop both a tailored exact algorithm based on the L‐shaped method for two‐stage stochastic programming as well as a heuristic method. We also extend our solution approach to account for piecewise‐linear cost and revenue functions as well as a multiperiod setting. Extensive experimentation indicates that our exact approach rapidly finds optimal solutions with three times as many orders as a state‐of‐the‐art commercial solver. In addition, our heuristic approach provides average gaps of less than 1% for the largest problems that can be solved exactly. Observing that the gaps decrease as problem size grows, we expect the heuristic approach to work well for large problem instances. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2008     

Mathematical control theory solution of an interactive accounting flows model

In this paper we have applied the mathematical control theory to the accounting network flows, where the flow rates are constrained by linear inequalities. The optimal control policy is of the “generalized bang-bang” variety which is obtained by solving at each instant in time a linear programming problem whose objective function parameters are determined by the “switching function” which is derived from the Hamiltonian function. The interpretation of the adjoint variables of the control problem and the dual evaluators of the linear programming problem demonstrates an interesting interaction of the cross section phase of the problem, which is characterized by linear programming, and the dynamic phase of the problem, which is characterized by control theory.     

Programming with linear fractional functionals

Charnes and Cooper [1] showed that a linear programming problem with a linear fractional objective function could be solved by solving at most two ordinary linear programming problems. In addition, they showed that where it is known a priori that the denominator of the objective function has a unique sign in the feasible region, only one problem need be solved. In the present note it is shown that if a finite solution to the problem exists, only one linear programming problem must be solved. This is because the denominator cannot have two different signs in the feasible region, except in ways which are not of practical importance.     

随机动态规划的混合算法研究

针对随机条件下动态规划模型的主要特点,运用智能算法混合编程理论,设计了一种探索多阶段决策问题的智能混合算法.该算法首先将问题转化成一族同类型的一步决策子问题,然后利用随机模拟和遗传算法,依据训练样本形成的训练神经元网络,在单步决策中寻求最优策略和最优目标值,逐个求解,再据初始状态逆序求出最优策略序列和最优目标值.仿真结果表明,该算法具有一定的通用性,初始设计点可以随机产生,其计算精度不因函数的非线性强弱而受影响,对目标和约束的限制较少,可应用于多种形式的随机多阶段决策优化问题,较好地满足了随机动态规划模型求解和优化的要求.     

A stochastic programming approach for chemotherapy appointment scheduling

Chemotherapy appointment scheduling is a challenging problem due to the uncertainty in premedication and infusion durations. In this paper, we formulate a two‐stage stochastic mixed integer programming model for the chemotherapy appointment scheduling problem under limited availability of nurses and infusion chairs. The objective is to minimize the expected weighted sum of nurse overtime, chair idle time, and patient waiting time. The computational burden to solve real‐life instances of this problem to optimality is significantly high, even in the deterministic case. To overcome this burden, we incorporate valid bounds and symmetry breaking constraints. Progressive hedging algorithm is implemented in order to solve the improved formulation heuristically. We enhance the algorithm through a penalty update method, cycle detection and variable fixing mechanisms, and a linear approximation of the objective function. Using numerical experiments based on real data from a major oncology hospital, we compare our solution approach with several scheduling heuristics from the relevant literature, generate managerial insights related to the impact of the number of nurses and chairs on appointment schedules, and estimate the value of stochastic solution to assess the significance of considering uncertainty.     

Extending the MAD portfolio optimization model to incorporate downside risk aversion

A mathematical model of portfolio optimization is usually represented as a bicriteria optimization problem where a reasonable tradeoff between expected rate of return and risk is sought. In a classical Markowitz model, the risk is measured by a variance, thus resulting in a quadratic programming model. As an alternative, the MAD model was developed by Konno and Yamazaki, where risk is measured by (mean) absolute deviation instead of a variance. The MAD model is computationally attractive, since it is easily transformed into a linear programming problem. An extension to the MAD model proposed in this paper allows us to measure risk using downside deviations, with the ability to penalize larger downside deviations. Hence, it provides for better modeling of risk averse preferences. The resulting m‐MAD model generates efficient solutions with respect to second degree stochastic dominance, while at the same time preserving the simplicity and linearity of the original MAD model. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 48: 185–200, 2001     

A note on duality in homogeneous fractional programming

For a linear fractional programming problem, Sharma and Swarup have constructed a dual problem, also a linear fractional program, in which the objective functions of both primal and dual problems are the same. Craven and Mond have extended this result to a nonlinear fractional programming problem with linear constraints, and a dual problem for which the objective function is the same as that of the primal. This theorem is now further extended from linear to differentiable convex constraints.     

An algorithm (GIPC2) for solving integer programming problems with separable nonlinear objective functions

This paper presents an algorithm for solving the integer programming problem possessing a separable nonlinear objective function subject to linear constraints. The method is based on a generalization of the Balas implicit enumeration scheme. Computational experience is given for a set of seventeen linear and seventeen nonlinear test problems. The results indicate that the algorithm can solve the nonlinear integer programming problem in roughly the equivalent time required to solve the linear integer programming problem of similar size with existing algorithms. Although the algorithm is specifically designed to solve the nonlinear problem, the results indicate that the algorithm compares favorably with the Branch and Bound algorithm in the solution of linear integer programming problems.     

Optimal power control in a wireless network using a model with stochastic link coefficients

This paper addresses optimal power allocation in a wireless communication network under uncertainty. The paper introduces a framework for optimal transmit power allocation in a wireless network where both the useful and interference coefficients are random. The new approach to power control is based on a stochastic programming formulation with probabilistic SIR constraints. This allows to state the power allocation problem as a convex optimization problem assuming normally or log‐normally distributed communication link coefficients. Numerical examples illustrate the performance of the optimal stochastic power allocation. A distributed algorithm for the decentralized solution of the stochastic power allocation problem is discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005     

变量有界线性目标规划的对偶算法

本文讨论了变量有界的线性目标规划问题,给出了求解这类问题的一个对偶算法,此方法与变量有界线性规划问题的对偶算法相类似。文中证明了算法的有效性,并举例说明了计算过程。     

The stochastic single resource service‐provision problem

The service‐provision problem described in this paper comes from an application of distributed processing in telecommunications networks. The objective is to maximize a service provider's profit from offering computational‐based services to customers. The service provider has limited capacity and must choose which of a set of software applications he would like to offer. This can be done dynamically, taking into consideration that demand for the different services is uncertain. The problem is examined in the framework of stochastic integer programming. Approximations and complexity are examined for the case when demand is described by a discrete probability distribution. For the deterministic counterpart, a fully polynomial approximation scheme is known 2 . We show that introduction of stochasticity makes the problem strongly NP‐hard, implying that the existence of such a scheme for the stochastic problem is highly unlikely. For the general case a heuristic with a worst‐case performance ratio that increases in the number of scenarios is presented. Restricting the class of problem instances in a way that many reasonable practical problem instances satisfy allows for the derivation of a heuristic with a constant worst‐case performance ratio. Worst‐case performance analysis of approximation algorithms is classical in the field of combinatorial optimization, but in stochastic programming the authors are not aware of any previous results in this direction. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2003     

一类多目标模糊系数线性规划问题

讨论了一类所有系数均为模糊数的多目标线性规划问题 .通过对模糊数的比较 ,将模糊多目标线性规划模型转化为清晰的多目标模型 ,并应用一种基于线性隶属函数的模糊规划算法求其协调解 .最后给出了一个数值例子 .     

An explicit general solution in linear fractional programming

A complete analysis and explicit solution is presented for the problem of linear fractional programming with interval programming constraints whose matrix is of full row rank. The analysis proceeds by simple transformation to canonical form, exploitation of the Farkas-Minkowki lemma and the duality relationships which emerge from the Charnes-Cooper linear programming equivalent for general linear fractional programming. The formulations as well as the proofs and the transformations provided by our general linear fractional programming theory are here employed to provide a substantial simplification for this class of cases. The augmentation developing the explicit solution is presented, for clarity, in an algorithmic format.     

求最大数目不相交多约束QoS路由的一种新方法

针对多约束QoS路由问题中从资源点到目的点的最大数目的不相交路由,文章给出了一种基于罚函数与整数规划的求满足QoS约束的最大数目的互不相交路由算法。该算法利用了路由模型的结构特性,使整数规划问题转化为线性规划问题,初步的算例表明算法是有效的。     

支持向量顺序回归机的线性规划算法

支持向量顺序回归机是标准支持向量分类机的一个推广，它是一个凸的二次规划问题。本文根据l1范数与l2范数等价关系和优化问题的对偶原理，把凸的二次规划转化成线性规划。由此提了支持向量顺序回归机的线性规划算法，进一步用数值实验验证了此算法的可行性和有效性。并与支持向量顺序回归机相比，它的运行时间缩短了，而且误差i不超过支持向量顺序回归机；