On the effectiveness of returns policies in the price‐dependent newsvendor model

We study in this paper the price‐dependent (PD) newsvendor model in which a manufacturer sells a product to an independent retailer facing uncertain demand and the retail price is endogenously determined by the retailer. We prove that for a zero salvage value and some expected demand functions, in equilibrium, the manufacturer may elect not to introduce buybacks. On the other hand, if buybacks are introduced in equilibrium, their introduction has an insignificant effect on channel efficiency improvement, but, by contrast, may significantly shift profits from the retailer to the manufacturer. We further demonstrate that the introduction of buybacks increases the wholesale price, retail price, and inventory level, as compared to the wholesale price‐only contract, and that the corresponding vertically integrated firm offers the lowest retail price and highest inventory level. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.     

Modeling and analyzing multiple station baggage screening security system performance

In the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001, numerous changes have been made to aviation security policy and operations throughout the nation's airports. The allocation and utilization of checked baggage screening devices is a critical component in aviation security systems. This paper formulates problems that model multiple sets of flights originating from multiple stations (e.g., airports, terminals), where the objective is to optimize a baggage screening performance measure subject to a finite amount of resources. These measures include uncovered flight segments (UFS) and uncovered passenger segments (UPS). Three types of multiple station security problems are identified and their computational complexity is established. The problems are illustrated on two examples that use data extracted from the Official Airline Guide. The examples indicate that the problems can provide widely varying solutions based on the type of performance measure used and the restrictions imposed by the security device allocations. Moreover, the examples suggest that the allocations based on the UFS measure also provide reasonable solutions with respect to the UPS measure; however, the reverse may not be the case. This suggests that the UFS measure may provide more robust screening device allocations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.     

Reliability of linear multistate multiple sliding window systems

This paper proposes a new model that generalizes the linear consecutive k‐out‐of‐r‐from‐n:F system to multistate case with multiple failure criteria. In this model (named linear multistate multiple sliding window system) the system consists of n linearly ordered multistate elements (MEs). Each ME can have different states: from complete failure up to perfect functioning. A performance rate is associated with each state. Several functions are defined for a set of integer numbers ρ in such a way that for each r ∈ ρ corresponding function f_r produces negative values if the combination of performance rates of r consecutive MEs corresponds to the unacceptable state of the system. The system fails if at least one of functions f_r for any r consecutive MEs for r ∈ ρ produces a negative value. An algorithm for system reliability evaluation is suggested which is based on an extended universal moment generating function. Examples of system reliability evaluation are presented. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.     

Scheduling and lot streaming in two‐machine open shops with no‐wait in process

We study the problem of minimizing the makespan in no‐wait two‐machine open shops producing multiple products using lot streaming. In no‐wait open shop scheduling, sublot sizes are necessarily consistent; i.e., they remain the same over all machines. This intractable problem requires finding sublot sizes, a product sequence for each machine, and a machine sequence for each product. We develop a dynamic programming algorithm to generate all the dominant schedule profiles for each product that are required to formulate the open shop problem as a generalized traveling salesman problem. This problem is equivalent to a classical traveling salesman problem with a pseudopolynomial number of cities. We develop and test a computationally efficient heuristic for the open shop problem. Our results indicate that solutions can quickly be found for two machine open shops with up to 50 products. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005     

基于“招标—投标”策略的舰艇编队协同反导优化

针对舰艇编队协同防空反导的作战过程,以缩短舰艇编队协同反导的整体拦截时间、降低反导资源的消耗为目标,构建了一种"招标—投标"策略的舰艇编队协同反导优化模型。该模型利用模糊数学和动态规划相结合的优化技术,在单个作战单元需要编队内其他作战单元协同反导的情况下,运用"招标—投标"策略建立满足反导策略的决策方案,能实时、动态的调整舰艇编队整体协同反导策略。     

Realignment in the National Football League: Did they do it right?

The National Football League (NFL) in the United States expanded to 32 teams in 2002 with the addition of a team in Houston. At that point, the league was realigned into eight divisions, each containing four teams. We describe a branch‐and‐cut algorithm for minimizing the sum of intradivisional travel distances. We consider first the case where any team can be assigned to any division. We also consider imposing restrictions, such as aligning the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference) separately or maintaining traditional rivalries. We show that the alignment chosen by the NFL does not minimize the sum of intradivisional travel distances, but that it is close to optimal for an alignment that aligns the NFC and AFC separately and imposes some additional restrictions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 50: 683–701, 2003.     

救灾物资的紧急调运模型

针对某地区防洪救灾中物资的调运问题,利用图论中最短路的知识,根据问题实际,将物资的调运方案分成3个阶段.在每个阶段以费用最小或时间最短为目标.以各单位之间物资的供求平衡为约束,建立了规划模型.通过编程求解,制定了不同情况下物资紧急调运的具体方案,包括用车数量、行车线路、用车时间和费用.     

物理弱间断线上Ⅲ型斜交裂纹高阶渐近场

针对功能梯度材料层/均匀材料基体的物理弱间断线上斜交裂纹,通过分离变量和级数展开法构造位移函数,求得了裂纹尖端高阶渐近场。其界面裂纹尖端高阶渐近应力场具有与均匀材料相同的r-1/2的奇异性。由高阶项的表达式可知：材料非均匀性对应力场有显著影响。数学上,该解为此类问题的特征函数,能够描述此类材料各种含裂纹结构的整个应力场和位移场,当非均匀参数为零时,它可以退化到均匀材料反平面裂纹问题经典的W il-liam s解。     

电缆高辐射热通量下燃烧性能实验研究

利用锥形量热仪对国产典型PVC电缆进行实验研究,分析其在高辐射热通量条件下的热释放速率（HRR）、质量损失速率（MLR）、比消光面积（SEA）、CO产率、火灾性能指数（FPI）、点燃时间（TTI）随直径的变化规律,以及不同热辐射通量对这些燃烧参数的影响。实验结果表明：在相同实验条件下,PVC电缆的HRR、MLR、SEA、CO产率均随直径的增大而增大,FPI随直径的增大而减小,火灾危险性增大;电缆直径的变化对点燃时间影响不大;随着热辐射通量的增大,PVC电缆的点燃时间缩短,HRR、MLR增大,其峰值也增大,烟释放速率（SPR）和总烟释放量（TSR）增加,FPI减小,火灾危险性增大。     

基于单变量多目标规划的装甲车辆冷却系统智能化控制

根据新一代装甲车辆推进系统热部件散热特点及其冷却系统调控原理,提出了一种单变量多目标数学规划与模糊智能控制相结合的控制算法。该算法将冷却系统抽象为单变量多目标数学规划问题,采用加权的方法将多个目标函数转化为综合目标函数,输入到模糊智能控制器中进行冷却控制。仿真结果表明:该控制算法具有良好的控制效果,能够有效地解决新型推进系统热源多、目标温度范围广而可调参数单一的问题。