Clustering-Based Preconditioning for Stochastic Programs

We present a clustering-based preconditioning strategy for KKT systems arising in stochastic programming within an interior-point framework. The key idea is to perform adaptive clustering of scenarios (inside-the-solver) based on their influence on the problem as opposed to cluster scenarios based on problem data alone, as is done in existing (outside-thesolver) approaches. We derive spectral … Read more

Mathematical Programming Models Based on Hub Covers in Graph Query Processing

The use of graph databases for social networks, images, web links, pathways and so on, has been increasing at a fast pace and promotes the need for efficient graph query processing on such databases. In this study, we discuss graph query processing — referred to as graph matching — and an inherent optimization problem known … Read more

Interior-point algorithms for convex optimization based on primal-dual metrics

We propose and analyse primal-dual interior-point algorithms for convex optimization problems in conic form. The families of algorithms we analyse are so-called short-step algorithms and they match the current best iteration complexity bounds for primal-dual symmetric interior-point algorithm of Nesterov and Todd, for symmetric cone programming problems with given self-scaled barriers. Our results apply to … Read more

Primal-Dual Entropy Based Interior-Point Algorithms for Linear Optimization

We propose a family of search directions based on primal-dual entropy in the context of interior-point methods for linear optimization. We show that by using entropy based search directions in the predictor step of a predictor-corrector algorithm together with a homogeneous self-dual embedding, we can achieve the current best iteration complexity bound for linear optimization. … Read more

Convergence analysis for Lasserre’s measure–based hierarchy of upper bounds for polynomial optimization

We consider the problem of minimizing a continuous function f over a compact set K. We analyze a hierarchy of upper bounds proposed by Lasserre in [SIAM J. Optim. 21(3) (2011), pp. 864-􀀀885], obtained by searching for an optimal probability density function h on K which is a sum of squares of polynomials, so that … Read more

Lov\'{a}sz-Schrijver SDP-operator, near-perfect graphs and near-bipartite graphs

We study the Lov\'{a}sz-Schrijver lift-and-project operator ($\LS_+$) based on the cone of symmetric, positive semidefinite matrices, applied to the fractional stable set polytope of graphs. The problem of obtaining a combinatorial characterization of graphs for which the $\LS_+$-operator generates the stable set polytope in one step has been open since 1990. We call these graphs … Read more

Solution Analysis for the Pseudomonotone Second-order Cone Linear Complementarity Problem

In this paper, we study properties of the solution of the pseudomonotone second-order cone linear complementarity problems (SOCLCP). Based upon Tao’s recent work [Tao, J. Optim. Theory Appl., 159(2013), pp. 41–56] on pseudomonotone LCP on Euclidean Jordan algebras, we made two noticeable contributions on the solutions of the pseudomonotone SOCLCP: First, we introduce the concept … Read more

Simplex Algorithm for Countable-state Discounted Markov Decision Processes

We consider discounted Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) with countably-infinite state spaces, finite action spaces, and unbounded rewards. Typical examples of such MDPs are inventory management and queueing control problems in which there is no specific limit on the size of inventory or queue. Existing solution methods obtain a sequence of policies that converges to optimality … Read more

Convex hull of two quadratic or a conic quadratic and a quadratic inequality

In this paper we consider an aggregation technique introduced by Yildiran, 2009 to study the convex hull of regions defined by two quadratic or by a conic quadratic and a quadratic inequality. Yildiran shows how to characterize the convex hull of open sets defined by two strict quadratic inequalities using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). We … Read more

A trust-region method for box-constrained nonlinear semidefinite programs

We propose a trust-region method for nonlinear semidefinite programs with box-constraints. The penalty barrier method can handle this problem, but the size of variable matrices available in practical time is restricted to be less than 500. We develop a trust-region method based on the approach of Coleman and Li (1996) that utilizes the distance to … Read more