Exact Branch-and-Price Algorithm for Live Operating Room Reoptimization

Live reoptimization of operating room schedules is required to cope with disruptions such as emergency arrivals and deviations in surgery durations under strict time limits. The resulting problem can be formulated as a large-scale Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP). While exact optimization methods are attractive in this context due to their ability to provide … Read more

A Numerically-safe Branch-Price-and-Cut Algorithm for the Length-Constrained Cycle Partition Problem

The length-constrained cycle partition problem (LCCP) is a graph optimization problem in which a set of nodes must be partitioned into a minimum number of cycles. Every node is associated with a critical time and the length of every cycle must not exceed the critical time of any node in the cycle. We formulate LCCP … Read more

Convexlikeness and Supportedness in Quadratic Multiobjective Optimization

This paper studies geometric and structural properties of quadratic multiobjective optimization problems. Thereby, a multiobjective optimization problem is called convexlike if the upper image, i.e., the image set plus the nonnegative orthant, is a convex set. Moreover, we say that a feasible point is supported in case it is a minimal solution of a weighted … Read more

Approximate solution of infinite-horizon risk-sensitive Markov decision processes

Infinite-horizon risk-sensitive Markov decision processes (MDPs) under the discounted cost criterion are challenging to solve because the optimal policy may be non- stationary. Existing solution methods reformulate the problem as a continuous-state (risk-neutral) MDP and solve it using state-discretization or value function approximation. Such approaches typically lack explicit stopping conditions or error bounds. In this … Read more

Exploring polynomial models in the Search Step of Direct Multisearch

Direct Multisearch (DMS) is a class of direct-search algorithms designed for multiobjective derivative-free optimization. Its framework consists of an optional search step and a poll step, the latter ensuring the corresponding theoretical convergence properties. Recently, a search strategy based on the minimization of quadratic polynomial models, constructed from previously evaluated points, was proposed to improve … Read more

Stochastic Queens Elimination

This research introduces the Stochastic Sequential Queens Elimination Problem, where on the \(n\)-queens board, each activated queen simultaneously attempts to eliminate all queens in her unblocked neighborhood, each independently succeeding with probability \(p\). The objective is to minimize the expected cumulative conflict count over the trajectory. This research proposes a Markov decision process for this … Read more

Spectral-gauge cuts for semidefinite programming

We use symmetric gauge theory to develop a general class of cutting-plane algorithms for semidefinite programming. We formulate a separation problem based on spectral normalizations induced by gauges and derive a closed-form separation oracle. This oracle yields an implementable cut-generation procedure that, by varying the gauge, recovers standard cut families and generates new ones with … Read more

Designing Autonomous Aerial Cable Car Networks for Sustainable Urban Logistics

This paper investigates the emerging autonomous aerial cableway technology to reduce the negative impacts of urban freight transportation. We focus on the infrastructure design problem to minimize the road-transportation externalities, taking pricing, investment costs, and the physical footprint into account. The network design problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that explicitly … Read more

When do Mixed-Integer Games Admit Rational Equilibria?

We consider mixed-integer linear-quadratic generalized Nash equilibrium problems, i.e., games in which each player solves a mixed-integer program subject to linear constraints in her own and rivals’ strategies as well as an objective which is quadratic in her own strategies and bilinear in her own and rivals’ strategies. For this class of games, we study … Read more

Stage-wise hybrid nested Benders’ decomposition-stochastic dual dynamic programming for virtual power plants

Participants in energy markets make sequential decisions across multiple time horizons under uncertainty, leading to large-scale multistage stochastic optimization problems. Stochastic dual dynamic programming is widely used for its tractability, but its application to modern energy markets is challenged by nested dependencies induced by participation across multiple interrelated markets under increasing uncertainty from distributed energy … Read more