Dual Averaging Methods for Regularized Stochastic Learning and Online Optimization

We consider regularized stochastic learning and online optimization problems, where the objective function is the sum of two convex terms: one is the loss function of the learning task, and the other is a simple regularization term such as $\ell_1$-norm for promoting sparsity. We develop extensions of Nesterov’s dual averaging method, that can exploit the … Read more

Nonconvergence of the plain Newton-min algorithm for linear complementarity problems with a hBcmatrix

The plain Newton-min algorithm to solve the linear complementarity problem (LCP for short) $0\leq x\perp(Mx+q)\geq0$ can be viewed as a nonsmooth Newton algorithm without globalization technique to solve the system of piecewise linear equations $\min(x,Mx+q)=0$, which is equivalent to the LCP. When $M$ is an $M$-matrix of order~$n$, the algorithm is known to converge in … Read more

Error bounds for some semidefinite programming approaches to polynomial minimization on the hypercube

We consider the problem of minimizing a polynomial on the hypercube [0,1]^n and derive new error bounds for the hierarchy of semidefinite programming approximations to this problem corresponding to the Positivstellensatz of Schmuedgen (1991). The main tool we employ is Bernstein approximations of polynomials, which also gives constructive proofs and degree bounds for positivity certificates … Read more

Approximating the minimum directed tree cover

Given a directed graph $G$ with non negative cost on the arcs, a directed tree cover of $G$ is a directed tree such that either head or tail (or both of them) of every arc in $G$ is touched by $T$. The minimum directed tree cover problem (DTCP) is to find a directed tree cover … Read more

A biased random-key genetic algorithm for routing and wavelength assignment

The problem of routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks consists in routing a set of lightpaths and assigning a wavelength to each of them, such that lightpaths whose routes share a common fiber are assigned different wavelengths. This problem was shown to be NP-hard when the objective is to … Read more

Semi-algebraic functions have small subdifferentials

We prove that the subdifferential of any semi-algebraic extended-real-valued function on $\R^n$ has $n$-dimensional graph. We discuss consequences for generic semi-algebraic optimization problems. CitationCornell University, School of Operations Research and Information Engineering, 206 Rhodes Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853. April 2010.ArticleDownload View PDF

Prediction Range Estimation from Noisy Raman Spectra

Inferences need to be drawn in biological systems using experimental multivariate data. The number of samples collected in many such experiments is small, and the data is noisy. We present and study the performance of a robust optimization (RO) model for such situations. We adapt this model to generate a minimum and a maximum estimation … Read more

A decomposition-based warm-start method for stochastic programming

In this paper we propose a warm-start technique for interior point methods applicable to multi-stage stochastic programming problems. The main idea is to generate an initial point for the interior point solver by decomposing the barrier problem associated with the deterministic equivalent at the sec- ond stage and using a concatenation of the solutions of … Read more

Path-relinking intensification methods for stochastic local search algorithms

Path-relinking is major enhancement to heuristic search methods for solving combinatorial optimization problems, leading to significant improvements in both solution quality and running times. We review its fundamentals and implementation strategies, as well as advanced hybridizations with more elaborate metaheuristic schemes such as genetic algorithms and scatter search. Numerical examples are discussed and algorithms compared … Read more

A Polyhedral Study of Triplet Formulation for Single Row Facility Layout Problem

The Single Row Facility Layout Problem (SRFLP) is the problem of arranging n departments with given lengths on a straight line so as to minimize the total weighted distance between all department pairs. We present a polyhedral study of the triplet formulation of the SRFLP introduced by Amaral [Discrete Applied Mathematics 157(1)(2009)183-190]. For any number … Read more