Sequential Stochastic Optimization
Sequential Stochastic Optimization

Author: R. Cairoli

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-07-26

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1118164407

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Sequential Stochastic Optimization provides mathematicians andapplied researchers with a well-developed framework in whichstochastic optimization problems can be formulated and solved.Offering much material that is either new or has never beforeappeared in book form, it lucidly presents a unified theory ofoptimal stopping and optimal sequential control of stochasticprocesses. This book has been carefully organized so that littleprior knowledge of the subject is assumed; its only prerequisitesare a standard graduate course in probability theory and somefamiliarity with discrete-parameter martingales. Major topics covered in Sequential Stochastic Optimization include: * Fundamental notions, such as essential supremum, stopping points,accessibility, martingales and supermartingales indexed by INd * Conditions which ensure the integrability of certain suprema ofpartial sums of arrays of independent random variables * The general theory of optimal stopping for processes indexed byInd * Structural properties of information flows * Sequential sampling and the theory of optimal sequential control * Multi-armed bandits, Markov chains and optimal switching betweenrandom walks

Sequential Stochastic Optimization
Sequential Stochastic Optimization

Author: R. Cairoli

Publisher: Wiley-Interscience

Published: 1996-02-02

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13:

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Sequential Stochastic Optimization provides mathematicians and applied researchers with a well-developed framework in which stochastic optimization problems can be formulated and solved. Offering much material that is either new or has never before appeared in book form, it lucidly presents a unified theory of optimal stopping and optimal sequential control of stochastic processes. This book has been carefully organized so that little prior knowledge of the subject is assumed; its only prerequisites are a standard graduate course in probability theory and some familiarity with discrete-parameter martingales. Major topics covered in Sequential Stochastic Optimization include: Fundamental notions, such as essential supremum, stopping points, accessibility, martingales and supermartingales indexed by INd Conditions which ensure the integrability of certain suprema of partial sums of arrays of independent random variables The general theory of optimal stopping for processes indexed by Ind Structural properties of information flows Sequential sampling and the theory of optimal sequential control Multi-armed bandits, Markov chains and optimal switching between random walks

Reinforcement Learning and Stochastic Optimization
Reinforcement Learning and Stochastic Optimization

Author: Warren B. Powell

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2022-03-15

Total Pages: 1090

ISBN-13: 1119815037

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REINFORCEMENT LEARNING AND STOCHASTIC OPTIMIZATION Clearing the jungle of stochastic optimization Sequential decision problems, which consist of “decision, information, decision, information,” are ubiquitous, spanning virtually every human activity ranging from business applications, health (personal and public health, and medical decision making), energy, the sciences, all fields of engineering, finance, and e-commerce. The diversity of applications attracted the attention of at least 15 distinct fields of research, using eight distinct notational systems which produced a vast array of analytical tools. A byproduct is that powerful tools developed in one community may be unknown to other communities. Reinforcement Learning and Stochastic Optimization offers a single canonical framework that can model any sequential decision problem using five core components: state variables, decision variables, exogenous information variables, transition function, and objective function. This book highlights twelve types of uncertainty that might enter any model and pulls together the diverse set of methods for making decisions, known as policies, into four fundamental classes that span every method suggested in the academic literature or used in practice. Reinforcement Learning and Stochastic Optimization is the first book to provide a balanced treatment of the different methods for modeling and solving sequential decision problems, following the style used by most books on machine learning, optimization, and simulation. The presentation is designed for readers with a course in probability and statistics, and an interest in modeling and applications. Linear programming is occasionally used for specific problem classes. The book is designed for readers who are new to the field, as well as those with some background in optimization under uncertainty. Throughout this book, readers will find references to over 100 different applications, spanning pure learning problems, dynamic resource allocation problems, general state-dependent problems, and hybrid learning/resource allocation problems such as those that arose in the COVID pandemic. There are 370 exercises, organized into seven groups, ranging from review questions, modeling, computation, problem solving, theory, programming exercises and a “diary problem” that a reader chooses at the beginning of the book, and which is used as a basis for questions throughout the rest of the book.

Introduction to Stochastic Programming
Introduction to Stochastic Programming

Author: John R. Birge

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-04-06

Total Pages: 427

ISBN-13: 0387226184

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This rapidly developing field encompasses many disciplines including operations research, mathematics, and probability. Conversely, it is being applied in a wide variety of subjects ranging from agriculture to financial planning and from industrial engineering to computer networks. This textbook provides a first course in stochastic programming suitable for students with a basic knowledge of linear programming, elementary analysis, and probability. The authors present a broad overview of the main themes and methods of the subject, thus helping students develop an intuition for how to model uncertainty into mathematical problems, what uncertainty changes bring to the decision process, and what techniques help to manage uncertainty in solving the problems. The early chapters introduce some worked examples of stochastic programming, demonstrate how a stochastic model is formally built, develop the properties of stochastic programs and the basic solution techniques used to solve them. The book then goes on to cover approximation and sampling techniques and is rounded off by an in-depth case study. A well-paced and wide-ranging introduction to this subject.

Stochastic Simulation Optimization
Stochastic Simulation Optimization

Author: Chun-hung Chen

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 9814282642

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With the advance of new computing technology, simulation is becoming very popular for designing large, complex and stochastic engineering systems, since closed-form analytical solutions generally do not exist for such problems. However, the added flexibility of simulation often creates models that are computationally intractable. Moreover, to obtain a sound statistical estimate at a specified level of confidence, a large number of simulation runs (or replications) is usually required for each design alternative. If the number of design alternatives is large, the total simulation cost can be very expensive. Stochastic Simulation Optimization addresses the pertinent efficiency issue via smart allocation of computing resource in the simulation experiments for optimization, and aims to provide academic researchers and industrial practitioners with a comprehensive coverage of OCBA approach for stochastic simulation optimization. Starting with an intuitive explanation of computing budget allocation and a discussion of its impact on optimization performance, a series of OCBA approaches developed for various problems are then presented, from the selection of the best design to optimization with multiple objectives. Finally, this book discusses the potential extension of OCBA notion to different applications such as data envelopment analysis, experiments of design and rare-event simulation.

Stochastic Global Optimization
Stochastic Global Optimization

Author: Gade Pandu Rangaiah

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 722

ISBN-13: 9814299219

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Ch. 1. Introduction / Gade Pandu Rangaiah -- ch. 2. Formulation and illustration of Luus-Jaakola optimization procedure / Rein Luus -- ch. 3. Adaptive random search and simulated annealing optimizers : algorithms and application issues / Jacek M. Jezowski, Grzegorz Poplewski and Roman Bochenek -- ch. 4. Genetic algorithms in process engineering : developments and implementation issues / Abdunnaser Younes, Ali Elkamel and Shawki Areibi -- ch. 5. Tabu search for global optimization of problems having continuous variables / Sim Mong Kai, Gade Pandu Rangaiah and Mekapati Srinivas -- ch. 6. Differential evolution : method, developments and chemical engineering applications / Chen Shaoqiang, Gade Pandu Rangaiah and Mekapati Srinivas -- ch. 7. Ant colony optimization : details of algorithms suitable for process engineering / V.K. Jayaraman [und weitere] -- ch. 8. Particle swarm optimization for solving NLP and MINLP in chemical engineering / Bassem Jarboui [und weitere] -- ch. 9. An introduction to the harmony search algorithm / Gordon Ingram and Tonghua Zhang -- ch. 10. Meta-heuristics : evaluation and reporting techniques / Abdunnaser Younes, Ali Elkamel and Shawki Areibi -- ch. 11. A hybrid approach for constraint handling in MINLP optimization using stochastic algorithms / G.A. Durand [und weitere] -- ch. 12. Application of Luus-Jaakola optimization procedure to model reduction, parameter estimation and optimal control / Rein Luus -- ch. 13. Phase stability and equilibrium calculations in reactive systems using differential evolution and tabu search / Adrian Bonilla-Petriciolet [und weitere] -- ch. 14. Differential evolution with tabu list for global optimization : evaluation of two versions on benchmark and phase stability problems / Mekapati Srinivas and Gade Pandu Rangaiah -- ch. 15. Application of adaptive random search optimization for solving industrial water allocation problem / Grzegorz Poplewski and Jacek M. Jezowski -- ch. 16. Genetic algorithms formulation for retrofitting heat exchanger network / Roman Bochenek and Jacek M. Jezowski -- ch. 17. Ant colony optimization for classification and feature selection / V.K. Jayaraman [und weitere] -- ch. 18. Constraint programming and genetic algorithm / Prakash R. Kotecha, Mani Bhushan and Ravindra D. Gudi -- ch. 19. Schemes and implementations of parallel stochastic optimization algorithms application of tabu search to chemical engineering problems / B. Lin and D.C. Miller

Timing Analysis and Optimization of Sequential Circuits
Timing Analysis and Optimization of Sequential Circuits

Author: Naresh Maheshwari

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 1461556376

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Recent years have seen rapid strides in the level of sophistication of VLSI circuits. On the performance front, there is a vital need for techniques to design fast, low-power chips with minimum area for increasingly complex systems, while on the economic side there is the vastly increased pressure of time-to-market. These pressures have made the use of CAD tools mandatory in designing complex systems. Timing Analysis and Optimization of Sequential Circuits describes CAD algorithms for analyzing and optimizing the timing behavior of sequential circuits with special reference to performance parameters such as power and area. A unified approach to performance analysis and optimization of sequential circuits is presented. The state of the art in timing analysis and optimization techniques is described for circuits using edge-triggered or level-sensitive memory elements. Specific emphasis is placed on two methods that are true sequential timing optimizations techniques: retiming and clock skew optimization. Timing Analysis and Optimization of Sequential Circuits covers the following topics: Algorithms for sequential timing analysis Fast algorithms for clock skew optimization and their applications Efficient techniques for retiming large sequential circuits Coupling sequential and combinational optimizations. Timing Analysis and Optimization of Sequential Circuits is written for graduate students, researchers and professionals in the area of CAD for VLSI and VLSI circuit design.

Approximate Dynamic Programming
Approximate Dynamic Programming

Author: Warren B. Powell

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2007-10-05

Total Pages: 487

ISBN-13: 0470182954

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A complete and accessible introduction to the real-world applications of approximate dynamic programming With the growing levels of sophistication in modern-day operations, it is vital for practitioners to understand how to approach, model, and solve complex industrial problems. Approximate Dynamic Programming is a result of the author's decades of experience working in large industrial settings to develop practical and high-quality solutions to problems that involve making decisions in the presence of uncertainty. This groundbreaking book uniquely integrates four distinct disciplines—Markov design processes, mathematical programming, simulation, and statistics—to demonstrate how to successfully model and solve a wide range of real-life problems using the techniques of approximate dynamic programming (ADP). The reader is introduced to the three curses of dimensionality that impact complex problems and is also shown how the post-decision state variable allows for the use of classical algorithmic strategies from operations research to treat complex stochastic optimization problems. Designed as an introduction and assuming no prior training in dynamic programming of any form, Approximate Dynamic Programming contains dozens of algorithms that are intended to serve as a starting point in the design of practical solutions for real problems. The book provides detailed coverage of implementation challenges including: modeling complex sequential decision processes under uncertainty, identifying robust policies, designing and estimating value function approximations, choosing effective stepsize rules, and resolving convergence issues. With a focus on modeling and algorithms in conjunction with the language of mainstream operations research, artificial intelligence, and control theory, Approximate Dynamic Programming: Models complex, high-dimensional problems in a natural and practical way, which draws on years of industrial projects Introduces and emphasizes the power of estimating a value function around the post-decision state, allowing solution algorithms to be broken down into three fundamental steps: classical simulation, classical optimization, and classical statistics Presents a thorough discussion of recursive estimation, including fundamental theory and a number of issues that arise in the development of practical algorithms Offers a variety of methods for approximating dynamic programs that have appeared in previous literature, but that have never been presented in the coherent format of a book Motivated by examples from modern-day operations research, Approximate Dynamic Programming is an accessible introduction to dynamic modeling and is also a valuable guide for the development of high-quality solutions to problems that exist in operations research and engineering. The clear and precise presentation of the material makes this an appropriate text for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate courses, while also serving as a reference for researchers and practitioners. A companion Web site is available for readers, which includes additional exercises, solutions to exercises, and data sets to reinforce the book's main concepts.

Decision Making Under Uncertainty in Electricity Markets
Decision Making Under Uncertainty in Electricity Markets

Author: Antonio J. Conejo

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-09-08

Total Pages: 549

ISBN-13: 1441974210

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Decision Making Under Uncertainty in Electricity Markets provides models and procedures to be used by electricity market agents to make informed decisions under uncertainty. These procedures rely on well established stochastic programming models, which make them efficient and robust. Particularly, these techniques allow electricity producers to derive offering strategies for the pool and contracting decisions in the futures market. Retailers use these techniques to derive selling prices to clients and energy procurement strategies through the pool, the futures market and bilateral contracting. Using the proposed models, consumers can derive the best energy procurement strategies using the available trading floors. The market operator can use the techniques proposed in this book to clear simultaneously energy and reserve markets promoting efficiency and equity. The techniques described in this book are of interest for professionals working on energy markets, and for graduate students in power engineering, applied mathematics, applied economics, and operations research.

Stochastic Optimization
Stochastic Optimization

Author: Johannes Schneider

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-08-06

Total Pages: 551

ISBN-13: 3540345604

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This book addresses stochastic optimization procedures in a broad manner. The first part offers an overview of relevant optimization philosophies; the second deals with benchmark problems in depth, by applying a selection of optimization procedures. Written primarily with scientists and students from the physical and engineering sciences in mind, this book addresses a larger community of all who wish to learn about stochastic optimization techniques and how to use them.