This book presents new techniques and methods for distributed control and optimization of networked microgrids. Distributed consensus issues under network-based and event-triggered mechanisms are first addressed in a multi-agent system framework, which can explicitly characterize the relationship between communication resources and the control performance. Then, considering the effects of network uncertainties, multi-agent system-based distributed schemes are tailored to solve the fundamental issues of networked microgrids such as distributed frequency regulation, voltage regulation, active power sharing/load sharing, and energy management. The monograph will contribute to stimulating extensive interest of researchers in electrical and control fields.

Many of our daily-life problems can be written in the form of an optimization problem. Therefore, solution methods are needed to solve such problems. Due to the complexity of the problems, it is not always easy to find the exact solution. However, approximate solutions can be found. The theory of the best approximation is applicable in a variety of problems arising in nonlinear functional analysis and optimization. This book highlights interesting aspects of nonlinear analysis and optimization together with many applications in the areas of physical and social sciences including engineering. It is immensely helpful for young graduates and researchers who are pursuing research in this field, as it provides abundant research resources for researchers and post-doctoral fellows. This will be a valuable addition to the library of anyone who works in the field of applied mathematics, economics and engineering.

Political Game Theory, first published in 2007, is a self-contained introduction to game theory and its applications to political science. The book presents choice theory, social choice theory, static and dynamic games of complete information, static and dynamic games of incomplete information, repeated games, bargaining theory, mechanism design and a mathematical appendix covering, logic, real analysis, calculus and probability theory. The methods employed have many applications in various disciplines including comparative politics, international relations and American politics. Political Game Theory is tailored to students without extensive backgrounds in mathematics, and traditional economics, however there are also many special sections that present technical material that will appeal to more advanced students. A large number of exercises are also provided to practice the skills and techniques discussed.

This carefully curated volume presents an in-depth, state-of-the-art discussion on many applications of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Integrating interdisciplinary sciences, the book features novel ideas, quantitative methods, and research results, promising to advance computational practices and technologies within the academic and industrial communities. SAR applications employ diverse and often complex computational methods rooted in machine learning, estimation, statistical learning, inversion models, and empirical models. Current and emerging applications of SAR data for earth observation, object detection and recognition, change detection, navigation, and interference mitigation are highlighted. Cutting edge methods, with particular emphasis on machine learning, are included. Contemporary deep learning models in object detection and recognition in SAR imagery with corresponding feature extraction and training schemes are considered. State-of-the-art neural network architectures in SAR-aided navigation are compared and discussed further. Advanced empirical and machine learning models in retrieving land and ocean information - wind, wave, soil conditions, among others, are also included.

This book reports on the latest advances in adaptive critic control with robust stabilization for uncertain nonlinear systems. Covering the core theory, novel methods, and a number of typical industrial applications related to the robust adaptive critic control field, it develops a comprehensive framework of robust adaptive strategies, including theoretical analysis, algorithm design, simulation verification, and experimental results. As such, it is of interest to university researchers, graduate students, and engineers in the fields of automation, computer science, and electrical engineering wishing to learn about the fundamental principles, methods, algorithms, and applications in the field of robust adaptive critic control. In addition, it promotes the development of robust adaptive critic control approaches, and the construction of higher-level intelligent systems.

This book presents the construction and resolution of 50 practical optimization problems and covers an exceptionally wide range, including games-associated problems (Unblock Me, Sudokus), logistical problems, and problems concerning plant distribution, production, operations scheduling, management and resource allocation. The problems are divided into 5 difficulty levels. Problems in the first few levels are focused on learning the model construction methodology, while those in the last level include complex optimization environments. For each problem solution, the specific steps are illustrated, promoting reader comprehension. In addition, all the models are implemented in an optimization library, LINGO, their solutions have been analyzed and their correct construction has been verified. The book also includes a simple guide to implementing models in LINGO in a straightforward manner and in any input data format (text files, spreadsheets or databases). As an ideal companion to the author's previously published work Modelling in Mathematical Programming, the book is intended as a basic tool for students of operations research, and for researchers in any advanced area involving mathematical programming.

This book includes papers presented at the ISDG12-GTM2019 International Meeting on Game Theory, as a joint meeting of the 12th International ISDG Workshop and the 13th "International Conference on Game Theory and Management", held in St. Petersburg in July 2019. The topics cover a wide range of game-theoretic models and include both theory and applications, including applications to management.

Optimization plays an invaluable role in the exciting and rapidly developing field of computer vision, yet this importance is often overlooked in the literature.

This practical and authoritative text/reference presents a broad introduction to the optimization methods used specifically in computer vision. In order to facilitate understanding, the presentation of the methods is supplemented by simple flow charts, followed by pseudocode implementations that reveal deeper insights into their mode of operation. These discussions are further supported by examples taken from important applications in computer vision.

Topics and features: provides a comprehensive overview of computer vision-related optimization; covers a range of techniques from classical iterative multidimensional optimization to cutting-edge topics of graph cuts and GPU-suited total variation-based optimization; describes in detail the optimization methods employed in computer vision applications; illuminates key concepts with clearly written and step-by-step explanations; presents detailed information on implementation, including pseudocode for most methods.

This easy-to-follow and applications-focused book is an essential resource for researchers and practitioners seeking guidance on implementing specific methods in computer vision.

The goal of this book is to elaborate on the main principles of the theory of the Berge equilibrium by answering the following two questions: What are the basic properties of the Berge equilibrium? Does the Berge equilibrium exist, and how can it be calculated? The Golden Rule of ethics, which appears in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and other world religions, states the following: "Behave towards others as you would like them to behave towards you." In any game, each party of conflict seeks to maximize some payoff. Therefore, for each player, the Golden Rule is implemented through the maximization of his/her payoff by all other players, which matches well with the concept of the Berge equilibrium. The approach presented here will be of particular interest to researchers (including undergraduates and graduates) and economists focused on decision-making under complex conflict conditions. The peaceful resolution of conflicts is the cornerstone of the approach: as a matter of fact, the Golden Rule precludes military clashes and violence. In turn, the new approach requires new methods; in particular, the existence problems are reduced to saddle point design for the Germeier convolution of payoff functions, with further transition to mixed strategies in accordance with the standard procedure employed by E. Borel, J. von Neumann, J. Nash, and their followers. Moreover, this new approach has proven to be efficient and fruitful with regard to a range of other important problems in mathematical game theory, which are considered in the Appendix.

This book covers an introduction to convex optimization, one of the powerful and tractable optimization problems that can be efficiently solved on a computer. The goal of the book is tohelp develop a sense of what convex optimization is, and how it can be used in a widening array of practical contexts with a particular emphasis on machine learning.The first part of the book covers core concepts of convex sets, convex functions, and related basic definitions that serve understanding convex optimization and its corresponding models. The second part deals with one very useful theory, called duality, which enables us to: (1) gain algorithmic insights; and (2) obtain an approximate solution to non-convex optimization problems which are often difficult to solve. The last part focuses on modern applications in machine learning and deep learning.A defining feature of this book is that it succinctly relates the "story" of how convex optimization plays a role, via historical examples and trending machine learning applications. Another key feature is that it includes programming implementation of a variety of machine learning algorithms inspired by optimization fundamentals, together with a brief tutorial of the used programming tools. The implementation is based on Python, CVXPY, and TensorFlow. This book does not follow a traditional textbook-style organization, but is streamlined via a series of lecture notes that are intimately related, centered around coherent themes and concepts. It serves as a textbook mainly for a senior-level undergraduate course, yet is also suitable for a first-year graduate course. Readers benefit from having a good background in linear algebra, some exposure to probability, and basic familiarity with Python.

This book discusses an important area of numerical optimization, called interior-point method. This topic has been popular since the 1980s when people gradually realized that all simplex algorithms were not convergent in polynomial time and many interior-point algorithms could be proved to converge in polynomial time. However, for a long time, there was a noticeable gap between theoretical polynomial bounds of the interior-point algorithms and efficiency of these algorithms. Strategies that were important to the computational efficiency became barriers in the proof of good polynomial bounds. The more the strategies were used in algorithms, the worse the polynomial bounds became. To further exacerbate the problem, Mehrotra's predictor-corrector (MPC) algorithm (the most popular and efficient interior-point algorithm until recently) uses all good strategies and fails to prove the convergence. Therefore, MPC does not have polynomiality, a critical issue with the simplex method. This book discusses recent developments that resolves the dilemma. It has three major parts. The first, including Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4, presents some of the most important algorithms during the development of the interior-point method around the 1990s, most of them are widely known. The main purpose of this part is to explain the dilemma described above by analyzing these algorithms' polynomial bounds and summarizing the computational experience associated with them. The second part, including Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8, describes how to solve the dilemma step-by-step using arc-search techniques. At the end of this part, a very efficient algorithm with the lowest polynomial bound is presented. The last part, including Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12, extends arc-search techniques to some more general problems, such as convex quadratic programming, linear complementarity problem, and semi-definite programming.

Very little has been published on optimization of pharmaceutical portfolios. Moreover, most of published literature is coming from the commercial side, where probability of technical success (PoS) is treated as fixed, and not as a consequence of development strategy or design. In this book there is a strong focus on impact of study design on PoS and ultimately on the value of portfolio. Design options that are discussed in different chapters are dose-selection strategies, adaptive design and enrichment. Some development strategies that are discussed are indication sequencing, optimal number of programs and optimal decision criteria. This book includes chapters written by authors with very broad backgrounds including financial, clinical, statistical, decision sciences, commercial and regulatory. Many authors have long held executive positions and have been involved with decision making at a product or at a portfolio level. As such, it is expected that this book will attract a very broad audience, including decision makers in pharmaceutical R&D, commercial and financial departments. The intended audience also includes portfolio planners and managers, statisticians, decision scientists and clinicians. Early chapters describe approaches to portfolio optimization from big Pharma and Venture Capital standpoints. They have stronger focus on finances and processes. Later chapters present selected statistical and decision analysis methods for optimizing drug development programs and portfolios. Some methodological chapters are technical; however, with a few exceptions they require a relatively basic knowledge of statistics by a reader.

This book is about optimization techniques and is subdivided into two parts. In the first part a wide overview on optimization theory is presented. Optimization is presented as being composed of five topics, namely: design of experiment, response surface modeling, deterministic optimization, stochastic optimization, and robust engineering design. Each chapter, after presenting the main techniques for each part, draws application oriented conclusions including didactic examples. In the second part some applications are presented to guide the reader through the process of setting up a few optimization exercises, analyzing critically the choices which are made step by step, and showing how the different topics that constitute the optimization theory can be used jointly in an optimization process. The applications which are presented are mainly in the field of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics due to the author's background.

With annual gross sales surpassing 100 billion U.S. dollars each of the last two years, the digital games industry may one day challenge theatrical-release movies as the highest-grossing entertainment media in the world. In their examination of the tremendous cultural influence of digital games, Daniel Reardon and David Wright analyze three companies that have shaped the industry: Bethesda, located in Rockville, Maryland, USA; BioWare in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and CD Projekt Red in Warsaw, Poland. Each company has used social media and technical content in the games to promote players' belief that players control the companies' game narratives. The result has been at times explosive, as empowered players often attempted to co-op the creative processes of games through discussion board forum demands, fund-raising campaigns to persuade companies to change or add game content, and modifications ("modding") of the games through fan-created downloads. The result has changed the way we understand the interactive nature of digital games and the power of fan culture to shape those games.

This book reports on advanced concepts in fuzzy graph theory, showing a set of tools that can be successfully applied to understanding and modeling illegal human trafficking. Building on the previous book on fuzzy graph by the same authors, which set the fundamentals for readers to understand this developing field of research, this second book gives a special emphasis to applications of the theory. For this, authors introduce new concepts, such as intuitionistic fuzzy graphs, the concept of independence and domination in fuzzy graphs, as well as directed fuzzy networks, incidence graphs and many more.

This book details cutting-edge research into human-like driving technology, utilising game theory to better suit a human and machine hybrid driving environment. Covering feature identification and modelling of human driving behaviours, the book explains how to design an algorithm for decision making and control of autonomous vehicles in complex scenarios. Beginning with a review of current research in the field, the book uses this as a springboard from which to present a new theory of human-like driving framework for autonomous vehicles. Chapters cover system models of decision making and control, driving safety, riding comfort and travel efficiency. Throughout the book, game theory is applied to human-like decision making, enabling the autonomous vehicle and the human driver interaction to be modelled using noncooperative game theory approach. It also uses game theory to model collaborative decision making between connected autonomous vehicles. This framework enables human-like decision making and control of autonomous vehicles, which leads to safer and more efficient driving in complicated traffic scenarios. The book will be of interest to students and professionals alike, in the field of automotive engineering, computer engineering and control engineering.

This important three volume set is a collection of key writings on game theory published before 1963. It makes many frequently-cited and historically important articles conveniently available to a wider audience. The collection includes comprehensive coverage of the game theoretical writings of von Neumann, Nash and Wald. The editors have written a succinct introduction to accompany the articles.

Presenting a strong and clear relationship between theory and practice, Linear and Integer Optimization: Theory and Practice is divided into two main parts. The first covers the theory of linear and integer optimization, including both basic and advanced topics. Dantzig's simplex algorithm, duality, sensitivity analysis, integer optimization models, and network models are introduced. More advanced topics also are presented including interior point algorithms, the branch-and-bound algorithm, cutting planes, complexity, standard combinatorial optimization models, the assignment problem, minimum cost flow, and the maximum flow/minimum cut theorem. The second part applies theory through real-world case studies. The authors discuss advanced techniques such as column generation, multiobjective optimization, dynamic optimization, machine learning (support vector machines), combinatorial optimization, approximation algorithms, and game theory. Besides the fresh new layout and completely redesigned figures, this new edition incorporates modern examples and applications of linear optimization. The book now includes computer code in the form of models in the GNU Mathematical Programming Language (GMPL). The models and corresponding data files are available for download and can be readily solved using the provided online solver. This new edition also contains appendices covering mathematical proofs, linear algebra, graph theory, convexity, and nonlinear optimization. All chapters contain extensive examples and exercises. This textbook is ideal for courses for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in various fields including mathematics, computer science, industrial engineering, operations research, and management science.

This book covers using R for doing optimization, a key area of operations research, which has been applied to virtually every industry. The focus is on linear and mixed integer optimization. It uses an algebraic modeling approach for creating formulations that pairs naturally with an algebraic implementation in R. With the rapid rise of interest in data analytics, a data analytics platform is key. Working technology and business professionals need an awareness of the tools and language of data analysis. R reduces the barrier to entry for people to start using data analytics tools. Philosophically, the book emphasizes creating formulations before going into implementation. Algebraic representation allows for clear understanding and generalization of large applications, and writing formulations is necessary to explain and convey the modeling decisions made. Appendix A introduces R. Mathematics is used at the level of subscripts and summations Refreshers are provided in Appendix B. This book: * Provides and explains code so examples are relatively clear and self-contained. * Emphasizes creating algebraic formulations before implementing. * Focuses on application rather than algorithmic details. * Embodies the philosophy of reproducible research. * Uses open-source tools to ensure access to powerful optimization tools. * Promotes open-source: all materials are available on the author's github repository. * Demonstrates common debugging practices with a troubleshooting emphasis specific to optimization modeling using R. * Provides code readers can adapt to their own applications . This book can be used for graduate and undergraduate courses for students without a background in optimization and with varying mathematical backgrounds.

The quest for the optimal is ubiquitous in nature and human behavior. The field of mathematical optimization has a long history and remains active today, particularly in the development of machine learning.Classical and Modern Optimization presents a self-contained overview of classical and modern ideas and methods in approaching optimization problems. The approach is rich and flexible enough to address smooth and non-smooth, convex and non-convex, finite or infinite-dimensional, static or dynamic situations. The first chapters of the book are devoted to the classical toolbox: topology and functional analysis, differential calculus, convex analysis and necessary conditions for differentiable constrained optimization. The remaining chapters are dedicated to more specialized topics and applications.Valuable to a wide audience, including students in mathematics, engineers, data scientists or economists, Classical and Modern Optimization contains more than 200 exercises to assist with self-study or for anyone teaching a third- or fourth-year optimization class.

This book describes the modelling and optimisation of vibration reduction systems in an integrated fashion using nonlinear equations of motion. It proposes an effective optimisation method for determining the basic characteristics of the non-linear visco-elastic elements used in passive vibration reduction systems. In the case of semi-active and active vibration isolators, a design process of the advanced control systems is proposed that makes possible to optimise the controller settings relatively to the selected vibro-isolation criteria. The approach developed here is subsequently tested by means of experimental investigations conducted on various sample vibration reduction systems: passive, semi-active and active. The book presents a biomechanical modelling approach that allows users to select the properties of vibro-isolation systems for different types of oscillation and different optimisation criteria - and can significantly reduce the harmful vibrations that can affect the human body in the process. Further, the book equips readers to evaluate the viscoelastic characteristics of passive systems and design control systems for semi-active and active systems. Modelling and Control Design of Vibration Reduction Systems offers a valuable guide for researchers and practitioners alike. It also provides students and academics with systematic information on the procedures to be followed in the design process for semi-active or active vibration reduction systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a threat to our health and economy, but also has strong implications for defence and security. Indeed, defence leaders have highlighted a second fight surrounding the spread of COVID-19, namely disinformation and preparing to face adversaries willing to exploit the public health crisis for nefarious purposes. The current pandemic is a breeding ground for the propagation of disinformation, as it represents the first major global health event in which large social media platforms have become the main distributor of information. This multi-national edited volume consists of contributions from Defence Science, academia and industry, including NATO Headquarters, United States, Netherlands, Singapore, United Kingdom and Norway. The content is aimed at a diverse audience, including NATO members, researchers from defence and security organizations, academics, and militaries including analysts and practitioners, as well as policy makers. This volume focuses on various aspects of COVID-19 disinformation, including identifying global dominant disinformation narratives and the methods used to spread disinformation, examining COVID-19 disinformation within the broader context of the cognitive domain, examining the psychological effects of COVID-19 disinformation and COVID-19 disinformation on instant messaging platforms, along with examining various countermeasures to disinformation.

This book provides an enduring response to modern economic problems and the consequent crises, dealing with the economic modelling of nations and the forecasting of economic growth. The main arguments embodied constitute the creation of jobs and the restoration of economic growth, using the implicit acceptance of analysis on differential models and neutral systems for controlling the wealth of nations.

This book focuses on the design of efficient & dynamic methods to allocate divisible resources under various auction mechanisms, discussing their applications in power & microgrid systems and the V2G & EV charging coordination problems in smart grids. It describes the design of dynamic methods for single-sided and double-sided auction games and presents a number of simulation cases verifying the performances of the proposed algorithms in terms of efficiency, convergence and computational complexity. Further, it explores the performances of certain auction mechanisms in a hierarchical structure and with large-scale agents, as well as the auction mechanisms for the efficient allocation of multi-type resources. Lastly, it generalizes the main and demonstrates their application in smart grids. This book is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in the fields of optimization, game theory, auction mechanisms and smart grids interested in designing dynamic auction mechanisms to implement optimal allocation of divisible resources, especially electricity and other types of energy in smart grids.