Library

Description: An edge of a perfect graph $G$ is critical if $G-e$ is imperfect. We would like to decide whether $G - e$ is still {\sl almost perfect} or already {\sl very imperfect}. Via relaxations of the stable set polytope of a graph, we define two superclasses of perfect graphs: rank-perfect and weakly rank-perfect graphs. Membership in those two classes indicates how far an imperfect graph is away from being perfect. We study the cases, when a critical edge is removed from the line graph of a bipartite graph or from the complement of such a graph.

Description: Collection of abstracts of the first SIAM-EMS conference Applied Mathematics in our Changing World'' in Berlin, September 2-6, 2001.

Description: {\sc Zimpl} is a little language to translate the mathematical model of a problem into a linear or (mixed-)integer mathematical program expressed in {\tt lp} or {\tt mps} file format which can be read by a LP or MIP solver.

Description: Im ersten Teil des folgenden Aufsatzes werden allgemeine Überlegungen zur Entwicklung von Bibliotheken hin zu Informationsvermittlungsstellen für sowohl elektronische wie auch gedruckte Medien angestellt. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der Evaluation digitaler Bibliotheken und Informationsportale in Deutschland wird ein erster Kriterienkatalog für ein Verbund-Informationsportal für den Kooperativen Bibliotheksverbund Berlin-Brandenburg entwickelt. Im Anhang befindet sich der Statusbericht über Informationsportale und digitale Bibliotheken in Deutschland. Dazu wurden sieben digitale Bibliotheken auf Verbundebene und 21 Bibliotheken nach Bundesländern evaluiert.

Description: Given a set of service requests (events), a set of guided servers (units), and a set of unguided service contractors (conts), the vehicle dispatching problem {\sl vdp} is the task to find an assignment of events to units and conts as well as tours for all units starting at their current positions and ending at their home positions (dispatch) such that the total cost of the dispatch is minimized. The cost of a dispatch is the sum of unit costs, cont costs, and event costs. Unit costs consist of driving costs, service costs and overtime costs; cont costs consist of a fixed cost per service; event costs consist of late costs linear in the late time, which occur whenever the service of the event starts later than its deadline. The program \textsf{ZIBDIP} based on dynamic column generation and set partitioning yields solutions on heavy-load real-world instances (215 events, 95 units) in less than a minute that are no worse than 1\% from optimum on state-of-the-art personal computers.

Description: Scenario tree models of stochastic programs arise naturally under standard nonanticipativity assumptions. We demonstrate how tree-sparse programs cover the general case, with \emph{arbitrary} information constraints. Detailed examples and intuitive interpretations illuminate the basic thoughts behind the abstract but elementary construction.

Description: In this paper we present an algorithm that accelerates 3D texture-based volume rendering of large and sparse data sets. A hierarchical data structure (known as AMR tree) consisting of nested uniform grids is employed in order to efficiently encode regions of interest. The hierarchies resulting from this kind of space partitioning yield a good balance between the amount of volume to render and the number of texture bricks -- a prerequisite for fast rendering. Comparing our approach to an octree based algorithm we show that our algorithm increases rendering performance significantly for sparse data. A further advantage is that less parameter tuning is necessary.

Description: Mathematical optimization techniques are on their way to becoming a standard tool in chemical process engineering. While such approaches are usually based on deterministic models, uncertainties such as external disturbances play a significant role in many real-life applications. The present article gives an introduction to practical issues of process operation and to basic mathematical concepts required for the explicit treatment of uncertainties by stochastic optimization.

Description: Uncoupling-coupling Monte Carlo (UCMC) combines uncoupling techniques for finite Markov chains with Markov chain Monte Carlo methodology. UCMC aims at avoiding the typical metastable or trapping behavior of Monte Carlo techniques. From the viewpoint of Monte Carlo, a slowly converging long-time Markov chain is replaced by a limited number of rapidly mixing short-time ones. Therefore, the state space of the chain has to be hierarchically decomposed into its metastable conformations. This is done by means of combining the technique of conformation analysis as recently introduced by the authors, and appropriate annealing strategies. We present a detailed examination of the uncoupling-coupling procedure which uncovers its theoretical background, and illustrates the hierarchical algorithmic approach. Furthermore, application of the UCMC algorithm to the $n$-pentane molecule allows us to discuss the effect of its crucial steps in a typical molecular scenario.

Description: Standard model predictive control for real-time operation of industrial production processes may be inefficient in the presence of substantial uncertainties. To avoid overly conservative disturbance corrections while ensuring safe operation, random influences should be taken into account explicitly. We propose a multistage stochastic programming approach within the model predictive control framework and apply it to a distillation process with a feed tank buffering external sources. A preliminary comparison to a probabilistic constraints approach is given and first computational results for the distillation process are presented.

Description: Dynamic stochastic programs are prototypical for optimization problems with an inherent tree structure inducing characteristic sparsity patterns in the KKT systems of interior methods. We propose an integrated modeling and solution approach for such tree-sparse programs. Three closely related natural formulations are theoretically analyzed from a control-theoretic viewpoint and compared to each other. Associated KKT solution algorithms with linear complexity are developed and comparisons to other interior approaches and related problem formulations are discussed.

Description: We introduce a new problem that was motivated by a (more complicated) problem arising in a robotized assembly enviroment. The bin coloring problem is to pack unit size colored items into bins, such that the maximum number of different colors per bin is minimized. Each bin has size~$B\in\mathbb{N}$. The packing process is subject to the constraint that at any moment in time at most $q\in\mathbb{N}$ bins may be partially filled. Moreover, bins may only be closed if they are filled completely. An online algorithm must pack each item must be packed without knowledge of any future items. We investigate the existence of competitive online algorithms for the online uniform binpacking problem. We show upper bounds for the bin coloring problem. We prove an upper bound of $3q$ - 1 and a lower bound of $2q$ for the competitive ratio of a natural greedy-type algorithm, and show that surprisingly a trivial algorithm which uses only one open bin has a strictly better competitive ratio of $2q$ - 1. Morever, we show that any deterministic algorithm has a competitive ratio $\Omega (q)$ and that randomization does not improve this lower bound even when the adversary is oblivious.

Description: In circuit switching networks call streams are characterized by their mean and peakedness (two-moment method). The $GI/M/C/0$ system is used to model a single link, where the $GI$-stream is determined by fitting moments appropriately. For the moments of the overflow traffic of a $GI/M/C/0$ system there are efficient numerical algorithms available. However, for the moments of the freed carried traffic, defined as the moments of a virtual link of infinite capacity to which the process of calls accepted by the link (carried arrival process) is virtually directed and where the virtual calls get fresh exponential i.i.d.\ holding times, only complex numerical algorithms are available. This is the reason why the concept of the freed carried traffic is not used rigorously. The main result of this paper is an efficient algorithm for computing the moments of the freed carried traffic, in particular an explicit formula for its peakedness. This result offers a unified handling of both overflow and carried traffics in networks. Furthermore, some refined characteristics for the overflow and freed carried streams are derived.

Description: In this work we concentrate on developing methods which determine good lower bounds for set partitioning problems (SPP) in an appropriate amount of time. We found out that it makes sense to use the Lagrangian relaxation method for this task. The Lagrangian relaxed problem of SPP has a simple structure, which leads to algorithms and heuristics, whose total complexity per iteration depends linearly on the number of non-zeros of the problem matrix of SPP. In contrast, other methods like simplex methods or interior point methods have a complexity of higher order. Because the problem matrices of our tested instances are sparse, the linear dependence becomes an advantage for the algorithms and heuristics mentioned above. As a reference for the state-of-the-art we have applied the dual simplex method and the barrier function method, implemented in CPLEX. The methods, which we have developed and compared with those of CPLEX, are SBM, CAM, CCBM, and CBM. SBM is a subgradient bundle method derived from the basic subgradient method, which is a global convergent method for determining the maximum of concave functions. CAM is a coordinate ascent method, where the convex coordinate bundle method CCBM and the coordinate bundle method CBM are derivatives from CAM. We observed that the basic subgradient and the coordinate ascent method are improved if bundling techniques can be used. But the motivation for bundling differs for both approaches. In the former case bundling helps to approximate a minimum norm subgradient, which provides a steepest ascent direction, in order to speed up the performance. In the latter case bundling enables proceeding along directions, which are not restricted on the coordinate directions. By this the performance is accelerated. Among all used techniques stabilization is worth mentioning. Stabilization improves the performance especially at the beginning by avoiding too big steps during the proceeding. This leads to a more stabilized progression. Stabilization was successfully applied to SBM, CAM, CCBM, and CBM. As an overall result we conclude the following: \begin{enumerate} \item CPLEX computes the optimal objective values, whereas SBM and CBM has on average a gap of under $1.5\%$. \item In comparison to CPLEX baropt, SBM, CAM, and CBM the algorithm CCBM has a slow convergence because of the convex combination of ascent coordinate directions. An alternative is to relax the convex combination to a simple sum of the corresponding directions. This idea is realized in CBM. \item If we focus on the running time rather than on optimality then CBM is on average the fastest algorithm. \end{enumerate} Note that methods like SBM or CBM are applied on static SPP instances in order to determine a good lower bound. For solving SPP we need dynamical methods. Due to the complex topic of dynamical methods we will not discuss them, but a certain technique is worth mentioning. It is called column generation. We have indicated that this technique needs good Lagrangian multipliers of the corresponding SPP instances in order to generate further columns (in our case duties), which are added to the current SPP instance. Those multipliers are by-products of methods like our six considered methods. Due to the large number of such generation steps the running time depends on the computation time of these methods. Therefore, CBM fits more to this technique than CPLEX baropt or SBM. To sum it up it can be said that applications such as a duty scheduling can be described as set partitioning problems, whose lower bound can be solved by simplex, interior points, subgradient, or coordinate ascent methods. It turns out that the interior points method CPLEX baropt and the heuristic CBM have good performances. Furthermore, good Lagrangian multipliers, which are by-products of these methods, can be used by techniques like column generation. For this particular technique it also turns out that among our tested algorithms CBM is the most efficient one. In general we can state that real-world applications, which have to solve a large number of Lagrangian relaxed SPP instances can improve their performance by using CBM.

Description: The success of large-scale multi-national projects like the forthcoming analysis of the LHC particle collision data at CERN relies to a great extent on the ability to efficiently utilize computing a management software (Datagrid, Globus, etc.), while the effective integration of computing nodes has been largely neglected up to now. This is the focus of our work. We present a framework for a high-performance cluster that can be used as a reliable computing node in the Grid. We outline the cluster architecture, the management of distributed data and the seamless intergration of the cluster into the Grid environment.

Description: Der Aufsatz ist die ausgearbeitete Fassung eines Vortrages, gehalten am 05.04.2001 auf dem 91. Deutschen Bibliothekartag in Bielefeld. Der Kooperative Bibliotheksverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV) ist im Rahmen eines wissenschaftlichen Projektes in den Jahren 1997 bis 2000 am Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum für Informationstechnik Berlin (ZIB) aufgebaut worden. Nachdem das Projekt erfolgreich abgeschlossen ist, wird der KOBV 2001 institutionalisiert. In dem Vortrag hat die Verfasserin einen Überblick über das bisher Erreichte, den derzeitigen Stand und die Perspektiven des neuen Verbundes gegeben. Der KOBV stellt eine neue Art von Bibliotheksverbund dar. Sein technisches Konzept und sein organisatorischer Aufbau basieren auf der {\sl Internetphilosophie}. Den informationstechnischen Kern bildet eine Suchmaschine, die die heterogenen lokalen Bibliothekssysteme miteinander verbindet. Die KOBV-Organisation ist dezentral. Sie wird getragen von der Kooperation der Bibliotheken in Berlin und Brandenburg. Eine kleine Verbundzentrale koordiniert dieses Geflecht vernetzter lokaler Einheiten, vertritt den KOBV nach außen und arbeitet - in Form von Projekten - an seiner Weiterentwicklung. Der Entwicklungsaspekt und die Nutzerorientierung sind zwei wesentliche Komponenten in der Verbundarbeit. Berlin und Brandenburg haben auf engem Raum zahlreiche Bibliotheken mit großen, reichhaltigen Medienbeständen. Mittel- bis langfristig sollen Bibliotheken aller Sparten und Größen in den KOBV integriert werden, seien es wissenschaftliche Universalbibliotheken, universitäre Bibliothekssysteme, Spezialbibliotheken, Behörden- und Parlamentsbibliotheken oder öffentliche Bibliotheken. Auch regionale Bibliotheksverbünde können als Subverbünde am KOBV teilnehmen. Mit der KOBV-Suchmaschine ist eine offene Plattform geschaffen worden, auf der weitere Entwicklungen aufsetzen können. Der Aufbau einer virtuellen Regionalbibliothek mit Bestell- und Lieferkomponenten ist eines der Ziele. Darüber hinaus ist es die Vision, in der Region ein virtuelles {\sl Wissensportal} aufzubauen, das dem Nutzer unter einer Adresse den umfassenden Zugang und die umfassende Bereitstellung von Informationen aller Art bietet.

Description: A new approach to the numerical solution of optimal control problems including control and state constraints is presented. Like hybrid methods, the approach aims at combining the advantages of direct and indirect methods. Unlike hybrid methods, however, our method is directly based on interior-point concepts in function space --- realized via an adaptive multilevel scheme applied to the complementarity formulation and numerical continuation along the central path. Existence of the central path and its continuation towards the solution point is analyzed in some theoretical detail. An adaptive stepsize control with respect to the duality gap parameter is worked out in the framework of affine invariant inexact Newton methods. Finally, the performance of a first version of our new type of algorithm is documented by the successful treatment of the well-known intricate windshear problem.

Description: Das \emph{Committee on Electronic Information and Communication} (CEIC) der \emph{International Mathematical Union} (IMU) hat die Aufgabe, sich über die langfristige Informationsversorgung in der Mathematik Gedanken zu machen und Lösungsvorschläge hierfür zu erarbeiten. Das Kernthema ist natürlich "`Elektronisches Publizieren"'. Dazu gehören auch Copyright-Regelungen. % Sie sind -- % neben einer Andeutung der weiteren CEIC-Pläne -- der Fokus dieses % kurzen Artikels. Er schließt mit einem von der IMU verabschiedeten % Aufruf zu vernünftigem Verhalten bei Copyright-Vereinbarungen. Eine % nachhaltige Befolgung dieses Aufrufs -- verbunden mit weiteren % Aktivitäten -- könnte die (derzeit kaum noch bezahlbare und % dadurch gefährdete) Literaturversorgung nachhaltig zum Positiven % verändern. Mit diesem Artikel beginnt eine kleine Serie von Aufsätzen, in denen ich (in meiner Funktion als eines von elf CEIC-Mitgliedern) die Empfehlungen des CEIC erläutern werde. % Das heutige Thema sind die % CEIC-Vorschläge zum Copyright

Description: By computed tomography data (CT), the individual geometry of the mandible is quite well reproduced, also the separation between cortical and trabecular bone. Using anatomical knowledge about the architecture and the functional potential of the masticatory muscles, realistic situations were approximated. The solution of the underlying partial differential equations describing linear elastic material behaviour is provided by an adaptive finite element method. Estimations of the discretization error, local grid refinement, and multilevel techniques guarantee the reliability and efficiency of the method.

Description: Optimization is the task of finding an optimum solution to a given problem. When the decision variables are discrete we speak of a combinatorial optimization problem. Such a problem is online when decisions have to be made before all data of the problem are known. And we speak of a real-time online problem when online decisions have to be computed within very tight time bounds. This paper surveys the are of combinatorial online and real-time optimization, it discusses, in particular, the concepts with which online and real-time algorithms can be analyzed.

Description: This paper describes a new simulation tool for the prediction of aerosol formation and behavior in gas--liquid contact devices such as absorbers, scrubbers, quench coolers, and condensers as well as multistage gas cleaning processes, respectively. Aerosol formation can impact severely the separation efficiency of gas cleaning processes. Aerosol or fog formation can arise by spontaneous condensation or desublimation in supersaturated gas phases. The rigorous description of the mass and energy transfer between the gas phase, the liquid phase, and the growing aerosol droplets leads to a system of partial differential and algebraic equations. For the solution of these systems we have developed the plant simulation tool AerCoDe. This program bases upon the linearly--implicit Euler discretisation, which in combination with extrapolation permits an adaptive step size and order control. Typical simulation results of a multistage industrial flue gas scrubbing process are presented. It is shown, that experimental data can be confirmed if the number concentration of condensation nuclei as an input parameter is roughly known.

Description: This paper discusses online optimization of real-world transportation systems. We concentrate on transportation problems arising in production and manufacturing processes, in particular in company internal logistics. We describe basic techniques to design online optimization algorithms for such systems, but our main focus is decision support for the planner: which online algorithm is the most appropriate one in a particular setting? We show by means of several examples that traditional methods for the evaluation of online algorithms often do not suffice to judge the strengths and weaknesses of online algorithms. We present modifications of well-known evaluation techniques and some new methods, and we argue that the selection of an online algorithm to be employed in practice should be based on a sound combination of several theoretical and practical evaluation criteria, including simulation.

Description: Wireless communication networks employ radio frequencies to establish communication links. The available radio spectrum is very limited. To meet today's radio communication demand, this resource has to be administered and reused carefully in order to control mutual interference. The reuse can be organized via separation in space, time, or frequency, for example. The problem, therefore, arises to distribute frequencies to links in a ``reasonable manner''. This is the basic form of the frequency assignment problem. What ``reasonable'' means, how to quantify this measure of quality, which technical side constraints to consider cannot be answered in general. The exact specification of this task and its mathematical model depend heavily on the particular application considered. In this paper we discuss this issue with respect to the GSM standard for mobile communication.

Description: This paper is a summary of the Round Table: ``The Impact of Mathematical Research on Industry and Vice Versa'' held at 3ecm in Barcelona on July 11, 2000. The round table started with contributions of the three panelists. Irene Fonseca, the panel chair, opened the discussion by stating six questions addressing the main issues of the round table topic. She presented the panel's answers to these questions, drawing on many examples from her own academic experience. In the following additional presentations, the other two panel members added further points of view based on their personal involvement with industry. The round table ended with a lively discussion with members from the audience. This written summary of the oral presentations follows the structure of the round table indicated above.

Description: This article is about \emph{adaptive column generation techniques} for the solution of duty scheduling problems in public transit. The current optimization status is exploited in an adaptive approach to guide the subroutines for duty generation, LP resolution, and schedule construction toward relevant parts of a large problem. Computational results for three European scenarios are reported.

Description: The recent spectral bundle method allows to compute, within reasonable time, approximate dual solutions of large scale semidefinite quadratic 0-1 programming relaxations. We show that it also generates a sequence of primal approximations that converge to a primal optimal solution. Separating with respect to these approximations gives rise to a cutting plane algorithm that converges to the optimal solution under reasonable assumptions on the separation oracle and the feasible set. We have implemented a practical variant of the cutting plane algorithm for improving semidefinite relaxations of constrained quadratic 0-1 programming problems by odd-cycle inequalities. We also consider separating odd-cycle inequalities with respect to a larger support than given by the cost matrix and present a heuristic for selecting this support. Our preliminary computational results for max-cut instances on toroidal grid graphs and balanced bisection instances indicate that warm start is highly efficient and that enlarging the support may sometimes improve the quality of relaxations considerably.

Description: Der Wissenschaftsrat hat in seiner Juli-Sitzung 2001 \glqq Empfehlungen zur digitalen Informationsversorgung durch Hochschulbibliotheken \grqq verabschiedet. Einige der Vorschläge des Wissenschaftsrates können, falls sie von den angesprochenen Institutionen aufgenommen werden, zu einer nachhaltigen Veränderung der wissenschaftlichen Informationslandschaft führen. In meinem kurzen Kommentar zu diesem Papier möchte ich auf einige dieser Anregungen hinweisen.

Description: Von welcher "Informationsumwelt" träumt jemand, der für seine wissenschaftliche (und sonstige) Arbeit digitale Informationstechnologie intensiv einsetzt? In diesem Artikel beschreibe ich meinen "digitalen Traum". Er ist ganz einfach zu formulieren:"Ich will alles und zwar sofort, jederzeit, "überall" und kostenlos zur Verfügung haben." Ich schildere, was davon heute schon (fast) realisiert ist und was noch fehlt. Ich skizziere einige zentrale Schwierigkeiten der vollständigen Realisierung und skizziere mögliche Lösungen.

Description: Im Rahmen der biomechanischen Simulation knöcherner Organe ist die Frage nach einer befriedigenden Materialbeschreibung nach wie vor ungelöst. Computertomographische Datensätze liefern eine räumliche Verteilung der (Röntgen-)Dichte und ermöglichen damit eine gute Darstellung der individuellen Geometrie. Weiter können die verschiedenen Materialbestandteile des Knochens, Spongiosa und Kortikalis, voneinander getrennt werden. Aber die richtungsabängige Information der Materialanisotropie ist verloren. In dieser Arbeit wird ein Ansatz für eine anisotrope Materialbeschreibung vorgestellt, die es ermöglicht, den Einfluss der individuellen knöchernen Struktur auf das makroskopische Materialverhalten abzuschätzen.

Description: Many phenomena in nature and engineering happen simultaneously on rather diverse spatial and temporal scales, i.e.\ exhibit a multi-scale character. Therefore various hierarchical data structures and numerical schemes have been devised to represent quantitatively such phenomena. A special numerical multilevel technique, associated with a particular hierarchical data structure, is so-called Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR). This scheme achieves locally very high spatial and temporal resolutions. Due to its popularity, many scientists are in need of interactive visualization tools for AMR data. In this article we present a 3D texture-based volume rendering algorithm for AMR data, that directly utilizes the hierarchical structure. Thereby interactive rendering even for large data sets is achieved. In particular the problems of interpolation artifacts, opacity corrections, and texture memory limitations are addressed. The algorithm's value in practice is demonstrated with simulation and image data.

Description: By combining techniques of preparation, histology, confocal microscopy, data visualization and data processing, we have created and recently published a standard brain model for drosophila and honey bee brains. This report describes the algorithms and implementation of the corresponding software modules. At the same time it serves as a user's guide for scientist who want to reproduce the results for differerent species or mutants.

Description: Several classes of systems of evolution equations with one or two vector unknowns are considered. We investigate also systems with one vector and one scalar unknown. For these classes all equations having the simplest higher symmetry are listed.

Description: Two traffic streams $\Phi_1$, $\Phi_2$ are offered a link. The calls of $\Phi_i$ require exponential holding times with parameter $\mu$ and are accepted if less than $C_i$ trunks are occupied. Approximating the $\Phi_i$ by appropriate renewal processes meeting their first two moments, defined as the moments of the numbers of calls in virtual links of infinite capacity to which the traffic streams as freed traffics are virtually directed and where the calls get fresh exponential i.i.d.\ holding times with parameter $\mu$, stable recursive algorithms of complexity $O(\max(C_1,C_2))$ are derived for the first two defined as above moments of the individual overflow and freed carried traffics. The results offer a unified handling of both overflow and carried traffics in circuit switching networks with trunk reservation, providing a basis for new two-moment network dimensioning algorithms.

Description: We study the performance of QCD simulations with dynamical Wilson fermions by combining the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm with parallel tempering on $10^4$ and $12^4$ lattices. In order to compare tempered with standard simulations, covariance matrices between sub-ensembles have to be formulated and evaluated using the general properties of autocorrelations of the parallel tempering algorithm. We find that rendering the hopping parameter $\kappa$ dynamical does not lead to an essential improvement. We point out possible reasons for this observation and discuss more suitable ways of applying parallel tempering to QCD.

Description: Dem vorliegenden Aufsatz liegt ein Vortrag zugrunde, den die Verfasserin auf der Ersten Gemeinsamen Fachtagung der DBV-Landesverbände Berlin und Brandenburg "Wir machen den Weg frei : Fusionen - Kooperationen in Berlin und Brandenburg" am 17. Oktober 2001 gehalten hat, in der Vortragsreihe "Möglichkeiten und Grenzen von Ausleih- und bibliographischen Verbünden - VÖB Berlin, VÖB Brandenburg, KOBV". Der Kooperative Bibliotheksverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV) ist angetreten, um auf der Basis neuer Technologien zeitgemäße, nutzerorientierte Dienstleistungen für den Informationsbereich zu entwickeln und die Informationsinfrastruktur in der Region Berlin-Brandenburg neu zu organisieren. Dabei setzt der KOBV insbesondere auf das Internet. Die Verfasserin beschreibt die einzelnen Stufen, in denen die Dienste des KOBV aufgebaut wurden und kontinuierlich weiter ausgebaut werden. Dabei zeigt sie Vorteile auf, die Nutzern und Bibliotheken durch den Verbund entstehen, und lotet gleichzeitig die Grenzen aus, die dem Verbund gesetzt sind.

Description: We report numerical results for SBmethod --- a publically available implementation of the spectral bundle method --- applied to the 7$^{th}$ DIMACS challenge test sets that are semidefinite relaxations of combinatorial optimization problems. The performance of the code is heavily influenced by parameters that control bundle update and eigenvalue computation. Unfortunately, no mathematically sound guidelines for setting them are known. Based on our experience with SBmethod, we propose heuristics for dynamically updating the parameters as well as a heuristc for improving the starting point. These are now the default settings of SBmethod Version 1.1. We compare their performance on the DIMACS instances to our previous best choices for Version 1.0. SBmethod Version 1.1 is also part of the independent DIMACS benchmark by H.~Mittelmann. Based on these results we try to analyze strengths and weaknesses of our approach in comparison to other codes for large scale semidefinite programming.

Description: Many {\cal NP}-hard graph problems can be solved in polynomial time for graphs with bounded treewidth. Equivalent results are known for pathwidth and branchwidth. In recent years, several studies have shown that this result is not only of theoretical interest but can successfully be applied to find (almost) optimal solutions or lower bounds for diverse optimization problems. To apply a tree decomposition approach, the treewidth of the graph has to be determined, independently of the application at hand. Although for fixed $k$, linear time algorithms exist to solve the decision problem ``treewidth $\leq k$'', their practical use is very limited. The computational tractability of treewidth has been rarely studied so far. In this paper, we compare four heuristics and two lower bounds for instances from applications such as the frequency assignment problem and the vertex coloring problem. Three of the heuristics are based on well-known algorithms to recognize triangulated graphs. The fourth heuristic recursively improves a tree decomposition by the computation of minimal separating vertex sets in subgraphs. Lower bounds can be computed from maximal cliques and the minimum degree of induced subgraphs. A computational analysis shows that the treewidth of several graphs can be identified by these methods. For other graphs, however, more sophisticated techniques are necessary.

Description: The currently most efficient algorithm for inference with a probabilistic network builds upon a triangulation of a network's graph. In this paper, we show that pre-processing can help in finding good triangulations for probabilistic networks, that is, triangulations with a minimal maximum clique size. We provide a set of rules for stepwise reducing a graph, without losing optimality. This reduction allows us to solve the triangulation problem on a smaller graph. From the smaller graph's triangulation, a triangulation of the original graph is obtained by reversing the reduction steps. Our experimental results show that the graphs of some well-known real-life probabilistic networks can be triangulated optimally just by preprocessing; for other networks, huge reductions in their graph's size are obtained.

Description: {\begin{rawhtml} 〈a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-007-0178-0"〉 Revised Version unter http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-007-0178-0〈/a〉 \end{rawhtml}} Wireless communication is used in many different situations such as mobile telephony, radio and TV broadcasting, satellite communication, and military operations. In each of these situations a frequency assignment problem arises with application specific characteristics. Researchers have developed different modelling ideas for each of the features of the problem, such as the handling of interference among radio signals, the availability of frequencies, and the optimization criterion. This survey gives an overview of the models and methods that the literature provides on the topic. We present a broad description of the practical settings in which frequency assignment is applied. We also present a classification of the different models and formulations described in the literature, such that the common features of the models are emphasized. The solution methods are divided in two parts. Optimization and lower bounding techniques on the one hand, and heuristic search techniques on the other hand. The literature is classified according to the used methods. Again, we emphasize the common features, used in the different papers. The quality of the solution methods is compared, whenever possible, on publicly available benchmark instances.

Description: Telota ist ein Kunstwort, das für alle Aktivitäten der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften steht, die der Förderung von Forschung, Kommunikation und Präsentation durch elektronische Medien dienen. In diesem Artikel werden die Entstehung des Telota-Projektes geschildert und die Ziele diskutiert, die mit diesem Projekt erreicht werden sollen. Es geht darum, moderne Informationstechnik bewusst, geplant und nachhaltig für alle Belange der {\rm BBAW} einzusetzen. Informationstechnische Werkzeuge sollen für die wissenschaftliche Arbeit effizient genutzt werden; die Information nach innen und nach außen soll deutlich verbessert werden; eine bessere Kommunikationsinfrastuktur soll die Zusammenarbeit fördern.

Description: The pole condition is a general concept for the theoretical analysis and the numerical solution of a variety of wave propagation problems. It says that the Laplace transform of the physical solution in radial direction has no poles in the lower complex half-plane. In the present paper we show that for the Helmholtz equation with a radially symmetric potential the pole condition is equivalent to Sommerfeld's radiation condition. Moreover, a new representation formula based on the pole condition is derived and used to prove existence, uniqueness and asymptotic properties of solutions. This lays the foundations of a promising new algorithm to solve time-harmonic scattering problems numerically and provides a new approach for analyzing existing algorithms such as the Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) method and the Bayliss-Gunzburger-Turkel (BGT) algorithm.

Description: In this paper we study the PML method for Helmholtz-type scattering problems with radially symmetric potential. The PML method consists in surrounding the computational domain by a \textbf{P}erfectly \textbf{M}atched sponge \textbf{L}ayer. We prove that the approximate solution obtained by the PML method converges exponentially fast to the true solution in the computational domain as the thickness of the sponge layer tends to infinity. This is a generalization of results by Lassas and Somersalo based on boundary integral eqaution techniques. Here we use techniques based on the pole condition instead. This makes it possible to treat problems without an explicitly known fundamental solution.

Description: Manufacturing is a topic that provides rich opportunities for important mathematical contributions to real-world problems. The purpose of this paper is to show, by means of several examples, where and how mathematical problems of a discrete nature arise in manufacturing and to demonstrate the savings and improvements that can be achieved by employing the techniques of combinatorial optimization. The topics covered range from the design phase of a product (e. g.,routing, placement and via minimization in VLSI design), the control of CNC machines (e. g., drilling and plotting), to the management of assembly lines, storage systems and whole factories. We also point out difficulties in the modelling of complex situations and outline the algorithmic methods that are used for the solution of the mathematical problems arising in manufacturing. {\bf Key words:} discrete mathematics , combinatorial optimization, applications to manufacturing.

Description: Large scale combustion simulations show the need for adaptive methods. First, to save computation time and mainly to resolve local and instationary phenomena. In contrast to the widespread method of lines, we look at the reaction- diffusion equations as an abstract Cauchy problem in an appropriate Hilbert space. This means, we first discretize in time, assuming the space problems solved up to a prescribed tolerance. So, we are able to control the space and time error separately in an adaptive approach. The time discretization is done by several adaptive Runge-Kutta methods whereas for the space discretization a finite element method is used. The different behaviour of the proposed approaches are demonstrated on many fundamental examples from ecology, flame propagation, electrodynamics and combustion theory. {\bf Keywords:} initial boundary value problem, Rothe- method, adaptive Runge-Kutta method, finite elements, mesh refinement. {\bf AMS CLASSIFICATION:} 65J15, 65M30, 65M50.

Description: In this paper we describe a cutting plane algorithm for the Steiner tree packing problem. We use our algorithm to solve some switchbox routing problems of VLSI-design and report on our computational experience. This includes a brief discussion of separation algorithms, a new LP-based primal heuristic and implementation details. The paper is based on the polyhedral theory for the Steiner tree packing polyhedron developed in our companion paper SC 92-8 and meant to turn this theory into an algorithmic tool for the solution of practical problems.

Description: Let $G=(V,E)$ be a graph and $T\subseteq V$ be a node set. We call an edge set $S$ a Steiner tree with respect to $T$ if $S$ connects all pairs of nodes in $T$. In this paper we address the following problem, which we call the weighted Steiner tree packing problem. Given a graph $G=(V,E)$ with edge weights $w_e$, edge capacities $c_e, e \in E,$ and node sets $T_1,\ldots,T_N$, find edge sets $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ such that each $S_k$ is a Steiner tree with respect to $T_k$, at most $c_e$ of these edge sets use edge $e$ for each $e\in E$, and such that the sum of the weights of the edge sets is minimal. Our motivation for studying this problem arises from the routing problem in VLSI-design, where given sets of points have to be connected by wires. We consider the Steiner tree packing Problem from a polyhedral point of view and define an appropriate polyhedron, called the Steiner tree packing polyhedron. The goal of this paper is to (partially) describe this polyhedron by means of inequalities. It turns out that, under mild assumptions, each inequality that defines a facet for the (single) Steiner tree polyhedron can be lifted to a facet-defining inequality for the Steiner tree packing polyhedron. The main emphasis of this paper lies on the presentation of so-called joint inequalities that are valid and facet-defining for this polyhedron. Inequalities of this kind involve at least two Steiner trees. The classes of inequalities we have found form the basis of a branch & cut algorithm. This algorithm is described in our companion paper SC 92-09.

Description: The placement in the layout design of electronic circiuts consists of finding a non- overlapping assignment of rectangular cells to positions on the chip so what wireability is guaranteed and certain technical constraints are met.This problem can be modelled as a quadratic 0/1- program subject to linear constraints. We will present a decomposition approach to the placement problem and give results about $NP$-hardness and the existence of $\varepsilon$-approximative algorithms for the involved optimization problems. A graphtheoretic formulation of these problems will enable us to develop approximative algorithms. Finally we will present details of the implementation of our approach and compare it to industrial state of the art placement routines. {\bf Keywords:} Quadratic 0/1 optimization, Computational Complexity, VLSI-Design.

Description: Dieses Paper enthält die ersten beiden Teile einer geplanten Serie von Aufsätzen über die $CPLEX^2$-Implementierung des Simplex- Verfahrens. Der erste Teil ist eine Einführung: er liefert eine kurze Beschreibung des Verfahrens für Probleme mit beschränkten Variablen, zusammen mit einer relativ ausführlichen Diskussion der numerischen Eigenschaften der Netlib-Probleme. Diese Probleme bilden auch das Fundament der rechnerischen Untersuchungen in den folgenden Teilen. Der zweite Teil enthält die Hauptergebnisse dieses Papers, eine Beschreibung der Methode, die von CPLEX verwendet wird, um eine Startbasis zu konstruieren.

Description: Models for occupation dynamics in discrete quantum systems lead to large or even infinite systems of ordinary differential equations. Some new mathematical techniques, developed for the simulation of chemical processes, make a numerical solution of countable systems of ordinary differential equations possible. Both, a basic physical concept for the construction of such systems and the structure of the numerical tools for solving them are presented. These conceptual aspects are illustrated by a simulation of an occupation process from spectroscopy. In this example the structures of rotation spectra observed in infrared spectroscopy are explained and some possibilities for an extension of the model are shown.

Description: We present a polyhedral approach for the general problem of designing a minimum-cost network with specified connectivity requir

Description: In two-parameter systems two symmetry breaking bifurcation points of different types coalesce generically within one point. This causes secondary bifurcation points to exist. The aim of this paper is to understand this phenomenon with group theory and the innerconnectivity of irreducible representations of supergroup and subgroups. Colored pictures of examples are included.

Description: In this paper we investigate separation problems for classes of inequalities valid for the polytope associated with the Steiner tree packing problem, a problem that arises, e.~g., in VLSI routing. The separation problem for Steiner partition inequalities is ${\cal N}\hskip-2pt{\cal P}$-hard in general. We show that it can be solved in polynomial time for those instances that come up in switchbox routing. Our algorithm uses dynamic programming techniques. These techniques are also applied to the much more complicated separation problem for alternating cycle inequalities. In this case we can compute in polynomial time, given some point $y$, a lower bound for the gap $\alpha-a^Ty$ over all alternating cycle inequalities $a^Tx\ge\alpha$. This gives rise to a very effective separation heuristic. A by-product of our algorithm is the solution of a combinatorial optimization problem that is interesting in its own right: Find a shortest path in a graph where the ``length'' of a path is its usual length minus the length of its longest edge.

Description: Gegeben sei ein Graph $G=(V,E)$ mit positiven Kantenkapazitäten $c_e$ und Knotenmengen $T_1,\ldots,T_N$. Das Steinerbaumpackungs-Problem besteht darin, Kantenmengen $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ zu finden, so da\ss\ jedes $S_k$ die Knoten aus $T_k$ verbindet und jede Kante $e$ in höchstens $c_e$ Kantenmengen aus $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ vorkommt. Eine zulässige Lösung dieses Problems nennen wir eine Steinerbaumpackung. Ist zusätzlich eine Gewichtung der Kanten gegeben und nach einer bezüglich dieser Gewichtung minimalen Steinerbaumpackung gesucht, so sprechen wir vom gewichteten Steinerbaumpackungs-Problem. Die Motivation zum Studium dieses Problems kommt aus dem Entwurf elektronischer Schaltungen. Ein dort auftretendes Teilproblem ist das sogenannte Verdrahtungsproblem, das im wesentlichen darin besteht, gegebene Punktmengen unter bestimmten Nebenbedingungen und Optimalitätskriterien auf einer Grundfläche zu verbinden. Wir studieren das Steinerbaumpackungs-Problem aus polyedrischer Sicht und definieren ein Polyeder, dessen Ecken genau den Steinerbaumpackungen entsprechen. Anschlie\ss end versuchen wir, dieses Polyeder durch gute'' beziehungsweise facetten-definierenden Ungleichungen zu beschreiben. Basierend auf diesen Ungleichungen entwickeln wir ein Schnittebenenverfahren. Die Lösung des Schnittebenenverfahrens liefert eine untere Schranke für die Optimallösung und dient als Grundlage für die Entwicklung guter Primalheuristiken. Wir haben das von uns implementierte Schnittebenenverfahren an einem Spezialfall des Verdrahtungsproblems, dem sogenannten Switchbox-Verdrahtungsproblem, getestet und vielversprechende Ergebnisse erzielt.

Description: The numerical treatment of Equivariant parameter-dependent onlinear equation systems, and even more its automation requires the intensive use of group theory. This paper illustrates the group theoretic computations which are done in the preparation of the numerical computations. The bifurcation graph which gives the bifurcation subgroups is determined from the interrelationship of the irreducible representations of a group and its subgroups. The Jacobian is transformed to block diagonal structure using a modification of the transformation which transforms to block diagonal structure with respect to a supergroup. The principle of conjugacy is used everywhere to make symbolic and numerical computations even more efficient. Finally, when the symmetry reduced problems and blocks of Jacobian matrices are evaluated numerically, the fact that the given representation is a quasi-permutation representation is exploited automatically.

Description: {\def\N{{\cal N}} \def\R{\hbox{\rm I\kern-2pt R}} \def\MN{{\rm I\kern-2pt N}} In this paper we study the following problem, which we call the weighted routing problem. Let be given a graph $G=(V,E)$ with non-negative edge weights $w_e\in\R_+$ and integer edge capacities $c_e\in\MN$ and let $\N=\{T_1,\ldots,T_N\}$, $N\ge 1$, be a list of node sets. The weighted routing problem consists in finding edge sets $S_1,\ldots,S_N$ such that, for each $k\in\{1,\ldots,N\}$, the subgraph $(V(S_k),S_k)$ contains an $[s,t]$-path for all $s,t\in T_k$, at most $c_e$ of these edge sets use edge $e$ for each $e\in E$, and such that the sum of the weights of the edge sets is minimal. Our motivation for studying this problem arises from the routing problem in VLSI-design, where given sets of points have to be connected by wires. We consider the weighted routing problem from a polyhedral point of view. We define an appropriate polyhedron and try to (partially) describe this polyhedron by means of inequalities. We briefly sketch our separation algorithms for some of the presented classes of inequalities. Based on these separation routines we have implemented a branch and cut algorithm. Our algorithm is applicable to an important subclass of routing problems arising in VLSI-design, namely to problems where the underlying graph is a grid graph and the list of node sets is located on the outer face of the grid. We report on our computational experience with this class of problem instances.}

Description: A new method for the numerical aproximation of an implicitly defined surface is presented. It is a generalization of the Euler- Gauss-Newton method for implicitly defined (one- parameter) curves to the case of (two-parameter) surfaces. The basic task in the more general case is an efficient combination of modern CAGD techniques (such as triangular Bernstein-Bzier patches and the nine parameter Hermite interpolant) and the rank deficient Gauss-Newton method.

Description: We propose an extended box method which turns out to be a variant of standard finite element methods in the case of pure diffusion and an extension of backward differencing to irregular grids if only convective transport is present. Together with the adaptive orientation proposed in a recent paper and a streamline ordering of the unknowns, this discretization leads to a highly efficient adaptive method for the approximation of internal layers in the case of large local Peclet numbers.

Description: Based on a simple stability analysis for the semi--implicit Euler discretization a new dynamic sparsing procedure is derived. This procedure automatically eliminates ``small'' elements of the Jacobian matrix. As a consequence, the amount of work needed to handle the linear algebra within a semi--implicit extrapolation integrator can be reduced drastically. Within the course of integration the sparsing criterion, which decides what ``small'' means, is dynamically adapted to ensure stability of the discretization scheme. Thus, stepsize restrictions due to instability can be avoided. Numerical experiments for quite different problems show robustness and efficiency of this dynamic sparsing technique. The techniques developed here in the context of stiff extrapolation integrators can, in principle, be applied to W--methods, where exact Jacobians may be replaced by ``sufficiently good'' approximations. {\bf Keywords:} Large scale integration, extrapolation methods, stiff ODEs, W--methods, sparse matrix techniques.

Description: In this paper we continue the investigations in [GMW92a] for the \def\sbppo{Steiner tree packing polyhedron} \sbppo. We present several new classes of valid inequalities and give sufficient (and necessary) conditions for these inequalities to be facet-defining. It is intended to incorporate these inequalities into an existing cutting plane algorithm that is applicable to practical problems arising in the design of electronic circuits.

Description: Subspace decompositions of finite element spaces based on $L2$-like orthogonal projections play an important role for the construction and analysis of multigrid like iterative methods. Recently several authors proved the equivalence of the associated discrete norms with the $H^1$-norm. The present report gives an elementary, self-contained derivation of this result which is based on the use of $ K$-functionals known from the theory of interpolation spaces. {\bf Keywords:} multilevel methods, nonuniform meshes, optimal convergence rates. {\bf AMS(MOS) Subject classifications:} 65N55, 65N30, 65N50.

Description: Using the perturbational-variational Rayleigh-Ritz matrix formalism, the 1/Z-expansion for the ground state of the isoelectronic $H_2$ sequence in the range of the internuclear distance $0.2\le R \le 9.0$ is calculated. Also lower bounds of the radius of convergence, based on Kato's theory of linear operators, are given. The numerical results of the 1/Z-expansion can be compared with the exact results and do not converge in the whole R-range. This behavior is in qualitative agreement with the lower bounds for the radius of convergence and enlights some still open properties of 1/Z- expansions for this sequence in the literature. {\bf PACS:} 31.15 + q; 31.20 Di; 31.20 Tz.

Description: Let $\Re$ be the set of all binary relations on a finite set $N$ and $d$ be the symmetric difference distance defined on $\Re$. For a given profile $\Pi = (R_1,...,R_m) \in R^m$, a relation $R* \in \Re $ that minimizes the function $\sum^m_{k=1} d(R_k,R) $ is called a median relation of $\Pi$. A number of problems occuring in the social sciences, in qualitative data analysis and in multicriteria decision making can be modelled as problems of finding medians of a profile of binary relations. In these contexts the profile $\Pi$ represents collected data (preferences, similarities, games) and the objective is that of finding a median relation of $\Pi$ with some special feature (representing e. g., consensus of preferences, clustering of similar objects, ranking of teams, etc.). In this paper we analyse the computational complexity of all such problems in which the median is required to satisfy one or more of the properties: reflexitivity, symmetry, antisymmetry, transitivity and completeness. We prove that whenever transitivity is required (except when symmetry and completeness are also simultaneously required) then the corresponding median problem is $NP$-hard. In some cases we prove that they remain $NP$-hard when the profile $\Pi$ has a fixed number of binary relations.

Description: MEXX (short for MEXanical systems eXtrapolation integrator) is a Fortran code for time integration of constrained mechanical systems. MEXX is suited for direct integration of the equations of motion in descriptor form. It is based on extrapolation of a time stepping method that is explicit in the differential equations and linearly implicit in the nonlinear constraints. It only requires the solution of well--structured systems of linear equations which can be solved with a computational work growing linearly with the number of bodies, in the case of multibody systems with few closed kinematic loops. Position and velocity constraints are enforced throughout the integration interval, whereas acceleration constraints need not be formulated. MEXX has options for time--continuous solution representation (useful for graphics) and for the location of events such as impacts. The present article describes MEXX and its underlying concepts.

Description: We consider the approximate solution of selfadjoint elliptic problems in three space dimensions by piecewise linear finite elements with respect to a highly non-uniform tetrahedral mesh which is generated adaptively. The arising linear systems are solved iteratively by the conjugate gradient method provided with a multilevel preconditioner. Here, the accuracy of the iterative solution is coupled with the discretization error. as the performance of hierarchical bases preconditioners deteriorate in three space dimensions, the BPX preconditioner is used, taking special care of an efficient implementation. Reliable a-posteriori estimates for the discretization error are derived from a local comparison with the approximation resulting from piecewise quadratic elements. To illustrate the theoretical results, we consider a familiar model problem involving reentrant corners and a real-life problem arising from hyperthermia, a recent clinical method for cancer therapy.

Description: A Hamiltonian system subject to smooth constraints can typically be viewed as a Hamiltonian system on a manifold. Numerical computations, however, must be performed in $ R^n$. In this paper, canonical transformations from ``Hamiltonian differential--algebraic equations'' to ODEs in Euclidean space are considered. In \S2, canonical parameterizations or local charts are developed and it is shown how these can be computed in a practical framework. In \S3 we consider the construction of unconstrained Hamiltonian ODE systems in the space in which the constraint manifold is embedded which preserve the constraint manifold as an integral invariant and whose flow reduces to the flow of the constrained system along the manifold. It is shown that certain of these unconstrained Hamiltonian systems force Lyapunov stability of the constraint--invariants, while others lead to an unstable invariant. In \S4, we compare various projection techniques which might be incorporated to better insure preservation of the constraint--invariants in the context of numerical discretization. Numerical experiments illustrate the degree to which the constraint and symplectic invariants are maintained under discretization of various formulations. {\bf Keywords:} differential--algebraic equations, Hamiltonian systems, canonical discretization schemes. {\bf AMS(MOS):} subject classification 65L05.

Description: In this paper, two classes of second order accurate high resolution schemes are presented on regular triangular meshes for initial value problem of two dimensional conservation laws. The first class are called Runge-Kutta-FVM MmB (locally Maximum- minimum Bounds preserving) schemes, which are first discretized by (FVM) finite volume method in space direction and modifying numerical fluxes, and then by Runge-Kutta methods in time direction; The second class, constructed by Taylor expansion in time, and then by FVM methods and making modifications to fluxes, are called Taylor- FVM MmB schemes. MmB properties of both schemes are proved for 2-D scalar conservation law. Numerical results are given for Riemann problems of 2-D scalar conservation law and 2-D gas dynamics systems and some comparisons are made between the two classes of the schemes. Key words and phrases: MmB schemes, 2-D, conservation laws, gas dynamics systems, Runge-Kutta-FVM, Taylor-FVM.

Description: This paper deals with systems of $m$ polynomial equations in $n$ unknown, which have only finitely many solutions. A method is presented which decomposes the solution set into finitely many subsets, each of them given by a system of type \begin{displaymath} f_1(x_1)=0, f_2(x_1,x_2)=0,...,f_n(x_1,...,x_n)=0. \end{displaymath} The main tools for the decomposition are from ideal theory and use symbolical manipulations. For the ideal generated by the polynomials which describe the solution set, a lexicographical Gröbner basis is required. A particular element of this basis allows the decomposition of the solution set. A recursive application of these decomposition techniques gives finally the triangular subsystems. The algorithm gives even for non-finite solution sets often also usable decompositions. {\bf Keywords:} Algebraic variety decomposition, Gröbner bases, systems of nonlinear equations.

Description: A new adaptive approach for one-dimensional scalar conservation laws with convex flux is proposed. The initial data are approximated on an adaptive grid by a problem dependent, monotone interpolation procedure in such a way, that the multivalued problem of characteristic transport can be easily and explicitly solved. The unique entropy solution is chosen by means of a selection criterion due to LAX. For arbitrary times, the solutions is represented by an adaptive monotone spline interpolation. The spatial approximation is controlled by local $L^1$-error estimated. As a distinctive feature of the approach, there is no discretization in time. The method is monotone on fixed grids. Numerical examples are included, to demonstrate the predicted behavior. {\bf Key words.} method of characteristics, adaptive grids, monotone interpolation, $L^1$-error estimates {\bf AMS(MOS) subject classification.} 65M15, 65M25, 65M50.

Description: The matchings in a complete bipartite graph form a simplicial complex, which in many cases has strong structural properties. We use an equivalent description as chessboard complexes: the complexes of all non-taking rook positions on chessboards of various shapes. In this paper we construct `certificate $k$-shapes' $\Sigma(m,n,k)$ such that if the shape $A$ contains some $\Sigma(m,n,k)$, then the $(k{-}1)$-skeleton of the chessboard complex $\Delta(A)$ is vertex decomposable in the sense of Provan & Billera. This covers, in particular, the case of rectangular chessboards $A=[m]{\times}[n]$, for which $\Delta(A)$ is vertex decomposable if $n\ge 2m{-}1$, and the $(\lfloor{m+n+1\over3}\rfloor{-}1)$-skeleton is vertex decomposable in general. The notion of vertex decomposability is a very convenient tool to prove shellability of such combinatorially defined simplicial complexes. We establish a relation between vertex decomposability and the CL-shellability technique (for posets) of Björner & Wachs.

Description: The numerical solutions of Riemann problems in three, four, five and six pieces, which only contain contact discontinuities, are presented by using Taylor FVM MmB schemes on regular triangular meshes for 2-D gas dynamics systems. The 2-D Riemann initial data are as defined in [1], under the assumption that each jump in initial data outside of the origin projects exactly one planar wave of shocks, centered rarefaction waves , or contact discontinuities. The main ends of the paper are that spirals will be shown for some configurations and the relations of the solutions between different distibutions of Riemann initial data are explained by the numerical solutions of modified Riemann problems. Key words and phrases: Riemann problem, gas dynamics systems, spiral, MmB schemes.

Description: Whereas optimization of a linear function over an efficient set is a favourite topic for theoretical studies, the problem ($P^I$) of finding a maximal value of a linear function $dx$ over an integer efficient set is still open. The problem ($P^I$) is NP-hard and it is very unlikely that the maximal objective value of the integer problem ($P^I$) in many cases is greater than the maximal objective value of it's corresponding continuous problem ($P$). In this paper we pay atention to the study of the problem ($P^I$) and some related properties of the problem ($P$). In particular, we establish conditions determining whether or not an optimal solution to the problem ($P$) is an optimal solution to the it's corresponding linear program. For the problem ($P^I$) we find an upper bound for it's optimal objective value and present an algorithm which gives a global optimal solution after a finite number of steps. We also study two particular classes of problems ($P^I$) : the bicriteria case and the case when $d$ is a nonnegative linear combination of the vectors-criteria defining the efficient set. Key words: Multiple objective linear programming, integer efficient set, efficient cone, cutting plane.

Description: Two commercially available molecular electronic structure software packages GAUSSIAN90 and GAMESS-UK are compared. Basis for this comparison is a benchmark suite which is designed to highlight the typical range of calculations commonly performed by the ab initio computational chemist.

Description: The following report intends to provide a survey over the computational chemistry molecular structure software installed on the supercomputers CRAY X-MP/216 and CRAY Y-MP2E/164 at ZIB. It shows what kind of problems can be tackled with the existing chemistry software, which covers a wide range of ab initio, semiempirical, molecular mechanics, and dynamics applications.

Description: Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit dem Plazierungsproblem, welches beim Entwurf elektronischer Schaltungen auftritt. Das Plazierungsproblem modellieren wir als ein quadratisches 0/1 Optimierungsproblem unter linearen Nebenbedingungen und untersuchen das Modell komplexitätstheoretisch. Der zweite Aspekt der Arbeit bezieht sich auf die Lösung praktischer Problembeispiele im sogenannten Sea of cells"-Entwurfsstil. Zur Lösung dieser Beispiele wurde ein Prototyp implementiert und mit state of the art"-Plazierungsverfahren verglichen. Schlie\ss lich werden wir uns mit dem Clusteringproblem, das eine Variante des Mehrfachschnitt-Problems darstellt, beschäftigen. Dabei steht einerseits im Vordergrund, wie diese Probleme heuristisch gelöst werden können und wie die Integration des Ansatzes in das Plazierungsprogramm erfolgt. Andererseits soll das Clusteringproblem polyedrisch untersucht werden.

Description: This report presents new codes for the numerical solution of highly nonlinear systems. They realize the most recent variants of affine invariant Newton Techniques due to Deuflhard. The standard method is implemented in the code NLEQ1, whereas the code NLEQ2 contains a rank reduction device additionally. The code NLEQ1S is the sparse version of NLEQ1, i.e. the arising linear systems are solved with sparse matrix techniques. Within the new implementations a common design of the software in view of user interface and internal modularization is realized. Numerical experiments for some rather challenging examples illustrate robustness and efficiency of algorithm and software.

Description: In this paper we describe a modular implementation of the well-established extrapolation codes EULEX, EULSIM and DIFEX for initial value problems of ordinary differential equations. The basic module embodies an abstract extrapolation method with order and stepsize control. Based on this module the particular integration codes only have to provide the underlying discretization schemes.

Description: Scientists intending to employ scientific visualization techniques are confronted with the unpleasant task of choosing visualization software that meets their specific needs. A good choice requires consideration of several aspects. Most important are functionality, i.e. the set of supported visual representations, and restrictions due to the user's production environment (i.e. available hardware and software platforms, software compatibility constraints, need of specific input and output formats, network distribution requirements). Crucial are quality demands, ranging from simple graphics for interactive control of simulations, to images of highest quality (glossy prints, slides or video movies) for presentation purposes. Further aspects of consideration are: ease of use, level on which the user is willing to program, portability, conformity to prevalent standards, availability in the world-wide user community, future dissemination, as well as emerging trends in computer graphics and scientific visualization. The aim of this manual is to give a survey on the graphics and visualization software that is currently being provided at ZIB (mainly for internal use). The whole range of computer graphics software relevant in mathematical, natural and technical sciences is covered: image synthesis (basic and higher graphics libraries, plot programs, visualization environments, combined text and drawing programs, renderers), image processing and storage (raster and vector formats, page description languages, raster toolkits for image processing and format conversion), capturing of images as well as printing on paper and recording on photographic film or video tape. This information together with a glossary and recommendations for further reading should help prospective users in getting started and assist them in making good choices of graphics and visualization software.

Description: Im Bereich der Mathematik entwickelte sich in Deutschland die elektronische Fachinformation in Form der Online-Datenbank MATH und der CD-ROM CompactMATH auf der Grundlage der Arbeiten des Referateorgans "Zentralblatt für Mathematik und Ihre Grenzgebiete". Das "Zentralblatt" fand weithin Anerkennung und Verbreitung. Die Rezeption elektronischer Fachinformation ging jedoch - nicht nur im Bereich der Mathematik - nur zögerlich vonstatten. Die Gründe dafür werden in einer vom Bundesminister für Forschung und Technologie (BMFT) initiierten Studie analysiert. Ein kürzlich von der Deutschen Mathematiker - Vereinigung begonnenes und vom BMFT gefördertes Vorhaben hat die "Verbesserung des benutzerorientierten Zugriffs auf fachspezifische Online-Datenbanken und CD-ROM für Mathematische Institute in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" zum Ziel. Insgesamt 51 mathematische Fachbereiche und Institute nehmen daran teil. Elektronische Fachinformation soll zu einem festen Bestandteil des methodischen Instrumentariums der wissenschaftlichen Arbeit werden. Diese Schrift soll die Ausgangslage in den Fachbereichen darstellen und die organisatorischen und technischen Infrastrukturmaßnahmen erläutern, mit denen den spezifischen Nutzungshemmnissen begegnet werden soll.