Total completion time minimization in online hierarchical scheduling of unit-size jobs

This paper investigates an online hierarchical scheduling problem on m parallel identical machines. Our goal is to minimize the total completion time of all jobs. Each job has a unit processing time and a hierarchy. The job with a lower hierarchy can only be processed on the first machine and the job with a higher hierarchy can be processed on any one of m machines. We first show that the lower bound of this problem is at least \(1+\min \{\frac{1}{m}, \max \{\frac{2}{\lceil x\rceil +\frac{x}{\lceil x\rceil }+3}, \frac{2}{\lfloor x\rfloor +\frac{x}{\lfloor x\rfloor }+3}\}\), where \(x=\sqrt{2m+4}\). We then present a greedy algorithm with tight competitive ratio of \(1+\frac{2(m-1)}{m(\sqrt{4m-3}+1)}\). The competitive ratio is obtained in a way of analyzing the structure of the instance in the worst case, which is different from the most common method of competitive analysis. In particular, when \(m=2\), we propose an optimal online algorithm with competitive ratio of \(16\) \(/\) \(13\), which complements the previous result which provided an asymptotically optimal algorithm with competitive ratio of 1.1573 for the case where the number of jobs n is infinite, i.e., \(n\rightarrow \infty \).     

A low cost technique to evaluate usable product for small manufacturing companies: a case study on Garcia robot

A usability evaluation technique to evaluate user interfaces is introduces. The technique is effective and affordable for small manufacturing companies. By using this technique, an integration of users' feedbacks and some usability concepts, a product can be 3 times easier to use among potential users and more than 5 times easier to use among motivated users. In addition, the technique can be implemented with the company's employees as participants.     

从乙丁制到昭穆制:儒道互补的历史渊源

殷商乙丁制是地缘共生的两个血缘族群轮流执政的政权继承方式,具体是"兄终弟及"和"舅死甥继"两种继位方式;西周时期改为单亲男系的"父死子继",乙丁制却以昭穆庙制的方式延续下来,为后世儒家造成解释上的困难.道家老子思想的历史源头在殷商,儒家孔子思想的历史源头在西周.通过从血缘继替和地缘共生角度对儒道历史渊源的考察,可以厘清儒道两家在重血缘和重地缘上的纠葛.     

Optimal stock option schemes for managers

This paper analyzes which stock option scheme best aligns the interests of a firm’s manager and shareholders when both are risk-averse. We consider granting to the manager a basic fixed salary and one of the following four options: European, Parisian, Asian and American options. Choosing the strike of the options optimally, the shareholders can mostly implement a first best solution with all payoff schemes. The American option scheme best aligns the interests of the manager and the shareholders in the most common case in which the strike price equals the grant-date fair market value.     

"新全球化时代"资本主义文明的矛盾与趋势

在"新全球化时代",资本主义文明的矛盾进一步扩展与深化,即由单一性矛盾和危机向综合性矛盾和危机发展,社会主体自身的"文明矛盾"更加凸现,由民族-国家范围的矛盾转化为全球性的矛盾,由损害当下文明的矛盾向危及人类文明根基的"生态文明危机"演进,而这一切又引起文明发展规律的重大变化,开拓着向更高类型文明即社会主义和共产主义文明转型的广阔道路.     

“科教兴村”与农村现代化建设

"科教兴村"是率先实现农业现代化的重要手段科教兴村计划的实施,对增加农产品科技含量、提高农业科技贡献份额、促进"高产、优质、高效"农业的发展、加快传统农业向现代农业转变等具有重要意义.农民素质直接影响到农业科技成果的消化吸收,"科教兴村"的关键是提高农民素质.现代农业是科技型农业,农民增收依托于农业科技的创新推广,农业科技推广是"科教兴村"的重点.科学制定实施方案与必要的物质资金支持是"科教兴村"的保障.     

吴佩孚晚年寓居四川始末

192 7年吴佩孚在北伐军的沉重打击下兵败入川 ,企图凭借与四川军人旧时的从属关系和蜀地天险重聚力量东山再起 ,他在四川几度挂起“孚威上将军”、“讨贼联军总部”等旗帜 ,成立“大帅部” ,准备逐鹿中原 ,组织新政府。但南京国民政府蒋介石集团对吴佩孚在四川的举动密切关注 ,除下令通缉讨伐外 ,还策动四川驱吴 ,这就使得四川军人分裂为两大阵营 ,并连续发生了三次较大战乱 ,给四川政局带来了影响。吴佩孚最终因其支持力量战败出山计划落空 ,于 1931年离开四川     

Online coupon consumption problem

Nowadays, it is popular that the dealer makes profits by selling a kind of discount coupons, which can be used as money to purchase commodities with total cost less than or equal to the face value of the coupon. We can purchase a coupon at a price of 0<s≤1 times its face value and the number of potential purchasable coupons is a given integer l. The customer has the option to buy the goods by cash completely or by a discount coupon. However, each piece of goods can only use one coupon and the coupon used must have enough balance for the goods. The objective is to minimize the total cost for purchasing all the goods. In this paper, we reduce the problem to a special bin packing model. We consider the online problems for all 0<s≤1 and 1≤l≤∞. We present optimal online algorithms for all 0<s≤1 when l=∞ and l=1. For 2≤l<∞, we give both a lower bound and an algorithm, and show the algorithm is optimal for l=2. A preliminary version of this paper appeared in the proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Combinatorics, Algorithms, Probabilistic and Experimental Methodologies, Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Y. Jiang supported by Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Y605316). Z. Tan supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (10671177, 60021201).     

执政有效性理论的梳理和分析

政治有效性是从西方政治学引入的一个概念.本文通过对政治有效性的内涵、危机与合法性的关系等理论进行相应的梳理、分析,试图引起学界对这一问题的进一步关注.     

苏联对台湾问题的历史影响(20世纪40年代末～50年代初)

从苏联作为一个社会主义大国，率先承认中华人民共和国的 合法地位，以强硬的态度，要求联合国安理会作出开除国民党集团的决议朝鲜战争对中苏 两国政治联盟的考验等几个方面，分析苏联因素对中国台湾问题的影响。