In this paper, we consider a class of optimization problems of minimizing a (at least) twice continuously dierentiable function (probably nonconvex) f(x) : Rn ! R over a product of multiple balls/spheres constraints. Upon rescaling the balls/spheres, we cast without loss of generality such class of minimization problems in the following form: (BCOP) 8>< >: min x2Rn f(x) s:t: ci(x) := kx[i]k2 􀀀 1 = 0; i 2 E; ci(x) := kx[i]k2 􀀀 1  0; i 2 I; where E = f1; 2; : : : ;m1g, I = fm1 + 1;m1 + 2; : : : ;mg, x[i] 2 Rpi , x = (xT [1]; xT [2]; : : : ; xT [m])T , n = Pm i=1 pi, and k
k stands for the `2 vector norm. Here, we introduce the notation x[i] 2 Rpi to represent the ith subvector of x 2 Rn and formulate the product of multiple ball/sphere constraints as a set of equality and inequality constraints. To simplify subsequent presentation, we call the above programming the ball/sphere constrained optimization problem (BCOP). We emphasize that this problem does not allow overlap among the variables x[i] and therefore the constraints are separable. However, these variables x[i] may be linked together through the objective function f(x).

Nonlinear matrix equations are encountered in many applications of control and engineering problems. In this work, we establish a complete study for a class of nonlinear matrix equations. With the aid of Sherman Morrison Woodbury formula, we have shown that any equation in this class has the maximal positive definite solution under a certain condition. Furthermore, A thorough study of properties about this class of matrix equations is provided. An acceleration of iterative method with R-superlinear convergence with order $r>1$ is then designed to solve the maximal positive definite solution efficiently.

Most biochemical processes involve macromolecules in solution. The corresponding electrostatics is of central importance for understanding their structures and functions. An accurate and efficient numerical scheme is introduced to evaluate the corresponding electrostatic potential and force by solving the governing Poisson-Boltzmann equation. This paper focuses on the following issues: (i) the point charge singularity problem, (ii) the dielectric discontinuity problem across a molecular surface, and (iii) the infinite domain problem. Green's function associated with the point charges plus a harmonic function is introduced as the zeroth order approximation to the solution to solve the point charge singularity problem. A jump condition capturing finite difference scheme is adopted to solve the discontinuity problem across molecule surfaces, where a body-fitting grid is used. The infinite domain problem is solved by mapping the outer infinite domain into a finite domain. The corresponding stiffness matrix is symmetric and positive definite, therefore, fast algorithm such as preconditioned conjugate gradient method can be applied for inner iteration. Finally, the resulting scheme is second order accurate for both the potential and its gradient.

We consider an incompressible viscous flow without surface tension in a finite-depth domain of two dimensions, with free top boundary and fixed bottom boundary. This system is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations in this moving domain and the transport equation on the moving boundary. In this paper, we construct a stable numerical scheme to simulate the evolution of this system by discontinuous Galerkin method, and discuss the error analysis of the fluid under certain assumptions. Our formulation is mainly based on the geometric structure introduced earlier in the literature, and the natural energy estimate, which is rarely used in the numerical study of this system before.

This paper presents entropy symmetrization and high-order accurate entropy stable schemes for the relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) equations. It is shown that the conservative RMHD equations are not symmetrizable and do not admit a thermodynamic entropy pair. To address this issue, a symmetrizable RMHD system, equipped with a convex thermodynamic entropy pair, is first proposed by adding a source term into the equations, providing an analogue to the nonrelativistic Godunov--Powell system. Arbitrarily high-order accurate entropy stable finite difference schemes are developed on Cartesian meshes based on the symmetrizable RMHD system. The crucial ingredients of these schemes include (i) affordable explicit entropy conservative fluxes which are technically derived through carefully selected parameter variables, (ii) a special high-order discretization of the source term in the symmetrizable RMHD system, and (iii) suitable high-order dissipative operators based on essentially nonoscillatory reconstruction to ensure the entropy stability. Several numerical tests demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed entropy stable schemes.