In this paper, we propose a randomized primaldual proximal block coordinate updating framework for a general multi-block convex optimization model with coupled objective function and linear constraints. Assuming mere convexity, we establish its <i>O</i>(1/<i>t</i>) convergence rate in terms of the objective value and feasibility measure. The framework includes several existing algorithms as special cases such as a primaldual method for bilinear saddle-point problems (PD-S), the proximal Jacobian alternating direction method of multipliers (Prox-JADMM) and a randomized variant of the ADMM for multi-block convex optimization. Our analysis recovers and/or strengthens the convergence properties of several existing algorithms. For example, for PD-S our result leads to the same order of convergence rate without the previously assumed boundedness condition on the constraint sets, and for Prox-JADMM the new

Varying coefficient models are a useful extension of classical linear models. They arise naturally when one wishes to examine how regression coefficients change over different groups characterized by certain covariates such as age. The appeal of these models is that the coef. cient functions can easily be estimated via a simple local regression. This yields a simple one-step estimation procedure. We show that such a one-step method cannot be optimal when different coefficient functions admit different degrees of smoothness. This drawback can be repaired by using our proposed two-step estimation procedure. The asymptotic mean-squared error for the two-step procedure is obtained and is shown to achieve the optimal rate of convergence. A few simulation studies show that the gain by the two-step procedure can be quite substantial. The methodology is illustrated by an application to an environmental data set.

We study the large time asymptotic speeds (turbulent flame speeds sT) of the simplified HamiltonJacobi (HJ) models arising in turbulent combustion. One HJ model is G-equation describing the front motion law in the form of local normal velocity equal to a constant (laminar speed) plus the normal projection of fluid velocity. In level set formulation, G-equations are HJ equations with convex (L1 type) but non-coercive Hamiltonians. The other is the quadratically nonlinear (L2 type) inviscid HJ model of MajdaSouganidis derived from the KolmogorovPetrovskyPiskunov reactive fronts. Motivated by a question posed by Embid, Majda and Souganidis (1995)[10], we compare the turbulent flame speeds sTs from these inviscid HJ models in two-dimensional cellular flows or a periodic array of steady vortices via sharp asymptotic estimates in the regime of large amplitude. The estimates are obtained by analyzing the action minimizing trajectories in the Lagrangian representation of solutions (Lax formula and its extension) in combination with delicate gradient bound of viscosity solutions to the associated cell problem of homogenization. Though the inviscid turbulent flame speeds share the same leading order asymptotics, their difference due to nonlinearities is identified as a subtle double logarithm in the large flow amplitude from the sharp growth laws. The turbulent flame speeds differ much more significantly in the corresponding viscous HJ models. 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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We prove that all maximal-tb positive Legendrian torus links (n,m) in the standard contact 3-sphere, except for (2,m), (3,3), (3,4) and (3,5), admit infinitely many Lagrangian fillings in the standard symplectic 4-ball. This is proven by constructing infinite order Lagrangian concordances that induce faithful actions of the modular group PSL(2,Z) and the mapping class group M0,4 into the coordinate rings of algebraic varieties associated to Legendrian links. In particular, our results imply that there exist Lagrangian concordance monoids with subgroups of exponential-growth, and yield Stein surfaces homotopic to a 2-sphere with infinitely many distinct exact Lagrangian surfaces of higher-genus. We also show that there exist infinitely many satellite and hyperbolic knots with Legendrian representatives admitting infinitely many exact Lagrangian fillings.