A New Hybrid Descent Method with Application to the Optimal Design of Finite Precision FIR Filters

In this paper, the problem of the optimal design of discrete coefficient FIR filters is considered. A novelhybrid descent method, consisting of a simulated annealing algorithm and a gradient-based method, isproposed. The simulated annealing algorithm operates on the space of orthogonal matrices and is used tolocate descent points for previously converged local minima. The gradient-based method is derived fromconverting the discrete problem to a continuous problem via the Stiefel manifold, where convergence canbe guaranteed. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid descent method, several numericalexamples show that better discrete filter designs can be sought via this hybrid descent method

A smoothing approach for the optimal parameter selection problem with continuous inequality constraint

In this paper, we consider a class of optimal parameter selection problems with continuous inequality constraints. By introducing a smoothing parameter, we formulate a sequence of KKT (Karush-Kuhn-Tucker) systems of this problem and then transform it into a system of constrained nonlinear equations. Then, the first- and second-order gradients formulae of the cost functional and the constraints are derived. On this basis, a smoothing projected Newton-type algorithm is developed to solving this system of nonlinear equations. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, some numerical results are solved and presented

FIZZ, FROTH, FLAT: The Challenge of Converting China's SOEs into Shareholding Corporations

China's attempts to convert its state firms into shareholding corporations have failed to alter SOE management behavior. This article examines this failure by looking at the flotation of Tsingtao Brewery shares in Hong Kong. The article argues that for reforms to be meaningful, changes need to be made to economic, political and legal institutions by which SOEs operate. These changes, such as allowing SOE directors managerial autonomy and clarifying areas of the Company Law, create incentives for managers to run their firms as business entities responsive to market forces and responsible to their investors. Copyright 2001 by The Policy Studies Organization.