First-order primal-dual algorithm for sparse-view neutron computed tomography-based three-dimensional image reconstruction

Neutron computed tomography(NCT)is widely used as a noninvasive measurement technique in nuclear engineering,thermal hydraulics,and cultural heritage.The neutron source intensity of NCT is usually low and the scan time is long,resulting in a projection image containing severe noise.To reduce the scanning time and increase the image reconstruction quality,an effective reconstruction algorithm must be selected.In CT image reconstruction,the reconstruction algorithms can be divided into three categories:analytical algorithms,iterative algorithms,and deep learning.Because the analytical algorithm requires complete projection data,it is not suitable for reconstruction in harsh environments,such as strong radia-tion,high temperature,and high pressure.Deep learning requires large amounts of data and complex models,which cannot be easily deployed,as well as has a high computational complexity and poor interpretability.Therefore,this paper proposes the OS-SART-PDTV iterative algorithm,which uses the ordered subset simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique(OS-SART)algorithm to reconstruct the image and the first-order primal–dual algorithm to solve the total variation(PDTV),for sparse-view NCT three-dimensional reconstruction.The novel algorithm was compared with other algorithms(FBP,OS-SART-TV,OS-SART-AwTV,and OS-SART-FGPTV)by simulating the experimental data and actual neutron projection experiments.The reconstruction results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the FBP,OS-SART-TV,OS-SART-AwTV,and OS-SART-FGPTV algorithms in terms of preserving edge structure,denoising,and suppressing artifacts.

Fuzzy stochastic generalized reliability studies on embankment systems based on first-order approximation theorem

In order to address the complex uncertainties caused by interfacing between the fuzziness and randomness of the safety problem for embankment engineering projects, and to evaluate the safety of embankment engineering projects more scientifically and reasonably, this study presents the fuzzy logic modeling of the stochastic finite element method （SFEM） based on the harmonious finite element （HFE） technique using a first-order approximation theorem. Fuzzy mathematical models of safety repertories were introduced into the SFEM to analyze the stability of embankments and foundations in order to describe the fuzzy failure procedure for the random safety performance function. The fuzzy models were developed with membership functions with half depressed gamma distribution, half depressed normal distribution, and half depressed echelon distribution. The fuzzy stochastic mathematical algorithm was used to comprehensively study the local failure mechanism of the main embankment section near Jingnan in the Yangtze River in terms of numerical analysis for the probability integration of reliability on the random field affected by three fuzzy factors. The result shows that the middle region of the embankment is the principal zone of concentrated failure due to local fractures. There is also some local shear failure on the embankment crust. This study provides a referential method for solving complex multi-uncertainty problems in engineering safety analysis.

Fast First-Order Methods for Minimizing Convex Composite Functions

Two new versions of accelerated first-order methods for minimizing convex composite functions are proposed. In this paper, we first present an accelerated first-order method which chooses the step size 1/ Lk to be 1/ L0 at the beginning of each iteration and preserves the computational simplicity of the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm. The first proposed algorithm is a non-monotone algorithm. To avoid this behavior, we present another accelerated monotone first-order method. The proposed two accelerated first-order methods are proved to have a better convergence rate for minimizing convex composite functions. Numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed two accelerated first-order methods.

First-Order Algorithms for Convex Optimization with Nonseparable Objective and Coupled Constraints

In this paper,we consider a block-structured convex optimization model,where in the objective the block variables are nonseparable and they are further linearly coupled in the constraint.For the 2-block case,we propose a number of first-order algorithms to solve this model.First,the alternating direction method of multipliers(ADMM)is extended,assuming that it is easy to optimize the augmented Lagrangian function with one block of variables at each time while fixing the other block.We prove that O(1/t)iteration complexity bound holds under suitable conditions,where t is the number of iterations.If the subroutines of the ADMM cannot be implemented,then we propose new alternative algorithms to be called alternating proximal gradient method of multipliers,alternating gradient projection method of multipliers,and the hybrids thereof.Under suitable conditions,the O(1/t)iteration complexity bound is shown to hold for all the newly proposed algorithms.Finally,we extend the analysis for the ADMM to the general multi-block case.

Effect of 2D spatial variability on slope reliability: A simplified FORM analysis

To meet the high demand for reliability based design of slopes, we present in this paper a simplified HLRF(Hasofere Linde Rackwitze Fiessler) iterative algorithm for first-order reliability method(FORM). It is simply formulated in x-space and requires neither transformation of correlated random variables nor optimization tools. The solution can be easily improved by iteratively adjusting the step length. The algorithm is particularly useful to practicing engineers for geotechnical reliability analysis where standalone(deterministic) numerical packages are used. Based on the proposed algorithm and through direct perturbation analysis of random variables, we conducted a case study of earth slope reliability with complete consideration of soil uncertainty and spatial variability.

Probabilistic analysis of ultimate seismic bearing capacity of strip foundations

This paper presents a reliability analysis of the pseudo-static seismic bearing capacity of a strip foundation using the limit equilibrium theory. The first-order reliability method(FORM) is employed to calculate the reliability index. The response surface methodology(RSM) is used to assess the Hasofer e Lind reliability index and then it is optimized using a genetic algorithm(GA). The random variables used are the soil shear strength parameters and the seismic coefficients(khand kv). Two assumptions(normal and non-normal distribution) are used for the random variables. The assumption of uncorrelated variables was found to be conservative in comparison to that of negatively correlated soil shear strength parameters. The assumption of non-normal distribution for the random variables can induce a negative effect on the reliability index of the practical range of the seismic bearing capacity.

K-Dimensional Optimal Parallel Algorithm for the Solution of a General Class of Recurrence Equations

This paper proposes a parallel algorithm, called KDOP (K-DimensionalOptimal Parallel algorithm), to solve a general class of recurrence equations efficiently. The KDOP algorithm partitions the computation into a series of sub-computations, each of which is executed in the fashion that all the processors work simultaneously with each one executing an optimal sequential algorithm to solve a subcomputation task. The algorithm solves the equations in O(N/p)steps in EREW PRAM model (Exclusive Read Exclusive Write Parallel Ran-dom Access Machine model) using p<N1-e processors, where N is the size of the problem, and e is a given constant. This is an optimal algorithm (itsspeedup is O(p)) in the case of p<N1-e. Such an optimal speedup for this problem was previously achieved only in the case of p<N0.5. The algorithm can be implemented on machines with multiple processing elements or pipelined vector machines with parallel memory systems.

Image denoising algorithm of compressed sensing based on alternating direction method of multipliers

In this paper,we propose an image denoising algorithm for compressed sensing based on alternating direction method of multipliers(ADMM).We prove that the objective func-tion of the iterates approaches the optimal value.We also prove the O(1/N)convergence rate of our algorithm in the ergodic sense.At the same time,simulation results show that our algorithm is more efficient in image denoising compared with existing methods.

Total Variation Based Parameter-Free Model for Impulse Noise Removal

We propose a new two-phase method for reconstruction of blurred im-ages corrupted by impulse noise.In the first phase,we use a noise detector to iden-tify the pixels that are contaminated by noise,and then,in the second phase,we reconstruct the noisy pixels by solving an equality constrained total variation mini-mization problem that preserves the exact values of the noise-free pixels.For images that are only corrupted by impulse noise(i.e.,not blurred)we apply the semismooth Newton’s method to a reduced problem,and if the images are also blurred,we solve the equality constrained reconstruction problem using a first-order primal-dual algo-rithm.The proposed model improves the computational efficiency(in the denoising case)and has the advantage of being regularization parameter-free.Our numerical results suggest that the method is competitive in terms of its restoration capabilities with respect to the other two-phase methods.

Randomized Primal–Dual Proximal Block Coordinate Updates

In this paper,we propose a randomized primal–dual 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 O(1/t)convergence rate in terms of the objective value and feasibility measure.The framework includes several existing algorithms as special cases such as a primal–dual 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 result provides convergence rate in terms of the objective value and the feasibility violation.It is well known that the original ADMM may fail to converge when the number of blocks exceeds two.Our result shows that if an appropriate randomization procedure is invoked to select the updating blocks,then a sublinear rate of convergence in expectation can be guaranteed for multi-block ADMM,without assuming any strong convexity.The new approach is also extended to solve problems where only a stochastic approximation of the subgradient of the objective is available,and we establish an O(1/√t)convergence rate of the extended approach for solving stochastic programming.