I would recommend that you use auglag() rather than constrOptim.nl() in the package "alabama." It is a better algorithm, and it does not require feasible starting values. Best, Ravi -----Original Message----- From: Rainer M Krug [mailto:Rainer at krugs.de] Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2015 3:37 AM To: Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' <r-help at r-project.org> Subject: Re: optimizing with non-linear constraints Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes:> Hi Rainer, > It is very simple to specify the constraints (linear or nonlinear) in > "alabama" . They are specified in a function called `hin', where the > constraints are written such that they are positive.OK - I somehow missed the part that, when the values x are valid, i.e. in the range as defined by the conditions, the result of hin(x) that they are all positive.> Your two nonlinear constraints would be written as follows: > > hin <- function(x, LAI) { > h <- rep(NA, 2) > h[1] <- LAI^x[2] / x[3] + x[1] > h[2] <- 1 - x[1] - LAI^x[2] / x[3] > h > }Makes perfect sense.> > Please take a look at the help page. If it is still not clear, you can contact me offline.Yup - I did. But I somehow missed the fact stated above. I am using constrOptim() and constrOptim.nl() for a paper and am compiling a separate document which explains how to get the constraints for the two functions step by step - I will make it available as a blog post and a pdf. I might have further questions concerning the different fitting functions and which ones are the most appropriate in my case. Thanks a lot, Rainer> Best, > Ravi > > Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D. (Biostatistics), Ph.D. (Environmental Engg) > Associate Professor, Department of Oncology Division of Biostatistics > & Bionformatics Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns > Hopkins University > 550 N. Broadway, Suite 1111-E > Baltimore, MD 21205 > 410-502-2619 > > > [[alternative HTML version deleted]] >-- Rainer M. Krug email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de PGP: 0x0F52F982
Envoy? de mon iPhone> Le 1 oct. 2015 ? 15:17, Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> a ?crit : > > I would recommend that you use auglag() rather than constrOptim.nl() in the package "alabama." It is a better algorithm, and it does not require feasible starting values.Thanks - that was one question I wanted to ask later. I will do so, Rainer> Best, > Ravi > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rainer M Krug [mailto:Rainer at krugs.de] > Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2015 3:37 AM > To: Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> > Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' <r-help at r-project.org> > Subject: Re: optimizing with non-linear constraints > > Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes: > >> Hi Rainer, >> It is very simple to specify the constraints (linear or nonlinear) in >> "alabama" . They are specified in a function called `hin', where the >> constraints are written such that they are positive. > > OK - I somehow missed the part that, when the values x are valid, i.e. in the range as defined by the conditions, the result of hin(x) that they are all positive. > >> Your two nonlinear constraints would be written as follows: >> >> hin <- function(x, LAI) { >> h <- rep(NA, 2) >> h[1] <- LAI^x[2] / x[3] + x[1] >> h[2] <- 1 - x[1] - LAI^x[2] / x[3] >> h >> } > > Makes perfect sense. > >> >> Please take a look at the help page. If it is still not clear, you can contact me offline. > > Yup - I did. But I somehow missed the fact stated above. > > I am using constrOptim() and constrOptim.nl() for a paper and am compiling a separate document which explains how to get the constraints for the two functions step by step - I will make it available as a blog post and a pdf. > > I might have further questions concerning the different fitting functions and which ones are the most appropriate in my case. > > Thanks a lot, > > Rainer > > >> Best, >> Ravi >> >> Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D. (Biostatistics), Ph.D. (Environmental Engg) >> Associate Professor, Department of Oncology Division of Biostatistics >> & Bionformatics Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns >> Hopkins University >> 550 N. Broadway, Suite 1111-E >> Baltimore, MD 21205 >> 410-502-2619 >> >> >> [[alternative HTML version deleted]] >> > > -- > Rainer M. Krug > email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de > PGP: 0x0F52F982
Hi Ravi, I would like come back to your offer. I have a problem which possibly is caused by a bug or by something I don't understand: My function to be minimised is executed even when an element in hin() is negative. My hin looks as follow: --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- hinMahat <- function(x, hauteur, na, zjoint, y, LAI, ...) { if (x[1] < 0) { cat(names(list(...)), "\n") cat(..., "\n") cat(x, "|", hauteur, LAI, y, "\n") } h <- rep(NA, 8) if (!missing(na)) { x <- c(na, x ) } if (!missing(y)) { x <- c(x, y) } if (!missing(zjoint)) { x <- c(x[1], zjoint, x[2]) } ## dep <- hauteur * (0.05 + LAI^0.02 / 2) + (x[3] - 1)/20 h[1] <- dep h[2] <- hauteur - dep ## if (h[2]==0) { ## h[2] <- -1 ## } ## z0 <- hauteur * (0.23 + LAI^0.25 / 10) + (x[3] - 1)/67 h[3] <- z0 ## if (h[3]==0) { ## h[3] <- -1 ## } h[4] <- hauteur - z0 ## h[5] <- x[1] ## h[6] <- x[2] h[7] <- hauteur - x[2] ## h[8] <- hauteur - dep - z0 if (any(h<=0)) { cat(h, "\n") cat("\n") } return(h) } --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- the x contains up to three elements: c(na=, zjoint=, y=) and I fit these three, unless one or two are specified explicitely. The values going into hin are: ,---- | ... (z u ua za z0sol ) | 3 11 17 23 29 37 0.315 0.422 0.458 0.556 1.567 1.747 1.747 37 0.001 | | x(na, zjoint): -8.875735 24.51316 | hauteur: 28 | na: 8.1 | y: 3 | | the resulting hin() is: | 16.09815 11.90185 11.19352 16.80648 -8.875735 24.51316 3.486843 0.708335 `---- Which is negative in element 5 as x[2]=na is negative. So I would expect that the function fn is not evaluated. But it is, and raises an error: ,---- | Error in wpLELMahat(z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), : | na has to be larger or equal than zero! `---- Is this a misunderstanding on my part, or is it an error in the function auglag? Below is the function which is doing the minimisation. If I replace auglag() with constrOptim.nl(), the optimisation is working as expected. So I think this is a bug in auglag? Let me know if you need further information. Cheers, Rainer --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single <- function( z, u, LAI, initial = c(na=9, zjoint=0.2*2, y=3), na, zjoint, y, h = 28, za = 37, z0sol = 0.001, hin, ... ) { if (missing(hin)) { hin <- hinMahat } wpLELMin <- function(par, na, zjoint, y, z, u, ua, hauteur, za, z0sol, LAI) { result <- NA try({ p <- wpLELMahat( z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), zjoint = ifelse(missing(zjoint), par[2], zjoint), h = hauteur, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, y = ifelse(missing(y), par[3], y) ) result <- sum( ( (p$u - u)^2 ) / length(u) ) }, silent = FALSE ) ## cat("From wpLELMin", par, "\n") return( result ) } ua <- u[length(u)] result <- list() result$method <- "fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single" result$initial <- initial result$dot <- list(...) result$z <- z result$u <- u result$fit <- auglag( par = initial, fn = wpLELMin, hin = hin, na = na, zjoint = zjoint, y = y, ## z = z, u = u, ua = ua, hauteur = h, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, ... ) result$wp <- wpLELMahat( z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse ( missing(na), result$fit$par["na"], na), zjoint = ifelse ( missing(zjoint), result$fit$par["zjoint"], zjoint), h = h, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, y = ifelse ( missing(y), result$fit$par["y"], y) ) class(result) <- c(class(result), "wpLELFit") return(result) } #+end_src--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes:> I would recommend that you use auglag() rather than constrOptim.nl() > in the package "alabama." It is a better algorithm, and it does not > require feasible starting values. > Best, > Ravi > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rainer M Krug [mailto:Rainer at krugs.de] > Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2015 3:37 AM > To: Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> > Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' <r-help at r-project.org> > Subject: Re: optimizing with non-linear constraints > > Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes: > >> Hi Rainer, >> It is very simple to specify the constraints (linear or nonlinear) in >> "alabama" . They are specified in a function called `hin', where the >> constraints are written such that they are positive. > > OK - I somehow missed the part that, when the values x are valid, >> i.e. in the range as defined by the conditions, the result of hin(x) >> that they are all positive. > >> Your two nonlinear constraints would be written as follows: >> >> hin <- function(x, LAI) { >> h <- rep(NA, 2) >> h[1] <- LAI^x[2] / x[3] + x[1] >> h[2] <- 1 - x[1] - LAI^x[2] / x[3] >> h >> } > > Makes perfect sense. > >> >> Please take a look at the help page. If it is still not clear, you can contact me offline. > > Yup - I did. But I somehow missed the fact stated above. > > I am using constrOptim() and constrOptim.nl() for a paper and am >> compiling a separate document which explains how to get the >> constraints for the two functions step by step - I will make it >> available as a blog post and a pdf. > > I might have further questions concerning the different fitting >> functions and which ones are the most appropriate in my case. > > Thanks a lot, > > Rainer > > >> Best, >> Ravi >> >> Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D. (Biostatistics), Ph.D. (Environmental Engg) >> Associate Professor, Department of Oncology Division of Biostatistics >> & Bionformatics Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns >> Hopkins University >> 550 N. Broadway, Suite 1111-E >> Baltimore, MD 21205 >> 410-502-2619 >> >> >> [[alternative HTML version deleted]] >> > > -- > Rainer M. Krug > email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de > PGP: 0x0F52F982 >-- Rainer M. Krug, PhD (Conservation Ecology, SUN), MSc (Conservation Biology, UCT), Dipl. Phys. (Germany) Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology Stellenbosch University South Africa Tel : +33 - (0)9 53 10 27 44 Cell: +33 - (0)6 85 62 59 98 Fax : +33 - (0)9 58 10 27 44 Fax (D): +49 - (0)3 21 21 25 22 44 email: Rainer at krugs.de Skype: RMkrug PGP: 0x0F52F982 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 454 bytes Desc: not available URL: <https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-help/attachments/20151006/51e4da9e/attachment.bin>
Please ignore - list members - accidentally CCd. Rainer Rainer M Krug <Rainer at krugs.de> writes:> Hi Ravi, > > I would like come back to your offer. I have a problem which possibly is > caused by a bug or by something I don't understand: > > My function to be minimised is executed even when an element in hin() is > negative. > > My hin looks as follow: > > hinMahat <- function(x, hauteur, na, zjoint, y, LAI, ...) { > if (x[1] < 0) { > cat(names(list(...)), "\n") > cat(..., "\n") > cat(x, "|", hauteur, LAI, y, "\n") > } > > h <- rep(NA, 8) > if (!missing(na)) { > x <- c(na, x ) > } > if (!missing(y)) { > x <- c(x, y) > } > if (!missing(zjoint)) { > x <- c(x[1], zjoint, x[2]) > } > > ## > dep <- hauteur * (0.05 + LAI^0.02 / 2) + (x[3] - 1)/20 > h[1] <- dep > h[2] <- hauteur - dep > ## if (h[2]==0) { > ## h[2] <- -1 > ## } > ## > z0 <- hauteur * (0.23 + LAI^0.25 / 10) + (x[3] - 1)/67 > h[3] <- z0 > ## if (h[3]==0) { > ## h[3] <- -1 > ## } > h[4] <- hauteur - z0 > ## > h[5] <- x[1] > ## > h[6] <- x[2] > h[7] <- hauteur - x[2] > ## > h[8] <- hauteur - dep - z0 > if (any(h<=0)) { > cat(h, "\n") > cat("\n") > } > return(h) > } > > the x contains up to three elements: c(na=, zjoint=, y=) and I fit these > three, unless one or two are specified explicitely. > > The values going into hin are: > > ,---- > | ... (z u ua za z0sol ) > | 3 11 17 23 29 37 0.315 0.422 0.458 0.556 1.567 1.747 1.747 37 0.001 > | > | x(na, zjoint): -8.875735 24.51316 > | hauteur: 28 > | na: 8.1 > | y: 3 > | > | the resulting hin() is: > | 16.09815 11.90185 11.19352 16.80648 -8.875735 24.51316 3.486843 0.708335 > `---- > > > Which is negative in element 5 as x[2]=na is negative. > > So I would expect that the function fn is not evaluated. But it is, and > raises an error: > > ,---- > | Error in wpLELMahat(z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), : > | na has to be larger or equal than zero! > `---- > > Is this a misunderstanding on my part, or is it an error in the function > auglag? > > > Below is the function which is doing the minimisation. > > If I replace auglag() with constrOptim.nl(), the optimisation is working > as expected. > > So I think this is a bug in auglag? > > Let me know if you need further information. > > Cheers, > > Rainer > > --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- > fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single <- function( > z, > u, > LAI, > initial = c(na=9, zjoint=0.2*2, y=3), > na, zjoint, y, > h = 28, > za = 37, > z0sol = 0.001, > hin, > ... > ) { > if (missing(hin)) { > hin <- hinMahat > } > > wpLELMin <- function(par, na, zjoint, y, z, u, ua, hauteur, za, z0sol, LAI) { > result <- NA > try({ > p <- wpLELMahat( > z = z, > ua = ua, > na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), > zjoint = ifelse(missing(zjoint), par[2], zjoint), > h = hauteur, > za = za, > z0sol = z0sol, > LAI = LAI, > y = ifelse(missing(y), par[3], y) > ) > result <- sum( ( (p$u - u)^2 ) / length(u) ) > }, > silent = FALSE > ) > ## cat("From wpLELMin", par, "\n") > return( result ) > } > > ua <- u[length(u)] > result <- list() > result$method <- "fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single" > result$initial <- initial > result$dot <- list(...) > result$z <- z > result$u <- u > > result$fit <- auglag( > par = initial, > fn = wpLELMin, > hin = hin, > na = na, > zjoint = zjoint, > y = y, > ## > z = z, > u = u, > ua = ua, > hauteur = h, > za = za, > z0sol = z0sol, > LAI = LAI, > ... > ) > result$wp <- wpLELMahat( > z = z, > ua = ua, > na = ifelse ( missing(na), result$fit$par["na"], na), > zjoint = ifelse ( missing(zjoint), result$fit$par["zjoint"], zjoint), > h = h, > za = za, > z0sol = z0sol, > LAI = LAI, > y = ifelse ( missing(y), result$fit$par["y"], y) > ) > > class(result) <- c(class(result), "wpLELFit") > return(result) > } > #+end_src--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- > > > > Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes: > >> I would recommend that you use auglag() rather than constrOptim.nl() >> in the package "alabama." It is a better algorithm, and it does not >> require feasible starting values. >> Best, >> Ravi >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Rainer M Krug [mailto:Rainer at krugs.de] >> Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2015 3:37 AM >> To: Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> >> Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' <r-help at r-project.org> >> Subject: Re: optimizing with non-linear constraints >> >> Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes: >> >>> Hi Rainer, >>> It is very simple to specify the constraints (linear or nonlinear) in >>> "alabama" . They are specified in a function called `hin', where the >>> constraints are written such that they are positive. >> >> OK - I somehow missed the part that, when the values x are valid, >>> i.e. in the range as defined by the conditions, the result of hin(x) >>> that they are all positive. >> >>> Your two nonlinear constraints would be written as follows: >>> >>> hin <- function(x, LAI) { >>> h <- rep(NA, 2) >>> h[1] <- LAI^x[2] / x[3] + x[1] >>> h[2] <- 1 - x[1] - LAI^x[2] / x[3] >>> h >>> } >> >> Makes perfect sense. >> >>> >>> Please take a look at the help page. If it is still not clear, you can contact me offline. >> >> Yup - I did. But I somehow missed the fact stated above. >> >> I am using constrOptim() and constrOptim.nl() for a paper and am >>> compiling a separate document which explains how to get the >>> constraints for the two functions step by step - I will make it >>> available as a blog post and a pdf. >> >> I might have further questions concerning the different fitting >>> functions and which ones are the most appropriate in my case. >> >> Thanks a lot, >> >> Rainer >> >> >>> Best, >>> Ravi >>> >>> Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D. (Biostatistics), Ph.D. (Environmental Engg) >>> Associate Professor, Department of Oncology Division of Biostatistics >>> & Bionformatics Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns >>> Hopkins University >>> 550 N. Broadway, Suite 1111-E >>> Baltimore, MD 21205 >>> 410-502-2619 >>> >>> >>> [[alternative HTML version deleted]] >>> >> >> -- >> Rainer M. Krug >> email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de >> PGP: 0x0F52F982 >>-- Rainer M. Krug email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de PGP: 0x0F52F982 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 454 bytes Desc: not available URL: <https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-help/attachments/20151006/0da07742/attachment.bin>
Dear Rainer, This is NOT a bug in auglag. I already mentioned that auglag() can work with infeasible starting values, which also implies that the function must be evaluable at infeasible values. A simple solution to your problem would be to fix up your objective function such that it evaluates to `Inf' or some large value, when the parameter values are not in the constrained domain. constrOptim.nl() is a barrier method so it forces the initial value and the subsequent iterates to be feasible. Best, Ravi ________________________________________ From: Rainer M Krug <Rainer at krugs.de> Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 9:20 AM To: Ravi Varadhan Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' Subject: Bug in auglag? Hi Ravi, I would like come back to your offer. I have a problem which possibly is caused by a bug or by something I don't understand: My function to be minimised is executed even when an element in hin() is negative. My hin looks as follow: --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- hinMahat <- function(x, hauteur, na, zjoint, y, LAI, ...) { if (x[1] < 0) { cat(names(list(...)), "\n") cat(..., "\n") cat(x, "|", hauteur, LAI, y, "\n") } h <- rep(NA, 8) if (!missing(na)) { x <- c(na, x ) } if (!missing(y)) { x <- c(x, y) } if (!missing(zjoint)) { x <- c(x[1], zjoint, x[2]) } ## dep <- hauteur * (0.05 + LAI^0.02 / 2) + (x[3] - 1)/20 h[1] <- dep h[2] <- hauteur - dep ## if (h[2]==0) { ## h[2] <- -1 ## } ## z0 <- hauteur * (0.23 + LAI^0.25 / 10) + (x[3] - 1)/67 h[3] <- z0 ## if (h[3]==0) { ## h[3] <- -1 ## } h[4] <- hauteur - z0 ## h[5] <- x[1] ## h[6] <- x[2] h[7] <- hauteur - x[2] ## h[8] <- hauteur - dep - z0 if (any(h<=0)) { cat(h, "\n") cat("\n") } return(h) } --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- the x contains up to three elements: c(na=, zjoint=, y=) and I fit these three, unless one or two are specified explicitely. The values going into hin are: ,---- | ... (z u ua za z0sol ) | 3 11 17 23 29 37 0.315 0.422 0.458 0.556 1.567 1.747 1.747 37 0.001 | | x(na, zjoint): -8.875735 24.51316 | hauteur: 28 | na: 8.1 | y: 3 | | the resulting hin() is: | 16.09815 11.90185 11.19352 16.80648 -8.875735 24.51316 3.486843 0.708335 `---- Which is negative in element 5 as x[2]=na is negative. So I would expect that the function fn is not evaluated. But it is, and raises an error: ,---- | Error in wpLELMahat(z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), : | na has to be larger or equal than zero! `---- Is this a misunderstanding on my part, or is it an error in the function auglag? Below is the function which is doing the minimisation. If I replace auglag() with constrOptim.nl(), the optimisation is working as expected. So I think this is a bug in auglag? Let me know if you need further information. Cheers, Rainer --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single <- function( z, u, LAI, initial = c(na=9, zjoint=0.2*2, y=3), na, zjoint, y, h = 28, za = 37, z0sol = 0.001, hin, ... ) { if (missing(hin)) { hin <- hinMahat } wpLELMin <- function(par, na, zjoint, y, z, u, ua, hauteur, za, z0sol, LAI) { result <- NA try({ p <- wpLELMahat( z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse(missing(na), par[1], na), zjoint = ifelse(missing(zjoint), par[2], zjoint), h = hauteur, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, y = ifelse(missing(y), par[3], y) ) result <- sum( ( (p$u - u)^2 ) / length(u) ) }, silent = FALSE ) ## cat("From wpLELMin", par, "\n") return( result ) } ua <- u[length(u)] result <- list() result$method <- "fitAuglag.wpLEL.mahat.single" result$initial <- initial result$dot <- list(...) result$z <- z result$u <- u result$fit <- auglag( par = initial, fn = wpLELMin, hin = hin, na = na, zjoint = zjoint, y = y, ## z = z, u = u, ua = ua, hauteur = h, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, ... ) result$wp <- wpLELMahat( z = z, ua = ua, na = ifelse ( missing(na), result$fit$par["na"], na), zjoint = ifelse ( missing(zjoint), result$fit$par["zjoint"], zjoint), h = h, za = za, z0sol = z0sol, LAI = LAI, y = ifelse ( missing(y), result$fit$par["y"], y) ) class(result) <- c(class(result), "wpLELFit") return(result) } #+end_src--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes:> I would recommend that you use auglag() rather than constrOptim.nl() > in the package "alabama." It is a better algorithm, and it does not > require feasible starting values. > Best, > Ravi > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rainer M Krug [mailto:Rainer at krugs.de] > Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2015 3:37 AM > To: Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> > Cc: 'r-help at r-project.org' <r-help at r-project.org> > Subject: Re: optimizing with non-linear constraints > > Ravi Varadhan <ravi.varadhan at jhu.edu> writes: > >> Hi Rainer, >> It is very simple to specify the constraints (linear or nonlinear) in >> "alabama" . They are specified in a function called `hin', where the >> constraints are written such that they are positive. > > OK - I somehow missed the part that, when the values x are valid, >> i.e. in the range as defined by the conditions, the result of hin(x) >> that they are all positive. > >> Your two nonlinear constraints would be written as follows: >> >> hin <- function(x, LAI) { >> h <- rep(NA, 2) >> h[1] <- LAI^x[2] / x[3] + x[1] >> h[2] <- 1 - x[1] - LAI^x[2] / x[3] >> h >> } > > Makes perfect sense. > >> >> Please take a look at the help page. If it is still not clear, you can contact me offline. > > Yup - I did. But I somehow missed the fact stated above. > > I am using constrOptim() and constrOptim.nl() for a paper and am >> compiling a separate document which explains how to get the >> constraints for the two functions step by step - I will make it >> available as a blog post and a pdf. > > I might have further questions concerning the different fitting >> functions and which ones are the most appropriate in my case. > > Thanks a lot, > > Rainer > > >> Best, >> Ravi >> >> Ravi Varadhan, Ph.D. (Biostatistics), Ph.D. (Environmental Engg) >> Associate Professor, Department of Oncology Division of Biostatistics >> & Bionformatics Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Johns >> Hopkins University >> 550 N. Broadway, Suite 1111-E >> Baltimore, MD 21205 >> 410-502-2619 >> >> >> [[alternative HTML version deleted]] >> > > -- > Rainer M. Krug > email: Rainer<at>krugs<dot>de > PGP: 0x0F52F982 >-- Rainer M. Krug, PhD (Conservation Ecology, SUN), MSc (Conservation Biology, UCT), Dipl. Phys. (Germany) Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology Stellenbosch University South Africa Tel : +33 - (0)9 53 10 27 44 Cell: +33 - (0)6 85 62 59 98 Fax : +33 - (0)9 58 10 27 44 Fax (D): +49 - (0)3 21 21 25 22 44 email: Rainer at krugs.de Skype: RMkrug PGP: 0x0F52F982