Understanding the impact of High Speed Railway on urban innovation performance from the perspective of agglomeration externalities and network externalities

Transportation infrastructure and innovation play an important role in promoting regional economic growth. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the economic agglomeration by increased accessibility, but ignored the important on inter-city economic linkages and the network externalities it generated. Based on the externality perspective, this paper uses the propensity score matching model (PSM-DID) and spatial econometric model to analyze the heterogeneous impact of HSR opening on urban innovation performance and compare the differential effects of agglomeration externalities and network externalities on knowledge spillovers. The empirical results suggest the following: (1) The opening of HSR significantly improves urban innovation performance, but there is significant spatial heterogeneity. (2) The opening of HSR not only promotes the agglomeration of production factors to cities, but also strengthens inter-city economic connections, thus improving urban innovation performance through agglomeration externalities and network externalities. However, compared to agglomeration externalities, network externalities have a superior strength of impact on urban innovation performance. (3) From the dynamic effect perspective, the opening of HSR has a hysteresis effect on urban innovation of 2–3 years, and differences exist between cities.     

Performance improvement of microbial fuel cell through artificial intelligence

The current work introduces an enhancement in the performance of the microbial fuel cell through estimating the optimal set of controlling parameters. The maximization of both power density (PD) and the percentage of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were considered as the enhancement in the cell's performance. Three main parameters in terms of performance as well as commercialization are the system's inputs; the Pt which takes the range of 0.1‐0.5 mg/cm², the degree of sulphonation in sulfonated‐poly‐ether‐ether‐ketone that changes in the range of 20‐80%, and the rate of aeration of cathode which varies between 10 and 150 mL/min. From the experimental dataset, two robust adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system models based on the fuzzy logic technique have been constructed. The comparisons between the models' outputs and the experimental data showed well‐fitting in both training and testing datasets. The mean squared errors of the PD model, for testing and whole datasets, were found 2.575 and 0.909 while for the COD model it showed 19.242 and 6.791, respectively. Then, based on the two fuzzy models, a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm has been used to determine the best parameters that maximize both of the PD and the COD removal of the cell. The optimization process was utilized for single and multi‐object optimization processes. In the single optimization, the resulting maximums of the PD and the COD removal were found 62.844 (mW/m²) and 99.99 (%), respectively. Whereas, in the multi‐object optimization, the values of 61.787 (mW/m²) and 96.21 (%) were reached as the maximums for the PD and COD, respectively. This implies that, in both cases of optimization processes, the adopted methodology can efficiently enhance the microbial fuel cell performances than the previous work.     

Effect of grain size on the electrical performance of BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-δ solid electrolytes with addition of NiO

In order to clarify the effect of grain size on the electrical performance of BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.1Yb_0.1O_3-δ (BZCYYb) solid electrolytes with addition of NiO, microcrystalline (~1.5?µm) and ultrafine-grained (~280?nm) BZCYYb electrolytes (with 1?wt% NiO) were fabricated by the conventional and two-step sintering method, respectively. The results show that compared with microcrystalline electrolytes, the ultrafine-grained electrolytes have similar grain-interior conductivities, but much lower grain-boundary conductivities, illustrating that the grain boundary is not conducive for ionic transport. As a result, the electrical conductivity of microcrystalline electrolytes (1.9?×?10^?2 S?cm^?1 at 600?°C in wet air) is higher than that of ultrafine-grained electrolytes (1.1?×?10^?2 S?cm^?1 at 600?°C in wet air). In addition, the OCV (open-circuit voltage) values of electrolyte-supported single cells show that the undesired electronic conduction exists in the electrolytes due to the BaY₂NiO₅ impurity formed by the reaction of NiO and BZCYYb. The ultrafine-grained electrolytes show lower OCV values than that of microcrystalline ones, due to the prolonged electronic transport paths. Therefore, large-grained or grain boundary-free microstructure are necessary for improving the electrical performance of BZCYYb electrolytes.     

On globally stable adaptive control providing l 1 tracking performance for linear discrete-time systems

Existing adaptive control algorithms at best guarantee that the tracking error is a l ₂ sequence. This paper presents globally stable adaptive control algorithms for linear discrete-time systems providing l ₁ tracking performance. Two algorithms with different degree of complexity are proposed, one for the case of known control directions, and a separate algorithm for the case of unknown control directions. It is demonstrated that in both cases the tracking error is l ₁ sequence, while the input and output signals are uniformly bounded.     

High piezoelectric performance and domain configurations of (K0.45Na0.55)0.98Li0.02Nb0.76Ta0.18Sb0.06O3 lead-free ceramics prepared by two-step sintering

Research for high-performance lead-free piezoelectric materials has become an urgent issue from the environmental concern. Very limited attempts on two-step sintering had been made so far. In this study, (K_0.45Na_0.55)_0.98Li_0.02Nb_0.76Ta_0.18Sb_0.06O₃ ceramics were prepared by both conventional sintering and two-step sintering. Piezoelectric properties, microstructure and domain structure were found to change significantly with sintering methods and sintering conditions. Two-step sintering was performed in the way that temperature is first quickly raised to 1180 °C, kept for 1 min, then immediately cooled down to 1120 °C and maintained for a desired time length. The effects of dwelling time on piezoelectric performance and microstructure as well as domain structure were investigated. High piezoelectric properties of d₃₃ = 455 pC/N, k_p = 0.54 and k₃₃ = 0.67 were obtained in a ceramic prepared under the dwelling time of 20 h. This ceramic also possesses a very good piezoelectric thermal-ageing stability over −50 °C–150 °C. Further investigation reveals that this ceramic has a quite uniform grain-size distribution with the average grain size of about 12 μm in microstructure and shows domain patterns of simple parallel stripes with a hierarchical nanodomain structure appearing inside some of broad stripes. The observed excellent piezoelectric performance is considered to associate closely with the unique domain structure.     

Dependence of grip strength on shoulder position and its implications for ergonomics practice

Grip strength (GS) variability due to positional changes in the upper extremity joints is of importance while designing workstations and work methods. This study was conducted to analyze the GS variations due to positional changes at shoulder joint when some important variables were under control. The GSs of dominant and nondominant hands were measured in eight shoulder (0°, 45°, 90°, and 135° of flexion and abduction) and standard test positions (STP). One hundred and thirteen subjects 20–30 years old completed the study. At the dominant side, no significant difference was observed in the pairwise comparisons between STP and the others. Maximum and minimum GSs were obtained in 0° abduction and 45° flexion and abduction, respectively. At the nondominant side, GSs were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the corresponding test positions and demonstrated more variability. The findings of this study can contribute to the available knowledge to guide occupational ergonomists in their practices.     

APP软件性能效率研究

性能效率是APP软件的重要质量属性，但目前缺乏APP软件性能效率的通用模型。分析了APP软件的性能特征，基于ISO/IEC 25010标准提出了APP软件的性能效率模型，定义了APP软件性能效率的子特性和度量指标。基于提出的APP软件性能效率模型，通过实验对APP软件的性能效率进行了度量及相关分析。     

超级电容器的电性能及其在智能仪表上的应用

超级电容器作为一种新型储能元件,目前应用越来越广泛,但在很多细分市场还处于培育阶段,相关行业标准也不尽完善。文中以超级电容器的等效电路模型引出了电性能的特征参数,对比分析了主要标准中电性能特征参数测试方法的差异,提出了在智能仪表中应用超级电容器的要点,对全面认识超级电容器的电性能,在实际工作中正确的应用超级电容器,有一定的参考价值。     

医院级CT辐射剂量及诊断剂量水平研究

探讨医院级各部位CT扫描辐射剂量及成人CT检查诊断剂量水平。采集2018年2月—2019年1月本院在GE Light Speed 16 CT设备上进行诊断性CT检查的全部成年人共15 440例的CT检查数据,按照检查部位进行分类,统计各部位的容积剂量指数(CTDI_vol)、剂量长度乘积(DLP)。使用SPSS 19统计软件分析CTDI_vol、DLP的四分位数并计算有效剂量(ED)。结果表明,各部位CTDI_vol的诊断剂量参考水平(DRL)值为:颅脑87.75 mGy、肺部8.09 mGy、上下腹15.82 mGy、上下腹盆腔15.79 mGy;各部位DLP的诊断剂量参考水平(DRL)值为:颅脑1 053.03 mGy·cm、肺部245.19 mGy·cm、上下腹269.96 mGy·cm、上下腹盆腔835.20 mGy·cm。研究中发现肺部CTDI_vol、DLP的DRL值(分别为8.09 mGy、245.19 mGy·cm)低于我国其他地区和其他国家的DRL值;60岁以下患者肺部CT检查CTDI_vol、DLP的DRL值低于8.09 mGy、245.19 mGy·cm,60岁以上患者肺部CT检查CTDI_vol、DLP的DRL值高于8.09 mGy、245.19 mGy·cm。通过研究可以确定医院级各部位CT检查辐射剂量及成人CT检查诊断剂量水平,能为优化CT检查扫描技术和监测辐射剂量提供基础。     

pH-independent dissolution enhancement for multiple poorly water-soluble drugs by nano-sized solid dispersions based on hydrophobic–hydrophilic conjugates

The objective of this study was to achieve an optimal formulation of hydrophilic–hydrophobic conjugates for nano-sized solid dispersions (SDs) with enhanced dissolution of multiple drugs in different gastrointestinal (GI) tract environments. A new conjugate powder with an optimized process was used to fabricate SDs that contained three poorly water-soluble drugs that were also poorly soluble in different dissolution media. The self-assembled nanoparticle formation, drug crystallinity and SD molecular interactions were investigated by measuring the particle size during dissolution testing and physicochemical property analysis (powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). Drug release studies indicated that SD containing conjugated powder significantly improved the dissolution rates of these poorly water-soluble drugs in the GI tract. In addition, particle size analysis showed nano-sized particles in the dissolution media in the early stage with a tendency to reduce smaller particles over time. Physicochemical characterizations demonstrated almost amorphous drug states and hydrogen bonding interactions between the drugs and conjugates in the SD. This study optimized a promising material for SD, and the material was shown to have a promising performance under various pH medium conditions with poorly water-soluble drugs.