Interval functional observers for time-delay systems with additive disturbances

This article considers the design of interval functional observers to estimate a linear function of the state vector of time-delay systems subject to both input and output additive disturbances. Two novel functional observers are proposed and designed such that they bound the set of all admissible values of a linear function of the state vector at each instant of time. By contrast to interval observers currently available in the literature, both observers proposed in this article utilize multiple delayed output measurement and have a more general structure. This trade-off feature overcomes some drawbacks in previous work and enables interval functional observers to be designed for a wider class of time-delay systems. Conditions for the existence of interval functional observers are derived and an effective design algorithm for computing unknown observer matrices is provided. Two illustrative examples are given to show the advantages and effectiveness of our design method.     

Nickel hydroxide armour promoted CoP nanowires for alkaline hydrogen evolution at large current density

The development of hydrogen evolution activity (HER) electrocatalyst that can run durably and efficiently under the large current density is of special significance but still challengeable for the massive production of hydrogen. Herein, a CoP/Ni(OH)₂ nanowire catalysts grown on Co foam (CF) with a three-dimensional heterojunction structure has been successfully prepared by electrodepositing nickel hydroxide on the surface of cobalt phosphide. The prepared CoP/Ni(OH)₂–15 min sample reveals a superior HER activity and stability. It merely requires ultralow overpotentials of 108 and 175 mV to 100 and 500 mA cm^?2, respectively. In addition, the long-term stability test shows that the catalyst (CoP/Ni(OH)₂–15 min) can operate stably for at least 70 h at 400 mA cm^?2. Utilizing NiFe-LDH/IF with high OER activity, the NiFe-LDH/IF || CoP/Ni(OH)₂–15 min catalyst system possesses the same outstanding performance for overall water splitting (OWS), which can accomplish ≈ 500 mA cm^?2 at 1.74 V in 1 M KOH electrolyte. Moreover, the NiFe-LDH/IF || CoP/Ni(OH)₂–15 min couple can work for more than 80 h at 500 mA cm^?2, indicating its a great prospect in the area of electrolysis water. Such excellent catalytic performance is mainly attributed to the armor effect of Ni(OH)₂, which can not only promote the rapid decomposition of water molecules, but also prevent the loss of phosphorus and enhance the synergistic effect of CoP and Ni(OH)₂. This work can offer a significant reference for the design with high-performance and durable transition metal phosphide electrocatalysts.     

The high-fertility cycle: How timely pregnancies in one lactation may lead to less body condition loss,fewer health issues,greater fertility,and reduced early pregnancy losses in the next lactation

Body condition loss during early lactation varies among cows in the herd and is associated with future health and reproductive outcomes. The objective of this study was to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between previous calving interval and body condition change during the first 30 d in milk (DIM) and their relationship to subsequent fertility and health variables and sex ratio at birth. Dry cows and heifers (n = 851) from a single farm entered the study approximately 25 d before the due date. They were evaluated and given a body condition score on a 1-to-5 scale with 0.1-point increments weekly until parturition. Body condition score was assessed within 1 wk of parturition and then again 27 to 33 DIM. Previous calving interval, gestation length, periparturient health events (giving birth to twins, dystocia, retained placentas, ketosis, metritis, and displaced abomasum), sire net merit ($), and milk data were used for each cow as recorded in PCDART (Dairy Records Management Systems, Raleigh, NC) by the herd managers. Longer previous calving intervals were related to greater body condition at parturition and body condition loss during the first 30 DIM. A 75% greater proportion of cows with a calving-to-pregnancy interval shorter than 130 d maintained or gained body condition during the first 30 DIM compared with cows with calving-to-pregnancy intervals longer than 130 d. Multiparous cows that maintained or gained body condition (n = 144) had greater pregnancies per AI following first service compared with cows that lost body condition (n = 577) during the first 30 DIM when health events were considered or removed. When cows with health events were considered, multiparous cows that maintained or gained body condition had a greater percentage pregnant by 130 DIM compared with cows that lost body condition (67 vs. 55%; n = 522). Cows that lost body condition during the first 30 DIM regardless of health events experienced greater pregnancy loss (n = 224) between 35 and 60 d after first AI (0.0 vs. 6.7%) compared with cows that maintained or gained body condition (n = 69) during that period. Based on data in this study from a single herd, maintaining a cycle of pregnancy before 130 DIM may reduce the amount of body condition lost after the next parturition, enhance subsequent pregnancies per AI, and reduce the possibility of early pregnancy loss. We refer to this phenomenon as the high-fertility cycle.     

Connecting with the Viewer: Affectivity and Cathexis in Textile Artwork

This article explores how, following bereavement, textile artwork may be able to make a connection with the viewer and allow a progression of their work of mourning. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from the literature of psychoanalytical theory, affectivity, and textile thinking to understand the importance of cloth as artwork in the grieving process. The article draws on the practice-based textile research of the author which, together with responses to the artworks made, discusses the way viewers can make an emotional investment in textile artwork and considers the concept of exhibitionary affect to increase the emotional connection of the viewer to the work.     

nvPM采样输运系统损失因子计算与改进研究

航空发动机排放的非挥发性颗粒物(nvPM)是大气污染的重要来源之一,对人体健康会造成一定的影响。在采样测量过程中会有一定量的损失,为能够更便捷高效地计算排放损失校正因子,该文结合CFM56-7B26/3型发动机排放数据和美国汽车工程师协会(SAE)排放测量校正因子建议标准改变计算流程,开发出一套计算工具。结果显示,新计算工具计算的数量浓度排放校正因子与发动机推力呈负相关,在推力为100%的额定推力下,数量校正因子最小,在推力为3%(慢车状态)处最大,与原方法结果趋势相同,且最大绝对误差为6.81,最小为0.64;质量校正因子也与发动机推力呈负相关,与原方法结果最大绝对误差为0.14,最小为0.007。新计算工具能够更好地与实际数据和推力相联系,在与原方法差异不大的情况下,能够实现更高效便捷的损失校正因子计算。     

Prediction of the colorimetric parameters and mass loss of heat‐treated bamboo: Comparison of multiple linear regression and artificial neural network method

In this study, the colorimetric parameters (L*, a*, b*) and mass loss of heat‐treated bamboo were investigated, and the obtained results were modeled by using two methods: multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN). First, bamboo samples were exposed to heat treatment at different temperatures (110°C, 140°C, 170°C, and 200°C) and durations (15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 115 minutes) in a laboratory oven. Then, the colorimetric parameters (L*, a*, b*) and mass loss of each sample were measured after each period of heat treatment. All data were modeled by using two methods separately for each parameter and the performances of these proposed methods were compared. It was found that color change and mass loss increased with increasing temperature and duration of heat treatment. Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values of all obtained MLR ranged from 0.64% to 10.63%, while the all MAPE values of ANN were found to be lower than 1.5%. Based on these results, it can be said that MLR and ANN could be used to evaluate the changes on the selected properties of heat‐treated bamboo samples. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that the ANN gave more accurate results than the MLR method because of its learning capability.     

Comparative study of the optimal operation of methane reforming process in cylindrical and spherical reactors using multi-objective optimization

We present a multi-objective optimization (MOO) based study of the optimal operation of methane reformer for spherical reactor and compare the results with the ones for the cylindrical reactor. We considered three objective functions for this comparative study, namely maximization of hydrogen production, minimization of carbon dioxide emission, and minimization of power loss due to pressure drop in the reactor. We solve four MOO problems, which include three 2-objective problems with each pair of the aforementioned three objectives. In addition, we also solve a three objective problem considering all the three objectives. The optimization variables considered for the MOO study correspond to the feed conditions. Specifically, the three variables include the inlet temperature and the molar feed ratios of oxygen to methane & steam to methane.     

Performance assessment of gas crossover phenomenon and water transport mechanism in high pressure PEM electrolyzer

To improve proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzes’ performance the voltage loss through them should be avoided. In this work, it is intended to analyze losses including of diffusion loss, ohmic loss due to electrode, bipolar plate (BP), and membrane resistances, and gas crossover associated with the water transferring mechanisms. All of the losses are associated with water transferring mechanisms, which is created due to electro-osmoic drag, pressure differential between the anode and cathode sides, and diffusion. Furthermore, the effect of membrane thickness, cathode pressure, and operating temperature on the hydrogen crossover is examined. In addition, the contribution of ohmic loss due to electrode bipolar plate (BP), and membrane resistances is studied and, the contribution of different losses on the cell performance is discussed. Results show that raising cathode pressure from 1 to 40 bar lead to the increment of anodic hydrogen content from 1.038% to 21% at the specific current density of 10,000 A/m2. Enhancing the thickness of membrane has considerable impact on decrementing anodic hydrogen content, but the mass transfer loss rises from 0.022 to 0.027 V with enhancing membrane thickness from 50 to 300 μm, respectively. Furthermore, the contribution of voltage losses, assigned to each of losses are equal to 85%, 3%, and 12% for activation, diffusion and ohmic losses, respectively. It is found that, from the reported contribution for ohmic loss, the contribution of electrode BP, and membrane resistances are 31% and 69%, respectively.     

Hydraulics of free overfall in steeply sloping rough rectangular channel: A general computational approach

All supercritical free overfalls were almost considered as frictionless flow or pseudo-uniform flow before, the effect of friction had not been paid due attention. Currently, a new mathematical model is proposed to analyze supercritical rectangular free overfall by Boussinesq-type energy equation accounting for frictional effect. A computational approach of loop iteration algorithm is utilized to simultaneously calculate the implicit water surface profile by Runge-Kutta method, end-depth-ratio, and discharge. Subsequently, the dependency of discharge on end depth and Nikuradse equivalent sand roughness for different slope is illustrated. Comparison of computed results with experimental observations reveals satisfactory agreement. Additionally, the present energy approach leads to more accurate results than the momentum method for high roughness. Finally, to aid application for engineers, an explicit solution of discharge for practical application in the commonly using range is also proposed. The most important purpose of this study is to present a general computational approach, which could be used for the rough supercritical free overfalls of any other cross-sections.