Exponential Stability of Interval Dynamical Systems with Quadratic Nonlinearity

This article proposes an approach for investigating the exponential stability of a nonlinear interval dynamical system with the nonlinearity of a quadratic type on the basis of the Lyapunov’s direct method. It also constructs an inner estimate of the attraction domain to the origin for the system under consideration.     

医患和谐与建筑设计

我们经常会发现，同样一位医护人员在医院工作场所和在其它地方会表现出不同的性格特质，无论是多么和善的人，到了那种医院环境有时就表现得面目可憎。其实，倒不是个人特质有所改变，而是医疗机构流程的流水线和环境造成的，恶劣的医患关系也因此而愈发不可调和。     

Informational Entropy: a Failure Tolerance and Reliability Surrogate for Water Distribution Networks

Evolutionary algorithms are used widely in optimization studies on water distribution networks. The optimization algorithms use simulation models that analyse the networks under various operating conditions. The solution process typically involves cost minimization along with reliability constraints that ensure reasonably satisfactory performance under abnormal operating conditions also. Flow entropy has been employed previously as a surrogate reliability measure. While a body of work exists for a single operating condition under steady state conditions, the effectiveness of flow entropy for systems with multiple operating conditions has received very little attention. This paper describes a multi-objective genetic algorithm that maximizes the flow entropy under multiple operating conditions for any given network. The new methodology proposed is consistent with the maximum entropy formalism that requires active consideration of all the relevant information. Furthermore, an alternative but equivalent flow entropy model that emphasizes the relative uniformity of the nodal demands is described. The flow entropy of water distribution networks under multiple operating conditions is discussed with reference to the joint entropy of multiple probability spaces, which provides the theoretical foundation for the optimization methodology proposed. Besides the rationale, results are included that show that the most robust or failure-tolerant solutions are achieved by maximizing the sum of the entropies.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.     

Synthesis, isolation, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of some calcium-containing metallofullerenes

A few Ca-containing mono-metallofullerenes, i.e. Ca@C₇₆, Ca@C₈₈, Ca@C₉₀ (I, II), were synthesized by an improved DC arc discharge method and isolated by a multi-stage HPLC method for the first time. These isomer-separated metallofullerenes were characterized by LD-TOF MS and UV-vis-NIR spectrometry. Their HOMO-LUMO band gaps and possible molecular geometries are discussed according to the absorption spectra in this report. In addition, the cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry of Ca@C₇₆ was conducted in MeCN/C₆H₅CH₃ (1:4 v/v). The voltammograms of Ca@C₈₂ (II, III) and Ca@C₈₄ (II) were also recorded. Their electrochemical behaviors are discussed compared with those of corresponding ytterbium metallofullerenes. The features of the Ca metallofullerenes’ electronic structures are also discussed.