On a method for solving a local boundary problem for a nonlinear stationary system with perturbations in the class of piecewise constant controls

The wide class of nonlinear stationary systems of ordinary differential equations taking into account restrictions on control and external perturbation is considered. An algorithm for constructing a discrete control function that guarantees the transfer of the systems from the initial state to the origin and an arbitrary neighborhood of the origin is proposed. A constructive sufficient condition of the Kalman type, in which the specified translation is possible, is obtained. The problem of robot‐manipulator control is considered and its numerical simulation is carried out.     

The formation of Fe–Ga–In nanocomposite particles using mechanochemical interaction of Fe with the Ga–In eutectic

Mechanochemical interaction of Fe powder with the liquid Ga–In eutectic in the Fe-rich concentration corner of the Fe–Ga–In phase diagram was studied and compared with binary Fe–Ga and Fe–In specimens. Slow formation of diluted solid solutions in the Fe–In system was confirmed. In the Fe–Ga system, the dominant concentrated A2 solid solution is formed with H_eff?=?236 kOe, accompanied by ordered D0₃ and L1₂ phases. The Fe–Ga–In system features a stationary equilibrium between the concentrated A2 phase and D0₃ in the iron matrix.     

The computation of equating errors in international surveys in education

Since the IEA's Third International Mathematics and Science Study, one of the major objectives of international surveys in education has been to report trends in achievement. The names of the two current IEA surveys reflect this growing interest: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Similarly a central concern of the OECD's PISA is with trends in outcomes over time. To facilitate trend analyses these studies link their tests using common item equating in conjunction with item response modelling methods. IEA and PISA policies differ in terms of reporting the error associated with trends. In IEA surveys, the standard errors of the trend estimates do not include the uncertainty associated with the linking step while PISA does include a linking error component in the standard errors of trend estimates. In other words, PISA implicitly acknowledges that trend estimates partly depend on the selected common items, while the IEA's surveys do not recognise this source of error. Failing to recognise the linking error leads to an underestimation of the standard errors and thus increases the Type I error rate, thereby resulting in reporting of significant changes in achievement when in fact these are not significant. The growing interest of policy makers in trend indicators and the impact of the evaluation of educational reforms appear to be incompatible with such underestimation. However, the procedure implemented by PISA raises a few issues about the underlying assumptions for the computation of the equating error. After a brief introduction, this paper will describe the procedure PISA implemented to compute the linking error. The underlying assumptions of this procedure will then be discussed. Finally an alternative method based on replication techniques will be presented, based on a simulation study and then applied to the PISA 2000 data.     

Nanomaterials for Heterogeneous Combustion

Nanophase materials and nanocomposites, characterized by an ultra fine grain size (less than 100 nm) have attracted wide spread interest in recent years by virtue of their unusual mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, and energetic properties. Studies have shown that the thermal behavior of nano‐scaled materials is quite different from micron‐sized powders. Nanosized metallic and explosive powders have been used as solid propellant and explosive mixtures to increase efficiency. At the same time recent studies reveal that the presence of nanosized metals in propellants does not necessary translate into an increased burning rate and burning temperature. The reasons of this effect are far from being clear. This paper presents a new approach to the production of nanocomposites of some energetic materials – ammonium nitrite, cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX), and aluminum – by the vacuum co‐deposition technique. The thermal behavior of the synthesized nanopowder and nanocomposites is investigated. A substantial difference in burning rate of RDX nanopowder has been found in comparison to micron‐sized material. Experimental results allow investigating the effects of nanosized materials on the combustion characteristics.     

Baseline layout and design of a 0.8 GW reference wind farm in the North Sea

The paper presents a model of a reference wind farm. The model considers the wind and wave climatologies for a specific site from which two different wind farm layouts are derived. These layouts are examined through the effective wake‐enhanced turbulence intensity at the hub height for a given climatology, and a simple model for the influence on capital expenditures is proposed. An electrical design is presented, the cable losses are calculated and the energy yield is determined. An operation and maintenance model is established, and the associated operating expenditure is obtained. All of the models are then summarized in terms of a levelized cost of energy using a numerical simulation tool, which allows the layouts to be compared. The data and models are freely available online for others to use and may serve as a baseline for benchmarking and allow researchers to compare and discuss their results. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Poly(ester amide)s derived from tartaric and succinic acids: Changes in structure and properties upon hydrolytic degradation

The changes in structure and properties taking place in a set of tartaric acid‐based polyamides and poly(ester amide)s upon hydrolytic degradation were examined. Poly(hexamethylene 2,3‐di‐O‐methyl‐L ‐tartaramide)s, either pure or containing minor amounts of succinate ester groups (≤10%), were exposed to humidity or incubated in buffered water at pH 7.4 and 37°C, and their thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated as a function of time. Both moisture uptake and hydrolysis induced a noticeable decay in the tensile properties of polymers. These effects were greatly enhanced by the presence of ester groups, whereas no large differences were noticed for changes in the enantiomeric composition. Variations in the glass transition temperatures and melting points appeared to be slight, whereas crystallinity clearly increased with incubation time. The latter effect was most apparent in poly(ester amide)s with a nearly racemic composition, in which a crystal‐to‐crystal transition was observed to take place upon degradation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 486–494, 2000     

Starch‐capped sulphur nanoparticles synthesised from bulk powder sulphur and their anti‐phytopathogenic activity against Clavibacter sepedonicus

Water‐soluble, stable nanoparticles of elemental sulphur with a size of 9‐52 nm have been synthesised using the stabilising potential of starch. Sulphide anions were used as sulphur precursors that were generated earlier from the bulk powder sulphur in the base‐reduction system NaOH‐N₂H₄·H₂O followed by their oxidation with molecular oxygen to element sulphur atoms. Using a set of modern spectral and microscopic methods (XRD, optical spectroscopy, DLS, TEM), the phase state, elemental composition of the nanocomposites and their nanomorphological characteristics have been investigated. It was found that nanocomposites are formed as sulphur particles with the shape which is nearly spherical dispersed in the polysaccharide starch matrix with a pronounced tendency to cluster into ring formations. Water solubility and stability of the obtained nanoparticles is ensured by sorption of starch macromolecules on the surface of sulphur nanoparticles, with the thickness of the stabilising shell in a range of 10‐171 nm. In vitro experiments were carried out to study the anti‐microbial activity of the obtained sulphur nanocomposite (1.6% S) using the propidium iodide fluorescent dye staining method and the diffusion method. It showed that the water solution of the starch‐capped sulphur nanoparticles at the concentration of 6.25 µg/ml had a pronounced anti‐phytopathogenic activity against the potato ring rot pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus.     

Proteome Based Approach Defines Candidates for Designing a Multitope Vaccine against the Nipah Virus

Nipah virus is one of the most harmful emerging viruses with deadly effects on both humans and animals. Because of the severe outbreaks, in 2018, the World Health Organization focused on the urgent need for the development of effective solutions against the virus. However, up to date, there is no effective vaccine against the Nipah virus in the market. In the current study, the complete proteome of the Nipah virus (nine proteins) was analyzed for the antigenicity score and the virulence role of each protein, where we came up with fusion glycoprotein (F), glycoprotein (G), protein (V), and protein (W) as the candidates for epitope prediction. Following that, the multitope vaccine was designed based on top-ranking CTL, HTL, and BCL epitopes from the selected proteins. We used suitable linkers, adjuvant, and PADRE peptides to finalize the constructed vaccine, which was analyzed for its physicochemical features, antigenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and solubility. The designed vaccine passed these assessments through computational analysis and, as a final step, we ran a docking analysis between the designed vaccine and TLR-³ and validated the docked complex through molecular dynamics simulation, which estimated a strong binding and supported the nomination of the designed vaccine as a putative solution for Nipah virus. Here, we describe the computational approach for design and analysis of this vaccine.     

Evaporation of water from particles in the aerodynamic lens inlet: an experimental study

The extremely high particle transmission efficiency of aerodynamic lens inlets resulted in their wide use in aerosol mass spectrometers. One of the consequences of transporting particles from high ambient pressure into the vacuum is that it is accompanied by a rapid drop in relative humidity (RH). Since many atmospheric particles exist in the form of hygroscopic water droplets, a drop in RH may result in a significant loss of water and even a change in phase. How much water is lost in these inlets is presently unknown. Since water loss can affect particle size, transmission efficiency, ionization probability, and mass spectrum, it is imperative to provide definitive experimental data that can serve to guide the field to a reasonable and uniform sampling approach. In this study, we present the results of a number of highly resolved measurements, conducted under well-defined conditions, of water evaporation from a range of particles, during their transport through an aerodynamic lens inlet. We conclude that the only sure way to avoid ambiguities during measurements of aerodynamic diameter in instruments that utilize low-pressure aerodynamic lens inlets is to dry the particles prior to sampling.