Metropolitan growth and community disparities: Insights from the state of New Jersey in the US

An increasing concern among regional growth policymakers who aim to promote balanced growth is the widening economic disparity among the communities in metropolitan areas. But the causes and consequences of such disparities have not been fully addressed in planning and public policy literature. Using the longitudinal data (1970–2009) for 566 municipalities in the State of New Jersey in US, this study shows that overall metropolitan economic disparity is attributable to interjurisdictional economic disparity. The inter-jurisdictional economic disparity arises from the disproportionate distribution of human capital and minority populations across municipalities. Our study also confirms that housing market constraints, municipal taxes, and public expenditures play a significant role in inter-jurisdictional economic disparity and polarization. Since narrowing interjurisdictional disparity is imperative for community stability and regional economic competitiveness, we discuss the policy implications for reducing inter-jurisdictional disparity within metropolitan areas.     

Perturb and Observe MPPT algorithm with a current controller based on the sliding mode

In this paper a current controller is used to reject the 100-Hz oscillation of the voltage of the photovoltaic field taking place in any grid connected system. With respect to the classical linear voltage control the current-based sliding-mode approach ensures a wider regulation band but, unfortunately, in presence of a fast irradiance variation the sliding conditions might be violated, so that the operating point, which should be the maximum power point, might not be the expected one. In order to prevent such a drawback, an appropriate voltage compensation loop is used to interface the current-based sliding mode with the Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithm. Simulation and experimental results confirm the goodness of the proposed algorithm.     

A nonlinear eigenvalue problem from thin-film flow

Steady solutions of a fourth-order partial differential equation modeling the spreading of a thin film including the effects of surface shear, gravity, and surface tension are considered. The resulting fourth-order ordinary differential equation is transformed into a canonical third-order ordinary differential equation. When transforming the problem into standard form the position of the contact line becomes an eigenvalue of the physical problem. Asymptotic and numerical solutions of the resulting eigenvalue problem are investigated. The eigenvalue formulation of the steady problem yields a maximum value of the contact angle of 63.4349^?.     

The improved element-free Galerkin method for two-dimensional elastodynamics problems

In this paper, we derive an improved element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method for two-dimensional linear elastodynamics by employing the improved moving least-squares (IMLS) approximation. In comparison with the conventional moving least-squares (MLS) approximation function, the algebraic equation system in IMLS approximation is well-conditioned. It can be solved without having to derive the inverse matrix. Thus the IEFG method may result in a higher computing speed. In the IEFG method for two-dimensional linear elastodynamics, we employed the Galerkin weak form to derive the discretized system equations, and the Newmark time integration method for the time history analyses. In the modeling process, the penalty method is used to impose the essential boundary conditions to obtain the corresponding formulae of the IEFG method for two-dimensional elastodynamics. The numerical studies illustrated that the IEFG method is efficient by comparing it with the analytical method and the finite element method.     

Sealing process induced by carbonation of localized cracks in cementitious materials

The healing of cracks plays an important role with regard to the air- and water-tightness of concrete structures and the durability of cement based materials in general. This paper aims at further characterization and better comprehension of the healing phenomenon induced by the precipitation of calcite in localized cracks. The experimental program consisted in generating a localized crack in a cement paste or concrete specimen and healing the crack created by percolation tests with carbonated water or gas (CO₂-air mixture). For tests with liquid, results show that the healing process depends on physical parameters like crack width, pressure gradient and carbonate content in the percolating fluid. For tests with gas, the supply of the crack with Ca²⁺ ions to form calcite depends on the moisture transport mode on the crack edges, conditioned by the relative humidity of the percolating gas mixture. A simplified model of the leakage rate evolution is proposed. It provides indications concerning the effect of each test parameter on the healing process and allows the experimental results to be reproduced. Application of the model to other tests from the literature shows its limits and gives guidance for future investigations.     

Investigating the effect of machining processes on the mechanical behavior of composite plates with circular holes

The influence of the machining quality on the mechanical behavior of CFRP composites is yet not fully understood. There are only few works in the literature that have investigated the effect of the machining quality on CFRP. In fact, most of these works focus only on conventional machining such as axial or orbital drilling. The aim of this paper is to examine the influence of two machining processes namely conventional machining (CM) and abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) on the mechanical behavior of composite plates under cyclic loading. For this purpose, an experimental study using several composite plates drilled with a cutting tool and an abrasive water jet machining was carried out. In order to study the impact of the process of machining on the mechanical behavior, thermographic infrared testing and fatigue cyclic tests were performed to assess temperature evolutions, stiffness degradation, and the damage evolution in these plates. Fatigue testing results have shown that the damage accumulation in specimens drilled with CM process was higher than the AWJM specimens. Furthermore, the endurance limit for a composite plate drilled with CM was approximately 10% inferior compared to specimens drilled with AWJM. This difference can be related to the initial surface integrity after machining induced by the difference in the mechanism of material’s removal between the two processes used.     

Application of high-level fuzzy Petri nets to educational grading system

For the purpose of understanding the students’ learning achievement, the most direct way is to implement a test. Due to the rapid development of information technology, all kinds of combination of information technology with the adaptive test have been incessantly noted by many scholars. In general, the computerized adaptive test includes the item response theory that tests the students’ learning ability of subjects. However, the results based only on the dichotomy of correct answers and wrong answers are not so comprehensive judgments. Situations of correct answers and wrong answers should be different in their degrees; for example, completely correct, partially correct, completely wrong, and partially wrong. But the partially correct or partially wrong is vague and difficult to define. Thus it is appropriate to use fuzzy theory to solve the vagueness problem. Therefore, this study presents a novel learning evaluation model which applies high-level fuzzy Petri net (HLFPN) and infers via a fuzzy reasoning method the different answering performances generated by different examinee’s abilities corresponding to the test items in different degrees of difficulty. Finally, we synthesize the answering performance of every test item and make a reasonable evaluation.     

基于预测值替代的相关向量回归稳健化方法

针对相关向量机的性能易受到奇异值影响的情况,提出了一种增强相关向量机稳健性的方法。其主要思想如下:首先用原始训练数据训练相关向量机;然后,利用某种准则,从原始数据中挑选一些样本,用其预测值代替输出变量值;随后,用改变后的训练样本重新训练相关向量机。这个过程可重复几次。数据试验表明,较之相关向量机和变分稳健相关向量机,新算法对奇异值更加不敏感。     

Sustainability decision support system based on collaborative control theory

Industries nowadays have more insight into corporate environmental, social and economic sustainability than ever before. Sustainability issues in various industries are all about choices – finding ways to be more strategic and reducing waste and energy, while benefiting the bottom line. Because of the complexity of sustainability decisions and strategies, these insights call for applying advanced control techniques. In this article we review the concepts of sustainability and its practical issues, specifically focusing on the issues of supply networks. Sustainability issues are usually complex because beyond their inherent challenges, there are conflicts among stakeholders within organizations and between organizations; hence, more useful methods are required for effective solutions. We consider Decision Support Systems (DSSs) to help optimize solutions related with sustainability issues, and review their concepts and usefulness based on previous work. We also suggest strategies applying the Collaborative Control Theory (CCT) principles to augment DSS by a new Sustainability – Decision Support Protocol (S-DSP) in order to overcome certain weaknesses. To model and illustrate the benefit of S-DSP as a control protocol, two practical supply delivery/production problems are analyzed. The results highlight how better collaborative solutions can be achieved to maximize the sustainability of supply networks. It is envisioned that sustainability decision support by such cyber-supported collaboration protocols will contribute to overcome the emerging challenges of sustainability planning and control.