Bounded invariant verification for time-delayed nonlinear networked dynamical systems

We present a technique for bounded invariant verification of nonlinear networked dynamical systems with delayed interconnections. The underlying problem in precise bounded-time verification lies with computing bounds on the sensitivity of trajectories (or solutions) to changes in initial states and inputs of the system. For large networks, computing this sensitivity with precision guarantees is challenging. We introduce the notion of input-to-state (IS) discrepancy of each module or subsystem in a larger nonlinear networked dynamical system. The IS discrepancy bounds the distance between two solutions or trajectories of a module in terms of their initial states and their inputs. Given the IS discrepancy functions of the modules, we show that it is possible to effectively construct a reduced (low dimensional) time-delayed dynamical system, such that the trajectory of this reduced model precisely bounds the distance between the trajectories of the complete network with changed initial states. Using the above results we develop a sound and relatively complete algorithm for bounded invariant verification of networked dynamical systems consisting of nonlinear modules interacting through possibly delayed signals. Finally, we introduce a local version of IS discrepancy and show that it is possible to compute them using only the Lipschitz constant and the Jacobian of the dynamic function of the modules.     

Ammonia-treatment assisted fully encapsulation of Fe2O3 nanoparticles in mesoporous carbons as stable anodes for lithium ion batteries

To improve the initial coulombic efficiency and bulk density of ordered mesoporous carbons, active Fe2O3 nanoparticles were introduced into tubular mesopore channels of CMK-5 carbon, which possesses high specific surface area (>1700 m 2 g-1 ) and large pore volume (>1.8 cm 3 g-1 ). Fine Fe2O3 nanoparticles with sizes in the range of 5 7 nm were highly and homogenously encapsulated into CMK-5 matrix through ammonia-treatment and subsequent pyrolysis method. The Fe2O3 loading was carefully tailored and designed to warrant a high Fe2O3 content and adequate buffer space for improving the electrochemical performance. In particular, such Fe2O3 and mesoporous carbon composite with 47 wt% loading exhibits a considerably stable cycle performance (683 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles, 99% capacity retention against that of the second cycle) as well as good rate capability. The fabrication strategy can effectively solve the drawback of single material, and achieve a high-performance lithium electrode material.     

Accelerating Effect of Bio-Reduced Graphene Oxide on Decolorization of Acid Red 18 by Shewanella algae

In this study, the effects of bio-reduced graphene oxide (BRGO) on the bio-reduction of Acid Red 18 (AR 18) by Shewanella algae were first investigated, and a possible mechanism of BRGO-mediated AR 18 bio-decolorization was proposed. The prepared BRGO was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Moreover, electrochemical experiment demonstrated that BRGO is of good electrical conductivity. AR 18 bio-decolorization could be enhanced in dose-dependent manner of BRGO. The maximum increase in AR 18 removal efficiency was observed at a dose of 0.075 g L^?1 BRGO. Under the same conditions, BRGO could also improve the decolorization rates of Acid Red 88, Acid Red 27, and Acid Red 73. During decolorization, the formation of BRGO and cells composite was observed, which is beneficial for transferring electrons from cells to BRGO. In addition, BRGO could accelerate the bio-decolorization of AR 18 under saline conditions (2–7 %). These findings indicate that BRGO can accelerate the electrons transfer from cells to azo dyes.     

Emerging Design Principle of Near-Infrared Upconversion Sensitizer Based on Mitochondria-Targeted Organic Dye for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Upconversion luminescent (UCL) triggered photodynamic therapy (PDT) affords superior outcome for cancer treatment. However, conventional UCL materials which all work by a multiphoton absorption (MPA) process inevitably need extremely high power density far over the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) to laser. Here, a one-photon absorption molecular upconversion sensitizer Cy5.5-Br based on frequency upconversion luminescent (FUCL) is designed for PDT. The unusual super heavy atom effect (SHAE) in Cy5.5-Br strongly enhances its spin-orbit coupling (0.23 cm⁻¹), triplet quantum yield (11.1 %) and triplet state lifetime (18.8 μs) while the potential hot-band absorption of Cy5.5-Br is well maintained. Importantly, Cy5.5-Br can efficiently target the tumour site and kill cancer cells by destroying mitochondria under a biosafety MPE to 808 nm laser. The photostability and antitumor results are obviously superior to that of a Stokes process. This work provides a design criterion for FUCL dyes to realize effective PDT upon a biosafety optical density, possibly bringing more clinical benefits than conventional MPA materials.     

Length scale effects in epoxy: The dependence of elastic moduli measurements on spherical indenter tip radius

Significant increases in the measured elastic moduli with decreasing indentation depth have been previously found in various polymers by indentation tests with a Berkovich tip at micro-to nanometer length scales. These increases in the determined elastic moduli were related to second order displacement gradients which increase with decreasing depth when a conical tip is applied. When a spherical tip is applied, such depth dependence should not be present as the second order displacement gradients remain essentially unchanged with indentation depth. However, these gradients should be proportional to the radius of the spherical tip. To examine the notion of second order displacement gradient dependence in measurements of elastic moduli, indentation experiments are conducted on epoxy with spherical tips of different nominal radii. Accounting for tip imperfections, an increase in the determined elastic moduli is found with decreasing tip radius, which corroborates the notion of second order displacement gradient dependence.     

Metal-free phthalocyanine single crystal: Solvothermal synthesis and near-infrared electroluminescence

A metal-free purple H₂Pc single crystal was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method, and its solubility and near-infrared (NIR) optical properties were also investigated due to its potential applications as a light-emitting layer for OLEDs. The H₂Pc single crystal is insoluble in 1-chlorine naphthalene and other organic solvents. It gives a wide absorption in the range from 620 nm to 679 nm and a wide emission in near 922 nm. As an active light-emitting layer, H₂Pc was employed to fabricate electroluminescent (EL) devices with a structure of ITO/NPB (30 nm)/Alq₃:H₂Pc (30 nm)/BCP (20 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/Al. The emission center is at 936 nm when the H₂Pc doping concentration is 20 wt%. The doping concentration strongly governs the emission intensity. When doping concentration decreases from 10 wt% to 1 wt%, the emission intensity remarkably fades, and simultaneously the emission center undergoes a blue shift.     

Global existence of solutions for a viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation with gradient dependent potentials and sources

We consider a class of nonlinear viscous Cahn–Hilliard equations with gradient dependent potentials and sources. By a Galerkin approximation scheme combined with the potential well method, we prove the global existence of weak solutions.     

An arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian model for studying the influences of corrosion product deposition on bimetallic corrosion

In this paper, a model is established to simulate the time-dependent deposition of corrosion product on the metal surface by considering mass transfer, electrochemical reactions and precipitation reaction. The model is also capable of tacking the movement of metal corrosion interface and the growing interface of the corrosion product deposits via arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian finite element method. The current model not only can be used to predict the time-dependent metal corrosion but also for investigating the influences of the deposits’ nature on metal corrosion. The numerical results of current density and corrosion rate are in good agreement with experiments. The presented model predicts that an exponential relationship exists between the maximum corrosion depth and the porosity of corrosion product deposits, and it is also predicted that the growth of the corrosion product layer is linear relative with the root of time, which is consistent with the existing theories.     

Bilayer rGO-Based Photothermal Evaporator for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Purification[]**

Interfacial evaporation has emerged as a promising approach to produce freshwater. However, an urgent concern is that, due to the illegal discharge of industrial wastewater, most water bodies are polluted by trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are easily volatilized and enriched in the collected water during the interfacial evaporation process. Herein, a bilayer photothermal evaporator was reasonably designed for contaminated water purification. The bottom hydrophilic rGO-sodium alginate (SA) sheets purposefully disintegrate water transport channels, thus quickly removing VOCs through physical adsorption. The rGO-SA-TiO₂ upper layer sufficiently absorbs incident light and therefore persistently generates reactive oxidizing species to degrade upward VOCs. Notably, the oriented microchannels inside the evaporator allow sustained light reflections to improve the utilization of solar energy. The evaporation rate can reach 1.63 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a considerably high VOC removal efficiency of up to 96 %. Such an integrated bilayer evaporator provides an effective strategy to obtain clean water via solar distillation.     

Design and Synthesis of a Ruthenium(II) Complex-Based Luminescent Probe for Highly Selective and Sensitive Luminescence Detection of Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important intercellular signaling molecules, and plays important roles in various biological systems. In this work, a unique Ru^II complex, tris[(5-(4-methylamino-3-aminobenzylamino)-1,10-phenanthroline)] ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate [Ru(MAA-phen)₃][PF₆]₂, has been designed and synthesized as a luminescent probe for the detection of NO in aqueous media. The complex itself is almost non-luminescent, but can specifically react with NO under the aerobic conditions to afford its highly luminescent triazole derivative in aqueous media, [Ru(MTA-phen)₃]²⁺ (MTA-phen: methyl-trazolebenzylamino-1,10-phenanthroline), accompanied by a 302-fold increase in luminescence intensity at 598 nm with a 130 nm Stokes shift. The luminescence response of [Ru(MAA-phen)₃]²⁺ to NO is rapid, highly specific without interferences of other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, and highly stable against the pH changes in the range of pH 4.5–9.5. These features enable [Ru(MAA-phen)₃]²⁺ to be used as a probe for the highly selective and sensitive luminescence detection of NO in weakly acidic, neutral, and weakly basic media.