Optimal control for a population dynamics with age-dependent and diffusion in a periodic environment

Here we consider the optimal harvesting problem for a periodic age-dependent population dynamics with diffusion. Namely, we investigate the model with periodic vital rates and a periodic forcing term that sustains oscillations. By using Mazur’s theorem, we demonstrate existence of solutions of the optimal control problem and by the conception of normal cone, we also obtain the first order necessary conditions of optimality for the problem. Our results extend some known criteria.     

Separability and entanglement in tripartite states

While classical correlations can be freely distributed among many systems, this is not true for entanglement and quantum correlations. If a quantum system S^a is entangled with another quantum system S^b, then its entanglement with any third quantum system S^c cannot be arbitrary. This is the celebrated monogamy of entanglement. Implicit in this general statement is the plausible belief that only entanglement between the systems S^a and S^b constrains the entanglement between S^a and the third system S^c. We demonstrate that even classical correlations between S^a and S^b may impose surprisingly stringent restrictions on the possible entanglement between S^a and S^c. In particular, perfect bipartite classical correlations and full entanglement cannot coexist in any tripartite state. An intuitive explanation of this monogamy of hybrid classical and quantum correlations might be that the system S^a has a correlating capability, which cannot be used to establish any entanglement with a third system (but can still be used to establish classical correlations) if it is exhausted when correlated with S^b (in either a classical or quantum fashion). This may be interpreted as an alternate version of monogamy.     

Directly suspended droplet microextraction in a rotating vial

In this paper, a novel suspended droplet microextraction method was developed for the detection of trace of organic compounds in water samples. The process was executed in a rotating extraction vial without the use of a stir bar. A single drop of octan-1-ol placed on top of the water sample was used as the solvent. The droplet remained on top of the water sample as a thin layer with an expanding surface area during the extraction stage, while during the sampling stage, the droplet was collected and sampled by inserting a needle. The volume of the microdroplet used was 3 μL or less, to ensure high organic compound sensitivity. The microextraction experimental setup was simple, utilizing centrifugal forces and possesses the advantages of low cross-contaminant/interference and applicability to water samples apt to emulsification. Nitrobenzene was selected as a model organic compound, and samples were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) or UV-vis spectrometry. Analysis of the microextraction method results showed a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 3.82%.     

Synthesis of PMMA‐b‐PBA block copolymer in homogeneous and miniemulsion systems by DPE controlled radical polymerization

In this research, poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(butyl acrylate) (PMMA‐b‐PBA) block copolymers were prepared by 1,1‐diphenylethene (DPE) controlled radical polymerization in homogeneous and miniemulsion systems. First, monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA), initiator 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and a control agent DPE were bulk polymerized to form the DPE‐containing PMMA macroinitiator. Then the DPE‐containing PMMA was heated in the presence of a second monomer BA, the block copolymer was synthesized successfully. The effects of solvent and polymerization methods (homogeneous polymerization or miniemulsion polymerization) on the reaction rate, controlled living character, molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (PDI) of polymers throughout the polymerization were studied and discussed. The results showed that, increasing the amounts of solvent reduced the reaction rate and viscosity of the polymerization system. It allowed more activation–deactivation cycles to occur at a given conversion thus better controlled living character and narrower molecular weight distribution of polymers were demonstrated throughout the polymerization. Furthermore, the polymerization carried out in miniemulsion system exhibited higher reaction rate and better controlled living character than those in homogeneous system. It was attributed to the compartmentalization of growing radicals and the enhanced deactivation reaction of DPE controlled radical polymerization in miniemulsified droplets. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4435–4445, 2009     

Convergence Results of the ERM Method for Nonlinear Stochastic Variational Inequality Problems

This paper considers the expected residual minimization (ERM) method proposed by Luo and Lin (J. Optim. Theory Appl. 140:103–116, 2009) for a class of stochastic variational inequality problems. Different from the work mentioned above, the function involved is assumed to be nonlinear in this paper. We first consider a quasi-Monte Carlo method for the case where the underlying sample space is compact and show that the ERM method is convergent under very mild conditions. Then, we suggest a compact approximation approach for the case where the sample space is noncompact. This work was supported in part by Project 10771025 supported by NSFC and SRFDP 20070141063 of China.     

Every weakly compact set can be uniformly embedded into a reflexive Banach space

Based on an application of the Davis-Figiel-Johnson-Pelzyski procedure, this note shows that every weakly compact subset of a Banach space can be uniformly embedded into a reflexive Banach space. As its application, we present the recent renorming theorems for reflexive spaces of Odell- Schlumprecht and Hajek-Johanis can be extended and localized to weakly compact convex subsets of an arbitrary Banach space.     

Controlling bifurcation and chaos of a plastic impact oscillator

A two-degree-of-freedom plastic impact oscillator is considered. Based on the analysis of sticking and non-sticking impact motions of the system, we introduce a three-dimensional impact Poincaré map with dynamical variables defined at the impact instants. The plastic impacts complicate the dynamic responses of the impact oscillator considerably. Consequently, the piecewise property and singularity are found to exist in the three-dimensional map. The piecewise property is caused by the transitions of free flight and sticking motions of two masses immediately after impact, and the singularity of the map is generated via the grazing contact of two masses and the instability of their corresponding periodic motions. The nonlinear dynamics of the plastic impact oscillator is analyzed by using the Poincaré map. The simulated results show that the dynamic behavior of this system is very complex under parameter variation, varying from different types of sticking or non-sticking periodic motions to chaos. Suppressing bifurcation and chaotic-impact motions is studied by using an external driving force, delay feedback and damping control law. The effectiveness of these methods is demonstrated by the presentation of examples of suppressing bifurcations and chaos for the plastic impact oscillator.     

Dynamics of an impact-progressive system

An impact oscillator with a frictional slider is considered. The basic function of the investigated system is to overcome the frictional force and move downwards. Based on the analysis of the oscillatory and progressive motions of the system, we introduce an impact Poincaré map with dynamical variables defined at the impact instants. The nonlinear dynamics of the impact system with a frictional slider is analyzed by using the impact Poincaré map. The stability and bifurcations of single-impact periodic motions are analyzed, and some information about the existence of other types of periodic-impact motions is provided. Since the system equilibrium is moving downwards, one way to monitor the progression rate is to calculate its progression in a finite time. The simulation results show that in a finite time, the largest progression of the system is found to occur for period-1 multi-impact motions existing in the regions of low forcing frequencies. Secondly, the progression of the period-1 single-impact motion with peak-impact velocity is also distinct enough. However, it is important to note, that the largest progression for period-1 multi-impact motion existing at a low forcing frequency is not an optimal choice for practical engineering applications. The greater the number of the impacts in an excitation period, the more distinct the adverse effects such as high noise levels and wear and tear caused by impacts. As a result, the progression of the period-1 single-impact motion with the peak-impact velocity is still optimal for practical applications. The influence of parameter variations on the oscillatory and progressive motions of the impact-progressive system are elucidated accordingly, and feasible parameter regions are provided.     

On rank reversal in decision analysis

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been criticized for its possible rank reversal phenomenon caused by the addition or deletion of an alternative. This paper shows the fact that the rank reversal phenomenon occurs not only in the AHP but also in many other decision making approaches such as the Borda–Kendall (BK) method for aggregating ordinal preferences, the simple additive weighting (SAW) method, the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method, and the cross-efficiency evaluation method in data envelopment analysis (DEA). Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the rank reversal phenomenon in these popular decision making approaches.     

具周期输入的有限连续分布时滞神经网络周期解的全局指数稳定性

在去掉对激励函数有界、连续可导、平均时滞有界的条件下,仅要求激励函数满足Lip-schitz条件和连接权矩阵之间的关系是一个M-矩阵的情形下,利用重合度理论、Dini导数等知识得出了具周期输入的有限连续分布的一类细胞神经网络周期解的存在性.利用Dini导数和不等式分析技术在同样条件下得出了周期解的指数稳定性.推广和改进了前人的结论.并举例说明了所得定理的有效性.