Truncated Newton method for sparse unconstrained optimization using automatic differentiation

When solving large complex optimization problems, the user is faced with three major problems. These are (i) the cost in human time in obtaining accurate expressions for the derivatives involved; (ii) the need to store second derivative information; and (iii), of lessening importance, the time taken to solve the problem on the computer. For many problems, a significant part of the latter can be attributed to solving Newton-like equations. In the algorithm described, the equations are solved using a conjugate direction method that only needs the Hessian at the current point when it is multiplied by a trial vector. In this paper, we present a method that finds this product using automatic differentiation while only requiring vector storage. The method takes advantage of any sparsity in the Hessian matrix and computes exact derivatives. It avoids the complexity of symbolic differentiation, the inaccuracy of numerical differentiation, the labor of finding analytic derivatives, and the need for matrix store. When far from a minimum, an accurate solution to the Newton equations is not justified, so an approximate solution is obtained by using a version of Dembo and Steihaug's truncated Newton algorithm (Ref. 1).This paper was presented at the SIAM National Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, 1986.     

旧式大型工具显微镜数显化

大型工具显微镜是用途较广的精密长度计量仪器,主要用于测量螺纹中径、圆柱的直径等。目前实验室和工厂现有的仪器属50年代生产的老型号产品,用目视螺旋测微鼓上的刻度读数,人工记录和处理数据,测量时费时费工。针对大型工具显微镜数显化的问题,阐述了光栅、光电显微镜、单片机、新型传感器在数显上的应用。利用新技术和新型传感器改造老设备,使其实现数字化和智能化,以提高测量效率和测量精度。改造的结果表明,改造后的仪器测量效率大大提高,精度可提高一个数量级。     

Development of a novel laboratory scale high solids reactor for anaerobic digestion of processed municipal solid wastes for the production of methane

Economic evaluations of the capital costs for anaerobic digestion systems for gas production show that the reactor is a significant cost component. The successful application of high solids digestion of processed MSW (e.g., greater than 10% solids within the digester) would allow a decrease in reactor volume with maintenance of relatively high gas production rates. However, high solids slurries do not mix well in conventional stirred tank reactors. A horizontal shaft, hydraulically driven reactor was designed and fabricated to test the anaerobic digestion of high solids concentrations. Digester performance was evaluated as a function of experimental parameters such as nutrient requirements, feeding rates, pH control, and agitator design/ rotation speed; horsepower of mixing was also evaluated for the reactor. Several startup protocols were examined to obtain a biologically stable anaerobic fermentation at high solids levels.     

微机控制离子色谱仪自动操作与数据处理系统

用转换器和ＩＢＭＰＣ／ＸＴ微机与Ｄｉｏｎｅｘ２０２０ｉ型离子色谱仪连接组成自动控制与数据处理系统，转换器由８０３１及８２５５等芯片组成，其功能是采集数据和转送数据，软件由汇编及Ｃ语言编制。这套新系统增加了注入／记录同步，分级梯度淋洗，自动连续进样等功能以及很强的数据处理能力。     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.     

密封罐微波消化法序列ICP-AES测定环境试样中多元素

本文采用密闭罐微波消化方法快速分解生物、土壤、沉积物等环境样品。按样品性质,分别采用HNO3/H_2O_2或HNO_3/H_2O_2/HF在聚四氟乙稀密闭罐中于500W微波功率分解0.1～0.2g样品2～3min,溶液(或在其中加入10ml硼酸饱和溶液)稀释至2.5～5.0ml后,直接用序列ICP-AES法测定。方法准确度经分析6个生物、土壤、沉积物标准参考物质验证,10个元素的均值均与定值吻合。     

Tegoprens in anaerobic digestion of a mixture of cheese whey,poultry waste,and cattle dung for improved biomethanation

To obtain enriched methane content and improve the anaerobic digestion of a mixture of cattle dung, poultry waste, and cheese whey, the effect of various doses of Tegoprens: T-3012, T-3022, T-5842, T-5843, T-5851, T-5852 has been studied, in bench-scale digesters. Among them, Tegoprens 3022 showed more than a 45% increase in gas production with higher methane content.     

Effect of HF addition on the microwave-assisted acid-digestion for the determination of metals in coal by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

The microwave-assisted acid-digestion for the determination of metals in coal by ICP-AES was investigated, especially focusing on the necessity of adding HF. By testing five certified reference materials, BCR-180, BCR-040, NIST-1632b, NIST-1632c, and SARM-20, it was found that the two-stage digestion without HF (HNO₃ + H₂O₂ was used) was very effective for the pretreatment of ICP-AES measurement. Both major metals (Al, Ca, Fe, and Mg) and minor or trace metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in coal gave good recoveries for their certified or reference values. The possibility of ‘HF-memory effect’ was cancelled by the use of a set of vessels which had been never contacted with HF. Twenty-four Japanese standard coals (SS coals) were analyzed by the present method, and the concentrations of major metals measured by the present method provided very high accordance with those from the authentic JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) method.     

Macroscopic mass and energy balance of a pilot plant anaerobic bioreactor operated under thermophilic conditions

Intensive poultry production generates over 100,000 t of litter annually in West Virginia and 9×10⁶ t nationwide. Current available technological alternatives based on thermophilic anaerobic digestion for residuals treatment are diverse. A modification of the typical continuous stirred tank reactor is a promising process being relatively stable and owing to its capability to manage considerable amounts of residuals at low operational cost. A 40-m³ pilot plant digester was used for performance evaluation considering energy input and methane production. Results suggest some changes to the pilot plant configuration are necessary to reduce power consumption although maximizing biodigester performance.     

Probing in vitro digestion at oil–water interfaces

Interfacial layers have been widely applied to study the formation and stability of emulsion-based systems. However, the application of isolated interfaces to address digestibility of emulsions is often limited because of the complexity of experimental methods and results. This review summarizes the latest developments in analytical methods and literature data on effects of digestion on interfacial layers. Particular emphasis is given to understand the changes on interfacial magnitudes during oral, gastric, and duodenal digestion, either applied separately or sequentially. Limitations of interfacial aspects and key factors that influence emulsion microstructure in bulk and lipid digestion are identified. Understanding the behavior of interfacial layers upon gastrointestinal digestion promotes an accurate tracking of the physiological fate of emulsions.