Dry Anaerobic Co-digestion of Cow Dung with Pig Manure for Methane Production

The performance of dry anaerobic digestions of cow dung, pig manure, and their mixtures into different ratios were evaluated at 35?±?1 °C in single-stage batch reactors for 63 days. The specific methane yields were 0.33, 0.37, 0.40, 0.38, 0.36, and 0.35 LCH₄/gVS_r for cow dung to pig manure ratios of 1:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4, and 0:1, respectively, while volatile solid (VS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were 48.59, 50.79, 53.20, 47.73, 46.10, and 44.88 % and 55.44, 57.96, 60.32, 56.96, 53.32, and 50.86 %, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the co-digestions resulted in 5.10–18.01 % higher methane yields, 2.03–12.95 % greater VS removals, 2.98–12.52 % greater COD degradation and so had positive synergism. The various mixtures of pig manure with cow dung might persuade a better nutrient balance and dilution of high ammonia concentration in pig manure and therefore enhanced digester performance efficiency and higher biogas yields. The dry co-digestion of 60 % cow dung and 40 % pig manure achieved the highest methane yield and the greatest organic materials removal efficiency than other mixtures and controls.     

Decentralized Model Predictive Control for Networks of Linear Systems with Coupling Delay

This paper presents a new dissipativity-based decentralized model predictive control strategy for networks of linear systems suffering from a bounded coupling delay. The notion of delay-robust dissipativity is introduced and applied to the development of interconnection stability conditions. The dissipation inequality of system trajectories is converted into a prognostic stability constraint for the optimization problem of model predictive control to guarantee the system stability. A recursive feasibility condition is derived for the constrained optimization problem, which is formulated in a semi-definite program. A numerical example of an interconnected three-unit process system is provided for illustrations.     

Long time behavior of solutions to semilinear parabolic equations involving strongly degenerate elliptic differential operators

In this paper we consider initial boundary value problem for semilinear parabolic equations involving strongly degenerate elliptic differential operators. Depending on the concrete types of nonlinearity we establish the existence of compact connected global attractors of semigroups generated by the problem under consideration.     

Base-specific and enantioselective studies for the DNA binding of iron(II) mixed-ligand complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine

Base specificity and enantioselectivity for the DNA binding of [Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline and dppz=dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) have been studied by determining the equilibrium binding constant (Kb) of the iron(II) complex to calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA), poly[(dA-dT)2], poly[(dG-dC)2] and poly[(dI-dC)2] using spectrophotometric titration and by monitoring the CD spectral profile of the iron(II) complex in the presence and absence of different types of DNA using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, respectively. It has been shown that [Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+ prefers to intercalate into the A-T and I-C sequences of poly[(dA-dT)2] and poly[(dI-dC)2] rather than into the G-C sequences of poly[(dG-dC)2] or into the base pairs of ct-DNA. In contrast to previous reports, it is a surprising observation that the enantioselectivity of the DNA binding for [Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+ is base-dependent in nature. The Delta-enantiomer of [Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+ is preferentially intercalated into the base pairs of poly[(dG-dC)2] or ct-DNA as indicated by its CD spectral profiles. On the other hand, the Lambda-enantiomer of [Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+ is favorably intercalated into poly[(dA-dT)2] or poly[(dI-dC)2] as suggested by the opposite CD spectral profile. This preferential binding of Lambda-[Fe(phen)2(dppz)]2+)for the A-T sequence may be attributed to the fact that the binding site for the A-T sequence is relatively facile and thus the steric effect caused by the ancillary (non-intercalated) phen ligands is alleviated. The degree of enantioselectivity represented by inversion constants (Kinv) decreases as the salt concentration in the solution increases, indicating that electrostatic interaction is also operating in the ct-DNA-binding events of the iron (II) complex.     

Linear Free‐Energy Relationships Applied to the 13C NMR Chemical Shifts in 4‐Substituted N‐[1‐(Pyridine‐3‐ and ‐4‐yl)ethylidene]anilines

Two series of 4‐substituted N‐[1‐(pyridine‐3‐ and ‐4‐yl)ethylidene]anilines have been synthesized using different methods of conventional and microwave‐assisted synthesis, and linear free‐energy relationships have been applied to the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the carbon atoms of interest. The substituent‐induced chemical shifts have been analyzed using single substituent parameter and dual substituent parameter methods. The presented correlations describe satisfactorily the field and resonance substituent effects having similar contributions for C1 and the azomethine carbon, with exception of the carbon atom in para position to the substituent X. In both series, negative ρ values have been found for C1′ atom (reverse substituent effect). Quantum chemical calculations of the optimized geometries at MP2/6‐31G++(d,p) level, together with ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, give a better insight into the influence of the molecular conformation on the transmission of electronic substituent effects. The comparison of correlation results for different series of imines with phenyl, 4‐nitrophenyl, 2‐pyridyl, 3‐pyridyl, 4‐pyridyl group attached at the azomethine carbon with the results for 4‐substituted N‐[1‐(pyridine‐3‐ and ‐4‐yl)ethylidene]anilines for the same substituent set (X) indicates that a combination of the influences of electronic effects of the substituent X and the π₁‐unit can be described as a sensitive balance of different resonance structures.     

Connected size Ramsey number for matchings vs. small stars or cycles

The notation \(F\rightarrow (G,H)\) means that if the edges of F are colored red and blue, then the red subgraph contains a copy of G or the blue subgraph contains a copy of H. The connected size Ramsey number \(\hat{r}_c(G,H)\) of graphs G and H is the minimum size of a connected graph F satisfying \(F\rightarrow (G,H)\). For \(m \ge 2,\) the graph consisting of m independent edges is called a matching and is denoted by \(mK_2\). In 1981, Erdös and Faudree determined the size Ramsey numbers for the pair \((mK_2, K_{1,t})\). They showed that the disconnected graph \(mK_{1,t} \rightarrow (mK_2,K_{1,t})\) for \( t,m \ge 1\). In this paper, we will determine the connected size Ramsey number \(\hat{r}_c(nK_2, K_{1,3})\) for \(n\ge 2\) and \(\hat{r}_c(3K_2, C_4)\). We also derive an upper bound of the connected size Ramsey number \(\hat{r}_c(nK_2, C_4),\) for \(n\ge 4\).     

An analytical approach for constructing and measuring concepts

Conceptual models are a necessary component of strategic thinking as they provide a basis upon which to consider the implications of change in dynamic evolving systems. However, the thoroughness and robustness of the strategic thinking is often limited in utility if the conceptual models are poorly constructed. Here we describe a problem structuring approach for constructing and measuring conceptual models that overcomes such limitations. This approach defines a basic construct for a concept. Detailed concepts are then defined using this in conjunction with aspects of Checkland's Soft System Methodology. Importantly it allows determination of the relevant context for such concepts. In addition, a set of high-level metrics is defined so as to provide a mechanism for evaluating the ‘goodness’ of a conceptual model, particularly in terms of maturity and particularity.     

Hardy空间中的Bloch函数

本文利用单位圆盘内解析函数的Ｓｈｉｍｉｚｕ－Ａｈｌｆｏｒｓ特征函数分给出了Ｈａｒｄｙ空间中Ｂｌｏｃｈ函数和ＢＭＯＡ的新特征。由此我们发现了Ｂ∩Ｈ^ｐ（０＜ｐ＜∞）与ＢＭＯＡ之间的本质差别。