Spatial distribution multimedia fate model: Numerical aspects and ability for spatial analysis

A spatial distribution multimedia fate model is proposed for the rigorous simulation of the environmental multimedia fate of hazardous chemicals emitted from a variety of sources. To solve the relevant equation, we introduce an explicit finite difference method applied to uniform grids. We assessed the numerical properties of the model, including stability and accuracy. A new dimensionless number (multimedia transport number) is proposed for determining the numerical stability of the unsteady-state method. The model was verified by comparison with analytical solutions for the transport of non-conservative substances in two-phase open-channel flow. The spatial resolution of the spatial distribution model was tested via a comparison with a general multimedia fate model in a practical application related to toluene emissions in Seoul, South Korea.     

On the Laplacian, signless Laplacian and normalized Laplacian characteristic polynomials of a graph

The Laplacian, signless Laplacian and normalized Laplacian characteristic polynomials of a graph are the characteristic polynomials of its Laplacian matrix, signless Laplacian matrix and normalized Laplacian matrix, respectively. In this paper, we mainly derive six reduction procedures on the Laplacian, signless Laplacian and normalized Laplacian characteristic polynomials of a graph which can be used to construct larger Laplacian, signless Laplacian and normalized Laplacian cospectral graphs, respectively.     

On the second largest Laplacian eigenvalues of graphs

The second largest Laplacian eigenvalue of a graph is the second largest eigenvalue of the associated Laplacian matrix. In this paper, we study extremal graphs for the extremal values of the second largest Laplacian eigenvalue and the Laplacian separator of a connected graph, respectively. All simple connected graphs with second largest Laplacian eigenvalue at most 3 are characterized. It is also shown that graphs with second largest Laplacian eigenvalue at most 3 are determined by their Laplacian spectrum. Moreover, the graphs with maximum and the second maximum Laplacian separators among all connected graphs are determined.     

L（j,k）-number of Direct Product of Path and Cycle

For positive numbers j and k, an L(j,k)-labeling f of G is an assignment of numbers to vertices of G such that |f(u)-f(v)|≥j if uv∈E(G), and |f(u)-f(v)|≥k if d(u,v)=2. Then the span of f is the difference between the maximum and the minimum numbers assigned by f. The L(j,k)-number of G, denoted by λj,k(G), is the minimum span over all L(j,k)-labelings of G. In this paper, we give some results about the L(j,k)-number of the direct product of a path and a cycle for j≤k.     

Evolutionary snowdrift game incorporating costly punishment in structured populations

The role of punishment and the effects of a structured population in promoting cooperation are important issues. Within a recent model of snowdrift game (SG) incorporating a costly punishing strategy (P), we study the effects of a population connected through a square lattice. The punishers, who carry basically a cooperative (C) character, are willing to pay a cost α$\alpha$ so as to punish a non-cooperative (D) opponent by β$\beta$. Depending on α$\alpha$, β$\beta$, the cost-to-benefit ratio r$r$ in SG, and the initial conditions, the system evolves into different phases that could be homogeneous or inhomogeneous. The spatial structure imposes geometrical constraint on how one agent is affected by neighboring agents. Results of extensive numerical simulations, both for the steady state and the dynamics, are presented. Possible phases are identified and discussed, and isolated phases in the r–β$r\text{–}\beta$ space are identified as special local structures of strategies that are stable due to the lattice structure. In contrast to a well-mixed population where punishers are suppressed due to the cost of punishment, the altruistic punishing strategy can flourish and prevail for appropriate values of the parameters, implying an enhancement in cooperation by imposing punishments in a structured population. The system could evolve to a phase corresponding to the coexistence of C, D, and P strategies at some particular payoff parameters, and such a phase is absent in a well-mixed population. The pair approximation, a commonly used analytic approach, is extended from a two-strategy system to a three-strategy system. We show that the pair approximation can, at best, capture the numerical results only qualitatively. Due to the improper way of including spatial correlation imposed by the lattice structure, the approximation does not give the frequencies of C, D, and P accurately and fails to give the homogeneous AllD and AllP phases.     

Analysis of a conducting fluid in a thin annulus with rotating insulated walls under radial magnetic effect

This work considers an electrically conducting fluid filled between two concentric cylindrical walls relatively close to each other. A theoretical solution for the steady Taylor–Couette flow between these two electrically insulated rotating cylinders under the influence of a radial magnetic field is provided in this work. By solving the appropriate set of governing equations simultaneously, the profiles of fluid tangential velocity component and induced magnetic field were obtained as complicated functions involving the modified Bessel functions of the first and second kinds of the first-order in terms of radial coordinates and Hartmann number. A computational study was also performed to validate the present theoretical solution. The analytical and computational results are identical when Ha = 1 while these results only slightly deviate from each other as Ha increases. Current results show that, the presence of the external magnetic field causes the flow close to the slower cylinder to accelerate while that close to the faster cylinder to decelerate. This has clearly implied the fact that an external magnetic field tends to make the velocity distribution across the inner and outer cylinders more uniform.     

Linear spaces and preservers of symmetric matrices of bounded rank-two

Let 𝔽 be a field of characteristic two. Let S _n (𝔽) denote the vector space of all n?×?n symmetric matrices over 𝔽. We characterize i. subspaces of S _n (𝔽) all whose elements have rank at most two where n???3,

ii. linear maps from S _m (𝔽) to S _n (𝔽) that sends matrices of rank at most two into matrices of rank at most two where m, n???3 and |𝔽|?≠?2.

     

Evaporative characteristics of sessile nanofluid droplet on micro‐structured heated surface

Micro‐structure patterned substrates attract our attention due to the special and programmable wettabilities. The interaction between the liquid and micro/nano structures gives rise to controllable spreading and thus evaporation. For exploration of the application versatility, the introduction of nanoparticles in liquid droplet results in interaction among particles, liquid and microstructures. In addition, temperature of the substrates strongly affects the spreading of the contact line and the evaporative property. The evaporation of sessile droplets of nanofluids on a micro‐grooved solid surface is investigated in terms of liquid and surface properties. The patterned nickel surface used in the experiments is designed and fabricated with circular and rectangular shaped pillars whose size ratios between interval and pillars is fixed at 5. The behavior is firstly compared between nanofluid and pure liquid on substrates at room temperature. For pure water droplet, the drying time is relatively longer due to the receding of contact line which slows down the liquid evaporation. Higher concentrations of nanoparticles tend to increase the total evaporation time. With varying concentrations of graphite at nano scale from 0.02% to 0.18% with an interval at 0.04% in water droplets and the heating temperature from 22 to 85°C, the wetting and evaporation of the sessile droplets are systematically studied with discussion on the impact parameters and the resulted liquid dynamics as well as the stain. The interaction among the phases together with the heating strongly affects the internal circulation inside the droplet, the evaporative rate and the pattern of particles deposition.     

Cationic Poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) Copolymers as Antimicrobial Agents

Poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a natural biodegradable polyester, has attracted much attention as a new biomaterial because of its sustainability and good biocompatibility. In this study, it is discovered that PHB can be conveniently functionalized to obtain a number of platform chain architectures that may provide a wide range of functional copolymers. In a transesterification reaction, linear (di‐hydroxylated) and star shaped (tri‐ and tetra‐hydroxylated) PHB oligomers are synthesized, followed by copolymerization with 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and quaternization with benzyl bromide to afford antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial activities of the quaternary salts against clinically relevant pathogens on the interactions with outer and cytoplasmic membranes, lethal mechanisms, multipassage resistance, and synergy effect with antibiotics are investigated. Cationic PHB copolymers show effectiveness as antimicrobial agents, with minimum inhibitory concentration values 0.24–0.65 µm (or µmol dm^?3) (or 32–128 µg mL^?1) against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Modifying the copolymer architectures into star shapes results in enhanced effectiveness to disrupt the membrane integrity. Synergistic effects are attained for all the quaternized PHB derivatives when they are used together with tobramycin. Multipassage resistance does not occur in both the linear and star derivatives against Gram‐negative bacteria after 20 passages.