An alternative approach for non-linear optimal control problems based on the method of moments

We propose an alternative method for computing effectively the solution of non-linear, fixed-terminal-time, optimal control problems when they are given in Lagrange, Bolza or Mayer forms. This method works well when the nonlinearities in the control variable can be expressed as polynomials. The essential of this proposal is the transformation of a non-linear, non-convex optimal control problem into an equivalent optimal control problem with linear and convex structure. The method is based on global optimization of polynomials by the method of moments. With this method we can determine either the existence or lacking of minimizers. In addition, we can calculate generalized solutions when the original problem lacks of minimizers. We also present the numerical schemes to solve several examples arising in science and technology.     

Die Entwicklung kausaler Hypothesen in der qualitativen Sozialforschung

The disregard of causal inference in the methodological literature about qualitative research is highly problematic, since the category of causality is closely linked to the concept of social action. However, it is also clear that causal analysis is burdened with certain difficulties and methodological challenges in the realm of social research. Some of these problems are discussed in this article using Mackie—s concept of 3 “INUS”-conditions. Thereby it will be shown that strategies of causal analysis based on comparative methods proposed for qualitative research, namely “Analytic Induction” and “Qualitative Comparative Analysis” have great difficulties in dealing adequately with these problems. They can only be solved, if case-comparative methods are combined with explorative research strategies which support the researcher in gaining access to the local knowledge of the research field.     

Lanthanum nitrate decomposition by both temperature programmed heating and citrate gel combustion

Thermal decomposition of lanthanum nitrate to lanthanum oxide was carried out by both temperature programmed heating (TPH) and citrate-gel combustion. The temperature programmed heating was carried out under flow of oxidizing (air), neutral (nitrogen) and reducing (25 vol.% hydrogen+argone mixture) gases, and the processes were controlled by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. It was shown that hydrogen atmosphere helps to reduce temperatures of all decomposition steps. The results of TPH were utilized to check the nature of residues in the products of lanthanum nitrate-to-oxide conversion performed via citrate-gel combustion technique.     

Sets of reflections defining twisted Bruhat orders

Twisted Bruhat orders are certain partial orders on a Coxeter system (W,S) associated to initial sections of reflection orders, which are certain subsets of the set of reflections T of a Coxeter system. We determine which subsets of T give rise to a partial order on W in the same way.     

On the bidirectional vortex and other similarity solutions in spherical coordinates

The bidirectional vortex refers to the bipolar, coaxial swirling motion that can be triggered, for example, in cyclone separators and some liquid rocket engines with tangential aft-end injectors. In this study, we present an exact solution to describe the corresponding bulk motion in spherical coordinates. To do so, we examine both linear and nonlinear solutions of the momentum and vorticity transport equations in spherical coordinates. The assumption will be that of steady, incompressible, inviscid, rotational, and axisymmetric flow. We further relate the vorticity to some power of the stream function. At the outset, three possible types of similarity solutions are shown to fulfill the momentum equation. While the first type is incapable of satisfying the conditions for the bidirectional vortex, it can be used to accommodate other physical settings such as Hill’s vortex. This case is illustrated in the context of inviscid flow over a sphere. The second leads to a closed-form analytical expression that satisfies the boundary conditions for the bidirectional vortex in a straight cylinder. The third type is more general and provides multiple solutions. The spherical bidirectional vortex is derived using separation of variables and the method of variation of parameters. The three-pronged analysis presented here increases our repertoire of general mean flow solutions that rarely appear in spherical geometry. It is hoped that these special forms will permit extending the current approach to other complex fluid motions that are easier to capture using spherical coordinates.     

Essentially normal Hilbert modules and Khomology Ⅲ: Homogenous quotient modules of Hardy modules on the bidisk

In this paper, we study the homogenous quotient modules of the Hardy module on the bidisk. The essential normality of the homogenous quotient modules is completely characterized. We also describe the essential spectrum for a general quotient module. The paper also considers K-homology invariant defined in the case of the homogenous quotient modules on the bidisk. This work is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10525106), the Young Teacher Fund, the National Key Basic Research Project of China (Grant No. 2006CB805905) and the Specialized Research for the Doctoral Program     

On the limit cycles of a quintic planar vector field

This paper concerns the number and distributions of limit cycles in a Z_2-equivariant quintic planar vector field.25 limit cycles are found in this special planar polynomial system and four different configurations of these limit cycles are also given by using the methods of the bifurcation theory and the qualitative analysis of the differential equation.It can be concluded that H(5)≥25=5~2, where H(5)is the Hilbert number for quintic polynomial systems.The results obtained are useful to study the weakened 16th Hilbert problem.     

On polynomial symbols for subdivision schemes

Given a dilation matrix A :ℤ^d→ℤ^d, and G a complete set of coset representatives of 2π(A ^−Tℤ^d/ℤ^d), we consider polynomial solutions M to the equation ∑ _g∈G M(ξ+g)=1 with the constraints that M≥0 and M(0)=1. We prove that the full class of such functions can be generated using polynomial convolution kernels. Trigonometric polynomials of this type play an important role as symbols for interpolatory subdivision schemes. For isotropic dilation matrices, we use the method introduced to construct symbols for interpolatory subdivision schemes satisfying Strang–Fix conditions of arbitrary order. Research partially supported by the Danish Technical Science Foundation, Grant No. 9701481, and by the Danish SNF-PDE network.     

Solid codes and the uniform density of fd-domains

By means of further investigation of solid codes,the problem“Is every fd-domain uni- formly dense”proposed by Yuqi Guo,C.M.Reis and G.Thierrin in 1988 is solved in this paper.