The turnpike property in finite-dimensional nonlinear optimal control

Turnpike properties have been established long time ago in finite-dimensional optimal control problems arising in econometry. They refer to the fact that, under quite general assumptions, the optimal solutions of a given optimal control problem settled in large time consist approximately of three pieces, the first and the last of which being transient short-time arcs, and the middle piece being a long-time arc staying exponentially close to the optimal steady-state solution of an associated static optimal control problem. We provide in this paper a general version of a turnpike theorem, valuable for nonlinear dynamics without any specific assumption, and for very general terminal conditions. Not only the optimal trajectory is shown to remain exponentially close to a steady-state, but also the corresponding adjoint vector of the Pontryagin maximum principle. The exponential closedness is quantified with the use of appropriate normal forms of Riccati equations. We show then how the property on the adjoint vector can be adequately used in order to initialize successfully a numerical direct method, or a shooting method. In particular, we provide an appropriate variant of the usual shooting method in which we initialize the adjoint vector, not at the initial time, but at the middle of the trajectory.     

Hierarchical Hybrid Peroxidase Catalysts for Remediation of Phenol Wastewater

We report a new family of hierarchical hybrid catalysts comprised of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)–magnetic nanoparticles for advanced oxidation processes and demonstrate their utility in the removal of phenol from water. The immobilized HRP catalyzes the oxidation of phenols in the presence of H₂O₂, producing free radicals. The phenoxy radicals react with each other in a non‐enzymatic process to form polymers, which can be removed by precipitation with salts or condensation. The hybrid peroxidase catalysts exhibit three times higher activity than free HRP and are able to remove three times more phenol from water compared to free HRP under similar conditions. In addition, the hybrid catalysts reduce substrate inhibition and limit inactivation from reaction products, which are common problems with free or conventionally immobilized enzymes. Reusability is improved when the HRP–magnetic nanoparticle hybrids are supported on micron‐scale magnetic particles, and can be retained with a specially designed magnetically driven reactor. The performance of the hybrid catalysts makes them attractive for several industrial and environmental applications and their development might pave the way for practical applications by eliminating most of the limitations that have prevented the use of free or conventionally immobilized enzymes.     

Microwave-Assisted Desulfation of the Hemolytic Saponins Extracted from Holothuria scabra Viscera

Saponins are plant and marine animal specific metabolites that are commonly considered as molecular vectors for chemical defenses against unicellular and pluricellular organisms. Their toxicity is attributed to their membranolytic properties. Modifying the molecular structures of saponins by quantitative and selective chemical reactions is increasingly considered to tune the biological properties of these molecules (i) to prepare congeners with specific activities for biomedical applications and (ii) to afford experimental data related to their structure–activity relationship. In the present study, we focused on the sulfated saponins contained in the viscera of Holothuria scabra, a sea cucumber present in the Indian Ocean and abundantly consumed on the Asian food market. Using mass spectrometry, we first qualitatively and quantitatively assessed the saponin content within the viscera of H. scabra. We detected 26 sulfated saponins presenting 5 different elemental compositions. Microwave activation under alkaline conditions in aqueous solutions was developed and optimized to quantitatively and specifically induce the desulfation of the natural saponins, by a specific loss of H₂SO₄. By comparing the hemolytic activities of the natural and desulfated extracts, we clearly identified the sulfate function as highly responsible for the saponin toxicity.     

Influence of bit design on the stability of a rotary drilling system

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper extends the RGD model originally proposed by Richard et al. (J Sound Vib 305(3):432–456, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2007.04.015) to investigate...     

Reduced expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">TAC1</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">PENK</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">SOCS2</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hcrtr-2</Emphasis> mutated narcoleptic dog brain

Background  

Narcolepsy causes dramatic behavioral alterations in both humans and dogs, with excessive sleepiness and cataplexy triggered by emotional stimuli. Deficiencies in the hypocretin system are well established as the origin of the condition; both from studies in humans who lack the hypocretin ligand (HCRT) and in dogs with a mutation in hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2). However, little is known about molecular alterations downstream of the hypocretin signals.     

激光诱导Ti等离子体电子温度的实验研究

室温,常压下,利用Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器产生的波长为1 064 nm, 脉宽12 ns,能量分别180, 230和280 mJ的脉冲激光冲击Ti靶,使用中阶梯光栅光谱仪检测了三种激光能量下对应的光谱。调节延时器DG645的延迟时间,检测了延迟0～500 ns时间范围内Ti等离子体对应激光能量下的发射光谱,分析光谱,可以得到了九条不同的的TiⅠ 和TiⅡ等离子体谱线,证明在该实验条件下,Ti靶能够充分吸收能量电离且离子谱线具有不同的演化速率,利用Saha-Boltzmann法计算并分析Ti等离子体电子温度,实验结果表明：相同的延迟时间,激光能量越大,谱线相对强度越大,电子温度越高,谱线相对强度的变化量随激光能量的变化量增大而增大;在延时0～150 ns内,三种激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线的相对强度都随延迟时间的增加而快速下降,其中280 mJ激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线强度下降速率较快;在150～250 ns范围内,电子温度和谱线强度均随延迟时间的增加有一个缓慢的上升,180 mJ激光能量下的等离子体电子温度和谱线强度的上升速率较快。250～500 ns范围内,三种激光能量下的电子温度和谱线强度均随延迟时间的增加而缓慢下降。     

A semi-oriented radial measure for measuring the efficiency of decision making units with negative data,using DEA

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric method for measuring the efficiency of a set of decision making units such as firms or public sector agencies, first introduced into the operational research and management science literature by Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) [Charnes, A., Cooper, W.W., Rhodes, E., 1978. Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. European Journal of Operational Research 2, 429–444]. The original DEA models were applicable only to technologies characterized by positive inputs/outputs. In subsequent literature there have been various approaches to enable DEA to deal with negative data.     

Intrinsic magnetic properties of In2O3 and transition metal-doped-In2O3

This paper reports on the influence of the sintering temperature and atmosphere and transition-metal doping on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline and bulk In₂O₃. Undoped nanocrystalline In₂O₃ is diamagnetic whatever the sintering temperature and atmosphere. All single-phase transition-metal-doped In₂O₃ samples are paramagnetic, with a paramagnetic effective moment originating from weakly interacting transition metal ions. No trace of ferromagnetism has been detected even with samples sintered under argon, except extrinsic ferromagnetism for samples with magnetic dopant concentrations exceeding the solubility limit.