Assessing the effects of poverty in tuberculosis transmission dynamics

Tuberculosis (TB) transmission is enhanced by poor living conditions. In this study, a deterministic model was developed to assess the impact of socioeconomic conditions on TB transmission, taking into account heterogeneous mixing patterns. The epidemic thresholds known as the reproduction numbers, as well as equilibria for the model, are determined and stabilities analysed. Results from the study suggest that TB transmission is more common in poverty-stricken communities than in rich communities, supporting the argument that TB is a disease of the poor. The outcome is significantly dependent on the probability of latency, so that if the number of fast TB cases could be reduced, the epidemic would significantly improve. Interestingly, our results illustrate that heterogeneous mixing of the rich and poor will make the epidemic worse, but homogenous mixing will slightly improve the outcome. Further, even when all other factors are equal, the poor contact rate will have more impact than the rich contact rate. It follows that the rich community can help themselves by helping those less fortunate.     

On the impact of cargo weight, vehicle parameters, and terrain characteristics on the prediction of traction for off-road vehicles

A realistic prediction of the traction capacity of vehicles operating in off-road conditions must account for stochastic variations in the system itself, as well as in the operational environment. Moreover, for mobility studies of wheeled vehicles on deformable soil, the selection of the tire model used in the simulation influences the degree of confidence in the output. Since the same vehicle may carry various loads at different times, it is also of interest to analyze the impact of cargo weight on the vehicle’s traction.This study focuses on the development of an algorithm to calculate the tractive capacity of an off-road vehicle with stochastic vehicle parameters (such as suspension stiffness, suspension damping coefficient, tire stiffness, and tire inflation pressure), operating on soft soil with an uncertain level of moisture, and on a terrain topology that induces rapidly changing external excitations on the vehicle. The analysis of the vehicle–soil dynamics is performed for light cargo and heavy cargo scenarios. The algorithm relies on the comparison of the ground pressure and the calculated critical pressure to decide if the tire can be approximated as a rigid wheel or if it should be modeled as a flexible wheel. It also involves using previously-developed vehicle and stochastic terrain models, and computing the vehicle sinkage, resistance force, tractive force, drawbar pull, and tractive torque.The vehicle model used as a case study has seven degrees of freedom. Each of the four suspension systems is comprised of a nonlinear spring and a viscous (linear or magneto-rheological) damper. An off-road terrain profile is simulated as a 2-D random process using a polynomial chaos approach [Sandu C, Sandu A, Li L. Stochastic modeling of terrain profiles and soil parameters. SAE 2005 transactions. J Commer Vehicles 2005-01-3559]. The soil modeling is concerned with the efficient treatment of the impact of the moisture content on relationships critical in defining the mobility of an off-road vehicle (such as the pressure–sinkage [Sandu C et al., 2005-01-3559] and the shear stress–shear displacement relations). The uncertainties in vehicle parameters and in the terrain profile are propagated through the vehicle model, and the uncertainty in the output of the vehicle model is analyzed [Sandu A, Sandu C, Ahmadian M. Modeling multibody dynamic systems with uncertainties. Part I: theoretical and computational aspects, Multibody system dynamics. Publisher: Springer Netherlands; June 29, 2006. p. 1–23 (23), ISSN: 1384-5640 (Paper) 1573-272X (Online). doi:10.1007/s11044-006-9007-5; Sandu C, Sandu A, Ahmadian M. Modeling multibody dynamic systems with uncertainties. Part II: numerical applications. Multibody system dynamics, vol. 15, No. 3. Publisher: Springer Netherlands; 2006. p. 241–62 (22). ISSN: 1384-5640 (Paper) 1573-272X (Online). doi:10.1007/s11044-006-9008-4]. Such simulations can provide the basis for the study of ride performance, handling, and mobility of the vehicle in rough off-road conditions.     

The ride comfort vs. handling compromise for off-road vehicles

When designing vehicle suspension systems, it is well-known that spring and damper characteristics required for good handling on a vehicle are not the same as those required for good ride comfort. Any choice of spring and damper characteristic is therefore necessarily a compromise between ride comfort and handling. The compromise is more pronounced on off-road vehicles, as they require good ride comfort over rough off-road terrain, as well as acceptable on-road handling. In this paper, the ride comfort vs. handling compromise for off-road vehicles is investigated by means of three case studies. All three case studies indicate that the spring and damper charcteristics required for ride comfort and handling lie on opposite extremes of the design space. Design criteria for a semi-active suspension system, that could significantly reduce, or even eliminate the ride comfort vs. handling compromise, are proposed. The system should be capable of switching safely and predictably between a stiff spring and high damping mode (for handling) as well as a soft spring and low damping mode (for ride comfort). A possible solution to the compromise, in the form of a four state, semi-active hydropneumatic spring-damper system, is proposed.     

第29届中国化学奥林匹克初赛试题解析

详细介绍和评析了第29届中国化学奥林匹克初赛试题,提供了解题思路、计算过程,并提供了有关参考文章。     

Semi-active hydropneumatic spring and damper system

This paper is concerned with the development of a semi-active hydropneumatic spring and damper system, comprising of a two state hydropneumatic spring and a two state hydraulic damper. The system was specifically developed to improve the ride comfort and handling of large off-road vehicles. The suspension requirements for good ride comfort and handling for heavy off-road vehicles are discussed with special reference to the advantages of semi-active hydropneumatic springs and semi-active dampers. The layout and functioning of an experimental spring and damper unit used for laboratory tests are discussed. Spring and damper characteristics, as well as valve response times for both the semi-active spring and semi-active damper were determined. A single degree of freedom test rig with a sprung mass of 3 tons was used to perform first order ride comfort tests. Tests include step response and random input response. The test rig was also used to evaluate semi-active control strategies for both spring and damper as well as a control strategy for implementing ride height adjustment without using an external hydraulic pump.     

A false belief about fractions – What is its source?

This paper presents the results of interviews with 174 participants solving a problem of elementary mathematics, connected with the part–whole approach to fractions. The motive for the investigation was a specific kind of difficulty observed during a case study conducted to verify the elementary school student's understanding of the concept of fractions. The authors decided to examine the problem in a broader population of mathematics learners at different levels of education: from elementary school to university students and graduates of science majors. Approximately 65% of respondents reported the wrong answer immediately after reading the fraction problem taken from the fourth grade of elementary school. Detailed analysis of the respondents’ performance showed that the source of many wrong answers was a false belief about fractions: The only way to get 1/n of a given whole is to divide this whole into n equal parts, not yet described in educational literature.     

On the Hamilton–Waterloo Problem with Odd Orders

Given nonnegative integers , the Hamilton–Waterloo problem asks for a factorization of the complete graph into α ‐factors and β ‐factors. Without loss of generality, we may assume that . Clearly, v odd, , , and are necessary conditions. To date results have only been found for specific values of m and n. In this paper, we show that for any integers , these necessary conditions are sufficient when v is a multiple of and , except possibly when or 3. For the case where we show sufficiency when with some possible exceptions. We also show that when are odd integers, the lexicographic product of with the empty graph of order n has a factorization into α ‐factors and β ‐factors for every , , with some possible exceptions.     

The relationship between preservice elementary teachers’ solutions to a pattern generalization problem and difficulties they anticipate in teaching it

To explore the relationship between elementary preservice teachers’ (PTs’) solutions to a pattern generalization problem and the difficulties they expected to encounter when teaching the same problem to students, we administered a task-based questionnaire to 154 participants at a large Southwestern university in the US. Employing inductive content analysis, we identified possible links between PTs' solutions and their anticipated difficulties. PTs who solved the problem using figurative reasoning tended to anticipate difficulties related to pedagogical moves to support students’ mathematical understanding. In contrast, PTs who solved the problem using algebraic formulations were likely to anticipate difficulties related to teaching algebraic knowledge and supporting procedural fluency. Also, only PTs who solved the problem using figurative reasoning anticipated difficulties associated with eliciting and evaluating student thinking, whereas PTs who used formulas to solve the problem expected difficulties related to their own self-efficacy and confidence. We discuss three implications for mathematics teacher education.     

基于整车控制参数同步采集的车辆异响识别分析

针对整车控制参数引发的车辆异响问题,介绍了一种基于整车控制参数与NVH数据同步采集的分析方法,通过采用数据协议和格式的双转换,实现了整车/发动机控制参数和整车NVH测试数据的同步采集,并通过控制参数和NVH信号的时域相关性分析,快速准确地定位异响原因。通过底盘冲击异响、涡轮气流异响、整车换挡抖动异响三个案例,介绍了整车控制参数同步采集在工程中的实际应用,快速准确的识别异响原因,并完成优化验证,为异响排查和控制提供了新的方法和思路。 关键词：整车异响;车辆控制参数;数据同步采集;相关性分析