Fixed-Time Consensus-Based Nash Equilibrium Seeking

Dear Editor,This letter examines the fixed-time stability of the Nash equilibrium(NE)in non-cooperative games.We propose a consensus-based NE seeking algorithm for situations where players do not have perfect information and communicate via a topology graph.The proposed algorithm can achieve NE in a fixed time that does not depend on initial conditions and can be adjusted in advance.

Secure Tracking Control via Fixed-Time Convergent Reinforcement Learning for a UAV CPS

Dear Editor,This letter is concerned with the secure tracking control problem in the unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) system by fixed-time convergent reinforcement learning(RL). By virtue of the zero-sum game,the false data injection(FDI) attacker and secure controller are viewed as game players.

The Impact of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria, Iron, and Zinc Foliar Application on Dry Land Yellow Mustard (Brassica juncea) Grain and Oil Production

The study, conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz in 2021, focused on the effects of various nitrogen-fixing bacterial isolates, biofertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as iron and zinc foliar applications on mustard growth under rainfed conditions. The results indicated that biofertilizers, whether used alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers, produced comparable grain and oil outputs compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Additionally, the application of iron and zinc through foliar spraying significantly enhanced both grain and oil production. These findings suggest that integrating nitrogen-fixing bacteria and biofertilizers could reduce reliance on chemical nitrogenous fertilizers, leading to decreased production expenses, improved product quality, and minimized environmental impact. This study highlights the potential for sustainable agricultural practices in dry land farming as a viable alternative to traditional chemical-intensive methods. Substituting chemical nitrogenous fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or biofertilizers could result in cost savings in mustard grain and oil production while promoting environmental sustainability.

Effect of the Particle Packing Configuration on Fixed Bed Performance

Fixed-bed reactors are generally considered the optimal choice for numerous multi-phase catalytic reactions due to their excellent performance and stability.However,conventional fixed beds often encounter challenges related to inadequate mass transfer and a high pressure drop caused by the non-uniform void fraction distribution.To enhance the overall performance of fixed beds,the impact of different packing configurations on performance was investigated.Experimental and simulation methods were used to investigate the fluid flow and mass transfer performances of various packed beds under different flow rates.It was found that structured beds exhibited a significantly lower pressure drop per unit length than conventional packed beds.Furthermore,the packing configurations had a critical role in improving the overall performance of fixed beds.Specifically,structured packed beds,particularly the H-2 packing configuration,effectively reduced the pressure drop per unit length and improved the mass transfer efficiency.The H-2 packing configuration consisted of two parallel strips of particles in each layer,with strips arranged perpendicularly between adjacent layers,and the spacing between the strips varied from layer to layer.

Relay-Switching-Based Fixed-Time Tracking Controller for Nonholonomic State-Constrained Systems:Design and Experiment

Dear Editor,This letter investigates the fixed-time trajectory tracking controller design for nonholonomic chained systems with static state constraints.Firstly,a fixed-time tracking control law is given to carry out relay switching,which divides the controller development process into two stages.

More Peripheral Visualization of Hepatic Arteries by Using Respiratory-Triggered 3D True Steady-State Free-Precession Projection Magnetic Resonance Angiographic Sequences with Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse

Purpose: To evaluate respiratory-triggered three-dimensional (3D) true steady-state free-precession (SSFP) projection magnetic resonance angiographic sequences with time-spatial labeling inversion pulse (Time-SLIP) for visualizing the hepatic arteries and to optimize the image acquisition protocol. Materials and Methods: A 1.5-T clinical magnetic resonance imager was used to perform abdominal magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in 25 consecutive patients before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or surgery. We compared two selective space-labeling inversion pulse (tag pulse) patterns (Patterns I and II, oblique and parallel tag pulses, respectively). Two experienced radiologists evaluated the number of hepatic arterial branches visible on the acquired MRA images, and the results were referenced with those on images from intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography. Results: Images were acquired from all patients. The two radiologists clearly visualized branches of the left and right hepatic arteries. More peripheral hepatic arterial branches were identified in MRA images captured by using tag pulse Pattern I than in those acquired by using Pattern II (P P > 0.05). Conclusion: Non-contrast-enhanced Time-SLIP hepatic MRA with true SSFP allowed selective visualization of peripheral hepatic vessels.

Vision-Based Fixed-Time Uncooperative Aerial Target Tracking for UAV

Dear Editor,In this letter,a vision-based fixed-time control is proposed for an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)with actuator saturation to track an uncooperative target.The fixed-time control is designed in backstepping framework.The relative states between UAV and the target are not directly measured,and are estimated by an onboard monocular camera.

Liquid-phase esterification of methacrylic acid with methanol catalyzed by cation-exchange resin in a fixed bed reactor:Experimental and kinetic studies

The kinetic behavior of esterification between methacrylic acid and methanol catalyzed by NKC-9 resin was studied in a fixed bed reactor.The reaction was conducted in the temperature range of 323.15 to 368.15 K with the molar ratio of reactants from 0.8 to 1.4 under certain pressure.The measurement data were regression with the pseudo-homogeneous(P-H),Eley-Rideal(E-R),and Langmuir-Hinshelwood(L-H)heterogeneous kinetic models.Independent adsorption experiments were implemented to gain the adsorption equilibrium constants of four components.Among the above three models,the L-H model exhibited the best fitting results.The stability of NKC-9 was evaluated by long-term running with the yield of methyl methacrylate no decrease during 3000 h operation.The structure and physicochemical properties of the new and used catalyst were performed by several characterizations including thermogravimetric analysis(TG),scanning electron microscope(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)and so on.

Efficacy and safety of latanoprost/timolol fixed combination dosed twice daily compared to once daily in patients with primary open angle glaucoma

AIM:To evaluate whether latanoprost/timolol fixed combination(LTFC)dosed twice daily may provide further intraocular pressure(IOP)reduction and evaluate the safety profile at this dose.METHODS:This is an open-labeled,randomized,prospective crossover study on fourty primary open angle glaucoma patients.Two weeks of washout period were followed by randomization to either once daily(OD,group A)or twice daily dosing(BD,group B)of LTFC for 4wk.After another 2-week washout period,the patients’treatment dose was crossed-over for another 4wk.IOP reduction alongside ocular and systemic side effects were evaluated.RESULTS:Mean baseline IOP was 18.57±2.93 and 17.8±3.01 mm Hg before OD and BD dose respectively,(P=0.27).Mean IOP after BD dose was statistically lower(12.49±1.59 mm Hg)compared to OD(13.48±1.81 mm Hg,P=0.017).Although IOP reduction after BD dose was more(5.32±3.24 mm Hg,29.89%)than after OD dosing(5.04 mm Hg,27.14%),it did not reach statistical significance(P=0.68).Patients switched from OD to BD(group A)showed mean IOP reduction by 0.69 mm Hg[95%confidence interval(CI):-0.09 to 1.48 mm Hg,P=0.078];but patients switched from BD to OD(group B)had significantly higher mean IOP by 1.25 mm Hg(95%CI:-2.04 to-0.46 mm Hg,P=0.006).BD dose had more ocular side effects albeit mild.CONCLUSION:Mean IOP after LTFC dosed twice daily is statistically lower,with additional mild side effects.

A fixed point theorem for Proinov mappings with a contractive iterate

In this paper,we consider the fixed point theorem for Proinov mappings with a contractive iterate at a point.In other words,we combine and unify the basic approaches of Proinov and Sehgal in the framework of the complete metric spaces.We consider examples to illustrate the validity of the obtained result.

Adsorption dynamics of ethane from air in structured fixed beds with different microfibrous composites

Adsorption dynamics of ethane in two granular fixed beds and structured fixed beds with microfibrous composites was studied.5A zeolite membrane 5A/PSSF(paper-like sintered stainless steel fiber)and microfibrous entrapped activated carbon(MEAC)composites were prepared by wet layup papermaking/sintering technique and in-situ hydrothermal method.Microfibrous composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and N2 adsorption/desorption.Structured fixed beds were designed by filling granular adsorbents(5A zeolite or activated carbon)and microfibrous composites at the inlet and outlet of the beds,respectively.Effects of flow rate,bed height and structure on the breakthrough curves were investigated.The length of unused bed(LUB)was determined,and Yoon–Nelson model was used to fit the breakthrough curves.The experimental results showed ethane was effectively adsorbed on the granular adsorbents and microfibrous composites.Both composites could decrease the LUB values and enhance bed utilization.All breakthrough curves fitted well to Yoon–Nelson model,with correlation coefficient exceeding 0.89.The adsorption rate of ethane could be improved in the structured fixed beds,which showed an enhanced mass transfer efficiency for ethane adsorption.LUB values of structured fixed beds with 5A/PSSF composites were larger,the bed utilization values were lower,and the adsorption rate constants were higher than those with MEAC composites under the same conditions.

An Iterative Method for Split Variational Inclusion Problem and Split Fixed Point Problem for Averaged Mappings

In this paper, we use resolvent operator technology to construct a viscosity approximate algorithm to approximate a common solution of split variational inclusion problem and split fixed point problem for an averaged mapping in real Hilbert spaces. Further, we prove that the sequences generated by the proposed iterative method converge strongly to a common solution of split variational inclusion problem and split fixed point problem for averaged mappings which is also the unique solution of the variational inequality problem. The results presented here improve and extend the corresponding results in this area.

Solving Fractional Differential Equations via Fixed Points of Chatterjea Maps

In this paper,we present the existence and uniqueness of fixed points and common fixed points for Reich and Chatterjea pairs of self-maps in complete metric spaces.Furthermore,we study fixed point theorems for Reich and Chatterjea nonexpansive mappings in a Banach space using the Krasnoselskii-Ishikawa iteration method associated withSλand consider some applications of our results to prove the existence of solutions for nonlinear integral and nonlinear fractional differential equations.We also establish certain interesting examples to illustrate the usability of our results.

On Some Novel Fixed Point Results for Generalized F-Contractions in b-Metric-Like Spaces with Application

The focusofourwork is on themost recent results infixedpoint theoryrelated tocontractivemappings.Wedescribe variants of(s,q,φ,F)-contractions that expand,supplement and unify an important work widely discussed in the literature,based on existing classes of interpolative and F-contractions.In particular,a large class of contractions in terms of s,q,φand F for both linear and nonlinear contractions are defined in the framework of b-metric-like spaces.The main result in our paper is that(s,q,φ,F)-g-weak contractions have a fixed point in b-metric-like spaces if function F or the specified contraction is continuous.As an application of our results,we have shown the existence and uniqueness of solutions of some classes of nonlinear integral equations.

A Proof of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem Using Sperner’s Lemma

This article offers a simple but rigorous proof of Brouwer’s fixed point theorem using Sperner’s Lemma.The general method I have used so far in the proof is mainly to convert the n-dimensional shapes to the corresponding case under the Sperner’s Labeling and apply the Sperner’s Lemma to solve the question.

水土保持碳汇内涵与测算方法

水土保持深刻改变着地表覆被和结构、土地利用方式和陆地生态系统结构等,是增强陆地碳汇能力的重要途径。以水土保持林草、工程和耕作措施为切入点,按照“机理阐述—模型构建—分类测算”的总体思路,阐明水土保持碳汇内涵,明确了水土保持碳汇途径,构建水土保持碳汇测算方法,估算全国水土保持碳汇量。结果表明:水土保持具有垂向碳增汇、横向保土固碳(减少侵蚀土壤横向输移导致的碳流失)与减蚀减碳(避免碳排放)的多重功能。2021年,全国现存水土保持措施垂向碳增汇总量为1.54亿t,对陆域碳汇的贡献约43.5%~56.5%,其中林草措施植被和土壤碳汇量超过95%。水土保持保土固碳作用显著,2021年全国水土保持措施保土固碳总量为3 040.86万t,且具有明显的累积效应和长效作用。总体来说,2021年水土保持碳增汇(不包括水土保持林草措施植被碳汇量和土壤碳汇量)和减碳量为5 115万~6 230万t CO_(2),约占到全国现有陆地生态系统碳中和总量的4%~6%,这一部分尚未纳入国家碳汇核算体系,其应是实现“双碳”目标的重要环节。

数字经济发展促进产业结构转型升级的实证研究

从理论上来说,数字经济发展通过影响产业间结构转变、产业内劳动生产率提升和产业资源配置效率提高等方式来促进产业结构转型升级。文章以我国247个地级及以上城市2016—2019年的数据为例,采用固定效应模型分析数字经济发展对产业结构转型升级的影响。实证结果发现:数字经济发展对第一维度、第二维度和第三维度产业结构转型升级均具有显著的促进作用,子样本数据的实证结果和采取替代变量的实证结果均支持这一研究结论;在控制内生性问题后,研究结论依然成立。进一步的机制检验发现,数字经济发展主要通过消费升级效应和技术外溢效应两种途径促进产业结构转型升级。

WC-Co硬质合金冲蚀模型研究及应用

WC-Co硬质合金是制造固定式节流阀阀芯的主要材料,高压天然气携带着井底杂质颗粒在节流阀节流降压的过程中,对节流阀的核心部件阀芯产生冲蚀破坏。因此,以牌号为YG15的WC-Co硬质合金为研究对象,构建室内冲蚀实验平台,以确定YG15硬质合金的冲蚀模型并结合仿真验证。将冲蚀模型进一步应用至固定式节流阀冲蚀仿真中,预测固定式节流阀阀芯的使用寿命。研究结果表明,确定了YG15硬质合金的冲击角函数和在90°冲击角下的速度指数为2.48;当冲蚀角度由30°增加至90°时,YG15硬质合金靶材的冲蚀磨损量由847.1 mg增加至1235.6 mg;固定式节流阀冲蚀最严重的部位位于节流孔处,冲蚀磨损率随颗粒质量流率的增大而增大;对固定式节流阀进行寿命预测,在颗粒质量流较小的情况下,对节流阀固定油嘴保持一年一换;在颗粒质量流较大时,保持半年内更换一次。

三隧道Femoral-Intrafix固定双束重建对前交叉韧带损伤患者膝关节稳定性及功能的影响

目的探讨三隧道Femoral-Intrafix固定双束重建对前交叉韧带损伤患者膝关节稳定性及功能的影响。方法选取华北医疗健康集团峰峰总医院2019年11月至2020年11月收治的54例膝关节前交叉韧带损伤患者,采用随机抽签法将其分为观察组和对照组,各27例。对照组采用单隧道单束重建术,观察组采用三隧道Femoral-Intrafix固定双束重建,两组术后均随访24个月。比较两组手术及术后情况,比较两组术前及术后24个月的关节功能、膝关节稳定性差异,记录两组术后并发症发生情况。结果观察组住院、负重、下床活动时间均短于对照组(P<0.05)。术后24个月,两组国际膝关节评分委员会评分、Lysholm评分高于术前,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。术后24个月,两组前抽屉试验、Lachman试验阳性率低于术前,且观察组轴移试验阳性率低于本组术前和对照组(P<0.05);对照组轴移试验阳性率与本组术前比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组并发症总发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论三隧道Femoral-Intrafix固定双束重建能够更好地恢复患者膝关节功能和旋转稳定性,值得临床推广。

基于振动台试验的鱼线固定梅瓶文物响应规律性研究

为了探索鱼线固定梅瓶文物在实际博物馆的地震响应以及抗震效果,首先选取了典型梅瓶文物,并在三层钢筋混凝土框架结构中开展了24种地震工况的振动台试验,然后建立了上述试验所用梅瓶文物的有限元模型,验证了有限元模型的准确性,最后采用增量动力分析法分析了该文物在两种常见直径鱼线保护措施下的运动响应。结果表明:鱼线固定梅瓶文物在地震作用下会产生滑移、摇摆、倾覆以及鱼线断裂等现象;不同楼层下的文物响应差别较大,尤其在大震作用下,高楼层的鱼线固定梅瓶文物易发生倾覆和鱼线断裂破坏,要重视高楼层文物的震前保护措施;在较强的地震作用下,仅依靠增大鱼线直径有时对控制文物的倾覆情况起不到关键性决定作用,需要进一步采取其它措施对文物进行保护。