Evaluation of Malaria Transmission and Vector Control Strategies in the Dry Season in the Cotonou V Health Zone, Benin, West Africa

The anarchic urbanization of certain African cities favors the multiplication of the malaria parasite. Thus, the urgent mobilization of African cities is essential to combat this health risk. It is, therefore, with the objective of contributing to the investigation of problem areas that the present study evaluates malaria transmission and vector control strategies in the Cotonou V health zone in particular. This is a cross-sectional study taking into account four neighborhoods, including Wologuèdè, Sainte Rita, Gbèdjromèdé and the area around Etoile Rouge. Two nocturnal captures on voluntary humans and the method of spray were carried out in the dry season from December 2021 to February 2022. On the captured Anopheles, the ELISA Circum-Sporozoite Protein test was performed to determine the infectivity and calculate some transmission parameters. Finally, we conducted a survey using the second stage sampling method with one step to ask selected households about their knowledge of vector control methods, their use and the physical integrity of LLINs. We collected 2386 culicidae of which the majority was Culex quinquefasciatus. After the ELISA test, the 29 Anopheles tested, showed no infectivity, i.e. an EIR of 0 pi/h/n. In addition, 99% of the populations in the Cotonou V area use LLINs to protect themselves. However, coils, door and window screens, aerosol sprays, skin and household repellents, and periodic indoor spraying were used. Finally, the majority of nets observed had T1 tears, but there were also T2, T3 and T4 nets (P-value = 0.0). This study confirms that malaria transmission during the dry season in the Cotonou V health zone is almost negligible but not non-existent. Also, populations are exposed to the nuisance of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes continuously throughout the year.

Adaptive Fuzzy Control for a Class of MIMO Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Dead-zones

A design scheme of adaptive fuzzy controller for a class of uncertain MIMO nonlinear systems with unknown dead-zones and a triangular control structure is proposed in this pa-per. The design is based on the principle of sliding mode control and the property of Nussbaum function. The approach does not require a priori knowledge of the signs of the control gains and the upper bounds and lower bounds of dead-zone parameters to be known a priori. By introducing the integral-type Lyapunov function and adopting the adaptive compensation term of the upper bound of the optimal approximation error and the dead-zone disturbance, the closed-loop control system is proved to be semi-globally stable in the sense that all signals involved are bounded, with tracking errors converging to zero.

Sheet Bulk Forming of Thin-Walled Components with External Gearing through Upsetting Using Controllable Deformation Zone Method

Sheet-bulk metal forming(SBMF)is a promising process for manufacturing complex sheet components with functional elements.In this study,the entire forming process for a typical thin-walled component with external gearing is investigated,including sheet forming and bulk forming processes.Deep drawn cups are prepared during sheet forming;subsequently,upsetting is performed on the sidewall to form external gearing.The upsetting method performed is known as upsetting with a controllable deformation zone(U-CDZ).Compared with the conventional upsetting method,a floating counter punch with a counter force is used in the U-CDZ method such that the forming mechanism is changed into the accumulation of the deformation zone instead of deformation throughout the entire sidewall.The effects of the counter force and material flow are investigated to understand the mechanism.The forming quality,i.e.,the formfilling and effective strain distribution,improved,whereas a high forming load is avoided.In addition,a punch with a lock bead is used to prevent folding at the inner corner during the experiment.

Evaluation of Merge Control Strategies at Interstate Work Zones under Peak and Off-Peak Traffic Conditions

Maintenance and rehabilitation projects of interstate facilities typically mandate lane closures. Lane closures require merging maneuvers that often result in reduced speeds and traffic bottlenecks. Work zone impacts on traffic operations are magnified when project durations are extended. Conventionally, work zone traffic control plans are developed to address work zone impacts. This study evaluated various merge control strategies at interstate work zones peak and off-peak traffic conditions and summarized related impacts. A comprehensive microscopic simulation model was developed in full consideration of driver/vehicle behavior at work zones. The analysis of simulation results revealed that merge control strategies, when implemented during peak and off-peak conditions, can preserve the level of service and provide favorable mobility, safety, and environmental impacts. In addition, results indicate that transportation agencies’ practice of scheduling work zone activities during the off-peak may not be the most optimum approach. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the need for evaluation of work zone scheduling practices in full consideration of agency, user, and project costs.

Adaptive variable structure control for large-scale time-delayed systems with unknown nonlinear dead-zone

The problem of adaptive fuzzy control for a class of large-scale, time-delayed systems with unknown nonlinear dead-zone is discussed here. Based on the principle of variable structure control, a design scheme of adaptive, decentralized, variable structure control is proposed. The approach removes the conditions that the dead-zone slopes and boundaries are equal and symmetric, respectively. In addition, it does not require that the assumptions that all parameters of the nonlinear dead-zone model and the lumped uncertainty are known constants. The adaptive compensation terms of the approximation errors are adopted to minimize the influence of modeling errors and parameter estimation errors. By theoretical analysis, the closed-loop control system is proved to be semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded, with tracking errors converging to zero. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Assessing Work Zone Traffic Control Options for 3-to-1 Lane Closures

The presence of highway construction zones hinders mobility and affects traffic operations. A 2002 study by Wunderlich & Hardesty reported that nearly 20% of the National Highway System roads have scheduled construction work during the peak construction season. Additionally, approximately 24% of non-recurring delays on freeways are caused by work zones. To minimize time lost by travelers due to work zone induced traffic congestion, it is important to efficiently plan temporary traffic control (TTC) at work zones. Earlier research conducted by Sisiopiku & Ramadan, 2017 confirms that the majority of State Departments of Transportation currently rely on their earlier experience when planning for work zones, rather than consider operational and safety impacts. Using a study corridor in Birmingham, Alabama as a test bed, this study investigated the operational impacts of TTC options for work zones with 3-to-1 lane drop configuration using traffic data collected from the Alabama Department of Transportation. The VISSIM simulation platform was used to conduct the experiments. The experimental design considered two TTC strategies (i.e., static late and early merge) under 3-to-1 lane drop configuration for work-space length of 500 ft for long- and short-term lane closures. The study concluded that the 3-to-1 lane-drop configuration should not be scheduled for long-term duration. Maintenance work can be scheduled from midnight to early morning and under the 3-to-1 lane closure scenario the performance of early and late merge traffic control is similar. Overall, this study used simulation modeling to compare the effectiveness of two traffic control strategies at work zones on the basis of different performance measures. The results provide information about the impact of each control strategy on density, speed, travel time etc. They also help determine what time of the day is best for lane closings in order to reduce adverse impacts from capacity reduction. Thus, the findings are expected to provide valuable guidance for agencies responsible for planning, design, and operations of work zones in the future.

ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF FLEXIBLE BEAM WITH UNKNOWN DEAD-ZONE IN THE DRIVING MOTOR

Adaptive control of a flexible beam system preceded by an unknown dead-zone in the driving motor is investigated in state space form. By introducing an important lemma for simplifying error equation between the flexible beam model and the matching reference model, a robust adaptive control scheme is developed by involving the dead-zone inverse terms. The new adaptive control law ensures global stability of the entire system and achieves desired tracking precision even when the slopes of the dead-zone are not equal. Simulations performed on a typical flexible beam system illustrate and clarify the validity of this approach.

Adaptive Variable Structure Control of MIMO Nonlinear Systems with Time-varying Delays and Unknown Dead-zones

In this paper, adaptive variable structure neural control is presented for a class of uncertain multi-input multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems with state time-varying delays and unknown nonlinear dead-zones. The unknown time-varying delay uncer- tainties are compensated for using appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals in the design. The approach removes the assumption of linear function outside the deadband without necessarily constructing a dead-zone inverse as an added contribution. By utilizing the integral-type Lyapunov function and introducing an adaptive compensation term for the upper bound of the residual and optimal ap- proximation error as well as the dead-zone disturbance, the closed-loop control system is proved to be semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded. In addition, a modified adaptive control algorithm is given in order to avoid the high-frequency chattering phenomenon. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Predictive Zone Control of Pressure Management for Water Supply Network Systems

In this paper we address the problem of pressure management in water supply system(WSS) network. The model-based predictive control(MPC) strategies have some important features to deal with WSS. By hydraulic analysis of WSS, the predictive model is derived from the dynamic model and static model of WSS. Through WSS, the consumers demands are required to be met at all times according to some operational constraints that must be satisfied. The constraints of flow through actuators, the water level of reservoirs and the consumer areas pressure demand are determined by a specific system. In this work, we develop a constrained MPC controller that considers the zone control of the pressure outputs and incorporates steady state economic targets in the control cost function. The designed management strategies are applied to a case study and simulation results, covering different aspects, are provided. The output nodal pressure can be controlled in the desired zone by optimal scheduling the actuators of the WSS. If the variation range of reservoir s water level is broader, the rate of flow through the actuators is gentle, and vice versa.

THE CHARACTERISTICS AND MODELLING EXPERIMENTS ON THE DEPOSIT-CONTROLLING STRUCTURE OF SHEAR-ZONE GOLD DEPOSIT IN CHINA

THE CHARACTERISTICS ANDMODELLING EXPERIMENTS ON THEDEPOSIT-CONTROLLING STRUCTUREOF SHEAR-ZONE GOLD DEPOSITIN CHINAWu Xueyi(Institute of Geochemistry, Academia Sinica, Guiyang, 550002, China)shear zone, gold-controlled structure, modelling experimentThe shear-zone gold deposits found in China can be divided into four types: (1) gold deposits controlled by the ductile shear-zones; (2) gold deposits controlled by the brittle-ductile shear zones; (3) gold deposits conntrolled by the ductile-brittle shear zones; (4) gold deposits controlled by the brittle shear zones. These gold deposits mostly occurred in the regions with higher abundance of gold, which underwent a long and complicated evolution-ary process and had obvious zoning and multiperiod metallogenic feature. The modelling exper-imental result of gold-controlled structure shows that the thermodynamics of compresso-shear structures made gold mobilizing and migrating in the earlier stage of shear zone; and that the extension process did

Zoning Control of Health of Farmland System

In addition to the quality and quantity of farmland, the health of farmland has also become an important research direction in the field of farmland protection. In order to comprehensively evaluate the relationship and distribution of health and farmland production capacity, the depression area behind the Yellow River in Henan Province is taken as the research object. Using production capacity evaluation data and system health evaluation results, the health status and production capacity of farmland in the region are coupled. The results show that high productivity farmland is most distributed in areas with moderate health risks, while low productivity farmland is more distributed in areas with low health risks. Based on their coupling characteristics, the depression area behind the Yellow River can be divided into five types, and management and protection strategies can be formulated separately.

ANALYSIS MODEL ON GRADUAL CHANGE PRINCIPLE OF EFFECT ZONES OF LAYER FACE FOR ROLLED CONTROL CONCRETE DAM

The effect zones of layer face for RCC (rolled control concrete) dam have gradual change characteristics. Based on the analysis thought of complex material, a model was built to analyze above principle of RCC dam by use of series-wound and shunt-wound connection. Some methods were proposed to determine the instantaneous Young's modulus, delayed Young's modulus and viscosity coefficient of effect zones of layer face. Above models and methods were used to mine the principle of gradual change of key calculation parameters which can response the characteristics of effect zones. The principle of gradual change was described. A model was established to analyze the three-dimensional viscoelastic problem of RCC dam. Above programs were developed. The examples show that the proposed models and methods to determine the key calculation parameters of effect zones can reflect the status of RCC dam accurately.

GEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIN TYPES OF GOLD DEPOSITS IN SHEAR ZONES AND SIMULATING EXPERIMENTS ON TECTONO-CONTROLLED GOLD MINERALIZATION

Gold deposits in shear zones in China can be divided into four types: ductile, brittle-ductile,ductileubrittle and britt1e. Among them, each type has its own geochemical characteristics: the Hetai gold deposit in Guangdong province for example, is a kind of mylonite type gold deposit in a ductile shear zone, and the gold ore has the forms of layer and vein; the Erjia gold deposit formed in a brittleuductile shear zone, and the gold ore, being of two types, mylonite type and cataclasticaltered rock type, has the form of vein; the Shangguan gold deposit, Henan Province, was located in a ductile-brittle shear zone, and the gold ore is of two types, cataclastic-altered rock type and quartz vein type; and the Linglong gold deposit occurs in a brittle shear zone, with the main gold ore of quartz vein type having the forms of vein and lens. Simulating experiments on tectono-controlled formation of gold ores gave us the idea that not only the samples underwent crack deformation, but also changes occurred in chemical composition of minerals, and also caused gold to be remobilized and finally filled into the newlyuproduced fissures.

A novel strategy of smart manipulation by micro-scale oscillatory networks of the reactionary zones for enhanced extreme thrust control of the next-generation solid propulsion systems

The main aim of this research is to get a better knowledge and understanding of the micro-scale oscillatory networks behavior in the solid propellants reactionary zones. Fundamental understanding of the micro-and nano-scale combustion mechanisms is essential to the development and further improvement of the next-generation technologies for extreme control of the solid propellant thrust. Both experiments and theory confirm that the micro-and nano-scale oscillatory networks excitation in the solid propellants reactionary zones is a rather universal phenomenon. In accordance with our concept,the micro-and nano-scale structures form both the fractal and self-organized wave patterns in the solid propellants reactionary zones. Control by the shape, the sizes and spacial orientation of the wave patterns allows manipulate by the energy exchange and release in the reactionary zones. A novel strategy for enhanced extreme thrust control in solid propulsion systems are based on manipulation by selforganization of the micro-and nano-scale oscillatory networks and self-organized patterns formation in the reactionary zones with use of the system of acoustic waves and electro-magnetic fields, generated by special kind of ring-shaped electric discharges along with resonance laser radiation. Application of special kind of the ring-shaped electric discharges demands the minimum expenses of energy and opens prospects for almost inertia-free control by combustion processes. Nano-sized additives will enhance self-organizing and self-synchronization of the micro-and nano-scale oscillatory networks on the nanometer scale. Suggested novel strategy opens the door for completely new ways for enhanced extreme thrust control of the solid propulsion systems.

一种混合低谐无盲区的孤岛检测方法

主动式检测方法作为一种常用的孤岛检测方法,虽然可以通过增加扰动强度使孤岛检测盲区得以减小,但同时会增大对电网的谐波污染程度。针对此问题,提出了一种混合模糊低谐无盲区的孤岛检测方法,即首先对盲区进行判断,优先使用对电网无谐波污染的被动式孤岛检测方法,若此时处于被动式检测方法盲区之内,则使用一种具有模糊扰动控制的对输出电流第二、四个1/4周期进行扰动的模糊低谐孤岛检测方法。最后搭建相应的仿真模型对所提方法的有效性进行验证。

Quantifying Operational Impacts of Variations in Work Zone Setups, Traffic Demand, and Traffic Composition: A Case Study

The presence of work zones due to pavement repair and rehabilitation is very common in highway facilities. Lane closures associated with work zones result in capacity reduction, which, in turn, often leads to increased congestion at such locations. This paper documents findings from a study that investigated the performance of freeway facilities in the presence of work zones under various Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) and lane closure scenarios while taking under consideration traffic composition and driving behaviors. The study site was an approximately 10-mile freeway segment of Interstate 65 (I-65) located in Birmingham, AL. The testbed was coded in PTV VISSIM, a microscopic simulation analysis platform, for: 1) baseline conditions (i.e., no work zone presence) and 2) work zone conditions with single lane closure (i.e., 3-to-2 lane closure). Work zone scenarios were coded for two TTC strategies, namely, early merge and late merge control and for three different positions of the lane closure (i.e., left, right, and center lane closures). The length of the work zones varied from 1000 to 2000, and 3000 ft. Sensitivity analysis was performed to document the operational impacts of varying heavy vehicle percentages, changes in drivers’ aggressiveness, and projected traffic demand changes. The impacts were quantified using linked-based measures of effectiveness (MOEs) such as travel time, and travel time index. The study results show that there is no significant change in travel time index due to the variation of work zone length across the study corridor. Under similar traffic control and demand conditions, a center lane closure consistently results in significantly higher travel time index than a left or right lane closure and should be avoided. Consideration of operational impacts of changes in truck percentage indicates that the corridor can absorb an increase in truck percentage from 10% to 15%, while performance rapidly deteriorates when a higher percentage of trucks is present in the traffic stream. The study findings can be used to guide transportation agencies in their future efforts to develop strategic lane closure plans that minimize congestion.

自然生态空间用途管制制度的再造分析

在推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的进程中,我国现行的土地用途管制制度、自然资源用途管制制度出现“制度失灵”,无法适应当前建立覆盖“全域、全要素”国土空间用途管制制度的要求。自然生态空间用途管制制度在地类划分、分区、区域准入及实施保障方面,存在亟须解决的问题。自然生态空间用途管制制度构建的基本路径是,首先厘清其与土地用途管制制度的适应性,然后从界定自然资源可管制的空间范围、选择多功能管制、改革建设用地指标制度等方面实现其制度再造。自然生态空间用途管制制度的构建,有利于贯彻落实生态文明建设新理念,同时也是形成国土空间治理合力的重要制度保障。

塔里木盆地顺北1号断裂带奥陶系碳酸盐岩储层结构表征及三维地质建模

综合利用地震、测井、岩心以及动态生产资料,对塔里木盆地顺北1号断裂带断控型碳酸盐岩储集体的内部结构进行了层级划分;基于层级划分,通过地震资料属性提取与转换、深度学习、基于目标示性点过程模拟以及离散裂缝网络模拟(DFN)等方法建立了三维地质模型,并以模型进行油气储量和油藏数值模拟,将拟合结果与实际生产数据进行对比。研究结果表明:(1)顺北1号断裂带奥陶系断控型储层按层级由大到小分为走滑断裂影响带、断控体、类洞穴、类洞穴内簇充填和裂缝带共5个层级。(2)走滑断裂影响带受应力差异影响具有分段性,可细分为挤压段、拉分段和平移段;断控体在拉分段发育断裂交会型、单支走滑型,在平移段发育双断裂交错型和两断裂交会型,在挤压段发育双断裂扭曲型和双断裂交会型,共有6种平面组合样式;类洞穴在地震剖面上呈串珠状反射特征;类洞穴内部分为栅体与栅间(基岩),其中栅体又可进一步分为簇(角砾带)、簇间(裂缝带),整体表现为栅状结构,簇的物性更好;裂缝带为类洞穴的主要储集空间,在簇内部比簇间更发育,在一间房组比鹰山组更发育,一间房组和鹰山组均以发育高角度裂缝为主,在两者连接处则以发育水平缝为主。(3)地质模型预测的油气储量与地质分析储量误差为1.75%,模型模拟的生产井地层压力及累产液结果与生产动态吻合度较高,拟合误差小于10%。