Continuous State Dynamic Programming via Nonexpansive Approximation

This paper studies fitted value iteration for continuous state numerical dynamic programming using nonexpansive function approximators. A number of approximation schemes are discussed. The main contribution is to provide error bounds for approximate optimal policies generated by the value iteration algorithm.      

Iterative absolute electroanalytical approach to characterization of bulk redox conducting systems

A novel electroanalytical approach is proposed here, and it is demonstrated with the direct and simultaneous determination of two unknowns: the concentration of redox sites and the apparent diffusion coefficient for charge propagation in a single crystal of dodecatungstophosphoric acid. This Keggin-type polyoxometalate serves as a model bulk redox conducting inorganic material for solid-state voltammetry. The system has been investigated using an ultramicrodisk working electrode in the absence of external liquid supporting electrolyte. The analytical method requires numerical solution of the combination of two equations in which the first one describes current (or charge) in a well-defined (either spherical or linear) diffusional regime and the second general equation describes chronoamperometric (or normal pulse voltammetric current) under mixed (linear-spherical) conditions. The iterative approach is based on successive approximations through calculation and minimizing the least-squares error function. The method is fairly universal, and in principle, it can be extended to the investigation of other bulk systems including sol-gel processed materials, redox melts, and solutions on condition that they are electroactive and well behaved, they contain redox centers at sufficiently high level, and a number of electrons for the redox reaction considered is known.     

Structural aspects of the lindlar catalyst for selective hydrogenation

Unsupported intermetallic phases of palladium and lead, formed by reduction possess attractive catalytic properties for selective hydrogenation. The significance of the ease of reduction of divalent lead in Lindlar (supported) catalysts is also discussed.We thank the Science and Engineering Research Council for supporting this work.     

Investigation of deformation behavior of Zr-Ti-Ni-Cu-Be bulk metallic glass containing nanocrystals

Zr_41.25Ti_13.75Ni₁₀Cu_12.5Be_22.5 (at.%) bulk metallic glass (BMG) is annealed at 676 K for various times. The influence of the microstructural evolution on the mechanical properties is studied by tensile test and micro hardness test at room temperature. The structural relaxation due to the short time annealing does not affect the deformation behavior of the BMG. The nanocrystallization inducing embrittlement is due to the presence of nano-scale particles promoting the crack forming and propagating during the tensile deformation. The existence of nano-scale particles also enhances the viscosity of the amorphous phase within the shear band and even obstructs the formation of the shear band at the indenter tip, which results in a strengthening phenomenon in the annealed BMG under the indentation load.     

Double-Headed Cationic Lipopeptides: An Emerging Class of Antimicrobials

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a promising tool in the development of novel therapeutic agents useful in a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections. Among the modifications improving pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of natural AMPs, an important role is played by lipidation. This study focuses on the newly designed and synthesized lipopeptides containing multiple Lys residues or their shorter homologues with palmitic acid (C₁₆) attached to the side chain of a residue located in the center of the peptide sequence. The approach resulted in the development of lipopeptides representing a model of surfactants with two polar headgroups. The aim of this study is to explain how variations in the length of the peptide chain or the hydrocarbon side chain of an amino acid residue modified with C₁₆, affect biological functions of lipopeptides, their self-assembling propensity, and their mode of action.     

Zr41.25Ti13.75Ni10Cu12.5Be22.5块体非晶合金的拉伸断裂行为

Zr41．25Ti13.75Ni10Cu12．5Be22．5块体非晶合金在过冷液相区内的拉伸断裂行为与拉伸温度及应变速率有关．在室温条件下拉伸表现为剪切带扩展形成脆性断裂,在断口表面层出现了大量放射状脉状纹络,断口表面层的绝热升温现象导致断裂层温度超过了液相线温度,从而在断面上出现熔融状液滴．在玻璃化转变温度点,断裂模式依然为脆性断裂,韧窝状形貌及脉状纹络代替了放射状的脉状纹络分布于断口表面,同时伴随有熔融状液滴．计算表明,断口表面层绝热升温温度依然高于液相线温度．在更高温度或较低应变速率条件下,断裂方式转变为颈缩断裂模式,在颈缩点顶端依然存在脉状纹络,而未能观察到熔融状液滴．分析表明,在较高温度或较低应变速率条件下,绝热升温对断裂层的影响非常微弱,断口表层的温度没有明显升高．     

Re-evaluating split-fovea processing in word recognition: Effects of retinal eccentricity on hemispheric dominance.

Several studies have claimed that hemispheric asymmetries affect word recognition right up to the point of fixation because each fovea is split precisely at its vertical midline and information presented either side of this midline projects unilaterally to different, contralateral hemispheres. To investigate this claim, four-letter words were presented to the left or right of fixation, either close to fixation entirely in foveal vision (0.15, 0.25, and 0.35 degrees from fixation) or further from fixation entirely in extrafoveal vision (2.00, 2.10, and 2.20 degrees from fixation). Fixation location and stimulus presentation were controlled using an eye-tracker linked to a fixation-contingent display and performance was assessed using a forced-choice task to suppress confounding effects of guesswork. A left hemisphere advantage was observed for words presented in extrafoveal locations but no hemisphere advantage (left or right) was observed for words presented in any foveal location. These findings support the well-established view that words encountered outside foveal vision project to different, contralateral hemispheres but indicate that this division for word recognition occurs only outside the fovea and provide no support for the claim that a functional split in hemispheric processing exists at the point of fixation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Variability of cattle infestation by Amblyomma variegatum and its possible utilisation for tick control

A great variability of the individual infestation by Amblyomma variegatum adults was observed on naturally infested Gudali zebus. Some of the animals (called "attractive for A. variegatum") had a tick burden 10 to 16 times higher than that of the least parasitized cattle of the herd (called "non-attractive"). Ranking of the animals based on A. variegatum infestation was correlated for successive tick counts. Experiments were designed to determine if the "non-attractive" cattle remained lightly infested when the "attractive" ones are removed from the herd. When these two types of cattle grazed separately, it was observed that the "non-attractive" animals had a lower tick burden and that their infestation occurred more slowly than that of the "attractive" ones. The difference between the two groups was nevertheless smaller than that existing when the animals were in the same herd. The selection of the "non-attractive" cattle, on which a tick control programme should not exclusively be based, could however be used as a component of a tick control strategy, if this characteristic is hereditary. An experiment in progress will study the question.