Breeding schemes with optimum-contribution selection or truncation selection for beef cattle destined for use on dairy females

We tested the hypothesis that the size of a beef cattle population destined for use on dairy females is smaller under optimum-contribution selection (OCS) than under truncation selection (TRS) at the same genetic gain (ΔG) and the same rate of inbreeding (ΔF). We used stochastic simulation to estimate true ΔG realized at a 0.005 ΔF in breeding schemes with OCS or TRS. The schemes for the beef cattle population also differed in the number of purebred offspring per dam and the total number of purebred offspring per generation. Dams of the next generation were exclusively selected among the one-year-old heifers. All dams were donors for embryo transfer and produced a maximum of 5 or 10 offspring. The total number of purebred offspring per generation was: 400, 800, 1,600 or 4,000 calves, and it was used as a measure of population size. Rate of inbreeding was predicted and controlled using pedigree relationships. Each OCS (TRS) scheme was simulated for 10 discrete generations and replicated 100 (200) times. The OCS scheme and the TRS scheme with a maximum of 10 offspring per dam required approximately 783 and 1,257 purebred offspring per generation to realize a true ΔG of €14 and a ΔF of 0.005 per generation. Schemes with a maximum of 5 offspring per dam required more purebred offspring per generation to realize a similar true ΔG and a similar ΔF. Our results show that OCS and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer act on selection intensity through different mechanisms to achieve fewer selection candidates and fewer selected sires and dams than under TRS at the same ΔG and a fixed ΔF. Therefore, we advocate the use of a breeding scheme with OCS and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer for beef cattle destined for use on dairy females because it is favorable both from an economic perspective and a carbon footprint perspective.     

异质性环境规制对绿色全要素生产率的影响机制——基于能源消费结构的调节作用

为探讨能源消费结构调节下异质性环境规制对绿色全要素生产率的影响机制，论文利用SBM方向距离函数测得全国各省市“经济-资源-环境-社会”四位一体的绿色全要素生产率，并将环境规制工具分为命令控制型、经济激励型、治理投入型和公众参与型4类，构建了空间杜宾模型以及门槛效应模型，进而得出在能源消费结构调节下，异质性环境规制对绿色全要素生产率的直接作用、间接作用以及空间溢出效应。研究结果表明：1）经济激励型和公众参与型环境规制通过调节能源消费结构对当地和邻地的绿色全要素生产率产生影响；2）在门槛检验方面，能源消费结构对命令控制型、经济激励型和公众参与型环境规制影响绿色全要素生产率存在门槛效应，同时在能源消费结构调节下，命令控制型和经济激励型环境规制对其本身对绿色全要素生产率的间接作用存在门槛效应。建议政府在制定环境规制时要考虑到其与能源消费结构的交互作用，并且在不同能源消费水平地区采用适宜的规制方法和强度，以更好地发挥环境规制作用。     

基于自适应阈值活动语音检测和最小均方误差对数谱幅度估计的低信噪比降噪算法

针对低信噪比(SNR)环境下传统方法对声信号降噪的局限性，提出了一种联合自适应阈值活动语音检测（VAD）算法和最小均方误差对数谱幅度估计（MMSE-LSA）的实时降噪算法。首先，在VAD算法中通过基于能量概率最大值的概率统计来对背景噪声进行估计，对得到的背景噪声进行实时更新并保存；然后，将实时更新的背景噪声作为MMSE-LSA的参考噪声，并对噪声幅度谱进行自适应更新，最后进行降噪处理。通过在真实场景中对四类声信号进行实验，结果表明，该算法在保证对低SNR声信号的实时处理的情况下，相较于传统MMSE-LSA算法，降噪信号的SNR能够提高10~15 dB，且不存在信号过减的情况，可应用于实际工程。     

基于LoRa物联网技术的智能照明控制方案在高速公路上的应用——以北京新机场高速公路(南五环-北京新机场)为例

文章结合北京新机场高速公路照明工程实例,阐述了常规照明控制系统的现状,分析了基于新兴的LoRa物联网技术智能照明控制方案的系统原理和系统构成、系统在高速公路智能照明控制领域的应用以及系统应用能达到的节能和管理效益的提升效果,并对系统的扩展应用前景做了研究分析。     

New version of continuous–discrete cubature Kalman filtering for nonlinear continuous–discrete systems

For nonlinear continuous–discrete systems, this paper elaborates a new accurate implementation of continuous–discrete cubature Kalman filter (CD-CKF). As the main contribution of this work, the new Kalman prediction stage begins by integrating the nonlinear continuous model for all the cubature sample vectors; the prior estimate state and covariance prediction are based on the weighted statistics of these integrated cubature sample vectors and the Gauss–Legendre approximation scheme. The new square root form CD-CKF is also derived and accurately implemented by combining with the modified variable stepsize NIRK. As the advantages of proposed approach, the complicated and error-prone processes of solving covariance differential equation or calculating derivatives are avoided, while the positive semi-definiteness of prior error covariance are numerically guaranteed. Simulations of traffic control scenarios further confirm the new approach’s superior filtering performance in both reliability and accuracy.     

Distribution-free composite Shewhart-GWMA Mann-Whitney charts for monitoring the process location

The Mann-Whitney (MW) statistic is one of the most recommended two-sample statistical tests when the assumption of normality fails to hold due to its robustness and fascinating properties especially when small sample sizes are involved. In order to improve the sensitivity of the generally weighted moving average (GWMA) monitoring scheme toward the detection of large shifts, in this paper, a new distribution-free phase II composite Shewhart-GWMA (CSG) scheme is proposed using the MW U statistic. The performance of the proposed scheme is investigated using the average run-length (ARL) and average extra quadratic loss (AEQL) values through extensive simulations. The performance of this newly proposed monitoring scheme is found to be superior when compared to numerous memory-type MW schemes (some existing and others introduced in this paper) in many situations. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the implementation of the CSG MW U scheme using real-life data.     

Noncentrosymmetric Tetrel Pnictides RuSi4P4 and IrSi3P3: Nonlinear Optical Materials with Outstanding Laser Damage Threshold

Noncentrosymmetric (NCS) tetrel pnictides have recently generated interest as nonlinear optical (NLO) materials due to their second harmonic generation (SHG) activity and large laser damage threshold (LDT). Herein nonmetal-rich silicon phosphides RuSi₄P₄ and IrSi₃P₃ are synthesized and characterized. Their crystal structures are reinvestigated using single crystal X-ray diffraction and ²⁹Si and ³¹P magic angle spinning NMR. In agreement with previous report RuSi₄P₄ crystallizes in NCS space group P1, while IrSi₃P₃ is found to crystallize in NCS space group Cm, in contrast with the previously reported space group C2. A combination of DFT calculations and diffuse reflectance measurements reveals RuSi₄P₄ and IrSi₃P₃ to be wide bandgap (E_g) semiconductors, E_g = 1.9 and 1.8 eV, respectively. RuSi₄P₄ and IrSi₃P₃ outperform the current state-of-the-art infrared SHG material, AgGaS₂, both in SHG activity and laser inducer damage threshold. Due to the combination of high thermal stabilities (up to 1373 K), wide bandgaps (≈2 eV), NCS crystal structures, strong SHG responses, and large LDT values, RuSi₄P₄ and IrSi₃P₃ are promising candidates for longer wavelength NLO materials.     

长江经济带工业集聚对水环境污染的影响——基于空间计量与门槛效应的检验

经济发展与生态环境动态良性循环已经成为社会经济发展的重要议题。为实现长江经济带高质量发展，以2007—2018年长江经济带11个省市为样本，采用空间计量和面板门槛模型考察工业集聚与水环境污染之间的关系。研究表明：长江经济带各省市水环境污染具有显著的空间自相关性；长江经济带工业集聚水平和水环境污染表现出先降低后增强的“U”形变化特征，说明工业集聚水平对水环境污染的影响存在一个阈值；长江经济带工业集聚产生的规模效应和结构效应对水环境污染存在显著的双门槛效应，在不同的工业集聚水平下，规模效应和结构效应表现出不同的外部性特征；工业集聚产生的技术溢出效应对水环境污染的影响同样具有显著的双门槛作用；随着各地区工业集聚水平的提高，技术溢出效应对水环境污染的减排作用表现出先强后弱的趋势。     

Option pricing under a jump-telegraph diffusion model with jumps of random size

ABSTRACT

We present a finite difference method to solve a system of two Partial-Integro Differential Equations which arise from pricing an option under a Jump-Telegraph Diffusion Model for the underlying asset, considering the risk-neutral valuation formula under an equivalent martingale measure. This system is fully discretized using an Implicit–Explicit two-time level scheme and quadrature formulas. The resulting two tridiagonal algebraic linear systems are solved recursively using the Thomas Algorithm. Some numerical results are presented and the numerical order of convergence for the method is estimated. Finally, the robustness of the method is validated against an exact solution obtained for a perturbed problem.