Maxwell's role in turning the concept of model into the methodology of modeling

This is a contribution towards a history and philosophy of modeling in its early stages in electromagnetism. In 1873, James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) hinted at the methodology of modeling at the end of his Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism. We focus on Maxwell's impact on physicists who immediately followed him, specifically Oliver Lodge (1851–1940) and George Francis FitzGerald (1851–1901). We begin with the role that the scientific concept of model played in the late nineteenth century, as assessed by Ludwig Boltzmann (1844–1906). We then discuss the role of hypothesis as a methodology, the appeal to (dynamical) illustration, and the way Maxwell applied model and working model in his studies of electromagnetism. We show that for Maxwell these key terms were kept distinct, but Lodge did not maintain these distinctions and, in this regard, FitzGerald followed Lodge. Notwithstanding Lodge's influence, Fitzgerald modified Maxwell's theory based on the mechanical model he designed, thereby implicitly taking the first step towards modeling. This methodology consists in drawing consequences from the (mechanical) model to the (electrodynamic) theory and modifying the latter in light of the functioning of the former. At the core of our argument is the thesis that it was a methodological novelty to move from the concept of model to the methodology of modeling. The introduction of modeling as a new methodology into physics in the late nineteenth century was a major event which deserves proper recognition.     

The Dynamics Characteristics of Flexible Spacecraft and its Closed-Loop Stability with Passive Control

Passive control is the most popular methodology for flexible spacecraft while it remains an open problem whether the closed-loop performance can be achieved only with passive control subject to the coupling modes of rigid and flexibility. Also, the closed-loop performance of passive PD control based on the dynamics of the Euler angle parameterization of spacecraft, which has been widely used in practice, is yet to be addressed. Towards these challenges, by introducing the input-output exact linearization theory and Lyapunov theory, the authors show that the closed-loop performance for flexible spacecraft with rigid and flexible modes can be achieved by adjusting the parameters of the passive controllers sufficiently large. This is done by firstly transforming the flexible spacecraft dynamics into an exact feedback linearization standard form, and then analyzing the closed-loop performance of flexible spacecraft.     

基于知识图谱的核电设备健康管理知识建模与分析

随着信息技术发展,设备健康数据与知识图谱技术结合为设备健康发展带来新的发展机遇,知识图谱利用其多种特异性优势,使企业系统中积累的海量设备维修数据得到有效整合利用.本文提出基于知识图谱的核电设备健康管理知识建模与分析方法,并根据实体关系模型构建维修知识图谱本体框架,同时基于核电企业实际的维修工单数据,从统计分析和关联分析两方面取得良好的实践效果.研究结果表明,知识图谱能够在设备维修知识的集成上解决传统的数据孤岛问题,同时能基于故障的可视化分析为维修人员和管理人员提供决策和知识支持.     

Little-known and phylogenetically obscure South African estuarine microgastropods (Mollusca: Truncatelloidea) as living animals

Areas of the Knysna estuarine bay in the Western Cape are dominated by three endemic South African truncatelloid microgastropods, temporarily known as ‘Hydrobia’ knysnaensis (Krauss), ‘Assiminea’ capensis (Sowerby) and ‘Assiminea’ globulus Connolly. Although first described 80–170 years ago and present in abundance (up to 100,000 m^?2), they remain surrounded by confusion and still await taxonomic assignment, largely because they appear most atypical members of their groups by virtue of anatomy and/or biogeography and/or habitat. This study contributes in-life perspectives to morphological and phylogenetic analyses known to be on-going. At Knysna, they are syntopic: at least two occurring in >85% and all three in >40% of individual 0.0026 m² samples from their region of dominance. Nevertheless, they tend to greater abundance in divergent microhabitats; ‘A.’ globulus dominating higher tidal levels, and ‘A.’ capensis and ‘Hydrobia’ lower ones; the former especially unvegetated sediment, the latter, if anything, seagrass. Interspecific feeding interactions appear unlikely to be responsible for these patterns, other evidence suggesting that all are maintained below carrying capacity. Field biology of ‘H.’ knysnaensis generally appears equivalent to that of northern-hemisphere intertidal hydrobiids and that of ‘A.’ globulus is typically assimineid, albeit at atypically low shore height. Unlike assimineids, however, ‘A.’ capensis is truly aquatic. The success of these truncatelloids in unusual circumstances may be consequent on the absence from South Africa of other microgastropod groups that fill their niches elsewhere in the southern hemisphere.     

海、陆两用风力发电实验平台设计

在风电场通过现场测试分析研究风力机性能由于受到现场环境的限制,能够获得的研究数据有限,室内模拟实验平台能够有效弥补研究不足.为此提出了一种海、陆两用风力发电实验平台方案.该实验平台由来风装置、风轮、发电机、两段式塔架、漂浮台、波浪产生装置、传感检测和数据采集系统等构成.在实验平台整体方案基础上,进行了结构参数设计,建立了漂浮台受力分析模型并获得了合理的结构参数,以Lab VIEW为开发环境设计了上位机运行状态监控系统.最后,基于构建的实验平台,开展了部分风力机动态特性研究工作,对比分析了模拟陆地风力机和海上漂浮式风力机时塔架振动特性,为进一步深入开展风力机动态特性研究提供了基础.     

Optimal investment problem for an insurer and a reinsurer

This paper studies the optimal investment problem for an insurer and a reinsurer. The basic claim process is assumed to follow a Brownian motion with drift and the insurer can purchase proportional reinsurance from the reinsurer. The insurer and the reinsurer are allowed to invest in a risk-free asset and a risky asset. Moreover, the authors consider the correlation between the claim process and the price process of the risky asset. The authors ?rst study the optimization problem of maximizing the expected exponential utility of terminal wealth for the insurer. Then with the optimal reinsurance strategy chosen by the insurer, the authors consider two optimization problems for the reinsurer: The problem of maximizing the expected exponential utility of terminal wealth and the problem of minimizing the ruin probability. By solving the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations, the authors derive the optimal reinsurance and investment strategies, explicitly. Finally, the authors illustrate the equality of the reinsurer's optimal investment strategies under the two cases.     

Defining G protein-coupled receptor peptide ligand expressomes and signalomes in human and mouse islets

Introduction

Islets synthesise and secrete numerous peptides, some of which are known to be important regulators of islet function and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we quantified mRNAs encoding all peptide ligands of islet G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in isolated human and mouse islets and carried out in vitro islet hormone secretion studies to provide functional confirmation for the species-specific role of peptide YY (PYY) in mouse islets.

Materials and methods

GPCR peptide ligand mRNAs in human and mouse islets were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR relative to the reference genes ACTB, GAPDH, PPIA, TBP and TFRC. The pathways connecting GPCR peptide ligands with their receptors were identified by manual searches in the PubMed, IUPHAR and Ingenuity databases. Distribution of PYY protein in mouse and human islets was determined by immunohistochemistry. Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion from islets was measured by radioimmunoassay.

Results

We have quantified GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression in human and mouse islets and created specific signalomes mapping the pathways by which islet peptide ligands regulate human and mouse GPCR signalling. We also identified species-specific islet expression of several GPCR ligands. In particular, PYY mRNA levels were ~ 40,000-fold higher in mouse than human islets, suggesting a more important role of locally secreted Pyy in mouse islets. This was confirmed by IHC and functional experiments measuring insulin, glucagon and somatostatin secretion.

Discussion

The detailed human and mouse islet GPCR peptide ligand atlases will allow accurate translation of mouse islet functional studies for the identification of GPCR/peptide signalling pathways relevant for human physiology, which may lead to novel treatment modalities of diabetes and metabolic disease.

     

Methods for backcasting,nowcasting and forecasting using factor‐MIDAS: With an application to Korean GDP

We utilize mixed‐frequency factor‐MIDAS models for the purpose of carrying out backcasting, nowcasting, and forecasting experiments using real‐time data. We also introduce a new real‐time Korean GDP dataset, which is the focus of our experiments. The methodology that we utilize involves first estimating common latent factors (i.e., diffusion indices) from 190 monthly macroeconomic and financial series using various estimation strategies. These factors are then included, along with standard variables measured at multiple different frequencies, in various factor‐MIDAS prediction models. Our key empirical findings as follows. (i) When using real‐time data, factor‐MIDAS prediction models outperform various linear benchmark models. Interestingly, the “MSFE‐best” MIDAS models contain no autoregressive (AR) lag terms when backcasting and nowcasting. AR terms only begin to play a role in “true” forecasting contexts. (ii) Models that utilize only one or two factors are “MSFE‐best” at all forecasting horizons, but not at any backcasting and nowcasting horizons. In these latter contexts, much more heavily parametrized models with many factors are preferred. (iii) Real‐time data are crucial for forecasting Korean gross domestic product, and the use of “first available” versus “most recent” data “strongly” affects model selection and performance. (iv) Recursively estimated models are almost always “MSFE‐best,” and models estimated using autoregressive interpolation dominate those estimated using other interpolation methods. (v) Factors estimated using recursive principal component estimation methods have more predictive content than those estimated using a variety of other (more sophisticated) approaches. This result is particularly prevalent for our “MSFE‐best” factor‐MIDAS models, across virtually all forecast horizons, estimation schemes, and data vintages that are analyzed.     

Fuzzy Views on Black-Litterman Portfolio Selection Model

In this paper, views of investor are described in fuzzy sets, and two fuzzy Black-Litterman models are constructed with fuzzy views and fuzzy random views respectively. In the models, expected returns and uncertainty matrix of views are redefined and the views are formulated by fuzzy approaches suitably. Then the models are tested with data from Chinese financial markets. Empirical results show that the fuzzy random views model performs the best, and both the fuzzy models are better than the traditional ones, demonstrating that the fuzzy approaches can contain more information in the views and measure the uncertainty more correctly.