Some Comments on the Assessment of the Potential Role of Transit from China through the Baltic States

At present, with the opportunities of the previous model of world economic development exhausted, only countries building alternative models of global cooperation will have good economic prospects. In this conditions the new role of Russia, China is traced. This article examines the experience and prospects of cooperation between Beijing and the Baltic countries, including within the framework of the well-known project “One Belt — One Way”.

Producing filler-gap dependencies: structural priming evidence for two distinct types of combinatorial processes in production

A previous model of long-distance dependency production claims that speakers compose clause-taking verbs like believe and the complementizer of their complement clauses (that or the null complementizer) differently when there is a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency crossing the complementizer structure (e.g., Who did the breeder believe (that) the dog bit?) than when there is not (e.g., The breeder believed (that) the dog bit them.). This claim implicates two distinct structures headed by clause-taking verbs like believe. Under a certain assumption about the lexical boost effect, this model predicts that the lexical boost effect for the that priming occurs only when prime and target sentences both contain a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency or when neither does. In the current study, a computational model of structural priming implementing the core claims of the previous filler-gap dependency production model was built to show that this prediction coherently follows from the model. The prediction of the model was then tested in five recall based structural priming experiments. Speakers showed a larger complementizer priming when prime and target sentences share a clause-taking verb (i.e., the lexical boost effect). But the lexical boost effect was selective to when both prime and target sentences contained a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency (Experiment 3) and when neither did (Experiment 1). Critically, the lexical boost effect was absent when only either prime or target sentences contained a filler-gap dependency crossing the complementizer structure (Experiments 2, 4, and 5), confirming the prediction of the model.

Research on mathematical modeling of the servo valve torque motor considering the variation of working air-gaps leakage flux

In the current research of the magnetic circuit model of the servo valve torque motor, the magnetic flux leaking from working air-gaps is regarded as constant. However, the working air-gaps leakage flux varies with the armature rotation angle, which affects the accuracy of the existing mathematical model of the torque motor. To solve this problem, a new mathematical model of the torque motor with two working air-gaps is built. First, different from the previous model, the variation of the working air-gaps leakage flux is considered in the magnetic circuit model. A more detailed mathematical model of the torque motor is established based on the magnetic circuit model. Second, the finite element method is used to reveal that there is a linear relationship between working air-gaps leakage flux and armature rotation angle in a certain range of rotation angles. Then, the new model is validated by numerical calculation, which indicates that the theoretical results calculated by this new model show better agreement with the simulation results compared to the previous model when the armature rotation angle increases. Further, the theoretical results of the electromagnetic torque constant and magnetic spring stiffness acquired by the new model and the previous model are compared. The comparison shows that the variation of the working air-gaps leakage flux has the greatest influence on the magnetic spring stiffness. Finally, the experiments on the torque motor are conducted to verify the accuracy of the new model. The theoretical results obtained by this new model are better consistent with the experimental results than that obtained by the previous model. This study shows that considering the variation of working air-gaps leakage flux is valuable to improve the accuracy of the magnetic circuit model of the torque motor, which provides an effective guidance for the structural optimization and performance prediction of the torque motor.

How the insect central complex could coordinate multimodal navigation

The central complex of the insect midbrain is thought to coordinate insect guidance strategies. Computational models can account for specific behaviours but their applicability across sensory and task domains remains untested. Here we assess the capacity of our previous model (Sun et al., 2020) of visual navigation to generalise to olfactory navigation and its coordination with other guidance in flies and ants. We show that fundamental to this capacity is the use of a biologically-plausible neural copy-and-shift mechanism that ensures sensory information is presented in a format compatible with the insect steering circuit regardless of its source. Moreover, the same mechanism is shown to allow the transfer cues from unstable/egocentric to stable/geocentric frames of reference providing a first account of the mechanism by which foraging insects robustly recover from environmental disturbances. We propose that these circuits can be flexibly repurposed by different insect navigators to address their unique ecological needs.

Nonstandard Modeling of a Possible Blue Straggler Star, KIC 11145123

Nonstandard modeling of KIC 11145123, a possible blue straggler star, has been asteroseismically carried out based on a scheme to compute stellar models with the chemical compositions in their envelopes arbitrarily modified, mimicking the effects of some interactions with other stars through which blue straggler stars are thought to be born. We have constructed a nonstandard model of the star with the following parameters: M = 1.36 M ⊙, Y init = 0.26, Z init = 0.002, and f ovs = 0.027, where f ovs is the extent of overshooting described as an exponentially decaying diffusive process. The modification is down to the depth of r/R ∼ 0.6 and the extent ΔX, which is a difference in surface hydrogen abundance between the envelope-modified and unmodified models, is 0.06. The residuals between the model and the observed frequencies are comparable with those for the previous model computed assuming standard single-star evolution, suggesting that it is possible that the star was born with a relatively ordinary initial helium abundance of ∼0.26 compared with that of the previous models (∼0.30–0.40), then experienced some modification of the chemical compositions and gained helium in the envelope. Detailed analyses of the nonstandard model have implied that the elemental diffusion in the deep radiative region of the star might be much weaker than that assumed in current stellar evolutionary calculations; we need some extra mechanisms inside the star, rendering the star a much more intriguing target to be further investigated.

Marketing Fed Cattle Based on Expectations of the Underlying Carcass Value Dynamics

Fed cattle profitability is determined by complicated dynamic processes of body growth, carcass development, and seasonal prices. A structural model is constructed to contend with all these dynamic processes to predict optimal market timing. Informed simulations are conducted and compared to those observed in the data, as well as to a previous model ignoring the evolution of carcass value. The results indicate that significant improvements to profitability are attainable with the new method. The results also indicate the opportunity cost of not accounting for carcass value, even with error, is more severe than when these dynamics are ignored.

Optimal Design of Step-Sloping Notches for Cogging Torque Minimization of Single-Phase BLDC Motors

This paper presents a method for reducing the cogging torque for a sloping notch with two notches applied on the stator teeth. The accuracy of FEA was confirmed by a comparison with a previous model using an asymmetric notch for the experiment data and 3D FEA results, followed by a comparison of the cogging torque of a two notches model and a sloping notch model. The sloping notch model was modified to a step-sloping notch model in consideration of a potential manufacturing process. The optimal design for minimizing the cogging torque was developed considering the sloping degree, angle, position, and size of the notches. As the optimal design result, the cogging torque on the optimal model was reduced. Finally, the analysis and optimal design results were confirmed by FEA.

Power Train Designing for Formula styled Racing Car

A wheel assembly is an integral part of a vehicle’s design that connects the wheel to the suspension system and transfers pressure from the road to the suspension system. It also holds the brake system and facilitates steering. Power transmission is also addressed in the powertrain department. We describe the process and simulation that result in the hub, upright, and differential mounting of a formula student car and the size of the sprocket for maximum acceleration in this report. As a result of the work done on this project, the resulting car has improved acceleration, is easy and reliable to assemble, and has fewer breakdowns than the previous model. The report includes all the calculations that support the simulations and a validating statement about the bearing selection.

EXTENDING A VAN DER POL BASED REDUCED-ORDER MODEL FOR FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION APPLIED TO NON-SYNCHRONOUS VIBRATIONS IN TURBOMACHINERY

This paper expands upon a multi-degree-of-freedom, Van der Pol oscillator used to model buffet and Nonsynchronous Vibrations (NSV) in turbines. Two degrees-of-freedom are used, a fluid tracking variable incorporating a Van der Pol oscillator and a classic spring, mass, damper mounted cylinder variable; thus, this model is one of fluid-structure interaction. This model has been previously shown to exhibit the two main aspects of NSV. The first is the lock-in or entrainment phenomenon of the fluid shedding frequency jumping onto the natural frequency of the oscillator, while the second is a stable limit cycle oscillation (LCO) once the transient solution disappears. Improvements are made to the previous model to better understand this aeroelastic phenomenon. First, an error minimizing technique through a system identification method is used to tune the coefficients in the Reduced Order Model (ROM) to improve the accuracy in comparison to experimental data. Secondly, a cubic stiffness term is added to the fluid equation; this term is often seen in the Duffing Oscillator equation, which allows this ROM to capture the experimental behavior more accurately, seen in previous literature. The finalized model captures the experimental cylinder data found in literature much better than the previous model. These improvements also open the door for future models, such as that of a pitching airfoil or a turbomachinery blade, to create a preliminary design tool for studying NSV in turbomachinery.

The role of V3 neurons in speed-dependent interlimb coordination during locomotion in mice

Speed-dependent interlimb coordination allows animals to maintain stable locomotion under different circumstances. We have previously demonstrated that a subset of spinal V3 neurons contributes to stable locomotion by mediating mutual excitation between left and right lumbar rhythm generators (RGs). Here, we expanded our investigation to the V3 neurons involved in ascending long propriospinal interactions (aLPNs). Using retrograde tracing, we revealed a subpopulation of lumbar V3 aLPNs with contralateral cervical projections. V3OFF mice, in which all V3 neurons were silenced, had a significantly reduced maximal locomotor speed, were unable to move using stable trot, gallop, or bound, and predominantly used lateral-sequence walk. To understand the functional roles of V3 aLPNs, we adapted our previous model of spinal circuitry controlling quadrupedal locomotion (Danner et al., 2017), by incorporating diagonal V3 aLPNs mediating inputs from each lumbar RG to the contralateral cervical RG. The updated model reproduces our experimental results and suggests that locally projecting V3 neurons, mediating left–right interactions within lumbar and cervical cords, promote left–right synchronization necessary for gallop and bound, whereas the V3 aLPNs promote synchronization between diagonal fore and hind RGs necessary for trot. The model proposes the organization of spinal circuits available for future experimental testing.