ALBERT

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The dynamics of chaotic maps are severely inhibited by the limited precision of the computational device that is used to implement them, and thus, their applications in cryptography and secure communications are seriously limited. To evaluate the degree of degradation of digital chaotic maps, we designed a fast period search algorithm (FPSA) that is based on a tree structure for analysing the periodicities of digital chaotic maps from a new perspective. FPSA can calculate the maximal transient length, fixed points and periodic limit cycles of digital chaotic maps in finite-precision domains quickly and accurately. Furthermore, based on this algorithm, the security of 1-D logistic maps and 2-D Arnold maps in engineering applications is analysed to demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. This algorithm plays an active role in analysing the structures of the functional graphs of digital chaotic maps in digital computers.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The two major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid peptide aggregations in the brain cause loss of synaptic connections and subsequent neurotoxicity leading to neurodegeneration and memory deficits. However, the physiological effects of beta-amyloid on early embryonic development still remain unclear. Administration of human beta-amyloid peptide (1–42) through cerebrospinal ventricular injection was carried out at 24 hpf (hours post fertilization) and it was uptaken into the cellular layers of the early ventricular development without any plaque aggregation. Whole-mount Immunostaining of zebrafish embryos injected with the beta-amyloid at 60 hpf revealed the delay in Sox9a expression. Decreased level of cartilage to bone transformation rate in 15 dpf (days post fertilization) zebrafish was observed by differential staining. These results suggest the possible existence of a genetic relationship between extrinsic amyloid peptide and Sox9a expression. Thus, our results demonstrated that the human beta-amyloid influences bone development through Sox9a expression during osteogenesis in zebrafish.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The problem of stability analysis of stochastic nonlinear systems with asynchronous impulses and switchings is addressed in this paper. The obvious distinctions between the previous results and ours are that the impulses are not simultaneous with the switchings and the jump maps are different and dependent on the impulsive instants. By introducing the concepts of mode-independent(dependent) average impulsive interval and average dwell time to describe the impulsive and switching signals, respectively, sufficient conditions ensuring global asymptotic stability and almost sure stability are provided. Meanwhile, some new results for stochastic impulsive/switching nonlinear systems are established. In the end, two illustrative examples are given to show the applicability of our theoretical results.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The work investigates the elastic vibration instability induced by rotating electromagnetic load in symmetrical three-phase external rotor induction motor with compliant rotor and stator. The investigation is based on a mechanical-electromagnetic coupling dual-ring model undergoing flexural and extensional deformations. The model is established in a field-synchronous coordinates such that the time variance of electromagnetic load can be eliminated. The dependence of electromagnetic load on pole pair count and wavenumber is classified into typical cases. The eigenvalues are calculated by simple vibration theory such that unstable behaviors can be accurately estimated. The estimation is independent of weak-parametric source assumption. For verification purpose, a time-variant model is constructed in the inertial frame, based on which typical cases of the time-variant electromagnetic load are classified in terms of the pole pair count and wavenumber. Numerical calculations are performed by using Floquét theory, and transition curves between stable and unstable regions are identified. The results in field-synchronous and inertial frames are well compared with each other.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉Preeclampsia (PE) is a gestational disorder and genetic and epigenetic alterations can affect its pathogenesis. Some evidences showed that the altered expression of miRNAs in the placentas complicated by PE. The blood samples from 219 PE and 242 normotensive pregnant women and placental tissue samples from 111 PE and 119 normotensive women were collected. MiR-146a and miR-149 polymorphisms were genotyped in blood samples and placentas using PCR–RFLP method. The frequencies of maternal miR-146a rs2910164 GC and CC genotypes did not differ between PE and control groups. However, the miR-146a rs2910164 G/C polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of PE in dominant (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1–2.1; P = 0.04) and allelic (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1–1.9; P = 0.04) but not recessive models. Moreover, the maternal GC and CC genotypes were associated with a 1.9- and 3.4-fold increased risk of severe PE (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2; P = 0.02 and OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–9; P = 0.01, respectively) and miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism could increase risk of severe PE in dominant and recessive models (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.4; P = 0.004 and OR 2.6, 95% CI 1–6.7; P = 0.04). The placental miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism was associated with PE susceptibility in dominant (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3; P = 0.03) and allelic models (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.5; P = 0.02). The frequencies of maternal and placental miR-149 rs2292832 genotypes were not different between two groups and these genotypes were not associated with PE or severe PE risk. In conclusion, according to logistic regression analysis the maternal/placental miR-146a rs2910164 G/C polymorphism was associated with PE and/or severe PE risk.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉A generalized nonlinear Schrödinger system is investigated, which can be used to describe the optical pulse propagation in inhomogeneous optical fibers with the fourth- and third-order dispersions operators. The Darboux transformation method is extended to construct a mixed breather and rogue wave solution for the system. The interaction behaviors between the breather and rogue wave are studied. As a novel result, the energy transition between the breather and rogue wave is observed. Furthermore, the impacts of the different operators on the mixed solution are analyzed.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this article, we present a generalization of stability theorems for Caputo fractional derivative to the distributed fractional-order (DFO) case by using the Laplace transform and the asymptotical expansion of the generalized Mittag–Leffler function. We propose the definition of the generalized Wright stability to study the stability of DFO nonlinear dynamical system using Lyapunov direct method. The linear feedback control is used to stabilize a class of chaotic DFO nonlinear dynamical systems. Using Lyapunov direct method, we study the synchronization between two identical chaotic systems and between two other different in the linear terms. The chaotic DFO Lorenz system is given as an example to achieve the linear feedback control technique. Another two examples which are chaotic DFO complex Chen and Lü systems are used to show the validity and feasibility of our proposed synchronization scheme. Numerical simulations are implemented to verify the results of these investigations.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉In this note, two comments are pointed out to the paper (Wu and Baleanu in Nonlinear Dyn 75:283–287, 〈span〉2014〈/span〉). It is confirmed that the equation of fractional logistic map proposed by Wu and Baleanu cannot be called the “fractional logistic map,” because the map does not converge to the classical logistic map in one dimension, and the analysis of bifurcation diagrams also exist problem. So, the revised equation and the correct bifurcation diagrams are presented in this note. Due to the high impact of the Wu and Baleanu’s paper, we believe that these comments will be helpful for the fractional community in the further research.〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉The present work focuses on vibration energy harvesting to replace chemical batteries as power supplies in wireless autonomous sensors. More particularly, this article deals with nonlinear inertial oscillators and more precisely bistable harvesters, which offer a wide bandwidth compared to linear structures. These harvesters require AC–DC electronic interface to be able to supply wireless sensors or small intermediate storage elements (used to smooth the power demand). However, few studies have investigated the influence of AC–DC circuits on bistable harvesters. This work therefore focuses on developing the first analytical model able to predict the frequency response of a bistable harvester coupled to one of these interfaces: the SECE (synchronized electric charge extraction) circuit. This mathematical model includes subharmonic behaviors, stability analyses to small disturbances and the analyses of the stability robustness of high orbits characterizing their capability to handle external disturbances in real conditions without falling on a low orbit. The model is then validated experimentally with a buckled beam bistable harvester with piezoelectric conversion. The latter shows that the use of SECE circuit leads to multiply the mean extracted power from 1.3 to 2.2 compared to a direct connection to the load. The reachable frequency range is nevertheless divided by 1.55. 〈/p〉

Description: 〈h3〉Abstract〈/h3〉 〈p〉This paper seeks to investigate the dynamic relationship between daily stock market indices in NAFTA countries from 8 November 1991 to 16 March 2018, using for the first time nonlinear, nonparametric, non-stationary methods. We apply two novel nonlinear, nonparametric, non-stationary dynamic correlation techniques—rolling window Spearman correlation and wavelet coherence—to study the relationships between the three pairwise comparisons. We apply a nonlinear, nonparametric causality test to four specific sub-periods and to the full period of these indices to check the direction of causality. Our results show the following: (1) the correlation between the indices increases from 2000 to 2011, but that correlation increase is interrupted around 2011/2012 and then falls noticeably, picking up again from 2015 onwards. (2) The pairs that show the lowest correlation are those involving the IPC. (3) The causality test reveals nonlinear bidirectional causality for all three indices and all the intervals analysed, indicating that there is a strong interrelationship between NAFTA members. These results are relevant to obtain a better understanding of the complex dynamical system formed by NAFTA stock markets and have direct implications for hedging and portfolio diversification policies.〈/p〉