Global dynamics of a state-dependent feedback control system

The main purpose is to develop novel analytical techniques and provide a comprehensive qualitative analysis of global dynamics for a state-dependent feedback control system arising from biological applications including integrated pest management. The model considered consists of a planar system of differential equations with state-dependent impulsive control. We characterize the impulsive and phase sets, using the phase portraits of the planar system and the Lambert W function to define the Poincaré map for impulsive point series defined in the phase set. The existence, local and global stability of an order-1 limit cycle and sharp sufficient conditions for the global stability of the boundary order-1 limit cycle have been provided. We further examine the flip bifurcation related to the existence of an order-2 limit cycle. We show that the existence of an order-2 limit cycle implies the existence of an order-1 limit cycle. We derive sufficient conditions under which any trajectory initiating from a phase set will be free from impulsive effects after finite state-dependent feedback control actions, and we also prove that order-k (k ≥ 3) limit cycles do not exist, providing a solution to an open problem in the integrated pest management community. We then investigate multiple attractors and their basins of attraction, as well as the interior structure of a horseshoe-like attractor. We also discuss implications of the global dynamics for integrated pest management strategy. The analytical techniques and qualitative methods developed in the present paper could be widely used in many fields concerning state-dependent feedback control

Mapping Diurnal Variability of the Wintertime Pearl River Plume Front from Himawari-8 Geostationary Satellite Observations

The spatial pattern of the wintertime Pearl River plume front (PRPF), and its variability on diurnal and spring-neap time scales are characterized from the geostationary meteorological Himawari-8 satellite, taking advantage of the satellite’s unique 10-minutely sea surface temperature sequential images. Our findings suggest that the PRPF in winter consists of three subfronts: the northern one north of 22° N 20′, the southern one south of 21° N 40′, and the middle one between 22° N 20′ and 21° N 40′. The time-varying trend of the frontal intensity generally exhibits a strong-weak-strong pattern, with the weakest plume front occurring at about 06:00 UTC, which is closely associated with net surface heat flux over the region. The comparison in frontal variability between the spring and neap tides shows that the plume front during the spring tide generally tends to be more diffuse for the frontal probability, move further offshore for the frontal position, and be weaker for the frontal intensity than those found during the neap tide. These great differences largely depend on the tidally induced stronger turbulent mixing during the spring tide while the wind stress only plays a secondary role in the process. To best of our knowledge, the distinct diurnal variations in PRPF with wide coverage are observed for the first time. This study demonstrates that the Himawari-8 geostationary satellite has great potential in characterizing high-frequency surface thermal fronts in considerable detail

Mapping Diurnal Variability of the Wintertime Pearl River Plume Front from Himawari-8 Geostationary Satellite Observations

The spatial pattern of the wintertime Pearl River plume front (PRPF), and its variability on diurnal and spring-neap time scales are characterized from the geostationary meteorological Himawari-8 satellite, taking advantage of the satellite’s unique 10-minutely sea surface temperature sequential images. Our findings suggest that the PRPF in winter consists of three subfronts: the northern one north of 22° N 20′, the southern one south of 21° N 40′, and the middle one between 22° N 20′ and 21° N 40′. The time-varying trend of the frontal intensity generally exhibits a strong-weak-strong pattern, with the weakest plume front occurring at about 06:00 UTC, which is closely associated with net surface heat flux over the region. The comparison in frontal variability between the spring and neap tides shows that the plume front during the spring tide generally tends to be more diffuse for the frontal probability, move further offshore for the frontal position, and be weaker for the frontal intensity than those found during the neap tide. These great differences largely depend on the tidally induced stronger turbulent mixing during the spring tide while the wind stress only plays a secondary role in the process. To best of our knowledge, the distinct diurnal variations in PRPF with wide coverage are observed for the first time. This study demonstrates that the Himawari-8 geostationary satellite has great potential in characterizing high-frequency surface thermal fronts in considerable detail

Isolation and characterization of a bacterium able to degrade high concentration of iprodione

A bacterial strain CQH-1 capable of mineralizing iprodione was isolated and characterized. In combination with morphological, physiological biochemical characters, and the phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain CQH-1 was identified as Microbacterium sp.. It could use iprodione and 3,5-dichloroaniline as the sole carbon source and energy source for growth. It completely degraded 100 mg L-1 of iprodione within 96 h at 30 째C. During the degradation of iprodione by strain CQH-1, two compounds were detected in GC-MS analysis and recognized as N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxoimidazolidine and 3,5-dichloroaniline, respectively. So, the biodegradation pathway of iprodione by strain CQH-1 was proposed. This is the first report of iprodione-mineralizing strain from the genus of Microbacterium, and strain CQH-1 might be a promising candidate for its application in the bioremediation of iprodione-contaminated environments.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Impacts of River Engineering on Multi-Decadal Water Discharge of the Mega-Changjiang River

Knowledge of river engineering impacts on water discharge is significant to flow guidelines and sustainable water resource managements for balancing human consumption and the natural environment. In this study, based on the collected multi-decadal discharge data at Yichang, Hankou, and Datong stations, we determined that in October, Three Gorges Dam contributed 34.4%, 24.5%, and 18.7% to the discharge decrease in the upper, middle, and lower reach, respectively, while Gezhouba Dam contributed 14.5%, 10.7%, and 10%. Danjiangkou Reservoir caused the discharge ratio of Hanjiang to Changjiang to decline from 7.2% during 1954–1973 to 6.3% during 1973–2014. Owing to growing water withdrawal and consumption, we suggest that the distribution of water diversion and consumption should be regulated to prevent the probable occurrence of the severe issue of salt water intrusion in the Changjiang Estuary in 2028

The Association of Peripheral T Lymphocyte Subsets Disseminated Infection by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in HIV-Negative Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background and Objective: This study was performed to investigate the association of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets with disseminated infection (DI) by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in HIV-negative patients. Methods and Materials: The study included 587 HIV-negative tuberculosis (TB) patients. Results: In TB patients with DI, the proportion of CD4+ T cells decreased, the proportion of CD8+ T cells increased, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells decreased. According to univariate analysis, smoking, alcohol consumption, rifampicin-resistance, retreatment, and high sputum bacterial load were linked to lower likelihood of developing MTB dissemination. Multivariate analysis indicated that after adjustment for alcohol use, smoking, retreatment, smear, culture, rifampicin-resistance, and CD4+/CD8+, the proportion of CD8+ T cells (but not CD4+ T cells) was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of DI in HIV-negative pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. Conclusions: Examining T lymphocyte subsets is of great value for evaluating the immune function of HIV-negative TB patients, and an increase in the CD8+ T cell proportion may be a critical clue regarding the cause of DI in such patients