Acknowledgement in the PhD dissertation

Gouqi Island, Zhoushan, China

As I approach the conclusion of this academic journey, I reflect on the countless individuals whose support and guidance have made this dissertation possible.

First and foremost, I extend my deepest gratitude to my parents, whose unconditional love and unwavering support have sustained me through every challenge and triumph. Their quiet strength and steadfast belief in my abilities have been the foundation upon which I've built my academic pursuits.

I am profoundly grateful to my supervisor, Professor Zhonggai Zhao, for accepting me as his student during both my master's and doctoral studies, providing me the opportunity to develop as a researcher under his mentorship.

My sincere appreciation goes to Professors Massimiliano Barolo, Pierantonio Facco, and Fabrizio Bezzo from the Computer-Aided Process Engineering Laboratory (CAPE-Lab) at the University of Padova. Their intellectual guidance, academic rigor, and patient mentorship during my research stay not only enhanced my scholarly development but also taught me the value of international collaboration. This experience broadened my intellectual horizons and equipped me with new perspectives to approach complex research challenges.

To my colleagues at the Institute of Automation, Jiangnan University—particularly Ke Li, Peng He—thank you for your camaraderie and support during this final phase of my doctoral journey. I wish you continued success in your endeavors. Special thanks to Linwei Ye and Wei Wu for their invaluable assistance during my international research stay.

The CAPE-Lab deserves particular recognition for providing an intellectually stimulating environment that fostered academic exchange and collaboration. I cherish memories of CAPE-Retreat and CAPE-Luganega, which embodied the team's collaborative spirit. My heartfelt appreciation goes to Daniel Crîstiu, Mauro Davanzo, Beatriz Felices Rando, Alberto Saccardo, and Luca Gasparini for their friendship and support. I am especially grateful to Gianluca Cogo for introducing me to the cultural richness of the Veneto region, and to Luca Gasparini for strengthening the connection between our twin cities—Wuxi and Vicenza—through his visit to China.

I would like to acknowledge Barry M. Wise for providing access to advanced chemometric software that proved instrumental to my research, and the Shanghai Library for their extensive resources. The financial support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC), which enabled my research visit to the University of Padova—coinciding with its historic 800th anniversary—merits special recognition.Finally, I express my gratitude to the city of Wuxi, which has been my home for the past decade, witnessing my personal and academic growth. To everyone who has contributed to this journey in ways both small and profound—thank you for illuminating the path forward with your kindness and support.