Controller design for bilinear systems with parametric uncertainties

This paper studies the problem of robust control of a class of uncertain bilinear continuous-time systems. The class of uncertain systems is described by a state space model with time-varying norm-bounded parameter uncertainty in the state equation. We address the problem of robust H∞ control in which both robust stability and a prescribed H∞ performance are required to be achieved irrespective of the uncertainties. Both state feedback and output feedback controllers are designed. It has been shown that the above problems can be recast into H∞ syntheses for related bilinear systems without parameter uncertainty, which can be solved via a Riccati inequality approach. Two examples are given to show the potential of the proposed technique

Towards Efficient and Scalable Data-Intensive Content Delivery: State-of-the-Art, Issues and Challenges

This chapter presents the authors’ work for the Case Study entitled “Delivering Social Media with Scalability” within the framework of High-Performance Modelling and Simulation for Big Data Applications (cHiPSet) COST Action 1406. We identify some core research areas and give an outline of the publications we came up within the framework of the aforementioned action. The ease of user content generation within social media platforms, e.g. check-in information, multimedia data, etc., along with the proliferation of Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled, always-connected capture devices lead to data streams of unprecedented amount and a radical change in information sharing. Social data streams raise a variety of practical challenges: derivation of real-time meaningful insights from effectively gathered social information, a paradigm shift for content distribution with the leverage of contextual data associated with user preferences, geographical characteristics and devices in general, etc. In this article we present the methodology we followed, the results of our work and the outline of a comprehensive survey, that depicts the state-of-the-art situation and organizes challenges concerning social media streams and the infrastructure of the data centers supporting the efficient access to data streams in terms of content distribution, data diffusion, data replication, energy efficiency and network infrastructure. The challenges of enabling better provisioning of social media data have been identified and they were based on the context of users accessing these resources. The existing literature has been systematized and the main research points and industrial efforts in the area were identified and analyzed. In our works, in the framework of the Action, we came up with potential solutions addressing the problems of the area and described how these fit in the general ecosystem

Making Sense of Institutional Change in China: The Cultural Dimension of Economic Growth and Modernization

Building on a new model of institutions proposed by Aoki and the systemic approach to economic civilizations outlined by Kuran, this paper attempts an analysis of the cultural foundations of recent Chinese economic development. I argue that the cultural impact needs to be conceived as a creative process that involves linguistic entities and other public social items in order to provide integrative meaning to economic interactions and identities to different agents involved. I focus on three phenomena that stand at the center of economic culture in China, networks, localism and modernism. I eschew the standard dualism of individualism vs. collectivism in favour of a more detailed view on the self in social relationships. The Chinese pattern of social relations, guanxi, is also a constituent of localism, i.e. a peculiar arrangement and resulting dynamics of central-local interactions in governing the economy. Localism is balanced by culturalist controls of the center, which in contemporary China builds on the worldview of modernism. Thus, economic modernization is a cultural phenomenon on its own sake. I summarize these interactions in a process analysis based on Aoki's framework

Controller design for bilinear systems with parametric uncertainties

<p>This paper studies the problem of robust control of a class of uncertain bilinear continuous-time systems. The class of uncertain systems is described by a state space model with time-varying norm-bounded parameter uncertainty in the state equation. We address the problem of robust <math alttext="$H_infty$"> <mrow> <msub> <mi>H</mi> <mi>&infin;</mi> </msub> </mrow> </math> control in which both robust stability and a prescribed <math alttext="$H_infty$"> <mrow> <msub> <mi>H</mi> <mi>&infin;</mi> </msub> </mrow> </math> performance are required to be achieved irrespective of the uncertainties. Both state feedback and output feedback controllers are designed. It has been shown that the above problems can be recast into <math alttext="$H_infty$"> <mrow> <msub> <mi>H</mi> <mi>&infin;</mi> </msub> </mrow> </math> syntheses for related bilinear systems without parameter uncertainty, which can be solved via a Riccati inequality approach. Two examples are given to show the potential of the proposed technique.</p

Read to Me

Read to Me is a pilot campaign that encourages parents to read more frequently with their preschool children. It was conceived by four final-year students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. From our research, we found that most parents did not engage in shared reading daily, thus denying their children significant advantages, including stronger language and literacy skills, improved social and emotional skills, nurturing a love for books, and quality parent-child bonding. This paper summarises the campaign’s development, execution, and evaluation. The Theory of Planned Behaviour was used to guide the campaign, where we focused on identifying parents’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control towards shared reading. From our primary research, we identified two key barriers towards shared reading - the inability to get a child’s attention and the lack of time. Our campaign focused on improving parents’ perceived behavioural control through a two-pronged strategy to help parents make shared reading more engaging and more frequent. We collaborated with six preschools to target parents with children between ages three to six. These parents were exposed to our Reading Challenge, workshops, and online resources. The campaign’s effectiveness was evaluated through surveys, interviews, media coverage, and testimonials. Read to Me achieved some success in helping parents overcome their barriers, leading to an increase in the percentage of parents who engaged in shared reading at least thrice a week. Owing to the campaign’s effectiveness, the Association of Early Childhood Educators Singapore (AECES) will take over the campaign.Bachelor of Communication Studie

Style and influencing factors of tutors-postgraduates’ interactions in Chinese medical colleges: a cross-sectional survey in Heilongjiang Province

Abstract Objectives This study assesses the style of tutor-postgraduate interactions in Chinese medical colleges and explores the association between postgraduates’ demographic factors and tutors’ demographic characteristics. Methods With the stratified sampling method, a cross-sectional online survey was used. A total of 813 medical postgraduates were recruited as participants, with an effective response rate of 85.49%. The two dimensions of “Professional Ability Interaction” and “Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction” in the self-developed “Instructor-Graduate Interaction Scale for Medical Colleges” were used as dependent variables. And tutors’ demographic characteristics and postgraduates’ demographic characteristics were taken as independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of Tutor-Postgraduates Interactions in medical colleges. Results The Tutor-Postgraduates Interaction scale consists of 14 items from the two dimensions of “Professional Ability Interaction” and “Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction”. The results of the logistic regression analysis show the reasons for selecting the mentor students (industry recognition, the tutor’s research direction, charm in attracting mentors, and recommendations for mentor selection); student to mentor satisfaction; student to study life satisfaction; and regular academic seminars. Indirect guidance and a high postgraduate grade high are the protective factors of interaction between tutors and postgraduates of medical colleges and universities postgraduates. Older mentors and more graduate tutors are the risk factors for Tutor-Postgraduates Interaction in medical colleges (P < 0.05). Conclusion The current study proposes that managers should pay more attention to the double-track promotion of “Professional Ability Interaction” and “Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction”. We should not only pay attention to the cultivation of postgraduates’ professional ability but also pay more attention to the comprehensive cultivation including postgraduates’ mental and psychological aspects. The interaction between tutors and postgraduates in medical colleges is generally good, but much attention should be given to the dual-track promotion mentioned above. Regular academic seminars play an important role in the process of postgraduate training. The research findings, including the influencing factors regarding tutor-postgraduate interactions, the Professional Ability Interaction and Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction, are very informative and can contribute to strategies for postgraduate management systems that enhance this relationship