Distributed Control of Multi-agent Systems with Unknown Time-varying Gains: A Novel Indirect Framework for Prescribed Performance

In this paper, a new yet indirect performance guaranteed framework is established to address the distributed tracking control problem for networked uncertain nonlinear strict-feedback systems with unknown time-varying gains under a directed interaction topology. The proposed framework involves two steps: In the first one, a fully distributed robust filter is constructed to estimate the desired trajectory for each agent with guaranteed observation performance that allows the directions among the agents to be non-identical. In the second one, by establishing a novel lemma regarding Nussbaum function, a new adaptive control protocol is developed for each agent based on backstepping technique, which not only steers the output to asymptotically track the corresponding estimated signal with arbitrarily prescribed transient performance, but also largely extends the scope of application since the unknown control gains are allowed to be time-varying and even state-dependent. In such an indirect way, the underlying problem is tackled with the output tracking error converging into an arbitrarily pre-assigned residual set exhibiting an arbitrarily pre-defined convergence rate. Besides, all the internal signals are ensured to be semi-globally ultimately uniformly bounded (SGUUB). Finally, simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the co-designed scheme

HOW DOES ENTERPRISE SOCIAL MEDIA (ESM) INFLUENCE NEWCOMERS’ SOCIALIZATION: A MULTILEVEL PERSPECTIVE

Socialization plays an essential role in ensuring that newcomers to an organization enjoy greater productivity and also integrate well into their workgroups. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, enterprise social media (ESM) is increasingly being used in organizations as an informal socialization tool. However, the effectiveness of these tools in affording the necessary socialization opportunities and enabling the newcomers to better integrate within their organizational settings remains both unclear and understudied. Drawing on the extant literature on newcomer socialization within organizational behavior and the IT affordances research, this study proposes a multilevel research model to explain how various ESM affordances affect newcomers’ socialization effectiveness (i.e., performance proficiency at the individual level and group cohesion at the group level). Plans for verifying the model using two quantitative sub-studies based on the multi-source and multi-wave research design are also presented. Research implications and future research plans are also discussed

The Impact of Smoking Status on the Efficacy of Erlotinib in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background and objective Erlotinib is a targeted treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Smoking status may be one of influencing factors of the efficacy of erlotinib. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of smoking status on the efficacy of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Methods Patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer who had been previously treated with at least one course of platinum based chemotherapy received 150 mg oral doses of erlotinib once daily until disease progression. Response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival were analyzed in the different smoking status groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate. Results Fortyeight patients were enrolled into the study from December 2005 to September 2006. We followed up these patients until 28th December, 2008. Median follow up time was 30 months. The compliance rate was 100%. The response rate was 32.1% in the smoking group and 35% in the never smoking group (P=0.836); The median progression-free survival was 3 months and 9 months, respectively (P=0.033). The median overall survival was 5 months and 17 months, respectively (P=0.162). Conclusion Erlotinib is an effective drug for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with different smoking status. Progressionfree survival is better in the never smoking patients than the smoking patients

The Gerber-Shiu Discounted Penalty Function of Sparre Andersen Risk Model with a Constant Dividend Barrier

This paper constructs a Sparre Andersen risk model with a constant dividend barrier in which the claim interarrival distribution is a mixture of an exponential distribution and an Erlang(n) distribution. We derive the integro-differential equation satisfied by the Gerber-Shiu discounted penalty function of this risk model. Finally, we provide a numerical example

Studies on a Double Poisson-Geometric Insurance Risk Model with Interference

This paper mainly studies a generalized double Poisson-Geometric insurance risk model. By martingale and stopping time approach, we obtain adjustment coefficient equation, the Lundberg inequality, and the formula for the ruin probability. Also the Laplace transformation of the time when the surplus reaches a given level for the first time is discussed, and the expectation and its variance are obtained. Finally, we give the numerical examples

Synthesis, properties, and optical applications of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates

Noble metal nanoparticles, such as gold or silver nanoparticles and nanorods, exhibit unique photonic, electronic and catalytic properties. Functionalization of noble metal nanoparticles with biomolecules (e. g., protein and DNA) produces systems that possess numerous applications in catalysis, delivery, therapy, imaging, sensing, constructing nanostructures and controlling the structure of biomolecules. In this paper, the recent development of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates is reviewed from the following three aspects: (1) synthesis of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule systems by electrostatic adsorption, direct chemisorption of thiol derivatives, covalent binding through bifunctional linkers and specific affinity interactions; (2) the photonic properties and bioactivation of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates; and (3) the optical applications of such systems in biosensors, and medical imaging, diagnosis, and therapy. The conjugation of Au and Ag nanoparticles with biomolecules and the most recent optical applications of the resulting systems have been focused on

AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECT OF TECHNOSTRESS OF PHYSICIANS ON ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

Information technology systems in healthcare have existed for several years and gained relatively widespread usage. Therefore, factors of IT adoption have largely been discussed in literatures in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of using systems. However, existing frameworks are failing to include an important aspect, the technostress undertaken by physicians. Our research idea is that IT adoption in a clinical environment depends on five different dimensions of technostress (e.g. work overload, techno-invasion and etc. al) of physicians through PU and PEOU based on TAM model. This paper first made comprehensive literature review to the content about technostress and different theories related to adoption, then put forward five hypotheses based on the TAM Model, which has been widely perceived by scholars. As for the model construction and data collection, the research intends to use a 5-point Likert scale and select physicians at different levels from 7 representative hospitals’ basic units located in Shaanxi province. Based on all above, we expect the research could offer a subtle theoretical understanding about the nature of technostress and their impact on adoption by physicians. On the practical front, the research has implications for managers intending to design managerial procedures or rules for the purpose of improving the adoption

Impacts of Users’ Extra-Role Behaviors on Bright Internet Policy Adoption

Cyberspace security has been one top issue for a society. The Bright Internet (BI) based on the five principles offers a viable solution. The adoption of BI is important to the implementation of BI. A majority of the previous studies have mainly focused on access-policy violations and compliance in the past decades, while the extra-role behaviors have obtained insufficient attentions. Based on the theories of social control and accountability, this study examines the impacts of extra-role behaviors on BI policy adoption. The research findings have implications for future research and practice

Significantly enhanced permittivity and energy density in dielectric composites with aligned BaTiO3 lamellar structures

A significant improvement of permittivity and energy density will enable the miniaturization of dielectric capacitors and promote integration for applications in electrical power and defense systems. In this work, lamellar composite architectures are fabricated from aligned barium titanate (BaTiO3) in an epoxy resin using the freeze casting method. Due to the continuous coupling effect originating from the interconnected and highly oriented BaTiO3 particles, these composites exhibit an extremely high permittivity (εr = 1408) at 1 kHz, which is the highest value achieved in BaTiO3/polymer composites reported so far and fits well to the parallel mode of the mixing rule. A finite element model is used to investigate the local electric field distributions in the BaTiO3 lamellae under the applied electric field parallel and perpendicular to the freezing direction, respectively. A high ratio value of discharge energy density per electric field, Udis/E, ∼0.033, is achieved due to a high electric displacement of D = 15.11 μC cm−2 and a discharge energy density of Udis = 19.6 × 10−2 J cm−3 is achieved at a low electric field (6 kV mm−1). This work provides an effective strategy of designing a ceramic–polymer composite to realize high permittivity and energy density of capacitors for modern electrical and electronic industries