The infinite time near optimal decentralized regulator problem for singularly perturbed systems: a convex optimization approach

This paper presents LQ decentralized pole location for singularly perturbed systems. The poles are located in a sector included in the left-half complex plane. The singular perturbation method is used to define reduced and well-behaved problems. It is shown that the LQ control problem with pole location in a sector can be solved using the LMI tool. The associated parametrical optimization problem involves a linear cost objective under LMI constraints. The decentralized control problem is then solved in the reduced slow system by just introducing structure constraints on the matrix variables, constraints that do not destroy the linearity and then the convexity of the problem.     

Job stress and job performance controversy revisited: An empirical examination in two countries.

This study examined the relationship between the measures of job stress and job performance among employees working in a large North American-based multinational corporation in Malaysia (N = 305) and Pakistan (N = 325). Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire from employees on job stress and turnover intention. Job performance and absenteeism data were obtained from the company's records. In both countries, data were more supportive of the negative linear relationship between stress and performance than other types of relationships. Overall, 90% of comparisons supported the negative linear relationship, whereas a u-shaped/curvilinear relationship was supported in 10% of instances. Implications of the findings are discussed for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An Efficient Digital Confidentiality Scheme Based on Commutative Chaotic Polynomial

Multimedia Tools and Applications - One of the most critical aspects of this technologically progressive era is the propagation of information through an unsecured communication channel. The...     

The Impact of Social Media on Consumers’ Acculturation and Purchase Intentions

Social media has emerged as a significant and effective means of assisting and endorsing activities and communications among peers, consumers and organizations that outdo the restrictions of time and space. While the previous studies acknowledge the role of agents of culture change, it largely remains silent on the role of social media in influencing acculturation outcomes and consumption choices. This study uses self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 514 Turkish-Dutch respondents and examines how their use of social media affects their acculturation and consumption choices. This research makes a significant contribution to consumer acculturation research by showing that social media is a vital means of culture change and a driver of acculturation strategies and consumption choices. This study is the first to investigate the role of social media as an agent of culture change in terms of how it impacts acculturation and consumption. The paper discusses implications for theory development and for practice.     

Model checking communicative agent-based systems

Model checking is a formal technique used to verify communication protocols against given properties. In this paper, we propose a new model checking algorithm aims at verifying systems designed as a set of autonomous interacting agents. These software agents are equipped with knowledge and beliefs and interact with each other according to protocols governed by a set of logical rules. We present a tableauased version of this algorithm and provide the soundness, completeness, termination and complexity results. A case study about an agent-based negotiation protocol and its implementation are also described.     

Minimization of exceptional elements and voids in the cell formation problem using a multi-objective genetic algorithm

Cell formation problem is the main issue in designing cellular manufacturing systems. The most important objective in the cell formation problem is to minimize the number of exceptional elements which helps to reduce the number of intercellular movements. Another important but rarely used objective function is to minimize the number of voids inside of the machine cells. This objective function is considered in order to increase the utilization of the machines. We present a bi-objective mathematical model to simultaneously minimize the number of exceptional elements and the number of voids in the part machine incidence matrix. An ε-constraint method is then applied to solve the model and to generate the efficient solutions. Because of the NP-hardness of the model, the optimal algorithms can not be used in large-scale problems and therefore, we have also developed a bi-objective genetic algorithm. Some numerical examples are considered to illustrate the performance of the model and the effectiveness of the solution algorithms. The results demonstrate that in comparison with the ε-constraint method, the proposed genetic algorithm can obtain efficient solution in a reasonable run time.     

Stability analysis of discrete-time Lur’e systems

A class of Lyapunov functions is proposed for discrete-time linear systems interconnected with a cone bounded nonlinearity. Using these functions, we propose sufficient conditions for the global stability analysis, in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI), only taking the bounded sector condition into account. Unlike frameworks based on the Lur’e-type function, the additional assumptions about the derivative or discrete variation of the nonlinearity are not necessary. Hence, a wider range of cone bounded nonlinearities can be covered. We also show that there is a link between global stability LMI conditions based on this new Lyapunov function and a transfer function of an auxiliary system being strictly positive real. In addition, the novel function is considered in the local stability analysis problem of discrete-time Lur’e systems subject to a saturating feedback. A convex optimization problem based on sufficient LMI conditions is formulated to maximize an estimate of the basin of attraction. Another specificity of this new Lyapunov function is the fact that the estimate is composed of disconnected sets. Numerical examples reveal the effectiveness of this new Lyapunov function in providing a less conservative estimate with respect to the quadratic function.     

Meaningful Learning for Deep Facial Emotional Features

Neural Processing Letters - Facial expression is an important aspect to recognize emotions between humans. However, this task remains difficult for machines. Several approaches have been developed...     

An object design framework for structural engineering

Object-oriented principles have introduced several useful concepts for developing complex software systems. As a result, several methodologies have been suggested for the overall design of software systems based on these concepts. Methodologies and frameworks for designing objects that are to be part of the software systems are currently lacking. This paper proposes anobject design framework andmethodology, which utilizes the object-oriented concepts, for planning, organizing and designing structural engineering design objects. Design objects in an integrated structural engineering system are complex and often related to each other in various different ways. The paper also identifies several important relationships among structural engineering design objects. These relationships serve as communication channels through wich design objects send messages to and receive responses from each other. Several examples, drawn from reinforced concrete structures, will be presented to demonstrate the object design methodology and to illustrate how the framework is effective in reducing the complexity of design objects in an integrated structural engineering system.