Decentralized Optimal Control and Stabilization of Interconnected Systems With Asymmetric Information

The paper addresses the decentralized optimal control and stabilization problems for interconnected systems subject to asymmetric information.Compared with previous work,a closed-loop optimal solution to the control problem and sufficient and necessary conditions for the stabilization problem of the interconnected systems are given for the first time.The main challenge lies in three aspects:Firstly,the asymmetric information results in coupling between control and estimation and failure of the separation principle.Secondly,two extra unknown variables are generated by asymmetric information(different information filtration)when solving forward-backward stochastic difference equations.Thirdly,the existence of additive noise makes the study of mean-square boundedness an obstacle.The adopted technique is proving and assuming the linear form of controllers and establishing the equivalence between the two systems with and without additive noise.A dual-motor parallel drive system is presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.

Dynamics of information diffusion and disease transmission in time-varying multiplex networks with asymmetric activity levels

While the interaction between information and disease in static networks has been extensively investigated,many studies have ignored the characteristics of network evolution.In this study,we construct a new two-layer coupling model to explore the interactions between information and disease.The upper layer describes the diffusion of disease-related information,and the lower layer represents the disease transmission.We then use power-law distributions to examine the influence of asymmetric activity levels on dynamic propagation,revealing a mapping relationship characterizing the interconnected propagation of information and diseases among partial nodes within the network.Subsequently,we derive the disease outbreak threshold by using the microscopic Markov-chain approach(MMCA).Finally,we perform extensive Monte Carlo(MC)numerical simulations to verify the accuracy of our theoretical results.Our findings indicate that the activity levels of individuals in the disease transmission layer have a more significant influence on disease transmission compared with the individual activity levels in the information diffusion layer.Moreover,reducing the damping factor can delay disease outbreaks and suppress disease transmission,while improving individual quarantine measures can contribute positively to disease control.This study provides valuable insights into policymakers for developing outbreak prevention and control strategies.

Dynamics and vibration reduction performance of asymmetric tristable nonlinear energy sink

With its complex nonlinear dynamic behavior,the tristable system has shown excellent performance in areas such as energy harvesting and vibration suppression,and has attracted a lot of attention.In this paper,an asymmetric tristable design is proposed to improve the vibration suppression efficiency of nonlinear energy sinks(NESs)for the first time.The proposed asymmetric tristable NES(ATNES)is composed of a pair of oblique springs and a vertical spring.Then,the three stable states,symmetric and asymmetric,can be achieved by the adjustment of the distance and stiffness asymmetry of the oblique springs.The governing equations of a linear oscillator(LO)coupled with the ATNES are derived.The approximate analytical solution to the coupled system is obtained by the harmonic balance method(HBM)and verified numerically.The vibration suppression efficiency of three types of ATNES is compared.The results show that the asymmetric design can improve the efficiency of vibration reduction through comparing the chaotic motion of the NES oscillator between asymmetric steady states.In addition,compared with the symmetrical tristable NES(TNES),the ATNES can effectively control smaller structural vibrations.In other words,the ATNES can effectively solve the threshold problem of TNES failure to weak excitation.Therefore,this paper reveals the vibration reduction mechanism of the ATNES,and provides a pathway to expand the effective excitation amplitude range of the NES.

Activation Redistribution Based Hybrid Asymmetric Quantization Method of Neural Networks

The demand for adopting neural networks in resource-constrained embedded devices is continuously increasing.Quantization is one of the most promising solutions to reduce computational cost and memory storage on embedded devices.In order to reduce the complexity and overhead of deploying neural networks on Integeronly hardware,most current quantization methods use a symmetric quantization mapping strategy to quantize a floating-point neural network into an integer network.However,although symmetric quantization has the advantage of easier implementation,it is sub-optimal for cases where the range could be skewed and not symmetric.This often comes at the cost of lower accuracy.This paper proposed an activation redistribution-based hybrid asymmetric quantizationmethod for neural networks.The proposedmethod takes data distribution into consideration and can resolve the contradiction between the quantization accuracy and the ease of implementation,balance the trade-off between clipping range and quantization resolution,and thus improve the accuracy of the quantized neural network.The experimental results indicate that the accuracy of the proposed method is 2.02%and 5.52%higher than the traditional symmetric quantization method for classification and detection tasks,respectively.The proposed method paves the way for computationally intensive neural network models to be deployed on devices with limited computing resources.Codes will be available on https://github.com/ycjcy/Hybrid-Asymmetric-Quantization.

Asymmetric Drying and Wetting Trends in Eastern and Western China

As an important factor that directly affects agricultural production, the social economy, and policy implementation,observed changes in dry/wet conditions have become a matter of widespread concern. However, previous research has mainly focused on the long-term linear changes of dry/wet conditions, while the detection and evolution of the non-linear trends related to dry/wet changes have received less attention. The non-linear trends of the annual aridity index, obtained by the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition(EEMD) method, reveal that changes in dry/wet conditions in China are asymmetric and can be characterized by contrasting features in both time and space in China. Spatially, most areas in western China have experienced transitions from drying to wetting, while opposite changes have occurred in most areas of eastern China. Temporally, the transitions occurred earlier in western China compared to eastern China. Research into the asymmetric spatial characteristics of dry/wet conditions compensates for the inadequacies of previous studies, which focused solely on temporal evolution;at the same time, it remedies the inadequacies of traditional research on linear trends over centennial timescales. Analyzing the non-linear trend also provides for a more comprehensive understanding of the drying/wetting changes in China.

Asymmetric Electrolytes Design for Aqueous Multivalent Metal Ion Batteries

With the rapid development of portable electronics and electric road vehicles,high-energy-density batteries have been becoming front-burner issues.Traditionally,homogeneous electrolyte cannot simultaneously meet diametrically opposed demands of high-potential cathode and low-potential anode,which are essential for high-voltage batteries.Meanwhile,homogeneous electrolyte is difficult to achieve bi-or multi-functions to meet different requirements of electrodes.In comparison,the asymmetric electrolyte with bi-or multi-layer disparate components can satisfy distinct requirements by playing different roles of each electrolyte layer and meanwhile compensates weakness of individual electrolyte.Consequently,the asymmetric electrolyte can not only suppress by-product sedimentation and continuous electrolyte decomposition at the anode while preserving active substances at the cathode for high-voltage batteries with long cyclic lifespan.In this review,we comprehensively divide asymmetric electrolytes into three categories:decoupled liquid-state electrolytes,bi-phase solid/liquid electrolytes and decoupled asymmetric solid-state electrolytes.The design principles,reaction mechanism and mutual compatibility are also studied,respectively.Finally,we provide a comprehensive vision for the simplification of structure to reduce costs and increase device energy density,and the optimization of solvation structure at anolyte/catholyte interface to realize fast ion transport kinetics.

Supply chain coordination mechanisms under asymmetric information with retailer cost disruptions

A two-level supply chain model involving one supplier and one retailer with linear demand is developed, and supply chain coordination mechanisms under asymmetric information （the retailer＇ s cost structure is asymmetric information） are proposed by employing game theory in two scenarios： coordination mechanisms under asymmetric information in a regular scenario （without disruption）; and coordination mechanisms under asymmetric information in an irregular scenario （ with retailer cost disruptions）. It is optimal for the supply chain to maintain the original production plan and to guarantee a steadily running system if variations of retailer costs are sufficiently low and do not exceed an upper bound. This shows that the original production plan has certain robustness under disruptions. Decisions must be re-made if a retailer＇ s cost change is greater and exceeds an upper bound. Impacts of retailer cost disruptions on the order quantity, the retail price, the wholesale price and each party＇ s as well as the system＇ s expected profits are investigated through numerical analyses.

Robust Information Hiding Based on Neural Style Transfer with Artificial Intelligence

This paper proposes an artificial intelligence-based robust information hiding algorithm to address the issue of confidential information being susceptible to noise attacks during transmission.The algorithm we designed aims to mitigate the impact of various noise attacks on the integrity of secret information during transmission.The method we propose involves encoding secret images into stylized encrypted images and applies adversarial transfer to both the style and content features of the original and embedded data.This process effectively enhances the concealment and imperceptibility of confidential information,thereby improving the security of such information during transmission and reducing security risks.Furthermore,we have designed a specialized attack layer to simulate real-world attacks and common noise scenarios encountered in practical environments.Through adversarial training,the algorithm is strengthened to enhance its resilience against attacks and overall robustness,ensuring better protection against potential threats.Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed algorithm successfully enhances the concealment and unknowability of secret information while maintaining embedding capacity.Additionally,it ensures the quality and fidelity of the stego image.The method we propose not only improves the security and robustness of information hiding technology but also holds practical application value in protecting sensitive data and ensuring the invisibility of confidential information.

Silent information regulator sirtuin 1 ameliorates acute liver failure via the p53/glutathione peroxidase 4/gasdermin D axis

BACKGROUND Acute liver failure(ALF)has a high mortality with widespread hepatocyte death involving ferroptosis and pyroptosis.The silent information regulator sirtuin 1(SIRT1)-mediated deacetylation affects multiple biological processes,including cellular senescence,apoptosis,sugar and lipid metabolism,oxidative stress,and inflammation.AIM To investigate the association between ferroptosis and pyroptosis and the upstream regulatory mechanisms.METHODS This study included 30 patients with ALF and 30 healthy individuals who underwent serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)testing.C57BL/6 mice were also intraperitoneally pretreated with SIRT1,p53,or glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)inducers and inhibitors and injected with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)/D-galactosamine(D-GalN)to induce ALF.Gasdermin D(GSDMD)^(-/-)mice were used as an experimental group.Histological changes in liver tissue were monitored by hematoxylin and eosin staining.ALT,AST,glutathione,reactive oxygen species,and iron levels were measured using commercial kits.Ferroptosis-and pyroptosis-related protein and mRNA expression was detected by western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.SIRT1,p53,and GSDMD were assessed by immunofluorescence analysis.RESULTS Serum AST and ALT levels were elevated in patients with ALF.SIRT1,solute carrier family 7a member 11(SLC7A11),and GPX4 protein expression was decreased and acetylated p5,p53,GSDMD,and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4)protein levels were elevated in human ALF liver tissue.In the p53 and ferroptosis inhibitor-treated and GSDMD^(-/-)groups,serum interleukin(IL)-1β,tumour necrosis factor alpha,IL-6,IL-2 and C-C motif ligand 2 levels were decreased and hepatic impairment was mitigated.In mice with GSDMD knockout,p53 was reduced,GPX4 was increased,and ferroptotic events(depletion of SLC7A11,elevation of ACSL4,and iron accumulation)were detected.In vitro,knockdown of p53 and overexpression of GPX4 reduced AST and ALT levels,the cytostatic rate,and GSDMD expression,restoring SLC7A11 depletion.Moreover,SIRT1 agonist and overexpression of SIRT1 alleviated acute liver injury and decreased iron deposition compared with results in the model group,accompanied by reduced p53,GSDMD,and ACSL4,and increased SLC7A11 and GPX4.Inactivation of SIRT1 exacerbated ferroptotic and pyroptotic cell death and aggravated liver injury in LPS/D-GalNinduced in vitro and in vivo models.CONCLUSION SIRT1 activation attenuates LPS/D-GalN-induced ferroptosis and pyroptosis by inhibiting the p53/GPX4/GSDMD signaling pathway in ALF.

Influence of initial check, information exchange, final accuracy check, reaction information nursing on the psychology of elderly with lung cancer

BACKGROUND As one of the fatal diseases with high incidence,lung cancer has seriously endangered public health and safety.Elderly patients usually have poor self-care and are more likely to show a series of psychological problems.AIM To investigate the effectiveness of the initial check,information exchange,final accuracy check,reaction(IIFAR)information care model on the mental health status of elderly patients with lung cancer.METHODS This study is a single-centre study.We randomly recruited 60 elderly patients with lung cancer who attended our hospital from January 2021 to January 2022.These elderly patients with lung cancer were randomly divided into two groups,with the control group taking the conventional propaganda and education and the observation group taking the IIFAR information care model based on the conventional care protocol.The differences in psychological distress,anxiety and depression,life quality,fatigue,and the locus of control in psychology were compared between these two groups,and the causes of psychological distress were analyzed.RESULTS After the intervention,Distress Thermometer,Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)for anxiety and the HADS for depression,Revised Piper’s Fatigue Scale,and Chance Health Locus of Control scores were lower in the observation group compared to the pre-intervention period in the same group and were significantly lower in the observation group compared to those of the control group(P<0.05).After the intervention,Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30(QLQ-C30),Internal Health Locus of Control,and Powerful Others Health Locus of Control scores were significantly higher in the observation and the control groups compared to the pre-intervention period in their same group,and QLQ-C30 scores were significantly higher in the observation group compared to those of the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The IIFAR information care model can help elderly patients with lung cancer by reducing their anxiety and depression,psychological distress,and fatigue,improving their tendencies on the locus of control in psychology,and enhancing their life qualities.

Coordinating pricing strategies in supply chain under asymmetric information and disruptions

The coordinating pricing strategies with asymmetric cost information under disruptions are investigated in a one-supplier-one-retailer supply chain system.While the retailer's cost structure is asymmetric information,supply chain pricing contract models(a wholesale price contract and an all-unit quantity discount contract)under asymmetric information are proposed by employing the principal-agent principle in a regular scenario.When the retailer's cost distribution is fluctuated by disruptions,we obtain the optimal emergency strategies of the supply chain under asymmetric information by considering deviation costs and show how to effectively handle the cost uncertainty.Using numerical methods,impacts of cost disruptions on the optimal wholesale price,the retailer price,the order quantity and the expected profits of the retailer,the supplier,as well as the total system are analyzed.It is found that the all-unit quantity discount policy can obtain better performance than the wholesale pricing policy.

OPTIMAL CONTRACTS IN TWO-ECHELON SUPPLY CHAIN UNDER ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION AND NONLINEAR DEMAND

The challenge for supply chain management is to create appropriate supply chain contracts so as to optimize the system performance. To examine the role of asymmetric information in a two-echelon supply chain system and derive supply chain contracts to deal with existing asymmetric information, a two level supply chain model including one Supplier and one retailer under the demand of price elasticity is developed. By using the principalagent principle and the optimal control theory, three types of supply chain contract, i. e. , a wholesale pricing contract, a two-parameter linear and a two-parameter nonlinear contracts are obtained. In these contracts, the Supplier has asymmetric information about the retailer cost structure. Simulation results show that the two-parameter contracts are more effective strategies to achieve supply chain coordination.

A framework of force of information influence and application for C4KISR system

The subversive nature of information war lies not only in the information itself, but also in the circulation and application of information. It has always been a challenge to quantitatively analyze the function and effect of information flow through command, control, communications, computer, kill, intelligence,surveillance, reconnaissance (C4KISR) system. In this work, we propose a framework of force of information influence and the methods for calculating the force of information influence between C4KISR nodes of sensing, intelligence processing,decision making and fire attack. Specifically, the basic concept of force of information influence between nodes in C4KISR system is formally proposed and its mathematical definition is provided. Then, based on the information entropy theory, the model of force of information influence between C4KISR system nodes is constructed. Finally, the simulation experiments have been performed under an air defense and attack scenario. The experimental results show that, with the proposed force of information influence framework, we can effectively evaluate the contribution of information circulation through different C4KISR system nodes to the corresponding tasks. Our framework of force of information influence can also serve as an effective tool for the design and dynamic reconfiguration of C4KISR system architecture.

Tuning the diffusion constant to optimize the readout of positional information of spatial concentration patterns

Positional information encoded in spatial concentration patterns is crucial for the development of multicellular organisms.However,it is still unclear how such information is affected by the physically dissipative diffusion process.Here we study one-dimensional patterning systems with analytical derivation and numerical simulations.We find that the diffusion constant of the patterning molecules exhibits a nonmonotonic effect on the readout of the positional information from the concentration patterns.Specifically,there exists an optimal diffusion constant that maximizes the positional information.Moreover,we find that the energy dissipation due to the physical diffusion imposes a fundamental upper limit on the positional information.

Acoustic Bilayer Gradient Metasurfaces for Perfect and Asymmetric Beam Splitting

We experimentally and theoretically present a paradigm for the accurate bilayer design of gradient metasurfaces for wave beam manipulation,producing an extremely asymmetric splitting effect by simply tailoring the interlayer size.This concept arises from anomalous diffraction in phase gradient metasurfaces and the precise combination of the phase gradient in bilayer metasurfaces.Ensured by different diffraction routes in momentum space for incident beams from opposite directions,extremely asymmetric acoustic beam splitting can be generated in a robust way,as demonstrated in experiments through a designed bilayer system.Our work provides a novel approach and feasible platform for designing tunable devices to control wave propagation.

The Operation Mechanism of Agricultural Products Supply Chain and Profit Allocation Model in the Context of Asymmetric Information

The research performed analysis on causes of asymmetric information of agricultural product supply chain and made conclusion on operation mechanism and characteristics of supply chain based on asymmetric information. Finally, the research detailed profit sharing of agricultural product supply chain in the context of asymmetric information and proposed suggestions, providing references of pricing and profit sharing of supply chains of agricultural products.

Effects of asymmetric coupling and boundary on the dynamic behaviors of a random nearest neighbor coupled system

This study investigates the dynamical behaviors of nearest neighbor asymmetric coupled systems in a confined space.First, the study derivative analytical stability and synchronization conditions for the asymmetrically coupled system in an unconfined space, which are then validated through numerical simulations. Simulation results show that asymmetric coupling has a significant impact on synchronization conditions. Moreover, it is observed that irrespective of whether the system is confined, an increase in coupling asymmetry leads to a hastened synchronization pace. Additionally, the study examines the effects of boundaries on the system's collective behaviors via numerical experiments. The presence of boundaries ensures the system's stability and synchronization, and reducing these boundaries can expedite the synchronization process and amplify its effects. Finally, the study reveals that the system's output amplitude exhibits stochastic resonance as the confined boundary size increases.

Information Conductivity:Universal Performance Measure for Semantic Communications

As a novel paradigm,semantic communication provides an effective solution for breaking through the future development dilemma of classical communication systems.However,it remains an unsolved problem of how to measure the information transmission capability for a given semantic communication method and subsequently compare it with the classical communication method.In this paper,we first present a review of the semantic communication system,including its system model and the two typical coding and transmission methods for its implementations.To address the unsolved issue of the information transmission capability measure for semantic communication methods,we propose a new universal performance measure called Information Conductivity.We provide the definition and the physical significance to state its effectiveness in representing the information transmission capabilities of the semantic communication systems and present elaborations including its measure methods,degrees of freedom,and progressive analysis.Experimental results in image transmission scenarios validate its practical applicability.

Dynamic Update Scheme of Spectrum Information Based on Spectrum Opportunity Incentive in the Database-Assisted Dynamic Spectrum Management

To solve the problem of delayed update of spectrum information(SI) in the database assisted dynamic spectrum management(DB-DSM), this paper studies a novel dynamic update scheme of SI in DB-DSM. Firstly, a dynamic update mechanism of SI based on spectrum opportunity incentive is established, in which spectrum users are encouraged to actively assist the database to update SI in real time. Secondly, the information update contribution(IUC) of spectrum opportunity is defined to describe the cost of accessing spectrum opportunity for heterogeneous spectrum users, and the profit of SI update obtained by the database from spectrum allocation. The process that the database determines the IUC of spectrum opportunity and spectrum user selects spectrum opportunity is mapped to a Hotelling model. Thirdly, the process of determining the IUC of spectrum opportunities is further modelled as a Stackelberg game by establishing multiple virtual spectrum resource providers(VSRPs) in the database. It is proved that there is a Nash Equilibrium in the game of determining the IUC of spectrum opportunities by VSRPs. Finally, an algorithm of determining the IUC based on a genetic algorithm is designed to achieve the optimal IUC. The-oretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed method can quickly find the optimal solution of the IUC, and ensure that the spectrum resource provider can obtain the optimal profit of SI update.

Characterization of Small-Scale Farmers and Assessment of Their Access to Crop Production Information in Selected Counties of Kenya

Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.