Distributed Nash Equilibrium Seeking Strategies Under Quantized Communication

This paper is concerned with distributed Nash equi librium seeking strategies under quantized communication. In the proposed seeking strategy, a projection operator is synthesized with a gradient search method to achieve the optimization o players' objective functions while restricting their actions within required non-empty, convex and compact domains. In addition, a leader-following consensus protocol, in which quantized informa tion flows are utilized, is employed for information sharing among players. More specifically, logarithmic quantizers and uniform quantizers are investigated under both undirected and connected communication graphs and strongly connected digraphs, respec tively. Through Lyapunov stability analysis, it is shown that play ers' actions can be steered to a neighborhood of the Nash equilib rium with logarithmic and uniform quantizers, and the quanti fied convergence error depends on the parameter of the quan tizer for both undirected and directed cases. A numerical exam ple is given to verify the theoretical results.

Multi-Timescale Distributed Approach to Generalized-Nash-Equilibrium Seeking in Noncooperative Nonconvex Games

Dear Editor,The distributed generalized-Nash-equilibrium(GNE)seeking in noncooperative games with nonconvexity is the topic of this letter.Inspired by the sequential quadratic programming(SQP)method,a multi-timescale multi-agent system(MAS)is developed,and its convergence to a critical point of the game is proven.To illustrate the qualities and efficacy of the theoretical findings,a numerical example is elaborated.

Prescribed-Time Nash Equilibrium Seeking for Pursuit-Evasion Game

Dear Editor,This letter is concerned with prescribed-time Nash equilibrium(PTNE)seeking problem in a pursuit-evasion game(PEG)involving agents with second-order dynamics.In order to achieve the prior-given and user-defined convergence time for the PEG,a PTNE seeking algorithm has been developed to facilitate collaboration among multiple pursuers for capturing the evader without the need for any global information.Then,it is theoretically proved that the prescribedtime convergence of the designed algorithm for achieving Nash equilibrium of PEG.Eventually,the effectiveness of the PTNE method was validated by numerical simulation results.A PEG consists of two groups of agents:evaders and pursuers.The pursuers aim to capture the evaders through cooperative efforts,while the evaders strive to evade capture.PEG is a classic noncooperative game.It has attracted plenty of attention due to its wide application scenarios,such as smart grids[1],formation control[2],[3],and spacecraft rendezvous[4].It is noteworthy that most previous research on seeking the Nash equilibrium of the game,where no agent has an incentive to change its actions,has focused on asymptotic and exponential convergence[5]-[7].

Fixed-Time Consensus-Based Nash Equilibrium Seeking

Dear Editor,This letter examines the fixed-time stability of the Nash equilibrium(NE)in non-cooperative games.We propose a consensus-based NE seeking algorithm for situations where players do not have perfect information and communicate via a topology graph.The proposed algorithm can achieve NE in a fixed time that does not depend on initial conditions and can be adjusted in advance.

Prescribed-Time Fully Distributed Nash Equilibrium Seeking Strategy in Networked Games

Dear Editor, This letter is concerned with prescribed-time fully distributed Nash equilibrium seeking for networked games under directed graphs. An adaptive algorithm is proposed to ensure the convergence of all players to the Nash equilibrium without requiring any knowledge of global parameters. Moreover, it is theoretically proved that the convergence time of the proposed seeking strategy can be predefined based on practical requirements. Finally, a numerical example is presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Remaining original aspirations,seeking innovation,striving for excellence

Prof.Xiaoying Jiang Director of the Chinese Nursing Journals Publishing House As time passes,a new chapter emerges.Looking back at the year 2022,under the leadership and strong support of the China Association for Science and Technology(CAST)and the Chinese Nursing Association,the Chinese Nursing Journals Publishing House,with its original aspirations,has always insisted on serving the overall national construction and development of nursing disciplines.

Comparison of Self-Strength, Seeking Help and Happiness between Pakistani and Chinese Adolescents: A Positive Psychology Inquiry

Adolescents’emotions and preferences are influenced by their childhood experiences.In today’s world,there is a pervasive eagerness for happiness.Happiness has been linked to feelings of self-strength,seeking help,and psy-chological health.The current quantitative research was designed with a positive psychological perspective to compare Pakistani and Chines adolescents’self-strength,seeking help,and happiness.The research design of the study was causal-comparative.The study population consisted of 400 Pakistani and 409 Chinese adolescents studying in the elementary grades of both countries.The sample was selected by using a simple random sampling technique.It consisted of 413 boys(51%)and 396 girls(49%),319(39)of them were from the age group of 13–14 years,386(48%)of them were from the age group of 15–16 years,and 104(12.9%)were from the age group of 17–18 years.Three different scales were developed to collect study data.Independent sample t-test and simple linear regression were used to test study hypotheses.The analysis revealed that Pakistani adolescents have signifi-cantly higher self-strength,seeking help and happiness than their counterparts.It was also found that adolescents’self-strength and seeking help significant affect their happiness.Based on thefindings,it was suggested to inves-tigate the factors contributing to the improved self-strength,seeking help,and happiness of Pakistani adolescents.It was also recommended to investigate the mediating effect of adolescents’self-strength on the relationship between their happiness and seeking help.

Distributed Optimal Formation Control for Unmanned Surface Vessels by a Regularized Game-Based Approach

Dear Editor,This letter explores optimal formation control for a network of unmanned surface vessels(USVs).By designing an individual objective function for each USV,the optimal formation problem is transformed into a noncooperative game.Under this game theoretic framework,the optimal formation is achieved by seeking the Nash equilibrium of the regularized game.A modular structure consisting of a distributed Nash equilibrium seeker and a regulator is proposed.

INERTIAL INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF NORTH SEEKING/SIGHT STABILIZING ON VEHICLE

A brand new method of automatic north seeking/sight stabilizing is introduced for usage in land fighting vehicles such as tank, etc. Some inertial devices are installed additionally on the platform along with relative control circuits to make its function of North seeking possible. Double position calculation is adopted in this method, and by alignment at two sites the azimuth angle can be figured out. Also the orientation and the horizontal shifts of the gyro are simultaneously measured and compensated so as to improve the accuracy of north seeking. The system can automatically seek north when the vehicle is immobile. And the time consumption is no more than 5.5 min. Besides, the system can keep azimuth angle and provide tilt angle and pitch angle of the vehicle.

China-US Relations:The GeneralTrend and Short Cycles

Since the second half of 2023,China-US relations have shown signs of improvement.While maintaining the primary framework of its containment policy,the American policy toward China has undergone some tactical adjustments,such as increasing exchanges with China,presenting a flexible stance toward bilateral economic and trade relations,and seeking limited cooperation while competing with China.

Convergence over AI Governance Amid Differences

This year marks a significant year for establishing guardrails around artificial intelligence(AI),with major regions like the EU,the U.S.,and China converging over a risk-based regulatory approach,albeit with distinct differences.This trend reflects a broader trend towards digital sovereignty,with governments seeking increased control over their digital markets and technologies to ensure safety and security,while aiming to boost their AI competitiveness.

CHINA RISES TO WORLD INNOVATION POWERHOUSE

China’s persistent efforts to encourage innovations in science and technology have made remarkable achievements.The Patent Cooperation Treaty(PCT)Yearly Review 2023 gave a detailed report and statistics on global patents over the last year.The PCT is an international patent treaty that provides a unified procedure for filing and processing patent applications and facilitates the seeking of patent protection for inventions in multiple countries.

China’s Traditional Values:Trust and Harmony

Building trust and seeking harmony should be the guiding principle for promoting friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between different civilizations.THE term“jiang xin xiu mu”(讲信修睦),literally meaning to build trust and seek amity,conveys an ancient Confucian ideal for society and policy.Today it has become an important concept in China’s ancient treasure chest of wisdom that helps shape the Chinese culture and society.

Combating Cholera

Lying in her makeshift hospital bed,Joyce Tembo thanked medical personnel for evacuating her to the designated national cholera treatment centre,6 km north of Zambia’s capital Lusaka.She was recently diagnosed with diarrhoeal disease.Tembo,43,commended the medical sta!stationed at the treatment centre for their great service to thousands of patients,especially women and children seeking urgent treatment.“I am very grateful to the Chinese doctors who attended to me as soon as the ambulance rushed me to the clinic where I received urgent treatment;they have really saved my life,”Tembo told ChinAfrica.But not all residents in her community are as lucky as her.Many in the densely populated slums die every day due to the area’s poor sanitation-one of the major causes of the cholera outbreak.

Predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior among Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome

AIM To analyze predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior among Chinese patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) and their satisfaction with medical care.METHODS Participating patients met IBS Rome Ⅲ criteria(excluding those with organic diseases) and were enrolled in an IBS database in a tertiary university hospital. Participants completed IBS questionnaires in face-to-face interviews. The questionnaires covered intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms, medical consultations, colonoscopy,medications, and self-reported response to medications during the whole disease course and in the past year. Univariate associations and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors for frequent healthcareseeking behavior(≥ 3 times/year), frequent colonoscopies(≥ 2 times/year), long-term medications, and poor satisfaction with medical care.RESULTS In total, 516 patients(293 males, 223 females) were included. Participants' average age was 43.2 ± 11.8 years. Before study enrollment, 55.2% had received medical consultations for IBS symptoms. Ordinary abdominal pain/discomfort(non-defecation) was an independent predictor for healthcare-seeking behavior(OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.31-3.27). Frequent colonoscopies were reported by 14.7% of patients(3.1 ± 1.4 times per year). Sensation of incomplete evacuation was an independent predictor for frequent colonoscopies(OR = 2.76, 95%CI: 1.35-5.67). During the whole disease course, 89% of patients took medications for IBS symptoms, and 14.7% reported they were satisfied with medical care. Patients with anxiety were more likely to report dissatisfaction with medical care(OR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.20-3.59). In the past year, patients with severe(OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.06-2.82) and persistent(OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.01-2.72) IBS symptoms sought medical care more frequently.CONCLUSION Chinese patients with IBS present high rates of frequent healthcare-seeking behavior, colonoscopies, and medications, and low satisfaction with medical care. Intestinal symptoms are major predictors for healthcare-seeking behavior.

Histone acetylation of the htr3a gene in the prefrontal cortex of Wistar rats regulates ethanol-seeking behavior

Previous reports showed that decreased histone deacetylase activity significantly potentiated the rewarding effects of psychostimulants, and that encoding of the 5-HT3 receptor by the htr3a gene was related to ethanol-seeking behavior. However, the effects of a histone deacetylase inhibitor on ethanol-seeking behavior and epigenetic regulation of htr3a mRNA expression after chronic ethanol exposure are not fully understood. Using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, we investigated the effects of chronic ethanol exposure and its interaction with a histone deacetylase inhibitor on histone-acetylation-mediated changes in htr3a mRNA expression in the htr3a promoter region. The conditioned place preference procedure was used to evaluate ethanol-seeking behavior. Chronic exposure to ethanol effectively elicited place conditioning. In the prefrontal cortex, the acetylation of H3K9 and htr3a mRNA expression in the htr3a promoter region were significantly higher in the ethanol group than in the saline group. The histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate potentiated the effects of ethanol on htr3a mRNA expression and enhanced ethanol-induced conditioned place preferences. These results suggest that ethanol upregulates htr3a levels through mechanisms involving H3K9 acetylation, and that histone acetylation may be a therapeutic target for treating ethanol abuse.

Perceived ill-health and health seeking behavior in two communities in the nam theun 2 hydroelectric project area in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic

Objective:To compare perceived ill-health and health seeking behavior between two communities affected by the large Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project in central Lao People’s Democratic Republic(PDR).Methods: Two different affected areas;Nakai plateaubeing remote,sparcely populated and mountainous,and Xe Bang Fai lowland plains,more densely populated and comparatively affluent were included.Data were obtained from two cross-sectional household-based health and socio-economic surveys.Results:We found pronounced differences in the frequency of self-reported fever,cough,headache and myalgia according to location.On the Nakai plateau,45.1%of the individuals with ill-health report(recall period;2 weeks) went to a local health volunteer compared to only 7.2%in the Xe Bang Fai area(P 【 0.001 ).In Nakai,there were disproportionately more illiterates seeking help from local health volunteers when compared to those who attended at least primary schooling(49.2%versus 17.5%,P 【0.01 ).Self-medication with antimalarials was more common in Xe Bang Fai than on Nakai(32.3%versus 7.0%,P 【 0.001).The mean amount of money spent per health consultation was US $ 1.7 in Nakai and US $ 7.2 in Xe Bang Fai.Conclusion:The observed differences in self-reported ill-health and health seeking behavior among these two Lao communities need to be considered when implementing setting-specific mitigation measures as part of the public health action plan of the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project.

Factors that contribute to delay in seeking cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment among women in Malawi

Cervical cancer is a curable disease if diagnosed early. However, many women in Malawi seek treatment when the disease has reached inoperable stage. This study was conducted to explore factors that contribute to delay in seeking early diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer among women in Malawi. The study was exploratory and utilized qualitative data collection and analysis method. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide on a purposive sample of 24 women who were diagnosed of cervical cancer at the gynaecological wards of Zomba and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospitals in Malawi between July and September, 2011. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Two major themes (individual and health facility) emerged from the participants’ narratives as factors that contributed to their delay in seeking early diagnosis and treatment. The individual factors included;limited knowledge on symptoms and signs and limited financial resources. The health facilities factors included;limited accessibility and unavailability of cancer screening facilities in the health centres. Results show that there is a need to strengthen the screening of cervical cancer among women in the country. In addition, there is a need to create community awareness on the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer and the merits of seeking early diagnosis and treatment.

Seeking Health Information Online:The Moderating Effects of Problematic Situations on User Intention

Purpose： This study investigates how online user intention in searching health information is affected by problematic situations.Design/methodology/approach： Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Sense-making theory, we propose two dimensions of problematic situations： urgency and severity of health issues being searched online. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey among 214 Wuhan University students and analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis.Findings： Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and subjective norm can influence user intention to seek health information online. The urgency of problematic situations has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between perceived ease of use and user intention and the relationship between subjective norm and user intention. The severity of problematic situations has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between subjective norm and user intention.Research limitations： The respondents of the survey are limited to students in one Chinese university, so whether this study＇s results can be applied to another population or not remains to be verified. In addition, only two dimensions of problematic situations are considered in this study. Practical implications： The paper puts forward the moderating effect of problematic situations and verifies it, which is the compensation for online health information-seeking behavior research. Besides, our analyses have implications for professional design of health care systems and related consumer information searches, and improve their performance. Originality/value： Previous work has reported the effects of problematic situation on user intention to seek health information online, ignoring its influence on other factors. This empirical study extends that work to identify the influence of problematic situation when seeking intention-behavior data in two dimensions, urgency and severity.

Information seeking and anxiety among colonoscopy-na?ve adults: direct-to-colonoscopy vs traditional consult-first pathways

AIM To investigate the effects of direct to colonoscopy pathways on information seeking behaviors and anxiety among colonoscopy-na?ve patients.METHODS Colonoscopy-na?ve patients at two tertiary care hospitals completed a survey immediately prior to their scheduled outpatient procedure and before receiving sedation.Survey items included clinical pathway(direct or consult),procedure indication(cancer screening or symptom investigation),telephone and written contact from the physician endoscopist office,information sources,and pre-procedure anxiety.Participants reported pre-procedure anxiety using a 10 point scale anchored by "very relaxed"(1) and "very nervous"(10).At least three months following the procedure,patient medical records were reviewed to determine sedative dose,procedure indications and any adverse events.The primary comparison was between the direct and consult pathways.Given the very different implications,a secondary analysis considering the patient-reported indication for the procedure(symptoms or screening).Effects of pathway(direct vs consult) were compared both within and between the screening and symptom subgroups.RESULTS Of 409 patients who completed the survey,34% followed a direct pathway.Indications for colonoscopy were similar in each group.The majority of the participants were women(58%),married(61%),and internet users(81%).The most important information source was family physicians(Direct) and specialist physicians(Consult).Use of other information sources,including the internet(20% vs 18%) and Direct family and friends(64% vs 53%),was similar in the Direct and Consult groups,respectively.Only 31% of the 81% who were internet users accessed internet health information.Most sought fundamental information such as what a colonoscopy is or why it is done.Pre-procedure anxiety did not differ between care pathways.Those undergoing colonoscopy for symptoms reported greater anxiety [mean 5.3,95%CI: 5.0-5.7(10 point Likert scale)] than those for screening colonoscopy(4.3,95%CI: 3.9-4.7).CONCLUSION Procedure indication(cancer screening or symptom investigation) was more closely associated with information seeking behaviors and pre-procedure anxiety than care pathway.