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This paper investigates the distributed output tracking problem via linear sampled-data control for a class of uncertain nonlinear multi-agent systems. Specifically, for the case where the graph topology is directed and the leader is the neighbor of only a small portion of followers, by combining the backstepping method with sampled-data method, a series of linear sampled-data controllers are obtained. Stability analysis is performed by using calculus, comparison principle and so on. The main results of this paper are concluded that all the states of the closed-loop system are globally bounded and the output tracking errors can be tuned arbitrarily small. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the validity of the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development and mass administration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines allowed for disease control, reducing hospitalizations and mortality. Most of these vaccines target the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein antigens, culminating with the production of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that disrupt the attachment of the virus to ACE2 receptors on the host cells. However, several studies demonstrated that the NAbs typically rise within a few weeks after vaccination but quickly reduce months later. Thus, multiple booster administration is recommended, leading to vaccination hesitancy in many populations. Detecting serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAbs can instruct patients and healthcare providers on correct booster strategies. Several in vitro diagnostics kits are available; however, their high cost impairs the mass NAbs diagnostic testing. Recently, we engineered an ACE2 mimetic that interacts with the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-2 S protein. Here we present the use of this engineered mini-protein (p-deface2 mut) to develop a detection assay to measure NAbs in patient sera using a competitive ELISA assay. Serum samples from twenty-one patients were tested. Nine samples (42.8%) tested positive, and twelve (57.1%) tested negative for neutralizing sera. The data correlated with the result from the standard commercial assay that uses human ACE2 protein. This confirmed that p-deface2 mut could replace human ACE2 in ELISA assays. Using bacterially expressed p-deface2 mut protein is cost-effective and may allow mass SARS-CoV-2 NAbs detection, especially in low-income countries where economical diagnostic testing is crucial. Such information will help providers decide when a booster is required, reducing risks of reinfection and preventing the administration before it is medically necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the distributed output‐feedback tracking control problem by linear sampled‐data control for nonlinear multi‐agent systems with unmeasurable states in this paper. Noting that sampled‐data control can effectively reduce implementation cost and time, we develop a novel linear sampled‐data high‐gain homogeneous domination control strategy by integrating backstepping method and high‐gain homogeneous domination method into sampled‐data control. A series of linear sampled‐data output‐feedback controllers and reduced‐order observers are designed to ensure that the output tracking errors can be tuned arbitrarily small while all states of the closed‐loop system are globally bounded. A numerical example is given to verify the effectiveness of the sampled‐data strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the dynamic event-triggered composite anti-disturbance and fault-tolerant tracking problem of ships with external ocean disturbances and actuator fault effects. The dynamic event-triggered composite anti-disturbance and fault-disturbance tracking is achieved by combining the disturbance observer and the fault observer with the dynamic event-triggering and the vectorial backstepping control method. The nonlinear disturbance observer is constructed to obtain the online external disturbance estimations in the ocean time-varying environment and thus overcome the unexpected disturbances. The actuator fault observer is exploited to achieve the online fault estimations of actuator faults. The dynamic event-triggered mechanism reduces execution frequencies of control signals to mitigate the tear and wear of ship actuators. The dynamic event-triggered composite disturbance compensation fault-tolerant control ensures the globally uniformly ultimately stability of tracking control system and enables the ship to track the expected trajectory with the small errors. Simulations and comparisons with static event-triggered control on a full-scaled ship validate the dynamic event-triggered control. • Simultaneously addressing time-varying disturbances and actuator faults with observers. • The actuator faults generated by thruster dynamics are included in the composite control. • The dynamic event-triggering with filtering signals mitigate the tear and wear of actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]