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The double-stacked gate dielectrics (DSGD), which consisted of either NbLaO/Al2O3 or NbLaO/SiO2, were used to improve the electrical performance of zinc oxide thin-film transistor (ZnO-TFT) with single-layer NbLaO gate dielectric (SLGD). Compared to ZnO-TFT with SLGD, the ZnO-TFTs with DSGD exhibit better electrical performance, specifically for the device with the NbLaO/SiO2 DSGD, with an increase of the field-effect mobility from 5.77 cm2V − 1 s − 1 to 39.64 cm2V − 1 s − 1 , an enhancement of the on/off current ratio by two orders of magnitude, a reduction of the subthreshold slope from 110 mV/decade to 70 mV/decade. The performance enhancements are attributed to a low root-mean-square surface roughness of less than 0.3 nm and a low trap-state density of less than 6 × 1 0 1 1 cm − 2 (even 2. 4 × 1 0 1 1 cm − 2 for the NbLaO/SiO2 DSGD) in the bulk of the channel and at the ZnO/NbLaO interface. The results imply that ZnO-TFTs with DSGD have the potential for the application of high-resolution flat panel display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the state estimate problem for a class of discrete-time complex networks. The target plant involves Markovian jumping parameters and mode-dependent distributed time-delays. It is assumed that the measurements for the estimate purpose are just from a portion of network nodes, and corrupted by a certain stochastic noise. A unified framework is developed to cope with the state estimation issue based on the outputs from the fraction of nodes for the discrete-time complex networks with distributed time delay and measurement noise. By employing the Lyapunov stability theory and some new techniques, the sufficient conditions are established to ensure the state estimation error is exponentially ultimately mean-square bounded. As the special case when the measurement is noise-free, the resulting criteria are to guarantee that the dynamics of state estimation error is exponentially stable. In addition, the estimator gain matrices are given in the explicit formula. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the differential privacy-based containment control problem for a class of discrete-time multi-agent systems (MASs) with time-varying topology. The classical containment control implementation relies on the explicit information exchange between agents, which will lead to the possible leakage of agents' private information, especially the initial states. In this paper, to prevent such data disclosure to neighbours inside the MASs and the outside eavesdroppers, uncorrelated noise is injected into the data during information transmission, which will bring about a more complicated scenario to the containment control. Under a milder assumption on the connectivity of the MAS – 'average graph topology', by resorting to the Lyapunov stability theory and algebraic graph theory, and utilising stochastic analysis techniques, sufficient conditions are derived to ensure that the discrete-time MAS subjecting to the privacy protection mechanism can achieve bounded containment control. Then, convergence accuracy is studied from the viewpoint of probability. Specially, Markov inequality is first utilised to estimate the lower bound of the probability that followers' states converge to the neighbourhood of the convex hull formed by leaders' states. Besides, differential privacy analysis is carried out to verify the validity of the proposed privacy protection mechanism in protecting the followers' initial states. Finally, two numerical examples are simulated to verify the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a robust H ∞ design approach is proposed to accomplish the state estimation task for a class of continuous-time gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in the finite-time framework. For the GRNs under investigation, the distributed inter-node time delays and intra-node time delays are, respectively, taken into account in the feedback regulation function and the translation process. Moreover, the parameter uncertainty with convex polytopic constraint is introduced to characterize the unavoidable modeling errors induced by parameter sensitivity, calibration accuracy, abrupt structural changes and failures, etc. The primary objective of this paper is to design a robust state estimator for the considered GRNs based on the measured concentrations of messenger ribonucleic acid and protein such that the finite-time boundedness and the H ∞ performance are guaranteed. By resorting to the Lyapunov stability theory, the Jensen's inequality and the Gronwall inequality, some sufficient conditions are established in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Subsequently, a set of parameter matrices with special structures is designed by means of the convex optimization techniques. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the finite-time boundedness and the robust performance of the developed state estimation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conservation in the petrochemical sector holds the key to its financial viability. The pervasive application of Heat Exchanger Networks (HEN) exemplifies the industry's efforts in heat recovery. Yet, despite its widespread adoption, an alarming quantum of low-grade heat remains squandered, underscoring the potential for augmenting energy savings through more effective utilization of this heat. Recognizing the pivotal role of the synergistic interaction between the process and the heat recovery system in maximizing energy retrieval, an innovative approach is proposed. This methodology initially entailed the development of a process model and an enhanced heat recovery system, the latter embodying the integration of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with HEN. Subsequently, a strategic diagnostic was proposed to incorporate these sub-systems into a cohesive, optimisation framework. Following this, an array of energy, exergy, and economic analyses were conducted to appraise the system's performance. The findings suggest a considerable improvement in heat recovery and an amplification in ORC efficiency from a mere 7.64%–11.38%. The enhanced heat recovery further translated into a reduced need for cold utility, thereby minimizing cooler deployment. Given the substantial exergy destruction associated with coolers, their lesser usage bolstered the system's exergy efficiency. Moreover, the optimised ORC manifested in heightened net power generation, consequently elevating electricity revenues. Despite a nominal surge in equipment costs, the aggregate profit witnessed a substantial hike from 165.19 M$/year to 178.79 M$/year. The proposed system substanitally improved thermodynamic and economic performance. This study offers valuable guidance for the design and operation of petrochemical industries, serving as a roadmap to energy conservation and enhanced profitability. • A new simultaneous optimisation framework proposed. • Interactions between process and heat recovery system considered. • Stream classification strategy applied to connect the ANN and MINLP models. • Process operating conditions and layouts of HEN optimised. • Energy, exergy and economic analyses used to evaluate system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the metastatic pattern and prognosis of female colon cancer (FCC) to that of male colon cancer (MCC) to ascertain the independent factors impacting the prognosis of patients with FCC. The data of the present study population were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Descriptive analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox regression were used to evaluated FCC characteristics and factors associated with prognosis. There were 56,442 patients diagnosed with FCC, of whom 8,817 had distant metastases. Compared to patients with nonmetastatic FCC, a greater proportion of metastatic FCC patients was less than 60 years of age, black race, and grade III-IV. The primary sites were mainly located on the left side and have more possibility to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Compared to metastatic MCC, a higher proportion of metastatic FCC patients ranged over 60 years of age, black race, treated without chemotherapy, and insurance, while the primary site was located on the right side. Liver and lung were the two most common sites of solitary metastases in CC, and among patients with solitary metastases in CC, patients who had lung metastases had a better prognosis than those who developed other types of metastasizes. Patients with FCC with metastases of the liver had a worse prognosis than their MCC counterparts. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk ratio was higher in metastatic FCC patients compared to those without metastases. We report the survival comparison of metastatic FCC with nonmetastatic FCC through the SEER database. Our results suggest that it has unique clinicopathological features and differs from metastatic MCC. Furthermore, patients with liver metastatic FCC have a worse prognosis than those with MCC. Emphasis on screening for colon cancer in women and additional clinical care should be paid for, especially for patients with FCC with metastatic liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermochemical energy storage offers a cost-effective and efficient approach for storing thermal energy at high temperature (∼1100 °C) for concentrated solar power and large-scale long duration energy storage. SrCO 3 is a potential candidate as a thermal energy storage material due to its high energy density of 205 kJ/mol of CO 2 during reversible CO 2 release and absorption. However, it loses cyclic capacity rapidly due to sintering. This study determined that the cyclic capacity of SrCO 3 was enhanced by the addition of either reactive SrTiO 3 or inert SrZrO 3 , where the molar ratios of SrCO 3 to SrZrO 3 were varied from 1:0.125 to 1:1. Thermogravimetric analysis over 15 CO 2 sorption cycles demonstrated that both materials retained ∼80 % of their maximum cyclic capacity on the milligram scale. Repeated measurements using gram scale samples revealed a decrease in maximum capacity to 11 % using a sample of SrCO 3 – 0.5 SrZrO 3 over 53 cycles, while the use of SrTiO 3 additives allowed for the retention of 80 % maximum capacity over 55 cycles. These findings highlight the potential of reactive additives in enhancing the performance of thermochemical energy storage systems, while providing valuable insights for the development of cost-effective materials. [Display omitted] • SrCO 3 is a cost-effective thermochemical energy storage material. • TGA shows both SrZrO 3 and SrTiO 3 additives increase cyclic capacity up to ∼80 %. • SrTiO 3 reduces sintering whereas SrZrO 3 does not prevent sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early postoperative small bowel obstruction (EPSBO) is a common complication after colorectal cancer surgery. Few studies have specifically studied risk factors for early small bowel obstruction after right colectomy, especially in establishing predictive models. The purpose of the current study was to establish an effective nomogram to predict the incidence of EPSBO after right colectomy. Methods: The current study retrospectively analyzed data from a total of 424 patients who underwent right colectomy in a local hospital from January 2014 to March 2021. A logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors for EPSBO after right colectomy. A nomogram was established by independent risk factors, and the prediction performance of the model was evaluated using an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration chart. Results: A total of 45 patients (10.6%) developed early small bowel obstruction after right colectomy. Male sex, emergency operation, history of abdominal surgery, open surgery, long operative time, anastomotic leakage, and preoperative albumin were closely related to EPSBO. Analysis of postoperative rehabilitation indices showed that EPSBO remarkably slowed the postoperative rehabilitation speed of patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, open surgery, operative time, and anastomotic leakage were independent risk factors (P < 0.05), and the operation time had the greatest impact on EPSBO. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression, a nomogram was constructed, which showed moderate accuracy in predicting EPSBO, with a C-statistic of 0.716. The calibration chart showed good consistency between the predicted probability and ideal probability. Conclusion: The current study constructed a nomogram based on the clinical data of patients who underwent right colectomy, which had moderate predictability and could provide reference value for clinicians to evaluate the risk of EPSBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D metal–organic complex nanosheets with the merits of high stability and structure tunability are an emerging topic in recent years. To extend the promising ultrathin architectures, a new Co(II) complex nanosheet (Co-nanosheet) is designed and prepared via a readily operated interface-assisted coordination reaction between the ligand 4,4′′,4′′′-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridyl) (L) and Co2+ ions. The as-formed Co(II) complex nanosheet exhibits both a uniform layered structure and good thermostability as proposed, which were verified by various chemical and physical analytical methods. Moreover, it is first utilized as an electroresponsive medium to tune the surface plasmon resonance behavior of Au nanoparticles, expanding the applicable fields of this type of 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the intermittent dynamic event-based state estimation problem is investigated for a class of delayed complex dynamic networks (CDNs). The estimate is implemented based on the measurements from a fraction of network nodes. In the framework of aperiodic intermittent measurement outputs, a dynamic event-triggered mechanism is introduced to save communication resources and reduce actuation burden. The aim of this work is to design a dynamic event-based state estimator by adopting intermittent dynamic event-triggered (IDET) strategy, such that the dynamics of estimation error system is exponentially stable. By resorting to Halanay inequality and switched system method, the sufficient conditions are derived for ensuring the existence of the desired state estimator, and are characterized by the ratio of the average working time to the average rest time. In the meanwhile, the estimator gains for partial nodes are explicitly obtained by solving some matrix inequalities. Furthermore, it is also proven that Zeno behavior can be excluded under the proposed IDET strategy. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to verify the effectiveness of the derived results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the ferric cobalt sulfide/aminated graphene quantum dots (FeCo2S4/NH2-GQDs) nanoflowers grown on Ni foam substrate have been successfully fabricated via a facile two-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared FeCo2S4/NH2-GQDs nanoflowers can expose plenty of electroactive sites, provide fast charge transfer paths and buffer the drastic volume change during long-term charge–discharge cycles. Therefore, the FeCo2S4/NH2-GQDs nanoflowers exhibit excellent supercapacitive performance, including high specific capacitance, excellent rate capability and cycling stability. The specific capacitance of FeCo2S4/NH2-GQDs composite electrode reaches 2314.8 and 1802.5 F g−1 at the current density of 1 and 10 A g−1, respectively, while maintaining superior cycling stability with 95.1% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. This study proves that NH2-GQDs are promising materials to enhance the electrochemical performance of bimetallic sulfides, providing a new insight for the design and fabrication of novel electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a broadband continuous class‐B/J power amplifier (PA) based on a novel output matching network (OMN). In order to realize a compact and broadband OMN design, a multiband harmonic control network (MHCN) with a simple structure consisting of a combination of open‐circuited stubs and a microstrip radial stub (MRS) is designed, which is capable of tuning the second harmonic impedance at the upper and lower sideband frequencies and at the center frequency well and consumes low power. Also, a fundamental matching network (FMN) is designed by means of the simplified real frequency technique (SRFT) algorithm of the computer‐aided program, which improves the efficiency of the circuit design. Both of them satisfy the requirements of a wideband PA and enhance the frequency‐selective performance of the OMN. For validation purposes, practical measurements of the designed and fabricated continuous class‐B/J PA with size of 61 × 51 mm2 have been carried out. The results show that at an operating frequency of 2.4–4.4 GHz, the 53%–73% drain efficiency (DE) at the output power of 38.4–42.4 dBm, and the maximum gain is 13.3 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal‐complex‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) bulk heterostructure is presented here as a promising alternative to high‐cost noble metals as artificial photocatalysts. Theoretical and experimental studies of the spectral and physicochemical properties of three structurally similar molecules Fo–D, Pt–D, and Pt–P confirm that the Pt(II) acetylide group effectively expands the electron delocalization and adjusts the molecular orbital levels to form a relatively narrow bandgap. Using these molecules, the donor–acceptor assemblies Fo–D@CN, Pt–D@CN, and Pt–P@CN are formed with g‐C3N4. Among these assemblies, the Pt(II) acetylide‐based composite materials Pt–D@CN and Pt–P@CN with bulk heterojunction morphologies and extremely low Pt weight ratios of 0.19% and 0.24%, respectively, exhibit the fastest charge transfer and best light‐harvesting efficiencies. Among the tested assemblies, 10 mg Pt–P@CN without any Pt metal additives exhibits a significantly improved photocatalytic H2 generation rate of 1.38 µmol h−1 under simulated sunlight irradiation (AM1.5G, filter), which is sixfold higher than that of the pristine g‐C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the pore development in biochar during gasification using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as an in situ characterization technique. The influence of the gasifying agents (H 2 O, CO 2 or H 2 O/CO 2) and temperature on the pore structure development in biochar was studied by carrying out the hour-long gasification of mallee wood biochar (106–250 μm) in: (i) H 2 O at 700, 800 and 900 °C respectively, (ii) CO 2 at 700 and 800 °C, and (iii) a mixture of H 2 O and CO 2 (H 2 O/CO 2) at 800 °C. There was a minor increase in the micro- and mesopore volumes in biochar during gasification in H 2 O at 700 °C, in contrast to CO 2 gasification at the same temperature where no measurable changes to the pore structure were observed. At 800 °C, biochar derived from H 2 O/CO 2 gasification exhibited the highest specific surface area (SSA). CO 2 tended to produce a highly microporous biochar with a mesopore network showing pore fractal features. Micropore enlargement was a major process in the presence of H 2 O. In this case, the pore structure evolved from being a porous network of branched micropore clusters (pore fractal) to being dominated by rough surfaced mesopores (surface fractal) during gasification in H 2 O and H 2 O/CO 2. The evolution of pore structures result from the different ways in which carbon atoms were removed by either H 2 O or CO 2. H 2 O is more reactive and less selective towards reacting with biochar, resulting in a less worm-like network of pores than CO 2. Moreover, it was found that increasing temperatures can lead to faster rates of pore generation and pore enlargement, which is attributed to the increased reaction rate and the less selective removal of carbon atoms. Image 1 • CO 2 produces a highly microporous biochar while micropore enlargement is more remarkable in H 2 O and H 2 O/CO 2. • H 2 O is less selective towards reacting with biochar, resulting in a less worm-like network of pores than CO 2. • An increase in temperature leads to less selective carbon removal, increasing the rate of pore generation and enlargement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The nanoscale cracking behavior of rejuvenated asphalt binder was investigated for the first time. • Oxidative aging enhances the π–π stacking and reduces intermolecular rearrangement and mobility. • Rejuvenators can deagglomerate and lubricate aged asphalt molecules during the cracking process. • Rejuvenators prolong the fracture process of aged asphalt and increase the system's fracture energy. For achieving the sustainable utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement, a popular approach is to incorporate rejuvenators to restore the cracking resistance of aged asphalt. However, research on the nanoscale rejuvenation mechanisms and the relationship with the cracking behavior is limited. To address this challenge, this study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations to explore the fundamental cracking mechanism in aged asphalt and elucidate how rejuvenators affect this process. A multiphysics analysis, including mechanical response, morphology relationship, energy evolution, deagglomeration and lubrication behavior is developed to comprehend the nano-cracking mechanism. Computational findings reveal that the cracking failure originates form cavitation, and the process primarily includes nanovoid formation, enlargement, filamentation, and separation. Oxidation enhances the aggregation of asphaltene molecules and reduces intermolecular rearrangement and mobility, which fundamentally accelerates the nano-cracking process. Owing to the diffusion of rejuvenators and their disturbances to asphaltene π-π stacking, rejuvenators can penetrate into aged asphalt molecules, lubricate and reduce intermolecular friction. This facilitates molecular rearrangement during the cracking process, thereby improving the cracking resistance and energy performance of aged asphalt binder. The finding from this study contributes to elucidating the fundamental cracking mechanism in rejuvenated asphalt binder and promoting the sustainable utilization of recycled pavement materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the sampled-based consensus problem is investigated for a class of nonlinear multiagent systems subjected to deception attacks. Due to network fluctuations and limited resources, deception attacks might destroy the sampled-data in communication networks. Additionally, the success of deception attacks greatly depends on some randomly fluctuated factors. This paper takes into account the deception attacks that are randomly launched at each sampling instant. The eigenvector of Laplacian matrix is utilized to construct a novel Lyapunov functional. Then, the decoupled criterion connected with eigenvalues of Laplacian matrix is obtained such that the addressed multiagent systems achieve the mean square consensus. Furthermore, the solutions of a set of matrix inequalities represent the controller gain matrix. Finally, a numerical example is provided to validate the effectiveness of the derived results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An event‐triggered nonfragile distributed H∞ control problem is considered in this article for a class of uncertain nonlinear networked control systems over sensor networks with random communication packet dropouts and redundant channels. Redundant channel transmission is utilized to model the communication measurement and to improve the reliability and quality of the communication data transmission services. In addition, measurement size reduction technique is applied to reduce the energy consumption. An event based transmission scheme is employed to reduce the network burden and energy consumption during the data communication from the sensor to the estimator. With known conditional probability distribution, the random packet losses are modeled as a Bernoulli distributed white sequences. A new set of sufficient conditions is established by using average dwell time approach to obtain the desired observer‐based distributed nonfragile controller with the H∞ performance requirements. Specifically, the explicit form of an observer‐based feedback parameters can be obtained by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed observer‐based feedback approach, a numerical example is exploited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with the problem of containment control for a class of nonlinear multi-agent system. The local dynamics under consideration is governed by a nonlinear system with time delays and white Gaussian noise. The multi-agent system consists of both leaders and followers, and the containment control protocol proposed is an interaction between the leaders and followers characterised by time-varying delays and switching topology. Under a certain assumption on the connectivity of the whole network, by constructing a Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, and using the average dwell time approach and some new analytical techniques, the sufficient conditions are established to ensure that each follower converges in mean square to the convex hull spanned by the leaders. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-voltage transparent zinc oxide (ZnO) thin-film transistor with chitosan biopolymer electrolyte as a gate dielectric was fabricated at room temperature and characterized. Due to an electric-double-layer (EDL) effect near the chitosan/ZnO interface through mobile-proton migration, the transistor exhibits a good performance with a carrier mobility of 7.88 cm2 V−1 s−1, a threshold voltage of 1.0 V, an on-off current ratio of 5 × 104, a subthreshold slope of 135 mV Dec−1, and an operating voltage of less than 3 V, respectively. Based on the EDL transistor, the excitatory post-synaptic current and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) behavior of biological synapses are mimicked, and PPF index is related to the inter-spike interval of the paired pulse. Furthermore, the resistor-loaded inverter based on the transistor was built, showing a high voltage gain of ∼4 at a low supply voltage of 3 V, a small delay, a large noise margin and a low power consumption. The EDL transistor may find potential applications in portable electronics and synaptic electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the flexibility of the bottom-up approach in choosing building blocks of two-dimensional (2D) materials, a π-conjugated metal complex nanosheet (HHTP-Cu) was successfully prepared by the coordination of the ligand 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and Cu(II) ion at the water/oil interface. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy disclosed the large-size domain and transmission electron microscopy revealed the sheet morphology of the nanosheet. The flat and smooth surface was also confirmed by atomic force microscopy which further demonstrated the proposed structure. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was applied to verify the homogeneous distribution of the elements while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the composition of the nanosheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Activation of biochar in steam can enhance the catalytic activity of biochar for the reforming of tar. • O-containing groups in the biochar catalyst can be consumed during reforming. • C O groups in the biochar catalyst are particularly important. Tar formation is practically unavoidable during gasification. Catalytic tar forming is one of the most promising techniques for producing high-quality syngas at a commercial scale. Biochar has great potential to be used as a catalyst for the removal of tar from the syngas produced from the pyrolysis/gasification of biomass. The structure of biochar is a critical factor affecting its catalytic performance. This study investigates the role of O-containing functional groups in biochar during steam reforming of tar using biochar as a catalyst. Mallee wood biochar (106–250 μm) was activated in H 2 O for different times (0–50 min) and then used as a catalyst for the steam reforming of tar at 800 °C. The chemical structural features of biochars were characterized with Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that H 2 O activation increased the concentration of O-containing functional groups, mainly the aromatic C O structures in biochar, which enhanced the catalytic destruction of tar. During the catalytic reforming of tar, the content of aromatic C O groups decreased while the catalyst activity decreased. It is believed that the aromatic C O functional groups in biochar play a vital role in the steam reforming of tar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The information-fusion-based state estimation problem for complex networks. • The complex networks are subject to time-delays and stochastic perturbations. • A fraction of network nodes is used for the addressed state estimation problem. • A neat mathematical analysis approach is developed to reflect the partial nodes. • The exponentially ultimately bounded state estimator is designed. Abstract This paper is concerned with the information-fusion-based state estimation problem for a class of discrete-time complex networks with time-varying delays and stochastic perturbations. The measurement outputs available for state estimation are from a fraction of network nodes, and the addressed problem is therefore referred to as the so-called Partial-Nodes-Based (PNB) state estimation problem. By employing the Lyapunov stability theory, a novel framework is established to cope with the PNB state estimation problem by the measurement outputs collected from partial network nodes. By constructing specific Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals, sufficient criteria are derived for the existence of the desired exponentially ultimately bounded state estimator in mean square for the complex networks. Moreover, a special case is considered where the complex network under investigation is free of stochastic perturbations and the corresponding analysis issue is discussed to ensure the existence of an exponential state estimator. In addition, the explicit expressions of the gains of the desired estimators are characterized. Finally, a numerical illustrative example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an extended temperature current–voltage (I–V) model for AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is proposed. Since there is no carrier freeze‐out effect in GaN HEMTs, the current density, switching characteristics, and heat dissipation performance are significantly improved with the decrease in temperature. The threshold voltage drift phenomenon can be accurately described at various temperatures by the trapping effect control potential model. Based on Matthiessen's law, the applicable temperature range of the mobility model is further extended. At cryogenic temperatures, the saturation current, saturation velocity, and sub‐threshold swing of the device tend to saturate as well as be temperature‐independent, which can be accurately modeled by using the equivalent temperature and applying the crucial temperature to quantify the turning point. Furthermore, the SHE modeling incorporates the temperature dependence of the material's thermal conductivity. The accuracy of the model is verified by experimental data at low (4.2–300 K) and high (298–773 K) temperatures. The proposed model overcomes the limitations of existing models applied at wide ambient temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel molecular modeling approach is developed to study nanoscale moisture damage. • Non-uniform diffusion of interfacial moisture is discovered for the first time. • The efficiency of interfacial moisture migration depends on the aggregate surface. • Calcite exhibits stronger hydrogen-bonding interactions with interfacial moisture. The asphalt-aggregate debonding behavior in moisture environments is a fundamental but unresolved issue in pavement engineering. In this study, a novel molecular dynamics (MD) modeling method was developed to address this challenge. Compared with previous layered modeling methods, the new method considers the moisture diffusion and migration at the interface, which better reflects the real debonding process. Based on the results, we found a layered diffusion phenomenon at the interface, which significantly affects the efficiency of moisture migration and interfacial debonding. The strong interactions between water molecules and alkaline aggregates (represented by calcite) restrict the interfacial moisture diffusion and migration, making it more resistant to moisture damage than acidic aggregates (represented by quartz). This study highlights the limitations of energy-based parameters obtained from the layered modeling method and resolves a long-standing controversy over whether calcite or quartz is more susceptible to water damage. Findings from this research contribute to comprehending the fundamental debonding mechanisms and provide an atomic-level perspective to investigate moisture damage in pavement engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze the photoelectric conversion evolution of PM6:N2200 solar cells. • The morphology of PM6:N2200 would be changed with time. • The morphological change of PM6:N2200 had little influence on the exciton behaviors within a certain period of time. • The aging of the active layer with time increased the probability of charge recombination. In this work, to study the performance degradation process in PM6:N2200 all-polymer solar cells, including the optical absorption, morphology, photo-physical process of the active layer and current–voltage characteristics of the device were analyzed by employing multiple characterization techniques. The results showed that the morphology (phase sizes and phase separation scales) of PM6:N2200 would change with time. Unstable morphology of active layer determined the changeable photoelectric conversion process in operating solar cells. Besides, we found that morphological change of PM6:N2200 had a little influence on the exciton behaviors (diffusion and dissociation) within 40 days. However, it showed an undesired impact on photogenerated charge behaviors (transport and recombination). Unstable morphology of active layer and high charge recombination probability were essential reasons for the performance degradation of polymer solar cells in operating time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the state estimation problem is investigated for a class of continuous-time complex networks with bounded distributed delay. For the network under consideration, only the outputs from a fraction of nodes are available and this put forward the new challenge, that is, the so-called partial-nodes-based state estimation problem. In order to reduce the usage of the communication resources, a general event-triggering rule is considered in the design of the estimator. A novel estimator is constructed and, by constructing novel Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals, some easy-to-check conditions are derived such that the error dynamics is exponentially ultimately bounded. Furthermore, it is shown that the Zeno behavior can be excluded from the event-triggering rules. Numerical simulations are presented to further illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During the charge-discharge of the LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) cathode in Li-ion batteries, Ni2+ and Mn2+ dissolve in the electrolyte to cause oxidative decomposition, which is the major cause for fast capacity fading and poor cycle performance. Reducing the direct contact area between the cathode material and the electrolyte is a direct solution to improve the cell performance. This paper focuses on a solvothermal method to coat the surface of LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 hollow microspheres with TiO 2 followed by TiO 2 conversion into Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) using LiOH·H 2 O. The Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 coating layer synthesized by this method demonstrates epitaxial growth on the outer surface of LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4. The LTO-coated LNMO cathode exhibits capacity retention of 88.1% after 100 cycles at 0.5C rate, much higher than 62.2% for the bare LNMO counterpart, at elevated temperature of 55 °C. In addition, the Li+-ion mobility for the LTO-coated LNMO electrode is increased. Highlights • Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 is coated on LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 hollow microspheres via a solvothermal method. • Epitaxial growth of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 on LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 surface is achieved. • Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 coated LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 is conducive to the electrochemical performance improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Fundamental properties of copper(I) complexes. • Copper complexes for organic light-emitting diodes. • Copper complexes for dye-sensitized solar cells. • Copper complexes for bulk heterojunction solar cells. Abstract A great deal of research effort has been put in green energy applications in the past few decades based on organic optoelectronics. Compared with conventional inorganic semiconductors, organic counterparts offer a much simpler strategy for low-cost mass production and structural modification. Hence, continuous and intensive academic and industrial research works have been done in these areas. In terms of the materials used, transition-metal complexes with the unique features of the transition metal centers represent a large group of candidates, showing high performance in energy conversion technologies. However, the commonly used transition metals, like Pt(II), Ir(III) and Ru(II), are expensive and of relatively low abundance. Concerning elemental sustainability and marketability, some abundant and cheaper metals should be investigated and further developed to replace these precious metals. Cu(I) complexes have shown their potentiality in solar energy harvesting and light emitting applications, due to their well-studied photophysics and structural diversity. In addition, copper is one of the earth-abundant metals with less toxicity, which makes it competitive to precious transition metals. As a result, a series of rational molecular engineering has been developed to boost the device performance of copper complexes. In this review, the recent progress of copper complexes in the fields of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), photovoltaic cells (dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJSCs)) in the past two decades will be presented. Representative examples are chosen for discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional hierarchically porous graphene-TiO 2 (3D-HPGT) nanocomposites were synthesized through electrostatic assembly method. The obtained 3D-HPGT nanocomposites exhibited hierarchically porous structure with multi-level pores (macro-, meso- and micropores), high specific surface area (705 m 2 /g), large pore volume (0.41 cm 3 /g) and higher hydrogen storage capacity. At the pressure of 5 bar, 3D-HPGT nanocomposite showed a maximum hydrogen capacity of 4.11 and 1.48 wt% at 77 and 298 K, respectively, which were much higher than those of previously reported graphene-based materials. The enhanced hydrogen storage capacities were attributed to the three-dimensional hierarchically porous structure, evenly distributed TiO 2 nanoparticles on the graphene nanosheets, strong attachment of TiO 2 nanoparticles to the underlying graphene nanosheets, and hydrogen spillover effect originated from TiO 2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, volatile products, and chemical reactions of a novel potential alternative for halon extinguishing agent in aircraft namely superhydrophobic and oleophobic ultra-fine dry powder extinguishing agent (SHOU DPEA) and ordinary dry powder extinguishing agent (ODPEA) are studied in the present study. The results illustrate that the thermal degradation process of SHOU DPEA and ODPEA may be divided into two stages (threshold: α = 0.8) and three stages (thresholds: α = 0.1 and α = 0.7). Therein, both of stage 1 of SHOU DPEA and stage 2 of ODPEA can be considered as one-step reaction, which can be well predicted by the calculated kinetic parameters. Besides, the pyrolysis of SHOU DPEA is more favorable than that of ODPEA. The relative concentrations of SHOU DPEA and ODPEA pyrolytic products from most to least are CO>H 2 O>CH 4 >C 2 H 6 >CO 2 and CO>CO 2 >H 2 O, respectively. In addition, the chemical reactions occurring in the pyrolysis of SHOU DPEA and ODPEA are revealed. [Display omitted] • The pyrolysis process of SHOU DPEA and ODPEA may be divided into two and three stages. • Both of stage 1 for SHOU DPEA and stage 2 for ODPEA can be considered as one-step reaction. • Kinetic parameters can well predict the pyrolysis of stage 1 of SHOU DPEA and stage 2 of ODPEA. • The chemical reactions occurring in the pyrolysis of SHOU DPEA and ODPEA are revealed. • The fire extinguishing efficiency of SHOU DPEA may be larger than that of ODPEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have studied the effect of [6,6]-phenyl C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) phase on the performance and charge photogeneration processes of poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer solar cells (PSCs) using photoluminescence, electrochemical doping and transient absorption methods. The results show that the PC 61 BM phase facilitates the dissociation of photogenerated excitons and increases the charge photogeneration yield. The PC 61 BM phase blend in the active layer is able to increase the yield of the delocalized polarons (DP) in the P3HT donor phase using electrochemical doping methods. Furthermore, PC 61 BM phase facilitates the formation of bipolarons (BP) from polarons (P). These results aid in better understanding the charge photogeneration processes of PC 61 BM blended PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional hierarchical porous graphene with nickel nanoparticles (3DHPG-Ni) was synthesized through electrostatic assembly method with the assistance of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) template and subsequent removal of PMMA template by calcination. The morphology, microstructure and hydrogen adsorption properties of 3DHPG-Ni nanocomposites were examined in detail. The obtained 3DHPG-Ni nanocomposite exhibited hierarchical porous structure composed of macro-, meso- and micropores, high specific surface area (925 m 2 g −1 ), large pore volume (0.58 cm 3 g −1 ) and excellent hydrogen storage capacity. Under the pressure of 5 bar, 3DHPG-Ni nanocomposite showed a maximum hydrogen capacity of 4.22 wt% and 1.95 wt% at 77 K and 298 K, respectively, demonstrating that the as-prepared 3DHPG-Ni nanocomposite was supposed to be a promising material with outstanding properties for practical applications in the field of hydrogen storage. The three-dimensional hierarchical porous structure, evenly distributed Ni nanoparticles and hydrogen spillover effect were responsible for the enhanced hydrogen storage capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pinning synchronization problem for a class of complex networks of networks is investigated in this paper, in which the network topology is assumed to be directed. The concerned complex networks of networks are composed of both leaders’ network and followers’ networks (also called “subnetworks”), where the leaders’ network and followers’ networks are regarded as the nodes of the networks of networks, followers’ networks can receive the information from leaders’ network, but not the reverse. Then, by means of the Lyapunov stability theory, graph theory, Barbalat’s Lemma and the Kronecker product techniques, some criteria are obtained to guarantee the globally exponential synchronization for the general complex networks of networks. In addition, theoretical results are verified through an illustrative example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the sampled-data state estimation problem for a class of delayed complex networks. At certain sampling times, transmission of sampled-data through communication network may fail, which means the considered estimator can only intermittently receive sampled-data. The main objective of this paper is to design a sampled-data state estimator subjected to intermittent transmission such that the error system is exponentially stable. Specifically, the error system is first transformed into time-varying delayed switched systems, including both stable and unstable subsystems. And then, to analyze the stability of the error system, a modified Halanay inequality is presented. In view of the modified Halanay inequality and switched systems methodology, a sufficient condition for globally exponential stability of the error system is established. Meanwhile, the upper bound of transmission failure rate is given, which reflects to be closely related to sampling period and the upper bound of node delays. Furthermore, the desired estimator gain of each node is explicitly provided by solving a set of matrix inequalities. Finally, a numerical simulation is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the inferred results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen and MnO co-doped hierarchical porous carbon monolith (N-MnO-HPCM) materials were synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The resulting N-MnO-HPCM materials had hierarchical porous structure, high BET surface area (606 m 2 /g), large pore volume (0.33 cm 3 /g), and contained evenly dispersed MnO nanoparticles of about 6 nm in the carbon matrix. Their electrochemical performances as electrodes for supercapacitors were investigated. N-MnO-HPCM material exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of 261.7 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. It also showed a good rate capability with 74% capacity retention at high current density (5 A/g), indicating its potential applications in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for the synthesis of β-iodoalkenyl sulfides via copper catalyzed difunctionalization of styrenes is described. The method allows the formation of two chemical bonds, a C-I bond and a C-S bond, in a single reaction. Using alkenes in place of alkynes to synthesize β-iodoalkenyl sulfides is a significant advantage of this methodology for both synthetic and medicinal chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the pinning adaptive synchronization control problem for a class of complex networks of networks. The complex networks of networks under consideration are composed of both leaders' network and followers' networks (also called “subnetworks”), where the leaders' network and subnetworks are regarded as the nodes of the networks of networks, each subnetwork can receive the information from leaders' network, but not the reverse. In order to achieve the synchronization for the networks of networks, pinning control strategy is adopted, and adaptive controllers are designed for the controlled nodes. By utilizing the stability theory of dynamical systems and some analysis techniques such as the Barbalat lemma, several sufficient criteria are obtained to ensure global exponential synchronization for the controlled complex networks of networks. Finally, a numerical simulation example is given to verify the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe haze weather in recent times in China has drawn global attention and growing public concern over implications to people's health. This study aims to investigate the effects of infiltration and indoor pollution on the level of PM2.5 concentrations in residential buildings. Using a DustTrak II aerosol monitor, PM2.5 concentrations were measured in a typical residential building in Tianjin with different openings to the external environment. When the openings had a void of 10 mm, indoor PM2.5 concentration was similar to that of outdoor. When the indoor PM2.5 concentration reached its peak, the Indoor-to-Outdoor ratio (I/O) was 0.67–0.89 with a delay compared to the outdoor PM2.5 concentration. Higher outdoor wind speeds were associated with higher I/O ratios. With well-sealed windows and doors, PM2.5 concentrations decreased irrespective of the changes occurring outdoor with a decay rate of 0.002 min −1 . With regard to the effects of indoor pollution, smoking could make the indoor PM2.5 concentrations rise rapidly to a level of 1280 μg m −3 . Kitchen PM2.5 concentrations rose while cooking up to 3000 μg m −3 , which largely depended on the method of cooking. Kitchen ventilator was able to control the pollution fairly quickly and reduce the impact on adjacent spaces. Other human activities such as walking, dressing, and sweeping were responsible for an increase in PM2.5 concentration by almost 33%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new stone consolidant formulation based on tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and additives such as hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) has been developed denoted as TEOS/PDMS-OH/CTAB composite coating material. The hydrophobic property, surface morphology, and abilities to resist acid corrosion and salt crystallization weathering have been measured to evaluate the stone protection performance of as-prepared TEOS/PDMS-OH/CTAB composite coating materials. The results demonstrate that the addition of PDMS-OH contributes to improve the hydrophobic properties of sandstones. The addition of CTAB to the siloxane composition results in the formation of superficial protrusions with a micro- and nanoscopic structure and overall alteration of surface morphology and roughness, thus preventing the cracking during the drying process. In addition, after treatment by TEOS/PDMS-OH/CTAB composite coating materials, the sandstone has improved the abilities to resist acid and salt crystallization weathering significantly. These advantages make TEOS/PDMS-OH/CTAB composite coating materials exhibit good comprehensive performance in terms of stone heritage protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was aimed to develop a novel multifunctional SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite coating for application in the field of outdoor sandstone conservation. The SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite coating derived from the sol–gel reaction of tetraethoxysilan (TEOS) and tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT). Hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) and poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(phenylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO, F127) surfactant were added to the SiO 2 –TiO 2 based materials. The contact angle analysis, scanning electron microscopy measurement, stain resistant test, salt crystallization test and outdoor exposure test were conducted to investigate the effectiveness and durability of this composite coating. Results showed that SiO 2 –TiO 2 composite materials created a hydrophobic, crack-free coating with self-cleaning and antibacterial properties on the decayed sandstone surface, allowing their use for practical outdoor sandstone conservation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The petrochemical industry is an energy-intensive process. Heat exchanger network (HEN) is widely applied in existing petrochemical plants used to save energy. However, there is still some amount of low-grade heat wasted. No mathematical model can directly tackle the problems with majority of phase-changing process streams. Therefore, this study aims to optimise an extended low-grade heat recovery model for the petrochemical plant by integrating the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with HEN. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming steady-state model was first developed. Then, the ORC operation conditions were optimised simultaneously. Finally, the thermodynamics (energy and exergy) and economic analysis were performed to evaluate the system performance, with 41 MW more heat recovered, 2.01% higher exergy efficiency and 3219 k$/year less total annual cost, compared with HEN only. Furthermore, the optimisation results indicate that the proposed energy system performs with 386 MW of recovered heat from the process streams, 82.13% of the overall exergy efficiency, 3.94 MW of net power generated from ORC, and 4416 k$/year of electricity profit. Research presented in this paper hopes to shed light on design and operation of the petrochemical industry for energy savings and cost reduction. • A novel low-grade heat recovery system proposed for a petrochemical industry. • An extended MINLP model developed to represent the majority phase changing stream. • The decomposed strategy applied to solve the medium-scale problem. • Thermodynamics (energy and exergy) and economic analysis to evaluate the system's performance. • Optimal operating conditions and system configuration obtained simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by electrocatalytic kinetics, the design of hollow hierarchical structure through the integration of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds and two-dimensional (2D) sheet-like materials was considered as an effective approach to achieve superior electrocatalytic activity. Ni(OH) 2 nano-boxes@CuS nanosheets hollow hierarchical structure (Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs HHS) was synthesized by a sulfidation involved coordinated etching and precipitation (CEP) process for the first time. Interestingly, CuS nanosheets were vertically distributed on Ni(OH) 2 NBs. As a sensitive electrode for dopamine, Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs HHS modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) showed a sensitivity as high as 1011.7 μA mM−1 cm−2, which was greater than those of Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs fragmentized HHS/GCE (Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs FHHS/GCE, 354.1 and 717.2 μA mM−1 cm−2), CuS NBs/GCE (646.2 μA mM−1 cm−2) and Ni(OH) 2 NBs/GCE (472.1 and 848.2 μA mM−1 cm−2). Moreover, Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs HHS/GCE showed an ultralow detection limit of 3.2 nM. According to theoretical calculation, the excellent electroactivity was attributed to the enhanced kinetics issued from the combination of 3D Ni(OH) 2 NBs and 2D CuS NSs. Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs HHS was expected as an ideal electrocatalyst for dopamine electrochemical sensing, and the integrating of transition metal-based hollow scaffolds and 2D materials provided new thought to acquire high electrocatalystic activity. [Display omitted] • Ni(OH) 2 NBs@CuS NSs HHS was designed for the first time to detect dopamine. • The products of CEP step were employed as the reactant of sulfidation step. • The modified electrode exhibits high sensitivity and low detection limit. • This work paves an effective way to obtain high-performance electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention of infection and elimination of excess reactive oxygen species are the key factors to achieve wound healing. In this study, we have developed a multifunctional poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofiber membrane modified by ε-poly (L -lysine) (ε-PL) with the assistance of mussel-inspired polydopamine. The morphology of the nanofibrous membrane were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The chemical structure characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated the successful modification of polydopamine and the immobilization of ε-PL. Photothermal effect assay proved that the temperature of the nanofiber membrane after near infrared photothermal treatment could reach the temperature required for antibacterial effect. The release of ε-PL exhibited an initial burst which was beneficial to achieve rapid bacteria inhibition. By combining ε-PL with near infrared photothermal therapy, a synergistic antibacterial effect was achieved against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of antioxidant activity assessment indicated that polydopamine on the nanofiber membranes served as an antioxidant agent to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Additionally, the nanofiber membranes showed good cytocompatibility and suitable mechanical properties close to the skin. In summary, the prepared membrane possessed intrinsically multifunctional properties showing great potential to be used as promising wound dressing materials. [Display omitted] • The surface functionalization of nanofiber was realized by DA self-polymerization. • ε-PL was loaded on the surface of the nanofibers by covalently binding. • The membrane showed photothermal and drug synergistic antibacterial effect. • PDA on the nanofibers could clear excessive reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with the problem of analysis and synthesis for a class of output feedback control system. The system under consideration is a discrete-time stochastic system with time-varying delay. It is assumed that the measurement of system is quantized via a logarithmic quantizer before it is transmitted, and the measurement data would be missing from time to time which can be described by a Bernoulli distributed white sequence. In addition, the nonlinearities are assumed to satisfy the sector conditions. The problem addressed is to design an output feedback controller such that the resulting closed-loop system is exponentially stable in the mean square. By employing Lyapunov theory and some new techniques, a new framework is established to cope with the design of output feedback controller for nonlinear systems involving quantization and missing measurement. Sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the existence of the desired controllers, and the controller parameters are given in an explicit expression as well. A numerical example is exploited to show the usefulness of the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the exponential stability problem is investigated for a class of Cohen–Grossberg neural networks with Markovian jumping parameter and mixed time-delays. The mixed time-delays under consideration consist of both the mode-dependent discrete time-delays and the mode-dependent distributed time-delays. By constructing a new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and employing the stochastic analysis techniques, sufficient conditions are proposed to guarantee that the addressed neural networks are exponentially stable in the mean square sense. It is shown that the developed stability criteria can be easily verified by using the standard numerical software. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to show the feasibility and usefulness of the developed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]