In this paper, the optimal adaptive leader-follower consensus of linear continuous time multi-agent systems is considered. The error dynamics of each player depends on its neighbors’ information. Detailed analysis of online optimal leader-follower consensus under known and unknown dynamics is presented. The introduced reinforcement learning-based algorithms learn online the approximate solution...

background although there is a general agreement on the benefits of evidence informed health policy development given resource constraints especially in low-income countries (lics), the definition of what evidence is, and what evidence is suitable to guide decision-making is still unclear. our study is contributing to filling this knowledge gap. we aimed to explore health policy actors’ views r...

Explosive increase in enduser computing on distributed systems requires that endusers develop application software by themselves. One solution is given as a formula of “a domain model ≡ a computation model.” This formula implies that one task in a domain model of cooperative work corresponds to one object in a computation model based on an object-oriented model. Application development environm...

BACKGROUND Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is the most common form of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in children. A subset of children have the rash of JDM without significant weakness, and the optimal treatments for these children are unknown. The goal of this study was to describe the development of consensus clinical treatment plans (CTPs) for children with JDM who have active skin ra...

Modern political economy stresses “society’s polarization” as a determinant of development outcomes. Among the most common sources of social polarization are class divisions and ethnic divisions. A middle class consensus is defined as a high share of income for the middle class and a low degree of ethnic divisons. A middle class consensus distinguishes development successes from failures. The p...

OBJECTIVES To compare two consensus development methods commonly used for developing clinical guidelines in terms of the judgments produced, closeness of consensus, amount of change between rounds, concordance with research evidence and reliability. METHODS In all, 213 general practitioners and mental health professionals from England participated in four Delphi and four nominal groups. They ...

BACKGROUND Development of incisional hernia after open abdominal surgery remains a major cause of post-operative morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the current practice of surgeons in terms of access to and closure of the abdominal cavity in elective open surgery. METHODS Twelve surgical departments of the INSECT-Trial group documented the following variables for 50 consecutive...