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This paper aims to investigate an adaptive prescribed performance control problem for switched pure-feedback non-linear systems with input quantization.

By using the semi-bounded continuous condition of non-affine functions, the controllability of the system can be guaranteed. Then, a constraint variable method is introduced to ensure that the tracking error satisfies the prescribed performance requirements. Meanwhile, to avoid the design difficulties caused by the input quantization, a non-linear decomposition method is adopted. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control scheme is verified by a numerical simulation example.

Based on neural networks and prescribed performance control method, an adaptive neural control strategy for switched pure-feedback non-linear systems is proposed.

The complex deduction and non-differentiable problems of traditional prescribed performance control methods can be solved by using the proposed error transformation approach. Besides, to obtain more general results, the restrictive differentiability assumption on non-affine functions is removed.

The study aims to investigate the anticorrosion performance of epoxy coatings using modified cerium oxide (CeO₂) by terephthalic acid (CeO₂-t) and fumaric acid (CeO₂-f) as corrosion inhibitors.

The chemical state of CeO₂-t, and CeO₂-f were analyzed by infrared radiation (IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of different inhibitors on the coating properties was analyzed by neutral salt spray tests (NSST) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

The results of IR and XRD illustrate that the modification of CeO₂ was successful, and fumaric acid underwent a ring-opening reaction with epoxy resin (EP) in the coatings. The results of NSST and EIS showed that the coatings containing CeO₂-f exhibited the best anticorrosion performance.

CeO₂ is an effective inhibitor of the organic coatings. When surface modified, it is chemically bonded to EP, enhancing the anticorrosion performance of EP.

The color TV industry in China has become a mature industry. Its development demonstrates and provides reference implications for how developing industries within a country can achieve a technological leap. This paper aims to address this issue.

An exploratory case study approach is taken to find the key factors in the technological catch‐up of China's traditional industry.

In the study it is found that China's color TV industry, as a mature traditional industry, has four‐dimensional key factors affecting the catch‐up of technology in the flat‐panel stage: market; merger and acquisition; international cooperation innovation for patent; and the roles of internal reform. “Market” is the window of opportunity and challenge; “merger and acquisition” is the key factor for making the patent convert from external mode to internal mode by deviant‐track. The “international cooperation innovation for patent” is also a key factor to ensure achievement of technology catch‐up and sustainable technological innovation. The role of internal reform promoter is the key factor in the technological catch‐up process in which taking entrepreneur as the core.

The article describes Changhong's flat‐panel TV technology catch‐up mode, analyzes four‐dimensional key factors affecting the technology catch‐up of China's color TV industry; the Chinese color TV industry as mature industry; and discusses which developments have demonstrated how to achieve a technological leap in developing industries.

The missing employee voice has become a salient topic in China. This paper aims to document the newest developments relating to the topic by reviewing the recent literature on employment relations and employee voice. The findings of this paper suggest that the purposes of and channels for the employee voice in China have been undergoing significant changes. Different stakeholder groups have approached the issue. ‘Democratic management’ in China, the country’s home-grown concept of employee voice, has been resurrected to encourage more effective employee representation. Apart from this top-down influence from the government and All-China Federation of Trade Unions, this paper also identifies the bottom-up approach driven by the workers, and the external influence from the global corporate social responsibility campaign and nongovernmental labour organizations. Based on the review of the newest developments in workplace democracy and the employee voice in China, this paper proposes a stakeholder framework incorporating these developments. The authors also suggest some directions for future research.

This study examines a new type of corruption that has not previously been studied but that significantly affects the world. Traditionally, corruption has referred to individuals or organizations that bribe state officials. The author examines a phenomenon in which the briber is actually the government of a country that bribes the rest of the world in order to gain influence and propose a framework to explain it.

A multi-case qualitative method is used to compile and analyze evidences and develop my arguments. Specifically, the author compiles information on and analyzes the Confucius Institutes, the training of future foreign leaders, influencing the influencers, the Thousand Talents Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative and foreign aid.

The findings reveal the existence of state-sponsored bribery of the world.

State-sponsored bribery is a threat to the world. Recognizing it is the first step to curb it. Reducing the bribery by China's state will benefit the world and China.

State-sponsored bribery is originally defined and documented. A framework about the motivations and capabilities of state-sponsored bribery is proposed, the effects of and responses to such a bribery are reviewed, and policies to curb it are suggested.

Increased investment of a photovoltaic (PV) array makes it essential for the client to attain better results from the PV system. The nonlinearity of the PV array and the revolution and rotation of the earth require the appliance of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to the system. Accordingly, grid connected PV systems have turn out to be renowned, because they do not require battery back-ups to accomplish MPPT. Stand-alone systems could also attain MPPT; however, they require appropriate battery back-ups for this function.

This survey intends to formulate a review on the PV-based microgrid (MG) systems. Here, the literature analyses on diverse techniques associated with PV-based MG systems. It reviews 65 research papers and states the significant analysis. Initially, the analysis depicts various controllers that are contributed in different papers. Subsequently, the analysis also focuses on various features such as PV capacity and inverter topology, and it also analyses the renewable grid source that are exploited in each paper. Furthermore, this paper provides the detailed study regarding the chronological review and performance achievements in each contribution. Finally, it extends the various research issues which can be useful for the researchers to accomplish further research on PV-based MG systems.

This paper has presented a detailed review on PV-based MG systems that were enumerated in the above sections. Here, various controllers along with their better achievements were analyzed and described. From the review, it was known that several PV-based MG systems were really at the point for enabling better power output and conversion efficiency. In conclusion, this paper reviewed about 65 research papers and declared the significant analysis. Initially, the analysis also focused on various controller classifications in PV-based MG systems that were reviewed in this paper. Subsequently, the analysis also focused on various features, such as PV capacity and inverter topology. The analysis also reviewed the performance achievements and renewable gird source that were exploited in PV-based MG systems. At last, this paper has presented various research issues which can be useful for the researchers to accomplish further research on the features of PV-based MG systems.

This paper presents a brief analysis of PV-based MG systems. This is the first work that uses PV-based MG systems for better regulation of MPPT.

This study seeks to explore the relationship between performance relative to aspiration and SMEs' internationalization speed, and moderating effects of top management's policy knowledge and institutional distance between the above relation.

This study tests the authors’ hypotheses using data on Chinese manufacturing SMEs over a 5-year period from 2013 to 2017. The authors leverage archival panel data on publicly listed companies on the SME Board, GEM and New OTC Market in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The authors then collected data from the WIND and ZEPHYR databases.

The results confirm a U-shaped relation between performance relative to aspiration and SMEs' internationalization speed, and show that this relation is steepening by top management's policy knowledge in home country but flattening by institutional distance as environmental dynamics.

The study findings contribute to the international business field by exploring how a firm's risk situation in internationalization can change, thereby influencing SMEs' international expansion.