Superdiffusion refers to the faster diffusion process in a multiplex network compared to that in an individual network. In this work, we study how interlayer connectivity affects the diffusion performance of a multiplex network. Based on spectral graph theory, we explore the principles of superdiffusion in multiplex networks. We prove that in a duplex network with identical structures, superdiffusion cannot occur under one-to-one interlayer connections. In addition, we prove that the dissimilarity of the Fiedler vector significantly enhances the network superdiffusion performance, which can lead to superdiffusion when selecting nodes with differential eigenvector components in the Fiedler vector for interlayer connections. We also prove that the upper bound of network diffusion with interlayer crossing-connections is limited by the maximum difference of the eigenvector components in the Fiedler vector. Finally, we verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results by numerical analysis.

Pinning control provides an effective approach to controlling large-scale networks and conserving control resources. This article presents a solution to pinning synchronization in directed networks with a precise index that measures the pinning synchronization capability of directed networks, capturing full topological information about the networks. Building upon this index, the article utilizes matrix analysis tools, such as the non-negative matrix theory and strongly connected decomposition to analyze the impact of network structures and controller parameters on the network synchronizability. Specifically, the study investigates the influence of the in-degree of unpinned nodes, the difference between in-degrees and out-degrees of nodes, strong connectivity components, and the linear feedback control gains on the network synchronizability. Moreover, the article addresses the challenge of optimally selecting pinned nodes by using a graph partitioning algorithm and a greedy node selection algorithm, which can be applied to effectively select pinned nodes in a large-scale network. Extensive simulations on a range of real-world directed networks validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms and demonstrate their superiority over seven baseline algorithms.

Pinning control has been attracting wide attention for the study of various complex networks for decades. This article explores grounded theory on the pinning synchronization of the emerging multiplex dynamical networks. The multiplex dynamical networks under study can describe many real-world scenarios, in which different layers have distinct individual dynamics of node. In this work, we build the bridge between multiplex structures and network dynamics by using the Lyapunov stability theory and the spectral graph theory. Furthermore, by analyzing spectral properties of the grounded super-Laplacian matrices, we set up several graph-based synchronization criteria for multiplex networks via pinning control. In addition, we overcome the difficulties induced by distinct node dynamics in different layers, and find that interlayer coupling strengths promote intralayer synchronization of multiplex networks. Finally, a collection of numerical simulations verifies the effectiveness of theoretical results.

For strict-feedback systems with mismatched uncertainties, adaptive fuzzy control techniques are developed to provide global prescribed performance with prescribed-time convergence. First, a class of prescribed-time prescribed performance functions are designed to quantify the performance constraints of the tracking error. Additionally, a novel error transformation function is provided to eliminate the initial value limitations and resolve the singularity issue in previous research. To ensure the convergence of the tracking error into a prescribed bounded region within a prescribed time and satisfactory transient performance, controllers with or without approximating structures are established. Notably, the settling time and initial condition of the prescribed performance function are completely independent of the initial tracking error and system parameters, thereby improving upon existing results. Furthermore, the disadvantage of the semi-global boundedness of tracking error induced by dynamic surface control can be eliminated through the use of a novel Lyapunov-like energy function. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategies is validated through numerical simulations performed on practical examples.

Topology identification of complex networks is an important and meaningful research direction. In recent years, the topology identification method based on adaptive synchronization has been developed rapidly. However, a critical shortcoming of this method is that inner synchronization of a network breaks the precondition of linear independence and leads to the failure of topology identification. Hence, how to identify the network topology when possible inner synchronization occurs within the network has been a challenging research issue. To solve this problem, this article proposes improved topology identification methods by regulating the original network to synchronize with an auxiliary network composed of isolated chaotic exosystems. The proposed methods do not require the sophisticated assumption of linear independence. The topology identification observers incorporating a series of isolated chaotic exosignals can accurately identify the network structure. Finally, numerical simulations show that the proposed methods are effective to identify the structure of a network even with large weights of edges and abundant connections between nodes.

These days, the synchronization of multiplex networks is an emerging and important research topic. Grounded framework and theory about synchronization and control on multiplex networks are yet to come. This article studies the intralayer synchronization on a multiplex network (i.e., a set of networks connected through interlayer edges), via the pinning impulsive control method. The topologies of different layers are independent of each other, and the individual dynamics of nodes in different layers are different as well. Supra-Laplacian matrices are adopted to represent the topological structures of multiplex networks. Two cases are considered according to impulsive sequences of multiplex networks: 1) pinning controllers are applied to all the layers simultaneously at the instants of a common impulse sequence and 2) pinning controllers are applied to each layer at the instants of distinct impulse sequences. Using the Lyapunov stability theory and the impulsive control theory, several intralayer synchronization criteria for multiplex networks are obtained, in terms of the supra-Laplacian matrix of network topology, self-dynamics of nodes, impulsive intervals, and the pinning control effect. Furthermore, the algorithms for implementing pinning schemes at every impulsive instant are proposed to support the obtained criteria. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed schemes.

Pinning control of a complex network aims at forcing the states of all nodes to track an external signal by controlling a small number of nodes in the network. In this paper, an algebraic graph-theoretic condition is introduced to optimize pinning control. When individual node dynamics and coupling strength of the network are given, the effectiveness of pinning scheme can be measured by the smallest eigenvalue of the grounded Laplacian matrix obtained by deleting the rows and columns corresponding to the pinned nodes from the Laplacian matrix of the network. The larger this smallest eigenvalue, the more effective the pinning scheme. Spectral properties of the smallest eigenvalue are analyzed using the network topology information, including the spectrum of the network Laplacian matrix, the minimal degree of uncontrolled nodes, the number of edges between the controlled node set and the uncontrolled node set, etc. The identified properties are shown effective for optimizing the pinning control strategy, as demonstrated by illustrative examples. Finally, for both scale-free and small-world networks, in order to maximize their corresponding smallest eigenvalues, it is better to pin the nodes with large degrees when the percentage of pinned nodes is relatively small, while it is better to pin nodes with small degrees when the percentage is relatively large. This surprising phenomenon can be explained by one of the theorems established.

The multivalued memory achieved with memristors is a promising approach to enhance the memory density. Effective and compact methods of reading and writing for multivalued memories can significantly improve the performance of circuits. In this paper, we present a compact and efficient scheme of reading and writing for two memristors per transistor-based multivalued memory. With the VTEAM model of the memristor, the verification of feasibility of our reading operations and writing operations for multivalued memory is achieved through HSPICE simulation.

This paper studies the performances of the popular gradient-based formation-control strategies for teams of autonomous agents when the agents' range measurements are coarse. Since the dynamics of the resulting closed-loop system are discontinuous, Filippov solutions to non-smooth dynamical systems are introduced. Similar to the existing stability results for triangular formations with precise range measurements, we prove that under coarse range measurements, the convergence to the desired formation is almost global except for initially collinearly positioned formations. More importantly, we are able to make stronger statements that the convergence takes place within finite time and that the settling time can be determined by the geometric information of the initial shape of the formation. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the theoretical analysis.

This paper proposes lower bounds for the coupling strengths of oscillators in directed networks to guarantee global synchronization. The novel idea of graph comparison from spectral graph theory is employed so that the topological features of a given network can be fully utilized to simplify computations. For large networks that can be decomposed into a set of smaller strongly connected components, the comparison can be carried out at the local level as well.

In real-world complex networks, there exists many uncertain information, such as uncertain topological structures and uncertain system parameters. Without question, the topology identification and parameter identification are two traditionally challenging questions in complex networks. Based on the adaptive observers, our approach can identify the topological structures and system parameters of the uncertain complex dynamical networks together. In particular, our method is also very effective for the complex networks with different node dynamics. Moreover, the proposed approach can be used to monitor the online evolution of network topological structures and system parameters. Finally, several typical simulations are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.