Missouri University of Science and Technology

About: Missouri University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Rolla, Missouri, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Control theory & Artificial neural network. The organization has 9380 authors who have published 21161 publications receiving 462544 citations. The organization is also known as: Missouri S&T & University of Missouri–Rolla.

Fabrication and testing of silicon nitride bearings in total hip arthroplasty: winner of the 2007 "HAP" PAUL Award.

Abstract: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) bearings were fabricated from silicon nitride (Si3N4) powder. Mechanical testing showed that Si3N4 had improved fracture toughness and fracture strength over modern alumina (Al2O3) ceramic. When tested with Si3N4 cups in a hip simulator, both cobalt-chromium (CoCr) and Si3N4 femoral heads produced low wear rates that were comparable to Al2O3-Al2O3 bearings in THA. This study offers experimental support for a novel metal-ceramic THA bearing couple that combines the reliability of CoCr femoral heads with the wear advantages of ceramic surfaces.

Sociotechnical requirements analysis for clinical systems.

Abstract: Summary Objective: We explore sociotechnical requirements by examining the use of a computerized patient record system in an intensive care unit of a U.S. hospital and present two sociotechnical requirements, awareness and coordination, embedded in the users’ work. Method: The study is based on observation during seven months of the use of a computerized patient record system in a surgical intensive care unit. During that period semi-formal interviews, informal interviews were held. Results and Conclusions: A key step in the design of clinical systems is the development and analysis of requirements. However, traditional requirements analysis is based on a set of assumptions that break down in the highly collaborative, exception-filled clinical domain. Sociotechnical requirement analysis enabled the designers to gather a much richer description of the environment surrounding the computer system, highlighting awareness and coordination, embedded in the users’ work.

Robust Integral of Neural Network and Error Sign Control of MIMO Nonlinear Systems

Abstract: This paper presents a novel state-feedback control scheme for the tracking control of a class of multi-input multioutput continuous-time nonlinear systems with unknown dynamics and bounded disturbances. First, the control law consisting of the robust integral of a neural network (NN) output plus sign of the tracking error feedback multiplied with an adaptive gain is introduced. The NN in the control law learns the system dynamics in an online manner, while the NN residual reconstruction errors and the bounded disturbances are overcome by the error sign signal. Since both of the NN output and the error sign signal are included in the integral, the continuity of the control input is ensured. The controller structure and the NN weight update law are novel in contrast with the previous effort, and the semiglobal asymptotic tracking performance is still guaranteed by using the Lyapunov analysis. In addition, the NN weights and all other signals are proved to be bounded simultaneously. The proposed approach also relaxes the need for the upper bounds of certain terms, which are usually required in the previous designs. Finally, the theoretical results are substantiated with simulations.

The pursuit of international opportunities in family firms: Generational differences and the role of knowledge-based resources

Abstract: Research Summary: We argue that willingness (attitude toward risk, return, and socioemotional wealth), ability (extent of control), and resource availability influence the internationalization of family firms. We hypothesize that the internationalization of family firms led by founding and later generation family members differs from the internationalization of nonfamily firms and from each other and that knowledge-based resources moderate the relationship. Longitudinal analysis of 4,925 firm-year observations of S&P 1500 manufacturing firms from 2002 to 2008 shows that compared to nonfamily firms, family firms run by founding (later generation) family members internationalize less (more). Knowledge resources increase (decrease) the internationalization of founder-led (later generation) family firms. Overall, how family ownership influences firm behavior is likely to vary as much by its type as its amount.Managerial Summary: We explore the internationalization of family firms based on a sample of S&P 1500 manufacturing firms from 2002 to 2008. Compared to nonfamily firms, family firms run by founding family members internationalize less, and family firms run by later generation members internationalize more. However, as knowledge resources increase, the internationalization of founder-led family firms increases, whereas the internationalization of firms led by later generation family members decreases. Therefore, our findings suggest that knowledge resources can facilitate or hamper international expansion in family firms, depending on the generation of family control. These findings underscore the role of goals, governance, and resources as important drivers of differences in internationalization between family and nonfamily firms, as well as of variations in internationalization among family firms.