External Action Research Articles

SELF-MARKETING AS AN INNOVATIVE METHOD OF LABOR MARKET RESEARCH

It has long been known that a team is something more than a simple logical arrangement of employees performing interconnected tasks. Management theorists and practitioners understood that the organization is also a social system where individuals and formal and informal groups interact. And the productivity of work, the health of employees and many other things depend on the psychological climate, on the mood of each employee. With the correct arrangement of human resources in the organization, with the correct handling of conflict situations, a breakthrough, a synergistic effect occurs. An organization becomes something more than the sum of its components. This new system becomes much more resistant to external actions, but is easily destroyed if this unity of elements is not maintained. The "organism" of the organization must be provided with a mechanism that would ensure the constant regeneration of lost goals, tasks and functions, would determine all new and new expectations of employees. In management science, there are quite sophisticated socio-psychological methods that can be used to achieve the desired effect. Socio-psychological methods of management mean specific techniques and methods of action on the process of formation and development of the team itself and individual employees. There are two methods: social (aimed at the team as a whole) and psychological (aimed at individuals within the team). These methods imply the introduction of various sociological and psychological procedures into management practice. The quality of the social and psychological climate in the team determines the leader's attitude to society as a whole, to his organization and to each person individually. If, in his understanding, a person is presented as a resource, raw material and production base, then such an approach will not give the proper result, in the management process there will be a skew and a lack or recalculation of resources to perform a specific task. People's actions are always partly based on the assumptions they make, and this is especially true of human resource management. The most important assumptions we make (whether these people can be trusted, whether they like their work, whether they can be creative, why they behave the way they do and how they should be treated) make up our human resource management philosophy. Any HR decisions we make (about the people we hire, the training we provide, the benefits you offer) reflect (for better or worse) the fundamentals of this philosophy.

White psychodrama

White psychodrama

Affect of the Scattering Asymmetry by Structural Element of Thermal- or Environmental-Barrier Ceramics on Subsurface Radiant Overheating

The problem of the formation and estimation of a thermoradiant and temperature field in ceramics Thermal- Environmental-Barrier Coatings (TBC/EBC) has been considered with complex heat transfer but under the influence of the penetrating intense radiant component. The authors proposed to analyze not only TBC but also EBC from the point of view of the optics of semitransparent scattering and absorbing media in the range of ~0.4–4 μm of external radiant action. This paradigm allows us to continue the study of ceramic fibers embedded in ceramic matrix CMCs (C/C, C/SiC, SiC/SiC) as a traditional class of opaque materials. However, at the same time, mullites, Al2O3/Al2O3 have been reviewed as a class of semitransparent elements for designing CMCs. The relevance of studying the effect of oriented fibers on the formation of thermoradiation and temperature fields in a semitransparent material was noted. Modeling the scattering asymmetry coefficient influence (scattering phase function) on the generation of the subsurface thermal radiation source was carried out. The methodology for calculating the thermoradiative field in a semitransparent medium (with relative absorption, scattering indexes, and scattering asymmetry coefficient) was used under a one-dimensional two-flux model as the first approximation for solving the radiative heat transfer equation. Calculations of temperature profiles in opaque and semitransparent ceramics were presented under heat load typical for the combustion chambers operating regime of diesel and gas turbine engines.

Textured Ba2NdFeNb4O15 thin films on Si(001) substrate

A series of Ba2NdFeNb4O15 thin films with a thickness from 75 nm to 1 μm on Si(001) substrates was fabricated by RF-cathode sputtering. The surface of the films was smooth and uniform. Ba2NdFeNb4O15/Si(001) thin films were polycrystalline with the c-axis texture. A significant increase in the lattice parameter c of the films was found in comparison with the bulk sample. It was found that an external field action could create polarized regions in both thin and thick films, but rapid relaxation of these regions took place.

The Role of EEAS Chairs in Council Negotiations on Foreign and Security Policy Post‐Lisbon

AbstractThis article examines the impact of the introduction of a permanent chair in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Lisbon Treaty transferred the functions of the rotating Presidency to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, represented at lower levels by officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS). Whilst the permanent chair was intended to improve effectiveness in CFSP negotiations, recent deadlocks challenge such expectations. Drawing on sociological approaches, we show that the ability of EEAS chairs to uphold the impartiality norm has been undermined by the fact that they are perceived as ‘outsiders’ by national negotiators. This has had negative consequences on the chairs' capacity to fulfil key roles of organiser, broker and political leader and, in turn, negotiation dynamics. Based on these findings, we argue for the need to take norms and identity factors more seriously when designing institutions.

МЕТОД ПІДТВЕРДЖЕННЯ РЕСУРСНИХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК МЕТАЛЕВОЇ ЛОПАТІ НЕСУЧОГО ГВИНТА ВЕРТОЛЬОТА ЗА РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМИ ВИПРОБУВАНЬ

The helicopter main rotor blade is the basic product that determines the reliability and service life of the helicopter as a whole. The problem of predicting and ensuring the specified blade life is an urgent problem considered at the stage of its design. The analysis of the design, structural materials and design and technological solutions of the main rotor blade (RB) of the Mi-8 helicopter has been carried out. A brief description of the main rotor blade of the Mi-8 helicopter is presented. The analysis was carried out and a standard flight cycle (SFC) of the helicopter was developed. The type of bench equipment for carrying out bench fatigue tests of the blade has been selected and justified. The loads on the main rotor blade for the SFC are determined. To determine the fatigue life of a blade, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the stress-strain state. The calculation of the stress-strain state (SSS) of a blade by the finite element method (FEM) using the ANSYS system is presented. The characteristics of the stress-strain state of the spar of the regular and irregular parts of the rotor blade of a helicopter are determined using the ANSYS system. The use of numerical methods for calculating the characteristics of the stress-strain state can significantly reduce the time and cost of designing a blade. The paper presents the results of calculating the regular part of the main rotor blade of the Mi-8 helicopter in the hover mode in the case of its loading with aerodynamic and inertial load from rotation, as well as the force from its own weight. With the help of the ANSYS system, a finite element model of the regular part of the blade was developed, consisting of a set of beam elements of variable section, a calculation was carried out taking into account the geometric nonlinearity of the structure's behavior, and an analysis of the results obtained was carried out. To describe the response of materials to an external action, a model of an elastically deformable isotropic body was used with the assignment of the corresponding elastic constants of the material. The analysis of the calculation results includes the determination of reactions at the attachment points, the values of the maximum displacements of structural elements and stresses in dangerous sections. Dangerous sections are determined and the values of the longitudinal force and bending moment in these sections are calculated. The assessment of the static strength of the blade by the safety factor was carried out. When evaluating the static strength, the equivalent stresses according to Mises were considered as the maximum design stresses. To assess the fatigue strength, we analyzed the distribution of the main tensile stresses in the power elements over typical stress concentrators. The maximum level of the main tensile stresses in the dangerous section indicates that the blade material operates in the zone of high-cycle fatigue. A technique for calibrating strain gauge channels has been developed. The calculation of the characteristics of the rotor blade of a helicopter is based on the requirements set forth in the technical literature, regulatory documents. When performing work, the requirements of the Aviation Rules, Part 29 (AP - 29) were taken into account. These studies were the basis for the development of a method for confirming the resource characteristics of a helicopter main rotor blade based on the results of flight and bench tests.

Electrochemo-poromechanics of Ionic Polymer Metal Composites: Towards the Accurate Finite Element Modelling of Actuation and Sensing

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) consist of an electroactive polymeric membrane, which is plated with metal electrodes and includes a fluid phase of ions in a solvent, whose diffusion allows for actuation and sensing applications. We build on a previous finite-deformation theory of our group that accounts for the cross-diffusion of ions and solvent and couples the mass balances of these species with the stress balance and the Gauss law. Here, we abandon the assumption that the fluid phase is a dilute solution, with benefits on both modelling and computation. A reliable finite element (FE) implementation of electrochemomechanical theories for IPMCs is challenging because the IPMC behaviour is governed by boundary layers (BLs) occurring in tiny membrane regions adjacent to the electrodes, where steep gradients of species concentrations occur. We address this issue by adopting the generalized FE method to discretise the BLs. This allows unprecedented analyses of the IPMC behaviour since it becomes possible to explore it under external actions consistent with applications, beside obtaining accurate predictions with a reasonable computational cost. Hence, we provide novel results concerning the influence of the membrane permittivity on the species profiles at the BLs. Additionally, by leveraging on the mobility matrix, we establish that the initial peak deflection in actuation strongly depends on the constitutive equations for the species transport and discuss the predictions of some experimental results from the literature. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of the proposed model to be an effective tool for the thorough analysis and design of IPMCs.

European Foreign Policy Towards Hybrid Actors in the Middle East and North Africa: An Exploration of Diplomatic Practices

ABSTRACT Diplomacy increasingly demands taking into account a large variety of polities, featuring not only state but also non-state actors (such as IGOs and NGOs) and ‘hybrid’ actors. Particularly in the broader Middle East and North Africa region, hybrid actors are important players in local, regional and international order. The European Union and its Member States have a distinct interest in gaining influence in the geopolitics of the region and are increasingly confronted with these actors in their external actions. Yet, little is known about how European foreign policy practitioners and diplomats deal with hybrid actors in practice. By providing a rich empirical account based on 37 interviews in the context of fieldwork in Brussels and Beirut, this research goes beyond existing analyses of official European policies and discourse towards hybrid actors. Building on recent advancements in practice theory and insights from political geography, the article emphasises the influence of space and the ubiquity of oblique routes shaping European foreign policy practices.

Facile methods for fabricating wettability patterns on metal substrates

Extreme-wettability-patterned surfaces have attracted great attention due to their excellent application prospects for liquid manipulation. However, developing a simple and universal method to fabricate wettability patterns on a variety of metals remains a great challenge. In this work, three specific preparation approaches were developed to fabricate wettability patterns on copper substrates using chemical processing combined with mask technology. Surface wettability can be suitably controlled by changing the solution concentration and immersion time. The surface has good stability and low pollution under external action. The three preparation methods have differences in preparation process, wettability and mask function. On the basis of these approaches, various complex wettability patterns could be prepared on different metal substrates using designed masks. Furthermore, various wettability-patterned surfaces were successfully fabricated for liquid manipulation applications, such as controlling the fluid shape and water transport. The methods proposed are expected to have promising application potential in patternable printing, water collection and heat-dissipation devices.

A Data-Driven Analysis of Behaviors in Data Curation Processes

Understanding how data workers interact with data, and various pieces of information related to data preparation, is key to designing systems that can better support them in exploring datasets. To date, however, there is a paucity of research studying the strategies adopted by data workers as they carry out data preparation activities. In this work, we investigate a specific data preparation activity, namely data quality discovery , and aim to (i) understand the behaviors of data workers in discovering data quality issues, (ii) explore what factors (e.g., prior experience) can affect their behaviors, as well as (iii) understand how these behavioral observations relate to their performance. To this end, we collect a multi-modal dataset through a data-driven experiment that relies on the use of eye-tracking technology with a purpose-designed platform built on top of iPython Notebook. The experiment results reveal that: (i) ‘copy–paste–modify’ is a typical strategy for writing code to complete tasks; (ii) proficiency in writing code has a significant impact on the quality of task performance, while perceived difficulty and efficacy can influence task completion patterns; and (iii) searching in external resources is a prevalent action that can be leveraged to achieve better performance. Furthermore, our experiment indicates that providing sample code within the system can help data workers get started with their task, and surfacing underlying data is an effective way to support exploration. By investigating data worker behaviors prior to each search action, we also find that the most common reasons that trigger external search actions are the need to seek assistance in writing or debugging code and to search for relevant code to reuse. Based on our experiment results, we showcase a systematic approach to select from the top best code snippets created by data workers and assemble them to achieve better performance than the best individual performer in the dataset. By doing so, our findings not only provide insights into patterns of interactions with various system components and information resources when performing data curation tasks, but also build effective and efficient data curation processes through data workers’ collective intelligence.

On multi-material topology optimisation problems under inhomogeneous Neumann–Dirichlet boundary conditions

This work deals with the topology optimisation of structures made of multiple material phases. The proposed approach is based on non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS) hyper-surfaces to represent the geometric descriptor related to each material phase composing the continuum, and an improved multiphase material interpolation (MMI) scheme to penalise the stiffness tensor of the structure. In this context, the problem is formulated in the most general case by considering inhomogeneous Neumann–Dirichlet boundary conditions and by highlighting the differences between two different problem formulations. The first one uses the work of applied forces and displacements as cost function and the resulting optimisation problem is not self-adjoint. The second one considers the generalised compliance (related to the total potential energy), and the resulting optimisation problem is self-adjoint. Moreover, the improved MMI scheme proposed here does not require the introduction of artificial filtering techniques to smooth the boundary of the topological descriptors of the material phases composing the structure. The effectiveness of the method is proven on both 2D and 3D problems. Specifically, an extensive campaign of numerical analyses is conducted to investigate the influence of the type of geometric descriptor, of the integer parameters involved in the definition of the NURBS entity, of the type of cost function, of the type of lightness requirement, of the number and type of material phases, of the applied boundary conditions on the optimised topology. • Topology optimisation of multi-material media under mixed boundary conditions • The generalised compliance is used as a measure of the structural stiffness • The work of external actions is not a self-adjoint function (unlike the compliance) • The geometrical descriptor of each material phase is a NURBS hyper-surface • Influence of NURBS parameters and number of materials on the optimal solution

Flextegrity simple cubic lattices

Flextegrity lattices are spatial grids composed of stiff segments kept in contact by compliant pre-tensioned tendons. The kinematic skeleton is sensible to the orientation of the segments, since their relative rotation produces the straining of the tendons to an amount that depends upon the angle of rotation and the shape of the pitch surfaces of the contact joints: these dictate the constitutive properties of the lattice in response to external actions. Two- and three-dimensional lattices are investigated, in which the contact pitch surfaces, obtained with axial-symmetric toothed conjugate profiles, mimic the kinematics of spheres, centred at the nodes of a simple cubic lattice, in pure rolling motion. The allowed mechanisms are discussed under infinitesimal deformation, to recognize possible eigenstress states in the lattice. The response under finite deformations is worked out for two-dimensional lattices under symmetric and asymmetric loading. The theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results on 3D-printed physical models. Possible extensions are discussed for lattices with segments of varying size, different arrangements and multi-stable contact joints. The flextegrity microstructure can represent a mesoscopic model for homogeneous crystals composed of non-pointwise molecules, but it could actually be manufactured in metamaterials with peculiar properties.

When the dynamical writing of coupled memories with reinforcement learning meets physical bounds

Bits manipulation in traditional memory writing is commonly done through quasi-static operations. While simple to model, this method is known to reduce memory capacity. We demonstrate how a reinforcement learning agent can exploit the dynamical response of a simple multi-bit mechanical system to restore its memory. To do so, we introduce a model framework consisting of a chain of bi-stable springs manipulated on one end by the external action of the agent. We show that the agent learns how to reach all available states for three springs, even though some states are not reachable through adiabatic manipulation, and that training is significantly improved using transfer learning techniques. Interestingly, the agent also points to an optimal system design by taking advantage of the underlying physics. Indeed, the control time exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on the internal dissipation, reaching a minimum at a cross-over shown to verify a mechanically motivated scaling relation.

Recover Data about Detected Defects of Underground Metal Elements of Constructions in Amazon Elasticsearch Service

This paper examines data manipulation in terms of data recovery using cloud computing and search engine. Accidental deletion or problems with the remote service cause information loss. This case has unpredictable consequences, as data must be re-collected. In some cases, this is not possible due to system features. The primary purpose of this work is to offer solutions for received data on detected defects of underground metal structural elements using modern information technologies. The main factors that affect underground metal structural elements' durability are the soil environment's external action and constant maintenance-free use. Defects can usually occur in several places, so control must be carried out along the entire length of the underground network. To avoid the loss of essential data, approaches for recovery using Amazon Web Service and a developed web service based on the REST architecture are considered. The general algorithm of the system is proposed in work to collect and monitor data on defects of underground metal structural elements. The result of the study for the possibility of data recovery using automatic snapshots or backup data duplication for the developed system.

EU Orchestration in the Nuclear Weapons Regime Complex

While often recognised as a difficult actor in global efforts addressing the proliferation, control, and disarmament of nuclear weapons, the EU is also assumed to have the potential to play a more cohesive “state-like” role, especially in multilateral forum such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review cycle. Such assumptions raise expectations of EU external action and influence, which the EU then invariably fails to meet. This article offers a reframing of how we understand the EU as an actor, focusing on its role in the nuclear weapons regime complex. Specifically, the article considers how, and under what conditions, the EU orchestrates within and across the nuclear weapons regime complex. Drawing on the orchestration and regime complex scholarship, alongside empirical data of EU external action from 2003 to 2019, the article shows how the EU’s natural proclivity for effective multilateralism, coupled with its functional limitations, the political cleavages impeding both the EU and multilateral progress within the regime complex, and the presence of like-minded intermediaries, create ripe conditions for EU orchestration in this field. It further argues that while the EU has struggled to inject agency within individual nuclear negotiation forums, its use of orchestration as a soft and indirect mode of governance is not only well-established but advancing. Orchestration is therefore found to serve as an important metric for understanding and evaluating the scope of EU agency in the nuclear weapons regime complex.

Influence of distracted mutual fund investors on corporate ESG decoupling: evidence from China

PurposeThis study aims to explore whether investors’ inattention is associated with firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) decoupling, which is defined as the misalignment between the implementation and incorporation of ESG policies.Design/methodology/approachFocusing on a sample of the components of ESG ratings for China Securities Index (CSI) 300 companies between 2017 and 2019, the authors test the relationship between firms’ ESG decoupling level and mutual fund investors’ distraction by applying exogenous shocks to their portfolios.FindingsThe results show that firms with distracted mutual fund investors engage in more external than internal ESG actions, leading to a high ESG decoupling level. Mutual fund investors use “threat of exit” rather than “voice” as a governance mechanism to influence corporate ESG decoupling. While external ESG actions mitigate stock price crash risk, internal ESG actions increase firm value; firms with a high ESG decoupling level suffer lower valuations.Practical implicationsThis study has implications for increasing the congruence between firms’ external and internal ESG actions, thereby improving firms’ ESG performance and long-term economic outcomes.Social implicationsThis paper helps policy-makers and regulators to reassess how ESG policies can be implemented to be consistent with organizations’ core business activities.Originality/valueContributing to prior studies of greenwashing and corporate social responsibility decoupling, this paper extends decoupling literature by revisiting ESG impacts in an integrated framework and explores the antecedents of corporate ESG decoupling from the perspective of institutional investor monitoring.

Monitoring of stress distribution in damaged small-scale masonry walls by using two innovative sensors

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) represents a strategic solution for the preservation of cultural heritage buildings. Existing masonry structures often suffer reductions in mechanical performances due to physiological aging of material constituents, external actions, and effect of catastrophic natural events. In many cases, the prompt prediction of damage in masonry elements is difficult and it can cause sudden collapses, compromising the safety of people.The proposed experimental study examines the effectiveness of two low-cost and innovative stress sensors, i.e. piezoelectric and capacitive stress sensors, for SHM of masonry structures. To this scope, the sensors were embedded in the mortar joints of two small-scale clay brick and calcarenite masonry wall specimens consisting of three panels. Experimental tests were carried out by applying a constant vertical compressive load at the top of each specimen and simulating the damage with a progressive reduction of the cross-section of one of the panels. During the tests, the vertical stress distributions (and their variations), were monitored by the sensors. Experimental outcomes from sensor reading were then compared to that numerically provided by a refined finite element simulation of the test. Results will show that vertical stress variations in masonry structures can be effectively accounted by the adopted sensors and potentially interpreted for the early prediction of structural damage.

Dynamic identification of the tabernacle of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Spello, Italy

The conservation of architectural heritage is a primary concern for the preservation of the cultural identity of a population and of the tangible proofs of historic architectural development. Architectural artifacts must be protected over time from all the threats that could derive by both the variation of inherent properties, as the aging of the constituent materials, and external actions, such as natural hazards and strong events, typically earthquakes. The preservation of architectural heritage against seismic events requires an in-depth knowledge of its dynamic properties, which can be affected also by local damages and material degradation.In this work, the experimental tests carried out on the tabernacle of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Spello (Italy) for the estimation of its dynamic properties are presented. The tabernacle has been built at the beginning of the 16th Century by connecting stone elements through internal iron bars, resulting in a multi-block structure with a complex dynamic behavior.An important role for the historical conservation of cultural heritage is entrusted to three-dimensional reconstruction of the built through the innovated techniques of Laser Scanner combined with UAV photogrammetry, that allowed to assess with a high degree of confidence the geometry of the built masterpiece.Ambient Vibration Tests (AVTs) were carried out using 24 accelerometric channels divided in three different setups; the procedures have highlighted the complex behavior of such systems. In order to verify any effects of non-linearity and motion in free oscillation, the tabernacle has been further instrumented through 8 displacement transducers and subjected to an increasing applied lateral force, highlighting a rocking motion due to the presence of hinges located at the base of the columns.The results, have highlighted the crucial role of diagnosis with a multidisciplinary approach in order to achieve proper decisions of interventions in the respect of the cultural heritage.

Self-oscillating systems with controlled phase of external force

The purpose of this work is to study self-oscillatory systems under adaptive external action. This refers to the situation when the phase of the external action additionally depends on the dynamical variable of the oscillator. In a review plan, the results are presented for the case of a linear damped oscillator. Two cases of self-oscillatory systems are studied: the van der Pol oscillator and an autonomous quasi-periodic generator with three-dimensional phase space. Methods. Methods of charts of dynamical regimes and charts of Lyapunov exponents are used, as well as the construction of phase portraits and stroboscopic sections. Results. In a review plan, the results are presented for the case of a linear damped oscillator. Two cases of self-oscillatory systems are studied: the van der Pol oscillator and an autonomous quasi-periodic generator with a three-dimensional phase space. The pictures of characteristic dynamical regimes are described. Scenarios for the development of multidimensional chaos are described. Illustrations are given of the influence of the control parameter, which is responsible for the degree of dependence of the phase on the oscillator variable, on the dynamics of the system at different frequencies of action. Conclusion. The taling into account of the dependence of the phase on a dynamical variable leads to an extension of the tongues of subharmonic resonances, which are weakly expressed in the classical van der Pol oscillator. This is especially noticeable for even resonances of periods 2 and 4. For the generator of quasi-periodic oscillations in the non-autonomous case, three-frequency tori are observed, their regions begin to dominate with an increase in the adaptivity parameter, displacing the tongues of resonant two-frequency tori. A variety of multidimensional chaos characterized by an additional Lyapunov exponent close to zero is discovered, the possibility of developing hyperchaos as a result of destruction is shown.

The EEA Agreement from the Perspective of the European Union's External Action

The EEA Agreement from the Perspective of the European Union's External Action