External Dynamics Research Articles

Extremum Seeking for Wind and Solar Energy Applications

This paper explores the advantages of extremum seeking (ES) for wind and solar energy applications. The experimental results are also provided for the photovoltaic system. ES is an attractive alternative to perturb and observe (P&O) techniques for solving maximum power point tracking (MPPT) problems in wind and solar systems. As a model-free, real-time optimization approach, ES is well suited for systems with unknown dynamics or those that are affected by high levels of uncertainty or external dynamics, like wind turbines (WT) and PV systems. ES has the dual benefit of rigorously provable convergence and the simplicity of hardware implementation. In addition to a probing signal, the ES algorithm employs only an integrator, as well as optional high-pass and a low-pass filters. Finally, multivariable MPPT based on ES for PV systems are presented, and the validity of the proposed algorithms with experimental results are verified. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the Newton-based MPPT versus its scalar and multivariable gradient-based counterparts.

Electron Transfer-Based Single Molecule Fluorescence as a Probe for Nano-Environment Dynamics

Electron transfer (ET) is one of the most important elementary processes that takes place in fundamental aspects of biology, chemistry, and physics. In this review, we discuss recent research on single molecule probes based on ET. We review some applications, including the dynamics of glass-forming systems, surface binding events, interfacial ET on semiconductors, and the external field-induced dynamics of polymers. All these examples show that the ET-induced changes of fluorescence trajectory and lifetime of single molecules can be used to sensitively probe the surrounding nano-environments.

"Which Dynamic Capability is Crucial in Dynamic Settings? Analyzing Marketing, R&D and Manufacturing"

The concept of dynamic capabilities has gained significant interest ever since its introduction to the strategic management field in the late 90’s. Nevertheless, a lack of research concerning the distinctive values of capabilities still exists. Moreover, empirical research that compares various dynamic capabilities under different levels of dynamism is equally lacking. Therefore, we have conducted a large empirical analysis of 299 randomly chosen German firms and thus contribute to remedying that lack of research. The results show that if external dynamism is considered dynamic capabilities have an ambivalent effect on firm performance depending on the studied capability. Interestingly, dynamic marketing capabilities prove to have a positive performance effect, whereas dynamic research and development capabilities hamper the firms’ competitive advantage.

Evaluation of the competitiveness of Russian products in world, CIS, EAEC, and non-CIS markets

Based on statistical indicators of external trade, the condition and dynamics of competitiveness of Russia on CIS markets, including EAEC, non-CIS countries, and the world as a whole, are analyzed in the article. An analysis was conducted for products of the mechanical engineering, chemical, fuel, timber, wood-working, pulp-and-paper, light, and food industries.

Interactions with the Outside: Exploring Non-Profit Resource Mobilization for Hispanic Immigrants in the Washington D.C. Metro Area

This research looks at the interaction between a non-profit that serves lowincome immigrants, the community, current immigration policy, and the immigrant population to understand the impact of this system on the growing Hispanic immigrant population in the DC metropolitan area. Over a period of 3 months the external and internal dynamics of the non-profit were observed through participant observation and through qualitative interviews. From this, the effectiveness of the current resource framework is assessed and the underlying processes involved in resource mobilization are analyzed. Drawing elements from the social movements framework, the major resources utilized and the processes of mobilization will be examined within the non-profit context. These resources and strategies propose a model of resource mobilization within the non-profit where cultural and human resources are emphasized to offset fundamental changes in how material resources are utilized, while socio-organizational and human resources are used to offset the impact of unfavorable policy towards immigrants. The implications of this system for the Hispanic immigrant population are discussed along with areas for future research.

Understanding diachronic change in Cappadocian Greek

This article challenges the widely held view that a series of pervasive diachronic innovations in Cappadocian Greek owe their development to language contact with Turkish. Placing particular emphasis on its genealogical relationships with the other dialects of Asia Minor, the claim is that language change in Cappadocian is best understood when considered within a larger dialectological context. Examining the limited use of the definite article as a case in point and in comparison with parallel developments attested in Pontic and Silliot Greek, it is shown in detail that the surface similarity of the outcomes of Cappadocian innovations to their Turkish structural equivalents represents the final stages in long series of language-internal developments whose origins predate the intensification of Cappadocian–Turkish contact. The article thus offers an alternative to contact-oriented approaches and calls for a revision of accepted views on the language-internal and -external dynamics that shaped Cappadocian into its modern form.

Management control systems (MCS) change and the impact of top management characteristics: the case of healthcare organisations

The objective of this article is to answer the following research question: how can actors implement management control systems (MCS) change processes if their actions and rationality are conditioned by the institutions they wish to change? More specifically: (1) how do individual variables of the top management team interact with external dynamics? (2) how do individual variables of the top management team interact with intra-organisational dynamics? In that respect, the article analyzes the change process implemented by an Italian independent hospital, using a processual research approach. The article deals with the dynamic interactions between individual characteristics of the top management team (TMT)—as codified by the upper echelon perspective—and the social external and intra-organisational variables identified by institutional studies. Our findings show how leadership and heterogeneity of TMTs interact with internal and external dynamics and play a key role in the change process analyzed.

Использование мониторинговых технологий в процессе разработки стратегии развития рынка гостиничных услуг (на примере Московского региона)

The necessity for continuous market condition monitoring, which is called forth by the intensive external environment dynamics, makes monitoring technologies a priority in terms of industry research. Unlike conventional marketing analysis, monitoring affords the opportunity to collect and store information over a relatively extended period of time, which provides a solid ground for and benefits the quality of managerial decision making.
 The article aims at identifying the special aspects of pre- and in-monitoring with the hotel industry targeted, and presents the monitoring procedure worked out and applied by the authors (case study: the Moscow region hotel service sector).

Paralleled DC Boost Converters with Feedback Control using PSO Optimization Technique for Photovoltaic Module Application

3 E.E.Dept.,SVNIT,Surat ABSTRACT this paper a novel method of controller design for boost type dc-dc converter is proposed. DC/DC converters are widely used in photovoltaic generating systems as an interface between the photovoltaic panel and the load. Therefore, a better possible control technique is required in order to control the variation in output voltage of DC/DC converter due to the variation occurring in the external dynamics input parameters such as radiation, temperature and internal impedance of the photovoltaic (PV) module. In this paper, two paralleled DC/DC converter with a closed loop PWM based control is simulated to obtain constant output voltage. The optimal values of feedback PID controller are obtained using Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm (PSOA). Extensive simulation result is found out with linear controller parameters and the same are presented here. Here comparison of the output of the PSOA based design and design of PID controller with transient performance specification (T-PID) for under- damped system is done. The PSO based tuning of PID controller is much better as determined by the simulation results.

Multibody dynamics of floating wind turbines with large-amplitude motion

A new approach to multibody dynamics is investigated by treating floating wind turbines as multibody systems. The system is considered as three rigid bodies: the tower, nacelle and rotor. Three large-amplitude rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs) of the tower are described by 1-2-3 sequence Euler angles. Translation of the entire system is described by Newton’s second Law applied to the center of mass (CM) of the system and transferred to 3 translational DOFs of the tower. Additionally, two prescribed DOFs governed by mechanical control, nacelle yaw and rotor spin, are combined with the 6 DOFs of the tower to formulate the 8-DOF equations of motion (EOMs) of the system. The CM of the system is generally time-varying and not constrained to any rigid body due to the arbitrary location of the CM of each body and relative mechanical motions among the bodies. The location of the CM being independent of any body is considered in both the solution to 3 translational DOFs and the calculation of angular momentum of each body for 3 rotational DOFs. The theorem of conservation of momentum is applied to the entire multibody system directly to solve 6 unknown DOFs. Motions computed using the six nonlinear EOMs are transformed to each body in a global coordinate system at every time-step for use in the computation of hydrodynamics, aerodynamics and restoring forcing, which preserves the nonlinearity between external excitation and structural dynamics. The new method is demonstrated by simulation of the motion of a highly compliant floating wind turbine. Results are verified by critical comparison with those of the popular wind turbine dynamics software FAST.

The transition from products to solutions: External business model fit and dynamics

This article provides empirical evidence and contributes to theory building concerning business model fit and dynamics in the area of solutions business. Business models are seen in this context as going beyond considerations such as offerings and internal processes or even relationships, and as including network and market considerations. Indeed the paper highlights the fact that a business model is not firm-focused, nor dyad-focused, but rather network-, and even market-focused, demonstrating that a business model is not static, but dynamic. Manufacturer and customer continuously shift form and content of their respective business models to adapt both to the needs of the counterpart and to market context. A qualitative case study approach is adopted, with subsequent content analysis. The case study relates to the aerospace industry with focus on a complex engineering firm, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, its customer — a national airline — and their network partners of various kinds. The data were collected through multiple face-to-face interviews with managers in both companies, as a part and parcel of a network of actors that influences and is influenced by the supplier–buyer relationship. Relationships over time between these firms and network partners are described, highlighting the interplay of products and services related to the provision of solutions. Findings highlight the dynamic nature of business models over the relationship lifecycle between supplier and customer in a complex engineering environment, and the need for reciprocal adjustment of models.

Patriotismo o universalismo proletario. El lugar del mundo en el obrerismo y el socialismo colombiano, 1904-1930

¿Cuál es el rol de los agentes y dinámicas externas en la introducción de una corriente política en un país como Colombia? ¿Una intensa conexión con el exterior es signo de una fructífera modernización de los discursos y las prácticas políticas? Este texto indaga acerca de la manera como los grupos obreristas y socialistas de comienzos del siglo XX se situaron ante el mundo, esto es, cómo definieron la patria a la que aspiraban y qué lugar le dieron en el conjunto universal. Se muestra cómo en un primer momento los activistas políticos ligados al mundo popular optaron por una baja intensidad de sus relaciones directas con Europa y Estados Unidos, afirmando su búsqueda de mayor igualdad dentro de una vindicación de la patria nacional. En una etapa posterior, los socialistas rechazarán la nación, ilusionados por un universalismo comunista que los puso en un amplio contacto con lo que llegó a considerarse como la matriz de una nueva humanidad, sólo que al precio de enajenarse la simpatía de quienes pretendían representar.

Las asociaciones de inmigrantes africanos. Organización, proyección y actuaciones

Associations for foreign-origin people have grown notably since the nineteen-nineties, and more so in the first decade of the 21st century. This growth has been influenced by the interests of their members but also by the social, political and institutional context that has favoured, while also conditioning, them. The work presented here contains the results of a survey carried out among 206 representatives of associations of African-origin immigrants in the Catalonia, Valencia and Navarre regions, with the aim of defining the profile of these associations, their organisation, working and activities. Among the questions dealt with, we see how this associational activity is still relatively new. It has no common organizational structure, but rather the structures and strategies that each association acquires depend on its internal and external dynamics, its members’ interests and its age.

Activism and Social Movements in South-East Asia

South-East Asia has been characterized by rapid economic growth and enduring so- cio-political disruptions. After the Second World War, many independent movements in the region ended up in or were replaced by authoritarian regimes. Only in the past few decades, mass protests have led to the fall of some of these authoritarian regimes, including the Philippines and Indonesia. Social movements and collective activism have played a crucial role in these upheavals. The region has seen an emer- gence of various forms of collective action and social activism ranging from small- scale mobilization to mass movements concerned with social justice, political and democratic freedom, gender, minorities, and the environment as well as civic, ethnic, indigenous, and human rights.The history of social movements is deeply connected with the struggle for social change. Forming a heterogeneous compound of collective actors with a variety of demands and strategies, social movements essentially represent the conscious, con- certed, and sustained efforts by ordinary people to change some aspect of their soci- ety by using extra-institutional means (Goodwin & Jasper, 2009, p. 3). As a complex system of relations and networks, social movements transcend local, regional, and national borders and connect very different actors on various levels (Van Dyke & Mc- Cammon, 2010). The heterogeneous groups and networks demonstrate manifold pro- cesses of emergence, formation, organization, and transformation, which render any analysis of internal and external dynamics a significant challenge to the researcher.In the past, research on collective action and social activism was mainly focused on issues of labor, class, and the nation, referring mainly to Marxist and structural- functionalist traditions (Delia Porta & Diani, 2006). In South-East Asia, this overlap of the working class movement and emerging nationalism became obvious, for exam- ple, with the strong independent movements in Burma/Myanmar, French Indochina, Indonesia (with the third largest Communist Party outside of the Soviet Union and China), or the Philippines (Anderson, 1998, pp. 7-8). The emergence of the so called social movements, which mobilized actors across class boundaries, including women, students, ethnic minorities, migrants, or peasants, prompted a quick and innovative response with regard to empirical and theoretical analysis and has led to the proliferation of a range of social movement theories (Delia Porta & Diani, 2006). In this context, collective action and identity theory, for example, points to the social psychology of collective behavior (McCarthy & Zald, 2009, p. 193; cf. Calhoun, 1994; Cohen, 1985; Melucci, 1995), while resource mobilization theory addresses the more deliberate and strategic behavior and rational choices of conscious actors, notably in the early work of Mayer Zald and Charles Tilly (Freeman, 1979; Jenkins, 1983; Mc- Carthy & Zald, 1977). The political process theory focuses on the political and insti- tutional environment in which social actors operate (McAdam 1982; Tilly, 1978) and the new social movement theory highlights the structural origins of social conflict (Melucci, 1989,1996; Touraine, 1981). Each of these approaches gives some proliferate answers to questions with regard to the structural conditions and pre-requisites for the emergence of collective action, the cultural and symbolic production of meaning and identity, the role of political and economic regimes, and the availability or non- availability of organizational and individual resources. These theoretical advances open a broad space for innovative analytical frameworks for the study of social activ- ism and protest originating in the global South - a site rarely regarded as the place of production of social movements theory (Boudreau, 2004). Indeed, existing discrepan- cies between the geographical and historical roots of social movements theory and social movement activity today have been increasingly addressed by scholars from both social studies and area studies (Ford, 2013; Foweraker, 1995). …

External forcings, oceanographic processes and particle flux dynamics in Cap de Creus submarine canyon, NW Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Particle fluxes (including major components and grain size), and oceanographic parameters (near-bottom water temperature, current speed and suspended sediment concentration) were measured along the Cap de Creus submarine canyon in the Gulf of Lions (GoL; NW Mediterranean Sea) during two consecutive winter-spring periods (2009–2010 and 2010–2011). The comparison of data obtained with the measurements of meteorological and hydrological parameters (wind speed, turbulent heat flux, river discharge) have shown the important role of atmospheric forcings in transporting particulate matter through the submarine canyon and towards the deep sea. Indeed, atmospheric forcing during 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 winter months showed differences in both intensity and persistence that led to distinct oceanographic responses. Persistent dry northern winds caused strong heat losses (14.2 × 103 W m−2) in winter 2009–2010 that triggered a pronounced sea surface cooling compared to winter 2010–2011 (1.6 × 103 W m−2 lower). As a consequence, a large volume of dense shelf water formed in winter 2009–2010, which cascaded at high speed (up to ∼1 m s−1) down Cap de Creus Canyon as measured by a current-meter in the head of the canyon. The lower heat losses recorded in winter 2010–2011, together with an increased river discharge, resulted in lowered density waters over the shelf, thus preventing the formation and downslope transport of dense shelf water. High total mass fluxes (up to 84.9 g m−2 d−1) recorded in winter-spring 2009–2010 indicate that dense shelf water cascading resuspended and transported sediments at least down to the middle canyon. Sediment fluxes were lower (28.9 g m−2 d−1) under the quieter conditions of winter 2010–2011. The dominance of the lithogenic fraction in mass fluxes during the two winter-spring periods points to a resuspension origin for most of the particles transported down canyon. The variability in organic matter and opal contents relates to seasonally controlled inputs associated with the plankton spring bloom during March and April of both years.

Cracking the USA? Interpreting UK-to-US TV drama translations

For well over half a century, British TV drama production has both inherited from and aimed to appeal to nations and cultures beyond the UK, particularly the lucrative (yet notoriously tough) US TV market. However, in the context of mainstream American broadcasting, British-produced imports have never been anything more than a peripheral presence on US small screens. A currently prominent production strategy aiming to counter the mainstream US TV market's aversion to foreign-sourced drama, in an attempt to access prime-time broadcasting positions, is a process which can be labelled as UK-to-US TV drama ‘translation’: the ‘recreation’ of British-based dramas within an American cultural framework. Whilst the cultural reconfiguration of game show and reality/lifestyle TV formats has received heightened critical attention in recent years, investigation into the international translation of TV drama remains less developed. This paper investigates both the internal textual operations and the external production dynamics involved in the process of UK-to-US TV drama translation, drawing on direct interview material from industry professionals. The UK and US versions of the crime drama Cracker constitute the core translation case study, utilising the close analysis of text and production context as a lens through which to examine the mechanics of UK-to-US TV drama translation.

An Introduction to Mindset Theory

This paper develops a socio-cognitive theory of the (normative or organisational) personality of a plural agency. To do this we first explore the principles of Maruyama’s meta-theory of mindscapes, and establish a directly related Mindset Theory that gives mindscape theory a broader modelling capacity with greater transparency, and both are superior to the more empirically derived approaches like Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI). A “mindscape” can be understood as a construct from which coherent sets of behavioural mind sets can emerge. A specific set of behaviours and demands would be typical for a social-cognitive system that is ruled by a single mindscape. However, pure mindscapes are extremes, and will likely be rarely observed to rule a single agency (any culturally anchored social). In any self-referential, self-regulating, self-organising and pro-active social system different modes of thought related to different mindscapes are prevalent. As highlighted by Bandura, such interaction between prevalent forces can be modelled with cybernetic approaches, and we create a typology to show the capacity of different cybernetic theories to model personality. The interaction referred to is also the driver for the internal dynamics of a system. Boje (2004) has shown that Maruyama-mindscapes are a constrained set of personality mind set types that can be assigned to a personality (or in the context of a social, a “normative personality”). Boje intuited that Maruyama's mindscapes could be explained through three Foucaultian trait dimensions: knowledge, ethics and power which could operate as a trait basis for mindscape modes. This approach has led him to the creation of a means by which mindscapes can be broadly related with Myers-Briggs Type Inventory cognitive types. The lack of empirical basis for Boje’s traits has led us to create an alternative trait basis that arises from the extensive empirical work on cultural values undertaken by Schwartz (1994). The result is the creation of what we call Sagiv-Schwartz (2007) Mindset Types. We then elaborate on this through the development of agency theory within which we discuss the role of cultural and social environments with respect to the internal and external dynamics of social systems. A culturally based socio-cognitive agency meta-model is then introduced that sits on “living systems” theory. The agency is adaptive, has a normative personality, and an epistemic state determined by its formative traits, the function of which is control. These traits can take bi-polar epistemic values called enantiomers that combine together to give 8 different possible cognitive types that define the personality type mind-set. The personality type is influenced by the culture that the agency is bound to. The traits can be used to explain the what, why and how of dynamic agency behaviour in complex situations. This research creates a generic model that has the potential to distinguish between normal and abnormal personalities in the same framework, something that appears to be missing from the literature, and for which there is a call.

Dynamic modeling of flexible multibody system using a meshing method

Multi-rigid-body system dynamics can be used to investigate the dynamics of a mechanical system of rigid bodies while the finite element method is often utilized to model the quasi-static elastic deformations of an elastic structure. However, neither of these two methods can resolve the real dynamics of a mechanical system when both rigid displacements and elastic deformations coexist. Therefore, this article proposes a meshing method to simulate the mechanical system with uniform mass point movements. To split the specified solid structure into a set of regularly distributed dynamic units, one can assume that the mass density of the structure is evenly distributed within the whole concrete volume and the elasticity and damping of the material are isotropic. Then the whole solid structure of each component can be divided into a number of tetrahedrons the vertexes of which are the points with the mass parameters. The original distances between every pair of adjacent points are supposed to be identical, and the stiffness and the damping coefficients are introduced to formulate the internal and external dynamics of the adjacent mass points. To illustrate the correction and effectiveness of the method, the dynamics problems of a number of regular elastic bodies are investigated with large rigid displacements accompanying elastic deformations. Computer simulations demonstrate that this method is especially useful for real mechanical systems where the rigid displacements and elastic deformations coexist.

Can Robust Bilateral Cooperation on Common Rivers between Bangladesh and India Enhance Multilateral Cooperation on Water Security in South Asia?

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes 1. Gopal Siwakoti, Trans-Boundary River Basins in South Asia: Options for Conflict Resolution, International Rivers, Kathmandu, 2011. 2. A. Nishat and I.M. Faisal, ‘An Assessment of the Institutional Mechanisms for Water Negotiations in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna System’, International Negotiations, 5, 2000, pp. 289–310. 3. Water Security for India: The External Dynamics, IDSA Task Force Report, The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, 2011. 4. Towhidul Anwar Khan, Trans-boundary Water Issues in South Asia, Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association, Dhaka, 2007. 5. The Bangladesh India Joint Sub-group on the Tipaimukh Project met for the first time in August 2012 to work out the terms of reference over a joint study of the project's impact on the ecology. 6. An agreement on the Teesta river was due to be signed by the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India in September 2011 but fell through at the last minute due to the complexities of Indian domestic politics. Progress has been slow since then but has featured prominently in bilateral interactions. 7. Global Water Security, Intelligence Community Assessment, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ICA, Washington, February 2012. 8. Geoffrey Pyatt, ‘Hydro Diplomacy for Regional Cooperation over Himalayan Watersheds’, South Asia Journal, 1, July 2011, pp. 24–27. 9. Fresh Water under Threat: South Asia, United Nations Environment Programme, 2009, at http://www.unep.org/pdf/southasia_report.pdf

Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste: Finding a Way between External Intervention and Local Dynamics

This article highlights the importance of interaction between peace missions and local dynamics, drawing on Tsing's work on frictions. It is centred on the United Nations (UN) peace intervention in Timor-Leste, discussing different examples of frictions, which have the potential to undermine or empower the peacebuilding efforts underway. The analysis stresses the unpredictable effects of applying the UN liberal peace model. It is argued that processes of friction, often consisting of an incremental build-up of intermediate results shape and form the (un)sustainability of any peacebuilding process initiated by an external intervention and, consequently, should be identified and analysed in order to enhance or minimize their positive/negative contribution towards building peace.