bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling of laser welding of plates made of dissimilar metals with the use of a composite insert
Authors: Shapeev V P , Cherepanov A N , Isaev V I
Published: November 2019

This paper deals with computer simulations of laser welding of plates made of dissimilar metals using a composite intermediate insert. They are performed with the previously developed 3D numerical model implemented with the collocations and least squares method. The use of the composite insert when welding dissimilar alloys prevents the formation of brittle intermetallic phases that adversely affect the strength of the joint. Based on the proposed mathematical model, the features of butt-welding of titanium and stainless steel plates and aluminum and titanium plates are investigated. The rational thermal conditions of laser welding and the geometric parameters of the welds are determined.
An analysis of vehicle - railway exchanger interaction
Authors: Tudorache M C , Neagoe I
Published: November 2019

The fast variation of the section and contact characteristics of railway exchangers is a difficult matter for an analytical approach. At the same time, vehicle - railway exchanger system includes multiple contact patches, discontinuities in the contact points evolution and the necessity to compute stresses and deformations. As a consequence of the harrs working conditions in the system there is a permanent concern to improve its performance. The analysis of the state of art in the research indicated the need of a complex theory for the study of the mechanical contact. In the paper, a tridimensional analysis of the vehicle - railway exchanger contact patch is carried out using “Contact” software, based on Kalker’s theory. The outcome of the study is the computation of tangential forces, creepage speeds and stresses distribution in the contact patches, in order to elucidate the vehicle evolution during this interaction and the estimation of the running safety.
The vibration behaviour of a freight wagon in the presence of irregularities of the track
Authors: Mazilu T , Dinu V M
Published: November 2019

The paper presents an analysis of the behaviour of the vertical vibration of a freight wagon featured with dry friction dampers in suspension. To this end, the wagon model is reduced to an oscillator with two degrees of freedom corresponding to the suspended mass of the wagon and the wheel. The suspension has progressive characteristic in two steps according to the empty/loaded state. Coulomb’s model is considered to model the dry friction damper. The vibration is induced by the track irregularity which is synthetized from an analytic spectrum. Vibration behaviour exhibits two different aspects: at low speed, the suspension is locked, and at high speed, the stick-slip vibration occurs. Acceleration of the suspended mass of the wagon and wheel-rail contact force increase along the speed. Wagon loaded state influences the wheel-rail contact force, but it has no impact upon the acceleration.
Use of the Ishikawa diagram in the investigation of some industrial processes
Authors: Botezatu C , Condrea I , Oroian B , Hriţuc A , Eţcu M , Slătineanu L
Published: November 2019

The use of the Ishikawa diagram was proposed by Japanese professor Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s. The diagram must highlight the possible causes of a certain effect. In the research presented in this paper, the analysis method based on the design of the Ishikawa diagram was used to identify the factors able to ensure the adequate development of some investigations concerning certain industrial processes. It was found that various criteria could be used to evaluate the effect. Versions of Ishikawa diagrams were proposed in the cases of chemical engraving process, cast iron milling process, 3D printing process and the reliability of computer subsystems, respectively. A comparison of the Ishikawa diagram method with the systemic analysis method highlighted some particular aspects that could be considered when the problem of investigating the influence of certain process input factors on the process output parameters is formulated.
Aluminum based metastable alloys for additive manufacturing
Authors: Nitoi A , Cristea D , Pop M A , Bedo T , Varga B , Munteanu D
Published: November 2019

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a technology which has the potential to replace conventional casting methods. Its capacity to obtain complex shapes is the main advantage over other manufacturing techniques. Metastable structures in the form of supersaturated or amorphous/nano solid solutions could potentially help the manufacturing process, due to energy release during heating, caused by the phase transformations towards stable structures. Aluminum-based alloys are of interest due to their combined high specific strength to weight ratio, good ductility and superior corrosion resistance. The paper presents results concerning the development of Al-Si-Ni alloys in bulk and melt-spun ribbon forms. The thermal stability of the aluminum-based alloys was analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, while some of the mechanical properties were assessed by instrumented indentation. The fast-cooled alloys exhibit metastable structures, inferred from the exothermal peaks observed during heating. A hardening phenomenon was also observed in case of the melt-spun ribbons, compared to the bulk alloys.
Assessing the influence of significative parameters used in 3D Fused Filament Deposition
Authors: Pisarciuc C
Published: November 2019

The present article presents an analysis of the several parameters used at Fused Filament Deposition-FFD 3D printing process. To evaluate these parameters, a laptop / tablet support has been chosen as a subject that presents different characteristics both from the point of view of mechanical demands, to which it is subject, as well as geometry. The reason for choosing such an object to be produced by additive technology is the fact that in its geometry are encountered most of the spatial surfaces that present difficulties to be obtained by this method. In this context, the article highlights the steps that are necessary to get 3D printed objects to meet the initial design requirements. For the assessment of the degree of influence, parameters were identified and then they were evaluated to find an optimal solution. In the conclusions are presented some useful values for practical applications of this type and some considerations about two types of 3D slicers.
Experimental researches concerning the manufacture of multitool 3D printer, type DIY (do it yourself)
Authors: Baila D I , Tonoiu S , Ştefan M C , Sapadin I
Published: November 2019

In the last decade, additive manufacturing has greatly developed and the manufacture of cheaper 3D hybrid (multitool) printers has increased. Hybrid 3D printers are equipped with interchangeable heads for manufacture and permit multiple types of processing such as 3D printing, CNC cutting, laser engraving or deposition of pasty materials. The objective of this paper was to manufacture a hybrid 3D printer prototype, type DIY (do it yourself) and was equipped with g-code software necessary for 3D printing process and for CNC cutting. The materials used for construction for this hybrid 3D printer are cheap and accessible and some of electronic components are reused and recovered from old equipment and the functional 3D hybrid printer obtained can be a model for sustainability of products.
Process planning solution for increasing the productivity and robustness of work schedules for batch production processes
Authors: Catana M G , Dijmărescu M R , Tunsoiu N
Published: November 2019

This paper analyses the issue of ensuring enhanced productivity and robustness to work schedules designed for multi-operational batch production processes, when a fixed, limited number of workstations can be used for production. The productivity of a batch production schedule for a specific quantity of items is measured by the length of its cycle time, while the robustness of the schedule is given by the size and distribution of operational slack times that are ensured during the production process run. It is mathematically demonstrated that a simple process planning solution may be the key for meeting the above mentioned objectives, if it is possible to be applied in practice in combination with the lot streaming strategy for the production flow.
Development of key performance indicators modules for small and medium-sized enterprises in production industry
Authors: Tieber A , Manolache D S , Gheorghe M
Published: November 2019

For small or medium-sized companies in the production industry, it is strongly advisable to intensify the use of key indicators in analysis and daily work, as well as open and honest communication throughout all levels of the organization as key factors for success. Although many enterprises now run customer relationship management systems to promote professionalization in the areas of customer satisfaction and customer service, key indicator systems are rarely used in a meaningful and optimal way. Massive potential for optimisation can be found in the whole system, so that a scientific survey study has been carried out in a number of companies from production industry. Based on the elements revealed by this study, a development of key performance indicators modules is proposed and synthetically described in the present paper. This development includes a series of key performance indicator – modules covering process and production management, sales management, customer and acquisition, human resources and innovation management, as an advanced structuring system in the field of key performance indicators.
On Orbit Capture and Control of Space Manipulator Based on Magneto Rheological
Authors: Wang Chao , Wang Jianwei , Fang Dong , Li Donglin , Zhang Ying , Kong Dalin
Published: November 2019

With the rapid development of space technology, the performance and technology of spacecraft is in the continuous improvement. The key technology for the non-cooperative target satellite on-orbit capture and control becomes very important. For the question of on orbit capturing a non-cooperative target, a method based on Magneto Rheological (MR) damper is proposed. There are many successful applications of MR damper in ground-base and aviation systems. However, the application of this device on a space manipulator has not been addressed yet. In this paper, A 6DOFs space robot is built in Maplesim, and analyses the kinematic and dynamic model, and the component of MR damper is also created, after simulation, the results shows that the angular velocities of joints and base has been smoothly dampen. Although the control algorithm is simple, it’s very valuable to use the MR damper in capture non-cooperative target.
Magnetic Simulator Testbed for APSCO Student Small Satellite Project
Authors: Uscategui J , Xinsheng W
Published: November 2019

The Student Small Satellite (SSS) is a university project of Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), composed by one microsatellite (SSS-1) and two 3U CubeSats (SSS-2A and SSS-2B). Regarding SSS-1 and SSS-2A satellites, the active 3-axis magnetic control strategy has been applied in the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). In this paper, the necessary study for the development of a Magnetic Simulator Testbed for the SSS-1 and SSS-2A satellites was performed using one pairs of Helmholtz coils for each axis of rotation (X, Y, Z). Each pair of coil can generate a sufficiently large and stable magnetic field that simulate the Earth’s magnetic field but with a reliable level of accuracy, to perform the ADCS test on the satellites. Matlab software was used to generate the propagation of the orbit for the satellites, to calculate the Earth’s magnetic field around that orbit and simulate a pair of Helmholtz coil in each axis of rotation to reproduce the Earth’s magnetic field using the Biot-Savart Law. The results obtained for propagation of the orbit, calculation of terrestrial magnetic field and reproduction of the magnetic field through the Magnetic Simulator Testbed, were very close to the results obtained in important researches previously consulted, giving reliability to this research and allowing an analysis to determine the real physical size that Magnetic Testbed should have. The size determined, is very close to what was expected, allowing to conclude the reliability and viability of the development of the Magnetic Testbed for APSCO SSS Project.
A Design Method for Twist Distribution along Wing Span
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Cheng Pan , Zhao Yang
Published: November 2019

A design method for wing jig shape twist is proposed. Target cruising aerodynamic loads are applied to structure model, and the deformation converge gradually using predictor-correction displacement iterative method. When ensuring the relative twist distribution in the streamwise section, a wing jig shape with straight leading ledge is created, then an aeroelastic coupling iteration is started to achieve the deformed elastic cruising shape. Taking a large aspect ratio swept wing as an example, analysis results show that the deformed elastic cruising wing had an identical streamwise twist distribution compared with rigid designed cruising shape. Sectional lift distribution along with pressure distribution matches well with that of the designed cruising shape, and the drag gap among them is not significant. There might be some change in shock wave chord position between elastic cruising wing and designed cruising wing for outboard wing section. By slight adjusting twist with unchanged airfoil profile, the difference above could be improved.
Adaptive Refinement based Integral Method for Load Transfer in Fluid/Structure Interaction Problems
Authors: Cheng Pan , Ding Zekai , Zhang Wu
Published: November 2019

In fluid-structure interaction simulations using a partitioned approach, especially aeroelastic analysis, each physics component solves on its own mesh, and the interface between these meshes are in general non-matching. Force and displacement must be transferred from one mesh to another. Generally speaking, two classes of methods have been developed and applied in engineering: point wise interpolation and mapping method. For practical problems, point wise interpolation is not good enough in conversation and mapping method requires detailed meshes to describe surfaces of both fluid side and structure side. This paper presents a flexible, conservative and robust method which only requires surface mesh on fluid side. The merits of new method in terms of conversation properties were discussed. Also, the numerical results of practical problems are demonstrated in this paper.
Study on Linear and Nonlinear Coupling Damage Model of BGA Solder Joint
Authors: Lei Dongyang , Sun Yufeng , Qi Chaojie , Hu Weiwei
Published: November 2019

Due to the complex and changeable environment in space, the ball grid array (BGA) has become one of the most important form of the electronic package in aerospace industry. As the main factors which affect the reliability of electronic products, temperature and vibration will lead to creep and fatigue respectively. Based on the damage mechanism, taking SnAgCu solder joints as the research object, the relationship between the resistance and the damage index are established by using the micro-conductive model of resistance. The mathematical model between stress cycle and damage value is established by damage mechanics. Then, the linear and nonlinear interaction models are established to simulate the initial and mature damage of solder joints respectively based on the principle of area interference. Finally, Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the growth of the crack, concluding that it’s suitable for the linear model when the damage index is less than 0.155 and the nonlinear model is suitable when the damage index is more than 0.155.
Deep Learning for Aircraft Wake Vortex Identification
Authors: Weijun Pan , Yingjie Duan , Qiang Zhang , Jiahao Tang , Jun Zhou
Published: November 2019

Aircraft wake vortex refers to a pair of closed vortices due to the air pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wing when the aircraft is flying. During the take-off and landing of the aircraft, the wake vortex of the preceding aircraft threatened the safety of the aircraft following its approach. Especially in the near-field phase, due to the low altitude of the aircraft, the wake vortex is more harmful under the influence of the ground effect. Therefore, the wake vortex of the front aircraft can not be ignored. In order to maintain air traffic safety and accelerate the smooth flow of air traffic, this paper used a YOLO v3 model based on the principle of deep learning to identify the wake vortex generated by the aircraft. Through laser radar scanning, data processing, and deep neural network simulation experiments, the results show that the model can achieve high confidence recognition of the aircraft wake vortex, and can provide air traffic controllers with auxiliary decision information in actual work to ensure aircraft safety.
Study on the Effect of Excitation Circuit of Spectral Lamp on the Temperature Coefficient of Physics Package of Rubidium Atomic Clock
Authors: Guo Yonggang , Zhang Jun , Wang Shiwei , Wang Jianxiang , Zhu Lili , Tu Jianhui , Liu Zhidong
Published: November 2019

As one of the important factors affecting the long-term frequency stability of Rubidium atomic frequency standards (RAFS), the temperature coefficient has a great influence on the performance of RAFS. The temperature coefficient of physics package has an important influence on the temperature coefficient of rubidium atomic clock. The instability of temperature is often the most important error term of RAFS. The variation of temperature to several degrees means a month’s aging. As an important part of rubidium atomic clock physics package, the Lamp Excitation Circuit directly affects the voltage adaptation area and temperature coefficient of Rubidium gas cell physics package. In order to satisfy the long-term frequency stability and adapt extraterrestrial environment, we propose the improvements of Lamp Excitation Circuit in physics package of Rubidium Atomic Clock, since minute current change of Lamp Excitation Circuit are mapped onto the clock’s long-term frequency stability, and the stabilization of the lamp excitation circuit has the potential to significantly improve the RAFS’ long-term frequency stability and temperature coefficient. We demonstrate that the temperature coefficient of physics package can be reduced obviously by improved Lamp Excitation Circuit. Suggesting that performance of the RAFS could be improved greatly further.
Conceptual Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Commercial Aero-engine System
Authors: Guo Fushui , Zhao Shiqi , Zhou Xiaodong , Fan Jun , Mi Dong
Published: November 2019

Commercial aero-engine design is a complicated task, which involves many disciplines, such as thermodynamics, aerodynamics, solid mechanics, heat transfer and materials science. Besides, for the sake of market requirements, designing a commercial aero-engine should not only consider the performance, fuel consumption, thrust and weight, but also pay special attention to noise, emissions and other environmental indices. In order to balance conflicts among various discipline indicators, and design an aero-engine with high comprehensive performance, we apply the multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) technology to the conceptual design of an aero-engine system in this paper. Particularly, the system conceptual design of a high-bypass-ratio turbofan aero-engine is selected as a case study. A total of five disciplines, including thermal cycle, aerodynamics, structural mechanics, emission and noise, are considered. Meanwhile, six modules are integrated and analysed carefully. These modules include performance evaluation at the design point, performance evaluation at fifteen different off-design points, engine size assessment, engine weight assessment, engine emission assessment as well as engine noise assessment. On the basis of these modules, a MDO platform is set up. In addition, one optimization study with a single target of fuel burn is carried out by utilizing the adaptive simulated annealing (ASA) algorithm. Moreover, another optimization with multiple targets of fuel burn as well as nitrogen oxide emission is also studied by employing the non-dominated sorting genetic (NSGA-II) algorithm. The results shows that the MDO method for the commercial aero-engine can obtain better solutions for the system by fully taking into account the mutual effects among different disciplines.
A Transmission System Planning Method Considering Demand-side Response and Capability for Accommodating Wind Power
Authors: Sun Bo , Zou Bo , Yan Jubin , Wang Xiaoming , Yang Yuxuan , Huang Yan
Published: November 2019

The large-scale development of grid-connected wind power, which is intermittent, random and uncontrollable, has introduced great challenges to power system planning and operation. Power system planning should fully consider the capability for accommodating wind power, as well as system’s regulation capability and spare capacity. Given this background, a bi-level transmission system planning model for this purpose is proposed in this paper. In the proposed model, demand-side response resources, such as incentive load and interruptible load, are used for peak-load shifting so as to optimize power flow distribution, reduce transmission investment and improve the utilizaiton level of wind power. The two levels are implemented interactively and iteratively, and finally converge to an optimized planning scheme considering both security and economy. The essential features of the developed model and adopted algorithms are demonstrated by a modified 18-bus test system.
Analysis and Application of Distributed Navigation Spoofers
Authors: Ma Chao , Yang Jun , Zhou Chao
Published: November 2019

As a typical aerospace technology application, Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS) affects the national Positioning Navigation Timing (PNT) service. However, not all users are making good use of GNSS. In recent years, the most prominent phenomenon is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) “black flight”, which seriously affects the normal operation of civil aviation. To solve such problem, navigation spoofing can be used as an effective method to disrupt the flight of malicious UAVs. Currently, a centralized antenna is the most common way to transmit false navigation signals, but when the target receiver contains two receiving antennas or spatial filtering technology, this spoofing method is ineffective. Therefore, we aim at the distributed spoofers that each antenna emits a false navigation signal, and point out that this sophisticated attack will become the development trend of navigation spoofing in the future.
Aerodynamic Thermodynamic Modeling and Simulation of Turbofan Engine
Authors: Qian Renjun , Li Benwei , Song Hanqiang , Dong Qing , Wang Yonghua
Published: November 2019

The mathematical model of turbofan engine is established and simulation calculation is carried out in this paper. An engine component model is established by means of the gas flow path of the engine. Then, according to the common working conditions, common working equations are established and the N+1 residual method is used to solve the nonlinear equations. The general model of an engine is established based on the design point parameters, and the specific performance parameters of the intermediate state are calculated under standard atmospheric conditions. The simulation results are compared with the measured performance data of the engine, which shows that: there are errors between the calculated value of the model and the measured value of the engine. The maximum error is 2.85%, which meets the requirement of model error less than 3% in general engineering.
Performance Analysis for MIMO SWIPT Systems with Space-Time Coding
Authors: Cui Tao , Li Jun , Shen Jun , Dong Shiwei
Published: November 2019

Energy supply is a key factor affecting the normal operation of energy-constrained networks. Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) technology can be used to obtain a stable and continuous energy source. But SWIPT need to take into account data transmission rate and energy harvesting performance, it is necessary to design a complex physical layer method to improve the energy efficiency of SWIPT system. The paper studies a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) SWIPT system based on space-time coding, the transmitter sends the information using the space-time encoder through multi-antenna transmission, the receiver uses the space-time decoder to decode the information and collect the energy. The expressions of channel capacity and energy harvesting under MIMO are given respectively. The energy harvesting optimization target equation under coding conditions is established. The simulation results show that the using of space-time coding can reduce the data transmission error rate of MIMO SWIPT system and improve the energy harvesting performance of the user terminals.
Application of Deep Convolutional Neural Network in Remote Protection of Transmission Lines
Authors: Zheng Wenjie , Li Chengqi , Yang Bo , Lv Xuebin
Published: November 2019

In order to alleviate the pressure of line operation and maintenance, it is necessary to use advanced image recognition methods to identify hidden line hazards. In this paper, we extract features from hidden targets and perform target recognition using deep convolutional neural network. Firstly, we collect a large number of photos with hidden dangers for transmission line. Secondly, we classify those samples according to the detection targets. Thirdly, the deep convolutional neural network model is trained and tuned by using the sample images of various detection objects. When deployed on the server, identification of hidden dangers such as cranes, tower cranes, excavators, and mountain fires reaches acceptable accuracy.
CFD Simulation Methods for Rotor Hovering Based on N-S Equation
Authors: Cheng-Long Zhou , Ming Chen , An-An Xu , Fang Wang
Published: November 2019

CFD simulation of the hovering condition of a single-rotor helicopter was carried out by three methods: moving reference frame (MRF), sliding mesh and overset mesh, respectively. The parameters such as velocity field, pressure field and pressure coefficient of the helicopter rotor and its surrounding flow field are obtained, and the simulation results are compared with the experimental data of wind tunnel test. The three methods are compared from the differences between the model and the grid, the accuracy of the calculation results, and the calculation convergence time. The characteristics, application and other meaningful results of each method are obtained.
Potential dependent ionic sieving through functionalized laminar MoS2 membranes
Authors: Hirunpinyopas Wisit , Prestat Eric , Iamprasertkun Pawin , Bissett Mark A , Dryfe Robert A W
Published: November 2019

Laminar MoS2 membranes show outstanding potential for practical applications in energy conversion/storage, sensing, and as nanofluidic devices. The re-stacking of exfoliated MoS2 creates nanocapillaries between the layers of MoS2 nanosheets. These MoS2 membranes have been shown to possess a unique combination of ionic rejection properties, high water permeation rates, and long-term solvent stability, with no significant swelling when exposed to aqueous or organic solvents. Chemical modification of MoS2 membranes has been shown to improve their ionic rejection properties, however the mechanism behind this improvement is not well understood. In this work, we elucidate the ion-sieving mechanism by the study of potential-dependent ion transport through functionalized MoS2 membranes. The ionic permeability of the MoS2 membrane is transformed by chemical functionalization with a simple naphthalene sulfonate dye (sunset yellow) and with a resultant attenuation of permeability by at least an order of magnitude, compared to the pristine MoS2 membranes and permeability reported for graphene oxide and Ti3C2T
x
(MXene) membranes. The effects of pH, solute concentration, and ionic size/charge on the ionic selectivity of the functionalized MoS2 membranes are also reported. Understanding the mechanism of ionic sieving within functionalized MoS2 membranes will enable future applications in electro-dialysis and ion exchange for water treatment technologies.
Unsteady 3D-Navier–Stokes system with Tresca’s friction law
Authors: Boukrouche Mahdi , Boussetouan Imane , Paoli Laetitia
Published: November 2019

We consider unsteady incompressible 3D fluid flow with nonconstant viscosity subjected to nonlinear boundary conditions of Tresca’s type: when the modulus of the shear stress at the boundary is smaller than a given threshold, the classical no-slip condition holds; otherwise, the modulus of the shear stress at the boundary equals the given threshold and the fluid is allowed to slip. The problem is thus described by a nonlinear parabolic variational inequality. We construct a sequence of approximate solutions by using both a regularization of the free boundary condition due to friction and a penalty method, reminiscent of the “incompressibility limit” of compressible fluids, allowing us to get a better insight into the links between the fluid velocity and pressure fields. Then we pass to the limit with compactness arguments to obtain a solution to our original problem.
Literary Stylistics
Authors: Toolan Michael
Published: November 2019

Literary stylistics is a practice of analyzing the language of literature using linguistic concepts and categories, with the goal of explaining how literary meanings are created by specific language choices and patterning, the linguistic foregrounding, in the text. While stylistics has periodically claimed to be objective, replicable, inspectable, falsifiable and rigorous, and thus quasi-scientific, subjective interpretation is an ineradicable element of such textual analysis. Nevertheless, the best stylistic analyses, which productively demonstrate direct relations between prominent linguistic forms and patterns in a text and the meanings or effects readers experience, are explicit in their procedures and argumentation, systematic, and testable by independent researchers. Stylistics is an interdiscipline situated between literary studies and linguistics, and from time to time has been shunned by both, who for decades predicted its decline if not disappearance. The opposite has happened; stylistics is flourishing, and some of its proponents argue that it offers more authentic and relevant literary studies than much of what goes on in university literature departments. Equally, some stylisticians see their work as a more coherent linguistics, adapted to a particular purpose, than much of the abstract linguistics pursued by academic linguists. In recent years, stylistics has been reanimated by adoption and adaptation of ideas sourced in cognitive linguistics and by the increasingly easy creation of huge corpora of languages in digital, machine-searchable form; these two developments have given rise to various forms of cognitive stylistics and corpus stylistics. In the early decades of the 21st century, one of the most exciting strands of work in stylistics is exploring kinds of iconicity in literary texts: passages of language that can be seen to enact or perform the effects or meanings the text is intent on conveying.
Repetition
Authors: Pickstock Catherine
Published: November 2019

Literary, aesthetic, and theoretical negotiations of repetition tend to focus on the category of repetition as a feature of spoken or written discourse, or visual or audible patterning, instantiated so as to produce a specific effect, such as of monotony or interruption. This effect is based upon a normative assumption that discourse will be structured according to a decorous balance between same and difference; when this decorum is not observed, a marked effect is realized. However, is repetition merely an aesthetic category deployed for local or ephemeral emotional or sematic emphasis? Given that exact repetition is perforce an impossibility, since no two moments are ever the same, nor is one moment the same as itself, what are the implications of this tension between an effect of sameness and an awareness of its impossibility? Are these implications ontological or metaphysical in character?
Brazil’s LGBT Movement and Interest Groups
Authors: Longaker Jacob R.
Published: November 2019

Brazil has boasted a vibrant and creative LGBT movement since the late 1970s. Early organizing focused on consciousness-raising, the formation of a collective identity, and political opposition to the military dictatorship (1964–1985). These years saw transformations in understandings of individual and collective identity, publications in an early homophile press, and successful experiences organizing in homosexual gay and lesbian groups. In the late 1980s, with the advent of HIV/AIDS and re-democratization, the movement began a turn to institutionalized politics and public policy. Strategic engagement with the state as legally registered civil society organizations established a framework for a routine and cooperative relationship in policy and policymaking. This occurred first for HIV/AIDS service provision and later for LGBT citizenship. By the 1990s, the movement embraced identity politics and grappled with an explosion of advocacy on behalf of identity groups that make up the alphabet soup of LGBT politics, particularly lesbian and transgender rights groups that had been less visible in earlier years. Movement successes, such as same-sex partnership recognition, gender-identity recognitions, and policy programs against violence, have been accomplished primarily through engagement with the judiciary and executive, not the legislature (nor electoral politics). The legislature and electoral politics have failed to produce significant gains in LGBT-friendly policy at the national level; however, state and municipal LGBT-friendly policy exists. Moving forward, persistent challenges include divisive partisan [identity] politics within the movement, concerted opposition from conservative evangelical politicians, and volatility of the national political context. These challenges jeopardize policy successes that the movement has made through rather precarious executive and judicial avenues.
Inducements in Interstate Relations
Authors: Cone Paige , Mehta Rupal N.
Published: November 2019

What has the academic scholarship found to date on the role of inducements, external incentives, or punishments to change the behavior of states in the international system? To understand the role of inducements in international relations, it is imperative to explore the full package of options, often referred to as “carrots and sticks” that are available in foreign policy decision-making to best understand when and why certain inducements are successful and why some may be more so than others. There are two big debates of policy importance to note here: Can nuclear decision-making be influenced by external actors, such as the United States? And, second, which set of tools are most helpful to the state seeking to change the behavior of another: carrots, sticks, or some combination of both? Although both incentives and punishments are generally used to change behavior in interstate relations, there are unique policy levers in the nuclear arena that scholars have recently begun to explore. The literature on inducements directly impacts ongoing policy debates, which in turn ultimately highlights the need for more research on nuclear-specific inducements. This article offers the first in-depth, systematic analysis of these inducement options, starting with their general use and then focusing specifically on inducements in the nuclear proliferation arena.
Anxiety, Fear, and Political Decision Making
Authors: Wagner Markus , Morisi Davide
Published: November 2019

Research has shown emotions affect decision-making in ways that do not simply undermine rationality. Instead, in recent decades researchers have recognized that emotions also motivate and focus individuals and moderate how they make decisions. Initial research into emotions divided these simply into positive and negative, but this perspective has largely been displaced in political psychology by an emphasis on the impact of distinct emotions; among these, anxiety has received the most scholarly attention, rivaled only by anger. The causes of anxiety, also termed fear and unease, are diverse, but research highlights certain attributes of situational evaluation such as low self-control, low certainty, and low external agency.

Once present, anxiety has important consequences for decision-making. First, anxiety increases how much information individuals seek out, a pattern of behavior meant to reduce uncertainty. Second, anxiety decreases heuristic processing and weakens the reliance of underlying convictions in determining decisions. Instead, anxious individuals are more likely to think systematically about choices they face. Importantly, anxiety can affect choices and decisions even if they are not directly related to what caused anxiety to emerge, that is, if anxiety is incidental rather than integral.

In addition to influencing how people make decisions, anxiety may also directly influence the decisions individuals make. Thus, anxiety increases risk aversion, leading individuals to choose safer paths of action. Anxiety also makes individuals less likely to take action at all, with the most common response being withdrawal and passivity. Applied to political decision-making, anxiety may have the important consequence of decreasing political participation.

Research into the role of anxiety in decision-making is fast moving and vibrant, but to become fully established it needs to ensure rigor in measurement and research design; this will require considerable methodological research. Substantively, future research should focus on the effects of elite messages on anxiety as well as on how anxiety influences citizen attitudes and evaluations.
Leaderless Group Decisions
Authors: Min Seong-Jae
Published: November 2019

Leaderless group decision-making denotes the idea that political decisions from a non-hierarchical discussion structure can be more legitimate and effective than those from a hierarchical structure. Since the latter half of the 20th century, such decision-making has been practiced widely in community groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), “deliberation” forums, as well as in the business and management settings. While one may argue its origins go back to Athenian direct democracy, it was the zeal of the 1960s participatory democracy movement in the United States that produced the more sophisticated principles, philosophies, and mechanics of leaderless group decision-making. The progressive social movement activists at that time considered non-hierarchical groups as ethically appropriate to their causes. Since then, this tradition of leaderless group decision-making processes has been adopted in many grassroots social movements.

Debates and controversies abound concerning leaderless group decision-making. It has been a normative imperative for many social activists to adopt decision-making in a leaderless manner. Research to date, however, has produced no conclusive evidence that leaderless group discussion results in better or more effective decisions. Proponents argue that members of a leaderless group would develop greater capacities for self-governance because in such a setting they can take more personal and egalitarian initiatives to organize activities of the group. This, in turn, would lead to better group dynamics and discussion, and, eventually, better decisions. Critics suggest that leaderless groups are slow and inflexible in decision-making and that the supposedly leaderless groups usually end up with leaders because of the social dynamics and human nature present in group interactions.

Regardless of its potential benefits and problems, the ideals of deliberative and participatory democracy are strongly propelling this egalitarian, discourse-based form of group decision-making. Researchers will gain a great deal of insight from literature in deliberation concerning the functions, problems, and future directions of leaderless groups. In addition, there is a need to study leaderless groups in a more multi-faceted way, as research to date has been dominated by psychology-based quantitative assessment of groups. Qualitative and ethnographic approaches will be helpful to further assess the dynamics of leaderless group decision-making.
Behavioral and Social Corporate Finance
Authors: Cronqvist Henrik , Pély Désirée-Jessica
Published: November 2019

Corporate finance is about understanding the determinants and consequences of the investment and financing policies of corporations. In a standard neoclassical profit maximization framework, rational agents, that is, managers, make corporate finance decisions on behalf of rational principals, that is, shareholders. Over the past two decades, there has been a rapidly growing interest in augmenting standard finance frameworks with novel insights from cognitive psychology, and more recently, social psychology and sociology. This emerging subfield in finance research has been dubbed behavioral corporate finance, which differentiates between rational and behavioral agents and principals.

The presence of behavioral shareholders, that is, principals, may lead to market timing and catering behavior by rational managers. Such managers will opportunistically time the market and exploit mispricing by investing capital, issuing securities, or borrowing debt when costs of capital are low and shunning equity, divesting assets, repurchasing securities, and paying back debt when costs of capital are high. Rational managers will also incite mispricing, for example, cater to non-standard preferences of shareholders through earnings management or by transitioning their firms into an in-fashion category to boost the stock’s price.

The interaction of behavioral managers, that is, agents, with rational shareholders can also lead to distortions in corporate decision making. For example, managers may perceive fundamental values differently and systematically diverge from optimal decisions. Several personal traits, for example, overconfidence or narcissism, and environmental factors, for example, fatal natural disasters, shape behavioral managers’ preferences and beliefs, short or long term. These factors may bias the value perception by managers and thus lead to inferior decision making.

An extension of behavioral corporate finance is social corporate finance, where agents and principals do not make decisions in a vacuum but rather are embedded in a dynamic social environment. Since managers and shareholders take a social position within and across markets, social psychology and sociology can be useful to understand how social traits, states, and activities shape corporate decision making if an individual’s psychology is not directly observable.
Muslim Views of the Polity: Citizenry, Authority, Territoriality, and Sovereignty
Authors: Adiong Nassef Manabilang
Published: November 2019

Muslim views on the polity represent the paradigmatic understandings of how Muslims relate citizenry, authority, territoriality, and sovereignty to the overarching influence of the Western nation-state system. For instance, the meaning of citizenry in the modern state system was adopted by several Muslim societies during the decolonization period. Faith or submission to the will of God was the main criterion to become part of the group (usually referred to as the ummah). However, orientalists regarded ummah as a synonym for tribe, while Arab linguists insisted on a religious connotation. Authority, on the other hand, is ultimately enshrined in the personhood of the Prophet who is the spiritual leader, executor, legislator, and judicial interpreter of God’s message. Since in reality the Prophet is no longer existing, leadership is bestowed on the subsequent followers, and sometimes the ummah may possess leadership status through a social contract between the ruler and the ruled. The manifestation of operationalized authority needs a political space, domain, or place, which is attainable via the notion of territoriality. This is loosely conceptualized as an ummah that has geographical aspects, cultural traits, and a lingua franca. In the 8th century, jurists divided Muslim territoriality into two analytical terms, the abode of Islam (dar al-Islam) and the abode of war/the enemy (dar al-Harb), while the Shia version of abodes rests in the Qur’anic dichotomy of “oppressed–oppressor.” The last concept pertains to sovereignty (hakimiyyah), commonly understood as “the will of God” and advanced by Islamists in the 20th century. In medieval times, it was understood as the promotion of public welfare envisaged in Shari’ah, while in modern times, Islamic modernists argued that Islamists wrongfully understood sovereignty and that the root word used in the Qur’an meant “to govern.” Nowadays, the assertion that symbolizes God’s sovereignty can be found in some modern Muslim states.
American Opposition to South African Apartheid
Authors: Hostetter David L.
Published: November 2019

American activists who challenged South African apartheid during the Cold War era extended their opposition to racial discrimination in the United States into world politics. US antiapartheid organizations worked in solidarity with forces struggling against the racist regime in South Africa and played a significant role in the global antiapartheid movement. More than four decades of organizing preceded the legislative showdown of 1986, when a bipartisan coalition in Congress overrode President Ronald Reagan’s veto, to enact economic sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. Adoption of sanctions by the United States, along with transnational solidarity with the resistance to apartheid by South Africans, helped prompt the apartheid regime to relinquish power and allow the democratic elections that brought Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to power in 1994.

Drawing on the tactics, strategies and moral authority of the civil rights movement, antiapartheid campaigners mobilized public opinion while increasing African American influence in the formulation of US foreign policy. Long-lasting organizations such as the American Committee on Africa and TransAfrica called for boycotts and divestment while lobbying for economic sanctions. Utilizing tactics such as rallies, demonstrations, and nonviolent civil disobedience actions, antiapartheid activists made their voices heard on college campuses, corporate boardrooms, municipal and state governments, as well as the halls of Congress. Cultural expressions of criticism and resistance served to reinforce public sentiment against apartheid. Novels, plays, movies, and music provided a way for Americans to connect to the struggles of those suffering under apartheid.

By extending the moral logic of the movement for African American civil rights, American anti-apartheid activists created a multicultural coalition that brought about institutional and governmental divestment from apartheid, prompted Congress to impose economic sanctions on South Africa, and increased the influence of African Americans regarding issues of race and American foreign policy.