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Semi-implicit type cutting plane method (CPM) and fully implicit type closest point projection method (CPPM) are the two most widely used frameworks for numerical stress integration. CPM is simple, easy to implement and accurate up to first order. CPPM is unconditionally stable and accurate up to second order though the formulation is complex. Therefore, this study aims to develop a less complex and accurate stress integration method for complex constitutive models.

Two integration techniques are formulated using the midpoint and Romberg method by modifying CPM. The algorithms are implemented for three different classes of soil constitutive model. The efficiency of the algorithms is judged via stress point analysis and solving a boundary value problem.

Stress point analysis indicates that the proposed algorithms are stable even with a large step size. In addition, numerical analysis for solving boundary value problem demonstrates a significant reduction in central processing unit (CPU) time with the use of the semi-implicit-type midpoint algorithm.

Traditionally, midpoint and Romberg algorithms are formulated from explicit integration techniques, whereas the present study uses a semi-implicit approach to enhance stability. In addition, the proposed stress integration algorithms provide an efficient means to solve boundary value problems pertaining to geotechnical engineering.

The earth-return mutual impedances between underground and overhead conductors can be expressed by Pollaczek integrals. Many efforts have been exerted to calculating this kind of integrals. However, most of numerical methods turn out to be time-consuming as integrands become highly oscillatory and strongly singular. Therefore, efficient algorithms should be devised. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

The paper separates the singularity from the whole integral and couple with the singularity and oscillation, respectively. A sinh transformation is applied for the finite part and complex integration method is used to calculate the tail.

Numerical experiments show that the given method shares the property that the stronger the singularity and the higher the oscillation, the better the accuracy of the calculation.

The sinh transformation is first proposed to calculate Pollaczek integrals. This efficient algorithm can be used to evaluate mutual impedances between conductors. Also, it provides a new aspect of the research on fast calculation of Pollaczek integrals and Sommerfeld integrals.

The purpose of this paper is to present an efficient return mapping algorithm for elastoplastic constitutive problems of ductile metals with an exact closed form solution of the local constitutive problem in the small strain regime. A Newton Raphson iterative method is adopted for the solution of the boundary value problem.

An efficient return mapping algorithm is illustrated which is based on an elastic predictor and a plastic corrector scheme resulting in an implicit and accurate numerical integration method. Nonlinear kinematic hardening rules and linear isotropic hardening rules are used to describe the components of the hardening variables. In the adopted algorithmic approach the solution of the local constitutive equations reduces to only one straightforward nonlinear scalar equation.

The presented algorithmic scheme naturally leads to a particularly simple form of the nonlinear scalar equation which ultimately scales down to an algebraic (polynomial) equation with a single variable. The straightforwardness of the present approach allows to find the analytical solution of the algebraic equation in a closed form. Further, the consistent tangent operator is derived as associated with the proposed algorithmic scheme and it is shown that the proposed computational procedure ensures a quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence when used with a Newton Raphson iterative method for the global solution procedure.

In the present approach the solution of the algebraic nonlinear equation is found in a closed form and accordingly no iterative method is required to solve the problem of the local constitutive equations. The computational procedure ensures a quadratic rate of asymptotic convergence for the global solution procedure typical of computationally efficient solution schemes. In the paper it is shown that the proposed algorithmic scheme provides an efficient and robust computational solution procedure for elastoplasticity boundary value problems. Numerical examples and computational results are reported which illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the adopted integration algorithm for the finite element analysis of elastoplastic structures also under elaborate loading conditions.

Solutions for the earth return mutual impedance play an important role in analyzing couplings of multi-conductor systems. Generally, the mutual impedance is approximated by Pollaczek integrals. The purpose of this paper is devising fast algorithms for calculation of this kind of improper integrals and its applications.

According to singular points, the Pollaczek integral is divided into two parts: the finite integral and the infinite integral. The finite part is computed by combining an efficient Levin method, which is implemented with a Chebyshev differential matrix. By transforming the integration path, the tail integral is calculated with help of a transformed Clenshaw–Curtis quadrature rule.

Numerical tests show that this new method is robust to high oscillation and nearly singularities. Thus, it is suitable for evaluating Pollaczek integrals. Furthermore, compared with existing method, the presented algorithm gives high-order approaches for the earth return mutual impedance between conductors over a multilayered soil with wide ranges of parameters.

An efficient truncation strategy is proposed to accelerate numerical calculation of Pollaczek integral. Compared with existing algorithms, this method is easier to be applied to computation of similar improper integrals, such as Sommerfeld integral.

The traditional drug development process is costly, time consuming and risky. Using computational methods to discover drug repositioning opportunities is a promising and efficient strategy in the era of big data. The explosive growth of large-scale genomic, phenotypic data and all kinds of “omics” data brings opportunities for developing new computational drug repositioning methods based on big data. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Here, a new computational strategy is proposed for inferring drug–disease associations from rich biomedical resources toward drug repositioning. First, the network embedding (NE) algorithm is adopted to learn the latent feature representation of drugs from multiple biomedical resources. Furthermore, on the basis of the latent vectors of drugs from the NE module, a binary support vector machine classifier is trained to divide unknown drug–disease pairs into positive and negative instances. Finally, this model is validated on a well-established drug–disease association data set with tenfold cross-validation.

This model obtains the performance of an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 90.3 percent, which is comparable to those of similar systems. The authors also analyze the performance of the model and validate its effect on predicting the new indications of old drugs.

This study shows that the authors’ method is predictive, identifying novel drug–disease interactions for drug discovery. The new feature learning methods also positively contribute to the heterogeneous data integration.

In this work the author gathers several methods and techniques to construct systematically Stieltjes classes for densities defined on R+.

The author uses complex integration to obtain integrable functions with vanishing moments sequence, and then the author considers some operators defined on the vanishing moments subspace.

The author gather several methods and techniques to construct systematically Stieltjes classes for densities defined on R+. The author constructs explicitly Stieltjes classes with center at well-known probability densities. The author gives a lot of examples, including old cases and new ones.

The author computes the Hilbert transform of powers of |ln⁡x| to construct Stieltjes classes by using a recent result connecting the Krein condition and the Hilbert transform.

In the first part of this paper a new method of applying the Maximum Entropy Principle (MEP) is presented, which makes use of a “frequency related” entropy, and which is valid for all stationary processes. The method is believed valid only in the case of discrete spectra. In the second part of the paper, a method of estimating continuous spectra in the presence of noise is presented, which makes use of the Mutual Information Principle (MIP). Although the method proceeds smoothly in mathematical terms, there appear to be some difficulties in interpreting the physical meaning of some of the expressions. Examples in the use of both methods are presented, for the usual practical problem of estimating a power spectrum for a process whose autocorrelation function is partially known a priori.

ACCORDING to Saint‐Venant's Principle, the distribution of stress in a body at points remote from the region of application of the applied loads is independent of the mode of application of these loads, being dependent only on their resultant (REF. 1).

Information and communications technology (ICT) offers enormous opportunities for individuals, businesses and society. The application of ICT is equally important to economic and non-economic activities. Researchers have increasingly focused on the adoption and use of ICT by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the economic development of a country is largely dependent on them. Following the success of ICT utilisation in SMEs in developed countries, many developing countries are looking to utilise the potential of the technology to develop SMEs. Past studies have shown that the contribution of ICT to the performance of SMEs is not clear and certain. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effectiveness of ICT in generating firm performance since this has implications for SMEs’ expenditure on the technology. This research examines the diffusion of ICT among SMEs with respect to the typical stages from innovation adoption to post-adoption, by analysing the actual usage of ICT and value creation. The mediating effects of integration and utilisation on SME performance are also studied. Grounded in the innovation diffusion literature, institutional theory and resource-based theory, this study has developed a comprehensive integrated research model focused on the research objectives. Following a positivist research paradigm, this study employs a mixed-method research approach. A preliminary conceptual framework is developed through an extensive literature review and is refined by results from an in-depth field study. During the field study, a total of 11 SME owners or decision-makers were interviewed. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using NVivo 10 to refine the model to develop the research hypotheses. The final research model is composed of 30 first-order and five higher-order constructs which involve both reflective and formative measures. Partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to test the theoretical model with a cross-sectional data set of 282 SMEs in Bangladesh. Survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire issued to SMEs selected by applying a stratified random sampling technique. The structural equation modelling utilises a two-step procedure of data analysis. Prior to estimating the structural model, the measurement model is examined for construct validity of the study variables (i.e. convergent and discriminant validity).

The estimates show cognitive evaluation as an important antecedent for expectation which is shaped primarily by the entrepreneurs’ beliefs (perception) and also influenced by the owners’ innovativeness and culture. Culture further influences expectation. The study finds that facilitating condition, environmental pressure and country readiness are important antecedents of expectation and ICT use. The results also reveal that integration and the degree of ICT utilisation significantly affect SMEs’ performance. Surprisingly, the findings do not reveal any significant impact of ICT usage on performance which apparently suggests the possibility of the ICT productivity paradox. However, the analysis finally proves the non-existence of the paradox by demonstrating the mediating role of ICT integration and degree of utilisation explain the influence of information technology (IT) usage on firm performance which is consistent with the resource-based theory. The results suggest that the use of ICT can enhance SMEs’ performance if the technology is integrated and properly utilised. SME owners or managers, interested stakeholders and policy makers may follow the study’s outcomes and focus on ICT integration and degree of utilisation with a view to attaining superior organisational performance.

This study urges concerned business enterprises and government to look at the environmental and cultural factors with a view to achieving ICT usage success in terms of enhanced firm performance. In particular, improving organisational practices and procedures by eliminating the traditional power distance inside organisations and implementing necessary rules and regulations are important actions for managing environmental and cultural uncertainties. The application of a Bengali user interface may help to ensure the productivity of ICT use by SMEs in Bangladesh. Establishing a favourable national technology infrastructure and legal environment may contribute positively to improving the overall situation. This study also suggests some changes and modifications in the country’s existing policies and strategies. The government and policy makers should undertake mass promotional programs to disseminate information about the various uses of computers and their contribution in developing better organisational performance. Organising specialised training programs for SME capacity building may succeed in attaining the motivation for SMEs to use ICT. Ensuring easy access to the technology by providing loans, grants and subsidies is important. Various stakeholders, partners and related organisations should come forward to support government policies and priorities in order to ensure the productive use of ICT among SMEs which finally will help to foster Bangladesh’s economic development.

Purpose – The author introduces the Eastern philosophy of wisdom, especially its epistemology of Yin-Yang Balancing as the Eastern cognitive frame, to shed light on the debates over the distinction and integration between research and practice as well as between qualitative and quantitative methods so as to solve the problems of relevance-rigor gap as well as complexity-simplicity gap. The author also applies the frame of Yin-Yang Balancing to the development of a novel method of case study.

Methodology/Approach – This is a conceptual article.

Central theme – The Eastern philosophy of wisdom is better at an open-minded exploration of open-ended issues by emphasizing relevance and complexity, while the Western philosophy of science is better at a closed-minded exploitation of close-ended issues by emphasizing rigor and simplicity. A geocentric integration of both Eastern and Western philosophies is needed.

Research and practical implications – Management research is far behind the need for theoretical insights into practical solutions largely due to the increasing gaps between relevance and rigor as well as between complex problems and simple solutions. The root cause of the two gaps lies in the overreliance on the Western philosophy of science, so a new light can be found in the Eastern philosophy of wisdom, and the ultimate solution is a geocentric integration of Eastern and Western philosophies. A novel method of case study can be built by applying the Eastern philosophy.

Originality/Value – The author highlights the urgent needs for the Eastern philosophy of wisdom and its integration with the Western philosophy of science toward a geocentric meta-paradigm. As a specific application of the geocentric meta-paradigm, the author proposes a novel method of case study called Yin-Yang Method.