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The long-span continuous rigid-frame bridges are commonly constructed by the section-by-section symmetrical balance suspension casting method. The deflection of these bridges is increasing over time. Wet joints are a typical construction feature of continuous rigid-frame bridges and will affect their integrity. To investigate the sensitivity of shear surface quality on the mechanical properties of long-span prestressed continuous rigid-frame bridges, a large serviced bridge is selected for analysis.

Its shear surface is examined and classified using the damage measuring method, and four levels are determined statistically based on the core sample integrity, cracking length and cracking depth. Based on the shear-friction theory of the shear surface, a 3D solid element-based finite element model of the selected bridge is established, taking into account factors such as damage location, damage number and damage of the shear surface. The simulated results on the stress distribution of the local segment, the shear surface opening and the beam deflection are extracted and analyzed.

The findings indicate that the main factors affecting the ultimate shear stress and shear strength of the shear surface are size, shear reinforcements, normal stress and friction performance of the shear surface. The connection strength of a single or a few shear surfaces decreases but with little effect on the local stress. Cracking and opening mainly occur at the 1/4 span. Compared with the rigid “Tie” connection, the mid-span deflection of the main span increases by 25.03% and the relative deflection of the section near the shear surface increases by 99.89%. However, when there are penetrating cracks and openings in the shear surface at the 1/2 span, compared with the 1/4 span position, the mid-span deflection of the main span and the relative deflection of the cross-section increase by 4.50%. The deflection of the main span increases with the failure of the shear surface.

These conclusions can guide the analysis of deflection development in long-span prestressed continuous rigid-frame bridges.

This paper focuses on the application of a robotic technique for modeling a three-wheeled mobile robot (WMR), considering it as a multibody polyarticulated system. Then the dynamic behavior of the developed model is verified using a physical model obtained by Simscape Multibody.

Firstly, a geometric model is developed using the modified Denavit–Hartenberg method. Then the dynamic model is derived using the algorithm of Newton–Euler. The developed model is performed for a three-wheeled differentially driven robot, which incorporates the slippage of wheels by including the Kiencke tire model to take into account the interaction of wheels with the ground. For the physical model, the mobile robot is designed using Solidworks. Then it is exported to Matlab using Simscape Multibody. The control of the WMR for both models is realized using Matlab/Simulink and aims to ensure efficient tracking of the desired trajectory.

Simulation results show a good similarity between the two models and verify both longitudinal and lateral behaviors of the WMR. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed model using the robotic approach and proves that it is sufficiently precise for the design of control schemes.

The motivation to adopt this robotic approach compared to conventional methods is the fact that it makes it possible to obtain models with a reduced number of operations. Furthermore, it allows the facility of implementation by numerical or symbolical programming. This work serves as a reference link for extending this methodology to other types of mobile robots.

This study aims to explore the potential impact of country-level governance in corporate financing structures.

A two-step system generalized method of moment was used due to the endogeneity issue. The whole sample comprises 3,761 firms in five economies – China, India, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea – from 2007 to 2016.

The results indicate that the debt option for financing is not favorable under governments with an adequate governance arrangement. However, there is a direct and significant link between country governance and equity financing because in adequate governance arrangements, the possibilities of information asymmetry are minimal and businesses consider equity a more appropriate and safer financing instrument. In contrast, firms prefer to trade-credit financing in poor governance economies, which confirms an adverse link between trade credit and adequate governance.

The country’s governance should be considered a sensitive matter when deciding about corporate financing.

This arrangement of variables has not been previously analyzed in the literature, suggesting the study’s novelty.

The authors argue that privacy is integral to the well-being of consumers and an essential component in not only corporate social responsibility (CSR) but what they term uniquely as social media responsibility (SMR). A conceptual framework is proposed that delineates the privacy issues companies should pay attention to in artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled social media environments.

The authors review literature on privacy issues in social media and AI in the academic and practitioner literatures. Based on the review, arguments focus on the need for an SMR framework, proposing responsible use of consumer data that is attentive to consumers' privacy concerns.

Implications from the framework are a path forward for social media companies to treat consumer data more fairly in this new environment. The framework has implications for companies to reduce potential harms to consumers and consider addressing their power and responsibility. With social media and AI transforming consumer behavior so profoundly, there are a variety of short- and long-term social implications.

Since AI tools are becoming integral to social media company activities, this research addresses the changing responsibilities social media companies have in securing consumers' data and enabling consumers the agency to protect their privacy effectively. The authors propose an SMR framework based on CSR research and AI tools employed by social media companies.

The basis for this study on electronic transferable records (ETRs) in the context of digitalizing cross-border trade is established in this chapter. It illustrates how the growing trend toward paperless trade and technological improvements is changing trade operations. This chapter focuses on the need to look into ETRs because of their capacity to influence business transactions while navigating complex legal issues. The specific goals of the study are outlined, including a review of the advantages, legality, difficulties and best practices of ETRs. This study aims to shed light on the possible advantages and disadvantages of ETRs, the legal framework that controls their use and the best practices for their efficient implementation. This study also seeks to provide informative recommendations for businesses and people that are considering using ETRs.

This study explores the evolving world of ETRs and their crucial function in international trade. Multidimensional technique is used to examine the transformative potential of ETRs from a variety of research angles. The research design is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the literature that includes a wide range of reliable sources, including academic papers, business reports and legal documents. The comprehensive retrieval of essential material is ensured through keyword searches in renowned academic databases and industry resources. The qualitative synthesis of secondary sources further enhances this methodology and allows for a complex examination of the implications of ETRs. The case study analysis provides practical information on the benefits, hazards and practical applications of ETRs. Multifaceted aspects are uncovered via a thematic approach and qualitative investigation, including potential advantages, hazards, implementation plans and regulatory frameworks.

ETRs offer a range of potential advantages for cross-border trade, encompassing augmented efficiency, reduced costs and heightened security. Nonetheless, their implementation also presents legal challenges and risks, spanning security and privacy concerns, legal ambiguities and technical complexities. Consequently, it is crucial for individuals and businesses to meticulously assess and mitigate these risks through the integration of robust security protocols, staying informed about legal developments and adhering to pertinent regulatory stipulations. In spite of these hurdles, the trajectory of ETR adoption is anticipated to remain on an upward trajectory, driven by increasing recognition of their potential benefits and the concurrent evolution of legal frameworks and technical standards.

Research limitations included the following: lack of adoption of ETRs internationally; and legal diversity and different legal systems results in different consideration of the ETRs. It makes reaching a unified ETR system more difficult.

It is necessary to develop clear policies and procedures and establish well-defined policies and procedures governing ETR use. These should encompass security guidelines, data protection measures and adherence to legal mandates. Regular review and updates are imperative. Stay current on legal developments: In light of the continuously evolving legal and regulatory landscape pertaining to ETRs, businesses and individuals must stay abreast of pertinent changes and seek professional counsel when necessary. Collaborate with partners and stakeholders: To ensure harmonization and standardization in ETR deployment, active collaboration with partners, regulators and industry associations is vital.

Enhance awareness and education: Investment in awareness and educational initiatives is crucial. Decision-makers should organize training programs, workshops and seminars to enhance understanding of ETRs’ potential benefits in cross-border trade among stakeholders. Socially, the use of ETR can achieve several political advantages for the society. It minimizes risks of corruption through enhancing tracing and auditing abilities for relevant authorities making it more difficult to engage in corrupt practices. That can promote integrity within government and public procurement system.

The development of standardized technical frameworks and interoperable platforms for ETRs could enhance their seamless integration into existing trade systems. Additionally, investigating the integration of emerging technologies like blockchain, IoT and AI into ETR ecosystems could unlock innovative solutions to security, authenticity and data management concerns. This study examines how ETRs can radically alter how trade is conducted on a global scale. This paper examines ETRs’ role in improving cross-border trade digitization by examining their advantages, legal difficulties and implementation techniques. The conclusions will aid firms, decision-makers and attorneys in navigating the constantly changing world of trade agreements. The study’s ultimate goal is to offer takeaways that support effective, secure and legally compliant integration of ETRs, ensuring that they operate as a catalyst for improved global trade efficacy and efficiency.

The article investigates the institutional setup of e-lending in public libraries in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Our point of departure is that e-lending has necessitated new library collaborations between local, regional and national levels, and therefore, institutional e-lending setups have emerged. The study seeks to provide better understanding of how the institutional setups are structured, how governance logics have shaped them and what tensions and dynamics become visible in the key actors’ problematisations of these setups.

The study is situated in the neo-institutional tradition and applies the institutional logics perspective. The research questions are answered by taking a qualitative approach, grounded in an extensive interview study with representatives of libraries, publishers and policy actors in three Scandinavian countries. To provide in-depth insight into e-lending setups, the scope of empirical material is then limited to accounts the central library and policy actors involved in establishing e-lending.

The analysis shows that the e-lending setups are both similar (especially when it comes to financing), and different across Scandinavia, especially when it comes to centralisation and involvement of librarians in this task. The differences are attributed to the influence of different governance logics (question of administrative autonomy, collaboration in the field and existing legal and political frames), and to what extent the digital and market logics are incorporated or rejected in the field.

The study provides new insights into the question of how Scandinavian public libraries face the consequences of the digitalisation of book distribution and consumption by investigating how they organise their e-lending services. This has not been explored before, notably in a comparative perspective.

Geopolitical risks associated with the return of great power politics and growing nationalism have generated new challenges for foreign investors across industries. Oil and gas companies are well acquainted with such risks and have developed strategies to manage them. This paper reviews five of these strategies: divorcing ownership control from operating control in designing collaborative ventures; proactively managing stakeholder relationships; ensuring transparency and communication; diversifying risks while proactively positioning for emerging opportunities; and deliberately planning for exit should such an eventuality arise. Firms outside of oil and gas can draw on these strategies as they navigate the emerging geopolitical context.

This paper reviews five strategies that oil and gas companies can use to manage geopolitical risk: divorcing ownership control from operating control in designing collaborative ventures; proactively managing stakeholder relationships; ensuring transparency and communication; diversifying risks while proactively positioning for emerging opportunities; and deliberately planning for exit should such an eventuality arise.

This study identifies several strategies that oil and gas companies have used to manage geopolitical risks. These tools will be increasingly important in the shifting global political landscape.

Drawing on the experiences of oil and gas companies, this study has identified several strategies that companies can use to shield themselves from the risks that are currently emanating from geopolitics. While these best practices originate in the experiences of oil and gas firms, the ability to deftly manage geopolitical risks is becoming an important prerequisite for companies across industries.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between CEOs' inside debt holdings (pension benefits and deferred compensation) and the operating leverage of the firms they manage, with the aim to examine whether CEO incentives play a role in corporate risk-taking.

The authors investigate the relation between CEO inside debt holdings (CIDH) (pension benefits and deferred compensation) and the operating leverage (DOL) of the firms they manage. Using a sample of 11,145 US firm-year observations over the period 2006–2017, the authors find a strong negative association between CIDH and DOL. Additional analyses reveal that the relationship between CIDH and DOL is more pronounced in firms with heightened agency issues, powerful CEOs and for CEOs with stronger professional networks. The results are robust to various sensitivity and endogeneity tests.

The authors find strong evidence confirming the expected negative association between CEO inside debt and DOL suggesting that firms with higher inside debt tend to maintain lower levels of operating leverage. These findings continue to hold with the alternative measure for the inside debt and operating leverage, and across a range of tests designed to rule out the possibility that the primary findings are in any way driven by potential endogeneity. In addition, the findings demonstrate that the presence of manager-shareholder agency conflicts can strengthen the inside debt–DOL relationship suggesting the strong role of inside debt in reducing firm risk.

Findings in this paper have implications for design of compensation structures so that corporate boards can establish incentives as a tool for risk management. A limitation of this study is that it is focused on one market, i.e. US listed companies, so the findings may not be applicable on a global scale.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that links firm-level management of operating leverage through design of CEO inside debt incentives (two obvious choices for risk-reduction at the CEOs’ disposal include reducing financial risk through reduction of firm leverage and reducing operating risk through reduction of operating leverage). While use of firm leverage as an instrument of choice has been explored in the past, use of operating leverage to achieve risk reduction when CEO possess high inside holding, has received very little attention.

The primary objective of this research is to conceptualize the integration of enterprise risk management (ERM) as a mechanism to enhance the connection between corporate sustainability (CS) reporting and financial performance. This study suggests that future researchers should validate the proposed conceptualization by conducting a comprehensive content analysis of sustainability reports of Malaysian oil and gas companies. This analysis will allow for the collection of pertinent data regarding CS reporting and ERM implementation. The present study takes a comprehensive approach by integrating legitimacy, stakeholder, and resource-based view (RBV) theories, proposing a robust conceptual design that emphasizes the role of ERM in the connection between CS reporting and firm performance. Drawing on theoretical foundations, this study proposes that CS reporting will have a direct effect on financial performance. Moreover, the integration of ERM serves to strengthen the nexus between CS reporting and financial performance. This study offers valuable insights for stakeholders in the oil and gas sector by providing strategic guidance to enhance financial performance not only through CS reporting but also by implementing ERM. Moreover, the framework proposed in this study is expected to bring tangible and intangible benefits to corporations, including reducing information asymmetry, improving the quality of disclosure, and creating value within the field of CS. The proposed conceptual framework holds great significance as it enhances the applicability of legitimacy, stakeholder, and RBV theories, while also creating value for stakeholders through CS reporting and the adoption of risk management practices to enhance financial performance.

This paper aims to consider the relationship between urban events and urban public space, asking whether cities have enough space for events and whether events have enough space in cities.

Policy analysis surrounding events and festivals in the Netherlands is used to understand the dynamics of urban events, supported by content analysis of policy documents. A vignette of event space struggles in Amsterdam illustrates the contradictions of the event/space relationship.

The research identifies a policy shift in the Netherlands towards urban events from expansive, festivalisation strategies to defensive, NIMBYist policies. It exposes contradictions between protecting space as a living resource and the exploitation of space for regenerative purposes. Three future scenarios for urban events are outlined: conflict and competition, growth and harmony and digitalisation and virtualisation.

Develops scenarios for the future relationship between events and urban space.

Provides an analysis of the recursive spatial implications of the growth of the events sector for cities and the growth of cities for events.