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Attempts to develop a conceptual model for analysing organisations as social systems from a systemic point of view. Develops aspects of a general theory for organisational innovation. Deliberates the way in which systemic thinking can be used as a means to understand, explain and predict stability and innovation in organisations regarded as social systems. Uses social autopoiesis theory expressed through an analytical model, conceptual models, and propositions.

In this study, a railway superstructure is modeled with a new approach called locally continuous supporting, and its behavior under the effect of moving load is analyzed by using analytical and numerical techniques. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the success of the new modeling technique.

In the railway superstructure, the support zones are not modeled with discrete spring-damping elements. Instead of this, it is considered to be a continuous viscoelastic structure in the local areas. To model this approach, the governing partial differential equations are derived by Hamilton’s principle and spatially discretized by the Galerkin’s method, and the time integration of the resulting ordinary differential equation system is carried out by the Newmark–Beta method.

Both the proposed model and the solution technique are verified against conventional one-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element models for a specific case, and a very good agreement between the results is observed. The effects of geometric, structural, and loading parameters such as rail-pad length, rail-pad stiffness, rail-pad damping ratio, the gap between rail pads and vehicle speed on the dynamic response of railway superstructure are investigated in detail.

There are mainly two approaches to the modeling of rail pads. The first approach considers them as a single spring-damper connected in parallel located at the centroid of the rail pad. The second one divides the rail pad into several parts, with each of part represented by an equivalent spring-damper system. To obtain realistic results with minimum CPU time for the dynamic response of railway superstructure, the rail pads are modeled as continuous linearly viscoelastic local supports. The mechanical model of viscoelastic material is considered as a spring and damper connected in parallel.

The purpose of this paper is to further validate a wireless sensor system developed at Clarkson University for structural monitoring of highway bridges. The particular bridge monitored employs a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) panel system which is fairly innovative in the field of civil engineering design. The superstructure was monitored on two separate occasions to determine a change in structural response and see how the structural system performs over time.

A series of wireless sensor units was deployed at various locations of the steel superstructure, to measure both the modal response from acceleration measurements as well as quasi‐static and dynamic strain response. Ambient and forced loading conditions were applied to measure the response. Data results were compared over two separate periods approximately nine months apart.

The first eight mode shapes were produced from output‐only system identification providing natural frequencies ranging from approximately 6 to 42 Hz. The strain response was monitored over two different testing periods to measure various performance characteristics. Neutral axis, distribution factor, impact factor and end fixity were determined. Results appeared to be different over the two testing periods. They indicate that the load rating of the superstructure decreased over the nine month period, possibly due to deterioration of the materials or composite action.

The results from the two testing periods indicate that further testing needs to be completed to validate the change in response. It is difficult to say with certainty that the significant change in response is due to bridge deterioration and not other factors such as temperature effects on load rating. The sensor system, however, proved to provide high quality data and responses indicating its successful deployment for load testing and monitoring of highway infrastructure.

The paper provides a depiction of the change in structural behavior of a bridge superstructure using a wireless sensor system. The wireless system provided high‐rate data transmission in real time. Load testing at two different points in time, eight months apart, showed a significant change in bridge behavior. The paper provides a practical and actual physical load test and rating during these two periods for quantifiable change in response. It is shown that the wireless system is capable of infrastructure monitoring and that possible deterioration is expected with this particular bridge design. Additionally, the load testing occurred during different seasons, which could create cause for temperature effects in load rating. This can provide a basis for future performance monitoring techniques and structural health monitoring.

In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) seismic base isolation system has been studied extensively. This paper aims to propose a new 3D combined isolation bearing (3D-CIB) to mitigate the seismic response in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

The new 3D-CIB composed of laminated rubber bearing coupled with combined disk spring bearing (CDSB) was proposed. Comprehensive analysis of constitution and theoretical derivation for 3D-CIB were presented. The advantage of CDSB is that the constitution can be flexibly adjusted according to the requirements of the bearing capacity and vertical stiffness. Hence, four different combinations of CDSB were designed for the 3D-CIB and employed to isolate nuclear reactor building. A comparative study of the seismic response in terms of seismic action, acceleration floor response spectra (FRS), peak acceleration and relative displacement response was carried out.

3D-CIB can effectively reduce seismic action, FRS and peak acceleration response of the superstructure in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Overall, the horizontal isolation effectiveness of 3D-CIB was slightly influenced by vertical stiffness. The decrease in the vertical stiffness of the 3D-CIB can reduce the vertical FRS and shift the peak values to a lower frequency. The vertical peak acceleration decreased with a decrease in the vertical stiffness. The superstructure exhibited a rocking effect during the earthquake, and the decrease in the vertical stiffness may increase the rocking of the superstructure.

Although the advantage of 3D-CIB is that the vertical stiffness can be flexibly adjusted by different constitutions, the vertical stiffness should be designed by properly accounting for the balance between the isolation effectiveness and displacement response. This study of isolation effectiveness can provide the technical basis for the application of 3D-CIB into real engineering of nuclear power plants.

The information revolution which we are approaching, the IT Information Revolution, is only the last of 4 major information revolutions which have punctuated man's own evolution. The upcoming IT revolution will make different demands on libraries; will offer them different opportunities. If these are not grasped then the eventual future for public libraries may be limited. Technology per se is not, in many senses, an important issue here — it is the way that technology is, or will be, utilized that will be the key. There will be a need to re‐draw operational models of libraries to reflect this revolution and its attendant information superstructures — and this will be far harder than getting access to, or learning to live with, the technology.

The purpose of this study is to understand what health and safety hazards low-income households are subject to by surveying the real conditions of the defective housing of low-income households, and to find improvement strategies. For this purpose, we visited the concentrated areas of the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) (also known as multi-family residential) housing in Jungwon-gu and Sujeong-gu in Seongnam City, Kyunggi-do, one of the representative areas in Korea with a massive distribution of the low-income class. Based on the survey data, the level of housing defects were comparison analyzed per income decile (decile 1, decile 2, deciles 3–4), and per housing location, in the categories of subsidence, cracks in the wall, delamination, water leakage/infiltration, condensation, and contamination. The housing condition per income class was more defective in the decile 2 households rather than in the decile 2 households, and in the substructure more than in the superstructure. Among the six defects, contamination problems, caused by sub-standard living conditions, were the most frequent cases. Structural defects, subsidence and cracks in the wall, were found in the main living areas—the bedrooms and the living rooms. It was confirmed in this study that the conditions of low-income housing are serious, and that it is necessary to explore specific countermeasures in the near future.

In the paper we design a super genetic hybrid algorithm (SuperGHA), an integrated optimization system for simultaneous parametric search and nonlinear optimization. The parametric search machine is implemented as a genetic superstructure, producing tentative parameter vectors that control the ultimate optimization process. The family of parameter vectors evolves through ordinary genetic operators aimed at producing the best possible parameterization for the underlying optimization problem. In comparison to traditional genetic algorithms, the integrated superstructure involves a twofold ordering of the population of parameter vectors. The first sorting key is provided by the objective function of the optimization problem at issue. The second key is given by the total mesh time absorbed by the parametric setting. In consequence, SuperGHA is geared at solving an optimization problem, using the best feasible parameterization in terms of optimality and time absorbance. The algorithm combines features from classical nonlinear optimization methodology and evolutionary computation utilizing a powerful accelerator technique. The constrained problem can be cast into multiple representations, supporting the integration of different mathematical programming environments. We show by extensive Monte Carlo simulations that SuperGHA extracts suitable parameter vectors for fast solution of complicated nonlinear programming problems.

The authors critique Modell's proposition that critical realism is useful in elucidating and creating possibilities for emancipation.

The authors begin by outlining Modell's conception of enabling structures. If ‘activated’ by reflexive individuals, these are theorised to be a mechanism through which agents can begin to emancipate themselves. However, the authors argue that emancipation must be contextualised within the material realities of global capitalism, paying particular attention to the shape of inequality and the subjects of exploitation. In doing this, they draw on Marx to pose an alternative view of structure.

In offering a Marxist critique of critical realism, the authors show how capitalist superstructure and base work together to reinforce inequality. In doing this, they highlight the enduring importance of collective action as the engine of emancipation. It is for this reason that they advocate for an emancipatory politics, which is collectively informed outside of, and in conflict with, the logics of capitalism.

The authors argue that explicit discussions of capitalism and its structures must be at the centre of critical accounting research, especially when it pertains to emancipation.

Given the importance of the conceptual framing of critical accounting research, this article suggests that critical realism has much to offer. That said, the authors draw on Marx to raise a number of important questions about both the nature of structure and the identity of reflexive agents within critical realism. They do this to encourage further debate about the emancipatory possibilities of the critical accounting project and the ideas proposed by Modell (2020).

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of information and communication technology (ICT) for promoting environmental sustainability in a changing society. Isolated studies exist, but few take a holistic view. Derived from a Marxian tradition, the authors propose Ecological World Systems Theory (WST) as a holistic framework to assess the environmental impact of ICT. The theory is adapted responding to theoretical critiques of absence of change, namely state-centrism and structuralism.

Theoretical study. Empirical examples derived from already published literature.

Ecological WST focuses on the unequal distribution of environmental degradation, sees technological development as a zero-sum game rather than cornucopia and holds that technology is often seen as a fetish in today ' s society. The findings are that popular discourses on ICT and sustainability are since the 1990s becoming increasingly cornucopian, while conditions in the ICT value chain are less cornucopian.

Theoretical contributions to Marxian critiques of ICT, with more environmental focus than earlier Marxian critiques, for example Fuchs’ work. Develop a theoretical framework for ICT and sustainability which could be compared with works of e.g. Hilty, Patrignani and Whitehouse. The work is mostly based on existing empirical studies, which is a limitation.

This theoretical framework implies that unequal environmental degradation in different parts of the world should be taken into account when assessing environmental impact, for example by means of LCA.

The framework brings together questions of environmental effects of ICT and global justice.

The authors apply a rarely discussed theoretical framework to ICT and environmental sustainability. By doing this the authors suggest how the discourses and the value chain of ICT is intrinsically tied to the world system.

Deontical impure systems are systems whose object set is formed by an s‐impure set, whose elements are perceptuales significances (relative beings) of material and/or energetic objects (absolute beings) and whose relational set is freeways of relations, formed by sheaves of relations going in two‐way directions. Objects and freeways form chains.

The approach used was mathematical and logical development of human society structure.

Existence of relations with positive imperative modality (obligation) would constitute the skeleton of the system. Negative imperative modality (prohibition) would be the immunological system of protection of the system. Modality permission the muscular system, that gives the necessary flexibility to the system, in as much to the modality faculty its neurocerebral system, because it allows one to make decisions. Transactions of energy, money, merchandise, population, etc. would be the equivalent one to the sanguineous system. These economic transactions and inferential relations, depend, as well, on the existence of a legislative body with their obligations, prohibitions and permissions that regulate them.

This paper is a continuation of Part I, published in Kybernetes, Volume 41, Issue 1/2, 2012, continuing the development of Alysidal Algebra, which is important for the study of deontical impure systems. They are defined coupling functions and alysidal structures. It is defined as a special coupling function denominated gnorpsic function that can be used for algebraic operations between alysidal sets.