The Gray Legion: Information Warfare Within Our Gates

The information environment, once viewed as an unassailed common for human knowledge, has revealed itself to be a vector for malicious narratives in the ongoing battle for global hegemony. Since 2014, the United States has been under siege from information attacks on multiple fronts, from cyber infrastructure and goods to the cognitive outlooks of its citizenry. Disinformation as a social media tool represents a novel and grave danger to democracy; it serves as a means for sowing unrest and influencing policy changes while enabling conventional conflict or—in the best case for those who would exploit and manipulate narratives—avoiding it entirely. In this article, we identify the harbinger of a dire threat that circles outside, and now inside, the United States' walls by exploring the theoretical dynamics of foreign, state-sponsored disinformation in democracies throughout the West. We examine the mechanisms through which this approach operates and why it is Russia’s preferred course of action.

The Dynamic Simulation of Rotary Inertia on Light vehicle-Slope I

According to formula we can simulate their driven force and acceleration on the slope. The mechanical formula is used to obtain force and theoretical dynamics in the slope. The driven force decreases when rotation increases. When power increases the acceleration increases. it reduces when its weight raises. It is found that the a will decrease as slope becomes high from 5 to 11° to 22°, which fit the formula too. Meantime as the radius is high from 0.3m to 0.4m to 0.47m a will be low. The needed force will increase as the slope decline becomes big at the same power.

Biological Invasion Theories: Merging Perspectives from Population, Community and Ecosystem Scales

Biological invasions have reached an unprecedented level and the number of introduced species is still increasing worldwide. Despite major advances in invasion science, the determinants of success of introduced species, the magnitude and dimensions of their impact, and the mechanisms sustaining successful invasions are still debated. Empirical studies show divergent impacts of non-native populations on ecosystems and contrasting effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the dynamics of non-native populations; this is hindering the emergence of a unified theory of biological invasions. We propose a synthesis that merges perspectives from population, community, and ecosystem levels. Along a timeline of ecosystem transformation driven by non-native species, from historical to human-modified ecosystems, we order invasion concepts and theories to clarify their chaining and relevance during each step of the invasion process. This temporal sorting of invasion concepts shows that each concept is relevant at a specific stage of the invasion. Concepts and empirical findings on non-native species may appear contradictory. However, we suggest that, when mapped onto an invasion timeline, they may be combined in a complementary way. An overall scheme is proposed to summarise the theoretical dynamics of ecosystems subjected to invasions. For any given case study, this framework provides a guide through the maze of theories and should help choose the appropriate concepts according to the stage of invasion.

The Crowdfunding Paradigm

Crowdfunding has become a major consideration for individuals looking to fund their ideas, endeavors, and businesses. This phenomenon raises interesting questions for management scholars, such as what theories help to explain the nuance of crowdfunding as a form of entrepreneurial financing. With regard to what leads to crowdfunding campaign success, this chapter argues that there are mixed motives associated with contributing to these campaigns, and theoretical dynamics vary according to these different motives. The chapter also notes two fundamental differences of crowdfunding from more traditional means of funding early-stage ventures: the nature of engagement and preference toward product or person. Drawing on theory related to capabilities, the chapter identifies conditions under which crowdfunding is likely to be more and less advantageous based on these two dimensions. In summary, it provides a model that explains important sources of heterogeneity (i.e., motives) and homogeneity (i.e., diffused engagement and product lock-in) within the crowdfunding phenomenon that add nuance to theory in the entrepreneurial financing literature.

The Future of UN Budgeting: Complexity and Prospect for Reform

Chapter 10 is an outlook to the ongoing reform of United Nations budgeting introduced by the new Secretary General António Guterres, in light of the theoretical and conceptual discussions as well as the empirical findings presented throughout the book. It shows how the theoretical dynamics and main topics identified throughout this book, and in particular in Chapter 5, affect reform discussions and reform dynamics. Whereas some reform is taking place, principal and agency complexity prevent a major overhaul of the system as the fragmentation of the UN system is hard to overcome, and because key member states or groups of member states are bound to lose influence, even if only over a few elements of micromanagement that have become part of the pathological budgeting dynamics in New York—a pathology that is much less driven by IO bureaucracy and much more by states and their complex, historically shaped interests.

The Measurement, Nomological Net, and Theory of Perceived Self-Esteem Instability: Applying the Conservation of Resources Theory to Understand the Construct

The current article performs the first focused investigation into the construct of perceived self-esteem instability (P-SEI). Four studies investigate the construct's measurement, nomological net, and theoretical dynamics. Study 1 confirms the factor structure of a P-SEI Measure, supporting that P-SEI can be adequately measured. Study 2 identifies an initial nomological net surrounding P-SEI, showing that the construct is strongly related to stable aspects of the self (i.e., neuroticism and core self-evaluations). In Studies 3 and 4, the Conservation of Resources Theory is applied to develop and test five hypotheses. These studies show that P-SEI is predicted by self-esteem level and stressors, and the relationship of certain stressors is moderated by self-esteem contingencies. P-SEI also predicts stress, depression, anxiety, and certain defensive postures. From these studies and the integration of Conservation of Resources Theory, we suggest that P-SEI emerges through an interaction between environmental influences and personal resources, and we provide a theoretical model to better understand the construct of P-SEI. We suggest that this theory-driven model can prompt the initial field of study on P-SEI.

Transnational Professional Competition in Fields and Ecologies

Transnationalisation of economies, organisations and societies have fundamentally reconfigured professional life. Dispersal of authority and activity away from national confines has spawned new transnational modes of organisation and competition amongst professionals. Studies of transnational professional competition explore how professionals broker normative, institutional and political change through these struggles in spaces ‘beyond the state’. This paper reviews existing work on transnational professional competition, focusing on two dominant streams: studies associated with Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory and studies associated with Andrew Abbott’s ecological theory. It discusses the key theoretical dynamics and empirical focus of each stream. Furthermore, the paper reviews the ongoing debate between the two streams, drawing out proposals for mutual learning at the intersection of field and ecology studies. It is argued that such a closer exchange has potential to address points of contention and exploit points of convergence, enhancing understanding of specifically transnational professional relations, institutional change, social contexts and social structures.

Design and installation of vibration testing system for spring mounted model of wing

This paper presents the design and installation of measuring vibration system in wind tunnel area 1m x 1m. The theoretical analysis of the spring structure in this model help we possible to design a system for wind tunnel by yourself with suitable area, wind speed as well as survey wing model to obtain results desire. This system helps us to observe the oscillation of wing survey by eyes, but to know exactly how wing fluctuates, also the pitching angle of wing, we use ultrasonic sensors to measure the distance variation, will be presented in more detail in the text. At the same time, the article also shows how to make a simple and durable wing model with NACA 0015 airfoil - wing model will be surveyed ranged in system above. The aerodynamic phenomena affect to the vibration of the wing are also mentioned and overcome in the design of the wing. Finally we process the data after measured to see the similarities between the experiment and the theoretical dynamics of aviation.