United States Department of Defense

Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) is a widely used severe plastic deformation technique for producing ultrafine-grained metals. Numerical modelling plays an essential role in analyzing the process mechanics. The purpose of this study is to reduce the computational cost of explicit ECAP simulations by applying mass scaling while ensuring that the accuracy of the results is not compromised. The methodology includes explicit finite-element modelling with controlled mass scaling and verification by monitoring internal, kinetic, and total energies throughout deformation. The ratio of kinetic to internal energy is used as the primary indicator of acceptable quasi-static behavior. The results show that the applied mass-scaling level significantly reduces computational time without altering the predicted stress distribution, plastic strain fields, or forming forces, provided that the kinetic energy remains within recommended limits. The application of mass scaling reduced simulation time by more than two orders of magnitude while preserving quasi-static conditions, as indicated by a consistently low kinetic-to-internal energy ratio. The study concludes that energy-based verification offers a reliable framework for applying mass scaling in ECAP simulations while preserving the physical validity of the results.

Introduction . The article is devoted to the consideration of theoretical and methodological issues of the transition from traditional organizational structures of management of industrial enterprises to new forms of organizational structures demanded by the modern stage of technological development. The industrial development of the global economy and technological breakthroughs in production invariably become an impulse to change the management system of enterprises. Technologies are changing quite a lot in society, making more and more demands on the competencies of employees. Such transformations initiate shifts in the corporate culture of the enterprise, forcing owners and management to move away from the traditional management paradigm. The article attempts to generalize and systematize the existing organizational structures of industrial enterprises and identify trends in their transformation in the context of the development of Industry 4.0 in the context of digitalization in the knowledge management framework. Studies of organizational structures within the framework of the industrial development of the economy have been conducted and patterns of transformation of management mechanisms and paradigms have been identified. A fractal model of the organizational structure is proposed in the proposed evolutionary change in the management paradigm, which is gradually changing its targets in the context of social transformation. Materials and methods . The research is based on materials from different years on the organizational and cultural transformation of business due to technological changes. General scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, and generalization are used. The experience of global business shows that these two factors are interconnected. Recent studies [30] of European enterprises show a different degree of receptivity of corporate culture and organizational management structure to innovative transformation related to Industry 4.0 technologies and digitalization of business processes. Research results . The industrial development of the global economy and technological breakthroughs in production invariably become an impulse to change the management system of enterprises. This study shows the most diverse forms of organizational management structures, which nevertheless have a similar methodology within the framework of a single management paradigm. Technologies are changing quite a lot in society, making more and more demands on the competencies of employees involved in the entire life cycle of industrial products, which is inevitably reflected in the management paradigm. Discussion and conclusion . On the threshold of the fourth industrial revolution, in addition to tectonic technological shifts, we expect no less grandiose organizational and managerial transformations in order to fully utilize the potential and advantages inherent in the new Industry 4.0 solutions.

We study the effects of intensifying competition for contracts in the context of US Defense procurement. Leveraging a discontinuous regulation that mandates agencies to publicize certain contract opportunities, we document that expanding the set of bidders reduces award prices but deteriorates post-award performance in terms of cost overruns and delays. We develop and estimate an auction model with endogenous entry and stochastic execution performance, in which the buyer endogenously chooses the intensity of competition. Model estimates indicate substantial heterogeneity in performance across contractors and show that simple adjustments to the current regulation could provide significant savings in procurement spending. (JEL D22, D24, D44, D82, D86, H56, H57)

In recent years, it has become important to reach a common understanding of non-lethal weapons, their types and classifications, as a means of ensuring safety without causing loss of life or bodily harm, as well as to conduct a near-term study of the market for this type of weapon.

Non-state actors-NGOs, media, parties, TNCs, and illicit/terror networks-now shape international relations, especially within the information and cyber domains. Highly heterogeneous, NGOs operate as formal bodies and flexible networks; they influence lawmaking, compliance, and internet governance, though coordination limits collective clout. TNCs (including security roles) and agenda-setting media further dilute traditional party influence, while networked illicit actors gain sway in fragile states. Looking to 2040, contests in the information sphere and tighter state–non-state entanglement will make societal institutions pivotal agents.

Abstract The advent and spread of cyberspace have revolutionized intelligence organizations, disciplines, and operations. The fact that so much human activity and wealth creation now occur in cyberspace has altered political, military, and economic modes and relationships, and intelligence has had to follow. The nature of intelligence has not changed, however, even though many of its “legacy” functions and disciplines now work in new ways. It is also important to note that influence flowed in the opposite direction as well. Indeed, intelligence helped lead the evolution of cyberspace itself. Understanding the effect of digital, networked mechanisms on intelligence is key to forecasting the future of the field. Conversely, the history of intelligence also offers lessons about the future of cyberspace and cyber conflict.

The benefits of physical activity are widely recognized in primary and tertiary breast cancer prevention. Most women do not meet the international physical activity recommendations for breast cancer prevention despite public health policies. The aim of this study is to better understand barriers, facilitators, and preferences for physical activity among adult women in France. A web-based observational study was conducted between February and March 2021 through a Seintinelles French collaborative research platform. Women with and without a history of breast cancer were asked to complete an online questionnaire measuring sociodemographic and health characteristics, physical activity behaviors, physical activity barriers and facilitators, and physical activity preferences. A total of 2,306 women participated in this study, including women without breast cancer (n = 1,245), women with localized breast cancer undergoing treatment (n = 530), or post-treatment (n = 396), and women with metastatic breast cancer (n = 135). The mean age was 48.7years (SD = 13.2) and 63.8% of the population were classified as insufficiently active. Lack of motivation was the most common physical activity barrier in all groups while the main physical activity facilitators were women's desire to improve their abilities and quality of life, to feel better about their bodies and to experience pleasure. Walking remains the preferred physical activity for all women in the study, as they particularly like to be active outdoors, under supervision, on any day of the week, at a moderate intensity, for 30-60min per session. Some differences of physical activity barriers, facilitators and preferences were observed between women who are still undergoing treatment compared to women who have completed the treatment or without breast cancer history. Women with metastatic breast cancer emphasized their need for physical activity counselling. Overall, physically inactive women reported more barriers to exercise (17 out of 22 items), whereas physically active women reported more facilitators (20 out of 22 items). Women across the breast cancer spectrum identified similar and unique determinants and preferences for physical activity. These determinants and preferences may contribute to targeted activity guideline development to promote physical activity for women before, during, and after treatment for breast cancer. Women who had completed treatment for localized breast cancer share both common and specific determinants and preferences forphysical activity compared with women without breast cancer, those undergoing treatment, and those with metastatic disease,highlighting the need for tailored physical activity counselling and programs.