Editor’s Introduction: Deconstructing the Master Signifier of Community

Deconstructing the master signifier of community: Between the pre-modern and modern community of organic solidarity and the postmodern community of technological dissemination in cyberspace

The implementation of a multimedia learning environment for graduate civil engineers

This paper examines the underpinning theory, design and implementation of a computer‐based Multimedia Learning Environment (MLE) for graduate civil engineers. The MLE brings together multimedia technology and Intelligent Tutoring Systems techniques for the purpose of developing in the graduate engineer the skills and understanding needed to produce initial design proposals for real‐world dam spillway design problems

Are European Works Councils ready for Brexit? : An inside look

On 31 January 2020, at 23:00, the United Kingdom (UK) officially ceased to be a member of the European Union (EU). One of the many areas that will likely be directly affected with regard to workers’ rights is the organisation and functioning of European Works Councils (EWCs). EWCs are company-level institutions set up in multinational companies (MNCs) to enable the provision of information to and consultation of employees on transnational matters. This policy brief shows that • Brexit will have an immediate effect on about 14% of all EWCs because they are based on UK national law. • There are also UK representatives in more than 70% of EWCs. • By 2018, most UK-based EWCs had already discussed the impact of Brexit. However, almost half of the EWCs with UK representatives had not yet discussed what will happen. • Of those EWCs with UK representatives, most think the UK members will remain members of the EWC, quite a few do not know, and about 16% predict that they will not remain members

Diffuse LEED intensities of disordered crystal surfaces : II. Multiple scattering on disordered overlayers

The diffraction of low energy electrons from disordered overlayers adsorbed on ordered substrates is treated theoretically by an extension of Beeby's multiple scattering method. A lattice gas model is assumed for the disordered adsorbate layer. Multiple scattering within a certain area around each atom — each atom of the overlayer and within the ordered substrate — is treated self-consistently, the remaining contributions to the total scattering amplitude being averaged. The theory can be used in the limiting cases of random distribution and of long range order within the adsorbate layer

Diffuse LEED intensities of disordered crystal surfaces : I. Correlations between statistics and multiple diffraction

It is shown that the diffraction of slow electrons from disordered crystal surfaces is correlated with the problem of thermodynamical statistics. The correlation functions are completely determined by the self-energies and interaction energies of neighboring complexes. These quantities solve the problem of a-priori probabilities and the cooperative phenomenon of correlation functions of these complexes. If the calculation of a certain set of multiple scattering amplitudes is possible, the remaining problem of determining the diffuse LEED pattern becomes solvable. The calculation of angular beam profiles follows the same lines as already described for the kinematic theory of X-ray diffraction

Anonymous: The Occupy Movement and the Failure of Representational Democracy

In this essay I try to make the case that the Occupy Movement can be thought through as a Post-Situationist art event which requires that it be thought of in terms of its pragmatic effects and what it can ‘do’ in relation to its viral spreading around major urban centers of the globe. I further try to make my case by utilizing the conceptual tool kit of Deleuze and Guattari; hence such ideas as sense-event, territory, virtual, and actual are part of this repertoire. I then try to further the complexity of Post-Situationism by including hacktivism and exploring the importance of being Anonymous in a society of control. The overall intent is to worry representation and to make the case for direct or participatory democracy

Universal shape ratios for polymers grafted at a flat surface

We consider dilute non-adsorbed polymers grafted at an impenetrable surface and compute several quantities which characterize the polymer shape: the asphericity and the ratios of the eigenvalues of the radius-of-gyration tensor. The results are only slightly different from those obtained for polymers in the bulk, showing that the surface has little influence on the polymer shape.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Editorial: Research, Visual Cultural Studies, Programs

This year’s journal explores a number of social issues that continue to reassert themselves on the postmodern landscape. How can social and cultural justice assert itself in arts based education? What is our responsibility to “at risk” children when it comes to a critical pedagogy? The first two essays use innovative approaches to arts based research by incorporating a critical autobiographical methodology. James Sanders and Diane Conrad, drawing their theoretical base from critical autoethnographic inquiry, attempt to examine themselves within the context of their investment as administrator, teacher and researcher