bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Methodology for Gear Design of a Formula One Racing Car: A Modelling Procedure Based on Finite Element
Authors: Mantovani Sara , Calacci Fabio , Fanelli Sergio , Parlamento Matteo
Published: August 2018

FIA regulations for the 2015 Formula One World Championship introduced an upper limit to the number of transmission assemblies employed during the season; a new approach to reliability has been forced on the designers, along with a reconsideration of the calculation procedures. Whereas mechanical transmission reliability calculations are well coded within the commercial transportations field, the peculiar aspects of the motorsport branch - namely a) the quest for an extreme lightweight design, b) the harsh dynamic transitions in speed and torque at gear shifts with a seamless shift transmission and wheel-road chattering, c) the circumscribed consequences of a breakage due to the controlled nature of the racing track environment, and d) the frenzied design procedures pace - urged for the development of specific validation procedures, that have to be rapidly redefined with the 2015 regulation adjustment. The present contribution rethinks those reliability assessment procedures - mostly based on nonlinear, dynamic Finite Element (FE) calculations - for a Formula One gearbox. In particular, the required model complexity is discussed with respect to the inclusion of shafts, bearings and carter compliance, chassis load induced deformation, significant load case selection, misuse robustness. The finalized validation procedure is shown to be predictive with respect to the augmented reliability requirements, while remaining feasible within the motorsport timescale environment.
Structural Health Monitoring of Scarfed Repaired Composite Panels Using Inject-Printed Patterns
Authors: Bekas D.G. , Sharif Khodaei Zahra , Aliabadi M.H.
Published: August 2018

A novel strategy is proposed for monitoring of bonded composite repair patch is developed and tested. A specially designed pattern was inject-printed onto the step-sanded repair surface providing real time information about the bondline structural integrity. The obtained results indicated that the proposed methodology was able to detect damage induced by an impact event. Infrared thermography (IrT) and ultrasound inspection were also employed in order to validate the proposed methodology.
Trial Fabrication of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Honeycomb Sandwich Materials
Authors: Takagi Hitoshi , Nishimura Kenya , Nakagaito Antonio N.
Published: August 2018

This paper deals with a new fabrication technique of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) honeycomb cores and all-CFRTP honeycomb sandwich panels. The CFRTP core was made of plane woven carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene prepreg sheets. The stacked CFRTP prepreg sheets were periodically hot-pressed at the node locations, and then expanded to form an all-CFRP honeycomb core. The resultant CFRTP honeycomb cores were glued with the same polypropylene-based plain-woven CFRTP skin plates. The mechanical performance of the all-CFRTP honeycomb sandwich panels was evaluated by flexural tests. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of proposed all-CFRTP sandwich panels.
Glass Bottle Fracture Behavior by Underwater Shock-Wave - Effect of Micro-Bubble on the Fracture Behavior -
Authors: Ohbuchi Yoshifumi , Sugahara Sota , Tanaka Shigeru , Enoki Shinichi , Hotta Genj , Sakamoto Hidetoshi
Published: August 2018

In order to promote the recycling of the one way glass bottles, the impact fracture by using the pulse power underwater shock-wave with micro bubble was examined. It is reported that the pressure of underwater shock-wave with micro-bubble increases. From the experimental result, the glass bottle‘s crushed experiment was executed in the water with micro-bubble. As a result, the small glass fragments (Cullet) increased and it was shown that the micro-bubble in the water promoted the bottle fracture.
Disappearance of Martensitic Strengthened-Micro-Texture in Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel Caused by Stress-Induced Acceleration of Atomic Diffusion at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Shinozaki Taichi , Suzuki Ken , Miura Hideo
Published: August 2018

Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel is a heat-resistant steel developed for a steam generator in a FBR (Fast Breeder Reactor) and it has been applied to various thermal power plants. Recently, it was found that the fatigue limits did not appear up to 108 cycles at temperatures higher than 500oC. The reason for the decrease of the fatigue life was attributed to the change of the initially designed microstructure of the alloy. The initially dispersed fine lath martensitic texture disappeared at temperatures higher than 500°C, when the magnitude of the applied stress exceeded a certain critical value. In order to explicate the dominant factors of the change quantitatively, the change of the microstructure and the strength of the alloy were continuously observed by applying an intermittent fatigue and creep tests at elevated temperatures and EBSD analysis. It was found that there was a critical stress which caused the microstructure change at each test temperature higher than 500°C, and the activation energy of the change was determined as a function of temperature and the applied tensile stress. The dominant factor of the micro structure change was the stress-induced acceleration of the atomic diffusion of the component element of the alloy.
Mechanical Properties and Fatigue Resistance of 3D Printed Inconel 718 in Comparison with Conventional Manufacture
Authors: Černý Ivo , Kec Jan , Vlasák Tomás , Remar Luboš , Jersák Miroslav , Zetek Miroslav
Published: August 2018

The paper contains results of the first stage of experimental programme aimed at an evaluation of microstructure, mechanical properties, fatigue durability and creep of the first batch of Inconel 718 samples manufactured using the 3D printing technology, Direct Metal Laser-Sintering (DMLS). Specimens were printed in the X position with specimen axis perpendicular to the built direction. The results, compared with specimens manufactured conventionally, were completed and discussed with analyses of damage mechanisms particularly using scanning electron microscopy. Static strength of the printed material was significantly higher in comparison with conventional material. Fatigue resistance was comparable provided that there were no microstructure defects causing premature failure. High sensitivity to sever machining was demonstrated.
Optimization of Dynamic Cornering Fatigue Test Process of Aluminum Alloy Wheels
Authors: Pastirmaci Anil , Kara Ali , Kalender Caner
Published: August 2018

Aluminum wheels are most commonly used wheel type for passenger cars for decades. A356 alloy (including alloying elements of 7% Si and 0.3% Mg) is used and a T6 heat treatment is applied for the wheels. A lot of proofing tests are applied on a wheel in order to ensure its reliability and to guarantee passenger safety. Dynamic cornering fatigue test is the most widely used fatigue performance evaluation method for passenger car wheels. Test is basically applied on the wheel by stretching and bending of the wheel spokes with an oscillating force applied at the far end of a shaft connected to the offset surface of the wheel. This test lasts for 2 to 200 hours depending on the desired number of cycles without a crack or the number of crack initiation cycle (fatigue life). Therefore for a laboratory conducting more than 1500 fatigue tests a year, minimization of test duration without changing applied stress on wheels increases the productivity and improves testing capacity. This study includes the investigations and applications to accelerate the dynamic cornering fatigue test of wheels experimentally. Applied stress levels for regular and accelerated tests were compared by using strain gage recordings experimentally.
Effect of Press Condition on the Mechanical Properties of GFRTP Molded by the Melted Thermoplastic-Resin Transfer Molding
Authors: Tanaka Kazuto , Hirata Akihiro , Katayama Tsutao
Published: August 2018

The application of Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (FRTP) is expected to reduce the weight of automobiles. The press and injection hybrid molding method was developed to mold FRTP with high strength and high stiffness by giving complicated shapes such as ribs and bosses to the outer shell structure of FRTP with continuous fiber. However, as this method uses high-cost FRTP laminated sheets, it is necessary to develop a low-cost FRTP manufacturing process. In this study, we aim at the development of Melted Thermoplastic-Resin Transfer Molding (MT-RTM) to mold FRTP with complicated shape at low cost by injecting melted short fiber reinforced thermoplastics into dry fabric. The effects of press condition on the mechanical properties of GFRTP molded by MT-RTM were clarified by bending tests. GFRTP molded at high mold temperature and high closing speed showed high mechanical properties because of good impregnation of injection resin into continuous fabric in the outer shell structure.
A Model for High-Cycle Fatigue in Polycrystals
Authors: Benedetti Ivano , Gulizzi Vincenzo
Published: August 2018

A grain-scale formulation for high-cycle fatigue inter-granular degradation in polycrystalline aggregates is presented. The aggregate is represented through Voronoi tessellations and the mechanics of individual bulk grains is modelled using a boundary integral formulation. The inter-granular interfaces degrade under the action of cyclic tractions and they are represented using cohesive laws embodying a local irreversible damage parameter that evolves according to high-cycle continuum damage laws. The consistence between cyclic and static damage, which plays an important role in the redistribution of inter-granular tractions upon cyclic degradation, is assessed at each fatigue solution jump, so to capture the onset of macro-failure. Few polycrystalline aggregates are tested using the developed technique, which may find application in multiscale modelling of engineering components as well as in the design of micro-electro-mechanical devices (MEMS).
A Simple Analytical Approach for Creep Analysis of EB-FRP Systems
Authors: Biscaia Hugo , Chastre Carlos
Published: August 2018

Based on a few experimental results available in the literature, this work presents a simple analytical approach that allows the study of the long-term behaviour of CFRP-to-concrete interfaces under an initial sustaining load. Only the elastic regime is studied, which means that the interfacial maximum bond stress and maximum slip are never exceeded. Therefore, the maximum initial load to be sustained by the joints is limited by its corresponding elastic value. The analytical results provided by the proposed model are compared with some experimental results found in the literature. The results showed strain redistribution throughout the bonded length over the time.
Influence of the Deformation Rate on the Delamination of Laminated Composite Materials
Authors: López-Taboada C. , Castillo-López G. , Zabala H. , Aretxabaleta L. , García-Sánchez Felipe
Published: August 2018

It is well known that delamination is one of the most critical mechanism of failure of laminated composite materials. It supposes an important load capacity reduction, it is difficult to see and his evolution modify the failure of the component. Composite delamination depends on their fracture toughness. On the other hand, impacts are the most dangerous loads for those materials due to the important deformation rate induced in the material.
This work analyses the influence of load velocity in the fracture toughness, for modes I and II, in textile carbon/epoxy, up to an impact velocity of 0,190 m/s. For that range, results show that the mode I fracture toughness decrease with velocity, while for mode II it remains nearly constant.
However, the load velocities analyzed are yet far from those induced in a low speed impact. We propose to continue this research by increasing deformation rates using drop tower impact techniques, to observe if the trend observed so far is maintained on increasing speed.
Effectiveness of RAPID and SSM Algorithms on Composite Scarf Repair
Authors: Lambinet Florian , Sharif Khodaei Zahra , Aliabadi M.H.
Published: August 2018

This work focuses on diagnostic methodologies for composite repair patch based on structural health monitoring (SHM) technology. Methodologies based on ultrasonic guided waves (GW) are developed and assessed for monitoring composite scarf repair with piezoelectric transducers. The effectiveness of the RAPID (reconstruction algorithm for probabilistic inspection of defects) algorithm was investigated for adhesively bonded composite patch repair. A composite scarf repair has been weakened by 4-point bending fatigue test and impacted after to generate a Barely Visible Damage (BVID). Both conventional RAPID technique, which requires baseline signals, and the Scaling Subtraction Method (SSM) were applied to detect damage in the bondline. The conventional method showed good performance for defect detection and localization whereas the SSM gives encouraging results for non-linear baseline-free RAPID.
A Thermodynamically Consistent CZM for Low-Cycle Fatigue Analysis
Authors: Parrinello Francesco , Benedetti Ivano , Borino Guido
Published: August 2018

A cohesive zone model for low-cycle fatigue analysis is developed in a consistent thermodynamic framework of elastic-plastic-damage mechanics with internal variable. A specific fatigue activation condition allows to model the material degradation related to the elastic-plastic cyclic loading conditions, with tractions levels lower than the damage activation condition. A moving endurance surface, in the classic framework of kinematic hardening, enables a pure elastic behavior without any fatigue degradation for low levels loading conditions.
Accurate SIF Analysis of a Partially Cylindrical Side Crack Opened by Far-Field Tension
Authors: Sonobe Yohei , Ino Takuichiro , Saimoto Akihide , Takase Toru , Koyama Atsuhiro , Shatil Giora
Published: August 2018

In recent years, due to a remarkable progress of qualified mesh generation algorithms combinedwith computational image processing technologies, a complex shaped 3D crack analysis has been carried out more and more easily by finite element method. Generally speaking, in order to assess thereliability of numerical solution, existence of a closed-form solution or a practically exact numericalsolution is important and thank-worthy. In contrast with 2D problems, however, there are very fewnumber of closed form solutions regarding to 3D crack problems. In the present analysis, we examineda highly accurate body force method (BFM) analysis for a partially cylindrical 3D surface crackin which a suitable basic density function can be supposed reasonably by taking account the crackgeometry. The present SIF solution could be used effectively for the purpose of benchmark the finiteelement solution for general non-planar crack problems.
Modelling Cracked Cross-Ply Laminates with Delamination Buckling
Authors: Köllner A. , Kashtalyan Maria , Guz Igor , Völlmecke C.
Published: August 2018

The mechanical behavior of cross-ply laminates loaded under in-plane compression containing matrix cracks and delaminations is investigated in order to study their influence on the structural stability behavior. This is done by employing a semi-analytical modelling approach which comprises an analytical framework for a structural stability analysis of damageable structures and the Equivalent Constrained Model for deriving reduced stiffness properties of the cracked layers. Cross-ply laminates with varying delamination depths as well as varying matrix crack densities are studied.
Corrosivity Evaluation of Steel Members near the Air-Liquid Interface Using a Ground Corrosion Sensor
Authors: Kainuma Shigenobu , Yang Mu Ye
Published: August 2018

In a previous study, the authors have developed a ground corrosion sensor to evaluate the corrosivity of steel members near the ground. This research aimed at the fundamental investigation of the output properties and practicality of a ground corrosion sensor. The output characteristics were verified by two electrochemical tests. The corrosion rates were evaluated using sensor measurements and indoor exposure tests by simulating NaCl aqueous solution environments, which contain air-liquid interfaces. Besides, the actual corrosion depths obtained from the exposure tests were compared with those estimated by the sensor. Moreover, an evaluation method for time-dependent corrosion depth prediction of steel members using the corrosion sensor was proposed.
Numerical Study of the Progression of the Micromechanical Debonding Damage in Composites
Authors: Velasco M.L. , París Federico , Correa E.
Published: August 2018

This paper deals with the study of the actual progression of the damage in the 90 degrees lamina of a composite. It has been proved and observed that isolated debondings between fibres and matrix are the first manifestation of damage in the weakest lamina, the 90 degrees lamina in a [0,90]S laminate. It was also numerically supported that this first phase was independent of the thickness of the 90 degrees lamina, not being then affected by the “scale effect”. The continuation of this first phase of damage is the objective of the present paper. To this end, a multiscale model is created involving the debonding between fibre and matrix and studying the kink of this crack, abandoning the fibre-matrix interface and entering into the matrix to produce a meso-transverse crack in the 90 degrees ply. The study is based on the application of Fracture Mechanics to an incipient kinked crack that starts from a debonding between fibre and matrix. It is concluded that this second phase of damage, playing with the thickness of the 90 degrees lamina, is not affected by the scale effect, as the variation of the energy release rate of the kinked crack is not significantly influenced by the variation of the thickness of the lamina.
SEM Study of the Influence of Microstructure on Low Cycle Fatigue Crack Growth in Martensitic Steel I
Authors: Eterashvili Tamaz , Dzigrashvili Temur , Vardosanidze M.
Published: August 2018

Distribution of fatigue cracks in chromium martensitic steel after low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests at room temperature has been studied using SEM, and the experimental evidences of localized plastic flow (LPF) are presented. The influence of the location of LPF and the microstructure elements on the trajectory and growth of microcracks is also considered. The dimensions of plastic zones ahead of macrocrack tip as well as at its edges were measured in the process of crack propagation inside of the sample. The processes occurring in plastic zone, particularly ahead of macrocrack tip, were analyzed. Distribution, orientation and the reasons of slip bands’ formation as well as the microstructure elements at which they were nucleated have been studied. The impact of the slip bands’ orientation on the process of macrocrack growth was also analyzed. In addition the interactions of a crack with the boundaries of former austenite grains, martensitic packets, martensitic laths, slip bands and precipitates have been discussed.
Glatiramer Acetate Enhances Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Function via Recognition of Paired Ig-like Receptor B
Authors: van der Touw William , Kang Kyeongah , Luan Yi , Ma Ge , Mai Sunny , Qin Lihui , Bian Guanglin , Zhang Ruihua , Mungamuri Sathish Kumar , Hu Hong-Ming , Zhang Cheng Cheng , Aaronson Stuart A. , Feldmann Marc , Yang Wen-Chin , Chen Shu-Hsia , Pan Ping-Ying
Published: August 2018

Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) is a copolymer therapeutic that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis. Despite an unclear mechanism of action, studies have shown that GA promotes protective Th2 immunity and stimulates release of cytokines that suppress autoimmunity. In this study, we demonstrate that GA interacts with murine paired Ig-like receptor B (PIR-B) on myeloid-derived suppressor cells and suppresses the STAT1/NF-κB pathways while promoting IL-10/TGF-β cytokine release. In inflammatory bowel disease models, GA enhanced myeloid-derived suppressor cell–dependent CD4+ regulatory T cell generation while reducing proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Human monocyte-derived macrophages responded to GA by reducing TNF-α production and promoting CD163 expression typical of alternative maturation despite the presence of GM-CSF. Furthermore, GA competitively interacts with leukocyte Ig-like receptors B (LILRBs), the human orthologs of PIR-B. Because GA limited proinflammatory activation of myeloid cells, therapeutics that target LILRBs represent novel treatment modalities for autoimmune indications.
Harsh Words and Deeds: Systematic Content Analyses of Offensive* User Behavior in the Virtual Environments of Online First-Person Shooter Games
Authors: Holz Ivory Adrienne , Ivory James D. , Wu Winston , Limperos Anthony M. , Andrew Nathaniel , Sesler Brandon S.
Published: August 2018

While the virtual environments of online games can foster healthy relationships and strong communities, some online games are also marred by antisocial and offensive behavior. Such behavior, even when relatively rare, influences the interactions and relationships of users in online communities. Thus, understanding the prevalence and nature of antisocial and offensive behaviors in online games is an important step toward understanding the full spectrum of healthy and unhealthy interactions and relationships in virtual environments. Extensive research has explored video game content produced by game developers, such as violence, profanity, and sexualized portrayals, but much less research has systematically examined potentially problematic content produced by players in online games. While potential effects of antisocial and offensive online game content are not well understood, a first step toward exploring this concern is systematic documentation of offensive user-generated content in online games. To that end, two large-scale content analyses measured a range of offensive user-generated content, including utterances, text, and images, from a total of more than 2,500 users in popular first-person shooter video games. Findings indicated that some content, such as profanity, was frequent among users who spoke during games. More offensive and potentially harmful content, such as racial slurs, was proportionally very rare, but frequent enough to be encountered often by regular players. Results of this initial investigation should be interpreted tentatively, do not suggest that relationships in online shooter games lack healthy elements, and should not be generalized to other online game communities until further research is conducted.* Note: This paper contains strong language which may be offensive to some readers.
Using 3D Worlds in Prison: Driving, Learning and Escape
Authors: Farley Helen Sara
Published: August 2018

Affordable hardware and increased processing power have resulted in a surge in the number and adoption of virtual reality applications and immersive virtual environments. These applications are able to immerse the user in an environment other than that of their immediate geographical location. The one population that is unable to move even within their own geographical location are prisoners. Prisoners are secluded away from the general population, unable to travel, attend education beyond the prison walls or interact with a wide variety of people. At least to a certain extent, these constraints are able to be overcome with the use of virtual reality and immersive virtual environments.This paper briefly examines the constraints experienced by prisoners and the technical limitations of the prison environment. It explores the very few cases where these technologies are already used within the prison setting. A number of potential uses for virtual reality within prisons are proposed, including the justification for these approaches and a description of how these technologies are being used outside of the prison setting.
Modeling the Metaverse: A Theoretical Model of Effective Team Collaboration in 3D Virtual Environments
Authors: Van der Land Sarah , Schouten Alexander P. , Van den Hooff Bart , Feldberg Frans
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a theoretical model of effective team collaboration in 3D virtual environments is presented. The aim of this model is to enhance our understanding of the capabilities exerting influence on effective 3D virtual team collaboration. The model identifies a number of specific capabilities of 3D virtual worlds that can contribute to this team effectiveness. Compared to "traditional" computer-mediated collaboration technologies, 3D virtual environments support team collaboration primarily through (a) the shared virtual environment, and (b) avatar-based interaction. Through the shared virtual environment, users experience higher levels of presence (a feeling of actually "being there"), realism and interactivity. These capabilities increase the users' level of information processing.  Avatar-based interaction induces greater feelings of social presence (being with others) and control over  self-presentation (how one wants to be perceived by others), thus increasing the level of communication support in the 3D environment. Through greater levels of information and communication support, a higher level of shared understanding is reached, which in turn positively influences team performance. Our paper concludes by presenting several propositions which allow further empirical testing, implications for research and practice, and suggestions for future research. The insights obtained from this paper can help developers of these virtual worlds to design standards for the capabilities that influence effective team collaboration in 3D virtual environments.
Effects of Digital Game Play Among Young Singaporean Gamers: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study
Authors: Li Dongdong , Choo Hyekyung , Khoo Angeline , Liau Albert K.
Published: August 2018

Using a large sample of Singaporean children and adolescents from primary and secondary schools, this study provides important results on changes in amount of time spent on gaming and violent content exposure, and the effects of such changes on academic performance, pathological gaming, aggressive cognitions and empathic attitudes.This study provided support for the hypothesis that excessive gaming was related to poorer academic performance and more pathological symptoms. For example, Stable-Hardcore students reported the lowest academic performance in both waves with a decreasing trend, and Stable-Casual students reported the highest academic performance. There was also a link between high violent game content exposure and greater approval of aggression as well as lower empathic attitudes. Students with constantly low violence exposure reported higher empathic attitudes, and lower acceptability of aggression. Implications of the study were discussed in relation to the treatment of excessive gaming.
The Cowl Makes the Monk: How Avatar Appearance and Role Labels Affect Cognition in Virtual Worlds
Authors: Peña Jorge , McGlone Matthew S , Sanchez Joseph
Published: August 2018

This study examined how avatars influence operators in stereotype-consistent ways. Participants controlled formally or glamorously dressed avatars, and then created stories. Half of the participants heard a comment about the likely role of the avatar based on its looks (e.g., professor, supermodel). An automated linguistic analysis uncovered that participants using formally dressed avatars referred more to education, books, and numbers. Conversely, participants using glamorously dressed avatars used more words related to sports, entertainment, clothes, and beauty. Also, glamorously dressed avatars with a supermodel role elicited brands, exotic names, and age concerns, but the same avatar with no role stimulated descriptions of people and locations. The findings fit the assumptions of priming models and illustrate the additive effects of avatar appearance and role on users’ cognition.
Training Evaluation in Virtual Worlds: Development of a Model
Authors: Landers Richard N. , Callan Rachel C.
Published: August 2018

Many organizations have adopted virtual worlds (VWs) as a setting for training programs; however, research on appropriate evaluation of training in this new setting is incomplete. In this article, we address this gap by first exploring the unique issues relevant to evaluation faced by training designers working in VWs. At the macro-organizational level, the primary issue faced is an organizational culture unreceptive to or otherwise skeptical of VWs. At the micro-organizational level, two major issues are identified: individual trainees unreceptive to VWs and general lack of experience navigating VWs. All three of these challenges and their interrelationships may lead to poor reactions, learning, and transfer from VW-based training despite strong, pedagogically sound training design. Second, we survey the training evaluation research literature, identifying the most well-supported training evaluation models, discussing the suitability of each for evaluating VW-based training. Third, we propose a new integrative model based upon this literature, incorporating solutions to the unique issues faced in VWs with the most relevant portions of the models discussed earlier. Fourth, broad thematic implications of this model are identified and applied to prior VW literature. Finally, we provide specific recommendations to practitioners and researchers to evaluate their VW-based training fully.
From Orlando to Milan: Virtual Worlds Business Disillusionment
Authors: Sivan Yesha Y.
Published: August 2018

The last issue of 2012 includes three papers on the topic of “Managerial and Commercial Applications”, two “Assembled” papers and one “Think Piece”. Gearing up for another year at JVWR and Happy New Year wishes to all.
Language Learning in Virtual Worlds: The Role of Foreign Language and Technical Anxiety
Authors: Grant Scott John , Huang Hui , Pasfield-Neofitou Sarah E.
Published: August 2018

This project examines whether or not learners feel less foreign language anxiety (FLA) in an online multiuser 3D virtual world simulation than in the real world classroom. Previous research has shown FLA to have negative effects on learner performance and learning outcomes. Research into learning in virtual worlds has indicated that performance anxiety may be lessened in these environments, however, the use of such virtual environments also places demands on the learner to develop a range of technical skills to facilitate interaction. The project examines whether or not learners feel less FLA in an online multiuser 3D virtual world simulation than in the real world classroom and also attempts to establish what impacts these demands have on learner performance and FLA. This work-in-progress paper, on the basis of preliminary analysis, has found 1) there are multiple sources of FLA in both classroom and virtual environments; 2) students found the virtual environment less stressful in terms of language use and 3) there was not a significant inherent level of technical related anxiety.
Architecting Scalable Academic Virtual World Grids: A Case Utilizing OpenSimulator
Authors: Lesko Charles J. , Hollingsworth Yolanda A.
Published: August 2018

To better understand the technological requirements of academic institutions looking to implement an OpenSimulator virtual world grid, an observational study was performed to better understand the solution requirements. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an analysis of the parameters and considerations utilized to architect a scalable, open-source virtual world grid for use in various academic delivery scenarios. This specific case focuses on the detail leading up to deployment of the solution, and includes a discussion regarding solution selection and incorporation of various virtualization technologies to maximize institutional hardware resources based on established functional need. The computing resources utilized for this case were allocated via a virtualized infrastructure. Discussion and results include presentation of a proposed layered model outlining the solution elements and their relationships as well as various approaches to structuring and organizing in-world content and activity.
Achieving Arete: Being the Best You Can Be
Authors: Sivan Yesha Y.
Published: August 2018

Speed, "Visual-ness" & Diversity: three specialties in this issue. The editors (Celeste Lovette Guichard, Laura Salciuviene and Gary Hardee) have done an amazing job, bringing this issue to life. We have papers about television, music, museums, and avatars. We look at art from both sides of the screens (inside virtual worlds, and outside).
Authorship in Virtual Worlds: Author's Death to Rights Revival?
Authors: Roncallo-Dow Sergio , Uribe-Jongbloed Enrique , Barker Kim , Scholz Tobias M
Published: August 2018

In Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) and virtual worlds, the idea of authors seems to have ‘died’ or been ‘wiped out,’ at least from the perspective of users. The concept of authorship does not receive adequate attention or recognition in MMOs and online games in particular appear to deprive authors of their rights, both legally and morally. Users of MMOs are required to consent to the deprivation of rights in both authorship and intellectual property before they can access multi-user environments. This deprives users of their rights as authors. This paper will show that currently acceptable practice is problematic and leads to a decrease of innovation. Furthermore, it will consider a fresh approach to such issues, in light of the idea of authors as producers and as a vivid force for innovation. In addition to this, consideration will be given to the idea of collective authorship. Rather than a strictly legal analysis, this paper will explore a legal and media approach to authorship in MMOs.The concept of authorship will be considered initially from three vantage points: Barthes’ death of the author, Foucault’s author as a function, and von Hippel’s concept of democratic innovation. These considerations will be developed to present our perspective that the author goes beyond the producing subject to become a function of a process of collective construction. The function of the author within an MMO follows the process the author assumes in this virtual world. Hence, the moral rights upon the creative production remain with every author, whereas the collective compilation becomes an untraceable product, which dissolves within the collective process of production itself. As such, authorship, once collective, cannot be disentangled into specific parts of the whole. Copyright and moral rights in virtual worlds and MMOs must reflect this - otherwise what is the underlying purpose of copyright? At the very least, the notion of authorship ought to be acknowledged and rights attributed to those who are responsible for the creativity. Furthermore acknowledgement of the author is necessary to signal to other potential authors to distribute their ideas to these virtual worlds and thereby share innovative ideas within the virtual worlds. The motivation to contribute ideas is linked with any form of recognition for the work. After all, these online spaces are persistent and ever developing, and this cannot happen without the user base, or as we argue, the authors.
Evaluating Consent and Legitimacy Amongst Shifting Community Norms: an EVE Online Case Study
Authors: Suzor Nicolas , Woodford Darryl
Published: August 2018

The legitimate resolution of disputes in online environments requires a complex understanding of the social norms of the community. The conventional legal approach to resolving disputes through literal interpretation of the contractual terms of service is highly problematic because it does not take into account potential conflict with community expectations. In this paper we examine the importance of consent to community governance and argue that a purely formal evaluation of consent is insufficient to legitimately resolve disputes. As online communities continue to grow in importance to the lives of their participants, the importance of resolving disputes legitimately, with reference to the consent of the community, will also continue to grow. We present a case study of botting and real money trading in EVE Online that highlights the dynamic interaction of community norms and private governance processes. Through this case study, we argue that the major challenge facing regulators of online environments is that community norms are complex, contested, and continuously evolving. Developing legitimate regulatory frameworks then depends on the ability of regulators to create efficient and acceptable modes of dispute resolution that can take into account (and acceptably resolve) the tension between formal contractual rules and complex and conflicting community understandings of acceptable behaviour.
Privacy in Virtual Worlds: A US Perspective
Authors: Pridmore Jeannie , Overocker John
Published: August 2018

Virtual Worlds (VW) are intricate 3-dimensional, vivid environments that are the digital equivalents of the physical world (Glibert, 2011). VWs offer new and engaging methods of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used for conducting many kinds of processes and functions, from education and training, to new product development and customer service. A vast amount of personal information can be recorded, stored, and analyzed in VW. This paper presents a rich account of what today’s VW consist of and the current state of privacy rights in VW in the United States.First the paper explains why VW should be considered separate from other ICT. Then privacy rights in the United States are discussed, and how these rights could, or should, apply to VW. Currently privacy rights of VW users are wholly created and defined by the Terms of Service (TOS) of the VW. The argument is put forth that privacy rights need to be approached in two ways, from the VW users working to improve their rights in the TOS and improved government privacy regulation as called for by the VW community. Privacy laws or the right to privacy is critical at this point in the development of VW. As in the days of the Wild West, the law has been slow to make its way into the realm of VW. In conclusion, critical issues are identified to be addressed in future research projects.
From Voxel Vistas: Place-Making in Minecraft
Authors: Quiring Tyler
Published: August 2018

The concept of place informs much of human meaning-making in both space and time. This paper seeks to bridge gaps between the literature on place and research on video games and virtual worlds by finding points of intersection between each field. I analyze the immensely successful independently-developed video game Minecraft through my own experience and an analysis of gameplay videos uploaded to YouTube. The game serves as an ideal framework within which to study place-making due to three core qualities that illuminate intersections in place and video game/virtual worlds literature: (a) alteration/change, (b) proximity, and (c) conflict/cooperation. I problematize dichotomies between “actual” and “virtual” versions of reality as well as “physical” and “social” constructions of place. Through this study, I use Minecraft as an example of the consistency of human place-making across environments, whether digital or physical.
Restorative Virtual Environment Design for Augmenting Nursing Home Rehabilitation
Authors: Bruun-Pedersen Jon Ram , Serafin Stefania , Kofoed Lise Busk
Published: August 2018

With increasing age, muscle strength decreases excessively rapidly if physical activity is not maintained. However, physical activity is increasingly difficult with aging. This is due to balance, strength or coordination difficulties, arthritis, etc. Moreover, many nursing home residents become unable to experience natural surroundings. Augmenting a conventional biking exercise with a recreational virtual environment (RVE) has shown to serve as an intrinsic motivation contributor to exercise for nursing home residents. RVEs might be able to provide some of the health benefits that regular nature experiences do. More studies on content of proper custom designs for RVEs are necessary. This paper reviews the background for RVE design, describes four custom RVE designs for recreational VE exploration and presents user preferences among nursing home users concerning content and other pivotal design considerations.
Learning from the “Edge” of Virtual Worlds
Authors: Sivan Yesha Y.
Published: August 2018

During 2016 we got many JVWR submissions that dealt with the future of virtual worlds. Of them, a group of papers seems to suggest new angles and unique points of view. We packed these top five papers into this Edge issue. Each of them pushes the boundaries of the disciplines in a different way. Together, they demonstrate the dual value of JVWR, first as a stage to explore the future of virtual worlds (defined broadly) and then help to shape the future of real worlds.
Synergistic effect of water-soluble species and relative humidity on morphological changes of aerosol particles in Beijing mega-city during severe pollution episodes
Authors: Pan Xiaole , Ge Baozhu , Wang Zhe , Tian Yu , Liu Hang , Wei Lianfang , Yue Siyao , Uno Itsushi , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Nishizawa Tomoaki , Shimizu Atsushi , Fu Pingqing , Wang Zifa
Published: August 2018

Abstract. Depolarization ratio (δ) of backscattered light from aerosol particle is an applicable parameter for real-time distinguishing spherical and non-spherical particles, which has been widely adopted by ground-based Lidar observation and satellite remote sensing. From November 2016 to February of 2017, it consecutively suffered from numbers of severe air pollution at Beijing with daily averaged mass concentration of PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) larger than 150 μg/m3. We preformed concurrent measurements of water-soluble chemical species and depolarization properties of aerosol particles on the basis of a continuous dichotomous Aerosol Chemical Speciation Analyzer (ACSA-14) and a bench-top optical particle counter with a polarization detection module (POPC). We found that δ value of ambient particles generally decrease as mass concentration of PM2.5 increased at unfavorable meteorological condition. Ratio of mass concentration of nitrate (NO3−) to that of sulfate (SO42−) in PM2.5 was 1.5 ± 0.6, indicating of great importance of NOx in the formation of heavy pollution. Mass concentration of NO3− in PM2.5 (fNO3) was generally an order of magnitude higher than that in coarse mode (cNO3) with a mean fNO3 / cNO3 ratio of 14 ± 10. Relatively high allocation (fNO3/cNO3 = 5) of NO3− in coarse mode could be partially attributed to hygroscopic growth/coagulation of nitrate-rich fine mode particles under higher relative humidity condition. As a result, δ values of particles with Dp = 2 μm (δDp = 2) and 5 μm (δDp = 5) decreased evidently as the mass fraction of water-soluble species (NO3− and SO42−) increase in both PM2.5 and PM2.5–10, respectively. In particular, due to synergistic effect of RH, δDp = 5 value could decrease by 50 % as mass fraction of NO3− in PM2.5–10 increased from 8 % to 23 %. It suggested that alteration of non-sphericity of mineral dust particles was evident owing to coating with pollutants and heterogeneous reactions on the surface of the particle during heavy pollution period. This study brings the attention to great variability of morphological changes of aerosol particles along the transport, which have great complex effects in evaluating their climate and health effect.
Trend Quality Ozone from NPP OMPS: the Version 2 Processing
Authors: McPeters Richard , Frith Stacey , Kramarova Natalya , Ziemke Jerry , Labow Gordon
Published: August 2018

Abstract. A version 2 processing of data from two ozone monitoring instruments on Suomi NPP, the OMPS nadir ozone mapper and the OMPS nadir ozone profiler, has now been completed. The previously released data were useful for many purposes but were not suitable for use in ozone trend analysis. In this processing, instrument artifacts have been identified and corrected, an improved scattered light correction and wavelength registration have been applied, and soft calibration techniques were implemented to produce a calibration consistent with data from the series of SBUV/2 instruments. The result is a high quality ozone time series suitable for trend analysis. Total column ozone data from the OMPS nadir mapper now agree with data from the SBUV/2 instrument on NOAA 19 with a zonal average bias of −0.2 % over the 60° S to 60° N latitude zone. Differences are somewhat larger between OMPS nadir profiler and N19 total column ozone, with an average difference of −1.1  % over the 60° S to 60° N latitude zone and a residual seasonal variation of about 2 % at latitudes higher than about 50 degrees. For the profile retrieval, zonal average ozone in the upper stratosphere (between 2.5 and 4 hPa) agrees with that from NOAA 19 within ±3 % and an average bias of −1.1 %. In the lower stratosphere (between 25 and 40 hPa) agreement is within ±3 % with an average bias of +1.1 %. Tropospheric ozone produced by subtracting stratospheric ozone measured by the OMPS limb profiler from total column ozone measured by the nadir mapper is consistent with tropospheric ozone produced by subtracting stratospheric ozone from MLS from total ozone from the OMI instrument on Aura. The agreement of tropospheric ozone is within 10 % in most locations.
The ISC-GEM Earthquake Catalogue (1904–2014): status after the
Extension Project
Authors: Di Giacomo Domenico , Engdahl E. Robert , Storchak Dmitry A.
Published: August 2018

Abstract. We outline the work done to extend and improve the ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue, which was first released in 2013 (Storchak et al., 2013, 2015). Due to time and resource limitations, version 1 (V1) of the ISC-GEM Catalogue included global earthquakes selected according to time dependent cut-off magnitudes between 1900 and 2009: 7.5 and above before 1918 (plus significant 6.5 and above continental earthquakes); 6.25 between 1918 and 1959; 5.5 from 1960 onwards. With the Extension Project we added both pre-1960 events below the original cut-off magnitudes (if enough station data was available to perform relocation and magnitude re-computation) and added magnitude 5.5 and above events from 2010 to 2014. The project ran over a 4-year period where a new version of the ISC-GEM Catalogue was released each year via the ISC website (www.isc.ac.uk/iscgem/). For each year not only have we added new events to the catalogue for a given time range but also revised events already in V1 if additional data became available or location and/or magnitude reassessments were required. Here we recall the general background behind the production of the ISC-GEM Catalogue and describe the features of the different periods where the catalogue has been extended. Compared to the 2013 release, the new version (V5) of the ISC-GEM Catalogue now contains about 12,000 more events between 1904 and 1960 and ends in 2014 instead of 2009.We expect the ISC-GEM Catalogue to continue to be one of the most useful datasets for studies of the Earth’s global seismicity and an important benchmark for seismic hazard analyses, and, ultimately, an asset for the seismological community as well as other geoscience fields, education and outreach activities. The ISC-GEM Catalogue is freely available at http://doi.org/10.31905/D808B825.