bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP): A Public–Private Partnership Addressing Wind Energy Forecast Needs
Authors: Wilczak James , Finley Cathy , Freedman Jeff , Cline Joel , Bianco Laura , Olson Joseph , Djalalova Irina , Sheridan Lindsay , Ahlstrom Mark , Manobianco John , Zack John , Carley Jacob R. , Benjamin Stan , Coulter Richard , Berg Larry K. , Mirocha Jeffrey , Clawson Kirk , Natenberg Edward , Marquis Melinda
Published: December 2014

The Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP) is a public–private research program, the goal of which is to improve the accuracy of short-term (0–6 h) wind power forecasts for the wind energy industry. WFIP was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with partners that included the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), private forecasting companies (WindLogics and AWS Truepower), DOE national laboratories, grid operators, and universities. WFIP employed two avenues for improving wind power forecasts: first, through the collection of special observations to be assimilated into forecast models and, second, by upgrading NWP forecast models and ensembles. The new observations were collected during concurrent year-long field campaigns in two high wind energy resource areas of the United States (the upper Great Plains and Texas) and included 12 wind profiling radars, 12 sodars, several lidars and surface flux stations, 184 instrumented tall towers, and over 400 nacelle anemometers. Results demonstrate that a substantial reduction (12%–5% for forecast hours 1–12) in power RMSE was achieved from the combination of improved numerical weather prediction models and assimilation of new observations, equivalent to the previous decade’s worth of improvements found for low-level winds in NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) operational weather forecast models. Data-denial experiments run over select periods of time demonstrate that up to a 6% improvement came from the new observations. Ensemble forecasts developed by the private sector partners also produced significant improvements in power production and ramp prediction. Based on the success of WFIP, DOE is planning follow-on field programs.
Arctic Tropospheric Warming: Causes and Linkages to Lower Latitudes
Authors: Perlwitz Judith , Hoerling Martin , Dole Randall
Published: December 2014

Arctic temperatures have risen dramatically relative to those of lower latitudes in recent decades, with a common supposition being that sea ice declines are primarily responsible for amplified Arctic tropospheric warming. This conjecture is central to a hypothesis in which Arctic sea ice loss forms the beginning link of a causal chain that includes weaker westerlies in midlatitudes, more persistent and amplified midlatitude waves, and more extreme weather. Through model experimentation, the first step in this chain is examined by quantifying contributions of various physical factors to October–December (OND) mean Arctic tropospheric warming since 1979. The results indicate that the main factors responsible for Arctic tropospheric warming are recent decadal fluctuations and long-term changes in sea surface temperatures (SSTs), both located outside the Arctic. Arctic sea ice decline is the largest contributor to near-surface Arctic temperature increases, but it accounts for only about 20% of the magnitude of 1000–500-hPa warming. These findings thus disconfirm the hypothesis that deep tropospheric warming in the Arctic during OND has resulted substantially from sea ice loss. Contributions of the same factors to recent midlatitude climate trends are then examined. It is found that pronounced circulation changes over the North Atlantic and North Pacific result mainly from recent decadal ocean fluctuations and internal atmospheric variability, while the effects of sea ice declines are very small. Therefore, a hypothesized causal chain of hemisphere-wide connections originating from Arctic sea ice loss is not supported.
Assessing the Socioeconomic Mobility and Integration of U.S. Immigrants and Their Descendants
Authors: Duncan Brian , Trejo Stephen J.
Published: December 2014

Over the last several decades, two of the most significant developments in the U.S. labor market have been (1) rising inequality and (2) growth in both the size and the diversity of immigration flows. Because a large share of new immigrants arrive with very low levels of schooling, English proficiency, and other skills that have become increasingly important determinants of success in the U.S. labor market, such immigrants and their descendants may be a poor fit for the restructured economy and consequently have a difficult time integrating into American society. In this article we discuss some of the issues that arise when investigating the socioeconomic integration of immigrants and their U.S.-born descendants, and we selectively review research on these topics. In addition, we consider what kinds of supplementary information might be valuable to collect to improve our understanding of immigrant integration and of the intergenerational mobility experienced by immigrant families.
The Engagement Gap
Authors: Snellman Kaisa , Silva Jennifer M. , Frederick Carl B. , Putnam Robert D.
Published: December 2014

Participation in extracurricular activities is associated with positive youth outcomes such as higher education attainment and greater future earnings. We present new analyses of four national longitudinal surveys of American high school students that reveal a sharp increase in the class gap in extracurricular involvement. Since the 1970s, upper-middle-class students have become increasingly active in school clubs and sport teams, while participation among working-class students has veered in the opposite direction. These growing gaps have emerged in the wake of rising income inequality, the introduction of “pay to play” programs, and increasing time and money investments by upper-middle-class parents in children’s development. These trends need to be taken into account in any new initiative to monitor mobility. They also present a challenge to the American ideal of equal opportunity insofar as participation in organized activities shapes patterns of social mobility.
Measuring Networks beyond the Origin Family
Authors: Mare Robert D.
Published: December 2014

Studies of social mobility typically focus on the associations between the socioeconomic characteristics of individuals and families in one generation and those same characteristics for the next generation. Yet the life chances of individuals may be affected by a wider network of kin than just the nuclear family, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, and even more remote kin. In planning new studies of intergenerational social mobility, researchers should consider the ways that more remote kin may affect socioeconomic success and hardship and design data collection strategies for collecting data on wider kin networks. Administrative record linkage and survey research have complementary advantages for identifying kin networks. Successful implementation of these approaches holds the promise of a much richer set of studies of intergenerational social mobility than most researchers have attempted thus far.
Measuring Education and Skill
Authors: Muller Chandra
Published: December 2014

This article reviews recent developments in measuring education and skill that need to be taken into account in any new initiative to monitor social mobility. Over the past half-century, patterns of educational participation and attainment have become more heterogeneous, a trend that has been accompanied by increases in assessment and testing practices, and the availability of electronic data sources and other administrative records, including official school transcripts that are generally held indefinitely. This article describes the most promising approaches to measuring education and discusses some of the possible challenges for using the information to study social mobility. Measures of educational concepts fall along at least one of several dimensions: credentials earned, qualities of the schools attended, the amount and nature of curricular exposure, and the development and acquisition of skills. Selected data sources, with an emphasis on school transcripts and administrative records, and their possible uses are described.
Potential Data Sources for a New Study of Social Mobility in the United States
Authors: Warren John Robert
Published: December 2014

In this article I define the main criteria that ought to be considered in evaluating the costs and benefits of various data resources that might be used for a new study of social and economic mobility in the United States. These criteria include population definition and coverage, sample size, topical coverage, temporal issues, spatial issues, sustainability, financial expense, and privacy and data access. I use these criteria to evaluate the strengths and weakness of several possible data resources for a new study of mobility, including existing smaller-scale surveys, the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, linked administrative data, and a new stand-alone survey. No option is perfect, and all involve trade-offs. I conclude by recommending five possible designs that are particularly strong on the criteria listed above.
Foreign Aid, Time Horizons, and Trade Policy
Authors: Kono Daniel Yuichi , Montinola Gabriella R.
Published: December 2014

Although there are theoretical reasons to expect foreign aid to promote trade liberalization, empirical research has found no relationship. Without disputing this general nonresult, we argue that foreign aid can incentivize liberalization under certain conditions. In the absence of aid, the incentive to liberalize trade depends on government time horizons: Far-sighted governments have incentives to do so, whereas short-sighted governments do not. It follows that foreign aid should not encourage far-sighted governments to liberalize, as they do so in any case. Foreign aid can, however, induce short-sighted governments to liberalize by ameliorating short-term adjustment costs. We thus hypothesize that aid is more likely to promote trade liberalization when given to governments with short time horizons. We support this hypothesis with an analysis of aid, time horizons, and two measures of trade policy. Our results contribute to the growing debate about the conditions under which foreign aid encourages growth-enhancing policies.
Random Walk or Planned Excursion? Continuity and Change in the Left–Right Positions of Political Parties
Authors: Dalton Russell J. , McAllister Ian
Published: December 2014

Implicit in theories of democratic elections is the idea of change—or at least the potential for change. Elections provide the opportunity for citizens to change their party preferences and thus alter the course of government. In addition, political parties can change their programmatic positions to attract new voters. Our research asks how much parties change their Left–Right positions between elections and what this tells us about parties’ strategic choices. We utilize data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems project and the Chapel Hill Expert Surveys. We demonstrate very high stability in parties’ Left–Right position over time. Furthermore, we find only modest evidence that parties change their Left–Right position in a conscious process of vote seeking.
Comparing stigmatising attitudes towards people with substance use disorders between the general public, GPs, mental health and addiction specialists and clients
Authors: van Boekel Leonieke C , Brouwers Evelien PM , van Weeghel Jaap , Garretsen Henk FL
Published: December 2014

Background:

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the most severely stigmatised conditions; however, little is known about the nature of these stigmatising attitudes.

Aims:

To assess and compare stigmatising attitudes towards persons with SUDs among different stakeholders: general public, general practitioners (GPs), mental health and addiction specialists, and clients in treatment for substance abuse.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study ( N  = 3,326) in which stereotypical beliefs, attribution beliefs (e.g. perceptions about controllability and responsibility for having an addiction), social distance and expectations about rehabilitation opportunities for individuals with substance use disorders were assessed and compared between stakeholders.

Results:

Individuals with substance use disorders elicited great social distance across all stakeholders. Stereotypical beliefs were not different between stakeholders, whereas attribution beliefs were more diverse. Considering social distance and expectations about rehabilitation opportunities, the general public was most pessimistic, followed by GPs, mental health and addiction specialists, and clients. Stereotypical and attribution beliefs, as well as age, gender and socially desirable answering, were not associated with social distance across all stakeholders.

Conclusion:

The general public and GPs expressed more social distance and were more negative in their expectations about rehabilitation opportunities, compared to mental health and addiction specialists and clients. Although stigmatising attitudes were prevalent across all groups, no striking differences were found between stakeholders.
Self-Adaptation in Dynamic Disaster Environments: Response to the 2006 Avian Influenza Crisis in Turkey
Authors: Corbacioglu Sitki , Celik Suleyman , Saran Ulvi
Published: December 2014

This paper examines the response to the 2006 avian influenza crisis in Turkey. Using complex adaptive systems as the theoretical framework, the paper discusses the extent to which the Turkish disaster management system showed self-adaptation during the crisis. Self-adaptation requires organizational flexibility that facilitates sufficient information flow through technical and cultural infrastructures. This study uses qualitative methods to analyze the data. The research findings indicate that during the crisis, Turkish disaster management was faced with critical difficulties related to organizational, technical and cultural capacities that undermined its capacity to adapt to changing conditions. The system was able to manage these difficulties in seven to ten days; however, Turkey’s contemporary disaster response services still require a transformation to effectively respond to any influenza pandemic.
Fabrication and thermo-physical properties of graphite flake/copper composites
Authors: Zhang Chen , He Xinbo , Liu Qian , Ren Shunbin , Qu Xuanhui
Published: December 2014

This study focuses on the fabrication of thermal management material for power electronics applications using graphite flake reinforced copper composites. The effects of mixing, die-filling, and particle size of copper on microstructure and thermal conductivity of the composites were investigated. The results indicate that the process, especially die-filling, affects the distribution and orientation of graphite flake and then affects the relative density and thermal conductivity of the composites. The graphite flake/copper composites with 20–50 vol. % flakes have relatively high density of over 98%. The composites show a strong anisotropy in thermal conductivity and have a value of 528 W·m−1·K−1 with 40 vol. % graphite flakes at room temperature in the direction perpendicular to the pressing direction, which exhibit excellent thermo-physical properties to meet the heat dispersion and matching requirements of power electronic devices to the packaging materials.
Effects of Enzymatic Degradation after Loading in Temporomandibular Joint
Authors: Asakawa-Tanne Y. , Su S. , Kunimatsu R. , Hirose N. , Mitsuyoshi T. , Okamoto Y. , Tanaka E. , Tanne K. , Tanimoto K.
Published: December 2014

Synovial fluid of the joint decreases friction between the cartilage surfaces and reduces cartilage wear during articulation. Characteristic changes of synovial fluid have been shown in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). OA is generally considered to be induced by excessive mechanical stress. However, whether the changes in synovial fluid precede the mechanical overloading or vice versa remains unclear. In the present study, our purpose was to examine if the breakdown of joint lubrication affects the frictional properties of mandibular condylar cartilage and leads to subsequent degenerative changes in TMJ. We measured the frictional coefficient in porcine TMJ by a pendulum device after digestion with hyaluronidase (HAase) or trypsin. Gene expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), type II collagen, and histology were examined after prolonged cyclic loading by an active pendulum system. The results showed that the frictional coefficient increased significantly after HAase (35%) or trypsin (74%) treatment. Gene expression of IL-1β, COX-2, and MMPs-1, -3, and -9 increased significantly in enzyme-treated TMJs after cyclic loading. The increase in the trypsin-treated group was greater than that in the HAase-treated group. Type II collagen expression was reduced in both enzyme-treated groups. Histology revealed surface fibrillation and increased MMP-1 in the trypsin-treated group, as well as increased IL-1β in both enzyme-treated groups after cyclic loading. The findings demonstrated that the compromised lubrication in TMJ is associated with altered frictional properties and surface wear of condylar cartilage, accompanied by release of pro-inflammatory and matrix degradation mediators under mechanical loading.
Prospective Study of Dental Intervention for Hematopoietic Malignancy
Authors: Tsuji K. , Shibuya Y. , Akashi M. , Furudoi S. , Yakushijin K. , Kawamoto S. , Okamura A. , Matsuoka H. , Komori T.
Published: December 2014

Various chemotherapeutic agents used in patients with hematopoietic malignancy cause serious side effects, including myelosuppression and immunosuppression. Immunosuppression makes patients more susceptible to infection, resulting in an increased risk of infectious complications, including the development of severe septicemia that may be life-threatening. It is necessary for dental staff to be familiar with an appropriate protocol in such cases and to share information about the chemotherapy with a hematologist. To verify the effectiveness of our dental intervention protocol, we conducted a prospective study on the incidence of complications for each myelosuppressive grade of chemotherapy in patients with hematopoietic malignancy. We compared the incidence of complications between treatment P (patients who finished all the dental treatments according to the protocol) and treatment Q (patients who did not) per grade (A, B, C, D) and incidence of systemic or oral findings. We also compared the incidence of oral complication related to the residual teeth between first chemo (patients who were undergoing chemotherapy for the first time) and prior chemo (not the first time). There were significant differences in inflammatory complications between treatment P and treatment Q. We found that both systemic and oral inflammatory complications increased with higher-grade myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Additionally, there was a significant difference between the incidence of oral complications related to the residual teeth between first chemo and prior chemo. Complete implementation of the dental intervention protocol was associated with fewer oral and systemic infectious and inflammatory complications in patients with hematopoietic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy. The incidence of oral and systemic complications also increased with grade of chemotherapy. These results support the validity of our dental intervention protocol. We should pay close attention to the oral state of de novo hematopoietic malignancy patients.
Social Bonds Across Immigrant Generations
Authors: Peguero Anthony A. , Bondy Jennifer M. , Hong Jun Sung
Published: December 2014

The focus of this study is to investigate school bonding among adolescents in immigrant families using a segmented assimilation theoretical framework. Data are drawn from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002, a nationally representative sample of 10th graders. We focus on a subsample consisting of 9,870 first- ( N = 1,170, 12 %), second- ( N = 1,540, 16 %), and third-plus-generation ( N = 7,160, 73%) students in 580 public schools. Our findings suggest that adolescents’ school bond seems to diminish or “decline” as the children of immigrants assimilate. Implications for research on racial/ethnic and immigrant generational disparities in adolescent social bonds to school are also discussed.
Adolescents’ Sociopolitical Values in the Context of Organized Activity Involvement
Authors: Oosterhoff Benjamin , Ferris Kaitlyn A. , Metzger Aaron
Published: December 2014

Sociopolitical values are hypothesized to form during adolescence, but the developmental and contextual origins of these values have been largely unexplored. A sample of 846 adolescents ( Mage = 15.96, SD = 1.22, range = 13-20 years) reported on their organized activity involvement (volunteering, sports, church, community clubs, arts/music, school clubs) and their sociopolitical values (patriotism, authoritarianism, spirituality, social dominance, materialism). Structural equation models (controlling for demographics and accounting for shared variance among variables) indicated that there were unique associations between activities and values. Greater church and sports involvement was related to higher levels of spirituality. Involvement in sports was also related to higher levels of materialism and authoritarianism. Greater volunteer involvement was related to lower social dominance, and involvement in arts/music was associated with less patriotism. These findings suggest that organized activity involvement may provide a context for adolescents’ developing sociopolitical values. Implications and future directions are discussed.
A News Media Analysis of the Economic and Reputational Penalties of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Authors: Winborn Melissa S. , Alencherril Joyce , Pagán José A.
Published: December 2014

Section 3025 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 established the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), an initiative designed to penalize hospitals with excess 30-day readmissions. This study investigates whether readmission penalties under HRRP impose significant reputational effects on hospitals. Data extracted from 2012 to 2013 news stories suggest that the higher the actual penalty, the higher the perceived cost of the penalty, the more likely it is that hospitals will state they have no control over the low-income patients they serve or that they will describe themselves as safety net providers. The downside of being singled out as a low-quality hospital deserving a relatively high penalty seems to be larger than the upside of being singled out as a high-quality hospital facing a relatively low penalty. Although the financial burden of the penalties seems to be low, hospitals may be reacting to the fact that information about excess readmissions and readmission penalties is being released widely and is scrutinized by the news media and the general public.
Varied Differences in the Health Status Between Medicare Advantage and Fee-for-Service Enrollees
Authors: Song Yunjie
Published: December 2014

This article examines the differences in mortality measured health status between the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and Fee-for-Service (FFS) program from 1999 to 2007. At the national level, differences in mortality rates were associated with MA market share. In some counties, enrollees in the MA program were 40% less likely to die than their peers in the FFS program, but in other counties, they were 20% more likely to die. Cost shifting between the two programs could bias county classifications of average FFS spending, and enlarged disparities in health status could make it difficult to evaluate risk adjusters.
The Voices Project
Authors: Nordstrom Alicia H.
Published: December 2014

This study examined the impact of an assignment involving intergroup contact (The Voices Project [TVP]) on student racism toward Muslims, African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics in Introduction to Psychology. TVP students interviewed members from racial groups and wrote autobiographical memoirs of their lives. A faculty-writing team integrated the stories into a staged reading program and presented to the class and campus. Students completed attitude surveys during the first and last weeks of a 15-week semester as well as 1 year later. TVP class showed significant reductions in prejudice toward racial groups across the semester and improvements remained 1 year later. Compared to a control class, TVP class demonstrated significantly greater attitude changes toward Muslims, Hispanics, and acknowledgment of White privilege.
Just Reading? How Gender-Fair Language Triggers Readers’ Use of Gender-Fair Forms
Authors: Koeser Sara , Kuhn Elisabeth A. , Sczesny Sabine
Published: December 2014

Gender-fair language, that is, referring to men and women with symmetrical linguistic forms, has been found to promote gender equality, but it is largely unknown which factors help make gender-fair forms more common in everyday life. Two studies examined whether speakers of German used more gender-fair forms after reading a text with gender-fair wording (vs. masculine generics vs. no personal nouns vs. another topic). Both studies showed consistently that women used more gender-fair forms after reading the gender-fair text than the other texts, whereas men did not. Men employed more gender-fair forms only after being made aware of these forms (Study 2). To conclude, merely reading gender-fair texts enhances women’s inclination to use gender-fair language, whereas men need to be made aware of this type of language use. Both studies highlight the importance of using gender-fair language frequently and consistently in everyday life.
Bank credit and trade credit: Evidence from SMEs over the financial crisis
Authors: McGuinness Gerard , Hogan Teresa
Published: December 2014

This article uses panel data to test the extent to which trade credit acted as a substitute for bank finance in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008. It demonstrates that the reduction in the supply of funds to SMEs was compounded by the contraction of net trade credit within the sector. Nevertheless, trade credit played a vital role in the adjustment of the sector by easing the burden of the financial crisis for some SMEs. Thus, the relative importance of trade credit increased for financially “vulnerable” SMEs that were less liquid, highly dependent on short-term bank finance, and with greater levels of intangible assets, when entering the crisis. In terms of a redistribution effect, financially stronger firms extended relatively more trade credit, to financially vulnerable SMEs in the aftermath of the financial crisis. In addition, the analysis demonstrates that the financial position of SMEs entering the crisis was more important in determining the impact of the financial crisis on trade credit use than company characteristics of age and size.

JEL Classification: L26, L14, G20, B41, C33
Biomarkers and pharmaceutical strategies in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head: A literature review
Authors: Qi Xinyu , Zeng Yirong
Published: December 2014

The underlying pathology of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is unclear but is known to be multifactorial. It is therefore difficult to find a single predictive biomarker for this disease, and multiple biomarkers are likely to contribute to ONFH progression. Investigation of protein–protein interactions is vital in order to elucidate fully the pathogenesis of this disease, and provide new treatment strategies. This review article discusses the known biomarkers and current treatment strategies for ONFH.
Seeing yellow: ‘Connection’ and routine in professional musicians’ experience of music performance
Authors: Geeves Andrew M , McIlwain Doris JF , Sutton John
Published: December 2014

What is it like for a professional musician to perform music in front of a live audience? We use Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) Grounded Theory to conduct qualitative research with 10 professional musicians to investigate their experience of music performance. We find performance to extend temporally beyond time spent before an audience and to include performers’ rituals of separation from everyday life. Using the abridged version of the model emerging from this data that we present in this article, we investigate how professional musicians’ experience of music performance centers on forging ‘connection’ with an audience and the ways in which this process is facilitated by the pre- and post-performance routines in which musicians engage. We find musicians’ understandings and experiences of ‘connection’ during performance to differ greatly, being influenced by their positioning on two spectra that emerge in this study and indicate the extent to which, during performance, musicians: a) value attentiveness and/or attunement in an audience and b) are open to variability.
In Vivo Measurement of Localized Tibiofemoral Cartilage Strains in Response to Dynamic Activity
Authors: Sutter E. Grant , Widmyer Margaret R. , Utturkar Gangadhar M. , Spritzer Charles E. , Garrett William E. , DeFrate Louis E.
Published: December 2014

Background:

Altered local mechanical loading may disrupt normal cartilage homeostasis and play a role in the progression of osteoarthritis. Currently, there are limited data quantifying local cartilage strains in response to dynamic activity in normal or injured knees.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

To directly measure local tibiofemoral cartilage strains in response to a dynamic hopping activity in normal healthy knees. We hypothesized that local regions of cartilage will exhibit significant compressive strains in response to hopping, while overall compartmental averages may not.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Both knees of 8 healthy subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging before and immediately after a dynamic hopping activity. Images were segmented and then used to create 3-dimensional surface models of bone and cartilage. These pre- and postactivity models were then registered using an iterative closest point technique to enable site-specific measurements of cartilage strain (defined as the normalized change in cartilage thickness before and after activity) on the femur and tibia.

Results:

Significant strains were observed in both the medial and lateral tibial cartilage, with each compartment averaging a decrease of 5%. However, these strains varied with location within each compartment, reaching a maximum compressive strain of 8% on the medial plateau and 7% on the lateral plateau. No significant averaged compartmental strains were observed in the medial or lateral femoral cartilage. However, local regions of the medial and lateral femoral cartilage experienced significant compressive strains, reaching maximums of 6% and 3%, respectively.

Conclusion:

Local regions of both the femur and tibia experienced significant cartilage strains as a result of dynamic activity. An understanding of changes in cartilage strain distributions may help to elucidate the biomechanical factors contributing to cartilage degeneration after joint injury.

Clinical Relevance:

Site-specific measurements of in vivo cartilage strains are important because altered loading is believed to be a factor contributing to the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Specifically, this methodology and data could be used to evaluate the effects of soft tissue injuries (such as ligament or meniscus tears) on cartilage strains in response to dynamic activities of daily living.
Open Government and Democracy
Authors: Hansson Karin , Belkacem Kheira , Ekenberg Love
Published: December 2014

The concept of open government, having been promoted widely in the past 5 years, has promised a broader notion than e-government, as supposed to fundamentally transform governments to become more open and participative and collaborative. Unfortunately, this has not significantly enhanced a set of fundamental problems regarding e-government. One of the problems is that the underlying democratic ideology is rarely clearly expressed. In this paper, we have therefore constructed a framework for the analysis of open government from a democratic perspective, to explore the research foundation of open government and the types of research missing. We have looked closely at the notion of democracy in peer-reviewed journals on open government from 2009 to 2013, focusing on discussions of some fundamental issues regarding democracy and the type of solutions suggested. We have found that despite seemingly good intentions and an extensive rhetoric, there is still an apparent lack of adequate tools in which public deliberation and representation are addressed in any meaningful sense. There are two main important observations herein: (i) the rhetoric in the dominant discourse supports the concept of open government formulated by the Obama administration as transparency, participation, and collaboration, but in practice, the focus is predominantly on transparency and information exchange, while ignoring fundamental democratic issues regarding participation and collaboration, and (ii) the concept of the public is inadequately considered as a homogenous entity rather than a diversified group with different interests, preferences, and abilities.
Relationship Between Cultural Distance and Cross-Cultural Music Video Consumption on YouTube
Authors: Baek Young Min
Published: December 2014

With the wide diffusion of social media like YouTube in the world, it becomes much easier to access foreign cultural products, which facilitates cross-cultural consumption of media content. Despite the rapid growth of cross-cultural consumption online, there is a dearth of large-scale studies examining how cultural products originated from certain culture are consumed and enjoyed among users of different cultures. Three data sets are used in the study, namely, (1) users’ online activities on Korean Pop (K-pop) music videos on YouTube crawled via open Application Programming Interface, (2) Hofstede’s five-dimensional model of national culture, and (3) official statistics gathered by World Bank. By combining three data sets, this study investigates how K-pop music videos are consumed across a variety of cultures. Based on prior studies examining the relationship between cultural distance and export/import of cultural goods, this study extracted two seemingly contrasting hypotheses, that is, (1) cultural proximity hypothesis, emphasizing cultural similarity as a main motive for cross-cultural consumption and (2) cultural exoticism hypothesis, highlighting cultural difference driving cross-cultural consumption. Results show that K-pop music video consumption is highest among countries both whose cultures are very similar to Korean culture and whose cultures are very different, indicating that both hypotheses are empirically supported. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are also discussed.
Campaign promises as an imperfect signal: How does an extreme candidate win against a moderate candidate?
Authors: Asako Yasushi
Published: December 2014

This study develops a political competition model in which campaign platforms are partially binding. A candidate who implements a policy that differs from his/her platform must pay a cost of betrayal, which increases with the size of the discrepancy. I also assume that voters are uncertain about candidates’ policy preferences. If voters believe that a candidate is likely to be extreme, there exists a semi-separating equilibrium: an extreme candidate imitates a moderate candidate, with some probability, and approaches the median policy with the remaining probability. Although an extreme candidate will implement a more extreme policy than a moderate candidate, regardless of imitation or approach, partial pooling ensures that voters prefer an extreme candidate who does not pretend to be moderate over an uncertain candidate who announces an extreme platform. As a result, a moderate candidate never has a higher probability of winning than an extreme candidate.
Optimization of neural network parameters using Grey–Taguchi methodology for manufacturing process applications
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Gupta Arun Kumar , Chandna Pankaj , Pal Mahesh
Published: December 2014

Performance of neural networks depends upon several input parameters. Several attempts have been made for optimization of neural network parameters using Taguchi methodology for achieving single objective such as computation effort, computation time, etc. Determination of optimum setting to these parameters still remains a difficult task. Trial-and-error method is one of the frequently used approaches to determine the optimal choice of these parameters. Keeping in view the problems with trial-and-error method, a systematic approach is required to find the optimum value of different parameters of neural network. In the present work, three most important distinct performance measures such as mean square error between actual and prediction, number of iteration, and total training time consumption have been probably considered first time concurrently. The multiobjective problem has been solved using Grey–Taguchi methodology. In this study, optimal combinations of different neural network parameters have been identified by using the Taguchi-based Grey relational analysis. The data set includes 81 sets of milling data corresponding to three-level full factorial experimental design for four cutting parameters, i.e. cutting speed, feed, axial depth of cut, and radial depth of cut, respectively. The output is average surface roughness for the experiment. The performance of different neural network models has been tabulated in L36 orthogonal array. Confidence interval has also been estimated for 95% consistency level to validate the optimum level of different parameters. It was found that the Taguchi-based Grey relational analysis approach can effectively be used as a structured method to optimize the neural network parameters settings, which can be easily implemented to enhance the performance of the neural network model with a relatively small size and time saving experiment. The result clearly indicates that the optimal combination of neural network parameters obtained by using the proposed approach performs better in terms of low mean square error, small number of iterations, and lesser training time required to perform the analysis which further results in lesser computation effort and processing time. Methodology proposed in this work can be utilized for any type of neural network application to find the optimum levels of different parameters.
Numerical study on flow characteristics of rotor pumps including cavitation
Authors: Liu Yingyuan , Wang Leqin , Zhu Zuchao
Published: December 2014

This work is purposed to study the flow characteristics of rotor pumps including cavitation. First, a simplified two-dimensional numerical model is developed and computing strategies of the numerical analysis for cavitation are set up, including the selection of cavitation model and its parameters. Second, the reliability and accuracy of the two-dimensional numerical model are verified by experimental results. Then, several factors affecting the cavitation are discussed, including the rotational speeds, pressure differences, clearance sizes, and inlet pressures. For different rotational speeds and pressure differences, the mass flow rates with cavitation are a little larger than that without cavitation, but the amplitudes of the mass flow rates with cavitation are much larger than that without cavitation. Meanwhile, the volume fraction of the water vapor increases with the increasing speeds and the decreasing pressure differences. However, compared with the influence of rotational speeds, the influence of the pressure differences on the vapor contents is relatively smaller. Regarding the clearance size, the smaller the clearance size is, the stronger the cavitation will be. Furthermore, the clearance size between two rotors has a larger effect on the cavitation than that between rotor and pump case. For inlet pressure, it has a little effect on the mass flow rates when cavitation is not considered, but it presents a remarkable effect for the model with cavitation. In addition, the peaks of the volume fractions of vapor and the mass flow rates generally offset backward with the decreasing inlet pressures.
Stability of an annular power-law liquid sheet
Authors: Yang Lijun , Du Minglong , Fu Qingfei
Published: December 2014

Because of the mathematical difficulties dealing with the nonlinear viscous stress term in momentum equation for power-law liquid, the study of stability analysis of a power-law liquid sheet has been lacking. In the present study, a temporal stability analysis has been carried out for an annular power-law liquid sheet exposed to both inner and outer-gas streams, by integrating the governing equations for the power-law liquid sheet. The dimensionless dispersion equation that governs the instability of liquid sheet is obtained by considering the velocity profile of liquid sheet. It is found that the instability of liquid sheet can be enhanced by independently increasing either the outer gas stream velocity, or the inner gas stream velocity. The liquid sheet is more unstable when both inner and outer gas streams are applied. To promote the instability of annular liquid sheet, a gas stream applied to the outer interface is more effective than when applied to the inner surface. The effects of rheological parameters on the instability of the liquid sheet are actually determined by the relative velocity across the gas–liquid interfaces. The surface tension, liquid sheet thickness, and outer surface radius of annular liquid sheet have been tested for their influence on the instability of annular power-law liquid sheet.
On the suitability of the volume-averaging approximation for the description of thermal expansion coefficient of nanofluids
Authors: Zahmatkesh Iman
Published: December 2014

Currently, volume-averaging approximation is in common use for the description of thermal expansion coefficient of nanofluids in terms of expansion coefficients of their constituents. The accuracy of this method is not, however, so clear since it ignores the dependence of density on temperature in the prediction of thermal expansion coefficient that may not be true in natural convection circumstances.

In the current contribution, attention is focused to clarify how predictions of flow and thermal fields as well as heat transfer and entropy generation characteristics during natural convection of nanofluids may be influenced if one adopts the volume-averaging approximation for the description of thermal expansion coefficient. For this purpose, a porous enclosure saturated with several water-based nanofluids is simulated and results of the volume-averaged thermal expansion coefficient are compared with those of a recent correlation that takes into account the dependence of density on temperature.
On electrical optimisation using a Duffing-type vibrational energy harvester
Authors: Su Dongxu , Nakano Kimihiko , Zheng Rencheng , Cartmell Matthew P
Published: December 2014

There has been much recent interest in the response analysis and optimisation of the linear energy harvester under ambient vibrations. To transfer maximum power to an electrical load in a resonant system, the load resistance should be equal to the sum of the electrical analogue of mechanical damping and internal resistance. However, principally because of the limited bandwidth offered by the linear energy harvester, the potential benefit of nonlinearity has recently been applied to improve the effectiveness of energy harvesting devices. For example, a Duffing-type oscillator can provide a wider bandwidth and greater effectiveness when subject to periodic excitations. The motivating hypothesis has been that the nonlinear Duffing energy harvester can also be optimised to maximise the available electrical power. This paper presents theoretical optimisation and numerical studies under three different conditions with the designed Duffing-type devices. First, the simplest model without any transmission mechanism and optimisation constraints is considered. Second, a device operated under low frequency and large force excitations using a ball screw to convert low-speed linear motion to high-speed rotation is analysed, where the optimum lead and load resistance are derived. Finally, considering the limitation of some dimensions in practical implementation, the constrained optimisation subjected to the maximum displacement of the seismic mass is also shown in this paper.
Commentary on effects of tip relief on vibration responses of a geared rotor system
Authors: Ma Hui , Pang Xu , Wang Qibin , Song Rongze , Wen Bangchun
Published: December 2014

The purpose of the present work is to revise the model of Ma et al. ( Proc IMechE, Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Science 2014; 228(7): 1132–1154 ). In that work, emphasis is given to the effects of tip relief on the lateral-torsional coupling vibration responses of the system, in which the time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) is calculated without considering the extension of the meshing period of a teeth pair due to dynamic overloads. Moreover, the dynamic model of the geared rotor system does not take into account no-loaded static transmission error (NLSTE) caused by tooth profile modification. In the present paper, the effect of the extended tooth contact on TVMS is considered and the dynamic model of the geared rotor system is revised by introducing the NLSTE. Based on the revised model, TVMS, loaded static transmission error (LSTE), NLSTE, and vibration responses are determined. Finally, comparisons of TVMS, LSTE, and vibration responses between the original model and the revised model are performed. The results show that there are some differences for the vibration responses between the original model and the revised model, and the vibration amplitude of the latter is smaller than that of the former. Furthermore, the conclusion in the original paper that the tip relief is not effective in reducing the vibration at higher mesh frequency range is not consistent with the results in current work any more.
Nonlinear dynamic properties of hydraulic suspension bushing with emphasis on the flow passage characteristics
Authors: Chai Tan , Dreyer Jason T , Singh Rajendra
Published: December 2014

Hydraulic bushings, which are often employed in vehicle suspension systems, exhibit significant excitation-dependent properties. However, previous analyses were mainly based on the linear system theory. To overcome this void, nonlinear characteristics of common hydraulic bushing configurations are examined in this article, with focus on the component properties as excited by sinusoidal or step displacements of various amplitudes. First, a nonlinear model for a laboratory prototype with a long passage and a short passage (in parallel) is developed using a lumped-parameter approach. Then the system parameters and nonlinearities are identified using experimental and computational methods, with an emphasis on characterization of the flow passage resistances. Steady-state harmonic and transient step experiments are conducted on the prototype, and the dynamic pressures inside two fluid chambers and the force transmitted to the base are measured. Numerical solution of the nonlinear model shows that the proposed model predicts both steady-state sinusoidal responses and transient responses well for single-passage and dual-passage configurations; significant improvement over a corresponding linear model is observed. Finally, approximate analytical and semi-analytical solutions of the nonlinear model are obtained by using the harmonic balance method.