Extreme Positions Research Articles

Exploring the Relationship between the Coverage of AI in WIRED Magazine and Public Opinion Using Sentiment Analysis

The presence and significance of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in society have been steadily increasing since 2000. While its potential benefits are widely acknowledged, concerns about its impact on society, the economy, and ethics have also been raised. Consequently, artificial intelligence has garnered widespread attention in news media and popular culture. As mass media plays a pivotal role in shaping public perception, it is crucial to evaluate opinions expressed in these outlets. Understanding the public’s perception of artificial intelligence is essential for effective public policy and decision making. This paper presents the results of a sentiment analysis study conducted on WIRED magazine’s coverage of artificial intelligence between January 2018 and April 2023. The objective of the study is to assess the prevailing opinions towards artificial intelligence in articles from WIRED magazine, which is widely recognized as one of the most reputable and influential publications in the field of technology and innovation. Using two sentiment analysis techniques, AFINN and VADER, a total of 4265 articles were analyzed for positive, negative, and neutral sentiments. Additionally, a term frequency analysis was conducted to categorize articles based on the frequency of mentions of artificial intelligence. Finally, a linear regression analysis of the mean positive and negative sentiments was performed to examine trends for each month over a five-year period. The results revealed a leading pattern: there was a predominant positive sentiment with an upward trend in both positive and negative sentiments. This polarization of sentiment suggests a shift towards more extreme positions, which should influence public policy and decision making in the near future.

A method to synthesise groove cam Geneva mechanisms with increased dwell period

The present study develops a method to synthesise the groove cam Geneva mechanism with increased dwell period. The main condition of the synthesis is to provide the desired law of motion of the wheel. Additional synthesis conditions are the limitation of the maximum pressure angle and the limitation of the minimum curvature radius of the cam profile. Unlike the conventional Geneva mechanisms, the synthesised groove cam Geneva mechanisms enable motion of the wheel due to an arbitrarily specified law, double locking of the wheel at its dwell-to-motion and motion-to-dwell transitions, absence of soft impacts in the extreme positions. The analysis shows that for the cycloidal law of motion, number of slots in range 3–15 and additional dwell coefficient in range 0–0.7, the operating time coefficient can be provided in wide range from 0.053 to 0.765. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated by numerical examples.

Polarization, Partisan Sorting, and the Politics of Education

Drawing on annual, nationally representative survey data from 2007–2022, I demonstrate that partisan gaps—the average differences in public opinion between Democrats and Republicans—have widened on many education issues. This pattern consistently exceeds what would be expected due to the changing demographic compositions of the parties alone. Widening partisan gaps are primarily attributable to sorting (alignment of one's party affiliation and one's issue positions) rather than polarization (increasing support for more extreme positions relative to more moderate positions). However, polarization is also increasing on some of the most divisive issues. Among those who are sorting, individuals are overwhelmingly switching their issue positions to align with their party affiliations rather than switching their party affiliations to align with their issue positions.

Is Milei a populist? People and market in the new radical right in Argentina

ABSTRACT The electoral rise of Milei, that brought him up to the presidency of Argentina in 2023, has run in parallel with discussions about his use of populist ideas. Overall, Milei is characterised by his emphasis on economic issues, with an extreme pro-market position based on the Austrian school, but he also stands out for a strong anti-establishment discourse. While observers may consider these appeals as populist, a categorisation based on just this feature could be premature given the multidimensional nature of populism. This article tests the importance of populism in the discourse of Milei displaying an empirical strategy based on the holistic grading of key political discourses. Main results indicate that Milei’s discourse is partially populist because it lacks a people-centred vision, even one anchored in market rationality. We expect these results will facilitate comparisons of the Argentinian case with other Latin-American cases in which populism and neoliberalism seem to be mutually reinforcing.

Design and analysis of equipment intended for the production of prototypes

The article deals with the design of a device working on the principle of Fused Deposition Modeling - FDM and its peripherals. Among the most important performing activities of the designer is the analysis of the proposed model with regard to the strength and the resulting accuracy of the created three-dimensional object. The input requirements that the proposed device should meet were defined. Based on these criteria, a numerical and strength analysis was developed using the FEM finite element method. The simulation was carried out on the basis of the hypothesis of shear stress transformation work, which is among the most accurate for the tough materials used. The analysis monitored and evaluated the deformations in the extreme positions where the largest deformations were expected to occur.

A novel computational workflow to holistically assess total knee arthroplasty biomechanics identifies subject-specific effects of joint mechanics on implant fixation

Computational studies of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often focus on either joint mechanics (kinematics and forces) or implant fixation mechanics. However, such disconnect between joint and fixation mechanics hinders our understanding of overall TKA biomechanical function by preventing identification of key relationships between these two levels of TKA mechanics. We developed a computational workflow to holistically assess TKA biomechanics by integrating musculoskeletal and finite element (FE) models. For our initial study using the workflow, we investigated how tibiofemoral contact mechanics affected the risk of failure due to debonding at the implant-cement interface using the four available subjects from the Grand Challenge Competitions to Predict In Vivo Knee Loads. We used a musculoskeletal model with a 12 degrees-of-freedom knee joint to simulate the stance phase of gait for each subject. The computed tibiofemoral joint forces at each node in contact were direct inputs to FE simulations of the same subjects. We found that the peak risk of failure did not coincide with the peak joint forces or the extreme tibiofemoral contact positions. Moreover, despite the consistency of joint forces across subjects, we observed important variability in the profile of the risk of failure during gait. Thus, by a combined evaluation of the joint and implant fixation mechanics of TKA, we could identify subject-specific effects of joint kinematics and forces on implant fixation that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. We intend to apply our workflow to evaluate the impact of implant alignment and design on TKA biomechanics.

An Origami Continuum Manipulator with Modularized Design and Hybrid Actuation: Accurate Kinematic Modeling and Experiments

Herein, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of continuum manipulators in two main aspects. First, a modularization concept and a hybrid actuation scheme to create a novel origami continuum manipulator with exceptional deformability are introduced. Second, an accurate model and framework for the forward and inverse kinematic analysis of origami manipulators are proposed. Specifically, each origami manipulator module can achieve axial extension and bending deformation by coordinated actuation of shape memory alloy (SMA) and pneumatic muscles, and the manipulator's end is equipped with a deformable gripper based on waterbomb origami and actuated by SMA. Through careful consideration of the self‐weight and torque balance, an accurate kinematic model based on the Denavit–Hartenberg method is established, which enables one to effectively predict the reachable extreme positions and spatial poses of the manipulator and solve the inverse kinematics using a genetic algorithm. Comprehensive experiments are conducted to validate the design's rationality and model's accuracy . In these tests, the rich spatial configurations are not only demonstrated that can be achieved by integrating hybrid actuators with origami modules but also the accuracy and reliability of the kinematic model are confirmed, opening up possibilities for the advancement and application of origami‐inspired robotics in various fields.

Impacts of the Bottom Vortex on the Surrounding Flow Characteristics of a Semi-Submerged Rectangular Cylinder Under Four Aspect Ratios

Abstract Vortex has attracted attention because it is the main factor affecting the flow characteristics around offshore structures. This paper researches the flow field variations around a semi-submerged rectangular cylinder (SRC) under four aspect ratios, thereby revealing the bottom vortex effects on the flow field at Reynolds number = 36,300. According to the particle image velocimetry (PIV) data, the renormalization group (RNG) k–ε model is selected as an applicable turbulence model for studying SRC flow characteristics. From the results, the bottom vortex generation and streamwise velocity are inseparable. As the draft increases, the increased range of the bottom vortex would directly interfere with the flow characteristic around the SRC. Since the wake vortex forms a reattachment state when the SRC pierces the free surface, its flow field could be disturbed by the bottom vortex. Furthermore, the bottom vortex also affects the extreme point position of the boundary layer characteristic at the SRC bottom.

Simulation study of the effect of OGs on the adsorption of formaldehyde on modified activated carbon.

To explore the impact of OGs (OGs) on formaldehyde (HCHO) adsorption by modified activated carbon, this paper studied the influence of OGs on HCHO adsorption characteristics, varying the groups including ester, carboxyl, and hydroxyl. Employing density functional theory (DFT), the effects of various OGs on the structure of N-doped activated carbon through GGA-PBE exchange-correlation functionals by Materials Studio combined with Gaussian software. The types of weak interactions during the adsorption process were calculated by RDG, elucidating the mechanism through which the three OGs affect HCHO adsorption on N-doped activated carbon. The dynamic adsorption process of HCHO was simulated by molecular dynamics (MD). The influence and proportion of OGs on HCHO adsorption were subsequently analyzed using van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, determining differences in formaldehyde adsorption effects across OG types. The carboxyl group exhibits the most robust synergistic adsorption effect on the modified activated carbon. There is a notable alteration in the position and distribution of electrostatic potential extremes observed following carboxyl modification. The calculation results show that the adsorption energy of hydroxyl groups on modified activated carbon is the highest, at -5.07 kcal/mol, with a transfer charge of 0.014 e. Following the introduction of carboxyl groups, the proportion of electrostatic interactions escalated from the initial 24% to 38%. This study will provide new ideas for guiding the design of activated carbon for efficient adsorption of formaldehyde. The modified activated carbon fragments of three OGs were constructed by Materials Studio and Gaussian software, and the surface electrostatic potential polarity and area distribution, charge change, adsorption energy, and transferred charge of each molecular fragment were calculated. Moreover, cell models of OGs with the same dimensions were constructed to simulate the adsorption amount, heat of adsorption, interaction energy, radial distribution function, and hydrogen-bonding interactions for methane at room temperature and pressure. The results were consistent with the DFT simulations.

Party-System Polarization and Individual Perceptions of Party Differences: Two Divergent Effects on Turnout

AbstractIn this article, we argue that party-system polarization and subjective perceptions of ideological party differences are conceptually and empirically distinct phenomena that affect electoral participation differently. Looking at 84 elections worldwide, we show that party-system polarization, and the sharp conflicts associated with it, depresses turnout because many citizens are put off by extreme party positions and unrewarding polemics. By contrast, the individual perception of differences between parties increases turnout because more citizens can find a party that is close to their own position and identify others as being further away. These opposite effects are possible because party-system polarization leads only some individuals to perceive differences between parties but leads others to avoid the emotionalized political arena. Moreover, individuals' ability to recognize differences between parties is not necessarily a consequence of party-system polarization. The contradictory findings in previous research are due to a conceptual and empirical blurring of these two essentially different aspects.

Categorizing Social Movements as Successful or Failed: Exploring the Essence Contributing to Social Dynamic Balance

Research on social movements has been continuously robust and of significant theoretical importance in the field of social studies. This paper argues that there is no definitive criterion for categorizing social movements into a binary standard of either success or failure. Social movements emerge to instigate societal or ideological transformations. By analysing various historical movements worldwide, the study finds that when social movements reach extreme positions and unleash devastating forces upon society, they often provoke counter-movements that seek to restore social equilibrium. Societal trends oscillate back and forth, much like a pendulum, and social movements function as agents that pull the pendulum towards the centre when it reaches its peak on one side. Therefore, social movements act as regulators contributing to the constant dynamic balance in society. This nuanced perspective can inform policymakers, activists, and researchers in their efforts to engage with and respond to social movements, fostering more informed and effective strategies for societal change and progress.

Who are the users of Danish alternative media? A survey study on the prevalence of alternative news use in Denmark and profiles of the users

Abstract Nordic countries have experienced an upsurge of partisan alternative media positioning themselves as correctives of the mainstream, but only little is known about how many and who uses them. Building on original survey data from a representative sample of the adult Danish population (n = 2,455), this article presents the first study of the use of left-wing and right-wing alternative media in Denmark. Findings show that users are generally more likely to be older, male, and live in disadvantaged parts of the country, but that alternative media appeal across all levels of education and urban–rural divides. Results also show positive associations with use of national dailies and high political interest. Furthermore, use of alternative media is associated with taking ideological positions further to the left or right. Yet, the findings do not indicate that users generally take extreme positions. This study thus adds considerable nuance to the picture of alternative news users and also finds that alternative media with different degrees of alternativeness attract similar users.

Arduino-Based Development of Automatic Body Posture Measuring Device for Rapid Entire Body Assessment Method

Workers from various industries can be exposed to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) risks in the workplace. Most cases of MSDs happen because of the accumulation of repetitive bad postures. Postural analysis can be done to implement changes that minimize MSDs risks in the workplace. The rapid entire body assessment (REBA) method provides an easy and fast measurement to analyze various postures. The accuracy of REBA assessments from observations is not good enough due to the limitations of human vision. The input of photo-based postural analysis also has a lot of error potential and takes up even more time. Therefore, this study aims to design a tool to do body posture measurements accurately and quickly. The Arduino-based postural analysis tool measures the position of several body segments, which are then used as the input of REBA in real time. The acceleration of each body segment recorded by the MPU6050 will be processed as displacement data and used to analyze the posture. The posture measurements detected by the tool is then used as input for REBA assessment. The device's accuracy was tested by comparing the photo-based postural analysis result to the postural analysis result of the tool. The reliability of the device was tested by Cronbach's Alpha method. The Cronbach's Alpha value of normal standing posture is 0.692, and the extreme posture's Cronbach's alpha value is 0.537. Multiple postures can be recorded at once using the tool. The tool can capture and assess multiple postures in approximately 6 minutes.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF A WORKBENCH FOR THE NEEDS OF A SERVICE TECHNICIAN

The presented paper deals with the structural design of a workbench with adjustable height, which will serve as part of the equipment of a light commercial vehicle for the needs of a service technician. The main objective of this paper is to create a functional design and 3D CAD model of a workbench that will meet the requirements of safety, mobility, and simple utilisation. Moreover, the design needs to consider the requirements of adjustable height and the dimensions of the work vehicle. The lifting mechanism is represented by arms fitted with sleeves that move along a lead trapezoidal screw rotating by a hand crank. In this paper, the force action in the axis of the threaded rod of the lifting mechanism is scrutinised in two extreme positions (highest and lowest position). The highest axial load on the threaded rod was found to be 9927.13 N in the lowest position of the mechanism. On the basis of this load, a right and left-hand trapezoidal threaded rod TR16×4 is selected, which satisfied the strength condition. The design of the sleeve height and the number of sleeve threads required are essential for safe utilisation. Due to the dimension of the guide rod, the height of the sleeve is selected to be 40 millimetres. The work surface is an important part of the workbench and consists of two parts. The chief larger part is made of medium density fibreboard and the smaller modular part can be in the two modular forms. The first version is the medium density fibreboard, and second alternative is a board designed to fix the components during their maintenance, repair as well as for welding.

Calling Dr. Pangloss: The Self-Defeating Logic of Forced Positivity

Abstract: The philosophical orientation of an institutional governing board has profound implications for the operation and future of the institution. This case history presents experience and context for a small college board that adopted an extreme position that insisted on good news and denied the value of critical or negative information or opinions. The result is ongoing hazard for the future of the institution because leadership is unwilling and unable to realistically address substantial challenges. Readers are invited to reflect on perspective and practice in their own institutions to consider the degree to which these kinds of attitudes and behaviors may be adding to the challenges of operating in an era of relative scarcity and turbulence in the general environment for higher education in North America.

Study on bandgap extension and defect states of hybrid primitive structure phononic crystals

Based on the two-dimensional square lattice phononic crystal of the steel-gas system, a hybrid primitive phononic crystal is constructed by replacing the single-cylinder primitive with a tangent double-cylinders primitive structure and inserting the tangent double-cylinders primitive in the center of the lattice. The plane wave expansion method is used to calculate the band structure according to the variation of the extremal positions of the band. It is found that compared with the simple single-cylinder primitive lattice structure, the new structure can significantly separate the degenerate states of the band, and obtain a huge bandgap with a width of 5 times the simple single-cylinder lattice at low filling ratios. Its mechanism can be revealed by the inconsistency of the sound pressure field in the boundary direction. Meanwhile, adding the double-cylinders primitive to the center of the simple single-cylinder lattice produces an effect similar to the interstitial impurity defect, which can excite high-quality localized states of defects in the bandgap. The filling ratio of the defect body mainly affects the position of the localized states and the locality of sound pressure, whereas the orientation of the defect body has almost no effect on the distribution of sound field and the position of defect states.

Exploring public perceptions of generative AI and education: topic modelling of YouTube comments in Korea

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the public’s perceptions regarding the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in education by analysing comments on YouTube news clips. The study collected public comments from YouTube news clips disseminated by three prominent broadcasters in South Korea between December 2022 and June 2023. Two dimensions of public perceptions were examined: sentiments and prevalent topics. Employing machine learning techniques, we conducted sentiment analysis and topic modelling on the crowdsourced dataset of 18,566 comments from 66 YouTube news clips. The first research question focused on public sentiments towards GenAI and education. Findings reveal a predominance of neutral sentiments. Rather than adopting extreme positions of complete acceptance or rejection, the public displayed an inclination to appreciate the intricate nuances of GenAI’s implications. The second research question sought to identify the main topics emerging from public comments on GenAI and education. We identified 11 distinct topics where two topics are directly linked to educational implications: demands for changes in learning and assessment methods, and the use of GenAI in higher education. Based on the key findings, we draw implications that can inform a broader understanding of public sentiment and perspective towards GenAI and education.

A test to the constancy of the velocity of light with our solar system

This article is a detailed proposal of an astronomical test to be carried out within our solar system to try to detect the eventual addition of the speed of a celestial body to that of its emitted light -that reflected of the Sun in this case. This eventuality could be determined by observing the consequent variation in its apparent position that could produce the variation of the angle of aberration, a consequence, in turn, of the variation of the velocity of its emitted light. This area is chosen, despite having here celestial bodies with lower speeds than those of the stars, and their consequent lower sensitivity in the observations, to avoid the inconvenience of the enormous interstellar distances, which could disqualify the results of the test due to the possible intervention of the phenomenon of extinction of the light wave in that distances, as we will see in the Introduction of this article. To carry out the above, we need to have celestial bodies of different radial speeds with respect to our Earth, and in this area, we find them in the satellites of the other planets in the extreme positions of their orbits; and the observation of the possible different aberrations, in the variation of the apparent separations of the satellites from their planets in those positions. The proposal also includes the observation of the transit of a satellite across the front of its planet to detect the possible appearance of this phenomenon also in this different circumstance. It will also be possible to determine if it is the relative speed between the light source and the observer the one that effectively intervenes in this phenomenon of light aberration—planetary in this case—or if it is only that of the observer—that of our Earth—that produces it, as several authors maintain. To adequately illustrate the proposed test, and the order of magnitude of the intervening parameters, a specific example is developed with Jupiter and two of its satellites: IO and METIS.

Revisiting the diffusion coefficient calculation of Mg in face centred cubic aluminium

The trajectory along the diffusion path is determined by structure repetitions, or images, within the Nudged Elastic Band methodology. In the literature using a single image, among the initial and final position of the vacancy site, is well accepted to determine the transition state, and hence, the enthalpy of migration to model diffusion within aluminium. Scaling the number of evolving images, in the Nudged Elastic Band methodology, is performed for the first time to our knowledge, to determine transition states for the diffusion of magnesium in face centred cubic aluminium. Since a single image locates the transition state away from the expected middle place, along the diffusion path. With an odd number of evolving images is possible to clearly place the saddle point exactly halfway, in between extremal positions, as the enthalpy of migration converges its magnitude. Adjusting the number of evolving images consolidates then a scheme to accurately determine transition states, within the methodology to compute macroscopic diffusion factors, and the results also demonstrate that single image calculations provide a coarse result for diffusion parameters, meanwhile, the converged number of images locates the Arrhenius plot in good agreement with previous ab-initio calculations and experimental measurements.

Spatial mapping of posture-dependent resistance to passive displacement of the hypertonic arm post-stroke

BackgroundMuscles in the post-stroke arm commonly demonstrate abnormal reflexes that result in increased position- and velocity-dependent resistance to movement. We sought to develop a reliable way to quantify mechanical consequences of abnormal neuromuscular mechanisms throughout the reachable workspace in the hemiparetic arm post-stroke.MethodsSurvivors of hemiparetic stroke (HS) and neurologically intact (NI) control subjects were instructed to relax as a robotic device repositioned the hand of their hemiparetic arm between several testing locations that sampled the arm's passive range of motion. During transitions, the robot induced motions at either the shoulder or elbow joint at three speeds: very slow (6°/s), medium (30°/s), and fast (90°/s). The robot held the hand at the testing location for at least 20 s after each transition. We recorded and analyzed hand force and electromyographic activations from selected muscles spanning the shoulder and elbow joints during and after transitions.ResultsHand forces and electromyographic activations were invariantly small at all speeds and all sample times in NI control subjects but varied systematically by transport speed during and shortly after movement in the HS subjects. Velocity-dependent resistance to stretch diminished within 2 s after movement ceased in the hemiparetic arms. Hand forces and EMGs changed very little from 2 s after the movement ended onward, exhibiting dependence on limb posture but no systematic dependence on movement speed or direction. Although each HS subject displayed a unique field of hand forces and EMG responses across the workspace after movement ceased, the magnitude of steady-state hand forces was generally greater near the outer boundaries of the workspace than in the center of the workspace for the HS group but not the NI group.ConclusionsIn the HS group, electromyographic activations exhibited abnormalities consistent with stroke-related decreases in the stretch reflex thresholds. These observations were consistent across repeated testing days. We expect that the approach described here will enable future studies to elucidate stroke's impact on the interaction between the neural mechanisms mediating control of upper extremity posture and movement during goal-directed actions such as reaching and pointing with the arm and hand.