Is OTT Video a Substitute for TV? Policy Insights from Cord-Cutting

The video entertainment industry is experiencing increases in over-the-top (OTT) video usage and cord-cutting behavior. Using unique panel data from 2012-2016, we document the behavior of the 2.4% of households who “cut the cord” annually. After dropping TV, these households increase internet usage by 22%, reduce payments to multiple-system operators (MSOs) by 50%, and 16% acquire new OTT video subscriptions. These results indicate meaning-ful substitution between OTT video and TV and suggest that competition authorities should consider broadening market definitions. MSOs appear to have little incentive to degrade OTT video, despite OTT video's contribution to declining TV revenues.

Development of a Caramel-Based Viscoelastic Reference Material for Cutting Tests at Different Rates

Cutting speed plays a crucial role for the behavior during and the final quality of viscoelastic foods after cutting and is, in industrial applications, usually adjusted on an empirical basis. Although previous studies investigated the interplay between the time-dependent properties and cutting behavior of model systems on an elastomer basis, there is still a need to elaborate such cause-effect relations for real foods. The aim of this study was to establish a reproducible manufacture of model caramels on a laboratory scale and to investigate the influence of the compositional parameters, moisture, and solid fat content, as well as cutting speed, on cutting behavior. It was possible to visualize ductile-brittle transitions in cutting force profiles, with an increase in cutting speed resulting in effects similar to that induced by a decreasing moisture content or an increasing solid fat content. Quantitatively, the progression of both maximum force and cutting energy reversed when cutting speed increased and composition changed in favor of a more brittle behavior. This work provides the basis for further research on distinct loading phenomena observed during the cutting of foods and for numerical modeling of the cutting process.

Identification method for the dynamic cutting force variation of a high energy efficiency milling cutter

The dynamic cutting force of a high energy efficiency milling cutter is an important indicator for evaluating the stability of the cutting energy efficiency. The existing cutting force analysis focuses on the main characteristics and influencing factors of the cutting force variation in the cutting process, ignoring the influence of the variation of the cutting layer parameters with the cutter tooth error in different cutting stages, and the dynamic cutting force variation is uncertain. In this research, the analytical model of the instantaneous cutting volume of a milling cutter was developed in order to obtain the time-frequency characteristics of the instantaneous cutting volume with the cutter tooth error. According to the sudden changes of the cutting force and the milling vibration, the variations were studied in different cutting stages. The dynamic cutting behavior sequences such as the instantaneous cutting volume, milling vibration, and dynamic cutting force were constructed to characterize the mapping relationship between the dynamic cutting behavior of a milling cutter. Based on these approaches, the identification method for the dynamic cutting force variation of a high energy efficiency milling cutter was proposed. The effectiveness of the method was verified by the results of the milling experiment and the dynamic cutting behavior response analysis. The results showed that the proposed method could effectively identify the variation and its control variables for the dynamic cutting force in the cutting process, and the method could provide a scientific basis for constructing the dynamic cutting force model of a high energy efficiency milling cutter.

Characteristics and Wear Mechanisms of TiAlN-Based Coatings for Machining Applications: A Comprehensive Review

The machining process is still a very relevant process in today’s industry, being used to produce high quality parts for multiple industry sectors. The machining processes are heavily researched, with the focus on the improvement of these processes. One of these process improvements was the creation and implementation of tool coatings in various machining operations. These coatings improved overall process productivity and tool-life, with new coatings being developed for various machining applications. TiAlN coatings are still very present in today’s industry, being used due to its incredible wear behavior at high machining speeds, high mechanical properties, having a high-thermal stability and high corrosion resistance even at high machining temperatures. Novel TiAlN-based coatings doped with Ru, Mo and Ta are currently under investigation, as they show tremendous potential in terms of mechanical properties and wear behavior improvement. With the improvement of deposition technology, recent research seems to focus primarily on the study of nanolayered and nanocomposite TiAlN-based coatings, as the thinner layers improve drastically these coating’s beneficial properties for machining applications. In this review, the recent developments of TiAlN-based coatings are going to be presented, analyzed and their mechanical properties and cutting behavior for the turning and milling processes are compared.

The Relationship between Weight Cutting and the Female Athlete Triad in Combat Sport Athletes

Background: Females combat sport athletes are likely to partake in rapid weight reduction strategies prior to competitions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between weight cutting habits of female combat sport athletes and the risk of developing the female athlete triad. Methods: 102 female combat sport athletes (amateur=40; professional=62; 28.8±4.5y), competing in boxing (n=30), kickboxing (n=12), and mixed martial arts (n=60), completed two questionnaires. An adapted version of the Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ) was used to determine the severity of athletes’ weight cutting behaviors, and the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) was used to determine female athlete triad risk. Data was analyzed to determine correlations between LEAF-Q and RWLQ scores along with weight cutting behaviors. Scores were also compared between competition level and combat sports. Results: The results of this study showed that 38% of female combat sport athletes were at risk of developing the female athlete triad. Significant correlation between RWLQ and LEAF-Q scores (p=0.013; r=0.244, r2=0.060) were noted. A significant difference (p=0.006) between the RWLQ scores of amateurs and professionals was also noted, with professionals engaging in more severe weight cutting behavior. Mixed martial artists reported the highest RWLQ and LEAF-Q scores, which were significantly greater than boxers. No other correlations between LEAF-Q and weight cutting behaviors were noted. Conclusion: Despite a small effect size (r²=0.060), the findings of this study demonstrate that more severe weight cutting behaviors may increase the female athlete triad risk among female combat sport athletes.

Investigation of effect of uncut chip thickness to edge radius ratio on nanoscale cutting behavior of single crystal copper: MD simulation approach

Extremely small cutting depths in nanoscale cutting makes it very difficult to measure the thermodynamic properties and understand the underlying mechanism and behavior of workpiece material. Highly precise single-crystal Cu is popularly employed in optical and electronics industries. This study, therefore, implements the molecular dynamics technique to analyze the cutting behavior and surface and subsurface phenomenon in the nanoscale cutting of copper workpieces with a diamond tool. Molecular dynamics simulation is carried out for different ratios of uncut chip thickness ( a) to cutting edge radius ( r) to investigate material removal mechanism, cutting forces, surface and subsurface defects, material removal rate (MRR), and stresses involved during the nanoscale cutting process. Calculation of forces and amount of plowing indicate that a/ r = 0.5 is the critical ratio for which the average values of both increase to maximum. Material deformation mechanism changes from shear slip to shear zone deformation and then to plowing and elastic rubbing as the cutting depth/uncut chip thickness is reduced. The deformation during nano-cutting in terms of dislocation density changes with respect to cutting time. During the cutting process, it is observed that various subsurface defects like point defects, dislocations and dislocation loops, stacking faults, and stair-rod dislocation take place.

Examining the Use, Perception, and Motivation of Cord-Cutting: A Consumer Segment Approach

This study investigates the factors affecting the cord-cutting behavior of media consumers. Adopting the frameworks of diffusion of innovations, uses and gratifications theory (U&G), channel repertoire, and media usage/segmentation, we conducted an online survey of 860 respondents in the United States to examine the use, perception, and motivation of cord-cutting behavior among three different consumer segments: cord-cutters, cord-loyalists, and cord-couplers. The results show that cord-cutting is predicted by eudaimonic and exploration motivators, perceived compatibility and complementarity, and age.