Successful Action Research Articles

Altered Bimanual Kinetic and Kinematic Motor Control Capabilities in Older Women.

Older women may experience critical neuromuscular impairments interfering with controlling successful bimanual motor actions. Our study aimed to investigate altered bimanual motor performances in older women compared with younger women by focusing on kinetic and kinematic motor properties. Twenty-two older women and 22 younger women performed bimanual kinetic and kinematic motor tasks. To estimate bimanual kinetic functions, we calculated bimanual maximal voluntary contractions (i.e., MVC) and force control capabilities (i.e., mean force, accuracy, variability, and regularity of the total force produced by two hands) during bimanual hand-grip submaximal force control tasks. For bimanual kinematic performances, we assessed the scores of the Purdue Pegboard Test (i.e., PPT) in both hands and assembly tasks, respectively. For the bimanual MVC and PPT, we conducted an independent t-test between two groups. The bimanual force control capabilities were analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVAs (Group × Force Level; 2 × 2). Our findings revealed that the older women showed less bimanual MVC (p = 0.046) and submaximal force outputs (p = 0.036) and greater changes in bimanual force control capabilities as indicated by a greater force variability (p = 0.017) and regularity (p = 0.014). Further, the older women revealed lower scores of PPT in both the hands condition (p < 0.001) and assembly task condition (p < 0.001). The additional correlation analyses for the older women showed that lower levels of skeletal muscle mass were related to less bimanual MVC (r = 0.591; p = 0.004). Furthermore, a higher age was related to lower scores in the bimanual PPT assembly task (r = -0.427; p = 0.048). These findings suggested that older women experience greater changes in bimanual motor functions compared with younger women.

Governing Transition: Case Studies in Transformative Adaptation

Global climate change presents both acute and long-term risks to humanity. Managed retreat has emerged in the literature as one method by which to manage some acute and slow-onset events caused by climate change, but it requires substantial additional research and examination. It is now clear that humanity must scrutinize how and where we live and the wisdom of policies that support continued rebuilding and reinvestment after climate-related disasters. Despite its emergence as a potential policy response to risk, the phrase “managed retreat” is documented as a barrier in itself to successful adaptation actions, largely because the term is currently almost exclusively considered to mean physical movement of infrastructure or people out of harm’s way—that is, retreat. There is a need to document and consider case studies where managed retreat is being utilized more broadly and to consider these case studies as a climate governance approach to managing risk. The case studies presented of local policy responses to climate-induced disaster events demonstrate examples of the permanent changes that are already occurring to the existing and historical governance of climate-related risks. These case studies can serve to broaden the climate adaptation discussion and framework beyond “managed retreat” and may lead to more successful implementation of adaptation measures that reduce climate risks. We adopt the term “transformative adaptation measures,” rather than “managed retreat,” and provide case study illustrations of climate governance strategies that communities faced with a changing climate risk profile may consider, rather than focusing on “retreat.”

Failure induces task-irrelevant exploration during a stencil task

During reward-based motor tasks, performance failure leads to an increase in movement variability along task-relevant dimensions. These increases in movement variability are indicative of exploratory behaviour in search of a better, more successful motor action. It is unclear whether failure also induces exploration along task-irrelevant dimensions that do not influence performance. In this study, we ask whether participants would explore the task-irrelevant dimension while they performed a stencil task. With a stylus, participants applied downward, normal force that influenced whether they received reward (task-relevant) as they simultaneously made erasing-like movement patterns along the tablet that did not influence performance (task-irrelevant). In this task, the movement pattern was analyzed as the distribution of movement directions within a movement. The results showed significant exploration of task-relevant force and task-irrelevant movement patterns. We conclude that failure can induce additional movement variability along a task-irrelevant dimension.

COVID-19 Activities: Publicness and Strategic Concerns

This paper considers the diverse public good characteristics of COVID-19 activities along with their strategic implications. The underlying aggregator technologies, which relate individual contributions to the amount consumed, affect the prognosis for the supply of COVID-related activities. Weakest-link activities assume a particularly pivotal role in curbing the spread of COVID-19. For instance, the propagation of COVID-19 through new strains is disproportionately influenced by those countries with the smallest vaccination rates or least isolation actions. Diverse income distribution among at-risk countries raises the need to “shore up” weakest-link countries’ provision to lift global supply. Generally, shoring-up actions result in a Prisoner’s Dilemma with unfavorable collective action prospects. As the number of countries requiring shoring up increases, the less favorable is the prospect for addressing provision shortfalls. Also, as the number of capable countries to do the shoring up increases, the prospect for successful action diminishes. The paper also examines the strategic implications of other aggregators—e.g., best shot and better shot—associated with COVID-inhibiting actions. To address best-shot anti-COVID actions, countries must pool or coordinate actions to meet a threshold. A host of institutions—e.g., the World Health Organization or public-private partnerships—can facilitate shoring-up weakest-link activities or coordinating best-shot actions.

The Switch, the Ladder, and the Matrix: Models for Classifying AI Systems

Organisations that design and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly commit themselves to high-level, ethical principles. However, there still exists a gap between principles and practices in AI ethics. One major obstacle organisations face when attempting to operationalise AI Ethics is the lack of a well-defined material scope. Put differently, the question to which systems and processes AI ethics principles ought to apply remains unanswered. Of course, there exists no universally accepted definition of AI, and different systems pose different ethical challenges. Nevertheless, pragmatic problem-solving demands that things should be sorted so that their grouping will promote successful actions for some specific end. In this article, we review and compare previous attempts to classify AI systems for the purpose of implementing AI governance in practice. We find that attempts to classify AI systems proposed in previous literature use one of three mental models: the Switch, i.e., a binary approach according to which systems either are or are not considered AI systems depending on their characteristics; the Ladder, i.e., a risk-based approach that classifies systems according to the ethical risks they pose; and the Matrix, i.e., a multi-dimensional classification of systems that take various aspects into account, such as context, input data, and decision-model. Each of these models for classifying AI systems comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. By conceptualising different ways of classifying AI systems into simple mental models, we hope to provide organisations that design, deploy, or regulate AI systems with the vocabulary needed to demarcate the material scope of their AI governance frameworks.

Developing human resources and building a talent pool for the region through the construction, measurement, and validation of soft competency profiles for current and future professionals (the ComPass System)

Contemporary professionals’ education worldwide is based on Bloom’s taxonomy (Anderson/Krathwohl’s revision). This process is implemented as the “packaging” of individuals into rigid professional standards by transmitting accepted dogmas as value orientations. The training quality is measured through practice duration and education documentary evidence (formal records). However, individuals’ personalities extend beyond standards and include soft competencies determining the hard skills application in specific situations. They make professionals adaptable to the ever-changing reality, including the AI presence. Finally, every person aims at self-realization. Self-realization serves as the key internal motivator for effective and successful action (including in one’s profession) with no need for external motivators. Relying on soft competencies in profiling, management, and HR development in the medium and long term leads to significant savings in financial and other resources during the launch and professional activities’ implementation when they are an act of self-realization. Consequently, existing rigid standards already require complementing them with soft competency profiles (competency profiling). A soft profile is always broader than standards and contributes not only to forming a talent pool from students in secondary specialized educational institutions and universities, technical schools, and vocational schools but also to unleashing the potential of professionals already in the field.

Could the profile of mood states predict performance in training and competition of professional goalball athletes?

Purpose.Morgan’s iceberg profile of mood states (low scores in tension, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion, and high scores in vigour) may influence skilled athletes’ performance. Aims: The present study aimed to examine in 30 professional goalball athletes whether: (1) there is an ‘iceberg mood profile’, (2) the profile of mood states predicts the motor performance, (3) the experience level (international or national) and the condition (training or competition) modulate the relationship between the profile of mood states and the motor performance.Methods.We used Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) to evaluate the profile of mood states and successful actions, errors and goals to assess motor performance. Measurements were obtained during official competition and pre-competition training with similar game rules.Results.Athletes demonstrated the ‘iceberg mood profile’ regardless of the experience level and contextual condition. Additionally, tension seems to be associated with motor performance during training, whereas vigour predicts successful action in competition.Conclusions.Iceberg mood profile characterises the profile of mood states of professional goalball athletes independent of experience level (international and national) and contextual conditions (pre-competition training and competition).

Educational strategies to support the inclusion of displaced pupils from Ukraine in Italian schools

The war in Ukraine caused a huge number of displaced people in a very short time. Amongst the refugees were many school-age children who needed to continue studying in the schools of the host countries. Host schools and teachers had to arrange inclusive strategies to integrate the displaced pupils. This study analysed the factors that facilitated the inclusion of displaced pupils from Ukraine in Italian schools during the first months of the war. We involved in the study 208 teachers from all Italian areas working at all school levels who welcomed 461 Ukrainian pupils in their classrooms. The teachers completed an online qualitative instrument in which they had the opportunity to describe their experience from a personal and a professional point of view. The findings revealed five main factors that affected the effectiveness of inclusion. On these bases, some educational guidelines are provided to support teachers and schools in arranging successful contexts and actions to welcome and include displaced children.

How defense performance affects the outcome of matches in elite futsal

Purpose: To identify and explain the connection between futsal players’ situational efficiency in the defense phase and game outcome. Methods: 111 elite male futsal players (age 25.5 [4.7] y, start of training 16.9 [4.8] y, experience in playing competitively 5.2 [4.1] y from all 10 clubs of the 1st Croatian Minifootball Division took part in the research and were observed in all 45 games in the first half of the 2020/2021 season. The participants sample is based on players who met the criteria of 600 seconds successive play. Therefore 90.24% of players were observed (11.1 [1.66] per club). With situational efficiency, the used pattern, defined as the game’s outcome, is the club’s competitive performance, goal difference. Predictor variables notated as performance indicators are defense phase variables: knocking the ball away, taking away the ball and intercepting the ball, all with regard to the outcome: successful/failed. Results: The results show a significant correlation between futsal players’ situational efficiency in defense phase and the game outcome. The correlation between predictor variables and the criteria variable of club competitive performance, goal difference in this research is a significant 0.40 (P= .022). Of all things determining goal difference in every game, in this case with 6 predictor variables, is explained with 16%. Conclusions: Performance indicators in the defense phase, whose manifestation leads to a positive result, are unsuccessful ball interception and a successful action of knocking the ball away. This helps to conclude that the preparation of players with regards to efficient ball possession by reading the ball passing and intercepting the ball and temporarily stopping the opponent’s offense by knocking away the ball is of great importance because its quality can be connect to performance. Keywords: Futsal, game efficiency, game strategy, performance; strategy game; team sport.

The Crossing of the Danube by the Russian Troops during the Russo-Turkish War (1877—1878): a View from the Ottoman Coast

The paper explores one of the most important episodes during the 1877—1878 Russo-Turkish war namely the crossing of the river Danube by the Russian army which has not received deserved attention in works of both Russian and Turkish historians. The author analyses a wide range of understudied Ottoman sources that allows to reconstruct the “Ottoman perspective” of the Battle of the Danube and the preparation of Ottoman military for it. The comparative analysis of the memoirs of the Ottoman military figures, teachers of the Military Academy and the works of historians makes possible to revise well-established assessments of the Danube operation and its stereotypical interpretations, typical of both Russian and Western literature. The findings of the study show that the Ottomans were aware of the importance of the Danube defense line and the necessity of repelling the Russian offence. The Ottoman officers thoroughly analyzed and investigated this military experience. Going beyond the analysis of actions of army units, the Ottoman officers proposed an alternative plan of action, in their opinion more effective than the plan of the commander-in-chief of the Balkan front. The analysis of the Ottoman sources cast doubt upon a number of wide-spread judgements about the inability of the Ottoman army to defend the Danube effectively. Although the Ottoman military had to undertake drastic changes in the defense structure, the Ottoman army had the potential for successful actions on this theatre of war.

Unexploitable Games and Unbeatable Strategies

Imitation is simple behavior which uses successful actions of others in order to deal with one's own problems. Because success of imitation generally depends on whether profit of an imitating agent coincides with those of other agents or not, game theory is suitable for specifying situations where imitation can be successful. One of the concepts describing successfulness of imitation in repeated two-player symmetric games is unbeatability. For infinitely repeated two-player symmetric games, a necessary and sufficient condition for some imitation strategy to be unbeatable was specified. However, situations where imitation can be unbeatable in multi-player games are still not clear. In order to analyze successfulness of imitation in multi-player situations, here we introduce a class of totally symmetric games called unexploitable games, which is a natural extension of two-player symmetric games without exploitation cycles. We then prove that, for infinitely repeated unexploitable games, there exist unbeatable imitation strategies. Furthermore, we also prove that, for infinitely repeated non-trivial unexploitable games, there exist unbeatable zero-determinant strategies, which unilaterally enforce some relationships on payoffs of players. These claims are demonstrated in the public goods game, which is the simplest unexploitable game. These results show that there are situations where imitation is unbeatable even in multi-player games.

Kraljevo tokom epidemije variole vere 1972. godine

In the spring of 1972, the infectious disease smallpox appeared in Yugoslavia, which was characterized by high mortality. Today, it is known for certain that the epidemic was brought by Ibrahim Hoti, a pilgrim who went on a trip to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Most of the sick and deceased were from the area of the then Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, followed by those from Belgrade. On the territory of the municipality of Kraljevo during the smallpox epidemic, there were no cases of infection, although the areas where the infections appeared are geographically very close. Nikola Nakaradić, a student of the Forestry High School and a resident of the boarding school in Kraljevo, was one of those infected and successfully cured. He got the symptoms and the diagnosis when he was not in Kraljevo, and then he was treated and taken care of in a quarantine in Belgrade, which is why he was listed as a patient from Belgrade in the records. Getting out of the epidemic situation without a single case of illness in the area of the then municipality of Kraljevo is considered a success, especially considering the poor state of healthcare, both in terms of material and technical conditions, and in terms of unpreparedness for the challenge of a sudden epidemic. The municipal headquarters for quarantine diseases carried out combat measures by organizing quarantines, and mass vaccination of the population was carried out. The quick formation of the quarantine, immediately after learning that the resident of the boarding school was infected, as well as the quick and successful action to locate the fugitives from the quarantine, represent the merit of the internal affairs authorities, while the greatest merit certainly belongs to the health care workers, on whose shoulders fell the main burden of responsibility and who engaged in preventing the virus outbreak in Kraljevo The fact that Nikola Nakaradić from Morović, a sick student of the Forestry School and a resident of the boarding school in Kraljevo, did not infect anyone in the territory of Kraljevo can certainly be considered an extremely fortunate set of circumstances. Unfortunately, material conditions in the health institutions in Kraljevo did not significantly improve even several years after the epidemic. The experience of smallpox has led to the fact that in the next draft of the health care program, measures for the detection, prevention, control and treatment of infectious diseases will be outlined in the first point. The formal legal basis has been laid, but experience after smallpox has shown that the action in the first moments of the epidemic is the most important. Knowledge, conscientiousness, responsibility, courage and dedication of health workers and other employees in competent institutions are the first and most important frontline for preventing epidemics at their very beginnings.

Mental Healthcare of Elderly Population of Bangladesh: Current Situation and Challenges

In Bangladesh, mental health of elderly people is often underestimated because of lack of awareness and perceived needs of medical care for physical health problems, whereas comorbid psychiatric conditions remain underdiagnosed among individuals in the country. Large numbers of older persons face challenges such as discrimination, negligence and abuse that severely restrict their human rights and their contribution to society. However, in recent times, NGOs, legislatives, and citizens argue that it is the high time that older persons should be identified as a distinct category deserving special care and attention under human rights law. In Bangladesh, about 14 million older adults live in the country, which is 7.7% of the total population; this ageing population has been projected to be 17.2 million by 2025. The Mental Health Act was passed by the National Parliament of Bangladesh in 2018. A multi-disciplinary working group with representatives from government Ministries, mental health professional organizations, and advocacy groups collaborated to draft a National Mental Health Policy, which was approved by the Ministry of Health in 2019 is currently awaiting endorsement by the Cabinet. The working group also drafted a National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020- 2030, anticipating implementation over the next decade, through successive 5-year action plans. To date, neither the policy nor the strategic plan has been implemented. Adoption of the strategic plan within the MOHFW general health care plan is anticipated in 2020. Under the circumstances, this review paper aims to examine current situation and challenges in having access to mental health care for the elderly people as part of human rights and a public health concern, while the health system has already been overburdened with other public health challenges due to limited resources.

Lived experiences of successful women entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Iran: a feminist phenomenological study

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the entrepreneurial actions of successful Iranian women entrepreneurs. It is an attempt to find the roots, motivations, challenges and strategies of successful actions of these women, despite the unequal and masculine structure of the society.Design/methodology/approachThis research was conducted through the theoretical framework of poststructuralist feminism and the qualitative method. By purposive sampling, the researchers selected 10 women entrepreneurs living in Khorasan Razavi province for in-depth interviews. These women have created many jobs based on local potential and become recognized as top entrepreneurs. The narratives of these women were analyzed phenomenologically.FindingsThe actions of these women are fertilized under the influence of family background and early socialization and in the combination of internal motivations and external stimuli. These women resist social barriers such as widespread patriarchy, gender division of labor in society and complex bureaucratic processes through the “strategic cycle” resulting from the interaction of “reliance on intertwined social networks,” “social entrepreneurship,” “gradual formation of social capital” and “reliance on local potentials.”Social implicationsThe strategies to overcome gender inequalities at the micro (family) and macro (society) levels introduced in this research can inspire women entrepreneurs who seek success in their businesses.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative research that, by studying the actions of successful Iranian women entrepreneurs, describes how they overcome structural inequalities and their success strategies.

The relationship between physical characteristics and match collision performance among elite international female rugby union players

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether anthropometric and physical abilities explained variance in match collision performance among international female rugby union players. Physical performance and anthropometric data for fifty-one international female rugby union players, and collision actions categorised as “effort” or “performance” variables, from 20 international matches, were analysed using partial least squares regression. Among forwards, variance in carries/min was explained (R2 = .22) by a combination of; body mass, skinfolds, acceleration momentum and negative associations with mean aerobic speed and single-leg isometric squat relative force (SLISO/kgBM). Variance in collision dominance among forwards was explained (R2 = .21) by lower skinfolds and higher acceleration momentum, while tackles/min (R2 = .19) were explained by greater jumping power and single-leg isometric squat (SLISO). Among backs, variance in tackles/min (R2 = .54) was explained by greater bench press, SLISO and SLISO/kgBM. Variance in collision dominance among backs was explained (R2 = .23) by negative and positive associations with body mass and SLISO/kgBM, respectively. These findings suggest the development of physical characteristics, such as body mass and composition, strength and power contribute towards successful collision actions among international female rugby union players. The contribution of different physical characteristics towards collision events is dependent on position, and whether the collision event is categorised by “performance” or “effort”. It is suggested that physical training programmes should reflect this level of specificity. Highlights Among elite female rugby union forwards, acceleration momentum, body mass and skinfolds are positively associated with winning collisions and carrying the ball into contact more frequently, whilst tackle frequency is positively associated with relative leg strength and power output. Among elite female backs, the ability to win collisions is positively associated with relative leg power output, and negatively associated with body mass. Tackle frequency is associated with maximum upper- and lower-body strength in this group. Physical characteristics account for some of the variability in collision performance, but interpretation of these findings should consider that factors such as technique during collision events may account for a larger proportion of total variance. Sports science practitioners can improve collision performance, to varying degrees, by enhancing specific gross physical characteristics, according to a player’s position and the tactical role they are expected to fulfil.

Alpha Suppression Is Associated with the Tip-of-the-Tongue (TOT) State Whereas Alpha Expression Is Associated with Knowing That One Does Not Know.

The tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state is a spontaneously occurring metacognitive state that indicates that the answer to a query is almost, but not quite, at hand, i.e., that resolution is imminent. Since the time of William James, a distinctive feeling of nagging frustration has been observed to be associated with TOT states. On a more positive note, TOT states are also associated with intense goal-directed curiosity and with a strong desire to know that translates into successful mental action. The present study showed that prior to the presentation of resolving feedback to verbal queries-if the individual was in a TOT state-alpha suppression was in evidence in the EEG. This alpha suppression appears to be a marker of a spontaneously occurring, conscious, and highly motivating goal-directed internal metacognitive state. At the same time, alpha expression in the same time period was associated with the feeling of not knowing, indicating a more discursive state. Both alpha and alpha suppression were observed broadly across centro-parietal scalp electrodes and disappeared immediately upon presentation of the resolving feedback. Analyses indicated that the occurrence of alpha suppression was associated with participants' verbal affirmations of being in a TOT state, which is also related to subsequent expression of a late positivity when feedback is provided, and to enhanced memory.

Power Despite Precarity: Strategies for the Contingent Faculty Movement in Higher Education

Power Despite Precarity: Strategies for the Contingent Faculty Movement in Higher Education

Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene: Imagining Futures and Dreaming Hope in Literature and Media ed. by Marek Oziewicz, Brian Attebery, and Tereza Dědinová

Reviewed by: Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene: Imagining Futures and Dreaming Hope in Literature and Media ed. by Marek Oziewicz, Brian Attebery, and Tereza Dědinová Anita Tarr (bio) Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene: Imagining Futures and Dreaming Hope in Literature and Media. Edited by Marek Oziewicz, Brian Attebery, and Tereza Dědinová. Bloomsbury Academic, 2002. "Making teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel," opines Bart Simpson. Similarly, discussing climate change is bound to bring on despair, and so we might expect a book focused on the relationship of fiction and the environmental crisis to be full of doom and gloom. The popularity of young adult novels and futuristic films posed as warnings for a Hell on Earth becomes problematic, says Nisi Shawl, in "that they're sometimes used as blueprints" (26). Our pervasive Westernized stories prevent us from seeing beyond our beliefs of "human exceptionalism … human entitlement … and human identity"; we refuse to accept culpability or we become inured to the warnings, paralyzed by our helplessness to enact meaningful change. Fortunately, Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene: Imagining Futures and Dreaming Hope in Literature and Media takes a different path. Instead of casting readers into the swamp of despair, the contributors emphasize the importance of emphasizing hope for the future. The best way of transmitting this hope, they claim, is through counterstories, especially fantasy. Brian Attebery states in his essay, "From the Third Age to the Fifth Season: Confronting Anthropocene Through Fantasy," that "we need stories to tell us how we got here, where we are going, and how to live in the human-created world" (18). At this point I want to cheer out loud, not just because of the radical view that we can envision a future that is hopeful, but that stories—not just government policies, political grandstanding, and (sometimes-contested) statistics—are a vital factor in envisioning not the conquest of nature but a future "focused on cultivating livable collaboration" (214). "Stories can turn very complex matters into something intelligible, into something we recognize and can relate to. Stories and characters convey importance to things, persons, and places," bringing much-needed attention to climate change (227). [End Page 424] Another radical departure for Fantasy and Myth in the Anthropocene is that the contributors are scholars as well as creative writers, so that we read analysis in addition to poetry or reflective pieces. The editors, Marek Oziewicz, Brian Attebery, and Tereza Dědinová, have divided the sixteen analytical essays and the fifteen creative, inspirational pieces into four broad sections—"Trouble in the Air," "Dreaming the Earth," "Visions in the Water," and "Playing with Fire"—the traditional four elements of nature, each of which is introduced by Attebery's simplistic myth of human presence as "Child" wreaking havoc upon the world. Every essay is complemented by an inspirational piece that sometimes dramatizes the same basic topic or intensifies it or makes it more personal. For example, John Rieder's essay "Kim Stanley Robinson's Case for Hope in New York 2140" explains that Robinson "rewrites the myth of the Flood as a fantasy of successful anti-capitalist collective action" (146); the following reflective piece, Adam Gidwitz's "Myth Makes Us See," proposes that we should choose connection over comfort: "We do not need parables about an Earth destroyed. We need stories that wake ourselves to ourselves" (149). All this testifies to the editors' vision of producing a text that appeals to different aspects of readers' interests in their efforts to persuade us all to envision the future with hope, not despair. Although a couple of essays are unnecessarily challenging, all of the essays are edifying and enlightening. The texts being analyzed include Game of Thrones and its conflicted messages of climate change; the "magical connection" between humans and Nature (89), as conveyed in both Terry Pratchett's novels about witches and Margaret Mahy's focus on trees; N. K. Jemison's questionable return to the city as redemption; J. K. Rowlings's Wizarding World, a mind-scape that demonstrates "the process of a restoration ecology" (107); and fantasy television shows such as Steven Universe that thematize queer ecology. The reflective pieces are uneven...

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ КОМБИНИРОВАННОГО УПРОЧНЕНИЯ МЕТАЛЛИЧЕСКИХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ ВОЛНОВЫМ ДЕФОРМАЦИОННЫМ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЕМ И ПОСЛЕДУЮЩЕЙ ТЕРМИЧЕСКОЙ ОБРАБОТКОЙ

Nowadays, industry development requires making new strengthening technologies that allow expanding the rational scope of their application. It is quite promising to use methods of combined hardening that allow changing the physical and mechanical properties of the surface layer during successive external actions having different physical nature: sequential plastic deformation and external thermal effects. Therefore, the objective of the conducted study is to make a complex technology of combined deformation and thermal hardening. Preliminary plastic deformation is proposed to be carried out by the method of wave deformation hardening, in which the improvement of properties is achieved by forming structural imperfections of the crystal lattice of the material under the action of prolonged shock pulses of significant energy and duration. The use of these pulses contributes to a more complete plastic deformation of the hardened metal and the formation of a deeper hardened surface layer than with traditional methods of deformation hardening. The proposed combined technology, consisting in the use of wave deformation hardening before thermal treatment, allows to obtain high hardness and plasticity in the surface layer, provides an additional resource to increase the operational characteristics of the part. The novelty of the work is in the complex development of a method for combined wave deformation and thermal hardening of the surface layer of alloy steels. The conducted studies of the method have shown the high efficiency of the technology of combined deformation wave and thermal hardening for various grades of alloy steels.

Implicit sensorimotor adaptation is preserved in Parkinson's disease.

Our ability to enact successful goal-directed actions involves multiple learning processes. Among these processes, implicit motor adaptation ensures that the sensorimotor system remains finely tuned in response to changes in the body and environment. Whether Parkinson's disease impacts implicit motor adaptation remains a contentious area of research: whereas multiple reports show impaired performance in this population, many others show intact performance. While there is a range of methodological differences across studies, one critical issue is that performance in many of the studies may reflect a combination of implicit adaptation and strategic re-aiming. Here, we revisited this controversy using a visuomotor task designed to isolate implicit adaptation. In two experiments, we found that adaptation in response to a wide range of visual perturbations was similar in Parkinson's disease and matched control participants. Moreover, in a meta-analysis of previously published and unpublished work, we found that the mean effect size contrasting Parkinson's disease and controls across 16 experiments involving over 200 participants was not significant. Together, these analyses indicate that implicit adaptation is preserved in Parkinson's disease, offering a fresh perspective on the role of the basal ganglia in sensorimotor learning.