The evaluation of selected poly(vinyl acetate) and acrylic adhesives: A final research update

Abstract

The final report on the Canadian Conservation Institute's poly(vinyl acetate) and acrylic adhesive research is given after 25–27 years of dark aging and 12–15 years of light aging. A total of 27 poly(vinyl acetate) and 25 acrylic adhesives were tested for pH, volatile emissions (mostly acetic acid), flexibility, strength, and yellowing after aging. In 1996, the work was first published after three to five years of aging data had accumulated. Measurements for pH, yellowing, strength, and flexibility were recently repeated again and these results are reported here. These new data points are reported to provide insight into the effect of these longer aging periods on the products included in the study. As well, the most stable (according to set criteria) poly(vinyl acetate) and acrylic adhesives tested are revealed, which, except for a few products, do not differ greatly from those reported in 1996.     

Profiling Younger Adults’ Communication About Aging

According to the Communicative Ecology Model of Successful Aging (CEMSA), how people talk about age can have implications for how they cope with aging later in life. However, most research on communication and successful aging has focused on older adults. In this study, we use latent class analysis to profile how younger adults (age 18–39) communicate about aging and examine how these profiles relate to their attitudes toward aging (affect, efficacy, anxiety, and perceptions of successful aging). Consistent with past research on older adults, we found three distinct profiles of communication behavior (disengaged, engaged, and bantering). An engaged profile was clearly associated with the most positive attitudes toward aging, while a disengaged profile was associated with the least positive attitudes. These findings suggest that patterns of talk about aging may start early in life, underscoring the importance of studying communication about aging across the lifespan.     

The life span of a print textbook: An investigation in the utility of aging textbook collections in academic libraries

Abstract

This paper will use circulation data to explore usage trends for physical textbooks in an academic library over a sustained period of time. Conclusions will be drawn from the analysis to determine the usefulness of aging physical textbook collections in academic libraries and inform recommendations for efficient models of lending and management.     

Comparative chromatographic and mass-spectrometric studies of triterpenoid varnishes: fresh material and aged samples from paintings

Abstract

The triterpenoid resins dammar and mastic are frequently used as varnishes for paintings. Unfortunately, these varnishes degrade in the course of time. A large number of aged yellowed varnishes taken from paintings from several museum collections were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) to identify oxidized triterpenoids, which are formed during natural aging processes. Discrimination between the different types of aged varnishes was achieved by direct temperature-resolved mass spectrometry (DTMS). GCMS further showed that the triterpenoid fraction strongly decreases during aging. It is likely that a higher molecular weight fraction is being formed.     

The Challenges and Opportunities of Sustaining Volunteer-Based Rural Libraries

ABSTRACT

In an era of rural service decline and population aging, some rural libraries rely on volunteers to keep them open within the community. This paper outlines the challenges of sustaining such volunteer-based rural libraries, drawing on a case study of a volunteer-based library in rural Ontario, Canada. Findings suggest that age of volunteers, volunteer participation, territoriality, branch polarization and the burden of volunteering present challenges in sustaining the volunteer program at the library, yet the library contributes to the community through community engagement, enabling aging in place and through economic development. The paper concludes with recommendations from the case study on how the sustain such a volunteer program.     

Successful Aging through Television: Selective and Compensatory Television Use and Well-Being

ABSTRACT

We applied the selection, optimization and compensation (SOC) model of successful aging to media use. Using a new self-report measure to assess selective and compensatory media use we illustrate the role of these media selection strategies in successful aging. In other words, we link compensatory and selective media use to different indicators of well-being among older nursing home residents and for a group of younger adults, which served as a comparison group. Selective media use was positively related to well-being for older, but not for younger adults, and compensatory media use was negatively related to well-being for both younger and older adults. In a second study, we replicated these findings with a sample of healthy older adults.     

Fostering Civic Engagement in the Communication Research Methods Course

Courses: Communication Research Methods, Senior Capstone.

Objectives: After completing this course, students will be able to: ? appreciate the role of empirical communication research in solving social and organizational problems;

? identify issues and needs in the community that can be addressed with empirical communication research;

? choose appropriate research methods for addressing different issues and needs;

? use various communication research methods to address community issues and needs;

? present research findings and recommendations to community organizations;

? demonstrate an increased commitment to active citizenship.

     

Critical communication pedagogy and service learning in a mixed-method communication research course

ABSTRACT

Course: Mixed-Method Communication Research Methods

Objective: The purpose of this semester-long activity is to provide students with opportunities to cultivate mixed-method communication research skills through a social justice-informed service-learning format. Completing this course, students will be able to: recognize the unique strengths of quantitative and qualitative research methods; locate, evaluate, and utilize scholarly literature for a literature review; conduct an original research project using quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather and analyze data; and raise self and community awareness about a social issue through collaboration with a community organization.     

P-value Club: Teaching Significance Level on the Dance Floor

Courses: Beginning research methods and statistics courses, as well as advanced communication courses that require reading research articles and completing research projects involving statistics

Objective: Students will understand the difference between significant and nonsignificant statistical results based on p-value     

Reducing Power Differentials in the Classroom Using Student-Based Quantitative Research Scenarios: Applications in Undergraduate and Graduate Research Methods Classrooms

Courses: Undergraduate Research Methods, Graduate Research Methods

Objective: To assist students in distinguishing independent and dependent variables, appropriate research designs, and statistical analyses through the evaluation of research scenarios intended to reduce power differentials in the classroom.     

Children's Literature in the Undergraduate Course on Communication Research Methods

Objective: Students will develop positive attitudes toward communication research by linking new values and principles with the familiar values and principles contained in children's literature

Course: Communication Research Methods

Objective: Students will develop positive attitudes toward communication research by linking new values and principles with the familiar values and principles contained in children's literature     

Street Crossing: Observational Research and Developing Health Communication Strategies

Courses: Advertising Account Planning, Research Methods, Health Communication

Objective: In this unit activity, students learn about conducting observational research, segmenting audiences for communication campaigns, and the importance of sharing the thinking behind their research—explaining how they operate as problem solvers.     

“You're a Grounded Theorist for the Day”: Teaching Students the Grounded Theory Approach

Courses: Research Methods, Communication Theory

Objective: Students will understand and engage in the grounded theory research method     

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Information Literacy into Communication Courses

Courses: Introductory Public Speaking, Introductory Small Group Communication

Objectives: Students will locate, analyze, evaluate, and utilize secondary sources through an in-depth research process. They will complete a comprehensive research portfolio. Students will practice effective group dynamics skills. They will demonstrate effective oral presentation skills in a panel presentation.     

Community Forum: Research Libraries in the Digital Age

ABSTRACT

This dialogue provides a summary and assessment of issues discussed relating to research libraries and research universities in a digital environment.     

Research in radio,television, and film by graduate students in speech

Speech graduate students perform varied types of research in the radio‐television‐film field. An analysis of the nature of this research suggests some important conclusions.     

Just another Brick in the Wall … or Not? A Paradigm Introduction Activity

Courses: Research Methods; Theory

Objectives: To begin the semester with an engaging activity that introduces students to basic metatheoretical assumptions and help them find themselves in the world of research     

The scholar's anthology: A research agenda for communication education

These five papers summarize and provide a focus for concerns about research in communication education, and identify critical areas for additional research. The authors also specify areas where educators and scholars should he implementing existing research findings in speech communication instruction.