Modes of governmentality in an online space: a case study of blog activities in an advanced level Japanese‐as‐a‐Foreign‐Language classroom

This article discusses the validity of the incorporation of online communication in language education classes as a practice free of power politics. By examining blog activities in an advanced‐level Japanese‐as‐a‐Foreign‐Language classroom at a university in the USA, we show that the blog’s postings and readers’ comments evoke certain modes of governmentality – practices that shape one’s conduct – and define the space of a particular blog. This article illustrates two kinds of space created in blogs: that of language education in which ‘native speakers’ dominate ‘non‐native speakers’; and that of information exchange with less fixed relations of dominance, although participants’ behavior is regulated nonetheless. We suggest involving students in analyzing blog comments so that they can understand, and respond to, how the mode of governmentality works outside the classroom and how to transform relations of dominance that manifest themselves in online spaces.     

全球化时代的日本学校教育改革--危机与改革的构想

全球化引发了产业社会向后产业社会的转型,以产业社会为基础建立起来的日本现代学校教育体制面临着严峻的挑战。在官僚主义统治和新自由主义政策把持下的日本教育改革,以一种新的竞争态势使教育的公共性与民主性陷入危机。日本的教育改革不是仅仅依靠新自由主义与新保守主义的政策来推进,更多地是依靠社会民主主义的政策,将学校改革作为一场“静悄悄的革命”而不断发展。因此,日本的教育改革要批判地吸收新保守主义与新自由主义的主张,提倡以“民主主义”与“公共性”原理为基础,构建“学习共同体”的学校改革理念,并通过建立学校之间的联合与教师之间的合作关系而有效地组织并支持改革。     

Estimation of body density based on hydrostatic weighing without head submersion in young Japanese adults

This study examined a method of predicting body density based on hydrostatic weighing without head submersion (HWwithoutHS). Donnelly and Sintek (1984) developed a method to predict body density based on hydrostatic weight without head submersion. This method predicts the difference (D) between HWwithoutHS and hydrostatic weight with head submersion (HWwithHS) from anthropometric variables (head length and head width), and then calculates body density using D as a correction factor. We developed several prediction equations to estimate D based on head anthropometry and differences between the sexes, and compared their prediction accuracy with Donnelly and Sintek's equation. Thirty-two males and 32 females aged 17-26 years participated in the study. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to obtain the prediction equations, and the systematic errors of their predictions were assessed by Bland-Altman plots. The best prediction equations obtained were: Males: D(g) = -164.12X1 - 125.81X2 - 111.03X3 + 100.66X4 + 6488.63, where X1 = head length (cm), X2 = head circumference (cm), X3 = head breadth (cm), X4 = head thickness (cm) (R = 0.858, R2 = 0.737, adjusted R2 = 0.687, standard error of the estimate = 224.1); Females: D(g) = -156.03X1 - 14.03X2 - 38.45X3 - 8.87X4 + 7852.45, where X1 = head circumference (cm), X2 = body mass (g), X3 = head length (cm), X4 = height (cm) (R = 0.913, R2 = 0.833, adjusted R2 = 0.808, standard error of the estimate = 137.7). The effective predictors in these prediction equations differed from those of Donnelly and Sintek's equation, and head circumference and head length were included in both equations. The prediction accuracy was improved by statistically selecting effective predictors. Since we did not assess cross-validity, the equations cannot be used to generalize to other populations, and further investigation is required.     

Service quality,satisfaction, and behavioral intention in a triathlon event: the different experiences between local and non-local participants

ABSTRACT

Understanding the different experiences between local and non-local participants may help event organizers implement diverse marketing strategies for each segment, which could efficiently improve participants’ experiences of the event. However, little research has compared the experiences between local and non-local participants in sport event settings. This study compares the differences between local and non-local participants in their perceived service quality of a triathlon event, examines the relationships among service quality, satisfaction, and behavioral intention, and explores the role of participants’ residence status in these relationships. Data were collected from participants (N?=?289) in a triathlon event held in Japan. The results indicate that local participants evaluated all service quality dimensions more positively than non-local participants. The course, ambience, achievement, and escape had positive effects on satisfaction, satisfaction had an extensively positive effect on behavioral intention, and the effect of escape on satisfaction differed between local and non-local participants. Our findings identify how local and non-local participants evaluate their event experiences differently and provide practical implications for event organizers.     

An examination of the relationship between destination image and marathon participants’ behaviours

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the destination image and behaviours of marathon participants with different levels of behavioural running involvement. This study focused on the Kyoto Marathon in Japan. The survey was conducted on marathon participants. The data of marathon participants was obtained through the Kyoto Marathon 2017 runner survey website. The participants were classified into two groups by cluster analysis – those with high running involvement and those with low running involvement using their experience of marathon events and running history variables. A comprehensive destination image scale was used to assess the practical implications of a sport event. MANOVA and ANOVA were used to test the influence of running involvement on a marathon participant’s destination image perceptions, place attachment, satisfaction and behavioural intentions. These results do not support the role of sport involvement in terms of the key-dependent variables of the study, namely place identity and dependence, intentions to participate in the event again and destination image perceptions. However, the influence of destination image factors and event satisfaction were still evident in their ability to predict sport event tourist intentions to revisit a sport event that is held in the same destination every year.     

Flow analysis and aerodynamic characteristics of a badminton shuttlecock with spin at high Reynolds numbers

A badminton shuttlecock flies in a high-drag, and thus, the sport has been a subject of research from the point of view of aerodynamics. A badminton shuttlecock generates significant aerodynamic drag and has a complex flight trajectory. It also has the smallest ballistic coefficient and exhibits the largest in-flight deceleration of any airborne sporting projectile. The ballistic coefficient of a projectile is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight and is inversely proportional to deceleration. The primary objectives of this study were to measure the aerodynamic properties of feather shuttlecocks under a range of the wind speed (10–60 m/s) and pitch angle (0°–25°). In particular, measurements of aerodynamic forces were performed at high Reynolds numbers (more than Re = 210,000), and the effect of shuttlecock deformation on aerodynamic properties was also investigated, because it is presumed that the flight dynamics is affected by the deformation of the shuttlecock skirt. A shuttlecock skirt is composed of an array of diverging stems, the ends of which are at the convergent end of the skirt, joined together in an end ring. The shuttlecock rotates about its major axis in actual flight, and thus, the experiments were performed on shuttlecocks with and without rotation (spin). Furthermore, the effect of the flow passing through the gaps between the slots (stiffeners) located at the leg portion of the shuttlecock skirt on aerodynamic characteristics is demonstrated by means of a shuttlecock model without gaps, which was completely covered with cellophane tape. The free rotation rate of a shuttlecock increased with an increase in the Reynolds number, and the drag coefficient gradually decreased above Re = 86,000 for a non-rotating shuttlecock. The reduction of drag can be explained by the deformation of the skirt observed in wind tunnel experiments at high speed. In this study, for a rotating shuttlecock, a reduction of drag was not observed over a whole range of Reynolds numbers, because deformation of the skirt for a rotating shuttlecock becomes smaller than that for a non-rotating shuttlecock. However, there was no significant difference in drag coefficient between rotating and non-rotating shuttlecocks, in contrast to the difference in drag coefficient between shuttlecocks with and without gaps. The drag coefficient for a shuttlecock without gaps was significantly smaller than that for a standard shuttlecock (with gaps). For a standard shuttlecock, the air flowed through the gaps into the shuttlecock skirt, and this flow was related to high aerodynamic drag.     

The reliability of accelerometry to measure weightlifting performance

The purposes of the study were to track weightlifters' barbell acceleration with a portable accelerometer over three training sessions to examine test–retest reliability and to compare peak barbell acceleration at different training intensities. Twelve nationally ranked weightlifters volunteered for this study. The portable accelerometer was attached to the right side of the barbell to measure barbell resultant acceleration during the snatch lift at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz. The data were collected over three training sessions at intensity levels of 80%, 85%, and 90% of one repetition maximum. The data were analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the three training sessions and one-way repeated measure ANOVA to compare the difference in peak barbell acceleration at three intensities. Results showed that the device was highly reliable with an ICC of 0.88 and 95% confidence interval of 0.81–0.93. There were significant differences in peak barbell acceleration at various lifting intensities, indicating a decline of the acceleration as the mass of the barbell became heavier. The portable accelerometer seems useful in measuring barbell acceleration data, which can be analyzed in future studies to monitor a weightlifter's performance in a practical setting instead of testing at a laboratory.     

荀子生平事迹新考

"叙述荀子生平"一事,始终要靠当代学者对历史资料的诠释和建构故事的一种"构想力"。在文献资料非常限制之情况下,勾勒出荀子的生平大概如下:荀子大约在公元前316年出生于赵国。他年轻时曾到齐国,当时应是15岁左右。荀子在稷下学宫研瓒到30岁左右,燕国战胜齐国迫使荀子离开齐都临淄,并在前286年到前278年间居留于楚国。后来秦军攻进楚国都郢城,齐襄王夺回临淄的事件让荀子回到稷下学宫,在这时期三度被任命为祭酒。在前265年,赵国由孝成王继位,应侯范雎在秦国掌政,荀子应该在这一年到前262年之间曾拜见他们以及秦昭王,此时也是秦赵争霸最后交锋的前夕。256年楚国灭鲁,荀子接受楚国春申君的邀请,接任兰陵令。我们无法确定前238年他被解任前是否曾一度离职赴赵国,但他在卸任后继续居住在兰陵直到去世。如果说荀子是在前237到前235年间去世的话,他的年纪应该是70岁后半到80岁。