Geographic clustering of economic activity: The case of prominent western visual artists

This article compiles original data relating to artists’ place of birth and work migration patterns using various art history dictionaries. The broad historic pattern, from the 13th to the 20th century, of the birth locations of prominent artists is examined, followed by a detailed study of the work migration patterns of prominent artists in two important situations, namely Renaissance Italy and France in part of the 19th century. The evidence indicates a marked clustering of activity of prominent artists, both arising from birth location and migration patterns. Some possible explanations for the observed patterns are briefly outlined.

Experiences of Danish Business Expatriates in Russia: Power Distance in Organizational Communication

Rapid globalization of business processes stimulates many companies to dispatch their employees – business expatriates – on overseas assignments. Russia differs markedly from many other cultures in terms of specific communication norms and rules. Understanding such differences in organizational life is crucial for the success of business expatriates working there. This study employs in-depth interviews with eight Danish business expatriates who worked in Russia and examines the differences between the Danes and the Russians in terms of communication characteristics related to Hofstede’s cultural dimension power distance. This work enhances scholars’ empirical knowledge of power distance, which has rarely been investigated qualitatively.     

中国大学应尽快走出注入式教育时代

一、中国大学是注入式教学的最后堡垒(一)现状:“填鸭式”充斥课堂。关于教学方法,尽管我们一直在竭力反对注入式,尽管有学校也在实行讨论式、探究式教学等,但从整体上看,真正“对教学方法‘动手术’的还不多见,大部分还是过去的那种‘填鸭式’的教学”。原教育部部长陈至立在第一次全国普通高校教学工作会议上就明确提到:“教学方法过死,满堂灌、注入式的现象基本没有改变。”在2003年举行的大学生学习改革与创新研讨班上,专家学者再一次指出,当前的教学过程依然是课堂、教师、书本“三中心”,“灌输式”、“填鸭式”充斥课堂。可见注入式…     

不同历史时期湘西苗族鼓舞的嬗变轨迹

通过文献资料法、问卷访谈法,走访湘西州体育局、湘西州民族事务委员会等相关工作人员,对苗族鼓舞的主要传承人等进行调查研究,目的是激发人们对湘西苗族鼓舞更多关注和认同,让它的社会功能得充分发展,同时能够让湘西苗族鼓舞能够在最快的时间内迅猛的发展,让民众所知晓并在各地推广。     

联苯菊酯的酶促降解

从阴沟肠杆菌w10j15中提取到联苯菊酯降解酶,并测定了其对联苯菊酯的降解特性.降解酶在40℃、pH7.5时对联苯菊酯显示最大的降解活性,对联苯菊酯的降解率为70%.经实验测定,其最大降解速率Vmax为50.25nmol·mL-1·min-1,米氏常数(Km)为440.58nmol·mL-1.     

基于流程管理的实验室经费管理信息系统研究

随着高校对实验室经费的投入增加,如何提高公共资金的使用效益及管理效率,降低管理风险,成为当前实验室建设管理领域的关注热点.从分析目前国内各高校实验室经费管理现状人手,提出了一种新的管理方法——流程管理,并初步探索了基于流程管理的实验室经费管理信息系统的构建方案.     

How can experts help governments think?: inaugural lecture

Britain’s exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992 and the Second Iraq War in 2003 are two infamous examples of disastrous policy, but governments blunder all the time – whatever party is in power. Infrastructure projects overrun. The aims and techniques of different departments clash. Scandals erupt among officials and politicians. Controversies stymie attempts at agreement and consensus. But why exactly do these failures happen? Are they more or less widespread than in the private sector? And can studying British governments’ decision-making across the twentieth century improve it in the future? In his May 2018 inaugural lecture, Professor O'Hara recommended a slow, deliberative, transparent, democratic and above all humble and sensitive approach in order to avoid another Black Wednesday or ruinous war – an approach in contrast to the populist tone of much recent debate.     

A novel sleep optimisation programme to improve athletes’ well-being and performance

Objectives: To improve well-being and performance indicators in a group of Australian Football League (AFL) players via a six-week sleep optimisation programme. Design: Prospective intervention study following observations suggestive of reduced sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness in an AFL group. Methods: Athletes from the Adelaide Football Club were invited to participate if they had played AFL senior-level football for 1–5 years, or if they had excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS] >10), measured via ESS. An initial education session explained normal sleep needs, and how to achieve increased sleep duration and quality. Participants (n?=?25) received ongoing feedback on their sleep, and a mid-programme education and feedback session. Sleep duration, quality and related outcomes were measured during week one and at the conclusion of the six-week intervention period using sleep diaries, actigraphy, ESS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Profile of Mood States, Training Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and the Psychomotor Vigilance Task. Results: Sleep diaries demonstrated an increase in total sleep time of approximately 20?min (498.8?±?53.8 to 518.7?±?34.3; p?<?.05) and a 2% increase in sleep efficiency (p?<?0.05). There was a corresponding increase in vigour (p?<?0.001) and decrease in fatigue (p?<?0.05). Conclusions: Improvements in measures of sleep efficiency, fatigue and vigour indicate that a sleep optimisation programme may improve athletes’ well-being. More research is required into the effects of sleep optimisation on athletic performance.     

The validity and reliability of a sample of 10 Wattbike cycle ergometers

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to assess the validity and inter-bike reliability of 10 Wattbike cycle ergometers, and to assess the test–retest reliability of one Wattbike. Power outputs from 100 to 1000 W were applied using a motorised calibration rig (LODE) at cadences of 70, 90, 110 and 130 rev · min^?1, which created nineteen different intensities for comparison. Significant relationships (P < 0.01, r² = 0.99) were found between each of the Wattbikes and the LODE. Each Wattbike was found to be valid and reliable and had good inter-bike agreement. Within-bike mean differences ranged from 0.0 W to 8.1 W at 300 W and 3.3 W to 19.3 W at 600 W. When taking into account the manufacturers stated measurement error for the LODE (2%), the mean differences were less than 2%. Comparisons between Wattbikes at each of the nineteen intensities gave differences from 0.6 to 25.5 W at intensities of 152 W and 983 W, respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the measures of power recorded in the test–retest condition. The data suggest that the Wattbike is an accurate and reliable tool for training and performance assessments, with data between Wattbikes being able to be used interchangeably.     

China International Piano Competition to be Held in Xiamen

The 6th China International Piano Competition (CIPC), organized by the Ministry of Culture of China (MOC) and presented by Xiamen People’s Municipal Government, will be held in Xiamen from November 16 to 26, 2013. CIPC, a triennial event, is one of