Relationship between prior knowledge,destination reputation,and loyalty among sport tourists

ABSTRACT

Sport tourism is anticipated as one of the key industries that can vitalize a community with a wide variety of attractive natural resources. This research focusses on the relationship between tourists’ prior knowledge of the destination, destination reputation, and destination loyalty. Data were collected from domestic sport tourists who visited Niseko Adventure Centre during August, 2018 (N?=?221). Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling, the results showed a significant relationship between prior knowledge, reputation, and loyalty, which explained 34% of the model. Sport tourism is expected to be one of the key elements to stimulate rural areas by utilizing their potential natural resources. In this research, we observed Niseko district to clarify the relationship between destination prior knowledge, reputation, and loyalty. As a result, we were able to conclude that, by focusing attention on information search processes, marketers can develop effective marketing strategies.     

Multi-age-grouping paradigm for young swimmers

The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of "multi-age" classification systems in youth sports with a specific focus on the unisex multi-age-groupings used by USA Swimming. In addition, we offer an analytical rationale for the multi-age-groupings and potential alternatives. We examined the top 100 US swim performances for three years (2005, 2006, and 2007) for girls and boys in 15 age-groups (7 to 20 years and a singular group of 21 years and older). Data for each age and sex were pooled over the three years and means were calculated for each of seven competitive swim events. Swim times differed among each age up to the 14-year age-group in girls (F (14,30885) = 183.9, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.19-3.72, large effect) and 16-year age-group in boys (F (14,30885) = 308.7, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.81-3.64, large effect) for all events. Age-related differences in swim times continued later in boys than girls likely due to differences between the sexes in timing of growth and maturation. Because of the differences in swim performance in contemporary multi-age-groups, stratifying swimmers by a single age is the best means to ensure competitive fairness and equality, although there is no rationale for swimmers under the age of 8 years to compete in separate unisex competitive groups.     

Contraction and extension of Vorticella and its mechanical characterization under flow loading

We have studied the contraction and extension of Vorticella convallaria and its mechanical properties with a microfluidic loading system. Cells of V. convallaria were injected to a microfluidic channel (500 μm in width and 100 μm in height) and loaded by flow up to ∼350 mm s⁻¹. The flow produced a drag force on the order of nanonewton on a typical vorticellid cell body. We gradually increased the loading force on the same V. convallaria specimen and examined its mechanical property and stalk motion of V. convallaria. With greater drag forces, the contraction distance linearly decreased; the contracted length was close to around 90% of the stretched length. We estimated the drag force on Vorticella in the channel by calculating the force on a sphere in a linear shear flow.     

Piloting a dispersed and inter-professional Lesson Study using technology to link team members at a distance

This article presents an evaluation of distance technology used in a novel Lesson Study (LS) approach involving a dispersed LS team for inter-professional purposes. A typical LS model with only school teachers as team members was modified by including university-based lecturers with the school-based teachers, using video-conferencing and online video sharing. The aim was to examine the experiences of using video-conferencing and video transfer technology to support the use of LS procedures to connect team members between schools and university. The meetings from two LS teams (primary and secondary) were recorded and analysed using a discourse analysis framework, and team members were interviewed after the LS cycle. Despite some technical difficulties, the communication between the dispersed members of the teams was largely smooth and successful. Extending LS teams and practice to include non school teachers, using distance-linking technology, can more effectively support teachers, while reducing the practical constraints of bringing other professionals into the LS team.     

Multi-age-grouping paradigm for young swimmers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of “multi-age” classification systems in youth sports with a specific focus on the unisex multi-age-groupings used by USA Swimming. In addition, we offer an analytical rationale for the multi-age-groupings and potential alternatives. We examined the top 100 US swim performances for three years (2005, 2006, and 2007) for girls and boys in 15 age-groups (7 to 20 years and a singular group of 21 years and older). Data for each age and sex were pooled over the three years and means were calculated for each of seven competitive swim events. Swim times differed among each age up to the 14-year age-group in girls (F _14,30885 = 183.9, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.19–3.72, large effect) and 16-year age-group in boys (F _14,30885 = 308.7, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.81–3.64, large effect) for all events. Age-related differences in swim times continued later in boys than girls likely due to differences between the sexes in timing of growth and maturation. Because of the differences in swim performance in contemporary multi-age-groups, stratifying swimmers by a single age is the best means to ensure competitive fairness and equality, although there is no rationale for swimmers under the age of 8 years to compete in separate unisex competitive groups.     

Property of critical excitation for moment-resisting frames subjected to horizontal and vertical simultaneous ground motions

It has often been reported that, when building structures are subjected to near-fault earthquake ground motions, horizontal and vertical impulsive inputs may cause critical damage during the first few seconds. In practical design of building structures, however, the safety check, taking into account the effect of multi-component ground motions, is hardly conducted except the design of important structures such as high-rise buildings and nuclear power plants. Ftirthel＇more, it is not clear how the correlation of multi-component ground motions influences the actual safety of structures. In this paper, the detailed property of critical excitation is discussed in association with the relationship between the characteristics of ground motions and those of structures. The properties of various auto power spectral density （PSD） functions of the horizontal and vertical ground motions are investigated, and those of the critical cross PSD function of these two-directional ground motions are found by a devised algorithm in a feasible complex plane. A closed-form expression is derived from the critical relation of the auto PSD functions of the simultaneous inputs. This critical excitation method provides us with a new approach for earthquake-resistant design against the possible future earthquake which causes the critical damages to buildings.     

Early Conversations and Word Learning: Contributions from Child and Adult

Temporal and topic contingencies between child and mother speech are reported at 2 achievements in language development in the second year. Measured against their respective baseline rates of speech, children were most likely to talk before mother speech and mothers most likely to talk after child speech. This pattern, evident at both language achievements, increased in amplitude with development. These early conversations were generated by the children; neither their interactions nor word learning depended on adult-scaffolded formats. Only about one-third of all child speech occurred in response to something mothers said; only half of all child speech received a topic-related response. When mothers responded, they most often simply acknowledged, repeated, or clarified what the child said. The results supported the intentionality model for language development, in which the child's role is primary: Children learn words for expression and interpretation in order to share contents of mind, bringing words to their conversations that they've already learned in other contexts.     

The effects of a 4-week static stretching programme on the individual muscles comprising the hamstrings

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of a 4-week intervention of static stretching (SS) on muscle hardness of the semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles. Shear elastic modulus was measured by using ultrasound shear wave elastography as the index of muscle hardness. Thirty healthy men (age 22.7 ± 2.2 years) volunteered for this study and were randomly assigned to the SS intervention group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). Participants in the SS intervention group received a 4-week stretch intervention for the hamstrings of their dominant leg. Shear elastic moduli of the hamstrings were measured at initial evaluation and after 4 weeks in both groups at a determined angle. In all muscles, the shear elastic modulus decreased significantly after SS intervention. The percentage change in the shear elastic modulus from the value at initial evaluation to after 4 weeks intervention was greatest in the SM. These results suggest that SS intervention has chronic effects on reducing hardness of the hamstring muscle components, especially the SM muscle.     

语言与思索--以日语来思索的意义

哲学无疑是一门思索普遍性问题的学科,所以或许可以说提出这样一个问题并无必要。不过,即使思索的是普遍性的问题,也脱离不开语言包含的限制性。就日语而言,日语所具有的特点和限制同样影响着使用日语所做的哲学思考。日语有这样一个特点,即一个句子里不总是需要一个主语。它来自于这样的经验,关注的焦点不在于行使者,而在于行使者自身之内。这跟日语“以谓语为中心”的语法结构有关。西田几多郎的“场所”理论是基于他对于康德和新康德主义的认识论的批判之上的。西田特别指出,“我们意识到的意识”固然是在这种认识论中被发现的,但“意识着的意识”却并没被把握到。我们努力发现这样的一个事实,即他对于传统的认识论的批判和他建立的“场所”理论与上面提到的日语中“以谓语为中心”的语法结构有着深刻的关联。这也就明确了,语言对于哲思有着重要的影响。