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Abstract
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Elizabeth (Bess) Sadler and Lisa M. Given
This study seeks to apply ecological psychology's concept of “affordance” to graduate students' information behavior in the academic library, and to explore the extent to which…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to apply ecological psychology's concept of “affordance” to graduate students' information behavior in the academic library, and to explore the extent to which the affordances experienced by graduate students differed from the affordances librarians were attempting to provide.
Design/methodology/approach
In‐depth, qualitative interviews with graduate students and academic librarians explored how the students perceived and used the library's various “opportunities for action” (e.g. books, databases, instructional sessions, librarians, physical space, etc.) and compared these perceptions and behavior with librarians' intentions and expectations.
Findings
Findings indicate a disparity between expectations and experience and point to graduate students as an underserved population in this context, especially in terms of the library's outreach efforts. In addition, because graduate students are increasingly teaching introductory undergraduate courses, communication methods that bypass graduate students tend to miss undergraduate students as well.
Practical implications
Practical implications discussed in this paper include possible methods of improving communication channels between graduate students and academic librarians, and considerations for information literacy instruction.
Originality/value
This paper presents a unique perspective by using affordance theory to frame students and librarians' expectations about library services. The findings are particularly valuable for their implications for library‐patron communication and information literacy.
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A picture is worth a thousand words; a motion picture is probably worth even more. The black experience in America is reflected both in movies with black themes and in white or…
Abstract
A picture is worth a thousand words; a motion picture is probably worth even more. The black experience in America is reflected both in movies with black themes and in white or general commercial films in which black actors and actresses perform. These films continue to reflect and influence white as well as black racial attitudes and self‐images. The various cinematic genres have vividly frozen in time the perceptions and stereotypes of each period. Studied over time, they compose a kaleidoscope of changing images and themes.
Yao Chao, Tao Liu and Liming Shen
This study aimed to develop a method to calculate the mattress indentation for further estimating spinal alignment.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to develop a method to calculate the mattress indentation for further estimating spinal alignment.
Design/methodology/approach
A universal indentation calculation model is derived based on the system theory, and the deformation characteristics of each component are analyzed by the finite element (FE) model of a partial air-spring mattress under the initial air pressure of 0.01–0.025 MPa. Finally, the calculation error of the model is verified.
Findings
The results indicate that the indentation calculation model could describe the stain of a mattress given the load and the constitutive model of each element. In addition, the FE model of a partial air-spring mattress can be used for further simulation analysis with an error of 1.47–3.42 mm. Furthermore, the deformation of the series system is mainly contributed by the air spring and the components directly in contact with it, while the top component is mainly deflection deformation. In addition, the error of the calculation model is 2.17–5.59 mm on the condition of 0.01–0.025 MPa, satisfying the engineering application. Finally, the supine spinal alignment is successfully extracted from the mattress indentation.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this study is that it needs to verify the practicality of the indentation calculation model for the Bonnier spiral spring mattress. The main feature of the Bonnier spring mattress is that all springs are connected, so the mattress deflection and neighborhood effect are more significant than those of the air-spring mattress. Therefore, the applicability of the model needs to be tested. Moreover, it is worth further research to reduce the deformation error of each component.
Practical implications
As part of the series of studies on the intelligent air-spring mattress, the indentation-based evaluation method of spinal alignment in sleep postures will be studied for hardness and intelligent regulation based on this study.
Social implications
The results of this research are ultimately used for the intelligent adjustment of air-spring mattresses, which automatically adjusts the hardness according to the user's sleep postures and spinal alignment, thus maintaining optimal spinal biomechanics. The successful application of this result could improve the sleep health of the general public.
Originality/value
Based on the series system theory, an indentation calculation model for mattresses with arbitrary structure is proposed, overcoming the dependence of parameters on materials and their combinations when fitting the Burgers model. Further, the spinal alignment in supine posture is extracted from the indentation, laying a theoretical foundation for further recognition and adjustment of the spinal alignment of the intelligent mattress.