Dynamics of Progression in Mountain Bike Racing

A major tenet of the recreation specialization framework is that people progress to higher stages of involvement over time. Results from recent studies suggest that involvement may actually be marked by stability or decline. Little is known about the extent to which people progress in outdoor activities where objective standards of performance exist. The purpose of this study was to examine the antecedents of objective and subjective progression among competitive mountain bike racers. Specialization dimensions of behavior, skill, and commitment differentiated among three classes of participants: Category 1, 2, and 3 racers. Specialization dimensions were also used to predict participants’ subjective progression in participation over the past five years and next five years. Relationships between specialization dimensions and subjective measures of progression differed with endurance skill and personal commitment being most significant. This study provides insight into the dynamics of progression, particularly in outdoor activities where objective performance standards exist.     

主述位推进模式及其翻译

英汉语言属于不同的语系,英语属于主语显著的语言,而汉语则属于主题显著的语言。在英汉翻译实践中,应注意运用主位同一模式、述位同一模式、直线延伸模式、述位派生模式、主位派生模式等5种基本信息推进模式,提高英语翻译的能力。     

主位推进与语篇连贯

连贯是一个复杂的现象,可以从多方面多角度进行研究和分析。其中衔接手段是实现连贯的重要途径之一。而作为语法层面上的结构衔接特征之一的主位推进模式,与语篇连贯联系密切。对其进行研究,能更好探索出句子组合与句子内容之间的关系。     

山西省生态系统安全评价研究

基于P-S-R(压力-状态-响应)模型,从经济、民生、资源及环境保护角度,构建了评价山西省生态系统安全指标体系,同时将突变级数法与因子分析法相结合,构建评价区域突变模型,对2004—2013年山西省生态系统安全进行综合评价。结果表明：2004-2007年,山西省生态系统安全隶属度呈上升趋势,在2008-2009年则出现快速下降,在2009年有明显突变,这反映山西省的经济、民生、资源与环境四者之间还未能协调发展。     

崇明旅游产品开发的优化研究

崇明旅游开发具有重要的战略意义。本文从区位和交通、旅游资源、客源市场三方面探讨了崇明旅游开发的条件,进而分析了崇明规划开发的主题旅游产品和功能分区,最后在此基础上,提出了相应的优化方案。     

The relationship between the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of a tourist destination: the role of nationality – an analytical qualitative research approach

Using qualitative research techniques, this paper explores the relationship between the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of a destination and the influence of nationality on these factors. These relationships were explored for a sample of 103 international tourists to Mauritius. The data were analysed by using (a) thematic analysis and (b) an analysis using the text analysis programme, CatPac. The results indicated relationships between specific motives, cognitive and affective images and it was also found that nationality has a strong influence on these variables. Different motives for visiting Mauritius were found to exist between different national groupings. Implications for use of thematic and content analysis, management of destination, marketing and tourist experiences are provided.     

The healthcare burden of disease progression in medicare patients with functional mitral regurgitation

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective database analysis estimated the incremental effect that disease progression from non-clinically significant functional mitral regurgitation (nsFMR) to clinically significant FMR (sFMR) has on clinical outcomes and costs.

Methods: Medicare Fee for Service beneficiaries with nsFMR were examined, defined as those with a heart failure diagnosis prior to MR. Patients were classified as ischemic if there was a history of: CAD, AMI, PCI, or CABG. The primary outcome was time to sFMR, defined as pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve surgery, serial echocardiography, or death, using a Cox hazard regression model. Annualized hospitalizations, inpatient hospital days, and healthcare expenditures were also modeled.

Results: Patients with IHD had higher risk (Hazard Ratio?=?1.22 [1.14–1.30]) for disease progression compared to patients without. The progression cohort had significantly more annual inpatient hospitalizations (non-IHD?=?1.32; IHD?=?1.40) than the non-progression cohort (non-IHD?=?0.36; IHD?=?0.34), and significantly more annual inpatient hospital days (non-IHD?=?13.07; IHD?=?13.52) than the non-progression cohort (non-IHD?=?2.29; with IHD?=?2.08). The progression cohort had over 3.5-times higher costs vs the non-progression cohort, independent of IHD (non-IHD?=?$12,798 vs $46,784; IHD?=?$12,582 vs $49,348).

Conclusion: Treating FMR patients earlier in their clinical trajectory may prevent disease progression and reduce high rates of healthcare utilization and expenditures.     

Synthesis of City Branding Literature (1988–2014) as a Research Domain

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the city branding literature, organize the subject matters and draw a map of the development and change in the city branding research domain. As a result, city branding literature is categorized under four thematic areas: (1) city branding concept, processes and measurement; (2) branding strategies; (3) social urbanism; and (4) branding culture and tourism. Most of the studies are research based. The qualitative methods are commonly used. There is a general tendency to describe the data but not to interpret the relations between the concepts and theories. Therefore, the knowledge is idiographic.     

经典传说解构中重塑女性形象——以李碧华《青蛇》为例

作为中国民间集体智慧产物的"白蛇传"传说,往往带有不可规避的男性中心视角,而李碧华的中篇小说《青蛇》对民间传说"白蛇传"的重写,从主题上,解构了男权话语;从人物形象上,颠覆传统阐释,发掘了被掩盖的小青形象和被理想化的白素贞形象;从女性意识上,灌注了现代都市女性意识。李碧华的这种女性抒写试图打破男权中心文化中的"想象女性"的女性异化形象,还原女性真实的生活面貌,在解构中重塑女性形象,探讨女性命运。     

Royalty reform and illegal reporting of harvest volumes under alternative penalty schemes

We study royalty reform in a timber concessions framework. Illegal logging in the form of underreporting of harvesting is modeled. Harvesters can be either risk neutral or risk averse. Detection of illegal logging by the government is imperfect and costly. We focus on the government’s policy problem, solving first for socially optimal royalty and auditing levels, and then examining a revenue-neutral reform toward this benchmark. We find that higher royalty progression will always decrease actual harvest volume regardless of risk preferences for the harvester, but the effect of a reform on reported harvest volume is sensitive to the penalty scheme imposed by the government. If the fine is levied on evaded royalty payments, then higher royalty progression may increase reported harvest volume. But when the fine is levied on undeclared harvest volume, the reverse happens. Higher royalty regression increases actual harvest volume under both penalty schemes, but it may decrease reported harvest volume. Higher regression will increase undeclared harvest volume when the fine is levied on evaded royalty payments.