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Copyright of Journal of Silk is the property of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Magazines and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: primary objective of periodontal therapy is to remove supra and subgingival deposits from the tooth surface to stop disease progression. The purpose of the study is to address the instrument selection and its efficacy in calculus removal. Methods: A total of 50 subjects who fulfilled the criteria were included in the study. Participants were subjected to a complete periodontal examination, and the responses from 50 dental house surgeons were compared based on the instrument design, handling characteristics, and efficacy of calculus removal by using two sets of instruments. Results: The LM instrument was rated as best (40 out of 50 participants) based on usability features like weight, the diameter of the handle, material, and surface characteristics. Handgrip, static friction, and surface characteristics features (43&7; 45&5; 40&10) were more for LM instruments when compared to Hu-friedy instruments. When compared to efficacy in calculus removal it was easy with Hu-Friedy instruments. Conclusion: Handling characteristics and efficacy of instruments depend on the design and type of material used to manufacture instruments. Cooperation between researchers, manufacturers, and experienced dental professionals is needed for an active and open-minded process during the development of dental instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Publishing Journal is the property of Wuhan University, School of Information Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present study was carried out from March, 21 to February, 2022 to assess the fishing gears and craft operated in Anchar Lake, Jammu and Kashmir. The study revealed that the fishers of this area are accustomed to traditional fishing techniques. One wooden, plank-built craft (Naav) and three types of fishing gears namely, lift nets (Khurizal), multiple head spears (Panzri) and double pronged spear (Narchoo) were found to be used in the lake for fishing operations. The design characteristics, construction aspects and operational techniques of the gears and the fishing craft have been documented in the study. Lift net (Khurizal), made of PA multifilament was the main gear operated in the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for safety and security is one of the important human needs, as it comes in second place after the basic human needs according to Mauslow's hierarchy of human needs. Therefore, achieving the safety and security factor in the design of buildings is considered one of the important design factors, which must occupy an important space in the architectural designer's thought from the early stages of design until the completion of the design in all its details, because the issue is related to the safety of lives and property. The research adopted the theoretical analytical approach by reviewing the studies and literature that dealt with the topic of research then analyzing them to achieve the objective of the research in reaching a clear and comprehensive classification of design characteristics (architectural and non-architectural) that achieve the factor of safety and security from fire accidents for users of administrative buildings, in addition to classifying these characteristics based on their relationship to the stages of the design process. The results of the research were in the form of a clear and comprehensive table of the above design characteristics, which are design characteristics that contribute to preventing the occurrence of fire, and characteristics that reduce fire damage when it occurs (characteristics that help contain fire and characteristics that facilitate the arrival of firefighters to fight the fire and characteristics that help in the speedy evacuation of building users). The research also reached a set of conclusions, and the results, conclusions reached by the research can be used as a guide for architectural designers and specialists in the field of safety to design administrative buildings that achieve safety and security from fire accidents for their users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studiesthe public outdoor spaces in social housing and the role of design characteristics of the public spaces and their impacts on enhancing social interactions. However, since 1962, one may notice that Algeria has opted for social housing in its housing programmes to meet the growing demand; but social housing did not satisfy the residents' needs as authorities focused on the quantity of residential neighborhoods, but they neglected designs of public spaces, which urged us to study them to see the extent to which the design characteristics of these spaces contribute to theachievement of social interactions between inhabitants. The research relies on the analytical approach by observing and analyzing the design characteristics of public spaces in social housing and their role in promoting social interactions in the neighborhood of 520 in M'sila, Algeria. A questionnaire form is addressed to the neighborhood residents to evaluate social interactions. The results of the study show dissatisfaction of the residents and the need to take into account the design characteristics during planning because of their importance in promoting social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of accommodation for students is one of the primary responsibilities of the managements of Federal Government owned universities in Nigeria. The designs of these students’ halls of residence are institutional in nature, possessing certain common physical design features. The study focuses on 17 halls of residence in 4 federal universities in Southwest, Nigeria. The data collected on the physical design features (hall size, dwelling floor level, corridor length and loading) were analyzed in relation to crime experienced in the halls of residence. The findings suggest that residents in larger hall sizes experienced more crime and a significant relationship established between dwelling floor level and assault/beaten-up [λ² (6, N=618) = 17.46, p= .008] and between corridor loading and burglary/break-in [λ² (2, N=567) = 8.93, p= .012]. Hence architects and other professionals should take a critical look at these physical design features when dealing with crimes in future student housing design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart homes represent an effective approach to improve one's quality of life. Developing user interfaces that are both comfortable and understandable can assist users, particularly the elderly, embrace smart home technologies. It's critical to concentrate on the characteristics of smart home interface design and their impact on people of various ages. Since sliders are one of the most common components utilized in the smart home user interface, this article aimed to investigate the effects of slider design characteristics (e.g., button size, track color, and sliding orientation) on user performance and preference. Thirty-four participants were recruited for the experiment (16 for the young group, aged between 18 and 44 years; 18 for the middle-aged and elderly group, aged between 45 years and above). Our results revealed that both groups had shorter task completion time, less fixation time, and saccades on horizontal sliding orientation and larger buttons, which means better user performance. For the older group, the slider with color gradient track led to better user performance, while the track color only had less effect on the performance of the younger group. In terms of user preference, the results and performance of the older group were basically consistent, while the younger group had no significant difference in sliding orientation and track color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many digital platforms implement feedback mechanisms as a means to control the behavior of their users. However, there is a lack of theoretical explanation regarding the interrelation between design characteristics of feedback mechanisms and their effects. In this study, we interpret feedback mechanisms as a specific type of management control to propose properties as a new theoretical perspective on this problem. Our exploratory study has two objectives. First, we analyze how digital platforms design their feedback mechanisms. Second, we examine to what extent feedback mechanisms comply with standards given in the management control literature for our newly introduced properties. Analyzing the 102 most widely used platforms in Germany, we find dominant patterns in nearly all design characteristics (e.g., query method, submission category and scale level). Furthermore, we find mixed compliance of feedback mechanisms with our introduced properties (e.g., low precision but high sensitivity and verifiability). For a deeper understanding of these results, especially the reasons for the design choices, we conduct 14 semi-structured expert interviews. We find simplicity and inspiration from other platforms to be dominant drivers for design choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research permits refinement of the outline of a low-noise high-efficiency power unit for use in supersonic commercial airplanes of the 2030s. Engines with features that will be feasible by then are considered. The influence of the design parameters of a motor with modified critical nozzle cross section on the outline and effective characteristics of the power unit is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chatbots may have the potential to support healthcare education by enabling personalized learning. Trust is a pre-requisite for the users to accept the chatbots. In this study we analyzed students' assignments of the MSc course "User Needs, Requirements Engineering and Evaluation" at Karolinska Institutet, aiming to explore the chatbots' potential in healthcare education and the design characteristics of chatbots that may enhance the trust. The students identified two courses: pharmacology and medical law, that have the potential to leverage chatbots' characteristics. Our analyses on the design characteristics they suggested resulted in: recognition; visibility of system status; anthropomorphism in communication; knowledge expertise, linguistic consistency; realistic interaction. Our results are in line with previous research. Future studies could investigate the educational impact on the learning outcomes and students' satisfaction when interacting with chatbots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with design characteristics-oriented approach to architectural design based on the combination of three methods – recognition, generation, and evaluation. Design characteristics are understood as a set of specific features which constitute a discriminant of a class of architectural forms. The Biederman recognition-by-components theory is used to recognize the design structure. An evolutionary algorithm, which serves as a generative tool, is driven by the fuzzy evaluation based on Birkhoff's aesthetic measure. Phenotypes of architectural objects are seen as configurations of Biederman's basic components essential for visual perception. Genotypes of these objects are represented by graphs with bonds, where nodes represent object components, node bonds represent component surfaces, while graph edges represent relations between surfaces. Graph evolutionary operators, that is, crossover and mutation, are defined in such a way that they preserve characteristic features seen as design requirements specified for designed objects. The fitness function is determined by the fuzzy evaluation of designs based on Birkhoff's aesthetic measure for polygons adapted for three-dimensional solids. The approach is illustrated by examples of designing objects with the use of a fuzzy evaluation mechanism, which takes into account both aesthetic criteria and the degree to which design requirements corresponding to object characteristic features are satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wool Textile Journal is the property of National Wool Textile Science & Technology Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Japanese gardens were developed under the influence of China. In the process of development, the Japanese gardens studied the modern Western gardening craft, and developed unique gardening craft with local regional characteristics and national style in accordance with local conditions. This paper analyzed Japanese gardens through the development of Japanese gardens, the development process, the types of gardens and gardening elements, the characteristics of garden design and the implications for modern and contemporary Chinese garden design. In addition, through an in-depth understanding of Japanese gardens and exploring their intrinsic value, this paper summarized their development experience, in the hope of applying them into the future garden landscape design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change materials (PCMs) offer great potential as a latent heat energy storage technique to provide energy efficient systems in new and existing residential buildings. Due to their unique characteristic of high storage densities and latent heat properties, PCMs provide opportunities for greater energy storage in many applications for residential buildings. These applications include, but are not limited to, solar water heating, space heating/cooling, and waste heat recovery. This study reviews PCM systems in residential building applications, with a focus on their major disadvantages and concludes with proposals for future development. Several disadvantages of PCM use in the given application have been identified and include; super cooling, low thermal conductivity, phase segregation, fire safety, and cost. The issues caused by super cooling and phase segregation lead to thermal cycling degradation, limiting the useful lifecycle of the material. These issues could limit their potential in building applications, which require systems of a long lifespan. Low thermal conductivities can slow down the rate at which heat is distributed or absorbed from the building, which affect the occupants comfort and as well as the efficiency of the system. Ideas based on the current research on ways to limit these disadvantages are included in the study. This study also identifies that further research is required on novel maintenance ways for the PCM systems after they have been installed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning is becoming more prevalent throughout the years and there are various methods available to learn via the internet, one of which is by watching educational videos from online streaming sites such as YouTube. With the increasing availability of instructional animations on the internet, it can be beneficial to know how well-received instructional animations are designed. Hence, this explorative article focuses on a hybrid of directed and interpretive content analysis study of explicit design characteristics and visual representations of these animations. Animation samples for the study were selected from established educational animation content creators on YouTube using several criteria. Aspects such as design characteristics and visual representations were analysed and discussed in relation to the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning principles and a characterization system of expository animation. Based on this approach, common characteristics and unique approaches to creating well-received instructional animations for online viewing are found. Thus, by being able to identify and being aware of these salient design characteristics (i.e. visual representations, sound and visual cues), educators and animation designers can incorporate them in their own instructional animations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design characteristics, construction aspects and operational techniques of the lift net were studied in Wular Lake of Kashmir. Lift net locally called as Khuri zal was one of the main gear operated in Wular Lake. PA multifilament was used for the construction of the net. The major catch from Wular Lake comprised of Cyprinus spp and Schizothorax spp. The fishing operations were carried out throughout the lakes, mainly near to the identified landing centres and fishing villages except the areas inundated by aquatic vegetation. Lift net was operated mainly in the morning hours. The catch on per day basis was 5 to 10kg and was sold in the local market and/or consumed within the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes and assesses the design and effects of one of the first academic development programmes on Leadership for Educational Change. The participants are senior academics, involved in leadership of teaching and learning. We report on an evaluation using a mixed-method approach employing a self-report questionnaire administered to former participants and interviews with heads of department, followed by a questionnaire. Both groups agreed on the programme impact. The main aspects contributing to these effects were the way the programme catered to participants’ needs as advanced learners by giving them influence on the content, and addressed their practice, the study tour abroad, and the opportunities for discussions with colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This systematic research review examines the role of building- and interior-scale environmental factors of homes and residential developments in promoting or inhibiting older adults’ sedentary behaviour and active living. Using an adaptation of the Cochrane Review protocol, the search and screen for relevant, rigorous research studies resulted in 37 research articles. The review focuses on six built environment characteristics: (1) barriers, supports and features that ‘fit'; (2) spatial organization and layout; (3) environmental cues; (4) ambient qualities; (5) assistive technologies; and (6) gardens and outdoor spaces. Accessibility-oriented features dominated the studies and findings. Pathway and corridor design, and environmental cues that convey an instrumental function of a space also facilitated active living. Ambient features such as lighting quality and meaningful sounds and aromas were important facilitators to active living among residents with dementia. To strengthen the knowledge base of the field and its application in design and improvements of residential environments, future research should focus on: detailed measurement of built environment factors as well as active living; increasing use of digital technologies for such measurements; multidisciplinary research teams; and policy-driven research questions that arise with housing the growing population of older adults in a healthy manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inactive lifestyles have negative health consequences, while time spent sedentary (sitting and lying) is related to morbidity and premature mortality. Older adults often form the most sedentary segment of the population. Much of this behaviour may be practised at home where this group can spend extended periods. Physical activity rates among older adults are particularly low. Even household physical activities can be beneficial for this group, while they can constitute much of an older person's total activity. Despite this context, the home's role in the active and sedentary behaviours of the older population appears critically understudied. Using interview and focus group data collected from 22 older adults (healthy volunteers, stroke survivors and people with dementia), this paper begins to address this issue. Aspects of the home that aid or impede a more active, less sedentary lifestyle are identified with three presenting particular capacity in this respect discussed: steps, space within the home, and the location and form of facilities, fixtures and fittings. The crucial role health status plays in structuring this capacity is identified. Simple design recommendations, devised to support older people to lead more active lives at home, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 380 kt/a sulfur recovery device is the supporting environmental protection device for 12 000 kt/a refinery project of Sinochem Quanzhou Petrochemical Co., ltd, which adopted the domestic sel--developed SSR sulfur recovery process. The design characteristics and technological process of the large sulfur recovery unit were briefly introduced. The start commissioning problems under the condition of low load were analyzed and summarized to provide guidance for unit long-periodic steady running. Commissioning results showed that the sulfur recovery unit runs smoothly, the emissions concentration of sulfur dioxide in tail gas was far lower than the standards prescribed by the national environmental protection department, and sulfur products meet the requirements of superior grade sulfur in the GB/T 2449 - 2006 Sulfur for Industrial Use. Therefore, it has good environmental and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the geometric model hydrograph slopeflow and streamflow we offered more sophisticated design scheme, which allows separate categories for factors of floods and freshets. It relies on materials of observations of maximum flood runoff in the basin of Pripyat river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-intensifying time-to-market pressure imposes great challenges on the pre-silicon design phase of hardware. Before the tape-out, a pre-silicon design has to be thoroughly inspected by time-consuming functional verification and code review to exclude bugs. For functional verification and code review, a critical issue determining their efficiency is the allocation of resources (e.g., computational resources and manpower) to different modules of a design, which is conventionally guided by designers' experiences. Such practices, though simple and straightforward, may take high risks of wasting resources on bug-free modules or missing bugs in buggy modules, and thus could affect the success and timeline of the tape-out. In this paper, we propose a novel framework called pre-silicon bug forecast to predict the bug information of hardware designs. In this framework, bug models are built via machine learning techniques to characterize the relationship between design characteristics and the bug information, which can be leveraged to predict how bugs distribute in different modules of the current design. Such predicted bug information is adequate to regulate the resources among different modules to achieve efficient functional verification and code review. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed pre-silicon bug forecast framework, we conducted detailed experiments on several open-source hardware projects. Moreover, we also investigate the impacts of different learning techniques and different sets of characteristic on the performance of bug models. Experimental results show that with appropriate learning techniques and characteristics, about 90% modules could be correctly predicted as buggy or clean and the number of bugs of each module could also be accurately predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose |!|#8211; The growing popularity of quality management has left no sector untouched, and educational services are no exception. In the face of the innumerable demands that the stakeholders place, educational institutions like other organizations are realizing the significance of customer-centered philosophies. The enhancement of quality and the attempt to define, conceptualize, implement and measure it are areas of focus, and are being addressed by policy makers, educational planners and administrators. This paper is an attempt towards identification of the elements that would help design quality for the higher educational system. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Based on a theoretical foundation, this paper is an empirical study conducted on select higher educational institutions to identify the various design characteristic constructs which would form the quality element/components for an educational system, and which, if implemented, would help design quality in education. The literature review helped conceptualize the variables that would constitute quality components for education. These were empirically tested and a comparative assessment made between internal and external customers of the educational system, the internal customers being the faculty and the administrative staff, and the external customers being students and the industry. Such an emphasis on customers of the educational system would assure a customer-centric design of the educational system, something which is prima facie to |!|#34;quality management|!|#34;. Findings |!|#8211; The study helped identify the quality components, which would help design quality for institutes of higher education. Practical implications |!|#8211; The paper could be useful to policy makers, educational planners and administrators in developing a system that could lead to customer satisfaction. Originality/value |!|#8211; While studies have been conducted on customer requirement and the constructs, research on what would comprise the quality components is lacking. A study on this could help design an educational system that would lead to quality management in education and thereby lead to customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose--This paper tries to clarify the environmental impacts of a traditional building form which was developed more than 5000 years ago, under the force of harsh hot climates: courtyard building. A courtyard is an outdoor space which is entirely surrounded by buildings or walls. The main purpose is to show if this building form can reduce the energy demand of low- rise residential buildings in order to reduce CO2 emission which generally considered is the main root of climate change. Methodology--From a literature review on courtyard buildings several climatic aspects of this building form can be extracted. In this step, the paper focuses on the climatic impact(s) in the context of hot-arid, snow, temperate and tropical climates. Findings--Results for different configuration of courtyard building, natural elements used in it, and the situation of openings in different facades are the most important findings of this review paper. Research limitations--The research is limited to considering residential courtyard buildings in four climates; hot- arid, snow, temperate, and tropical (based on Koppen-Geiger climate classification). Practical implications--The results of the paper are general climatic characteristics of courtyard buildings. These characteristics can be used for designing new courtyard dwellings. Innovation--Although the background information of the paper is based on literature, the innovation is the comprehensive consideration and comparison of environmental characteristics in different climates which has never been done before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defining the aesthetic and emotional value of a product is an important consideration for its design. Furthermore, if several designers are faced with the task of creating an object that describes a certain emotion/perception (aggressive, soft, heavy, etc.), each is most likely to interpret the emotion/perception with different shapes composed of a set of different geometric features. The authors propose an automatic approach to formalize the relationships between geometric information of three-dimensional objects and the intended emotional content using fuzzy logic. In addition, the automatically generated fuzzy knowledge base was compared to the user's perceptions and to the manually constructed fuzzy knowledge base. The initial findings indicate that the approach is valid to formalize geometric information with perceptions and validate the author's manually developed fuzzy models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas is the property of Fundacao Getulio Vargas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this investigation was to test hypotheses about meeting design characteristics (punctuality, chairperson, etc.) in relation to attendees’ perceptions of meeting effectiveness. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 investigated meetings attended in a typical week ( N = 958), whereas Study 2 examined the last meeting attended on a particular day ( N = 292). A number of design characteristics (in particular agenda use and quality of facilities) were found to be important in predicting perceived effectiveness. Attendee involvement served as a key mediator variable in the observed relationships. Neither meeting type nor size was found to affect the relationships of the design characteristics and involvement with effectiveness. Meeting size, however, was negatively related to attendee involvement. The findings help us to better understand relationships between design characteristics and attendees’ perceptions of meeting effectiveness. Meeting organizers can use the findings to guide administration of meetings, with potential to enhance the quality of meetings. Meetings are a common organizational activity but are rarely the focus of empirical research. The use of two complementary studies, to our knowledge, provides a unique account of the contribution of design characteristics to perceptions of meeting effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has provided valuable insights into how and why employees make a decision about the adoption and use of information technologies (ITs) in the workplace. From an organizational point of view, however, the more important issue is how managers make informed decisions about interventions that can lead to greater acceptance and effective utilization of IT. There is limited research in the IT implementation literature that deals with the role of interventions to aid such managerial decision making. Particularly, there is a need to understand how various interventions can influence the known determinants of IT adoption and use. To address this gap in the literature, we draw from the vast body of research on the technology acceptance model (TAM), particularly the work on the determinants of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and: (i) develop a comprehensive nomological network (integrated model) of the determinants of individual level (IT) adoption and use; (ii) empirically test the proposed integrated model; and (iii) present a research agenda focused on potential pre- and postimplementation interventions that can enhance employees' adoption and use of IT. Our findings and research agenda have important implications for managerial decision making on IT implementation in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 1990s, numerous academic libraries adopted the web as a communication tool with users. The literature on academic library websites includes research on both design and navigation. Early studies typically focused on design characteristics, since websites initially merely provided information on the services and collections available in the university's physical library. Beginning in the late 1990s, technological developments coupled with new digitization efforts offered new opportunities for websites with commercial and local databases, electronic journals, e-books, and virtual reference. The availability of new content and services on library websites facilitated research efforts comparing these features among academic library websites. During this period, articles also emerged that considered navigation and usability issues for these pages. The literature on academic library web pages documents efforts by libraries to use web technologies and resources to serve user groups. However, the research also suggests these efforts were hindered by design and navigation issues with academic library web pages. It remains especially important that libraries consider design in the development of their web pages to maximize usage of content. doi:10.1300/J502v01n01_04 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Consilience offers a powerful mechanism for borrowing from other disciplines, thereby extending the scope of what can be known. This paper looks at the foundations of the activity of design as a means of providing IT systems that cater for diverse needs. Developing systems that are expected to satisfy needs continuously (i.e., systems that are expected to evolve) calls for a dynamic activity of design that is responsive to changes in the environment. The contrast with the scientific assumption of ordered development invokes a new classification, supported by insights from other disciplines that place the range of approaches in context. Design is neither orderly nor linear; it implies a continuous and active search to resolve trade-offs and satisfy changing constraints. The paper concludes by making a case for design as an alternative culture that borrows from, and supports, both the scientific and the literary cultures. Acceptance of the role of practice as an interface alongside the more traditional cultures enables researchers and practitioners to access and adopt a larger variety of methods and general approaches underpinning an even larger corpus of insights. Consilience can occur at different levels and offer a variety of benefits. Balancing scientific enquiry with artistic flair and creativity through careful sensemaking that supports sharing across cultures provides the greatest benefit from learning to look across rather than blindly focusing inwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clients need high quality information if they are to make informed decisions about their health and to be actively involved in their care. Occupational therapists provide clients with education to equip them to participate in shared decision-making about their treatment as well to assist them with gaining specific skills and training. One method used to educate clients is to provide information in written form. However, for these materials to be effective, they must be written at a level able to be read and understood by clients. This can only be achieved if due consideration is given to clients’ literacy levels, the readability level of the written information, and the overall design characteristics of the materials. In this paper, we review the literature in these areas and offer some guidelines that will help occupational therapists to provide clients with effective written materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation costs over the life-cycle of a building are a multiple of the initial construction costs. Decisions in the programming stage (briefing) and design process influence life-cycle costs in terms of space, the quantity of structural elements, technical/mechanical service equipment and the choice of materials. The way that the economic and ecological goals are set will influence the efficiency and effectiveness through an appropriate design. To realize the requirements of sustainable building in daily administrative practice, characteristic values for specific building tasks are needed which are determined through the analysis of completed buildings. The resulting target values enable architects and engineers to get a clear and consistent definition of project goals at the programming stage. An interdisciplinary team is needed to manage and guarantee these target values during the whole design process and at the beginning of the utilization phase. Les coûts d'exploitation générés tout au long de la durée de vie d'un bâtiment sont un multiple des coûts de construction initiaux. Les décisions prises à l'étape de programmation (briefing) et lors du processus de conception influent sur les coûts du cycle de vie en termes d'espace, de quantité d'éléments structurels, d'équipements d'entretien technique/mécanique et de choix des matériaux. La définition des objectifs économiques et écologiques, dans le cadre d'une conception appropriée, influe sur le rendement et l'efficacité. Afin de satisfaire aux exigences de construction durable dans la pratique administrative quotidienne, il est nécessaire de déterminer des valeurs caractéristiques pour des tâches de construction spécifiques grâce à l'analyse de l'ensemble des bâtiments. Les valeurs ciblées résultantes permettent aux architectes et aux ingénieurs d'obtenir une définition claire et cohérent des objectifs du projet, dès la phase de programmation. Une équipe interdisciplinaire est requise pour gérer et garantir le respect de ces valeurs ciblées tout au long du processus de conception et au début de la phase d'utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study utilized the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM 3) to explore the learning attitudes of college students with respect to English e-tutoring websites, an approach that has rarely been employed from the perspective of information technology and the global e-digital market. More specifically, the study used college students' assessments of self-paced business English e-learning websites to investigate the adoption of those sites. Using simple linear regression analysis, the research explored the question of whether engagement in e-learning was able to enhance the students' willingness to learn. The results of the analysis indicated that the majority of English e-tutoring users felt that online sources for learning English offer greater convenience and are more effective than noninternet resources. This finding suggests, in turn, that the web designers of business English e-learning websites could maintain and enhance the loyalty of site users by taking care to ensure the quality of the sites' content. In particular, the knowledge management functions and interface requirements of student users should be adequately addressed by web designers so that the students can operate the websites more easily in the course of the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]