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In this article, we support the use of poetic representations to study experiential and existential meaning-making. We do so by presenting five spoken-word poems, which we created out of the transcriptions of 14 in-depth interviews with Norwegian older adults, prior to their enrollment in a biographical writing course. The poetic representations which have been named by themes from the transcript are (a) Where love takes us, (b) Relax during catastrophes, (c) Learning to see humankind as one common humanity, (d) Listen inward, (e) Life is, indeed, too short. Each poetic representation condenses diverse meanings and perspectives about life. They also maintain the anonymity of participants, as the plurality of their voices becomes one within the stanzas. While presenting this creative form of qualitative inquiry and providing some methodological reflections, we also discuss the implications of this approach for the theoretical development of the notions of personal life philosophies and existential pathways in cultural psychology. © 2019. This is the authors' accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1077800419885414

In diesem Beitrag führen wir die "Developmentally Oriented Thematic Analysis" (DOTA) ein, ein Verfahren zur prozessorientierten intra- und interindividuellen Analyse im Rahmen von Fallstudien. Wir skizzieren hierzu zunächst die wesentlichen methodologischen Überlegungen, die uns bei der Konzeption dieses Ansatzes zur Untersuchung mehrschichtiger affektiver Prozesse, der auf erfahrungsbasierte und existenzielle Schichten der Sinngebung zielt, geleitet haben. Zur Veranschaulichung nutzen wir Tagebucheinträge von Kursteilnehmer/innen an einer norwegischen Universität, die wir gebeten hatten, mittels dieser Einträge ihre Kurserfahrungen u.a. mit einer Schweigezeit an jedem Morgen zu reflektieren. Die prozessorientierten Erzählungen verdeutlichen die koexistierenden Richtungen höherer psychologischer Funktionen und den Grad der (Nicht-) Differenzierung der jeweils involvierten affektiven Prozesse. Gerade der Fokus auf Schweigephänomene war besonders hilfreich für einen besseren Einblick in die verschiedenen affektiven Schichten durch den über sie erkennbaren Kontrast und ihre Bedeutung für Aufmerksamkeitsveränderungen. In this article, we introduce developmentally oriented thematic analysis (DOTA) as a possibility to study the process-oriented aspects of qualitative data analysis when undertaking the intra- and inter-individual analysis of case studies. We describe the main methodological considerations of this approach as a method to study the multi-layered nature of affective processes, which can recall both experiential and existential layers of meaning-making. We do so by analyzing the diary entries of study participants who attended a course taught at a Norwegian university and who used journals to reflect upon their experiences in class, such as the "silent time" they embraced each morning. Process-oriented narratives give account of the coexistent directionalities of higher psychological functions, and the degrees of differentiation or undifferentiation of the affective processes involved in them. One aspect that facilitated such amplification of the multiple layers of affective processes was the focus on silence-phenomena, due to the contrast they induce, and the way in which they promote attentional shifts.

The technological evolution of more efficient natural gas-fuelled large bore engines aggravates the load situation within the engine and thus as well the tribological system valve spindle/seat ring. As a result of these changes, valve recession increases and component lifetime decreases, i.e. higher failure rates and more frequent service intervals. The tribological issues can be traced back to the cleaner combustion which demonstrably suppresses the formation of a protective layer on the sealing faces. In this work, Stellite® and Tribaloy®-hardfaced valve spindles with different operating hours and from the same gas engine were analyzed in terms of quantitative wear, oxidation and microstructural alterations in the wear scar. The observed wear mechanisms are based on microstructure fatigue and delamination, depending on the microstructure of the hardfacing. The severely worn sealing interfaces show no tribofilm at all, whereas a protective oxide layer is observed on the surface of the Tribaloy® hardfacing that features low wear. The second part of this work describes wear phenomena observed on specimens from laboratory experiments using a newly developed component test rig – the valve spindle tribometer. The authors describe their approach to investigate wear mechanisms by separated simulation of valve closure and peak combustion pressure depending on different key parameters such as valve closing velocity, temperature or atmosphere. From these preliminary results, probable wear mechanisms are derived and correlated with microstructural properties of the hardfacing alloys.

Knowledge of normal anatomy and kinematics of the glenohumeral joint as well as analysis of the pathoanatomic changes that occur during the course of the disease is the condition for successful patient management. This review article critically discusses the most relevant geometrical variables. Systematically, normal anatomy, pathologic anatomy, and the implications for prosthetic design and implantation are presented. The most important aspects concerning the size and shape of the glenoid, the inclination of the articular surface in the horizontal and frontal planes, as well as the geometry of the scapular neck are discussed. The accumulated knowledge is of immediate practical use and might stimulate researchers and manufacturers to develop more adequate glenoid components.

International audience

International audience

International audience