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[Purpose] To determine if runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) exhibit higher patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stress and trunk extension compared to pain-free runners during treadmill running. [Participants and Methods] Twelve runners (7 with PFP and 5 pain-free) participated in this study. Participants ran at 3 different running conditions: self-selected, fast (120% of self-selected), and slow (80% of self-selected) speeds. Kinematics and kinetics of trunk and lower extremities were obtained. PFJ stress, PFJ reaction force, and PFJ contact area were determined using a biomechanical model. Two-factor ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to compare outcome variables between 3 speeds and between 2 groups. [Results] There was no significant difference in peak PFJ stress between groups across the 3 speeds. Peak PFJ stress was lowest during slow running compared to fast and self-selected running speed conditions across both groups. No significant difference was found in trunk flexion angle, PFJ reaction force, or PFJ contact area between groups across the 3 speeds. [Conclusion] Runners with and without PFP exhibited similar peak PFJ stress and trunk flexion angle during treadmill running. This preliminary work does not support the theory that reduced trunk flexion during running contributes to increased PFJ stress in runners with PFP.

In a world of globalized communication and conflicts, it is critical for future generations in Japan to learn to build connections constructively and maintain respectful communities in English. Accordingly, elementary instruction was implemented whereby peace education content was integrated with the language of empathy from a peace linguistics perspective alongside linguistic politeness theory. Analysis found that the students learned local war-time history and developed compassion and awareness of diversity. Students’ communication in English was driven by a genuine desire to interact; although they were unable to formulate questions in English alone, their efforts were scaffolded by the teachers. The students’ learning can be attributed to fruitful collaboration across multiple subject areas and academic fields as well as between educators across various branches of education.

This article presents a novel data analytic approach to collect detailed information from visual artworks. This new method provides researchers with a framework to compare, analyze, and review in a systematic way large quantities of data from visual productions. Drawing on principles of art historical criticism, our research team devised a comprehensive coding scheme that captures both technical and content attributes. The coding scheme is configured to record specific, fundamental features for each artwork, providing an instrument for collecting data and cross-examining codes to reveal content in a unique and unbiased manner. For example, detailed data collected through individual codes can reveal clear patterns in the artistic treatment of composition and medium, providing evidence that the method could be adapted and applied for use in a variety of settings. To illustrate the method, this article presents examples from an empirical research study that was conducted at Harvard University's Proje...

Earlier studies using psychometric tests have documented declines in creativity over the past several decades. Our study investigated whether and how this apparent trend would replicate through a qualitative investigation using an authentic nontest measure of creativity. Three-hundred and fifty-four visual artworks and 50 creative writing works produced by adolescents between 1990–1995 and 2006–2011 were assessed. Products were analyzed using a structured assessment method based on technical criteria and content elements. Criteria included in the current investigation (e.g., genre, medium, stylistic approach) are relevant both to the specific media domains and to previously established dimensions of creativity, such as originality and complexity. Results showed strong domain differences: performance in visual arts increased on a variety of indices of complexity and technical proficiency, and performance in writing decreased on indices related to originality and technical proficiency. Findings highlight th...

Many U.S. agencies have adopted video vehicle detection technology as an alternative to inductive loops. Although many product evaluations have been performed, the majority of these evaluations concentrated on freeway applications in which speed and volume were the primary evaluation criteria. At an actuated intersection, the metrics of speed and volume do not necessarily represent how well a device will operate as a presence detector. Video detection at signalized intersections was evaluated at a test intersection in Indiana. Cameras on all approaches were located at the optimal camera position recommended by the vendors, approximately 60 ft from the strain pole. Two additional cameras were located on each mast arm at slightly less optimal positions, 36 and 48 ft from the strain pole. Traditional inductive loops were also available at the intersection and were used to provide baseline data to screen for discrepancies. Each time the detectors were not in agreement, a discrepancy was noted. A digital video recording was later viewed by a human observer to determine whether the video detector or the loop detector was in error. An analysis of the data showed that video detection was found to produce statistically significantly more false detections and missed detections than the loop detectors on most phases. A small incremental increase in performance was observed when the camera was mounted at 60 ft rather than 36 ft on two of the approaches, but this marginal improvement likely does not justify the additional expense of mast arm, pole, and pole foundation associated with this camera location.