Showing papers by "Penn State College of Communications published in 2009"
TL;DR: The article finds that blog use emerges as an equally important predictor of political engagement in the online domain, which provides support for the contention that asserts the democratic potential of the internet.
Abstract: Research has shown consistently that news consumption both online and offline is related positively to interpersonal discussion, political involvement and political engagement. However, little consideration has been given to the role that new sources of information may exert on different forms of political engagement. Based on secondary analysis of data collected by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, this article contrasts the influence of traditional sources of information online with that of emergent sources (blogs) in predicting further political discussion, campaigning and participation in both the online and the offline domains. The results show that the use of traditional sources online is related positively to different types of political engagement, both online and offline. Most interestingly, the article finds that blog use emerges as an equally important predictor of political engagement in the online domain. Its analyses provide support for the contention that asserts the democratic pote...
359 citations
10 Sep 2009
TL;DR: Gillmor et al. as discussed by the authors compared journalistic and citizen-produced coverage of Hurricane Katrina's anniversary with a comparison of bloggers' and journalists' coverage of the hurricane, focusing on the impact of the citizen as mass communicator.
Abstract: Introduction: toward a (new) media literacy in a media saturated world / Dan Gillmor -- Journalism's evolution in the era of the active audience Journalism, citizenship, and digital culture / Mark Deuze -- The citizen is the message: alternative modes of civic engagement / Zizi Papacharissi -- Institutional roadblocks: assessing journalism's response to changing audiences / Wilson Lowrey -- The public's relationship with digital content Producing citizen journalism or producing journalism for citizens: a new multimedia model to enhance understanding of complex news / Ronald A Yaros -- Information surplus in the digital age: impact and implications / Hsiang Iris Chyi -- Blogs, journalism and political participation / Homero Gil de Zuniga -- The many faced "you" of social media / Sharon Meraz -- The impact of the citizen as mass communicator What the blogger knows / Donald Matheson -- "Searching for my own unique place in the story": a comparison of journalistic and citizen-produced coverage of Hurricane Katrina's anniversary / Sue Robinson -- Mapping citizen coverage of the dual city / Lou Rutigliano
93 citations
TL;DR: The authors analyzed newspaper columns by prominent U.S. sportswriters about Amaechi's announcement and found that although the columns could be read as progressive, they were not; they condemned individuals who expressed overtly homophobic views while reinforcing the status quo in a variety of ways.
Abstract: In February 2007, U.S. media outlets covered the coming out of retired NBA player John Amaechi, one of only 6 professional male athletes from the four major U.S. team sports to have announced that he is gay. This study analyzes newspaper columns by prominent U.S. sportswriters about Amaechi's announcement. Textual analysis found that although the columns could be read as progressive, they were not; they condemned individuals who expressed overtly homophobic views while reinforcing the status quo in a variety of ways. The neo-homophobic discourse can be compared with that of new racism, a strategy that maintain racial hegemony in the U.S. As such, these columns effectively rendered Amaechi's announcement as having little value in addressing homophobia in the sports/media complex.
65 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new amperometric ethanol sensor has been developed using the silicon nanowires covered with co-deposited palladium-nickel (Pd-Ni/SiNWs) as the working electrode.
Abstract: A new amperometric ethanol sensor has been developed. The sensor uses the silicon nanowires covered with co-deposited palladium–nickel (Pd–Ni/SiNWs) as the working electrode. The detection of ethanol concentration is based on the response currents resulted from the electro-catalytic oxidation of ethanol. The performance of the sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and fixed potential amperometry techniques. In 1 M KOH solution containing different ethanol concentrations, the sensor shows a good sensitivity of 7.48 mA mM −1 cm −2 and the corresponding detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of 6 μM for cyclic voltammetry. Meanwhile, it also displays a sensitivity of 0.76 mA mM −1 cm −2 and the corresponding detection limit of 10 μM for fixed potential amperometry. The results demonstrate that the Pd–Ni/SiNWs electrodes are potential as the electrochemical integrated sensors for ethanol detection.
63 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a longitudinal study of female sports journalists found that women journalists work as tokens in gendered organizations where masculinity is integral to hierarchical logic and newswork processes, and that women in sports journalism are stereotyped as weak and submissive.
Abstract: Female sports journalists work as tokens in gendered organizations where masculinity is integral to hierarchical logic and newswork processes. Through in-depth interviews, this longitudinal study e...
58 citations
TL;DR: The authors live in exciting times, in an increasingly flattened world, where the ability for people to assimilate information they find into coherent personal strategies is perhaps the critical modern survival skill.
Abstract: Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in human information behavior in part attributable to the rapid development of the Internet and associated information technologies. Concomitantly there has been substantial growth in theoretic frames, research, and substantive models. However, these approaches have often been fragmentary, dependent on the goals of disparate disciplines that are interested in differing aspects of information behavior. They often have been rooted in the most rational of contexts, libraries, where individuals come with a defined problem, or information technology systems, that have their own inherent logic. Attempts to extend this work to everyday life contexts often run into disquieting findings related to the benefits of ignorance and the seeming irrationality of human information behavior. A broader view of our social world leads us to richer policy implications for our work. We live in exciting times, in an increasingly flattened world, where the ability for people to assimilate information they find into coherent personal strategies is perhaps the critical modern survival skill.
58 citations
TL;DR: The authors explored how focus-group participants used small stories to situate male and female athletes and Title IX and found that participants' stories ultimately did not support emancipatory goals for girls and women because they positioned equality as a right women had not earned.
Abstract: This study examines narratives by young adults about sport and gender in relation to equality. Specifically, we explore how focus-group participants used small stories to situate male and female athletes and Title IX. The U.S. law has been credited for increasing opportunities for girls and women but is considered a source of tension for gender relations. Our findings suggest that participants’ stories ultimately did not support emancipatory goals for girls and women because they positioned equality as a right women had not earned. We argue that feminists cannot underestimate the need to inject counternarratives into public discourse at every level, including stories shared with children about sport. These narratives must address misconceptions about equality and gender equity and, ultimately, challenge gender ideology.
39 citations
TL;DR: Initial feedback about a CRC screening educational video from community members and medical professionals was positive and thought it included their suggestions, was culturally appropriate and the information was easy to understand.
Abstract: Background: Low rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening persist due to individual, provider, and system level barriers. Purpose: To develop and obtain initial feedback about a CRC screening educational video from community members and medical professionals. Methods: Focus groups of patients were conducted prior to the development of the CRC screening video, patient focus groups provided initial feedback about the video and medical personnel made recommendations prior to final video editing. Results: Patients identified CRC screening barriers and made suggestions about information to include in the video. Patients suggested using a doctor to state the importance of CRC screening, demonstrate how to complete the fecal occult blood test and that men and women from diverse ethnic groups and races could appear in the same video. Participants reviewed the video and thought it included their suggestions, was culturally appropriate and the information was easy to understand. Medical personnel suggeste...
23 citations
TL;DR: Although most sports reporters said they were familiar with Title IX, attitudes toward the law and other gender-related issues differed based on reporters' gender and age and newspapers' circulation as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Although most sports reporters said they were familiar with Title IX, attitudes toward the law and other gender-related issues differed based on reporters' gender and age and newspapers' circulation.
22 citations
TL;DR: Results indicate that students who learned the unit from the classroom teacher reported that that the instructor was more likeable and credible and that the classrooms were more motivational.
Abstract: Ninth grade health education classrooms were randomly assigned to conditions in which a 14-lesson unit on HIV and pregnancy prevention was provided either by the permanent classroom teacher or by a temporary health educator. Student data were collected prior to the lessons and approximately 3 weeks after the completion of the unit. Results indicate that students who learned the unit from the classroom teacher reported that that the instructor was more likeable and credible and that the classrooms were more motivational. Sexually active adolescents with regular classroom teachers reported greater increases in frequency of class discussion.
14 citations
TL;DR: Some improved delay-dependent asymptotical stability conditions are derived by employing an integral equality technique by dividing the whole interval into multiple segments such that each segment has a different Lyapunov matrix.
Abstract: This paper studies delay-dependent asymptotical stability problems for the neural system with time-varying delay. By dividing the whole interval into multiple segments such that each segment has a different Lyapunov matrix, some improved delay-dependent stability conditions are derived by employing an integral equality technique. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness and less conservativeness of the proposed methods.
01 Dec 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, a half-circular antipodal printed slot antenna with super-wideband performance is proposed, which is fed by microstrip line with a rectangular patch-like tuning stub.
Abstract: A novel half-circular antipodal printed slot antenna with super-wideband performance is proposed. The antenna is fed by microstrip line with a rectangular patch-like tuning stub. A half-circular antipodal structure is employed to improve the antenna's radiation bandwidth. Some design parameters of the antenna is investigated. Performance of the antenna, including impedance matching, radiation patterns and gain, are investigated both numerically and experimentally. As will be reported, the impedance bandwidth of the antenna is from 0.8GHz to 7.0GHz, which is about 8.6∶1, while the antenna's radiation bandwidth is about 6∶1. Stable omnidirectional radiation pattern with good polarization purity and flat gain performances over the operation bandwidth can be achieved. It may be useful for super-wideband indoor base station or polarization diversity applications.
TL;DR: In this paper, a delay-dependent robust stability condition for uncertain neutral systems with mixed delays was derived based on a novel augmented Lyapunov functional approach and linear matrix inequality technology.
Abstract: This paper studies the problem of delay-dependent robust stability for uncertain neutral system with mixed delays. Based on a novel augmented Lyapunov functional approach and linear matrix inequality technology, a new delay-dependent stability condition is derived. Since no restriction on the derivative of the time-varying discrete delay is needed, the criteria proposed in this paper are less conservative than some previous approaches. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods and the influence of uncertainties to the stability of the neutral system.
TL;DR: In this article, the spectral properties of chlorin e 6 trisodium salt in aqueous solutions, solid films, and adsorbed on the silver-coated surface of porous silicon are presented using the quantum-mechanical density functional method.
Abstract: The resonance and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of chlorin e 6 trisodium salt in aqueous solutions, solid films, and adsorbed on the silver-coated surface of porous silicon are presented Using the quantum-mechanical density functional method, the geometric structure and vibrational frequencies of the chlorin e
6 molecule are calculated and the Raman spectrum of this molecule is interpreted for the first time The geometry of sorption of chlorin e
6 on the surface of a nanostructured silver film is considered based on a comparative analysis of the resonance Raman and SERS Raman spectra in the approximation of a short-range mechanism of Raman scattering enhancement
23 Feb 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors considered the global output convergence of Cohen-Grossberg neural networks with both time-varying and distributed delays and established sufficient conditions to guarantee the convergence of this class of networks.
Abstract: This paper considers the global output convergence of Cohen–Grossberg neural networks with both time-varying and distributed delays. The inputs of the neural networks are required to be time-varying and the activation functions should be globally Lipschitz continuous and monotonely nondecreasing. Based on M-matrix theory, several sufficient conditions are established to guarantee the global output convergence of this class of neural networks. Symmetry in the connection weight matrices and the boundedness of the activation functions are abandoned in this paper. The convergence results are useful in solving some optimization problems and the design of Cohen–Grossberg neural networks with both time-varying and distributed delays. Two examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results.
TL;DR: The authors used the theoretical lens of privilege to examine career paths of white men, women, and racial minorities and their views about social identity as influential in their career success in sports broadcasting.
Abstract: Drawing on a survey of sports broadcasters in top markets, the authors use the theoretical lens of privilege to examine career paths of white men, women, and racial minorities and their views about social identity as influential in their career success. Those most privileged by gender (male) and race (white) least often acknowledged it. They were also less likely to believe women and minorities faced discrimination. Women and racial minorities were more likely to view their social identity as a reason they were hired, suggesting they might view themselves as “quota hires.” The authors discuss the practical implications of the findings and provide suggestions for the profession and for further research.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that an umbilic-free hypersurface is of vanishing Mobius form if and only if it is parallel with respect to the Levi-Civita connection of its Mobius metric.
Abstract: An umbilic-free hypersurface in the unit sphere is called Mobius isoparametric if it satisfies two conditions, namely, it has vanishing Mobius form and has constant Mobius principal curvatures. In this paper, under the condition of having constant Mobius principal curvatures, we show that the hypersurface is of vanishing Mobius form if and only if its Mobius form is parallel with respect to the Levi-Civita connection of its Mobius metric. Moreover, typical examples are constructed to show that the condition of having constant Mobius principal curvatures and that of having vanishing Mobius form are independent of each other.
18 Sep 2009
TL;DR: Based on flexible multi-body dynamics theory and Lagrange's equation, the mechanical system dynamics model of the three-arm bridge detected vehicles boom is set up in this paper through the numerical solution of dynamic simulation in combination with analysis software.
Abstract: Based on flexible multi-body dynamics theory and Lagrange's equation the mechanical system dynamics model of the three-arm bridge detected vehicles boom is set up. Through the numerical solution of dynamic simulation in combination with analysis software, it is proved that the differential equations of the bridge detection vehicle arm can accurately describe all kinds of the dynamic characteristics of the bridge detection vehicle dynamics by using of the flexible multi-body dynamics. The analysis of the ending of the locus and drive characteristic of the bridge detection vehicle also shows that it's very necessary to consider the impact on the flexible distortion when studying the system of the light-long-arm bridge detection vehicle arm system. On this basis, the control strategy of PI self-tuning fuzzy is presented in this paper. Matlab7.1 simulation results show that the dynamic characteristics of the electro-hydraulic position control system of the bridge detection vehicle can meet the requirements by use of this control method.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the threshold condition at the different steering speed, steering radius, and the different road conditions is derived based on the rapid steering automobile cornering force analyzes The maximum allowable speed of automobile rapid steering without occurring side slip and side tumbling is presented
Abstract: When running on rapid steering condition, automobile tends to occur side slip and side tumbling under centrifugal force, the threshold condition at the different steering speed, steering radius, and the different road conditions is derived based on the rapid steering automobile cornering force analyzes The maximum allowable speed of automobile rapid steering without occurring side slip and side tumbling is presented It provides a theory foundation for study on safety and control of the automobile rapid steering
18 Sep 2009
TL;DR: The ocular fundus blood vessel recognition has been demonstrated in this paper to possess high recognition rate, low recognition rejection rate as well as good universality, exclusiveness and stability.
Abstract: Today, iris recognition, fingerprint recognition, face recognition, voice recognition and other biometric technology are experiencing rapid development. This paper addresses a new biometric technology--optic fundus blood vessel skeleton recognition based on band tree. The green gray scale ocular fundus image is utilized. The skeleton feature of optic fundus blood vessel is extracted at first. After filtering treatment and extracting feature, the band tree represented vector curve of blood vessels is obtained. The band tree matching is later carried out by means of reference point matching and tree indexing. The ocular fundus blood vessel recognition has been demonstrated in this paper to possess high recognition rate, low recognition rejection rate as well as good universality, exclusiveness and stability. With more and more progress made in extracting technology, the optic fundus blood vessel recognition is to become an effective biometric technology.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Simulation results show that the proposed adaptive deblocking algorithm can effectively remove the blocking artifacts and preserve the edge and texture information.
Abstract: The block-based DCT compression technology often cause blocking artifacts near the block boundaries at low bit rates,seriously harming the image's subjective quality.Proposed an adaptive deblocking algorithm to remove blocking artifacts while preserve the edge and texture information.The algorithm firstly divide the image blocks into flat and non-flat blocks using the blocks' DCT property,then according to the blocking artifacts between different blocks,the different adaptive function is used to replace the step function to remove the blocking artifacts.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively remove the blocking artifacts and preserve the edge and texture information.
20 Aug 2009
TL;DR: A novel half-circular antipodal printed slot antenna with super-wideband performance with stable omnidirectional radiation pattern with good polarization purity and flat gain performances over the operation bandwidth can be achieved.
Abstract: A novel half-circular antipodal printed slot antenna with super-wideband performance is proposed. The antenna is fed by microstrip line with a rectangular patch-like tuning stub. A half-circular antipodal structure is employed to improve the antenna's radiation bandwidth. The antenna's impedance matching, radiation patterns and gain, have been investigated numerically and experimentally. As will be reported, the impedance bandwidth of the antenna is from 0.8GHz to 7.0GHz, which is about 8.6∶1, while the antenna's radiation bandwidth is about 6∶1. Stable omnidirectional radiation pattern with good polarization purity and flat gain performances over the operation bandwidth can be achieved. It may be useful for wideband indoor base station or polarization diversity applications.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of rubber powder content on the crack resistance of macadam base course with different contents of the rubber powder were tested. And the results showed that when the rubber powders content is about 5%～8%,the effect of improving the shrinkage properties of the cement stabilized macadams base course is the most significant.
Abstract: In order to study the crack resistance of cement stabilized macadam base course with rubber powder,unconfined compressive strength,dry shrinkage strain,dry shrinkage water loss rate,temperature shrinkage strain and temperature shrinkage water loss rate of cement stabilized macadam base course with different contents of the rubber powder are tested The results show that when the rubber powder content is 0～8%,compared with cement stabilized macadam base course without rubber powder,the 7 d and 28 d unconfined compressive strength of cement stabilized macadam base course with rubber powder are slightly lower,but they can meet the design requirements Adding of rubber powder can effectively lower the dry shrinkage strain water loss rate and temperature shrinkage strain water loss rate of the cement stabilized macadam base course,and thus reduce its shrinkage When the rubber powder content is about 5%～8% ,the effect of improving the shrinkage properties of the cement stabilized macadam base course is the most significant
TL;DR: Forney made his newspapers into virtual political organs for the administration as discussed by the authors, and the administration steered government patronage to his newspapers, and the president was more than willing to oblige him, knowing he would need all the support he could muster in order to tackle the monumental tasks ahead of him.
Abstract: Unlike many of his predecessors in the White House, Abraham Lincoln did not have an official publication. However, in John W. Forney, the publisher of the Philadelphia Press and the Washington Morning Chronicle, the president had the kind of unwavering editorial supporter he needed. Forney made his newspapers into virtual political organs for the administration. In return, Lincoln helped Forney secure a position with the Senate, and the administration steered government patronage to his newspapers. The president found an intensely loyal supporter in Forney. And Lincoln was more than glad to oblige him, knowing he would need all the support he could muster in order to tackle the monumental tasks ahead of him.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the application of temporary piers to Wan Zhou Yangtze River Bridge with regard to stress and dismantling is introduced, which applies to girder prefabrication and installation processes and has to be dismantled as soon as the bridge is erected.
Abstract: The temporary pier is an auxiliary structure during bridge construction.It applies to girder prefabrication and installation processes,and has to be dismantled as soon as the bridge is erected.This paper mainly introduces the application of temporary piers to Wan Zhou Yangtze River Bridge with regard to stress and dismantling.
22 Jun 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, a collaborative complementary way to apply sufficient, efficient and effective regulation to the Air Navigation Services (ANS) business model is described. And the authors provide the necessary background and business particularities of ANS and their regulation.
Abstract: Air transport is a key factor to achieving important policy goals in Europe It supports business type mobility and networking within Europe and with the rest of the world It contributes to significant societal benefits Therefore, air transport is a drive of economic growth, creator of jobs and of technological innovation, helping Europe to advance towards the Lisbon goals It generates around 4 million jobs in Europe (direct, indirect and induced), and this number is estimated to rise by 15 million more by 2020 The challenge to foster the development of the air transport in balance with the related safety and environmental constraints, addresses also the proper regulation of one of its major components, the Air Navigation Services (ANS) The paper provides briefly the necessary background and business particularities of ANS and their regulation and then describes the development of a collaborative complementary way to apply sufficient, efficient and effective regulation to this natural monopoly business
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the origin of speedometer error, the principle of measurement and the basic structure of speed-ometer test-bed are understood accurately, can the speedometer of automobile be tested accurately and effectively.
Abstract: Testing and adjusting the speedometer of automobile to ensure the indication precision of speedometer has important significance to safety of driving. Only when the origin of speedometer error, the principle of measurement and the basic structure of speedometer test-bed are understood accurately, can the speedometer of automobile be tested accurately and effectively.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the change in intensity, scope and component of radon released from faults can be used to analyze and evaluate the relative activity of active fault in Tianshui area.
Abstract: The change in intensity, scope and component of radon released from faults can be used to analyze and evaluate the relative activity of active fault The basic feature of main active faults in Tianshui area is analyzed And the radon content is surveyed, the result shows that the activity of west Qinling fault is strong to extremely strong,the activity of Lixian-luojiabu fault is strong,the activity of Lixian-jishixia fault is strong to middle,the activity of west Qingshui fault is middle The survey results accord with its activity intensity, so radon surveying can be regarded as a method for fault activity evaluation