Modern-day perception of historic footwear and its links to preference

The importance of emotion in consumer preference is explored in the subject of Kansei Engineering. The Kansei methodology has been successfully adopted by many large companies in recent years. Currently, a European Union Fifth framework project called 'Kensys' (Kansei Engineering System) is being implemented to look at the application of Kansei engineering in the field of footwear. The Kensys project is being conducted in collaboration with several SMEs and this paper reports a study that has been carried out with one of the SMEs who designs and makes reproduction historic and specialist footwear. In addition, respondent views on 'real' products from history and reproduction footwear are compared. We report on the views of respondents in general and look at gender differences, the comparison of non-experts' views versus experts' views and we also look at differences due to age. The study was carried out in the UK and in Spain. The views in both counties are compared.     

“Kids and Fires Are No Match”: Fire and Trauma Prevention for Teen Parents

The purpose of this work was to adapt findings from current research into a clinical intervention. A structured, prevention oriented presentation/discussion was developed along with a brief pre and post test measurement tool. The intervention goal was to help teen parents (N = 124), from high schools and job training centers, focus on the preventive issues of fire safety and trauma prevention for themselves and their children after a difficult life event. Findings included a significant increase (<.001) from pre to post test on intent to make their homes fire safe and to understand the importance of emotional support for themselves and their children at differing developmental ages. Unexpectedly, the comparison group of 81 adults from community programs, though starting with higher scores (p < .01) also showed significant improvement (p < .001) on these measures. It is important for social workers to adapt clinical research findings for dissemination.     

Using Integrated Geospatial Mapping and Conceptual Site Models to Guide Risk-Based Environmental Clean-Up Decisions

Government and private sector organizations are increasingly turning to the use of maps and other visual models to provide a depiction of environmental hazards and the potential risks they represent to humans and ecosystems. Frequently, the graphic presentation is tailored to address a specific contaminant, its location and possible exposure pathways, and potential receptors. Its format is usually driven by the data available, choice of graphics technology, and the audience being served. A format that is effective for displaying one contaminant at one scale at one site, however, may be ineffective in accurately portraying the circumstances surrounding a different contaminant at the same site, or the same contaminant at a different site, because of limitations in available data or the graphics technology being used. This is the daunting challenge facing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which is responsible for the nation's legacy wastes from nuclear weapons research, testing, and production at over 100 sites in the United States. In this article, we discuss the development and use of integrated geospatial mapping and conceptual site models to identify hazards and evaluate alternative long-term environmental clean-up strategies at DOE sites located across the United States. While the DOE probably has the greatest need for such information, the Department of Defense and other public and private responsible parties for many large and controversial National Priority List or Superfund sites would benefit from a similar approach.     

A Terror Management Perspective on Ageism

In the present article, we present a theoretical perspective on ageism that is derived from terror management theory. According to the theory, human beings manage deeply-rooted fears about their vulnerability to death through symbolic constructions of meaning and corresponding standards of value. We extend this perspective to suggest that elderly individuals present an existential threat for the non-elderly because they remind us all that: (a) death is inescapable, (b) the body is fallible, and (c) the bases by which we may secure self-esteem (and manage death anxiety) are transitory. We review some recent empirical evidence in support of these ideas and then discuss possible avenues for combating ageism.