THE FACTOR STRUCTURE OF THE BEM SEX-ROLE INVENTORY (BSRI)

Research on the factor structure of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory generally indicates the existence of a number of smaller factors in addition to a major Masculine factor and a major Feminine factor. This has led to a suggestion that contrary to Bern's proposal, the scale is multidimensional. The present study attempted to examine further the factor structure of BSRI when applied to a non-Western sample. The results of a factor analysis appear to confirm the suggestion that BSRI is multidimensional. There are also indications that both the Masculine and the Feminine scales have high internal consistencies which can be improved further if certain items were removed.     

Changes in spinal reflex excitability in a countermanded timed response task

Subjects (N = 8) performed a timed response task in which they attempted to synchronize an impulsive foot-press response with the last in a series of four regularly spaced tones. In Experiment 1, the response was countermanded on one third of the trials (stop trials) by a stop signal that appeared at a predetermined delay after the third tone. No stop signal appeared on the remaining trials (go trials). All subjects showed a systematic transition from withholding the response on stop trials in which the stop signal appeared shortly after the third tone to executing the response on trials in which a single stop signal delay had been chosen so that a response would be made on about 50% of the stop trials. We elicited Hoffmann (H) reflexes from the soleus muscle on all trials to determine whether the reflexes were augmented on occasions on which a response was prepared but withheld. Mean H-reflex amplitudes on go trials and on stop trials on which the response was executed were similar and showed a marked augmentation beginning about 250 ms before response onset; mean H-reflex amplitudes on stop trials on which the response was withheld showed less pronounced augmentation. Inspection of individual H-reflex amplitudes revealed that on stop trials on which the response was withheld the reflexes could be augmented to the same extent as on trials on which the response was executed. This dissociation of H-reflex augmentation and response execution shows that H-reflex augmentation reflects a controlled response process. Ballistic response processes therefore must be limited to a brief duration.     

A common computational process in cueing and conjunction search tasks

The question of whether Posner’s beam is the same as Treisman’s glue is addressed to construct a computational model that integrates both target and cue information. The cueing and conjunction search tasks are conducted to analyze a common process that may be underlying the tasks. The dynamic interaction between target and cue information produces attentional benefit- and cost-based in the cueing task. Furthermore, the search order for target candidates in a conjunction search task is determined through the integration of target and cue information, which is basically the same as in the cueing task. Our simulations suggest that consistency (or validity) is considered as a computational process that may be commonly involved in the both tasks.     

Neutron and X-ray diffraction studies and cohesive interface model of the fatigue crack deformation behavior

The crack-tip deformation behavior during a single overload, fatigue test of ferritic stainless steel, and Ni-based HAYNES 230 superalloy is studied at different structural levels using (1) neutron-diffraction, from which both the elastic-lattice strain and volume-averaged total dislocation densities are obtained, (2) polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction to probe the geometrically necessary dislocations and boundaries distribution, and (3) an irreversible and hysteretic cohesive interface model which has been implemented into a finite element framework to simulate the stress/strain evolution near the fatigue crack tip. Neutron strain measurements and finite element simulations are in qualitative agreement on the macroscopic length scale. Large plastic deformation induced by the overload and the resulting compressive residual strains are observed in front of the crack tip after the overload, and are the principal reason for the fatigue-crack-growth retardation. Strong strain gradients surrounding the crack propagation result in the formation of a high density of geometrically necessary dislocations near the fractured surface and cause local lattice rotations on the submicron level.     

Telling Others to Do What You Believe Is Morally Wrong: The Case of Confucius and Zai Wo

Can it ever be morally justifiable to tell others to do what we ourselves believe is morally wrong to do? The common sense answer is no. It seems that we should never tell others to do something if we think it is morally wrong to do that act. My first goal is to argue that in Analects 17.21, Confucius tells his disciple not to observe a ritual even though Confucius himself believes that it is morally wrong that one does not observe the ritual. My second goal is to argue against the common sense answer and explain how Confucius can be justified in telling his disciple to do what Confucius thought was wrong. The first justification has to do with telling someone to do what is second best when the person cannot do what is morally best. The second justification has to do with the role of a moral advisor.     

Enumeration of small collections violates Weber’s law

In a phenomenon called subitizing, we can immediately generate exact counts of small collections (one to three objects), in contrast to larger collections, for which we must either create rough estimates or serially count. A parsimonious explanation for this advantage for small collections is that noisy representations of small collections are more tolerable, due to the larger relative differences between consecutive numbers (e.g., 2 vs. 3 is a 50 % increase, but 10 vs. 11 is only a 10 % increase). In contrast, the advantage could stem from the fact that small-collection enumeration is more precise, relying on a unique mechanism. Here, we present two experiments that conclusively showed that the enumeration of small collections is indeed “superprecise.” Participants compared numerosity within either small or large visual collections in conditions in which the relative differences were controlled (e.g., performance for 2 vs. 3 was compared with performance for 20 vs. 30). Small-number comparison was still faster and more accurate, across both “more–fewer” judgments (Exp. 1), and “same–different” judgments (Exp. 2). We then reviewed the remaining potential mechanisms that might underlie this superprecision for small collections, including the greater diagnostic value of visual features that correlate with number and a limited capacity for visually individuating objects.     

Evidence of carbon ordering and morphology change in a cubic carbide phase

Abstract

The crystallographic and microstructural changes of the ordered cubic carbide (K) phase on ageing have been studied in rapidly solidified Fe-30.9 wt% Mn-8.9 wt% AI-2.8 wt%C ((Fe_0.65, Mn_0.35)_0.83 Al_0.17–12 at.%C) alloy. In the as-rapidly solidified condition, an austenitic phase coexists with the carbide phase which is composed of antiphase domains in the interior of the solidification cell. The antiphase domain boundaries were aligned nearly parallel to the {100} planes. By visually comparing the intensity ratio (I₁₁₀/I₁₀₀) of the selected-area diffraction pattern in the transmission electron microscope and by quantitatively comparing the same X-ray diffraction intensity ratio, we have deduced that the K phase tends to consolidate into the L'1₂ structure on ageing at 450°C but into the L1₂ structure on ageing at 700°C.     

Predicting eating problems among Malaysian Chinese: Differential roles of positive and negative perfectionism

Positive and negative perfectionism (measured by the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale; PANPS) are found to have differential roles in predicting eating problems. This study translated and back-translated the PANPS into Chinese and then examined whether its factor structure was comparable to the original PANPS. The relationships between positive and negative perfectionism (using Chinese PANPS) and eating problems were also evaluated. Malaysian Chinese (N = 205) adults completed the Chinese PANPS, Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Principal Component Analysis showed the two-factor solution of the Chinese PANPS accounted for 33.42% of the total variance, which was comparable to previous studies. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that negative perfectionism significantly predicted all eating disorder symptoms for females, but not drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction for males. Conversely, positive perfectionism significantly predicted lower total EDI scores, lower ineffectiveness and lower interpersonal distrust, but only predicted lower body dissatisfaction among females. In conclusion, negative perfectionism was consistently associated with eating problems whereas positive perfectionism might be a potentially adaptive factor, confirming the distinctive roles each played in the development of eating problems, even in a non-Western population.