Effect of thermoelectric magnetic force on the array of dendrites during directional solidification of Al–Cu alloys in a high magnetic field

By eliminating the effect of the magnetic moment arising from the magnetic crystalline anisotropy, the effect of the thermoelectric magnetic force on the array of dendrites during directional solidification of Al–35?wt%Cu and Al-40?wt%Cu alloys in a high magnetic field has been investigated experimentally. The results indicate that the dendrite array is essentially destroyed, a result that could have general significance for understanding the processes involved in the solidification of alloys in a magnetic field.     

High magnetic field induction of the formation of twinned dendrites during directional solidification of Al–4.5wt%Cu alloy

It is reported that the application of a high magnetic field is capable of inducing the formation of twinned dendrites during directional solidification of Al–4.5wt%Cu alloy. Numerical results reveal that a unidirectional thermoelectric magnetic force acts on tilted dendrites during directional solidification under a magnetic field. This force should be responsible for the formation of twinned dendrites. The work may initiate a new method for inducing twinned dendrites in Al-based alloys via an applied high magnetic field during directional solidification.     

Motivation as Mediator Between National Identity and Intention to Volunteer

Although there is a large volume of research on the relationship between social identity and volunteerism, little attention was given to national identity in volunteerism research. This study examined the role of national identity in motivating people to volunteer in the Chinese culture and its role in differentiating those who showed no interest in voluntary work (i.e. non‐volunteers) from those who wanted to volunteer but did not (i.e. potential volunteers). Two hundred ninety‐nine participants (age, M = 34.14 years) filled out a questionnaire on their demographics, experience of volunteering, intention to volunteer, volunteer motivations, and national identity. Results showed that a stronger national identity was associated with greater volunteer motivations. Mediation analyses further supported the positive indirect effect of national identity on intention to volunteer through strengthening volunteer motivations. Marital status was the only significant factor that differentiated current volunteers from potential volunteers. We concluded that citizens’ volunteer motivation increases with national identity, yet concrete measures to bring potential volunteers to actual volunteering need to be further explored. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soap Opera Exposure and Enjoyment: A Longitudinal Test of Disposition Theory

Drama's appeal is driven in part by dispositions toward story characters and the deservingness of fortunes that befall them. This article reports the results of longitudinal research testing disposition theory's ability to predict viewer responses to daytime soap opera. A student sample completed a survey asking them to evaluate characters over 10 successive weeks. Measures of character morality and positive/negative outcomes for behaviors were used to predict the results of both viewer enjoyment and official Nielsen ratings in representative independent surveys covering the same 10 weeks. Consistent with disposition theory logic, an a priori specified interaction of character morality and behavioral outcome valence—the Disposition Vector Model—predicted higher Nielsen ratings and increased viewer enjoyment when benefaction/debasement befell characters morally deserving of these outcomes. Although well supported in short-term studies, to our knowledge this is the first study to support disposition theory over extended exposure to soap operas and predicting results in independent data sources.     

视觉信息分布调节信息整合策略：来自眼动的证据

以空白单元格定位为实验任务,操纵序列点阵的分布,考察视觉短时记忆与视知觉的信息整合机制。实验一发现任务正确率与点阵1的圆点数呈近似U形关系。实验二发现在拐点前后被试的眼动模式从偏向于注视圆点位置转为偏向于注视空格位置。因此,视觉信息的分布模式调节整合策略,当处于视觉短时记忆中的圆点数在其容量之内时,采用图像—知觉整合策略,反之,则采用转换—比较策略。     

Models for the Detection of Deviations from the Expected Processing Strategy in Completing the Items of Cognitive Measures

This paper presents confirmatory factor models with fixed factor loadings that enable the identification of deviations from the expected processing strategy. The instructions usually define the expected processing strategy to a considerable degree. Simplification is a deviation from instructions that is likely to occur in complex cognitive measures. Since simplification impairs the validity of the measure, its identification is important. Models representing simplicity and instruction-based processing strategies were considered in investigating the data of 345 participants obtained by a working memory measure in order to find out whether and how the use of these strategies influences model-data fit. As expected, the consideration of simplicity strategies improved the model-data fit achieved for the instruction-based strategy.     

Strength-Based Positive Interventions: Further Evidence for Their Potential in Enhancing Well-Being and Alleviating Depression

The impact of nine strengths-based positive interventions on well-being and depression was examined in an Internet-based randomized placebo-controlled study. The aims of the study were to: (1) replicate findings on the effectiveness of the gratitude visit, three good things, and using character strengths interventions; (2) test variants of interventions (noting three good things for 2 weeks; combining the gratitude visit and three good things interventions; and noting three funny things for a week); and (3) test the effectiveness of the counting kindness, gift of time, and another door opens-interventions in an online setting. A total of 622 adults subjected themselves to one of the nine interventions or to a placebo control exercise (early memories) and thereafter estimated their degrees of happiness and depression at five times (pre- and post-test, 1-, 3-, and 6 months follow-up). Eight of the nine interventions increased happiness; depression was decreased in all groups, including the placebo control group. We conclude that happiness can be enhanced through some “strengths-based” interventions. Possible mechanisms for the effectiveness of the interventions are discussed.     

Colour Discrimination And Monitoring Theories of Consciousness

According to the monitoring theory of consciousness, a mental state is conscious in virtue of being represented in the right way by a monitoring state. David Rosenthal, William Lycan, and Uriah Kriegel have developed three different influential versions of this theory. In order to explain colour experiences, each of these authors combines his version of the monitoring theory of consciousness with a specific account of colour representation. Even though Rosenthal, Lycan, and Kriegel disagree on the specifics, they all hold that colours are represented by a single type of mental state. The main goal of this paper is to show that a more complex account of colour representation is needed for the monitoring theory of consciousness to do justice to the phenomenology of colour experiences. In particular, I will argue that the fine-grained character of colour experience—that is, the fact that perceivers can become conscious of small differences between colours—requires that colour representation be construed in terms of two different types of mental states, namely sensory states that represent appearance properties and colour representations that represent physical colours.     

A Longitudinal Study of Partners of Deployed Personnel From the Netherlands' Armed Forces

We examined the longitudinal relationships among work–family conflict, general life stress, social isolation, and psychological distress of partners of deployed military personnel. Regression analyses revealed that psychological distress experienced in early stages of deployment predicted psychological distress at later stages of deployment. After controlling for the effects of earlier psychological distress, partners who reported higher levels of work–family conflict and social isolation reported higher levels of psychological distress, particularly within that stage of the deployment cycle. Finally, we found that reports of life stress influenced psychological distress experiences before deployment but not at any other time in the deployment cycle.     

The function of the object in the binding and unbinding of the drives

The author discusses the clinical consequences of the failure to structure ambivalence in terms of a conflict, and explains the paradoxical patterns that are then set up, particularly in the various kinds of negative therapeutic reaction. He then explores four instances of primary traumatism that contribute to the failure of the initial binding of the drives and to the individual’s subsequent inability to set up a conflict of ambivalence that could curb the clinical manifestations of destructiveness.