Argument by Multimodal Metaphor as Strategic Maneuvering in TV Commercials: A Case Study

Drawing on insights from contemporary studies on conceptual metaphor and multimodal metaphor, the present study proposes a tentative analysis of multimodal metaphorical argument from the perspective of the extended theory of pragma-dialectics. A case, Liqun Commercial, is presented as an illustration. This commercial proves to use a conceptual metaphor, life is a journey, that underlies a multimodal metaphorical argument. The conceptual metaphor is highly acceptable in the cultural context of the Chinese target audience. Due to the restrictions imposed by the institutional context, the commercial tries to convince the audience by using implicit argumentative means. In this endeavor, multimodal metaphorical argument is used to enhance the commercial’s effectiveness by foregrounding through framing the aspects the protagonist desires to show and by using a strategy to evade sanctions for ignoring institutional constraints.     

Transverse shear surface wave in a functionally graded material infinite half space

The variable substitution and power-series techniques are used for the asymptotic analytical derivation of the governing equation of a transverse surface wave. The results reveal that the transverse wave can propagate along the surface of a functionally graded infinite half space in various modes, and that their dispersion relations are normal. For certain cases, energy is concentrated on the surface region to a depth of several wavelengths. A new theoretical foundation based on the transverse surface wave can be provided for graded-material characterization by experimental measurement. Some phenomena of seismic wave propagation may also be explained.     

Studies of interaction between He and elements with mass number 140 in Fe by time-differential perturbed-angular-correlation measurements

Room-temperature time-differential perturbed-angular-correlation (TDPAC) spectra of ¹⁴⁰Ce arising through ¹⁴⁰Ba-¹⁴⁰La from ¹⁴⁰Cs in He-doped Fe, unannealed and annealed in vacuum at various temperatures, were obtained in order to examine whether Ce (or rather, La and Ba) and He form complexes having a definite geometrical structure in Fe, as suggested by first-principles density-functional theory calculations. No clear signal of such complexes was observed in the TDPAC spectra. However, the TDPAC spectra indicate that Ce and He form complexes having a variety of geometrical structures. Comparison with reported TDPAC results on ¹¹¹Cd arising from ¹¹¹In in He-doped stainless steel shows that the parent atoms (La and Ba) of ¹⁴⁰Ce trap He atoms more efficiently than In atoms do, indicating stronger bonding of He to the former atoms, while different from the present case, ¹¹¹Cd (In)–He complexes form a unique geometrical structure.     

Visualization of stress distribution using mechanoluminescence from Sr3Al2O6: Eu and the nature of the luminescence mechanism

We have investigated the dependence of the mechanoluminescence intensity from Sr3Al2O6: Eu on compressive stress. The distribution of the mechanoluminescence intensity, which is clearly visible to the naked eye, is consistent with the calculated stress distribution. The luminescence centre has been identified as the Eu2+ ion from spectra of the mechanoluminescence and also from photoluminescence studies of Sr3Al2O6: Eu. The mechanoluminescence intensity decreases on repetitive application of stress but recovers completely on irradiation with ultraviolet light. The Sr3Al2O6: Eu is a p-type semiconductor and has hole traps of depth 0.11 eV. It is suggested that the mechanoluminescence mechanism arises from the movement of dislocations and recombination between electrons and holes released from these traps which are associated with Eu2+ centres.     

Formation of Cu precipitates and vacancy clusters in neutron-irradiated Fe–Cu alloys

Two Fe–Cu binary model alloys, Fe–0.3Cu and Fe–0.6Cu, were irradiated with fission neutrons at doses ranging from 4?×?10^?6 to 0.16 dpa (displacements per atom) at ～573 K to investigate the formation of Cu precipitates and microstructural evolution. The Cu content only affected the formation of Cu precipitates and microvoids at low doses. In Fe–0.3Cu, the formation of microvoids and Cu precipitates initiated at doses of 1.2?×?10^?4 and 4?×?10^?5 dpa, respectively. On the other hand, the formation of microvoids started at a dose of 4?×?10^?4 dpa in Fe–0.6Cu, and Cu precipitates were formed even after irradiation to 4?×?10^?6 dpa. On further irradiation, the difference in the formation of Cu precipitates and microvoids was small. Microvoids grew with increasing irradiation dose up to 3?×?10^?3 dpa in both alloys. Prominent aggregation of Cu atoms occurred upon irradiation from 3?×?10^?3 to 1.6?×?10^?2 dpa and the microvoids shrank. The Cu precipitates no longer grew, and microvoids nucleated and grew in the matrix above a dose of 1.6?×?10^?2 dpa in both alloys. The present studies clearly reveal the relationships between the formation and growth of Cu precipitates and microvoids with irradiation dose.     

Inhibitory control of threat remembering in PTSD

ABSTRACT

Intrusive traumatic recollections suggest an inability in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to control and notably to inhibit memories for trauma-related information. Supported by inhibitory deficits found on experimental settings in PTSD, memory functioning and memory biases in the disorder were usually explained through inhibitory and control deficits in the processing of trauma-related information. The present study aimed to directly assess this hypothesis by investigating memory control abilities for emotional information in PTSD. For this purpose, 34 patients diagnosed with PTSD were compared to 37 non-PTSD controls on an item-cued directed forgetting paradigm for emotional words combined with a Remember/Know recognition procedure. Results revealed enhanced amounts of Remember recognitions for trauma-related words in PTSD. Moreover, we replicated findings of memory control impairments in the disorder. However, such impairments only occurred for non-trauma-related words. Accordingly, it appeared that PTSD patients presented preserved memory control abilities for trauma-related words, at the expenses of other emotional valences. Surprisingly, PTSD patients presented a preserved ability to control and notably to inhibit their memory functioning for trauma-related material. In addition to potential theoretical and clinical relevance, these results are discussed in the light of resource reallocation hypotheses and vigilant-avoidant theories of information processing in PTSD.     

基因研究中的知情同意之惑

知情同意作为生命伦理的重要原则,在基因研究中同样占据重要的地位,由于基因研究中知情同意的异质性,在基因研究中面临着诸如如何理解其知情同意的异质性、群体知情同意、基因知情与基因隐私、利益冲突等问题。通过分析基因研究中知情同意的特殊性,综合国内外此领域的已有研究,运用理论联系实际的方法,得出结论认为,只有正确区分基因知情与基因隐私的权利主体,用伦理规范来解决利益冲突,在发展中不断完善知情同意,才能够取得科技与伦理的共赢。     

The Roles of Shared Stereotypes and Shared Processing Goals on Mock Jury Decision Making

Some research on creativity has linked higher levels of neuroticism with greater creative achievement, whereas existential psychology sees the neurotic as incapable of channeling anxiety through creativity. The current research examines how levels of neuroticism affect individuals' creative responses in coping with existential threats. Drawing from terror management theory and creativity research, this research conceptualizes creative endeavors as a means to ameliorate existential anxiety that possesses varying degrees of appeal to different individuals. All three experiments found an interaction between levels of neuroticism and mortality salience in determining levels of creative interest, with neuroticism either measured or primed. Specifically, mortality salience is less likely to boost creative interest among more neurotic individuals.     

Neural responses to meaningless pseudosigns: evidence for sign-based phonetic processing in superior temporal cortex

To identify neural regions that automatically respond to linguistically structured, but meaningless manual gestures, 14 deaf native users of American Sign Language (ASL) and 14 hearing non-signers passively viewed pseudosigns (possible but non-existent ASL signs) and non-iconic ASL signs, in addition to a fixation baseline. For the contrast between pseudosigns and baseline, greater activation was observed in left posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), but not in left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 44/45), for deaf signers compared to hearing non-signers, based on VOI analyses. We hypothesize that left STS is more engaged for signers because this region becomes tuned to human body movements that conform the phonological constraints of sign language. For deaf signers, the contrast between pseudosigns and known ASL signs revealed increased activation for pseudosigns in left posterior superior temporal gyrus (STG) and in left inferior frontal cortex, but no regions were found to be more engaged for known signs than for pseudosigns. This contrast revealed no significant differences in activation for hearing non-signers. We hypothesize that left STG is involved in recognizing linguistic phonetic units within a dynamic visual or auditory signal, such that less familiar structural combinations produce increased neural activation in this region for both pseudosigns and pseudowords.     

论明代天师道之符箓

符箓是天师道的主要活动方式和重要的修持法术之一;明代帝王认为天师道能化导民俗,故命天师传符箓;史籍亦有不少关于符箓灵验、诸帝受箓及禁止伪造符箓的记载;明代帝王对符箓的态度,对天师道的影响甚大。