Conflict Minerals in Electronic Systems: An Overview and Critique of Legal Initiatives

The Democratic Republic of Congo has vast natural resources, many of which are regularly exploited by the electronics industry. Unfortunately, in addition to these resources, there are widespread human rights abuses committed by armed groups entrenched in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These armed groups are using profits from these minerals as a source of funding. Their human rights abuses have led to a growing humanitarian interest in the region and prompted the international community to action. This paper explores the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provides an understanding of the link between human rights abuses and conflict minerals, and interprets and critiques the legal actions of the international community.     

The Underlying Role of Negative Affect in the Association between PTSD,Major Depressive Disorder,and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Clinicians and researchers have found differential diagnosis to be difficult, particularly for conceptually similar disorders. One category of particular interest has been distress or internalizing disorders, theorized to be related via an underlying construct of generalized distress or negative affect. The present study attempted to address the comorbidity of three distress disorders - posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) - using latent analyses by controlling for the variance attributable to negative affect. The sample consisted of 265 trauma-exposed individuals who completed self-report measures of PTSD, MDD, GAD, and negative affect. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test initial model fit. Next, the model was re-computed, controlling for negative affect by regressing negative affectivity at the item-level. Results indicated that a significant amount of variance within and between these diagnostic categories is attributable to negative affect at both the item- and factor-level. The hypothesis that MDD’s non-somatic/affective factor and the GAD factor would have the highest attenuations in factor loadings after controlling for negative affect was supported. Therefore, negative affect significantly influences the co-occurrence of PTSD, MDD, and GAD clinically, emphasizing the need for transdiagnostic interventions for trauma victims.     

Image-processing algorithms for behavior analysis of group-housed pigs

Computational algorithms of image processing were developed and evaluated to select, by motion detection, images of resting artificial pigs and to segment the pigs (mixture of black and white pigs) from their background. Motion detection of the pigs was implemented by detecting interframe differences of postural behavioral images. This algorithm combines the advantages of likelihood ratio method and shading model method and shows a stable performance under noisy and dynamic illumination conditions. Segmentation of the pigs from their background was implemented by employing multilevel thresholding and background reference techniques. The algorithm automatically determines the number of thresholds needed and produces satisfactory segmentation when both black and white pigs with different image intensities are present at the same time (the most complicated situation). The reference background image is updated so that temporal changes in illumination and/or spatial changes of the pen condition have little effect on the performance of image segmentation. The algorithm employs statistical models of the pigs and background and Bayes hypothesis testing to obtain and update the exposed portion of the reference background. Linear filters were used in this process for updating the parameters. These algorithms will serve as essential components for a novel, behavior-based, interactive approach to assess and control thermal comfort of group-housed pigs, which is expected to result in enhanced animal health and well-being.     

学习不良儿童孤独感、同伴接受性的特点及其与家庭功能的关系

采用量表法、同伴提名法、访谈法探讨了小学学习不良儿童孤独感、同伴接受性的特点及其与家庭功能的关系。结果表明,４—６年级小学儿童存在孤独感;与一般儿童相比,学习不良儿童孤独感明显偏高,而同伴接受性明显偏低;同伴接受性与孤独感和家庭功能之间存在显著相关。     

社会主义核心价值观入法入规的伦理意蕴 ——以德法相济的运行为视野

以习近平同志为核心的党中央倡导社会主义核心价值观入法入规,重新阐释了人类道德价值的内容、形式与机制。从伦理内容创新上看,社会主义核心价值观入法入规为传统德主刑辅思想注入新的伦理思想,刷新了“德”与“法”的内涵与外延;从伦理思维范式上看,社会主义核心价值观入法入规实现了德与法的深度融合;从伦理运行机制来看,社会主义核心价值观入法入规确立了将伦理价值与法律价值相结合的评价机制,激活了“德治”软实力与“法治”硬实力共同发力的动力机制。     

高质量中国特色社会心理服务体系建设要贯彻好“六个必须坚持”

建设高质量中国特色社会心理服务体系,既是助力实现“健康中国”的重要路径,也是推进新时代创新社会治理与治理能力现代化的重要举措与手段。党的二十大报告提出的“六个必须坚持”既为建设高质量中国特色社会心理服务体系工作指明了方向,又从方法论的高度深刻阐述了推进理论创新的科学方法和正确路径。本文论述了如何通过贯彻落实“六个必须坚持”开展高质量中国特色社会心理服务体系建设。     

大学生英语学习策略使用特点及发展趋势研究

采用自编问卷对493名不同背景大学生英语学习策略的调查发现,大学生内隐学习策略显著低于外显策略,表明我国大学生英语学习以外显为主;外显策略中,社会/情感策略水平最高,而元认知策略水平最低;英语学习策略的使用在性别、英语学习难易程度的主观判断以及学业成就水平等因素上呈现出明显的差异性特点,女生的策略使用率总体高于男生,英语学习成就越高以及英语学习认知越积极的学生学习策略使用率越高;大学生英语学习策略的发展呈V型趋势,在大三低至谷底,男生的策略波动幅度显著大于女生。     

论公共管理中不道德手段的生成与控制

公共生活要得到有效而又合理的管理必须运用道德的手段。有的公共管理机构及其人员出于提高管理效率或者实现私人目的的考虑,可能会选择不道德的手段。由于不道德的手段会造成严重的道德后果,因此,就有必要对其予以合理控制。这种控制既需要合理的道德观念的支持,又需要刚性的内部控制与外部控制的配合。     

Effects of self–other decision-making on time-based intertemporal choice

The effects of self–other decision-making on intertemporal choice have been revealed in many studies using a monetary outcome. However, the outcome of intertemporal choice is not restricted to money; time is also a scarce and nonrenewable resource outcome. Thus, we conducted a series of experiments to address the effects of self–other decision-making on time-based intertemporal choice, a type of intertemporal choice that uses time as an outcome. Over the course of three experiments, differences in self–other decision-making were evidenced. Participants who made decisions for others were more likely to prefer the smaller but sooner (SS) option over the larger but later (LL) option and considered the gain of the SS option to be significantly greater than that of the LL option. Participants who made decisions for themselves were likely to prefer the LL option over the SS option. However, they considered the gains of the LL and the SS option to be indifferent. Changing the role of decision-making could affect the ability of individuals to consider the future consequences of their decisions. The effects of self–other decision-making on time-based intertemporal choice could be explained by the accounts of economic reasoning and construal level theory. The findings indicated that the effects of self–other decision-making on time-based intertemporal choice, which could be generated simply by rewording questions, can help individuals make optimal long-term choices without the need for increased control.