Nanoindentation-induced elastic–plastic transition and size effect in α-Al2O3(0001)

The mechanical properties of α-Al₂O₃(0001) have been investigated using the technique of nanoindentation with a Berkovich indenter. Coupled with the Hertzian contact theory, a theoretical shear strength of 28?±?2?GPa was determined from the onset of pop-in events on load–displacement curves during loading, and the intrinsic hardness 30?±?3?GPa was obtained by analysis of the so-called indentation size effect, based on the concept of geometrically necessary dislocations. The predicted values of the shear strength, hardness and elastic modulus are in good agreement with available experimental data. The importance of experimentally calibrating the area function over the contact depth range prior to nanoindentation tests is emphasized.     

Vacancy-decomposition-induced lattice instability and its correlation with the kinetic stability limit of crystals

Vacancy decomposition kinetics in crystals at elevated temperatures is analysed. It is found that lattice instability is induced by a significantly enhanced vacancy decomposition at a critical temperature (T?*). The critical temperature coincides with the kinetic instability limit (kinetic limit of superheating) of crystals in a variety of metals determined from the homogeneous nucleation catastrophe model.     

Qualitative Exploration of Acculturation and Life‐Span Issues of Elderly Asian Americans

Awareness of aging issues across diverse populations begins the journey toward counselors becoming culturally competent across client life spans. Understanding the life‐span experiences of cultural groups is important for helping professionals. The purpose of this research was to gain insight into the qualitative experiences of Asian American elders. The authors conducted semistructured interviews with 8 participants between September 2010 and March 2011 and analyzed the data using the Consensual Qualitative Research method. Findings indicate unique patterns in life‐span development with this population.     

Theater and Psychological Development: Assessing Socio-Cognitive Complexity in the Domain of Theater

Theater is a millenary art form that has stably maintained its minimum indispensable elements over the years. Yet, not much is known about the psychological impact of this performing art. A literature review shows a broad and sometimes contradictory spectrum of theoretical and empirical evidence. In the last few decades, however, interdisciplinary studies, namely in the emerging field of neuroaesthetics, has allowed the emergence of new perspectives on the study of the arts. Drawing from these findings, and to better understand the impact of theater in the socio-cognitive development of actors, directors, and other practitioners, this study tested the construction of an instrument exploring complexity of thought in relation to theater. A preliminary study for the Scale of Socio-cognitive Complexity in the Domain of Theatre (SSCDT) showed that, among a sample of 222, individuals with higher levels of experience in acting and directing seem to demonstrate higher levels of cognitive complexity. To our knowledge, this was the first study aiming to develop a simple paper-and-pencil instrument capable of providing data about the psychological impact of theater in terms of socio-cognitive complexity.     

晚明清初儒学转型中的性命论演进

作为儒学研究的重要内容,性命论在晚明清初儒学转型进程中呈现极为复杂的发展形态。于晚明三教合流趋势中,部分儒者所持性命论主张对佛、道思想具有极高程度的包容力,由此引发大规模的"正统""异端"之争;于心学修正思潮中,东林学派及之后刘宗周对传统儒学"性命"之说秉持更为严肃的坚守态度,如此,"性命"的客观义、超越义得到强调;清初,在形上学渐趋没落之际,部分儒学人士对"性命"的诠释多从"材质之性"谈起——侧重对现实人生延续及发展等诉求的考量,此时性命论"天"字义渐次流失,"命"的世俗义得到落实。     

完善我国ART机构伦理委员会结构和规模的构想

建立结构合理、规模适当的ART机构伦理委员会是有效发挥作用的基本要求和必备条件。针对存在的问题,根据委员会履行职责的需要,建议参照国际惯例,结合实际,制订我国ART机构伦理委员会结构和规模的标准或规范。     

试论宗教与哲学的关系

宗教与哲学在内容和形式上是最具普遍性的观念形态,都具有世界观和人生观的性质,同属精神性的文化。从本质上讲,它们都是人对自然、社会和人生的一种认识、领悟和理解,试图解决的往往都是人们最为关注的人生中的根本性问题,如:生与死,祸与福,善与恶,今生与来世,现世与彼岸,世界上各种事物以至世界本身究竟如何形成,个人以至社会历史的命运为何种力量所支配和主宰等等,宗教和哲学都曾对此做出了自己的答案。正是由于关注的问题有着这种一致和重合的关系,宗教和哲学便在人类历史上结下了不解之缘。宗教里有哲学,哲学里也有宗教。宗教常使用哲学思维的方式和哲学的语言来论证其教义、确立其信仰;哲学则常把宗教视为神圣的教义信仰和哲学思考的对象,把它们放在理性审视台前进行考察和批判。     

Speaking to the trained ear: musical expertise enhances the recognition of emotions in speech prosody

Language and music are closely related in our minds. Does musical expertise enhance the recognition of emotions in speech prosody? Forty highly trained musicians were compared with 40 musically untrained adults (controls) in the recognition of emotional prosody. For purposes of generalization, the participants were from two age groups, young (18-30 years) and middle adulthood (40-60 years). They were presented with short sentences expressing six emotions-anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise-and neutrality, by prosody alone. In each trial, they performed a forced-choice identification of the expressed emotion (reaction times, RTs, were collected) and an intensity judgment. General intelligence, cognitive control, and personality traits were also assessed. A robust effect of expertise was found: musicians were more accurate than controls, similarly across emotions and age groups. This effect cannot be attributed to socioeducational background, general cognitive or personality characteristics, because these did not differ between musicians and controls; perceived intensity and RTs were also similar in both groups. Furthermore, basic acoustic properties of the stimuli like fundamental frequency and duration were predictive of the participants' responses, and musicians and controls were similarly efficient in using them. Musical expertise was thus associated with cross-domain benefits to emotional prosody. These results indicate that emotional processing in music and in language engages shared resources.     

Family mastery enhances work engagement in Chinese nurses: A cross-lagged analysis

Based on Greenhaus and Powell's (2006) theory of work–family enrichment and the job demands-resources (JD-R) model of work engagement (Bakker & Demerouti, 2008), this study focused on the family-to-work enrichment process by investigating the effect of family mastery on work engagement in a Chinese context. A sample of 279 Chinese female nurses completed questionnaires in a two-wave longitudinal survey. With a cross–lagged analysis, the results indicated that family mastery at Time 1 had a significant positive effect on work engagement at Time 2. Furthermore, the relationship between family mastery and work engagement was stronger in a context of high (vs. low) job demand. These findings suggested that resource generated in family could directly help people stay engaged in the workplace, particularly under stressful working conditions. Our findings have expanded the JD-R model of work engagement and bridged it with theory of work–family enrichment. Implications for theory and practices are discussed.