Effect of couple stress at the interfaces of a nano-hole on the anti-plane electro-mechanical behavior

In piezoelectric nanocomposites, surface/interface plays an important role in determining the size-dependent behavior of media. Within the framework of couple stress, the effect of surface/interface around a nano-hole on the anti-plane electro-mechanical behavior is examined. By introducing a surface/interface model, the stress and electric displacement effects on the size-dependent behavior are both considered. The governing equations in piezoelectric materials are decoupled into the classical ones. The displacement and electric potential are expressed by Bessel functions. By satisfying the boundary conditions around the hole with the interface/surface effect, the expanded coefficients are obtained. Through analysis, it is shown that the mechanical and electrical fields drastically depend on the relative size of the hole with respect to the characteristic length of the material. The effects of couple stresses on the stress and electric field are also addressed. Comparison with the existing results is also given.     

Evolutionary Perspectives and Transdisciplinary Intersections: A Roadmap to Generative Areas of Overlap in Discussing Human Nature

This essay assesses a subset of approaches to the topic of human nature(s) and endeavors to identify generative areas of overlap for transdisciplinary conversation. Rather than pursue a resolution to the problem of potentially incompatible frameworks across perspectives, I seek to provide a template, or a roadmap, for a better conversation. My conclusions derive from a targeted literature assessment of subareas within the disciplines of philosophy, biology, anthropology, psychology, and theology, emphasizing those open to evolutionary contexts. I highlight eighteen core elements/themes and propose a few central thematic clusters as foci for moving the exchange on human nature between theology and science forward.     

Linking team resources to work-family enrichment and satisfaction

Work-family scholars now recognize the potential positive effects of participation in one life domain (i.e., work or family) on performance in other life domains. We examined how employees might benefit from team resources, which are highly relevant to the modern workplace, in both work and nonwork domains via work-family enrichment. Using the Resource-Gain-Development model (Wayne, Grzywacz, Carlson, & Kacmar, 2007), we explored how team resources contribute to enrichment and resulting project and family satisfaction. Using multilevel structural equation modeling (ML-SEM) to analyze student data (N = 344) across multiple class projects, we demonstrated that individuals with team resources were more likely to experience both work-to-family and family-to-work enrichment. Further, enrichment mediated the relationship between team resources and satisfaction with the originating domain.     

Imaging God: Cyborgs, Brain‐Machine Interfaces, and a More Human Future

Abstract:  Recent developments in the neurosciences have made possible the advent of brain‐machine interfaces, potentially altering our understanding of our relationship with technology and even the very meaning of what it is to be human. This article briefly examines some of the recent developments in neuroengineering and considers the ethical implications. Working from Jesus' miracles as well as from a dynamic understanding of the image of God, I argue that the categories of healing and transformation should be employed in thinking through the implications of brain‐machine interfaces specifically and neuroengineering generally. Although the vocabulary of the cyborg may represent the newfound freedom that this technology can bring, the category of the face may serve as a reminder of the boundedness of human nature.     

Brain and Machine: Minding the Transhuman Future

Abstract:  Ethical deliberations about brain‐machine interfaces (BMI) focus on how humanity will be changed in imagined future transhuman landscapes. I review some current developments in BMI and suggest that responsible deliberation about BMI proceed by recognizing the typically implicit central role given to the imagined futures and the humans who inhabit them. As responsible deliberators about BMI, we make choices when we engage in "minding the other" that precede and constrain the choices we then make about BMI. I suggest possibilities for such minding that emerge from a theoanthropology grounded in the analogia relationis and that connect to a growing program of neurophenomenology.     

Direct brain communication: neuroelectric and metabolic approaches at Tübingen

The brain–computer interface (BCI) provides users with the possibility of sending messages and commands to the external world without using their muscles, thus enabling communication to occur independent of movement. Such a possibility is of utmost importance for paralyzed patients who may otherwise lose their ability to communicate. Enhanced methodology and the development of faster computers have substantially improved applications and offer new possibilities in this field. To date, there have been over 20 BCI research groups working on different approaches. In this paper, we review our studies of BCI based on electric and metabolic activity of the brain.     

基于自发脑电的脑机接口研究进展

脑机接口是一种不依赖于外周神经和肌肉等常规输出通道的信息交流系统,近年来发展非常迅速。它可为神经肌肉障碍患者提供一条与外界沟通的途径,并在虚拟现实、游戏娱乐和航空等领域具有潜在价值。目前,脑机接口中常用的脑电输入信号包括P300、稳态视觉诱发电位（SS—VEP）、皮层慢电位（SCP）以及μ或β节律等。其中,SCP、μ或β节律等自发脑电不依赖于额外刺激的输入,不会产生视觉疲劳,没有适应性的问题,且其神经生理学基础已获得比较深入的研究,因而在脑机接口中得到了较多的应用。但是,基于自发脑电的脑机接口也存在明显的缺陷,如并非所有个体都适用基于汕节律的脑机接口,基于SCP的脑机接口要经过长时间的训练才能实现等。     

眼动交互中边框和视标对作业绩效的影响研究

研究人计算机界面设计中的眼动交互反馈方式,为优化基于视线追踪技术的人计算机界面设计提供工效学依据。12名被试在交互对象有无边框提示和当前注视位置有无视标反馈的四种组合条件下,通过眼动交互完成目标选择任务,由计算机自动记录作业时间、选择错误和超时数目。结果发现,有无当前注视位置的视标反馈对作业时间有显著影响,有视标反馈可加速目标字母的搜索与定位过程和目标激活过程,由视标反馈所产生的作业时间下降,主要由目标定位时间的缩短所致;边框提示对用户的作业绩效无显著影响。根据上述结果可得以下结论:对当前注视位置提供视标反馈是一种有效的反馈方式,基于视线追踪的人机交互系统应为用户提供这种反馈信息。     

Interface Problems: Structural Constraints on Interpretation?

Five experiments investigated the interpretation of quantified noun phrases in relation to discourse structure. They demonstrated, using questionnaire and on-line reading techniques, that readers in English prefer to give a quantified noun phrase in (VP-external) subject position a presuppositional interpretation, in which the noun phrase limits or restricts the interpretation of an already available set, rather than giving it a nonpresuppositional or existential interpretation, in which it introduces completely new entities into the discourse. Experiment 1 showed that readers prefer a presuppositional interpretation of three ships over the existential interpretation in Five ships appeared on the horizon. Three ships sank. Experiment 2 showed longer reading times in sentences that are disambiguated toward the existential interpretation than in sentences that permit the presuppositional interpretation. Experiment 3 suggested that the presuppositional preference is greater when the phrase three ships occurs outside the verb phrase than when it occurs inside the verb phrase. Experiment 4 showed that Korean subjects marked with a topic marker received more presuppositional interpretations than subjects marked with a nominative marker. Experiment 5 showed that German subjects in VP-external (but nontopic) position received more presuppositional interpretations than VP-internal subjects. The results suggest the syntactic position of a phrase is one determinant of its interpretation, as expected according to the mapping hypothesis of Diesing (1992).This research was supported in part by grants HD-18708 and HD-17246 to the University of Massachusetts. Rayner was also supported by a Research Scientist Award (MH01255).     

情境意识的理论模型、测量及其应用

情境意识（situation awareness简称SA）是个体对不断变化的外部环境的内部表征。在复杂、动态变化的信息环境中,它是影响操作者决策和绩效的关键因素。文章着重回顾并分析了情境意识的四种研究取向,主要的测量技术,及其在系统设计和评价、人员选拔和训练方面的应用,最后提出了未来需要深入研究的几个问题。