Individual and contextual predictors of involvement in twelve-step self-help groups after substance abuse treatment

Drawing on ecological and narrative theories of self-help groups, this study tests a multilevel model predicting self-help group involvement among male veterans who received inpatient substance abuse treatment. Following K. Maton (1993), the study moves beyond the individual-level of analysis to encompass variables in the treatment and post-treatment social ecology. Surveys administered to patients (N = 3,018) and treatment staff (N = 329) assessed these predictor domains and self-help group involvement 1 year after discharge. A hierarchical linear model fit to the data indicates that greater involvement in 12-step groups after discharge is predicted by the compatibility between personal and treatment belief systems. The implications of these findings for efforts to facilitate transitions between inpatient professional treatment and community-based self-help groups are discussed.     

Twin-coupled domain structures in epitaxial relaxor ferroelectric Ba(Zr,Ti)O3 thin films on (001) MgO substrate

We report the twin-coupled multi-oriented domain structures in the epitaxial BZT20 (20%Zr) films grown on the (001) MgO substrate using pulsed-laser deposition. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the film consists of an epitaxial layer of pseudo-cubic perovskite structure and a nanopillar layer of multi-oriented twin domain structures near the surface. Four types of the twin domains were formed in the nanopillar layers by coherently joining their {111} with the epilayer and aligning their ?110? directions parallel to the ?110? axes of the epilayer. A non-uniform polarization switching behavior was observed due to the formation of such complex structure in the BZT20 films.     

Tailoring of interfaces in amorphous silicon–germanium multilayers on the atomic scale by ultra-high gravity

Amorphous Si/Ge multilayers containing diffuse interfaces have been prepared, heated in an ultra-centrifuge and subsequent interface structure modifications observed by X-ray reflectivity. The thickness of the Si/Ge and Ge/Si interface zones became asymmetrical owing to various effects occurring on the different atoms parallel to the direction of gravity-induced diffusion. The technique could prove useful for tuning physical (electronic, magnetic or optical) properties of layered structures.     

Meta-Analysis of Pragmatic and Theoretical Research: A Critique

Meta-analysis refers to a set of statistical procedures used to summarize and integrate many empirical studies that focus on one issue. This numerical method of integrating research findings is said to be superior to the narrative type of reviews because it is more objective, reliable, and rigorous. Moreover, the meta-analytic approach is supposedly capable of resolving research controversies, strengthening empirical hypotheses, and discovering new relationships among variables. In this study, these claims are examined and found to be wanting. Some objections to the use of meta-analysis as a means of substantiating theoretical assertions are raised with reference to the rationale of experimentation and to how knowledge evolves. It is concluded that it is inappropriate to apply meta-analysis to integrate theoretical research.     

A novel method for assessing rival models of recognition memory

A general comparison is made between the multinomial processing tree (MPT) approach and a strength-based approach for modeling recognition memory measurement. Strength models include the signal-detection model and the dual-process model. Existing MPT models for recognition memory and a new generic MPT model, called the Multistate (MS) model, are contrasted with the strength models. Although the ROC curves for the MS model and strength model are similar, there is a critical difference between existing strength models and MPT models that goes beyond the assessment of the ROC. This difference concerns the question of stochastic mixtures for foil test trials. The hazard function and the reverse hazard function are powerful methods for detecting the presence of a probabilistic mixture. Several new theorems establish a novel method for obtaining information about the hazard function and reverse hazard function for the latent continuous distributions that are assumed in the strength approach to recognition memory. Evidence is provided that foil test trials involve a stochastic mixture. This finding occurred for both short-term memory procedures, such as the Brown–Peterson task, and long-term list-learning procedures, such as the paired-associate task. The effect of mixtures on foil trials is problematic for existing strength models but can be readily handled by MPT models such as the MS model. Other phenomena, such as the mirror effect and the effect of target-foil similarity, are also predicted accurately by the MPT modeling framework.     

Deconfounding the Effects of Local Element Spatial Heterogeneity and Sparsity on Processing Dominance

Black and White American college students were compared to determine how daily hassles, coping strategies, and social support related to depression. Although the mean intensity of hassles did not differ, Black students reported a higher frequency of hassles. Cumulative severity of hassles, defined in terms of both intensity and frequency was therefore higher for Black students. White students perceived more support from friends than from family, but the opposite held for Black students. Mean scores on type of coping (active problem solving, seeking social support, or avoidance) were similar, as were the reported levels of depression. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that the severity of hassles was directly related to depression for both groups. Race did not interact with any index of social support, except perceived family support, which was related to lower depression among Black students. There was no support for the notion that social support serves as a buffer against depression.     

Cross‐cultural evidence of value structures and priorities in childhood

We broaden the developmental focus of the theory of universals in basic human values (Schwartz, 1992, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology) by presenting supportive evidence on children's values from six countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, the United States, and New Zealand. 3,088 7–11‐year‐old children completed the Picture‐Based Value Survey for Children (PBVS‐C, Döring et al., 2010, J. Pers. Assess., 92, 439). Grade 5 children also completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ, Schwartz, 2003, A proposal for measuring value orientations across nations. Chapter 7 in the Questionnaire Development Package of the European Social Survey). Findings reveal that the broad value structures, sex differences in value priorities and pan‐cultural value hierarchies typical of adults have already taken form at this early age. We discuss the conceptual implications of these findings for the new field of children's basic values by embedding them in the recent developmental literature.     

Bayesian hierarchical modeling of the temporal dynamics of subjective well-being: A 10 year longitudinal analysis

This study demonstrates, for the first time, how Bayesian hierarchical modeling can be applied to yield novel insights into the long-term temporal dynamics of subjective well-being (SWB). Several models were proposed and examined using Bayesian methods. The models were assessed using a sample of Australian adults (n = 1081) who provided annual SWB scores on between 5 and 10 occasions. The best fitting models involved a probit transformation, allowed error variance to vary across participants, and did not include a lag parameter. Including a random linear and quadratic effect resulted in only a small improvement over the intercept only model. Examination of individual-level fits suggested that most participants were stable with a small subset exhibiting patterns of systematic change.     

Core structure of a〈100〉 superdislocations in a single-crystal superalloy during high-temperature and low-stress creep

A thorough TEM analysis has been carried out to study the dislocations cutting into γ′ phase in a single-crystal superalloy during uniaxial tensile creep under high-temperature and low-stress conditions. It is proved that the a〈100〉 edge superdislocation originates from the interfacial a〈100〉 dislocations and moves into the γ′ phase by pure climbing. And the dissociation of the a〈100〉 superdislocation core into two a/2〈101〉 superpartial dislocations during uniaxial tensile creep has been identified by HRTEM method for the first time.