Understanding and similarity in marriage.

The following conclusions appear to be justified: (1) There is no evidence that happiness in marriage is a function of understanding the mate or is related to the similarity of selves of the mates. (2) Evidence indicates that marital happiness is associated with similarity of self perceptions of the mates. (3) Husbands and wives are no more similar in self perceptions than randomly paired men and women. (4) Marital happiness is related to the conformity of men to self perceptions of their sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fictions and Facts About Evolutionary Approaches to Human Behavior: Comment on Lickliter and Honeycutt (2003).

Six misconceptions about evolutionary approaches to human behavior are exposed. Evidence is adduced to support the assertions that evolutionary approaches do not (a) adopt a reductionistic "gene-centered" level of analysis, (b) assume that natural selection is the only process that creates and designs ontogenetic processes and phenotypic outcomes, (c) assume that genes are the only agents responsible for the transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic traits and characteristics, (d) assume that genes are self-contained and impervious to extragenetic influences, (e) posit a strong form of genetic determinism, or (f) pay lip service to the role of the environment. Building straw men and knocking them down is an inherently destructive enterprise; integrating different approaches is a more constructive way of contributing to the growth of knowledge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Power, approach, and inhibition.

This article examines how power influences behavior. Elevated power is associated with increased rewards and freedom and thereby activates approach-related tendencies. Reduced power is associated with increased threat, punishment, and social constraint and thereby activates inhibition-related tendencies. The authors derive predictions from recent theorizing about approach and inhibition and review relevant evidence. Specifically, power is associated with (a) positive affect, (b) attention to rewards, (c) automatic information processing, and (d) disinhibited behavior. In contrast, reduced power is associated with (a) negative affect; (b) attention to threat, punishment, others' interests, and those features of the self that are relevant to others' goals; (c) controlled information processing; and (d) inhibited social behavior. The potential moderators and consequences of these power-related behavioral patterns are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enrichment process of lanthanum as a nonessential trace element in leaf cells of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Rare earth elements (REEs) as nonessential trace elements are enriched in living organisms and threaten their health. To early detect and reduce REE enrichment in living organisms, scientists are focused on clarifying the enrichment process of REEs in living organisms and its risks. However, the enrichment process of REEs in edible plant cells has remained unclear. Herein, by using interdisciplinary methods and techniques, the enrichment process of lanthanum (La(III)) in the leaf cells of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was investigated. (1) When La(III) exposure dose is 0.5–5 μmol/L, La(III) is enriched outside the plasma membrane (PM). In this zone, La(III) is bound to vitronectin-like protein (VN) to form La–VN complexes; (2) When La(III) exposure dose is 5–20 μmol/L, besides the zone outside the PM, La(III) is also enriched on the PM and bound to arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) to form La–AGPs complexes; (3) When La(III) exposure dose is 20–140 μmol/L, besides the zone outside and on the PM, La(III) is enriched inside the PM; (4) When La(III) exposure dose is 60–140 μmol/L, malondialdehyde content (an important indicator of invisible damage) significantly increases. Thus, as La(III) exposure dose increases, La(III) gradually migrates from outside the PM to the PM and inside the PM, enriching in these zones in turn. The enriched La(III) will cause invisible damage to lettuce leaf cells and even enter human bodies along food chains. These results provide references for investigating the enrichment process of REEs in plants and its environmental risks, and finding strategies to early detect and reduce REE enrichment in plants.     

Clinical psychology: Comments and suggestions.

Society is in need of and has demanded psychological services; there is an increase in concern with the professional problems inherent in offering services to the public. A 6-point program is offered: (a) Experienced clinicians are needed to teach university courses in psychotherapy or diagnostic testing. (b) Full professional responsibility must await postdoctoral experience. (c) Psychology must take active steps to encourage high school students and undergraduates to seek psychology as a vocation. (d) New measures must be taken to develop a genuine "research attitude," if productivity in the clinical as well as other areas of psychology is to be increased. (e) A new journal is needed that will provide space for airing clinical professional problems, clinical case studies, clinical theoretical articles, and similar material. (f) Psychological organizations should take heed of the needs and demands of the service-oriented psychologists, "to place high on the agenda problems of professionalization." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

铸造铝硅合金中硅相变质机制的电子理论研究

通过计算机编程构造出了Al-Si铸造合金中Si(金刚石结构)相(111)表面及稀土导致的(111)孪晶表面的原子结构模型，利用连分敷方法计算了稀土处于表面及孪晶表面这两种位置时的电子结构。稀土原子处于孪晶表面时的结构能明显比处于Si(111)表面大，说明稀土原子容易占据孪晶表面的位置；稀土原子处于孪晶界时的环境敏感镶嵌能比处于表面小，说明稀土处于孪晶表面时比较稳定，同时原子间的键级积分计算也表明稀土能够占据孪晶表面的位置且在此处较稳定。这就从电子层次解释了稀土导致孪晶的事实，阐明了稀土在Al-Si铸造合金中的变质机制。     

Fears, phobias, and preparedness: Toward an evolved module of fear and fear learning.

An evolved module for fear elicitation and fear learning with 4 characteristics is proposed. (a) The fear module is preferentially activated in aversive contexts by stimuli that are fear relevant in an evolutionary perspective. (b) Its activation to such stimuli is automatic. (c) It is relatively impenetrable to cognitive control. (d) It originates in a dedicated neural circuitry, centered on the amygdala. Evidence supporting these propositions is reviewed from conditioning studies, both in humans and in monkeys; illusory correlation studies; studies using unreportable stimuli; and studies from animal neuroscience. The fear module is assumed to mediate an emotional level of fear learning that is relatively independent and dissociable from cognitive learning of stimulus relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissolution of multicomponents during hydrothermal leaching of LF desulfurization slag

In light of the multicomponent dissolution equilibrium during the hydrothermal leaching of LF desulfurization slag, thermodynamic calculations were made and the dissolution equilibrium curves of calcium, aluminum and sulfur were plotted to analyze the interactions between these components and their influence on sulfur leaching. Furthermore, slag leaching experiments were conducted to investigate variation of pH and concentration of major components in the leaching solution. The results show that CaS(s) is easily soluble in water, and when pH>11. 4, CaS(s) dissolves to form Ca(OH)2(s). Use of hydrothermal leaching for sulfur removal from LF desulfurization slag is theoretically feasible. CaSO4(s) is difficult to dissolve and its solubility is always lower than that of CaS(s); therefore, slag oxidation affects negatively sulfur leaching. However, when the pH of the leaching environment is controlled to be above 12. 3, CaSO4(s) is gradually transformed into Ca(OH)2(s). Al2(SO4)3(s) is easily soluble, and it is unlikely that Al will react with sulfur in the solution to form a precipitate. The pH of the leaching solution rises with time and remains at about 12. Calcium concentration in the leaching solution is high, while Al concentration is low. Sulfur concentration in the solution increases with time, and Al in the slag has little effect on sulfur leaching. It is thus concluded that hydrothermal leaching is effective in removing sulfur from LF desulfurization slag.     

How to study consciousness scientifically

The neurosciences have advanced to the point that we can now treat consciousness as a scientific problem like any other. The problem is to explain how brain processes cause consciousness and how consciousness is realized in the brain. Progress is impeded by a number of philosophical mistakes, and the aim of this paper is to remove nine of those mistakes: (i) consciousness cannot be defined; (ii) consciousness is subjective but science is objective; (iii) brain processes cannot explain consciousness; (iv) the problem of 'qualia' should be set aside; (v) consciousness is epiphenomenal; (vi) consciousness has no evolutionary function; (vii) a causal account of consciousness is necessarily dualistic; (viii) science is reductionistic, so a scientific account of consciousness would show it reducible to something else; and (ix) an account of consciousness must be an information processing account.     

Bioreduction of Hexavalent Chromium in Flow-Through Quartz Sand Columns

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination of soil and groundwater is a major environmental concern for some industrial sites and most of the U.S. Department of Energy sites. Cr(VI) is toxic and fairly mobile in groundwater. Bioreduction of Cr(VI) to less toxic and less mobile Cr(III) is considered to be a feasible option. Among the Cr(VI) reducing bacteria, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (MR-1) has been shown to be effective in metal reduction under anaerobic conditions. Data on bioreduction of Cr(VI) by MR-1 in a flow-through soil column that better approximates the subsurface condition are not available. The objective of this research project was to study the bioreduction of Cr(VI) by MR-1 in a continuous-flow quartz sand column system. MR-1 was found to be very effective in reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III) for concentrations ranging from 0.055 mM (2.85?mg/L) to 0.006 mM (0.31?mg/L). The amount of Cr(VI) reduced prior to its breakthrough was found to be inversely proportional to its concentration in the feed due to increased inhibition of microbial activity and a residual reduction of 20–45% of Cr(VI) was observed even after its breakthrough.     

Reaction of myeloperoxidase compound I with chloride, bromide, iodide, and thiocyanate

Myeloperoxidase plays a fundamental role in oxidant production by neutrophils. The enzyme uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidize chloride (Cl-), bromide (Br-), iodide (I-), and the pseudohalide thiocyanate (SCN-) to their respective hypohalous acids. This study for the first time presents transient kinetic measurements of the oxidation of these halides and thiocyanate by the myeloperoxidase intermediate compound I, using the sequential mixing stopped-flow technique. At pH 7 and 15 degrees C, the two-electron reduction of compound I to the native enzyme by Cl- has a second-order rate constant of (2.5 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), whereas reduction of compound I by SCN- has a second-order rate constant of (9.6 +/- 0.5) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Iodide [(7.2 +/- 0.7) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)] is shown to be a better electron donor for compound I than Br- [(1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)]. The pH dependence studies suggest that compound I reduction by (pseudo-)halides is controlled by a residue with a pKa of about 4.6. The protonation of this group is necessary for optimum (pseudo-)halide anion oxidation. These transient kinetic results are underlined by steady-state spectral and kinetic investigations. SCN- is shown to be most effective in shifting the system myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide from the peroxidatic cycle to the halogenation cycle, whereas iodide is shown to be more effective than bromide which in turn is much more effective than chloride. Decreasing pH increases the rate of this transition. Our results show that thiocyanate is an important substrate of myeloperoxidase in most environments and that hypothiocyanate is likely to contribute to leukocyte antimicrobial activity.     

Concepts, properties, and applications of linear systems to describe distribution, identify input, and control endogenous substances and drugs in biological systems

The response at time t (R(t)) of a (causal linear time invariant) system to an input A(t) is represented by: [equation: see text] where K(t) is called the unit impulse response function of the system, and the integration on the right side of the equation (above) is called the convolution (from the latin cum volvere: to interwine) of A(t) and K(t). The system described by this equation is at zero (initial conditions) when t = 0. Although it does not even begin to describe the incredible variety of possible responses of biological systems to inputs, this representation has large applicability in biology. One of the most frequently used applications is known as deconvolution: to deinterwine R(t) given a known K(t) (or A(t)) and observations of R(t), to obtain A(t) (or K(t)). In this paper attention is focused on a greater variety of aspects associated with the use of linear systems to describe biological systems. In particular I define causal linear time-invariant systems and their properties and review the most important classes of methods to solve the deconvolution problem, address. The problem of model selection, the problem of obtaining statistics and in particular confidence bands for the estimated A(t) (and K(t)), and the problem of deconvolution in a population context is also addressed, and so is the application of linear system analysis to determine fraction of input absorbed (bioavailability). A general model to do so in a multiinput-site linear system is presented. Finally the application of linear system analysis to control a biological system, and in particular to target a desired response level, is described, and a general method to do so is presented. Applications to simulated, endocrinology, and pharmacokinetics data are reported.     

Improvement of microstructure and coercivity for Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets by boundary introducing low melting point alloys

Different from the grain boundary diffusion process(GBDP),which is suitable for modifying thin magnet,a green-pressing agents permeation process(GAPP) that uses low melting point alloys was applied to the Nd-Fe-B green compact with a thickness over 15 mm to reconstruct the boundary microstructure of a sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet.The coercivity increases from 12.3 kOe for the sample free of Pr_(80)Al_(20) to16.8 kOe for the sample with 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20).By further increasing the Pr_(80)Al_(20) content to 3 wt%,the coercivity increases slightly,but the remanence and H_k/H_(cj) deteriorate obviously.The optimal comprehensive properties of H_(cj)=16.8 kOe,B_r=13.4 kG and H_k/H_(cj)=0.975 are obtained at 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20),since matrix phase grains are separated by relatively continuous thin grain boundary layers,which weaken the magnetic coupling between adjacent grains.The coercivities of the samples from the GAPP that use2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20),Pr_(70)Al_(30) and Pr_(60)Tb_(20)Al_(20) alloys,respectively,can be enhanced to a large extent.However,the coercivity of the magnet reconstructed with Pr_(80)Al_(20) is lower than that of the sample with Pr_(60)Tb_(20)Al_(20) but is higher than that of the sample reconstructed with Pr_(70)Cu_(30) alloy.Moreover,the coercivity of the sample from the GAPP using 2 wt% Pr_(80)Al_(20) is much higher than that of the sample from the GBDP,which is due to a nearly uniform boundary microstructure from the surface to the interior of the thick magnet from the GAPP,thus providing new insights into the fabrication of thick and bulky permanent magnets with high coercivity.     

Supervision by telephone: An innovation in psychoanalytic training--a roundtable discussion.

Supervision using the telephone was the topic at a roundtable discussion during the 2005 Spring meeting of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association. Areas of agreement that emerged from the discussion among the panelists and the audience included the following: (a) that some face-to-face contact to supplement telephone supervision is desirable; (b) that the process and relational fit between the supervisee and the supervisor is more important than whether supervision is over the telephone on in person; (c) that parallel process is important in supervision; (d) that the supervisory alliance is important; (e) that telephone supervision is essential in distance learning programs, and (f) that telephone supervision permits exposure to diverse viewpoints that might otherwise not be available. Telephone supervision is frequently used but rarely discussed. Panelists all felt that the topic needs further discussion and must be seriously considered in training programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal attraction and attitude similarity.

It "was hypothesized that (a) a stranger who is known to have attitudes similar to those of the subject is better liked than a stranger with attitudes dissimilar to those of the subject, (b)… is judged to be more intelligent, better informed, more moral, and better adjusted… and (c)… is evaluated more positively on… four [other] variables." The first 2 hypotheses were confirmed. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4GE13B. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Potassium permanganate susceptibility of sigma E-RNA polymerase-promoter complexes

Formation of the vibronic wavepacket by 90-fs excitation of the primary electron donor P in bacteriochlorophyll(M)-modified reaction centers is shown to induce nuclear motions accompanied by (1) oscillation of the stimulated emission from excited primary electron donor P* and (2) wavepacket motions leading to electron transfer at 293 K from P* to bacteriochlorophyll (B(L)) and then to bacteriopheophytin (H(L)). The latter motions have low frequency (about 15 cm-1) and are related to protein-nuclear motions which are along the reaction coordinate. When the wavepacket approaches the intersection of the reactant (P*B(L)) and product (P+B(L)-) potential energy surfaces (approximately 1.5 ps delay), about 60% of P* is converted to the P+B(L)- state. The P+H(L)- state formation is delayed by approximately 2 ps with respect to that of P+B(L)-. It is suggested that the wavepacket is transferred to and moves also slowly on the P+B(L)- potential energy surface and approaches the intersection of the surfaces of P+B(L)- and P+H(L)- within approximately 2 ps (approximately 8 cm-1), indicating the electron transfer to H(L).     

Specification searches in covariance structure modeling.

Examines whether common procedures for conducting specification searches are likely to lead to discovery of the correct population model by constructing artificial data for which there is a known correct model, fitting a misspecified model to the data, and determining whether a specification search would lead to specification of the correct model. Results indicate that the likelihood of success in a specification search is optimal when (a) the investigator's initial model corresponds closely to the true model, (b) the search is allowed to continue even when a statistically plausible model is obtained, (c) the investigator can place valid restrictions on permissible modifications, and (d) a large sample is used. It is shown that even under favorable conditions, models arising from specification searches must be viewed with caution. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of individual differences in field dependence as a factor in learning and memory.

A review of the literature relating individual differences in field dependence to learning and memory suggests the following conclusions: (a) Field-dependent Ss are dominated by the salient cues in concept attainment problems, whereas field-independent Ss sample more fully from the available cue set. (b) Field-dependent Ss tend to use "spectator" approaches to learning. Whereas field-independent Ss more often use "participant" approaches. (c) Field independence is related to frequency of dream recall. (d) Field dependence is related to the magnitude of stress effects on learning and memory. (e) Field independence is related to performance effectiveness under conditons of intrinsic motivation. (f) Field dependence is related to the effectiveness of negative reinforcement. (g) Incidental learning of social information is greater among field-dependent than among field-independent Ss. (5 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Taxometrics, polytomous constructs, and the comparison curve fit index: A Monte Carlo analysis.

The taxometric method effectively distinguishes between dimensional (1-class) and taxonic (2-class) latent structure, but there is virtually no information on how it responds to polytomous (3-class) latent structure. A Monte Carlo analysis showed that the mean comparison curve fit index (CCFI; Ruscio, Haslam, & Ruscio, 2006) obtained with 3 taxometric procedures—mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), maximum covariance (MAXCOV), and latent mode factor analysis (L-Mode)—accurately identified 1-class (dimensional) and 2-class (taxonic) samples and produced taxonic results when applied to 3-class (polytomous) samples. From these results it is concluded that using the simulated data curve approach and averaging across procedures is an effective way of distinguishing between dimensional (1-class) and categorical (2 or more classes) latent structure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)