Social perception as induction and inference: An integrative model of intergroup differentiation, ingroup favoritism, and differential accuracy.

Three general properties of social stereotypes are the perception of differences between ingroups and outgroups (intergroup differentiation), the perception of ingroups as having more desirable attributes than outgroups (ingroup favoritism), and the greater accuracy of ingroup perceptions (differential accuracy). We present and test an inductive-reasoning model that accounts for all 3 phenomena, and we explicate the relations among them. Based on empirical evidence, the model assumes that most people have a positive self-image, that they project these self-images more strongly to ingroups than to outgroups, and that their self-images are valid cues for judgments about social groups. Two minimal-group experiments using a crossed-categorization paradigm support the model and provide new evidence for underlying psychological processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reflection properties of oriented thin CdS films formed by laser ablation

Oriented thin (≈2 μm) films, CdS, prepared by laser ablation were characterized by the dependence of external and internal reflection on both the angle of incidence and the polarization of laser light. The samples exhibit perpendicular and parallel orientation of the crystallographic axis with respect to the surface of the glass substrate. The experiments were performed at 300 K using low intensity (<1 W/cm²) cw emissions at 476.5, 514.5 and 632.8 nm of argon and He–Ne lasers respectively. For blue and green light, the results are very well described by the theoretical models based on Fresnel reflection. In contrast to the external features, the internal reflectance exhibits dichroism and birefringence of the samples at 514.5 nm, revealing the sensitivity of the internal reflection technique to the optical anisotropy of the films. Considering multiple-beam interference, the model of Fresnel also describes satisfactorily the results for red light. However, a rather sensitive dependence on the incoming He–Ne laser intensity was observed. In fact, by increasing the intensity of 64 mW/cm² by about one order of magnitude, only the external reflectance shows good agreement with the theory, whereas the internal reflection properties are obviously influenced by additional effects, such as non-linear change of the optical constants, which are not included in Fresnel reflection considerations.     

Gender differences in structured risk assessment: Comparing the accuracy of five instruments.

Structured risk assessment should guide clinical risk management, but it is uncertain which instrument has the highest predictive accuracy among men and women. In the present study, the authors compared the Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL–R; R. D. Hare, 1991, 2003); the Historical, Clinical, Risk Management–20 (HCR-20; C. D. Webster, K. S. Douglas, D. Eaves, & S. D. Hart, 1997); the Risk Matrix 2000–Violence (RM2000[V]; D. Thornton et al., 2003); the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG; V. L. Quinsey, G. T. Harris, M. E. Rice, & C. A. Cormier, 1998); the Offenders Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS; J. B. Copas & P. Marshall, 1998; R. Taylor, 1999); and the total previous convictions among prisoners, prospectively assessed prerelease. The authors compared predischarge measures with subsequent offending and instruments ranked using multivariate regression. Most instruments demonstrated significant but moderate predictive ability. The OGRS ranked highest for violence among men, and the PCL–R and HCR-20 H subscale ranked highest for violence among women. The OGRS and total previous acquisitive convictions demonstrated greatest accuracy in predicting acquisitive offending among men and women. Actuarial instruments requiring no training to administer performed as well as personality assessment and structured risk assessment and were superior among men for violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Metasurfaces Atop Metamaterials: Surface Morphology Induces Linear Dichroism in Gyroid Optical Metamaterials

Optical metamaterials offer the tantalizing possibility of creating extraordinary optical properties through the careful design and arrangement of subwavelength structural units. Gyroid‐structured optical metamaterials possess a chiral, cubic, and triply periodic bulk morphology that exhibits a redshifted effective plasma frequency. They also exhibit a strong linear dichroism, the origin of which is not yet understood. Here, the interaction of light with gold gyroid optical metamaterials is studied and a strong correlation between the surface morphology and its linear dichroism is found. The termination of the gyroid surface breaks the cubic symmetry of the bulk lattice and gives rise to the observed wavelength‐ and polarization‐dependent reflection. The results show that light couples into both localized and propagating plasmon modes associated with anisotropic surface protrusions and the gaps between such protrusions. The localized surface modes give rise to the anisotropic optical response, creating the linear dichroism. Simulated reflection spectra are highly sensitive to minute details of these surface terminations, down to the nanometer level, and can be understood with analogy to the optical properties of a 2D anisotropic metasurface atop a 3D isotropic metamaterial. This pronounced sensitivity to the subwavelength surface morphology has significant consequences for both the design and application of optical metamaterials.     

Distress-Mediated Remodeling of Cardiac Connexin-43 in a Novel Cell Model for Arrhythmogenic Heart Diseases

Gap junctions and their expression pattern are essential to robust function of intercellular communication and electrical propagation in cardiomyocytes. In healthy myocytes, the main cardiac gap junction protein connexin-43 (Cx43) is located at the intercalated disc providing a clear direction of signal spreading across the cardiac tissue. Dislocation of Cx43 to lateral membranes has been detected in numerous cardiac diseases leading to slowed conduction and high propensity for the development of arrhythmias. At the cellular level, arrhythmogenic diseases are associated with elevated levels of oxidative distress and gap junction remodeling affecting especially the amount and sarcolemmal distribution of Cx43 expression. So far, a mechanistic link between sustained oxidative distress and altered Cx43 expression has not yet been identified. Here, we propose a novel cell model based on murine induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to investigate subcellular signaling pathways linking cardiomyocyte distress with gap junction remodeling. We tested the new hypothesis that chronic distress, induced by rapid pacing, leads to increased reactive oxygen species, which promotes expression of a micro-RNA, miR-1, specific for the control of Cx43. Our data demonstrate that Cx43 expression is highly sensitive to oxidative distress, leading to reduced expression. This effect can be efficiently prevented by the glutathione peroxidase mimetic ebselen. Moreover, Cx43 expression is tightly regulated by miR-1, which is activated by tachypacing-induced oxidative distress. In light of the high arrhythmogenic potential of altered Cx43 expression, we propose miR-1 as a novel target for pharmacological interventions to prevent the maladaptive remodeling processes during chronic distress in the heart.     

Strömungsvorgänge in Drallbrennern mit regelbarem Drall und bei rotationssymmetrischen Freistrahlen

Ohne Zusammenfassung Schlu? des Aufsatzes aus Heft 6 (1959) S. 165/81. VDI     

Microstructure and plasticity of two molybdenum-base alloys (TZM)

In two different commercial Mo-base alloys (TZM), produced by vacuum melting and by powder metallurgy respectively, microstructural differences (particle size and chemistry, grain and subgrain sizes, dislocation density) have been found which affect the observed mechanical properties of the material. The compression-creep properties at 1423 K show a negligibly small creep rate at a stress of approximately 200 MPa. Trapping of dislocations by particles is proposed to be the controlling deformation mechanism during creep. The microstructure and fatigue properties of TZM welds were also investigated. Friction welds showed the best mechanical properties. Fatigue measurements in load control at room temperature and 1123 K show that the endurance limit of the vacuum-melted alloy is higher than that of the powder-metallurgically processed alloy.     

Charge states and energy loss of relativistic heavy ions in matter

Relativistic heavy-ion collisions of few-electron projectiles ranging from argon up to uranium have been investigated in solid and gaseous media. Electron-loss and electron-capture cross sections, charge-state distributions, as well as energy loss and energy deposition have been measured and are compared with theoretical predictions. Especially fully-ionized heavy projectiles represent a unique possibility to test atomic-collision theories.