The collegial role of editors and reviewers.

Prompted by D. H. Eichorn and G. R. VandenBos's (see record 1986-15484-001) article, the author describes his initiation into the journal publication process and reminds editors and reviewers that they have a collegial responsibility to develop contributing researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of nitrogen-rich B–C–N materials from melamine and boron trichloride

Nitrogen-rich B–C–N materials have been prepared by the reaction between melamine and boron trichloride at different temperatures. The composition of the materials was dependent on the synthesis and annealing temperatures: C6N10.8-11H9.4B1.5-1.7 (for products synthesized and annealed at 673 K), C6N9.3-9.4H3.8-3.9B2.2-2.5 (for those synthesized at 673 K and annealed at 873 K) and C6N9.2H3.6B1.2-1.3 (for those synthesized and annealed at 873 K). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the s-triazine rings from the melamine molecules were preserved in materials synthesized and annealed at 673 and 873 K. The sample obtained at 873 K had a graphite-like structure as suggested by X-ray and electron diffraction studies. The s-triazine rings were decomposed in the materials synthesized or annealed at 1223 K and the main product obtained was turbostratic boron nitride. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

You like it,you learn it: affectivity and learning in competitive social role play gaming

Despite the alleged ability of digital game-based learning (DGBL) to foster positive affect and in turn improve learning, the link between affectivity and learning has not been sufficiently investigated in this field. Regarding learning from team-based games with competitive elements, even less is known about the relationship between competitiveness (as a dispositional trait) and induced positive affect. In this media comparison study with between-subject design, participants (N?=?325; high school and college students) learned about the EU’s policy agenda by means of a debate-based method delivered through one of three educational media: a) through a social role-playing game with competitive elements played on computers, b) through a very similar game played without computers and c) through a non-game workshop. Unlike many previous DGBL studies, this study used participant randomization and strived to address the teacher effect and the length of exposure effect, while also using the same learning materials and a very similar educational method for all three treatments. Both games induced comparatively higher generalized positive affect and flow. Participants also learned more with the games. Positive affect, but not flow, mediated the influence of educational media on learning gains. Participants’ competitiveness was partly related to positive affect and experiencing flow but unrelated to learning gains. These outcomes held both when the game was played using computers, as well as without them. The study indicates that the ability of an educational intervention to instigate positive affect is an important feature that should be considered by educational designers.     

Education and the Coloration Industries

Technical education for the coloration industries is reviewed with particular reference to course and syllabus content, the needs of industry, and the development of the ability and capability of students. The Associateship examination scheme of the Society is considered in detail in relation to aims and content, achievements, possible developments and future prospects. The current position and future of technical education is outlined and discussed briefly.     

Voltammetric response of ferrocene-grafted mesoporous silica

The electrochemical behavior of ferrocene moieties immobilized by covalent grafting on ordered mesoporous silica samples has been studied by cyclic voltammetry in aqueous medium using carbon paste electrodes modified with these solids. The functionalized silica samples were obtained using (3-(ferrocenylamide)propyl)triethoxysilane as the grafting agent. The results have been discussed in relation to the ferrocene content in the materials and compared to those obtained with non-ordered ferrocene-grafted silica gels. Well-defined voltammetric signals have been observed in spite of the insulating character of the mesoporous silica matrix and they were found to increase as a function of the ferrocene groups content in the material. They displayed a better stability upon continuous cycling potentials in comparison to those recorded with amorphous gels, suggesting a beneficial effect of the long-range structural order on the electron transfer processes in such confined media.     

A hybrid swarm intelligence algorithm for multiuser scheduling in HSDPA

Multiuser scheduling is an important aspect in the performance optimization of a wireless network since it allows multiple users to access a shared channel efficiently by exploiting multiuser diversity. To perform efficient scheduling, channel state information (CSI) for users is required, and is obtained via their respective feedback channels. In this paper, a more realistic imperfect CSI feedback, in the form of a finite set of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) values, is assumed as specified in the HSDPA standard. A mathematical model of the problem is developed for use in the optimization process. A hybrid heuristic approach based on particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing is used to solve the problem. Simulation results indicate that the hybrid approach outperforms individual implementations of both simulated annealing and particle swarm optimization.     

Interactive Indirect Illumination Using Voxel Cone Tracing

Indirect illumination is an important element for realistic image synthesis, but its computation is expensive and highly dependent on the complexity of the scene and of the BRDF of the involved surfaces. While off‐line computation and pre‐baking can be acceptable for some cases, many applications (games, simulators, etc.) require real‐time or interactive approaches to evaluate indirect illumination. We present a novel algorithm to compute indirect lighting in real‐time that avoids costly precomputation steps and is not restricted to low‐frequency illumination. It is based on a hierarchical voxel octree representation generated and updated on the fly from a regular scene mesh coupled with an approximate voxel cone tracing that allows for a fast estimation of the visibility and incoming energy. Our approach can manage two light bounces for both Lambertian and glossy materials at interactive framerates (25–70FPS). It exhibits an almost scene‐independent performance and can handle complex scenes with dynamic content thanks to an interactive octree‐voxelization scheme. In addition, we demonstrate that our voxel cone tracing can be used to efficiently estimate Ambient Occlusion.     

Fabrication of Millimeter Wave Components Via Ceramic Stereo- and Microstereolithography Processes

Complex ceramic parts, designed by 3D electromagnetic simulations for microwave devices of high performances, are difficult, even impossible, to elaborate by classical ceramic processing routes. This paper demonstrates the direct fabrication of useful complex microwave devices in millimeter and submillimeter wavelength domains, with a high dimensional resolution, by the numerical techniques of stereolithography and microstereolithography. Alumina and zirconia formulations have been developed with a powder loading >50 vol%, a suitable rheology to spread thin (25–50 μm) and homogeneous layers, and with a sufficient reactivity to UV for polymerization. Devices built with a satisfying manufacturing accuracy have presented excellent experimental electrical behaviors in good agreement with the theoretical ones.     

Charge storage in the O2(g),Pt/YSZ system

The O_2(g),Pt/YSZ system was characterized at 450 °C by using various electrochemical techniques such as single- and double-step chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry and chronopotentiometry. The response to these experiments gives evidence for the presence of pseudocapacitive processes related with charge storage. Linear sweep voltammetric measurements after prolonged anodic polarization have shown that these charges are located at three different locations.