Developing professional identities: remaking the academic for corporate times

This article posits the view that a new curriculum is being applied to professional identity formation as we enter the new millennium. The changing nature of academics' life and work is used as a case study in how new knowledge is being applied in ways that represent a radical departure from the sort of knowledge traditionally associated with formal institutions of learning. The authors use one academic manager's vision of excellence as an instance of the application of this new curriculum. They then broaden the focus to consider how this instance takes its place in a more widespread imperative to reshape work practices through the creation of enterprising cultures and enterprising individuals, within universities and outside them. The analysis concludes by returning to consider the tactics being used to re/form the Australian academic as an 'excellent' teacher.     

Invulnerability and the intention to drink and drive: An application of the theory of planned behavior

The present study aims at an examination, based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), of the psychological antecedents of young Chinese people's intentions to drive after drinking. One hundred and twenty-four licensed drivers (aged from 19 to 35 years) successfully completed an online questionnaire. Using path analysis, we found the most proximal predictors of intention to be attitudes and perceived behavioral control, whereas invulnerability as well as subjective norms indirectly influenced intention by promoting favorable attitudes toward and greater perceived behavioral control over driving after alcohol use. The total explained variances in the intention to drink and drive reached 79%. The present findings highlight irrational beliefs of invulnerability and the three TPB components as potentially valid targets for prevention and intervention efforts against drinking and driving among young Chinese drivers.     

PVC nanocomposites—Nanoclay chemistry and performance

Nanoclay applications in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) have been limited, as the organic modifier of conventional nanoclays can promote PVC degradation. Novel nanoclays designed for enhanced PVC compatibility were compounded with PVC. Hectorite and bentonite clays were studied as nanoclay fillers. Two incorporation methods were evaluated to determine the effect on nanoclay dispersion and composite performance. A two‐stage method, in which the nanoclay was predispersed in plasticizer, resulted in good nanoclay dispersion at both the micrometer and nanometer scales. The nanocomposites were characterized by using a wide range of analytical tools. They exhibited significantly improved heat stability, an increase of up to 200% in storage modulus, and a decrease of up to 77% in oxygen permeation, as compared to unfilled PVC. Bentonite nanoclays provided a greater increase in barrier and mechanical properties. No change was seen in the PVC glass transition temperature. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of induced moods on voice affect.

Happy or sad moods were experimentally induced in 30 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders using a frequently employed mood-induction technique. Voice affect (with verbal content filtered out) was found to be significantly happier during the positive mood induction than during a baseline neutral condition. Voice affect was significantly sadder during the negative mood induction only for the youngest age group (1st graders). Results support the validity of mood-induction techniques with young children. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Viscosity studies of some polyamides dissolved in mixed solvents (cosolvents)

The solubility of poly (octamethylene sebacamide) (POS), poly (octamethylene terephthalamide) (POT) and poly (octamethylene tetrachloroterephthalamide) (POTC1), in $\text{m-}\text{cresol}\text{cyclohexane}$ mixtures, a cosolvent system, has been studied by measuring the intrinsic viscosity [η], at 25°C. The intrinsic viscosities of POT, POS and POTC1 in various solvent/non-solvent mixtures are higher than the corresponding intrinsic viscosities in the pure solvent m-cresol. The POT and POTC1 polyamides exhibit a sharp increase in [η] values compared with the corresponding small increase in the POS polyamide. The POTC1 polyamide presents a true cosolvency effect in $\text{m-}\text{cresol}\text{cyclohexane}$ mixtures; m-cresol and cyclohexane are non-solvents for this polyamide. The cosolvent behaviour is discussed in terms of the most energetically favourable interactions. The aromatic ring in POT and POTC1 would expand the chain, would favour a better packing between neighbouring solvent molecules and would favour the selective adsorption in the cosolvent system.     

Differential effectiveness of three clinical interventions for different socioeconomic groupings.

Randomly assigned 91 children referred for emotional and behavioral problems from elementary schools representing a wide socioeconomic range to 1 of 3 forms of psychological intervention (child therapy, parent counseling, and an experimental method called "information feedback"). Outcomes were measured in terms of changes in school grades and Os' ratings of school behavior. All interventions resulted in slightly improved peer relations (as measured by Os). On school grades, there was an Intervention Method * Socioeconomic Level interaction: Information feedback resulted in improved grades for children in upper socioeconomic levels, parent counseling led to improved grades for lower levels, and child therapy (the only intervention in which clinical contacts centered on the child) resulted in lower grades for all levels. (39 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)