Individual differences in status generalization: Effects of need for social approval, anticipated interpersonal contact, and instrumental task abilities.

Conducted 2 studies to (a) extend the scope of the work done by J. Berger and his associates (1977) using expectation states theory and (b) test the hypothesis that need for social approval and differences in relative status between actors combine to structure the status-organizing process. A total of 337 undergraduate students in introductory psychology classes served as Ss. Design and procedures for the 2 studies and for each of the 4 experiments are described in detail. Study 1 focused on the role of normative dependence; Study 2 on the role of informational dependence. Overall, the findings are interpreted as supporting the idea that the construct of the need for social approval contains both an approval-seeking and a defensiveness components that are activated differently by the anticipation of personal contact and by the presence of a task ability that makes performance relevant to self concepts. (2? p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A second step toward the polynomial hierarchy

Some of the questions posed by Baker et al. [1] are here answered. The principal result is that there exists a recursive oracle for which the relativized polynomial hierarchy exists through the second level; that is, there is a recursive set B such that $\text{Σ}\text{2}\text{P,B}\text{≠}\text{Π}\text{2}\text{P,B}$. It follows that $\text{Σ}\text{2}\text{P,B}\text{?}\text{Σ}\text{3}\text{P,B}$.     

An experimental investigation into liquid jetting modes and break-up mechanisms conducted in a new reduced gravity facility

Liquid jets, important to many industrial applications including various drop-on-demand processes, are experimentally produced in reduced gravity conditions and analysed to determine the mode the liquid jet is operating in. Three physically different modes of liquid jetting are observed along with their associated break up mechanisms and discussed. Additionally, a) the theoretical transition between jetting and the onset of chaotic dripping is shown to be valid over a range of Re and We numbers in a reduced gravity environment; b) the theoretical transition between a convective and an absolute instability acting on a liquid jet does not appear valid for high Reynolds number jets operating in reduced gravity; c) for the first time, chaotic dripping has been observed and documented in reduced gravity; and, d) a transition is shown to exist in reduced gravity between chaotic dripping and quasi-steady growth. The work has applications to systems operating in both reduced gravity and in select systems operating in normal gravity. The work has been highly successful and has demonstrated the utility of the new Australian test facility in providing adequate test time and reduced gravity conditions to study sensitive phenomena under reduced gravity conditions.     

Perceptions of self-managed learning opportunities and academic locus of control: A causal interpretation.

566 students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 were assessed at the beginning and the end of a school year on their perception of opportunities for self-management of their instruction and on their academic locus of control (Attitude Toward Learning Processes instrument and the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire, respectively). Data were analyzed by a cross-lagged panel correlation technique. Perceptions of opportunity for self-management of instruction were causally prior to perceptions of academic locus of control. It is suggested that if students perceive the classroom as a place where they can in part manage their own instruction, then they are likely to accept responsibility for their academic successes and especially for their academic failures. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrated behavior change techniques for problem drinkers in the community.

Evaluated the therapeutic potential of learning techniques in changing abusive drinking patterns and achieving moderation using 80 regularly employed drinkers with intact families, remaining self-esteem, but also alcohol-related problems. The following procedures were studied: videotaped self-confrontation of drunken behavior, aversion training for overconsumption, discrimination training for blood alcohol concentration, alternatives training, behavior counseling, and alcohol education. All the techniques were applied to Group 1 (n?=?23), the last 4 to Group 2 (n?=?19), alcohol education only to Group 3 (n?=?21), and the last 3 to Group 4 (n?=?17). Tests administered included the California Psychological Inventory, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale. During the 1st yr of follow-up, significant decreases in alcohol intake were found for all groups, and the percentage of moderate drinkers changed from 0% to 62.5%. Significant differences between groups were not found. The effects on outcome of a large variance in pretreatment S characteristics such as alcohol intake, the amount of possible change in intake, the program's learning orientation, and blind follow-up are discussed as factors that may partially account for the lack of differential treatment effects. It is concluded that moderation is a more attainable and feasible goal for problem drinkers than for chronic alcoholics. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research to provide criteria for more economical nuclear power plant structures and components

The material presented in this paper defines areas for future research which may lead to more economical nuclear power plant structures and components. The major points of discussion are: (1) better definition of loads and load combinations; (2) improved techniques for determining material properties and structural capacities and behavior; (3) areas where standardization and simplified techniques may be used; (4) more realistic equipment seismic input and economical seismic qualification techniques; (5) improved information on equipment support hardware; and (6) aseismic inelastic design criteria for Category I structures and components.     

Finite element analysis of rubber-like materials by a mixed model

A Reissner type variational principle is utilized to formulate a mixed finite element model for a finite-strain analysis of Mooney-Rivlin rubber-like materials. An incremental and stationary Lagrangian formulation is adopted. The functional consists of incremental displacements and incremental hydrostatic and distortional stresses as variables. In the finite element formulation the displacements are interpolated in terms of nodal displacements while the two different strss components are approximated independently. The stress parameters for the distortional stresses are eliminated at the element level and the resulting matrix equations for each incremental solution involve the incremental nodal displacements and the average hydrostatic pressure in each element as unknowns. Four-node quadrilateral plane stain elements were used to analyze the inflation of an infinitely long thick-walled cylinder subjected to internal pressure. Both resulting displacements and stresses are found to converge to exact values as the magnitude of the loading increments is decreasing.     

Role expectation and role performance in distressed and normal couples.

To determine the relative importance of role expectations vs role performances in differentiating distressed from nondistressed couples, the Kelly-Tharp Marital Role Questionnaire was administered to 26 couples seeking psychiatric services and to 26 matched control couples. Distressed and nondistressed Ss were found to reflect very similar responses on expectation items and highly dissimilar responses on corresponding enactment items—findings that were particularly striking for items within the Sexuality and Solidarity scales. Methodological and theoretical considerations relevant to these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)