Implicit and explicit components of prejudice.

Research on implicit and explicit prejudice has treated implicit prejudices as a unitary construct characterized by automatic access to negative concepts. The present article makes the case that tasks purported to measure implicit prejudice actually assess 2 different processes. Some assess the extent to which prejudice is activated automatically on the perception of a member of the target group. Other implicit tasks assess the extent to which prejudice is automatically applied in judgment. In the reported study, participants completed 4 implicit and 2 explicit measures of prejudice against women. Factor analysis yielded a 3-factor solution. The solution provides support for the distinction between explicit prejudice and 2 types of implicit prejudice corresponding to automatic activation and automatic application of prejudice. Prejudice appears to be a multifaceted construct, different aspects of which are measured by different tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Deviance or uniqueness, harmony or conformity? A cultural analysis.

Uniqueness has positive connotations of freedom and independence in American culture, whereas conformity has positive connotations of connectedness and harmony in East Asian culture. The present research examined how these cultural values and individual preferences for uniqueness and conformity influence each other. In Studies 1 and 2, East Asian and European American preferences for uniqueness were measured using abstract figures. In Study 3, the choice of pens by East Asians and European Americans was examined as a function of whether the pen appeared unique. In Study 4, Korean and American magazine ads were analyzed with a focus on themes of conformity and uniqueness. In all studies, East Asians preferred targets that represented conformity, whereas European Americans preferred targets that represented uniqueness. The results highlight the relationship between individual preference and the adoption and perpetuation of cultural values. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Manchmal ist der wichtigste Baustein kein Baustein

Italian LEGO Users Group am 26. M?rz ihre vierte Vollversammlung abhielt.     

Sex hormones affect spatial abilities during the menstrual cycle.

The aim of this study was (a) to show that different measures of spatial cognition are modulated by the menstrual cycle and (b) to analyze which steroid is responsible for these cognitive alterations. The authors collected blood samples in 3-day intervals over 6 weeks from 12 young women with a regular menstrual cycle to analyze concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. The performance on 3 spatial tests was measured during the menstrual and the midluteal phases. A significant cycle difference in spatial ability as tested by the Mental Rotation Test was found, with high scores during the menstrual phase and low scores during the midluteal phase. Testosterone had a strong and positive influence on mental rotation performance, whereas estradiol had a negative one. These results clearly indicate that testosterone and estradiol are able to modulate spatial cognition during the menstrual cycle. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spatio-Temporal Data Types: An Approach to Modeling and Querying Moving Objects in Databases

Spatio-temporal databases deal with geometries changing over time. In general, geometries cannot only change in discrete steps, but continuously, and we are talking about moving objects. If only the position in space of an object is relevant, then moving point is a basic abstraction; if also the extent is of interest, then the moving region abstraction captures moving as well as growing or shrinking regions. We propose a new line of research where moving points and moving regions are viewed as 3-D (2-D space+time) or higher-dimensional entities whose structure and behavior is captured by modeling them as abstract data types. Such types can be integrated as base (attribute) data types into relational, object-oriented, or other DBMS data models; they can be implemented as data blades, cartridges, etc. for extensible DBMSs. We expect these spatio-temporal data types to play a similarly fundamental role for spatio-temporal databases as spatial data types have played for spatial databases. The paper explains the approach and discusses several fundamental issues and questions related to it that need to be clarified before delving into specific designs of spatio- temporal algebras.     

Migrating Autonomous Objects in a WAN Environment

Along with the fast progress the interconnection of computer systems makes the need for enterprise-wide distributed solutions grows. These systems have to support hundreds or even thousands of sites located all over the world. The distances between the sites will impose high communication costs on distributed activities thus significantly increasing their response times. This problem can be alleviated through migrating objects to the sites where they are needed. However, migration in such systems cannot be managed globally. Therefore, we present a migration protocol for (autonomous) objects which enables them autonomously to decide whether or not and which site to migrate to, thus making the system self-tuning. We also present two migration strategies objects can use to derive their migration decisions. The first one finds the optimal placement for an object while the second strategy in some cases returns a sub-optimal location but induces lower computation costs. The two strategies are evaluated through benchmarks in a distributed system of autonomous objects. The experiments show a significant decrease in communication costs when migration is employed.     

Cognitive clamping geometries for monitoring elastic deformation in forming machines and processes

In the context of inline monitoring and controlling of forming processes, the distribution of acting forces on tool and forming machine causing elastic deformation of the clamping surfaces provides fundamental information on the resulting part quality whereas the inline detection is still challenging. This paper presents a novel method using the T-slot geometry as a cognitive area for inline analyzing of the elastic deformation of the tool-clamping surfaces. Using a newly developed sensor device, the elastic deformation state of the T-slot geometry under process forces is detected by strain measuring of a deformation body mounted inside the T-slot. The functionality principle of the sensor device and measuring method for process monitoring are demonstrated by simulation and experiments, demonstrating the potential for process control.     

Innovative, non-stirred bioreactors in scales from milliliters up to 1000 liters for suspension cultures of cells using disposable bags and containers--a Swiss contribution

Innovative mixing principles in bioreactors, for example using the rocking of a platform to induce a backwards and forwards 'wave', or using orbital shaking to generate a 'wave' that runs round in a cylindrical container, have proved to be successful for the suspension cultures of cells, especially when combined with disposable materials. This article presents an overview of the engineering characteristics when these new principles are applied in bioreactors, and case studies covering scales of operation from milliliters to 1000 liters.