A connectionist implementation of the theory of planned behavior: Association of beliefs with exercise intention.

The theory of planned behavior suggests attitudes are a product of salient beliefs. This study examined whether aggregating salient beliefs was plausible within a more biologically centered information-processing environment. A neural network was used to examine associations among beliefs relating to exercise intention. Data on intentions and behavioral, normative, and control beliefs from 114 respondents were used to train (by error backpropagation) a neural network to associate beliefs with intention. The R2 between the network's estimated and self-reported intention was .66. The network's representation comprised 6 belief profiles associated with high, moderate, or low behavioral intention. The neural network accommodated complex relationships among beliefs and belief-intention associations and indicated how high-level constructs such as attitudes may be viewed as the best fit (compromise state) between aroused beliefs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiregional estimation of gross internal migration flows

"A multiregional model of gross internal migration flows is presented in this article. The interdependence of economic factors across all regions is recognized by imposing a non-stochastic adding-up constraint that requires total inmigration to equal total outmigration in each time period. An iterated system estimation technique is used to obtain asymptotically consistent and efficient parameter estimates. The model is estimated for gross migration flows among the Canadian provinces over the period 1962-86 and then is used to examine the likelihood of a wash-out effect in net migration models. The results indicate that previous approaches that use net migration equations may not always be empirically justified."     

Synthesis and Processing Characteristics of Ba0.65Sr0.35TiO3 Powders from Catecholate Precursors

Powders of composition Ba_0.65Sr_0.35TiO₃ were prepared from catecholate precursor phases, BaTi(C₆H₄O₂)₃ and SrTi (C₆H₄O₂)₃. The physical and chemical properties of the base powders, and those doped with 0.2 wt% manganese, are reported in detail. The dimensions of the primary particles in the starting powders were of the order of 20–50 nm, but the occurrence of abnormal grain growth during sintering promoted grain sizes in the ceramic of up to ∼100 μm. In some microstructures, coarse grains coexisted with a ∼1-μm fraction to produce a characteristic bimodal grain size distribution. By contrast, under comparable sintering conditions, namely 1350° or 1400°C for 1 h, grain growth in Mn-doped samples was suppressed, leading to uniform microstructures with a grain size of only a few micrometers. The pellet densities were nevertheless similar, 97% of theoretical in both doped and undoped samples. No significant difference was observed in the dielectric permittivity of the two compositions: the peak relative permittivity occurred at ∼20°C, with a maximum value of ∼22 000.     

TEM Characterization of Single- and Multilayer Triol-Based Sol–Gel PZT (53/47) Thin Films

Integrated lead zirconate titanate thin films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using a novel triol-based route were characterized using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Crack-free single-layer PZT films of up to 200 nm thick were prepared by triol-based sol–gel processing onto Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates. Films ∼75 nm thick exhibited a microstructure free of pores and second phase. As film thickness increased, film texture changed from {100} to {111} perovskite. Essentially, single-phase multilayer films could be prepared by the deposition and pyrolysis of several 75 nm layers, followed by a single crystallization step. The influence of heat-treatment schedule on the microstructure and orientation of the multilayer films is discussed. Comparison has been made between multilayer films prepared using the triol-based sol and an inverted mixing order/acetic acid-based sol.     

Synthesis and characterization of PbTiO3 and Ca and Mn modified PbTiO3 fibres produced by extrusion of diol based gels

Lead titanate precursor gels were prepared using a diol sol-gel system. Water and nitric acid were added to the sols and their effect on the extrusion characteristics of the gels established. After examining the microstructure of the fired fibres obtained from sols containing different water and acid ratios, the merits of incorporating excess lead and/or adding manganese or calcium salts to the sols were also considered. It proved possible to produce unmodified PbTiO₃ fibres that were crack-free having a diameter of ca. 250 m and grain size of ca. 0.3 m with a density of ca. 7.1 g cm^–3. However, the best fibres were achieved from gels containing 2 mol % of added calcium nitrate. These fibres had a density ca. 7.4 g cm^–3 and a grain size of ca. 0.3 m.