Is evidence-based practice diverse enough? Philosophy of science considerations.

In its policy rationale for evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP), the APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice (see record 2006-05893-001) claims to have constituted itself with "scientists and practitioners from a wide range of perspectives and traditions, reflecting the diverse perspectives within the field" (p. 273). We applaud this attention to diversity but contend that an entire perspective of the debate was omitted in the Task Force's newly approved policy and its underlying report. The failure to consider a philosophy of science perspective led the Task Force to make a number of epistemological assumptions that are not based on evidence or rationale and that thus violate the very spirit of evidence-based decision making. In this comment, we reveal a few of these assumptions and discuss their detrimental consequences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discrete-time spare ordering policy with randomized lead times and discounting

The paper considers a generalized discrete‐time order‐replacement model for a single unit system, which is subject to random failure when in operation. Two types of discrete randomized lead times are considered for a spare unit; one is for regular (preventive) order and another is for expedited (emergency) order. The model is formulated based on the discounted cost criterion. The underlying two‐dimensional optimization problem is reduced to a simple one‐dimensional one and then the optimal ordering policy for the spare unit is characterized under two extreme conditions: (i) unlimited inventory time and (ii) zero inventory time for the spare unit. A numerical example is used to determine the optimal spare‐ordering policy numerically and to examine the sensitivity of the model parameters.     

Delay discounting of real and hypothetical rewards.

The degree to which real and hypothetical rewards were discounted across delays ranging from 6 hr to 1 year was explored in a within-subjects design. An adjusting-amounts procedure was used to estimate the subjective value of real and hypothetical rewards at each delay. A hyperbolic discounting function provided a significantly better fit to individual participants' preferences than did an exponential function. No significant effect of reward type on degree of hyperbolic discounting or area under the discounting curves was detected. These findings offer some support for the validity of using hypothetical rewards to estimate discounting rates in substance-abusing and other populations, but caution is suggested because this support is gleaned from a failure to detect an effect of reward type. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Are eating disorders culture-bound syndromes? Implications for conceptualizing their etiology.

The authors explore the extent to which eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), represent culture-bound syndromes and discuss implications for conceptualizing the role genes play in their etiology. The examination is divided into 3 sections: a quantitative meta-analysis of changes in incidence rates since the formal recognition of AN and BN, a qualitative summary of historical evidence of eating disorders before their formal recognition, and an evaluation of the presence of these disorders in non-Western cultures. Findings suggest that BN is a culture-bound syndrome and AN is not. Thus, heritability estimates for BN may show greater variability cross-culturally than heritability estimates for AN, and the genetic bases of these disorders may be associated with differential pathoplasticity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

金属－橡胶硫化粘接过程中分子取向行为的间接证据

对金属－橡胶热硫化粘接复合体的剥离行为进行了研究，同一粘接试样的双向１８０°剥离试验显示出了巨大的差异。本文分析了弹性材料在硫化过程中的分子行为，并提出了相应的新假设，认为这是由于金属－橡胶在硫化粘接过程中分子取向交联行为所致。这种双向１８０°剥离破坏现象可被看作是金属－橡胶硫化粘接过程中分子取向行为的间接证据。     

基于证据理论处理移动机器人视觉信息的一种方法

本文阐述了一种表示多源视觉传感信息的有效方法和一种基于Ｄｅｍｐｓｔｅｒ－Ｓｈａｆｅｒ证据理论的多传感器信息融合技术。着重分析了移动机器人视觉传感器信息中存在的相关性及其解决方法，提出了相关函数、相关证据等概念，并针对证据之间存在的相关性给出了一种改进的综合函数。     

Can being scared cause tummy aches? Naive theories, ambiguous evidence, and preschoolers' causal inferences.

Causal learning requires integrating constraints provided by domain-specific theories with domain-general statistical learning. In order to investigate the interaction between these factors, the authors presented preschoolers with stories pitting their existing theories against statistical evidence. Each child heard 2 stories in which 2 candidate causes co-occurred with an effect. Evidence was presented in the form: AB→E; CA→E; AD→E; and so forth. In 1 story, all variables came from the same domain; in the other, the recurring candidate cause, A, came from a different domain (A was a psychological cause of a biological effect). After receiving this statistical evidence, children were asked to identify the cause of the effect on a new trial. Consistent with the predictions of a Bayesian model, all children were more likely to identify A as the cause within domains than across domains. Whereas 3.5-year-olds learned only from the within-domain evidence, 4- and 5-year-olds learned from the cross-domain evidence and were able to transfer their new expectations about psychosomatic causality to a novel task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

导线物证的扫描电镜及能谱鉴定方法

对导线物证同一性的鉴定，可先用X射线能谱仪快速确定物证为同一物的必要条件，再用扫描电镜对物证的特征条纹或金相组织进行最后判定。该方法简便，可靠。     

A new DSmT combination rule in open frame of discernment and its application

A new combination rule based on Dezert-Smarandache theory (DSmT) is proposed to deal with the conflict evidence resulting from the non-exhaustivity of the discernment frame. A two-dimensional measure factor in Dempster-Shafer theory (DST) is extended to DSmT to judge the conflict degree between evidence. The original DSmT combination rule or new DSmT combination rule can be selected for fusion according to this degree. Finally, some examples in simultaneous fault diagnosis of motor rotor are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed combination rule.