Theory of mind development in Chinese children: A meta-analysis of false-belief understanding across cultures and languages.

Theory of mind is claimed to develop universally among humans across cultures with vastly different folk psychologies. However, in the attempt to test and confirm a claim of universality, individual studies have been limited by small sample sizes, sample specificities, and an overwhelming focus on Anglo- European children. The current meta-analysis of children's false-belief performance provides the most comprehensive examination to date of theory-of-mind development in a population of non-Western children speaking non-Indo-European languages (i.e., Mandarin and Cantonese). The meta-analysis consisted of 196 Chinese conditions (127 from mainland China and 69 from Hong Kong), representing responses from more than 3,000 children, compared with 155 similar North American conditions (83 conditions from the United States and 72 conditions from Canada). The findings show parallel developmental trajectories of false-belief understanding for children in China and North America coupled with significant differences in the timing of development across communities-children's false-belief performance varied across different locales by as much as 2 or more years. These data support the importance of both universal trajectories and specific experiential factors in the development of theory of mind. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Central mediation of naloxone-induced anorexia in the ventral tegmental area.

Central naloxone injections were used to show that endogenous opioids in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) regulate consumption of palatable foods. Peripheral injections of naloxone were more effective in reducing the consumption of a sweet solution in normally fed rats than in animals maintained at 85% of their free-feeding body weight. A dose of 10 μg/side naloxone injected into the VTA reduced consumption in normally fed rats, whereas a dose of 25 μg/side did the same in food-restricted animals. The inactive isomer, (+) naloxone, did not reduce consumption; the effect has anatomical specificity. Naloxone effectively decreases the eating of palatable foods, but not eating for survival. This has important implications for the use of opioid antagonists in weight-loss programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the problem of modelling for parameter identification in distributed structures

Structures are often characterized by parameters, such as mass and stiffness, that are spatially distributed. Parameter identification of distributed structures is subject to many of the difficulties involved in the modelling problem, and the choice of the model can greatly affect the results of the parameter identification process. Analogously to control spillover in the control of distributed-parameter systems, identification spillover is shown to exist as well and its effect is to degrade the parameter estimates. Moreover, as in modelling by the Rayleigh–Ritz method, it is shown that, for a Rayleigh–Ritz type identification algorithm, an inclusion principle exists in the identification of distributed-parameter systems as well, so that the identified natural frequencies approach the actual natural frequencies monotonically from above.     

Factors affecting opportunity of worksharing as a dynamic line balancing mechanism

We consider the problem of optimal worksharing between two adjacent workers each of whom processes a fixed task in addition to their shared task(s). We use a Markov Decision Process (MDP) model to compute optimal policies and provide a benchmark for evaluating threshold policy heuristics. Our approach differs from previous studies of dynamic line balancing in that we focus on system architecture factors that affect the performance improvement opportunity possible through worksharing relative to a traditional static worker allocations, as well as practical heuristics for worksharing. We find that three such factors are significant whether we use an optimal or a heuristic control policy: ability to preempt the shared task, granularity of the shared task and overall variability of the task times. Understanding the role of these factors in a given production environment provides a means for determining where and how worksharing can have significant logistical benefits.     

Response perseveration in psychopaths.

Prison psychopaths and nonpsychopaths performed a card-playing task involving monetary rewards and punishments under three conditions. In all conditions, the probability of punishment increased by 10% with every block of 10 cards from 10% to 100%. The dependent measure—number of cards played before terminating the task—provided a measure of response perseveration. As predicted, psychopaths played significantly more cards (and lost more money) than did nonpsychopaths when the task involved immediate feedback only. Although providing subjects with a display illustrating their cumulative response feedback did little to reduce this deficit, there were no group differences apparent when cumulative feedback was accompanied by a 5-s waiting period during which subjects were prevented from making another response. The results suggest that procedures designed to reduce psychopaths' maladaptive perseveration by imposing a delay between response feedback and the next opportunity to respond may prove clinically important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

R410A与R22在家用空调中的应用比较(2)

本文部分（2）利用Bin参数分析法对R410A与R22空调的全年运行耗电进行计算，采用寿命期气候性能（LCCP）指标对R410A与R22的温室效应总体影响进行考查，同时对R410A与R22空调的生产成本进行比较。结果表明R410A空调由于运行效率高，在使用过程中可以显著节约耗电和运行费用，而且随着原材料价格的上涨和R410A压缩机生产能力的扩大，R410A与R22空调具有相近的生产成本；同时，通过减小温室间接效应以及空调的制冷剂充灌量或泄露量，与R22相比，R410A反而还会有利于降低对气候变暖的影响。     

Collecting Constructability Improvement Ideas

Project constructability improvement data collection techniques including voluntary survey, questionnaires, interviews, preconstruction meeting notes, and final project reports are discussed and analyzed in detail. Constructability data collected on a large refinery expansion project solicited with various collection techniques from various project personnel are presented. Considering six major types of constructability improvements, from both quantitative and qualitative points of view, two primary questions are addressed: (1) Which data collection methods are best in soliciting certain types of data; and (2) which source types are the most effective contributors in soliciting certain types of data? Numerous recommendations for effectively collecting constructability improvement data are presented.     

A connectionist model of septohippocampal dynamics during conditioning: Closing the loop.

Septohippocampal interactions determine how stimuli are encoded during conditioning. This study extends a previous neurocomputational model of corticohippocampal processing to incorporate hippocamposeptal feedback and examines how the presence or absence of such feedback affects learning in the model. The effects of septal modulation in conditioning were simulated by dynamically adjusting the hippocampal learning rate on the basis of how well the hippocampal system encoded stimuli. The model successfully accounts for changes in behavior and septohippocampal activity observed in studies of the acquisition, retention, and generalization of conditioned responses and accounts for the effects of septal disruption on conditioning. The model provides a computational, neurally based synthesis of prior learning theories that predicts changes in medial septal activity based on the novelty of stimulus events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The behavioral effects of sugar: A comment on Buchanan.

Contends that studies undertaken to systematically examine the effects of sugar ingestion on the behavior of both hyperactive and normal children have failed to document any consistent adverse effects that would justify S. Buchanan's (see record 1985-25856-001) labeling of sugar as a toxin. It is suggested that unsupported statements do much to reinforce the fears of both parents and professionals, at the expense of reason. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Glossolalia as learned behavior: An experimental demonstration.

60 18–44 yr old undergraduates listened to a 60-sec sample of glossolalia (defined to them as pseudolanguage) and then attempted to produce glossolalia on a 30-sec baseline trial. Afterward, half of the Ss received 2 training sessions that included audio- and videotaped samples of glossolalia interspersed with opportunities to practice glossolalia. Also, live modeling of glossolalia, direct instruction, and encouragement were provided by an experimenter. Both the trained Ss and untreated controls attempted to produce glossolalia on a 30-sec posttest trial. About 20% of Ss exhibited fluent glossolalia on the baseline trial, and training significantly enhanced fluency. 70% of trained Ss spoke fluent glossolalia on the posttest. Findings are more consistent with social learning than with altered state conceptions of glossolalia. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)