Confucian and Socratic learning.

Replies to the comments by R. A. R. Gurung (see record 2003-03405-011) and J. Li (see record 2003-03405-012) regarding comments on the article by R. G. Tweed and D. R. Lehman (2001) which stated that a Confucian-Socratic framework provides a structure for analyzing culture-influenced aspects of academic learning. In this article, Tweed and Lehman argued that these ancient exemplars model approaches to learning continue to differentiate students within a modern Canadian postsecondary context. In this reply, Tweed and Lehman advise caution in how Gurung placed their Confucian-Socratic framework within the context of prior theory on education and epistemological development because these models were developed exclusively in the West. Furthermore, Tweed and Lehman believe that Li's argument misinterpreted their article, and that they should of consistently used the term "personal reform" rather than "behavioral reform" in order to communicate the depth of personal change envisioned by Confucius. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rotating magnetic field-driven flows in conductive inhomogeneous media: Part I—Numerical study

This paper presents a numerical study of the Lorentz force and fluid flow induced by a rotating magnetic field in a medium with a nonhomogeneous electric conductivity placed in a cylindrical vessel with insulated walls. The nonhomogeneity is modeled by the presence of a solid and a liquid phase of different electrical conductivity. The solid phase is located orthogonally to the axis of rotation, which corresponds to the case of unidirectional solidification. The simulations were performed for different locations of the solid front and different ratios of the electrical conductivity, σ _s /σ _l =0.2... 10. Here σ _s and σ _l are the electric conductivity of the solid and liquid phases, respectively. The results showed that the difference between electrical conductivity of solid and liquid phases has a noticeable effect on the mean-time Lorentz force and the velocity: namely, the presence of the solid phase (σ _s >σ _l ) leads to an increase of the Lorentz force and fluid flow in the cylinder.     

Retrenchment management: coping with fewer tax dollars

Since the early 1970s, local governments in the USA have faced limited tax income combined with double-digit inflation. As a result, every local service from fire prevention to recreation has had to be closely scrutinized. Local administrators and politicians have evolved new and innovative retrenchment management policies to respond to both the demands of citizens and the fewer dollars available. A combination of denial of new programmes and public sector pay austerity, with public education and use of community organizations is providing ways to stretch limited funds. The reality in many communities across the USA is that local government and its services will not be growing in the future.     

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistor arrays fabricated by digital lithography

A jet-printed digital-lithographic method, in place of conventional photolithography, was used to fabricate 64 /spl times/ 64 pixel (300 /spl mu/m pitch) matrix addressing thin-film transistor (TFT) arrays. The average hydrogenated amorphous silicon TFT device within an array had a threshold voltage of /spl sim/3.5 V, carrier mobility of 0.7 cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s, subthreshold slope of 0.76 V/decade, and an on/off ratio of 10/sup 8/.     

Consumer knowledge of foodborne microbial hazards and food-handling practices.

A national telephone survey was conducted of 1,620 randomly selected U.S. residents who spoke English, were at least 18 years old, and resided in households with kitchen facilities. Respondents were interviewed about their recognition of foodborne pathogens, foods at risk for transmitting infection, knowledge of safe food handling, and food-handling practices. One-third of the respondents who prepared meals reported unsafe food hygiene practices: e.g., they did not wash hands or take precautions to prevent cross-contamination from raw meat. Unsafe practices were reported more often by men, adults 18 to 29 years of age, and occasional food preparers than by women, persons 30 years old or older, and frequent food preparers. Respondents who identified a food vehicle for Salmonella spp. were more likely to report washing their hands and cleaning cutting boards after preparing raw meat and poultry. The results raise concerns about consumer food-handling practices. The influence of food safety training, food-handling experience, and age on food-handling practices should be studied further. Awareness of a food vehicle for Salmonella spp., for example, may indicate knowledge of the etiology of foodborne disease that promotes safe food handling. Understanding the factors associated with safe food handling will assist in development of effective safe-food instruction programs.     

Role of construal processes in conformity and dissent.

Develops 3 hypotheses to explain the role of construal processes in conformity behavior. According to the preconformity change of meaning hypothesis, social influence leads to changes in situational construal that precede and mediate conformity behavior; according to the postconformity change of meaning hypothesis, construal change follows and justifies conformity; and according to the construal-consistency hypothesis, preexisting situational construal distinguishes those who conform from those who dissent. Four experimental studies with varying methodology and involving a total of 361 undergraduate students were performed to test these hypotheses. The results of all studies provide strong evidence for postconformity change of meaning effects. Discussion centers on possible domains in which the different construal mechanisms might operate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)