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One of the key sociological aspects of the transformation of Central and Eastern Europe after communism was a shift from collectivistic to individualistic orientations. This article observes trends in individualism, operationalized as self-orientation, in Poland and Germany, with the latter further dissected into western and eastern part of the country. While western Germany was originally contrasted with former communist countries in this respect, a growing and stable convergence was later generally assumed. This is verified in the form of a lagged comparison between two birth cohorts, one that reached adulthood in the late 1980s and another born at that time. Data from the German Socio-Economic Panel along with two complementary Polish surveys are used in the analysis. The results show no presumed linear convergence in individualism and instead a consistent "post-individualistic" turn led by western Germany. This trend is less pronounced in women as there seem to be counterbalancing processes at play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text of picture books is a fertile source through which young children learn about mental states. By focusing on English and Japanese books (N = 100; for children aged 3–5 years) as respective representatives of independent and interdependent cultures, the present study examined the cultural differences in the use of two types of mental state language: emotion and cognition. While our findings revealed no cultural differences in emotional word tokens or types, cognitive word tokens and types were higher in English picture books than in Japanese ones. Importantly, English picture books exhibited more self‐oriented mental state references, while Japanese picture books had more other‐oriented mental state references. Our study suggests that mental state references in picture books reflect culture‐specific characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedle containing miniature robots offer a promising route for gastrointestinal administration since their capability of transmucosal delivery and controllable drug release. However, many challenges still lie ahead such as the intricate control modes, destitute systematic theory of the locomotion and adhesion behaviors, failure due to peristalsis and fluid flow, and risk of ileus. Herein, an untethered microneedle containing robots is designed for specific colonic administration, which can dispense with control systems, achieve fast self‐orientation and adhesion onto the mucosa (<0.6 s), against physiology of peristalsis, and show low risks of obstruction. Further, the detachable layer between the microneedle and the robots can degrade under a time of 6 min, which ensures safely discharge under a small, excreted force of 20 mN induced by fluid flow. Through the optimism of microneedles, different drug release times can be achieved including 14 min, 2 days, 4 days, and 30 days, respectively. The in vivo experiments also demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the robots. These robots can serve as a versatile platform to treat diseases such as chronic inflammation and cancer of the colon to minimize invasive surgical intervention and patient suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars posit that gratitude may enhance other-oriented beliefs and behaviors and dampen self-oriented ones through a cycle of upward generativity. We examined associations between gratitude as an indicator of self-orientation (i.e., materialism and entitlement) and other orientation (i.e., connection to nature; attitudes, beliefs, and conversations about social justice; prosocial behavior) in the US youth across six months as moderated by race/ethnicity and gender. Specifically, Study 1 evaluated the psychometric performance of the gratitude moments scale in a more racially and ethnically diverse sample than that included in the original scale development. In study 2, we evaluated pre-registered hypotheses among the youth who completed surveys in October 2020 and again in January 2021 (n = 812). These hypotheses tested (1) whether there were ethnic/racial differences in the measure of children’s gratitude; (2) whether there were reciprocal associations over time between children’s gratitude and indices of self and other orientation; and (3) whether these reciprocal associations varied as a function of youth race/ethnicity and gender. The results of study 1 found that the gratitude moments scale demonstrated high reliability and validity in racially/ethnically diverse young adolescents (n = 89). Using moderated nonlinear factor analysis in study 2, we found only one difference in how the gratitude moments scale performed as a function of race/ethnicity or gender. In cross-lagged panel models, gratitude moments did not predict subsequent self- and other-orientation indices, though youth with lower social justice attitudes and greater prosocial behavior showed increases in later gratitude moments. Prosocial behavior was more strongly and consistently related to self- and other-orientation indices than gratitude. These findings are consistent with models of prosocial behavior as a catalyst for the development of additional forms of other-oriented beliefs, attitudes, and actions that may underlie the development of an other-oriented purpose.

Spatial updating based on self-motion cues is important to navigation in the absence of familiar landmarks. Previous studies showed that spatial updating without vision was automatic. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether ambiguous orientations indicated by visual cues affect spatial updating based on self-motion. Participants learned an object array in a rectangular room. After the objects were removed, participants maintained their actual perspective or turned 180° to face opposite walls of the room. Participants judged relative directions from imagined perspectives based on the memories of the object array. The actual and imagined perspectives were aligned or misaligned. Better performance for aligned than misaligned perspectives (sensorimotor alignment effects) was used to indicate spontaneous updating of ones' headings relative to the object array. In Experiment 1, participants turned their bodies in the middle of the room so that their distances to the walls of the room looked similar before and after turning (spatial symmetry at the turning position with the rectangular room shape). In Experiments 2-3, participants turned their bodies in a location so that the distances to the facing walls looked different before and after turning (spatial asymmetry at the turning position with the rectangular room shape). The results showed sensorimotor alignment effects in Experiments 2-3 but not in Experiment 1. These results suggest that updating self-orientation based on self-motion was cancelled by ambiguous orientations indicated by spatial symmetry at the turning position, but not cancelled by ambiguous orientations indicated by the rectangular room shape per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars posit that gratitude may enhance other-oriented beliefs and behaviors and dampen self-oriented ones through a cycle of upward generativity. We examined associations between gratitude as an indicator of self-orientation (i.e., materialism and entitlement) and other orientation (i.e., connection to nature; attitudes, beliefs, and conversations about social justice; prosocial behavior) in the US youth across six months as moderated by race/ethnicity and gender. Specifically, Study 1 evaluated the psychometric performance of the gratitude moments scale in a more racially and ethnically diverse sample than that included in the original scale development. In study 2, we evaluated pre-registered hypotheses among the youth who completed surveys in October 2020 and again in January 2021 (n = 812). These hypotheses tested (1) whether there were ethnic/racial differences in the measure of children's gratitude; (2) whether there were reciprocal associations over time between children's gratitude and indices of self and other orientation; and (3) whether these reciprocal associations varied as a function of youth race/ethnicity and gender. The results of study 1 found that the gratitude moments scale demonstrated high reliability and validity in racially/ethnically diverse young adolescents (n = 89). Using moderated nonlinear factor analysis in study 2, we found only one difference in how the gratitude moments scale performed as a function of race/ethnicity or gender. In cross-lagged panel models, gratitude moments did not predict subsequent self- and other-orientation indices, though youth with lower social justice attitudes and greater prosocial behavior showed increases in later gratitude moments. Prosocial behavior was more strongly and consistently related to self- and other-orientation indices than gratitude. These findings are consistent with models of prosocial behavior as a catalyst for the development of additional forms of other-oriented beliefs, attitudes, and actions that may underlie the development of an other-oriented purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of EUL Journal of Social Sciences / LAÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of EUL Journal of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The psychological correlate of social class across cultures is a topic of debate. Some have argued cross-cultural similarities, while others have maintained culturally divergent manifestations of social class. Using the data from the World Value Survey 2017 to 2020 (Wave 7), the current study examined the associations between social class and socialization values among parents in the United States (n = 1,615) and China (n = 2,524). Results indicated that all social class indices (i.e., education level, income, subjective social status, and composite social class) were positively associated with self-oriented socialization values in the United States, whereas such associations were absent in China, except for education level. In addition, higher social class, in terms of higher income, higher subjective social status, and higher composite social class, was associated with greater other-oriented socialization values in China. However, such associations were absent (for income, education level, and composite social class) or even reversed (for subjective social status) in the United States. These findings extend the literature on social class variations in parenting and highlight cultural specificity in the psychological manifestations of social class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in consumers being reluctant to go far to shop, so nanostores are a choice. There are thousands of nanostores in Indonesia. However, not all nanostores are in demand by consumers, some nanostores are abandoned because they cannot adapt to consumer needs. This study aims to find factors and dimensions of purchase motives that can be used to increase sales and revenue of nanostores. The study used an explanatory survey method. The survey was conducted on 210 nanostore consumers in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. The research data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The study results obtained three dimensions of consumer buying motives in nanostores: product attributes, self-orientation, and service guarantee. These are dimensions that consist of 12 factors and the majority of factors tend to be based on rationality or things related to healthy logic. To increase their revenue and growth, it is recommended that nanostore entrepreneurs understand consumer buying motives according to community conditions.

Many researchers have studied purchasing motives at retail hypermarkets and modern retail scales. However, it is still rarely found in micro or nano-scale retail stores though nanostores are much higher, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the factors that motivate someone to buy goods at the nanostore. The research was done using the explanatory survey method. The number of samples is 210 respondents. The data were process using confirmatory factor analysis. The research location is in a big city in Indonesia, namely Bandung City. This city is a city of tourism and trade. The results of the study prove that 12 factors determine consumer motives for shopping at nanostores. These 12 factors are grouped into three: product attributes, self-orientation, and service guarantees. Although this study was conducted on consumer nanostores, the study results contribute to marketing theory, where service assurance is an important part of consumers' purchase motives. This study shows the retailers must understand consumers' buying motives and use the results of this study to increase sales turnover. The results of this study, when used by retail entrepreneurs, are predicted to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Service guarantees are the main attraction for consumers to shop at nanostores and this is a new thing in the concept of purchasing motives. For the future, it is recommended to continue the study of purchase motives in modern countries. The concept of service guarantee needs to be researched to find out whether service guarantee can increase the loyalty of large, medium, and nanostore retail consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Critical Hermeneutics: Biannual Journal of Philosophy is the property of Universita degli Studi di Cagliari and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this work, a class of bubble-containing multicompartmental particles with self-orienting capability is developed, where a single bubble is enclosed at the top of the super-segmented architecture. Such bubbles, driven by potential energy minimization, cause the particles to have a bubble-upward preferred orientation in liquid, enabling efficient decoding of their high-density signals in an interference-resistant manner. The particle preparation involves bubble encapsulation via the impact of a multicompartmental droplet on the liquid surface and overall stabilization via rational crosslinking. The conditions for obtaining these particles are systematically investigated. Methodological compatibility with materials is demonstrated by different hydrogel particles. Finally, by encapsulating cargoes of interest, these particles have found broad applications in actuators, multiplexed detection, barcodes, and multicellular systems., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The question of the viability of theological eudaimonism as an interpretation of the moral life has generated increasing debate in recent years. This essay aims to advance the debate about theological eudaimonism (and eudaimonism more generally) by addressing a closely related but insufficiently discussed issue: the nature of human agency and its relationship to value. The most commonly raised objection to eudaimonism is that it is objectionably agent‐oriented. I argue that worries about objectionable self‐orientation often stem from importing foreign pictures of agency into the eudaimonist tradition. I make this case through an analysis of Nicholas Wolterstorff's recent critique of eudaimonism. Wolterstorff presupposes a common contemporary conception of agency. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas and Elizabeth Anderson, I show that other conceptions of agency are available. Clarity about the nature of human agency and its relationship to value will bring greater clarity to the debate about eudaimonism and self‐orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A monsoon flood often happens on a huge scale on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and has an immediate impact on the community. This article explores the community reconstruction orientation of the victims of the disaster of a post-monsoon flood in Malaysia. The study was carried out using an exploratory case study design on nine flood victims in Pahang, Malaysia. These informants were chosen by using purposive sampling, and data were gathered using the interview and observation methods. This study found three forms of community reconstruction orientation: (1) self-orientation, (2) family orientation, and (3) community orientation. Each orientation can be observed in a context through a participation indicator element, such as priority and commitment; readiness, knowledge, and skill; and social routine. A reconstruction effort from all parties ought to consider these orientations to avoid negative effects on the community. Thus, this study suggests that a partnership approach should be applied in the future to carry out community reconstruction. However, the findings cannot be generalized since it was a preliminary study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel microparticles are important in materials engineering, but their applications remain limited owing to the difficulties associated with their manipulation. Herein, we report the self‐orientation of crescent‐shaped hydrogel microparticles and elucidate its mechanism. Additionally, the microparticles were used, for the first time, as micro‐buckets to carry living cells. In aqueous solution, the microparticles spontaneously rotated to a preferred orientation with the cavity facing up. We developed a geometric model that explains the self‐orienting behavior of crescent‐shaped particles by minimizing the potential energy of this specific morphology. Finally, we selectively modified the particles' cavities with RGD peptide and exploited their preferred orientation to load them with living cells. Cells could adhere, proliferate, and be transported and released in vitro. These micro‐buckets hold a great potential for applications in smart materials, cell therapy, and biological engineering. There's a cell in my bucket: The self‐orientation of crescent‐shaped hydrogel microparticles was reported and its mechanism elucidated. These microparticles were used as cell carriers for cell loading, transport, proliferation, and release after functionalization with cell‐adhesive peptides. This provides a new strategy for manipulation of microparticles with potential applications in biomaterials, tissue architecture, and cell delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of positive normative feedback on acquisition and retention of throwing skill. The method was quasi-experimental and the population consisted of the 5th grade elementary female students. 60 students were randomly selected from the population and were randomly assigned to four different groups: normative task-orientation, non-normative task-orientation, normative self-orientation and non-normative self-orientation. In a pretest, all subjects attempted 10 throws receiving no feedback. Acquisition phase took 3 days in which each subject attempted a total of 60 throws (20 throws per day). All groups received feedback at this stage; however, only the positive normative group received 20% more feedback. After 48 hours, subjects responded to a retention test. The results showed no significant difference in feedback performance of groups in the acquisition phase. However, this difference was reported significant in retention phase. Tukey post hoc test revealed a significant difference in the mean scores of subjects between normative and non-normative self-orientation groups. No significant differences were observed between task-orientation and self-orientation subjects in their perceived merit

В статье рассматривается проблемы изучения чертежно-графических дисциплин. Проанализирована психологическая и педагогическая литература, посвященная изучению различных подходов в обучении; проблемам проектирования учебных изданий; исследованиям о взаимосвязи умственного развития учащихся и методов и форм обучения и развития.Разработаны и рассмотрены этапы построения учебного процесса преподавания графических дисциплин. Начальный этап направлен на выравнивание знаний студентов, последующие – на приобретение теоретических знаний, развитие практических умений и навыков. Педагогический процесс построен в соответствии с положениями личносто-ориентированного обучения, направленными на развитие мышления, исследовательской активности, самостоятельности, интереса к процессу познания, творческому потенциалу обучающихся с учетом индивидуальных особенностей каждого.Материалы статьи могут быть использованы учителями, преподавателями, методистами для использования их в учебном процессе.

Particularly over the last 15 years, Martin L. Davies has produced a significant and unusual body of work. Significant and unusual, that is, in its willingness to push inquiry beyond the bounds of intellectual comfortability; to loosen the strangulating grip historical thinking exerts. Broadly construed as cultural criticism, it exhibits outstanding intellectual perception and depth informed by a vast, eclectic cast of thinkers. His books include Historics: Why History Dominates Contemporary Society (2006); Imprisoned by History: Aspects of Historicized Life (2010); and How History Works: The Reconstitution of a Human Science (2016), all published by Routledge. Among other works, these form his Historics project: a project of nonconformity aimed at exposing history's impracticability, its insidious social-psychological effects, and its political-ideological collusion. This dialogue seeks to draw out the intellectual implications of his iconoclastic critique of historical discourse, of historicization as an excruciating existential encumbrance. It offers justifications for that critique and delves into the nuanced attitudes and intentions which motivate it. It envisions, albeit dimly, a human future at last estranged from history: estranged, in other words, from what does not work. Only then can different kinds of life-affirming illusion emerge. We are left, as Nietzsche says, to again attempt to transform the 'absurdity of existence into representations with which man may live'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current theorizing on socioeconomic status (SES) focuses on the availability of resources and the freedom they afford as a key determinant of the association between high SES and stronger orientation toward the self and, by implication, weaker orientation toward others. However, this work relies nearly exclusively on data from Western countries where self-orientation is strongly sanctioned. In the present work, we predicted and found that especially in East Asian countries, where other-orientation is strongly sanctioned, high SES is associated with stronger other-orientation as well as with self-orientation. We first examined both psychological attributes (Study 1, N = 2,832) and socialization values (Study 2a, N = 4,675) in Japan and the United States. In line with the existent evidence, SES was associated with greater self-oriented psychological attributes and socialization values in both the U.S. and Japan. Importantly, however, higher SES was associated with greater other orientation in Japan, whereas this association was weaker or even reversed in the United States. Study 2b (N = 85,296) indicated that the positive association between SES and self-orientation is found, overall, across 60 nations. Further, Study 2b showed that the positive association between SES and other-orientation in Japan can be generalized to other Confucian cultures, whereas the negative association between SES and other-orientation in the U.S. can be generalized to other Frontier cultures. Implications of the current findings for modernization and globalization are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of ester‐linked tetracarboxylic dianhydrides (TA‐X) were synthesized from trimellitic anhydride chloride and 4,4′‐biphenol analogs containing different numbers and positions of methyl substituents. Aromatic poly(ester imide)s (PEsIs) were polymerized from TA‐Xs and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine to investigate the film properties systematically. A significant substituent effect on the target properties (Tg, optical transparency, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and ductility) was observed. A PEsI containing 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′‐hexamethyl‐substituted p‐biphenylene units was chemically imidized in a homogeneous state. It was highly soluble at room temperature, even in less hygroscopic non‐amide solvents such as cyclopentanone (CPN), and provided a stable CPN solution with a high solid content. The CPN‐cast PEsI film was almost colorless as suggested from the rather low yellowness index (3.2), high light transmittance at 400 nm (71.5%) and very low haze (1.15%). This PEsI film also had a high Tg (294 °C, determined by thermomechanical analysis) in addition to a low CTE (21.7 ppm K−1), moderate film ductility and very low water uptake. A structural modification of the PEsI by copolymerization with a tetracarboxylic dianhydride with a rigid/linear structure was effective in further reducing the CTE while maintaining the other excellent target properties. Thus, some of the PEsIs developed in this work are promising candidates as novel plastic substrates for use in image display devices. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European and national policies for the realization of the objectives and strategies of "Lisbon 2010" and "Horizon 2020", lifelong guidance is recognized as a permanent right for every person. The main objective of the research is to develop a self-orientation online path that helps to increase and improve the self-reflection of people with disabilities on their own knowledge, soft skills, interests, strengths and weaknesses. The final result is supposed to be the recognition of the career project closer to their personal and professional profile. The platform value is related to the active role played by the person with disabilities in the orientation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers perform numerous professional roles that can serve as the source of prolonged stress and lead to the occurrence of burnout syndrome. This research was aimed at studying the personal factors of burnout, using self-determination theory as a starting point. We used a sample of 200 teachers to study the following: the level of satisfaction of basic psychological needs at work, the prominence of self-orientations and the presence of burnout syndrome. We also studied whether these variables were significant burnout predictors, as well as whether there was a difference in the pattern of personal burnout predictors in primary school and university teachers. The following instruments were used: the scale of satisfaction of basic psychological needs at work, the ego function questionnaire, the scale of burnout syndrome in teachers. The results point to a relatively moderate satisfaction of all psychological needs, a higher level of integrated self-regulation as well as the medium presence of ego-invested and impersonal orientations. On the whole, teachers showed low burnout. Significant burnout predictors include an integrated self and the need for autonomy (university teachers) and an impersonal self (primary school teachers). This implies that teachers whose psychological needs are satisfied and who have an integrated self are less susceptible to burnout. The findings are discussed from the viewpoint of the self-determination theory, their educational implications and the possibility of preventing work burnout in education workers. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 179002: Indikatori i modeli usklađivanja porodičnih i poslovnih uloga]

This work reports colorless polyimides ( PIs) that are applicable as plastic substrates in image display devices, which produce an ultralow coefficient of thermal expansion ( CTE) by solution casting without thermal imidization and mechanical stretching. An effective monomer molecular design is proposed for this purpose. Chemical imidization ( CI) process compatibility is the key factor in attaining the target properties. We focused on a PI system derived from 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride ( CBDA) and a novel para-amide-linked diamine ( AB-TFMB) with CF3 groups as it has great potential as an ultralow CTE material, although it offers no CI process compatibility because of its poor solubility. The CBDA/ AB-TFMB system was modified by copolymerizing with 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride. This approach drastically improved CI process compatibility. The CTE of the PI films linearly decreased with increasing CBDA content. At a CBDA content of 70 mol%, the PI achieved an ultralow CTE of 7.3 ppm K−1, non-coloration/non-turbidity, a very high glass transition temperature of 329 °C and sufficient ductility. The ultralow CTE results from the highly oriented main chains along the X-Y direction during the casting process as supported by the very high birefringence exceeding 0.1. Thus, our materials almost achieved the target properties required for novel coating-type high-temperature plastic substrate materials. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If finding a job is currently difficult for many people, for those with disabilities it actually is a path with many obstacles. The ONU Convention on persons with disabilities rights is in line with the basic concepts of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, which supports programs against discrimination, and adopts equal opportunities and active inclusion as priorities. In the European and national policies for the realization of the objectives and strategies of "Lisbon 2010" and "Horizon 2020", lifelong guidance is recognized as a permanent right for every person. The main objective of the research is to develop a self-orientation online path that helps to increase and improve the match between disabled people and businesses in the country and internationally. The purpose is to collect data about each transition: from school to university, from university to the first entry into the labor market, from the first work experience to the stabilization of the employment. The collection of data will be analyzed, considering job as a means for self-realization and not only for the mere subsistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of ester-linked tetracarboxylic dianhydrides were synthesized from trimellitic anhydride chloride and hydroquinone (HQ) analogs including various alkyl substituents. The properties of aromatic poly(ester imide)s (PEsI) prepared from the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) were investigated for applications as novel plastic substrate materials in image display devices. The chemically imidized PEsI from trimethyl-substituted HQ was soluble even in less hygroscopic solvents such as cyclopentanone (CPN). Simple casting from the CPN solution provided a flexible and less colored film with a considerably low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE = 11.5 ppm K −1 ), a high T g of 276 °C, high thermal stability (5% weight loss temperature in N 2 : 453 °C), and very suppressed water uptake ( W A = 0.13%). The low CTE results from highly aligned main chains along the X – Y direction, which occurred during solvent evaporation after the PEsI solution was coated on a substrate. A mechanism is also proposed for such self-orientation behavior in this work. On the other hand, the thermally imidized counterpart was worthless in terms of low CTE and high transparency. Some conventional rigid tetracarboxylic dianhydrides were copolymerized with a minor content to di- tert -butyl- and diamyl-substituted PEsI systems. This approach was very effective not only for further improving some thermal properties (low CTE and high T g ) but also for suppressing film yellowness while keeping excellent solution-processability. Thus, some of the PEsIs developed in this work can be promising candidates as novel plastic substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the association among mothers' parenting stress, adolescents' emotional separation and self-orientation toward connectedness. Participants were 194 Italian adolescents, aged from 15 to 19 years (mean age = 17.39, SD = 1.18), and their mothers, aged from 33 to 64 years (mean age = 44.35, SD = 5.40). General findings showed that adolescents' emotional separation may not necessarily be associated with their mothers' parenting stress, but both of these variables may be related to adolescents' personal characteristics, which may contribute to define parent-child relationship. Particularly, adolescents' orientation towards a connected self was associated negatively with emotional separation and parenting stress. These findings indicate potential pathways to mitigate the stress in facing the normative challenges of adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this research is to examine relations between certain types of motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and self-orientation which is defined by the assumptions of the Self-determination theory (integrated self, ego-invested self, impersonal self). The sample includes 399 students from different faculties in Serbia (42.4% male and 57.6% female), aged between 18 and 36 (AS = 21.14; SD = 2.42). Aspiration index was used to evaluate motivation and an Ego functioning questionnaire was used to evaluate self-orientation. Three hierarchical regression analysis were conducted in order to answer the questions of the research. In every analysis predictors are the same (intrinsic and extrinsic motivation), while the criteria are different (integrated self, ego-invested self and impersonal self). Based on the obtained findings, models from the second step were adopted and they include both types of motivation. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation represent significant predictors of the integrated self and they explain 22.9% of the variance of the mentioned criterion. Intrinsic motivation is a better predictor of integrated self than extrinsic motivation. The results are similar when ego-invested self is concerned, however, extrinsic motivation proved to be a better predictor. Finally, in predicting impersonal self both types of motivation proved to be significant predictors. In this model as well as in the first one intrinsic motivation is a better predictor than extrinsic motivation. The results are in accordance with the basic assumptions of the Self-determination theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theme which the present article considers is an interesting provocation reflecting on the strategic role of orientation for education. Making orientation a transversal dimension of the entire educating and formative activity is not easy in school or in professional formation. The rediscovery of the "orienting" dimension in every scholastic discipline, in every activity, in daily relationships and problem solving situations, valuing the common and daily activities in relationships, in study commitments and collaboration; all of this makes the orientation process continual and ongoing. It is then no longer an external activity, one that alongside study programs, but it is fully integrated into the formative processes and thus permits the development of competencies in the subject, thus maturing the capacity for choices and decisions. This is in the optic of ongoing learning, and is thus in line with the National Guidellines for Ongoing Orientation promoted by MIUR (the Ministry for Education, Universities and Research) in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the experience gained in the course and discussion workshop imparted at the Faculty of Psychology, BUAP University, with the topic: "Educational Orientation". These students developed a folder called: project life, which is applicable as a learning and assessment tool that allows the creation of a rich context for participatory training, through the experience of their own self-orientation process. A process that allows them, the knowledge and management of the different educational tools necessary for career guidance with a particular view of vocational counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two studies the emotional valence, the level of arousal and self-orientation of empathic concern and personal distress are tested. The empathic concern prevalence versus personal distress prevalence is induced through pictures in Study 1 ( N = 62) and perspective-taking instructions in Study 2 ( N = 60). Results of Study 1 show that participants in the personal distress-prevalence condition report significantly more negative emotional valence ( d = .65), higher arousal ( d = .48), and higher self-orientation ( d = .57) than participants in the empathic concern-prevalence condition. Results of Study 2 show that participants in the self-oriented condition report the highest arousal, followed by participants in the other-oriented condition, and the objective condition ( η p 2 = .58). Concerning the increase of self-orientation, results show that it is mediated by the personal distress induced by self-perspective instructions. Similar results in emotional valence were found between self- and other-oriented conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular imprinting is a polymerization technique that provides synthetic analogs for template molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have gained much attention due to their unique properties such as selectivity and specificity for target molecules. In this study, we focused on the development of polymeric materials with molecular recognition ability, so molecular imprinting was combined with miniemulsion polymerization to synthesize self-orienting nanoparticles through the use of an epitope imprinting approach. Thus, l -lysine imprinted nanoparticles (LMIP) were synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization technique. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was then bound to the cavities that specifically formed for l -lysine molecules that are typically found at the C-terminus of the Fc region of antibody molecules. The resulting nanoparticles makes it possible to minimize the nonspecific interaction between monomer and template molecules. In addition, the orientation of the entire IgG molecule was controlled, and random imprinting of the IgG was prevented. The optimum conditions were determined for IgG recognition using the imprinted nanoparticles. The selectivity of the nanoparticles against IgG molecules was also evaluated using albumin and hemoglobin as competitor molecules. In order to show the self-orientation capability of imprinted nanoparticles, human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption onto both the plain nanoparticles and immobilized nanoparticles by anti-human serum albumin antibody (anti-HSA antibody) was also carried out. Due to anti-HSA antibody immobilization on the imprinted nanoparticles, the adsorption capability of nanoparticles against HSA molecules vigorously enhanced. It is proved that the oriented immobilization of antibodies was appropriately succeeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: [•] This work proposes novel fluorinated polyimides (PIs). [•] PI-1 (#1) gave transparent films with high T g (328°C), low CTE (9.9ppmK−1), and low YI. [•] PI-2 (#2) showed further improved transparency with low CTE and excellent solubility. [•] These are useful as novel high-temperature plastic substrates in display devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a first step in deciding whether it is necessary to develop a cultural adaptation by comparing the cultural characteristics of an intervention with the same characteristics of a specific group. Larger cultural differences suggest a greater need to conduct a cultural adaptation. This recommendation stems from the cultural match theory (CMT) which, explains that therapeutic outcomes increase as interventions are more similar to the cultural characteristics of specific treatment groups. However, the CMT has rarely been tested, partly because strategies to effectively measure the cultural characteristics of an intervention are still lacking. This article addresses this gap by assessing two dimensions of the self-orientation relevant to cultural adaptations, namely, idiocentrism-the tendency to define oneself in isolation from others-and allocentrism-the tendency to define oneself in relationship to others-through a content analysis of guided imagery scripts. Two independent evaluators analyzed 123 guided imagery scripts (published during 1989-2008) using 6 theoretically derived categories to analyze idiocentrism versus allocentrism. Results indicated that idiocentric elements were 1.5 to 52.3 times more frequently used than were allocentric ones. The implications of these findings for the development of culturally adapted interventions are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 00:1-10, 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ca2 calbindin protein in which one calcium has been substituted with Ce(III), Yb(III) and Dy(III) displays substantial alignment in high magnetic fields due to the high anisotropy of the metal magnetic susceptibility. This property has allowed the measurement of residual dipolar coupling contributions to 1JHNand 2JHH couplings of asparagine and glutamine NH2 moieties. Such data have been used to aid structural characterization of these groups. The exploitation of auto-orientation of magnetic anisotropic metalloproteins represents a step ahead in the investigation of the conformational space of peripheral residues that are not fixed by the protein folding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of the concept of social anxiety (or phobia) to the American nosological system in DSM–III (1980), it has become increasingly apparent that the condition is also prevalent in other cultures. In Japan, for example, the condition, called taijinkyofusho (usually abbreviated as TKS in English), is widespread and has been extensively discussed since the turn of the century, a fact not well known in the English-speaking psychiatric community. In comparing social phobia in Japanese society (and in other East Asian societies) with North American societies, two questions stand out. First, if TKS is social phobia, why is it so different from the American form of social phobia? In particular, why do typical TKS patients fear the possibility of distressing, and even harming, others, whereas their American counterparts feel anxious at the possibility of being embarrassed by others? In other words, why is TKS other-oriented (allocentric), whereas social phobia is self-oriented (egocentric)? Second, is TKS specific to Japanese culture? In this paper, I suggest that the allocentric nature of TKS reflects those elements of Japanese culture that are common to East Asian societies as seen in their pattern of child-rearing practices, language, and social ideals. In short, TKS is an East Asian cultural patterning of social anxiety (phobia). Depression and Anxiety 5:115–120, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an artificial neural network model for autonomous agents, i.e., mobile robots, to learn maps of environments and acquire the ability to perform home-navigation autonomously. The networks consists of two subnetworks, each of which has a similar structure with hippocampal lamellar neuronal circuits. Hebbian learning procedures self-organize the first subnetwork to output the distributed sinusoidal activity of the cells by accumulating motor information generated during movement, and the second subnetwork to output localized activity by prototyping sensory information. These patterns represent a homing vector providing the relative coordinates of the agent from a starting point, and a place code corresponding uniquely to a point of the environment. By attaching homing vectors to the sensor map, the homing vector is associated with the sensory stimuli. Then the agents can perform home-navigation autonomously by this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]