How Do Ideal Friend Preferences and Interaction Context Affect Friendship Formation? Evidence for a Domain- General Relationship Initiation Process

This research examined how people’s ideal friend preferences influence the friendship formation process. In an extension of prior research on romantic relationship initiation, we tested whether the match between participants’ ideals and a partner’s traits affected participants’ interest in forming a new friendship in three contexts: evaluating a potential friend’s profile, meeting in-person, and chatting online. Results revealed that participants were more interested in becoming friends with a partner whose traits matched (vs. mismatched) their ideal friend preferences when evaluating his or her profile. After a live interaction, however, the effect of the ideal-perceived trait match manipulation on participants’ friendship interest was substantially reduced in both in-person and online chatting contexts. People’s ideal friend preferences may influence their friendship interest more strongly in descriptive (i.e., indirect) than interactive (i.e., direct) contexts, a finding that mirrors prior results from the romantic domain and documents a role for domain-general relationship initiation processes

Lord Lytton and the Afghan war (1879)

Diplomatic history of Afghanistan, 19th century

What should be done about the increasing use of computed tomography in the United States

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-30).Computed tomography (CT) is a prominent procedure in the US with larger radiation doses than traditional radiology. CT is a powerful tool in the diagnosis of a wide variety of conditions and its use has grown quickly because of its power. CT contributes a significant portion of annual per capita dose in the US. The risk of this additional dose is poorly understood. The risks of low doses of radiation are estimated through models, primarily the linear no-threshold (LNT) model. Epidemiological evidence from atomic bomb survivors provides some understanding of the risk of low doses of radiation, but not on the order of doses from typical CT procedures. This paper explores the evidence of the risk of low doses of radiation and discusses some of the models proposed. Recommendations for improving these models are made including experimental and epidemiological studies. Recommendations for reducing radiation exposure through the intelligent use of CT are also presented including: using CT only when it produces a clear clinical benefit, reducing dose per scan, and tracking total patient dose. Finally, a case is made that a thorough understanding of the risk versus dose relationship at doses relevant to CT is not necessary to use CT appropriately. The culture of evidence-based medicine will achieve this result without conscious efforts to reduce patient radiation exposure.by Gary Eastwick.S.B

Adults and Learning Disabilities: Moving Beyond the Limits of Learning

The heterogeneous nature of learning disabilities has led to confusion regarding their definition and their intervention. Although the law protects adults with learning disabilities both in the workplace and classroom, it provides only a broad definition that has been subject to many interpretations. There is a paucity of longitudinal research on learning disabilities, but one study indicates that they are ameliorated by certain protective factors. Cross-sectional research suggests that a wide variety of teaching techniques is necessary for classroom success. This research serves to inform adult educators of the dynamic concept of learning disabilities as well as effective classroom interventions

Lord Lytton and the Afghan war (1879)

Diplomatic history of Afghanistan, 19th century

The impact of gender ideologies on men's and women's desire for a traditional or non-traditional partner

Two studies examine preferences for a long-term partner who conforms to traditional or non- traditional gender roles. The studies both demonstrate a link between benevolent sexism and preference for a traditional partner. However, Study 1 also demonstrates a strong preference among women for a non-traditional partner. We measured ambivalent sexist ideologies before introducing participants to either a stereotypically traditional or stereotypically non-traditional character of the opposite sex. In Study 1, women high in benevolence toward men reported a preference for a traditional man when compared to women low in benevolence toward men. We found no such link for hostility toward men. Study 2 showed that men high in benevolent sexism preferred a traditional woman more than men low in benevolent sexism. Again, this was not the case for hostile sexism. The studies provide evidence using both the Ambivalence Toward Men Inventory and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and demonstrate a relationship between benevolent ideology and partner choice that adds to a literature on partner preference which has to date been focused on preference dimensions of attractiveness and resources

Study of aero-engine oil-air separators

For aero-engines, oil-air separation is a key function, and one approach to assessing separator effectiveness is computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The two-phase flow is complex and oil can be present in different forms (for example, droplets, mist, film). However, necessary modelling simplifications may affect solution accuracy and range of validity. This article presents a modelling methodology for oil-air separators; the effect of simplifications is discussed and their relative magnitude assessed. Comparison with available experimental data is presented. It is concluded that although simplification has an impact, the significant features of the oil-air separator are predicted with sufficient accuracy to allow design comparisons. Two separator configurations, one internal to a bearing chamber and one external, are modelled and the data presented. Flow fields are compared and the effectiveness of the separators in removing oil droplets prior to impact on the breather (primary separation) presented. The separation performance of the external design is largely independent of shaft speed, with all droplets >3 μm removed before impact on the breather. The critical droplet diameter of the internal design is larger, varying with breather configuration and shaft speed but the power loss is an order of magnitude lower than for the external design

Noise and vibration from building-mounted micro wind turbines Part 2: Results of measurements and analysis

Description To research the quantification of vibration from a micro turbine, and to develop a method of prediction of vibration and structure borne noise in a wide variety of installations in the UK. Objective The objectives of the study are as follows: 1) Develop a methodology to quantify the amount of source vibration from a building mounted micro wind turbine installation, and to predict the level of vibration and structure-borne noise impact within such buildings in the UK. 2) Test and validate the hypothesis on a statically robust sample size 3) Report the developed methodology in a form suitable for widespread adoption by industry and regulators, and report back on the suitability of the method on which to base policy decisions for a future inclusion for building mounted turbines in the GPDO

Noise levels and noise perception from small and micro wind turbines

Noise concerns frequently pose a barrier to widespread implementation of wind turbines and while the perception of noise from large turbines has been investigated, there is a relative gap in the research for small and micro wind turbines. This paper presents findings from interdisciplinary research linking noise measurements from small wind installations with an investigation into the effect of individual personality traits and noise perception. A survey distributed to households living close to one of 12 micro or small turbine sites, coupled with environmental noise measurements was analysed. The survey showed that the most commonly perceived noises are ‘swooshing’ and ‘humming’, the presence of which may be inferred from the measured frequency spectra. Exploration of survey results showed individuals with a more negative attitude to wind turbines perceive more noise from a turbine located close to their dwelling and those perceiving more noise report increased levels of general symptoms. Individuals' personality also affected attitudes to wind turbines, noise perception from small and micro turbines and symptom reporting