Concealing Untrustworthiness: The Role of Conflict Monitoring in a Social Deception Task

Deception studies emphasize the important role of event-related potentials (ERPs) to uncover deceptive behavior based on underlying neuro-cognitive processes. The role of conflict monitoring as indicated by the frontal N2 component during truthful and deceptive responses was investigated in an adapted Concealed Information Test (CIT). Previously memorized pictures of faces should either be indicated as truthfully trustworthy, truthfully untrustworthy or trustworthy while concealing the actual untrustworthiness (untrustworthy-probe). Mean, baseline-to-peak and peak-to-peak amplitudes were calculated to examine the robustness of ERP findings across varying quantification techniques. Data of 30 participants (15 female; age: M = 23.73 years, SD = 4.09) revealed longer response times and lower correct rates for deceptive compared to truthful trustworthy responses. The frontal N2 amplitude was more negative for untrustworthy-probe and truthful untrustworthy compared to truthful trustworthy stimuli when measured as mean or baseline-to-peak amplitude. Results suggest that deception evokes conflict monitoring and ERP quantifications are differentially sensitive to a-priori hypotheses

Psychometric Properties of a German Online Version of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 1

Suggestibility is a trait dimension that has been differentiated into Yield and Shift dimensions. Yield refers to the susceptibility to suggestive item content in a first question series (Yield 1) and a second question series following negative feedback (Yield 2). Shift describes the tendency to change answers over the two series of questions depending on social pressure. This study aimed at investigating the psychometric properties and the factor structure of a German online version of the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 1 (GSS 1) and measurement invariance of suggestibility scores for gender and research institution. A total of N=560 (n=287 female; age: M=24.20, SD=4.60years) students participated in the study. We present Stanine norms for the application of the online GSS 1. Results supported the theoretical basis of the GSS by revealing the two expected suggestibility factors: Yield and Shift. As expected, a leading factor and a non-leading factor were identified for Yield 1 and Yield 2 and a single factor for Shift. We report psychometric properties (e.g., item difficulty, part-whole corrected item-total correlations, reliability coefficients). We compare the factorial structure of the German online GSS 1 with former versions of the GSS 1. Our data suggest widely measurement invariance for gender and research institution on Yield 1 and Yield 2

Procedure for the Experimental Determination of a Forming Limit Curve for Usibor 1500 P

International audienceUSIBOR 1500 P® is a coated C-Mn steel, micro-alloyed with boron, with excellent processing properties in hot stamping, both in terms of formability, quenchability and surface protection, and leading to superior mechanical properties on the formed part. Arcelor Research is developing a numerical tool to support the feasibility analysis and to optimize the design of hot stamped parts made of USIBOR 1500P®. Among the numerous bricks of such a simulation methodology, formability data of the material are of primary importance as the forming analysis relies on them to make a decision in terms of feasibility. Up to now, there was no experimental procedure available in literature to determine the forming limits of hot stamping material, taking into account the specificities of this process. This paper reports about the research performed in this field. First, an efficient experimental set-up which allows varying all the desired process conditions has been developed. Several hundred Nakazima hot stamping tests have been carried out for various process parameters (stroke, velocity, friction and heat exchange) and blank para-meters (temperature, thickness and shape). The third step consisted in developing and vali-dating an accurate analysis scheme to determine the critical strain values based on the Bragard method. Finally, the critical strain values have been confirmed and comparisons with industrial parts for various process conditions have been performed. In this paper these two last steps are mainly presented

Formability investigations for the hot stamping process

International audienceArcelor Research is developing a numerical tool to support the feasibility analysis and to optimize the design of hot stamped parts made of USIBOR 1500P®. To provide formability data and to feed the development of a fracture criterion, experimental hot stamping tests are carried out at Cemef (Centre for Material Forming). These hot stamping experiments are based on a modified Nakazima-type test. Results reveal that the achievable strain levels depend on process parameters (stroke, velocity, temperature, friction and heat exchange) and blank parameters (initial temperature, thickness and shape). In parallel, a numerical model of these hot stamping tests has been developed with finite element softwares (Forge2®, Forge3® and Abaqus). The numerical simulations confirm the location and the magnitude of the blank thinning. Furthermore, the numerical results are similar to the experimental measurements in terms of punch load, cooling rate and strain distribution. A formability analysis is then performed to study the influence of the blank geometry and the blank temperature on formability

Evaluation of computer-tailored health education ('E-health4Uth') combined with personal counselling ('E-health4Uth + counselling') on adolescents' behaviours and mental health status: Design of a three-armed cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: About 15% of adolescents in the Netherlands have mental health problems and many also have health risk behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, use of drugs, and having unsafe sex. Mental health problems and health risk behaviours may have adverse effects on the short and longer term. Therefore, in the Netherlands there is a considerable support for an additional public health examination at age 15-16 years. The study evaluates the effect of two options for such an additional examination. Adolescents in the 'E-health4Uth' group receive internet-based tailored health messages on their health behaviour and well-being. Adolescents in the 'E-health4Uth + counselling' group receive the computer-tailored messages combined with personal counselling for adolescents at risk of mental health problems. Methods and design. A three-arm cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in the Netherlands among fourth-grade secondary school students. School classes are the unit of randomisation. Both intervention groups complete the computer-tailored program during one class session; the program focuses on nine topics related on health behaviour and well-being. For each topic a score is computed that can be compared with the Dutch health norms for adolescents. Based on the score, a message is presented that reflects the person's current behaviour or well-being, the Dutch health norm, and offers advise to change unhealthy behaviour or to talk to a person they trust. Adolescents in the 'E-health4Uth + counselling' group are also invited for an appointment to see the nurse when they are at risk of mental health problems. The control group receives 'care as usual'. The primary outcome measures are health behaviour (alcohol, drugs, smoking, safe sex) and mental health status. The secondary outcome measure is health-related quality of life. Data will be collected with a questionnaire at baseline and at 4-months follow-up. A process evaluation will also be conducted. Discussion. It is hypothesized that at follow-up adolescents in the 'E-health4Uth' group and adolescents in the 'E-health4Uth + counselling' group will show fewer mental health problems and less risky behaviour compared to the control group. Trial registration. Current Controlled Trials NTR3596

Surviving meningococcal septic shock in childhood: long-term overall outcome and the effect on health-related quality of life

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between long-term physical and psychological outcome variables in patients who survived meningococcal septic shock (MSS) in childhood.Methods: The study population was made up of all MSS patients requiring intensive care treatment between 1988 and 2001.Results: A total of 120 patients visited the follow-up clinic (age at paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission 3.1 years; follow-up interval 9.8 years; age at follow-up 14.5 years (all medians)). Four major outcomes were considered: 1) major physical sequelae (defined as major scars and/or orthopaedic sequelae) (29/120), 2) mild neurological impairments (39/120), 3) problem behaviour (defined as a total score above the 90thpercentile of the reference groups on questionnaires to screen for psychopathology) (16/114) and 4) total intelligence quotient < 85 (18/115). No differences were found between patients with major physical sequelae and patients without major physical sequelae as to the presence of problem behaviour or total IQ < 85. Also, no differences were found between patients with mild neurological impairments and patients without as to the presence of problem behaviour or total IQ < 85. Finally, no differences were found between patients with major physical sequelae and patients without as to the presence of mild neurological sequelae. Less favourable scores on behavioural and emotional problems were significantly associated with poorer health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). HR-QoL scores were to a lesser amount predicted by severity of illness at time of PICU admission or by adverse physical outcome.Conclusions: Long-term adverse physical and psychological outcomes in survivors of MSS did not seem to be associated. Poorer HR-QoL was mainly predicted by problem behaviour