Personality, Well-Being, and Music Involvement

This study identified if music experience is related to goal orientation, personality traits, and well-being. The subjects were the students and staff of Linfield College, members of the surrounding community, and members of a professional choir. The sample contained the spectrum of professional musicians to those with no music experience, ages 18 to nearly retired. Data was gathered via an online survey, with items to collect information about: demographics, music involvement throughout life, athletic involvement throughout life, academic information, personality traits, goal orientation, motivation, and several types of well-being. Overall there were significant correlations found between a wide spectrum of music involvement and specific personality traits, such as Openness and Compassion. Other factors, such as behavioral inhibition and approach, also have overarching correlations with music involvement. These findings suggest that there are clear relations between music and goals, motivation, and personality. We also found numerous relationships between various types of well-being and music involvement, some of which were not anticipated. These results have the potential to impact public policy and public school programs

Linking first occurrence polynomials over F_p by Steenrod operations

This paper provides analogues of the results of [G.Walker and R.M.W. Wood, Linking first occurrence polynomials over F_2 by Steenrod operations, J. Algebra 246 (2001), 739--760] for odd primes p. It is proved that for certain irreducible representations L(lambda) of the full matrix semigroup M_n(F_p), the first occurrence of L(lambda) as a composition factor in the polynomial algebra P=F_p[x_1,...,x_n] is linked by a Steenrod operation to the first occurrence of L(lambda) as a submodule in P. This operation is given explicitly as the image of an admissible monomial in the Steenrod algebra A_p under the canonical anti-automorphism chi . The first occurrences of both kinds are also linked to higher degree occurrences of L(lambda) by elements of the Milnor basis of A_p.Comment: Published by Algebraic and Geometric Topology at http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/agt/AGTVol2/agt-2-27.abs.htm

Investigation of Systematic Bias in Radiometric Diameter Determination of Near-Earth Asteroids: the Night Emission Simulated Thermal Model (NESTM)

The Near-Earth Asteroid Thermal Model (NEATM, Harris, 1998) has proven to be a reliable simple thermal model for radiometric diameter determination. However NEATM assumes zero thermal emission on the night side of an asteroid. We investigate how this assumption affects the best-fit beaming parameter, overestimates the effective diameter and underestimates the albedo at large phase angles, by testing NEATM on thermal IR fluxes generated from simulated asteroid surfaces with different thermal inertia. We compare NEATM to radar diameters and find that NEATM overestimates the diameter when the beaming parameter is fitted to multi-wavelength observations and underestimates the diameter when the default beaming parameter is used. The Night Emission Simulated Thermal Model (NESTM) is introduced. NESTM models the night side temperature as an iso-latitudinal fraction (f) of the maximum day side temperature (Maximum temperature calculated for NEATM with beaming parameter = 1). A range of f is found for different thermal parameters, which depend on the thermal inertia. NESTM diameters are compared with NEATM and radar diameters, and it is shown that NESTM may reduce the systematic bias in overestimating diameters. It is suggested that a version of the NESTM which assumes the thermal inertia = 200 S.I. units is adopted as a default model when the solar phase angle is greater than 45 degrees.Comment: 48 pages, 10 Figures, 5 Table

Monte Carlo simulation of size-effects on thermal conductivity in a 2-dimensional Ising system

A model based on microcanonical Monte Carlo method is used to study the application of the temperature gradient along a two-dimensional (2D) Ising system. We estimate the system size effects on thermal conductivity, $K$, for a nano-scale Ising layer with variable size. It is shown that $K$ scales with size as $K=cL^\alpha$ where $\alpha$ varies with temperature. Both the Metropolis and Cruetz algorithms have been used to establish the temperature gradient. Further results show that the average demon energy in the presence of an external magnetic field is zero for low temperatures.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Physica

Novel fabrication method for rapid creation of channels using PDMS for microfluidic networks on planar substrates

A novel and simple method for the rapid fabrication of microfluidic networks is presented. A silicone elastomer (PDMS - poly(dimethylsiloxane)) is cured around formers, which are then removed post-cure, resulting in a microstructure suitable for fluidic applications. The limiting factors in the fabrication method are in the materials and tools used for the development of the formers. If the methods used cannot produce a structure of accurate dimensions then the microstructure formed will be limited. For creating very narrow fluidic channels, the material used needs to be strong so that even with narrow dimensions it can be removed without damage but the use of sacrificial materials has been investigated as this overcomes this requirement. The principle of the technique is demonstrated with an unusual material (caramelised sugar – which can be easily dissolved in water) to fabricate channels with diameters down to 16μm

A Closed-loop, Non-linear, Miniaturised Capillary Electrophoresis System Enabled by Control of Electroosmotic Flow

The miniaturisation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) systems makes separation of ionic species with similar electrophoretic mobilities challenging. We report on a novel closed-loop system that does not rely on migration time to identify ionic species unlike many conventional CE systems. To aid miniaturisation our method requires the sample undergoing separation to travel back and forth along the short channel multiple times. For each consecutive cycle the sample becomes increasingly separated until it is deemed sufficiently separated such that it can be reliably identified by any appropriate detection system. As the sample approaches either of the channel ends, contactless conductivity detectors detect the presence of the sample and trigger the modification of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) to reverse the direction of flow in the channel. After sufficient separation the identification is performed in-channel using, in our case, an electrochemical detection scheme. Incorporation of a closed-loop control system means that unpredictable variation in migration time does not present an issue for ionic species identification. This new method of non-linear CE is demonstrated in a microfluidic channel formed in PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), reversibly sealed to a glass wafer on which metal electrodes are patterned in gold. The sample movement in both directions along the channel occurs without affecting the electrophoretic separation already achieved during each cycle by changing the EOF in magnitude and direction. The EOF is changed by modifying the zeta-potential along the channel wall through the application of a voltage on a zeta-potential modification (ZPM) electrode placed close to the channel surface. Depending on the magnitude and polarity of the voltage applied to the ZPM electrode our experiments have shown the ability to increase, decrease or reverse the EOF

Review on the development of truly portable and in-situ capillary electrophoresis systems

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a technique which uses an electric field to separate a mixed sample into its constituents. Portable CE systems enable this powerful analysis technique to be used in the field. Many of the challenges for portable systems are similar to those of autonomous in-situ analysis and therefore portable systems may be considered a stepping stone towards autonomous in-situ analysis. CE is widely used for biological and chemical analysis and example applications include: water quality analysis; drug development and quality control; proteomics and DNA analysis; counter-terrorism (explosive material identification) and corrosion monitoring. The technique is often limited to laboratory use, since it requires large electric fields, sensitive detection systems and fluidic control systems. All of these place restrictions in terms of: size, weight, cost, choice of operating solutions, choice of fabrication materials, electrical power and lifetime. In this review we bring together and critique the work by researchers addressing these issues. We emphasize the importance of a holistic approach for portable and in-situ CE systems and discuss all the aspects of the design. We identify gaps in the literature which require attention for the realization of both truly portable and in-situ CE systems

Self-affirmation improves self-control over snacking among participants low in eating self-efficacy

bjective: Individuals low in eating self-efficacy are at particular risk of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviours, including the consumption of high calorie snacks. The elevated levels of snacking displayed by these individuals can largely be attributed to their experiencing low self-control over the avoidance of such foods (Hankonen, Kinnunen, Absetz, & Jallinoja, 2014). Interventions are thus required to boost self-control over snacking among those low in eating self-efficacy. Self-affirmation has been shown to boost self-control among individuals with depleted resources in other domains (Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that a self-affirmation manipulation would similarly increase self-control over snacking for individuals low in eating self-efficacy. Methods: At baseline, participants (N = 70) completed measures of dietary restraint and eating self-efficacy. In the main study, participants completed either a self-affirmation or a control task immediately before undertaking a joystick category judgment task that assessed self-control over snacking. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed the predicted significant interaction between eating self-efficacy and self-affirmation, demonstrating that self-affirmation moderated the association between eating self-efficacy and self-control over snacking. Johnson-Neyman regions of significance confirmed that for participants low in eating self-efficacy the self-affirmation manipulation resulted in higher levels of self-control. Unexpectedly, however, for participants high in eating self-efficacy the self-affirmation manipulation was found to be associated with lower levels of self-control. Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that a self-affirmation manipulation would boost self-control over snacking among individuals low in eating self-efficacy. Self-affirmation may thus provide a useful technique for strengthening self-control in relation to the avoidance of unhealthy foods among individuals who find it difficult to manage challenging dietary situations

Projected health effects of realistic dietary changes to address freshwater constraints in India : a modelling study

Acknowledgements This study forms part of the Sustainable and Healthy Diets in India project supported by the Wellcome Trust's Our Planet, Our Health programme (grant number 103932). LA's PhD is funded by the Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health. SA is supported by a Wellcome Trust Capacity Strengthening Strategic Award-Extension phase (grant number WT084754/Z/08/A). We would like to thank Zaid Chalabi (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) for providing valuable guidance on the modelling methods.Peer reviewedPublisher PD