The morphology of the Magellanic Clouds revealed by stars of different age: results from the DENIS survey

The spatial distribution of sources populating different regions of the colour-magnitude diagram (I-J, I) extracted from the DENIS catalogue towards the Magellanic Clouds (DCMC -- Cioni et al. 2000) reveal significantly different morphologies. Each region is associated to a different age group. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) shows an extended circular shape with a prominent, off center bar, a nucleus and irregular spiral arms. The Small Magellanic Cloud shows a perturbated structure with a prominent central concentration of stars. Old and young populations are offset from one another.Comment: 4 pages and 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&A Journal Letter

Rasch analysis on the academic motivation scale in Portuguese university students

Academic motivation has been associated with important outcomes in different education contexts. The goal of the current study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) based on the assumptions of the Rating Scale Model (RSM) to provide an effective instrument in assessing academic motivation in Portuguese students. The sample comprised 360 Portuguese university students that were assessed with the AMS adapted for online data collection. The results showed that the original version of the AMS with sevencategory response scale might not work properly with Portuguese university students. Different alternatives were tested by collapsing anchors in the endpoints and midpoint of the original response scale. This analysis revealed that the most suitable solution relies on a five-category response system with midpoint anchors collapsed. This final solution showed good overall fit according to the guidelines proposed for the RSM.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

¿Qué dicen sus ojos? Conectando los movimientos oculares hacia el comportamiento del consumidor

Eye tracking (ET) is a technique that has been progressively employed to study the influence of visual stimuli on attentional processes and consumer behavior. The goals of the present theoretical article are fourfold and are based on an extensive literature revision. First, a brief historical review of ET methodology is introduced, presenting the evolution of ET techniques from the ancient proto-eye trackers to the "fresh" state-of-the-art eye ET devices. Second, the basics of ET are clarified through a simplified technical and mathematical explanation. Third, the triad eye movement-attention-consumer behavior is made clear, grounded on attention, interest, desire, and action (AIDA) theoretical model. Fourth, the most used oculometrics in marketing studies are explained and distinguished The present article addresses a number of technical and methodological issues by discussing challenges involved in ET systems and giving some guidelines for those who intend to apply ET to infer cognitive and emotional processes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An investigation of dermatoglyphic variation among ethnic populations in Kenya

In 1973 and 1975 hand prints were collected from 6,235 Kenyan schoolchildren drawn from 61 ethnic populations, of which 57 male and 53 female samples are suitable for analysis. The study describes dermatoglyphic variation in these samples, and attempts preliminary explanatory analysis. Part One is concerned with background (Chapter 1) and the nature of biological populations, sampling and fieldwork (Chapter 2). Part Two discusses methodology, and inter-sample dermatoglyphic variation. Chapter 3 introduces the approach to the descriptive and explanatory investigations, and Chapter 4 outlines methodological procedures adopted for dermatoglyphic attribute measurement, coding and the minimisation of errors. The descriptive investigation begins in Chapter 5, by examining the "basic structure" of dermatoglyphic variation in Kenya. The results show that the variation is discordant, and that no distinctive clusters are in evidence when multivariate measures of inter-sample affinity are applied in Chapter 6. A feature of the descriptive results is the failure of the male and female series to exhibit similar taxonomic rankings for equivalent dermatoglyphic traits. The explanatory investigation in Part Three begins with an analysis of sex differences to try and account for this discordance (Chapter 7). Chapters 8 and 9 are devoted to the examination of major types of variation. Chapter 8 explores the extent to which observed dermatoglyphic resemblance between population samples corresponds to patterns of linguistic and ethnic affinity. In Chapter 9 ecotyplc variation is considered. Specifically investigated is the question whether systematic and non-random dermatoglyphic variation exists when samples are pooled into altitude and rainfall zones. The positive results obtained are amongst the most interesting of the study

Journal Staff

Electrical properties and strain gauge factor of Cr/SiOx cermet films with compositions 50/50 and 70/30 wt% were investigated in order to evaluate their use in strain gauge devices. The films were deposited by flash evaporation. The microstructures and resulting phases were characterized by electron diffraction and electron microscopy. The influence of the thickness and deposition rate on the sheet resistance, the temperature coefficient of resistance and the gauge factor were investigated. The results are consistent with a mixed conduction mechanism with metallic and a thermally activated tunneling components, between interconnected and discrete conductive phases, respectively.Se investigaron las propiedades eléctricas y el factor extensométrico de películas del cermet- Cr/SiOx en composiciones 50/50 y 70/30 % en peso, para evaluar su uso en dispositivos "strain gauge". Las películas fueron depositadas por evaporación "flash". Las estructuras y fases resultantes fueron caracterizadas por microscopía y difracción de electrones. Se estudió la influencia del espesor y la velocidad del depósito sobre la resistencia laminar, el coeficiente térmico de resistencia y el factor extensométrico. Los resultados son consistentes con un mecanismo de conducción mixto, con una componente metálica y otra por efecto túnel térmicamente activado, entre fases conductoras interconectadas y discretas, respectivamente