Normative views and resource distribution behavior in childhood: Dissociated at the group level, but associated at the individual level

Previous research debated whether and to which extent normative views and own resource distribution behavior in childhood are dissociated or aligned. The present study aims to advance this debate by examining the relation from two different methodological viewpoints within the same study. Here, 4–6-year-old children’s (N = 91) normative views and distribution behavior when confronted with a rich friend and a poor non-friend were assessed. Children’s spontaneous protest and affirmation toward distributors, evaluations, and punishment judgments served as normative indicators. Looking at average normative views and behavior, preschoolers held a normative view toward rectifying inequalities while favoring the rich friend themselves. Looking at the consistency of interindividual differences, preschooler’s normative view correlated with behavior. The study highlights that the relation between normative views and behavior is characterized by both dissociation and coherence

The normative status of friendship: Do young children enforce sharing with friends and appreciate reasonable partiality?

Contemporary moral philosophy stresses the idea of reasonable partiality. This concept proposes that close relationships carry a normative obligation to be partial toward another person. This study explored in two experiments whether 4- to 6-year-old children (NÂ =Â 185) enforce partiality toward friends from third parties (Experiment 1) and how they prioritize a norm of equality and interpersonal obligations toward friends (Experiment 2). Children were presented with protagonists who could distribute resources between a friend and a disliked peer. One protagonist complied with a norm of partiality by allocating more resources to his friend, whereas the other protagonist either behaved in the opposite way (Experiment 1) or distributed resources equally (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, children enforced partiality by protesting against the protagonist who gave more to the disliked peer and by selectively affirming the protagonist who gave more to the friend. Yet, in Experiment 2, children showed stronger enforcement of a norm of equal sharing than partiality toward the friend. The study demonstrates how young children deal with normative demands in the context of friendship. At the same time, it suggests that fairness norms are given priority. Overall, our study demonstrates how young children handle normative demands and interpersonal responsibilities

The combined effects of high-energy shock waves and cytostatic drugs or cytokines on human bladder cancer cells.

The effects of shock waves generated by an experimental Siemens lithotripter in combination with cytostatic drugs or cytokines on several bladder cancer cell lines were examined in vitro. Proliferation after treatment was determined with the 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Dose enhancement ratios were calculated for each drug and each shock wave application mode in order to characterise the sensitising effect of shock wave pretreatment. The influence of the time between shock wave and drug treatment as well as the effects of different sequences of shock wave and drug treatment or concomitant treatment were assessed for selected combinations of cell lines and drugs. It was found that shock wave treatment could render certain cell lines more susceptible to subsequent cis-platinum, mitomycin C or actinomycin D incubation. Cell lines sensitive to tumour necrosis factor alpha or interferon alpha were further sensitised to these cytokines by shock wave pretreatment. The enhanced sensitivity to cis-platinum and actinomycin D decreased rapidly during the first hours after shock wave treatment. The antiproliferative effect was most pronounced after concomitant shock wave and drug treatment. The sensitisation to interferon alpha diminishes more slowly after shock wave exposure. From the results presented in this study it is concluded that transient shock wave-induced permeabilisation of cell membrane not only enhances drug efficiency, but also causes damage to cell organelles and alterations in cellular metabolism

Thermodynamic stabilities of ternary metal borides: An ab initio guide for synthesizing layered superconductors

Density functional theory calculations have been used to identify stable layered Li-$M$-B crystal structure phases derived from a recently proposed binary metal-sandwich (MS) lithium monoboride superconductor. We show that the MS lithium monoboride gains in stability when alloyed with electron-rich metal diborides; the resulting ordered Li$_{2(1-x)}M_x$B$_2$ ternary phases may form under normal synthesis conditions in a wide concentration range of $x$ for a number of group-III-V metals $M$. In an effort to pre-select compounds with the strongest electron-phonon coupling we examine the softening of the in-plane boron phonon mode at $\Gamma$ in a large class of metal borides. Our results reveal interesting general trends for the frequency of the in-plane boron phonon modes as a function of the boron-boron bond length and the valence of the metal. One of the candidates with a promise to be an MgB$_2$-type superconductor, Li$_2$AlB$_4$, has been examined in more detail: according to our {\it ab initio} calculations of the phonon dispersion and the electron-phonon coupling $\lambda$, the compound should have a critical temperature of $\sim4$ K.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PR

How does the setup of sample collection influence survey results - an example of new mobility services

Conducting surveys in transportation research is becoming more complex. Depending on the survey subject, the survey format and the circumstances of the sample collection the motivation of respondents to participate and consequently the results can vary substantially. Skewness of samples and sample selection bias occur to different degrees. This study compares different surveys which were created to capture the acceptance regarding shared autonomous minibuses in Germany. By analyzing distributions of behavior, perception and intention to use the services, biases in the datasets are worked out. The results show that voluntary on-site surveys lead to more positive perception of minibuses

Hydrothermal synthesis of anisotropic alkali and alkaline earth vanadates

In the course of a systematic field study, anisotropic alkali and alkaline earth vanadates have been accessed through a straightforward, one-step hydrothermal process. They are formed quantitatively from V2O5 and alkali- or alkaline earth halide solutions after a few days of autoclave treatment in the temperature range between 100 and 220 °C. The presence of ionic additives leads to an interplay between the formation of isotropic crystalline phases and the production of fibrous oxide materials, such as a novel magnesium vanadate. The influence of the hydrothermal parameters and of the alkali/alkaline earth halides on the emerging phases and morphologies has been investigated in the course of a systematic study. The results are compared with other vanadate- and transition metal oxide-based hydrothermal systems, and the emerging trends are discussed with respect to the development of predictive synthetic concepts for nanostructured vanadium oxide

Influences of Norm and Excitement on Bike Use Behavior of High-Income People in China

In China, the bicycle had a high relevance in the past. Some decades ago, it was the major mode for most Chinese people. This situation changed with growing wealth and increasing car ownership. Today, as cities are traffic-crowded, the bicycle seems to be an alternative again. At the same time, the government as well as private equity, invest in public bike systems. Previous research indicates that especially people with high-income are less likely to use the bicycle as a mode of transport. The question arises whether the bike is used by high-income people that usually have a car as an alternative. What are the influencing factors to use bicycles? To investigate these aspects, we present results of a study conducted in 8 Chinese cities. The data is analyzed using a structural equation model to investigate influences on bike use behavior of high-income people. This study provides no contribution in the research of psychological characteristics of users or the routes used. Rather, it is intended to provide understanding to ecological norm and excitement regarding usage. The results provides insights into the complex interrelationships of sociodemographic and psychological aspects as well as the modernity of the cities in the context of bike usage. Mainly car ownership and the place of residence show significant effects on the attitudes and norms of people and thus influence the use of bicycles. Our results help to understand the interrelationships between sociodemographic characteristics, spatial characteristics and the attitudes of people while making mobility decisions

Robust Commanding

In this paper we present Robust Commanding as a new method that mission planning systems can implement to improve the reaction of the planning system to unsuccessful commanding. This method can be used to improve upon flexibility and reaction time of the mission planning while maintaining a safe commanding concept that avoids gaps in the mission timeline. The prerequisites are highlighted and the method is presented and exemplified on the basis of commanding low-earth orbiting satellites. The necessary commanding interfaces are discussed and an outlook for application of this method to future satellite missions is given