When in Rome Think Like a Roman: Empirical Evidence and Implications of Temporarily Adopting Dialectical Thinking

As a result of increasing globalization, people are exposed to an even greater extent to other cultures, making it possible for individuals to assimilate mindsets that are typical of another culture. Recent work on extracultural cognition has shown that immediate cultural contexts exert powerful influences on cognition and behavioral patterns. This chapter reviews empirical support for extracultural cognition. Specifically, the chapter focuses on dialectical thinking and the well-established finding in the cultural literature that Westerners tend to anticipate linear continuity in the environment and East Asians anticipate change in existing patterns. Research shows, though, that cultural cues may shift these tendencies and—at least temporarily—alter cognitive mindsets to reflect the cognitions of another culture. After a review of the literature, the chapter addresses the implications of extracultural cognition for understanding the influence of dialectical thinking on judgment and decision-making

Analytical method for designing grating compensated dispersion-managed soliton systems

This paper was published in Journal of Optical Society of America B and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=JOSAB-21-4-706. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law. © 2004 The Optical Society.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The effects of oncology social workers involvement on cancer patients\u27 decisions about end-of-life care

The purpose of this study is to explore oncology social workers\u27 level of involvement with cancer patients in a hospital setting and the effects this involvement might have on cancer patients\u27 end-of-life care decisions. Ten oncology social workers were recruited through a snowball sampling process. They completed demographic questionnaires and participated in semi-structured interviews. The narrative data was studied for prominent themes using thematic analysis. The findings underscored the importance of early social workers\u27 involvement with cancer patients to provide guidance, support, and address emotional aspects of their cancer experiences. This study also notes that each cancer type follows a different disease and treatment courses that may influence when and how end-of-life issues are being handled. Although most patients seem to have an overall cognitive understanding of their medical conditions, the emotional integration and implications of this understanding might take time to process. Social workers\u27 ability to facilitate communication among patients, families, and the medical team is one of their crucial roles in the interdisciplinary treatment team. Social workers\u27 consistent support, hopeful approach and the on-going discussions with their patients promote understanding and readiness as patients\u27 experiences with their illnesses evolves

Navigating Refugee Subjecthood: Cambodian American Education, Identity, and Resilience

To investigate trauma formation associated with the intricacy of Cambodian-specific experiences, this study examines how refugee identities and daily diasporic experiences shape the larger subject positions of subsequent generations—particularly through the concept of refugee subjecthood. Cambodian American students’ navigation of ethnic and racial identity reveals that in comparison to the available discursive narratives about their history (given to them through multicultural education), the younger generations’ is an inexact fit. To draw out the relationships between collective feelings and social experiences, this article addresses how Cambodian American students not only come into recognition about their positions as refugee subjects but also suggest why higher education practitioners need to provide support for and recognition of student challenges and strengths associated with refugee diaspora

Book Reviewed by Yvonne Y. Kwan: Katharya, Um. (2015). From the Land of Shadows: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Cambodian Diaspora. New York and London, NY: NYU Press. 329 pp. $28.00 (Paperback). ISBN: 978-1-4798-0473-3.

Book reviewed by Yvonne Y. Kwan: From the land of shadows by Katharya U

Navigating refugee subjecthood: Cambodian American education, identity, and resilience

To investigate trauma formation associated with the intricacy of Cambodian-specific experiences, this study examines how refugee identities and daily diasporic experiences shape the larger subject positions of subsequent generations—particularly through the concept of refugee subjecthood. Cambodia American students’ navigation of ethnic and racial identity reveals that in comparison to the available discursive narratives about their history (given to them through multicultural education), the younger generations’ is an inexact fit. To draw out the relationships between collective feelings and social experiences, this article addresses how Cambodian American students not only come into recognition about their positions as refugee subjects but also suggest why higher education practitioners need to provide support for and recognition of student challenges and strengths associated with refugee diaspora

Plasticity in gene expression programmes of dendritic cells responding to antigens.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells whose function is to initiate and shape an appropriate adaptive immune response. This requires an ability to distinguish differences between whole pathogens, in order to orchestrate effective downstream immunological outcomes. However, cellular re-programming of DC functions during these events are not well understood. A paradigm of dendritic cell biology is that DCs have two modes of function that relate to their differentiation states. An immature DC functions as an immune sentinel, to monitor and interrogate its surroundings for pathogens. Encounter with such stimuli results in a process termed "maturation", where DCs acquire the properties of effective antigen presenting cells. However, this process of differentiation is complex. In this thesis, gene expression profiling of DCs exposed to pathogen components has revealed three distinct phases of maturation, with statistically significant expression of subsets of genes characterising these phases. Transcriptional regulation of the signalling pathways involving p38 and ERK MAP kinases important to DC function were identified. Specific inhibitors of p38 and ERK confirmed their differential role in DC maturation, with p38 activity being necessary for the initiation of DC maturation, whilst ERK activity persists to maintain DC survival. Concurrent with the core maturation process is the DCs' ability to differentially respond to pathogens. Gene expression analysis of DCs exposed to whole viruses supports the model of DC plasticity to different pathogenic stimuli. Using exploratory cluster analysis and a novel vector algebra method, core and pathogen-specific gene expression programmes were identified. The programmes involving the differential regulation of cytokines were confirmed at the transcript level and at the protein level. Together these data show that DCs mature to effective antigen presenting cells via an orchestrated pattern of at least three gene expression programmes. Superimposed on this core maturation response are pathogen-specific transcriptional programmes. Therefore, we conclude that DCs can translate different pathogenic stimuli into core DC maturation and pathogen-specific responses that together shape an appropriate adaptive immune response

Modeling and Control of a Vertical Hopping Robot

Single degree-of-freedom hopping robots are typically modeled as spring loaded inverted pendulums (SLIPs). This simplified model, however, does not consider the overall leg geometry, consequently making it difficult to investigate the optimized inertial distribution of the leg for agile locomotion. To address this issue, the first part of this thesis establishes an accurate mathematical model of a DC-motor-driven, two-link hopping robot where the motors are modeled as torque sources. The equations of motion for the two distinct phases of locomotion (stance and flight) are derived using the Lagrangian approach for holonomic systems. A Simulink/Stateflow model is developed to numerically simulate the robot’s locomotion. The model is then validated with the simulation data from Simscape Multibody, which allows for accurate modeling of the environment and inertial properties for complex geometries. With the accurate model of the hopping robot, two distinct control strategies are adopted. The first strategy focuses on implementing position control while the robot is in flight to prepare for touchdown. The second control method explores implementing impedance control during stance, allowing the response to mimic that of a mass-spring-damper model. It was found that concentrating the mass of the robot in the hip allows the robot to attain larger apex heights as opposed to evenly distributing the mass throughout the leg. With plans to implement the leg on a quadruped robot, the mathematical model is easily expandable to 2 or 3 degrees-of-freedom. This allows for further stability analysis and development of control strategies of the leg