Failure Mechanisms of Structural Bamboo Using Microstructural Analyses

Bamboo is deemed an emerging constructional material with promising application projections due to the reliable natural properties and advantageous structural characteristics. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the mechanical characteristics of the bamboo species from a microstructural scale. Hence, this paper investigated the primary mechanical properties of the bamboo specimens (Dendrocalamus asper) with further microstructural analysis on the bamboo failure. The direct tensile strength of bamboo specimens was about 226.45 MPa, while the final splitting tensile modulus was found to be 2.88 MPa. Microstructural characterisation of the failed tensile specimens indicates that fibre debonding is the main failure mechanism under tensile conditions. On the other hand, splitting and end bearing failure were found on compression test specimens. In addition, nanoindentation tests were carried out on different cell structures to articulate the hardness and Young’s modulus. The elastic modulus of the fibre cell walls is three times that of the parenchyma cell walls, yet the hardness values are comparable. This confirms that the specimen failure of previous macromechanical testing is due to crack propagation along the parenchyma cells, instead of the cell walls. Based on the experimental studies discussed in this paper, the conclusion can convey a positive message regarding the ability of bamboo as a primary sustainable substitute for conventional construction materials.

Effects of Nature Values and Regulatory Fit of Message Framing on Message Evaluation and Actual Pro-Environmental Donations

Messages are often tailored to individual differences, as fit is believed to influence behavior. We examine the effects of regulatory fit (i.e., matching promotion/prevention message framing to people’s promotion/prevention orientation) and the priority that individuals attribute to nature values, on the evaluation of climate change messages and donations to pro-environmental charities. We measured participants’ ( n = 570) regulatory focus on ensuring positive outcomes (promotion) versus avoiding negative outcomes (prevention), and nature values. Participants evaluated a promotion- or prevention-framed text (highlighting ensuring the welfare of the environment or avoiding its destruction) and were then invited to donate part of their remuneration to pro-environmental or other charities. Participants who prioritized nature values evaluated the promotion-framed text more favorably the stronger their promotion focus was, but only endorsement of nature values predicted donations. This highlights the importance of measuring actual pro-environmental behavior, as positive message evaluations did not result in donations.

Effects of message framing and consumers' regulatory focus on perceived credibility of electronic word-of-mouth and purchase intention

We adopted a two-way analysis of variance to evaluate the effect of positive and negative message framing and consumers' regulatory focus (promotion- and prevention-focused) on the perceived credibility of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and purchase intention. Participants were 344 adults in Taiwan aged between 20 and 60 years. Results show that (a) prevention-focused (vs. promotion-focused) consumers perceived eWOM had greater credibility when they were presented with a negatively framed message, (b) negative (vs. positive) message framing increased the perceived credibility of eWOM for prevention-focused consumers, (c) promotion-focused (vs. preventionfocused) consumers had a stronger purchase intention when presented with a positively framed message, and (d) both prevention- and promotion-focused consumers had stronger purchase intention when exposed to a positively (vs. negatively) framed message. Our findings may provide a reference for companies to establish a set of eWOM marketing strategies.

Conciliatory Amalgamation

Published in 2015, Padi Guli's A Hundred Years of Bloodline tells the story of Fatima, a Uyghur woman's journey to unpack her family history while struggling to understand the status of ethnic minorities in the larger fabric of multiethnic China. The novel concludes with a positive message calling for ethnic integration. This adoption of a state-sanctioned concept of ethnic integration is what this article calls conciliatory amalgamation; it privileges a rhetoric of multiethnicism that centers on national unity and economic progress. This article reads the novel against the PRC's ethnic minority policy to examine the implications of the protagonist's cultural, linguistic, and geopolitical border-crossing as she comes to terms with ethnic amalgamation as a necessary mode of survival. This allows the novel to be read as a symptom of Padi Guli's status as a Sinophone Uyghur writer who establishes herself within the dominant tradition of Chinese literature. As one of the few prominent Sinophone Uyghur writers, she inevitably becomes a token that sustains the rhetoric of Chinese literature as inclusive and diverse. Along this line of thought, the article argues that Padi Guli's status as a writer mirrors that of her protagonist as they both adopt a conciliatory attitude toward amalgamation.

Predictors of Taxonomic Inflation and its Role in Primate Conservation

ABSTRACTSpecies are the main unit used to measure biodiversity, but different preferred diagnostic criteria can lead to very different delineations. For instance, named primate species have more than doubled since 1982. Such increases have been termed “taxonomic inflation” and have been attributed to the widespread adoption of the ‘phylogenetic species concept’ (PSC) in preference to the previously popular ‘biological species concept’ (BSC). Criticisms of the PSC have suggested taxonomic inflation may be biased toward particular taxa and have unfavourable consequences for conservation. Here, we explore predictors of taxonomic inflation across primate taxa since the initial application of the PSC nearly 40 years ago. We do not find evidence that diversification rate, the rate of lineage formation over evolutionary time, is linked to inflation, contrary to expectations if the PSC identifies incipient species. We also do not find evidence of research effort in fields where work has been suggested to motivate splitting being associated with increases in species numbers among genera. To test the suggestion that splitting groups is likely to increase their perceived risk of extinction, we test whether genera that have undergone more splitting have also observed a greater increase in their proportion of threatened species since the introduction of the PSC. We find no cohesive signal of inflation leading to higher threat probabilities across primate genera. Overall, this analysis sends a positive message that threat statuses of primate species are not being overwhelmingly affected by splitting in line with what has recently been reported for birds. Regardless, we echo warnings that it is unwise for conservation to be reliant on taxonomic stability. Species (however defined) are not independent from one another, thus, monitoring and managing them as such may not meet the overarching goal of conserving biodiversity.

Selfless or Selfish? The Impact of Message Framing and Egoistic Motivation on Narcissists’ Compliance with Preventive Health Behaviors during COVID-19

COVID-19 is one of the greatest international health crises in recent years. Due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, the World Health Organization has recommended that people comply with a set of preventive measures to reduce the infection rate (e.g., social distancing, wearing a face mask, thorough personal hygiene). Such recommendations imply certain personal restrictions, with people typically differing in the extent to which they are willing to comply with said recommendations. The present large-sampled study (N = 800) aimed to investigate whether narcissism levels and message framing strategies affect individuals’ willingness to accept personal restrictions and, consequently, comply with a set of preventive health behaviors. Results reveal that people high (vs. low) in narcissism are less likely to accept personal restrictions and to comply with preventive health behaviors. However, negative (vs. positive) message framing increases narcissists’ willingness to comply with such behaviors. This effect can be explained through an increased willingness of narcissistic participants to accept personal restrictions to protect themselves (egoistic motivation) but not through a willingness to protect vulnerable people (altruistic motivation). These findings suggest that individuals who remain uncooperative during pandemics could be more effectively addressed with adapted message framing strategies and incentives tailor-made for their distinct personalities.

WOMEN IN ENGINEERING, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING IN BILBAO

The situation of women in the engineering world has different aspects. On the one hand, it can be stated that women are well received in certain areas of the technological world, and they are very integrated into academia. In other areas, such as the world of industrial business, recognition is more complex being those less open environments. Last century, the woman who broke the taboo in Spain was the mayor of Bilbao and the first industrial engineer graduated in Spain in 1912, Pilar Careaga. By means of her public presence, her message could reach the general society, but as something exceptional. At the Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao, the first female Industrial Engineer was Pilar Ipiña, graduated in 1965. Fifty-three years had passed. Women in Engineering, more than a century later, remain a clear minority. While it is true that the presence of women in engineering schools is socially fully accepted, it is no less true that many young women dismiss the possibility of approaching that world from an early age. The lack of benchmarks seems to be a clear factor. Many of the engineers who are being interviewed in the search for ideas to motivate girls and young women, end up seeing lacks of references when asked about it. While the experience of being a woman in such a traditionally male field has lights and shadows, reflect of what can be seen in different referenced studies, a positive message must be transmitted, as this has been the experience of both engineering students and workers in academia or in the business world. Proposing solutions to smooth out the differences in numbers between men and women in the world of Engineering and Science requires knowing the causes, in order to be able to carry out actions that lead to collecting women's talent and with the appropriate training give it all the value that can achieve, both in the improvement of society as a whole and in the personal development of each of them. The aim is to achieve real equal choice between women and men and put everyone at the service of a better society. Equality is theoretically achieved, but it can still be improved.

The Pedagogical Implication of Maybrat Oral Literature (Elements and Value of Character Education)

This research aimed to know the elements in the folklore of Maybrat Regency and value of character education contained in the folklore of Maybrat Regency. The data obtained in this study were three stories from Maybrat Regency which were obtained through the results of interviews with informants who came and were in Maybrat Regency. The research method used is descriptive research method with procedures: conducted interviews, record the interview process, rewrite the results of interviews in this case folklore, analyzed elements in folklore, and analyzing the value of character education in folklore. The results in this research include three stories of Maybrat Regency entitled: (1) The origin of Arus Village, (2) The Origin of Way Clan, and (3) the Origin of Howay Clan. Here the result of analyze elements: (1) the theme of love and hard work, (2) the location of the story in the Maybrat Regency, (3) the characters that appear in family life (husband, wife, siblings, and a group of village people) their life character respects one another, (4) contains a degeneration plot, and (5) contains a positive message to work hard and maintain harmony in life. Furthermore, the value of character education is also contained in this story, namely: discipline, hard work, independence, caring for the environment, responsibility, tolerance and caring for others.

What Mister Rogers can teach us about teaching

Whom can educators look to as an exemplar of kind and compassionate teaching? Gabrielle Vogt and Ann Monroe explore the life and work of Fred Rogers as an unconventional teacher. By focusing on relationships, treating each child as unique, honoring children’s emotions, and communicating a positive message, Rogers showed care for children and their development. The authors encourage teachers to follow his example to create an environment that addresses children’s emotional needs and well-being.

What You Can Do to Save the World

This chapter outlines what we can do to prevent societal death from happening, or stop the process once it has begun. It is important to remember that massive cultural change is possible. How do you change the culture of a world on a downward slide? When networks of trust and cooperation are shrinking, people only talk to people in their own social circle. Thus, reaching out and talking to other people that one would not otherwise talk to is key. Sharing new ideas helps build trust and confidence. It is also important to eliminate intolerance and maintain a positive message about the importance of global cooperation and working together, about the importance of science and education, and about the state and taxation.