Sexual and Violent Imagery in Movie Previews: Effects on Viewers' Perceptions and Anticipated Enjoyment

Two experiments were conducted to explore the contributions of sexual and violent images contained in movie previews on viewers' anticipated perceptions and enjoyment of previewed films. In neither study were portrayals of sex or violence directly associated with greater anticipated enjoyment. However, both studies provided evidence that sexual and violent portrayals may indirectly enhance viewers' enjoyment via perceptions of heightened suspense (Study 1) or heightened humor (Study 2). These results are discussed in terms of viewers' responses to media images of sexuality and violence, and the importance of these portrayals in the marketing of motion pictures.     

From the New Editors

Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability -     

From the Editor

Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability -     

Resisting Whiteness: Mexican American Studies and Rhetorical Struggles for Visibility

In late 2012, Santino J. Rivera published a collection of Chicana/o literature as a cultural and political response to the closure of Mexican American Studies in the Tucson Unified School District. This essay argues that Rivera's text invites critical interrogation of the whiteness ideologies underlying critiques of MAS in an attempt to make spaces for Chicana/o sensibilities. Such sensibilities, this essay argues, include In Lak'ech and mestiza rhetorics, which emphasize cultural empowerment, identification, spiritual love, and humanization.     

3D printed microfluidic devices with integrated valves

We report the successful fabrication and testing of 3D printed microfluidic devices with integrated membrane-based valves. Fabrication is performed with a low-cost commercially available stereolithographic 3D printer. Horizontal microfluidic channels with designed rectangular cross sectional dimensions as small as 350 μm wide and 250 μm tall are printed with 100% yield, as are cylindrical vertical microfluidic channels with 350 μm designed (210 μm actual) diameters. Based on our previous work [Rogers et al., Anal. Chem. 83, 6418 (2011)], we use a custom resin formulation tailored for low non-specific protein adsorption. Valves are fabricated with a membrane consisting of a single build layer. The fluid pressure required to open a closed valve is the same as the control pressure holding the valve closed. 3D printed valves are successfully demonstrated for up to 800 actuations.