Finite element model analysis of thermal failure in connector

Thermal analysis and thermal diagnose are important for small power connector especially in electronic devices since their structure is usually compact. In this paper thermal behavior of small power connector was investigated. It was found that the contact resistance increased due to the Joule heating, and that increased contact resistance produced more Joule heating; this mutual action causes the connector to lose efficiency. The thermal distribution in the connector was analyzed using finite element method (FEM). The failure mechanism is discussed. It provides basis for improving the structure. The conclusion was verified by experimental results.     

On the Use and Usefulness of Stress Diacritics in Reading Greek

The assignment of stress when reading Greek can be based on lexical and orthographic information. One hundred and seventy seventh-grade children read lists of isolated words and pseudowords. A large proportion of stress assignment errors were made in pseudoword reading, especially on the items that do not follow the most frequent penultimate stress pattern. Analysis of text corpora indicates that ignoring written stress diacritics would result in less than 1% errors, without taking into account disambiguating effects of context. It is tentatively suggested that, in reading Greek, stress assignment is primarily lexical. The results are consistent with a hypothesis that the bisyllabic trochee is the default metrical frame in Greek.     

Stress,coping strategies and academic achievement in teacher education students

University students experience stress, and how they cope with this stress affects their academic achievement. This study examined stress in teacher education students and had three objectives: to describe different degrees of stress and coping styles; to study the relationship between stress, coping strategies and academic achievement; and to examine whether increased age can moderate the effects of stress on academic achievement in 334 university-students. There were three main findings: many students experienced stress and used avoidance coping strategies; the students who were under less stress and engaged less in cognitive avoidance and more in problem-focused coping were also the students who made more academic achievement; and students under more stress performed worse, but with age stress affected performance less. In teacher education students, it is important to recognize and address the harmful effects of stress on well-being and academic achievement, to avoid long-term problems in professional and personal life.     

Associations Between Family Relationships and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Undergraduate Students:

The present study investigated whether or not gender differences moderate the association between family relationships and psychiatric symptomatology in undergraduate students. One hundred ninety-eight undergraduate students (115 females and 83 males) completed self-report instruments assessing primary psychiatric symptomatology, personality disorder symptomatology, and family relationship closeness/distance. The results of this research indicated that family relationship closeness/distance was consistently associated with both of the psychiatric sumptom measures in the female subsample. Family love, understanding, companionship, and advice were negatively associated with psychiatric symptoms, while family problems, the desire for privacy and freedom from the family, ideological differences, and tensions involving friends were positively associated with psychiatric symptoms. In contrast, family relationships were infrequently correlated with psychiatric symptoms in the male subsample. Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of previous research on the association between family relationships and psychological well-being in female and male late adolescents.     

浅析运动损伤的心理预防——围绕“应壮运动损伤”模型

体育竞技场上的运动损伤虽不可避免,但通过有效的心理预防可在一定程度上减少受伤的可能性。本文提出,发生运动损伤的心理致因主要是应激认知失当,主要有生活事件处理不当,临场反应失衡及运动损伤史的消极影响。针对这些问题,提出要调整应激认知,正确处理社会关系;设置可行目标,掌握心理应付技能;塑造积极性思维,认识正确运动损伤史。     

Topic Avoidance,Everyday Talk,and Stress in Romantic Military and Non-Military Couples

Relationships are increasingly impacted by military involvement, necessitating a deeper understanding of communication within these couples. This study examined perceptions of everyday talk, topic avoidance, and stress of participants romantically involved with (a) a military partner (n = 118) or (b) a non-military partner (n = 94). Couple types avoided similar topics, but non-military partners avoided these topics more frequently than military partners. Both couple types engaged in everyday talk, but military partners found this communicative exchange to be more important. Non-military partners experienced greater stress than military partners, and communication was predictive of the stress experienced. The results of this study highlight similarities and differences in romantic couples and reveal areas in which relationship education can address these communicative nuances of military couples.     

Effects of stress inoculation training on self‐report,behavioural and psychophysiological reactions to abseiling

The study examined the effect of stress inoculation training on the level of self‐reported stress and anxiety, overt signs of distress and the physiological impact of the stress of abseiling. Twenty volunteer subjects were randomly assigned to either a ‘no training’ control group or a stress inoculation training group, following which both groups of subjects had to complete a test abseil from the roof of a 21.2 m building. Prior to descent, two self‐report measures were taken: an intensity score derived from the word or phrase chosen by subjects from the Perceived Stress Index to best describe their feelings and a state anxiety score from Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Overt distress was also evaluated by a ‘blind’ observer also using the Perceived Stress Index. In addition, heart rate was monitored just prior to and throughout the abseil using a telemetry system. The stress inoculation group showed significantly less self‐reported anxiety and stress and less behavioural signs of distress as judged by the observer. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of heart rate. In addition, while self‐report and the assessment of the observer were highly inter‐correlated, these measures were poorly correlated with heart rate.     

The effect of stress inoculation training on self‐reported stress,observer's rating of stress,heart rate and gymnastics performance

Eighteen volunteer female subjects received preliminary instruction in a simple gymnastics bench sequence. They were then given a pre‐intervention test on a bench at ground level. Self‐reported distress, an independent observer's ratings of distress and heart rates were monitored immediately prior to performance of the sequence. Performances were also videotaped and formally scored by a qualified gymnastics judge. Subjects were then randomly assigned to a stress inoculation training group or a ‘no stress management’ training control group. Stress inoculation group subjects then received seven sessions of training in relaxation, imagery and making self‐statements in order to develop a set of coping skills. Control group subjects also received seven training sessions during which they practised a series of coordination exercises, but no psychological stress management training was given to this group.

All subjects were then re‐tested on the bench sequence but this time at a height of 1.52 m. Self‐reported stress, observer's ratings of distress and heart rate were recorded as before. Performance was again videotaped for scoring. The stress inoculation group reported significantly less stress prior to the test on the elevated beam than the control group. However, the groups did not differ in terms of heart rate. Further, the stress inoculation group performed reliably better than the control group on the elevated bench.     

Validation of a 'spurning scale' for teachers: the Chinese sample

The present study represents our continuing effort to validate a 'spurning scale' for teachers, based on a model of spurned helpers' reactions. Three approaches were used to examine the construct validity of the scale: the spurning scores of teachers working with more achieving students versus the scores of teachers teaching less achieving students; the relationships between the spurning scores and job satisfaction and turnover scores; and the relationships between the spurning scores and scores indicative of stress arising from interactions with one's students, and with one's supervisor. Serving teachers in Guangzhou (China) responded to a questionnaire containing the variables of interests. Overall, the results provided further evidence for the validity of the scale.     

Stress management strategies of secondary school teachers in Nigeria

The study provides empirical evidence for the management of stress by teachers of secondary schools in Nigeria. A total of 3466 teachers, drawn from secondary schools in Ogun State of Nigeria, returned their questionnaire for the study. Data were analysed using simple percentage and chi-square. The findings indicate that teachers frequently use the active behavioural and inactive (escape) strategies in managing stress. This is an indication that the average Nigerian teacher prefers to organize him/herself in such a way that his/her pedagogic duties will not be hampered by domestic chores. It also implies that, whenever the teacher is stressed, he/she consoles him/herself with the fact that work is not everything and therefore feels less stressed. The active cognitive strategies are never used by the teachers. Their feeling is that nothing probably can be challenged in stressful situations. The teachers also express mixed feelings about the adoption of inactive behavioural strategies. While the majority of the teachers never engage in physical exercises or, say, watch films in order to manage any stressful situation, they prefer to keep away from any situation that could cause stress, as well as endeavouring to separate themselves from people who cause stressful situations.