title: Experience machine experiments: Testing the importance of relationships and individual differences

authors: Weijers, Dan M.

abstract: Recent experiments on experience machines reveal that living in reality doesn’t always dominate our prudential preferences. Felipe de Brigard (2010) and others have suggested that our preference for the status quo is a major driver of our experience machine-related preferences, despite this preference appearing to be an irrational bias. Basil Smith (2012) has argued that our preference to maintain existing relationships may explain the status quo result and reflect a prudentially rational decision. In order to further investigate the psychological mechanisms underlying experience machine-related preferences, I report on a survey of individual differences and experience machine preferences in experience machine scenarios with varying kinds relationships available. The individual differences tested include wellbeing, personality, familiarity with technology, and demographic variables.

text: Experience machine experiments: Testing the importance of relationships and individual differences Recent experiments on experience machines reveal that living in reality doesn’t always dominate our prudential preferences. Felipe de Brigard (2010) and others have suggested that our preference for the status quo is a major driver of our experience machine-related preferences, despite this preference appearing to be an irrational bias. Basil Smith (2012) has argued that our preference to maintain existing relationships may explain the status quo result and reflect a prudentially rational decision. In order to further investigate the psychological mechanisms underlying experience machine-related preferences, I report on a survey of individual differences and experience machine preferences in experience machine scenarios with varying kinds relationships available. The individual differences tested include wellbeing, personality, familiarity with technology, and demographic variables.

year: 2018

title: Sheets of large superhydrophobic metal particles self assembled on water by the Cheerios effect

authors: Larmour, Iain A.

subjects: hydrophobic effect

abstract: Surface tension in water gives rise to a variety of phenomena some of which, such as the rise of water inside hydrophilic tubes under capillary action or the ability of pond skaters to walk on the surface of water, are so familiar that they seldom excite comment. However, there is still potential for new insights and discoveries to be made in this area. Two recent examples are the discovery that liquid marbles can be prepared by coating solvent droplets with powder and the elucidation of a general mechanism for the attraction of buoyant objects in liquids, the  Cheerios effect . Here we report a method for preparing large (up to 0.4 mm diameter) superhydrophobic copper particles and show that these particles, which have extraordinarily large contact angles but are much denser than water, give rise to a range of striking effects, including the ability to self assemble into sheets which can support objects that normally sink in water.

text: Sheets of large superhydrophobic metal particles self assembled on water by the Cheerios effect Surface tension in water gives rise to a variety of phenomena some of which, such as the rise of water inside hydrophilic tubes under capillary action or the ability of pond skaters to walk on the surface of water, are so familiar that they seldom excite comment. However, there is still potential for new insights and discoveries to be made in this area. Two recent examples are the discovery that liquid marbles can be prepared by coating solvent droplets with powder and the elucidation of a general mechanism for the attraction of buoyant objects in liquids, the  Cheerios effect . Here we report a method for preparing large (up to 0.4 mm diameter) superhydrophobic copper particles and show that these particles, which have extraordinarily large contact angles but are much denser than water, give rise to a range of striking effects, including the ability to self assemble into sheets which can support objects that normally sink in water.

year: 2008

title: An examination of genres and text-types in written Māori discourse: Analysis and pedagogic implications

authors: Houia-Roberts, Ngaere

abstract: The overall aim of this research project is to determine what genres and text-types are most commonly required of students at upper secondary and tertiary levels in Māori-medium educational settings (Chapter 4), and to further determine, in relation to the analysis of authentic texts written by educated users of the language who have a high level of proficiency, how such genres and text-types are typically structured (Chapters 5 and 6). It is intended that this information should provide teachers and students with a solid foundation for the development of the skills required to create written texts in Māori that are structured in ways that are as close as possible to authentic discourses written by educated and highly proficient users of the language (Chapter 7). The thesis begins by providing some background to the research and outlining the primary aims, research questions and research methods (Chapter 1). This is followed by a critical review of some general landmark publications in the area of genre and text-type (Chapter 2).More pedagogically-centred, process-oriented approaches to genre and text-type are then critically reviewed in the context of the design of the model which underpins the analyses conducted in the following chapters.

text: An examination of genres and text-types in written Māori discourse: Analysis and pedagogic implications The overall aim of this research project is to determine what genres and text-types are most commonly required of students at upper secondary and tertiary levels in Māori-medium educational settings (Chapter 4), and to further determine, in relation to the analysis of authentic texts written by educated users of the language who have a high level of proficiency, how such genres and text-types are typically structured (Chapters 5 and 6). It is intended that this information should provide teachers and students with a solid foundation for the development of the skills required to create written texts in Māori that are structured in ways that are as close as possible to authentic discourses written by educated and highly proficient users of the language (Chapter 7). The thesis begins by providing some background to the research and outlining the primary aims, research questions and research methods (Chapter 1). This is followed by a critical review of some general landmark publications in the area of genre and text-type (Chapter 2).More pedagogically-centred, process-oriented approaches to genre and text-type are then critically reviewed in the context of the design of the model which underpins the analyses conducted in the following chapters.

year: 2004