Mantle convection modeling of the supercontinent cycle: Introversion,extroversion, or a combination?

The periodic assembly and dispersal of continental fragments, referred to as the supercontinent cycle, bear close relation to the evolution of mantle convection and plate tectonics. Supercontinent formation involves complex processes of ＂introversion＂ （closure of interior oceans）, ＂extroversion＂ （closure of exterior oceans）, or a combination of these processes in uniting dispersed continental fragments, Recent developments in numerical modeling and advancements in computation techniques enable us to simulate Earth＇s mantle convection with drifting continents under realistic convection vigor and rheology in Earth-like geometry （i.e., 3D spherical-shell）. We report a numerical simulation of 3D mantle convection, incorporating drifting deformable continents, to evaluate supercontinent processes in a realistic mantle convection regime. Our results show that supercontinents are assembled by a combi- nation of introversion and extroversion processes. Small-scale thermal heterogeneity dominates deep mantle convection during the supercontinent cycle, although large-scale upwelling plumes intermit- tently originate under the drifting continents and/or the supercontinent.

Speculations on the mechanisms for the formation and breakup of supercontinents

The supercontinent cycle has had a profound effect on the Earth＇s evolution since the Late Archean but our understanding of the forces responsible for its operation remains elusive.Supercontinents appear to form by two end-member processes：extroversion,in which the oceanic lithosphere surrounding the supercontinent（exterior ocean） is preferentially subducted（e.g.Pannotia）,and introversion in which the oceanic lithosphere formed between dispersing fragments of the previous supercontinent（interior ocean） is preferentially subducted（e.g.Pangea）.Extroversion can be explained by ＂top-down＂ geodynamics, in which a supercontinent breaks up over a geoid high and amalgamates above a geoid low. Introversion,on the other hand,requires that the combined forces of slab-pull and ridge push（which operate in concert after supercontinent break-up） must be overcome in order to enable the previously dispersing continents to turn inward.Introversion may begin when subduction zones are initiated along boundaries between the interior and exterior oceans and become trapped within the interior ocean.We speculate that the reversal in continental motion required for introversion may be induced by slab avalanche events that trigger the rise of superplumes from the core-mantle boundary.

Cognitive behavioral therapy on personality characteristics of cancer patients

BACKGROUND The main treatment methods for cancer include surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,targeted drug therapy and so on.Patients often feel anger,anxiety,depression,and other negative psychological reactions in the process of treatment.AIM To explore the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on the personality characteristics of cancer patients.METHODS According to the matching design requirements,150 cancer patients were divided into 3 groups based on sex,age,condition,and cultural background.Patients in the control group received conventional treatment.Patients in experimental group 1 received an intervention based on conventional treatment combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.Patients in experimental group 2 received family members'participation in addition to the treatment given in experimental group 1.An Eysenck personality questionnaire was used to investigate all the patients before and after the intervention,and the scores for psychosis,introversion,neuroticism,and concealment degree were analyzed.RESULTS Compared with the control group,for experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 before and after the intervention,the four dimensions of mental quality,neuroticism,introversion and concealment degree all decreased,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).After the intervention,there were no obvious or statistically significant differences(P>0.05)among the control group,experimental group 1,and experimental group 2 for two personality traits,psychoticism and neuroticism,both inside and outside degree and all four dimensions.CONCLUSION Simple cognitive behavioral therapy could not change the personality characteristics of cancer patients quickly,but the patients’personality characteristics were significantly improved after treatment.

PERSONALITY PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

Personality patterns are thought to playing a quite important role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer (PU). In this study psychological profiles of patients with PU (n=160) were analysed, and compared to those with asthma (n=32) and healthy subjests (n=120). The method of study involved the use six questionnaires test of SRQ-D, Y-G, MMPI-AS, MAS, TMI and CLS.The results were as follow: (1) The patients with PU showed higher scores in SRQ-D, TMI, MMPI-AS and CLS than that of control group with statistical significance. (2)More patients with PU and control subjects showed a normal type D personality than patients with asthma; whereas asthma patients showed a type E more often than the control group and PU patients.Our study indicated that PU patients had more or less charactristic traints of anxiety, depression, introversion, alexithymia and type A behavior. These findings suggest that the characteristic personality patterns in patients with PU in Shanghai is more or less the same as that seen in the Western society and Japan. This is the first study for PU from the stand-poind of psychosomatic medicine in Shanghai.

Strategic Direction of Russia Interpreted from Its New National Security Strategy

In July 2021,Russia unveiled its new National Security Strategy,which is a considerably updated version compared with the previous one and hence presents several new features.For instance,it further stresses that security should be prioritized over other aspects;it gives more attention to the chaotic aspects of order change in its assessment of the international situation;it highlights the threats from the West;and it places increased emphasis on domestic capacity building as a means for safeguarding national security.From the content of the new Strategy as well as Russia’s policies in recent years,the strategy of Russia for the foreseeable future can be generally characterized as inward-looking.Domestically,its policies will become more conservative;diplomatically,it will take up a defensive position;and economically,it will increasingly emphasize security and selfreliance.In other words,several issues that were previously overlooked will be given attention.However,strategic introversion does not mean that Russia will invest all its energy in defense.Instead,Russia will build up strength for changes that lie ahead.With the expected strategic introversion,Russia will fnd difculty in making breakthroughs in terms of its relations with the West;the China-Russia relations will continue on the path of steady development;and Russia will place greater importance to the balance of power among major countries.

The Relationship Between Learners’Personality Traits and EFL Learning

In the process of foreign language learning, many factors interact to influence the learners’ learning achievement, including teaching, the learner, and the context, among which the individual difference attracted many researchers’ attention. They attempted to find out the relationship between these individual differences, especially personality traits and the learner’s foreign language learning achievements. However, the results and findings of the researches are sometimes contradictory and not always unquestionable. This research is designed for verifying the results of other studies and finding out the relationship between personality traits and EFL learning in the Chinese context, thereby making some contributions to the EFL teaching and learning. This thesis consists of five parts. The first part is a brief introduction to the research. In the second part, some theories on personality are surveyed first, and some researches are reviewed. Part Three presents the method of the research, including a description of the research methodology, subjects, and data-collecting procedures. Part Four reports the results and the data obtained in the research. In the last part, the results of the present research are compared with those of other researches, the implications and limitations of the research are discussed, and some suggestions for further studies are also put forward.

The Moderating Effect of Occupation on the Relationship between Anger and Mental Health among Extroverted and Introverted Women

This study intends to investigate the moderating effect of occupation on the associations between anger and mental health between introverted and extroverted women. Available sampling was used for collecting the data. Sample consisted of 384 women including 192 employed women and 192 housewives women (Mean age = 31.63). A self-administered questionnaire was prepared for the participants. Instruments in the present study included general health questionnaire (GHQ- 28), aggression as well as the scale that assessed respondents’ introversion and extroversion. Results showed that aggression negatively related to mental health. In contrast, there was positive relation-ship between control wrath and mental health. Meaningly, women with high level of conciliation tended to possess high mental health. Furthermore, occupation didn’t play the moderating role in the associations between anger and mental health between introverted and extroverted women.

Responding to introverted and shy students: Best practice guidelines for educators and advisors

Experienced classroom educators are familiar with students commonly thought of as introverted or shy— the noticeably quiet students who are reluctant to speak in class, and generally shun the spotlight. Many educators find such students perplexing and frustrating because they rarely raise their hands in class, or engage in conversation afterward. It is difficult for educators to discern whether they are reaching such students or whether they are engaged or bored. Introverted students differ from their more extroverted peers in terms of information processing, classroom behavior, and preferences regarding assignments and activities. As educators, we often ask ourselves whether we are doing all we can, as educators and advisers, to foster such students’ learning and personal development, and this question is highly relevant in contemporary education. Introverts are thought to comprise approximately 40 percent of the student body. In addition, cultural background may foster behaviors similar to those observed in shy and/or introverted individuals. In this article, introversion, extroversion and shyness are compared and contrasted conceptually, as well as in terms of related social and academic behaviors and processes. The questions of whether introversion and shyness confer problematic traits, whether students should be helped to overcome or signature strengths, and whether they might be guided to develop further, are also addressed. Best practice guidelines intended to help nurse-faculty respond more helpfully to quiet students as educators and advisors are offered.

The Introversive Political Meritocracy:A Political Possibility Beyond"The End of History"

The criticisms of the falsity of universal recognition carried| out by leftists, led by Karl Max, and the queries of its desirability proposed by rightists, represented by Friedrich Nietzsche, raise challenges to Francis Fukuyama’s theory of “the end of history” from two opposite directions. At present, Chinese-style political meritoc­racy based on the party state is a political form that combines these left-wing and right-wing challenges and has the potential to move beyond “the end of history”. However, whether it can truly surpass “the end of history” depends on whether it can form a desirable and stable alternative political form under modern condi­tions. To this end, Chinese-style political meritocracy must respond positively to the three challenges it faces under modern conditions: the tension between “debicheng- wei” (one’s virtue must have a matching position, 德必称位) and moral universal- ism, the corrosion of social justice from the hierarchical social structure caused by “weibichenglu” (one’s position must have a matching salary, 位必称禄), and the threat of social indoctrination to individual autonomy. The “introversive political meritocracy” jointly shaped by “advocating morals for the public,” “arete based on altruism,” and “introversive self-cultivation” is a desirable political form that can successfully respond to these three challenges.