Good ergonomics and team diversity reduce absenteeism and errors in car manufacturing

Prior research suggests that ergonomics work design and mixed teams (in age and gender) may compensate declines in certain abilities of ageing employees. This study investigates simultaneous effects of both team level factors on absenteeism and performance (error rates) over one year in a sample of 56 car assembly teams (N = 623). Results show that age was related to prolonged absenteeism and more mistakes in work planning, but not to overall performance. In comparison, high-physical workload was strongly associated with longer absenteeism and increased error rates. Furthermore, controlling for physical workload, age diversity was related to shorter absenteeism, and the presence of females in the team was associated with shorter absenteeism and better performance. In summary, this study suggests that both ergonomics work design and mixed team composition may compensate age-related productivity risks in manufacturing by maintaining the work ability of older employees and improving job quality.     

Impacts of Nile Perch,Lates niloticus,introduction on the ecology,economy and conservation of Lake Victoria,East Africa

Nile perch were secretly introduced into Lake Victoria in the 1950s, and officially in the 1960s, amid unresolved controversy. Proponents were of the view that the introduction would improve fisheries production and sport fishing. Although the former objective was achieved, the side effects were dire, including extinction of many native species, especially the ecologically important haplochromines, because of predation. The introduction also changed the habitat, trophic dynamics and water clarity. The change in water clarity is thought to be responsible for hybridization of haplochromines, further contributing to the loss of species diversity among cichlids. The establishment and expansion of the Nile perch also altered the fishery and socio‐economic settings characterizing the lake. A local economy which, until the early 1980s, was based on native fish species has been replaced by an export‐oriented exotic fish processing industry that destroyed the once‐cherished traditional resource. Other socio‐economic issues associated with Nile perch include the high HIV/AIDS prevalence among fishers, and border conflicts attributable to the migratory and transboundary nature of the fishery resource. Conservation measures for the fishery should include establishment of co‐management units that have so far registered both successes and challenges. Other efforts include establishment of the Nile perch Fisheries Management Plans that focus on curbing overfishing and eradicating illegal fishing.     

一种基于混合量子粒子群的快速运动目标跟踪算法研究

量子粒子群算法在优化过程中需要权衡局部探索性和全局开拓性,进化后期由于全局开拓能力的丧失使得种群多样性减少,设计了一种基于欧式距离的混合量子粒子群算法,通过计算粒子的种群多样性,当种群多样性低于阈值范围时加入基于欧式距离的种群划分策略划分子种群,从而保证获得全局最优解。利用标准测试函数验证提出的混合量子群算法有效性。提出了基于混合量子粒子群的Mean Shift算法(HQPSO Mean Shift)完成目标快速跟踪,克服传统Mean Shift算法的在跟踪快速移动目标时出现"跟丢"的问题。     

当代广告文化多元性的表现形式与应对策略

在信息时代发展的过程中,广告作为一种较为独特的信息传播形式,也有着较久远的历史。社会生产力和文化相互结合促使了广告文化形成和发展,不同地区的经济水平、地域环境、民族传统、风俗习惯、宗教信仰的多元化赋予广告文化新的内涵,从特征和表现形式上呈现出显著的多元性。文章从当代广告符号元素背后蕴含的文化入手,呈现多元化特征,着重论述了广告文化多元性的表现形式,即时空多元性及性质多元性,旨在为当代广告人应对广告文化多元性提供应对策略和有益的指导。     

Relationship between Creativity, Imitation, and Cultural Diversity

There are both benefits and drawbacks to cultural diversity. It can lead to friction and exacerbate differences. However, as with biological diversity, cultural diversity is valuable in times of upheaval; if a previously effective solution no longer works, it is good to have alternatives available. What factors give rise to cultural diversity? This paper describes a preliminary investigation of this question using a computational model of cultural evolution. The model is composed of neural network based agents that evolve fitter ideas for actions by (1) inventing new ideas through modification of existing ones, and (2) imitating neighbors'' ideas. Numerical simulations indicate that the diversity of ideas in a population is positively correlated with both the proportion of creators to imitators in the population, and the rate at which creators create. This is the case for both minimum and peak diversity of actions over the duration of a run.     

多天线智能分集接收系统的设计

通过对多天线分集接收技术的分析,针对多径传输引起的衰落,提出一种多天线分集接收方法。本文将智能控制处理技术与空间分集接收天线技术相结合,通过智能控制选择合并算法。通过无线遥控接收机进行实验,取得良好接收效果。     

Extending Dynamic Range of Phase Diversity

A method for extending dynamic range of phase diversity (PD) is proposed. The estimating of pupil phase is divided into two steps. Low-order Zernike coefficients of the phase are estimated firstly before all of the Zernike coefficients estimated. The method is based on the assumption that the aberrations of the system are dominated by low order Zernike modes, which is true to most practical situations. The algorithm of Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno(BFGS) is used in the two steps for optimizing process. Computer simulations are conducted after the theoretical analysis. The result shows that this method can effectively avoid the trap in local minimum during iteration process, and the dynamic range that PD can detect extends from about 2λ to about 4λ.     

一种信息点多样性的粒子群优化算法

针对PSO在寻优后期尤其在高维搜索空间中无法得到满意结果,提出了一种信息点多样性的改进粒子群优化算法。粒子个体最优位置及全局粒子最优位置是两个有用的精确的信息点,而PSO的信息交互方式正依赖于这两个信息点,从多样性方面考虑,将该有用的信息点增加为粒子个体最优位置附近随机的一点。实验仿真结果表明,新算法的全局搜索能力、收敛速度、精度和稳定性均有了显著提高。     

重庆合川地区吴家坪期海水进退与腕足动物多样性

在分析重庆合川吴家坪期地层的沉积环境和腕足动物化石地层分布的基础上,运用海水进退沉积旋回和物种多样性综合指数相结合的定性定量分析方法,对本区吴家坪期腕足类物种多样性演变规律进行了综合研究.结果表明:本区吴家坪期腕足类物种辐射起步于吴家坪初期,共出现了4次高潮期和4次低潮期.在整个吴家坪期,物种辐射的高峰主要出现在前期,而物种辐射低潮则主要出现在后期,总体呈现出物种多样性不断下降的趋势;在正常的海进海退层序中,海进序列中的腕足类物种多样性要明显高于海退序列.但在快速短暂的海水进退的变化环境下,则海退序列腕足类物种多样性要高于海进序列,反映海水深度和环境的稳定性是物种多样性高低的重要影响因素.     

Aerobic biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate by Xiangjiang River sediment and microflora analysis

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), one of phthalate acid esters (PAEs), was investigated to determine its biodegradation rate using Xiangjiang River sediment and find potential DBP degraders in the enrichment culture of the sediment. The sediment sample was incubated with an initial concentration of DBP of 100 mg/L for 5 d. The biodegradation rate of DBP was detected using HPLC and the degraded products were analyzed by GC/MS. Subsequently, the microbial diversity of the enrichment culture was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The results reveal that almost 100% of DBP is degraded after merely 3 d, generating two main degraded products: mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) and 9-octadecenoic acid. After a six-month enrichment period under the pressure of DBP, the dominant family in the final enrichment culture is clustered with the Comamonas sp., the remaining are affiliated with Sphingomonas sp., Hydrogenophaga sp., Rhizobium sp., and Acidovorax sp. The results show the potential of these bacteria to be used in the bioremediation of DBP in the environment.