AI-Based Temperature Stabilization of Motorized Spindles

An AI-based temperature-control algorithm for motorized spindles is proposed. Fuzzy logic is employed in the algorithm.     

A Method of Attenuating High-Power Laser Radiation with 1.06 μm Wavelength Using a Diffraction Grating

Measurement Techniques - A method of attenuating high-power laser radiation using a small metal diffraction grating as an attenuator for power measurement was analyzed. The thermal operating modes...     

Affirmation, acknowledgment of in-group responsibility, group-based guilt, and support for reparative measures.

Three studies, 2 conducted in Israel and 1 conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, demonstrated that affirming a positive aspect of the self can increase one's willingness to acknowledge in-group responsibility for wrongdoing against others, express feelings of group-based guilt, and consequently provide greater support for reparation policies. By contrast, affirming one's group, although similarly boosting feelings of pride, failed to increase willingness to acknowledge and redress in-group wrongdoing. Studies 2 and 3 demonstrated the mediating role of group-based guilt. That is, increased acknowledgment of in-group responsibility for out-group victimization produced increased feelings of guilt, which in turn increased support for reparation policies to the victimized group. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polyolefin‐based nanocomposite: The effects of processing aids

PP/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared using different processing aids (EMCA and PPG), and their effects on the thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated by WAXD, TEM, SEM, DSC, and mechanical tests. This study helps to clarify the effects of processing aids on the organoclay surface and on the intercalation and exfoliation processes. Nanocomposites with elongated intercalated and partially exfoliated structures were obtained, mainly when C‐15A was used. The results for the mechanical properties showed that the processing aids increased the impact strength significantly (up to three times that of neat PP) but reduced the flexural modulus of PP nanocomposites. PPG, which is polar promoted wetting MMT surface, thus increasing its interlayer distance, mainly for PP/C‐20A nanocomposites. However, it reduced the interfacial adhesion between the clay and the matrix. Nanocomposites impact strength was improved, especially when the C‐15A organoclay was used, while were achieved better results with the C‐20A organoclay when EMCA was used. The larger the amount of processing aid added, the higher the impact strength, but the lower the flexural modulus of the nanocomposites. PPG caused debonding of the clay particles and increased the number of microvoids, generating more mechanisms to aid in the energy dissipation of the systems. EMCA promoted debonding of clay particles with the formation of fibrils, indicating stronger interactions between the clay and matrix. A slight nucleation effect for PP crystallization was observed, mainly when EMCA was used. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Employee job attitudes and organizational characteristics as predictors of cyberloafing

Cyberloafing is the personal use of the Internet by employees while at work. The purpose of this study is to examine whether employee job attitudes, organizational characteristics, attitudes towards cyberloafing, and other non-Internet loafing behaviors serve as antecedents to cyberloafing behaviors. We hypothesize that the employee job attitudes of job involvement and intrinsic involvement are related to cyberloafing. In addition, we hypothesize that organizational characteristics including the perceived cyberloafing of one’s coworkers and managerial support for internet usage are related to cyberloafing. We also hypothesize that attitudes towards cyberloafing and the extent to which employees participate in non-Internet loafing behaviors (e.g., talking with coworkers, running personal errands) will both be related to cyberloafing. One hundred and forty-three working professional from a variety of industries were surveyed regarding their Internet usage at work. As hypothesized, the employee job attitudes of job involvement and intrinsic involvement were negatively related to cyberloafing. Also as predicted, the organizational characteristics of the perceived cyberloafing of one’s coworkers and managerial support for internet usage were positively related to cyberloafing. Finally, results showed that attitudes towards cyberloafing and participation in non-Internet loafing behaviors were positively related to cyberloafing. Implications for both organizations and employees are discussed.     

Potential difference across subcellular particle membranes. II. Compensation method of measurement

"Zero-loop" of the molecular potential transformer of submitochondrial particles (SMP) is separated from the remaining electron transfer chain by rotenone, and its e.m.f. ET=0,003+RT/2F in [NADP X H] [NAD+]/[NADP+] [NAD X H] volts is used in the compensative method of measurement of the potential difference across the SMP membrane (delta USMP). The phospholipid membrane, measuring the concentration of the penetrating anions in the solution contained SMP, is used as "zero-indicators". This concentration drops monotonically with increase in delta USMP. Delta USMP is equal to ET when the addition of substrates of transhydrogenase reaction with definite ET does not change the potential across phospholipid membrane.     

Percutaneous large-core biopsy of papillary breast lesions

Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae possess the ability to cleave human IgA1 antibodies, and all successfully colonize and occasionally invade the human upper respiratory tract. N. meningitidis invades the bloodstream after a period of nasopharyngeal colonization. We directly compared levels of IgA1 protease activity in strains (n=52) derived from the cerebrospinal fluid or blood of patients with meningococcal disease with strains of N. meningitidis obtained from asymptomatic carriers (n=25). IgA1 protease activity was determined by a sensitive semiquantitative ELISA assay. Levels of IgA1 protease activity were significantly higher (P<0.0001) in strains associated with invasive meningococcal disease (98% with detectable activity, mean = 580 mU) than with those obtained from asymptomatic carriers (76% with detectable activity, mean = 280 mU). Despite marked variation in enzyme activity, almost all strains (96%) possessed the gene for IgA1 protease. Given the panmictic population structure of the bacterial isolates investigated, these data, obtained from two groups infected with N. meningitidis, but with markedly different clinical outcomes, provide the first quantitative evidence that IgA1 protease activity is a virulence determinant that contributes to the pathogenic phenotype, and suggest IgA1 protease as a potential target for prophylaxis.