Can synchronicity and visual modality enhance social presence in mobile messaging?

As companies move increasingly toward text-based computer-mediated communications (CMC) for providing customer service, they tend to lose out on the social presence of a live agent interacting in person or via the telephone. Given the importance of social presence for maintaining healthy customer relations, how can companies counter the relative lack of social presence in CMC? Increasing the synchronicity of communications is one solution, but it is not always possible to provide instant responses to customers. In such cases, can a richer modality (e.g., picture of the customer-service agent) make up for diminished synchronicity and thereby enhance social presence? We addressed these questions with a 3 [synchronicity: high (no delay in response time) vs. medium (1-h delay) vs. low (6-h delay)] × 3 [modality: text-only vs. text+picture vs. text+emoticon] ful factorial, between-subjects experiment in which participants (N = 108) interacted with a customer service agent in a mobile e-commerce context. Data reveal that participants in high synchronicity and text+emoticon conditions felt higher social presence and perceived the customer service agent more positively than those in other conditions. Social presence and task impression mediated the relationship between each independent variable and their evaluations of the customer service agent.     

Preparation of Human Milk Fat Substitutes from Lard by Lipase‐Catalyzed Interesterification Based on Triacylglycerol profiles

Human milk fat substitutes (HMFSs) with triacylglycerol profiles highly similar to those of human milk fat (HMF) were prepared from lard by physical blending followed by enzymatic interesterification. Based on the fatty acid profiles of HMF, different vegetable and single‐cell oils were selected and added to the lard. Blend ratios were calculated based on established physical blending models. The blended oils were then enzymatically interesterified using a 1,3‐regiospecific lipase, Lipozyme RM IM (RML from Rhizomucor miehei immobilized on Duolite ES562; Novozymes A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark), to approximate HMF triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles, particularly with respect to the distribution of palmitic acid in the sn?2 position. The optimized blending ratios were determined to be: lard:sunflower oil:canola oil:palm kernel oil:palm oil:algal oil:microbial oil = 1.00:0.10:0.50:0.13:0.12:0.02:0.02. The optimized reaction conditions were determined to be: enzyme load of 11 wt%, temperature of 60 °C, water content of 3.5 wt%, and reaction time of 3 hours. The resulting product was evaluated for total and sn?2 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and TAG composition. A high degree of similarity was obtained, indicating the great potential of the product as a fat alternative for use in infant formulas.     

A new arrangement of Z‐source AC–AC converter and its closed‐loop control system

In this study, a Z‐source alternating current‐to‐alternating current (AC–AC) converter with a specific topology, which can provide both buck and boost modes, is investigated. This converter, which can be implemented easily, utilizes only two switches with complemented commands. A comparison between the Z‐source AC–AC converter and a conventional thyristor voltage controlled one is presented here, and it shows that in the most areas, the Z‐source converter provides a faster response and lower total harmonic distortion of the output currents than the conventional one. Moreover, the Z‐source converter is also extended to the multiphase systems. In addition, a new arrangement of this converter is proposed here to remove the isolated single‐phase sources. Furthermore, an open‐loop method is proposed for soft‐starting applications. Finally, a closed‐loop control system is also suggested for a three‐phase Z‐source converter to soft start and control the speed of an induction motor. Computer simulations show the validity and effectiveness of the proposed schemes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous Control of Birefringence and Warpage for Thermoplastic Optical Lenses Fabricated Using Microinjection Molding

Achieving tight tolerances for multiple properties of a single product becomes a key issue. This study presents an investigation on birefringence and warpage of thermoplastic lenses prepared using microinjection molding, aiming to identify the significant factors, and simultaneously control both properties for optical applications. The birefringence along the flow changed more drastically than that in the cross-flow direction. Meanwhile, two warpage shapes of the lenses could be observed and their formation mechanisms were discussed. The simultaneous control of both properties was accomplished through multi-objective optimization using the desirability function approach. Finally, the optimal processing parameters were obtained and experimentally verified.     

基于Nyquist脉冲副载波调制的短距离光纤传输技术研究

提出了一种适用于强度调制直接检测(IM/DD) 光系统的信号调制格式。这种基于Nyquist脉冲half cycle副载波调制(SCM)信号能有效提高频谱效率,为了减少传递函数引起的系统的性能 恶化,采 用了数字预均衡和后均衡实现对光纤损伤的补偿;建立了偏振复用(PDM)IM/DD系统 平台, 分析了Nyquist脉冲SCM信号在系统中的PAPR性能,实现了72Gbit/s 64-QAM N yquist脉冲SCM信号经过20km标准单模光纤(SMF)传输后其误码性能 小于前向纠错(FEC)阀值3．8×10－3。     

融合通信业务与OTT业务互通的研究与实践

移动互联网大发展的背景下融合通信面向手机用户提供增强型的基础通信服务,对话音、消息和通讯录等基础通信业务进行升级,通过分析研究融合通信与即时通信(IM)为代表的OTT业务互通,找到一种融合通信与OTT业务消息互通、协调发展的模式。     

Characterisation of zero‐trans margarine fats produced from camellia seed oil,palm stearin and coconut oil using enzymatic interesterification strategy

Zero‐trans interesterified fats were produced from camellia seed oil (CSO), palm stearin (PS) and coconut oil (CO) with three weight ratios (CSO/PS/CO, 50:50:10, 40:60:10 and 30:70:10) using Lipozyme TL IM. Results showed that the interesterified products contained palmitic acid (34.28–42.96%), stearic acid (3.96–4.72%), oleic acid (38.73–47.95%), linoleic acid (5.92–6.36%) and total medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFA)s (∑MCFAs, 5.03–5.50%). Compared with physical blends, triacylglycerols of OOO and PPP were decreased and formed new peaks of equivalent carbon number (ECN) 44 in the interesterified products. The product CPC3′ showed a slip melting point of 36.8 °C and a wide plastic range of solid fat content (SFC) (45.8–0.4%) at 20–40 °C. Also, the major β′ form was determined. These data indicated that the zero‐trans interesterified fats would have a potential functionality for margarine fats. Subsequently, the antioxidative stabilities of interesterified products with the addition of α‐tocopherol (α‐TOH) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) were investigated. The results indicated that AP had a dose‐dependent effect at concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 ppm.     

Enzymatic interesterification of palm and coconut stearin blends

Hard fractions of palm oil and coconut oil, blended in the ratios of 90:10, 85:15, 80:20 and 75:25, were interesterified for 8 h using Lipozyme TL IM. Major fatty acids in the blends were palmitic acid (41.7–48.4%) and oleic acid (26.2–30.8%). Medium‐chain fatty acids accounted for 4.5–13.1% of the blends. After interesterification (IE), slip melting point was found to decrease from 44.8–46.8 °C to 28.5–34.0 °C owing to reduction in solids content at all temperatures. At 37.5 °C, the blends containing 25% coconut stearins had 17.4–19% solids, which reduced to 0.4–1.5% on IE, and the slip melting point (28.6 and 28.8 °C) indicated their suitability as margarine base. The reduction in solid fat index of the interesterified fats is attributed to the decrease in high‐melting triacylglycerols in palm oil (GS₃ and GS₂U type) and increase in triolein (GU₃) content from 1 to 9.2%. Retention of tocopherols and β‐carotene during IE was 76 and 60.1%, respectively, in 75:25 palm stearin and coconut stearin blend.     

Rotor fault condition monitoring techniques for squirrel-cage induction machine—A review

Nowadays, manufacturing companies are making great efforts to implement an effective machinery maintenance program, which provides incipient fault detection. The machine problem and its irregularity can be detected at an early stage by employing a suitable condition monitoring accompanied with powerful signal processing technique. Among various defects occurred in machines, rotor faults are of significant importance as they cause secondary failures that lead to a serious motor malfunction. Diagnosis of rotor failures has long been an important but complicated task in the area of motor faults detection. This paper intends to review and summarize the recent researches and developments performed in condition monitoring of the induction machine with the purpose of rotor faults detection. The aim of this article is to provide a broad outlook on rotor fault monitoring techniques for the researchers and engineers.     

感应电机模糊自整定PID控制器设计与仿真

感应电机(IM)的动力学特性是一个高阶、非线性、强耦合的系统,采用传统的PID控制方法进行控制,难以达到理想的控制效果.采用模糊控制理论与常规PID控制相结合组成模糊PID控制器,应用模糊算法在线自动整定PID参数的方法,并将其应用于感应电机调速控制系统.仿真与试验结果表明,该模糊PID控制的效果明显优于常规PID控制...