Interactions of team mental models and monitoring behaviors predict team performance in simulated anesthesia inductions.

In the present study, we investigated how two team mental model properties (similarity vs. accuracy) and two forms of monitoring behavior (team vs. systems) interacted to predict team performance in anesthesia. In particular, we were interested in whether the relationship between monitoring behavior and team performance was moderated by team mental model properties. Thirty-one two-person teams consisting of anesthesia resident and anesthesia nurse were videotaped during a simulated anesthesia induction of general anesthesia. Team mental models were assessed with a newly developed measurement tool based on the concept-mapping technique. Monitoring behavior was coded by two organizational psychologists using a structured observation system. Team performance was rated by two expert anesthetists using a performance-checklist. Moderated multiple regression analysis revealed that team mental model similarity moderated the relationship between team monitoring and performance; a higher level of team monitoring in the absence of a similar team mental model had a negative effect on performance. Furthermore, team mental model similarity and accuracy interacted to predict team performance. Our findings provide new insights on factors influencing the relationship between team processes and team performance in health care. When investigating the effectiveness of a specific team coordination behavior, team cognition has to be taken into account. This represents a necessary and compelling extension of the popular process-outcome relationship on which previous teamwork research in health care has focused. Moreover, the current study adds further external validity to the concept of team mental models by highlighting its usefulness in health care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Flash IR drying of electrical porcelain at various pressures

It is shown that a satisfactory approximation can be given for the observed results on flash IR drying of bonded powders; a criterion characteristic of the process is derived. The results allow prediction of drying processes.     

Elektromagnetisches Geräusch umrichtergespeister permanenterregter Synchronmaschinen

Übersicht Um einen Einblick in die Entstehung der durch den Umrichterbetricb bedingten Geräusche zu gewinnen, werden die Ordnungszahlen und Frequenzen der Kraftwellen sowie die sie verursachenden Stromharmonischen unter der vereinfachenden Annahme einer periodischen und phasensymmetrischen Speisung ermittelt. An einem 1,1 MW Motor werden Messungen des Luft- und Körperschalls durchgeführt, die zugleich die wichtigste Eigenfrequenz der Ständerkonstruktion erkennen lassen. Der Vergleich der experimentellen Untersuchungen mit den Berechnungen nach Teil 1 verdeutlicht die verschiedenen Einflüsse der Umrichterspeisung.

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Electromagnetic acoustic noise of converter-fed permanent-field synchronous motorsPart 2: The influence of the converter supply on the noise of a 1.1 MW motor

Contents In order to get a basic insight into the generation of the acoustic noise due to converter supply, the orders and frequencies of the force waves as well as the causing current harmonics are determined under the assumption of a periodical and phase balanced supply. Measurements of the airborne and structure-borne noise are performed on a 1.1. MW motor. They also exhibit the most important natural frequency of the stator construction. The comparison of the experiments with the calculations according to part 1 elucidates the different influences of the converter supply.

     

Uncovering ITIL claims: IT executives�� perception on benefits and Business-IT alignment

Over 45% of companies are estimated to use IT Service Management (ITSM) frameworks, yet, these frameworks can be imitated and hence the competitive advantage gained from these will quickly become obsolete. Therefore, research on the benefits of ITSM must focus on both operational and strategic benefits. An international survey of 441 firms was conducted to examine the benefits that IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the de-facto ITSM framework, provided to the IT organizations. The research focused on how (1) operational benefits, and, (2) strategic positioning of the IT organizations, specifically how the perceived level of Business-IT alignment maturity evolved as the adoption of ITIL increased. Results indicate that as the adoption of ITIL increased, the number of realized operational benefits increased, as well as the levels of maturity of the Business-IT alignment. This indicates that the further the implementation of ITIL the greater the operational and strategic benefits to the organization. Implications for practitioners and researchers are also discussed.     

Experimental determination and thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria in the Cu–Cr system

Liquidus temperatures in the Cu–Cr system at compositions of 10.0–72.7 at.% Cr were determined using electromagnetic levitation melting. The present data agree with the prediction of a recent thermodynamic study of the system for compositions up to 20.0 at.% Cr. However, they show large and positive deviations for other compositions. Microscopic studies reveal that compositions between 10.0 and 50.5 at.% Cr solidified into a dendritic microstructure, whereas those between 55.9 and 72.7 at.% Cr solidified into a droplet-shaped microstructure. The microstructure of the latter type provides direct evidence for the existence of a stable miscibility gap over Cr-rich compositions. Phase equilibria in the Cu–Cr system were calculated using the CALPHAD method. A novel phase diagram was proposed for the Cu–Cr system, which shows a monotectic reaction between compositions of 50.8 and 83.2 at.% Cr at an invariant temperature of 2020 ± 22 K. The novel phase diagram has reduced the discrepancies between the literature data.     

On the metastable miscibility gap in liquid Cu–Cr alloys

Electromagnetically levitated Cu–Cr alloy melts containing 5–70 at.% Cr were splat-quenched onto a chill substrate. The microstructure of the solidified alloys was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The alloys containing 5–60 at.% Cr showed a droplet-shaped microstructure consisting of Cr-rich spheroids or and dendrites in a Cu-rich matrix, whereas those containing 65 and 70 at.% Cr showed a banded microstructure consisting of alternative Cu-rich and Cr-rich bands. Both types of microstructure presented evidence for metastable phase separation in Cu–Cr alloy compositions, thus verifying the existence of a broad miscibility gap in the undercooled liquid. However, the results suggested that the miscibility gap has a Cr-rich critical composition and a skewed geometry.