How do Attitudes Toward Globalization Influence Human Functioning?

ABSTRACT

This study shows the results of the research into the relationships between attitudes toward globalization (accepting, critical, fearful) and psychological factors: identity styles, attitudes toward the Internet, and the quality of friendship. The survey conducted among Polish adolescents and young adults revealed that attitudes toward globalization had a stronger influence on psychological functioning for young adults than for adolescents. The results may help to understand social acceptance factors or disapproval of technological and globalizational changes.     

Hierarchical object-driven action rules

In this work, we present the hierarchical object-driven action rules; a hybrid action rule extraction approach that combines key elements from both the classical action rule mining approach, first proposed by Ra? and Wieczorkowska (2000), and the more recent object-driven action rule extraction approach proposed by Hajja et al. (2012, 2013), to extract action rules from object-driven information systems. Action rules, as defined in Ra? and Wieczorkowska (2000), are actionable tasks that describe possible transitions of instances from one state to another with respect to a distinguished attribute, called the decision attribute. Recently, a new specialized case of action rules, namely object-driven action rules, has been introduced by Hajja et al. (2012, 2013). Object-driven action rules are action rules that are extracted from information systems with temporal and object-based nature. By object-driven information systems, we mean systems that contain multiple observations for each object, in which objects are determined by an attribute that assumingly defines some unique distribution; and by temporally-based information systems, we refer to systems in which each instance is attached to a timestamp that, by definition, must have an intrinsic meaning for each corresponding instance. Though the notion of object-driven and temporal-based action rules had its own successes, some argue that the essence of object-driven assumptions, which is in big part the reason for its effectiveness, are imposing few limitations as well. Object-driven approaches treat entire systems as multi-subsystems for which action rules are extracted from; as a result, more accurate and specific action rules are extracted. However, by doing so, our diverseness of the extracted action rules are much less apparent, compared to the outcome when applying the classical action rule extraction approach, which treats information systems as a whole. For that reason, we propose a hybrid approach which builds a hierarchy of clusters of subsystems; a novel way of clustering through treatments responses similarities is introduced.     

Modulations in Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Based on Intensity and Spectral Variations of Light

Photosynthetic efficiency is significantly affected by both qualitative and quantitative changes during light exposure. The properties of light have a profound effect on electron transport and energy absorption in photochemical reactions. In addition, fluctuations in light intensity and variations in the spectrum can lead to a decrease in photosystem II efficiency. These features necessitate the use of a simple and suitable tool called chlorophyll a fluorescence to study photosynthetic reactions as a function of the aforementioned variables. This research implies that chlorophyll a fluorescence data can be used to determine precise light conditions that help photoautotrophic organisms optimally function.     

Microstructure and Selected Properties of Advanced Biomedical n-HA/ZnS/Sulfonated PEEK Coatings Fabricated on Zirconium Alloy by Duplex Treatment

In this work, sulfonated polyetheretherketone (S-PEEK)-based coatings, nanocrystalline ZnS and hydroxyapatite (n-HA) particles were developed on Zr-2.5Nb zirconium alloy substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) combined with subsequent heat treatment. The properties of suspensions and deposition kinetics were studied. Cationic chitosan polyelectrolyte ensured the stabilization of the suspension and allowed for the co-deposition of all coating components on the cathode. The heating of the coated samples at a temperature of 450 °C and slow cooling resulted in sulfonation of the PEEK and the formation of dense coatings. The coatings were characterized by high roughness, hardness, modulus of elasticity and adhesion strength. The coatings revealed mild hydrophilicity, improved the electrochemical corrosion resistance of the alloy and induced the formation of hydroxyapatite with a cauliflower-like morphology on its surface during the Kokubo test. This work explored the great development potential of advanced sulfonated PEEK-based coatings, incorporating antibacterial and bioactive components by EPD combined with heat treatment to stimulate the surface properties of zirconium alloy for prospective dental and orthopedic applications. The antibacterial and osteoconductive properties of the obtained coatings should be further investigated.     

Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on the In Vitro Regeneration,Biochemical, Genetic,and Phenotype Variation in Adventitious Shoots Produced from Leaf Explants in Chrysanthemum

Novel and unique properties of nanomaterials, which are not apparent in larger-size forms of the same material, encourage the undertaking of studies exploring the multifaced effects of nanomaterials on plants. The results of such studies are not only scientifically relevant but, additionally, can be implemented to plant production and/or breeding. This study aimed to verify the applicability of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a mutagen in chrysanthemum breeding. Chrysanthemum × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitam. ‘Lilac Wonder’ and ‘Richmond’ leaf explants were cultured on the modified MS medium supplemented with 0.6 mg·L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2 mg·L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and treated with AgNPs (spherical; 20 nm in diameter size; 0, 50, and 100 mg·L⁻¹). AgNPs strongly suppressed the capability of leaf explants to form adventitious shoots and the efficiency of shoot regeneration. The content of primary and secondary metabolites (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds) and the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxide) in leaf explants varied depending on the AgNPs treatment and age of culture. Phenotype variations of ex vitro cultivated chrysanthemums, covering the color and pigment content in the inflorescence, were detected in one 50 mg·L⁻¹ AgNPs-derived and five 100 mg·L⁻¹ AgNPs-derived ‘Lilac Wonder’ plants and were manifested as the color change from pink to burgundy-gold. However, no changes in inflorescence color/shape were found among AgNPs-treated ‘Richmond’ chrysanthemums. On the other hand, the stem height, number of leaves, and chlorophyll content in leaves varied depending on the AgNPs treatment and the cultivar analyzed. A significant effect of AgNPs on the genetic variation occurrence was found. A nearly two-fold higher share of polymorphic products, in both cultivars studied, was generated by RAPD markers than by SCoTs. To conclude, protocols using leaf explant treatment with AgNPs can be used as a novel breeding technique in chrysanthemum. However, the individual cultivars may differ in biochemical response, the efficiency of in vitro regeneration, genetic variation, and frequency of induced mutations in flowering plants.     

Content of anthocyanins and glycoalkaloids in blue‐fleshed potatoes and changes in the content of α‐solanine and α‐chaconine during manufacture of fried and dried products

In the last ten or so years, potatoes with purple or blue‐flesh and derivative products, for example chips, have appeared on the European markets. The interest in this raw material and these products is increasing among both producers and consumers searching for novel and attractive choices. The anthocyanin content of the analysed potato varieties differed; a higher content of these pigments was determined in Blaue Elise var. potatoes. In blue‐flesh varieties, the prevailing anthocyanins were acylated glycosides: petunidin and malvidin. The production process of French fries, chips and puree caused a decrease in the content of glycoalkaloids in semi‐products and finished products, compared to the raw material. The greatest losses of α‐chaconine and α‐solanine were observed after tuber peeling (ca. 70%) and after frying (ca. 90%). French fries contained 3%, chips 16% and puree 17% of the initial amount of total glycoalkaloids. The losses of α‐chaconine and α‐solanine in the analysed semi‐products and finished products were at the same level, regardless of the processing technology applied.     

Control of Underactuated Skid Steering Mobile Platforms Based on Extended Factitious Force Concept

In the paper new control method of skid steering mobile platforms has been presented. Such platforms are robotic objects with deficit of control inputs in dynamic model, i.e. they are dynamically under-actuated. To compensate lack of controls, it has been assumed that there are additional factitious inputs to dynamics (so-called factitious forces), which preserve possibility to control dynamical model of skid steering mobile platform, expressed in auxiliary velocities. Factitious inputs do not exist in reality therefore it was assumed that they are equal to zero equivalently. Signals calculated from implicit functions defining factitious forces make possible to approximate slipping effects and they can be taken into account by construction of control law.     

Interactive Gene Clustering—A Case Study of Breast Cancer Microarray Data

We present a new approach to clustering and visualization of the DNA microarray gene expression data. We utilize the self-organizing map (SOM) framework for handling (dis)similarities between genes in terms of their expression characteristics. We rely on appropriately defined distances between ranked genes-attributes, also capable of handling missing values. As a case study, we consider breast cancer data and the gene ESR1, whose expression alterations, appearing for many of the tumor subtypes, have been already observed to be correlated with some other significant genes. Preliminary results positively verify applicability of our approach, although further development is definitely needed. They suggest that it may be very effective when used by the domain experts. The algorithmic toolkit is enriched with GUI enabling the users to interactively support the SOM optimization process. Its effectiveness is achieved by drag&drop techniques allowing for the cluster modification according to the expert knowledge or intuition.     

Preparation and characterization of RuCl3 – Diamine group functionalized polymer

Gel-type resin with diamine functional groups, FCN, was used as a matrix for immobilization of ruthenium complexes. By reacting of RuCl₃ with swollen matrix of FCN polymer a series of Ru/FCN composites with various Ru loading (1%, 2%, and 4%) was prepared. All the characterization techniques (FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, STEM, XPS, and DSC) proved the participation of functional groups in the coordination of Ru(III). These complexes contained both Cl- and N-ligands in various proportions depending on ruthenium loading in polymer. Taking into account the chelating character of N-ligands a hypothetical structure of octahedral Ru(III) complex coordinated to FCN polymer was proposed. 2%Ru/FCN when reduced by NaBH₄ exhibited catalytic activity in liquid phase hydrogenation of acetophenone. Higher selectivity in the presence of FCN supported Ru as compared to 2%Ru/Al₂O₃ catalyst toward 1-phenylethanol was observed.