An algorithm for the calculation of poisson's equation in 2-d semiconductor problems

A robust algorithm is described for the solution of the highly nonlinear potential problem in the analysis of semiconductors under a zero current assumption. Some examples are given showing the use of the algorithm.     

Collaboration and Teamwork: Immersion and Presence in an Online Learning Environment

In the world of OTIS, an online Internet School for occupational therapists, students from four European countries were encouraged to work collaboratively through problem-based learning by interacting with each other in a virtual semi-immersive environment. This paper describes, often in their own words, the experience of European occupational therapy students working together across national and cultural boundaries. Collaboration and teamwork were facilitated exclusively through an online environment, since the students never met each other physically during the OTIS pilot course. The aim of the paper is to explore the observations that (1) there was little interaction between students from different tutorial groups and (2) virtual teamwork developed in each of the cross-cultural tutorial groups. Synchronous data from the students was captured during tutorial sessions and peer-booked meetings and analyzed using the qualitative constructs of immersion, presence and reflection in learning. The findings indicate that immersion was experienced only to a certain extent. However, students found both presence and shared presence, within their tutorial groups, to help collaboration and teamwork. Other evidence suggests that communities of interest were established. Further study is proposed to support group work in an online learning environment. It is possible to conclude that collaborative systems can be designed, which encourage students to build trust and teamwork in a cross cultural online learning environment.This revised version was published online in March 2005 with corrections to the cover dateFunded by the European Union through the TENTelecom programme.     

Dimensionierung von Kristallisatoren

Current status of crystallizer design . This paper surveys current knowledge in designing large scale crystallizers. The volume of a crystallizer depends on the desired mean crystal size, the suspended magma density and the permissible supersaturation, the latter determining the growth velocity and the nucleation rate. Different techniques for measuring the rate of crystal growth are outlined, as are also the methods used in its calculation, which are based upon various models of crystal growth. In designing a large scale crystallizer the phenomena of fluid dynamics and heat transfer must be taken into consideration. The paper deals with these two areas in detail and discusses problems associated with the control of population balance in the slurry.     

The relationships between work intensity,workaholism, burnout,and self‐reported musculoskeletal complaints

Technological advances within the work environment have dynamically changed the tools with which work is done and the methods applied for performing it, with a large amount of modern work being fast‐paced and sedentary in nature, that is, being done seated in front of a computer screen. This study investigated the relationship between work intensity, workaholism, burnout, and musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs). The results of this study could assist organizations in gaining a clearer understanding of how each of these constructs influences the other, promoting a healthier, and ultimately more productive workforce. A cross‐sectional research design was adopted and implemented by means of a survey amongst office employees within a large engineering services organization (n = 398). Structural equation modeling methods were applied to analyze the data. The results revealed that work intensity was positively related to workaholism and that workaholism was, in turn, also positively related to employees’ burnout and MSCs. Finally, burnout was also shown to be significantly related to MSCs. Awareness of these phenomena and the promotion of effort recovery is important to obviate the effects on employee health and well‐being in the long term.     

Machine learning model for mapping of music mood and human emotion based on physiological signals

Emotion is considered a physiological state that appears whenever a transformation is observed by an individual in their environment or body. While studying the literature, it has been observed that combining the electrical activity of the brain, along with other physiological signals for the accurate analysis of human emotions is yet to be explored in greater depth. On the basis of physiological signals, this work has proposed a model using machine learning approaches for the calibration of music mood and human emotion. The proposed model consists of three phases (a) prediction of the mood of the song based on audio signals, (b) prediction of the emotion of the human-based on physiological signals using EEG, GSR, ECG, Pulse Detector, and finally, (c) the mapping has been done between the music mood and the human emotion and classifies them in real-time. Extensive experimentations have been conducted on the different music mood datasets and human emotion for influential feature extraction, training, testing and performance evaluation. An effort has been made to observe and measure the human emotions up to a certain degree of accuracy and efficiency by recording a person’s bio- signals in response to music. Further, to test the applicability of the proposed work, playlists are generated based on the user’s real-time emotion determined using features generated from different physiological sensors and mood depicted by musical excerpts. This work could prove to be helpful for improving mental and physical health by scientifically analyzing the physiological signals.

     

Tribological Behaviour of Sub-micron Cutting-ceramics in Contact with Wood-based Materials

New sub-μm Al₂O₃-ceramics exhibit much better mechanical and tribological characteristics than commercially available grades. Previously, the sub-μm-ceramics have been successfully tested for machining hardened steels, but there is not any scientific experience with machining wood-based materials. The aim of the presented study was to examine how these ceramics behave in dry sliding when in contact with wood-based materials and to compare their behaviour with that of hard metals and polycrystalline diamond. It has been found that the friction coefficient mostly depends on the properties of the wood-based material. Furthermore, the changes of the ceramic materials surface roughness have confirmed that the grain size-related material features affect its tribological properties.