Core Self-Evaluations and Job and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Self-Concordance and Goal Attainment.

The present study tested a model explaining how the core self-evaluations (i.e., positive self-regard) concept is linked to job and life satisfaction. The self-concordance model, which focuses on motives underlying goal pursuit, was used as an explanatory framework. Data were collected from 2 samples: (a) 183 university students (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and life satisfaction were used) and (b) 251 employees (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and job satisfaction were utilized). In both studies, the core self-evaluations concept was positively related to goal self-concordance, meaning that individuals with positive self-regard were more likely to pursue goals for intrinsic and identified (value-congruent) reasons. Furthermore, in both studies, goal self-concordance was related to satisfaction (job satisfaction in Study 1 and life satisfaction in Study 2). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ML decoding performance of LDPC ensembles over Z/sub q/

We derive the asymptotic spectra of low-density parity-check (LDPC) ensembles over Z/sub q/. We consider two ensembles of LDPC matrices, one is binary and the other q-ary. We also show that for modulo-additive noise channels, both ensembles achieve the random coding error exponent, for graphs with sufficiently large connectivity.     

Improving the generalized likelihood ratio test for unknown linear Gaussian channels

In this work, we consider the decoding problem for unknown Gaussian linear channels. Important examples of linear channels are the intersymbol interference (ISI) channel and the diversity channel with multiple transmit and receive antennas employing space-time codes (STC). An important class of decoders is based on the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT). Our work deals primarily with a decoding algorithm that uniformly improves the error probability of the GLRT decoder for these unknown linear channels. The improvement is attained by increasing the minimal distance associated with the decoder. This improvement is uniform, i.e., for all the possible channel parameters, the error probability is either smaller by a factor (that is exponential in the improved distance), or for some, may remain the same. We also present an algorithm that improves the average (over the channel parameters) error probability of the GLRT decoder. We provide simulation results for both decoders.     

A noninvasive radiotelemetry system to monitor heart rate for assessing stress responses of bovines.

A noninvasive radiotelemetry system was developed to monitor heart rates of cows and to view and analyze data. The system was validated by comparing heart rate data of two restrained heifers collected simultaneously using telemetric and direct electrocardiogram measurements and by acquiring data over 72 h from two dry cows housed in an experimental handling facility consisting of a free-stall pen, a holding pen, a pass-through stall, and a second holding pen. Telemetric and direct measurements in response to pharmacological elevation of heart rates were essentially identical. For cows in the experimental facility, peristimulus-time histograms indexed to standing or lying showed that average heart rates for cows increased 4.0 +/- 1.4 beats/min after cows stood and decreased 4.8 +/- 1.0 beats/min after cows lay. Similarly, the average heart rate for the cow naive to the facility increased from 60 to 86 beats/min and remained elevated for 6.3 min when heart rate was indexed to maximal heart rate within +/- 3 min of entry into the pass-through stall. Heart rate for the naive cow increased consistently from around 60 to over 160 beats/min during repeated agonistic encounters between animals. Heart rate for the other cow was not affected by the encounters. These results show clearly that heart rate can be used to monitor animal anxiety.     

Near-field Fourier transform polarimetry by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating

We present a unique method for real-time polarization measurement by use of a discrete space-variant subwavelength grating. The formation of the grating is done by discrete orientation of the local subwavelength grooves. The complete polarization analysis of the incident beam is determined by spatial Fourier transform of the near-field intensity distribution transmitted through the discrete subwavelength dielectric grating followed by a subwavelength metal polarizer. We discuss a theoretical analysis based on Stokes-Mueller formalism, as well as on Jones calculus, and experimentally demonstrate our approach with polarization measurements of infrared radiation at a wavelength of 10.6 microm.     

Comparison of CuCl, CuBr, and CuI as lasants for copper-vapor lasers

CuCl, CuBr, and CuI have been compared in a fixed parameter system as lasants for copper-vapor lasers. The output powers for optimum temperature, buffer gas pressure, and delay time were found to be in the ratio PCuBr:PCuCl:PCuI= 6 : 3 : 2.     

Efficient mode transformations of degenerate Laguerre-Gaussian beams

We present an approach for efficient conversion of a single-high-order-mode distribution from a laser to a nearly Gaussian distribution and vice versa. It is based on dividing the high-order mode distribution into equal parts that are then combined together coherently. We implement our approach with several optical arrangements that include a combination of discrete elements and some with single interferometric elements. These arrangements are analyzed and experimentally evaluated for converting the TEM01 mode distribution with Mx(2) = 3 to a nearly Gaussian beam with Mx(2) = 1.045 or Mx(2) = 1.15. The basic principle, design, and experimental results obtained with several conversion arrangements are presented. The results reveal that conversion efficiency is typically greater than 90%, compared with theoretical ones. In addition, some arrangement is exploited for converting the fundamental Gaussian-beam distribution into the TEM01 mode distribution.     

Evaluation of the resistance of mortars coated with silver bearing zeolite to bacterial-induced corrosion

An evaluation of the resistance of mortar specimens coated with silver bearing zeolite to biologically produced sulphate and their antimicrobial characteristics was carried out in this study using Acidothiobacillus thiooxidans. The evaluation was performed based on leaching Ca²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ from the cementitious matrix, rate of bacterial sulphur oxidation, increase in biomass concentration, and acid production. The cumulative concentration of Ca²⁺ leaching were 3.5-folds higher (28.5 mg Ca²⁺/g cement) and 2-folds higher (18 mg Ca²⁺/g cement) in the uncoated and epoxy coated mortar specimens compared to those of zeolite coated specimens (9 mg Ca²⁺/g cement and 8 mg Ca²⁺/g cement for type AC and AK respectively). The cumulative leaching Si⁴⁺ was also 2.6-folds higher in the control mortar specimens (0.65-1.8 mg Si⁴⁺/g cement). Biomass concentration in the control specimens reached 210 mg TSS/L, and that of the zeolites coated mortar specimens was 103 mg TSS/L. The bacterial sulphur oxidation was found to follow the same pattern of the bacterial concentration, 230-270 mg SO₄/g S and 158-182 mg SO₄/g S in the control and zeolite coated mortar specimens, respectively. The resistance of the zeolitic coating was further evidenced by the increase in pH of the control mortar specimens which demonstrated the leaching of Ca (OH)₂ from the cement matrix. The stability of zeolite coated specimens was confirmed by the absence of corrosion products as was examined by FE-SEM and XRPD.     

Analysis of natural frequencies of cavities and scatterers using animpulsive current model

A recently suggested (see Y. Leviatan et al., ibid., vol.36, p.1722-1734, Dec. 1988) method of moments solution to generalized formulations of electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting and material bodies of smooth shape is used to compute the natural frequencies of such bodies. The field inside the body and the field scattered from the body are expanded by means of the field of impulsive current sources (elemental dipoles) situated a distance away from (rather than on) the boundary. The key feature of this approach is the fields anywhere in space can be evaluated analytically, yielding a substantial saving of computation time in comparison with standard on-surface formulations. Impulsive expansion functions are used for the fictitious currents that simulate the source-free fields in the relevant regions, and a point matching procedure is adopted for the enforcement of the boundary conditions. The result is a generalized impedance matrix whose singularities in the complex frequency plane represent the natural frequencies of the body. The numerical solution is simple to execute, computationally efficient, and can be applied to a broad class of bodies of smooth shape. Results demonstrating the excellent accuracy of the procedure are given