Are moods motivational states? A study on effort-related cardiovascular response.

Based on the mood-behavior-model (Gendolla, 2000), this study tested the idea that moods only have effects on effort mobilization in settings that directly call for this and in which people can thus use their moods as task-relevant information. Fifty university students were randomly assigned to a 2 (Mood: negative vs. positive) × 2 (Memorizing: intentional vs. incidental) × 2 (Time: mood induction vs. task performance) mixed model design. Effort mobilization was operationalized as systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity. As expected, in the intentional-memorizing condition, SBP reactivity was stronger in a negative mood than in a positive mood. Mood had no impact in the incidental-memorizing condition, which did not call for effort mobilization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimization of a moderator-neutron guide system for diffractometers of beam line 7A of the IBR-2M reactor

Neutron guides are widely used to transport the neutrons from the moderator to the sample. Due to the constructive features of the ring corridor of the fast pulsed reactor IBR-2, the minimal distance between the moderator and the guide entrance is around 6 m. The main goal of the paper is to optimize the neutron optical system between the moderator and the entrance of the new neutron guides. Using Monte Carlo simulations we calculate the possible best gain of the neutron flux density at the guide exit. After the described optimization process, the optimal system is obtained. The recommendations for construction of the new beam line are provided too. Similar technique and the proposed system could be easily adapted for another similar beam line at the neutron sources.     

Resistivity of phosphorus-doped sputter-deposited polycrystalline silicon films

The resistivity of phosphorus-doped sputter-deposited polycrystalline silicon films has been extensively investigated as a function of many technological parameters with the aim of establishing whether these films can be doped to the desired resistivity values for MOS applications. An empirical expression has been determined for a standard doping process which relates the final sheet resistance of the film to the deposition rate and to the temperature of an annealing treatment carried out before predeposition. Once specified the desired sheet resistance, the two above parameters can be chosen in such a way as to minimize the annealing temperature, if high-temperature processing is to be prevented.     

Estimating the Impact of Water Pricing on Water Use Efficiency in Semi-arid Cropping System: An Application of Probabilistically Constrained Nonparametric Efficiency Analysis

By introducing proper pricing instruments, farm level water can be used more efficient. But it demands a proper estimation strategy to analyse the efficiency and the input use behavior of farms under the new pricing system. As most production relationships are stochastic in nature, excluding random errors and noise from model specifications often leads to criticism. By using a probabilistically constrained programming formulation, an empirical estimation of stochastic data envelopment analysis (DEA) is done to analyze the efficiency of irrigation water use in the agricultural production system in the Krishna river basin, India. The results illustrate that water demand is higher for farms at, or close to the frontier and lower for those with low efficiency levels. In a second step, a simulation model is developed by using the frontier and economic efficiency derived from stochastic DEA to analyse the impact of water pricing on water use efficiency and water use behaviour. It is shown that an increase in the water price would not cause sizeable profit loss, if the pricing system is administered on a volumetric basis, but water demand would decrease substantially.     

Impact of climate change on hydropower generation in Rio Jubones Basin,Ecuador

This study attempted to use the soil and water assessment tool(SWAT), integrated with geographic information systems(GIS), for assessment of climate change impacts on hydropower generation. This methodology of climate change impact modeling was developed and demonstrated through application to a hydropower plant in the Rio Jubones Basin in Ecuador. ArcSWAT 2012 was used to develop a model for simulating the river flow. The model parameters were calibrated and validated on a monthly scale with respect to the hydro-meteorological inputs observed from 1985 to 1991 and from 1992 to 1998, respectively. Statistical analyses produced Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies(NSEs) of 0.66 and 0.61 for model calibration and validation, respectively, which were considered acceptable. Numerical simulation with the model indicated that climate change could alter the seasonal flow regime of the basin, and the hydropower potential could change due to the changing climate in the future.Scenario analysis indicates that, though the hydropower generation will increase in the wet season, the plant will face a significant power shortage during the dry season, up to 13.14% from the reference scenario, as a consequence of a 17% reduction of streamflow under an assumption of a 2.9℃ increase in temperature and a 15% decrease in rainfall. Overall, this study showed that hydrological processes are realistically modeled with SWAT and the model can be a useful tool for predicting the impact of climate change.     

Tobacco use in six economically disadvantaged communities in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is a tobacco-growing country, and tobacco control efforts there have been virtually nonexistent. This study provides a first systematic surveillance of tobacco use in six economically disadvantaged Dominican Republic communities (two small urban, two peri-urban, two rural; half were tobacco growing). Approximately 175 households were randomly selected in each community (total N = 1,048), and an adult household member reported on household demographics and resources (e.g., electricity), tobacco use and health conditions of household members, and household policies on tobacco use. Poverty and unemployment were high in all communities, and significant gaps in access to basic resources such as electricity, running water, telephones/cell phones, and secondary education were present. Exposure to tobacco smoke was high, with 38.4% of households reporting at least one tobacco user, and 75.5% allowing smoking in the home. Overall, 22.5% reported using tobacco, with commercial cigarettes (58.0%) or self-rolled cigarettes (20.1%) the most commonly used types. Considerable variability in prevalence and type of use was found across communities. Overall, tobacco use was higher in males, illiterate groups, those aged 45 or older, rural dwellers, and tobacco-growing communities. Based on reported health conditions, tobacco attributable risks, and World Health Organization mortality data, it is estimated that at least 2,254 lives could potentially be saved each year in the Dominican Republic with tobacco cessation. Although it is expected that the reported prevalence of tobacco use and health conditions represent underestimates, these figures provide a starting point for understanding tobacco use and its prevalence in the Dominican Republic.     

Tuneable Heterodyne Infrared Spectrometer for atmospheric and astronomical studies

The transportable setup of the Cologne Tuneable Heterodyne Infrared Spectrometer (THIS) is presented. Frequency tuneability over a wide range provided by the use of tuneable diode lasers as local oscillators (LO) allows a variety of molecules in the mid-infrared to be observed. Longtime integration, which is essential for astronomical observations, is possible owing to tight frequency control of the LO with optical feedback from an external cavity. THIS is developed to fly on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy beginning in 2006 but can also be used on different types of ground-based telescopes.     

An on-line respirographic biosensor for the characterization of load and toxicity of wastewaters

A respirographic biosensor is presented that is capable of monitoring the waste load and potential toxicity of wastewaters, both off-line in a laboratory or on-line at the wastewater treatment plant. The principles of the sensors' operation have been developed and implications of the design choices evaluated. Short term BOD values were obtained every 30 min. The linear dynamic range spanned concentrations differing by a factor of 5000. This range could be expanded by a factor of 10 by adjusting the aeration rate of the bioreactor in the sensor. The response time for toxicity detection was approximately 1 h. The use in the sensor of activated sludge from the plant concerned ensured relevant toxicity information was obtained. To check the condition of the sludge, an independent respiration measurement is proposed. When a siginificant activity change is observed, the sludge in the sensor must be replaced. The presence of oxidoreduction chemicals can cause interferences that may lead to measurement errors. Based on a difference in reaction kinetics, their presence can be assessed and the effect eliminated. Both on-line and laboratory applications in the chemical industry are presented. Special emphasis is given to the usefulness of the sensor data for waste management of production divisions. On-line assessment of load variations and hydrogen peroxide spills are given as illustrations of the implementation of the sensor on the treatment plant. Attention is drawn to the potential application of the data for process control and improved performance of the treatment plant.     

Die Harmonischen der Bewegungsgesetze und der Bewegungsenergie bei unsymmetrischen elliptischen Schleifen

Zusammenfassung Bei der dynamischen Untersuchung einer elliptischen Schleife mit „steiler” Ellipse wurde die Fourierreihe für die kinetische Energie des Getriebes ben?tigt, und es zeigte sich, da? für die Fourierkoeffizienten einfache, geschlossene und übersichtliche Ausdrücke angegeben werden konnten. Es lag nahe, die gleiche Frage für ein Getriebe mit „flacher” Ellipase zu stellen. Es ergaben sich ebenfalls geschlossene Ausdrücke, dei—je nach Parameter—?hnlich oder ganz anders aufgebaut waren als die bei der „steilen” Ellipse. Hiernach interessierte, wie der eine Fall in den anderen übergeführt werden kann, und es wurde daher die elliptische Schleife mit „schiefer” Ellipase und unsymmetrischem Bewegungsgesetz betrachtet. Die folgende Arbeit teilt nun die Ergebnisse mit: Zun?chst wird auf die Bewegungsgesetze und ihre Darstellung als Superposition eingegangen, anschlie?end auf die harmonische Analyse dieser Bewegungsgesetze. Der Aufbau der kinetischen Energie zeigt, da? diese wesentlich vom Quadrat des übersetzungsverh?ltnisses des Getriebes abh?ngt. Diese Funktion J (α) harmonisch zu analysieren ist dann die Aufgabe der folgenden Abschnitte, und es gelingt, aufbauend auf die Sueprposition und mit Hilfe komplexer Zahlen, für die Fourierentwicklung von J (α) wiederum geschlossene übersichtliche Ausdrücke zu finden. Es wird dann kurz auf die Bedeutung der harmonischen Analyse bei der dyanmischen Untersuchung eines Getriebes hingewiesen, und anschlie?end wird gezeigt, da? in dem allgemeinen Fall der schiefen Ellipse eine ganze Reihe interessanter Sonderf?lle mit erfa?t werden, z. B. die ebene zentrische Kurbelschleife, die oben genannten F?lle der symmetrischen Bewegungsgesetze bei steiler bzw. flacher Ellipse, die elliptischen Zahnr?der und die diesen ?quivalenten Getriebe, ferner die r?umliche Kurbelschleife und die sph?rische Kurbelschleife mit den Sonderf?llen der sph?rischen Kreuzschleife und der sph?rischen Doppelschleife, d. h. dem Kreuzgelenk als Getriebe. Bemerkungen über andere „Randbelingungen” des Getriebes, über bestimmte Integrale und ein Ausblick auf verwandte Getriebe schlie?en die Arbeit ab. o. Professor em. Dr.-Ing. Walther Meyer zur Capellen, Aachen.