A psychological study of advanced manufacturing technology: the concept of coupling

The role played by technology as a discrete independent variable in shaping the design of work is explored. The concept of coupling is developed and an empirical study of work with advanced manufacturing technology (AMT), using measurement scales derived from this concept, is outlined. Results indicate that operators of tightly coupled AMT perceive stronger supervisory influence on their working methods and show signs of lower intrinsic job satisfaction and poorer mental health than operators of more loosely coupled AMT. Implications for job redesign are discussed.     

Some Aspects of Binding GKS to C++

Aspects of a prototype binding of GKS to the C++ programming language are presented. The binding makes use of classes and derived classes to define GKS concepts such as segments and workstations. Operator overloading is used for some GKS Functions.     

Magnetic anisotropy of Co-Cr thin films as a function of substrate temperature during deposition

A sequence of Co78Cr22films, 500 nm in thickness, was prepared by deposition on glass in a modified Varian D.C. magnetron S-gun sputtering system. The substrate temperature during deposition, Ts, was fixed at various values with an upper limit of 300°C. Specimens were examined by VSM, TM, FMR and TEM. Msrises significantly with increasing Ts, peaking at 200°C at 370 emu/cm³. The effective volume-averaged anisotropy drops for Ts>110°C from +1.6 KOe to progressively negative values (-4.3 KOe at 300°C). From FMR we find indications of the presence, in addition to the transition and bulk layers, of a highly negative anisotropy constituent (sim-11.5KOe anisotropy field). This resonance appears at Tsvalues of 150°C and above. TEM plane and cross-section views taken on a Ts= 150°C specimen show islands composed of tilted columns within the bulk. For vertical recording, specimens prepared at Tsvalues between 50 and 100°C are recommended. On the other hand, for longitudinal recording applications, films prepared at Tsvalues above 250°C would seem to be appropriate.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of reduced glutenin: amino acid composition of fractions and components

Reduced glutenin is separated by gel permeation high-performance liquid chromatography into three major and five minor fractions, which significantly differ in their amino acid compositions. By reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, about 20 glutenin components are obtained. These can be classified into three groups according to their amino acid compositions: a hydrophilic group with relatively high values of Glx and Phe, a more hydrophobic group with a high content of Gly, and a strongly hydrophobic group with higher values of Val and Leu. Groups 1, 2 and 3 contain middle-, high- and low-molecular-weight (MMW-, HMW-, LMW-) subunits respectively.     

Power-dependent dispersion in far-off-resonant raman scattering

We investigate the saturation effects of power broadening, Stark shifting, and population transfer on Stokes conversion in stimulated Raman scattering. We do not make the usual rotating wave approximation because the detuning from the next electronic state is assumed to be in the optical regime. Retaining the counter-rotating terms allows an exact determination of the pump and Stokes indexes of refraction. Steady-state solutions for the Stokes intensity and phase are obtained and the effects of making the rotating wave approximation (RWA) are discussed. Finally, we examine the behavior of these solutions for Stokes conversion in hydrogen gas when geometric propagation is appropriate.     

PCR-based procedures in detection and DNA-fingerprinting of Salmonella from samples of animal origin

The usefulness of selected PCR-protocols for the detection of Salmonella in 117 samples of animal origin (17 raw minced meat, 27 raw chicken meat, 8 raw sausages, and 25 egg samples, as well as 18 poultry faecal, and caecal swabs samples) and DNA-fingerprinting typing is shown. To establish an accurate PCR-procedure for Salmonella detection the following parameters were evaluated: two pre-PCR concentration procedures, centrifugation and immunomagnetic separation (IMS) using Dynabeads anti- Salmonella; the specificity and sensitivity of 10 sets of primers; and different conditions of the amplification reaction. In light of the results obtained from the use of PCR-based procedures alone or in combination with conventional methods, the following findings can be underlined: First, IMS is more efficient than centrifugation in the recovery of Salmonella. Second, the selected IMS/PCR-detection protocol is less time-consuming (45 h) than the IMS/culture procedure (90 h), and a good concordance between them was found when the Kappa coefficient was calculated (0·87). Third, PCR-ribotyping technique showed a very low discrimination power, being able to differentiate only three profiles. Fourth, RAPD technique using specific primers supports previous works in which it was proposed as a simple and useful tool for discriminating isolates between and within serotypes. Fifth, The efficiency, rapidity, and flexibility of the PCR-protocols applied were high, and they can be performed using two PCR-programs and the same basic equipment.     

Predicting the performance of concrete structures exposed to chemically aggressive environment—Field validation

The behavior of two series of concrete slabs exposed to sulfate-bearing soils was investigated by a numerical model called STADIUM. In addition to the diffusion of ions and moisture, the model also accounts for the effects of dissolution/precipitation reactions on the transport mechanisms. The simulations yielded by the model were compared to the actual degradation of the slabs after 8 years of exposure. The microstructural alterations of concrete resulting from the penetration of magnesium, chloride and sulfate ions were studied by backscatter mode scanning electron microscope observations and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The comparison of both series of data indicates that the model can reliably predict the various features of the microstructural alterations of concrete.

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Résumé Le comportement de deux séries de dalles sur sol en béton exposées à des sols chimiquement agressifs a été étudié à l'aide d'un code de calcul numérique appelé STADIUM. Ce modèle permet de décrire le transport couplé de l'eau et des ions dans des matériaux poreux non-saturés en prenant en considération l'influence des réactions chimiques. Les résultats des simultations de la dégradation du béton après huit ans d'exposition à des ions chlore, sulfate et magnésium. Les observations ont été réalisées par microscopie électronique à balayage. Des analyses par dispersion des rayons X ont également été effectuées. Les données démontrent clairement que le modèle perment de prédire avec précision le comportement du béton soumis à différents types d'agression chimique.

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Editorial Note Laval University (Canada) is a RILEM Titular Member. Prof. J. Marchand was awarded the 2000 Robert L'Hermite Medal. He is Editor in Chief for Concrete Science and Engineering and Associate Editor for Materials and Structures. He participates in RILEM TC 186-ISA ‘Internal Sulfate attack’.