Moving cultures: The perilous problems of cultural dichotomies in a globalizing society.

The accelerating process of globalization and the increasing interconnections between cultures involve an unprecedented challenge to contemporary psychology. In apparent contrast to these trends, academic mainstream conceptions continue to work in a tradition of cultural dichotomies (e.g., individualistic vs. collectivistic, independent vs. interdependent), reflecting a classificatory approach to culture and self. Three developments are presented that challenge this approach: (a) cultural connections leading to hybridization, (b) the emergence of a heterogeneous global system, and (c) the increasing cultural complexity. By elaborating on these challenges, a basic assumption of cross-cultural psychology is questioned: culture as geographically localized. Finally, 3 themes are described as examples of an alternative approach: a focus on the contact zones of cultures rather than on their center, the complexities of self and identity, and the experience of uncertainty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low-Loss Patterned Ground Shield Interconnect Transmission Lines in Advanced IC Processes

In this paper, we provide an extensive experimental and theoretical study of the benefits of patterned ground shield interconnect transmission lines over more conventional layouts in advanced integrated-circuit processes. As part of this experimental work, we present the first comparative study taken on truly differential transmission line test structures. Our experimental results obtained on transmission lines with patterned ground shields are compared against a predictive compact equivalent-circuit model. This model employs exact closed-form expressions for the inductances, and describes key performance figures such as characteristic impedance and attenuation loss with excellent accuracy     

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering investigation of the deformation processes in the amorphous phase of high density polyethylene

In situ small‐angle X‐ray scattering of high density polyethylene under uni‐axial tensile test was used for investigating the deformation at the scale of the periodic crystalline–amorphous nano‐structure. The more or less uniform elastic straining of the rubbery amorphous layers is discussed in terms of mechanically active intercrystalline tie chains. Correlation is made with the long‐term use properties. It is concluded that this approach is a powerful means to assess the mechanical efficiency of tie molecules. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Measurement of thermal conductivity of polymer melts by the line-source method

An apparatus has been developed for the measurement of thermal conductivity of polymer melts. Based on the transient “line source method,” it is ideally suited to these materials because measurements can be made quickly, before the onset of thermal degradation. Also, little or no sample preparation is required. A number of commercial polymers have been tested, including some glass-fiber filled composites.     

Microfluidic push-pull probe for scanning electrochemical microscopy

This paper presents a microfluidic push-pull probe for scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) consisting of a working microelectrode, an integrated counter/reference electrode and two microchannels for pushing and pulling an electrolyte solution to and away from a substrate. With such a configuration, a droplet of a permanently renewed redox mediator solution is maintained just at the probe tip to carry out SECM measurements on initially dry substrates or in microenvironments. For SECM imaging purposes, the probe fabricated in a soft polymer material is used in a contact regime. SECM images of various gold-on-glass samples demonstrate the proof-of-concept of a push-pull probe for local surface activity characterization with high spatial resolution even on vertically oriented substrates. Finite element computations were performed to guide the improvement of the probe sensitivity.     

über die Fourier-Entwicklung der Felderregerkurve von dreiphasigen Durchmesser-Ganzlochwicklungen

Zusammenfassung Unter Benutzung der Fourier-Entwicklung eines Trapezes wird zunächst die Felderregerkurve einer Einphasen-Ganzlochwicklung mit g Nuten je Pol hergeleitet. Dabei wird linearer Anstieg der Treppenstufen über die Nutschlitzbreite angenommen. Hierauf wird die Felderregerkurve der Dreiphasen-Ganzlochwicklung mit Durchmesserspulen und g Nuten je Pol und Phase entwickelt. Durch Grenzübergänge gewinnt man aus dieser Darstellung die im Schrifttum angegebenen Sonderfälle. Die Güte der Näherung wird durch Benutzung der ersten vier Glieder der Entwicklung für zwei kennzeichnende Formen der Felderregerkurve durch Zeichnung gezeigt.     

LEPA: from proteomics to energy conversion

This review article summarizes the different fields of research at the Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Physique et Analytique at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The research areas covered include charge transfer reactions at soft interfaces, bio-analytical microchips and electrophoretic methods, electrochemical ionization methods for mass spectrometry and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM).