Usage and impact of technology enabled job learning

Individuals use technology to experiment with new ways of carrying out their tasks and in doing so they learn more about their jobs. The current study examines the role of technology enabled job learning as a key component in the complex relationship between information systems use and technology outcomes. Data from 308 end-users were analyzed to evaluate the relationships between system use and technology enabled job learning, and technology enabled job learning and technology outcomes. Technology enabled job learning was conceptualized in terms of how computer applications helped individuals learn and better perform their jobs. System use was conceptualized in terms of decision support, work integration, and customer service. Technology outcomes were conceptualized in terms of management control, task innovation, task productivity, and customer satisfaction. Results suggest that systems use has a significant, positive effect on job learning, and that job learning has a significant, positive effect on technology outcomes. Post hoc analyses were then conducted to examine the potential mediating role of job learning between systems use and technology outcomes. The findings from this research lead to a greater understanding of how patterns of systems use influence organizationally relevant outcomes through technology-enabled job learning.     

Artificial neural network to predict the effect of heat treatments on Vickers microhardness of low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels

In the present study, an artificial neural networks-based model (ANNs) was developed to predict the Vickers microhardness of low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels. Fourteen parameters affecting the Vickers microhardness were considered as inputs, including the austenitizing temperature, cooling rate, initial austenite grain size, different chemical compositions and Nb in solution. The network was then trained to predict the Vickers microhardness amounts as outputs. A Multilayer feed-forward back-propagation network was developed and trained using experimental data form literatures. Five low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels and one low-carbon steel without Nb were investigated. The effects of austenitizing temperature (900–1,100°C) and subsequent cooling rate (0.15–227°C/s) and initial austenite grain size (5–130 μm) on the Vickers microhardness of steels were modeled by ANNs as well. The predicted values are in very good agreement with the measured ones, indicating that the developed model is very accurate and has the great ability for predicting the Vickers microhardness.     

Artificial Neural Networks for Hardness Prediction of HAZ with Chemical Composition and Tensile Test of X70 Pipeline Steels

A neural network with feed-forward topology and back propagation algorithm was used to predict the effects of chemical composition and tensile test parameters on hardness of heat affected zone(HAZ)in X70 pipeline steels.The mass percent of chemical compositions(i.e.carbon equivalent based upon the International Institute of Welding equation(CEIIW),the carbon equivalent based upon the chemical portion of the Ito-Bessyo carbon equivalent equation(CEPcm),the sum of the niobium,vanadium and titanium concentrations(CVTiNb),the sum of the niobium and vanadium concentrations(CNbV),the sum of the chromium,molybdenum,nickel and copper concentrations(CCrMoNiCu)),yield strength(YS)at 0.005 offset,ultimate tensile strength(UTS)and percent elongation(El)were considered as input parameters to the network,while Vickers microhardness with 10 Nload was considered as its output.For the purpose of constructing this model,104 different data were gathered from the experimental results.Scatter diagrams and two statistical criteria,i.e.absolute fraction of variance(R2)and mean relative error(MRE),were used to evaluate the prediction performance of the developed model.The developed model can be further used in practical applications of alloy and thermo-mechanical schedule design in manufacturing process of pipeline steels.     

Chemical composition,antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil obtained from Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum-resin: Effect of collection time

The properties of essential oils obtained from Ferula assa-foetida oleo-gum-resins (OGRs) collectioned in three collections times in 15 June (OGR1), 30 June (OGR2) and 15 July (OGR3) 2011 was investigated. Essential oil from OGR1 was constituted high levels of (E)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (23.9%) and 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (15.1%). Essential oil from OGR2 was constituted high levels of (Z)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (27.7%) and (E)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (20.3%). Essential oil from OGR3 was constituted high levels of β-pinene (47.1%) and α-pinene (21.3%). Inhibitory concentration (IC50) for radical scavenging were 0.012–0.035, 0.025–0.047 and 0.035–0.066 mg/ml of essential oil obtained from OGR1, OGR2 and OGR3, respectively. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi grpwth were 0.028–0.111, 0.027–0.107 and 0.018–0.058 mg/ml of essential oil obtained from OGR1, OGR2 and OGR3, respectively. Essential oils obtained from different OGRs have different composition and biological activity thus have different applications in food and health industry.     

Nigella sativa L. improves lipid profile and prevents atherosclerosis: Evidence from an experimental study on hypercholesterolemic rabbits

The effects of Nigella sativa (NS) on lipid profile, C-reactive protein, oxidized LDL, antioxidant capacity, Apo A and Apo B and fatty streak formation in hypercholesterolemic male rabbits were examined. Fifteen rabbits were distributed into three groups of five each [normal diet, hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol) and hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol) supplemented with 5% NS]. They received rabbit laboratory chow diet for a period of 8 weeks. At the start and end of the study, fasting blood was taken from all animals. NS significantly decreased fatty streak formation as well as total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in hypercholesterolemic male rabbits. NS showed positive effects on other factors (triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, oxidized LDL, antioxidant capacity, Apo A and Apo B), but these were insignificant. Based on favorable efficiency of NS on TC and LDL reduction and its anti-atherogenic cardioprotective properties, it is suggested using this plant with fat-rich diets simultaneously may reduce their adverse health effects.     

Considering the game-theoretic approach and ultra combinative costs on scheduling

In this paper, we consider the different algorithmic and game-theoretic features of scheduling. We apply concepts of cooperative game theory to study states in which a set of brokers encounters ultra combinative costs. These states appear in a diversity of scheduling factors, such as facility location and network design. Although cooperation is improbable when costs are ultra combinative, the motivation to avoid cooperation may lead to an increase in negative externalities. We study the smallest core value of a cooperative game as a means of persuading cooperation. We prove that calculating the smallest core value of ultra combinative cost cooperative games is strongly NP-hard, and we design an approximation structure for this problem that in the margin produces a (3?+?σ)-estimation algorithm. We also apply our approximation structure to get better results for two cases of ultra combinative cost cooperative games that derive from scheduling and matroid optimization.     

DIAL–phoswich hybrid system for remote sensing of radioactive plumes in order to evaluate external dose rate

Radioactive pollutants which are released into the atmosphere are known to present a hazard to human health; therefore they must be identified and well protected. Here, an improved remote sensing system is investigated for monitoring radioactive plumes released into the atmosphere from nuclear sites. It is based on the combination of DIAL technique with a phoswich detector array. The DIAL, using a tunable UV/Vis laser, measures the concentration of the radionuclide and the plume distance, whereas the phoswich detects characteristic hard X/γ ray emissions. Here, we have shown the ability of a hybrid system for the prompt identification and quantification of the effluents containing the uranium radionuclide, using the parameters of uranium such as absorption cross-section, absorption spectrum and density.