Assimilation for Affiliation and Contrast for Control: Complementary Self-Construals.

People have knowledge about relationships (i.e., relational schemas) that is based on their experiences. Because most people have experience with complementary behavior (interaction partners behaving similarly in terms of affiliation but oppositely in terms of control), they expect complementary behavior in their relationships. Like other beliefs about relationships, expectations of complementarity affect self-construal. The authors provide evidence for complementary self-construal; people assimilate to relevant relationship partners on the affiliation dimension and contrast on the control dimension. Consistent with the proposed role of relationship knowledge in these effects, complementary self-construal was moderated by the familiarity of the target, whether people focused on their relationship with or the appearance of the target, and whether the context was relevant for the interpersonal dimension. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response surface methodology applied for Orange II photocatalytic degradation in TiO2 aqueous suspensions

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneous photocatalysis is influenced by a number of parameters involving synergistic effects; hence, an experimental strategy design that considers interactions between the main variables is needed. The response surface methodology was applied for the investigation of photodegradation of 20 mg L^?1 Orange II in aqueous solutions and for optimization of color removal efficiency. Preliminary studies were performed to identify the parameters to be selected for optimization. RESULTS: The input variables considered for experimental design were: solution initial pH, oxidizing agent (H₂O₂) initial concentration and UV‐A irradiation time. The multivariate experimental design allowed the development of a quadratic response surface model to be used for the prediction of color removal efficiency over the full range of the experimental region. Under the optimum conditions established in the region of experimentation (pH = 6.9, [H₂O₂]₀ = 183 mg L^?1 and t = 32 min), a 100% color removal efficiency was obtained in experiments. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the variables considered have important effects on color removal efficiency. The results demonstrate that the use of experimental design strategy is indispensable for successful investigation and adequate modeling of the process because the interdependence of the reaction parameters cannot be neglected. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluating an intelligent diagnosis system of historical text comprehension

This work aims to present and evaluate a Fuzzy-Case Based Reasoning Diagnosis system of Historical Text Comprehension. The synergism of fuzzy logic and case based reasoning techniques handles the uncertainty in the acquisition of human expert's knowledge regarding learner's observable behaviour and integrates the right balance between expert's knowledge described in the form of fuzzy sets and previous experiences documented in the form of cases. The formative evaluation focused on the comparison of the system's performance to the performance of human experts concerning the diagnosis accuracy. The system was also evaluated for its behaviour when using two different historical texts. Empirical evaluation conducted with human experts and real students indicated the need for revision of the diagnosis model. The evaluation results are encouraging for the system's educational impact on learners and for future work concerning an intelligent educational system for individualized learning.     

An expert PID controller uses refined ziegler and nichols rules and fuzzy logic ideas

This article proposes a scheme for the on-line adjustment of three mode controller settings based on experimental measurements of closed-loop performance. It uses a recently developed heuristic tuning procedure to identify estimated process parameters. This method may give rise to conflicting estimates. Fuzzy Set theory is applied to manage the situation in terms of a fuzzy conjunction to combine the various estimates. PID control was chosen because of its wide use in the industrial environment due to driving simplicity and robustness. The article shows design, development, and computer simulation aspects.     

Workflow technology-based monitoring and control for business process and project management

In this paper the application of workflow technology to monitor, control and coordinate business processes and projects is proposed. The conceptual characteristics of processes and projects as well as their management needs in the functions of planning, execution, monitoring and control are compared. The general design of the proposed system is then developed, with an application example. The proposed monitoring and control system provides proactive tracking of the flow of work and information, and of the utilization and commitment of resources. The design supports hierarchical management of the project and/or business process, allowing concerned persons to visualize and to utilize it in different levels of abstraction, as necessary. The application of workflow technology also provides additional benefits in facilitating communication, documentation and re-utilization.     

Adaptive control in a heating vessel: A comparative study

This paper presents experimental results obtained in temperature adaptive control of a heating vessel. A non-linear model of the process showed that the feed flow rate causes severe variations in time constant and process gain. An extended horizon self-tuning controller and two different model reference adaptive controllers were tested. The influence of design parameters on control performance for each algorithm was assessed. The control system was disturbed with load and setpoint changes.     

Immunoreactivity of Brazilian HIV isolates with different V3 motifs

The influence of noncompetitive (MK-801), competitive (AP-7) and the antagonist of polyamines site of NMDA receptor (arcaine) on the central activity of angiotensin II (A II) was studied. The open field test, conditioning of active avoidance responses (CARs) and passive avoidance situation was used to investigate learning and memory in rats. All used antagonists decreased beneficial action of A II on these processes.     

Recognition of Adulterated Oils by Direct Analysis of the Minor Components

Recognition of adulteration by other oils via direct analysis of the minor components (“sterol fraction”) is shown for olive oil. 10 % of various oils were admixed, the free alcohols silylated and the minor components analyzed by on-line coupled LC-GC-FID. For most oils, even smaller additions can be recognized. Admixed oils can no longer be determined, however, if their minor components have been removed by strong raffination. Bleaching of rapeseed oil with 7% of earth at 180 °C, in fact, completely removed free and esterified sterols.     

The lipid composition of selected tissues from a Mediterranean monk seal,Monachus monachus

The lipid composition of blubber, brain, muscle and heart from a Mediterranean monk sealMonachus monachus (an endangered species) were examined to allow comparisons with more common species of seals. Only neutral lipids (mainly triacylglycerols) were detectable in the blubber lipids, whereas polar lipids predominated in the heart and in the brain. Neutral and polar lipids comprised almost equal proportions in both liver and muscle. Choline glycerophospholipids (CGP) were the major polar lipids, followed by ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EGP) in the liver, heart and muscle. Cerebrosides accounted for 28.8% of the brain lipids. All lipid classes of the liver contained high levels (31–47%) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with the exception of phosphatidylserine. The total proportion of n−6 PUFA exceeded that of n−3 PUFA in all lipid classes of the liver, due mainly to the high levels of 20∶4n−6. The highest level of 20∶4n−6 occurred in phosphatidylinositol, where it comprised 32.4% of the total fatty acids. The CGP and EGP of the brain contained lower levels of PUFA than those of the liver, muscle and heart. Alkenyl ethers accounted for 35.8% of the total long-chain moieties in brain EGP. The fatty acid composition of blubber triacylglycerols differed from those of the lipid classes from other tissues in that it had a very low ratio of n−6 to n−3 PUFA (0.3) as a result of a lower content of 20∶4n−6.