The emergence of coherence over the course of decision making.

Previous research has indicated that decision making is accompanied by an increase in the coherence of assessments of the factors related to the decision alternatives. In the present study, the authors investigated whether this coherence shift is obtained before people commit to a decision, and whether it is obtained in the course of a number of other processing tasks. College students were presented with a complex legal case involving multiple conflicting arguments. Participants rated agreement with the individual arguments in isolation before seeing the case and after processing it under various initial sets, including playing the role of a judge assigned to decide the case. Coherence shifts were observed when participants were instructed to delay making the decision (Experiment 1), to memorize the case (Experiment 2), and to comprehend the case (Experiment 3). The findings support the hypothesis that a coherence-generating mechanism operates in a variety of processing tasks, including decision making. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unconstrained springback behavior of Al-Mg-Si sheets for different sitting times

In this work, the springback behavior of the commercial 6022 aluminum alloy in temper aging (T4) is investigated taking into account that the sheets, prior to deformation process, are initially pre-strained and then submitted to various sitting times at room temperature. The unconstrained cylindrical bending test based on the NUMISHEET2002 proceedings as presented by Yoon et al. [Yoon JW, Pourboghrat F, Chung K, Yang DY. Springback prediction for sheet metal forming process using a 3D hybrid membrane/shell method. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences 2002;44:2133-53] is selected as validation benchmark. For finite element simulations, the geometry is modeled by solid-shell finite elements using the formulation of Alves de Sousa et al. [Alves de Sousa RJ, Yoon JW, Cardoso RPR, Fontes Valente RA, Grácio JJ. On the use of a reduced enhanced solid-shell (RESS) element for sheet forming simulations. International Journal of Plasticity 2007;23:490-515; Alves de Sousa RJ, Cardoso RPR, Fontes Valente RA, Yoon J-W, Natal Jorge RM, Grácio JJ. A new one-point quadrature enhanced assumed strain (EAS) solid-shell element with multiple integration points along thickness: Part I—Geometrically linear applications. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 2005;62:952-77; Alves de Sousa RJ, Cardoso RPR, Fontes Valente RA, Yoon JW, Grácio JJ, Natal Jorge RM. A new one-point quadrature enhanced assumed strain (EAS) solid-shell element with multiple integration points along thickness: Part II—Nonlinear applications. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 2006;67:160-88]. The material behavior is described based on the work of Correia et al. [Correia JPM, Simões F, Gracio JJ, Barlat F, Ahzi S. A simple hardening rule accounting for time-dependent behavior in Al-Mg-Si alloys. Materials Science Engineering A 2007;456:170-9]. The results of conducted experiments and numerical simulations are compared. It can be concluded about the good agreement between experiments and simulations attesting the effectiveness of the material model utilized to describe the time-dependent hardening behavior.     

Power, efficiency, and thermal characteristics of type-II interbandcascade lasers

High-performance mid-infrared type-II interband cascade lasers have been demonstrated under continuous-wave (CW) conditions with record-high wall-plug efficiencies (>14%) and output powers (>100 mW/facet) above 77 K. Device characteristics of these type-II interband cascade lasers are investigated systematically in terms of their output powers and efficiencies. Also, by comparing the temperature dependence of the threshold currents under pulsed and CW conditions, the thermal resistance and maximum heat sink temperature for CW operation are estimated for several mesa sizes. The limiting factors due to device heating for high-power/high-efficiency operation are identified and discussed in connection with device dimensions and packaging for the purpose of assessing further improvements     

The single-breath nitrogen test in coal miners: factors associated with failure to perform

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in a population of lock assemblers in the West Midlands; to follow one group over 12 months and to explore the relationship between survey data, sickness absence information and claims experience. An adapted Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to determine annual and weekly prevalence and annual disability rates for musculoskeletal complaints. There was no statistically significant difference in complaints between the six companies, apart from an increased reporting of neck (p < 0.001), upper back (p < 0.001) and hip (p < 0.05) symptoms at one company (Site 4) during the week prior to the study. When the study was repeated at Site 4 one year later, new employees had significantly fewer complaints of neck and elbow discomfort over the previous year and week, but no difference in wrist complaints was reported. This survey of lock assemblers has highlighted high levels of self-reported upper limb complaints when compared to other referent groups of workers.     

Prediction of solubility of long-chain hydrocarbons in various solvents using UNIFAC

The UNIFAC group contribution model has been widely used in the prediction of phase equilibria of various fluid mixtures. We have applied the method to predict the solubility of various long-chain hydrocarbon solids in a number of solvents of industrial importance. The calculated solubilities are compared with measured values and also with the predictions of the regular solution theory of Hildebrand and Scatchard. Some disagreements were found between the measured solubilities and the predicted values of both theories. Overall the UNIFAC scheme appears to be superior to the regular solution theory.Paper presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Fatty acid profiles in meat from Caiman yacare (Caiman crocodilus yacare) raised in the wild or in captivity

Chemical composition and fatty acid profiles were determined in Caiman yacare meat originating from the neck and tail cuts of animals raised in the wild (n = 6) or in captivity (n = 6), slaughtered at a live weight of approximately 6 kg. All experimental methods were approved by the appropriate environmental protection agencies. Most chemical components were affected by the origin-cut interaction, with the tail cut of wild animals having the highest amount of intramuscular fat (19.2% of DM) and the lowest of moisture (71.8%) and protein (77.0% of DM). Yacare meat had low amounts of SFA (35.1%), which were similar (P > 0.05) in the cuts and origins studied. The total amount of PUFA was higher (P < 0.05) in wild (31.0%) than in captive animals (23.6%), and n − 3 fatty acids had means of about 5% and 2% for the same groups, respectively (P < 0.05). In general, the FA profile of intramuscular fat in yacare meat had a desirable PUFA/SFA ratio above 0.4.     

Chemical compositions,fine structure and physicochemical properties of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) starches from different regions

Three commercial kudzu starches from Vietnam, Japan and Korea were used to determine chemical compositions, isoflavone compounds, fine structure and physicochemical properties. The kudzu starch from Vietnam had polygonal granules, whereas the kudzu starches from Japan and Korea contained both polygonal and spherical granules. Total protein, lipid, ash and phosphorus contents present in these kudzu starches were less than 1% (starch basis). The kudzu starch from Vietnam and Korea contained both daidzein and daidzin, whereas the kudzu starch from Japan had only daidzein. These starches had similar actual amylose contents (22.2–22.9%). However, λ_max, blue value and apparent amylose contents of the kudzu starch from Vietnam were lower than those from Japan and Korea. Amylose molecules of the kudzu starch from Vietnam had the largest average degree of polymerization (DP_n) and number of chains (NC), followed by the kudzu starches from Japan and Korea. Amylopectin molecules of the kudzu starch from Vietnam also had the largest DP_n and NC, followed by the kudzu starches from Korea and Japan. X-ray diffraction patterns of the kudzu starches from Vietnam, Japan and Korea were A-type, C-type and B-type, respectively. The kudzu starch from Vietnam was found to have the specific characteristics such as significantly high gelatinization temperature, transition enthalpy and degree of crystallinity as compared to the kudzu starch from Korea and Japan.     

Calculation of DC Magnetic Flux Deviation in the Converter-Transformer of a Self-Commutated BTB System During Single-Line-to-Ground Faults

This paper deals with a 50-MW self-commutated Back-To-Back (BTB) system intended for power-flow control between transmission networks. It focuses on the dynamic behavior of the BTB system during single-line-to-ground (SLG) faults that often result in voltage sags. A non-negligible amount of dc magnetic flux deviation appears in the converter-transformers of the BTB system just after the occurrence and restoration of an SLG fault. The dc deviation may bring magnetic flux saturation and an excessive magnetizing current to the transformers. This paper derives theoretical equations related to the dc deviation with reasonable approximation. The theoretical results are confirmed by computer simulation.     

Load Bearing Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Beams Subjected to Dynamic Cyclic Loads

A kinematic method is developed to determine the shakedown limits of elastic-perfectly plastic steel-reinforced concrete beams under quasi-static and dynamic cyclic loads. This procedure, like the respective kinematic approach of plastic limit analysis, is visual and easy to use in engineering applications. The load parameters (amplitudes, frequency) versus yield moment diagrams, constructed from possible collapse modes, should assist in choosing the reinforcement scheme and amounts of reinforcement to meet the load bearing requirements for the structures.