Distinct and combined effects of disciplinary composition and methodological support on problem solving in groups

Several reasons for the use of multidisciplinary teams composed of individuals with natural science and engineering background in problem‐solving processes exist. The most important are the integration of science‐based technologies into products and processes, and benefits for the problem‐solving process thanks to new knowledge and new perspectives on problems. In this study we analyse the implications of interdisciplinary (science – engineering) group problem solving from a managerial as well as from a cognitive perspective. We then report on an experiment investigating the impact of problem‐relevant disciplinary group composition and methodological support on the problem‐solving process and its outcome. The findings of the experiment have managerial, theoretical, and pedagogical implications related to early phases of New Product/Process Design processes in high‐technology and scientific knowledge‐related domains.     

Unraveling transboundary water security in the arid Americas

ABSTRACT

Transboundary waters are characterized by diverse and complex socio-politico-economic obstacles to effective water management. We examine five distinct cases in the arid Americas – in locations from the US–Mexico border to the Andes mountains – employing water security as a conceptual prism to unravel the multiple and varied attributes of transboundary water challenges. We describe how borders complicate water security in arid regions and explore how institutional arrangements and practices – within and across jurisdictions – respond to these challenges. We find that institutional capacity is needed on multiple levels for effective water management, and institutions must be responsive and flexible to change.     

Pipe flow of a dense emulsion: Homogeneous shear‐thinning or shear‐induced migration?

The flow field of a 70% concentrated noncolloidal o/w emulsion in a pipe has been investigated by means of Particle Image Velocimetry in a matched refractive index medium. At steady state and in laminar regime, the shape of axial velocity profiles is not parabolic and exhibits a shear‐thinning behavior of the dense emulsion, with a flow index of 0.5 and a negligible yield stress (less than 1 Pa). However, instead of a square root law, the pressure drop increases linearly with U_m. To explain this apparent inconsistency, two mechanisms of different nature are considered. The first originates from a possible relation between the consistency factor and the drop mean diameter. The second mechanism is shear‐induced migration and leads to the development of a concentration gradient in the pipe cross section. Both mechanisms considered reconcile the experimental data, the apparent local shear‐thinning behavior and the linear evolution of the pressure drop with the flow rate. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017     

Branching versus linear logics yet again

A brief overview is given of the temporal logics used in concurrent program verification and in database and systems specification. The properties of the underlying modal frame structures are analysed. The relative advantages of the linear and branching approaches are discussed. The state versus path formulas controversy is revisited. A meta-linear operatorL is proposed and compared with the in all trajectories operator considered in the language CTL*. The usefulness of the new operator within the context of a layered methodology for database and information systems specification and verification is illustrated. The operator is seen as a frame change operator and other interesting operators of this class are referred. Finitary and infinitary axiomatisations are given for the operatorL. The proof of the completeness of the infinitary axiomatisation is briefly outlined. This proof requires an appropriate extension of the usual Henkin methods.     

Quantum circuit’s reliability assessment with VHDL-based simulated fault injection

This paper presents a VHDL-based simulated fault injection (SFI) methodology for quantum circuits. The main objective is to attain a high error modeling capability at a technology independent level. For this purpose, gate level simulation models for quantum circuits have been developed using VHDL. The proposed methodology relies on specific techniques inspired from the simulated fault injection techniques developed for classical CMOS circuits: saboteurs and mutants. In order to perform the simulation campaigns, a library of quantum gates and simulated fault injection components has been developed. The simulation results show that a wide range of quantum faults and error models has been addressed. Furthermore, a comparison between the two SFI techniques is presented.     

Estrogen and the neural mediation of female–male mounting in the rat.

Sexually receptive females mount sexually sluggish males to entice them to copulate, and estrogen and male olfactory cues mediate this female–male mounting (FMM) in the rat. This study examined whether brain regions that concentrate steroid hormones and receive olfactory projections were important for the mediation of FMM. Fos induction was observed within the medial amygdala, medial preoptic area, and ventromedial hypothalamus of ovariectomized, hormone-primed rats that displayed FMM compared with rats that did not. Excitotoxic lesions of those regions eliminated FMM, whereas implants of crystalline estradiol benzoate to the ventromedial hypothalamus, but not the medial preoptic area or medial amygdala, restored FMM. These data indicate that the ventromedial hypothalamus is a critical area of convergence of hormonal, olfactory, and somatosensory inputs for FMM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Designing polylactide/clay nanocomposites for textile applications: Effect of processing conditions,spinning, and characterization

An experimental study was carried out to design polylactide (PLA)-clay nanocomposites for developing fibers. PLA and 1–10 wt % of a selected organomodified bentonite (Bentone® 104-B104) were melt mixed to examine the effect of processing conditions (temperature, shear, residence time) on the morphology of performed polymer nanocomposites (PNC). Because of a good compatibility with PLA matrix, the dispersion of B104 occurred under different conditions without difficulty, and a similar morphology was obtained. The results obtained showed that at low temperature of mixing, the shear stress exerted on polymer has a key role on the extent of intercalation and delamination. Upscale experiments were further performed using optimized conditions and 4 wt % B104 was added to PLA matrix by melt blending to produce PNC for spinning. Then, the recovered PNC were melt spun to produce multifilaments yarns, and it was demonstrated that surprisingly, it is not necessary to use a plasticizer to spin a blend with 4 wt % B104. The properties of the yarns have been studied in terms of clay dispersion as well as thermal, mechanical, and shrinkage properties. B104 could be added up to 4 wt % into PLA without detrimentally sacrificing the tensile strength of melt-spun filaments, especially at high draw ratio. Interestingly, the PNC-based multifilaments were knitted and the flammability studied using cone calorimeter at 35 kW/m². A strong decrease, up to 46%, of the heat release rate was measured. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008