Unbalanced dissimilar-fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer: application as filter

An unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer made using dissimilar-fibre fused taper couplers is proposed for filtering applications. The all-fibre device is compact, rugged, simple to make and provides extended control and flexibility for the design of various types of filters.<>     

Effects of superabsorbent polyacrylamides on efficiency of water use by crop seedlings

Cross-linked polyacrylamide expands upon contact with water to form a pliable gel that in a growing medium constitutes a reservoir of moisture available for uptake by plants. Trials with seedlings of three crop species (Lactuca sativa L, Raphanus sativus L, Triticum aestivum L) using measurements of yield and evapotranspiration ratio show that gel-stored moisture is utilised with a greater efficiency than conventional forms of water. Moreover, gel storage of water provides a buffer against temporary drought stress and the potential for reducing the risk of failure of certain crops at establishment.     

Properties of continuous analog estimators for a discretereliability-growth model

A discrete reliability-growth model (appropriate for success-failure data) whose derivation parallels that of a popular nonhomogeneous Poisson process model (appropriate for continuous failure time data) is considered.,Following J. M. Finkelstein (ibid. vol.R-32, p.508-11, Dec. 1983) continuous analog estimators are defined for use with the discrete model when there is a constant prespecified number of test trials between system configuration changes. The large-sample properties of these estimators, including consistency and normality, are established. Large-sample standard-error formulas and confidence interval procedures are developed     

The effect of annealing and gold deposition on the performance of magnetoelastic biosensors

Magnetoelastic materials have a mass-sensitive, characteristic, resonant frequency that make them an ideal choice for application as the platform for a biosensor. The biosensor is formed by immobilizing a bio-molecular recognition element directly onto the surface of the magnetoelastic material. When exposed to the analyte, this bio-molecular recognition element binds the target species (spore or bacteria of interest), thereby increasing the mass and decreasing the resonance frequency of the sensor. This change in characteristic resonance frequency can be determined by monitoring remotely the magnetic flux in response to an applied, time varying, magnetic field with a pick-up coil. However, the environmental stability and bioactivity of the biosensor platform material are very important to performance of the overall biosensor. This research investigates the effects of annealing and deposition of a gold layer on the environmental stability and detection sensitivity of a magnetoelastic biosensor platform. The results show that deposition of a gold layer by sputtering additionally improved bioreactivity while maintaining a balance of environmental stability and detection sensitivity. Two annealing steps in a vacuum oven, one before and one after gold deposition, can effectively increase the magnetoelastic platform's environmental stability, as well as the Q-factor of the resonance signal.     

Base‐Catalyzed Depolymerization of Lignin: Separation of Monomers

In our quest for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass and valorizing specific constitutive fractions, we have developed a strategy for the separation of 12 added value monomers generated during the hydrolytic based‐catalyzed depolymerization of a Steam Exploded Aspen Lignin. The separation strategy combines liquid‐liquid‐extraction (LLE), followed by vacuum distillation, liquid chromatography (LC) and crystallization. LLE, vacuum distillation and flash LC were tested experimentally. Batch vacuum distillation produced up to 4 fractions. Process simulation confirmed that a series of 4 vacuum distillation columns could produce 5 distinct monomer streams, 3 of which require further chromatography and crystallization for purification.     

Coordination Approaches and Systems – Part II: An Operational Perspective

This is the second of two papers surveying research in coordination approaches and systems. This paper is concerned with operational coordination, which is aimed at coordinating activities such that the design process can be performed in a near optimal manner with respect to time, and the allocation and utilisation of resources. Aspects of coordination categorised as operational include resource management, scheduling and planning. The first of these two papers presents a review of coordination from a strategic perspective, which is concerned with the decision management aspects of coordination. Greater emphasis is now being placed on the significance of organising the design process as this affects time to market, product quality, cost, and consequently product success. The aim of this paper is to present a fundamental review of operational coordination approaches and systems. The 1990s has seen much progress being made towards a greater understanding and appreciation of coordination in various disciplines through the development of a wide range of approaches and systems. However, there remains a requirement to formally identify the key issues involved in coordination such that a widely accepted representation can be agreed upon. Consequently, research should continue to be supported in the exploration for a unified approach to coordination which will permit a broader and greater understanding of those aspects involved.     

The relative importance of task and contextual performance dimensions to supervisor judgments of overall performance.

Although evidence supports the unique contribution of task performance and contextual performance to overall evaluations, little is known about the relative contribution that specific dimensions of contextual performance make to overall performance judgments. This study evaluated the extent to which supervisors consider task and contextual performance by using relative weights (J. W. Johnson, 2000) to statistically describe the relative importance of specific dimensions of each type of performance to overall performance ratings. Within each of 8 job families in a large organization, each of 4 dimensions of contextual performance made not only a unique contribution but a relatively important contribution to the overall evaluation. Evidence also supports the adaptive performance dimension of handling work stress as an aspect of contextual performance and job–task conscientiousness as an aspect of both task and contextual performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The history of the Army weight standards

Medical officers in the U.S. Army are tasked with screening, evaluating, and processing soldiers in accordance with AR 600-9, the Army's height and weight standards regulation. This essay traces the origins of the Army's weight standards to the present day. The Army's height and weight standards have varied markedly, from the crude subjective assessment of selective service candidates at the local draft examination boards at the turn of the century to the modern, highly accurate methods currently used in anthropomorphic research. The strictness of military recruitment and retention standards closely paralleled changing military personnel requirements in any particular era. Racial integration and the influx of women into the ranks had noteworthy effects on this history. The evolution of the Army's weight-control program and screening standards reflects advancements in medical knowledge and technology, societal and political pressure, and the empirical tests of world wars.     

The intentional mentor: Strategies and guidelines for the practice of mentoring.

How can faculty in professional psychology programs become more intentional and effective mentors? Many psychology graduate students are never mentored, and very few psychologists have ever received training in the practice of mentoring. This article briefly summarizes the nature of mentoring, the prevalence of mentoring in psychology, primary obstacles to mentoring, and some ethical concerns unique to mentoring. The article provides several strategies to enhance mentoring and guidelines for the profession, departments of psychology, and individual psychologists who serve as mentors. This article is designed to help readers take a more deliberate approach to the practice of mentoring. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Step-gradient capillary electrochromatography

The analytical benefits of using a step-gradient in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) are demonstrated. The application of step-gradient CEC to the analysis of six diuretics of widely differing lipophilicities was evaluated and shown to result in a marked reduction in the analysis time and an improvement in the peak shape for later-eluting lipophilic components. When the step-gradient approach was performed in an automated mode, the retention time RSD for repeated injections was below 1%.