Computer focused communication: changes and challenges for the contemporary organization

Many changes in organizations are based on communication developments, the most prevalent of which currently is the expanding nature of electronic communication media. The use of electronic communications leads to changes in other areas. Manager and employee relationships rely on organizational structure, type of technology, group work and task, and employee empowerment and organizational attitude. This paper explores the communication changes by comparing components of the traditional, hierarchical organization with the modern, spherical or flat organization. A synthesis of the literature concerning this topic is presented. From this, a survey instrument was developed, and a pretest was run. The information presented here gives managers certain insights about the impact of new communication technologies on the evolving modern organization. ©     

Granule Integrity and Starch Solubility During Slow,Extended Pasting of Maize Starch — the Second Viscosity Peak

Maize starch granule integrity and starch solubilisation at specific intervals during a relatively long pasting profile—which is known to exhibit biphasic peak viscosity character—was studied by microscopy and high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography, respectively. Maize starch granules, although swelling and leaching components, remained mainly intact until the second viscosity peak when they lost integrity and formed a relatively homogenous paste. The second viscosity peak coincided with a decrease in starch content in solution and amylose going out of solution was mainly responsible for this decrease. It is suggested that the loss of granule integrity during the second viscosity peak increases the potential for amylose to form complexes with lipids at this stage. It is further suggested that the second viscosity peak is due to the formation and breakdown of superstructures of amylose‐lipid complexes.     

Color appearance at ±10° along the vertical and horizontal meridians

Hue-scaling data were collected from three observers using the "4+1" color-naming procedure for circular (0.25°-5°), monochromatic (440-660 nm) stimuli. Stimuli were presented at ±10° along the vertical and horizontal meridians under conditions chosen to include both rod and cone signals (no bleach) and to minimize rod contribution (bleach). All color-naming data were analyzed and compared using uniform appearance diagrams. Smaller stimuli appear more desaturated under both bleach conditions. This effect is particularly detrimental for the perception of green and is influenced by retinal location and exacerbated with rod input. As stimulus size increases and perceptive field sizes are filled for all four elemental hues, the differences in hue perception among the four peripheral locations and the two bleach conditions are attenuated. Results are consistent with predictions based on known differences in the underlying retinal mosaic among the four locations.     

Contextual interference effects in sequence learning for young and older adults.

Practice of different tasks in a random order induces better retention than practicing them in a blocked order, a phenomenon known as the contextual interference (CI) effect. Our purpose was to investigate whether the CI effect exists in sequence learning, such that practicing different sequences in a random order will result in better learning of sequences than practicing them in blocks, and whether this effect is affected by aging. Subjects practiced a serial reaction time task where a set of three 4-element sequences were arranged in blocks or in a random order on 2 successive days. Subjects were divided into 4 groups based on a 2-GROUP (young or old) by 2-ORDER (random or blocked practice) between-subject design. Three days after practice (Day 5), subjects were tested with practiced and novel sequences to evaluate sequence-specific learning. The results replicate the CI effect in sequence learning in both young and older adults. Older adults retained sequences better when trained in a random condition than in a blocked condition, although the random condition incurs greater task switching costs in older adults during practice. Our study underscores the distinction between age-related effects on learning vs. performance, and offers practical implications for enhancing skill learning in older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental and computational validation of a scaled train tunnel model using modal analysis

Acoustic engineers are faced with the challenge of minimising reverberation time in their designs so as to contribute to the health and well-being of those traveling by train and those on the platforms. Although the problem is easy to identify, it is not as simple to solve. The acoustical environment of a train tunnel is complex, with a variety of noise contributing factors such as train announcements, speech of commuters, ventilation systems, electrical equipment and wheel and rail noise. As a result, there is some difficulty in modeling the complete acoustic environment with computational or acoustic first principles. In this study, an experimental rig was constructed to model the acoustic behavior within a tunnel. The modal properties for the 300 Hz to 1500 Hz range, including resonances and mode shapes were identified and were shown to successfully correspond to theoretical results and a computational model created in COMSOL using Finite Element Analysis.     

Decomposition of Bt and Non-Bt Corn Hybrid Residues in the Field

Results of a previous laboratory study indicated that six transgenic crops expressing the Cry1Ab insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) decomposed at a slower rate than their respective non-Bt isolines. Consequently, litter decomposition rates, nitrogen cycling, and carbon pools may change in agricultural systems as the result of the widespread use of Bt crops. In this study, we assessed the decomposition rates and chemical composition of commonly grown hybrids of Bt and non-Bt isolines of corn (Zea mays L.) in the field. Leaves, stalks, and cobs from two Bt corn hybrids (Pioneer 34N44 Bt and NC+ 4990 Bt) and their non-Bt isolines (Pioneer 34N43 and NC+ 4880) were analyzed for biomass fractions (soluble, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) and total C and N content. Litterbags containing these residues were buried at a depth of 10 cm in a Holdrege silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Argiustolls) soil and recovered 5, 11, 17, and 23 months after placement in the field. There were no differences in the rates of decomposition and mass of C remaining over time between the Bt and non-Bt corn residues. Plant parts differed in decomposition rates where leaves > stalks > cobs. There were differences in total C, total N, biomass fractions, and C:N ratios between initial Bt and non-Bt corn residues, and between companies (NC+ and Pioneer), however, these differences did not result in differences in their rates of decomposition or mass of C remaining over time. For each plant part, there were no differences in lignin content between the Bt and non-Bt residues. These data suggest that the Bt and non-Bt corn hybrids used in this study should not cause differences in carbon sequestration when their residues decompose under similar environmental conditions.