Controlling uncertainty: A review of human behavior in complex dynamic environments.

Complex dynamic control (CDC) tasks are a type of problem-solving environment used for examining many cognitive activities (e.g., attention, control, decision making, hypothesis testing, implicit learning, memory, monitoring, planning, and problem solving). Because of their popularity, there have been many findings from diverse domains of research (economics, engineering, ergonomics, human–computer interaction, management, psychology), but they remain largely disconnected from each other. The objective of this article is to review theoretical developments and empirical work on CDC tasks, and to introduce a novel framework (monitoring and control framework) as a tool for integrating theory and findings. The main thesis of the monitoring and control framework is that CDC tasks are characteristically uncertain environments, and subjective judgments of uncertainty guide the way in which monitoring and control behaviors attempt to reduce it. The article concludes by discussing new insights into continuing debates and future directions for research on CDC tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interferometric determination of the physical properties of annealed isotactic polypropylene fibers

Automated variable wavelength interference microscope was used to study the effect of annealing process on the physical properties of isotactic polypropylene fibers (4:1 draw ratio, 515 tex, Bolton UK). The isotactic polypropylene (iPP) fibers were annealed at temperatures ranging from 60°C to 140°C. The spectral dispersion curves of refractive indices and birefringence of iPP fibers were determined at different annealing temperatures. The resulting data were used to determine the optical orientation function, orientation angle, degree of crystallinity, and dispersion parameters of the annealed samples. The study indicates that, the measured birefringence, orientation function, and the dispersion of crystallinity of iPP fibers have been improved with the increasing of annealing temperature. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:35–41, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Aerosol Synthesis and Characterization of Ultrafine Fullerene Particles

Aerosol routes were used to produce fullerene particles in the nanometer size range. Particle formation mechanisms at processing temperatures of 400-700°C were studied by measuring particle number and mass size distributions in the gas phase by a differential mobility analyzer and a low-pressure impactor respectively. Subsequently, the foils of the impactor onto which fullerene particles were collected were examined by HPLC.     

Comparison of two types of forest disturbance using multitemporal Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery and field vegetation data

Forest disturbances influence many landscape processes, including changes in microclimate, hydrology, and soil erosion. We analyzed the spectral response and temporal progress of two types of disturbances of spruce forest (bark beetle outbreak and clear-cuts) in the central part of Šumava Mountains at the border between the Czech Republic and Germany, Central Europe. The bark beetle (Ips typographus [L.]) outbreak in this region in the last 20 years resulted in regional-scale spruce forest decay. Clear-cutting was done here to prevent further bark-beetle propagation in the buffer zones.The aim of the study is to identify the differences in spectral response between the two types of forest disturbances and their temporal dynamics. General trends were analyzed throughout the study area, with sampled disturbance areas selected to assess the relationship between field vegetation data and their spectral response. Thirteen Landsat TM/ETM+ scenes from 1985 to 2007 were used for the assessment. The following spectral indices were estimated: NDMI, Tasseled Cap (Brightness, Greenness, Wetness), DI, and DI′. The DI′, Wetness, and Brightness indices show the highest sensitivity to forest disturbance for both disturbance types (clear-cuts and bark beetle outbreak). The multitemporal analysis distinguished three different stages of development. The highest spectral differences between the clear-cuts and the bark beetle disturbances were found in the period between 1996 and 2004 with increased levels of forest disturbance (repeated measures ANOVA, Scheffé post hoc test; p ≤ 0.05). Clear-cut disturbance resulted in significantly higher spectral differences from the original forest and occurred as a more discrete event in comparison to bark beetle outbreak.     

Application of Water‐Swollen Thin‐Film Composite Membrane in Flue Gas Purification

A water‐swollen thin‐film composite membrane, which was a reverse osmosis membrane with a thin polyamide layer, was used to separate a model mixture of N₂, CO₂, and SO₂. The polyamide swells with water, and thus, becomes more permeable to polar gases. The flue gas contains water vapor, which must be removed before it is subjected to SO₂ removal. Here moisture is employed to keep the membrane swollen. Using the model mixture, the humidified feed stream is brought to the membrane, where it is cooled below the dew point, so that water condenses on the membrane to keep the polyamide swollen. The membrane showed high CO₂ and SO₂ permeance, but low selectivity, so it could be applied to separate these two gases from N₂, and thus, is suitable for flue gas purification.     

Novel amphiphilic conetworks based on compatibilized NBR/SBR–montmorillonite nanovulcanizates as membranes for dehydrative pervaporation of water–butanol mixtures

Nanocomposite vulcanizates comprising the poorly compatible acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/styrene butadiene rubber blend are homogenized with 20 parts per hundred montmorillonite forms showing various levels of amphiphathicity: slightly hydrophobic (Mont‐25/50) and highly hydrophobic (Mont75/100) as compared to the highly hydrophilic pristine form (Mont‐0). The purpose of the amphiphathicity is to afford simultaneous binding sites for the poorly compatible components. Thus maximum compatibility is reached with either Mont‐75 or Mont‐50 which improves the mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy corroborates cocontinuous morphology. Water vapor permeation through sheets/membranes fabricated from these compositions follows best performance with Mont‐25 followed by Mont‐50 while Mont‐75 and Mont‐100 based membranes acquire an organized continuous drop. This highlights the role of organophilicity in dominating the morphology and performance in pervaporation application. Dehydration of butanol is effective using such membranes with superiority for Mont‐25 based membrane. A plausible model for the transport mechanism was proposed and supported by activation energy calculations for the permeation of the individual components and the sorption affinity measurements as well. All these parameters together suggest the arrest of the n‐butanol within the macrmolecular chains of the membranes, favored by its chemical affinity. This allows therefore a passageway for the water to cross to the other side of the membrane through plasticization of the chains and creation of free volumes which is known as solution diffusion mechanism. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1560–1570, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of yeast extract and different amino acids on the dynamics of some components in cabbage juice during fermentation with Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12

Various amino acids and the yeast extract, in amounts of 0.1%(w/v), were separately tested for their influence on the analytical parameters of lactic acid fermentation of cabbage juice with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12. Compared with the control, cysteine supplementation led to a decrease of the time to reach pH 5.0 of 6 times and an increase of lactic acid productivity of 1.22 times. After 48 h the ascorbic acid content was by 360.73% higher, the fermented cabbage juices being assigned into a distinct group applying both factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA). Tryptophan contributed to better values for lactic and acetic acid yield, while lysine and yeast extract especially for acetic acid yield. Valine and leucine were not able to improve the fermentation progress, estimated through the analyzed variables. This work would provide some helpful information for the development of various lacto-fermented vegetable juices using probiotic bacteria.