Ambivalence toward imposed change: The conflict between dispositional resistance to change and the orientation toward the change agent.

Following an analysis of the concept of “imposed change,” we propose 2 factors that jointly contribute to an individual's experience of ambivalence to imposed change. In a secondary analysis of data (N = 172) and 2 field studies (N = 104, N = 89), we showed that individuals' personal orientation toward change interacts with their orientation toward the change agent and yields ambivalence. Specifically, among employees with a positive orientation toward the change agent (i.e., high trust in management, identification with the organization), the relationship between employees' dispositional resistance to change and ambivalence was positive. The opposite pattern emerged among employees with a negative orientation toward the change agent (Studies 2 and 3). Our findings suggest that researchers may have been misinterpreting employees' reactions to change, neglecting the possibility that some may simultaneously hold strong, yet conflicting, views about the change. By accounting for, and predicting, ambivalence, these studies provide a more accurate explanation of employees' responses to change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coherent nonlinear optical studies of elementary processes in biological complexes: diagrammatic techniques based on the wave function versus the density matrix

Two types of diagrammatic approaches for the design and simulation of nonlinear optical experiments (closed-time path loops based on the wave function and double-sided Feynman diagrams for the density matrix) are presented and compared. We give guidelines for the assignment of relevant pathways and provide rules for the interpretation of existing nonlinear experiments in carotenoids.     

Seeded growth of highly luminescent CdSe/CdS nanoheterostructures with rod and tetrapod morphologies

We have demonstrated that seeded growth of nanocrystals offers a convenient way to design nanoheterostructures with complex shapes and morphologies by changing the crystalline structure of the seed. By using CdSe nanocrystals with wurtzite and zinc blende structure as seeds for growth of CdS nanorods, we synthesized CdSe/CdS heterostructure nanorods and nanotetrapods, respectively. Both of these structures showed excellent luminescent properties, combining high photoluminescence efficiency (approximately 80 and approximately 50% for nanorods and nanotetrapods, correspondingly), giant extinction coefficients (approximately 2 x 10(7) and approximately 1.5 x 10(8) M(-1) cm(-1) at 350 nm for nanorods and nanotetrapods, correspondingly), and efficient energy transfer from the CdS arms into the emitting CdSe core.     

Time-response-based evolutionary optimization

Solutions to engineering problems are often evaluated by considering their time responses; thus, each solution is associated with a function. To avoid optimizing the functions, such optimization is usually carried out by setting auxiliary objectives (e.g. minimal overshoot). Therefore, in order to find different optimal solutions, alternative auxiliary optimization objectives may have to be defined prior to optimization. In the current study, a new approach is suggested that avoids the need to define auxiliary objectives. An algorithm is suggested that enables the optimization of solutions according to their transient behaviours. For this optimization, the functions are sampled and the problem is posed as a multi-objective problem. The recently introduced algorithm NSGA-II-PSA is adopted and tailored to solve it. Mathematical as well as engineering problems are utilized to explain and demonstrate the approach and its applicability to real life problems. The results highlight the advantages of avoiding the definition of artificial objectives.     

Efficient Sampling by Artificial Attributes

Hypotheses about the fraction of items in a lot possessing a “specification attribute” X < L can be tested by generally sampling the variable X or directly sampling the attribute of interest. When the process variance is known, it is often more efficient to test against “compressed limits” for one or more “artificial” attributes X < L_a , X < L_b etc.

This study discusses the efficient choice of one or two compressed limits. General guidelines for this choice are suggested, and then evaluated under many hypothetical test specifications. One compressed limit offered ~40% – 97% savings over direct attribute sampling; two limits allowed about 20% further savings.     

Electrophoresis in organogels

A new matrix for electrophoresis, a low molecular weight organogel, is described. Dansylated amino acids and peptides were separated by planar and capillary electrophoresis in acetonitrile gels of trans-(1S,2S)-1,2-bis(dodecylamido)cyclohexane. The superior separation ability of the organogel over its corresponding buffer solution in capillary electrophoresis is illustrated. Organogels provide all the advantages associated with planar matrixes with 100% efficient recovery and transfer of the analytes to a mass spectrometer. We demonstrate that the planar gel can be liquefied and injected as is into an ESI-MS to identify the separands.     

Gearbox design for uncertain load requirements using active robust optimization

Design and optimization of gear transmissions have been intensively studied, but surprisingly the robustness of the resulting optimal design to uncertain loads has never been considered. Active Robust (AR) optimization is a methodology to design products that attain robustness to uncertain or changing environmental conditions through adaptation. In this study the AR methodology is utilized to optimize the number of transmissions, as well as their gearing ratios, for an uncertain load demand. The problem is formulated as a bi-objective optimization problem where the objectives are to satisfy the load demand in the most energy efficient manner and to minimize production cost. The results show that this approach can find a set of robust designs, revealing a trade-off between energy efficiency and production cost. This can serve as a useful decision-making tool for the gearbox design process, as well as for other applications.     

Managers' perception of the stability of workers' positive and negative behaviors.

91 Israeli managers (25–45 yrs old) in industry, in civil service, and in the military sectors rated the stability of characteristic positive and negative worker behaviors. Rating questionnaires included 106 specific behavioral items, selected from evaluation forms used by Israeli organizations. Repeated positive behaviors were judged to be more stable than repeated negative ones, even when the two were simply opposites of the same act. Findings are discussed in light of (1) the suggestion that managers' perceptions are rooted in a valid perception of organizational reality, (2) F. Heider's (1958) naive action model, and (3) M. E. Gordon's (see PA, Vol 44:21682 and 47:11885) differential accuracy phenomenon. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)