Employee stress and health complaints in jobs with and without electronic performance monitoring

Current applications of electronic performance monitoring based on job design theories that consider worker performance rather than stress issues are likely to generate unsatisfying and stressful jobs (Smith et al, 1986). This study examines critical job design elements that could influence worker stress responses in an electronic monitoring context. A questionnaire survey of employees in telecommunications companies representative of each region in the United States examined job stress in directory assistance, service representative and clerical jobs with specific emphasis on the influence of electronic monitoring of job performance, satisfaction and employee health. Useable surveys were received from 745 employees representing seven operating companies and AT & T; a response rate of about 25%. The results of this survey indicated that employees who had their performance electronically monitored perceived their working conditions as more stressful, and reported higher levels of job boredom, psychological tension, anxiety, depression, anger, health complaints and fatigue. It is postulated that these effects may be related to changes in job design due to electronic performance monitoring.     

Sex-Related Differences in Regional Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in Non-Demented Elderly Subjects

The role of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been recognized as being important in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. We aimed to evaluate whether regional BBB integrity differed according to sex and whether differences in BBB integrity changed as a consequence of aging or cognitive decline, using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In total, 75 participants with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underwent cognitive assessments and MRI examination including DCE-MRI. Regional K_trans was calculated in cortical regions and the Patlak permeability model was used to calculate BBB permeability (K_trans, min⁻¹). Females had a lower median K_trans in the cingulate and occipital cortices. In the “older old” group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. In the MCI group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. Age was the only predictor of cognitive assessment scores in the male MCI group; however, educational years and K_trans in the occipital cortex could predict cognitive scores in the female MCI group. Our study revealed that females may have better BBB integrity in cingulate and occipital cortices. We also found that sex-related differences in BBB integrity are attenuated with aging or cognitive decline.     

Optimization and evaluation of reduced graphene oxide hydrogel composite as a demulsifier for heavy crude oil-in-water emulsion

The rising production of produced water from oilfields had been proven to bring detrimental environmental effects. In this study, an efficient, recyclable, and environmental-friendly reduced graphene oxide immobilized κ-Carrageenan hydrogel composite(κCa GO) was fabricated as an alternative sorbent for crude oil-in-water demulsification. Polyethyleneimine(PEI) was employed to form a stable hydrogel composite. The conditions for the immobilization of graphene oxide(GO) on PEI-modified κ-Carrageenan(κC) beads were optimized appropriately. An immobilization yield of 77% was attained at 2% PEI, 2 h immobilization activation time, and p H6.5. Moreover, the synthesized κCa GO is capable of demulsification with an average demulsification efficiency of 70%. It was found that the demulsification efficiency increases with salinity and κCa GO dosage, and it deteriorates under alkaline condition. These phenomena can be attributed to the interfacial interactions between κCa GO and the emulsion. Furthermore, the κCa GO can be recycled to use for up to six cycles without significant leaching and degradation. As such, the synthesized κCa GO could be further developed as a potential sorbent substitute for the separation of crude oil from produced water.     

Low temperature OMVPE growth of ZnSe withTertiary-butyl allyl selenide and dimethylzinc-triethylamine

The growth of high quality ZnSe by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) has been investigated fortertiary-butyl allyl selenide (tBASe), combined with dimethylzinc-triethylamine (DMZn : NEt₃). Single crystalline ZnSe films were grown on GaAs at temperature as low as 350°C with a reasonable growth rate (~1 µm/h). Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) spectra show a negligible carbon incorporation in ZnSe films from tBASe even at high VI/II ratio, in contrast the carbon concentration of 10²¹ cm^-3 in ZnSe films grown from diallyl selenide (DASe)and methylallylselenide (MASe). Good surface morphology, crystalline and interface quality of ZnSe on (001) GaAs are confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, double crystal diffractometry (DCD) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Photoluminescence at 10K shows sharp near-band-edge excitonic spectra.     

Simulation of partial oxidation of natural gas to synthesis gas using ASPEN PLUS

Conversion of natural gas to liquid fuels is a challenging issue. In SMDS process natural gas is first partially oxidized with pure oxygen to synthesis gas (a mixture of H₂ and CO) which is then converted to high quality liquid transportation fuels by utilizing a modernized version of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. This paper presents a computer simulation of the first stage of the process, i.e. the synthesis gas production from natural gas. ASPEN PLUS equipped with a combustion databank was used for calculations. Concentrations of over 30 combustion species and radicals expected in the synthesis gas have been calculated at equilibrium and several non-equilibrium conditions. Using a sensitivity analysis tool, the relative feed flow rates and reactor parameters have been varied searching to maximize the CO/O₂ yield as well as to minimize the undesired nitrogen compounds in the product stream. The optimum reactor temperature for maximizing the CO mole fraction in the synthesis gas was also calculated.     

Non-Isothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene in dotriacontane. I: Effects of dilution,cooling rate,and nucleating agent addition on overall crystallization kinetics

The overall non-isothermal crystallization kinetics for nucleated and non-nucleated isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in dotriacontane systems was investigated. Adipic acid was used as the nucleating agent. Crystallization peak temperature was determined via differential scanning calorimetry as a function of the experimentally controlled variables iPP concentration, cooling rate, and nucleating agent concentration. The influence of these variables on crystallization mechanism and spherulitic structure as implied by the Ozawa and Ziabicki analyses was determined. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics presented here are the first for iPP-diluent systems with and without nucleating agent.     

Acidolysis Reaction of Sal Fat (Shorea robusta) with Palmitic Acid

Acidolysis reaction of sal fat (Shorea robusta) with palmitic acid has been studied in relation to the operating variables like catalyst system and concentration, reaction temperature and time and molar ratios of reactants with the object of introducing more palmitic acid which is low in sal fat. The results demonstrate that as low as 2.5% and as high as 39% palmitic acid can be introduced in sal fat at the expense of other acids under the influence of various operating conditions. The products obtained differ from original sal fat in respect of chemical composition and slip point. The importance of such study is that there are possibilities of getting plastic fats of diverse properties for edible and industrial uses.