Finances and Well-Being: A Dynamic Equilibrium Model of Resources.

This study of 513 Dutch farmers tested a dynamic equilibrium model of resources (an extension of the conservation of resources theory; S. E. Hobfoll, 1989, 1998, 2001). With structural equation modeling, the advantages of a 3-wave longitudinal design were comprehensively used, such as addressing bidirectional causal effects and within-individual vs. between-individual change. This allowed for a careful analysis of the management function of resources in the stress process. Results showed that well-being had stronger within-person stability than finances. Increased levels of financial problems temporarily increased psychological distress but not self-reported illness. Conversely, farmers with higher stable baselines of psychological distress also had higher baselines of self-reported illness and experienced more negative changes in their financial situation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inhibitory activity of ginger rhizome on airway and uterine smooth muscle preparations

In this study, we describe the tracheal-relaxant and tocolytic activities of the methanol (ME) and aqueous (AQ) crude extracts of ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinale) in an attempt to rationalize its traditional use in disorders of airways and uterine hyperactivity. Both of the ginger extracts dose-dependently relaxed K⁺ (80 mM) and carbachol (CCh, 1 μM)-induced contractions with more potency against K⁺, similar to that elicited by verapamil, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker. In isolated uterine preparations, the extracts suppressed the K⁺-induced contractions with respective EC₅₀ values of 0.03 mg/ml (0.02–0.05, 95% CI) and 0.05 mg/ml (0.04–0.06). Activity-directed fractionation of AQ yielded an organic and an aqueous fraction with the activities concentrated in the former. Both the crude extracts were found safe in mice up to the oral dose of 5 g/kg when tested for acute toxicity for 24 h. The study shows that ginger possesses tracheal and uterine smooth muscle relaxant activity, possibility mediated via Ca²⁺ channel blockade, justifying its use in disorders such as asthma, cough as well as in dysmenorrhoea and uterine and menstrual spasms and congestion.     

Photo-Chemically-Deposited and Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst Material Surface Structures During CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol: EXAFS,XANES and XPS Analyses of Phases After Oxidation,Reduction, and Reaction

Catalysis Letters - Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 or novel rate catalysts, prepared with a photochemical deposition method, were studied under functional CH3OH synthesis conditions at the set temperature...     

A method for speeding up beam-tracing simulation using thread-level parallelization

In recent years, the computational power of modern processors has been increasing mainly because of the increase in the number of processor cores. Computationally intensive applications can gain from this trend only if they employ parallelism, such as thread-level parallelization. Geometric simulations can employ thread-level parallelization because the main part of a geometric simulation can be divided into a subset of mutually independent tasks. This approach is especially interesting for acoustic beam tracing because it is an intensive computing task. This paper presents the parallelization of an existing beam-tracing simulation composed of three algorithms. Two of them are iterative algorithms, and they are parallelized with an already known technique. The most novel method is the parallelization of the third algorithm, the recursive octree generation. To check the performance of the multi-threaded parallelization, several tests are performed using three different computer platforms. On all of the platforms, the multi-threaded octree generation algorithm shows a significant speedup, which is linear when all of the threads are executed on the same processor.     

Structure Development of NiO–YSZ Oxide Mixtures in Simulated Citrate–Nitrate Combustion Synthesis

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (NiO/YSZ) composites were prepared by the modified citrate–nitrate combustion synthesis. The citrate–nitrate combustion proceeded through several consecutive steps. Evolution of structure in the system and its changes were followed up by thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses of intermediate products prepared at distinct temperatures that correspond to different stages of the combustion process. It was shown that the crystalline structure developed gradually, first with crystallization of nano-sized NiO particles (400°–700°C), which was followed by crystallization of YSZ (800°–900°C). The final composite material after heat treatment at 1100°C comprised of nano-crystals with an average size of 6.5±2 nm.     

Proteomics in aortic aneurysm – What have we learnt so far?

Aortic aneurysm is a deceptively indolent disease that can cause severe complications such as aortic rupture and dissection. In the normal aorta, vascular smooth muscle cells within the medial layer produce and sustain the extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides structural support but also retains soluble growth factors and regulates their distribution. Although the ECM is an obvious target to identify molecular processes leading to structural failure within the vessel wall, an in-depth proteomics analysis of this important sub-proteome has not been performed. Most proteomics analyses of the vasculature to date used homogenized tissue devoid of spatial information. In such homogenates, quantitative proteomics comparisons are hampered by the heterogeneity of clinical samples (i.e. cellular composition) and the dynamic range limitations stemming from highly abundant cellular proteins. An unbiased proteomics discovery approach targeting the ECM instead of the cellular proteome may decipher the complex, multivalent signals that are presented to cells during aortic remodelling. A better understanding of the ECM in healthy and diseased vessels will provide important pathogenic insights and has potential to reveal novel biomarkers.     

Investigation of mechanical properties and fatigue life of ECARed AA5083 aluminium alloy

Equal‐channel angular rolling (ECAR) is a continuous severe plastic deformation process. In this process, severe shear strains apply to the sheet. This strain increases the yield or ultimate strength of sheet without significant change in sheet dimension. In this paper, the effect of ECAR process on mechanical properties and fatigue life of manufactured sheets will be studied. Four AA5083 samples have been prepared and annealed for obtaining stress‐free samples. Three samples have been rolled by the ECAR process with one, two and three passes of rolling, respectively. Mechanical tests including tensile test, hardness and axial fatigue tests have been carried out on prepared samples. Fatigue tests have been implemented according to a strain‐based approach with a constant strain ratio equal to 0.75 and 0.5 Hz frequency of loading. All of the tests have been carried out in controlled laboratory conditions. Results show that the ultimate tensile strength of samples increases with increasing the pass of rolling. Also, the maximum elongation of samples decreases. Maximum elongation was 17% in annealed samples, while it decreases to 10% in samples with three passes of rolling. The hardness of samples has been measured, and the results show an increase in hardness for a higher pass of the ECAR process. Fatigue test results show that fatigue life of AA5083 samples decreases in manufactured sheets of the ECAR process. Also, cyclic softening has been observed in the ECARed sample. The fracture surfaces of samples after fatigue test have been observed with a scanning electron microscope. A comparison of fracture surfaces confirms that the crack growth was intergranular in annealed samples while it changes in ECARed samples to transgranular.     

Defining the e-learner’s security profile: Towards awareness improvement

The paper presents an improved e-learner model that supports monitoring of user behavior related to information security. The model is built upon standardized IMS specification, according to literature research and survey conducted among e-learners. It is positioned as key part of an extended LTSA architecture in which the learner data is used to improve learner security position by continuous delivery of important information and adapting security mechanisms. The implementation is considered in Moodle LMS.     

A short note on the effect of sample size on the estimation error in Cp

Process capability indices such as C_p are used extensively in manufacturing industries to assess processes in order to decide about purchasing. In practice, the parameter for calculating C_p is rarely known and is frequently replaced with estimates from an in-control reference sample. This article explores the optimal sample size required to achieve a desired error of estimation using absolute percentage error of different C_p estimates. Moreover, some practical tools are created to allow practitioners to find sample size in different situations.