The impact of status and audio conferencing technology on business meetings

This field study examining the effects of organizational status and multimedia audio communications technology on communication patterns in business meetings confirms that high status group members verbally dominate discussions and have more control over the flow of the proceedings. However, it reveals a new and surprising finding: multimedia communications technology can in fact exaggerate status constraints in contrast to findings that there is no effect or an equalizing effect on status inequalities of text-based conferencing technology. It appears that in audio conferences, the lack of non-verbal cues that can aid turn-taking combined with (1) the participants' knowledge of the group's status hierarchy and (2) the tendency to compare oneself unfavourably to those of higher status, makes it more difficult for lower status individuals to contribute verbally to discussions than in face-to-face interactions. Such status constraints may have both positive and negative impacts on group communication effectiveness, these and implications for the design and implementation of multimedia communications technology are discussed.     

未来十年风景园林的四个挑战

<正>欧洲和法国所经历的缓慢增长期,已经导致了市政工程费用的削减;在这种惨淡的背景下,人们可能会担心风景园林的未来。但这种担忧似乎并不合理,因为我们将面临的挑战将持久地使这门专业和从事它的人被完全认可。我们为自己和未来几代人所创建的空间品质问题比以往任何时候更加突出。自然资源是有限的,应予以保护。如果我们要养活不断增长的人口,那么农业用地的保护也至关重要。气候变化是必然的,我们也应为其做准备。而且,在持续不断的危机下我们的社会已经变得脆弱,我们应该与社会分化抗争,它实质上也是空间分化。在未来10年,风景园林设计师将面对4     

Maple Syrup as Carbohydrate Source in Dry Sausage Fermentation

Maple syrup was substituted for the glucose-sucrose component of a standard dry sausage formulation to assess its feasibility in fermented meat product manufacture. Sausage batters containing either type carbohydrate were inoculated with a mixed starter culture containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici and Micrococcus varians. Similar acidification patterns were observed in fermenting batters containing glucose-sucrose mixtures or maple syrup, and processing yields were unaffected by carbohydrate type. However, instrumental texture measurements (shear and compression forces) revealed that sausage made with maple syrup was significantly firmer than the standard product (P≤0.05). Maple syrup could be used in the manufacture of novel fermented meat products.     

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM SIZING AND PERFORMANCE BY THE COMPARISON OF DEMAND AND EXPECTED RADIATIONS

Two models have been developed and proposed for the calculation of required radiation and for the prediction of available radiation (with a certain probability) These can be used for the sizing and performance prediction of stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems in a specified region. The first model computes the minimum daily average radiation required for the system to survive without failure, given the load and consecutive days-of-run. The component ratings of the system, PV panel size and battery size are observed to have great influence on the necessary radiation. The second model calculates the probable minimum radiation in the future, given the number of consecutive run-days and the percentage probability with which the values are to be minimized. The five-year radiation data for Bangkok (1983-1987) were statistically processed for the use in the model as data. The output of the two models, when superimposed on each other, gives a clear idea about the system performance and about the optimum sizing.     

VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF TABLE MARGARINE PREPARED FROM LIPASE-CATALYZED TRANSESTERIFIED MIXTURES OF PALM STEARIN AND PALM KERNEL OLEIN

A controlled-stress rheometer was used to evaluate dynamic viscoelastic (VE) performance of an experimental table margarine prepared from a transesterified palm stearin (PS):palm kernel olein (PKO) mixture (40:60 ratio) using Rhizomucor miehei lipase as the biocatalyst. Comparison was made using a commercial table margarine made of palm oil and palm kernel oil. The experiments were carried out over a period of three months with the margarines kept at 20 and     

Detection of hepatitis A virus in oysters

A digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe with a sensitivity of 800 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) was used to detect Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in oysters. We studied the influence of extraction methodology on riboprobe detection. Oyster samples obtained by four methods of extraction and extraction-concentration were spiked with HAV (CF53 strain). There was no correlation between protein concentration and turbidity of samples, and anti-digoxigenin antibodies showed a non specific reaction. Background noise was independent of protein concentration and disappeared when HAV RNA isolation by phenol/chloroform extraction was introduced, but HAV RNA could not be detected by this technique. In the presence of Acid Guanidinium Thiocyanate (AGT), RNA from HAV suspension was detected following phenolic extraction with a detection threshold of 8.10⁴ TCID₅₀ of spotted virus. HAV detection in oyster extract by a digoxigenin-labelled riboprobe appeared useful in shellfish virology, at least for a primary screening of samples.     

Heat Transfer Model with Two Heat Transfer Coefficients Along a M ultiperforated Plate-Application to Combustion Chamber Wall Cooling

Walls' cooling of aeronautic propeller combustion chamber is performed with the injection, through the combustion chamber wall, of a part of the air coming from compressors placed upstream. Measurements of the wall thermal fields are made by infrared thermography along the injection wall. This injection wall is pierced by 9 rows of 8 holes (α=90°) in staggered configuration(p/D=s/D=6). We propose a model using two heat transfer coefficients to represent the convective exchanges. The results are non-dimensioned and presented in comparison with the case without holes. The use of this model allows us to define 4 zones. Those 4 zones exist for the 5 blowing rates.     

A new model for the assay of comedolytic activity

An experimental model using the 'Rhino' hairless mouse has been developed for screening comedolytic agents.
The skin of this animal presents a high density of spontaneous comedos which appear in histological slices as cystic formations with a large diameter (D) and an open narrow neck (d). The ratio d/D expresses the 'comedo profile'. Statistical evaluation of this value by standardized measurement allows the quantification of comedolytic activity of pharmacological agents.
Un nouveau modèle pour la mesure de l'activité comédolytique