bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topologies and characteristics of DC‐DC converters using class E resonant switch
Authors: Gu Wen‐Jian , Harada Koosuke
Published: July 2007

A class E resonant switch is developed from the conventional class E resonant converter. Using the class E resonant switch instead of the PWM switch, a new family of class E resonant converters is proposed. Assuming the current flowing through the tuned network of the converter is a pure sinusoidal waveform, the characteristics of the converters are analyzed using Fourier series expansion. As a result, it is known that a class E resonant converter can convert a constant voltage to a constant current or vice versa and the output regular can be accomplished over a narrow band of switching frequency. The operation principle and the analysis are verified by experiments on 2‐MHz converters.
A construction of optimum vector quantizers by simulated annealing algorithm
Authors: Kodama Hideo , Wakasugi Koichiro , Kasahara Masao
Published: July 2007

Vector quantization is known widely as a highly efficient coding for image and speech signals. The algorithm proposed by Linde, Buzo, and Gray (the LEG algorithm) is the most fundamental design procedure for this kind of quantizer. However, the LBG algorithm usually gives only the local minimum of the distortion measure based on the quantization error.

With such a background, this paper introduces the simulated annealing procedure into the design of the vector quantizer based on the LBG algorithm, which is known as the effective method for the NP‐complete probabilistic combinational optimization problem. The widely employed mean‐square error is adopted as the distortion measure. Various approaches are considered to derive the global minimum of the measure.

In other words, this paper is based on the LBG algorithm and presents a design procedure for the vector quantizer (more generally, the vector quantizer considering the channel error) by introducing simulated annealing. By this approach, a vector quantizer with a better performance than the traditional design as well as a more ideal highly efficient coding is realized. A simulated experiment is executed for the standard image data (SIDBA), and it is demonstrated that the simulated annealing is useful in the design of the vector quantizer.
An approximate solution of electromagnetically coupling microstrip dipole arrays
Authors: Kominami Masanobu , Yakuwa Naoki
Published: July 2007

In the computer‐aided design of an electromagnetically coupled (EMC) dipole array, approximate methods are very important for high‐speed and accurate evaluation of mutual coupling between the feed line and the dipole or in between the dipoles.

In this paper, using the approximate moments method which is based on equivalent permittivity determined by quasi‐static analysis of a microstrip line, the EMC dipole array is analyzed and methods of evaluating various characteristics are studied.

Moreover, the validity of this method is confirmed by comparing the results for the open end conductance of the microstrip line, the equivalent shunt impedance of the EMC dipole and the radiation pattern of the seven‐element EMC Chebyshev array, with the measured values and with the exact values obtained by full‐wave analysis. With the help of this method, the dynamic analysis, which includes the radiation coupling, can be performed with high speed. Thus, this method is effective to analyze the EMC dipole array with a large number of elements.
Convolutional coded continuous phase modulation with modified phase‐pulse signals
Authors: Ito Toshiyuki , Sasase Iwao , Mori Shinsaku
Published: July 2007

The continuous phase modulation method (CPM) has the property that the phase of the modulated signal changes continuously. This modulation method requires smaller bandwidth and is useful in satellite communication. In the partial response CPM, the signal is modulated by overlapping a number of phase‐pulse signals with longer pulse length than the symbol interval. This results in an advantage wherein the phase of the modulated signal changes more smoothly, resulting in a smaller bandwidth than the full‐response CPM. On the other hand, the phase of the modulated signal is given as the synthesis of more than one pulse. This makes the signal easily affected by the noise, and a coding is required to improve the error rate.

This paper considers a convolutional coded CPM and discusses the effects of the waveform of the phase‐pulse signal on the error rate and the bandwidth, aiming at the determination of the trellis coded partial response CPM with excellent error rate and bandwidth performances.

First, the effect of the waveform of the phase‐pulse signal in the convolutional coded CPM on the minimum Euclid distance and the 99‐percent bandwidth are examined. Then the trade‐off between the minimum Euclid distance and 99‐percent bandwidth of the proposed method is compared with other methods, including the traditional methods using L REC and L RC. The waveform of the phase‐pulse signal with excellent error rate and the bandwidth performances is indicated. Then the effect of the waveform of the phase‐pulse signal on the state trellis of CPM is discussed, in general, and the conditions for the phase‐pulse signal to improve the error rate are presented.
Underlying concept for network architecture
Authors: Hoshi Motoo , Sato Fumito , Inoue Yuji
Published: July 2007

The telecommunications network environment is moving toward rapid development of diverse services in response to several factors; for example: user needs; the introduction of advanced and efficient operations, maintenance and administration (OAM); the coexistence of multiple carriers as a result of telecommunications industry liberalization; and the use of telecommunications systems from multiple vendors driven by the increased strategic role played by the telecommunications and information industry. To enable telecommunications networks to evolve in an orderly manner under this changing environment, it has become necessary to establish network architecture.

This paper presents the basic concepts used in network architecture, a framework of architectures (each representing various aspects of networks), and technologies that can be applied.
Recent research and development activities on spread spectrum communication systems
Authors: Marubayashi Gen
Published: July 2007

This paper reviews recent worldwide activities concerning research and development for spread spectrum communication technologies. Included are various novel proposals, results of analysis, and experimental results concerning spreading code, synchronization, device, system construction, and applications to consumer and mobile communications.

For the spreading code, however, two invited papers are presented in this special issue and hence only a brief explanation is made here. Instead, considerable space is devoted to the recent progress toward development of CDMA public land mobile telecommunication systems in the United States.
Spread spectrum communication demodulator using SAW devices
Authors: Takehara Kazuyuki
Published: July 2007

Spread spectrum communication is a system suited to a communication system with deteriorated transmission quality. Recently, its application to a simplified wireless communication system has been considered for consumer communication and in other areas. The demodulation of the spread spectrum signal, in general, is complex due to the requirement of establishing the accurate synchronization for PN code in low S/N condition. A technical problem in spread spectrum communication is to realize those circuits with as simple a configuration as possible.

This paper presents a simplified configuration to solve this problem by employing two SAW devices as the matched filter and the delay line in the demodulator. The synchronization capture time also is reduced. First, the design and the result of experimental construction for the SAW matched filter which plays the core role in the demodulator are discussed. Then the construction of the small‐sized demodulator using this SAW device is discussed. Finally, a discussion is presented of the synchronization capture performance, BER performance with the thermal noise and the interference immunity performance against the interference by CW and other spread spectrum signals of the proposed demodulator. It is shown that the low‐cost demodulator for spread spectrum communication can be realized and is also applicable to packet communication.
Extraction and reinjection‐type interference canceller
Authors: Watanabe Kazuji , Murase Takehiro , Matsue Hideaki
Published: July 2007

In conventional interference cancellers, an auxiliary antenna has been used to obtain only an interference signal whose amplitude and phase was then adjusted to cancel out the interference in the signal received by the main antenna. In fact, however, conditions under which an auxiliary antenna can be used to receive such an interference signal necessary for cancellation are limited; and in all other cases, interference cannot be cancelled.

In the interference canceller proposed in this paper, a signal consisting of the desired and the interference signal is received by both the main antenna and the auxiliary antenna, and the interference signal is extracted from the received signal using both antennas; interference is then cancelled using this extracted signal.

First, the theory behind the operation of this canceller is presented and its configuration is described. Then the results of an experiment using a 16‐QAM signal as the desired signal and an FM (CH 3600) signal as the interference signal are presented. An improvement of about 17 dB has been obtained with regard to interference which cannot be cancelled out by conventional cancellers, thereby validating the operational principles of the proposed canceller.
An equalizer with carrier‐acquisition‐during‐training (CAT) algorithm for mobile radio
Authors: Yoshino Hitoshi , Ueda Takashi , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: July 2007

This paper investigates an adaptive equalizer with carrier frequency offset compensation for digital mobile radio transmission over several tens kbit/s. The performance of conventional adaptive equalizers for mobile radio severely degrades for receiving signals having carrier frequency offset which is caused by local oscillator frequency offset due to misadjustment, temperature dependence, and aging.

Carrier frequency offset compensation for TDMA burst signaling requires both accurate and short‐time measurements. However, both requirements have a tradeoff relationship and must be optimized.

This paper proposes the carrier‐acquisition‐during‐training (CAT) algorithm for transmissions allowing a training signal. First, two basic configurations and their equivalence are discussed. Next, computer simulations and real‐time experiments with one‐chip DSP show the effectiveness of CAT by demonstrating training convergence, optimum parameter characteristics, and average BER performance under two‐path selective fading with one‐symbol delay difference and independent Rayleigh components.
An approximate nyquist transmission scheme for QPSK digital mobile communications
Authors: Takami Tadao , Saito Shigeki , Tomisato Shigeru , Yamao Yasushi
Published: July 2007

This paper presents the design and implementation of an approximate Nyquist transmission scheme that employs a rational‐function receiving filter. A transitional Butterworth‐Thomson (TBT) filter is examined as a rational‐function receiving filter. This filter can easily be realized as a ceramic filter. It can also function as a channel filter to realize selectivity. Therefore, the newly proposed transmission scheme provides not only a simple and economical receiver circuit but also low power consumption. These features are suitable for mobile radios which must be as small as possible and operate with limited power sources.

The effects of filter approximation error on waveform transmission characteristics and adjacent channel interference selectivity are evaluated by computer simulation, and the filter characteristics are optimized in terms of both characteristics. A ceramic receiving filter is developed with the optimum TBT characteristic. A π/4‐shifted QPSK transmission experiment performed with this filter confirms that it has such superior transmission characteristics as receiving sensitivity, robustness against co‐channel interference, and robustness against frequency selective fading. Such characteristics are superior to those of the conventional transmission scheme using a maximally flat receiving filter. It is verified that approximate Nyquist transmission provides improved transmission quality and spectrum utilization for digital mobile communication systems.
Linear non‐conservative systems with fractional damping and the derivatives of critical load parameter
Authors: Kobelev Vladimir V.
Published: July 2007

In this paper, the influence of small perturbation on a linear, non‐conservative dynamical system exhibiting a flutter type bifurcation has been investigated. An important role in considering design problems for non‐conservative structures plays the sensitivity analysis of the integral structural characteristics as fundamental frequencies, damping behavior and critical loads for instability. The hereditary damping is described accurately usually only by means of fractional derivatives. The stability conditions of the perturbed hereditary system were derived. A new analytical framework for the optimization of aero‐structural systems, exhibiting the non‐classical damping is presented. The approach is based on an adjoint system of pseudo‐differential equations to obtain aerodynamic sensitivities. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Procedures for finding optimal layouts of vehicle components with respect to durability
Authors: Eschenauer Hans A. , Idelberger Horst , Bieker Guido , Rottler Andreas , Weinert Matthias
Published: July 2007

When designing complete systems or system components, it is of vital importance for the manufacturers to optimally fulfill the continuously increasing demands pertaining to safety, durability, reduction of energy consumption, noise reduction, improvement of comfort, accuracy, etc. This applies to all types of traffic and transportation systems like rail vehicles, automobiles, airplanes and ships. By combining structural analysis and simulation methods with optimization algorithms, required specifications can be met faster and more reliably, and hence the production development cycles can be substantially reduced. This paper shall give an overview on results of a method with the features of a damage approximation as precisely as possible on the one hand and, on the other hand, a load‐time history with few different load cycles so that a nonlinear calculation can be performed in the shortest possible time. Simulations with rigidly and elastically modeled components like bogie frames or carbodies show that depending on the type of modeling substantial differences may occur with respect to dynamic behavior and the interaction quantity between the bodies. This aspect has to be taken into consideration for quantitatively sufficient fatigue strength and durability calculation. Mathematical optimization procedures are in general an efficient tool to guarantee the optimal fulfillment of all required design objectives and constraints in all stages of the design process. Some of the procedures are illustrated at two examples (bogie frame, carbody). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Heterogeneous expression of Wnt/β‐catenin target genes within colorectal cancer
Authors: Hlubek Falk , Brabletz Thomas , Budczies Jan , Pfeiffer Sabine , Jung Andreas , Kirchner Thomas
Published: July 2007

Invasion of common colorectal adenocarcinomas is coupled with a transient loss of epithelial differentiation of tumor cells. Previously, we have shown that dedifferentiated tumor cells at the invasive front (IF) accumulate the transcriptional activator β‐catenin in the nucleus, in contrast to cells of the tumor center. To characterize the cells of these two morphogenic tumor areas, gene expression profiling was performed. Our study demonstrates that intratumorous heterogeneity in colorectal cancer correlates with differential expression of 510 genes between the central tumor region (TC) and the IF. Many genes differentially expressed at the IF are involved in cellular invasion processes like cell motility, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix interaction. This in vivo analysis shows overexpression of known Wnt/β‐catenin target genes either in the entire tumor tissue (compared to normal mucosa) or specifically at the IF. Thus, even though all tumor cells overexpress β‐catenin, the existence of at least 2 groups of Wnt/β‐catenin target genes selectively activated in different tumor regions is suggested. The concomitant high expression of inflammation‐ and tissue repair‐related genes at the IF supports the hypothesis that an inflammation‐activated microenvironment may trigger selective Wnt/β‐catenin target gene expression and contribute to the malignant progression of colorectal cancer. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparative study of semiempirical, ab initio, and DFT methods in evaluating metal–ligand bond strength, proton affinity, and interactions between first and second shell ligands in Zn‐biomimetic complexes
Authors: Frison Gilles , Ohanessian Gilles
Published: July 2007

Although theoretical methods are now available which give very accurate results, often comparable to the experimental ones, modeling chemical or biological interesting systems often requires less demanding and less accurate theoretical methods, mainly due to computer limitations. Therefore, it is crucial to know the precision of such less reliable methods for relevant models and data. This has been done in this work for small zinc‐active site models including O‐ (H2O and OH−) and N‐donor (NH3 and imidazole) ligands. Calculations using a number of quantum mechanical methods were carried out to determine their precision for geometries, coordination number relative stability, metal–ligand bond strengths, proton affinities, and interaction energies between first and second shell ligands. We have found that obtaining chemical accuracy can be as straightforward as HF geometry optimization with a double‐ζ plus polarization basis followed by a B3LYP energy calculation with a triple‐ζ quality basis set including diffuse and polarization functions. The use of levels as low as PM3 geometry optimization followed by a B3LYP single‐point energy calculation with a double‐ζ quality basis including polarization functions already yields useful trends in bond length, proton affinities or bond dissociation energies, provided that appropriate caution is taken with the optimized structures. The reliability of these levels of calculation has been successfully demonstrated for real biomimetic cases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
Lentiviral vectors that carry anti‐HIV shRNAs: problems and solutions
Authors: ter Brake Olivier , Berkhout Ben
Published: July 2007

Background

HIV‐1 replication can be inhibited with RNA interference (RNAi) by expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) from a lentiviral vector. Because lentiviral vectors are based on HIV‐1, viral sequences in the vector system are potential targets for the antiviral shRNAs. Here, we investigated all possible routes by which shRNAs can target the lentiviral vector system.

Methods

Expression cassettes for validated shRNAs with targets within HIV‐1 Leader, Gag‐Pol, Tat/Rev and Nef sequences were inserted in the lentiviral vector genome. Third‐generation self‐inactivating HIV‐1‐based lentiviral vectors were produced and lentiviral vector capsid production and transduction titer determined.

Results

RNAi against HIV‐1 sequences within the vector backbone results in a reduced transduction titer while capsid production was unaffected. The notable exception is self‐targeting of the shRNA encoding sequence, which does not affect transduction titer. This is due to folding of the stable shRNA hairpin structure, which masks the target for the RNAi machinery. Targeting of Gag‐Pol mRNA reduces both capsid production and transduction titer, which was improved with a human codon‐optimized Gag‐Pol construct. When Rev mRNA was targeted, no reduction in capsid production and transduction titer was observed.

Conclusions

Lentiviral vector titers can be negatively affected when shRNAs against the vector backbone and the Gag‐Pol mRNA are expressed during lentiviral vector production. Titer reductions due to targeting of the Gag‐Pol mRNA can be avoided with a human codon‐optimized Gag‐Pol packaging plasmid. The remaining targets in the vector backbone may be modified by point mutations to resist RNAi‐mediated degradation during vector production. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coping by police officers: A study of role stress and Type A and Type B Behavior Patterns
Authors: Kirmeyer Sandra L. , Diamond Alice
Published: July 2007

This research examined the ways police officers appraise and cope with naturally occurring stressful events. We utilized interview and questionnaire instruments to obtain descriptions of the stressful events, how the events were appraised, and the ways in which officers coped. Analyses tested the situational specificity of the Type A behaviour pattern. As hypothesized, Type A officers selected strategies that were more active and narrowly focused on the problem than did Type B officers. For the Type A officer coping was relatively independent of appraisal, whereas for the Type B officer coping and appraisal were interdependent processes.
Social support by four categories of work colleagues: Relationships between activities, stress and satisfaction
Authors: Henderson Monika , Argyle Michael
Published: July 2007

An approach to the study of social support at work is presented emphasizing nature and type of social support. One hundred employees in a range of occupations rated the frequency of engaging in 12 types of social and work‐related activity with each of four work colleagues varying in degree of intimacy. They also rated levels of job satisfaction and work stress. The results confirm the usefulness of this approach and also suggest that type of work relationship is associated with different sorts of socially supportive activities, and that these affect stress but not satisfaction. These findings were discussed in terms of the interaction between type of support given, source of support, and outcome.
Organizational test of goal linkage theory
Authors: Tjosvold Dean
Published: July 2007

Deutsch's theory of cooperation and competition or goal linkage has been developed by considerable experimental research, but is little used to study interdependence in organizations. Organizational members were interviewed in depth on a specific interaction and completed a questionnaire to describe their relationships with their co‐workers and supervisors. Positive linkage, in contrast to negative linkage, was related to effective negotiations and the development of feelings of success and satisfaction. Positive linkage compared to negative linkage was also found to stengthen work relationshps and facilitate productivity. Independent linkage had dynamics similar to negative linkage, but was positively related to productivity. Questionnaire results also support the theory of goal linkage. Goal linkage, dynamics, and outcomes appear to be self‐sealing and mutually causal. Results suggest that goal linkage theory has considerable potential to describe and influence actual organizational work relationships.
Work role centrality of industrial workers as related to organizational conditions, task autonomy, managerial orientations and personal characteristics
Authors: Mannheim Bilha , Dubin Robert
Published: July 2007

The study shows that, for a sample of 818 industrial workers, work role centrality (WRC) is positively related to task autonomy and to organizational conditions of sector of ownership, unit‐type of production system, and production stability; it is also weakly related to the orientations of production managers concerning the sharing of information, general supervision and granting autonomy. The task autonomy ‐ work role centrality relationship is maintained beyond other organizational conditions, but the effects of managerial orientations are attenuated by task autonomy and by organizational conditions. Situational conditions such as production system and stability, managerial orientations and task autonomy add to the variance of WRC explained by personal attributes of gender, education and job training, and by the outcome of job satisfaction, and a combined model of both types of variables is the most efficient. Generally, work role centrality is found to be a fairly sensitive response to the work situation, but it is suggested that perceptual and attitudinal data be added to the explanatory model.
R&D professionals' views of criteria for intrafirm job mobility: Individual and aggregate analyses of transfer climate perceptions in West German and British Industrial R&D Organizations
Authors: Gerpott Torsten J. , Domsch Michel , Pearson Alan W.
Published: July 2007

Prior research on employees' views of various criteria for obtaining a desirable intrafirm transfer has conceptualized these perceptions on an individual level of analysis (i.e. has examined psychological transfer climates). It is argued that the identification of aggregate transfer climate dimensions on an organizational (subsystem) level of analysis is important for improving the effectiveness of R&D via better transfer policies. Factor analyses of questionnaire data obtained from 729 R&D professionals in 11 FRG industrial firms and 141 R&D professionals in three U.K. industrial firms revealed that both FRG and U.K. subjects perceived three broad means (overall task performance, publication and patent productivity, favouritism) for obtaining a desirable job transfer. Empirically the idea was supported that, for certain transfer criteria (overall task performance, manifest professional output, educational level, luck), individuals' scores can be meaningfully aggregated to obtain organizational transfer climate measures. Remarkable differences in the importance of company tenure and educational level as criteria for transfers in R&D were found between FRG and U.K. organizations. Using the FRG data set differences in the performance responsiveness of organizational transfer climates were shown to be significantly related to work‐related outcome variables. Implications are sketched for R&D transfer policies and for explaining U.K./FRG differences in the corporate treatment of R&D activities.
The measurement of job characteristics: A content and contextual analytic look at scale validity
Authors: Pierce Jon L. , McTavish Donald G. , Knudsen Kjell R.
Published: July 2007

This investigation provides an examination of the validity of the Job Diagnostic Survey (JDS) and the Job Characteristics Inventory (JCI). The verbal content of the two measure is examined, as are the contrasts between the verbal content of these scales and the verbal content of three popular measures of job satisfaction. The Minnesota Contextual Content Analysis program is used to examine the ideas emphasized by these research scales. Both measures of job characteristics were found to discriminate from certain measures of job satisfaction, to emphasize an instrumental and not an affective context, and to possess some internal dimensionality problems.
Work environment and the well‐being of clerical and VDT workers
Authors: Stellman Jeanne M. , Klitzman Susan , Gordon Gloria C. , Snow Barry R.
Published: July 2007

This paper explores the relationships between extent of video display terminal usage, perceptions of the physical work environment, task characteristics, and workers' health and well‐being among a group of 1032 female office clerical workers. Data are drawn from responses to a 30‐minute questionnaire administered at four employment sites during 1981 and 1982. All‐day terminal users reported significantly higher levels of job and physical environment stressors than part‐day VDT users, typists and non machine‐interactive clerical workers. Reports of musculo‐skeletal strain and dissatisfaction were also highest among all day terminal users. Part‐day VDT users, typists and clerks all reported relatively similar levels of job and physical working conditions, health symptoms and job satisfaction. No significant differences between any of the groups were observed for gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychological and other non‐specific health complaints. Typists and clerical workers who also held supervisory positions reported fewer stressors and greater job satisfaction than workers with no supervisory tasks; however there were no such differences between supervisors and non‐supervisors engaged in all‐day VDT work.

Implications of these findings for further research and for job redesign strategies to alleviate the potentially stressful aspects of office automation are discussed.
Some psychological consequences of striking: A six month, longitudinal study
Authors: Barling Julian , Milligan Jill
Published: July 2007

The literature available on organizational psychology has largely neglected the issue of industrial conflict, and little is known about individual psychological effects of industrial conflict such as labour disputes and strikes. Psychological consequences of involvement in a strike were assessed in this research. Data were collected from 117 full‐time, white collar union members immediately following a 22 day strike, and again two and six months later. Negatively perceived industrial relations events (e.g. 'strike or lockout', 'being involved in negotiations') were associated with marital adjustment, psychosomatic symptoms and a lack of psychological well‐being on completion of the strike, and predicted unfavourable changes in psychological well‐being over the next two and six months. A framework for understanding the negative effects of labour disputes and strikes is proposed, and the role of the organizational psychologist when such conflicts occur is considered.
Individual demographic differences and job satisfaction
Authors: Brush Donald H. , Moch Michael K. , Pooyan Abdullah
Published: July 2007

Empirical research and theoretical literature support the notion that demographic differences among employees are associated with job satisfaction. However, the evidence is inconsistent, and little is known about the stability of many of the reported relationships. A meta‐analysis was conducted involving 21 independent studies and over 10,000 employees to discern selected population relationships. Results indicated that, with the exception of age and organizational tenure, associations do not differ significantly from zero. Large amounts of variance around each mean correlation, however, warranted a moderator analysis. Results indicated that the strength and pattern of associations differ by organizational type. Theoretical propositions and implications for future research in the area of demographic moderators are discussed.
A decade's experience with the Scanlon Plan: A case study
Authors: Millers Christopher S. , Schuster Michael
Published: July 2007

This field study examined the operation and impact of the Scanlon Plan at a large manufacturing facility. An interrupted time‐series research design, augmented by extensive qualitative data analysis was used to analyse the productivity and employment experience over a nine‐year period. The plan resulted in modest increases in productivity and stable employment, while improving the overall union‐management relationship. Through the Scanlon structure for employee involvement, over 5000 suggestions have been made. Moderate and consistent productivity sharing bonuses were paid.
Organizational socialization: A stress perspective
Authors: Nelson Debra L.
Published: July 2007

This paper examines socialization and adjustment processes of newcomers to organizations. While scholars in this area agree that the socialization process is a stressful event, few have empirically approached the process from this perspective. In addressing this problem, a theoretical synthesis of the literatures of organizational socialization and organizational stress is proposed. From this integration, a model is developed which facilitates an examination of the task, role, and interpersonal demands which individuals face in the stages of socialization and an analysis of the interrelationships of these demands and their effects upon individual and organizational outcomes of the socialization process. Finally, directions for future research are proposed for extending understanding of this crucial part of organizational entry.
Sex segregation of work in Finland and the quality of women's work
Authors: Kauppinen‐Toropainen Kaisa , Kandolin Irja , Haavio‐Mannila Elina
Published: July 2007

The Finnish labor market is sharply segregated by sex. This is a statistically well‐documented fact and holds true for all Western European market economies. The aim of this article was to find out whether women profit (regarding the quality of their work) from performing the same sort of work as men. The qualitative aspects of work were the following: autonomy at work; lack of routinization of work; the compulsory rhythm of work; and the demands for social skills. We also analyzed monthly pay and its variation according to functional segregation of work. The empirical data came from the Finnish Study on Working Conditions (1984) which is a representative sample of the Finnish wage‐earning population with 4502 persons of whom 48 per cent were women and 52 per cent men. Our results indicate that women often profit from the fact that they perform the same sort of work as men. This profit was more apparent for white‐collar than for blue‐collar women. For men the effects of segregation on job characteristics were the opposite. They often profit from sex segregated work. Social status played a major role regarding the qualitative aspects of work.
Employment commitment as a moderator of the maternal employment status/child behavior relationship
Authors: Barling Julian , Fullagar Clive , Marchl‐Dingle Jenifer
Published: July 2007

Research findings suggest that maternal employment exerts no consistent detrimental effects on children. In this study, the moderating role of employment commitment and child sex on the relationship between maternal employment status and child behavior is investigated. Mothers and teachers provided behavioral ratings for 185 elementary school children (M age = 9.42 years). Employment commitment moderated the influence of employment status on mothers' and teachers' ratings of children's attention problems and immaturity: Children whose mothers' employment status and commitment were not congruent were less attentive and more immature than those whose mothers' employment status and commitment were congruent. The statistical and applied significance of these results is suggested, as is the possibility that mother‐child interactions mediate the manner in which incongruencies between employment status and employment commitment influence children's inattention‐immaturity.
On the importance of knowing the affective meaning of job demands
Authors: Payne Roy L. , Jabri Muayyad M. , Pearson Alan W.
Published: July 2007

Theorizing about the effects of job demands on mental health, job satisfaction and performance can be enhanced by allowing for a more complicated view of job demands. This paper describes an empirical attempt aimed at investigating facets of job demands. It hypothesizes that (1) many individuals will agree that job demands of certain kinds and strengths, will be associated with either satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, (2) that there will be no general agreement for some types of demands. Correlational analysis was performed on two independent sets of data to test the hypotheses, which were both supported. These results raised questions about the status of the concept of demands itself and a recommendation is made that it be replaced by the more neutral term ‘job demands milieu’ which can be applied to other aspects of the job environment such as task‐based milieu, role‐based milieu, or physical environmental milieu.
Fear, victimization, and stress among urban public school teachers
Authors: Dworkin Anthony Gary , Haney C. Allen , Telschow Ruth L.
Published: July 2007

Data from the National Institute of Education's Safe School Study Report suggested that teachers in American urban public schools are emotionally and physically victimized and that the result is heightened level of stress associated with teaching. This study, which is part of larger, longitudinal project, explores the linkages between reported experiences of victimization by 291 urban public school teachers and task‐specific stressors in the performance of the teaching role. The level of reported stress and nature and degree of victimization differ by the grade level taught and the race of the teacher. Generally, minority teachers (black and brown) are less likely to report being stressed or victimized than are white teachers, while elementary school teachers report their work to be most stressful. There is no evidence of a specific causal ordering between fear of victimization and teacher stress. Rather, each may feed upon and facilitate the other.
Employee behaviors before and after stress management
Authors: Murphy Lawrence R. , Sorenson Susan
Published: July 2007

A quasi‐experiment was used to compare employee behaviors before and after stress management training. Organizational records on employee absenteeism, performance ratings, equipment accidents, and work injuries were obtained for highway maintenance workers who received biofeedback (BIO=21) or muscle relaxation (MR=16) training. Similar data were gathered for a comparison group of employees who did not volunteer for training (n = 80). The pre‐training period (time 1) consisted of 2 1/2 years. The post‐training period was divided into the year immediately after training (time 2) and the following 1/2 year (time 3). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the MR (but not BIO) group variable explained unique variance in time 2 absenteeism (p < 0.05) but not in performance ratings, equipment accidents, nor work injuries (p > 0.05). Neither group entered predictive models for any measure at time 3 (p > 0.05). The results provide limited support for relaxation training offered as a prevention activity in work settings.
Religion and attitudes toward work: A new look at an old question
Authors: Chusmir Leonard H. , Koberg Christine S.
Published: July 2007

This study examined the relationship of specific religions and degree of religious beliefs to various job‐related attitudes and values such as motivational needs, job satisfaction, work ethic, and work, job and organizational commitment. Subjects were 222(107 male, 115 female) managerial and non‐managerial workers in the Rocky Mountain area. Results showed no significant correlations between work‐related altitudes and specific religious affiliation or degree of religious conviction. However, religious conviction was significantly finked to organizational rank, with non‐managerial employees reporting a higher degree of religious conviction than managerial employees. Protestant workers scored higher in Protestant Work Ethic than did non‐Protestants and persons with no religious affiliation had higher need for Power than Protestants, Catholics or affiliates of Eastern religions.
Multiple roles and organizational commitment
Authors: Randall Donna M.
Published: July 2007

Using role theory as a conceptual framework, the influence of extra‐organizational ties on the employee's level of organizational commitment is explored in the present study. Two competing models of the relationship between work and outside work ties are proposed: an expansion model which holds that individuals view the available supply of energy and effort as abundant and expandable, and a scarcity model which posits that strong commitment to one role may preclude attachment to other roles. The findings reveal that level of organizational commitment is not substantively related to effort devoted to outside work claimants nor to their perceived importance. It appears that employees generally manage work and outside work spheres separately and levels of organizational commitment are relatively immune from the influence of outside work claimants.
The politics of leadership: The relationship between task‐people leadership and subordinate influence
Authors: Deluga Ronald J.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of the present research was to investigate the political nature of leadership by examining the association of the task‐people leadership approach with strategies used by subordinates to influence their superiors. Forty‐eight faculty members (31 males and 17 females) from a school of higher education completed the T‐P Leadership Questionnaire and Profile of Organizational Influence Strategies. Reponses were analyzed using Pearson product‐moment correlations. The results indicated that as perceived task‐centered leadership increased, employees reported a significantly greater use of bargaining, assertiveness, higher authority, and coalition as strategies to influence their superiors. The relationships were observed only during second influence attempts. Further, it was observed that as the perceived level of people‐centered leadership behavior rose, subordinates reported a significantly decreased use of bargaining and higher authority as influence strategies during first influence attempts. The findings are discussed in terms of the reciprocal and political character of managerial‐ subordinate relationships.
Reactions to physically dangerous work: A conceptual and empirical analysis
Authors: Jermier John M. , Gaines Jeannie , McIntosh Nancy J.
Published: July 2007

This study addressed some conceptual issues central to understanding human reactions to dangerous settings and empirically explored the meaning of physically dangerous work in three different occupational groups (street patrol officers, n=96; investigators, n=21; and clerical and support service workers, n=60) practicing in the same organizational setting (city police department). Objective hazards, estimated with occupational risk statistics, explained 56 per cent of the variation in experienced physical danger which, in turn, significantly heightened emotional exhaustion, dissatisfaction with pay, and disaffection from the employing organization, in the street patrol officer group only, perceived physical danger significantly correlated with task variety, task significance and feedback. The data are interpreted to mean that for street patrol officers, experienced physical danger adds a modicum of enrichment and significance to the work itself. One theme of the analysis is that potentially stigmatic features of the work can be transformed into socially meaningful illusions that enhance the personal dignity of the performer (cf. Hughes, 1958). However, the dominant theme is that physically dangerous work produces fear and related affective distress. Further research on this topic is recommended because of the affective and behavioral consequences of perceived physical danger and also because definitions and meanings of dangerous work are socially, politically and morally important.
Tribological degradation of two vegetable‐based lubricants at elevated temperatures
Authors: Siniawski Matthew T. , Saniei Nader , Pfaendtner Jim
Published: July 2007

Renewable‐based lubricants are being considered as potential alternatives to petroleum‐based lubricants for various reasons, mainly increased environmental sensitivity. However, understanding the tribological performance of such vegetable‐based lubricants under elevated temperatures is critical for their industrial implementation. This study focuses on the friction and abrasion rate characteristics of soybean and sunflower base oils in comparison to a base mineral oil under sliding wear at elevated temperatures. It was found that the abrasion rate and friction were less severe for the vegetable‐based lubricants up to temperatures around 100°C. The observed performance of the vegetable‐based lubricants was verified using a kinetic reaction mechanism model of lubricant degradation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonresonant scattering of an electron by a muon in the field of plane electromagnetic wave
Authors: Nedoreshta V N , Voroshilo A I , Roshchupkin S P
Published: July 2007

In the frame of the Born approximation we theoretically investigate nonresonant scattering of an electron by a muon in the field of elliptically polarized electromagnetic wave in the general relativistic case. It is studied kinematics of a scattering of an electron in resonant and nonresonant regions. It is derived the expressions for the amplitude and the cross section of the nonresonant scattering of an electron by a muon in the wave field. It is shown that an external field has an essentially influence on the process of nonresonant scattering.
A Rayleigh quotient minimization algorithm based on algebraic multigrid
Authors: Hetmaniuk U.
Published: July 2007

This paper presents a new algebraic extension of the Rayleigh quotient multigrid (RQMG) minimization algorithm to compute the smallest eigenpairs of a symmetric positive definite pencil (A, M). Earlier versions of RQMG minimize the Rayleigh quotient over a hierarchy of geometric grids. We replace the geometric mesh information with the algebraic information defined by an algebraic multigrid preconditioner. At each level, we minimize the Rayleigh quotient with a block preconditioned algorithm. Numerical experiments illustrate the efficiency of this new algorithm to compute several eigenpairs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced amplified emission induced by surface plasmons on gold nanoparticles in polymer film random lasers
Authors: Popov O. , Zilbershtein A. , Davidov D.
Published: July 2007

We report on random lasing from polymer films containing Rh6G laser dye and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Different sizes of AuNP, varying from 10 to 150 nm, were used in the different films, but all had the same mass concentration of gold. We found a strong dependence of the random lasing characteristics (threshold for lasing, the emission intensity, and the spectral narrowing) on the size of the AuNP. In particular, we show that the emission intensity and threshold for lasing versus the NP size qualitatively agree with the prediction of the Mie‐type calculation that considers both the scattering cross section and the absorption of the NP. The experimental spectral narrowing versus the pumping energy is in qualitative agreement with calculations based on diffusion equations (which include appropriate scattering and absorbing terms). This suggests that photon scattering, as enhanced by surface plasmons (SPs) originating on the AuNP, is the dominant underlying mechanism for random lasing of our polymers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma Deposition of Diamond
Authors: Bárdos Ladislav , Baránková Hana
Published: July 2007

Nanocluster diamonds can be synthesized in open air on stainless steel and molybdenum substrates with a hybrid cold atmospheric plasma source using air plasma and an air + alcohol mixture. At microwave powers below 300 W and at gas flow rates below 300 sccm the temperature of a thermally insulated steel substrate placed 1.5 cm from the hollow cathode caused by the air plasma were less than 600 °C. 200 nm thick coatings with nanocluster diamond grains and aggregates exhibiting diamond peaks in the Raman spectra at 1 325 cm−1 on stainless steel and at 1 322 cm−1 on Mo were formed after 1 h on untreated substrates.

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