High sensitivity refractive index sensor based on simple diffraction from phase grating

We present a technique for refractive index sensing using a phase grating structure. A grating under normal incidence can be designed such that the 1st order diffracted light travels at a diffraction angle of 90o with respect to the 0th order. The diffracted light which is along the direction of periodicity can further get diffracted from the grating and interfere with the 0th order light. Under this condition, the π phase difference that arises between the two interfering beams results in a transmission dip. We can tune this dip wavelength for senor applications, based on the grating equation. Both simulation and experimental data are presented in the paper which shows good agreement with each other

WHAT MOTIVATES TEAM MEMBERS AND USERS OF AGILE PROJECTS?

Users and teams members of agile projects have consistently shown higher motivation and satisfaction compared with projects that use plan-driven methods. User satisfaction is a key measure of IS success if not synonymous with it (Delone and McLean, 1992; Seddon, 1997) and higher team member motivation is known to foster productivity, company loyalty and higher levels of engagement (Locke and Latham, 1990; Meyer and Allen, 1997; Pinder, 1998). Various explanations have been offered for this salutary phenomenon and have as their basis the specific characteristics of Agile methodologies such as people focus, higher levels of user involvement and collaborative development approach (Boehm and Turner, 2005; Dybå and Dingsøyr, 2009; Mann and Maurer, 2005). In this study we apply the approach-avoidance theory to suggest “closure effect” as another explanation for the phenomena

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF HEDONIC AND UTILITARIAN VALUE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS ON USER LOYALTY AND WORD-OF-MOUTH

Users strive for a more complete experience with software products, an experience that not only achieves well-defined goals, but also involves the senses and generates affective response (Bly, Cook, Bickmore, Churchill and Sullivan, 1998). Yet, producers of Information Systems have focused largely on utilitarian aspects of IS rather than the hedonic. The reason may lie in the computing disciplines’ origins in disciplines that emphasize hard science, efficiency, and utility (Tractinsky, 2006). However, there is mounting evidence in support of the importance of Hedonic considerations in design of IS products. Investigations in this study reveal distinctive but complementary impacts of Hedonic and Utilitarian value provided by IS on its user base. While the Utilitarian value was found to positively impact User Loyalty, thereby enhancing the capacity to retain existing user base, the Hedonic value was found to favorably impact positive Word-of-Mouth of users, thereby increasing the ability to attract new users

Wheat streak mosaic virus P1 Binds to dsRNAs without Size and Sequence Specificity and a GW Motif Is Crucial for Suppression of RNA Silencing

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV; genus Tritimovirus; family Potyviridae) is an economically important virus infecting wheat in the Great Plains region of the USA. Previously, we reported that the P1 protein of WSMV acts as a viral suppressor of RNA silencing. In this study, we delineated the minimal region of WSMV P1 and examined its mechanisms in suppression of RNA silencing. We found that the 25 N-terminal amino acids are dispensable, while deletion of a single amino acid at the C-terminal region completely abolished the RNA silencing suppression activity of P1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with in vitro expressed P1 revealed that the P1 protein formed complexes with green fluorescent protein-derived 180-nt dsRNA and 21 and 24-nt ds-siRNAs, and WSMV coat protein-specific 600-nt dsRNA. These data suggest that the P1 protein of WSMV binds to dsRNAs in a size- and sequence-independent manner. Additionally, in vitro dicing assay with human Dicer revealed that the P1 protein effciently protects dsRNAs from processing by Dicer into siRNAs, by forming complexes with dsRNA. Sequence comparison of P1-like proteins from select potyvirid species revealed that WSMV P1 harbors a glycine-tryptophan (GW) motif at the C-terminal region. Disruption of GW motif in WSMV P1 through W303A mutation resulted in loss of silencing suppression function and pathogenicity enhancement, and abolished WSMV viability. These data suggest that the mechanisms of suppression of RNA silencing of P1 proteins of potyvirid species appear to be broadly conserved in the family Potyviridae