The Impact of Technology-Mediated Consumption on Identity: The case of Airbnb

The affordances introduced by digital technologies are reshaping consumption practices. Individuals are now engaging in networks rather than markets, and ownership-based consumption is giving way to the previously unattractive access-based, collaborative consumption. Such consumption practices produce different relationships between objects and personal identity, on which there is limited research. By means of an ethnographic study, we analyze the nature of consumer-object relationships in the context of Airbnb – a technology-mediated consumption model based on accessing private possessions. Our findings suggest that the consumption experience is meaningful and self-enriching if consumers identify with the accessed consumption object. However, identification is compromised when there is a perceived mismatch, diminishing the consumption experience. Nevertheless, access-based consumption is sometimes a reflexive strategy used to signal anti-consumption ideologies. We thus propose that technology-mediated, access-based consumption is challenging the normative power of ownership in the construction of identity, changing the symbolic repertoire of the contemporary consumer

Sensors for Cryogenic Isotope-Separation Column

Cryogenic isotope-separation equipment is special, encountered in relative few research centers in the world. In addition to the main equipment used in the operation column, a broad range of measuring devices and actuators are involved in the technological process. The proper sensors and transducers exhibit special features; therefore, common, industrial versions cannot be used. Three types of original sensors with electronic adapters are presented in the present study: a sensor for the liquid carbon monoxide level in the boiler, a sensor for the liquid nitrogen level in the condenser and a sensor for the electrical power dissipated in the boiler. The integration of these sensors in the pilot equipment is needed for comprehensive system monitoring and control. The sensors were tested on the experimental equipment from the National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies from Cluj-Napoca

Preliminary Results on Behavior of Transgenic and Conventional Plum to Natural PPV Infection in a New Field Trial

To assess the durability of resistance to PPV of HoneySweet transgenic plum harbouring plum pox virus (PPV) capsid gene, a new field trial was recently established in Romania at Fruit Research & Development Station Bistrita. Stanley and Reine Claude d’Althan cvs. are used as control. PPV inoculum source is secured within the experimental plot. PPV monitoring was made by visual observation of symptoms development on leaves and by serological (DAS-ELISA) and molecular (IC/-RT-PCR) testings. Three years after planting PPV was observed and detected only on Stanley. 'HoneySweet' and  Reine Claude d’Althan cultivars remained PPV free

Control of a train of high purity distillation columns for efficient production of 13C isotopes

It is well-known that high-purity distillation columns are difficult to control due to their ill-conditioned and strongly nonlinear behaviour. The fact that these processes are operated over a wide range of feed compositions and flow rates makes the control design even more challenging. This paper proposes the most suitable control strategies applicable to a series of cascaded distillation column processes. The conditions for control and input-output relations are discusssed in view of the global control strategy. The increase in complexity with increased number of series cascaded distillation column processes is tackled. Uncertainty in the model parameters is discussed with respect to the dynamics of the global train distillation process. The main outcome of this work is insight into the possible control methodologies for this particular class of distillation processes

Pandemic prevention and personality psychology: Gender differences in preventive health behaviors during COVID-19 and the roles of agreeableness and conscientiousness

One of the greatest public health crises in recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic, has come with a myriad of challenges in terms of health communication and public cooperation to prevent the spread of the disease. Understanding which are the key determinants that make certain individuals more cooperative is key in effectively tackling pandemics and similar future challenges. In the present study (N = 800), we investigated whether gender differences in compliance with preventive health behaviors (PHB) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic could be established, and, if so, whether the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness could help explain this presumed relationship. Consistent with our theorizing, we found women to score higher than men on agreeableness and conscientiousness, and to be more willing to comply with a set of PHB. Importantly, both personality traits were found to mediate the gender-compliance link. This means that women's greater compliance levels with PHB could, at least in part, be attributed to their higher agreeableness and conscientiousness scores. A greater understanding of the determinants of PHB in terms of gender and associated personality traits may help identify options for developing more effective communication campaigns, both in terms of communication channel selection and message content.publishedVersio

FIRE BLIGHT SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SOME PEAR VARIETIES (ERWINIA AMYLOVORA, BURILL)

At Bistriţa Fruit Research and Development Station, in a pear collection, planted with 44 varieties, there has been studied the susceptibility to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora,Burill). During the vegetation period, phytosanitary treatments to control the disease have been applied using copper based products (copper sulfate, Champion, Funguran, Kocide). Erwinia amylovora infections have been influenced by the rainfall registered in April (70.9 mm) and May (104.7 mm) and the temperature fluctuations in April-May. The field observations on Erwinia amylvora attack demonstrate that the pear varieties have a different susceptibility to this dangerous bacterium. Evaluation of attack level in the pear collection was done using an evaluation scale with 9 scores using a reference resistance scale for : ‘Highly resistant’ , ‘Moderately resistant’, ‘Susceptible’, ‘Very susceptible’ cultivars . The most sensitive pear varieties in the collection were: ‘De Noiembrie’, ‘Abatele Fetel’, ’Daciana’, ’Triumf’, ’Williams Boway’, ’Margareta Marillat’, ’Beauty Tomme’, ‘Williams rosu’, ’Aromata de Bistrita’, ’Jeanne d`Arc’, ’Aramiu de Somes’, ’Belle des Arbres’, ’Zorka’ representing 13.64% of the total pear varieties. In several cultivars there have been observed increased symptoms, a very high susceptibility of infections leading to complete scorching of trees: Jeanne d`Arc’, Williams rosu’, ‘Triumf’, ‘Aromata de Bistrita’, ‘Zorka’. Strong attack symtoms were observed at the pear cultivars ‘Cure’, ‘Euras, ’Ciuda’ ‘Highland’, ‘Precoce Morettini’, ’Monica’, ’Cadillac’, ’Juliana’, ’Somesan’, ’Beurré Hardenpont’ these cultivars being susceptible to Erwinia amylovora , representing 40.91 % of total genotypes . Cultivars ‘Untoasa Geoagiu’, ‘Beurre Hardy’, ‘Trivale’ manifested a certain tolerance to Erwinia amylovora , no attack symptoms being observable at these varieties, in 6,82 % of total studied cultivars scores ranged between 8.0-8.22. Notably amount of genotypes were included in the “Moderately resistant” category (34.04 %) ‘Untoasa de Transilvania’, ‘Starkrimson’, ‘Josephine des Malignes’, `Untoasa Bosc`, ‘Magnes’, ‘Contesa de Paris’, ’Doina’, ‘Napoca’, ‘Carpica’, ‘Karamanka’, ‘Williams’, ’Expozitie’, ’ Ina Estival’, ‘Passe Crassagne’, ‘Conference’

Optimal Control of the Carbon Isotopes Cryogenic Separation Process

The most important demand in an efficient carbon isotope separation is to keep the cryogenic distillation column parameters at their required set points, despite disturbances or uncertainties. One of the key parameters is the column temperature that has a direct influence on the carbon separation coefficient. The nonlinear model of the separation process considers the top and bottom column temperature evolution and their influence on the isotope separation rate. The optimal controller designed in this paper effectively maintains the column temperature at constant levels, rejecting disturbances, for a significant range of model uncertainties