On Categorial Membership

International audienceWe investigate the family of concepts that an agent comes to knowthrough a set of defining features, and examine the role played by these features inthe process of categorization. In a qualitative framework, categorial membership isevaluated through an order relation among the objects at hand, which translates thefact that an object may fall more than another under a given concept. For conceptsdefined by their features, this global membership order depends on the degree withwhich each feature applies to the objects of the universe. The passage from theseindividual membership degrees to a global membership order poses a problemanalogous to vote aggregation in social choice theory. This similarity leads to anoriginal solution that is particularly well-adapted to the framework of cognitivepsychology. The resulting membership order extends to compound concepts, andprovides a good description of the guppy paradox and the conjunction effect

Reactive Carbonyl Compounds: Their Control and Consequences in Foods

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been suggested to reduce risk for multiple diseases but animal studies on the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs are conflicting, possibly due to the presence of toxic lipid oxidation products in the oils used in these studies. In order to provide guidance for future research in n-3 PUFA supplementation, this study researched lipid oxidation and its inhibition in an animal feed system enriched with fish oil. Different storage conditions were tested, and it was found that samples stored at room temperature or above were at significant risk for oxidation with lag phases of propanal formation being 56, 8 and 2 days at 4°C, 23°C and 37°C. More than 65% removal of oxygen was needed to significantly decrease lipid oxidation. Greater than 65% removal of oxygen could be achieved in less than 1 minute of nitrogen flushing. Tocopherols were not strong antioxidants in the animal feed but Trolox was, suggesting that the fish oil enriched rodent feed acts similarly to bulk oil. Both ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate were found to be ineffective, possibly due to their prooxidant activity. In a comparison of propyl gallate (PG), butylhydroxy toluene (BHT), and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), results were found similar to other low-moisture systems, with PG being prooxidative, BHT improving lag phase, and TBHQ having a significant impact on lag phase. These results suggest that lipid oxidation products can be present at the start of a dietary omega-3 fatty acid study if poor quality oils are used and that oxidation can occur in the feed during storage times common to animal studies. These findings indicate that researchers should use antioxidant strategies to control oxidation in animal feeds to avoid potentially conflicting effects of lipid oxidation products in dietary omega-3 fatty acid studies

New TRNSYS types to simulate air-to-air energy recovery

Presentation on new TRNSYS types to simulate air-to-air energy recovery. Implementation of energy conservation measures in buildings can extend our use of finite resources while simultaneously reducing our impact on the environment

Empresas alemanas en China; ¿Cómo solventan las empresas el problema de la formación a nivel de planta?

This article explores German transplant companies’ attempts to foster and assure the skills levels of their Chinese employees for production and innovation in consideration of a different socio-cultural and political framework. Methodologically conducted by on-site expert interviews, this paper first reports empirical findings on German companies’ strategies and practices for recruiting and retaining (skilled) local employees for the shop-floor level. On the basis of Engeström’s activity theory, the concept of boundary objects functions as the theoretical framework. The results indicate complementary innovative personnel strategies with regard to qualifying and retaining. In the discussion, the identified phenomena such as the foundation of a coopetitive practical training center are assigned to the theoretical context of boundary objects.Este artículo tiene el propósito de aprender sobre la intención de las empresas alemanas en el extranjero en fomentar y asegurar los niveles de competencia de sus empleados chinos en producción e innovación considerando un marco socio-cultural y político diferente. Llevado a cabo metodológicamente a través de entrevistas a expertos in situ, este artículo se centra en reportar sobre los primeros hallazgos empíricos en estratégias y prácticas de empresas alemanas sobre reclutamiento y vinculación de empleados locales (competentes) para el nivel de planta. En base a la teoría de la actividad de Engeström, el concepto de boundary objects actúa como marco teórico. Los resultados indican estratégias de personal innovativas complementarias con referencia a cualificación y retención. En la discusión, los fenómenos identificados como la fundación de un centro de entrenamiento práctico coopetitivo, son asignados al contexto teórico de boundary objects

Spectral properties of coupled cavity arrays in one dimension

Spectral properties of coupled cavity arrays in one dimension are investigated by means of the variational cluster approach. Coupled cavity arrays consist of two distinct "particles," namely, photons and atomiclike excitations. Spectral functions are evaluated and discussed for both particle types. In addition, densities of states, momentum distributions and spatial correlation functions are presented. Based on this information, polariton "quasiparticles" are introduced as appropriate, wave vector and filling dependent linear combinations of photon and atomiclike particles. Spectral functions and densities of states are evaluated for the polariton quasiparticles, and the weights of their components are analyzed.Comment: 17 pages, 16 figures, version as publishe

Book Review: Vocational Education and Training in Times of Economic Crisis

The book was published in the series "Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues, Concerns and Prospects". Series Editor-in-Chief is Rupert MacLean. Editor of the volume is Matthias Pilz, professor and holder of the chair of Economic and Business Education and director of the German Research Center for Comparative Vocational Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T) at the University of Cologne in Germany

Potentiometric Sensors Based on the Inductive Effect on the pK_a of Poly(aniline): A Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor

The use of conjugated polymers for sensor applications continues to be the subject of intense research. In addition to their use as electronic conductors, they have been exploited as active sensing elements by coupling ligands to the backbone. In this approach, binding of an analyte results in physical distortions or changes in electron density, thereby altering conductivity. Poly(aniline), in particular, has received a great deal of attention due to its proton coupled redox chemistry and its resulting pH-dependent properties. For example, poly(aniline) has been used as a pH electrode and has been coupled to reactions that generate or consume protons to create sensors. Herein, we report a new strategy that exploits the inductive effect of reactive substituents on the pK_a of poly(aniline) to produce active sensing elements

Sensor arrays for detecting microorganisms

A sensor array for detecting a microorganism comprising first and second sensors electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein the sensors comprise a region of nonconducting organic material and a region of conducting material compositionally that is different than the nonconducting organic material and an electrical path through the regions of nonconducting organic material and the conducting material. A system for identifying microorganisms using the sensor array, a computer and a pattern recognition algorithm, such as a neural net are also disclosed