9,683 research outputs found
Can Seminar and Computer-Based Training Improve the Effectiveness of Electronic Mail Communication within the Workplace?
Email communication has become an integral part of the communication structure within organisations. However, we are far from efficient in using this organisational communication and knowledge sharing tool. We aim to improve workplace communications by improving the way email is used within the workplace. We undertake extensive two-phase research to demonstrate the need to give employees training regarding email communication, and conduct both seminar based training and computer-based training. Findings indicate that email training can lead to significant improvements in the way that employees use email within the workplace with computer-based training (or e-learning) showing a greater improvement. This study demonstrates that while email is a powerful organisational and knowledge tool, it can be optimised to better leverage its benefits by training employees in its us
Validity of effective material parameters for optical fishnet metamaterials
Although optical metamaterials that show artificial magnetism are mesoscopic
systems, they are frequently described in terms of effective material
parameters. But due to intrinsic nonlocal (or spatially dispersive) effects it
may be anticipated that this approach is usually only a crude approximation and
is physically meaningless. In order to study the limitations regarding the
assignment of effective material parameters, we present a technique to retrieve
the frequency-dependent elements of the effective permittivity and permeability
tensors for arbitrary angles of incidence and apply the method exemplarily to
the fishnet metamaterial. It turns out that for the fishnet metamaterial,
genuine effective material parameters can only be introduced if quite stringent
constraints are imposed on the wavelength/unit cell size ratio. Unfortunately
they are only met far away from the resonances that induce a magnetic response
required for many envisioned applications of such a fishnet metamaterial. Our
work clearly indicates that the mesoscopic nature and the related spatial
dispersion of contemporary optical metamaterials that show artificial magnetism
prohibits the meaningful introduction of conventional effective material
parameters
Corn Disease Update
The growing conditions during 2013 contributed to several disease problems in corn. Cold and wet conditions early led to development of seedling diseases. The hail-damaged corn in many areas of the state during the season led to ear rot diseases that were exacerbated by cooler conditions and increased grain moisture. Diseases have been a problem throughout the season and could extend beyond harvest into storage of some corn
Using Autopoiesis to Redefine Data, Information and Knowledge
The definition of knowledge has always been a contentious issue in knowledge management. Effective knowledge management requires a definition of knowledge that is consistent, useful and true. Whilst most definitions today fulfil the first two criteria, none accurately address all three, including the true, biological nature of knowledge. This is where autopoiesis can help. Autopoiesis was developed to try answer the question of what makes something living, using a scientific methodology. It proposes living things are discrete, self-producing entities and constantly cognising entities. Autopoiesis has long inspired definitions of knowledge, with ideas such as: knowledge cannot be transferred, or knowledge can only be created by the potential ‘knower’. Using the theory of autopoiesis, it is possible to create a biologically grounded model of knowledge, representing the latest thinking in neuroscience. However, before this new, biologically grounded model of knowledge can be integrated into new or existing knowledge management theories, it needs to be tested, else it falls into the trap of being conceptual, and remaining that way. This paper uses the theory of autopoiesis to redefine the concepts of data, information and, most importantly, knowledge, and goes on to develop a model of knowledge that has the potential to be used as a new foundation for knowledge management
Grain Storage Management to Minimize Mold and Mycotoxins
As most dryland corn producers are aware, the dry and hot growing season in 2012 resulted in reduced corn yields with moderately lower test weights. Along with the reduced test weights are concerns about potential mycotoxin contamination in the drought-stressed grain.
The only way to know for sure if there are mycotoxins in your grain and which specific mycotoxins are present is to collect representative grain samples and have them tested by a certified laboratory.
Many species of fungi can cause ear rot diseases and molding of grain. Most of these fungi become associated with the grain in the field but may continue to grow and reproduce if grain is stored under favorable conditions of moisture and temperature in the bin.
Harvested corn is NOT necessarily safer in the bin than in the field with regard to maintaining grain quality. If there was a problem with ear rot diseases in the corn in the field, there will likely be grain mold problems in the bin. Even under the best storage conditions, grain mold fungi are likely to continue to grow in the bin, where some can also produce mycotoxins. Under these conditions, it is important to cool and dry harvested corn as quickly as possible – preferably within 48 hours of harvest. It is NOT recommended to store infected grain, particularly for extended periods of time. In addition, grain that is damaged during or after harvest, such as during handling or storage by insects or other mechanical means, is much more prone to fungal infection by grain molds.
Ear rot diseases and grain molds can lead to substantial reductions in grain quality that can ultimately cost producers who may be penalized at elevators or by loss of feed quality
Representing Structural Information of Helical Charge Distributions in Cylindrical Coordinates
Structural information in the local electric field produced by helical charge
distributions, such as dissolved DNA, is revealed in a straightforward manner
employing cylindrical coordinates. Comparison of structure factors derived in
terms of cylindrical and helical coordinates is made. A simple coordinate
transformation serves to relate the Green function in cylindrical and helical
coordinates. We also compare the electric field on the central axis of a single
helix as calculated in both systems.Comment: 11 pages in plain LaTex, no figures. Accepted for publication in PRE
March, 199
Singular electrostatic energy of nanoparticle clusters
The binding of clusters of metal nanoparticles is partly electrostatic. We
address difficulties in calculating the electrostatic energy when high charging
energies limit the total charge to a single quantum, entailing unequal
potentials on the particles. We show that the energy at small separation
has a strong logarithmic dependence on . We give a general law for the
strength of this logarithmic correction in terms of a) the energy at contact
ignoring the charge quantization effects and b) an adjacency matrix specifying
which spheres of the cluster are in contact and which is charged. We verify the
theory by comparing the predicted energies for a tetrahedral cluster with an
explicit numerical calculation.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys Rev
Analytical investigation of flow and heat transfer in coolant passages of free-convection liquid-cooled turbines
Analysis of turbulent free-convection boundary layer on flat plate
A calculation was made for the flow and heat transfer in the turbulent free-convection boundary layer on a vertical flat plate. Formulas for the heat-transfer coefficient, boundary layer thickness, and the maximum velocity in the boundary layer were obtained
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