Harm avoidance is related to mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitude in healthy subjects

peer reviewedEvent-related potential (ERP) studies evidenced that some personality dimensions induced different controlled cognitive attitudes towards the processing of information. However, few data are available on the possible relationships between personality and automatic attention or early sensory processing. In the present study the relationships between the mismatch negativity (MMN) and personality described by the Cloninger model of personality were investigated. Subjects were 32 healthy volunteers. The MMN was recorded with frequent stimuli tones of 1470 Hz, 70 dB and 40 ms duration, and target (20%) tones of 1470 Hz, 70 dB, 80 ms duration. The subjects completed a French version of the 226-item self-questionnaire TCI within the day following psychophysiological recording. The results showed that the HA dimension was negatively correlated with the MMN amplitude. The association was more present among women than men. No significant relationship existed between the other dimensions of personality and either the MMN amplitude or latency. These findings suggest that the MMN is related to the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), a fact which is consistent with clinical studies conducted on schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. In conclusion, this study suggests that personality dimensions induce different automatic attitudes towards the processing of information. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Uniform Registration Agreements on Cholesteatoma Care: A Nationwide Consensus Procedure

Background: To coordinate and align the content for registration of cholesteatoma care. Methods: Systematic Delphi consensus procedure, consisting three rounds: two written sessions followed by a face-to-face meeting. Before this procedure, input on important patient outcomes was obtained. Consensus was defined as at least 80% agreement by participants. Hundred-thirty-six adult patients who had undergone cholesteatoma surgery and all ENT surgeons of the Dutch ENT Society were invited. The consensus rounds were att

Towards Efficient Spectral Converters through Materials Design for Luminescent Solar Devices.

Single-junction photovoltaic devices exhibit a bottleneck in their efficiency due to incomplete or inefficient harvesting of photons in the low- or high-energy regions of the solar spectrum. Spectral converters can be used to convert solar photons into energies that are more effectively captured by the photovoltaic device through a photoluminescence process. Here, recent advances in the fields of luminescent solar concentration, luminescent downshifting, and upconversion are discussed. The focus is specifically on the role that materials science has to play in overcoming barriers in the optical performance in all spectral converters and on their successful integration with both established (e.g., c-Si, GaAs) and emerging (perovskite, organic, dye-sensitized) cell types. Current challenges and emerging research directions, which need to be addressed for the development of next-generation luminescent solar devices, are also discussed.This work was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland under Grant No. 12/IP/1608

How to Manage Cost of Quality?

Quality management is more relevant than ever and has become an important tool for companies to succeed in the challenging and global environment they operate in. It encapsulates several different methods and principles, and is to day often referred to as Total Quality Management (TQM). Product quality control was one of the first concepts within quality management, but companies have not always understood the importance of good quality to attract customers. A paradigm shift occurred when competitiveness increased, which forced companies to work more actively to consistently create products of good quality. Resources were directed to meet quality standards and measurements for quality activities were implemented; the Cost of Quality (CoQ) concepts were born.CoQ methods allow companies to understand the implications of delivering poor quality and provide tools to prevent products of poor quality being produced. This is described by Joseph Juran who defined CoQ as “the sum of all costs that would disappear if there were no quality problems”. Several different CoQ models exist but can generally be described as a structured way to identify, me asure and lower costs associated to quality. Research argues that a CoQ model has several benefits: it could be a good marketing tool, evaluating overall production costs, used for long term forecasting and a help to set selling price to mention a few. This thesis had as purpose to explore and gain knowledge in CoQ, to investigate the relationship between conformance and non-conformance costs in the chemical man ufacturing industry, and how that could be a basis for lowering total CoQ. The literature study gave knowledge about CoQ and made it possible to create an apprehension of how CoQ could be used in organizations and the benefits it can bring. Academic journals and articles provided information and knowledge within areas such as quality management, TQM, CoQ and continuous improvements. The empirical findings from the case study showed how CoQ could be interpreted and used by an organization in the chemical manufacturing industry. The case study is built on interviews, observations and by studying internal reports and internal management systems. A major finding in this thesis was how CoQ could be modelled to support a CoQ system effectively. Identification of critical components such as definition, classification, identification and measuring was guiding how a model could be designed to detect and lower CoQ in an organization. Several CoQ components were dentified. These are discussed both specifically for the case study and in general for the chemical manufacturing industry. Specific recommendations were derived from the conclusions, suggesting ways to further improve CoQ as a method for reaching quality excellence.Validerat; 20160607 (global_studentproject_submitter