Comparative study of the factors affecting the generativity of office spaces

This study investigated the categories of generative and conservative offices by using syntactic theories and conducting a comparativean alysis of two different layout configurations. Generativity depends on several features that include but are not limited to spatial criteria. Generativity is also affected by aspects that extend beyond the physical, such as the symbolic relationship between the social organism of an organization and the internal structure of a workplace. Results show that no consistent relationship exists between spatial variables and behaviors even though the examined layouts satisfy an organization's basi ccultural require-ments, including privacy, territoriality, and hierarchy. Spatial parameters increase the potential for generativity, but such increase is not guaranteed without necessary changes in the attitudes, programs, and policies of organizations. Recognizing the limits of spatial variables requires evidence-based field research on office settings to determine operational and tailor-made solutions.     

User preferences for adaptive user interfaces in health information systems

An adaptive user interface requires identification of user requirements. Interface designers and engineers must understand end-user interaction with the system to improve user interface design. A combination of interviews and observations is applied for user requirement analysis in health information systems (HIS). Then, user preferences are categorized in this paper as either data entry, language and vocabulary, information presentation, or help, warning and feedback. The user preferences in these categories were evaluated using the focus group method. Focus group sessions with different types of HIS users comprising medical staff (with and without computer skills) and system administrators identified each user group’s preference for the initial adaptation of the HIS user interface. User needs and requirements must be identified to adapt the interface to users during data entry into the system. System designers must understand user interactions with the system to identify their needs and preferences. Without this, interface design cannot be adapted to users and users will not be comfortable using the system and eventually abandon its use.     

Functional properties of acetylated glutenin and gliadin at varying pH values

Applications of glutenin and gliadin in food products are limited as they cannot provide desirable functional properties. The objectives of this study were to improve the functional properties of glutenin and gliadin by acetylation using acetic anhydride and to study these properties at pH 3, 6 and 9. Under the experimental conditions, about 53.88% of glutenin and 28.46% of gliadin were acetylated. pH of the medium and acetylation of the proteins affected water solubility, water absorption, water holding capacity, emulsifying and foaming properties of the samples. The results of the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits and ω-gliadins were affected by acetylation, while pH changes had no significant effect on the molecular weight of the proteins. Taken together, the results showed that acetylated glutenin and gliadin can be used as protein sources with good functional properties, particularly at alkaline pH.     

Prediction of Thermodynamic Properties of Liquid Air

In this work, a simple equation of state (EoS) has been used to predict some thermodynamic properties of air as a pseudo-pure fluid; as a ternary mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon; and as a binary mixture of nitrogen and oxygen at different temperatures and pressures. A comparison with literature tabulated values has been made. The agreement of calculated densities with corresponding tabulated values is good for which the average absolute deviations are better than 0.06% if we assume air as a pseudo-pure fluid, and 0.9% and 1.2% if we consider air as a ternary mixture and as a binary mixture, respectively. To show the ability of this equation of state to predict density, the calculated densities of air have been compared with those computed by other methods.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel optically active and photoactive aromatic polyesters containing 1,8-naphthalimidyl pendant group by step-growth polymerization

Novel optically active polyesters (PE)s by step-growth polymerization of a chiral diacid containing naphthalimidyl and flexible chiral groups with different diols via direct polyesterification reaction with tosyl chloride/pyridine/dimethylformamide system as condensing agent were prepared. The resulting PEs were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorimetry, and elemental analysis. Fluorescence properties of the PE3h as a representative one were examined in several polar aprotic solvents which reveal that this polymer has photoactive properties. Furthermore, thermal properties of these polymers were investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analyses. The glass-transition temperatures of PE3b and PE3f were recorded between 264 and 220 °C by differential scanning calorimetry, and the 10% weight loss temperatures were ranging from 350 °C under nitrogen. The obtained macromolecules are readily soluble in many organic solvents.     

Electromechanical Properties of Acceptor‐Doped Lead‐Free Piezoelectric Ceramics

We have studied the processing and electromechanical properties of Mn and Fe‐doped 0.88[Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃]–0.08[Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃]–0.04[Bi_0.5Li_0.5TiO₃] piezoelectric ceramics prepared by the mixed oxide route. Different amounts of Mn (0.01, 0.014, 0.015, 0.016, 0.017, 0.02, 0.022) or Fe (0.0125, 0.015, 0.0175) were doped to this lead‐free piezoelectric composition. Ceramics were sintered at different temperatures (1075°C–1150°C) to achieve the highest density and mechanical quality factor. Mn or Fe doping resulted in a considerable enhancement of Q_m in both planar and thickness resonance modes. In 1.5 mol% Mn‐doped ceramics sintered at 1100°C, a planar Q_m of about 970 and tanδ of 0.88% were obtained. In Fe‐doped ceramics, a planar Q_m as high as 900 was achieved. Acceptor dopants also resulted in decreasing the coupling coefficients, the piezoelectric charge coefficient, and the dielectric constant.