Testing the dimensionality of the quality management construct

© 2014 Taylor & Francis. Numerous empirical studies have conceptualised quality management (QM) as either a multidimensional or unidimensional construct. While few prior studies tested some aspects of the assumed dimensional structure of the construct, no study has been found to have tested the construct's dimensionality using alternative factor analysis models. To gain a better insight into dimensional properties of the QM construct, this paper tests its dimensionality using three confirmatory factor analysis models (oblique factor model, higher-order factor model, and one-factor model) on a subset of data collected in a larger study that investigated the effects of QM on competitive advantage using a sample of 288 hotel managers in Egypt. The results of the three tests indicate that the QM construct is multidimensional. While this study contributes to advancing the QM theory and practice, further studies are needed to investigate the dimensional properties of the construct in greater depth. The results of this study may therefore stimulate research in this area and encourage the much needed debate on the dimensionality of the QM construct

Near-infrared Single-photon-counting Detectors for Free-space Laser Receivers

We compare several photon-counting detector technologies for use as near-infrared timeresolved laser receivers in science instrument, communication and navigation systems. The key technologies are InGaAs(P) photocathode hybrid photomultiplier tubes and InGaAs(P) and HgCdTe avalanche photodiodes. We discuss recent experimental results and application

Special Issue on the Third Workshop on Biological Mentality

The Third Workshop on Biological Mentality was held from September 23, 2019 to March 2, 2020 as a series of twenty-one Monday online conferencing sessions, each consisting of a talk followed by a Q&A discussion. Like the two previous workshops [1, 2], the objective of this workshop was to seek a deeper level of understanding the physical foundations of biological mentality (whether conscious or nonconscious)

Consciousness as a factor in evolution

What I call the mind began as a non-conscious robotic biochemical process control system in the very earliest forms of life. As life evolved, problems in control became more difficult and exceeded the computational capabilities of the organisms. Nature discovered a means of transcending computable physical processes resulting in non-computational subjective mental capabilities that, while still not conscious, had a degree of genuine autonomy from the physical world. These autonomous subjective wants and goals now affected the course of (but not the mechanism of) evolution. The integrated amalgam of robotic and transrobotic unconscious capabilities eventually gave rise to consciousness, which became an even more important factor in the course of evolution. The processes responsible for transrobotic mentality are conjectured to leave evidence in the physical world in the form of violations of conservation laws, evidence that future experiments may be able to detect

JWST Near-Infrared Detectors: Latest Test Results

The James Webb Space Telescope, an infrared-optimized space telescope being developed by NASA for launch in 2013, will utilize cutting-edge detector technology in its investigation of fundamental questions in astrophysics. JWST's near infrared spectrograph, NIRSpec utilizes two 2048 x 2048 HdCdTe arrays with Sidecar ASIC readout electronics developed by Teledyne to provide spectral coverage from 0.6 microns to 5 microns. We present recent test and calibration results for the NIRSpec flight arrays as well as data processing routines for noise reduction and cosmic ray rejection

Characteristics of Ice Cream With the Addition of Nutmeg Puree (Myristica fragrans Houtt).

Ice cream is one of the frozen processed products with milk-based ingredients and has various flavors, colors, and soft textures, so many enthusiasts are among the public, from children to adults. Ice cream flour is flour that is processed from various milk mixtures. This study aims to determine the appropriate concentration of nutmeg puree on the characteristics of ice cream. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design consisting of one factor, namely the addition of nutmeg puree with four treatment levels, as follows: (P0) Control without adding nutmeg puree, (P1) 50 g of nutmeg puree or 4.9%, (P2) 100 g nutmeg puree or 9.8% (P3) 150 g nutmeg puree or 14.7%. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the treatment of adding 100% nutmeg puree was the best result with a total dissolved solids value of 22.57%, vitamin C 0.03%, the fat content of 1.51% and chemical-physical tests in the form of overrun and melting rate respectively 51.38% and 15.74 minutes. Based on organoleptic tests, including color, taste, aroma, and texture, adding 100% nutmeg puree gave a liking value

New Particle-Induced Single Event Latchup Mechanism Observed in a Cryogenic CMOS Readout Integrated Circuit

No abstract availabl

Some Volatile Aroma Components of Vitis Vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc

Volatile aroma components of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc grapes were studied to identify the components responsible for the characteristic aroma of this grape cultivar. Thirty three volatile components were identified. Amongst these methional and trans-2, cis-6-nonadienal are reported present in Vitis for the first time. Evidence is also presented for the presence of three methoxypyrazines which are believed to be key substances responsible for the typical aroma present in grapes and wines of this cultivar

Snowballs in Euclid and WFIRST Detectors

Snowballs are transient events observed in HgCdTe detectors with a sudden increase of charge in a few pixels. They appear between consecutive reads of the detector, after which the affected pixels return to their normal behavior. The origin of the snowballs is unknown, but it was speculated that they could be the result of alpha decay of naturally radioactive contaminants in the detectors, but a cosmic ray origin cannot be ruled out. Even though previous studies predicted a low rate of occurrence of these events, and consequently, a minimal impact on science, it is interesting to investigate the cause or causes that may generate snowballs and their impact in detectors designed for future missions. We searched for the presence of snowballs in the dark current data in Euclid and Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) detectors tested in the Detector Characterization Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center. Our investigation shows that for Euclid and WFIRST detectors, there are snowballs that appear only one time, and others that repeat in the same spatial localization. For Euclid detectors, there is a correlation between the snowballs that repeat and bad pixels in the operational masks (pixels that do not fulfill the requirements to pass spectroscopy noise, photometry noise, quantum efficiency, and/or linearity). The rate of occurrence for a snowball event is about 0.9 snowballs/hr. in Euclid detectors (for the ones that do not have associated bad pixels in the mask), and about 0.7 snowballs/hr. in PV3 Full Array Lot WFIRST detectors

James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph: Dark Performance of the First Flight Candidate Detector Arrays

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) incorporates two 5 micron cutoff (lambda(sub co) = 5 micron) 2048x2048 pixel Teledyne HgCdTe HAWAII-2RG sensor chip assemblies. These detector arrays, and the two Teledyne SIDECAR application specific integrated circuits that control them, are operated in space at T approx. 37 K. This article focuses on the measured performance of the first flight-candidate, and near-flight candidate, detector arrays. These are the first flight-packaged detector arrays that meet NIRSpec's challenging 6 e(-) rms total noise requirement