Vestfold University College
UniversityTønsberg, Norway
Research output, citation impact, and the most-cited recent papers from Vestfold University College (Norway). Aggregated across the NobleBlocks index of 300M+ scholarly works.
Top-cited papers from Vestfold University College
Abstract At sufficiently high temperature and energy density, nuclear matter undergoes a transition to a phase in which quarks and gluons are not confined: the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) 1 . Such an exotic state of strongly interacting quantum chromodynamics matter is produced in the laboratory in heavy nuclei high-energy collisions, where an enhanced production of strange hadrons is observed 2,3,4,5,6 . Strangeness enhancement, originally proposed as a signature of QGP formation in nuclear collisions 7 , is more pronounced for multi-strange baryons. Several effects typical of heavy-ion phenomenology have been observed in high-multiplicity proton–proton (pp) collisions 8,9 , but the enhanced production of multi-strange particles has not been reported so far. Here we present the first observation of strangeness enhancement in high-multiplicity proton–proton collisions. We find that the integrated yields of strange and multi-strange particles, relative to pions, increases significantly with the event charged-particle multiplicity. The measurements are in remarkable agreement with the p–Pb collision results 10,11 , indicating that the phenomenon is related to the final system created in the collision. In high-multiplicity events strangeness production reaches values similar to those observed in Pb–Pb collisions, where a QGP is formed.
We offer as our main theoretical contribution a conceptual framework for how the past is evoked in present identity reconstruction and the ways in which the past influences the articulation of claims for future identity. We introduce the notion of textual, material, and oral memory forms as the means by which organizational actors evoke the past. The conceptual framework is applied in a study of two occasions of identity reconstruction in the LEGO Group, which revealed differences in ways that the past was evoked and influenced claims for future identity. Our study suggests that (1) a longer time perspective in the use of memory enabled a longer time perspective in formulating claims for future identity, (2) a broader scope of articulated identity claims for the future was related to the combination of a broader range of memory forms, and (3) the depth of claims for future identity was related to the way in which memory forms were combined. At a more general level, our paper illustrates how viewing identity construction from the perspective of an ongoing present adds a new dimension to understanding the temporal dynamics of organizational identity.
The ALICE measurement of ${K}_{S}^{0}$ and $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ production at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=2.76\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ is presented. The transverse momentum (${p}_{T}$) spectra are shown for several collision centrality intervals and in the ${p}_{T}$ range from $0.4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$ ($0.6\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$ for $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$) to $12\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$. The ${p}_{T}$ dependence of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}/{K}_{S}^{0}$ ratios exhibits maxima in the vicinity of $3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$, and the positions of the maxima shift towards higher ${p}_{T}$ with increasing collision centrality. The magnitude of these maxima increases by almost a factor of three between most peripheral and most central Pb-Pb collisions. This baryon excess at intermediate ${p}_{T}$ is not observed in $pp$ interactions at $\sqrt{s}=0.9\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ and at $\sqrt{s}=7\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$. Qualitatively, the baryon enhancement in heavy-ion collisions is expected from radial flow. However, the measured ${p}_{T}$ spectra above $2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$ progressively decouple from hydrodynamical-model calculations. For higher values of ${p}_{T}$, models that incorporate the influence of the medium on the fragmentation and hadronization processes describe qualitatively the ${p}_{T}$ dependence of the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}/{K}_{S}^{0}$ ratio.
Uncooled infrared bolometer arrays have become the technology of choice for low-cost infrared imaging systems used in applications such as thermography, firefighting, driver night vision, security and surveillance. Uncooled infrared bolometer arrays are reaching performance levels which previously only were possible with cooled infrared photon detectors. With a continuously increasing market volume (> 100 000 units per year to date), the cost for uncooled infrared imaging chips are decreasing accordingly. In this paper we give an overview of the historical development of uncooled infrared bolometer technology and present the most important bolometer performance parameters. The different technology concepts, bolometer design approaches and bolometer materials (including vanadium oxide, amorphous silicon, silicon diodes, silicon-germanium and metals) are discussed in detail. This is followed by an analysis of the current state-of-the-art infrared bolometer technologies, the status of the infrared industry and the latest technology trends.
The field of microfluidics has yet to develop practical devices that provide real clinical value. One of the main reasons for this is the difficulty in realizing low-cost, sensitive, reproducible, and portable analyte detection microfluidic systems. Previous research has addressed two main approaches for the detection technologies in lab-on-a-chip devices: (a) study of the compatibility of conventional instrumentation with microfluidic structures, and (b) integration of innovative sensors contained within the microfluidic system. Despite the recent advances in electrochemical and mechanical based sensors, their drawbacks pose important challenges to their application in disposable microfluidic devices. Instead, optical detection remains an attractive solution for lab-on-a-chip devices, because of the ubiquity of the optical methods in the laboratory. Besides, robust and cost-effective devices for use in the field can be realized by integrating proper optical detection technologies on chips. This review examines the recent developments in detection technologies applied to microfluidic biosensors, especially addressing several optical methods, including fluorescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance and surface plasmon resonance.
This study asks if the prevalence of loneliness in the population varies depending on the measures used, with special focus on loneliness among the elderly. The study compares loneliness in different age groups between 18 and 81 years old (N = 14,743) using two measures of loneliness: the (indirect) six-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and a single-item, direct question about loneliness. Data are from the Norwegian LOGG (Life Course, Generation, and Gender) study. We compare the findings on loneliness according to age, gender, health, and partner status. Overall, the two loneliness measures indicate a similar prevalence of loneliness, but attribute loneliness to somewhat different people. When using a direct measure, loneliness is more prevalent among women; when using the (indirect) De Jong Gierveld Scale, loneliness is more prevalent among men. Also, the association between age and loneliness differed when using the direct and the indirect measure.
AIM: This paper examined the psychometric properties of the Swedish Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire (DCSQ), which is a shorter and modified version of Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). METHODS: The study encompassed 5,227 workers born in 1953-57 from the population-based Hordaland Health Study. DCSQ, a 17-item questionnaire, covers psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support in the workplace. The workers were manually classified according to the Standard Classification of Occupations. The main statistical methods were principal component analyses, and estimation of internal consistency and the subscales' shared variance by Cronbach's coefficient a and Pearson's correlation coefficients, respectively. RESULTS: The study gave support to the tri-dimensional factor structure of DCSQ. Decision latitude tended to split into skill discretion and decision authority in skill-level homogeneous samples. The specificity of the item loadings was satisfactory except for "conflicting demands". The inter-correlation of the three main subscales was weak. The internal consistency of the subscales was generally satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of DCSQ are satisfactory. Being shorter and easier to use than the more comprehensive JCQ, DCSQ represents an important alternative, particularly if respondent burden and data-collection costs need to be minimized.
The ALICE Collaboration at the LHC has measured the J/ and photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV. The charmonium is identified via its leptonic decay for events where the hadronic activity is required to be minimal. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 23 b -1 . The cross section for coherent and incoherent J/ production in the rapidity interval -0.9 < y < 0.9, are d coh J/ /dy = 2.38 +0.34 -0.24 (sta + sys) mb and d inc J/ /dy = 0.98 +0.19 -0.17 (sta + sys) mb, respectively. The results are compared to theoretical models for J/ production and the coherent cross section is found to be in good agreement with those models incorporating moderate nuclear gluon shadowing at Bjorkenx around 10 -3 , such as EPS09 parametrization. In addition the cross section for the process e + e -has been measured and found to be in agreement with models implementing QED at leading order.
The pseudorapidity density of charged particles, $d{N}_{\mathrm{ch}}/d\ensuremath{\eta}$, at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions has been measured at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=5.02\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$. For the 5% most central collisions, we measure a value of $1943\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}54$. The rise in $d{N}_{\mathrm{ch}}/d\ensuremath{\eta}$ as a function of $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}$ is steeper than that observed in proton-proton collisions and follows the trend established by measurements at lower energy. The increase of $d{N}_{\mathrm{ch}}/d\ensuremath{\eta}$ as a function of the average number of participant nucleons, $⟨{N}_{\text{part}}⟩$, calculated in a Glauber model, is compared with the previous measurement at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=2.76\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$. A constant factor of about 1.2 describes the increase in $d{N}_{\mathrm{ch}}/d\ensuremath{\eta}$ from $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=2.76$ to 5.02 TeV for all centrality classes, within the measured range of 0%--80% centrality. The results are also compared to models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.
The purpose of this article is to study the influence of customer cocreation participation on customers’ brand experience, brand satisfaction and brand loyalty. We apply a service logic approach in which cocreation participation refers to cocreation of customer value together with the brand, cocreation of new value with the brand and cocreation of value together with other customers within the context of the brand. The reasoning applied is that customers’ cocreation with a brand – stimulating their engagement with the brand – influences brand experience, and through that, brand satisfaction and loyalty. A study among bank customers shows that cocreation participation positively influences sensory, affective, cognitive, behavioural and relational dimensions of a brand experience. However, influences of brand experience dimensions on satisfaction and loyalty are revealed to be complex as some of the dimensions influence satisfaction positively, while others have a negative influence. Furthermore, we show that the satisfaction and loyalty effects of cocreation participation are partially mediated by brand experience. Thus, there are both indirect and direct effects on satisfaction and loyalty from customers’ cocreation participation. Implications point to the importance of carefully managing cocreation participation in order to gain competitive advantages. Companies should be careful about how brand experience is stimulated through cocreation because of the potential risk of negative effects on satisfaction and loyalty.
Production of charged pions, kaons and protons at large transverse momenta
CMC research presents emoticons as visual representations of writers' emotions. We argue that the emoticons in authentic workplace e-mails do not primarily indicate writers' emotions. Rather, they provide information about how an utterance is supposed to be interpreted. We show that emoticons function as contextualization cues, which serve to organize interpersonal relations in written interaction. They serve 3 communicative functions. First, when following signatures, emoticons function as markers of a positive attitude. Second, when following utterances that are intended to be interpreted as humorous, they are joke/irony markers. Third, they are hedges: when following expressive speech acts (such as thanks, greetings, etc.) they function as strengtheners and when following directives (such as requests, corrections, etc.) they function as softeners.
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We report measurements of the primary charged-particle pseudorapidity density and transverse momentum distributions in $p\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathit{NN}}}=5.02\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{TeV}$ and investigate their correlation with experimental observables sensitive to the centrality of the collision. Centrality classes are defined by using different event-activity estimators, i.e., charged-particle multiplicities measured in three different pseudorapidity regions as well as the energy measured at beam rapidity (zero degree). The procedures to determine the centrality, quantified by the number of participants $({N}_{\mathrm{part}})$ or the number of nucleon-nucleon binary collisions $({N}_{\mathrm{coll}})$ are described. We show that, in contrast to Pb-Pb collisions, in $p\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions large multiplicity fluctuations together with the small range of participants available generate a dynamical bias in centrality classes based on particle multiplicity. We propose to use the zero-degree energy, which we expect not to introduce a dynamical bias, as an alternative event-centrality estimator. Based on zero-degree energy-centrality classes, the ${N}_{\mathrm{part}}$ dependence of particle production is studied. Under the assumption that the multiplicity measured in the Pb-going rapidity region scales with the number of Pb participants, an approximate independence of the multiplicity per participating nucleon measured at mid-rapidity of the number of participating nucleons is observed. Furthermore, at high-${p}_{\mathrm{T}}$ the $p\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Pb}$ spectra are found to be consistent with the $pp$ spectra scaled by ${N}_{\mathrm{coll}}$ for all centrality classes. Our results represent valuable input for the study of the event-activity dependence of hard probes in $p\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Pb}$ collisions and, hence, help to establish baselines for the interpretation of the Pb-Pb data.
The production of (anti-)deuteron and (anti-)$^{3}\text{He}$ nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV has been studied using the ALICE detector at the LHC. The spectra exhibit a significant hardening with increasing centrality. Combined blast-wave fits of several particles support the interpretation that this behavior is caused by an increase of radial flow. The integrated particle yields are discussed in the context of coalescence and thermal-statistical model expectations. The particle ratios, $^{3}\text{He}/d$ and $^{3}\text{He}/p$, in Pb-Pb collisions are found to be in agreement with a common chemical freeze-out temperature of ${T}_{\mathrm{chem}}\ensuremath{\approx}156$ MeV. These ratios do not vary with centrality which is in agreement with the thermal-statistical model. In a coalescence approach, it excludes models in which nucleus production is proportional to the particle multiplicity and favors those in which it is proportional to the particle density instead. In addition, the observation of 31 anti-tritons in Pb-Pb collisions is reported. For comparison, the deuteron spectrum in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV is also presented. While the $p/\ensuremath{\pi}$ ratio is similar in $pp$ and Pb-Pb collisions, the $d/p$ ratio in $pp$ collisions is found to be lower by a factor of 2.2 than in Pb-Pb collisions.
We report the first results of elliptic (v_{2}), triangular (v_{3}), and quadrangular (v_{4}) flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are performed in the central pseudorapidity region |η|<0.8 and for the transverse momentum range 0.2<p_{T}<5 GeV/c. The anisotropic flow is measured using two-particle correlations with a pseudorapidity gap greater than one unit and with the multiparticle cumulant method. Compared to results from Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV, the anisotropic flow coefficients v_{2}, v_{3}, and v_{4} are found to increase by (3.0±0.6)%, (4.3±1.4)%, and (10.2±3.8)%, respectively, in the centrality range 0%-50%. This increase can be attributed mostly to an increase of the average transverse momentum between the two energies. The measurements are found to be compatible with hydrodynamic model calculations. This comparison provides a unique opportunity to test the validity of the hydrodynamic picture and the power to further discriminate between various possibilities for the temperature dependence of shear viscosity to entropy density ratio of the produced matter in heavy-ion collisions at the highest energies.
The link between money and motivation has been a debated topic for decades, especially in work organizations. However, field studies investigating the amount of pay in relation to employee motivation is lacking and there have been calls for empirical studies addressing compensation systems and motivation in the work domain. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes associated with the amount of pay, and perceived distributive and procedural justice regarding pay in relation to those for perceived managerial need support. Participants were 166 bank employees who also reported on their basic psychological need satisfaction and intrinsic work motivation. SEM-analyses tested a self-determination theory (SDT) model, with satisfaction of the competence and autonomy needs as an intervening variable. The primary findings were that amount of pay and employees' perceived distributive justice regarding their pay were unrelated to employees' need satisfaction and intrinsic work motivation, but procedural justice regarding pay did affect these variables. However, managerial need support was the most important factor for promoting need satisfaction and intrinsic work motivation both directly, indirectly, and as a moderator in the model. Hence, the results of the present organizational field study support earlier laboratory experiments within the SDT framework showing that monetary rewards did not enhance intrinsic motivation. This seems to have profound implications for organizations concerned about motivating their employees.
Azimuthally anisotropic distributions of ${D}^{0}$, ${D}^{+}$, and ${D}^{*+}$ mesons were studied in the central rapidity region ($|y|<0.8$) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ per nucleon-nucleon collision, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The second Fourier coefficient ${v}_{2}$ (commonly denoted elliptic flow) was measured in the centrality class 30%--50% as a function of the $D$ meson transverse momentum ${p}_{T}$, in the range $2--16\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$. The measured ${v}_{2}$ of $D$ mesons is comparable in magnitude to that of light-flavor hadrons. It is positive in the range $2<{p}_{T}<6\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/c$ with $5.7\ensuremath{\sigma}$ significance, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Measurements of multiparticle azimuthal correlations (cumulants) for charged particles in $p$-Pb at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV and Pb-Pb at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76$ TeV collisions are presented. They help address the question of whether there is evidence for global, flowlike, azimuthal correlations in the $p$-Pb system. Comparisons are made to measurements from the larger Pb-Pb system, where such evidence is established. In particular, the second harmonic two-particle cumulants are found to decrease with multiplicity, characteristic of a dominance of few-particle correlations in $p$-Pb collisions. However, when a $|\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\eta}|$ gap is placed to suppress such correlations, the two-particle cumulants begin to rise at high multiplicity, indicating the presence of global azimuthal correlations. The Pb-Pb values are higher than the $p$-Pb values at similar multiplicities. In both systems, the second harmonic four-particle cumulants exhibit a transition from positive to negative values when the multiplicity increases. The negative values allow for a measurement of ${v}_{2}{4}$ to be made, which is found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions at similar multiplicities. The second harmonic six-particle cumulants are also found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions. In Pb-Pb collisions, we generally find ${v}_{2}{4}\ensuremath{\simeq}{v}_{2}{6}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ which is indicative of a Bessel-Gaussian function for the ${v}_{2}$ distribution. For very high-multiplicity Pb-Pb collisions, we observe that the four- and six-particle cumulants become consistent with 0. Finally, third harmonic two-particle cumulants in $p$-Pb and Pb-Pb are measured. These are found to be similar for overlapping multiplicities, when a $|\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\eta}|>1.4$ gap is placed.
Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of Equidae, including horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, caused by either of two protozoan parasites, Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. These parasites are biologically transmitted between hosts via tick vectors, and although they have inherent differences they are categorized together because they cause similar pathology and have similar morphologies, life cycles, and vector relationships. To complete their life cycle, these parasites must undergo a complex series of developmental events, including sexual-stage development in their tick vectors. Consequently, ticks are the definitive hosts as well as vectors for these parasites, and the vector relationship is restricted to a few competent tick species. Because the vector relationship is critical to the epidemiology of these parasites, we highlight current knowledge of the vector ecology of these tick-borne equine pathogens, emphasizing tick transmissibility and potential control strategies to prevent their spread.