Patent and literature statistics – The case of optoelectronics

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of different statistical analyses from patent and literature databases that in combination are helpful for a variety of mostly strategic decision settings in firms. For the case of optoelectronics we assess the patenting and publishing activity of firms and individuals and their citation frequency.The analyses identified leading players in the field, revealed technological dependencies, and the existence of patent clusters as patenting strategies. Co-citation analysis highlighted technological similarities between two firms involved in patent litigation trials. In this science-based technology field individuals combining characteristics of key inventors (a high activity and citation level in patenting) as well as core scientists (a high activity and citation frequency level in publishing) – therefore labelled “R&D dualists” – successfully bridge the gap between science and technology, but are exceptionally rare. Citation-weighted patent counts demonstrated the pivotal impact of one “R&D dualist” in an industrial R&D laboratory, severely affecting the laboratories’ outcome when this individual left. An increasing level of R&D cooperation in particular technological subfields after the individual’s departure could be found. However, patent analysis did not find evidence for long-term competence transfer in these subfields.     

Patterns of author cocitation in information policy: Evidence of social, collaborative and cognitive structure

This paper presents the findings of an author cocitation study in the field of information policy. Cocitation frequencies for 21 leading authors over the period 1972–1997 were obtained from the multidisciplinary databaseSocial Sciences Citation Index. The raw cocitation counts were transformed into a matrix of Pearson correlation profiles and subsequently visualised using multidimensional scaling techniques. An initial interpretation of the structure of the field of information policy was attempted, drawing on a range of non-bibliometric evidence. The results of a customised postal questionnaire to the data subjects themselves supports the present writer's allocation of the authors into thematic clusters. These results suggest that the social, collaborative and intellectual structure of information policy scholarship are highly convergent.     

Industry's role in improving the United States' economic and competitive performance

The author argues that the United States has paid insufficient attention in recent years to the relationship between its overall economic well-being and technology. He states that a major goal of the Clinton Administration, and the objective of the Technology Administration in the Department of Commerce, is to work with industry to address these issues. The ways in which this is being done are examined, and the issues involved in answering the questions: “Where are we?,” “Where are we going?,” and “How do we get there?” are discussed.     

Thawing and freezing of selected meat products in household refrigerators

Recently, several manufacturers of domestic refrigerators have introduced models with “quick thaw” and “quick freeze” capabilities. In this study, the time required for freezing and thawing different meat products was determined for five different models of household refrigerators. Two refrigerators had “quick thaw” compartments and three refrigerators had “quick freeze” capabilities. It was found that some refrigerator models froze and thawed foods significantly faster than others (P<0.05). The refrigerators with the fastest freezing and thawing times were found to be those with “quick thaw” and “quick freeze” capabilities. Heat transfer coefficients ranged from 8 to 15 Wm⁻²K⁻¹ during freezing, and the overall heat transfer coefficients ranged from 5 to 7 Wm⁻² K⁻¹ during thawing. Mathematical predictions for freezing and thawing time in the refrigerators gave results similar to those obtained in experiments. With the results described, manufacturers can improve their design of refrigerators with quick thawing and freezing functions.     

Analysis of OREDA data for maintenance optimisation

This paper provides estimates for the average rate of occurrence of failures, ROCOF (“failure rate”), for critical failures when also degraded failures are present. The estimation approach is exemplified with a data set from the offshore equipment reliability database “OREDA”. The suggested modelling provides a means of predicting how maintenance tasks will affect the rate of critical failures.     

A new estimator for sensitivity analysis of model output: An application to the e-business readiness composite indicator

In this paper we propose and test a generalisation of the method originally proposed by Sobol’, and recently extended by Saltelli, to estimate the first-order and total effect sensitivity indices. Exploiting the symmetries and the dualities of the formulas, we obtain additional estimates of first-order and total indices at no extra computational cost. We test the technique on a case study involving the construction of a composite indicator of e-business readiness, which is part of the initiative “e-Readiness of European enterprises” of the European Commission “e-Europe 2005” action plan. The method is used to assess the contribution of uncertainties in (a) the weights of the component indicators and (b) the imputation of missing data on the composite indicator values for several European countries.     

Pompes à chaleur à distillation diabatiqueHeat pumps with diabatic distillation

The authors propose a method of enhancing the performance of absorption heat pumps. This method involves “diabatization” of each of the four components: desorber, condenser, evaporator and absorber.     

Classification of environmentally assisted fatigue crack growth behavior

Fatigue crack growth is represented using fracture mechanics parameters, ΔK and K_max. Environmental effects that depend on time and stress affect the fatigue behavior predominantly through K_max parameter. The superimposed effects of environment and stress are seemingly complex. We have developed a methodology for classifying and separating the effects of environment on fatigue crack growth. A “crack growth trajectory map” is constructed from the behavior of ΔK versus K_max for various constant crack growth rate curves. A “pure fatigue” behavior is defined, in terms of environment-free behavior, such as in high vacuum. Deviation from this “pure fatigue” reference of the trajectory map is associated with either monotonic mode of fracture or to the superimposed environmental effects on crack growth. Using such an approach, called “Unified Damage Approach”, we classify the environmental effects in almost all materials into only five types. Each of these types shows the combination of time and stress affecting the crack tip driving force, and thus ΔK and K_max. The trajectory map depicts the changing material resistance due to the changing crack growth mechanisms with increasing crack growth rate, as reflected in terms of the applied stress intensities, ΔK and K_max. Thus the trajectory map provides a useful tool to separate the contributions from pure fatigue and superimposed monotonic modes and the governing crack growth mechanisms as a function of load-ratio, crack growth rate and environment. Understanding and quantification of the governing mechanisms would help in developing a more fundamental and reliable life prediction method.     

Business community views

Three tasks must be included when considering the broad topic of urban security. The first is to define the term “critical infrastructure.” Second, security must be viewed from a systems perspective when looking at cities and the infrastructure that serves them. Third, careful scrutiny must be given to heretofore not-considered vulnerabilities that exist in every major city.In the hours and days immediately following the attacks on September 11, everything from foot bridges to tall buildings were considered to be critical infrastructure. But, clearly, not everything in such a broad definition can be defended. So then, what is today’s definition of critical infrastructure? One might be a new version of the “3 R’s”—resist, respond, recover. In those terms, “critical infrastructure” could be defined as: (a) systems whose rapid failure would lead to a catastrophic loss of life; (b) systems whose failure or significant degradation would lead to unacceptable economic consequences; (c) systems whose rapid failure would significantly impact rescue and response efforts; and (d) systems whose significant degradation severely impact recovery efforts.Resist? It would be impossible for a city to resist everything, everywhere. The ability to respond to some events would require efforts that are above and beyond the realistic capability of any city. That moves the scenario to recovery and rebuilding.     

Developing new test procedures for domestic refrigerators: harmonisation issues and future R&D needs—a review

This paper highlights the salient differences among various test standards for household refrigerators/freezers and identifies the main parameters that play important role in the overall energy consumption of a refrigerating appliance. Further the paper examines the merits and demerits of current test standards for refrigerator-freezers and proposes new guidelines that should be considered to improve them. There is a need to develop a new test procedure that harmonises the basic features of various standards and is simple, repeatable and reproducible. Such a procedure should also represent realistic “real” world energy use, encourage product innovation, capture both the software and hardware developments and facilitate ‘free trade’ among various economies. In order to achieve this, the paper highlights areas where concerted efforts are required for carrying out the requisite research and development work.     

The use of the generalized Waring process in modelling informetric data

Summary Although its use in informetrics dates back at least to 1987, data analysed in a recent paper by Shan et al. (2004) has rekindled interest in the generalized Waring distribution (GWD). The purpose of this note is to show that for many purposes, the distribution is best motivated via a familiar informetric scenario of a population of “sources” producing “items” over time leading to a stochastic process from which the univariate, bivariate and multivariate forms of the GWD are natural consequences. Earlier work and possible future applications are highlighted. Many of the results are due to Irwin and Xekalaki while much of the material on the Waring process has been previously available in an unpublished research report by the author (Burrell, 1991).     

Numerical solution for degenerate scale problem for exterior multiply connected region

Based on some previous publications, this paper investigates the numerical solution for degenerate scale problem for exterior multiply connected region. In the present study, the first step is to formulate a homogenous boundary integral equation (BIE) in the degenerate scale. The coordinate transform with a magnified factor, or a reduced factor h is performed in the next step. Using the property ln(hx)=ln(x)+lg(h), the new obtained BIE equation can be considered as a non-homogenous one defined in the transformed coordinates. The relevant scale in the transformed coordinates is a normal scale. Therefore, the new obtained BIE equation is solvable. Fundamental solutions are introduced. For evaluating the fundamental solutions, the right-hand terms in the non-homogenous equation, or a BIE, generally take the value of unit or zero. By using the obtained fundamental solutions, an equation for evaluating the magnified factor “h” is obtained. Finally, the degenerate scale is obtainable. Several numerical examples with two ellipses in an infinite plate are presented. Numerical solutions prove that the degenerate scale does not depend on the normal scale used in the process for evaluating the fundamental solutions.     

Surface activated bonding of LCP/Cu for electronic packaging

A lamination technique for liquid crystal polymer (LCP)/Cu was developed for high speed and high performance printed circuit boards (PCB). This approach was accomplished by using a modified surface activated bonding (SAB) process to achieve enhanced adhesion and a smooth interface. Systematic investigation of peel strength of four categories of samples, namely “as bonded”, “annealed”, “Cu-deposited”, and “Cu-deposited and annealed” showed highest peel strength in the “Cu-deposited and annealed” sample. Significant improvements in adhesion were observed in the samples cleaned with argon-radio frequency (Ar-rf) plasma (“as bonded” samples) followed by Cu deposition on LCP, which were heated after bonding in low vacuum pressure at 240∘C (about 70–75 times higher than that of “as bonded”). XPS analyses on peeled surfaces of the “Cu-deposited and annealed” sample reveal bulk fracture in the LCP. Threefold lower loss in conduction of SAB processed laminate than that of conventional heat laminate was most likely due to smooth interface of the SAB processed laminate (surface roughness was ninefold lower than that of conventional heat laminate). A plausible adhesion mechanism of Cu/LCP might be due to bonding of Cu adhesion sites to plasma induced dangling sites of LCP surface, and thermal reconstruction of Cu deposited layers.     

The impact of work input to sorption cyclesImpact de l'apport en énergie sur les cycles à sorption

In recent years the interest in cooling machines or heat pumps combining the principles of compression and sorption technology is increasing. The reason is that both technologies have specific drawbacks which can be overcome by the combination. Our discussion is centred around absorption cycles which use a compressor, and, consequently, an input of a significant amount of mechanical work in addition to heat. In most publications cycles of this kind are discussed in terms of one single COP as usual in the refrigeration industry. This, however, is wrong from a thermodynamic, and misleading from a technical and economical point of view. In order to highlight the need for a strict thermodynamic approach, a fundamental difference between distinct kinds of work input, namely “recoverable work”, “dissipative work” and “heat transformation work” is discussed in the first part of the paper. In the second part it is shown how the input of both work and heat into a energy conversion system has to be handled with both mechanical and thermal COP. The method is thermodynamically sound and straightforward, technically feasible and easy to apply, and most quickly transferred into economical terms. In the third part, a practical example of a compression–absorption hybrid is investigated.     

“The ‘De-materialisation’ Myth” and the Limits to Growth: a Commentary on Dr. Trainer's Paper

Dr. Ted Trainer's paper in this issue contends that “de-materialisation” (decreasing energy and material inputs per unit of output) is a “myth” that must now be dropped from arguments against the “limits to growth” thesis. His specific arguments against de-materialisation are questioned in this commentary. This paper goes on to argue that even if de-materialisation has not taken place, it does not follow that near-term “zero growth” becomes necessary. On the contrary, the “limits to growth” position rests on erroneous Malthusian projections, and if the scarcity and spillover effects of growth are appropriately priced, conservation and substitution will be induced. Economic growth will facilitate technological and economic solutions to pollution and depletion. Institutional arrangements that will structure incentives, such as making better use of markets to set appropriate prices, are at the heart of the sustainability problem.     

Predicting fatigue transverse crack growth in cross-ply carbon–epoxy laminates from quasi static strength tests by using iso-damage curves

Cross-ply laminates made of carbon/epoxy IM7/977-2 system are investigated. The fatigue study is confined to ambient temperature conditions and zero loading ratio. Damage is characterized by the transverse crack density ρ in the central 90°-layer. The family of experimental fatigue cracking curves (ρ versus N, where N is the number of cycles, for each tensile test maximum stress amplitude) can be replaced with a set of “iso-damage curves”, i.e. contour curves of constant ρ in the σ–log (N) plane. The iso-damage curves approximately constitute a fan of straight lines that intersect at a common point (σ_e, log (N_s)), where N_s is a very large number of cycles beyond which no more crack appears, and σ_e is some fatigue limit.Our aim is to propose a simple method to predict fatigue cracking at an arbitrary maximum stress level loading by using data stemming from a constant strain rate test. This method essentially rests upon the construction of the above “iso-damage” curves, using very simple assumptions.     

On the origin of the stress decrease for nickel polycrystals with few grains across the thickness

The mechanical behaviour under uniaxial and loading/unloading tensile tests of high purity nickel with different number of grains across the thickness is studied experimentally. The specimens have a constant 500 μm thickness and the mean number of grains across the thickness (i.e., thickness “t” to grain size “d” ratio) lies between 0.9 and 15. An extended microstructural study is operated and no change of the microstructure appears with a modification of t/d. The experimental results show that the t/d ratio affects the hardening stages, flow stress, intragranular and intergranular backstress of the samples. For specimens with few grains across the thickness, the flow stress is reduced due to a decrease in the intragranular backstress. The main explanation of these results is a delay of the generalization of cross-slip for the lowest t/d ratio specimens due to surface effects.     

Phonon Spectra and Discrete Oscillatory Levels in Crystal Superlattices of Deuterium—and Hydrogen—Palladium Solid Solutions

Characteristics of the discrete vibration levels of substitution impurity are calculated for frequencies belong to gap between acoustic and optical zones (deuterium in PdH) as well as for the areas outside the phonon spectra (hydrogen in PdD). Data of neutron diffraction analysis are used to determine the force constants of pure palladium as well as PdH solid solutions. Diverse configurations of vacancies close to impurity atoms are discussed. With the help of the calculated frequencies and intensities of the local and “gap” vibrations in the system “isotope-defect + vacancies” it is possible to analyze behavior of the certain characteristics in disordered solid solutions PdH(D)_x<1 and to obtain information about the vacancy structure of the considered compounds.PACS numbers: 63.20 Mt, 63.20 Pw, 63.50 +x.     

Is the biological revolution a match for the trinity of despair?

The author describes the history of the biological revolution over the past 40 years and its resulting cascade of information regarding the structure and function of genes. He describes the challenge for the new technology as its potential ability to deal with “the trinity of despair”: hunger, disease, and insufficient resources to support an expanding population. After demonstrating potential ways biotechnology might alleviate these world problems, the author outlines a challenging strategy for the United States to take the lead with other western democracies to match the promise of biotechnology with the major tasks before society.