From “Face‐Saving” to “Cost Saving”: Encouraging and Promoting Business Mediation in Asia

The past decade has witnessed a surge in efforts to institutionalize and popularize business mediation as an alternative to litigation in Asia. For example, the anticipated establishment of the Singapore International Mediation Centre ( bit.ly/1rqO845 ) and the existence of the Hong Kong Mediation Council ( bit.ly/1vQWqGS ) and Financial Dispute Resolution Centre ( bit.ly/1skmJpO ), evince an increasing demand for mediation in Asia. It has been just over two years since the Hong Kong SAR adopted a Mediation Ordinance ( bit.ly/1pUVDRe ), which entered into effect on January 1, 2013, signaling that states are becoming aware of the need to regulate mediation.     

Lanthanide “Chameleon” Multistage Anti‐Counterfeit Materials

Hybrid materials displaying multistage security behavior, where a single material shows both wavelength‐ and temperature‐dependent luminescence properties, are reported. The materials consist of mixed‐lanthanide β‐diketonate complexes grafted into the pores of a nanosized 2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐dicarboxylate‐acid MOF. A very specific choice of lanthanides and their ratios, as well as β‐diketonate ligand, is crucial for obtaining the desired properties. The wavelength‐dependent luminescence properties of the materials are very well matched with the excitation wavelengths of a standard UV lamp, and a clearly visible change in luminescence is observed in a narrow temperature range (slightly below and above room temperature), proving them to be excellent materials for use in anti‐counterfeit technologies, which would be almost impossible to mimic.     

“Nano‐Fishnet” Structure Making Silk Fibers Tougher

Based on the combined technologies of atomic force microscopy, X‐ray diffraction/scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis, etc., it is demonstrated that the nano‐fishnet‐like networks, one of the most flexible but toughest structures, turn out to be the basic structure of silk filaments. The force patterns of pulling individual fibrils allow the identification of the pathways of unfolding protein segments in stacking β‐crystallites, which reveal the fishnet‐like topology. The calculation shows that the β‐crystallites in silk nanofibrils are the cross‐linking points of the nano‐fishnets, which may enhance the toughness of silk filaments up to 1000 times, compared with amyloid‐like and unlinked string structures. It follows that the strong β‐sheet–β‐sheet interaction, a high degree of ordering, and a high density of β‐crystallites in silk fibers toughen the fishnet structure, then strengthen silk filaments, in consistency with the experiments for both spider and silkworm silks. The knowledge on the fishnet structure of silk fibers sheds light on the design and synthesis of either protein or synthetic fibers of ultraperformance in a more generic way.     

Stability and Hydrogenation of “Bare” Gadolinium Nanoparticles

Gadolinium nanoparticles, deposited via an inert gas evaporation method, show improved stability towards oxidation and it is therefore possible to carry out an ex‐situ investigation on “bare” Gd nanoparticles, i.e., in the absence of a protective Pd layer, for the first time. A size‐induced structural transformation from hexagonal close packing to the higher‐symmetry face‐centered cubic structure is observed. The important observation of hydrogen–Gd‐nanoparticle interaction at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, without a Pd catalytic layer, makes Gd nanoparticles a potential candidate for hydrogen‐sensing, switching, and storage applications.     

Digital Background-Calibration Algorithm for “Split ADC” Architecture

The “split ADC” architecture enables continuous digital background calibration by splitting the die area of a single ADC design into two independent halves, each converting the same input signal. The two independent outputs are averaged to produce the ADC output code. The difference of the two outputs provides information for a background-calibration algorithm. Since both ADCs convert the same input, when correctly calibrated, their outputs should be equal, and the difference should be zero. Any nonzero difference provides information to an error-estimation algorithm, which adjusts digital-calibration parameters in an adaptive process similar to a least mean square algorithm. This paper describes the calibration algorithm implemented in the specific realization of a 16-bit 1-MS/s algorithmic cyclic ADC. In addition to correcting ADC linearity, the calibration and estimation algorithms are tolerant of offset error and remove linear scale-factor-error mismatch between the ADC channels. Simulated results are presented confirming self-calibration in approximately 10 000 conversions, which represents an improvement of four orders of magnitude over previous statistically based calibration algorithms.      

The “Bayesian Anomaly” and Its Practical Mitigation

A fundamental logical problem in the Bayesian inference of a series system's failure probability is described, a practical means for its mitigation is discussed, and its application to space launch vehicles is illustrated. The problem is the ldquoBayesian Anomaly,rdquo the difference in the system's failure probability per operation inferred from prior estimates, and test or operational experience applied at a lower-level of the system; and from the convolution of the same priors, and of the same experience applied at the system level (or any level above the first). In particular, unlike in a classical inference, the mean estimates differ critically. Although it is not possible to entirely resolve the problem, a practical procedure for mitigating it, establishing consistency among the mean and variance estimates at the two levels, is delineated.     

Comments on “A Hierarchy of Importance Indices”

The paper by Hwang (IEEE Trans. Reliability, vol. 54, pp. 169–172, 2005) presented structural importance measures in terms of cutsets or pathsets, and investigated how they are related. Hwang's paper has made contributions to importance measures. However, several errors which cause confusions are found in the paper. This note is to clarify these errors, and discuss the suspicions.      

Repeat Bidding on Internet-Based Multiple-Item “Name-Your-Own-Price” Auctions

Name-Your-Own-Price (NYOP) auctions have gained recent popularity on the Internet. In many NYOP settings, the auction firm displays multiple bidding items for the bidders (such as multiple options of airline tickets) and restricts them to place a single offer. Recent studies have, however, shown that the Internet environment enables many customers to engage in repeat bidding. Our purpose in this paper is: 1) to analyze the consumer value gained by repeat bidding on multiple-item NYOP auctions under different-bidding strategies; 2) to derive an upper bound on the value gained by repeat bidding when multiple items are present; and 3) to analyze the multiple-item NYOP auction from a consumer-firm perspective. We use Monte Carlo simulation to discuss the effects of various auction parameters on the firm's expected profit, and show that the presence of multiple bidding items provides a win–win situation for both the auction firm and the bidders. In particular, we show that multiple items increase the expected value for the consumers and also help firms mitigate potential losses due to repeat bidding.      

Coding theorems on a generalized “useful” inaccuracy

Taneja and Tuteja proved a noiseless coding theorem by considering “useful” inaccuracy and “useful” mean codeword length. In this paper we consider a generalization of the “useful” mean codeword length and establish noiseless coding theorems by using this generalization.     

“Tissue Papers” from Organ‐Specific Decellularized Extracellular Matrices

Using an innovative, tissue‐independent approach to decellularized tissue processing and biomaterial fabrication, the development of a series of “tissue papers” derived from native porcine tissues/organs (heart, kidney, liver, muscle), native bovine tissue/organ (ovary and uterus), and purified bovine Achilles tendon collagen as a control from decellularized extracellular matrix particle ink suspensions cast into molds is described. Each tissue paper type has distinct microstructural characteristics as well as physical and mechanical properties, is capable of absorbing up to 300% of its own weight in liquid, and remains mechanically robust (E = 1–18 MPa) when hydrated; permitting it to be cut, rolled, folded, and sutured, as needed. In vitro characterization with human mesenchymal stem cells reveals that all tissue paper types support cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation over four weeks. Ovarian tissue papers support mouse ovarian follicle adhesion, viability, and health in vitro, as well as support, and maintain the viability and hormonal function of nonhuman primate and human follicle‐containing, live ovarian cortical tissues ex vivo for eight weeks postmortem. “Tissue papers” can be further augmented with additional synthetic and natural biomaterials, as well as integrated with recently developed, advanced 3D‐printable biomaterials, providing a versatile platform for future multi‐biomaterial construct manufacturing.