Web-based systems design: a study of contemporary practices and an explanatory framework based on “method-in-action”

This paper reports the findings of a detailed study of Web-based systems design (WBSD) practices in Ireland based on data collected over a 3-year period (2002–2005), the objectives of which were to (1) contribute towards a richer understanding of the current “real-world” context of WBSD by characterising the profile of a typical project (team size, timeframe, nature of requirements, etc.) and identifying the key challenges, constraints, and imperatives (i.e. “mediating factors”) faced by Web-based system designers, and (2) understand how those contextual parameters and mediating factors influence the activity of WBSD as regards the selection and enactment of whatever design practices are therefore engaged (i.e. the use of methods, procedures, etc.). Data was gathered through a survey which yielded 165 usable responses, and later through a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews. Using grounded theory, an explanatory conceptual framework is derived, based on an extension of the “method-in-action” model, the application of which to WBSD has not been previously investigated in depth. It is proposed that this framework of WBSD issues is valuable in a number of ways to educators, researchers, practitioners, and method engineers.     

分割电极片状压电致动器——(二)位移特性及狭缝宽度对其影响的实验研究

研究了悬臂梁式分割电极片状压电致动器的位移特性。理论分析表明，分割电极狭缝宽度会减小致动器自由端的位移输出，但当狭缝宽度小于致动器电极宽度的１０％时，可忽略狭缝宽度的影响。致动器端部位移的测试结果大于理论计算值。与现有磁头悬浮臂尺寸相近的致动器，在２０Ｖ～５０Ｖ的电压驱动下均可获得１μｍ～２μｍ的致动位移。对９８５０道／厘米的密度磁盘，该位移能覆盖至少一个磁道宽度，满足磁头定位两级伺服系统对第二级致动器位移的基本要求。     

A hybrid wafer-dicing process for GaAs MMIC production

A dicing process for GaAs MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) wafers using spin-on wax for wafer mounting and a hybrid process of wet chemical etching/mechanical sawing for chip dicing is described. This process minimizes ragged chip edges and reduces generation of microcracks in addition to the elimination of the plated gold burrs on the backside of the diced MMIC chips. This process gives a uniformity of -3 μm across a 2-in wafer following the completion of the whole backside process. This GaAs chip dicing technique is amenable to production because it exhibits both a very high chip yield (>90%) and nearly flawless edges     

Synthesis, characteristics and oxygen-sensitive properties of SrMgxTi 1 − xO3 nanocrystals

SrMg_xTi_{1 - x}O₃ nanocrystals (x = 0.1–0.6) were synthesized by the stearic acid gel method. Powder samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron (XP) spectroscopy. The results showed that the lattice parameter a and the O 1s XP spectrum changed not only with the Mg content x but also with the grain size d of the samples. The conductivity of a thick film specimen fabricated on an aluminium oxide wafer was investigated in a nitrogen—oxygen atmosphere.     

Pore size control of porous silica by sol-gel process

Porous silica glass was prepared by sol-gel process from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The effects of solvents (water, ethanol), drying condition, heat treatment temperature on specific surface area and pore size distribution of porous silica were investigated. Gelation process accelerates with an increase of H₂O content, while retards with the increase of ethanol amount. Structure changes during heat treatment were studied by means of DTA, XRD. TEM micrographs show that the gel particles shrink after heated at 500°C, thus the average pore size decreases.     

Differences in risk factors for being either a hepatitis B carrier or anti-hepatitis C+ in a hepatoma-hyperendemic area in rural Taiwan

This is a study of the differences in the risk factors for being either hepatitis B surface antigen positive [HBsAg(+)] or antibody to hepatitis C virus positive [Anti-HCV(+)] in A-Lein, a rural area in southern Taiwan, an area which also has a high hepatoma mortality rate. Three hundred eighty-five patients age > or =40 years participated in hepatoma screening at the A-Lein Community Health Center during 1995. Those who were HBsAg(-) and anti-HCV(-) or had coinfection of HBsAg(+) and anti-HCV(+) were excluded, leaving 293 patients: 109 HBsAg(+) and 184 anti-HCV(+). The anti-HCV(+) patients had a lower socioeconomic status (as defined by level of education and type of occupation) and were older than HBsAg(+) patients (P < 0.05). Those with higher alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) also had a higher anti-HCV(+) to HBsAg(+) odds ratio (OR), and a dose response relationship was found, P < 0.0001. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have a spouse who shared the infection, OR = 5.11; 95% CI, 2.30-11.28. Anti-HCV(+) patients were more likely than HBsAg(+) patients to have had blood transfusions (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.20-5.89), frequent medical injections (OR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.62-4.31), or injections by non-licensed medical providers (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.18-3.09). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the significant factors for anti-HCV(+) patients vs. HBsAg(+) patients are drinking habit (OR = 3.45; 95% CI, 1.02-11.60), age (OR = 6.33; 95% CI, 2.93-13.68), and frequent medical injections (OR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.65-5.03). The transmission of hepatitis C in A-Lein is closely related to low socioeconomic status, age, alcohol abuse, spouses being anti-HCV(+), and frequent medical injections, especially from non-licensed medical providers, including both pharmacists and those with no medical licensing whatsoever. These nonlicensed medical providers sometimes reuse needles to save money, which is a likely route of infection.     

Onset of gas self-induction and power consumption after gas induction in an agitated tank

The behavior of inducted gas from liquid surface and the; power requirements in an agitated tank using a mechanical agitator are studied in order to increase the amount of gas self-induction and the gas retention time for gas absorption. A 45° six-blade downward impeller turbine was utilized in this study. Air and water, air and 40 wt% 60 wt%, and 80 wt% of glycerin water, and air and 106 cP silicon oil were employed as gas and liquid phases. Variables which were studied included geometrical factors (immersed depth of impeller, baffle with and diameter of impeller) and the physical properties of the liquid (viscosity, density, and surface tension). The correlations for the onset speed of impeller and power consumption after gas induction in the agitated tank are established from our experimental results. The amount of gas self-induction from the liquid surface in the agitated tank increases with increasing impeller diameter and speed and decreases with increasing baffle width, depth of impeller and viscosity of liquid.     

Effect of processing history on the properties of Ag-based tapes

The Bi-system tapes and coils were prepared by the powder-in-tube method. The effect of processing and heat treatment on the properties of the tapes and coils was studied. It is found that the shearing stress produced by the rolling process may destroy the 2223 phase, and the destroyed 2223 phase cannot be recovered by heat treatment, whereas the pressing stress produced by the uniaxial pressing process only makes the 2223 phase grains break, and the broken 2223 phase can be closed by the heat treatment. TheJ _c values of the rolling samples, pressing sample, and the coil with a diameter of 35 mm are over 1.3×10⁴, 2.5×10⁴, and 4×10³ A/cm² (77 K, 0 T), respectively.     

An efficient numerical approach, for determining the dispersioncharacteristics of dual-mode elliptical-core optical fibers

Based on vectorial formulations which combine the surface integral equation method and the finite-element method, a novel numerical approach is proposed for calculating the dispersion coefficients of dual-mode elliptical-core fibers with arbitrary refractive index profiles. By differentiating the original formulations involving the propagation constant β and the guided mode fields H_x and H_y once and twice with respect to the normalized frequency V, the new formulations for {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and for {d²β/dV², d² H_x/dV², d²H_y/dV² } are obtained respectively. Once {β, H_x, H_y } is solved through the eigenvalue procedure which dominates the computing time, only a few matrix manipulations are required to obtain {dβ/dV, dH_x/dV, dH_y/dV} and {d²β/dV², d²H_x/dV² , d²H_y/dV²}. Some numerical examples are examined to see the influence of different refractive index distributions with dips on the dispersions of the four nondegenerate LP ₁₁ modes for elliptical-core fibers