Direct formation of AuNPs thin film using thermal evaporated zinc as sacrificial template in hydrothermal method

This work describes the properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSSQ) as an organic dielectric layer. AuNPs were grown on this dielectric layer via the sacrificial hydrothermal process using ZnO seeded template prepared by thermal evaporation. Template prepared by using the thermal evaporation method has advantages in terms of ease of fabrication and cost compared to previous work, which the template was prepared by using sputtering method. The effect of annealing temperature on the ZnO seeded template was investigated. The effect of template on structural and electrical properties of the grown AuNPs was studied by field-emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and semiconductor characterization system. Metal–insulator-semiconductor device with embedded AuNPs was proven to exhibit memory effect. Optimum memory properties of AuNPs embedded in PMSSQ was obtained for AuNPs grown on the Zn seeds template annealed at 350 °C with the lowest threshold voltage at 3.7 V in current–voltage characteristics, and could store 49 electrons per Au nanoparticle. This indicated that uniform AuNPs in combination with the size and area density contributed to excellent memory effect.     

Exponential and generalized Dolph-Chebyshev functions for flat-top array beampattern synthesis

For the flat-top array beampattern synthesis, a conceptually simple closed-form method without iterative work and heavy numerical calculations is desired. We are therefore motivated to look for a good template function for flat-top beampattern synthesis, such as Dolph-Chebyshev Function (DCF) for pencil-beam pattern synthesis. In this paper, two new template functions, Exponential Dolph-Chebyshev Function (EDCF) and Generalized Dolph-Chebyshev Function (GDCF) are derived from the original DCF, and the corresponding synthesis procedures in the Quadratic Programming (QP) method are also presented. From the simulation results using the proposed templates, it is shown that although the resultant beampatterns are not equi-ripple, both the mainbeam width and the Side-Lobes Level (SLL) of the synthesized beampatterns are controlled well, simultaneously, and the proposed methods can also be applied to synthesize arrays of different geometries including Uniform Linear Arrays (ULA) and Uniform Circular Arrays (UCA). The comparison between the two proposed template functions is also presented so that one can choose the proper synthesis template based on specified requirements.     

On the complexity of bi-criteria scheduling on a single batch processing machine

This paper considers hierarchical bi-criteria scheduling on a single batch processing machine where the primary criterion is the makespan. We show that the problem where the secondary criterion is the total completion time can be solved in polynomial time for a given machine capacity and the problem where the secondary criterion is the (weighted) number of late jobs is (strongly) NP-hard.     

Integrating reliable memory in databases

Recent results in the Rio project at the University of Michigan show that it is possible to create an area of main memory that is as safe as disk from operating system crashes. This paper explores how to integrate the reliable memory provided by the Rio file cache into a database system. Prior studies have analyzed the performance benefits of reliable memory; we focus instead on how different designs affect reliability. We propose three designs for integrating reliable memory into databases: non-persistent database buffer cache, persistent database buffer cache, and persistent database buffer cache with protection. Non-persistent buffer caches use an I/O interface to reliable memory and require the fewest modifications to existing databases. However, they waste memory capacity and bandwidth due to double buffering. Persistent buffer caches use a memory interface to reliable memory by mapping it into the database address space. This places reliable memory under complete database control and eliminates double buffering, but it may expose the buffer cache to database errors. Our third design reduces this exposure by write protecting the buffer pages. Extensive fault tests show that mapping reliable memory into the database address space does not significantly hurt reliability. This is because wild stores rarely touch dirty, committed pages written by previous transactions. As a result, we believe that databases should use a memory interface to reliable memory. Received January 1, 1998 / Accepted June 20, 1998     

Metallized textile design through electroless plating and tie-dyeing technique

The aim of the study is to investigate design effects of the electroless metal plated fabrics in order to meet the requirement of high technical and apparel applications by using tie-dyeing technique. The appearance of nickel plated and nickel/copper multilayer plated fabrics obtained under different conditions and tie-dyeing technique was investigated, respectively. Metallized textile design by nickel and copper was developed using tie-dyeing method. The nickel/copper multilayer plated fabric indicates that the color changfe from red to gray is with respect to an increase of thickness of the nickel deposits. The resisting effects by using tie-dyeing on the metallized fabrics depend entirely on the texture and strength of the tie-dyeing conditions used. The study reveals that metallized textiles design by combining electroless plating and tie-dyeing are promising for decorative and fashion application.     

Workarounds in the use of IS in healthcare: A case study of an electronic medication administration system

Healthcare information systems such as an Electronic Medication Administration System (EMAS) have the potential to enhance productivity, lower costs, and reduce medication errors. However, various issues have arisen from the use of these systems. A key issue relates to workarounds as a result of a misfit between the new information system (IS) implementation and existing work processes. However, there is a lack of understanding and studies on healthcare IS workarounds and their outcomes. This paper applies the theoretical perspectives of accommodation to misfit and IS evolution to understand the phenomenon through an in-depth case study of an EMAS implemented in a large public hospital. Based on the findings, it develops a process framework to explain how the benefits, issues, and workarounds inter-relate and determine the impacts of the system. The findings have implications for research and practice on workarounds in the use of healthcare IS.     

Contributions of talin-1 to glioma cell�Cmatrix tensional homeostasis

The ability of cells to adapt their mechanical properties to those of the surrounding microenvironment (tensional homeostasis) has been implicated in the progression of a variety of solid tumours, including the brain tumour glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM tumour cells are highly sensitive to extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and overexpress a variety of focal adhesion proteins, such as talin. While talin has been shown to play critical early roles in integrin-based force-sensing in non-tumour cells, it remains unclear whether this protein contributes to tensional homeostasis in GBM cells. Here, we investigate the role of the talin isoform talin-1 in enabling human GBM cells to adapt to ECM stiffness. We show that human GBM cells express talin-1, and we use RNA interference to suppress talin-1 expression without affecting levels of talin-2, vinculin or phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase. Knockdown of talin-1 strongly reduces both cell spreading area and random migration speed but does not significantly affect overall focal adhesion size distributions. Most strikingly, atomic force microscopy indentation reveals that talin-1 suppression compromises adaptation of cell stiffness to changes in ECM stiffness. Together, these data support a role for talin-1 in the maintenance of tensional homeostasis in GBM and suggest a functional role for enriched talin expression in this tumour.     

Exciplex emission and its relationship with depletion organic heterojunction

Exciplex emission is a special form of luminescence from excited state complex formed between two contacting materials at interface in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). While considerable works has been focused on the role of exciplex states in interfacial light emitting processes, the understanding for the fundamental forming criteria of exciplex states is limited. In this work, six pairs of exciplex-forming organic materials were examined using photoemission spectroscopies. Interestingly, all the studied pairs show special charge transfer with N-type material donates a considerable amount of electron to the contacting P-type material, leading to energy levels bending and depletion of mobile majority carriers on the two sides of the junction, i.e. P^δ?–N^δ+. The close relation between the depletion organic HJs and the exciplex emission is discussed.     

Consolidation algorithm for point-to-multipoint ABR service

The authors present a novel feedback consolidation algorithm for point-to-multipoint available bit rate service in asynchronous transfer mode networks, which aims to achieve a fast transient response while exhibiting low consolidation noise. Simulation shows that the proposed algorithm gives satisfactory results when contrasted with other schemes