SMEs' Preference for Innovation Networks: A Choice Experimental Approach

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the importance of selected characteristics of innovation networks in affecting the decision of food SMEs when joining such networks. The paper develops and tests a series of hypotheses through a choice experiment exercise ran on a sample of 231 firms in six EU countries. The results showed that SMEs prefer networks that are composed of manufacturers and supply chain members, where information is shared confidentially among network partners, and when the network provides support to help the firm build its own networks of partners for innovation. In addition, SMEs' choice of the network is also affected by the interaction between specific network attributes and two firm characteristics, i.e. the firm's collaborative experience and innovation objectives. Based on the results, we conclude that the success of inter‐organizational networks depends on the fit between the network's design and the innovation and networking behaviour of the firms.     

Torque-actuated valves for microfluidics

This paper describes torque-actuated valves for controlling the flow of fluids in microfluidic channels. The valves consist of small machine screws (> or =500 microm) embedded in a layer of polyurethane cast above microfluidic channels fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The polyurethane is cured photochemically with the screws in place; on curing, it bonds to the surrounding layer of PDMS and forms a stiff layer that retains an impression of the threads of the screws. The valves were separated from the ceiling of microfluidic channels by a layer of PDMS and were integrated into channels using a simple procedure compatible with soft lithography and rapid prototyping. Turning the screws actuated the valves by collapsing the PDMS layer between the valve and channel, controlling the flow of fluids in the underlying channels. These valves have the useful characteristic that they do not require power to retain their setting (on/off). They also allow settings between "on" and "off" and can be integrated into portable, disposable microfluidic devices for carrying out sandwich immunoassays.     

Modeling and Layout Optimization of Differential Inductors for Silicon-Based RFIC Applications

A scalable RF differential inductor model has been developed, enabling device performance versus layout size tradeoffs and optimization as well as accurate circuit predictions. Comparing inductors with identical inductance values up to an operating frequency of 10 GHz, large conductor width designs are found to yield good performance for inductors with small inductance values. As differential inductance or operating frequency increases, interactions between metallization resistive and substrate losses discourage the use of large widths as it consumes silicon area and degrades device performance.     

Anti-self receptors. IV. H-2-restricted receptors on thymocytes recognize carbohydrate structures on target cells

Rosetting between thymocytes and autologous erythrocytes in mediated by receptors on thymocytes that primarily recognize self H-2L molecules on erythrocytes. This paper describes preliminary attempts to chemically characterize the receptor and acceptor molecules involved in this H-2-restricted interaction. On the basis of sugar inhibition studies and the sensitivity of the receptors to protease and glycosidase treatments it appears that a protein receptor on thymocytes recognizes the carbohydrate portion of a glycoprotein on erythrocytes. Furthermore, the thymocyte receptor appears to recognize terminal D-galactose, D-mannose and sialic acid residues on a branched-chain carbohydrate structure on erythrocytes, with mouse strains of different H-2 haplotype expressing carbohydrate structures that differ in the linkage of these three terminal sugars. These findings indicate that H-2-restricted carbohydrate-protein interactions can occur between cells, a conclusion with important theoretical implications.     

Carbon nanotube bottles for incorporation,release and enhanced cytotoxic effect of cisplatin

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as promising drug delivery systems particularly for cancer therapy, due to their abilities to overcome some of the challenges faced by cancer treatment, namely non-specificity, poor permeability into tumour tissues, and poor stability of anticancer drugs. Encapsulation of anticancer agents inside CNTs provides protection from external deactivating agents. However, the open ends of the CNTs leave the encapsulated drugs exposed to the environment and eventually their uncontrolled release before reaching the desired target. In this study, we report the successful encapsulation of cisplatin, a FDA-approved chemotherapeutic drug, into multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the capping at the ends with functionalised gold nanoparticles to achieve a “carbon nanotube bottle” structure. In this proof-of-concept study, these caps did not prevent the encapsulation of drug in the inner space of CNTs; on the contrary, we achieved higher drug loading inside the nanotubes in comparison with data reported in literature. In addition, we demonstrated that encapsulated cisplatin could be delivered in living cells under physiological conditions to exert its pharmacological action.     

Houses Built on Sand: Effects of Exemplar Stability on Susceptibility to Attitude Change.

Attitude representation theory (C. G. Lord & M. R. Lepper, 1999) explains both attitude-behavior consistency and attitude change with the same principles. When individuals respond evaluatively to an attitude object, they activate and combine assumptions about the attitude object with perceptions of the immediate situation. The assumptions activated can vary across time, even without additional information. Previous research has shown that individuals activate exemplars when answering attitude questions, attitude reports vary with the valence of the assumptions activated, and activating differently liked exemplars reduces attitude-behavior consistency. The present research completed study of the theoretical implications of exemplar stability by showing that individuals with temporally unstable exemplars, whether spontaneous (Experiment 1) or manipulated (Experiments 2 and 3), are more susceptible to subsequent attitude change than are individuals with stable exemplars. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Metallization proximity studies for copper spiral inductors on silicon

The impacts of metallization proximity for copper spiral inductors on silicon have been investigated in this paper. Performance of the spiral inductor versus area consumption tradeoff with respect to its core diameter is evaluated quantitatively for the first time. Effects of the inductor's proximate grounded metallization on its overall inductive performance are also analyzed.     

A Survey of VASNET Framework to Provide Infrastructure-Less Green IoTs Communications for Data Dissemination in Search and Rescue Operations

The implementation of wireless technologies based on the vehicular ad hoc sensor network (VASNET) may provide support for the search and rescue (SAR) team to operate effectively in natural disaster events, such as landslide, earthquake, flooding, and tsunami. The operations of SAR team are very challenging in such events due to the possible damages of the existing telecommunication infrastructures. The existing deployment of the cellular communications infrastructure may be partially or completely destroyed after the occurrence of these natural disasters. Thus, the current VASNET infrastructure must be able to support the infrastructure-less network by integrating other green wireless technologies that can benefit the SAR team, which can indirectly save more human lives and reduce the number of casualties. Therefore, the integration of green Internet of things (IoT) and VASNET is proposed to form a heterogeneous framework for data dissemination in SAR operations. In addition, this paper also discusses the existing IoT framework in disaster scenarios with future research direction for IoT using on any aspect, especially related to the natural disaster scenarios.     

Can a GSS stimulate group polarization? an empirical study

This study investigates the impact of the electronic communication and anonymity capabilities of a group support system (GSS) on group polarization. Three support levels were studied: verbal support, identified GSS support, and anonymous GSS support. Information exposure was varied at two levels: exposure to positions without arguments and exposure to positions with arguments. The dependent variables were preference change and choice shift. Anonymous GSS groups produced higher choice shift than verbal groups. Anonymous GSS groups who were exposed to positions with arguments also had higher preference change than groups in other treatments. These results indicate that the anonymity and electronic communication capabilities of a GSS can be used conjointly to stimulate group polarization, especially when groups exchange mutual positions and arguments     

Pharmacokinetics of Nilvadipine After Multiple Oral Dosing to Steady-State

Forty-four healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to receive one of four dosing regimens: placebo or a dose of 6, 8, 10 or 12 mg of nilvadipine administered at 0, 7 and 14 hr each day for 19 doses over seven days. There was a proportional relationship between the maximum plasma concentration of nilvadipine after the first dose and the last dose and the dose administered. There was also a proportional relationship between the area under the plasma concentration-time curve during the last dosing interval and the administered dose. Results showed that there was no accumulation of drug in plasma at steady-state. In addition, there was no dose-dependency in the oral clearance, elimination rate constant or terminal elimination half-life values. The pharmacokinetics of nilvadipine are linear upon multiple dosign over the dosing range studied