bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does a Family‐controlled Firm Perform Better in Corporate Venturing?
Authors: Wong Ying‐Jiuan , Chang Shao‐Chi , Chen Li‐Yu
Published: March 2010

Manuscript Type: Empirical

Research Question/Issue: Family control involves issues of agency costs and nepotism. This study investigated the impacts of family control on stock market reactions to corporate venturing announcements by public firms. Moreover, in this paper we examined whether the monitoring effect of institutional investors influenced the relationship between family control and stock market reactions.

Research Findings/Insights: In terms of research findings/results, with different measures of family control, the evidence indicated that family control is significantly and negatively associated with the abnormal returns of corporate venturing announcements. Furthermore, we found that the divergence of cash flow and voting rights had a strong negative impact on abnormal returns. Finally, the empirical results suggested that institutional ownership had a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship of family control and stock market reactions.

Theoretical/Academic Implications: Prior research focused on the influence of private family firms on venturing activities. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the unique characteristics of family control in public firms. This research suggests that nepotism embedded in public family firms is likely to create agency costs resulting from deviations in cash flow and voting rights. This study further shows that institutional ownership plays an important role in reducing agency costs associated with public family firms.

Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our findings suggest that family control is an important consideration for investors in evaluating the wealth impacts of corporate venturing. Therefore, a well‐established governance system could be a crucial signal of the quality of corporate venturing for family businesses, particularly the outside governance mechanism.
What Does the Discursive Paradox Really Mean for Democracy?
Authors: Ottonelli Valeria
Published: March 2010

Pettit's claim that the discovery of the so-called ‘discursive paradox’ bears important implications for the normative theory of deliberative democracy has been challenged on the ground that there are substantial structural differences between the fora of democratic deliberation and the judicial context in which the paradox first emerged. In this article I defend Pettit's claim against these objections, but I also reject the implications Pettit draws from his discussion of the paradox. Specifically, I argue against one of the key assumptions on which Pettit's discussion rests: that in order to function properly as a guarantee against tyranny deliberation requires consistency. The upshot of the discussion is that the discursive paradox is, indeed, relevant for the theory of deliberative democracy. However, contrary to what Pettit's argument suggests, the discursive paradox is not relevant because it reveals a conflict between deliberation and democracy. Rather, it is relevant because it reveals a conflict between deliberative democracy and the requirement of collective consistency.
The Core Executive: Gender, Power and Change
Authors: Annesley Claire , Gains Francesca
Published: March 2010

The core executive is a central focus for the study of policy change especially in Westminster-style parliamentary democracies such as the UK. This venue is recognised as the locus of power and where attention should be given for identifying and assessing the process of policy change. It is surprising, then, that studies on women's substantive representation – showing whether and how women can make a difference to politics and policy – have not examined this institution, focusing instead on parliament or women's policy agencies. We plug this gap in scholarship in suggesting that the core executive should be the key venue for examining substantive representation of women. At the same time we present the case that the core executive is a gendered institution in terms of recruitment, resource allocation, relationships and rules. We argue that this gendered disposition shapes the opportunities and constraints available to feminist actors intent on altering the gender emphasis of public policy and illustrate this empirically through a case study of the actions and successes of two feminist ministers – Harriet Harman and Patricia Hewitt. As such this article makes a contribution to mainstream core executive research, gender and politics scholarship as well as the new and feminist institutionalist literatures.
“Matts Mattson Paavola knows Elihu Burritt”: A Transnational Perspective on Nineteenth‐Century Peace Activism in Northern Europe*
Authors: Götz Norbert
Published: March 2010

Existing research on Scandinavian peace activism has largely been guided by a traditional nation‐state perspective and an institutionalist outlook. This view puts the starting point of Scandinavian peace activism in the 1880s, the time when the first peace associations were established in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The article at hand demonstrates that a new chapter to the history of Nordic peace activism can be added, covering the period from 1843 to the early 1880s. This is achieved by applying a transnational perspective on nineteenth‐century peace activism that redirects the focus from national accomplishments and movements to individuals and transnational networks, as well as to the dissemination of ideas on peace.
Reintegrating Ex‐Combatants into Civilian Life: The Case of the Paramilitaries in Colombia
Authors: Denissen Marieke
Published: March 2010

Since 2003, more than 30,000 combatants of the paramilitary organization United Self‐Defense Forces of Colombia have been disarmed and demobilized, and are currently reintegrating into civilian life. As a result of the process, levels of violence in Colombia have dropped significantly. The entity in Colombia responsible for designing and implementing reintegration policies has made progress in several areas since its creation in September 2006. However, there are a number of developments that pose a serious threat to the overall reintegration process, such as the many reports of ex‐combatants taking up arms again. For the long‐term prospects for peace and social reconstruction, as well as for the constructive involvement of donors willing to invest in the reintegration of ex‐combatants into civilian life, it is important to gain insight into the factors that influence the success of reintegration. The factors distinguished in this study are livelihood security, an individual approach to the reintegration of the demobilized, prevention of rearming and new recruitments, involvement of the community, and decentralization of the implementation of reintegration policies.
The French Revolution and the New School of Europe: Towards a Political Interpretation of German Idealism
Authors: Morris Michael
Published: March 2010

Abstract: In this paper I consider the significant but generally overlooked role that the French Revolution played in the development of German Idealism. Specifically, I argue that Reinhold and Fichte's engagement in revolutionary political debates directly shaped their interpretation of Kant's philosophy, leading them (a) to overlook his reliance upon common sense, (b) to misconstrue his conception of the relationship between philosophical theory and received cognitive practice, (c) to fail to appreciate the fundamentally regressive nature of his transcendental argumentative strategy, and, ultimately, (d) to seek to deduce his philosophy from a single first‐principle, one grounded in the immediate awareness of the subject's mental life.
Leave Truth Alone: On Deflationism and Contextualism
Authors: Whiting Daniel
Published: March 2010

Abstract: According to deflationism, grasp of the concept of truth consists in nothing more than a disposition to accept a priori (non‐paradoxical) instances of the schema:

(DS) It is true that p if and only if p.

According to contextualism, the same expression with the same meaning might, on different occasions of use, express different propositions bearing different truth‐conditions (where this does not result from indexicality and the like). On this view, what is expressed in an utterance depends in a non‐negligible way on the circumstances. Charles Travis claims that contextualism shows that ‘deflationism is a mistake’, that truth is a more substantive notion than deflationism allows. In this paper, I examine Travis's arguments in support of this ‘inflationary’ claim and argue that they are unsuccessful.
Dysautonomia after severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Hendricks H. T. , Heeren A. H. , Vos P. E.
Published: March 2010

Background:  Dysautonomia after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by episodes of increased heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, muscle tone, decorticate or decerebrate posturing, and profuse sweating. This study addresses the incidence of dysautonomia after severe TBI, the clinical variables that are associated with dysautonomia, and the functional outcome of patients with dysautonomia.

Methods:  A historic cohort study in patients with severe TBI [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 on admission].

Results:  Seventy‐six of 119 patients survived and were eligible for follow‐up. The incidence of dysautonomia was 11.8%. Episodes of dysautonomia were prevalent during a mean period of 20.1 days (range 3–68) and were often initiated by discomfort. Patients with dysautonomia showed significant longer periods of coma (24.78 vs. 7.99 days) and mechanical ventilation (22.67 vs. 7.21 days). Dysautonomia was associated with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) [relative risk (RR) 20.83, CI 4.92–83.33] and the development of spasticity (RR 16.94, CI 3.96–71.42). Patients with dysautonomia experienced more secondary complications. They tended to have poorer outcome.

Conclusions:  Dysautonomia occurs in approximately 10% of patients surviving severe TBI and is associated with DAI and the development of spasticity at follow‐up. The initiation of dysautonomia by discomfort supports the Excitatory: Inhibitory Ratio model as pathophysiological mechanism.
The challenges experienced by Iranian war veterans living with chemical warfare poisoning: a descriptive, exploratory study
Authors: Hassankhani Hadi , Taleghani Fariba , Mills Jane , Birks Melanie , Francis Karen , Ahmadi Fazlolah
Published: March 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 290–298
 
The challenges experienced by Iranian war veterans living with chemical warfare poisoning: a descriptive, exploratory study

This exploratory, descriptive study investigates the experiences of Iranian war veterans living with chronic disease acquired as a result of chemical warfare. Sulphur mustard (SM) is considered one of the most important agents of chemical warfare and was widely used during the Iran–Iraq conflict in 1980–1988. There are approximately 100 000 Iranian SM casualties who suffer from serious long‐term progressive health problems involving their respiratory organs, eyes and skin. Seventeen male Iranian war veterans aged between 30 and 59 years and four victims’ family members participated in the study. Data was generated during individual in‐depth interviews that used open‐ended questions. Grounded theory techniques, including the constant comparative method of concurrent data generation and analysis, were employed in the analysis of data. Preliminary results indicate two main thematic categories: social isolation and physical disability. It is argued that a lack of knowledge about the outcomes of SM poisoning, physical restrictions and difficulty in adjusting socially decreases war veterans’ functional capacity and levels of independence.
Nurse Education and the Retention of Registered Nurses in New South Wales*
Authors: CUNICH MICHELLE , WHELAN STEPHEN
Published: March 2010

The retention of registered nurses (RNs) in the nursing profession has become a key issue for governments. This article examines the impact of a change in the nature of nurse education, from hospital‐based to university‐based training, on the labour market behaviour of RNs. The analysis indicates that RNs trained in universities are approximately 6 per cent more likely to exit the nursing workforce than hospital‐trained RNs. The analysis highlights the need to develop policies to address the low retention rates for nurses in the health system such as developing clearer career paths and enhancing the non‐pecuniary aspects of nursing.
Two cases of frontotemporal dementia with predominant temporal lobe atrophy
Authors: SHIMIZU Hideaki , HOKOISHI Kazuhiko , FUKUHARA Ryuji , KOMORI Kenjiro , IKEDA Manabu
Published: March 2010

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which also includes semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non‐fluent aphasia. Frontotemporal dementia is characterized by changes in personality and behavioral abnormalities, generally associated with predominant frontal lobe atrophy. Conversely, SD is typically characterized by Gogi (word meaning) aphasia based on semantic memory impairment and is associated with predominant temporal lobe atrophy. However, in the present cases, we diagnosed FTD on the basis of clinical symptoms, such as disinhibition, indifference, and stereotypy, without semantic memory impairment, even though neuroimaging showed predominant temporal lobe atrophy. We suggest that clinical symptoms are the most important cues for an accurate clinical diagnosis and there is no exclusive relationship between the syndrome and atrophy of the temporal lobes.
Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in long‐term care facilities in Japan
Authors: KUTSUMI Masami , ITO Mikiko , SUGIURA Keiko , TERABE Masahiro , MIKAMI Hiroshi
Published: March 2010

Background:  An increasing number of old people, and their medical requirements, cannot be managed by their families in their homes, which has been the traditional and prevalent practice in Japan. The number of people with dementia is increasing and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) make care difficult. In the present study, we investigated management techniques for BPSD in long‐term care facilities in Japan by using the data mining method, which looks at the reported behaviors of care providers.

Methods:  First, interviews were conducted with 15 care providers to develop items for a questionnaire. These data were analyzed qualitatively and synthesized with criteria from the professional literature. The resulting self‐report questionnaire on techniques used to manage different symptoms of dementia was completed by 275 care providers. We applied the association rule as a data mining method examining 15 management techniques related to 13 BPSD.

Results:  Analysis identified four types of management techniques: (i) emotional and behavior‐concordance techniques; (ii) acceptance and supportive techniques; (iii) restraining techniques; and (iv) avoidance techniques. Different management techniques, and combinations of techniques, were found to vary in use and effectiveness with different BPSD.

Conclusions:  Good management techniques for many BPSD have been developed and are being implemented by care providers. The present study has the potential to inform researchers and care providers in Japan about the types of management techniques in current use, as well as areas of potential need for staff training.
Voter Affect and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election: Hope and Race Mattered
Authors: Finn Christopher , Glaser Jack
Published: March 2010

American National Election Studies' (ANES) 2008 national survey data were used to explore the effects of pre‐election emotional responses to candidates on presidential vote. Consistent with decades of election study findings, party identification was the most influential predictor of vote choice. Nevertheless, self‐reported emotional responses to Barack Obama and John McCain, specifically hope, pride, and fear, predicted reported vote choice above and beyond party identification, ideology, and other predictors. In particular, the extent to which respondents reported that Obama made them feel hopeful served as a strong and reliable predictor of voting for Obama. Additionally, implicit preference for Whites over Blacks was a significant predictor of vote choice, robust to the inclusion of standard predictive variables, although not when all of the similarly affective emotion variables were included.
Mentoring in the management of hematological malignancies
Authors: UNDERHILL Craig , KOSCHEL Alison , SZER Jeffrey , STEER Christopher , CLARKE Kerrie , GRIGG Andrew , JUNEJA Surender , STELLA Damien , FRANCIS Heather , JOSSELYN Kathryn
Published: March 2010

Aim:  The Mentoring in Management of Haematological Malignancies (MMHM) project aimed to improve treatment outcomes, coordinate care and provide best practice for patients with hematological cancers, by developing a program of mentoring and multidisciplinary care between a regional and a metropolitan centre.

Methods:  A regular multidisciplinary meeting conducted by teleconference was established between a tertiary metropolitan site and a regional practice to discuss cases of patients with hematological malignancies. Information from multidisciplinary team meetings was recorded to capture adherence to process and clinician outcomes. An educational program was developed. A gap analysis was performed to identify differences in routine practice between the two centers. Clinician satisfaction with mentoring and educational interventions was assessed by structured survey.

Results:  The MMHM project developed a formal mentoring system to improve the management of patients by building on established links and developing an innovative model of web‐based multidisciplinary care. The project established a novel multidisciplinary meeting between a metropolitan and regional site. Common treatment policies were adopted between the two sites. Development of an educational framework and mentoring for health‐care professionals in regional areas was achieved by tutorials and workshops. Most participating clinicians indicated their high level of satisfaction with the mentoring project.

Conclusion:  The MMHM project was a successful pilot of a mentoring program in hematological cancers between metropolitan and regional centers that resulted in improved referral links, facilitated better care coordination, updated treatment policies and guidelines and increased clinician satisfaction and knowledge.
Microglia‐Derived Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor Promotes Generation of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Astrocytes in the Periventricular White Matter in the Hypoxic Neonatal Brain
Authors: Deng Yi Yu , Lu Jia , Ling Eng‐Ang , Kaur Charanjit
Published: March 2010

Inflammation in the periventricular white matter (PWM) of hypoxic neonatal brain causes myelination disturbances. In this connection, macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) has been reported to regulate release of proinflammatory cytokines that may be linked to PWM damage. We sought to determine if M‐CSF derived from amoeboid microglial cells (AMC) would promote proinflammatory cytokine production by astrocytes in the PWM following hypoxic exposure, and, if so, whether it is associated with axon degeneration and myelination disturbances. In 1‐day hypoxic rats, expression of M‐CSF was upregulated in AMC. This was coupled with increased expression of CSF‐1 receptor, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in astrocytes, and TNF‐receptor 1 and IL‐receptor 1 on the axons. Neurofilament‐200 immunopositive axons and myelin basic protein immunopositive processes appeared to undergo disruption in 14‐days hypoxic rats. By electron microscopy, some axons showed degenerative changes affecting the microtubules and myelin sheath. Primary cultured microglial cells subjected to hypoxia showed enhanced release of M‐CSF. Remarkably, primary cultured astrocytes treated with conditioned‐medium derived from hypoxic microglia or M‐CSF exhibited increased production of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. Our results suggest that AMC‐derived M‐CSF promotes astrocytes to generate proinflammatory cytokines, which may be involved in axonal damage following a hypoxic insult.
Multilocus species identification and fungal DNA barcoding: insights from blue stain fungal symbionts of the mountain pine beetle
Authors: ROE AMANDA D. , RICE ADRIANNE V. , BROMILOW SEAN E. , COOKE JANICE E. K. , SPERLING FELIX A. H.
Published: March 2010

There is strong community‐wide interest in applying molecular techniques to fungal species delimitation and identification, but selection of a standardized region or regions of the genome has not been finalized. A single marker, the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region, has frequently been suggested as the standard for fungi. We used a group of closely related blue stain fungi associated with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) to examine the success of such single‐locus species identification, comparing the internal transcribed spacer with four other nuclear markers. We demonstrate that single loci varied in their utility for identifying the six fungal species examined, while use of multiple loci was consistently successful. In a literature survey of 21 similar studies, individual loci were also highly variable in their ability to provide consistent species identifications and were less successful than multilocus diagnostics. Accurate species identification is the essence of any molecular diagnostic system, and this consideration should be central to locus selection. Moreover, our study and the literature survey demonstrate the value of using closely related species as the proving ground for developing a molecular identification system. We advocate use of a multilocus barcode approach that is similar to the practice employed by the plant barcode community, rather than reliance on a single locus.
Simulated ischaemia induces Ca2+‐independent glutamatergic vesicle release through actin filament depolymerization in area CA1 of the hippocampus
Authors: Andrade Adriana L. , Rossi David J.
Published: March 2010

Transient, non‐catastrophic brain ischaemia can induce either a protected state against subsequent episodes of ischaemia (ischaemic preconditioning) or delayed, selective neuronal death. Altered glutamatergic signalling and altered Ca2+ homeostasis have been implicated in both processes. Here we use simultaneous patch‐clamp recording and Ca2+ imaging to monitor early changes in glutamate release and cytoplasmic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) in an in vitro slice model of hippocampal ischaemia. In slices loaded with the Ca2+‐sensitive dye Fura‐2, ischaemia leads to an early increase in [Ca2+]c that precedes the severe ischaemic depolarization (ID) associated with pan necrosis. The early increase in [Ca2+]c is mediated by influx through the plasma membrane and release from internal stores, and parallels an early increase in vesicular glutamate release that manifests as a fourfold increase in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). However, the increase in mEPSC frequency is not prevented by blocking the increase in [Ca2+]c, and the early rise in [Ca2+]c is not affected by blocking ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Thus, the increase in [Ca2+]c and the increase in glutamate release are independent of each other. Stabilizing actin filaments with jaspamide or phalloidin prevented vesicle release induced by ischaemia. Our results identify several early cellular cascades triggered by ischaemia: Ca2+ influx, Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, actin filament depolymerization, and vesicular release of glutamate that depends on actin dynamics but not [Ca2+]c. All of these processes precede the catastrophic ID by several minutes, and thus represent potential target mechanisms to influence the outcome of an ischaemic episode.
Oscillatory Streaming Flow Based Mini/Microheat Pipe Technology
Authors: Zhang Z. , Liu C. , Fadl A. , Meyer D. M. L. , Krafczyk M. , Sun H.
Published: March 2010

The sustained drive for faster and smaller micro-electronic devices has led to a considerable increase in power density. The ability to effectively pump and enhance heat transfer in mini-/microchannels is of immense technological importance. Using oscillatory flow to enhance the convective heat transfer coefficients in micro-/minichannels is one of many new concepts and methodologies that have been proposed. In this paper, a novel and simple concept is presented on oscillating streaming flow based mini/microheat pipe or heat spreader technology. Phenomena of the flow streaming can be found in zero-mean velocity oscillating flows in many channel geometries. Although there is no net mass flow (zero-mean velocity) passing through the channel, discrepancy in the velocity profiles between the forward and backward flows causes fluid particles near the walls to drift toward one end while particles near the centerline drift to the other end. This unique characteristic of flow streaming could be used for various applications. Some of the advantages include enhanced heat/mass transfer, pumpless fluid propulsion, multichannel fluid distribution, easy system integration, and cost-effective operation. Preliminary work has been conducted on scaling analysis, computer simulations, and visualization experiments of fluid streaming, propulsion, and multichannel distribution by flow oscillation in minitapered channels and channel networks. Results show that streaming flow has the potential to be used as a cost-effective and reliable heat pipe and/or as a heat spreader technique when fluid thermal conductivity is low.
Spectral Collocation Method for Transient Combined Radiation and Conduction in an Anisotropic Scattering Slab With Graded Index
Authors: Sun Ya-Song , Li Ben-Wen
Published: March 2010

The spectral collocation method for transient combined radiation and conduction heat transfer in a planar participating medium with spatially variable refractive index is introduced and formulated. The angular dependence of the problem is discretized by discrete ordinates method and the space dependence is expressed by Chebyshev polynomial and discretized by spectral collocation method. Due to the exponential convergence of spectral methods, very high accuracy can be obtained even using a small resolution for present problem. Numerical results in one-dimensional planar slab by Chebyshev collocation spectral-discrete ordinates method (SP-DOM) are compared with those available data in references. Effects of various parameters such as the variable thermal conductivity, the scattering albedo, the emissivity of boundary, the conduction-radiation parameter, the optical thickness, and the graded index are studied for absorbing, emitting, and anisotropic scattering medium. The SP-DOM has been found to successfully and efficiently deal with transient combined radiation and conduction heat transfer problem in graded index medium.
A Design and Rating Method for Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers With Helical Baffles
Authors: Zhang Jian-Fei , He Ya-Ling , Tao Wen-Quan
Published: March 2010

A method for design and rating of shell-and-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles (STHXHB) has been developed in present study based on the public literatures and the widely used Bell–Delaware method for shell-and-tube heat exchanger with segmental baffles (STHXSB). A number of curve-type factors in the literature have all been replaced by mathematical expressions for the convenience of engineering design. The detailed calculation procedure of the method is provided. The accuracy of present method is validated with some experimental data. Four design cases of replacing original STHXsSB by STHXsHB are supplied, and the comparison results show that all of the STHXsHB have better performance than the original heat exchangers with segmental baffles.
Transient Conduction in a Hollow Cylinder With Variable Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Kandula M.
Published: March 2010

A closed form approximate solution has been obtained for the transient temperature distribution in a hollow cylinder with a linear variation in thermal conductivity with temperature. The boundary conditions considered are convective heating (Newton’s law) at the exposed inner surface and adiabatic outer surface. The solution is obtained using the method of optimal linearization, with the initial solution given by the integral method. The nonlinear analytical solution is shown to compare well with the finite difference solution.
Attenuation of Colistin Bactericidal Activity by High Inoculum ofPseudomonas aeruginosaCharacterized by a New Mechanism-Based Population Pharmacodynamic Model
Authors: Bulitta Jürgen B. , Yang Jenny C. , Yohonn Liliana , Ly Neang S. , Brown Silvia V. , D'Hondt Rebecca E. , Jusko William J. , Forrest Alan , Tsuji Brian T.
Published: March 2010

Colistin is increasingly being utilized against Gram-negative pathogens, includingPseudomonas aeruginosa, resistant to all other antibiotics. Since limited data exist regarding killing by colistin at different initial inocula (CFUo), we evaluated killing ofPseudomonas aeruginosaby colistin at several CFUo and developed a mechanism-based mathematical model accommodating a range of CFUo.In vitrotime-kill experiments were performed using ≥8 concentrations up to 64 × the MIC of colistin againstP. aeruginosaPAO1 and two clinicalP. aeruginosaisolates at CFUo of 106, 108, and 109CFU/ml. Serial samples up to 24 h were simultaneously modeled in the NONMEM VI (results shown) and S-ADAPT software programs. The mathematical model was prospectively “validated” by additional time-kill studies assessing the effect of Ca2+and Mg2+on killing of PAO1 by colistin. Against PAO1, killing of the susceptible population was 23-fold slower at the 109CFUo and 6-fold slower at the 108CFUo than at the 106CFUo. The model comprised three populations with different second-order killing rate constants (5.72, 0.369, and 0.00210 liters/h/mg). Bacteria were assumed to release signal molecules stimulating a phenotypic change that inhibits killing. The proposed mechanism-based model had a good predictive performance, could describe killing by colistin for all three studied strains and for two literature studies, and performed well in a prospective validation with various concentrations of Ca2+and Mg2+. The extent and rate of killing ofP. aeruginosaby colistin were markedly decreased at high CFUo compared to those at low CFUo. This was well described by a mechanism-based mathematical model, which should be further validated using dynamicin vitromodels.
Complete Nucleotide Sequence and Comparative Analysis of pPR9, a 41.7-Kilobase Conjugative Staphylococcal Multiresistance Plasmid Conferring High-Level Mupirocin Resistance
Authors: Pérez-Roth Eduardo , Kwong Stephen M. , Alcoba-Florez Julia , Firth Neville , Méndez-Álvarez Sebastián
Published: March 2010

We have sequenced the conjugative plasmid pPR9, which carries the
ileS2
gene, which had contributed to the dissemination of high-level mupirocin resistance at our institution. The plasmid backbone shows extensive genetic conservation with plasmids belonging to the pSK41/pGO1 family, but comparative analyses have revealed key differences that provide important insights into the evolution of these medically important plasmids and high-level mupirocin resistance in staphylococci and highlight the role of insertion sequence IS
257
in these processes.
Determination of an Inoculum Effect with Various Cephalosporins among Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Nannini Esteban C. , Stryjewski Martin E. , Singh Kavindra V. , Rude Tom H. , Corey G. Ralph , Fowler Vance G. , Murray Barbara E.
Published: March 2010

Using 98 clinical methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates of known β-lactamase (Bla) type, we found a pronounced inoculum effect for cephalexin (mostly Bla type A and C strains), a mild inoculum effect for cephalothin (especially types B and C), and no inoculum effects for ceftriaxone and cefuroxime. Ceftobiprole showed the lowest MICs at a high inoculum but with a slight increase for Bla-positive versus Bla-negative strains. Since a potential therapeutic effect associated with a cephalosporin inoculum effect has been described, further studies are warranted.
Effect of NlpE Overproduction on Multidrug Resistance in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Nishino Kunihiko , Yamasaki Seiji , Hayashi-Nishino Mitsuko , Yamaguchi Akihito
Published: March 2010

NlpE, an outer membrane lipoprotein, functions during envelope stress responses in Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we report that overproduction of NlpE increases multidrug and copper resistance through activation of the genes encoding the AcrD and MdtABC multidrug efflux pumps in
Escherichia coli
.
Repair of Global Regulators inStaphylococcus aureus8325 and Comparative Analysis with Other Clinical Isolates
Authors: Herbert Silvia , Ziebandt Anne-Kathrin , Ohlsen Knut , Schäfer Tina , Hecker Michael , Albrecht Dirk , Novick Richard , Götz Friedrich
Published: March 2010

The pathogenicity ofStaphylococcus aureusstrains varies tremendously (as seen with animals). It is largely dependent on global regulators, which control the production of toxins, virulence, and fitness factors. Despite the vast knowledge of staphylococcal molecular genetics, there is still widespread dispute over what factors must come together to make a strain highly virulent.S. aureusNCTC8325 (RN1 and derivatives) is a widely used model strain for which an incomparable wealth of knowledge has accumulated in the almost 50 years since its isolation. Although RN1 has functionalagr,sarA, andsaeglobal regulators, it is defective in two regulatory genes,rsbU(a positive activator of SigB) andtcaR(an activator of protein A transcription), and is therefore considered by many to be a poor model for studies of regulation and virulence. Here, we repaired these genes and compared the resulting RN1 derivatives with other widely used strains, Newman, USA300, UAMS-1, and COL, plus the parental RN1, with respect to growth, extracellular protein pattern, hemolytic activity, protein A production, pigmentation, biofilm formation, and mouse lethality. ThetcaR-repaired strain, showed little alteration in these properties. However, thersbU-repaired strain was profoundly altered. Hemolytic activity was largely decreased, the exoprotein pattern became much more similar to that of typical wild-type (wt)S. aureus, and there was a surprising increase in mouse lethality. We note that each of the strains tested has a mutational alteration in one or more other regulatory functions, and we conclude that the repaired RN1 is a good model strain for studies of staphylococcal regulation and pathobiology; although strain Newman has been used extensively for such studies in recent years, it has a missense mutation insaeS, the histidine kinase component of thesaesignaling module, which profoundly alters its regulatory phenotype. If this mutation were repaired, Newman would be considerably improved as a model strain.
CANDID
Authors: Bisht Prithvi , Madhusudan P. , Venkatakrishnan V. N.
Published: March 2010

SQL injection attacks are one of the top-most threats for applications written for the Web. These attacks are launched through specially crafted user inputs, on Web applications that use low-level string operations to construct SQL queries. In this work, we exhibit a novel and powerful scheme for automatically transforming Web applications to render them safe against all SQL injection attacks.

A characteristic diagnostic feature of SQL injection attacks is that they change the intended structure of queries issued. Our technique for detecting SQL injection is to dynamically mine the programmer-intended query structure on any input, and detect attacks by comparing it against the structure of the actual query issued. We propose a simple and novel mechanism, called Candid, for mining programmer intended queries by dynamically evaluating runs over benign candidate inputs. This mechanism is theoretically well founded and is based on inferring intended queries by considering the symbolic query computed on a program run. Our approach has been implemented in a tool called Candid that retrofits Web applications written in Java to defend them against SQL injection attacks. We have also implemented Candid by modifying a Java Virtual Machine, which safeguards applications without requiring retrofitting. We report extensive experimental results that show that our approach performs remarkably well in practice.
Process Simulation and Experimental Study of Stress Memorization in Strained Silicon nMOSFETs
Authors: Wong Terence , Gong Ying
Published: March 2010

Results from process simulations of the stress memorization technique (SMT) for nanoscale n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (nMOSFETs) are presented. Spatial distribution of stress components within the device were computed for different germanium dose in the pre-amorphization implant (PAI) step, different peak anneal temperatures in spike annealing and different tensile stress of the capping layer. During the spike anneal, stress is enhanced in the dielectric spacer due to viscoelastic relaxation of the capping layer. The stress induced in the channel by the spacer and the polysilicon gate after capping layer etch is non-uniform with maxima near the gate edges. Electrical measurements of fabricated SMT nMOSFETs are consistent with the simulation results.
Investigation of Different Strain Configurations in Gate-All-Around Silicon Nanowire Transistor
Authors: Yun Quanxin , Zhuge Jing , Huang Ru , Wang Runsheng , An Xia , Zhang Liangliang , Zhang Xing , Wang Yangyuan
Published: March 2010

The impacts of three different strain configurations on both DC and RF performance of n-type silicon nanowire transistors (n-SNWTs) are investigated. It is found that the longitudinal tensile strain is the most efficient in improving the driving current and RF performance of n-SNWTs under the same stress value. In addition, the transverse compressive strain is also beneficial to the performance improvement, and can be combined in the stress engineering. Particularly, transverse biaxial compressive strain can effectively enhance the driving current, and at the same time slightly decrease the off-current of n-SNWT, which is beneficial for high speed and low power design. The results indicate that, due to the unique feature of gate-all-around 1D structure, the strain design in SNWTs, especially the combination of longitudinal strain and transverse strain, can be specially optimized for better device performance.
CMOS Technology Toward Green
Authors: Chi Min-hwa , Wu Hanming
Published: March 2010

Though the CMOS scaling itself is a "green" concept, the "Moore's law" continues to drive CMOS toward more complicate processes, e.g. strain engineering, high-k and metal gate stack, SOI and 3D transistors, ... etc. New technologies of CMOS logic, memory, SOC and SIP are reviewed not only for continuous success of Moore's law but also "greener" CMOS manufacturing
Threshold Voltage Increasing Induced by Poly Silicon Gate Counter Pre-Doping in NMOSFET
Authors: Liu Jinhua , Zhou Allan , Zheng K. , Wu Jimmy , Gan Z.-H. , Chen Shuaigong , Guo Huachun , Wang Guiming , Ju Jianhua , Ho H.-M. , Ning Jay , Chen I.C.
Published: March 2010

PMOS poly Si gate blank pre-doping combined with NMOS poly Si counter pre-doping process scheme is demonstrated to keep the benefit of one photolithography saving while no device or product properties degradation.
Impact of Radiation on the Operation and Reliability of Deep Submicron CMOS Technologies
Authors: Claeys Cor , Put Sofie , Griffoni Alessio , Cester Andrea , Gerardin Simone , Meneghesso G. , Paccagnella Alessandro , Simoen Eddy
Published: March 2010

CMOS scaling has a beneficial impact on the radiation hardness of the technologies and often only requires a further optimization of either the Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) or the Buried Oxide (BOX) in case of a SOI technology. From a reliability viewpoint, heavy-ion induced ionization damage in the gate dielectric may lead to Radiation-Induced Leakage Current (RILC), Radiation-induced Soft Breakdown (RSB), Single Event Gate Rupture (SEGR) or the creation of latent damage. This paper discusses the present knowledge of the radiation impact on the operation and the reliability of deep submicron CMOS technologies.
The Combined Impact of Total Ionizing Dose Effect and Negative Bias Temperature Stress on Deep Sub-Micron pMOSFETs
Authors: Wang Jian , Wang Wenhua , Huang Detao , Xue Shoubin , Wang Sihao , Liu Wen , Huang Ru
Published: March 2010

In this paper, we investigate the combined effects of total ionizing dose (TID) and negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) on deep sub-micron pMOSFETs. It is found that the high temperature of the NBT stress induces an annealing effect by removing part of the radiation-induced positive charges. If we choose a relatively low temperature to avoid the annealing effect, a remarkable radiation acceleration effect on device degradation is observed and the lifetime of pMOSFETs significantly reduces due to more radiation-induced new hole traps in the oxide. However, the acceleration effect seems independent of the oxide electric field during NBT stress. The work in this paper indicates that it is important to choose proper NBT stress conditions if we use NBTI to predict the lifetime of the pMOSFETs which operate in the radiation environments.
Fluorine IMP Effect on Negative Bias Temperature Instability and Process Induced Defects
Authors: Zhou Allan , Liu Jinhua , Zheng K. , Ju Jianhua , Zhang Jing , Gan Z.-H. , Ho H.-M. , Ning X.-J.
Published: March 2010

Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) is one of the major reliability concerns for pMOSFETs as the transistor gate oxide thickness is scaling down. Incorporating fluorine into the gate oxide is a well-known method to effectively suppress NBTI. The efficiency and mechanism are studied carefully in earlier reports. The focus of this paper is to analyze how the fluorine incorporation impacts on device performance and process integration. Different fluorine implantation conditions and their impacts on NBTI lifetime, device performance and process integration were studied and analyzed. The results demonstrated that fluorine implants could prolong pMOSFETs NBTI lifetime, but would reduce threshold voltage and degrade Ion-Ioff performance. Meanwhile, process defects were found if the F2 dose in the active area is greater than a certain value. Analysis and discussions are carried out to understand those phenomena.
Low Voltage and High Speed SONOS Flash Memory Technology: The Strategies and the Reliabilities
Authors: Chung Steve
Published: March 2010

The flash memory has been evolved from floating gate to the nitride-trapping storage type-SONOS, and even progresses toward the nano-crystal memory in the future. Among them, floating gate flash memory has been one of the most successful nonvolatile memories for the largest volume production, in the past two decades. In comparison, SONOS-type trapping storage has reliability issue and has yet not been fully approved for mass production. However, floating gate flash memory requires high control gate voltage for programming which limits the device scaling and reliability. The SONOS type flash needs to overcome the reliability issues, especially the tunnel oxide and data retention. In this paper, we address different strategies for designing SONOS-type flash memories with low voltage operation, for achieving good reliability while keeping high speed performance. Various operating schemes will be demonstrated to meet the low voltage and high speed requirements. Also, the strategies for achieving excellent data retention will be specifically presented.
Heterostructure HEMT Electronic Device Simulation with Density Functional Theory
Authors: Hu Yiqing , Wang Jinyan , Wen C.P. , Yu Min , Mao Lingfen , Hao Yilong
Published: March 2010

A new simulation algorithm based on density functional theory is proposed in the application of the simulation of heterostructure HEMT device. Gauss bias is adopted and new energy functional is developed to solve the Schrodinger and Poisson equations in the HEMT device. This algorithm can avoid large data storage and reduce the simulation time of HEMT device simulation. One dimension case with nonuniform mesh shows the advantage of this new algorithm.Deducing from density functional theory, this new simulation algorithim is suitable for a full 3D simulation of semiconductor device.
Fabrication and Characterization of Polysilicon-Based Clamped-Clamped Filter
Authors: Zhao Yongmei , Ning Jin , Han G.W. , Si C.W. , Yang F.H.
Published: March 2010

The rapid growth of micromaching technology make the miniaturized or integrated MEMS resonator or filter be possible. This paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of the polysilicon-based RF MEMS filter, comprised of the two clamped-clamped resonator coupled with the micro dimensions beam. The surface micromaching technology has been adopted to fabricate the clamped-clamped filter. The fabricating process and the optimization of the typical micromaching process for the MEMS RF filter are illustrated in detail. After the fabrication, the resonating characteristics are measured. The center frequency of 30 MHz of the micromechanical bandpass filter is demonstrated
Characterization of Oxidation Induced Substrate Loss
Authors: Cunnane Liam , Moore Darren , Waldfried Carlo , Luo Shijian , Kiermasz Adrian , Ditmer Gary A.
Published: March 2010

Post implant resist strip for 45 nm and below poses challenges with regard to Si substrate loss due to oxidation and surface modification. In particular, the process to form Ultra Shallow Junctions (USJ) with high-dose implant (HDI) creates a carbonized, cross-linked crust on the surface of the resist. Removal of the implanted resist typically requires temperature-controlled and chemically aggressive approaches which can lead to excessive substrate damage. In order to ensure the desired device characteristics, this damage must be kept to a minimum, and the required optimization is dependent on highly sensitive metrology techniques. This paper reports on wafer mass loss as a direct linear measurement technique to quantify substrate loss.
Nanoscale Non-Destructive Semiconductor Dopant Characterization and Failure Analysis
Authors: Tanbakuchi Hassan
Published: March 2010

The non-destructive semiconductor dopant characterization and failure analysis has been an important and elusive measurement challenge to date. We have employed the vector network analyzer (VNA) as the measurement engine to address the nano scale electronic characterization challenge. The VNA architecture as it exists today has the ability to measure impedances close to the analyzer's own characteristic impedance (i.e., 50 ohms) with good precision up to 100GHz stimulus frequency. However, the measurement precision and resolution provided by a VNA drop by two orders of magnitude as impedance deviates from 50 ohms. We propose a solution that remedies the lack of measurement precision and resolution for large and small impedances when measured by a VNA. Agilent has developed a new scanning microwave microscope (SMM) mode that utilizes a half-wavelength resonator in conjunction with a diplexer connected to a VNA to perform very sensitive capacitance measurements at the tip of a conductive atomic force microscope (AFM). These measurements are achieved via transformation of the high impedance (i.e., the very small capacitance between the AFM tip/sample to the ground) to 50 ohms (i.e., the measurement system's characteristic impedance) using a half-wavelength resonator and diplexer. We also designed a Dopant Profile Measurement Module as a measurement accessory to the SMM system. This module in conjunction with the VNA /SMM enables the non-destructive semiconductor dopant characterization and failure analysis.