bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of thermal annealing on the interband transitions and activation energies of CdTe∕ZnTe quantum dots
Authors: Lee H. S. , Lee K. H. , Park H. L. , Kim T. W. , Kim Y.-H.
Published: July 2005

The effect of rapid thermal annealing on CdTe∕ZnTe quantum dots (QDs) was analyzed to investigate the interband transitions and the electron activation energy. The full width at half maximum of the photoluminescence (PL) peak corresponding to the interband transitions from the ground electronic subband to the ground heavy-hole band (E1-HH1) in the CdTe∕ZnTe QDs annealed at 330°C decreased, and their integrated PL intensity of the E1-HH1 transition peak significantly increased. The activation energy of electrons confined in CdTe∕ZnTe QDs annealed at 330°C increased as high as 77meV, which was the highest value among the as-grown and annealed samples. These results indicate that the crystallinity of the CdTe∕ZnTe QDs is improved by annealing, and the present results can help improve the understanding of the thermal annealing effect on the optical properties of CdTe∕ZnTe QDs.
Dislocation-indenter interaction in nanoindentation
Authors: Shankar M. Ravi , King Alexander H. , Chandrasekar Srinivasan
Published: July 2005

A formulation of dislocation-indenter interaction in two-dimensional, isotropic elasticity is presented. A significant dislocation-indenter interaction is predicted when dislocations are nucleated very close to the indenter. This interaction is expected to have an important influence on dislocation motion and multiplication. Upon nucleation close to the indenter, the dislocations are shown to modify the load, load distribution, and moment acting on the indenter. This effect is seen to vary with the indentation contact length. Further away from the indenter, the indenter-dislocation interaction is shown to be negligible.
Soft breakdown of hafnium oxynitride gate dielectrics
Authors: Wang Jer Chyi , Shie De Ching , Lei Tan Fu , Lee Chung Len
Published: July 2005

A detailed study of soft breakdown modes for hafnium oxynitride (HfON) gate dielectrics under stress is investigated. Two types of soft breakdown, digital and analog modes, are observed in HfON gate dielectrics, featuring gate voltage fluctuation accompanying random telegraph noise and nonswitching 1∕f noise, respectively. The dependence of gate area, oxide thickness, and stress current density on breakdown modes is also studied. Thin oxide thickness and small gate area contribute to the enhancement of charge to breakdown (Qbd). Large Joule heat damage generated under stress inducing the analog soft breakdown for thick hafnium oxynitride films is proposed to clearly understand the breakdown of HfON gate dielectrics.
Quantitative coverage and stability of hydrogen-passivation layers on HF-etched Si(1−x)Gex surfaces
Authors: Wilde Markus , Fukutani Katsuyuki , Koh Shinji , Sawano Kentarou , Shiraki Yasuhiro
Published: July 2005

This study investigates the stability of surface hydride layers passivating silicon-germanium alloys against contamination in ambient conditions after treatment in dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF), which is of central importance to the fabrication of SiGe-based semiconductor devices. We report quantitative hydrogen coverages on HF-etched Si(1−x)Gex surfaces (x=0,0.30,0.60,0.82), determined after air-to-vacuum transfer by H-specific H1(N15,αγ)C12 nuclear reaction analysis. Combination of this coverage information with analysis of the zero-point vibrational properties and N15-ion-induced desorption kinetics of the surface H atoms enables the distinction of well-passivated SiGe surfaces terminated exclusively by hydrides of Si and Ge from those partially covered by contaminating adsorbates. It is found that the resistance of HF-etched Si(1−x)Gex alloys against recontamination is drastically reduced at increasing Ge contents. Pure Si(100)–H is stably passivated at least up to 1week in air by a layer of 1.3±0.1 monolayer total H coverage. Si0.70Ge0.30 initially resembles H-passivated Si(100) but shows indications of moderate contamination after 1week in air. The HF treatment does not produce stable passivation layers on Ge-rich alloys (x⩾0.60), which suffer heavy recontamination within minutes after removal from the HF solution.
Combined synchrotron x-ray diffraction and wafer curvature measurements during Ni–Si reactive film formation
Authors: Rivero C. , Gergaud P. , Gailhanou M. , Thomas O. , Froment B. , Jaouen H. , Carron V.
Published: July 2005

Combined x-ray diffraction and wafer curvature measurements during annealing of Ni thin films (13 nm) deposited on Si (001) reveal distinct stages in stress development and silicide growth. Thanks to this unique experimental setup, a clear correlation is established between force extrema at distinct temperatures and the appearance of new silicides. It is shown that the transient formation of Ni3Si2 has a strong influence on the overall stress development.
Ultrafast electric field measurements in semiconductors by spectral integration over electric field-induced Franz-Keldysh oscillations
Authors: Bieler M. , Hein G. , Pierz K. , Siegner U. , Koch M.
Published: July 2005

A novel experimental method is presented that uses electroabsorption effects above the band gap of semiconductors to measure electric fields on subpicosecond time scales. Broadband laser pulses are required in order to spectrally integrate over electric field-induced Franz-Keldysh oscillations, without the need for spectral resolution. For GaAs we show that the field-induced transmittance change of the broadband laser pulses depends quadratically on the amplitude of the electric field. The versatility of the method is demonstrated by femtosecond time resolved and spatially resolved field measurements in GaAs photoconductive switches.
High-power, room-temperature, and continuous-wave operation of distributed-feedback quantum-cascade lasers at λ∼4.8μm
Authors: Yu J. S. , Slivken S. , Darvish S. R. , Evans A. , Gokden B. , Razeghi M.
Published: July 2005

A high-power continuous-wave (CW) operation of distributed-feedback quantum-cascade lasers using a buried grating with epitaxial regrowth up to temperatures of above 60°C is demonstrated. For a high-reflectivity-coated 13μm-wide and 3mm-long cavity, CW output powers of 135mW at 25°C and still 37mW at 60°C are obtained. The device exhibits a CW threshold current density of 1.1kA∕cm2, a maximum CW wall-plug efficiency of 1.48% at 25°C, and a characteristic temperature of 177K in pulsed mode. Single-mode emission near 4.8μm with a side-mode suppression ratio of >30dB and a tuning range of ∼8.1cm−1 (i.e., tunability of 0.18cm−1∕K) in the temperature range from 15to60°C is observed.
Correlation between interfacial electronic structure and mechanical properties of ZrN–Me (MeAg, Au, or Pd) nanocomposite films
Authors: Aouadi S. M. , Shreeman P. K. , Ge Q. , Xu J. , Mishra S. R.
Published: July 2005

Nanocomposite films of ZrN–Me (MeAg, Au, or Pd) were prepared using reactive unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The hardness and elastic modulus were measured by nanoindention and were found to vary differently with composition for the three nanocomposite structures. Young’s modulus was found to decrease much more dramatically with the increase in Me content for the ZrN–Ag system. These findings were attributed to the weaker bonding mechanism at the interface between the ceramic and the metallic phases, which is more prone to grain-boundary sliding as shown using first-principles calculations of the electronic structure at the interface for the three systems.
Depalmitoylated Ras traffics to and from the Golgi complex via a nonvesicular pathway
Authors: Goodwin J. Shawn , Drake Kimberly R. , Rogers Carl , Wright Latasha , Lippincott-Schwartz Jennifer , Philips Mark R. , Kenworthy Anne K.
Published: July 2005

Palmitoylation is postulated to regulate Ras signaling by modulating its intracellular trafficking and membrane microenvironment. The mechanisms by which palmitoylation contributes to these events are poorly understood. Here, we show that dynamic turnover of palmitate regulates the intracellular trafficking of HRas and NRas to and from the Golgi complex by shifting the protein between vesicular and nonvesicular modes of transport. A combination of time-lapse microscopy and photobleaching techniques reveal that in the absence of palmitoylation, GFP-tagged HRas and NRas undergo rapid exchange between the cytosol and ER/Golgi membranes, and that wild-type GFP-HRas and GFP-NRas are recycled to the Golgi complex by a nonvesicular mechanism. Our findings support a model where palmitoylation kinetically traps Ras on membranes, enabling the protein to undergo vesicular transport. We propose that a cycle of depalmitoylation and repalmitoylation regulates the time course and sites of Ras signaling by allowing the protein to be released from the cell surface and rapidly redistributed to intracellular membranes.
Huntingtin interacting protein 1 modulates the transcriptional activity of nuclear hormone receptors
Authors: Mills Ian G. , Gaughan Luke , Robson Craig , Ross Theodora , McCracken Stuart , Kelly John , Neal David E.
Published: July 2005

Internalization of activated receptors regulates signaling, and endocytic adaptor proteins are well-characterized in clathrin-mediated uptake. One of these adaptor proteins, huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP1), induces cellular transformation and is overexpressed in some prostate cancers. We have discovered that HIP1 associates with the androgen receptor through a central coiled coil domain and is recruited to DNA response elements upon androgen stimulation. HIP1 is a novel androgen receptor regulator, significantly repressing transcription when knocked down using a silencing RNA approach and activating transcription when overexpressed. We have also identified a functional nuclear localization signal at the COOH terminus of HIP1, which contributes to the nuclear translocation of the protein. In conclusion, we have discovered that HIP1 is a nucleocytoplasmic protein capable of associating with membranes and DNA response elements and regulating transcription.
Expansion and long-range differentiation of the NKT cell lineage in mice expressing CD1d exclusively on cortical thymocytes
Authors: Wei Datsen G. , Lee Hyunji , Park Se-Ho , Beaudoin Lucie , Teyton Luc , Lehuen Agnès , Bendelac Albert
Published: July 2005

Unlike conventional major histocompatibility complex–restricted T cells, Vα14-Jα18 NKT cell lineage precursors engage in cognate interactions with CD1d-expressing bone marrow–derived cells that are both necessary and sufficient for their thymic selection and differentiation, but the nature and sequence of these interactions remain partially understood. After positive selection mediated by CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes, the mature NKT cell lineage undergoes a series of changes suggesting antigen priming by a professional antigen-presenting cell, including extensive cell division, acquisition of a memory phenotype, the ability to produce interleukin-4 and interferon-γ, and the expression of a panoply of NK receptors. By using a combined transgenic and chimeric approach to restrict CD1d expression to cortical thymocytes and to prevent expression on other hematopoietic cell types such as dendritic cells, macrophages, or B cells, we found that, to a large extent, expansion and differentiation events could be imparted by a single-cognate interaction with CD1d-expressing cortical thymocytes. These surprising findings suggest that, unlike thymic epithelial cells, cortical thymocytes can provide unexpected, cell type–specific signals leading to lineage expansion and NKT cell differentiation.
CD4−CD8− T cells control intracellular bacterial infections both in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Cowley Siobhán C. , Hamilton Elizabeth , Frelinger Jeffrey A. , Su Jie , Forman James , Elkins Karen L.
Published: July 2005

Memory T cells, including the well-known CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, are central components of the acquired immune system and are the basis for successful vaccination. After infection, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expand into effector cells, and then differentiate into long-lived memory cells. We show that a rare population of CD4−CD8−CD3+αβ+γδ−NK1.1− T cells has similar functions. These cells potently and specifically inhibit the growth of the intracellular bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb.) or Francisella tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS) in macrophages in vitro, promote survival of mice infected with these organisms in vivo, and adoptively transfer immunity to F. tularensis LVS. Furthermore, these cells expand in the spleens of mice infected with M. tb. or F. tularensis LVS, and then acquire a memory cell phenotype. Thus, CD4−CD8− T cells have a role in the control of intracellular infection and may contribute to successful vaccination.
Food and drug interactions: its side effects
Authors: Ayo J.A. , Agu H. , Madaki I.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

To enlighten the food consumers and drug users as to some of their incompatibilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Examples from the literature covering compositions of food‐drug, food‐drug interactions, and dietary habits were collected from former works.

Findings

Major side‐effects of some diet(food) on drugs include alteration in absorption by fatty, high protein and fiber diets. Drugs such as methateiate, pyrimethamine, isonicotinic acid and asprin alter the transportation of some nutrients. Nutrient supplementations was found to be beneficial.

Research limitations/implications

Possible factors affecting the reactions need to be identified.

Practical implications

It helps food consumers and drug users to avoid using some of these materials and also to adopt nutrient supplementation as a better alternative where possible.

Originality/value

The knowledge helps food technologists, nutritionists, physicians and pharmacists to serve the public better.
Emotional intelligence and its relationship to workplace performance outcomes of leadership effectiveness
Authors: Rosete David , Ciarrochi Joseph
Published: July 2005

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), personality, cognitive intelligence and leadership effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Senior executives (n=41) completed an ability measure of EI (MSCEIT), a measure of personality (16PF5) and a measure of cognitive ability (the Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence (WASI)). Leadership effectiveness was assessed using an objective measure of performance and a 360° assessment involving each leader's subordinates and direct manager (n=149).

Findings

Correlational and regression analyses revealed that higher EI was associated with higher leadership effectiveness, and that EI explained variance not explained by either personality or IQ.

Originality/value

This paper establishes a link between EI and workplace measures of leadership effectiveness.
The hybrid structural interaction matrix
Authors: Oke S.A. , Ayomoh M.K.O.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new star in the continuous improvement research, the hybrid structural interaction matrix (HSIM). The work compares the results of this decision science methodology with that of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) with a case drawn from a published work in the maintenance performance literature. It further identifies certain areas of improvements for enrichment of this body of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology presented in the work is termed the hybrid international matrix with potentials for prioritizing simple and complex numbers of maintenance activities or items.

Findings

The results obtained indicate the feasibility of prioritizing items in maintenance with some improved results in the quality of decision made based on the prioritization.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the study lies in the fact that a computerized system is needed when the items to be prioritized are many.

Practical implications

Practically, it is noted that the quality of decisions made based on the methodology is enhanced. Thus, managers in practice would better achieve higher level of reliance than in the use of previous models that are similar.

Originality/value

The paper is new. It presents a novel contribution, which is capable of being extended for the benefit of researchers or maintenance. The work presents some research opportunities with potentials of elevating maintenance productivity theory and practice into the ranks of major concepts in maintenance performance evaluation.
Tracking space‐vector plot asymmetries in transformer differential relaying
Authors: Díaz Guzmán , Arboleya Pablo , Gómez‐Aleixandre Javier
Published: July 2005

Purpose

Differential relaying is one of the most widely used techniques for protecting power transformers. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and cover a developed methodology for analyzing the signals obtained from the differential protection of power transformers.

Design/methodology/approach

The differential signal obtained from the protective relays of power transformers is analyzed in this paper, in order to establish a relation between time‐dependent symmetrical components and space vectors. As a result of the formulation of such a relation, specific patterns are obtained and classified for the plot of the space vector during fault and inrush conditions.

Findings

What was found in the course of the work? This will refer to analysis, discussion, or results. It has been found that the discrimination between inrush and fault conditions is possible by observing a characteristic asymmetry in the plots of the space vector. A method for dealing with the said asymmetries based on the absolute value of the space vector as obtained from the differential signal is proposed and discussed. The theoretical approaches given in the paper are further validated through finite element simulations and laboratory tests, which include linear and non‐linear loads, in order to account for more severe exploitation conditions.

Research limitations/implications

A complete protective algorithm can be developed from the analysis of the methodology proposed, which avoids the spectral analysis, since the methodology is based in pattern analysis rather that in the latter technique.

Practical implications

The methodology provides faster identification of the fault during inrush condition, since the spectral analysis is prevented.

Originality/value

It may be stated that the major contribution of the paper is the methodology proposed for identifying internal faults in power transformers using pattern characterization of the plot of the space vector.
Description of power lines by equivalent source system
Authors: Canova A. , Freschi F. , Repetto M. , Tartaglia M.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The definition of a simple model of low frequency magnetic field created by power industrial installations can be approached by using an equivalent source system (ESS). Given a set of measured magnetic field points, the ESS, made by a limited set of current carrying wires or turns, must be placed and supplied in order to fit the measured magnetic field values. An optimisation procedure can be used to define the current values and the location of the ESS which minimize the error between the measured and computed magnetic field values.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐step optimal procedure is defined: in the outer step a stochastic optimisation routine is used to drive the geometric control parameters of the ESS while, in the inner step, the current values flowing through the sources are computed to find the minimization of the error with respect to a set of measured magnetic field values. The optimisation procedure is based on an artificial immune system algorithm which focuses on a deep exploration of the search space and gave interesting results both in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.

Findings

The results show that the proposed approach is able to reconstruct the magnetic field created by complex source system and give some accuracy measure on the reconstruction error. The optimisation process carried out also on conductor positions has allowed to find out the location of the real sources in an accurate way, also in presence of measurement errors.

Originality/value

The approach proposed uses optimisation procedures to solve the inverse problem of source reconstruction starting by a set of measured magnetic field values. The definition of a simple equivalent source structure, together with an optimisation procedure to set its control parameters, allows to simulate complex magnetic field sources, like power substations or cable systems, in a very efficient and compact way.
A fast algorithm for inversion of MLP networks in design problems
Authors: Cherubini Davide , Fanni Alessandra , Montisci Augusto , Testoni Pietro
Published: July 2005

Purpose

To present a neural network‐based approach to the design of electromagnetic devices.

Design/methodology/approach

A neural model is created which reproduces the relationship between the design parameters of the device and the performance parameters, typically field values.

Findings

The neural model is a single hidden layer MLP network, trained by using a set of cases calculated, for example, by means of a finite element analysis. The design problem can be solved by fixing the performance values at the output of the network and by calculating the corresponding input values. The relationship between the input and the output of the neural network is represented by three equations systems. By means of these three systems, we can forward the domain of the input, and we can back propagate the desired output throughout the network layers. In such a way, both the domain of the design parameters and the domain of the desired performances values can be projected in the same space. Whatever point inside the intersection between the two projected domains corresponds to a solution of the design problem.

Originality/value

Presents a procedure which is able to find a point belonging to such an intersection.
Recent experiences of multiobjective optimisation in electromagnetics
Authors: Di Barba P. , Mognaschi M.E.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to compare different methods for multiobjective optimisation with respect to the same benchmark problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The following methods are considered: equilibrium of gradients GB, multi‐individual multi‐objective evolution‐strategy MOESTRA, and goal attainment GATT, respectively. They are applied to the shape design of the pole pitch of an electrical machine, with the aim of maximizing the air‐gap induction and minimizing the stray field in the winding.

Findings

The same initial solution of the benchmark is considered for all methods. The final solution of GB and MOESTRA dominates the initial one because both objectives are improved. GB is the most expensive method and therefore is not suited when several non‐dominated solutions should be identified. Accordingly, the trade‐off curve was approximated by means of 15 non‐dominated solutions, resorting to MOESTRA.

Originality/value

A multi‐objective multi‐individual evolution strategy of lowest order has proven to be cost‐effective in identifying a set of non‐dominated solutions, so helping the designer to investigate the structure of the objective space. The requirements in terms of timing and facilities appear to be compatible with the resources of an automated design centre of an industrial company.
A multi‐objective analysis of a special switched reluctance motor
Authors: Lebensztajn Luiz , Marretto Carina A.R. , Perdiz Fábio A.B. , Costa Maurício C. , Nabeta Silvio I. , Dietrich Álvaro B. , Chabu Ivan E. , Cavalcanti Thiago T.G.R. , Roberto Cardoso José
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The design of electrical machines includes the computation of several requirements and, in general, the improvement of one requirement implies in a degradation of another one: this is a typical multi‐objective scenario. The paper focuses on the multi‐optimization analysis of a special switched reluctance motor.

Design/methodology/approach

Two design requirements were analyzed: the average torque and the ripple torque. The electromagnetic field computation was performed by the finite element method and the torque was computed by the Coulomb's Virtual Work for several positions. This allows us to calculate the average torque and the ripple torque. Three different methods were used to obtain the Pareto set: a min‐max approach, the non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) and the strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm (SPEA). In order to save the computation time, the objective functions (the average torque and the ripple torque) were replaced with surrogate functions. Kriging models were used as surrogate functions.

Findings

The evolutionary methods (NSGA and SPEA) have a similar performance. The min‐max has not the same performance. It could have the same performance only if some unconstrained optimization problems are solved before the multi‐objective optimization. The maximum relative deviation between the approximated function (Kriging model) and the same value calculated by the finite element method was equal to 0.8 percent for the average torque and 1.2 percent for the ripple torque. The ripple torque, considered as the difference between the maximum and the minimum values in the 0‐90° region, has reduced while its frequency has doubled. This last characteristic provides a better mechanical stability for the driven load because its inertia softens the ripple effects at the double the frequency. The optimized prototype presents higher torques in the region θ<0° and this allows the electronic drive to switch in a broader range rendering the motor operation more flexible.

Originality/value

The use of surrogate functions save the computation time with high accuracy. This is very important on the design of electrical machines, a typical multi‐objective scenario. Evolutionary methods seem to be well suited to solve this class of problem.
Study of the inverse problem resolution quality: application to low‐field magnetostatic
Authors: Guerin Sébastien , Coulomb Jean‐Louis , Cauffet Gilles
Published: July 2005

Purpose

This paper presents a method to improve inverse problem resolution. This method focuses on the measurement set and particularly on sensor position. Based on experiment, it aims at finding sensor position criteria to insure the least bad inverse problem solving.

Design/methodology/approach

The studied device is a magnetized steel sheet measured by four sensors. Three optimization techniques are compared: condition number, solid angle and signature optimization.

Findings

An efficient criterion to compare the inverse problem resolution quality is presented. The comparison of optimization techniques shows that only signature optimization gives accurate results.

Research limitations/implications

A relative simple case is studied in this paper: only four sensors are used to measure a steel sheet. Moreover magnetostatic low‐field case is supposed. Nevertheless techniques presented could be applied to more complex studies. Condition number and solid angle optimizations techniques should be tested with more sensors to confirm or infirm their inefficiency.

Practical implications

This paper presents the first step of a larger study concerning ships for naval application. The aim is to predict magnetic anomaly created by ship to compensate it. This anomaly could be computed through the resolution of an inverse problem based on internal measurements. The signature optimization technique could be used to find the optimal sensor location onboard.

Originality/value

Traditional regularization techniques are focusing on adding mathematical or physical information to the system in order to improve it. This paper provides another approach to improve inverse problem resolution through measurement set. It shows that sensor position optimization should be efficient.
Optimal design of electric vehicles drive train
Authors: Mester V. , Gillon F. , Brochet P.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The paper highlights the process of electric vehicles optimal design as an inverse problem and presents the global constrained optimization as the best way to solve it.

Design/methodology/approach

The electric vehicle optimal design is carried out by a new approach. It consists an electric vehicle design model managed by constrained optimization techniques. It includes sizing models for all drive train components and a vehicle dynamic model build in a new “design way” as an energy‐based model using the response surface methodology. The sensitivity of first simple sizing models can be evaluated by the experimental design method, giving information about the most important part of the model that must be improved.

Findings

The result shows the superiority of the constrained optimization technique that treats simultaneously the global optimization and the model adjustment. This method of simultaneous resolution is much more powerful than the successive resolution of each subproblem. The proposed “design approach” used for electric vehicle optimal design offer a large potential in the field of the complex systems design.

Originality/value

The electric vehicle design process is treated on a vehicle design model based on a design approach. It allows determining the drive train components specifications for imposed vehicle performances, taking into account the dynamic model of the vehicle and all components interactions. Furthermore, considering fine components sizing models, the components can be sized taking into account the whole system behavior in an optimal global design.
Some geometrical and evolutionary procedures for optimizing the calculation times of 3D current fields by the finite element method
Authors: Delvecchio G. , Di Sciascio E. , Grassi S. , Neri F. , Sylos Labini M.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

As well known, in the finite element method, the calculation and the location of the elements of the matrixCof the coefficients requires a lot of calculation times and memory employment especially for 3D problems. Besides, once the matrixCis properly filled, the solution of the system of linear equations is computationally expensive.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper consists of two parts. In the first part, to quickly calculate and store only the non‐null terms of the matrix of the system, a geometrical analysis on three‐dimensional domains has been carried out. The second part of the paper deals with the solution of the system of linear equations and proposes a procedure for increasing the solution speed: the traditional method of the conjugate gradient is hybridized with an adequate genetic algorithm (Genetic Conjugate Gradient).

Findings

The proposed geometrical procedure allows us to calculate the non‐null terms and their location within the matrixCby simple recursive formulas. The results concerning the genetic conjugate gradient show that the convergence to the solution of the linear system is obtained in a much smaller number iterations and the calculation time is also significantly decreased.

Originality/value

The approach proposed to analyze the geometrical space has been turned out to be very useful in terms of memory saving and computational cost. The genetic conjugate gradient is an original hybrid method to solve large scale problems quicker than the traditional conjugate gradient. An application of the method has been shown for current fields generated by grounding electrodes.
Consumer perceptions of store brands versus national brands
Authors: De Wulf Kristof , Odekerken‐Schröder Gaby , Goedertier Frank , Van Ossel Gino
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The objective of this study is threefold. First, the authors want to use taste tests to assess how four store brands that are differently positioned compare to one national brand in terms of perceived brand equity. Second, the authors want to investigate whether brand equity of store versus national brands is determined by current brand loyalty towards these brands. Third, they want to find out whether store patronage has an influence on perceived brand equity of store versus national brands.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 225 consumers were involved in a repeated measures design involving two within‐subject factors: a blind and non‐blind taste test of five orange juice brands. Across our three objectives, we describe the impact of the retailers' positioning strategies on the results generated.

Findings

The results confirm the common belief that private label products can offer the same or even better quality than national brands, but at a lower price.

Originality/value

Until now, hardly any study incorporates the differences in positioning objectives of retailers and national brand manufacturers. Nevertheless, as is true for any brand, positioning of a store brand can exert an important influence on its performance.
Market orientation, strategic flexibility, and performance: implications for services providers
Authors: Javalgi Rajshekhar (Raj) G. , Whipple Thomas W. , Ghosh Amit K. , Young Robert B.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

This article proposes investigating implications for service providers who adopt a market orientation. It hopes to extend current thinking by integrating market orientation and market‐focused strategic flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is extended to apply to services marketing. The “strategic wheel of service performance” provides a framework to discuss the managerial implications from integration of market orientation, strategic flexibility, competitive advantage, and service performance.

Findings

The impact of developing a market orientation should be higher levels of customer relationship marketing (CRM), retention, satisfaction, loyalty, and lifetime value (LTV). Increases in one or more of these interrelated variables should help service providers improve their judgmental and objective performance.

Research limitations/implications

More research needs to be conducted to expand the market orientation philosophy to the service provider. Subjecting the framework to analytic rigor would allow scholars and practitioners to understand more fully the inter‐relatedness of the service implications.

Practical implications

Practice implications of the paper are: the service economy is an opportunity to practice market orientation; investments in customer profitability, retention, and loyalty programs pay dividends; A market orientation enhances financial and strategic performance; integration of principles across organizational boundaries requires a long time; financial and strategic business performance criteria need to be quantified; cross‐functional customer feedback mechanisms need to be designed; and market orientation must be integrated across all service function providers.

Originality/value

The conceptual framework integrates market orientation, market‐focused strategic flexibility, strategic competitive advantage, and subjective and objective performance outcomes as applied to service providers. The discussion strengthens the strategic value of market orientation and provides managerial implications for the services sector.
The effect of intercultural sensitivity on employee performance in cross‐cultural service encounters
Authors: Sizoo Steve , Plank Richard , Iskat Wilfried , Serrie Hendrick
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The significant increase in service offerings throughout the world has caused marketing scholars to focus their attention on the characteristics of the service encounter. With the growth in global business, more attention is also being paid to cross‐culture service encounters. This study proposes adding to that trend by attempting to measure the effect of intercultural sensitivity on the cross‐cultural performance of service employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were carried out in four‐ and five‐diamond hotels located in the state of Florida with reputations for attracting foreign guests.

Findings

The results indicate that employees with high intercultural sensitivity scored significantly (p<0.05) higher than employees with low intercultural sensitivity in terms of service attentiveness, revenue contribution, interpersonal skills, job satisfaction, and social satisfaction as they relate to cross‐cultural encounters. There was no significant difference in scores for motivation‐to‐work and perceptions of primary rewards (compensation, recognition, etc.).

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to upscale in Florida hotels.

Originality/value

Results suggest that service firms would benefit from testing for and providing training in intercultural sensitivity for employees involved in cross‐cultural service encounters.
Critical evaluation of two models for entrepreneurial education
Authors: Pretorius Marius , Nieman Gideon , van Vuuren Jurie
Published: July 2005

Purpose

This paper focuses on the comparison of two models for entrepreneurial education with the aim of potential integration. At this juncture when entrepreneurial development is seen as the core contributor to enhance start‐ups of new ventures and hence facilitate economic growth and development, the best possible education model is required. The creation of more entrepreneurs is at least partially dependent on the creation and advancement of efficient educational models.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this paper briefly describes the two independently developed models for entrepreneurial education. Second, an in‐depth qualitative analysis of the individual model constructs is presented to evaluate the contributions and limitations of each. Third, this paper proposes an integrated model that identifies certain weaknesses of each of its building‐blocks, which are eliminated by the integration.

Findings

The paper concludes that the integrated model for entrepreneurial education enhances the body of knowledge and highlights the key role of facilitators of entrepreneurial education programmes.

Originality/value

Suggests that research should be conducted into the facilitation skills, entrepreneurial and business experience of existing facilitators and potentially those of business advisers that act as mentors.
Borderless education: some implications for management
Authors: Wood Barb J.G. , Tapsall Suellen M. , Soutar Geoffrey N.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

There is a considerable competition within the global education marketplace, as can be seen by the growing number of higher education providers. Significant changes to information and communication technologies (ICTs) have also supported dramatic opportunities for distance and online education. This transformation, in combination with a growing demand for continuing professional education and strengthened demands by employers for tailored education and training, has caused significant shifts in higher education. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of three relevant trends within higher education. The paper explores: the significant changes in ICTs and their support for enhanced distance and online learning opportunities; the growing demand for continuing professional management education; and the strengthened demand by employers for tailored education and training.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews current literature on higher education trends in the areas of globalisation, virtualisation and borderlessness. The impact of these trends is specifically examined relative to management education.

Findings

The paper discusses the implications of higher education trends on curriculum, teaching and administration in management education.

Originality/value

This paper brings together a significant amount of information from various sources to provide a coherent resource about management education trends and the implication of these trends on the future provision of management education.
Nothing seems to have changed, nothing seems to be changing and perhaps nothing will change in the NHS: doctors' response to clinical governance
Authors: Som C.V.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate on the response of doctors to health policy initiatives in general and clinical governance in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach has been adopted where the empirical data collection and the analysis are influenced by a phenomenological case study approach. An instrumental case study is undertaken and a heterogeneous group of 33 persons with important responsibilities for clinical governance was interviewed using a semi‐structured format.

Findings

The results indicate that doctors are not enthusiastic about clinical governance and it is not receiving wholehearted support from doctors because they feel that clinical governance is a management‐led initiative imposed without adequate consultations. The real reasons for lack of enthusiasm, indifference and sometimes resistance of doctors to clinical governance are examined. This paper points out the tension between an organisation (wishing to bring clinical care within a management framework) and doctors (who are resisting managerial efforts to replace the old framework of bureau professionalism).

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the influence of clinical governance on power and conflict in NHS organisations.

Practical implications

This paper has practical implications for policy makers as well as NHS managers. Policy makers may consider suitable amendments in clinical governance to minimise resistance and seek the support of clinicians. A better understanding of this issue would perhaps enable NHS management to develop better management practices that will make it possible to seek the support of doctors for clinical governance.

Originality/value

Limited attention has been paid to understanding the response of doctors to clinical governance. This empirical research makes a valuable contribution by focusing on this important aspect of clinical governance.
Looking forwards: discursive directions in organizational change
Authors: Oswick Cliff , Grant David , Michelson Grant , Wailes Nick
Published: July 2005

Purpose

This paper aims to review the discursive formation of organizational change and to consider the possible directions that change management initiatives may take in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This closing piece identifies a traditional change discourse and an emerging change discourse. This is achieved through a review of the extant literature and the contributions to the special issue.

Findings

The paper highlights a shift of emphases in organizational change due to environmental imperatives. In particular, it reveals a move from problem‐centred, discrete interventions to a focus on continuous improvements. It also draws attention to the emerging significance of discourse‐based approaches concerned with image, identity, organizational learning and knowledge management.

Originality/value

Provides a framework for classifying different forms of organizational change activity and posits directions for future development.
Impact of the tsunami on Chinese outbound tourism
Authors: Qiu Zhang Hanqin
Published: July 2005

Purpose

Seeks to report and analyze the impacts of the Asian tsunami on China's outbound tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses industry data to assess the impact of tourism from China to the affected region.

Findings

The tsunami has caused a redistribution of outbound tourists and stimulated a rapid increase in some other outbound and domestic destinations.

Practical implications

The tsunami itself had both direct and indirect effects. South and Southeast Asia has lost tourism revenues from China and is now perceived as a high‐risk region by Chinese tourists.

Originality/value

Uses recently available industry data to assess the impact of the tsunami on Chinese outbound tourism.
Perceptions and attitudes of tourism students in Turkey
Authors: Akin Aksu A. , Deniz Köksal C.
Published: July 2005

Purpose

To investigate the main expectations of students from the tourism industry who are studying at the Akdeniz University School of Tourism and Hotel Management in Antalya.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire containing 16 closed questions and a multi‐item attitude scale was used for 689 students ranging from the first class to the fourth class.

Findings

The results generally show negative perceptions and attitudes toward the tourism industry, but some positive perceptions and attitudes are also apparent. Positive emotions were usually mentioned by students who had chosen the tourism and hotel management school within their first three rank order in the university entrance exam, who had chosen the school willingly, and who had carried out their practical work experience outside Turkey.

Research limitations/implications

It is not possible to generalize the findings to other tourism schools, but the findings can be evaluated as a useful source of information regarding the perceptions and attitudes of the sampled tourism students in Antalya, Turkey.

Originality/value

The findings are of value for government officials, academicians, tourism professionals and also tourism students.
Approval procedures and passive consent considerations in research among young people
Authors: de Meyrick Julian
Published: July 2005

Purpose

The intention of this paper is to encourage debate among ethical researchers on this very important issue. Research necessary to underpin health education and health promotion is often controversial and often involves vulnerable populations such as young people and children. It is essential that the rights of these respondents are protected in every research project. Current research ethical approval processes aim to protect these rights but have the potential to undermine the viability of research projects in this area. This paper addresses two ethical issues associated with this research: the approval process and respondent consent.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the codified antecedents of common ethical guidelines and discusses their application in a particular but not unusual health education research project.

Findings

The paper recommends the adoption of a simplified approval process and greater appreciation of the merits of researching among students in a classroom setting, when these students are an appropriate target market.

Research limitations/implications

Much health education research falls between medical research and marketing research. Guidelines for this sort of research need to be developed through discussion among practitioners and academics in the field.

Originality/value

Adoption of this simplified approach will facilitate more important research being undertaken without jeopardizing the rights or the welfare of the vulnerable respondents involved.
Messages and mediums: learning to teach with videogames
Authors: Thomas David
Published: July 2005

Purpose

Proposes to argue that current assumptions about media effects in videogames fail to take into account the variety of messages and potential effects embedded in games.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of the game “Grand Theft Auto III” and a short, illustrative, review of “videogames as learning” perspectives.

Findings

Even a game such as “Grand Theft Auto III”, pilloried for its anti‐social messages and assumed negative behavioral effects, reveals a significant number of positive social messages.

Research limitations/implications

This paper only illustrates the conflicting nature of media effects assumptions – both positive and negative. It does not attempt to provide an exhaustive review of or context for either the subject‐matter or the research area.

Practical implications

The perspective presented provides a warning to educators intent on assuming positive learning benefits (effects) of the videogame medium just as it argues against a simple reading of videogames as negative media by groups seeking to censor games.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to identify the underlying assumptions of both the “videogames as learning” and the “videogames as social danger” camps as both sharing the same conceptual framework.