bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is All Communication Created Equal?: An Investigation into the Effects of Communication Mode on Perceived Information Quality
Authors: Maltz Elliot
Published: October 2003

Enhancing communication between functions is crucial to successful product development and management. Previous work in the product innovation management literature has made two implicit assumptions. First, that increasing the frequency of information dissemination from one function to the other always improves the perceived quality of the information received. The second assumption is that all types of interfunctional communication carry equal weight in the decision‐making process of the target of that communication. The current study develops a typology of communication modes, which suggests a rationale for why these assumptions may not be true.

The empirical findings of the study, based on a survey of 504 nonmarketing managers indicate that the relationship between total communication frequency and perceived information quality (PIQ) is nonlinear. Specifically, the study finds that marketing managers can either communicate too little or too much with nonmarketing managers. If they interact too infrequently, they run the risk of not understanding the way to most effectively communicate market information. If they communicate too much, they may overload the manager with too much information and erode the overall quality of the information sent.

In addition, some modes of communication are more effective in improving perceptions of the quality of market information. For instance, regular e‐mail sent by marketing managers seems to have no effect on perceived information quality. On the other hand, e‐mail sent with supporting documentation can have a strong positive effect on perceived information quality. Impromptu phone calls by marketing have less positive effects than scheduled phone calls.

Interestingly, too much of the wrong types of communication actually seem to reduce perceptions of perceived information quality, and consequently the likelihood that market information will be used. The study also suggests that certain kinds of communication are better for manufacturing managers and others more effective in sharing information with R&D managers. For instance, disseminating information through written reports seems to reduce perceived information quality. This is particularly true for R&D managers. On the other hand too many meetings can reduce perceptions of PIQ, particularly on the part of manufacturing managers. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
From Experience: Applying Performance Support Technology in the Fuzzy Front End
Authors: Montoya‐Weiss Mitzi M. , O'Driscoll Tony M.
Published: October 2003

A new product originates from an idea, or in many cases, integration of multiple ideas. The process of transforming an idea into a robust concept requires definition of the underlying technologies, identification of expected customer benefits, and assessment of the market opportunity. The idea‐development and subsequent idea‐selection stages of new product development are often referred to as the “fuzzy front end” because they typically involve ad hoc decisions and ill‐defined processes. To address this shortcoming, Nortel developed an idea‐to‐opportunity front‐end process that provides a consistent and structured approach for idea development and evaluation. This article describes the process and how it was implemented using electronic performance support technology.
Company Competencies as a Network: The Role of Product Development
Authors: Harmsen Hanne , Grunert Klaus G. , Bove Karsten
Published: October 2003

Product development managers and academics like to assure themselves and each other that new product development is one of the most critical areas of company competence and contributes positively to company success. But does top management agree? Because if they do not, the consequences will heavily influence the resource allocation to product development and career possibilities of new product developments manager. This study examines how top managers view the importance of product development relative to other central competence areas. Although asking managers about their perception is one way of evaluating the importance, its contribution to company success is another important measure. In this study, the impact of product development, relative to other important competence areas, is measured to assess further how critical product development is for overall company success.

The authors investigate these matters in a survey of top managers in 513 Danish production companies. Ten areas important for achieving company objectives are identified. These are product development, market intelligence, production management, strategy and vision, sales, market responsiveness, promotion, internal co‐operation, image, and supply management. Product development is rated a fairly important competence as it ranks number four, with sales, market responsiveness, and production management ranking numbers one to three. Yet a distressing negative impact on overall company success is found for product development proficiency, whereas success is positively related to production management, image, and differentiation of products. Further analysis reveals that product development contributes positively to success by enabling product differentiation and enhancing promotion proficiency. Influenced by and influencing many other competencies, product development is found to be a central competence.

Results support a nonfunctional and broad perspective of how bundles of competences interact and impact on success and establish a positive overall contribution to product development.
Technological Innovativeness as a Moderator of New Product Design Integration and Top Management Support
Authors: Swink Morgan
Published: October 2003

Many war stories, as well as a number of empirical research studies, point to the value of design integration and top management support in new product development (NPD) efforts, where design integration is conceptualized as the coordination of product and process design activities performed by various organizational groups. However, some emerging evidence suggests that these aspects of program management are not equally valuable in all NPD contexts. Furthermore, the benefits of these approaches may not extend to all dimensions of NPD performance. This article addresses these issues as they relate to technological innovativeness. The author reports the results of a research study designed to (1) assess the direct contributions of design integration and top management support to several dimensions of NPD performance, and (2) identify potential moderating influences of technological innovativeness on these direct effects. A survey of 136 NPD projects drawn from firms representing most of the major U.S. manufacturing industries provides data for the study. The overall goals of the study were to amplify our understanding of management's role in NPD and to further the development of contingency theory explaining new product success.

The results indicate that design integration is positively associated with higher design quality in NPD, but it is not significantly linked with better financial performance. In addition, design integration appears to be an important influence on achieving NPD time goals, but only in cases of high technological innovativeness. This result suggests that increased design integration produces its greatest impacts when development processes are full of uncertainty. Top management support is positively associated with better time‐based performance, design quality, and financial performance on the whole. However, a significant interaction effect suggests that high levels of top management support are ineffective in securing good financial performance in high technologically innovative environments. Other forces appear to be at work in these circumstances, making top management support less important. The article discusses the implications of these findings for management practice, a contingency‐oriented view of NPD processes, and future research.
Investigation of Factors Contributing to the Success of Cross‐Functional Teams
Authors: McDonough Edward F.
Published: October 2003

Although recent empirical research shows that most firms have implemented cross‐functional teams for the majority of the new product development projects undertaken, they are still finding it hard to ensure that these teams are successful in completing the new product development task. In this article, the author first reviews the vast literature on cross‐functional new product development teams to uncover the array of factors that have previously been demonstrated or hypothesized to relate to cross‐functional team success, when measured at the project level. He then analyzes the responses of 112 new product development professionals to determine which factors are more frequently mentioned as leading to project success.

In looking at how to achieve successful teams, many factors have been suggested in the literature by a number of different researchers. The author suggests a model of these factors that divides them into three categories that help achieve success. Setting the stage for product development by developing appropriate project goals, empowering the team with the needed decision‐making power, assigning the appropriate human resources, and creating a productive climate should be related to fostering team success. Of these four factors, appropriate project goals is mentioned most often as being associated with success, followed by empowerment. Several specific team behaviors, including cooperation, commitment to the project, ownership of the project, and respect and trust among team members, also have been posited to contribute to team success. Of these, this research finds that cooperation is mentioned most often as being associated with success, followed by commitment and ownership. Finally, a number of researchers have suggested that team leaders, senior managers, and champions provide enabling support to cross‐functional teams in achieving success. Team leadership is the most frequently mentioned enabler, according to these findings, followed by senior management support.

The author's results also show that increased use of cross‐functional teams in new product development is related to higher project success. However, achieving cross‐functional team success appears to be more complicated than previously thought. For example, across the set of factors identified in this research, the most frequently mentioned is obtaining the team behavior of cooperation. Setting appropriate project goals, a stage‐setting step that is completed early in the project, follows closely in relative importance. Finally, providing good team leadership as an enabler is the third most frequently mentioned factor in achieving success. This suggests that companies must work in all dimensions to maximize the probability of achieving team success.
Differential Effects of the Primary Forms of Cross Functional Integration on Product Development Cycle Time
Authors: Sherman J. Daniel , Souder William E. , Jenssen Svenn A.
Published: October 2003

In markets characterized by high rates of technological and market change product life cycles tend to be shorter, resulting in the increased importance of competing on the basis of product development cycle time. For firms operating in these dynamic market environments, competing on the basis of cycle time may not only be a source of competitive advantage, but in some industries may actually be essential for survival.

In this investigation the relative importance of five forms of cross functional integration and R&D integration of information or knowledge from past projects were explored in terms of their effects on product development cycle time. The five forms of cross functional integration included R&D/marketing integration, R&D/customer integration, R&D/manufacturing integration, R&D/supplier integration, and strategic partnerships. A sample of 65 U.S. and Scandinavian high technology firms (or strategic business units) were studied. The sample included firms from the computer, telecommunications, instruments, specialty chemicals, biotechnology, and software industries.

The results demonstrated that R&D integration of knowledge from past projects explained the largest degree of variation in product development cycle time. R&D/marketing integration and R&D/customer integration explained the next largest degree of variation in cycle time reduction. Cross cultural generalizability tests demonstrated that the results were generalizable across the U.S. and Scandinavian samples of firms. In addition, the results were found to be generalizable across industry or product category for five of the six forms of integration.
Customization of Product Technology and International New Product Success: Mediating Effects of New Product Development and Rollout Timeliness
Authors: Chryssochoidis George M. , Wong Veronica
Published: October 2003

Offering a standardized product for different country markets may enable companies to accomplish fast product development and multicountry rollout, whereas also enjoying substantial cost benefits. However, not all manufacturers serving multicountry markets can adopt a standardized product strategy. Where technological requirements, standards, and approval procedures vary substantially across countries, manufacturers invariably must adapt the product's technology to fit individual country requirements. Extensive customization may lead to longer new product development and rollout times and increase the likelihood of delays in the entire project, hence adversely affecting overall new product outcome.

This study examines the relationships between product technology customization, the timeliness in completion of both the new product development effort and international market launches, and new product success. The study that reports on new product launches across European markets, is based on personal interviews with senior managers in 30 multinational companies. The authors show that timeliness in new product development and timeliness in rolling out the new product into different country markets mediate the link between product technology customization and overall new product success. Customization of product technology increases the likelihood of delays in the completion of new product development projects and multicountry rollout. Additionally, the timeliness in new product development mediates the relationship between product technology customization and timeliness in international new product rollout. This means that if the NPD project runs behind schedule, a fault‐free multicountry rollout program becomes increasingly unlikely, as problems encountered during product development spillover into the rollout program.

The results imply that international product managers must assign greater priority to assessing the relative advantages of customizing new product technology and to consider the timing implications for both the NPD effort and subsequent rollout. Managers must set realistic schedules and allocate sufficient resources to ensure both tasks can be accomplished within planned time scales. Finally, managers should not underestimate the complexities and time involved in customizing new product technologies, including the completion of disparate country technical approval procedures.
Customer‐Driven Product Development Through Quality Function Deployment in the U.S. and Japan
Authors: Cristiano John J. , Liker Jeffrey K. , White Chelsea C.
Published: October 2003

Quality Function Deployment is a tool for bringing the voice of the customer into the product development process from conceptual design through to manufacturing. It begins with a matrix that links customer desires to product engineering requirements, along with competitive benchmarking information, and further matrices can be used to ultimately link this to design of the manufacturing system. Unlike other methods originally developed in the U.S. and transferred to Japan, the QFD methodology was born out of Total Quality Control (TQC) activities in Japan during the 1960s and has been transferred to companies in the U.S. This article reports on the results of a 1995 survey of more than 400 companies in the U.S. and Japan using QFD. The research questions investigated in this study were developed both inductively from QFD case studies in the U.S. and Japan and deductively from the literature. The reported results are in part counterintuitive. The U.S. companies reported a higher degree of usage, management support, cross‐functional involvement, use of QFD driven data sources, and perceived benefits from using QFD. For the most part, the main uses of QFD in the U.S. were restricted to the first matrix (“House of Quality”) that links customer requirements to product engineering requirements and rarely was this carried forward to later matrices. U.S. companies were more apt to use newly collected customer data sources (e.g., focus groups) and methods for analyzing customer requirements. Japanese companies reported using existing product data (e.g., warranty) and a broader set of matrices to a greater extent. The use of analytical techniques in conjunction with QFD (e.g., simulation, design of experiments, regression, mathematical target setting, and analytic hierarchy process) was not wide spread in either country. U.S. companies were more likely to report benefits of QFD in improving cross‐functional integration and better decision‐making processes compared to Japanese companies. Possible reasons for these cross‐national differences as well as their implications are discussed.
Insights from Senior Executives about Innovation in International Markets
Authors: Colder Peter N.
Published: October 2003

Innovation and the internationalization of business are two of the most important factors determining business success today. However, very few empirical studies have examined these factors together. This study uses a discovery‐oriented approach to examine innovation in the international marketplace. The study's findings are based on interviews with 64 senior executives including many current and former CEOs and presidents of multinational companies. The interviews were conducted in five countries over a period of several months. These findings provide insights into the thoughts of senior executives on innovation in international markets. Several novel insights that have implications for management practice and future academic research were discovered. Among these findings, executives stressed the importance of managing and disseminating knowledge throughout their companies during all stages of new product development. They highlighted several limitations in achieving this objective as well. Another finding is that firms adhere to several mechanisms that limit competition. In Japan, a well‐recognized business hierarchy helps to form the market share goals of firms introducing new products. Companies in some categories seem to have an understanding that they will not introduce new products unless they are suitably differentiated from existing products. Other companies have bought out competitors to reduce competition. A third finding is that companies make concerted efforts to use standardized brand names and positioning. They find these efforts most suited to image‐based products and children's products. Finally, the country‐based management structures of most companies make it very difficult to cross‐subsidize new products across countries.
Global R&D Project Management and Organization: A Taxonomy
Authors: Chiesa Vittorio
Published: October 2003

This work studies the management and organization of global R&D projects, i.e. projects leading to innovations to be exploited in multiple countries. It provides a taxonomy of how firms conduct such projects. The empirical base is composed of twelve multinational companies, from the three major areas (Europe, Japan, North America), operating technology‐intensive businesses. Two basic structures are identified: the specialization based, where one foreign lab (the firm's center of excellence) is assigned the responsibility for developing a new product, process or technology on the basis of a global mandate, and the integration based, where different units contribute to technology development programs and global innovations are the result of the joint work of these units. In each categories two sub‐cases have been found: the center of excellence and the supported specialization, on the one hand, and the network and specialized contributor structures, on the other. The four structures have been studied in relation to: the key characteristics of the organization and management of global projects (in each phase, from conception to introduction into the market), the organizational factors affecting the success, the context conditions in which the structure is considered appropriate.
Evidence for a Role for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Active Vasodilatation in the Cutaneous Vasculature of Humans
Authors: Bennett Lee Ann T. , Johnson John M. , Stephens Dan P. , Saad Adham R. , Kellogg Dean L.
Published: October 2003

Active vasodilatation (AVD) in human, non‐glabrous skin depends on functional cholinergic fibres but not on acetylcholine (ACh). We tested whether AVD is a redundant system in which ACh and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are co‐released from cholinergic nerves. (1) We administered VIP by intradermal microdialysis to four discrete areas of skin in the presence of different levels of the VIP receptor antagonist, VIP(10−28), also delivered by microdialysis. Skin blood flow (SkBF) was continuously monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured non‐invasively and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) calculated as LDF/MAP. Subjects were supine and wore water‐perfused suits to control whole‐body skin temperature (Tsk) at 34 °C. Concentrations of 54 μm, 107 μM, or 214 μM VIP(10−28) were perfused via intradermal microdialysis at 2 μl min−1 for approximately 1 h. Then 7.5 μM VIP was added to the perfusate containing VIP(10−28) at the three concentrations or Ringer solution and perfusion was continued for 45‐60 min. At the control site, this level of VIP caused approximately the vasodilatation typical of heat stress. All VIP(10−28)‐treated sites displayed an attenuated dilatation in response to the VIP. The greatest attenuation was observed at the site that received 214 μM VIP(10−28) (P < 0.01). (2) We used 214 μM VIP(10−28) alone and with the iontophoretically administered muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (400 μA cm−2, 45 s, 10 mM) in heated subjects to test the roles of VIP and ACh in AVD. Ringer solution and 214 μM VIP(10−28) were each perfused at two sites, one of which in each case was pretreated with atropine. After 1 h of VIP(10−28) treatment, individuals underwent 45−60 min of whole‐body heating (Tsk to 38.5 °C). VIP(10−28), alone or in combination with atropine, attenuated the increase in CVC during heat stress, suggesting an important role for VIP in AVD.
The Role of Glial Glutamate Transporters in Maintaining the Independent Operation of Juvenile Mouse Cerebellar Parallel Fibre Synapses
Authors: Marcaggi Païkan , Billups Daniela , Attwell David
Published: October 2003

There is controversy over the extent to which glutamate released at one synapse can escape from the synaptic cleft and affect receptors at other synapses nearby, thereby compromising the synapse‐specificity of information transmission. Here we show that the glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT‐1 limit the activation of Purkinje cell AMPA receptors produced by glutamate diffusion between parallel fibre synapses in the cerebellar cortex of juvenile mice. For a single stimulus to the cerebellar molecular layer of wild‐type mice, increasing the number of activated parallel fibres prolonged the parallel fibre EPSC, demonstrating an interaction between different synapses. Knocking out GLAST, or blocking GLT‐1 in the absence of GLAST, prolonged the EPSC when many parallel fibres were stimulated but not when few were stimulated. When spatially separated parallel fibres were activated by granular layer stimulation, the EPSC prolongation produced by stimulating more fibres or reducing glutamate transport was greatly reduced. Thus, GLAST and GLT‐1 curtail the EPSC produced by a single stimulus only when many nearby fibres are simultaneously activated. However when trains of stimuli were applied, even to a small number of parallel fibres, knocking out GLAST or blocking GLT‐1 in the absence of GLAST greatly prolonged and enhanced the AMPA receptor‐mediated current. These results show that glial cell glutamate transporters allow neighbouring synapses to operate more independently, and control the postsynaptic response to high frequency bursts of action potentials.
Peripheral Chemoreflex and Baroreflex Interactions in Cardiovascular Regulation in Humans
Authors: Halliwill John R. , Morgan Barbara J. , Charkoudian Nisha
Published: October 2003

We tested the hypothesis that activation of peripheral chemoreceptors with acute isocapnic hypoxia resets arterial baroreflex control of both heart rate and sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow to higher pressures, resulting in increased heart rate and muscle sympathetic nerve activity without changes in baroreflex sensitivity. We further hypothesized that this resetting would not occur during isocapnic hyperpnoea at the same breathing rate and depth as during isocapnic hypoxia. In 12 healthy, non‐smoking, normotensive subjects (6 women, 6 men, 19‐36 years), we assessed baroreflex control of heart rate and muscle sympathetic nerve activity using the modified Oxford technique during normoxia, isocapnic hyperpnoea, and isocapnic hypoxia (85 % arterial O2saturation). While isocapnic hyperpnoea did not alter heart rate, arterial pressure, or sympathetic outflow, hypoxia increased heart rate from 61.9 ± 1.8 to 74.7 ± 2.7 beats min−1(P< 0.05), increased mean arterial pressure from 97.4 ± 2.0 to 103.9 ± 3.3 mmHg (P< 0.05), and increased sympathetic activity 22 ± 13 % relative to normoxia and 72 ± 21 % (P< 0.05) relative to hyperpnoea alone. The sensitivity for baroreflex control of both heart rate and sympathetic activity was not altered by either hypoxia or hyperpnoea. Thus, it appears that acute activation of peripheral chemoreceptors with isocapnic hypoxia resets baroreflex control of both heart rate and sympathetic activity to higher pressures without changes in baroreflex sensitivity. Furthermore, these effects appear largely independent of breathing rate and tidal volume.
Improved Current Profile Criteria for Deepwater Riser Design
Authors: Jeans Gus , Grant, Colin , Feld Graham
Published: October 2003

New types of current profile criteria are described that are designed to take into account the vertical coherence of deepwater currents in offshore engineering. Reasoning is given why traditional types of current profile criteria can be inappropriate for deepwater locations. The paper describes current profile occurrence criteria that consist of a discrete number of characteristic profiles, each of which has an associated percentage frequency of occurrence. These criteria are appropriate for riser fatigue calculations, including Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) modelling, and operability assessments. Use of these criteria can reduce the level of overconservatism associated with the traditional criteria, potentially leading to significant cost savings. Two possible methods of deriving these criteria are described, one of which uses Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to simplify the vertical structure of current profiles. The relative merits of each analysis technique are assessed.
Integrated Redesign of Large-Scale Structures by Large Admissible Perturbations
Authors: Blouin Vincent Y. , Bernitsas Michael M. , Morrison Denby
Published: October 2003

In structural redesign (inverse design), selection of the number and type of performance constraints is a major challenge. This issue is directly related to the computational effort and, most importantly, to the success of the optimization solver in finding a solution. These issues are the focus of this paper, which provides and discusses techniques that can help designers formulate a well-posed integrated complex redesign problem. LargE Admissible Perturbations (LEAP) is a general methodology, which solves redesign problems of complex structures with, among others, free vibration, static deformation, and forced response amplitude constraints. The existing algorithm, referred to as the Incremental Method is improved in this paper for problems with static and forced response amplitude constraints. This new algorithm, referred to as the Direct Method, offers comparable level of accuracy for less computational time and provides robustness in solving large-scale redesign problems in the presence of damping, nonstructural mass, and fluid-structure interaction effects. Common redesign problems include several natural frequency constraints and forced response amplitude constraints at various frequencies of excitation. Several locations on the structure and degrees of freedom can be constrained simultaneously. The designer must exercise judgment and physical intuition to limit the number of constraints and consequently the computational time. Strategies and guidelines are discussed. Such techniques are presented and applied to a 2,694 degree of freedom offshore tower.
Probabilistic Models for Corrosion in Structural Reliability Assessment—Part 1: Empirical Models
Authors: Melchers Robert E.
Published: October 2003

Reliability theory for the assessment of existing structures for remaining safe life must consider the probabilistic deterioration of structural strength as well as multiple applied loadings. This requires good-quality models of deterioration processes. Models for corrosion, which have been applied in the literature for marine applications, are reviewed. It is shown that these usually are statistical only, using data pooled from many sources. They also use little or no theoretical insight. As a result, they provide poor-quality mean-value information and very high statistical uncertainties. The conclusion is that better modeling is required and that this involves much better understanding of the factors influencing marine corrosion. These factors are reviewed briefly, with particular emphasis on marine immersion corrosion of mild steel.
Probabilistic Models for Corrosion in Structural Reliability Assessment—Part 2: Models Based on Mechanics
Authors: Melchers Robert E.
Published: October 2003

In Part 1 of this paper, it was shown that statistical models using pooled data are of poor quality with very wide variability. The present paper considers probabilistic corrosion modelling based on corrosion mechanics principles and notes the effect of environmental and other factors that should be included in model development. These include temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, calcium carbonate and pH, water velocity, and marine growth. A new multi-phase, nonlinear mean value model is proposed for the corrosion of mild- and low-alloy steels under “at-sea” immersion conditions. Comments are made about calibration of the model and the further research required for complete model development is discussed.
Probabilistic Models Applicable to the Short-Term Extreme Response Analysis of Jack-Up Platforms
Authors: Cassidy M. J. , Houlsby G. T. , Eatock Taylor R.
Published: October 2003

There is a steadily increasing demand for the use of jack-up units in deeper water and harsher conditions. Confidence in their use in these environments requires jack-up analysis techniques to reflect accurately the physical processes occurring. However, nearly all analyses are deterministic in nature and do not account for the inherent variability in governing parameters and models. In this paper, probabilistic models are used to develop an understanding of the response behavior of jack-ups, with particular emphasis placed on the extreme deck displacement due to a short-term event. Variables within the structural, foundation and wave loading models are assigned probability distributions and their influence on the response statistics is quantified using a response surface methodology.
The Heave Response of a Central Spar Fish Cage
Authors: Fredriksson David W. , Irish James D. , Swift M. Robinson , Celikkol Barbaros
Published: October 2003

As the aquaculture industry considers moving into the open ocean, understanding the dynamic response of fish containment structures becomes critical. Identification of possible resonant conditions and motion characteristics is necessary for system structural integrity and maximizing fish survivability. In this study, heave (vertical motion) free release tests of a central spar fish cage were conducted using a combination of physical and finite-element (FE) models and field observations. These tests were performed to investigate the added mass, damping and natural period characteristics of the system in the vertical direction. The test results were analyzed considering both linear and nonlinear damping. The comparison of these tests show that: the damped natural period of this fish cage is longer than 20 seconds; the numerical model underestimates the damping and the cage oscillates longer and at a higher frequency than observed with the field tests; and the physical model is nearly critically damped near equilibrium due to Reynolds number effects at the model scale.
The Interaction Between Strength and Fatigue Reliability for a Minimum Structure in Shallow Water
Authors: Cole G. K. , Ronalds B. F. , Fakas E.
Published: October 2003

The relationship between strength and fatigue reliability of an offshore platform is an important aspect in the setting of appropriate structural inspection programs, as well as providing valuable information when considering the life extension of ageing offshore structures. This paper uses the example of a braced monopod to examine the interaction between strength and fatigue reliability for shallow-water platforms subjected to wave climates typical of the North West Shelf of Australia. The central role played by the local wave climate in both the strength and fatigue response of the structure is investigated. The probability of fatigue failure at the critical location was found to be approximately three orders of magnitude less than the overall probability of storm overload failure. This inequity between strength and fatigue reliability raises the possibility of redirecting inspection effort toward higher-risk threats such as accidental damage and corrosion. The potential for further optimizing the total life-cycle costs of new offshore structures is also briefly discussed.
Electron field-emission from diamond-like carbon films grown by a saddle field fast atom beam source
Authors: Panwar O. S. , Sharma Rajnish , Kumar Sushil , Dixit P. N.
Published: October 2003

This article reports electron field-emission measurements on hydrogenated amorphous carbon [diamond-like carbon (DLC)] films grown by aspirating CH4+N2 gas mixtures into a saddle field fast atom beam source. The electron field-emission behavior of these films is discussed in light of varying power, substrate bias, nitrogen dilution, and film thickness. Specifically, changes in the residual stress and hardness of these films are also estimated. The threshold field (Eturn ON) for electron emission shows a minimum at 3.5 V/μm in DLC films grown with 32 W power applied to the source, which is further reduced to 2.7 V/μm, when a positive bias of 100 V is applied to the substrates. Nitrogen dilution of the feedstock is found to reduce the Eturn ON further and it shows a minimum at 2.4 V/μm at ∼27% nitrogen dilution beyond which the value of Eturn ON is found to increase. Emission current density of ∼1 mA/cm2 has been observed at 4.7 V/μm in these nitrogenated DLC films (at ∼27% nitrogen dilution). Further it has been found that Eturn ON increases with the increase of thickness of DLC films since there also appears to be a correlation between the residual stress of these films and Eturn ON values. Better field-emission behavior is observed in those DLC films which recorded lower values of residual stress.
Investigation of the NO2 sensitivity properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Valentini L. , Cantalini C. , Armentano I. , Kenny J. M. , Lozzi L. , Santucci S.
Published: October 2003

In the present work, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) thin films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition have been investigated as resistive gas sensors towards NO2. The sensor design is a platinum interdigitate electrode, fabricated by photolithography upon Si3N4 deposited on silicon, over which the MWNTs are deposited. Microstructural features as determined by scanning electron, transmission electron, and Raman spectroscopies have highlighted the growth of tubular carbon structures of 20–30 nm diameter and 150–200 nm length. Carbon nanotubes have shown a decreasing of their resistance upon exposure to NO2 gas (10–100 ppb) and the highest sensitivity at 165 °C working temperature. The time evolution of the electrical resistance at 165 °C as the sample was cycled through 500 ppm of NH3, 100 ppm of C6H6, water vapor, and 500 ppm of ethanol gases and dry air has been also reported. The variation of conductance in the presence of oxidizing or reducing gases is explained on the basis of charge transfer between the adsorbates and the nanotubes.
Particle coating in seeded dusty plasma reactor: Distribution of deposition rates
Authors: Cao Jin , Matsoukas Themis
Published: October 2003

We seed a low-pressure radio-frequency plasma with micron and submicron silica particles and induce surface deposition of plasma-generated solid films. This process produces surface coatings ranging from few nm to several hundred nm. The size distribution of the coated particles (core plus shell) is monitored as a function of time and is found to increase both in mean size as well as in variance. To explain the broadening of the distribution we propose a deposition model which assumes that the reaction rate is nonuniform within the plasma. This model predicts that the average particle radius increases linearly with deposition time with a slope equal to the average deposition rate while the variance increases as a quadratic function of time. These predictions compare favorably with experiments conducted with seeds ranging 0.1–2.3 μm in radius. Based on this model we are able to obtain the distribution of film deposition rates in the plasma. We find that this distribution is wide with a substantial fraction of particles experiencing very low deposition rates.
Study of a high contrast process for hydrogen silsesquioxane as a negative tone electron beam resist
Authors: Henschel W. , Georgiev Y. M. , Kurz H.
Published: October 2003

An extensive study of parameters pertinent to electron beam lithography with hydrogen silsesquioxane as a negative tone electron beam resist is presented. With higher developer concentrations contrast and reproducibility are improved significantly at the expense of lower sensitivity. In a similar way extended delays between the baking and exposure degrade the sensitivity but increase the contrast. In contrast, at higher baking temperatures the sensitivity is improved but the contrast and reproducibility deteriorate. These results are discussed within a microscopic model. Contrast values as high as 10 and good reproducibility have been obtained with a developer concentration of 25% tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and a baking temperature of 90 °C. With these optimal parameters an experimental lithographic pattern of 50 nm lines and spaces could be resolved in 220 nm thick HSQ resist film exposed at 50 keV.
Characterization of resistivity and work function of sputtered-TaN film for gate electrode applications
Authors: Kang Chang Seok , Cho H.-J. , Kim Y. H. , Choi R. , Onishi K. , Shahriar A. , Lee J. C.
Published: October 2003

Tantalum nitride (TaN) films were prepared by reactive sputtering in a gas Ar and N2 for gate electrode applications. Resistivity, crystallinity, and work function of the films were investigated as a function of nitrogen flow rate. As the nitrogen flow rate increased from 0 to 20 sccm, the resistivity of as-deposited TaN films increased from 132 to 1.4×105 μΩ cm. With a nitrogen flow rate of 8 and 10 sccm, the fcc TaN phase was obtained. The work function of the TaN films was investigated using TaN-gated nmetal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors with SiO2 gate dielectrics of various thicknesses. As the nitrogen flow rate increased from 4 to 12 sccm, the work function decreased from 4.1 to 3.4 eV for as-deposited films. After annealing at 950 °C for 1 min, the work function increased to 4.5–4.7 eV, with less dependency on the nitrogen flow rate.
Characterization of atomic-layer-deposited hafnium oxide/SiON stacked-gate dielectrics
Authors: Kim Young-Bae , Kang Moon-Soo , Lee Taeho , Ahn Jinho , Choi Duck-Kyun
Published: October 2003

Hafnium–oxide films deposited on a thermally grown SiON film and a hydrogen-terminated Si bare substrate by an atomic-layer-deposition technique have been investigated. Capacitance–voltage measurements show equivalent-oxide thicknesses of about 1.79 nm for a 4.2 nm HfO2/SiON stack capacitor and of about 1.84 nm for a 5.2 nm HfO2 single-layer capacitor. These measurements also show a dielectric constant of 18.1 for the HfO2 in the stack capacitor and of 11.2 for the HfO2 single-layer capacitor. The hysteresis of the stack capacitors is measured to be less than 40 mV, whereas that of the single-layer capacitor is 206 mV. Transmission-electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the dielectric films are amorphous structure, rather than crystalline or phase-separated silicide and oxide structures. TEM showed that the interface of the stack capacitor can be stable to at least 850 °C.
Characterization of diamond sonic micronozzles and microtube
Authors: Mammana S. S. , Salvadori M. C. , Kawakita K. , Pereira M. T. , Cattani M.
Published: October 2003

In this work we determine the critical flow parameters for three diamond sonic micronozzles and one microtube fabricated to work as passive gas flow controllers and flowmeters under choking conditions. The critical mass flow rate, the Reynolds numbers and the discharge coefficients of our diamond sonic microdevices were determined at low-pressure conditions.
Differential algebraic theory and calculation for arbitrary high order aberrations of a bipotential electrostatic lens
Authors: Cheng Min , Lu Yilong , Yao Zhenhua
Published: October 2003

Differential algebraic method is a powerful technique in computer numerical analysis based on nonstandard analysis and formal series theory. It can compute arbitrary high order derivatives with excellent accuracy. When applied to nonlinear dynamics systems, the arbitrary high order transfer properties of the system can be derived directly. In this article, the principle of differential algebraic method is applied to calculate high order aberrations of a bipotential electrostatic electron lens. All the third order geometric aberration coefficients of the bipotential electrostatic lens have been calculated. The patterns of the third order aberrations and the fifth order aberrations are also given, and some types of the fifth order aberrations are observed.
Review of trench and via plasma etch issues for copper dual damascene in undoped and fluorine-doped silicate glass oxide
Authors: Keil D. L. , Helmer B. A. , Lassig S.
Published: October 2003

Dual damascene dielectric etch technology is emerging as a key enabler for advanced integration schemes. Early implementations of copper dual damascene processes favored the trench-first approach. This approach has now been largely superseded by the via-first scheme for technology nodes below 250 nm. Several etch issues typically arise when implementing either of these approaches. The via-first approach can lead to either via veils or excessive faceting problems when the trench is etched. The traditional trench-first approach requires long via overetches and very high selectivity to the underlayer so that allowance can be made for vias that are misaligned or placed outside the trenches. Trench-first lithography employing organic resists often requires patterning over nonplanar surfaces, which can result in narrow process windows. Both the via-first and trench-first approaches increasingly require etching the trench without a stop layer. This places exacting demands on etch uniformity, etch front control, and sidewall profile angle control. Control of these issues is enhanced when the etch mechanisms responsible for driving them are understood. These and other issues as well as the current understanding of the relevant mechanisms are discussed for implementing copper dual damascene structures in plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition undoped silicate glass or fluorinated silicate glass oxide films.
Addition of He to Ar during sputter deposition of electroluminescent ZnS:TbOF thin films
Authors: Kim J. P. , Davidson M. R. , Holloway P. H.
Published: October 2003

ZnS:TbOF alternating current thin film electroluminescent (ACTFEL) devices were sputter deposited from a single pressed powder ZnS:TbOF (1.5 mol % of Tb) target using a Ar+He mixed gas. The He gas concentration was changed from 0% to 70% and deposited films were annealed at 500 °C for 60 min under a N2 gas atmosphere. The x-ray diffraction peak full width half maximum (FWHM) of the cubic (111)/hexagonal (0002) plane in as-deposited films decreases from 0.55° for 100% Ar, to 0.39° for 30% Ar+70% He. The film deposition rate decreased about 25% as the He percentage increases from 0% to 70%. In spite of the improved crystallinity as indicated by the decreased FWHM data, the brightness of alternating current thin film electroluminescent devices (ACTFELDs) decreases from 64 cd/m2 for a pure Ar atmosphere to 45–54 cd/m2 at 60%–70% He. This brightness decrease is attributed to an increased dielectric constant (from 12 for pure Ar to 17 at 70% He) and decreased root mean square surface roughness (from 6.7 nm for pure Ar to 4.3 nm at 70% He) of films sputter deposited with high He.
Size, density, and shape of InAs quantum dots in closely stacked multilayers grown by the Stranski–Krastanow mode
Authors: Shiramine Ken-ichi , Muto Shunichi , Shibayama Tamaki , Takahashi Heishichiro , Kozaki Tamotsu , Sato Seichi , Nakata Yoshiaki , Yokoyama Naoki
Published: October 2003

Closely stacked multilayer structures of InAs islands with intermediate-layer thicknesses d of 3, 6, 10, and 20 nm were grown by the Stranski–Krastanow mode of molecular beam epitaxy and were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The multilayers consisted of five InAs layers each of a thickness of 1.8 monolayers and four GaAs layers each of a thickness d. Columns of coherent islands were observed by cross-sectional TEM. Changes in the size and density of the islands with d, determined by AFM, could be explained in terms of (i) change in the vertical pairing probability of islands, (ii) detachment of In from the top of the island, and (iii) surface segregation of In. The observed AFM images of the islands were elliptical. Their major axis was in the [1̄10] direction, and the length of the minor axis was 80% of that of the major axis.