bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RF characteristics of 0.13-μm NMOS transistors for millimeter-wave application
Authors: Maisurah Mohd Hassan Siti , M. Yusof Yusman , Marzuki Arjuna , Emran Farid Nazif , Amalina Enche Ab Rahim Siti , Hafis M. Ali Mohd 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present the high-frequency performance of 0.13-μm n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors with various multi-finger configurations for implementation in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency.

Design/methodology/approach
– A folded-like double-gate transistor layout is designed to enable the transistor to work in the mm-wave region. Different sizes of transistors with variation in finger width (WF
) and number of fingers (NF
) were fabricated to determine the optimum size of the transistor. The extrinsic parasitic elements of selected transistors were extracted and investigated. The radio frequency (RF) performance of these samples were then analyzed and compared.

Findings
– The proposed layout performed well with the highest maximum oscillation frequency (fmax
) achieved at 122 GHz. Based on the comparison done, the optimum WF
obtained for the layout is at 2.0 μm. It is found that the extrinsic parasitic capacitance is more dominant than the parasitic resistance in affecting the fmax
. In s-parameter analysis, it is observed that the transistor with the least NF
has smaller variance in small-signal gain throughout the measurement frequency. The maximum stable gain for the samples is also found to be roughly similar and independent of NF
.

Originality/value
– A new layout structure for an NMOS transistor that works in mm-wave frequency is proposed. Experimental analyses presented here cover for both NF
and WF
, unlike others which focus on either NF
or WF
only.
Fabrication and characterization of a single-bridge nanorod between microgap electrodes
Authors: Humayun Qazi , Kashif Muhammad , Hashim Uda 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of a single-bridge ZnO nanorod as a photodetector.

Design/methodology/approach
– The fabrication of the design sensor with ∼6-μm gap Schottky contacts and bridging of the ZnO nanorod were based on conventional photolithography and wet-etching technique. Prior to bridging, the ZnO nanorods were grown by the hydrothermal process. The 0.35 M seed solution was prepared by dissolving zinc acetate dihydrate in 2-methoxyethanol, and monoethanolamine, which acts as a stabilizer, was added drop-wise. Before starting the solution deposition, and oxide, titanium (Ti) and gold (Au) layer deposition, p-type (100) silicon substrate was cleaned with Radio Corporation of America (RCA1) and RCA2, followed by dipping in diluted hydrofluoric acid. The aged solution was dropped onto the surface of the Au microgap structure, using a spin coater at a spinning speed of 3,000 rpm for 45 seconds, and then dried at 300°C for 15 minutes, followed by annealing at 400°C for 1 hour. The hydrothermal growth was carried out in an aqueous solution of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (0.025 M) and hexamethyltetramine (0.025 M).

Findings
– In this study, ZnO nanorods were grown on a SiO2 substrate by the hydrothermal method. Microgap electrodes with ∼6-μm spacing were achieved by using the wet-etching process. After the growth process, an area-selective mask was utilized to reduce the number of rods between the nearby gap areas. The obtained single ZnO nanorod was tested for the UV-sensing application. The single ZnO nanorod photodetector exhibited a UV photoresponse, thereby indicating potential as a cost-effective UV detector. The response and recovery times of the fabricated device were 65 and 95 seconds, respectively. Structural analysis was captured using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), whereas surface morphology was determined using scanning electron microscopy.

Originality/value
– This paper demonstrates the effect of UV photon on a single-bridge ZnO nanorod between microgap electrodes.
Analysis of misalignment-induced deformation in three-dimensional semiconductor chip stacks
Authors: W. Johnson Richard , Shen Yu-Lin 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to numerically assess the misalignment-induced deformation and its implications, in the through-silicon via (TSV), silicon chip, solder micro-bump, and bonding layer.

Design/methodology/approach
– The 3D finite element model features a TSV/micro-bump bonding structure connecting two adjacent silicon (Si) chips, with and without an underfill layer between. A case that the entire solder layer has transformed into an intermetallic layer is also considered.

Findings
– The existence of an underfill layer enhances the overall resistance to shear deformation, although with a higher buildup of local stresses. High shear and tensile stresses can develop in the intermetallic and nearby regions of copper and Si if the solder alloy is replaced by an intermetallic layer. The carrier mobility change in Si may be extensively affected by the mechanical action, even in regions far away from the TSV.

Originality/value
– This work parametrically explores the trend of stress and deformation fields due to mechanical shear and its influences on the electrical performance of devices. Potential for damage initiation in the TSV/micro-bump is also examined.
Self-determination among frail older persons – a desirable goal older persons’ conceptions of self-determination
Authors: Ekelund Christina , Mårtensson Lena , Eklund Kajsa 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– Self-determination is governed by ethical and legal rights in western society. In spite of that, older people are still restricted by others in their decision-making processes. The purpose of this paper is to explore older persons’ different conceptions of self-determination.

Design/methodology/approach
– A qualitative phenomenographic interview study on frail older persons (n=15).

Findings
– Three categories emerged, showing the variations of conception of self-determination as experienced by frail older people: first, self-determination changes throughout life; second, self-determination is being an agent in one's own life; and third, self-determination is conditional. In summary, while self-determination is changeable throughout life, and older persons want to be their own agents, and struggle to be that, certain conditions must be met to make it possible for them to be able to exercise self-determination.

Practical implications
– Suggestions for supporting and strengthening frail older persons’ self-determination, and indirectly their well-being and health: to have a person-centered approach, treat them with dignity and respect and give them opportunities to influence and to feel involved; to improve their health literacy by, for example, supporting them with enough knowledge to be able to exercise self-determination; to make them feel safe and secure in relationships, such as with family and caregivers.

Originality/value
– This study explores frail older persons’ own conceptions of self-determination to be able to gain knowledge of how professionals can support them so that they may experience self-determination in life.
Financial indicators in healthcare quality management systems
Authors: Sedevich-Fons Leonardo 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the usefulness of financial information as a complementary tool for quality programs implemented in healthcare institutions and, subsequently, to introduce an approach to its systematic management.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper begins with a description of the current status of quality management in healthcare services, continues with a theoretical explanation of the importance of financial indicators for making decisions, and finishes with a practical example showing how to integrate financial data into healthcare quality programs.

Findings
– Financial indicators play a key role in healthcare quality management systems (QMSs). These indicators can be managed jointly with traditional non-financial measures, through introducing minor adjustments to the ISO 9000 model.

Research limitations/implications
– The approach presented in the second part of this paper was built based on theoretical arguments and on its use in industries other than healthcare. Hence, further research is needed to provide evidence of its practical application.

Originality/value
– First, this work integrates disciplines which are usually managed separately, such as quality and accounting. Furthermore, it focusses on an industry such as healthcare, where QMSs are not highly developed.
Information technology and the quality improvement in defense industries
Authors: Haley Mary 
Published: May 2014

Purpose
– Although aggressive leaps in process manipulation are the pinnacle to short-term stability and long-term growth, information technology (IT) is inherently highly variable and challenging in any continuous improvement effort. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether implementation of lean processes yielded repeatable, predictable results in IT schedule reductions. Additionally, the study determines what critical success factors (CSFs) are necessary.

Design/methodology/approach
– The research used non-experimental quantitative methods analyzing archival secondary data. The sample for this case study was compiled from a defense industry organization that implemented these techniques in development, testing and fielding.

Findings
– Based on the research, the results revealed a statistical significance whereby a difference between the PreLean schedule and PostLean schedule existed. The study also evaluated nine CSFs as quintessential to successful implementation of lean philosophies. From those nine CSFs, seven plyometric CSFs are derived as a model for implementation. These include: enterprise incorporation, team trust, transformational leadership, recursive improvement, integrated synergy, customer-centric culture and heuristic communication.

Originality/value
– Although plyometrics is a term often used in athletics (Yessis, 2009), the description of an exercised function producing power and speed to exert maximum force in minimum time is introduced. Through a combination of synergistic alignments, each plyometric CSF maximizes the effects of each single CSF to produce rapid results. The model can be applied to IT and non-IT fielding, both within the defense industry and commercial sector.
Culture-based design and implementation of business excellence
Authors: Amir Bolboli Seyed , Reiche Markus 
Published: May 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop an approach for implementing business excellence (BE) based on prevailing corporate culture and to propose relevant gates to monitor the corporate culture in the way to excellence.Design/methodology/approach– This research demonstrates a culture-based perspective of implementing BE. After an exhaustive review of literature, the relation between BE and corporate culture was clarified and a methodology was developed, which describes how BE projects can be performed successfully in the context of an existing culture instead of adapting the culture.Findings– The outcome of this research is the main concept for culture-based implementation of BE. Furthermore, five culture gates were designed to control the effect of BE measures on the corporate culture in long period of time. The findings indicate how BE can be implemented without considerable efforts to change the culture.Practical implications– The findings of this study are relevant to all different sized organizations in different sectors and industries for achieving outstanding results and maintain this capability permanently in the organization.Originality/value– This paper presents a unique approach for implementing BE in the light of prevailing corporate culture; such an approach has not been addressed in previous publications.
Ideological dilemmas: constructing motherhood through caring consumption in Japan
Authors: Takahashi Mayumi 
Published: May 2014

Purpose– The aim of this article is to examine the topic of mothers' consumption, particularly how mothers of young children as primary caregivers are involved in contemporary consumer culture in Japan, by using the concepts of “caring consumption” and “ideological dilemmas”.Design/methodology/approach– Data were gathered from in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12 mothers of young children aged between 1 and 5. Interviews were conducted either at their home or public facilities. The theoretical framework highlights a variability existing within ideology which creates a cultural space for mothering.Findings– Mothers' caring consumption is a key means through which motherhood is constituted and how ideologies surrounding mothering are enforced and enacted. They negotiate for certain products and services on behalf of their children, in the name of love, care and devotion, and in consideration of wider social networks. Consumption is part of maternal responsibility and task where a mother not only provides material and emotional support for her child but also becomes a facilitator to connect him/her to a wider social network through her consumption practices.Originality/value– This study contributes insight into how mothers of young children in Japan experience consumer culture in a specific sociocultural environment and how they construct cultural meanings of motherhood in interaction with surrounding people and a wider consumption-oriented world.
Theoretical study on multi‐level source design
Authors: Shen Honglei , Elboth Thomas , Tian Gang , Warszawski Jakub , Lilja Didrik 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTThis paper studies aspects that influence the de‐ghosting performance of marine multi‐level sources based on a modified Johnson model. The normalized squared error between actual signature and its corresponding ghost‐free signature is introduced to evaluate the multi‐level source design. The results show that optimum depth combinations and volume combinations exist in the design. However, there is also some flexibility in the volume combination which makes it possible to optimize with respect to residual bubble oscillation. By considering both operational aspects and performance, we propose that three or four levels in a multi‐level source are reasonable. Compared to a horizontal source, a multi‐level source can be designed to reduce the notch effect, strengthen the down‐going energy and improve the energy transmission directivity. Studies of the influence of depth and firing time deviations indicate that a multi‐level source is more stable than a normal horizontal source in an operational environment.
A comparison of continuous mass‐lumped finite elements with finite differences for 3‐D wave propagation
Authors: Zhebel Elena , Minisini Sara , Kononov Alexey , Mulder Wim A. 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTThe finite‐difference method on rectangular meshes is widely used for time‐domain modelling of the wave equation. It is relatively easy to implement high‐order spatial discretization schemes and parallelization. Also, the method is computationally efficient. However, the use of finite elements on tetrahedral unstructured meshes is more accurate in complex geometries near sharp interfaces. We compared the standard eighth‐order finite‐difference method to fourth‐order continuous mass‐lumped finite elements in terms of accuracy and computational cost. The results show that, for simple models like a cube with constant density and velocity, the finite‐difference method outperforms the finite‐element method by at least an order of magnitude. Outside the application area of rectangular meshes, i.e., for a model with interior complexity and topography well described by tetrahedra, however, finite‐element methods are about two orders of magnitude faster than finite‐difference methods, for a given accuracy.
Theory of mind and emotion recognition skills in children with specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder and typical development: group differences and connection to knowledge of grammatical morphology, word‐finding abilities and verbal working memory
Authors: Loukusa Soile , Mäkinen Leena , Kuusikko‐Gauffin Sanna , Ebeling Hanna , Moilanen Irma 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundSocial perception skills, such as understanding the mind and emotions of others, affect children's communication abilities in real‐life situations. In addition to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is increasing knowledge that children with specific language impairment (SLI) also demonstrate difficulties in their social perception abilities.AimsTo compare the performance of children with SLI, ASD and typical development (TD) in social perception tasks measuring Theory of Mind (ToM) and emotion recognition. In addition, to evaluate the association between social perception tasks and language tests measuring word‐finding abilities, knowledge of grammatical morphology and verbal working memory.Method & ProceduresChildren with SLI (n = 18), ASD (n = 14) and TD (n = 25) completed two NEPSY‐II subtests measuring social perception abilities: (1) Affect Recognition and (2) ToM (includes Verbal and non‐verbal Contextual tasks). In addition, children's word‐finding abilities were measured with the TWF‐2, grammatical morphology by using the Grammatical Closure subtest of ITPA, and verbal working memory by using subtests of Sentence Repetition or Word List Interference (chosen according the child's age) of the NEPSY‐II.Outcomes & ResultsChildren with ASD scored significantly lower than children with SLI or TD on the NEPSY‐II Affect Recognition subtest. Both SLI and ASD groups scored significantly lower than TD children on Verbal tasks of the ToM subtest of NEPSY‐II. However, there were no significant group differences on non‐verbal Contextual tasks of the ToM subtest of the NEPSY‐II. Verbal tasks of the ToM subtest were correlated with the Grammatical Closure subtest and TWF‐2 in children with SLI. In children with ASD correlation between TWF‐2 and ToM: Verbal tasks was moderate, almost achieving statistical significance, but no other correlations were found.Conclusions & ImplicationsBoth SLI and ASD groups showed difficulties in tasks measuring verbal ToM but differences were not found in tasks measuring non‐verbal Contextual ToM. The association between Verbal ToM tasks and language tests was stronger in children with SLI than in children with ASD. There is a need for further studies in order to understand interaction between different areas of language and cognitive development.
Genome‐scale metabolic reconstruction and constraint‐based modelling of the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125
Authors: Fondi Marco , Maida Isabel , Perrin Elena , Mellera Alessandra , Mocali Stefano , Parrilli Ermenegilda , Tutino Maria Luisa , Liò Pietro , Fani Renato 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThe Antarctic strain Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 is one of the model organisms of cold‐adapted bacteria and is currently exploited as a new alternative expression host for numerous biotechnological applications.Here, we investigated several metabolic features of this strain through in silico modelling and functional integration of –omics data. A genome‐scale metabolic model of P. haloplanktis TAC125 was reconstructed, encompassing information on 721 genes, 1133 metabolites and 1322 reactions. The predictive potential of this model was validated against a set of experimentally determined growth rates and a large dataset of growth phenotypic data. Furthermore, evidence synthesis from proteomics, phenomics, physiology and metabolic modelling data revealed possible drawbacks of cold‐dependent changes in gene expression on the overall metabolic network of P. haloplanktis TAC125. These included, for example, variations in its central metabolism, amino acid degradation and fatty acid biosynthesis.The genome‐scale metabolic model described here is the first one reconstructed so far for an Antarctic microbial strain. It allowed a system‐level investigation of variations in cellular metabolic fluxes following a temperature downshift. It represents a valuable platform for further investigations on P. haloplanktis TAC125 cellular functional states and for the design of more focused strategies for its possible biotechnological exploitation.
Novel aspinolide production by Trichoderma arundinaceum with a potential role in Botrytis cinerea antagonistic activity and plant defence priming
Authors: Malmierca Mónica G. , Barua Javier , McCormick Susan P. , Izquierdo‐Bueno Inmaculada , Cardoza Rosa E. , Alexander Nancy J. , Hermosa Rosa , Collado Isidro G. , Monte Enrique , Gutiérrez Santiago 
Published: May 2014

SummaryHarzianum A (HA), a trichothecene produced by Trichoderma arundinaceum, has recently been described to have antagonistic activity against fungal plant pathogens and to induce plant defence genes. In the present work, we have shown that a tri5 gene‐disrupted mutant that lacks HA production overproduces two polyketides, aspinolides B and C, which were not detected in the wild‐type strain. Furthermore, four new aspinolides (D–G) were characterized. These compounds confirm that a terpene‐polyketide cross‐pathway exists in T. arundinaceum, and they may be responsible for the antifungal activity and the plant sensitization effect observed with the tri5‐disrupted mutant. In addition, the molecular changes involving virulence factors in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea 98 (Bc98) during interaction with T. arundinaceum were investigated. The expression of genes involved in the production of botrydial by Bc98 was relatively repressed by HA, whereas other virulence genes of this pathogen were induced by the presence of T. arundinaceum, for example atrB and pg1 which encode for an ABC transporter and endopolygalacturonase 1 respectively. In addition, the interaction with Bc98 significantly repressed the production of HA by T. arundinaceum, indicating that a bidirectional transcriptional regulation is established between these two antagonistic fungi.
Validation of a new catalysed reporter deposition–fluorescence in situ hybridization probe for the accurate quantification of marine Bacteroidetes populations
Authors: Acinas Silvia G. , Ferrera Isabel , Sarmento Hugo , Díez‐Vives Cristina , Forn Irene , Ruiz‐González Clara , Cornejo‐Castillo Francisco M. , Salazar Guillem , Gasol Josep M. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryCatalysed reporter deposition–fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD‐FISH) is a powerful approach to quantify bacterial taxa. In this study, we compare the performance of the widely used Bacteroidetes CF319a probe with the new CF968 probe. In silico analyses and tests with isolates demonstrate that CF319a hybridizes with non‐Bacteroidetes sequences from the Rhodobacteraceae and Alteromonadaceae families. We test the probes’ accuracy in 37 globally distributed marine samples and over two consecutive years at the Blanes Bay Microbial Observatory (NW Mediterranean). We also compared the CARD‐FISH data with the Bacteroidetes 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from 27 marine metagenomes from the TARA Oceans expedition. We find no significant differences in abundances between both approaches, although CF319a targeted some unspecific sequences and both probes displayed different abundances of specific Bacteroidetes phylotypes. Our results demonstrate that quantitative estimations by using both probes are significantly different in certain oceanographic regions (Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Arabian Sea) and that CF968 shows seasonality within marine Bacteroidetes, notably large differences between summer and winter that is overlooked by CF319a. We propose CF968 as an alternative to CF319a for targeting the whole Bacteroidetes phylum since it has better coverage, greater specificity and overall better quantifies marine Bacteroidetes.