Issues in Managing Information Technology

This paper describes three case studies which investigated issues relating to the implementation and management of advanced information technology. The benefits derived from information technology were found to vary from one organization to another. These studies provide further evidence to support earlier research findings that senior management has an important role to play in the effective exploitation of information technology, and that the investment approach taken by an organization has a significant effect on the development of computer-based information systems. The effectiveness of a system depends not only on applying the appropriate technology, but also on how successfully technical and behavioural issues are resolved.     

A warehouse-based design model for reverse logistics

In this paper, an MILP formulation is proposed for the design of a reverse logistics network based on a warehouse location–allocation model, which optimizes, simultaneously, the forward and reverse networks. A single product model with unlimited capacity is first defined. Subsequently, the model is extended to a multi-product capacitated recovery network model, where capacity limitations and a multi-product system can be considered. The proposed model is compared to published work in the field, where different model assumptions have been proposed. Two cases are described so as to gain a better insight into the model and allow a comparative analysis.     

Study of asymmetric charge writing on Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 thin films by Kelvin probe force microscopy

Polycrystalline Pb(Zr_0.55Ti_0.45)O₃ thin film was deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si(1 0 0) by radio-frequency-magnetron sputtering method, and the writing of charge bits on the surface of PZT thin film was studied by Kelvin probe force microscopy. It is found that the surface potential of the negative charge bits are higher than those of the corresponding positive ones. When ferroelectric polarization switching occurs, the potential difference becomes even more remarkable. A qualitative model was proposed to explain the origin of the asymmetric charge writing. It is demonstrated that the internal field in the interface layer, which is near the ferroelectric/electrode interface in ferroelectric film, is likely to be the cause for the occurrence of this phenomenon.     

Quadratic data envelopment analysis

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) offers a piece-wise linear approximation of the production frontier. The approximation tends to be poor if the true frontier is not concave, eg in case of economies of scale or of specialisation. To improve the flexibility of the DEA frontier and to gain in empirical fit, we propose to extend DEA towards a more general piece-wise quadratic approximation, called Quadratic Data Envelopment Analysis (QDEA). We show that QDEA gives statistically consistent estimates for all production frontiers with bounded Hessian eigenvalues. Our Monte-Carlo simulations suggest that QDEA can substantially improve efficiency estimation in finite samples relative to standard DEA models.     

Effective dimensionality approach to the RKKY interaction in multilayer systems

We consider RKKY interaction in a quasi 2D system with nonparabolic dispersion. In our paper we calculate the RKKY range function assuming the in-layer confinement via effective dimensionality approach. We show, that indirect magnetic exchange in our system can be modelled by the effective spectral dimension which equals one.     

共振下n维Lienard型方程的2π周期解

本文在跨共振点条件下证明n维Lienard型方程存在2π周期解.     

Scanning tunnelling microscope studies of growth of RuO2（110） thin layer on Ru（0001）

This paper reports that the growth of RuO_x(110) thin layer growth on Ru(0001) has been investigated by means of scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). The STM images showed a domain structure with three rotational domains of RuO_x(110) rotated by an angle of 120℃. The as-grown RuO_x(110) thin layer is expanded from the bulk-truncated RuO_x(110) due to the large mismatch between RuO_x(110) and the Ru(0001) substrate. The results also indicate that growth of RuO_x(110) thin layer on the Ru(0001) substrate by oxidation tends first to formation of the Ru-O (oxygen) chains in the [001] direction of RuO_x(110).     

可重构制造系统重组过程中设备选择模型的研究

根据生产任务选择加工设备进行制造资源重组是实现可重构制造系统的关键问题之一，由于设备的选择涉及到多种因素，既有定量指标，又有定性指标，传统的依靠人工经验的方法显得力不从心。本文首先结合实际情况，提出了一套设备选择评价体系，通过对模糊判断矩阵采用最小对数二乘法确定各评价因素的权重系数，针对定性指标和定量指标采用不同的方法确定其性能指标值，通过模糊积分对评判指标进行综合评判，最后进行了实例研究。所提出的方法有效地简化了决策过程，为可重构制造系统设备选择提供了一套行之有效的方法。     

关于四元数矩阵乘积迹的不等式

设 H~(m×n)为 m×n 四元数矩阵的集合,σ_1(A)≥…≥σ_n(A)为 A∈H~(mxn)的奇异值。本文证明了:1)设 A∈H~(mxm),B∈H~(mxm),r=min(m,m),则|tr(4B)|≤c r σ_i(A)σ_i(B).2)设 A_i∈H~(mxm),i=1,2,…,n,(A_1A_2…A_n)k为 A_1A_2…A_n 的任一个 k 阶主子阵,则|tr(A_1.A_2…A_n)_k|≤sun form i=1 to k σ_i(A_1)…σ_i(A_n).我们还得到四元数矩阵迹的其它一些不等式。这些结果推广和改进了文[1],[2]中的结果,进一步解决了 Bellman 猜想。