Upgrade of a commercial ultra-high vacuum four-probe scanning tunneling microscopy system for atomic resolution capability and thermal stability is reported. To improve the mechanical and thermal performance of the system, we introduced extra vibration isolation, magnetic damping, and double thermal shielding, and we redesigned the scanning structure and thermal links. The success of the upgrad...

This conceptual paper in sustainable business research introduces a business sustainability maturity model as an innovative solution to support companies move towards sustainable development. Such model offers the possibility for each firm to individually assess its position regarding five sustainability maturity levels and, as a consequence, build a tailored as well as a common strategy along ...

Since the release of Building Systems from Commercial Components [Wallnau 01] in July of 2001, the design and engineering team from the SEI COTS-Based Systems Initiative has developed the collection of techniques described in that book into a more prescriptive COTS-based systems design process. This evolution has been partially described in this column and other forums and will soon be offered ...

OVERVIEW OF THE READINESS & FIT ANALYSIS All software engineering and management practices are based on cultural and social assumptions. When adopting new practices, leaders often find mismatches between those assumptions and the realities within their organizations. The SEI has an analysis method called Readiness & Fit Analysis (RFA) that allows the profiling of a set of practices to understan...

Human capital is of paramount importance in the ICT industry. This paper analyses one of the elements which underlies effective management of human assets: performance assessment. This analysis uses the development of a common standard based on the tasks and processes outlined in People CMM, the standard in human resource management designed by the Software Engineering Institute. This framework...

Human capital is of paramount importance in the ICT industry. This paper analyses one of the elements which underlies effective management of human assets: performance assessment. This analysis uses the development of a common standard based on the tasks and processes outlined in People CMM, the standard in human resource management designed by the Software Engineering Institute. This framework...

discovery of 13c nmr and its application in the biosynthetic pathways prompted the synthesis of several 13c labelled precursors. to investigate the metabolism of phenyllactic acid in the solanaceae family, the double labelled acid was synthesized from barium carbonate (13c) and sodium syanide (13c)