Abstract We use InGaAlAs and InGaAsP as materials of 1.55mm multi-quantum-well spot-size converter ridge waveguide lasers. On lateral conversion, we fabricate a taper ridge waveguide. On vertical conversion, we add guard layers on each side of active layer. For InGaAlAs ridge waveguide lasers, simulation results show a far field 16o ¡Ñ 27o¡]lateral ¡Ñ vertical¡^at guard layer width S = 0.1 mm with 300-150-50 mm narrow-tapered waveguide structure. Due to large Zn background contamination in the MOCVD growth chamber, we did not fabricate the InGaAlAs lasers successfully. For the InGaAsP ridge waveguide lasers, we measure a far field 18o ¡Ñ 28o and a threshold current 23 mA for the 200-250-50 mm narrow-tapered waveguide structure; a far field 20o ¡Ñ 26o and a threshold current 22 mA for the 200-250-50 mm wide-tapered waveguide structure.

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Software size estimation has been long a challenging task over a software development process. This paper presents an approach that uses the function point analysis to estimate program coding and testing effort in a MIS department, which maintains an ERP system with low employee transfer rate. The method first analyzes the historical data using regression analysis, and then builds a software estimation model with elaborated coefficients for related parameters. The estimation model is tested with the remaining set of historical data to evaluate its predict accuracy. It is shown that the size estimation model can be as accurate as about 90% correctness. Thus it is useful not only in company-wide information resource allocation, but also in performance evaluation of software engineers.

Prior research suggests that the use of accounting information differs substantially by investor class. My analysis extends this line of research to the area of SEC Form 8-K filings. Prior research also provides mixed evidence on the informativeness of these filings. I hypothesize that the method of the disclosure is an important factor in evaluating 8-K usefulness to varying types of investors. Specifically, the timing, venue, and packaging of these accounting disclosures affect their use by investors. Regulation Fair Disclosure (2000) considers both press releases and 8-K filings as broad-based disclosures that do not favor any investor class. I, however, identify five unique informational settings in which 8-K filings occur. The five settings are: a concurrent 8-K event and filing (with or without a press release), a filing which precedes the press release, a press release that precedes the filing, an 8-K event that precedes a filing and/or press release, and the 8-K event alone. I examine the similarities and differences in trading by small and large investors across these settings. The identification of these empirical regularities with respect to disclosure form should be particularly useful to policy makers seeking to implement level playing field objectives with respect to public disclosures. My findings show that the relative trading activity to 8-K filings is different by the type of disclosure. Differential trading activity was found to be more pronounced in disclosure settings that contained a public announcement. In addition, the type of Form 8-K disclosure also had an effect on the differential trading activity. Form 8-K filings of acquisition or disposition of assets were associated with the most pronounced responses. My findings show the differential trading activity to these filings differs from other accounting events such as earnings announcements and annual report filings.

How proliferating cells maintain the copy number and overall size of their organelles is not clear. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the G1 cyclins Cln1,2,3p control initiation of cell division by regulating the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) Cdc28p. We show that Cln3p controls vacuolar (lysosomal) biogenesis and segregation. First, loss of Cln3p, but not Cln1p or Cln2p, resulted in vacuolar fragmentation. Although the vacuoles of cln3Δ cells were fragmented, together they occupied a large space, which accounted for a significant fraction of the overall cell size increase in cln3Δ cells. Second, cytosol prepared from cells lacking Cln3p had reduced vacuolar homotypic fusion activity in cell-free assays. Third, vacuolar segregation was perturbed in cln3Δ cells. Our findings reveal a novel role for a eukaryotic G1 cyclin in cytoplasmic organelle biogenesis and segregation. Furthermore we show that the scaffold protein Bem1p, a critical regulator of Cdc42p activity, is a downstream effector of Cln3p/Cdc28p complex. The Cdc42p GTPase is known to be required for vacuole fusion. Our results suggest that Ser72 on Bem1p is phosphorylated by Cdc28p in a Cln3p-dependent manner to promote vacuole fusion. Replacing Ser72 with Asp, to mimic phosphorylation at an optimal Cdkconsensus site located in the first SH3 domain of Bem1p, suppressed vacuolar fragmentation in cells lacking Cln3p. Using in vivo and in vitro assays, we found that Cln3p was unable to promote vacuole fusion in the absence of Bem1p or in the presence of a non-phosphorylatable Bem1p-Ser72Ala mutant. Furthermore, activation of Cdc42p also suppressed vacuolar fragmentation in the absence of Cln3p. Our results provide a mechanism that links cyclin-dependent kinase activity with vacuole fusion through Bem1p and the Cdc42p GTPase cycle.

This article base on the data of Fisheries Department from 82 to 96 discussed the resources of Taiwan mackerel. First of all, Leslie¡¦s method is used to estimate the stock size and catchability coefficient of Taiwan mackerel from 90 to 91. The consequent went under the method of Graham in order to estimate its intrinsic growth rate and environmental carrying capacity. Following that, this paper compared and contrasted the differences between open access and bioeconomic optimum, and adopted the catch data of 82-96 to get the simulative analysis of present operation of mackerel. Finally, for each parameter we made sensitivity analysis to have an overall view of the impact of changed parameters on stock size.

This paper attempts to find the relationship between momentum and firm¡¦s credit rating. According to Avramov¡¦s (2007) finding, there is a strong link between momentum and firm credit rating in US. In this paper, the similar phenomenon is proven existing in Taiwan stock market. Momentum profitability is large among low-grade firms, but it is insignificant among high-grade firms. The source of momentum profits is from operating performance, financial performance, volatility and illiquidity. For loser (winner) stocks in the low rating category, profit margins, sales growth, operating cash flows, and interest coverage decrease (increase) over the formation and holding periods, while illiquidity and volatility increase (decrease). As the market observes the deteriorating (improving) conditions, there is a pressure to sell (buy) losers (winners), which enhances gains among high risk winners and losses among high risk losers.

Over the past decades, bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have attracted extensive interests because of their unique properties such as good corrosion resistance, large elastic limit, as well as high strength and hardness. However, with the advent of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and other microscaled devices, the fundamental properties of micrometer-sized BMGs have become increasingly more important. Thus, in this study, a methodology for performing uniaxial compression tests on BMGs having micron-sized dimensions is presented. Micropillar with diameters of 3.8, 1 and 0.7 £gm are fabricated successfully from the Mg65Cu25Gd10 and Zr63.8Ni16.2Cu15Al5 BMGs using focus ion beam, and then tested in microcompression at room temperature and strain rates from 1 x 10-4 to 1 x 10-2 s-1. Microcompression tests on the Mg- and Zr-based BMG pillar samples have shown an obvious sample size effect, with the yield strength increasing with decreasing sample diameter. The strength increase can be rationalized by the Weibull statistics for brittle materials, and the Weibull moduli of the Mg- and Zr-based BMGs are estimated to be about 35 and 60, respectively. The higher Weibull modulus of the Zr-based BMG is consistent with the more ductile nature of this system. In additions, high temperature microcompression tests are performed to investigate the deformation behavior of micron-sized Au49Ag5.5Pd2.3Cu26.9Si16.3 BMG pillar samples from room to their glass transition temperature (~400 K). For the 1 £gm Au-based BMG pillars, a transition from inhomogeneous flow to homogeneous flow is clearly observed at or near the glass transition temperature. Specifically, the flow transition temperature is about 393 K atthe strain rate of 1 x 10-2 s-1. For the 3.8 £gm Au-based BMG pillars, in order to investigate the homogeneous deformation behavior, microcompression tests are performed at 395.9-401.2 K. The strength is observed to decrease with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. Plastic flow behavior can be described by a shear transition zone model. The activation energy and the size of the basic flow unit are deduced and compared favorably with the theory.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität St. Gallen, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-85). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.