Semiconductor devices and methods

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following steps: providing a plurality of semiconductor layers; providing means for coupling signals to and/or from layers of the device; providing a quantum well disposed between adjacent layers of the device; and providing a layer of quantum dots disposed in one of the adjacent layers, and spaced from the quantum well, whereby carriers can tunnel in either direction between the quantum well and the quantum dots.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Should historic sites protection be targeted at the most famous? Evidence from a contingent valuation in Scotland

We used a contingent valuation survey of a random sample of the general public living in Scotland to estimate how willingness to pay (WTP) for the conservation of historic sites (such as castles and stone circles) varies with how well-known these sites are and whether people have visited them. Each respondent was asked to state a maximum WTP in terms of higher income taxes for the conservation of two sites, one of which was “famous” and one of which was less well-known. The hypothetical scenario involved payment to avoid future damage to each site. When observable differences in respondent characteristics are controlled for, we found no significant differences in mean WTP across sites. However, a significant effect was found for respondent familiarity with each site (in terms of recognising it on a photograph), with sites which respondents were more familiar with attracting higher WTP values. Distance effects on WTP were mixed: significant effects of distance of the site from respondents’ homes were only found for the less well-known sites, but not for famous sites. The main conclusions of the study were that (i) the Scottish general public are willing to pay for the conservation of historic sites and that (ii) such values exist as much for less well-known sites as for famous sites. This implies that public funds should not be allocated solely to conservation of the best-known sites

Sustainable Development: 1987 to 2012 - Don’t Be Naive, it’s not about the Environment

Purpose:In this paper we explore the concept of sustainable development through the lens of two United Nations publications. The documents, published 25 years apart, highlight how the understanding and enactment of sustainable development has changed over the course of that time. We highlight how sustainable development has been portrayed as an: epic adventure, the right and only choice, a challenge to categorical thinking, and a story of economic growth for human survival. While the tone of both documents differs, what is clear is from the publications is that sustainable development will not be achieved unless it is part of mainstream economic debate, supported by a holistic understanding of the entwined relationship between humanity, the environment and the economy. Design/Methodology/Approach: As a discussion document the paper uses existing literature. Findings: Sustainable development is a concept that is about perpetuating economic growth, but doing so through a non-categorical understanding of humans and nature relationships

No funny business: precarious work and emotional labour in stand-up comedy

Freelance creative work is a labour of love where opportunities for self-expression are combined with exploitative working conditions. This article explores this dynamic by showing how a group of freelance creative labourers navigate employment while coping with the pressures associated with economic precarity. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, we argue that full-time stand-up comedians engage in ‘pecuniary’ forms of emotion management in an occupational field where social networks and professional relationships play a prominent role. First, comedians project an image of positivity to demonstrate a willingness to work for little or no pay in order to curry favour with comedy club promoters. Second, comedians suppress feelings of anxiety and frustration that arise from financial insecurity in order to keep their relationships with promoters on an even keel – even when the rate of pay and promptness of remuneration fall below acceptable standards. Our study thus has implications for other creative sectors in which precarity is the norm, since it suggests that emotional labour is a resource not only for engaging with customers and clients but also for engaging with multiple employers, negotiating pay and dealing with conditions of insecurity in freelance settings – often with unintended, paradoxical, results

SensorNet API development report

This report describes the development of a prototype web based application for the dissemination and analysis of sensor network data as held in the corporate database for virtual sensor data, referred to throughout this report as SensorNet. The first part of the report introduces the project and the context of this particular bit of work. The following sections describe the approach taken, the technologies considered, how long each element of the work took, a summary of the results so far and an outline of future tasks

Semiconductor devices and methods

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following steps: providing a plurality of semiconductor layers; providing means for coupling signals to and/or from layers of the device; providing a quantum well disposed between adjacent layers of the device; and providing a layer of quantum dots disposed in one of the adjacent layers, and spaced from the quantum well, whereby carriers can tunnel in either direction between the quantum well and the quantum dots.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

BUSINESS MODELS DESIGN IN BUSINESS NETWORKS

Previous research in the area of business models has focused on their use in the context of an individual organization and has failed to incorporate considerations associated with a network of business partners in a candidate business model. Building on existing literature, this paper reports on an ongoing work which investigates the challenges associated with designing business models for wider business operation scenarios, commonly known as business networks, where there is a need to foresee and manage critical decision-making points. The research methodology combines literature review and interactive research including insights derived from participant discussions in a research workshop. The documented data captured during the workshop was used as an input for further refinement of the initial networked business model design constructs. The result is a conceptual framework that provides a set of interrelated design elements for business models in network environments. The design elements are the decision points for an organization where its networked operation has to be configured, operated, optimized and dynamically reconfigured. The framework was validated through a case study in the oil and gas industry with the aim of improving operational planning among business partners. This work is supported in part by ARC Linkage Grant LP140101062 (Transforming Banking Service Delivery Through Connected Communities) and ARC Discovery Grant DP140103788