Dynamic and Static Transmission Electron Microscopy Studies on Structural Evaluation of Au nano islands on Si (100) Surface

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study on morphological changes in gold nanostructures deposited on Si (100) upon annealing under different vacuum conditions has been reported. Au thin films of thickness ~2.0 nm were deposited under high vacuum condition (with the native oxide at the interface of Au and Si) using thermal evaporation. In-situ, high temperature (from room temperature (RT) to 850\degreeC) real time TEM measurements showed the evaluation of gold nanoparticles into rectangular/square shaped gold silicide structures. This has been attributed to selective thermal decomposition of native oxide layer. Ex-situ annealing in low vacuum (10-2 mbar) at 850\degreeC showed no growth of nano-gold silicide structures. Under low vacuum annealing conditions, the creation of oxide could be dominating compared to the decomposition of oxide layers resulting in the formation of barrier layer between Au and Si.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

A Conspectus Of Job Satisfaction: A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Mexican And American Employees

This study asks employees in the United States and Mexico their perceived feeling of job satisfaction with their employment across service and production industries. The results show unexpected dissimilarities and similarities in the employee responses. Hypotheses based on Hofstede’s Individualism (IDV) predicted cultural differences in the two countries would result in a higher perception of workplace satisfaction from employees in the United States than those in Mexico

Change Management And Post-Merger Organizational Outcomes: Four Organizations Merge Into One

Most merger and acquisition literature looks at financial and marketing strategies, while dismissing or ignoring the people-issues. This study examines post-merger employee organizational identification and attitudes about organizational communication relationships

Practical Advice For Individuals Considering Opening A Small Business

Recently developed business models, coupled with today’s complex regional and international commerce environments, complicate the establishment and successful operation of independent small businesses.  Even the smallest of businesses calls for a multiplicity of skills seldom found in one individual.  The purpose of this paper is to provide practical advice to individuals who are contemplating going into business for themselves.  Some of the reasons for small business failures are presented, followed by practical tips for achieving small business success.  Major factors of success include going into business for the right reasons and “planning for success,” including planning for eventual retirement.&nbsp

Activity-Based Costing System Required For Successful Customer Relationship Management

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of Activity-Based Costing to successful Customer Relationship Management.  The value a customer adds to a company through customer loyalty, using Customer Profitability Analysis

Practical Guidance For Including A Roth 401 (K) In Your Retirement Investment Portfolio

This paper discusses details of the Roth 401 (k) and provides practical guidance for making the appropriate decisions about including this relatively new investment opportunity in your retirement portfolio

Tips For Maximizing The Value Of Your Retirement Investment Portfolio

Recent studies suggest that many retired and near-retirement age individuals do not understand basic investment strategy.  One study concludes that “Boomers are in a state of financial paralysis” (Guardian Life, 2004).  This article provides tips about which types of securities to include in various retirement accounts to maximize the value of the retirement portfolio.  The article also considers social security and its possible effect on retirement investment strategy

Who Benefits from Online Privacy?

When firms can identify their past customers, they may use information about purchase histories in order to price discriminate. We present a model with a monopolist and a continuum of heterogeneous consumers, where consumers can opt out from being identified, possibly at a cost. We find that when consumers can costlessly opt out, they all individually choose privacy, which results in the highest profit for the monopolist. In fact, all consumers are better off when opting out is costly. When valuations are uniformly distributed, social surplus is non-monotonic in the cost of opting out and is highest when opting out is prohibitively costly. We introduce the notion of a privacy gatekeeper — a third party that is able to act as a privacy conduit and set the cost of opting out. We prove that the privacy gatekeeper only charges the firm in equilibrium, making privacy costless to consumers

Perceptions of a Glass Ceiling: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Mexican and American Employees

This study asks employees in the United States and Mexico if they believe there is workplace discrimination based on gender, age, or ethnicity. As members of international organizations, the United States and Mexico have agreed to strive for the elimination of employment discrimination. Hypotheses based on Hofstede’s Power Distance Index (PDI) predicted cultural differences in the two countries would result in a higher perception of workplace discrimination from employees in the United States than those in Mexico. The results support the hypotheses; directions are offered for future research