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Josephson junctions act as active elements in superconducting electronics. The behavior of this nonlinear element is characterized by the relation between current and the quantum mechanical phase‐difference. For an accurate device modeling, detailed knowledge about this relation is necessary. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

To obtain detailed information, a method for DC measurement of the current‐phase relation suitable for all kinds of superconducting circuit elements was accomplished.

The authors developed a linear transformation algorithm to calculate the current‐phase relation from the measured data.

It turns out that in future designs additional connections and special test structures are required to gain more knowledge about inductance values required for the algorithm.

Based on the inverse calculation of that algorithm, the authors found a 7 percent deviation of the current‐phase relation of a standard superconductor/insulator/superconductor Josephson junction from the predicted sine‐wave behavior. Furthermore, the paper suggests to use this method to evaluate the current‐phase relation of new Josephson elements such as a superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor junction. Therefore, the authors will deposit the new element directly on the chip with the test setup fabricated with standard Nb‐technology.

Discusses the issue of business‐to‐business e‐commerce implementation and the factors affecting it, considering the appropriateness of the various theories which underpin research into systems implementation (primarily diffusion of innovation and traditional change management theory). Describes the results of a case study of BHP Steel, the largest steel producer and one of the largest companies in Australia, which is a leader in e‐commerce implementation. The results suggest that, over time, the driving force for e‐commerce changed significantly. From an initial push to improve current business processes by adopting EDI to achieve savings and improve efficiency, the company came to be driven by a desire for greater supplier involvement and customer service in later implementations. Discusses the ways in which BHP Steel’s e‐commerce innovations have changed and suggests that, in addition to considering the characteristics of the innovation process, other more contextual aspects of implementation (such as the social system in which the innovation evolves and the timing of the innovation’s introduction) be considered in an inter‐organizational context.

The purpose of this paper is to address the issues associated with electronic resources management (ERM) system implementation in a consortium environment.

The paper outlines the implementation process along with the problems encountered and their solutions and impacts on the use of the system in the implementation of Verde ERM system at University of Windsor Leddy Library, which implemented the system as one of the early adopters within a consortium. The issues and challenges the library experienced in the project are analyzed and discussed.

The ERM system is still in its early stages. There are both benefits and challenges of the consortia approach in ERM system implementation. Should a library adopt the system within a consortium or just as a single library? When would be the right time to implement an ERM system? Answers depend on the library's local needs, resources and environment. The strategy of ERM system selection, evaluation and implementation is crucial for libraries to make a suitable decision.

The issues related to the ERM system implementation in a consortium environment discussed in the paper will have implications for libraries to select a proper approach and time on the adoption of emerging library systems.

The paper addresses issues related to a large library system, especially ERM system implementation in a consortium environment. The experience and findings obtained from the project can provide practical information to libraries that are considering implementing ERM or other large library systems.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce Commercial Mobile Video Service Trial (TOEST) of Korea Telecom (KT), relaying experience related to the implementation of mobile video service for portable devices to libraries and information management organizations that are interested in this service.

Research data used were collected from internal materials such as unpublished project reports, RFI, RFP, etc. written throughout the process of implementing projects. The information also draws on the author's experience and involvement in TOEST trial between 2005 and 2007.

From the technical perspective, it was confirmed that technical advancements and environments that enable the implementation of mobile video service for portable devices have been fully established. The technical areas that need to be further improved are the advancements of battery capacity, low‐power consumption technology, and functional improvement of the I/O slot in portable devices.

TOEST provides only download type service for portable devices such as PDAs and PMPs. Streaming type service for mobile phones has been performed only for the purpose of internal tests.

For information management organizations and libraries, mobile video service for portable devices is cutting‐edge technical service that can provide new customer value to users. Also, it is possible to apply profit models from the commercial point of view.

The paper introduces various technical and environmental elements as specifically as possible, including practical things that we have experienced during the course of implementing mobile video service systems for portable devices. Experience in TOEST development would be helpful to information management organizations and libraries planning to provide mobile video service for portable devices.

This work seeks to contribute a series of reflections and conclusions in response to the following questions: what variables determine satisfaction in the pre‐sale phase and post‐sale phase of B2C electronic commerce? How are the variables of the pre‐sale phase related to those of the post‐sale phase of B2C electronic commerce?

The authors develop a theoretical scale that includes the important variables of quality in the pre‐sale and post‐sale phases of B2C electronic commerce. After the empirical validation of the theoretical scale, we measure the impact of the pre‐sale dimensions on the post‐sale dimensions.

The results confirm the principal hypotheses of the study, that is to say, the dimensions of the pre‐sale phase have a significant impact on the dimensions of the post‐sale phase of B2C electronic commerce.

This research shows that, in B2C electronic commerce, the organisation's actions in the pre‐sale phase will, to a great extent, condition its actions in the post‐sale phase.

This paper highlights the importance of high‐performance in the pre‐sale phase in order to achieve success.

This paper bridges a gap in the empirical works in the field of quality in electronic commerce by studying the importance and implications of the different phases in the electronic purchase.

Electronic commerce enables business development for marketing channel intermediaries and strengthens their existing operations and strategic management. This research shows that electronic commerce provides stepwise business development refinement and repositioning in the form of process change and increased customer service. Based on marketing and logistics literature, a business development model with three developmental phases is proposed in this paper. The findings are based on the electronic commerce development of three intermediaries providing industrial products and services in the northern European market. Refinement is achieved through a focus on activities for internal efficiency, and through changing processes for increased integration, shorter time and lower costs. Repositioning involves extended focus on service improvements, image and customer tailored services. It is found that electronic commerce has not radically reshaped and developed the role of marketing channel intermediaries. Instead, it has strengthened existing business. Future electronic commerce efforts need to be viewed in a business wide development context, including structural change and reaching new segments or markets, to utilise fully the development potential of electronic commerce.

Project HERMES, the proposed electronic document delivery service sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, is described. HERMES is characterized by the participation of major publishers, industrial and public libraries and national government and by the use of Teletex for both document ordering and delivery. For the first phase of the project, provision of three facilities—electronic document ordering and delivery, automatic document delivery and electronic mail—to a pilot group of some sixty organizations is proposed. The major aim of the project is to promote and gain experience of the use of Teletex within the information and publishing community. [The Department of Trade and Industry announced in December 1984 that it does not intend to proceed with Project HERMES. The Journal of Documentation Editorial Board nevertheless feels that Susan Amy's paper should be published on the grounds that the proposals it details remain one possible approach to the implementation of a demonstration document delivery service based on teletex.]

This pilot study aims to investigate how parents use electronic resources to encourage children’s reading and learning interests through the 5E instructional model. Moreover, this study explores the public’s current electronic reading (e-reading) preferences, parents’ teaching process and the effectiveness of electronic resources in encouraging children to read and learn.

This study used a quantitative research method with a 5- to 10-min online survey based on the 5E instructional model. A total of 101 respondents participated in the survey.

Technology has changed the public’s current e-reading preferences. More than 65% of parent respondents preferred to use the electronic reading format for their children’s teaching and learning. Parents generally agreed on the teaching and learning effectiveness of using electronic resources, especially for engaging their children. However, the parents showed no significant gender differences.

This pilot study is a new attempt to use the 5E instructional model to quantitatively analyse the parenting process of using electronic resources to encourage children to read and learn, especially in an Asian context.

New York State has established the goal of enabling all libraries in the state—some 7,000—to become electronic doorway libraries. An electronic doorway library is a library enhanced and transformed by the use of computer and telecommunications technology to provide electronic services for its users.

This article summarizes a study that identified and described federal information inventory/locator systems. Such locator systems provide an important means of accessing a range of government information not previously available to the public or other government officials. Overall, the study's goal was to improve access to and use of U.S. government information. The study produced a final report describing study efforts, identifying issues and conclusions, and recommending the design of an networked‐based government‐wide information inventory/locator system (GIILS) (Volume I), the Federal Locator Database (FLD) — a machine‐readable database of descriptive information on some 250 federal databases, of which fifty‐three met the study's criteria as a locator, and a user's guide to that database (Volume II includes a machine‐readable version of the database and the user guide and codebook). The study recommends that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget develop a policy framework requiring agencies to design and maintain machine‐readable locators, meeting certain requirements and standards and that these be accessible over the Internet/NREN.