Causal factors in the hydration susceptibility of periclase aggregates

The findings presented in this thesis are the result of a study of the hydration mechanism of pre-calcined periclase aggregates. It is hoped that these findings will provide the means to develop an economical, stable and hydration resistant layer on the surface of periclase aggregates by coating with appropriate chemical systems. In the conduct of this study two sources of commercially obtained materials, Steetley 323, and China metal 90-10, supplied by the Quigley company, were characterized and treated with different concentrations of boron-containing water suspensions in order to impose an altered layer which would resist hydration. Variables affecting hydration investigated in this study included: size of materials, concentrations of boron chemical suspensions, steam temperatures and pressures, and post-calcination temperatures. Alginate thickeners with varying concentrations of boric acid were used to control the concentrations of boron on the surfaces of the aggregates. The overall investigation in this study was divided into four parts: Characterization of calcined periclase aggregates. Development of coating treatment methods. Examining the dependence of the hydration resistance on different boron concentrations, and Elucidation of the hydration mechanism --Abstract, pages ii-iii

"On Modelling Negotiations within a Dynamic Multi-objective Programming Framework: Analysis of Risk Measurement with an Application to Large BOT Projects"

The dynamic and multi-objective programming is used here to establish a risk measurement model. We develop an iterative algorithm and the convergence conditions for the model solution. The results obtained from the model developed here show that the sum of the interactive utility value (IUV) could determine whether or not the interactive relationship is characterized by independence among negotiators. In addition, the numerical example shows that this risk measurement model of the negotiation group can reflect risk assessment by the negotiation group for certain events and can analyze interaction characteristics among negotiators. We show the feasibility and applicability of the model and the exact solution algorithm, and their policy relevance for analyzing BOT projects.

Differential and Difference Equations for Recurrence Coefficients of Orthogonal Polynomials with a Singularly Perturbed Laguerre-type Weight

We are concerned with the monic orthogonal polynomials with respect to a singularly perturbed Laguerre-type weight. By using the ladder operator approach, we derive a complicated system of nonlinear second-order difference equations satisfied by the recurrence coefficients. This allows us to derive the large $n$ asymptotic expansions of the recurrence coefficients. In addition, we also obtain a system of differential-difference equations for the recurrence coefficients

Driving Individuals’ Subjective Wellbeing in Virtual Communities through Interpersonal and Impersonal Mechanisms

In this study, we integrate different research streams—attachment, social identity, and organizational citizenship behavior—to have a better understanding of determinants of individual subjective wellbeing in the context of a virtual community (VC). Attachment is an emotion-laden, target-specific bond between a person and a specific object. Attachment is an important predictor of citizenship behavior, and therefore an important aspect to understand and to enhance in order to promote citizenship behavior. We identify two broad categories of virtual community citizenship behavior: citizenship behaviors directed toward benefitting other individuals (VCCBI), and citizenship behaviors directed toward benefitting the VC (VCCBC). We also identify two distinct attachments: emotional bonds among community members and emotional bonds to the community identity. This study proposes a dual attachment model in which subjective wellbeing is driven mainly by two mechanisms: (1) the interpersonal-based mechanism which relates common bond attachment to VCCBI and subjective wellbeing, and (2) the impersonal-based mechanism which relates common identity attachment to VCCBC and subjective wellbeing. In order to understand the two proposed mechanisms, the research model was tested with data collected from members of a VC

Society Exchange Characteristics, Service Quality, and Relationship Quality between Hospital and Its Suppliers

Successful supply chain management provides an enterprise with a new competitive advantage. However, successful supply chain performance is based on a high level of trust and strong commitment among supply chain partners. Studies have indicated that communication, partner’s reputation, perceived benefits, fairness, and relationship tenure that are within the context of social exchange theory have an effect on trust. In the current study, we attempted to integrate two types of theories of social exchange and service quality by proposing an integrated model that influences the factor to trust and commitment. We then applied structural equation modeling to test the model. The study results indicated that a hospital’s trust in its supply chain partner is highly associated with commitment. The study included respondents comprising medical device procurement staff working in hospitals within Taiwan. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed; 316 completed questionnaires were received. The results revealed that communication, partner’s reputation, and perceived benefits had a positive effect on trust. Service quality was also determined to have a positive effect on trust and commitment. This result should provide reference for a hospital and its relationship with suppliers, which helps monitor decision variables in the supply chain management of medical devices

Lignocellulose-based analytical devices: bamboo as an analytical platform for chemical detection

This article describes the development of lignocellulose-based analytical devices (LADs) for rapid bioanalysis in low-resource settings. LADs are constructed using either a single lignocellulose or a hybrid design consisting of multiple types of lignocellulose. LADs are simple, low-cost, easy to use, provide rapid response, and do not require external instrumentation during operation. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of LADs for food and water safety (i.e., nitrite assay in hot-pot soup, bacterial detection in water, and resazurin assay in milk) and urinalysis (i.e., nitrite, urobilinogen, and pH assays in human urine). Notably, we created a unique approach using simple chemicals to achieve sensitivity similar to that of commercially available immunochromatographic strips that is low-cost, and provides on-site, rapid detection, for instance, of Eschericia coli (E. coli) in water

Engineering band structure via the site preference of Pb2+ in the In+ site for enhanced thermoelectric performance of In6Se7

Although binary In-Se based alloys as thermoelectric (TE) candidates are of interests in recent years, little attention has been paid into In6Se7 based compounds. With substituting Pb in In6Se7, the preference of Pb2+ in the In+ site has been observed, allowing the Fermi level (Fr) shift towards the conduction band and the localized state conduction becomes dominated. Consequently, the Hall carrier concentration (nH) has been enhanced significantly with the highest nH value being about 2~3 orders of magnitude higher than that of Pb-free sample. Meanwhile, the lattice thermal conductivity (κL) tends to be reduced as nH value increases, owing to an increased phonon scattering on carriers. As a result, a significantly enhanced TE performance has been achieved with the highest TE figure of merit (ZT) of 0.4 at ~850 K. This ZT value is 27 times that of intrinsic In6Se7 (ZT=0.015 at 640 K), which proves a successful band structure engineering through site preference of Pb in In6Se7