277 research outputs found
Trade in Services in the Asia Pacific Region, NBER East Asia Seminar on Economics (EASE), Volume 11
An appreciative view of human performance technology
Human performance technology has been successful in resolving organizational issues and prompting a variety of business improvements. Yet there are times when the problem- centered approach is not sufficient. Instead, attention to organizational strengths and a focus on creating and building a positive vision for the future represent a better strategy. This article looks at a new variation on the consulting model––HPT: Appreciative Approach.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56085/1/132_ftp.pd
Singularité du Bois Borassus Aéthiopum par sa physiologie
Among the traditional building materials in Togo, the Borassus Aéthiopum or Rônier is one of the most widely used. The singularity of this wood made it famous because of its resistance to xylophages and to the various inclement weather. But the determining factors of this resistance are unknown. This work aims to show the singularity of this wood under different observation angles. In this work, we study the physiology of this wood. We will observe samples taken at different locations under different scales. In view of the results obtained, we decide on the particularity of this wood. The rônier is made of detachable fibers
How are we doing? “Best of ISPI” Appreciative Inquiry member survey
The International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) Board of Directors undertook a study to uncover the “best of ISPI” to enhance their strategic planning. The approach used Appreciative Inquiry methods, which emphasize discovering “what's working.” This article describes the study and concludes with some thoughts on how to use this information to enrich member experiences and provide new benefits.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/60910/1/20011_ftp.pd
Theoretical studies on mechanical and electronic properties of -triazine sheet
Mechanical and electronic properties of -triazine are studied using
first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The in-plane
stiffness and bulk modulus for -triazine sheet are found to be less than
that of heptazine. The reduction can be related to the nature of the covalent
bonds connecting the adjacent sheets and the number of atoms per unit cell. The
Poisson's ratio of -triazine is half the value to that of graphene.
Additionally, the calculated values of the two critical strains (elastic and
yielding points) of -triazine sheet are in the same order of magnitude to
that for heptazine which was calculated using MD simulations in the literature.
It is also demonstrated that -triazine sheet can withstand larger tension in
the plastic region. These results established a stable mechanical property for
-triazine sheet. We found a linear relationship of bandgap as a function of
bi-axial tensile strain within the harmonic elastic region. The reduced steric
repulse of the lone pairs (-, -) causes the
-like orbital to shift to high energy, and consequently an
increase in the bandgap. We find no electronic properties modulation of the
-triazine sheet under electric field up to a peak value of 10 V/nm. Such
noble properties may be useful in future nanomaterial applications.Comment: Manuscript submitted to Philosophical Magazine Journa
First-principles investigation of graphitic carbon nitride monolayer with embedded Fe atom
Density-functional theory calculations with spin-polarized generalized
gradient approximation and Hubbard correction is carried out to investigate
the mechanical, structural, electronic and magnetic properties of graphitic
heptazine with embedded atom under bi-axial tensile strain and
applied perpendicular electric field. It was found that the binding energy of
heptazine with embedded atom system decreases as more tensile
strain is applied and increases as more electric field strength is applied. Our
calculations also predict a band gap at a peak value of 5 tensile strain but at
expense of the structural stability of the system. The band gap opening at 5
tensile strain is due to distortion in the structure caused by the repulsive
effect in the cavity between the lone pairs of edge nitrogen atoms and
orbital of Fe atom, hence the
unoccupied -orbital is forced to shift towards higher energy. The
electronic and magnetic properties of the heptazine with embedded
system under perpendicular electric field up to a peak value of 10
is also well preserved despite obvious buckled structure. Such
properties may be desirable for diluted magnetic semiconductors, spintronics,
and sensing devices
Characterization of Rainwater Drainage Infrastructure in the City of Lomé (Togo, West Africa)
Despite Togo government’s efforts to maintain and expand its storm drainage networks, urban flood disasters remain recurrent. Beyond Shallow zones occupation for construction and climatic causes, it is essential to circumscribe the determinants linked to infrastructure. Based on the inventory and characterization of rainwater drainage infrastructure, this study is a contribution to the reduction of flood risk in the city of Lome in Togo. Surveys were conducted on rainwater drainage works of the 172 paved roads in Lome. A sample of each network group is selected by considering the areas of recurring hazards and broadest catchment areas in the city for the evaluation of their structural and functional states according to the readapted VIZIR method. The relationship between these two states was computed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). This study reveals notable insufficiencies in rainwater drainage management in the city, expressed by the existence of roads built without drains, gutters without outlets, and open gutters and makeshift trenches built by the population. Functionally and structurally, almost all the structures are constructed of reinforced concrete. The most cracked are the mainly open pit (92.02%) works of the lagoon complex. The retention basin network includes 36 retention ponds 18 of which are interconnected, 11 drained by gravity and 4 by pumping. The latter are inherently hazardous insofar as pumping energy is not guaranteed. The MCA has shown that the network of piping related to the retention ponds are in similar conditions, and that generally, the closed gutters are not cracked while the open gutters are cracked
Molecular dynamics simulations and photoluminescence measurements of annealed ZnO surfaces
The effect of thermal annealing on wurtzite ZnO, terminated by two surfaces,
(0 0 0 ) (which is oxygen-terminated) and (0 0 0 1) (which is
Zn-terminated), is investigated via molecular dynamics simulation using
reactive force field (ReaxFF). As a result of annealing at a threshold
temperature range of 700~K < T_{\mbox{\small t}} \leq 800~K, surface oxygen
atoms begin to sublimate from the (0 0 0 ) surface, while no atom
leaves the (0 0 0 1) surface. The ratio of oxygen leaving the surface increases
with temperature (for T \geq T_{\mbox{\small t}}). The relative
luminescence intensity of the secondary peak in the photoluminescence (PL)
spectra, interpreted as a measurement of amount of vacancies on the sample
surfaces, qualitatively agrees with the threshold behavior as found in the MD
simulations. Our simulations have also revealed the formation of oxygen dimers
on the surface and evolution of partial charge distribution during the
annealing process. Our MD simulation based on the ReaxFF is consistent with
experimental observations.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures. Manuscript submitted to Physica
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