Will User Involvement Always be the Case? The Effect of Service Procurement on Customer Perceived Value in Servitization

As service is becoming increasingly important, many industrial firms have implemented “servitization” strategy and many marketing and management researchers have discussed the topic of business service. This paper focuses on business service types and its impacts from the buyer’s perceptive, especially whether user involvement always takes effects on the process of servitization. Using a large sample survey, this study examines the relationship between two types of business service and customer perceived value in terms of economic value, relational /support value and technical/core value as well as the moderating effect of user involvement on this relationship in China fine chemical industry. The results show that both two service types can bring economic value and technical/core value to the buyers, the difference here is the relational/ support value can only be perceived if the buyer purchases the operant resource based service. The results also suggest that user involvement is a moderator in the relationship between both operand and operant resource based service on customer perceived technical/core value

Fluorescent nanodiamonds quantum sensing free radicals in bio-samples

Free radicals play a role in several diseases, such as Huntington’s disease (HD), Alzheimer diseases (AD). Therefore, mapping identifying and quantifying radicals can contribute to diagnose of these diseases. All the advantages of diamond particles make diamond magnetometry a promising tool in detecting magnetic noises generated by radicals. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important diagnostic techniques allowing noninvasive imaging of tissue and organs inside the body. However, the sensitivity of MRI is only sufficient to detect large defects (in the range of millimeters or micrometers at best) in tissue, which limits its applications for early diagnostic of important disease. Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) are promising to overcome these issues. NV centers within their lattice can convert magnetic noise into optical signals. They have outstanding photostability and biocompatibility. The fluorescence is extremely stable without bleaching or blinking, which allows long term tracking in living biological samples at a single particle level. These features allow measuring magnetic noise with high sensitivity at nanoscale spatial resolution. In chapter 1, a general introduction was given, describing the scientific background and research gaps. Quantum sensing of free radicals using Nitrogen-Vacancy centers (NV centers) built inside diamonds was stressed, as well as using diamond as a biosensor. To detect free radical generation, a diamond particle should be really close to the region of interest. Mitochondria are our region of interest here since they are the biggest contributors of producing radicals in most mammalian cells. In order to measure radical generation in mitochondria, diamond should be attached to the mitochondrial surface. To this end, in chapter 2, antiVDAV2 antibodies were used to coat the diamond surface to bring them to mitochondria either in cells or isolated mitochondria. By using these targeted diamond particles, radical generation of mitochondria was investigated followed by triggering or inhibiting production. T1 measurements were performed in both single cell or isolated mitochondria, similar results obtained when samples exposed to the same chemical either single cell or isolated mitochondria. Chapter 3 followed diamonds journey inside HeLa cells. In this chapter, pH sensitive, dextran coated FNDs were showed can be used to visualize the endocytosis pathway. Moreover, the coating was found significantly improved cellular uptake and the incubation time was reduced to only 30min. Nanodiamonds were further demonstrate enter Hela cells via endo-lysosome vesicles and are eventually expelled by cells. In chapter 4, diamond magnetometry was applied in human primary cells. These primary cells readily internalize diamonds. Diamonds are not toxic to cells even at high concentrations (10 µg/mL). Diamond particles were located in endo-phagosomes after 1 hour of incubation. With diamond particles inside phagosomes, superoxide radicals were generated by NADPH oxidase (NOX2) and measured by diamond magnetometry. The projects conducted in this thesis proves that diamond magnetometry is a useful tool in free radical detection

Development of Industrial Heritage Tourism in Jingdezhen From the Perspective of Industrial Transformation and Upgrading

As a well-known porcelain capital, Jingdezhen has a good image, a global reputation, and a unique ceramic culture tourism resource. From the perspective of industrial transformation and upgrading, Jingdezhen has developed tourist attractions such as the Jingdezhen Ware History Expo Area, the Sanbao Ceramic Institute and the Jingdezhen Ware. Based on the present situation of industrial heritage tourism development in Jingdezhen, this paper finds out the existing problems and provides new ideas for the development and utilization of industrial heritage tourism in the city

Numerical Dispersion in Non-Hydrostatic Modeling of Long-Wave Propagation.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2018

Characterization of Corona Discharge for Ignition Improvement

Advanced spark ignition (SI) engines may better operate under lean or diluted conditions for fuel efficiency improvement. Under lean or diluted conditions, the ignition and complete combustion of the mixture is a challenge with conventional spark plugs. The small spark gap with limited spark energy delivery and the associated heat loss to the ground electrode, remain to be an unsolved problem. This research explores the corona discharge as an alternative ignition technology to counter the challenges of lean or diluted combustion, including the intensive gas flow condition. Without an adjacent ground electrode, the corona discharge tends to generate a larger ignition volume and multiple flame kernels. The study is based on an in-house designed alternating-current (AC) corona system with adjustable electrical parameters. By controlling stable corona discharge, the plasma length is characterized, including the effects of discharge voltage, discharge duration, discharge frequency, and background conditions on corona discharge. Subsequently, ignition research is conducted to combustible mixtures, in constant volume chambers, to demonstrate the ignition capability of corona discharge under both quiescent and forced flow conditions. The preliminary test results of plasma-enhanced combustion are discussed to help future studies on clean combustion innovations

Service Outsourcing and Procurement in Service Supply Chain： Perspective of Service Buyers

Along with increasing servitization of business, more and more companies today are shifting from selling only products to suffering integrated and customized products and services that deliver value in use. This change reflects, on one hand, the changing strategies of suppliers and their efforts to stay competitive in the market; on the other hand, it also reflects a change in the attitude of their customers to incorporate service procurement in their business, apart from the traditional goods-approach procurement. This change requires customers to have a systematic framework to handle their relationship with suppliers, and to have a clear picture of the services they need. In this chapter, we will explore, from the perspectives of service buyers, the determining factors behind service procurement and the level of outsourcing. We will also walk through the different forms of service procurement and outsourcing