High oil price causing high cost of chemical industry, therefore the companies must pay attention to recycle of petrochemical sources, especially the reusing of wasted plastics which speeded global innovation of related techniques and formulas. The cost competition impact forced the plastic companies to raise effective strategy to avoid being expelled from the market. The research aims at three points: firstly, discussion of the facts of plastic recycles between Taiwan and China; secondly, discussion of the strategies of plastic recycles between Taiwan and China and the third, setting up the disruptive innovation strategy module of plastic recycles. The discussion of the theme focuses on organizational strategy, key success factors analysis, the third generation R&D and disruptive innovation. Through the analysis and discussion of some companies as well as the testing of plastic recycles disruptive innovation strategy module, it turns out to be the conclusion and suggestion for plastic recycles disruptive innovation strategy module.

By employing a low-cost loop antenna of simple structure, a novel antenna design to efficiently make use of the system ground plane of a PDA (personal digital assistant) is proposed. Owing to a small distance of 3 mm between the antenna and the ground plane, the propose antenna has a very low profile. By selecting a proper loop¡¦s length-to-width ratio, two resonant modes close to each other can be excited, which lead to an impedance bandwidth of 17%. In addition, because of the same direction of the surface currents on the radiating metal plate, the antenna peak gain reaches about 4.5 dBi, which is attractive for application in PDAs.

The medicare system within the Taiwanese government has been cutting public hospitals' purchasing budget on antibiotic drugs year after year, making antibiotic suppliers less profitable. This essay takes a close look at how the medicare is minimizing aitibiotic supplier's profit, and the right sales strategies needed for suppliers to survive in this hostile environment.

The mobile operators face the problem that the users how to transfer from 2G to 3G as well as telecommunication policy has been opened by government¡F mobile number protablility¡Bthe new 3G competitor¡¦s entry as to result in unexpected revenue in Taiwan. However, the new 3G competitor¡As entry with the great impact on TWM, then the actual utility is lower of TWM. The study is exploring for ¡yThe effect on subscribers diffusion 3G mobile optrator dynamic decision effect on¡z, because the property of problem is high order¡Bnonlinear¡Btime delay, the traditional approach lacking of quantifying basis such as Case Study which cannot simulate the consequence of feasible policy. It cannot estimate what becomes of the solution, thus apt to making wrong decision. Others mathematics approachs cannot explain the dynamic essence of the practical problem. All these approaches are linear and static as linear programing¡BQueuing Theory¡B Monte Carlo Simulation that cannot solve the high order¡Bdynamic problem. These approaches are no usefulness in solving practical management problem. However, System Dynamics is able to solve the dynamic complexity problem that trough the steps of problem description¡B boundary definition¡Bsystem model constructing¡B model testing and simulation to understand the structure and behavior of problem, moreover, to do policy design and evaluation. This study is as system dynamics approach on the foundation of BASS diffusion model and constructing model upon the 3G adoption critical factor in the viewpoint of Theory of Planed Behavior. The objective of study is to construct the diffusion model of TWM subscribers upon system dynamics, then to seek the leading loop and high leverage of behavior through scenario analysis for consultation in policy design. The conclusion of study as following¡]1¡^if the operators take high allowance of GSM handset bundling contract sales, will trun up¡yThe self-limit to growing¡z. When the price competition between operators in the market, the policy will cause that TWM 3G actual subscribers are lower. The best revenue policy is to shorten GSM contract duration by handset price or ceasing GSM bundling contract sales schedule to be advanced.¡]2¡^If all the operators do not do the competition in price aggressively in oligopoly, the relationship between competitors will result in¡yThe rich more rich and the poor more poor¡z. The best revenue policy for operator is the tariff shall be divided into different stages to co-operate with network load and to acquire high data usage subscribers for the goal. It shall reduce the threshold of customer entry for the sake of increasing subscribers in the middle stage. There is an obvious discrenpancy between the best policy in simulation and operator taking. ¡]3¡^If the operators attempt to shorten the timetable of subscribers from GSM transfer to 3G as to shorten GSM contract duration, the network constructing policy should do dynamic policy co-operation with the leading indicator of subscribers diffusion. The scenario simulation upon system dynamics that the counter-intuitive phenomenon often contrasts to the operator¡¦s preconception, avoiding to the confined thinking in policy design.

This research project has investigated the mechanical properties and behaviour of third generation synthetic turf surfaces used for football and rugby, with a focus on the traction behaviour produced at the shoe-surface interface. The physical characteristics and mechanical properties of the component materials used in the construction of third generation surfaces were examined. The bulk density of the rubber infill material was found to be a key variable. This was shown to be influenced by compaction and the resulting compression of the rubber infill material under an applied load. Increasing the compactive effort and/or compression under loading increased the bulk density. Shear strength of the rubber infill material was shown to be influenced by bulk density, increasing with a higher bulk density. The composite surface system behaviour of third generation synthetic turf surfaces was investigated. Several surface variables were measured including; shockpad thickness, synthetic turf carpet construction, infill thickness, infill bulk density and infill material type. Shockpad thickness, rubber infill thickness and bulk density were found to influence the impact behaviour, with a thicker rubber layer (shockpad and/or rubber infill layer) reducing the hardness of a surface system. Increasing the bulk density of the rubber infill with compactive effort increased the surface system hardness. Traction behaviour of composite surface systems was explored using three traction test methods to measure both rotational and translational traction. Rubber infill bulk density was shown to be a primary influencing variable from the playing surface variables investigated. Several further traction variables were explored to provide a fuller understanding of the mechanisms involved in the production of traction at the shoe-surface interface including; vertical stress, stud configuration, stud dimension, stud penetration, water and temperature. Vertical stress and stud configuration were found to be primary variables influencing traction development. A traction framework has been developed identifying the factors affecting the production of traction at the shoe-surface interface. It is intended that the traction framework can be used by the sports surface industry, sports governing bodies and academia to aid in the decisions and judgements made during the design, construction and maintenance of these surfaces to obtain desired characteristics and optimise performance and safety.

This thesis investigates the turn to a neo-revivalist Muslim identity in the West as a form of self-othering. The binary dichotomy of self and other is used as a framework for the apparent divide between Muslims and the West. Second and third-generation disapora neo-revivalists personalise religion and through their hermeneutics seek an expression of religion that transcends cultural practice. They self-other in a way reactionary to society, and also react to the religion of their parents’ generation, which for them is not spiritual enough and instead is too steeped in cultural practices. Secularism and the post-secular turn is considered in Western society to provide context to the West that these neo-revivalists are located within. The diversity of Muslims is investigated to contextualise the neo-revivalist shift, which rather than being tolerant of diversity amongst Muslims seeks a separation of culture from religion. As second- and third-generation diaspora Muslims are the children of Muslim migrants to the West, the inter-generational divide is investigated. First-generation migrants have a continuity to their religious expression based on their experiences within the country of origin, whereas second- and third-generation migrants engage in a re-negotiation process to enable their religiosity to be relevant to Western societies. Qualitative case studies relating to the performance of religious identity, that is necessarily public, are utilised from Britain and the United States to further contextualise neo-revivalism. Literary mediation and mediatisation are examined in the context and globalisation. Contemporary literature is utilised to consider the self-critique of issues relating to integration and assimilation of Muslims in Western society by Muslims in Western societies. These cosmopolitan voices provide an internal understanding of the issues involved. Media-technologies have enabled a wide range of discourses to circulate about the current geopolitic following ‘9/11’ and Muslims themselves have utilised these mediated-technologies, and as such, neo-revivalism is necessarily a product of time, place and circumstance. Finally, a conclusion is reached and in seeking to understand the neo-revivalist turn and the place of Muslims in the West, a cosmopolitan ethic of integration is proposed that seeks to turn away from essentialisations and binary oppositions, but instead, through an engagement in respectful and reflexive critical dialogue, it is hoped that our shared universal humanity may be realised.

Le confinement quantique dans le silicium, sous forme de boîtes quantiques de silicium de diamètre 5 nm, permet de contrôler le bandgap et donc l'émission de lumière. Cette ingénierie du bandgap des nanocristaux de silicium est utile pour les applications photovoltaïques avancées et présente l'avantage de conserver la compatibilité avec les technologies silicium existantes. Ces boîtes quantiques peuvent aider à réduire les pertes par thermalisation dans une cellule solaire homo-jonction. Ce travail se concentre sur la fabrication à grande échelle des nanocristaux de silicium dans SiO2 en utilisant le Dépôt Chimique en Phase Vapeur assisté par Plasma (PECVD), suivi d'un recuit à haute température. Des monocouches sont comparées avec des multicouches pour les propriétés morphologiques, électriques et optiques et des dispositifs avec ces différents couches sont comparés. Dans le cas d'une structure monocouche, l'épaisseur de la couche contrôle l'organisation des nanocristaux et permet de mettre en évidence l'amélioration de la conductivité électrique, avec cependant une réponse optique faible. Les multicouches montrent un bandgap du Si augmentée et controlee, avec une meilleure absorption dans la gamme bleu-vert visible, accompagnée d'une conductivité électrique faible. L'amélioration de ces propriétés optiques est un signe prometteur pour une potentielle intégration photovoltaïque. / Quantum confined silicon, in the form of silicon quantum dots of diameters 5 nm or less, has the property of bandgap control and light emission. This bandgap engineering gives silicon quantum dots applications in novel photovoltaic devices, while maintaining compatibility with existing silicon technologies. These dots can help reduce lattice thermalisation losses in a single-junction solar cell. This work focusses on the large scale fabrication of silicon quantum dots in SiO2 using Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD), followed by high-temperature annealing. Thick single layers are compared with multilayers for morphological, electrical and optical properties. Devices with these layers are compared with different electrode materials. Film thickness dependent organization of dots is observed in thick single layer structures which demonstrate improved electrical conductivity, but poor optical response. Multilayer films demonstrate augmented and controlled Si bandgaps and improved absorption in the blue-green visible range, accompanied by poor electrical conductivity. The improved optical properties are a promising sign for any potential photovoltaic integration.

L’objectif de ce projet de thèse était de caractériser le métabolisme de terpénoïdes (ou isoprénoïdes) chez les plantes supérieures. L’essentiel du travail a consisté à caractériser des triterpènes synthases (TTPS) d’Arabidopsis thaliana, un modèle végétal, ainsi que celles de l’épurge (Euphorbia lathyris), une euphorbe pour laquelle des applications agronomiques sont envisagées. Au cours de ma thèse, j’ai aussi contribué à l’étude du métabolisme et des fonctions des précurseurs de triterpènes et de stérols, ainsi qu’à leurs fonctions biologiques.Les triterpènes synthases, ou 2,3-oxydosqualène cyclases (OSCs), convertissent le substrat 2,3-oxydosqualene (SqO) en une multitude d'alcools triterpéniques, et ainsi amorcent la biosynthèse de dérivés triterpénoïdes (triterpènes oxydés, conjugués, etc ..). Arabidopsis thaliana contient 13 OSCs produisant divers squelettes triterpéniques, de type stéroïdien ou non-stéroïdien. Les produits de cyclisation du SqO ont été élucidés structuralement (GC-MS, RMN) après expression hétérologue des enzymes en levure erg7. Cette levure est déficiente en lanostérol synthase (ERG7), ce qui permet d'accumuler le SqO, substrat des cyclases. Lorsque le mutant est transformé avec un ADNc codant une triterpène synthase, il est capable de convertir le SqO en un ou plusieurs triterpènes. Cependant, la caractérisation des 13 OSCs d'Arabidopsis réalisée de façon hétérologue en levure n’a pas été établie inplanta. De façon surprenante, certains des composés produits dans les levures erg7 transformées n'ont jamais été détectés chez Arabidopsis. C'est pourquoi il a été nécessaire de reconsidérer les fonctions biochimiques exactes de ces enzymes dans un contexte végétal. / The subject of this PhD thesis is part of a research project entitled "Production of energy-rich triterpenoids in Euphorbia lathyris, a potential crop for third generation biofuels," whose acronym is EULAFUEL. This project is funded by a multipartner program ANR-KBBE and has been extended until December 2013. The aim of this PhD project is to get new insights into the aspects related with the biosynthesis and accumulation of latex triterpenoids. In addition, for comparison, a major objective of the thesis is to characterize functionally the enzymes involved in the synthesis of triterpenes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Triterpene synthases, also named oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), convert 2,3-oxidosqualene (OS) into a multitude of triterpene alcohols and there by initiate triterpene biosynthesis. Arabidopsis thaliana for instance has 13 OSCs producing diverse skeletons of steroidal or non-steroidal triterpenes. Cyclization products of a given enzyme have been characterized biochemically using a yeast heterologous expression system. However, for the majority of Arabidopsis triterpene synthases, inplanta studies are lacking. In fact, most of the compounds produced in yeast expressing such enzymes have never been detected in wild-type Arabidopsis. This is a reason why we should reconsider the exact biochemical function of triterpene synthases in the plant context. Then, in a comparative approach in E. lathyris, we project to study the specific triterpene accumulation in the laticifers, a specialized cell type where high amounts of lanosterol, an unusual OS cyclization product for plants, accumulate.

This study examines what role, impact and relationship social media platforms have on second and third generation Chilean diaspora that are living in Sweden when traveling back to Chile. The study uses thematic analysis and 25 qualitative semi-structured interviews with second and third generation Chilean diaspora members, whose age is between 25 and 50 and who has traveled to Chile or are planning to travel there. Through the 25 interviews and the thematic analysis, three themes were identified which were push and pull factors, feelings when traveling back, and travel influenced by social media.  The findings from the study, showed that both second and third generation Chilean diaspora have been motivated by and through social media platforms to visit Chile. It has been found that the priorities of second- and third- generation Chilean diaspora while traveling back to the homeland are different. As social media allows individuals to stay in touch with relatives and friends, it can affect their decision to travel to Chile again. By watching their relatives via video calls, their willingness to go to the country can be greater, which means that the term Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) has a strong connection with diaspora tourism, and this has had a huge impact on the second-generation diaspora. For the third-generation diaspora, their priority to travel to Chile has been a mix of both VFR and exploring the country more. The findings from the study even indicate that UGCs (User Generated Contents) such as pictures or videos that are shared on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube introduces new destinations in Chile, which persuaded both generations of the Chilean diaspora to visit Chile. But this will persuade most of those third-generation participants that have for example did not visit their homeland but want to do it to get more knowledge about their roots, or those who always traveled to the same city but want to explore more.

Wireless operators adopting third-generation (3G) technologies and those migrating from second-generation (2G) to 3G face a number of challenges related to traffic modeling, demand characterization, and performance analysis, which are key elements in the processes of designing, dimensioning and optimizing their network infrastructure. Traditional traffic modeling assumptions used for circuit-switched voice traffic no longer hold true with the convergence of voice and data over packet-switched infrastructures. Self-similar models need to be explored to appropriately account for the burstiness that packet traffic is expected to exhibit in all time scales. The task of demand characterization must include an accurate description of the multiple user profiles and service classes the network is expected to support, with their distinct geographical distributions, as well as forecasts of how the market should evolve over near and medium terms. The appropriate assessment of the quality of service becomes a more complex issue as new metrics and more intricate dependencies have to be considered when providing a varying range of services and applications that include voice, real-time, and non-real time data. All those points have to be considered by the operator to obtain a proper dimensioning, resource allocation, and rollout plan for system deployment. Additionally, any practical optimization strategy has to rely on accurate estimates of expected demand and growth in demand. In this research, we propose a practical framework to characterize the traffic offered to multimedia wireless systems that allows proper dimensioning and optimization of the system for a particular demand scenario. The framework proposed includes a methodology to quantitatively and qualitatively describe the traffic offered to multimedia wireless systems, solutions to model that traffic as practical inputs for simulation analysis, and investigation of demand-sensitive techniques for system dimensioning and performance optimization. We consider both theoretical and practical aspects related to the dimensioning of hybrid traffic (voice and data) for mobile wireless networks. We start by discussing wireless systems and traffic theory, with characterization of the main metrics and models that describe the users’ voice and data demand, presenting a review of the most recent developments in the area. The concept of service class is used to specify parameters that depend on the application type, performance requirements and traffic characteristics for a given service. Then we present the concept of “user profile,“ which ties together a given combination of service class, propagation environment and terminal type. Next, we propose a practical approach to explore the dynamics of user geographical distribution in creating multi-service, multi-class traffic layers that serve as input for network traffic simulation algorithms. The concept of quality-of-service (QoS) is also discussed, focusing on the physical layer for 3G systems. We explore system simulation as a way to dimension a system given its traffic demand characterization. In that context, we propose techniques to translate geographical distributions of user profiles into the actual number of active users of each layer, which is the key parameter to be used as input in simulations. System level simulations are executed for UMTS systems, with the purpose of validating the methodology proposed here. We complete the proposed framework by applying all elements together in the process of dimensioning and optimization of 3G wireless networks using the demand characterization for the system as input. We investigate the effects of modifying some elements in the system configuration such as network topology, radio-frequency (RF) configuration, and radio resource management (RRM) parameters, using strategies that are sensitive to traffic geographical distribution. Case study simulations are performed for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks, and multiple system variables (such as antenna tilts, pilot powers, and RRM parameters) are optimized using traffic sensitive strategies, which result in significant improvements in the overall system capacity and performance. Results obtained in the case studies, allied to a generic discussion of the trade-offs involved in the proposed framework, demonstrate the close dependence between the processes of system dimensioning and optimization with the accurate modeling of traffic demand offered to the system. / Ph. D.