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Military Psychological Operations (PSYOP) is based on a Cold War construct that has not been significantly overhauled since the end of that era. Today's most pressing challenge, the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) requires a different solution set. The Quadrennial Defense Review, the Information Operations Roadmap, the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism and the Report of the 9/11 Commission all recognize this fact. How the military PSYOP community can best adjust to this new environment and effectively address one of its major threats, that of suicide terrorism, is the subject of this paper. I will argue that examining what can, and arguably should, be done to counter the threat of suicide terrorism will also help us to see ways in which PSYOP could better be configured and employed in this new era. The first chapter of my thesis will examine the evolution of suicide terrorism in some detail but will quickly focus on what have emerged as the consensus opinions as to the motivations and vulnerabilities of this tactic. Chapter two looks at the identified motivations and vulnerabilities from a PSYOP perspective and tries to apply logical PSYOP measures against them. In chapter three I review the assets and organizational structure of the PSYOP community and suggest ways the current structure could be best applied to meet the threat. Chapter four then looks for a way ahead and focuses on how and why making three critical changes to military Psychological Operations could improve the organizations ability to accomplish its mission; not only in terms of seeking to mitigate suicide attacks but also with respect a whole host of new and expanded missions the PSYOP community will increasingly be called upon to address in the contemporary operating environment.

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Metal-ceramic (Cermets) materials that combine properties of both: high hardness, high wear resistance, and high working temperatures of ceramics and the ductility, toughness, and heat conductance of metals. Cold gas dynamic spraying, or simply cold spray, is a solid state thermal spray process that has been in development for the last 25 years. In the cold spray process, ductile materials are accelerated in a supersonic flow. These particles impact a substrate and adhere by plastic deformation. The continuous accumulation of these particles covers the substrate and creates a dense coating. The cold spray process is beginning to become a popular method to consolidate some select cermet materials into coatings. This technique can be advantageous when an erosion and wear resistant coating is required. During the deposition of these coatings, researchers have shown that the ceramic particles have a dramatic influence on the deposition behavior by causing an increase in deposition efficiency and coating adhesion. These effects have been presented in several experiments but have yet to be thoroughly explained. The goal of this investigation is to increase the knowledge, on a fundamental level, with regards to the deposition behavior of metal-ceramic blending and cermet powders. Ultimately, the focus is to prove the feasibility of these coatings for the requirements needed in the engineering industry. The first part of the investigation is a fundamental study on the deposition behavior of metal-ceramic blends with different compositions. Three theories that aim to explain the increase in deposition efficiency were proposed in the literature and further investigated in this study. One proposed mechanism for the increase in deposition efficiency was established by probability analysis to be too unlikely to contribute to the increment in deposition efficiency. The other two proposed mechanism, the presence of asperities caused by ceramic particles, and the oxide removal produced by the impact of ceramic particles, shown to play a major role in increasing the deposition efficiency. The effect of the ceramic particle morphology on the deposition behavior of metal-ceramic blending was studied in the second part of the investigation. This study greatly complements the previous one adding more depth to the investigation and confirming results. The increment in deposition efficiency normally seen with the addition of small amounts of angular alumina was not seen when spherical alumina was added instead. The creation of asperities during deposition was explored for the two morphologies and was determined that spherical alumina does not produce the same asperities at the surface. In addition, the coating sprayed with spherical alumina showed very little ceramic retention compared with the ones sprayed with angular alumina. These results have a direct impact on the mechanical properties of the coatings. Wear resistance for coatings sprayed with spherical alumina showed no improvement compared with pure aluminum coating due to the low ceramic content. Hardness was lower in coatings sprayed with spherical alumina for the same feedstock powder composition but was harder when the final coating composition was considered. Adhesion strength significantly increases with the addition of ceramic content in the feedstock powder; this increase was greater for coating sprayed with spherical alumina. The third part of the investigation focuses on understanding the mechanism of deposition for cermet particles with various morphologies. Six commercially available CrC-NiCr powders were studied, varying in morphology and metal/ceramic ratio. Spherical powders led to the erosion of the substrate and no coating was formed. Porous agglomerated and sintered powder lead to severely cracked coatings. For dense agglomerated and sintered powders, the outcome of powder depended on the initial metal/ceramic ratio, powders with 25%wt.NiCr led to erosion while 35%wt.NiCr powders led to a dense coating. Finally blended ceramic metal powders also lead to a successful coatings. All coatings obtained had lower ceramic content than the initial feedstock powder. Interrupted deposition tests, FEA analysis, and SEM observation were used to draw conclusions on the deposition behavior and explain the results. Finally, the last part of this investigation aims to apply the knowledge learned to an applied engineering problem. The problem that is targeted is the replacement of chrome plating for the aerospace industry. A commercially available cermet powder CrC-NiCr (65/35) was proposed as a replacement of chromium plating as well as a restoration for this coating and its alternatives (electroless nickel-plating, and WC-Co-Cr HVOF). The coatings and restoration were analyzed by SEM and tested by strip rupture rest, neutral salt spray fog, and fluid immersion testing. The adhesion strength, porosity, and hardness of the cold spray coating was also tested. The deposition and restoration of coatings were successful; a hard and dense coating was obtained with good adhesion strength. The process of restoration chromium-plating and its alternatives was also developed with a clean interface was achieved in each case. Coatings and restoration passed strip to rupture rest as well as fluid immersion test in two selected industry fluids. Neutral salt spray fog test revealed that the cold spray coating and repairs may have a path that allows the solution to penetrate the substrate and start the corrosion process. This behavior was found in a few select spots and should be further investigated. Overall, the coating proved to have potential as an alternative of chromium-plating or to restore damaged hard coatings.

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In current business global society, every food industry company is making efforts to provide high quality of products and satisfaction to customers. Balancing the low cost but with high efficiency when undertaking cold chain logistics becomes competitiveness in business market. This thesis is mainly to study cold chain management in food logistics by a multiple case study on food industry. The purpose of the paper is to advance the understanding of the cold chain management in food industry, aim to find how an efficient way to combine the logistics cost and the effectiveness of cold chain logistics and the challenges of the cold chain logistics in food industry. In this multiple case study, qualitative method was used to describe findings. The data collected can be divided into two types, the primary data and the secondary data. Primary data indicates the face-to-face interview with the managers and employees working for customer service in the selected companies. The secondary data are resources from archives, websites and other printed materials. To improve the validity, related literature were reviewed by authors to find the research questions. The reliability can be guaranteed because the theory part of the thesis abstracted from the publications, which have been approved for many years. The authors give the overview and practice in cold chain logistics of the three case companies, also mention the challenges both in developing and developed countries. The study finds the way to improve the utilization in cold chain logistics, fill the gap of logistics in food industry and give some advices for food industry.

Abstract Military strategy is in serve of national interests, which is my basic idea through the whole paper. The theme of this paper is ¡§Mainland China's Military Strategy toward Taiwan in the Post-Cold-War Period¡¨. It can be divided into four folds: Firstly, the characteristics of post-cold war and its impact on the formation of military strategy of Mainland China. Secondly, the difference of military strategy thought between three China national leaders. Thirdly, possible military strategies and actions that China might take to against Taiwan. Lastly, the future challenge Taiwan might face and the way to get along with China's superior military power. This thesis has six chapters. In First chapter I introduce my research motive, method, structure, goal, and also define the content of military strategy. Then, in Second chapter I analysis the changing situation of the world and how it impacts Mainland China's national interests, and goals. Third chapter, I survey the thought of Mainland China's strategy. Fourth chapter is the discussion about the possible strategy and action that would be used by Mainland China's military against Taiwan. Fifth chapter discuss the future challenge and opportunity bring in by the relationship across Taiwan Strait. In Chapter Six I portray the future relationship development across Taiwan Strait and give some suggestion to Taiwan government. Based on the result of my research, I conclude that the main military strategy of China against Taiwan is a 'deterrent military strategy' enforced by a high technology war. Unfortunately, China seems on the track toward its goal. On the other hand, threaten by superior military power of China; Taiwan¡¦s military strategy simply could be described by four words 'Firmly defending, Effective deterrence.' However, the context could be expressed by two concrete approaches: 1. Reinforce his military and logistics capabilities in preparing to face the coming severe campaign launched by the Mainland China. 2. Equip himself with anti-missile facilities as part of his negotiate power when reluctantly forced to deal with the opponent on the table.

Temperature affects the sexual differentiation and the development of brain of tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Expressed sequence tags ( EST ) derived from the developing tilapia brain had been cloned in our laboratory. In the present study, we focus on the promoter of cold-induced protein. The promoter sequence of cold-induced protein from the transcription start site ( TSS ) were cloned by 5¡¦ rapid amplification of cDNA end ( 5¡¦-RACE ) and Genome Walker DNA Walking. The bioinformatic analysis was performed on the fragment for predicting the transcription factor binding site. We used the digestion method of restriction enzymes and an electrophoresis mobility shift assay to find transcription factor binding site. The results indicated that there is a putative POU3F2 binding site in the fragment form -157 bp to -149 bp. The luciferase activity assay was performed on this site and results indicated that wild type showed the enhanced promoter activity. However, site-direct mutagenesis of this site did not result in the reduction of the promoter activity.