The Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Direct Energy Conversion project has identified the fission fragment magnetic collimator reactor (FFMCR) as a promising direct fission fragment conversion concept. The US DOE NERI Proof-of-Principle Project at Texas A&M is focused on experimental verification of FFMCR operation principles. The purpose of this experiment was to test design parameters of a scaled prototype of a direct energy collector chamber of the FFMCR. The charge collection efficiency was found using a He+ ion beam to be approximately 88% for beam energies ranging from 20 to 80 keV. The 2.4 10^12 ± 10% ohm resistor used in the experiment holds-up under the stress of high voltage to 40 kV. Electric current leakage tests of the charge collection device also indicate that Teflon® is quite sufficient as an insulator for potentials as high as 40 kV. It is suggested that the present work be extended to determine power efficiencies and to achieve results with higher beam energies.

In 2008,the KMT became the ruling party of R.O.C. again, and many new cross-strait policies had been addressed . The cross-strait direct transportation was established since December 15th, 2008. Of all visitors to Taiwan, there are 35 thousand tourists from mainland in December, 2008. The numbers of tourists from mainland in 2008 is three times more than those in 2007 . Although financial crisis is world-wide, the direct transportation is benefit to tourism industry of Taiwan. Around the world, the mainland tourists have the No. 1 expenditure in Hong Kong. After Hong Kong signed the CEPA with P.R.C. , tourists to Hong Kong increases from 150 million in 2003 to 252 million in 2006. The growth rate is 63% . Developing tourism can improve Taiwan economy and the direct transportation is good to most industries. This study discusses the history of direct cross-strait transportation and new policies of airline limitation and the number of persons in a tourist group. We also review articles to explain the market of tourism in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Asia and the world. The study send 250 questionnaires to people living in Beijing , Nanking , Shanghai , Guangzhou , and Xaimen . The main purpose of this questionnaire is to understand mainland tourist¡¦s favors about resorts ,foods ,landscapes , consumptions in Taiwan. The interview with experts is based on the result of questionnaires. According to results, we also make a SWOT analysis of Kaohsiung tourism. The conclusion is that the key points of developing tourism in Kaohsiung city are those operators in tourism-related industries . The development of tourism in Kaohsiung city is feasible.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of using different teaching strategies to promote elementary students¡¦ reading comprehension and metacognition. A nonequivalent pretest-posttest design was conducted in this study. Three fifth grade classes from Kaohsiung City were assigned to two experimental groups and one comparison group. The first experimental group students were taught by Direct Instruction; the second experimental group were taught by Reciprocal Teaching; and the comparison group students studied the same topic and content without any other extra teaching strategy. The extra teaching strategies were contiguously conducted for 12 weeks for a total of 24 classes on both experimental group student classes; furthermore, 2 sessions of teaching instruction were added. The investigator first conducted the Chinese Llanguage bility Test to determinine the experimental group students¡¦ reading ability. In addition, two reading comprehension instruments were used to assess the students¡¦ progress during pre-and-post teaching span. The researcher conducted multiple variance of analysis (MANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for statiscal analyses. Finally, the main findings are as follows: (1) The experimental group students¡¦ reading comprehension ability was significantly different from the comparison group students¡¦; whereas there was non-significant difference between two experimental group students. (2) The experimental group students who were introduced to Reciprocal Teaching significsantly improved on their metacognition. (3) There were significantly interactions between different teaching strategies and students¡¦ reading abilities, it was found that students with moderate reading comprehension ability made significant improvement under the Reciprocal Teaching Strategy. (4) Among the 4 different reading comprehension methods taught, students use questionaiere methods the most. This research focuses on the effects of different teaching methods on the performance of the reading ability among elementary students and can provide as a reference for future studies.

<p>This thesis investigates the determinants of Swedish foreign direct investments to 24 European countries during the period 1998 to 2008 with 2000 and 2008 as sample years. The thesis emphasizes five factors that affect the Swedish FDI flows to these countries, which are grouped into OECD countries and CEE countries (Central and Eastern European Countries). The explanatory variables studied are economic growth, property rights, labor cost and two dummy variables with one targeting whether the country is culturally affiliated with Sweden and the other is dealing with whether that country is an OECD country or not. We use multiple regressions to find out to what extent each of these variables can explain the variance of FDI during the years 2000 and 2008.</p><p>The coefficient estimates show the expected sign in the relationship between FDI and the various explanatory variables, with the exception of labor cost but only OECD membership shows a significant relationship to FDI (and only when using 2000 data).</p>

<p>Malaysia is one of the developing countries in the world that is on the verge to become de-veloped (Internationella Programkontoret, 2003). In 2004, Malaysia had a growth rate around 7% (United Nation Statistic Division, 2005) and it is implied that the Malaysian market is continuously growing. One factor that can increase the growth rate in Malaysia is foreign direct investments (FDI), which is, according to Chino (2004), one factor of sus-tainable growth. It has been noticed that the world is getting smaller and more companies are looking for opportunities outside the country boarders and in this situation Malaysia is an attractive alternative for establishment.</p><p>The purpose of this study is to investigate and deepen the understanding of cultural factors affecting the establishing process for Swedish companies in Malaysia, and through that cre-ate an awareness that can simplify the establishing process.</p><p>To answer the purpose of this study, a qualitative research has been used. Interviews with Swedish companies newly established in Malaysia have been performed. The respondents have been asked about the establishing process in Malaysia and the Malaysian culture. Ad-ditional interviews with the Swedish Trade Council and the Swedish Embassy have also been performed. The interview guides have been based on theories about FDI, the estab-lishment process and culture. Hollensen’s market entry strategies, Hollensen’s network model and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions are the main theories used throughout this study.</p><p>The authors have found through this study that the different ethnic groups in Malaysia are highly influential on the business environment and that foreign companies establishing in Malaysia have to be aware of this situation. The multicultural society is an advantage for Malaysia, through the locals’ ability to adapt to different cultures and the many different languages in the country. However, foreigners moving to Malaysia need to be aware of the special treatment of the Malays and how that affects the business environment. Two main problems have been found by the authors; the Malaysian bureaucracy and the locals unwill-ingness to let foreigners into their networks. This can be problematic for foreign compa-nies, but can be handled through the help of governmental functions such as MIDA or MSC, or through a company secretary or auditor.</p><p>Through this visualization of the cultural factors that affect the establishing process of Swedish companies in Malaysia, the authors hope to minimize the risk of them running into the same problems and obstacles.</p>

<p>The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a very promisingpower source for low power applications. High power and energydensity, low emissions, operation at or near ambientconditions, fast and convenient refuelling and a potentiallyrenewable fuel source are some of the features that makes thefuel cell very promising. However, there are a few problemsthat have to be overcome if we are to see DMFCs in our everydaylife. One of the drawbacks is the low performance of the DMFCanode. In order to make a better anode, knowledge about whatlimits the performance is of vital importance. With theknowledge about the limitations of the anode, the flow field,gas diffusion layer and the morphology of the electrode can bemodified for optimum performance.</p><p>The aim of this thesis is to elucidate the limiting factorsof the DMFC anode. A secondary goal is to create a model of theperformance, which also has a low computational cost so that itcan be used as a sub model in more complex system models. Toreach the primary goal, to elucidate the limiting factors, amodel has to be set up that describes the most importantphysical principles occurring in the anode.</p><p>In addition, experiments have to be performed to validatethe model. To reach the secondary goal, the model has to bereduced to a minimum. A visual DMFC has been developed alongwith a methodology to extract two-phase data. This has provento be a very important part of the understanding of thelimiting factors. Models have been developed from a detailedmodel of the active layer to a two-phase model including theentire three-dimensional anode.</p><p>The results in the thesis show that the microstructure inthe active layer does not limit the performance. Thelimitations are rather caused by the slow oxidation kineticsand, at concentrations lower than 2 M of methanol, the masstransport resistance to and inside the active layer. Theresults also show that the mass transfer of methanol to theactive layer is improved if gas phase is present, especiallyfor higher temperatures since the gas phase then contains moremethanol.</p><p>It is concluded that the mass transport resistance lower theperformance of a porous DMFC anode at the methanolconcentrations used today. It is also concluded that masstransfer may be improved by making sure that there is gas phasepresent, which can be done by choosing flow distributor and gasdiffusion layer well.</p><p>Keywords: direct methanol fuel cell, fuel cell, DMFC, anode,model</p>

<p>The aim and research questions of this study are concerned about how, and what kind of, problems and subjects that citizens raise during verbal interaction with politicians and officials in the field of participatory democracy. The theoretical framework of the study dominates by theories with a positive approach towards participatory democracy, but there is also a broader discussion on the phenomenon’s strengths and weaknesses.</p><p>The case in focus of the study is a specific phenomenon of participatory democracy created by the municipality of Växjö. The empirical material that is analysed is consisted of written text based on the verbal interaction from these meetings between citizens and politicians/officials.</p><p>The outcome of the study shows that most of the verbal interaction was held between citizens and politicians/officials in a vertical direction and that a major part of the responsibility concerning the raised subjects is estimated to be in the hands of the latter part. In the light of under what circumstances the meetings are practised, the democratic and collective minded performance of the citizens is argued to be in good condition, despite the dominating vertical interaction and estimation of trust.</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-100). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-100). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.86-90).