Do western management practices and beliefs and Chinese business practices complement or substitute each other in the emerging world of Chinese business? This thesis explores the interaction between two central ideas in western and Chinese thinking about the way business should be done ??? between the western emphasis on market orientation as the key to profitable growth, and the Chinese reliance on traditional networks embodied in the concept of guanxi. These two variables are embedded in a broader model of strategic decision making in order to identify moderating factors that may influence performance outcomes. Following pretests and in-depth interviews, in 2003 a sample of 152 businesses was drawn in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang area from two industries, the electronics industry and the textile/garment industry. Low response rates and a small sample were two important limiting factors. Two broad analytical approaches were used. The first made use of graphical smoothing methodology, an approach that facilitates the identification of complex non-linear interactions among the variables. The second used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) where a linear structure is imposed on the relationships among the variables, allowing simultaneous consideration of the full variable set together with an analysis of fit and measurement error, while the graphical smoothing non-linear method was effectively limited to three variables at a time. The graphical analysis suggested the existence of nonlinearities in many relationships, and found a positive interaction between guanxi and market orientation in influencing performance, and that both were in that sense complements rather than substitutes. The SEM analysis suggested that while there were some indirect links between guanxi, market orientation and performance, these were relatively weak, (although the use of guanxi with other managers was a factor in market orientation), and that the primary driver of performance was the strength of the competitive advantage possessed by the firm. This factor directly impacted market orientation, indirectly affected guanxi and accounted for much of the observed correlation between the two cultural variables, guanxi and market orientation, and performance.

From a regulatory point of view, the main objective of acute toxicity testing is to classify chemicals according to their intrinsic toxicity. This is conventionally conducted on the basis of the animal LD50 methods however, this test has been widely criticised. Moreover, conventional toxicity testing focuses on single chemicals and often human exposures are to more than one chemical. This research study had two main objectives. The first was to investigate the accuracy of selected in vitro tests for predicting the acute toxic action of chemicals in rodents and humans, and in predicting the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) categories. The second was to explore the relevance of in vitro tests in determining the nature of toxicological interactions (i.e. additive, antagonistic and synergistic) among binary and ternary chemical mixtures. A battery of cytotoxicity tests (MTS, NRU, LDH and ATP) assays were used to determine the toxicity of 21 chemicals spread across the GHS categories where mercuric chloride (GHS category 1) was the most toxic chemical and glycerol (GHS unclassified) the least toxic. Significant differences for the majority of test chemicals were found among all assays, highlighting the need for a battery of in vitro tests measuring different endpoints. The NRU assay was found to be a more sensitive measure of toxicity for most chemicals and predicted all of the GHS categories. In general, in vitro IC50 values correlated well with in vivo rodent (LD50); human acute toxicity (LDL0 and LC) data and published in vitro data. In addition, in vitro NOEC values correlated well with published TLV. Selected assays (MTS, NRU) were applied to binary (15) and ternary (5) chemical mixtures. Mixtures were prepared at mixture ratios proportional to the potency of individual components. Experimental data was used to assess the predictive capabilities of two approaches (mathematical model and concentration addition) commonly used by regulatory agencies which assume additive effect. However, all three interactions (antagonism, synergism and additivity) where observed in this study. These results suggest that these interactions cannot be excluded from toxicological risk assessments. The methods developed and information obtained from this study provide a comprehensive comparison between selected in vitro assays for assessing the toxicity of chemicals and their mixtures.

Successful implementation of any technology requires acceptance by the users. Numerous studies in the area of information technology acceptance, based on wellknown theories have been conducted to examine technology acceptance models and predict user adoption/acceptance behaviour. There are several studies dealing with patients??? acceptance of different telemedicine applications, but few about the patients??? acceptance of home telecare. Most existing studies are not based on a strong theoretical framework. In this study, based on an extensive literature review and preliminary qualitative data, a theoretical model of the effect of Home Telecare Management System (HTMS) characteristics and psychological variables associated with technophobia on patients??? acceptance of HTMS is proposed. The proposed model is an augmented Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) of Davis (1986), which is called Home Telecare Management System acceptance model (HTMS-AM), in which TAM has been augmented by two constructs: HTMS anxiety and HTMS self-efficacy. The model is proposed to improve our understanding regarding patients??? acceptance of HTMS, which may lead to successful design and implementation of home telecare systems. In addition, it can be used as a theoretical basis to evaluate new generations of HTMS in terms of users acceptance in the early stage of their design and development even prior to implementation. In order to test the reliability and validity of the measures, video demonstrations of a home telecare system and demonstration of a system prototype to potential users was employed. To propose the HTMS-AM the following five stages were taken: 1. General well-known theoretical models of human behaviour from psychology and technology acceptance models from information technology were reviewed to create a basic template for the proposed model. 2. A preliminary study (focus group interviews, Chapter 5) was conducted to assess patients??? perceptions of HTMS. 3. Based on an extensive literature review and findings from preliminary qualitative studies, HTMS acceptance model was proposed, to improve our understanding about factors, which may affect patients??? intention to use HTMS. Several adaptations were applied in the model to be applicable in the HTMS context, such as augmenting the model with HTMS self-efficacy and HTMS anxiety constructs. 4. To measure the different psychological variables in the proposed model, valid and reliable measures from previous studies were used. However the preliminary study was used to develop measures, which did not exist in the literature. 5. These measures were tested in the final study. The subjects were patients who had been affected with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and/or Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD). Given the chronic nature of these diseases, the necessity for extended monitoring and management and frequent admission to hospitals due to worsening health status, these patients were deemed the most appropriate candidates for the HTMS. Further studies with more cases need to be conducted to test the actual model in which the impact of HTMS characteristics, psychological and demographic factors associated with technophobia upon intention to use the HTMS and the correlation of these factors with each other in appropriate healthcare settings.

The combustion efficiency of pulverised coal injection PCI is an important factor influencing stability and productivity of the blast furnace. It is affected by coal properties and the process conditions employed for combustion. Economic considerations have driven blast furnace operators to commission a wide range of coals, which differ in type and rank. The main objective of the current project is to study the influence of different operating conditions on combustion performance of coal and to examine the role of coal minerals and their transformations on low and high temperature reactivity. The combustion performance of three PCI coals was investigated under a range of combustion conditions including three combustion temperatures of 900??C, 1200??C and 1500??C, and a range of oxygen concentrations in the gas phase at 1200??C in a drop tube furnace (DTF). The low temperature oxygen reactivity of pyrolysed chars was also measured by observing weight loss in a thermogravimetric (TGA) furnace at 600??C. Physical and chemical properties of pyrolysed and partially combusted chars were characterised using a range of analytical tools including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, BET N2 surface area and Hg porosity. The correlation between char properties and char reactivity at low and high temperatures was also investigated. All three coal samples experienced deactivation during progressive combustion at 1200??C and 23%v O2 i.e. there was a decrease in the reaction rate with proceeding combustion. The carbon structure of the chars became increasingly ordered as quantified by an increase in crystallite height and a decrease in the amorphous carbon proportion in char. Partially combusted char had much higher surface area than a pyrolysed one, which can be attributed to the opening of enormous number of closed pores as combustion proceeds. However, this increase in surface area did not show a direct correlation with char reactivity. Average particle size of ash increased with increasing degree of combustion due to fusion and agglomeration of coal minerals. Under these conditions, carbon structural ordering of char was found to be one of the key factors primarily responsible for loss of char reactivity during combustion. Increasing oxygen content in the gas stream from 23% to 35% at 1200??C resulted in a significant improvement in the combustion performance of three coals, with burnout increasing from ~65% to up more than ~95%. However, increasing oxygen level beyond 35% did not lead to any further significant improvements. Coal burnout was also enhanced by increasing temperature in the range 900??C to 1500??C, such that the improvement was much more rapid in the higher temperature range of 1200??C to 1500??C. This could be related to increased reaction rates at higher temperatures. Pyrolysed char reactivity was measured at low temperature 600??C and 10%v O2 using TGA. The results indicated that the presence of iron and calcium minerals could result in enhanced char reactivity. Coal minerals underwent increased fusion and melting as the combustion temperature was increased. At 1500??C, most ash particles were molten. The level of basic oxides in ash as well as the extent of association between aluminosilicates and basic oxides enhanced the proportion of molten phases. Fusing and melting behaviour of ash particles was found to influence char combustion reactivity at high temperatures. Ash melting on the char surface may hinder gas accessibility to the reactive surface of char, thereby decreasing char burnout. The molten ash particles may coalesce and cover char surface or these molten particles may partially/completely block char pores. The amount of slag phases in ash and the distribution of minerals in char are expected to have a significant influence on ash-char interactions at high temperatures. In summary, the study shows that inorganic matter present in coal can affect coal combustion in a number of ways. Inorganic minerals, such as iron and calcium catalyse char oxidation at low temperatures. On the other hand, these minerals may act as fluxing agents at high temperatures, which could lower the melting point of aluminosilicates minerals in char. The molten phases of ash may restrict the accessibility of oxygen to carbon in char through physical obstruction, thereby, retard char oxidation.

Sol-gel matrices may be used to immobilise enzymes, facilitating retention of the catalyst while allowing a flow of substrates and products through the matrix. Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), a commonly used industrial enzyme, has been shown to have a prolonged catalytic life and enhanced activity when encapsulated in these sol-gel materials. However, the molecular basis for this effect had yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effect of encapsulating CALB in sol-gel matrices by comparison of CALB in solution with its encapsulated form. Use of complementary techniques revealed the presence of complex interactions between the enzyme and the evolving sol-gel material. 29Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements demonstrated that CALB influenced sol-gel structure by altering silica speciation. Inclusion of CALB also altered the mesoporosity of the matrices as determined using nitrogen sorption and electron microscopy. Correlation of activity assays with 29Si speciation changes indicated that the catalytic activity of the enzyme in solution was directly involved in sol-gel hydrolysis and condensation reactions. Increased specific activity of CALB in the sol-gel aqueous precursor solution resulted in measurable changes in the gel structure of matrices containing 3.1mg of CALB/ml of gel. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to examine the structure of CALB in solution. The influence of the sol-gel reactants glycerol, sodium fluoride and isopropanol upon the radius of gyration of CALB in solution was determined. SANS was also employed in an investigation of encapsulated CALB molecules which utilised contrast matching of the sol-gel matrix. However, contrast variation studies found that the match point for the silica matrix, both with and without enzyme present, was lower than predicted (~35% vol% D2O). Consequently, the contrast match point of the protein was close to that of the encapsulating material. Scattering from the encapsulated protein at this point was therefore minimal; it is clear that the contrast match point of the protein should be moved through in vivo deuteration in future experiments of this type. These investigations advance the understanding of interactions between the matrix and the encapsulated enzyme in sol-gel biomaterials.

Sol-gel matrices may be used to immobilise enzymes, facilitating retention of the catalyst while allowing a flow of substrates and products through the matrix. Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), a commonly used industrial enzyme, has been shown to have a prolonged catalytic life and enhanced activity when encapsulated in these sol-gel materials. However, the molecular basis for this effect had yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effect of encapsulating CALB in sol-gel matrices by comparison of CALB in solution with its encapsulated form. Use of complementary techniques revealed the presence of complex interactions between the enzyme and the evolving sol-gel material. 29Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements demonstrated that CALB influenced sol-gel structure by altering silica speciation. Inclusion of CALB also altered the mesoporosity of the matrices as determined using nitrogen sorption and electron microscopy. Correlation of activity assays with 29Si speciation changes indicated that the catalytic activity of the enzyme in solution was directly involved in sol-gel hydrolysis and condensation reactions. Increased specific activity of CALB in the sol-gel aqueous precursor solution resulted in measurable changes in the gel structure of matrices containing 3.1mg of CALB/ml of gel. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was used to examine the structure of CALB in solution. The influence of the sol-gel reactants glycerol, sodium fluoride and isopropanol upon the radius of gyration of CALB in solution was determined. SANS was also employed in an investigation of encapsulated CALB molecules which utilised contrast matching of the sol-gel matrix. However, contrast variation studies found that the match point for the silica matrix, both with and without enzyme present, was lower than predicted (~35% vol% D2O). Consequently, the contrast match point of the protein was close to that of the encapsulating material. Scattering from the encapsulated protein at this point was therefore minimal; it is clear that the contrast match point of the protein should be moved through in vivo deuteration in future experiments of this type. These investigations advance the understanding of interactions between the matrix and the encapsulated enzyme in sol-gel biomaterials.

<p>Denna studie undersöker frågan om vem som anses vara turisten, d v s, vem turist subjektet är, hur denna föreställs i turismstudier och turismnäringen, samt varför. Intresse för denna fråga väcktes av personliga erfarenheter. Det har att göra med hur jag inte fick samma uppmärksamhet som andra svenska turister både när jag turistade i mitt eget land (Turkiet) och även när jag turistade i Sverige handlar om varför jag inte ansågs vara turist och behandlades annorlunda. Varför och vad är de bakomliggande aspekter som urskiljer mig från svenskar (västerlänningar) som turist subjekt? Det är detta som föranledde huvudfrågan för denna uppsats: vem är eller anses vara en turist?</p><p>Ytterligare en anledning till varför jag valde att undersöka frågan är att jag ville veta huruvida “invandrare” i Värmland uppfattas som turist subjekt eller inte. Råder samma föreställning om turist subjektet även i Värmland? I anknytning till denna fundering ställde jag också frågor till ”invandrare” i Värmland om de ser sig själva som turister eller inte och vilka faktorer som påverkar det. Vidare ville jag också undersöka huruvida föreställningen om turist subjektet färgar vilka som anses vara målgrupper inom turismnäringen i Värmland, samt hur kommer detta till uttryck i bland annat broschyrer, planeringsdokument och destinationsutveckling av turistorter. Arbetets tonvikt kommer att läggas på vem eller vilka anses vara turister och vem eller vilka som turistar i Värmland.</p>

Denna studie undersöker frågan om vem som anses vara turisten, d v s, vem turist subjektet är, hur denna föreställs i turismstudier och turismnäringen, samt varför. Intresse för denna fråga väcktes av personliga erfarenheter. Det har att göra med hur jag inte fick samma uppmärksamhet som andra svenska turister både när jag turistade i mitt eget land (Turkiet) och även när jag turistade i Sverige handlar om varför jag inte ansågs vara turist och behandlades annorlunda. Varför och vad är de bakomliggande aspekter som urskiljer mig från svenskar (västerlänningar) som turist subjekt? Det är detta som föranledde huvudfrågan för denna uppsats: vem är eller anses vara en turist? Ytterligare en anledning till varför jag valde att undersöka frågan är att jag ville veta huruvida “invandrare” i Värmland uppfattas som turist subjekt eller inte. Råder samma föreställning om turist subjektet även i Värmland? I anknytning till denna fundering ställde jag också frågor till ”invandrare” i Värmland om de ser sig själva som turister eller inte och vilka faktorer som påverkar det. Vidare ville jag också undersöka huruvida föreställningen om turist subjektet färgar vilka som anses vara målgrupper inom turismnäringen i Värmland, samt hur kommer detta till uttryck i bland annat broschyrer, planeringsdokument och destinationsutveckling av turistorter. Arbetets tonvikt kommer att läggas på vem eller vilka anses vara turister och vem eller vilka som turistar i Värmland.

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With the arrival of the knowledge economy, the management of all enterprises attempt to increase the efficiency of organizing with information management, drive innovation, bring up a new wave of information management. Grow up and circulate the increase of the demand fast with information in the management activity of knowledge, the storing, searching, circulating and sharing of knowledge must be dependent on information science and technology to help, even on the knowledge innovation, information science and technology can also offer the function of deducing, summing up and making up etc., so a lot of enterprises will create knowledge management system while promoting the management engineering of knowledge, regarding KMS as the core of enterprise's knowledge management activity, in order to promote benefit carried on in enterprise's knowledge management activity. This research will regard staff of one international famous semiconductor company as case study, consider it with IS success model which announced by DeLone & McLean (2003) , and Wang Yu-Min (2003)" KMS success model " to try to set up and study the structure, take ' MES ' systematic field as an example, analyse its field demand situation, knowledge of administrative system, is it probe into with actual case relevant enterprise benefit and staff, knowledge of administrative system use to close of connecting with satisfaction to come, appraise from knowledge / information quality, system benefit, use, systematic quality and use satisfaction aspect systematically, and probe into the employee of enterprises to the analysis of using satisfaction of administrative system of knowledge. The research approach adopted in this research is an investigation method of the questionnaire, to verifying according to theory and research hypothesis by using the multiple-regression-analysis. We can get the result from the data that all these major factors incluing knowledge/ information quality, valuation of KMS benefits,system quality, system use has positive effects on the KMS satisfaction.