In this thesis, we consider the problem of distributed detection problem in cooperative communication networks when the channel state information (CSI) is unknown. The amplify-and-forward relay strategy is considered in this thesis. Since the CSI is assumed to be unknown to the system, the joint detection and estimation approach is considered in this work. The proposed scheme in this work differs from existing joint detection and estimation schemes in that it utilizes a distributed approach, which exploits node cooperation and achieves a better system performance in cooperative communication networks. Moreover, by contrast to the existing channel estimation and symbol detection schemes, the proposed scheme is mainly developed based on the assumption that the data communication from the source to each relay node is to undergo a correlated fading channel. We derive the joint detection and estimation rules for our problem using the expectation-maximum (EM) algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can perform well. Moreover, the obtained results show that the proposed iteration algorithm converges very fast, which implies the proposed scheme can work well in real-time applications.

Abstract The main purpose of this research & analysis report is to suggest a working model between a world leading connector distribution firm and a world leading connector manufacturer firm that will guide them to improved sales performance, increased profitability, and higher levels of customer satisfaction. However, a lack of trust and commitment is keeping them from accomplishing these outcomes. Without trust, there is no commitment. Without commitment, there can be no meaningful change. The method of this research is to first analyze the theories developed in the past for working partnership between distribution firms and manufacturer firms and then, the empirical studies conducted for the same period of time. Among the theories and empirical studies, we focus on how to bond the relationship by using influence (or power), dependence, functional conflict, and cooperation. More specifically, these factors or variables are somewhat related to idiosyncratic investments and contractual terms which provide the two parties with the options to compare pros and cons of taking the next step for relationship bonding. Other ways that may affect their common interest are to form a strategic alliance or joint venture that will provide a competitive advantage for both companies to win the business in this highly competitive environment. At the end of this research, we use a case study to represent potential relationship issues that still go on in today¡¦s business environment which occurred decades ago. Then, we apply the theories and studies and provide suggestions to both leading connector distributor and manufacturer on how to strengthen working relationship in today¡¦s competitive business environment.

Up to date, the biggest challenge of Taiwan¡¦s medical device industry is that the major market was occupied by international companies which directly hold the research and development, manufacture and selling. In addition, the medical devices have the properties in producing few products with diverse forms, research and development with complicating technology and high threshold in the application of product license. As the domestic market in Taiwan is quite small, small and medium-sized enterprises are the mainscales of Enterprises' Operating Capacity here. The chosen of joint venture of two enterprises through strategic cooperation may be one solution to survive in such ecology and play their good in order to create the core value supporting the goal of sustainability for business management. According to the policy considerations, the biotechnology and medical treatment industry are as the important issue in ECFA agreement between Taiwan and mainland China in 2010. All together, there are hundreds and thousands of opportunities for merger, acquisitions and strategic alliance within this industyin the foreseeable future. This study was based on the study case of the 32-years-old Excelsior. It began with dialysis market-oriented industry and then branched out into all the medical equipment industry. Through strategic co-operation, it expanded to become a medical integration platform providing services regarding to comprehensive roles from trade to hospital management. It accommodates the full range of downstream applications for Medical Engineering Services, Pharmaceutical warehousing and logistics, Procurement and supply, and health care management. Although the Excelsior has been to China ten years ago, it fails to succeed and returns back. In 2011, Excelsior makes the joining venture cooperates with the biggest pharmaceutic distributor in China, Sinopharm focuses on four major medicalterritory that are dialysis, medical cosmetic, dentistry and health-check, and approaches the 5000 billion market in Health-Care-Reform offered by the 12th-Five year-plan of China. However, this time it attempts a come back to become the most valuable of the integrated medical and health industry in Asia. Through study on the history and outcome of joining venture between Excelsior and Sinopharm in the field of medical device industry, this thesis addresses factors that will affect business innovation integrated and product line expression. Through studying the case of Excelsior on its background, history of Strategic cooperation¡B integrated product line¡Bfinancial management and experience of success or failure in the past may provide the reference for the development of Taiwan medical device industry.

A considerable number of total-joint replacement devices used in orthopedic medicine involve articulation between a metallic alloy and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Though this polymer has excellent wear resistance, the wear particulate produced leads to the limited lifetime of the devices – osteolytic bone loss. Crosslinking has been shown to reduce the wear rate of UHMWPE, but can cause a reduction in various mechanical properties such as impact toughness. This study presents two alternate approaches to improving the wear performance of UHMWPE in orthopedic applications Previous work has shown that UHMWPE-based composites have wear resistance comparable to the irradiation-crosslinked polymer. Zirconium has been shown to have excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and the authors have used the material as reinforcing filler in UHMWPE with promising results. Compression-molded UHMWPE composites with up to 20 weight percent (wt%) of micro-sized zirconium particles were investigated with regards to wear behavior and impact toughness. These composites showed a significant reduction in wear compared to unfilled polymer while still maintaining impact toughness. These results reinforce the paradigm of using polymer composites for orthopedic applications and may provide a viable alternative to the property tradeoffs encountered with irradiation crosslinking. Apart from UHMWPE, novel materials including hydrogels and bio-derived polymers show great potential in orthopedics, but such materials require the development of innovative fixation techniques [1-3]. The development of controlled porous UHMWPE morphologies offers the opportunity to utilize and expand these developing technologies. Interconnected porous structures were prepared by dry mechanical mixing of NaCl particles and UHMWPE powders followed by compression molding. Samples were soaked in water to remove the embedded salt, leaving a porous UHMWPE structure. Computational simulations of porogen distribution and leaching predicted leaching to be 95% effective when initial salt concentrations were 60wt% and higher, which was found to match very well with the experimental data. It was found that varying the concentration and particle size of the porogen can tailor the final pore morphology to a specific application, while DMA results showed that storage and loss moduli depend greatly on porosity, but not on pore size. Finally, porous UHMWPE scaffolds were successfully impregnated with gelatin, confirming the compatibility of UHMWPE with hydrogel-based fillers.

Since Taiwan became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the government has opened the market for foreign contractors to tender for major public works within the country. Some of the international construction companies from Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Holland, Korea, Singapore etc had set up their branch office in Taiwan to compete ambitiously with the local construction companies . Many exclusive investment projects in Taiwan was implemented in bigger scale since 1998. For instance , among the 11 packages of the Kaohsiung Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) Project, the smallest package is worth NTD 500 million while the biggest package amounting to NTD 900 million. Such projects characterized by its large size, huge capital injection, high technical expertise requirement, sophisticated system consolidation as well as multiple interfacing works which is beyond the capabilities of the local traditional construction companies . Partnership especially joint venture with foreign construction companies has became a better resolution for local construction companies . Although joint venture has the advantages of risk sharing, technology transfer , professional advice and profit sharing, however the differences in culture of the joint venture companies, management style, financial strength, expertise and size of related companies has caused a number of problems and uncertainties. This dissertation was an in-depth study on risk assessment of international contractor in a joint venture company implementing one of the packages of KMRT projects. Based on the information collected, interviews with the executives and various analysis, it can be summarized as below : - External risk factors: Foreign contractors should evaluate the possibility on change of related laws and strategies by the local government in order to formulate a versatile contingency plan. They should be more selective while choosing a local partner. This partner should have the first hand information with respect to the local resources, good relationship with local community and politician to reduce the non-professional risk. They should be more conservative on the evaluation of the local government administrative performance. Project risk factors: There should be ample time allocated to discuss the Main Contract Agreement . It is suggested to be carried out in two stages : Firstly, a simplified main contract to be drafted. Secondly, a more define and explicit addendum to main contract to be appended progressively so that every aspect of the contractual issues can be studied and discussed in great detail . This will provide a fair basic for interpretation of the main contract for client and the main contractor ( JV). The right and liabilities on land acquisition, demolition of landed properties , compensation to the owners, construction period, delay and various contractual claim issues should be scrutinize thoroughly. Internal risk factors : The project execution strategies should be prepared and accepted collectively to avoid misunderstanding on technology transfer, safety & quality assurance, progress control and profit distribution among the members of the Joint Venture during the course of the works.

The knee joint is the most commonly injured joint in the body. Clinical methods used at present for the diagnosis of cartilage pathology in the knee are invasive in nature. Analysis of vibration signals emitted by the knee joint has the potential for the development of a non-invasive procedure for the diagnosis of knee pathology. By Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and calculating root mean square (RMS) value, via One Way ANOVA at last, to demonstrate whether the two analysis methods are valid in this work. The method was tested on 14 male volunteers from NSYSU (7 players of in-line skating and 7 normal schoolmates). By analyzing the signals extracted from the players, finding difference of them, and distinguishing whether they are healthy. In conclusion, if the knee joint ligament is unusual, the frequency of signal is higher than 50 Hz; if not, the frequency is lower than 10 Hz. On the other hand, the RMS value of signal has no distinct region among the testers, so could not be used to analyze the signals. The results should be able to take as the reference for the diagnosis of knee joint non-invasively in clinical medicine.

The thesis is mainly focused on the investigation of optimal process operation, which is appropriate for new-type stacking package product to achieve the assembly products of two or more packages. By melting solder balls to form the stacking package products, the eventual goals of lightness, thinness and smallness will be accomplished. To increase and stabilize the production yield of stacking package products, different flux, different temperature setting with reflow oven, and different flux dipping method were used. With Taguchi design of experiment, the solder balls combined situations under varied conditions were observed. The best process character of new-type integration assembly products was achieved. The experimental results and mass production data prove that different flux type and temperature setting with reflow oven won¡¦t influence the solder balls connection between two package products. Only the flux dipping method will directly affect solder balls connection between two package products. The abnormal phenomenon is the so-called cold joint in assembly plants. With innovation, silicon gel head is used as a flux adhesive way to achieve the goal of flux transferred. This method can be used in integration process of new-type stacking package products. That will certainly assure that every solder ball on each package product can be helpful for adhesion of flux. The experiments proved that the yield rate of solder balls connection of two package products is 100% after the stacking package products through reflow oven. This proves that using flux with silicon gel head on new-type stacking package products is the best way of process operation. The innovation of this new process has been granted a patent by the Patent office, ROC. Although this is a simple invention, it will bring profit to ASE Co. as well and ensure the leadership of new-type stacking package products in related industries. Keywords: Stack¡BSolder Ball¡BCold Joint¡BSilicon Pad

90nm wafer process has been released in production, but the bump pitch released in production is 180um. The major problem is the yield of solder paste printing process below 180um will be less than 80%. It means the cost will be very high. Thus it is difficult to make 150um bump pitch by using printing process in production. Substrate C4 pad will be bumped by pre-solder, and it will be jointed with wafer bump after re-flow process. The printing process is the most popular process in C4 pad pre-solder due to low cost and high throughput. But the challenge of 150um and even more of the wafer bump pitch shrinkage are the inevitable trend. So, a lot of substrate manufacturers are trying to develop the new process for C4 pro-solder pitch less than 100um. As soon as the C4 pad pre-solder pitch has been shrunk, the solder volume will be shrunk as well. It means the bump structure will be getting weak, and it may not pass the reliability tests. Thus, to evaluate the workability of bump structure is our purpose. First, the simulation software is used to compare the fatigue lives of two structures by using solder bump and copper bump substrates during thermal cycling test, and then to proceed the whole FCBGA process and reliability tests. The result of evaluation confirm the workability of FCBGA product using copper bump substrate, and it can be used with the same parameter and machine in solder bump substrate. Keyword¡GFCBGA, Substrate, Bump, Cold Joint, Delamination

As the component partners of the international joint venture (JV) are from different nationalities of which have the diversities of cultural and concepts and the other factors of societies or the political impact. All these factors not only increased the complexity in organization management, but also reduced efficiency of organization. The case company is an international JV specialized in the field of Environmental protection with professionalism recognition and reputation in Taiwan. The mutual cooperation between both parties mainly based on project execution with the foreign joint venture company providing specialized technique and know-how assistance in project execution. And the case company responsible for internal management mechanism and daily operation under mutual common consensus. However, learning after the execution of few joint venture projects, we found out further improvements could be taken in considering of the diversity of culture, concepts and management from both sides. This research is focused on how to efficiently implement the value of JV and gain competitive advantages via case study, the research conclusion summarized as below. 1.The cultural diversity from both sides mainly displays on ideology as well as the values aspect. Therefore, to enhance understanding with each other is necessary in order to effectively reduce the cultural diversity from both sides. To minimize the cultural diversity will increase harmony in communication and coordination and promote higher chance to avoid the possibility of potential conflicts. 2.Before the cooperation taking place, both parties should align their concepts in company goal as well as strategy, management, operation etc., to ensure the achievement of win-win situation. 3.The experience shares: The knowledge exchange and sharing will be contributive to both sides in the way of more understanding both present situations. In the process of mutual cooperation, the occurrences of miscommunication can be attributable to the foreign joint venture company does not fully understand the local market trend and is doubtful about its potential risks. To optimize the joint venture company to have a comprehension of Taiwan enterprises and to share the experiences gained from previous mutual cooperation to facilitate mutual understanding in view of each other standpoint. 4.Increases own organization wisdom capital: The foreign joint company indeed has more specialized technology and finance resources and always takes trust attitude on mutual cooperation. Nevertheless, the foreign joint company still has the hesitancy on the executive capability of project experiences of the case company. The case company should accelerate to accumulate its own organization wisdom capital on professionalism and the technical knowledge in order to lowering risk appraisal by the foreign joint venture company. In this regard, the case company could create more opportunities of mutual cooperation in future special case cooperation in terms of utilizing its own wisdom capital.

The focus of this research is on the control of random cracking in concrete paving by using sawcut notch locations in the early stages of construction. This is a major concern in concrete pavement construction. This research also addresses a probabilistic approach to determine the optimum time and depth of sawcutting for newly constructed portland cement concrete pavements. Variability in climate conditions and material characteristics during the hardening process affects the potential of cracking at any sawcut depth. Several factors affecting the probability of crack initiation are material strength parameters, method and quality of curing, slab/subbase stiffness, the amount and depth of steel reinforcement, friction between the slab and the subbase, and concrete shrinkage. Other factors relevant to concrete mixture characteristics such as cement content and type of coarse aggregate affect development of early aged stresses caused by shrinkage and thermally induced contraction. A probabilistic analysis of the factors that affect crack control using sawcut notches is presented in relation to different weather conditions (concrete placement temperature) at the time of construction, and concrete mixture characteristics such as fly ash replacement (FA) and cement factor (CF). Both of these significantly affect sawcut timing and depth requirement. The determination of crack initiation is based on fracture mechanics. Estimation of the time of cracking is based on predicted tensile strength and stress in the concrete at the bottom of the sawcut notch to assess the feasibility of crack control in the early stages of construction.