Test strategies were developed to reduce the overall production testing cost of high-performance data converters. A static linearity testing methodology, aimed at reducing the test time of A/D converters, was developed. The architectural information of A/D converters was used, and specific codes were measured. To test a high-performance A/D converters using low-performance and low-cost test equipment a dynamic testing methodology was developed. This involved post processing of measurement data. The effect of ground bounce on accuracy of specification measurement was analyzed, and a test strategy to estimate the A/D converter specifications more accurately in presence of ground bounce noise was developed. The proposed test strategies were simulated using behavioral modeling techniques and were implemented on commercially available A/D converter devices. The hardware experiments validated the proposed test strategies. The test cost analysis was done. It suggest that a significant reduction in cost can be obtained by using the proposed test methodologies for data converter production testing.

The insect pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) holds great promise as an effective and friendly way for management of the pests with safety for nontarget animals and humans. However, high capital investment due to high production and formulation cost of commercial Bt preparations has caused prohibitive effect on companies. The present study mainly aimed at developing a low cost medium that supports the growth of different Bt strains and their specific bioinsecticidal &amp / #948 / -endotoxins (crystal proteins). A comparison was made between the representative members of three different subspecies of Bt to observe toxin yields in response to certain nutritional conditions. Three different Bt subspecies were Bt kurstaki (strain 81), Bt israelensis (strain HD500) and Bt tenebrionis (strain 3203), producing lepidoptera- and diptera-specific Cry1 and Cry2, diptera-specific Cry4Ba and Cry11Aa and coleoptera-specific Cry3Aa toxins, respectively. Studies were conducted to optimize glucose and inorganic phosphate concentrations in standard DSM medium for the production of these Bt-based biopesticides. General suppression of toxin yields in high glucose medium (10 g/L) thought the generality of carbon catabolite regulation for biosynthesis of different types of toxins. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) level was important for Cry4Ba, Cry11Aa and Cry3Aa biosynthesis while Cry1 and Cry2 production was not responsive to high Pi. Wastewater sludge, fruit residues and broiler litter were next tested as cheap raw materials for Bt-based biopesticide production in batch cultures. Broiler litter seemed to be a much better substrate among all since some degree of production of each toxin was observed at almost every stage of fermentation. The processing of broiler litter was found to significantly improve toxin yields. The medium prepared from processed broiler litter was successfully used to cultivate all Bt stains and obtain bioinsecticidal proteins in high yields which were comparable or higher than those that can be obtained on standard semi-synthetic media.

<p>After the deregulation of the airline industry new actors entered the market and among them were the low-cost airlines. These actors are not involved in the same traditional airline alliance used by the traditional airlines to strengthen their position on the market.</p><p>Little research has been made regarding the benefits for low-cost airlines to engage in strategic alliances. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate if low-cost airlines benefit from engaging in strategic alliances or collaborations, and identify possible alliance configurations.</p><p>To fulfill the purpose we have used a qualitative method and case studies. Interviews with respondents from two low-cost airlines as well as an airline industry field expert were used to gather information about the thesis subject.</p><p>We have concluded that the low-cost airlines in this study benefit from engaging in strategic alliances. The low-cost airlines are using vertical as well as horizontal alliances principally to gain cost-reduction or efficiency benefits. Both cases were against traditional airline alliances due to the high costs involved, and the fact that they do not share the same motives for alliances.</p>

<p>Background: Since the airline deregulation was completed in 1997, a new business model has emerged in the European civil aviation industry. It has caused a shift in the way people travel within Europe. The airlines operating under this new business model known as point-to-point, have created a new outlet for commercial passenger travel and raised concerns for established flag carriers.</p><p>Problem: This study is of great importance due to the fact that people are traveling more frequently and wish to do so quicker and more efficiently. With so many options to choose from and cost being an important decision maker for both companies and consumers, a study of this industry in terms of competition, price and service quality is of great impor-tance.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate and describe whether or not changes in the competitive landscape of the European civil aviation industry are related to the movement of economy class prices. The thesis also looks at whether or not changes in the competitive landscape are related to changes in service quality in the same industry. Both flag-carriers and low-cost carriers in terms of their business models will be investigated.</p><p>Method: The method chosen for this study was of an integrated approach based solely on secondary data due to the sheer size and scope of this industry. This study investigated the two major business models of this industry through routes to the major cities and capitals of Western Europe from Stockholm Arlanda airport and Stockholm Skavsta airport. A literature study coupled with a comparative analysis has also been done.</p><p>Conclusions: Dramatic change is occurring in the industry. Competition is increasing not only between companies but between two competing business models. Increased competition is leading to better on-time performance but lower in-flight and ground service quality. Aggregate price level has risen for flag carries with the opposite happening for low-cost carriers. The increased competition is threatening the ill-performing flag carriers and will most likely transform the industry.</p>

<p>This thesis focuses on how companies in Sweden should manage the processes of offshore outsourcing IT services to low-cost locations, but also how they should manage the planning and accomplishment to achieve their goals and the expected result in a good way. The thesis states that companies in Sweden need to put a lot of effort into planning and research considering potential location and vendor. Different aspects and phases of the offshoring processes will be stated, discussed and analyzed concerning a fictive</p><p>company called AbcIT. A visualization of internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats is presented by a SWOT analysis regarding offshore outsourcing of IT-services to India.</p> / <p>Denna uppsats fokuserar på hur företag i Sverige skall gå tillväga när de överväger offshore outsourcing av IT-tjänster till lågkostnadsländer, hur de ska genomföra planeringsarbete och genomförande för att på bästa sätt uppnå både mål och resultat. I uppsatsen konstateras att företag i Sverige behöver lägga stor vikt vid planering och förundersökning av framtida område och affärspartner. Olika faktorer och delar av offshoringprocessen tas upp, diskuteras och analyseras med hjälp av det fiktiva företaget AbcIT. En SWOT-analys visualiserar interna styrkor och svagheter samt externa möjligheter och hot vid offshore outsourcing av IT-tjänster till Indien.</p>

Semiconductor nanocrystal-based photovoltaics are an interesting new technology with the potential to achieve high efficiencies at low cost. CuInSe2 nanocrystals have been synthesized in solution using arrested precipitation and dispersed in solvent to form a “solar ink”. The inks have been deposited under ambient conditions to fabricate photovoltaic devices with efficiency up to 3%. Despite the low cost spray coating deposition technique, device efficiencies remain too low for commercialization. Higher efficiencies up to 7% have been achieved using a high temperature selenization process, but this process is too expensive. New nanocrystal film treatment processes are necessary which can improve the device efficiency at low cost. To this end, CuInSe2 nanocrystals were synthesized using a diphenyl phosphine:Se precursor which allows for precise control over the nanocrystal size. The size is controlled by changing the temperature of the reaction. The smallest size nanocrystals demonstrated extremely high device open circuit voltage. Ligand exchange procedures were used to replace the insulating oleylamine capping ligand used during synthesis with more conductive halide ions or inorganic chalcogenidometallate cluster (ChaM) ligands. These ligands led to improved charge transport in the nanocrystal films. A high-intensity pulsed light processing technique known as photonic curing was used which allows for high temperature sintering of nanocrystal films on temperature-sensitive substrates. High energy pulses cause the nanocrystals to sinter into large grains, primarily through melting and resolidification. The choice of metal back contact has a dramatic effect on the final film morphology, with Au and MoSe2 back contacts providing much better adhesion with the CuInSe2 than Mo back contacts. Nanocrystal sintering without melting can be achieved by replacing the oleylamine ligands with ChaM ligands prior to photonic curing. Low energy photonic curing pulses vaporize the oleylamine ligands without inducing sintering or grain growth. This greatly improved nanocrystal coupling and interparticle charge transport. Multiexcitons were successfully extracted from these nanocrystal films and external quantum efficiencies over 100% were observed. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to study the multiexciton generation process in CuInSe2 nanocrystal films and colloidal suspensions. The multiexciton generation efficiency, threshold, and Auger lifetimes for CuInSe2 compare well with other nanocrystal materials. / text

Recycling behavior was examined by the implementation of Informational Prompts and Performance Feedback. Prompts containing facts on recycling and waste along with group performance feedback were studied at The Florida Mental Health Institute at The University of South Florida (Tampa campus). Informational Prompts were introduced by placing informational facts about recycling and waste by 26 bins throughout the building. Performance feedback signs were placed by the same bins and included the frequency of recycled material and trash discarded in the recycling bins on a daily basis when the campus was open. The results showed that both interventions increased recycling. Informational Prompts showed an increase in recycling and a decrease in trash placed in the recycling bin. Performance Feedback showed a stronger increase in recycling when compared to Informational Prompts. The combination of the two produced a significant increase in the amount of recyclable material placed in the recycling bins and a decrease in the waste placed in the recycling containers.

'Alternatives to Textbooks' Breakout session from the Living the Future 8 Conference, April 23-24, 2012, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / The high cost of commercial print textbooks is a major concern for both students and their parents. To address these concerns, the Provost’s Office and the University Libraries of the University of Massachusetts Amherst launched the Open Education Initiative in the Spring of 2011. The OEI is a faculty incentive program that encourages either the creation of new teaching materials or the use of existing low-cost or free information resources to support our students’ learning. Now in its second phase, the Open Education Initiative has generated a total savings of over $200,000 for students in classes that utilize open educational resources, library materials or faculty generated content. The third round of grants will support faculty teaching large general education courses who are interested in pursuing non-traditional educational resources as an alternative to the traditional textbook.

Background Surgery has traditionally been considered more expensive than many other health care interventions and with little impact on the burden of disease in a global perspective. One of the reasons behind this misconception is that the effects of surgical conditions and their treatment have not been factored into the equation. Cost-effectiveness analyses of surgical interventions have largely been missing. An estimated 20 million herniorrhaphies are carried out annually but over 200 million people suffer from groin hernias. Herniorrhaphy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures also in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). However, the surgical repair method is not the same due to financial constraints. In high income countries a synthetic mesh is used and has reduced the risk of recurrence. This 125 USD mesh is too costly for the majority in LMIC. Mosquito mesh, which is cheaper but very similar to commercial meshes, is used in several settings but outcomes need to be investigated more extensively before this practice can be recommended in routine surgical service. The Aims of this thesis were to define the prevalence of groin hernia, to relate it to the surgical capacity, outcomes and costs of surgery in eastern Uganda and to investigate the feasibility and difference in cost and cost-effectiveness of replacing a commercial mesh with a mosquito mesh in groin hernia surgery. Methods Three studies (1-3) were carried out in eastern Uganda. 1: A cross sectional study investigating the prevalence of groin hernia in adult males in the Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) in Iganga and Mayuge districts. 2: A facility based study with prospective data collection of all surgeries undertaken in the two hospitals providing surgery for the HDSS population. 3: A double blinded, randomised controlled trial comparing the outcomes of using a mosquito mesh relative using a commercial mesh in groin hernia surgery. Results 1: the prevalence of untreated groin hernia among the study participants was 6.6%. 2: the rate of groin hernia surgery was 17 per 100 000 population. Thus, less than 1% of the estimated number of cases of groin hernia in the catchment area of the two hospitals are operated per year. A herniorrhaphy costs around 60 USD to perform. This corresponds to a third of the cost of TB treatment and a 15th of the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment per year in Uganda. 3: No significant differences in terms of recurrence rates, post operative and chronic complications and patient satisfaction were demonstrated between the patients operated using the mosquito mesh and the commercial mesh. Cost-effectiveness was very high for both materials but total cost in the mosquito mesh group was 124 USD lower per surgery than in the commercial mesh group. Conclusion There is a vast unmet need for groin hernia surgery. Cost of surgery compares favourably with other health care interventions prioritised by the international organisations and funders. A superior technique can be used in groin hernia surgery at low cost, with high cost-effectiveness in a Low Income Country.

The ability to select low-cost, high-performance surfactants for a wide range of crude oils under a wide range of reservoir conditions has improved dramatically in recent years. Surfactant formulations (surfactant, co-surfactant, co-solvent, alkali, polymer, and electrolyte) were developed by using a refined phase behavior approach. Such formulations nearly always result in more than 90% oil recovery in core flood when good surfactants with good mobility control are used. The advances that have improved performance, reduced cost, increased robustness, and extended the range of reservoir conditions for these formulations are described in this work. There are thousands of possible combinations of the chemicals that could be tested for each oil and each chemical combination requires many observations over a long time period at reservoir temperature for proper evaluation. It would take too long, cost too much and in many cases not even be feasible to test all combinations. In practice the scientific understanding is used to match up the surfactant/co-surfactant/co-solvent characteristics with the oil characteristics, temperature, salinity, hardness and so forth. Synthesized and new surfactants with much larger hydrophobes and more branching than previously available were tested. New classes of co-solvents and co-surfactants with superior performance were test to improve aqueous solubility. These new developments resulted in improved ASP formulations for both oils that react with alkali to make soap and oils that do not. Many of these developments are synergistic and taken together represent a breakthrough in reducing the cost of chemical flooding and thus its commercial potential. / text