This study analyzes the technical efficiencies of Turkish electricity distribution companies (21 in total) throughout 2002 and 2009. For this aim, we used six different model specifications, all of which are generated from two different Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) models (Battese ve Coelli (1992&amp / 1995)). At the end of the estimations of the models, it has been seen that the signs and significance levels of the coefficient estimations are very consistent and satisfactory in all models. We also observed consistency between the coefficient estimations of the different models despite the differences in the magnitudes of the coefficient estimations. For example, all model specifications confirm the presence of increasing returns to scale and of a mild technological progress over time in the market. In addition, among the inputs, all inputs except the quality of the electricity delivered are important in enhancing technical efficiency of the electricity distribution companies, according to the all alternative specifications. Again, all models showed that inefficiency effects rather than random error effects are of crucial importance in Turkish electricity distribution market. As for the efficiency estimations of the alternative models, the main conclusion revealed by our study is that efficiency estimations of the Battese ve Coelli (1995) models are remarkably higher than those of the Battese ve Coelli (1992) models. The efficiency estimation differences between Battese and Coelli (1992&amp / 1995) models can be attributed to the environmental variables included into the Battese ve Coelli (1995) models, which are not generally controlled by electricity distribution companies.

Within the field of Product Design there is an increasing interest in designing with emerging markets. Considering how long people have already been concerned with increasing global living standards it is surprising how little has been achieved. This suggests our current methods are insufficient. The Capability Approach (CA) by Amartya Sen offers a new way of assessing inequality and poverty, focusing on what people have reason to value to be or do. Products can be means to achieve these beings and doings. An evaluation framework inspired by this philosophy was developed. The framework was tested in a case study. The sociological impact was evaluated of the Philips Chulha, a subsidized cooking stove implemented in tribal India. The impact in terms of the CA was identified and explained using Kleine&rsquo / s Choice Framework and Bourdieu&rsquo / s concept of habitus. The framework was successful in engaging into deep dialogues with the target users. The interpreter appeared to be highly influential on the way the study was executed. Since the research was conducted in one region, no firm statements could be made based on this single case study. The framework needs further testing and developing in order to increase the collaboration between the interviewer and the interviewee. Eventually product designers can use the improved evaluation framework as a prospective framework to uncover design opportunities for developmental purposes.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Photocopy from typescript.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

There is an increasing demand for nanostructured polymeric surfaces for many scientific and commercial applications including the fields of cell and tissue engineering, where the study of the ways that cells interact with their environment holds great potential for the future of regenerative medicine. Current replication based fabrication techniques, such as hot embossing, which are used to produce nanostructured surfaces for this type of research are not fast enough to keep up with the growing demand for them. Injection moulding offers a high throughput alternative to these processes and can upscale the production of nanopatterned samples by several orders of magnitude. However, the nickel moulds traditionally used to injection mould micro- and nanostructures are limited to producing recessed features due to the rate at which the injected polymer cools upon contact with it. In order to replicate raised features (e.g. pillars) the polymer needs enough time to fill the nanoscale cavities of the mould before freezing. A solution to this limitation of nickel tooling is devised and implemented, using a thermally insulating tooling material that facilitates the formation of nanopillars by injection moulding. This tooling material can be patterned by a range of fabrication techniques including photolithography and nanoimprint lithography. The tooling can be used to replicate nanopatterns over underlying micron and millimetre scale topographies. This flexible solution enables the large volume production of samples containing raised poly(carbonate) nanopillars without significantly compromising cycle time. Following this, the technique is adapted in an attempt to replicate high aspect ratio nanostructures. In this section a range of non-adhesive surface coatings are tested for their abilities to enhance the replication process through the systematic analysis of their durability and the replication fidelity that they enable. Nanopillars with aspect ratios of greater than 10:1 are successfully produced and are used to fabricate surfaces for cell engineering research. This success is also demonstrative of the technique’s potential to mass produce nanostructures for other applications such as non-reflective and dry adhesive surfaces. Finally, a study is undertaken to replicate microstructures with an elastomeric polymer. The tooling solution is used to assess the minimum feature size that can be replicated with this polymer and how processing parameters and non-adhesive coatings can improve this. This thesis documents the development of a range of enabling techniques which add to the existing toolbox of nanofabrication technologies. They address a growing demand for nanostructured polymeric surfaces in cell and tissue engineering research, whilst remaining open and adaptable to any application that requires the high throughput production of nanopatterned polymeric samples.

In recent times the Russian market has been exposed to significant changes, both in the challenges of the transition from planned to market economy as well as the opportunities that has spurred a willingness for foreign companies to exploit the vast potential of the market. The aim of this thesis is to explore how business relationships are managed between Swedish business-to-business(B2B) SMEs and Russian counterparts. In our study we overview Swedish companies which are well established on the Russian market and have well-developed relationships with their representatives in Russia and try to discover which aspects of their relations is decisive for the success of the companies. To conduct our research we created reseach questions "What role do business relationships play between Swedish and Russian SMEs in the Russian market?, and how are the business relationships managed?". We collected data from both Swedish and Russian perspectives to determine the main features of their relations and draw up guidance for potential Western newcomers to Russia.

In this study, a cold worked tool steel and a low carbon steel ( St 37 ), which were joined by brazing, were subjected to impact and shear loading. The end product is used as paper cutting blades in the industry. Effects of different brazing filler metals on the delamination of the blades under impact loading and on the impact toughness of the blades were studied. The target is to achieve higher impact toughness values without delamination. Impact toughness of the steels, joined by Cu, CuNi and BNi brazing filler metals and separation of brazed surfaces under shear loading were studied. The microstructures that were formed as a result of each application were studied by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The results indicate that brittle intermetallic compounds are formed in BNi brazing filler metal application. It is observed that CuNi alloy with 24% wt Ni form stronger bonds with the base metals than pure Cu and 10% wt Ni CuNi alloy.

In this study we consider a two-echelon supply chain with a nonstationary demand process. The retailer batches the customer demand for a predetermined number of periods before placing an order to the supplier. We show that the demand process for the supplier is more variable than that for the retailer. It is observed that the supplier can reduce the variability of orders by tracking the exogenous demand occurring at the retailer&#039 / s side.

In this thesis, we develop an exact algorithm for an assembly line balancing problem with equipment selection decisions. Two objectives are considered: minimizing the total equipment costs and the number of workstations. Our aim is to choose the type of the equipment(s) in every workstation and determine the assignment of the tasks to each workstation and equipment type. We aim to propose a set of efficient solutions for each problem and leave the choice of the best solution to the decision maker&rsquo / s preferences. A branch and bound algorithm is developed whose efficiency is increased with some dominance rules and powerful lower bounds. Moreover, modified ranked positional weight heuristic method is used as initial upper bound. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is demonstrated by computational analysis in which the effects of changing certain parameter values are investigated. We find that our algorithm is capable of solving the problem instances with up to 25 tasks and 5 equipments.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-288).