Taiwan obtained her membership to WTO on January 1st, 2002. Becoming the organization¡¦s 144th member, some promises have to be made according to the organization¡¦s spirit. Among those promises are divided into tariff reduction, most favored nation treatment to WTO members, and trade liberalization. Meanwhile, Taiwan has to get rid of any trade barrier, tariff related or no tariff related, in order to guarantee fair and free competition in trading. However, impacts are coming to some industries, especially on agriculture and industries they were protected by government and special laws in past time. In Taiwan tobacco industry has being protected by such laws, since Japan¡¦s rule. ROC government has been practicing monopolization on the industry for more 100 years. From tobacco planting, processing, cigarette making, distribution and retailing, all are under such protection by government. Monopoly laws. The purpose of this research aims at understanding the degree of impact on this long protected monopolistic industry under global and liberal competition after Taiwan became a member of WTO. Hopefully, Taiwan tobacco industry can figure out the strategy to deal with severe international competition. This research first makes a discussion about WTO treaty and monopolistic system. After the discussion, information about current tobacco industry in Taiwan and global trend of the industry is used to analyze the overall situation of the industry on the basis of construction competition theory and related research documents. A case study is made on Taiwan Tobacco & Wind Monopoly Bureau. With the view of resource base theory, this research discusses the built resource base during monopolization, and estimates its advantages and disadvantages, and its opportunities and threats under global competition. Then a responsive strategy can be accordingly made. Monopolistic system is to be abolished after the entrance to WTO. Thereafter, Taiwan Tobacco & Wind Monopoly Bureau is going to be reshuffled in July 2002 on its way to privatization. This research can be made a reference to the ongoing strategy and the successors interested in this topic.

Financial industry in Taiwan is facing the challenge of over-banking. When more and more banks are established and offering a variety of financial goods or services to their customers, the competition continues to heighten. Banks are increasingly taking the advantages of electronic commerce to provide e-banking services, intending to maximize their business profits. In this study, we use a technology-organization-environment framework to propose an e-banking adoption model. Seven factors, including perceived direct and indirect benefits of the e-banking adoption, financial readiness, technical readiness, mimetic pressures, coercive pressure, and normative pressures, are tested from 255 firms. Statistical analysis and the implications of findings are discussed in the following sections.

In this thesis, I explored approaches to convert an office building to a residential building considering social activities and new normal. Focused, productive work is likely carried out a home, at times which best suit individual lifestyles, while collaborative and socially interactive activities bring people together in a variety of spaces. We saw this leading to the need for resilient homes, homes with the adaptability to support a range of activities throughout people's days. Homes need to provide spaces for exercise, entertainment, digital collaboration, connection, and focus (without becoming isolated), alongside the traditional activities of eating, sleeping, and washing. / Master of Architecture / Architecture finds new meaning or loses the old ones, depending on what is happening in the world and how human lives changing. Since pandemic hit in 2020, life has been abnormal in most aspects. Quarantine, remote working, and online activities are some of the new normal that inevitably became a part of human lifestyle. Even after the quarantine, the Internet-based communications is continued, and many office buildings left vacant while the need of more spaces for different activities felt in the residential buildings. Converting office buildings into housing is new 'normal' in this post pandemic era.

Thesis advisor: Lauren Saenz / Methods for classifying and treating an outcome variable are critical to explore in health research and evaluation, given the potential impact the choice of method may have on the findings and subsequent recommendations (Merbitz, Morris, & Grip, 1989). Further, given the prominent application of the Transtheoretical Model in health research, the stages of change construct continues to be a critical outcome measure concept used in various applied evaluation studies (Bridle et al., 2005; Nigg, 2002; Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992). The purpose of this dissertation study was to determine if findings differ depending on the approach to categorizing and analyzing a stage of change outcome variable, and if so, to highlight how these may affect policy and programmatic decision-making. Using data from a study on evidence-based program adoption decisions, this dissertation examined five approaches to treating and analyzing a single Decision to Adopt outcome variable. These different approaches were compared from both a methodological and pragmatic perspective. Hypothetical stakeholder illustrations were used to highlight differences in decision-making priorities and use of findings based on role, background, and organizational priorities. In comparing methods for classifying and treating the stage of change outcome variable, findings revealed notable differences in effect size, estimation, implication of major findings, and limitations of approach. The hypothetical stakeholder illustrations stressed the significance of personal values and preferences as key influential factors in decision-making and use of evaluation results. This dissertation highlighted how decisions are inextricably linked to the logic model and underlying theory, particularly as it relates to defining evaluation questions, determining how to categorize constructs, and assigning value to codes. Further, it reinforces the significance of contextual considerations in evaluation and how these cannot be ignored in the decision-making process (e.g., budgetary limitations, practical constraints, political factors). The proposed directions for future research seek to continue advancing this understanding of the impact of methodological decisions in different contexts and help improve the utility of evaluations more broadly. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

To overcome the limitations of starch-based and sugar-based ethanol, scientists propose to expand the use of cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants. As the U.S. has a large cellulosic biomass production base (Perlack et al., 2006), production of ethanol from cellulosic feedstock and use of ethanol as a substitute for gasoline could help promote rural development, reduce green house gases emissions, and increase energy independence. This study focuses on the cost of producing cellulosic ethanol along with the amount of carbon sequestered and emitted using switchgrass as a feedstock. In the first part of this study, willingness to adopt (WTA) switchgrass is evaluated. The amount of farmland available for growing switchgrass was estimated using Probit and Tobit models of switchgrass production survey data developed in the University of Tennessee’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. The estimated results from these two models show that when switchgrass prices increase, the probability of farmers to grow switchgrass and land acreages used for switchgrass production will increase. In the second part of this study, based on the results of estimated, farmland availability within an optimal draw area of 50 miles of a biorefinery and a switchgrass delivery schedule could be determined from the biorefinery’s perspective considering different bale types and storage methods. A cost minimization programming model was developed to estimate the year-round switchgrass delivery schedule within fifty miles of three selected biorefinery locations in the southeastern U.S. Also in this study, the carbon credit effect was considered in the model. The results from the programming model suggest that with the carbon credit paid to biorefineries, more marginal land will be used for growing switchgrass, and carbon will be sequestered in the soil at a level that exceeds emitted carbon by at least 1.5 times. Lower feedstock costs would be available to the biorefineries if a carbon payment was available to producers for net carbon sequestered.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-07-12T12:34:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1837599 bytes, checksum: d2338736f50fdbbb4ab396c6edc4ec8e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-12T12:34:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1837599 bytes, checksum: d2338736f50fdbbb4ab396c6edc4ec8e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This dissertation aims to analyze if the human values explain the stereotypes of the adopted child and the intention to adopt. Two studies were carried out to achieve this objective. In study 1 aimed to elaborate the Stereotypes of Adopted Child Scale, gathering evidence of validity and precision. Participated 208 people from the general population of João Pessoa (PB), being 52.9% female, with an average age of 24.6 years (SD = 7.27). These answered the Stereotypes of the Adopted Child Scale (SACS) and sociodemographic questions. SPSS was used to perform the analyzes. A main components analysis (varimax rotation) identified a structure with three components that together explained 54.3% of the total variance, presenting satisfactory internal consistency indices: undesirable behaviors (α = .87), desirable behaviors (α = .83) and negative psychological attributes (α = .71). In study 2 tried to prove the structure of the SPSS, besides knowing the relation between human values, stereotypes and intention to adopt. In this study, 245 people from the general population of the city of João Pessoa (PB) participated, with a majority of males (59.2%), with an average age of 25.5 years (SD = 7.10). They answered the SPSS, the Basic Values Questionnaire and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Using a confirmatory factorial analysis, the three-dimensional structure of the SPSS was used to perform the analyzes [χ² (129) = 317,829; p < .001; Χ² / gl = 2.46, CFI = .90, TLI = .88 and RMSEA = .07 (IC 90% = .067 - .088)]. When performing the Person correlation analyzes, it was observed that the stereotypes of the adopted child correlated significantly and positively with the normative sub-functions (r = .66, p < .01) and existence (r = .17; p < .01); and negatively with the promotion subfunction (r = -.13, p < .05). The intention to adopt was positively correlated with the interactive subfunction (r = .16, p < .05) and negatively with the promotion subfunction (r = -.13, p < .05). When performing linear regressions (Stepwise Method), it was found that the achievement sub-function explained the undesirable behaviors (β = .13, t = 2.07 p < .001), the normative subfunction explained the desirable behaviors (β = .66; t = 13.86 p < .001) and negative psychological attributes (β = .48; t = 8.71 p < .001). Regarding the intention to adopt, it was possible to observe that the interactive subfunctions (β = .22, p < .05) and promotion (β = -.20, p < .05) were presented as the best predictors. It is concluded that human values constitute an important variable in explaining the stereotypes as well as in the intention to adopt. Providing empirical data for the development of interventions that seek to dismantle the negative stereotypes and biases surrounding adoption, especially the adopted child, thereby encouraging people to adopt. / A presente dissertação tem como objetivo analisar se os valores humanos explicam os estereótipos da criança adotada e a intenção de adotar. Para alcançar tal objetivo foram realizados dois estudos. No estudo 1 objetivou-se elaborar a Escala de Estereótipos da Criança Adotada, reunindo evidências de validade e precisão. Participaram 208 pessoas da população geral de João Pessoa (PB), sendo 52,9% do sexo feminino, com idade média de 24,6 anos (DP = 7,27). Estas responderam a Escala de Estereótipos da Criança Adotada (EECA) e questões sociodemográficas. Para realizar as análises foi utilizado o SPSS. Uma análise de componentes principais (rotação varimax) identificou uma estrutura com três componentes que explicaram conjuntamente 54,3% da variância total, apresentando índices de consistência interna satisfatórios: comportamentos indesejáveis (α=0,87), comportamentos desejáveis (α=0,83) e atributos psicológicos negativos (α=0,71). No estudo 2 buscou-se comprovar a estrutura da EECA, além de conhecer a relação entre valores humanos, estereótipos e intenção de adotar. Participaram 245 pessoas da população geral da cidade de João Pessoa (PB), sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (59,2%), com idade média de 25,5 anos (DP =7,10). Estes responderam a EECA, o Questionário de Valores Básicos e um questionário sociodemográfico. Por meio de uma análise fatorial confirmatória foi ratificada a estrutura tridimensional da EECA [χ² (129) = 317, 829; p < 0,001; χ²/gl = 2,46, CFI = 0,90, TLI = 0,88 e RMSEA = 0,07 (IC90% = 0,067 – 0,088)]. Ao realizar as análises de correlação de Person, observou-se que os estereótipos da criança adotada se correlacionaram de forma significativa e positiva com as subfunções normativa (r = 0,66; p < 0,01) e existência (r = 0,17; p < 0,01); e negativamente com a subfunção realização (r = -0,13; p < 0,05). Já a intenção de adotar se correlacionou positivamente com a subfunção interativa (r = 0,16; p < 0,05) e negativamente com a subfunção realização (r = -0,13; p < 0,05). Ao realizar Regressões lineares (Método Stepwise), verificou-se que a subfunção realização explicou os comportamentos indesejáveis (β = 0,13; t= 2,07 p < 0,001), a subfunção normativa explicou os comportamentos desejáveis (β = 0,66; t= 13,86 p < 0,001) e os atributos psicológicos negativos (β = 0,48; t= 8,71 p < 0,001). Com relação à intenção de adotar, foi possível observar que se apresentaram como melhores preditores as subfunções interativa (β = 0,22; p < 0,05) e realização (β = -0,20; p < 0,05). Conclui-se que os valores humanos constituem-se como uma variável importante na explicação dos estereótipos, bem como na intenção de adotar. Fornecendo dados empíricos para o desenvolvimento de intervenções que busquem descontruir os estereótipos negativos e os preconceitos que envolvem a adoção, sobretudo a criança adotada, incentivando, assim, as pessoas a realizarem uma adoção.

Oxidative dissolution of std. UO2 and UO2 doped with Cr2O3 and Al2O3, i.e. ADOPT, induced by H2O2 and γ radiation has been the main focus in this licentiate thesis. The catalytic decomposition of H2O2 on oxides like Gd2O3, HfO2, CeO2, Fe2O3 and CuO were also investigated. A kinetic study was performed by determining first and second order rate constants together with Arrhenius parameters for the decomposition of H2O2. The reactivity of H2O2 towards the oxides mentioned was observed to differ significantly despite their similarities. In the mechanistic study, the yields and dynamics of the formation of the intermediate hydroxyl radical from the decomposition of H2O2 was determined for the oxides and found to differ considerably. A turnover point could be found for most of oxides studied, i.e. an increase in the rate of hydroxyl radical scavenging after a specific amount of consumed H2O2. The reactivity of the std. UO2 and ADOPT towards H2O2 was similar to what was observed for other UO2-based materials in previous studies. The oxidative dissolution in radiation experiments showed a slight but significant difference. This was attributed to a difference in exposed surface area instead of an effect of doping. The difference in oxidative dissolution yield was too small to be significant which supports the previous conclusion. Leaching experiments using spent nuclear fuel were also performed on the two types of fuel showing the same behavior as the unirradiated pellets, i.e., a slightly lower 238U release from ADOPT. The difference was attributed to difference in exposed surface area. The release of fission products with low UO2 solubility displayed a higher release from ADOPT which was attributed to a difference in matrix solubility. Cs was released to a larger extent from std. UO2. This is attributed to the larger grain size of ADOPT, extending the diffusion distance. The release of lanthanides and actinides was slightly higher for the conventional UO2, nevertheless the difference was relatively small. / <p>QC 20140527</p>

As government agencies face a complexity of economic and political issues the availability and utilization of resources through private voluntary organizations (PVOs) have become increasingly important. A review of the literature covering the role of PVOs in developing countries indicates the significant contribution these agencies can have in the development process. There are only a handful of situations where small organizations are working directly with a government agency in the provision of a public service. Theoretically, PVOs are adaptable to a variety of settings, are effective conduits for delivering aid to the grassroots level, and are able to initiate long term development activity. This study considers these characteristics in the midst of the relationship that exists between a foreign PVO and a host government in the delivery of public education to a rural indigenous population. A U.S. based organization named "Adopt-A-School" has been working in 3 districts of northern Guatemala's Cuchumatanes Highlands since 1984. The focus of its work has been to provide students in selected public schools with basic supplies (e.g., paper, notebooks, pencils, and dictionaries). The organizational structure of the PVO consists of a constituency group from whom donations are received, a board of directors that manages the available resources, and field workers who implement the program. The analysis of this PVO-government relationship is based on qualitative and quantitative data collected by interviewing participants on local and national levels, distributing questionnaires to teachers (N = 156) and PVO donors (N = 32), and performing participant observations in selected communities and schools. The decisions regarding site selection have been important factors in the effectiveness of the AAS program and has contributed to the strength of its durability. Data indicate that the longevity and replication of this program rests on the fragile relationship network that exists between the PVO, its donors, and the host-government. This study shows that foreign PVOs can play a significant role in local communities by encouraging the growth and development of new structures that link grassroots organizations with those who maintain economic and political power.

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The Circular Business Model (CBM) is one way to achieve a more sustainable future. Its goal is to reduce the use of natural resources which are becoming more scarce on our planet. The aim of the study is to investigate the consumer behavior and the determinants of the willingness to adopt Product Service System (PSS), one of the models of CBM. Through previous research, five main factors were identified: Economical Value, Flexibility, Trust, Desire to Own and Peer Influence. Furthermore, some literature argue that environmental awareness has an influence on the consumers’ choice of consumption. Therefore, this factor is considered and used as a moderating variable in the conceptual model. The primary data was collected through an online questionnaire and the hypotheses were tested through multiple regression analyses. Seven out of the twelve hypotheses were accepted. The study also concludes that environmental awareness does not have a high impact on the model. The environmental awareness did only have a positive moderating effect in the peer influence factor. It was determined in the study that economical value has the highest impact on the model.