Tesis por compendio / [ES] El mundo es testigo de nuevos avances tecnológicos que afectan significativamente a las organizaciones en diferentes departamentos. La inteligencia artificial (IA) es uno de estos avances, visto como una tecnología revolucionaria en la gestión de recursos humanos (RRHH). Profesionales y académicos han discutido el brillante papel de la IA en RRHH. Sin embargo, el análisis profundo de esta tecnología en el proceso de RRHH es aún escaso. Con todo ello, el objetivo principal de esta tesis es investigar el estado de la IA en RRHH y así identificar factores clave de implementación concretos. Primero, construyendo un marco académico para la IA en RRHH; segundo, analizar las aplicaciones de IA más utilizada en los procesos de RRHH; tercero, identificar las formas óptimas de transferir el conocimiento en los procesos de implementación de IA. La metodología utilizada para la investigación combina la revisión sistemática de la literatura y técnicas de investigación cualitativa. Como base y medida preparatoria para abordar las preguntas de investigación, se llevó a cabo un extenso análisis de la literatura en el campo AI-RRHH, con un enfoque particular en las publicaciones de algoritmos de IA en HRM, análisis de HR-Big data, aplicaciones/soluciones de IA en HRM e implementación de IA. En la misma línea, el autor publicó artículos en varias conferencias que contribuyeron a mejorar la madurez de las preguntas de investigación. Con base en este conocimiento, los estudios publicados ilustraron la brecha entre la promesa y la realidad de la IA en RRHH, teniendo en cuenta los requisitos técnicos de la implementación de la IA, así como las aplicaciones y limitaciones. Posteriormente, se entrevistó a expertos en recursos humanos y consultores de IA que ya habían adquirido experiencia de primera mano con los procesos de recursos humanos en un entorno de IA para descubrir la verdad de la aplicación de la IA dominante en el proceso de RRHH. Los principales hallazgos de esta tesis incluyen la derivación de una definición completa de IA en RRHH, así como el estado de las estrategias de adopción de aplicaciones de IA en RRHH. Como resultado adicional, se explora la utilidad y las limitaciones de los chatbots en el proceso de contratación en la India. Además, factores clave para transferir el conocimiento del proceso de implementación de IA a los gerentes y empleados de recursos humanos. Finalmente, se concluye identificando desafíos asociados con la implementación de IA en el proceso de recursos humanos y el impacto de COVID-19 en la implementación de IA. / [CA] El món és testimoni de nous avanços tecnològics, que afecten significativament les organitzacions en diferents departaments. La intel·ligència artificial (IA) és un d'aquests avanços que s'anuncia àmpliament com una tecnologia revolucionària en la gestió de recursos humans (HRM). Professionals i acadèmics han discutit el brillant paper de la IA en HRM. No obstant això, encara és escàs l'anàlisi profund d'aquesta tecnologia en el procés de HRM. Per tant, l'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és investigar l'estat de la IA en HRM i derivar factors clau d'implementació concrets. Primer, construint un marc acadèmic per a la IA en HRM; segon, analitzar l'aplicació de IA més utilitzada en el procés de recursos humans; tercer, identificar les formes òptimes de transferir el coneixement dels processos d'implementació de IA. La metodologia utilitzada per a la investigació es combina entre una revisió sistemàtica de la literatura i una tècnica d'investigació qualitativa. Com a base i mesura preparatòria per a abordar les preguntes d'investigació, es va dur a terme una extensa anàlisi de la literatura en el camp IA-HRM, amb un enfocament particular en les publicacions d'algorismes de IA en HRM, anàlisis de HR-Big data, aplicacions/soluciones de IA en HRM i implementació de IA. En la mateixa línia, l'autor va publicar articles en diverses conferències que van procedir a millorar la maduresa de les preguntes d'investigació. Amb base en aquest coneixement, els estudis publicats van illustrar la bretxa entre la promesa i la realitat de la IA en HRM, tenint en compte els requisits tècnics de la implementació de la IA, així com les aplicacions i limitacions. Posteriorment, es va entrevistar experts en recursos humans i consultors de IA que ja havien adquirit experiència de primera mà amb els processos de recursos humans en un entorn de IA per a descobrir la veritat de l'aplicació de la IA dominant en el procés de recursos humans. Les principals troballes d'aquesta tesi són la derivació d'una definició completa de IA en HRM, així com l'estat de les estratègies d'adopció d'aplicacions de IA en HRM. Com a resultat addicional, explore la utilitat i les limitacions dels chatbots en el procés de contractació a l'Índia. A més, factors clau per a transferir el coneixement del procés d'implementació de IA als gerents i empleats de recursos humans. També es van concloure els desafiaments associats amb la implementació de IA en el procés de recursos humans i l'impacte de COVID-19 en la implementació de IA. / [EN] The world is witnessing new technological advancements, which significantly impacts organizations across different departments. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of these advancements that is widely heralded as a revolutionary technology in Human Resource Management (HRM). Professionals and scholars have discussed the bright role of AI in HRM. However, deep analysis of this technology in the HR process is still scarce. Therefore, the main goal of this thesis is to investigate the status of AI in HRM and derive concrete implementation key factors. Through, first, building an academic framework for AI in HRM; second, analyzing the most commonly used AI applications in HR process; third, identifying the optimal ways to transfer the knowledge of AI implementation processes. The methodology used for the investigation combines a systematic literature review and a qualitative research technique. As a basis and preparatory measure to address the research questions, an extensive literature analysis in the AI-HRM field was carried out, with a particular focus on publications of AI in HRM, HR-Big data analysis, AI applications/solutions in HRM and AI implementation. Along similar lines, the author published papers in several conference proceedings to improve the maturity of research questions. Based on this work, the published studies illustrate the gap between the promise and reality of AI in HRM, taking into account the requirements of AI implementation as well as the applications and limitations. Subsequently, HR experts and AI consultants, who had already gained first-hand experience with HR processes in an AI environment, were interviewed to find out the truth of the dominant AI's application in HR process. The main findings of this thesis are the derivation of a complete definition of AI in HRM as well as the status of the adoption strategies of AI applications in HRM. As a further result, it explores the usefulness and limitations of chatbots in the recruitment processes in India. In addition, derived the key factors to transfer the knowledge of AI implementation process to HR managers and employees. Challenges associated with AI implementation in the HR process and the impact of COVID-19 on AI implementation were also concluded. / Tuffaha, M. (2022). Adoption Factors of Artificial intelligence in Human Resource Management [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/185909 / TESIS / Compendio

Performance measurements have been described as a tool by which management can communicate expected standards of behavior as well as a shared meaning among members regarding the intended direction of the firm. In parallel, the organizational identity field relies on the premise that members can answer the question “who are we as an organization?” through a sense of shared understanding. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implications a performance measurement system has on the employees’ perception of “who we are“, related to the theoretical framework of organizational identity. This paper utilizes a qualitative research method, a case-based approach of a Swedish life science company which is conducted in an exploratory manner. The case company is chosen due to its contextual setting regarding the newly implemented performance measurement system, along with the inherent characteristics of the industry in general, which is typically considered to be incongruent with such quantitative measurements. The empirical data is collected through eight interviews with members from the chosen case company, as well as through internal documents describing its performance measurement system. The authors propose a revised theoretical framework in which performance measurements and organizational identity are investigated through a conceptual model which explores their dynamic relationship. The findings reinforce well-known ideas of performance measurements and organizational identity, along with providing new insights on the dynamics between them. Keywords: Organizational Identity, Performance Measurement System, Performance Management, Identity-Dynamics

Despite a high proportion of the population experiencing traumatic events within their lifetime, the number of individuals who go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comparatively small; herein highlighting the importance of individual differences in imparting risk and resilience towards the development and maintenance of PTSD. Existing literature illustrates that biological and ecological factors are important in predicting PTSD development, with pathological vulnerabilities excepting their effects at pre- peri- and post trauma stages. Whilst cognitive and emotion based models of PTSD account for the role of a minority of known pre-trauma risk factors, individual differences in peri- and post trauma processes are held as critical to the development of PTSD. The broad range of risk factors implicated in the empirical literature, and necessity of traumatic exposure to PTSD, implicates the utility of a diathesis-stress conceptualisation of PTSD development. The current thesis employed an analogue VR-trauma paradigm to investigate the respective importance of vulnerability factors at each stage, in the prediction of analogue PTSD symptoms (memory problems, startle responses, re-exposure fear habituation), whilst measuring affective and electrophysiological concomitance. Findings supported the importance of peri-traumatic responses in the prediction of PTSD, where present, showing increased predictive capacities over pre- and post-trauma factors. Biological and ecological factors also illustrated important predictive associations, with genetic SNPs implicated in reflex startle and cardiac responses towards intrusive memories. Moreover, peri-traumatic HR decelerations and accelerations mediated the association between pre-trauma factors and cued recall inaccuracy and intrusion severity respectively. Results support existing cognitive and emotional models in their emphasis on peri-traumatic processes but suggest the added utility of a diathesis stress conceptualisation of the development of PTSD, in highlighting the importance of pre-trauma biological and ecological risk and resilience factors.

Cette thèse a permis de mettre en évidence les mécanismes de vieillissement de la pile à combustible de type PEM lors de cyclages d'humidité de l'air et suite à la perforation de l'AME (Assemblage Membrane Electrodes). Premièrement, les mécanismes connus de dégradation des divers composants (membrane, catalyseur, support du catalyseur, GDL, plaques bipolaires et joints d'étanchéité) ont été présentés. Ensuite, les outils de diagnostic en-ligne (chronopotentiométrie, spectroscopie d'impédance, gestion de l'eau et analyse chimique de l'eau) et ceux hors-ligne (CV et LSV) ainsi que des analyses post-mortem (RMN, MET, MEB et DRX) ont été décrits. Expérimentalement, le cyclage en humidité de l'air a été effectué en mono-cellule de 25 cm2: le cyclage à forte humidité entraîne une perte significative de la surface électroactive du catalyseur; le cyclage à faible humidité favorise la perméation de l'hydrogène à travers la membrane. Le cyclage à faible humidité réalisé sur une pile de 100 cm2 a montré un mécanisme de dégradation différent de celui de la pile de 25 cm2: la perméation de l'hydrogène reste faible alors que la tension de la pile était de plus en plus fluctuante certainement du fait de la présence de volumes morts et de la rétention d'eau liquide dans la pile. L'effet de la perforation de l'AME a été étudié sur une pile de 100 cm2: la perforation par une punaise de 0,7 mm de diamètre ne génère qu'une légère augmentation de la perméation de l'hydrogène; la perforation par une punaise de 1,2 mm de diamètre entraîne une chute de tension et l'augmentation significative de la résistance de diffusion de l'oxygène due à la perméation importante de l'hydrogène / This thesis highlights the aging mechanisms of PEM Fuel Cell submitted to two main aging conditions: air relative humidity (RH) cycling, and MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) pinhole test of operation. First, the aging mechanisms of PEMFC main components (membrane, catalyst, carbon support, GDL, bipolar plates and gaskets), have been reviewed from the literature. Then the on-line diagnostic tools (chronopotentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, water management and water analysis), off-line ones (cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry) and post-mortem analyses (nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction) have been described. Experimentally, the high and low air RH cycling runs have been carried out with a 25 cm2 single cell: the high air RH cycling run promoted serious loss of the ElectroChemical Surface Area (ECSA); the low air RH cycling run caused significant increase in hydrogen crossover. The low air RH cycling has been also performed with a 100 cm2 single cell and the aging mechanism was different from that of 25 cm2 cell: the hydrogen crossover remained very low but the fuel cell voltage exhibited strong fluctuations at the end of the run: this was attributed to the presence of dead volumes and liquid water retention within the cell. Finally, MEA pinhole effect has been investigated with a 100 cm2 single cell: the perforation by a 0.7 mm diameter pin promoted slight increase in the hydrogen crossover; the perforation by a 1.2 mm diameter pin caused significant cell voltage losses and serious increase in the cathode diffusion resistance due to significant hydrogen crossover

La qualité de vie au travail est une tendance RH, fréquemment abordée dans des situations incertaines pour faire face au changement. Elle peut être définie comme une multitude de connexions positives qui engendrent de meilleures relations professionnelles et interprofessionnelles. L’action sur le volet qualité de vie au travail permettrait une meilleure relation et coordination entre donneurs d’ordres et sous-traitants et engendrerait ainsi une meilleure performance. Comment les donneurs d’ordres parviennent à faire déployer la qualité de vie au travail chez leurs sous-traitants ? La réponse constitue le fil conducteur de l’exploration empirique. En effet, une étude de cas pilote auprès du groupe Orange permet de faire émerger les difficultés de ce déploiement. Cette thèse propose des solutions dont un modèle inductif basé sur un échange approfondi avec Orange et ses partenaires pour un déploiement facilité favorisant la participation des sous-traitants. Deux autres études de cas complémentaires permettent d’approfondir les attentes des sous-traitants et les objectifs des donneurs d’ordres. Les résultats démontrent qu’à travers la théorie de la coordination relationnelle les donneurs d’ordres pourraient, (au lieu de déployer la qualité de vie au travail), co-construire et associer les sous-traitants à la mise en œuvre des différentes démarches qui permettent l’instauration des relations positives au travail et que les deux partenaires devraient tendre vers le Knowledge Orientation Management. / The quality of work life is an HR trend, frequently discussed in uncertain situations to deal with change. It can be defined as a multitude of positive connections that create better professional and interprofessional relationships. The action on quality of work life allows better relation between contractors and subcontractors which result in better performance. How donors of orders manage to deploy quality of work life among their subcontractors? The answer is the thread of the empirical exploration. Indeed, a pilot case study with the Orange group helps develop the difficulties of deployment. This thesis offers solutions including a theoretical model based on a through exchange with Orange and its partners which present a simplified implementation with the active participation of subcontractors.Two other complementary case studies help to deepen the expectations of subcontractors and objectives of contractors. The results show that through the theory of relational coordination, contractors could ( instead of deploying the quality of work life ), co- build and involve subcontractors in the implementation of the different approaches allowing the establishment of positive relationships at work and that both partners should aim to Orientation Knowledge Management.

La métabolomique par résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) permet d’étudier laréponse métabolique globale d’un système biologique à un stimulus ou un événementphysiopathologique (maladie, manipulation génétique, etc.). Cette discipline connaît un essorimportant dans la recherche clinique et biologique, et constitue ainsi un outil à fort potentielpour la découverte de biomarqueurs de maladies, et l’étude de la fonction des gènes.Cette thèse est dédiée à l’application de la métabolomique par RMN à hauts champspour l’étude des pathologies associées à la signalisation thyroïdienne chez la souris. L’objectifglobal est d’identifier des biomarqueurs spécifiques liés aux différentes maladies hormonales :l’hypothyroïdie et la maladie génétique émergente résistance à l’hormone thyroïdienne due àune mutation au niveau du récepteur TRα1 (RTHα). Cette dernière est particulièrementdifficile à diagnostiquer à cause du manque de marqueurs biochimiques et de symptômesspécifiques à cette maladie. De plus, elle présente des similitudes avec l’hypothyroïdie auniveau symptomatique. Des modèles murins de RTHα et de l’hypothyroïdie ont été analysés,et l’investigation a été menée sur l’urine et le plasma sanguin dans le but de différenciermétaboliquement ces maladies et d’identifier des biomarqueurs spécifiques à RTHα. Dessignatures métaboliques liées à chaque maladie ont été identifiées dans l’urine et le plasmasanguin. Cinq métabolites qui varient de façon significative ont été identifiés dans l’urinecomme étant liés à la maladie RTHα : trimethylamine, dimethylamine, isovalerylglycine, Nacetylglucosamineet la choline. Dans le sang, ce sont les lipides insaturés qui varient de façonsignificative chez les souris mimant la maladie RTHα. / Metabolomics by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) allows studying the metabolicresponse of a global biological system to a stimuli or a physiopathological even (diseases,genetic modifications, etc.). This discipline is growing especially in the clinical and biologicalfields, and represents a strong potential tool to identify biomarkers related to diseases, andstudy the function of genes.This thesis is dedicated to the application of metabolomics by high field NMR to studythyroid signalisation pathologies in mice. The main goal is to identify biomarkers related tothe emerging genetic disease called resistance to thyroid hormone due to a mutation in thyroidhormone receptor TRα1 (RTHα). This disease is particularly difficult to diagnose because ofthe lack of biochemical markers and specific symptoms. In addition, it presents commonfeatures with hypothyroidism in term of symptoms. Mice models of RTHα andhypothyroidism were analysed, and the investigation were driven on urine and blood plasmain order to differentiate metabolically theses diseases and identify biomarkers related toRTHα. Metabolic fingerprints related to each disease were identified in both urine and bloodplasma. Five metabolites vary significantly in the urine of RTHα mice: trimethylamine,dimethylamine, isovalerylglycine, N-acetylglucosamine and choline. Unsaturated lipids varysignificantly in the blood plasma of RTHα mice.The impact of thyroid hormones (TH) and the thyroid hormone receptor TRβ on theliver metabolism were also studied in the present manuscript through NMR-basedmetabolomics. A mouse model, with a specific knock-out of TRβ gene in hepatocytes (LTRβ-KO), were used to study this question. To understand the function of TH mediated by TRβ,the liver metabolic response to TH, obtained from liver aqueous extracts and intact livertissues, TRβKO and wild-type mice were compared. The results suggest the presence ofdirect and indirect effects of thyroid hormones on the liver metabolism.

Diese Dissertation ist ein Beitrag zum Forschungsfeld der Stressökologie, im Spe-ziellen der Verhaltensökotoxikologie. Das spontane lokomotorische Verhalten der Fischarten Danio rerio und Leucaspius delineatus wurde unter sublethaler Expo-sition mit dem Cyanobakterientoxin Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) und dem Xenobio-tikums 2.4.4`-Trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 28) quantifiziert. Die Schwimmgeschwin-digkeit und Anzahl der Wendungen wurden kontinuierlich mit einem automati-schen Video-Monitoringsystem unter Laborbedingungen aufgezeichnet. In Hin-blick auf zyklische Aspekte wurden die Verhaltensanalysen mit chronobiologi-schen Methoden kombiniert. Hiermit wurde gezeigt, dass MC-LR und PCB 28 zu signifikanten Effekten in Verhalten und Aktivitätsrhythmik beider Fischarten führten. Höhere Konzentrati-onen beider Untersuchungssubstanzen verursachten eine deutliche Aktivitätsredu-zierung bei Danio rerio und Leucaspius delineatus. Einige der festgestellten Do-sis-Wirkungsbeziehungen entsprechen der Hormesistheorie, z. B. war bei geringe-ren MC-LR Konzentrationen ein Aktivitätsanstieg und bei höheren ein Aktivitäts-abfall beider Fischarten zu verzeichnen. Die Exposition mit MC-LR und PCB 28 verringerte bei beiden Testfischarten die Synchronisation der Aktivität mit dem Zeitgeber Licht. Dies führte bei beiden Fischarten zu einer Phasenverschiebung. Bei Leucaspius delineatus war unter dem Einfluss von MC-LR eine Phasenumkehr zu verzeichnen, die Fische wechselten von Tag- zu Nachtaktivität. Die Cosinor Analyse zeigte Dosis abhängige Veränderungen der circadianen Rhythmen der Schwimmaktivität (z.B. MESOR, Akrophase) unter Einfluss von MC-LR und PCB 28 an. Die Power Spektral Analyse indizierte für beide Fischar-ten unter Einwirkung von MC-LR and PCB 28 eine reduzierte Dominanz des cir-cadianen Rhythmuspeaks. Da die registrierten Unterschiede in der Reaktion beider Fischarten auf MC-LR und PCB 28 eher gering waren, sind Ergebnisse der Art Danio rerio, die häufig in Toxizitätstests verwendet wird, mit denen der einheimischen Art Leucaspius deli-neatus vergleichbar. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass Verhaltensuntersuchungen in Kombination mit chronobiologischen Auswertemethoden eine sensitive und zuverlässige Abschät-zung des Gefährdungspotentials von Substanzen sowohl auf dem Gebiet der Öko-toxikologie als auch für Biomonitoring ermöglichen. / This thesis contributes to the field of stress ecology specifically behavioural ecotoxicology. The spontaneous locomotor behavior of two fish species Danio re-rio and Leucaspius delineatus was recorded and quantified continuously under sublethal exposure to the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and the xenobioti-cum 2.4.4`-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 28). By using an automated video-monitoring system, the swimming velocity and the number of turns were assessed under labo-ratory conditions. For analysing cyclic aspects basic behavioural analyses were combined with chronobiological procedures as cosinor analysis and power spec-tral analysis. Both MC-LR and PCB 28 acted as stressors and caused significant changes in the behaviour and circadian activity rhythms of Danio rerio as well as Leucaspius de-lineatus. So for both species elevated concentrations of the stressors led to a re-duction of their activity. Some dose-responses correspond to the hormesis theory, e.g., there was an increase of daytime activity at lower MC-LR concentrations and a decrease at elevated concentrations of MC-LR for both species. A degree of desynchronisation of activity to the zeitgeber light, which led to a phase shift was caused by the chemicals in both fish species. In Leucaspius de-lineatus this shift was so drastic that this species reversed their significant diurnal activity and became nocturnal under the influence of MC-LR. The Cosinor analysis revealed MC-LR- and PCB 28-induced, dose-dependent al-terations of the circadian rhythms of activity (e.g., MESOR, acrophase). The power spectral analysis showed that the dominance of the circadian rhythmic peak (of 24 h) was reduced under MC-LR and PCB 28 for both species. Since the observed differences in the reactions of both species to MC-LR and PCB 28 were rather small, the results of the species Danio rerio which is widely used for environmental risk assessment tests, are comparable to those of the native European species Leucaspius delineatus. The findings of this study proved that the basic behavioural analyses combined with chronobiological procedures could be valuable tools for the study of stressful or even harmful environmental factors in the field of ecotoxicology as well as for biomonitoring.

Dans la perspective de prédire les transformations chimico-minéralogiques possibles d'une bentonite placée en conditions de stockage profond de déchets radioactifs, plusieurs séries d'expériences ont été réalisées utilisant la bentonite MX80 en présence d'une solution chlorurée sodi-calcique, en absence ou en présence de fer (magnétite + hématite ou fer métal + magnétite), à 80 et 300 °C et pour des durées de 1 jour à 9 mois. Les produits de réactions ont fait l'objet de caractérisations multi-échelles et multi-techniques : diffraction des rayons X, microscope électronique à balayage et en transmission (imagerie haute résolution, EDS et EELS), microsonde électronique, spectroscopie Mössbauer et analyse ICP AES et ICP MS des solutions. Le code de calcul EQ3/6 a été utilisé pour simuler les expériences réalisées. Une nouvelle méthode ponctuelle de détermination de la valence du fer dans les argiles au MET par spectroscopie de perte d'énergie des électrons (EELS) a été développée.

This thesis presents various integrated antenna solutions for different types of systems and applications, e.g. wireless sensors, broadband handsets, advanced base stations, MEMS-based reconfigurable front-ends, automotive anti-collision radars, and large area electronics. For wireless sensor applications, a T-matched dipole is proposed and integrated in an electrically small body-worn sensor node. Measurement techniques are developed to characterize the port impedance and radiation properties. Possibilities and limitations of the planar inverted cone antenna (PICA) for small handsets are studied experimentally. Printed slot-type and folded PICAs are demonstrated for UWB handheld terminals. Both monolithic and hybrid integration are applied for electrically steerable array antennas. Compact phase shifters within a traveling wave array antenna architecture, on single layer substrate, is investigated for the first time. Radio frequency MEMS switches are utilized to improve the performance of reconfigurable antennas at higher frequencies. Using monolithic integration, a 20 GHz switched beam antenna based on MEMS switches is implemented and evaluated. Compared to similar work published previously, complete experimental results are here for the first time reported. Moreover, a hybrid approach is used for a 24 GHz switched beam traveling wave array antenna. A MEMS router is fabricated on silicon substrate for switching two array antennas on a LTCC chip. A concept of nano-wire based substrate integrated waveguides (SIW) is proposed for millimeter-wave applications. Antenna prototypes based on this concept are successfully demonstrated for automotive radar applications. W-band body-worn nonlinear harmonic radar reflectors are proposed as a means to improve automotive radar functionality. Passive, semi-passive and active nonlinear reflectors consisting of array antennas and nonlinear circuitry on flex foils are investigated. A new stretchable RF electronics concept for large area electronics is demonstrated. It incorporates liquid metal into microstructured elastic channels. The prototypes exhibit high stretchability, foldability, and twistability, with maintained electrical properties. / wisenet

在2000年後，由於大陸外貿的崛起，大陸禮品業者也在國際展場中嶄露頭角；許多國外買家為其低廉的價格吸引下單，但是之後衍生出來的品質、交期的問題則層出不窮。 國外買家的無奈在於期間的溝通，也深刻體驗到大陸人的商場文化 – 「什麼都沒問題！」(Everything is NO PROBLEM = OK & YES)。等貨到國外倉庫，開箱一看，所有問題就完整呈現了。 其中的語言溝通、消費市場的需求、文化差異 … 等是主要因素。 問題發生後， 解決方案的合理性也是從事國際貿易者所要具備的能力之ㄧ。 這時有些較積極、採購項目繁多、產品屬中低價位的國外買家就會派人來中國大陸探路，設立採購辦事處 (Buying Office)。初期會在香港成立運作子公司，主要以搜尋產品、採購、驗貨為主要業務；慢慢進入大陸本土，如深圳、廣州、廈門、 上海等沿岸城市； 近期內地的興起，因應產業不同的需求，也紛紛設點遍及北京、天津、太原、重慶、成都等重點城市。 但這些採購辦事處 (Buying Office) 的組織運作中， 高階管理人可能是外國總公司直接派遣，但往下的工作很多需要用到大陸的人力，而衍生出採購拿回扣、驗貨拿紅包的弊端。 同時也有一些產品屬中低價位的國外買家，他們並未躁進；但因應貿易環境的改變，為了避免設立採購辦事處的風險，他們也會透過一些第三方驗貨的服務公司 (The 3rd Party Inspection)，替他們把關品質。 當然這類的公司多為大陸人組織運作，衍生出來的弊病也較單純，就是驗貨拿紅包；但犧牲的就是品質了。 最後，就是有一些保守派的國際精品買家，我們稱他們為禮品業「金字塔頂端」的少數買家。 他們在價格彈性有空間的條件下，會把搜尋產品、驗廠、採購、驗貨等業務委外給值得信任的公司，並簽下採購代理的合約，做為外國公司在亞洲的備用團隊 (Backup Team)，為其公司的功能性部門加長了戰線。 本研究從行銷策略、商業模式、服務創新、供應鏈整合等理論出發，結合國際精品採購代理公司Tableware & Home Décor產業，提出了一個新的國際精品採購代理公司的未來的成長機會。 這個成長的機會中建議公司進行客戶、供應商整合及內部人才的培育，有助於公司降低交易成本、更好的服務客戶，提升原有服務品質並提供新的附加服務，增強採購代理的競爭力及績效，並在公司既有的核心能力下創造更多的成長機會。 / After 2000, due to the rise of China's foreign trade, the gift industry also emerged at the international exhibition; many foreign buyers are attracted by its low prices and placed orders, but then derived from the quality, delivery problems are endless. The frustration is that foreign buyers not only during the communication, but also a profound experience to the mainland's mall culture - "Everything is no problem." (NO PROBLEM = OK & YES). But when goods is delivered to foreign warehouses, out of the box and saw all the problems presented to the full. The main factor is the language, communication, consumer markets, cultural differences ... and so on. After the problem occurs, the international trader has the ability to be a problem solver, who should provide the reasonable solution subsequently. At the same time there are also some middle-low-priced driven foreign buyers, they did not rush things; but faced the trade environment changes, in order to avoid the risk of buying offices, they will through some the 3rd Party service company for them to check the quality. Of course, many of these the 3rd Party companies operate by Mainland people, the weaknesses they found are simpler, that is, an inspector get a red envelope when they conduct inspections; but is the quality of the sacrifice. Finally, there are some conservative international boutique buyers; we call them the buyers of the gift industry "pyramid". They have room on price elasticity conditions, they will outsourced a trusted company for products sourcing, audits, procurement, inspection and other services, and signed a contract procurement agency, as its foreign companies in Asia, alternate team (Backup Team), for which the company's functional departments lengthened the front. In this study, starts from marketing strategy, business model, service innovation, supply chain integration theory, combined with international boutique procurement agent Tableware & Home Décor industry, proposed a new international boutique procurement agent's future growth opportunities. The opportunities for growth companies recommended customers, suppliers and internal integration of the nurturing of talents, helps companies reduce transaction costs, has better customer service, improve the quality of existing services and provide new additional services, enhance the competitive procurement agency power and performance, and in the company under the existing core competencies to create more growth opportunities.