To design a cyclone abatement system for particulate control, it is necessary to accurately estimate cyclone performance. In this cyclone study, new theoretical methods for computing travel distance, numbers of turns and cyclone pressure drop have been developed. The flow pattern and cyclone dimensions determine the travel distance in a cyclone. The number of turns was calculated based on this travel distance. The new theoretical analysis of cyclone pressure drop was tested against measured data at different inlet velocities and gave excellent agreement. The results show that cyclone pressure drop varies with the inlet velocity, but not with cyclone diameter. Particle motion in the cyclone outer vortex was analyzed to establish a force balance differential equation. Barth??s "static particle" theory, particle (with diameter of d50) collection probability is 50% when the forces acting on it are balanced, combined with the force balance equation was applied in the theoretical analyses for the models of cyclone cut-point and collection probability distribution in the cyclone outer vortex. Cyclone cut-points for different dusts were traced from measured cyclone overall collection efficiencies and the theoretical model for calculating cyclone overall efficiency. The cut-point correction models (K) for 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones were developed through regression fit from traced and theoretical cut-points. The regression results indicate that cut-points are more sensitive to mass median diameter (MMD) than to geometric standard deviation (GSD) of PSD. The theoretical overall efficiency model developed in this research can be used for cyclone total efficiency calculation with the corrected d50 and PSD. 1D3D and 2D2D cyclones were tested at Amarillo, Texas (an altitude of 1128 m / 3700 ft), to evaluate the effect of air density on cyclone performance. Two sets of inlet design velocities determined by the different air densities were used for the tests. Experimental results indicate that optimal cyclone design velocities, which are 16 m/s (3200 ft/min) for 1D3D cyclones and 15 m/s (3000 ft/min) for 2D2D cyclones, should be determined based on standard air density. It is important to consider the air density effect on cyclone performance in the design of cyclone abatement systems.

High efficiency air blowers to meet future portable aerosol sampling applications were designed, fabricated, and evaluated. A Centrifugal blower was designed to achieve a flow rate of 100 L/min (1.67 x 10^-3 m^3/s) and a pressure rise of WC " 4 (1000 PA). Commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, FLUENT 6.1.22, was used extensively throughout the entire design cycle. The machine, Reynolds number (Re) , was around 10^5 suggesting a turbulent flow field. Renormalization Group (RNG) κ−ε turbulent model was used for FLUENT simulations. An existing design was scaled down to meet the design needs. Characteristic curves showing static pressure rise as a function of flow rate through the impeller were generated using FLUENT and these were validated through experiments. Experimentally measured efficiency (ηEXP) for the base-design was around 10%. This was attributed to the low efficiency of the D.C. motor used. CFD simulations, using the κ−ε turbulent model and standard wall function approach, over-predicted the pressure rise values and the percentage error was large. Enhanced wall function under-predicted the pressure rise but gave better agreement (less than 6% error) with experimental results. CFD predicted a blower scaled 70% in planar direction (XZ) and 28% in axial direction (Y) and running at 19200 rpm (70xz_28y@19.2k) as the most appropriate choice. The pressure rise is 1021 Pa at the design flow rate of 100 L/min. FLUENT predicts an efficiency value based on static head (ηFLU) as 53.3%. Efficiency value based on measured static pressure rise value and the electrical energy input to the motor (ηEXP) is 27.4%. This is almost a 2X improvement over the value that one gets with the hand held vacuum system blower.

With the initiation of national health insurance, the ecology of medicine and organization of hospitals in Taiwan underwent rapid change. The beginning of a global budget aggravated the impact of hospitals, especially the district hospitals which were already facing most of the pressure. Over half (51.61 %) of the above district hospitals chose to focus on long term care, nursing homes making up the great majority. This research evaluates the efficiency of two district hospital-based nursing homes by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The purpose of this research includes: First, evaluate the efficiency of two district hospital-based nursing homes, including overall efficiency, purely technological efficiency and scale efficiency. Second, assess the relative efficiency relationships of the two nursing homes. Third, probe the differences between relatively efficient and relatively inefficient groups in input variable and output variable. Fourth, with the analysis results, suggest adjustments of input and output to every relative inefficiency groups, as the health care manager's reference. The research approach is to consult relevant documents and the purpose of this study is to choose input and output variables. These variables are screened by Pearson analysis for isotonicity relation. Process the study by DEA for relatively efficient analysis, then direct against the relatively inefficient groups for discussion of efficiency reference set and slack variable analysis. The result of study shows: First, overall efficiency: There are 6 relatively inefficient groups (37.5%) in the first nursing home; There are 8 groups relatively inefficiently attended to (50%) in the second nursing home; There are 18 groups relatively inefficient (56.25%) in the combined first and second nursing home groups. Second, purely technological efficiency: There are 4 groups relatively inefficiently attended to (25.0%) in the first nursing home; There are 5 groups relatively inefficiently attended to (31.25%) in the second nursing home; There are 15 groups relatively inefficient (46.9%) in the combined first and second nursing home groups. Third, scale efficiency: There are 6 groups relatively inefficiently attended to (37.5%) in the first nursing home; There are 8 groups relatively inefficiently attended to (50%) in the second nursing home; There are 18 groups relatively inefficient (56.25%) in the combined first and second nursing home groups. Fourth, the slack variable analysis: the input items that must improve are foreign caretaker labor hours, nurse assist labor hours and nurse labor hours into sequentially, the output one is most important in increasing the income range. In this research, nursing staff and attendants' labor hour can only represent the workforce attending to the unit, but besides personnel figures, personnel quality is a very important factor, too; as regards nursing efficiency, it is not only the number attending to the quantity of service, but also the quality: For example, the incidence of pressure sores, unexpected accidents, patient satisfaction, or staff members' satisfaction, etc. These will all influence the overall efficiency in DEA and remaining research to analyse further in the future. We hope the parameters, such as the make up of resident people in different areas, severity of disease, etc., could continue relevant research to influence the efficiency of nursing homes in the future.

According to the report of the Bureau of National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) in 1997, the total expenses on ventilator-dependent patients was about 7,100 million yuan in hospital, account for 3% of the cost of one year of health insurance of the whole people. To efficiently control their admission so as to decrease unsuitable utilization of mechanical ventilation, and to achieve the rational growth of medical expenditure, the NHI has developed the perspective payment system for the ventilator-dependent integrated delivery system (IDS) respiratory care program since July 1, 2000. Ventilator-dependent patients, difficult to wean, rely on the mechanical ventilation, using for at least 21 days in succession. The patients are dependent upon long-term mechanical respiratory care. Integrating the different level of respiratory care, IDS program is including ¡§ICU , intensive care unit¡¨, ¡¨RCC, respiratory care center¡¨, ¡¨ RCW , respiratory care ward¡¨ and ¡§home care¡¨ and pay in accordance with the level. The purpose of IDS program is to promote the quality of respiratory care and effectively to utilize the limited medical resources. The data for this research was retrieved from the 2002-2004 ¡§NHI database¡¨ that includes charge and discharge information for 115 hospitals. Of the 115 hospitals analyzed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique, to explore the whole efficiency and purely technological efficiency.

Local land administration office is to execute registering of lands and buildings. Its objective is to implement local land policy. In the mean time, its functions are about citizen¡¦s property rights. Because the social, economy and political environment have been changed rapidly, demands for land administration and service quality have been growing as well. Therefore, the first priority work for government is to improve whole administrative efficiency and effectiveness, by using modern technology. It thus needed to electronic-wise land office, to set up a computerization system of land information management so as to provide complete land information, to execute modern administration, to promote competition, and to provide convenient and efficient services. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to research these first-line local offices so as (i) to promote its efficiency after being computerized (ii) to compare the implementing result before and after the computerization in Kaohsiung county and city, and (iii) to study the influences of the computerized process, finally (iv) to suggest local offices decision makers the future direction of improvement. This study uses DEA and SFA to compute their efficiency after computerization of the local land offices in Kaohsiung county and city. To do this, we collect annually statistics and use DEA-Solver software and Frontier 4.1 computer program to evaluate their productivities, and to make an efficiency analysis. The results revealed that the annual average technology efficiency descended before computerization and ascended after computerization for all land offices. CCR model revealed that annual averages of technology efficiency are stable before computerization and it ascended after computerization for all land offices. SFA analysis revealed that annual averageefficiency score slightly ascends before computerization and ascends after computerization except for year 2001. For technology changes, their productivities slightly descends for all land offices in Kaohsiung county but ascends for all land offices in Kaohsiung city. For efficiency slack analysis, all five land offices must reduce their inputs in Kaohsiung county. For output slack, only Chi-Shang land office must expand its output 13.01% so as to reach a relatively inefficient DMU. Between the Kaohsiung county and city, information difference between city and country has influences on efficiency. Land offices in Kaohsiung city have general higher average technology efficiency than those in Kaohsiung county. This study uses DEA and SFA to analyze land offices in Kaohsiung county and city, and it was found that whole efficiency scores increased after computerization. And it is suggested several important problems and the possible directions of productivity improvement in the future for all land offices.

Artificial wetland treatment system is an economical water purification system which has high potential in water purification ecology method. Many countries utilized this natural treatment system to solve their waste problems (for example, wastewater and solid waste) and well results were found with proven efficient. Recently, Taiwan has started developing the natural treatment system utilizing the self-purifying function of the natural surrounding by using the physical, chemical and biological reactions in soil, plants and microorganisms, to reduce the concentrations of pollutants produced by wastes. Eventually, all the pollutants can be eliminated to the harmless level to the environment and its organisms. For better understanding the feasibility of artificial wetlands, we study the performance of artificial wetland system with its raw wastewater produced from its community household wastewater at Liao-Luo Village. Artificial wetland system is a natural purification system, no additional chemicals are needed. In addition, it can be easily operated and maintained, and can be used to treat wastewater with simple pollutants in school. Wetlands not only can be utilized to treat wastewater, but also for can be used for educational purposes. The investigation periods in this work is from May 2008 to Dec.2008. The average of removal efficiency were as follows: BOD (52%), E-colis (79%), NH3 (74%). Total N (61%) and Total P (72%). In comparison with related literatures, we operated with higher removal due to the facts containing the lower organic loading and longer water retention time to decompose pollutants in solution. To keep the Liao-Luo Village wetland¡¦s wastewater treatment function, periodical maintenance is performed. Besides moving grass and removing garbage, proper vegetables are planted in each treatment area are needed.

<p>Problem: Recent articles argue that the new accounting standard regarding abandonment of depreciation of goodwill will cause a rise in share prices. According to the Efficient Market Hypothesis, a rise in profits due to accounting changes should not cause an increase in share prices. Therefore we ask the following main question in our thesis: Do investors on the Stockholm Stock Exchange act semi-strong efficient in relation to the abandonment of linear depreciation of goodwill?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to test the semi-strong form of market efficiency on the Stockholm Stock Exchange by studying if companies show positive abnormal returns caused by the removal of linear depreciation of goodwill.</p><p>Method: Both a qualitative and quantitative approach was used to investigate semi-strong market efficiency. We conducted an event study to measure if companies with a high degree of goodwill showed abnormal returns. To be able to see if the abnormal returns were caused by the new accounting standards, a qualitative research was made.</p><p>Conclusion: The empirical investigation indicates that investors acted semistrong efficient in relation to the abandonment of linear depreciation of goodwill.</p>

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-183).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Bryn Mawr College, 1929. / Vita. "Reprinted from the Personnel Journal, vol. IX, nos. 1 and 2, June and August, 1930." Bibliography: p. 75-77.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1931. / Vita. "Reprinted from Archives of psychology ... no. 126." Bibliography: p. [49]-51.