Recently computer and communication industries have grown markedly and rapidly. The related industry of the passive components also grows fastly. especially inductor, resistor and capacitor aspects. However, there are so many companies engaging in this passive component business, and hence competition is extremely severe for domestic and foreign markets. Facing current situation the competitors of passive component business must have an effective strategy, or they will be eliminated from the market. In this thesis, the orientations of industry are divided into Product Leaders, Operational Excellence, Customer Intimacy, and Diversification. Based a literature survey of domestic and foreign information, the case study and the industry structural analyses and defining four strategic competition groups, we hope we can grasp the firm¡¦s key success factors (KSFs) to find the best strategy of competitive advantage.

This study investigated the influencing factors to retirement home decisions in Taiwan. The effect of socio-demographic variables, health conditions, and needs to characteristics were examined. The objective of study was people whose age over 50 in Taiwan. The questionnaires were collected by mail and there were 755 valid samples. The findings from this study include the followings. First, using hierarchical logistic regression, the major predictors to decision to retirement home are: 1.insurance condition; 2.independence and autonomy; 3.comfort and convenience. Second, medical facilities and services are not major predictors to retirement home decision in Taiwan. This is quite different from the findings in America and European countries. The possible reason is that there are abundant medical resources and the medical accessibility is high in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT The development of information technology and the evolution of micro marketing urged the enterprises to value the effects of implementing database marketing. In the era of emphasizing customer centric, creating niches of differentiation, enhancing effectiveness of marketing, improving customers¡¦ satisfaction, database marketing is the most important basis of the above mentioned marketing development. The distinctions of database marketing are systematic, long-term oriented and emphasizing planning and analysis, which are different from the ways of traditional marketing that most of the companies are using. Developing Database Marketing is a significant change for all marketing related activities. The sales team has to learn new marketing skills, change the present marketing process, to invest in information technology, even to adjust the functions of organization and build up new concepts of marketing in order to improve the effects of database marketing. Practically, implementing database marketing must follow the process of strategic planning, for the purpose of building up competitive advantages, considering the capability and demand of the enterprise, to create the functions that the enterprise needs, then to improve the performance of marketing. The application of information technology is an important strategy of improving operation capability of the financial industry. Many banks had implemented database marketing to enhance their performance. Leasing is an important sector of financial industry, which is very suitable to execute database marketing for the characteristics of its business. Presently, Chailease finance Co., Ltd. is the only leasing company, to implement data marketing. So, this thesis is to study Chailease Financing Co., Ltd. for the following purposes: 1. The objectives of strategy that leasing industry implements database marketing. 2. The appliances and methods of executing database marketing in the case. 3. The critical success factors of implementing database marketing in the case. After illustrating the case and analyzing the theory, we can figure out the critical success factors related to the purpose of the thesis. Then we chose the objectives of strategy, appliances and methods, and critical success factors as 3 dimensions of studying the critical success factors in implementing database marketing of Chailease Financing Co., Ltd. By the way of investigation of questionnaire, we analyze the individual factors and relations among 3 dimensions. After the analysis of questionnaire, the result from the research shows that the objectives of strategy of implementing database marketing have been effective. But some of the important functions are not workable due to the influences of insufficient conditions or requirements and the other prior objectives of organization.

This study applies the Washington State Ergonomics Tool to waste industry jobs in Texas. Exposure data were collected by on-site observation of fourteen different multi-task jobs in a major national solid waste management company employing more than 26,000 employees. This company has nationwide operations, and these jobs represent the majority of workers involved in the collection and processing of solid waste. The WSET uses observational checklist methodology to evaluate generic risk factors in the following six major categories: awkward posture, highly repetitive motion, high hand force, repeated impact, lifting, and hand-arm vibration. The assessment tool incorporates these risk factors and combinations of risk factors into checklists for identifying three levels of potential exposure: safe, -caution zone" and -hazard zone" jobs. The tool was developed for employers to use in determining whether a job was likely to increase the risk of workplace musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) to their employees. OSHA 200 logs were used as the main source of morbidity data. If there was one recorded WMSD, the job was classified as -positive. "If there was no recorded WMSD, the job was classified as -negative. "-Safe"jobs were those predicted not to expose workers to increased risk of WMSDs. Those that possessed one or more -caution zone"criteria but still fell below the -hazard zone" threshold required the employer to provide -awareness education" for employees and to further analyze the job for the presence of -hazard zone" risk factors. If hazard zone risk factors were not present, no further action was required. Jobs that upon further analysis possessed one or more of the -hazard zone"criteria were labeled -hazardous" jobs. If the further analysis shows the presence of risk factors established in the hazard zone criteria (Appendix B), the employer would be required to take corrective action to reduce exposures to below the hazardous level. Of the three jobs predicted to be -safe"by -caution zone" criteria, two did not have injuries and one did. Of the eleven jobs predicted by -caution zone"criteria to increase the risk of WMSDs, six resulted in injuries and five did not. Of the four jobs predicted by -hazard zone"criteria to be -problem"jobs, two jobs did result in injury and two did not. This study found that the WSET -caution zone"criteria were more effective at predicting which jobs were likely to increase the risk of WMSDs than was the -hazard zone"checklist. The caution zone had high sensitivity and low specificity. The hazard zone criteria reflect a low sensitivity and a low specificity. Further analysis revealed the WSET was helpful in predicting back injuries associated with lifting but not effective at predicting jobs with the potential for upper extremity injuries.

The goal of this research was to extend the investigation into a method to represent and analyze the stress field around two parallel edge cracks in a finite body. The Westergaard-Schwarz method combined with the local collocation method was used to analyze different cases of two parallel edge cracks in a finite body. Using this method a determination of when two parallel edge cracks could be analyzed as isolated single edge cracks was determined Numerical experimentation was conducted using ABAQUS. It was used to obtain the coordinate and stress information required in the local collocation method. The numerical models were created by maintaining one crack at a fixed length while varying the length of the second crack as well as the separation distance of the two cracks. The results obtained through the local collocation method were compared with the finite element obtained J-Integrals to verify the accuracy of the results. The results obtained in the analysis showed that the major factor in determining when the second crack’s stress field has to be considered was the crack separation distance. It was found that a reduction in the second crack’s length did not have a significant effect on overall stress intensity factors of the fixed crack. A larger change in the opening mode stress intensity factor can be seen by varying the crack separation distance. As well as seeing a steady reduction in shear mode stress intensity factors as the crack separation was increased. The results showed that after a certain crack separation distance the two cracks could be analyzed separately without introducing significant error into the stress field calculations.

The adult Drosophila central nervous system is produced by two phases of neurogenesis: the first phase occurs during embryonic development where the larval brain is formed and the second occurs during larval development to form the adult brain. Neurogenesis in both phases is caused by the activation of neural stem cell division and subsequent progenitor cell division and terminal differentiation. Proper activation of neural stem cell division in the larval brain is essential for proper patterning and functionality of the adult central nervous system. Initiation of neural stem cell proliferation requires signaling from the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) homolog Branchless (Bnl) and by the Hedgehog (Hh) growth factor. I have focused on the interactions between both of these signaling pathways with respect to post-embryonic neural stem cell proliferation using the Drosophila larval brain. Using proliferation assays and quantitative real-time PCR, I have shown that Bnl and Hh signaling is inter-dependent in the 1st instar larval brain and activates neural stem cell proliferation. I have also shown that overexpression of bnl can rescue signaling and neuroblast proliferation in a hh mutant. However, overexpression of hh does not rescue signaling or neuroblast proliferation in a bnl mutant, suggesting that Bnl is the signaling output of the Bnl-Hh feedback loop and that all central brain and optic lobe neural stem cells require Bnl signaling to initiated proliferation.

Abstract Drug abuse is a major public issue concerned by the general public. The objective of this research is to investigate the relation among drug behavior, mental cognition and environmental influences for the first-time adult male drug users. In addition, the correlation between mental cognition and degree of environmental influences will also be studied. Suggestions and strategies derived from the result will be proposed for government authorities for formulating an effective strategy against drug abuse. Through the study and analysis of literature references, different aspects of problems are incorporated into a questionnaire scale. A questionnaire survey is conducted on 431 drug offenders in the Penghu Prison. The results are analyzed using the SPSS 10.0 statistic software to determine the fundamental characteristics of the samples and the presence of dissimilarity and correlation between the mental cognition and environmental influences for samples with different attributes. The result revealed that, in terms of the fundamental characteristics, the age group of first-time adult male users is primarily between 18-24 years old, when teenagers are about to enter their adulthood. The ratio of first-time drug abuse declines with the increase of age. The ratio of heroin and amphetamine used in the first-time drug abuse is 46% versus 54%. Despite the expensive price and addictive nature, no significant reduction is observed in the frequency of heroin use. More single users are observed, indicating that most first-time use takes place before marriage. As for the education level, first-time users are mainly junior high school graduates, and the number declines with higher education received. In terms of occupation, the percentage of labor and driver population are the highest among first-time drug users, while the percentage of farmers, fishermen, soldiers, government servants and teachers are the lowest. Financial ability is the basic requirement of drug abuse; therefore, there is a positive correlation between the percentage of first-time adult male users and the level of monthly income. Having friends who are doing drugs is a prerequisite and hence over 90% of first-time adult male users have, on average, three drug user friends. In regard to the mental cognition, researches discovered that most adult male users are in lack of a deep and correct understanding towards the danger of drugs. Most drug users in general hold a less negative attitude towards drugs and believe they will be luckier. At the same time, they have a higher expectation towards the psychological relief which they believe can be brought upon by drugs. As for the environmental influences, peer pressure has the highest impact on the first-time adult male drug users. Other factors such as cheap drugs and easily accessible drug environment resulted from ineffective anti-drug policies, inadequate media report under highly developed society, curiosity and unhealthy social culture all have a significant influence. Family, however, does not show any significant influence over first-time adult male drug users. Finally, no significant correlation between the mental cognition of self-control on drug behavior and family influence is observed for first-time adult male users in the research conducted on the relation between mental cognition and environmental influences. Yet, a relative degree of correlation exists between the overall mental cognition and environmental influences, where a mutually amplifying characteristic is observed between the two factors. This indicates that mental cognition and environmental influences are both critical risk factors for first-time adult male drug users. Suggestions are made in our research that the promotional tasks should be reinforced, pressure management should be focused, comprehensive family functions should be established, positive development should be encouraged among peers, anti-drug units should be organized, long-term drug abuse monitoring mechanism should be constructed, and alternative thinkings should be incorporated into drug policies. The suggestions are of great importance for preventing first-time drug use by adult males and can be used as a reference by the government.

<p>Nearly a centennial after the granted women’s suffrage in the United States, almost 40 yearsfrom the start of the 70’s women’s right’s movements women have shown that they canobtain same level in education as men can and graduate with competitive skills as men.However, according to statistics that is when the equality seems to loose its balance. Despitethis there are women in this “Yes We Can”-era of where a former First Lady was verycompetitive in a Presidential Race, that with certain success factors compete effectively invarious male-dominant fields.</p>

<p>Enterprise Modelling (EM) tools are an important part ofevery EM application project. Continuous evolution of modellingmethods therefore requires efficient EM tool support. Extensiveefforts have been devoted to developing new EM tools andmodelling techniques. Considerably less attention has been paidto the aspects of acquiring and introducing EM tools inorganisations. Our grounded theory study shows that thisprocess is far from simple. It is determined by theorganisation's intentions regarding EM and by the situation inthe EM user organisation. As a contribution to this, we presentan EM tool acquisition process, which focuses on selecting anappropriate EM tool acquisition scenario for an organisation.This process has the following stages - assessing theorganisation, choosing an EM tool acquisition strategy, andfollowing the EM tool acquisition strategy. We support theprocess of evaluating the situation at hand by providingguidelines for assessing intentional and situational factorsthat influence the use of EM tools.</p><p>We also outline EM itself, along with its applicationprocess, and describe possible sources for gathering therequirements for an EM tool-set. Major requirements categoriesare discussed and analysed with respect to the goals andproblems regarding EM tools. Each category of requirements canbe satisfied to a certain degree, depending on theorganisational needs and various situational factors.</p><p>This grounded theory study provides two main contributions.Firstly, it proposes a systematic approach for EM toolacquisition supported by a set of guidelines.The approachenables an organisation to assess its needs of EM tools and itsown appropriateness for EM tool usage. As a result, an EM userorganisation is able to choose an EM tool acquisition strategythat meets the situation it faces. This is a contribution tothe overall success of practical use of EM methods and tools.Secondly, it provides an important baseline for future researchand theory building within the area of EM tool adoption andapplication. It also gives valuable information andrequirements for development of new EM tools and relatedservices.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D. in Cancer Biology)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.