Work deals with global trends in high-tech industry which are mainly consolidation, concentrations and regionalization. It provides the definition of the high-tech industry, then focuses on specific sector - semiconductor industry. It describes the characteristics of the manufacturing process and workforce. A special part is devoted to government policies regards to the semiconductors research and development. The last part is devoted to a case study of the American company - Texas Instruments Inc. which has been playing the important role in the world semiconductor industry.

Polymer nanofibers have attracted a lot of industrial interest in the past decade. In general, these fibers need to be thermally stable for many applications, such as in the aerospace industry. However, most of these polymer nanofibers suffer from low temperature degradation, limiting their use in many potential applications. Graphene, which is one sheet of graphite, has unique properties such as high conductivity, and high thermal stability. This exceptional material can be incorporated into the polymer nanofibers as nanofillers in order to enhance their thermal properties. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the effect of adding graphene nanofillers into the polymer fiber on the resulting fibers’ thermal properties. For that purpose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a non-conductive polymer and a different source of graphene, namely graphene foam, expendable graphite and graphite powder were used. The growth technique was the electrospinning technique which offers a variety of parameters that need to be optimized. For this includes, the amount of PVA in the water solvent, the flow rate, the applied voltage, the growth time, and the tip/collector distance. In summary, it has been optimized that the best conditions for growth of fibers will be as follows: PVA concentration will be fixed at 10 wt%, flow rate will be 3 ml/h, applied voltage will be 30 kV, growth time of 60 s and tip/collector distance will be fixed at 12 cm. The resulted PVA fibers from these conditions were smooth continuous and hollow with diameter ranging between 190-340 nm, while PVA/graphene nano-fibers are much thinner with diameter ranging between 132 - 235 nm when the same parameters were used with only graphene concentration varied. The fiber obtained with PVA showed a hollow structure which is desirable for incorporation of graphene nanofillers. The dispersion of the different source of graphene sheets in the starting PVA solution showed enhanced thermal stability compared to the PVA fibers alone. Furthermore, an increase in the thermal stability is observed with increasing concentration of graphene nanofillers. This work shows the promising use of graphene as nanofillers for PVA fibers. This can be expended to other non-conductive and conductive polymers in order to broaden the application of these fibers in the industries, where thermal stability is a prerequisite. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Physics / unrestricted

Among the evidences of a successful school program is its power to reduce probable failures and increase the proportion of success among graduates in their past school careers. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the school personnel to make continuous checks on the changing needs of boys and girls and to offer opportunities for growth and development according to their individual needs. / Advisor: Stewart Murray, Professor Directing Paper. / Typescript. / "August, 1952." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-47).

The rare earth polysulfides and polyselenides of Tm, Yb, and Lu are unknown. The ionic radius of the rare earth has become too small to allow the structure common to the known members of the series, and with the polysulfides the stable temperature zone is too low to give the high sulfur pressure necessary for synthesis of RS_2. It was felt that high pressure, high temperature techniques could be used to overcome both problems and to allow synthesis of compounds not possible by ordinary methods. Synthesis studies were carried out on mixtures of the rare earth element plus sulfur in the 1:2 mole ratio for Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Y. The known polysulfide series was extended three members, TmS_2, YbS_2, and LuS_2. A high pressure pseudo-cubic polymorph was found for nine members, GdS_2, TbS_2, DyS_2, HoS_2, ErS_2, TmS_2, YbS_2, LuS_2, and YS_2. The minimum pressure of formation for the cubic polymorphs was found to be a smooth function of the ionic radius of the rare earth elements except for Y. YS_2 required a higher pressure to form the cubic polymorph than expected from the usual value of the ionic radius of Y, but the compressibility of Y is somewhat higher than Dy, which Y otherwise closely resembles. The reaction product diagrams of the rare earth polysulfides were all very similar. Regions were found where Ho_2S_3 and Yb_2S_3 were found on their respective diagrams. These compounds had the recently reported cubic Th_3P_4 type structure. Synthesis studies were carried out on 1:2 molar mixtures of rare earth element plus selenium for Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. The known polyselenide series was extended three members to include TmSe_2, YbSe_2, and LuSe_2. Cubic Er_2Se_3 with the Th_3P_4 type structure was found at the highest pressure and temperature tried for the Er + 2 Se system. Prior to this work Er_2Se_3 was known only with the orthorhombic Sc_2S_3 type structure. The results of this investigation suggest that high pressure, high temperature techniques can be used to extend other series of rare earth compounds and several possibilities are suggested.

Thesis: B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1980 / Includes bibliographical references. / by Helen T. Conley. / B.S. / B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

This study examined what Washington high school principals perceive to be the most effective dropout prevention policies and programs. The population included all public high schools in the State of Washington. Five questions were posed: 1. (a) What preventative measures, intervention programs or student services designed to enhance environmental and personal factors are perceived to have reduced dropout rates? (b) Does the availability of those services and programs account for a significant difference in the actual dropout rates? 2. (a) What personal/psychological factors characterize potential dropouts? (b) Do these identifying characteristics account for a significant variance in the actual dropout rates? 3. (a) What environmental factors influence dropout rates in the schools? (b) Do these factors account for a significant variance in the actual dropout rates? 4. What intervention programs or student services are available in the sample? 5. What demographic factors in the sample schools significantly affect dropout rates? The study incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methodology. Ninety six questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 64 percent. The survey gathered information about each school's demographics, opinions about potential dropouts' identifying characteristics, opinions about the school environment availability of services and programs in each building and district, and which programs they felt to be the most effective, ranking the top ten from a list of twenty possible programs, policies, or services. Six schools were visited and their principals were interviewed to get additional information about their programs and effectiveness. Data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA, multiple regression, and paired comparisons. The policies, services, and programs felt to be most effective were: In-house progressive discipline, vocational programs, a written building attendance policy, out-of-building alternative programs, cooperative work programs, freshman bonding programs, small group advisories, in-building alternative programs, a written district attendance policy, a required life skills class, honors courses, and alcohol/drug-related programs. Available programs accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: Monetary incentives, child care facilities, English taught as a second language, honors courses, and parent effectiveness programs. Identified personal characteristics accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: Working full-time, low self-esteem, parents' background, low grades, teen pregnancy, and being of a racial minority. Environmental factors accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: High parent and community involvement with the school, self-esteem classes and small-group advisories, and the Excellence reform. Demographic factors accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates were: economic stability, gender of principal, and use of free school lunch. The research suggests that those programs and practices accounting for a variance in actual dropout rates should be examined for their interaction of involved factors. If the discussed personal and environmental factors are present, those effective interactive practices should be implemented in order to reduce dropout rates.

School attendance is a major component in the success of a student. School climate is a pivotal factor in why students come to school. The overarching goal of this research project was to determine why students at Hendersonville High School prefer to be absent and what they believe would motivate them to attend school regularly. In order to accomplish this task, quantitative and qualitative research questions were used. Quantitative 1. How do 9th grade students at Hendersonville High School rate items related to academic work and engagement on the HSSSE? 2. How do 9th grade students at Hendersonville High School rate items related to safety and engagement on the HSSSE? 3. How do 9th grade students at Hendersonville High School rate items related to environment and engagement on the HSSSE? Qualitative 1. What is the 9th grade attendance pattern at Hendersonville High School? 2. What are 9th grade students’ perceptions of academic work, safety and environment as they relate to absenteeism? Results of the study showed that teachers use limited method of instruction (lecture only), the student body is punished as a whole for individual actions, lack of art based learning, lack of technology and eating healthier. In the analysis of the focus group respondents survey data, common reasons for boredom included:(1) work not challenging enough, (2) material wasn’t interesting, (3) teaching method not interesting,and (4) half of all focus group respondents stated that a common reason for boredom was no interaction with teacher. Recommendations include the following: professional development opportunities for teachers, developing a new discipline policy for combating issues on an individual basis instead of punishing groups of people. Improving the curriculum to incorporate art based learning through grade levels, and introduce new classes and after school opportunities for students to participate in art based learning. Improve use of and accessibility to technology in the classroom and for individual student use. Improving school breakfast and lunch to include a healthier variety of foods to choose from.

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