The purpose of the present study was to determine olfactory detection thresholds in human subjects for a set of six sulfur-containing odorants which are known to be components of mammalian predator odors. Using a threealternative ascending staircase procedure, the olfactory sensitivity of 12 healthy adult human subjects, 6 males and 6 females was assessed with 2-propylthietane, 2,2-dimethylthietane, 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, 3-mercapto-3- methylbutyl formate, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, and methyl-2-phenylethyl sulfide. The results showed that A) all six predator odorants were detected at concentrations below 1 ppb (parts per billion), and one of them (3-mercapto-3-methylbutyl formate) even at a concentration below 1 ppt (parts per trillion), B) structurally similar odorants yielded significantly different threshold values, and C) no significant sex differences were found in olfactory sensitivity with any of the six odorants. The findings obtained from the present study show that human subjects were not generally less sensitive to the predator odorants tested here compared to spider monkeys despite having a markedly lower number of olfactory receptor types. Further, they suggest that humans may be more sensitive to predator odorants compared to a variety of non-predator odorants. One possible explanation for the high olfactory sensitivity observed here is the fact that sulfur compounds typically can be detected at low concentrations. An alternative explanation derives from an evolutionary perspective as our human ancestors were a potential prey of large carnivores and  thus a high olfactory sensitivity for predator odors should be adaptive for humans.

Investment, financing and dividend policies are critical for firms. The natures of these three policies may be significantly influenced by bankers on the board. Previous studies have examined the relationship between financing policy and bankers on the board. However, the influence of bankers on the board on corporate investment and dividend policies remains unexamined. Therefore, this paper tries to shed further light on whether bankers on the board affect corporate investment-cash flow sensitivity and dividend policy. This study collects data from Taiwan publicly traded corporations that have banker directors between 2003 and 2007, together with a matching sample consisting of firms without banker directors. Variables used to construct empirical analyses are from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) database. The results show that the presence of bankers appointed to corporate directors and the percentage of banker directors positively affect the firm¡¦s investment-cash flow sensitivity positively. This study also finds a negative relationship between the presence of banker directors and the likelihood of dividend payment. The percentage of banker directors has negative impacts on the likelihood of dividend payment and corporate dividend payout ratio.

The most critical problem of NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the relatively low sensitivity compared to other forms of spectroscopy, limiting the applicability of these techniques. Most of the existing research focused on trying to alleviate these problems through hyperpolarization techniques, strong magnetic fields, low temperature experiments (<25K), and pulse sequence development. Going beyond the previously stated methods, researchers found that the implementation of smaller resonant coils is a more convenient and effective way to alleviate the problem of low sensitivity in NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. In this work, a systematic optimization of the parameters for micro-coil probes and magic-angle coil spinning (MACS) probes was carried out with various common NMR nuclear species such as 1H, 31P, 23Na, 79Br on two NMR spectrometers (200 MHz and 500 MHz). The optimized wire diameter, coil diameter, number of turns, the inner and outer diameters of the capillary, the matching capacitors etc have been obtained and demonstrated with a real biological system. In addition, we found that the conventional placement of the sample within the glass tube wrapped by a coil yields a lower signal and sensitivity when compared to coating the sample onto the coil prior to wrapping around the capillary. A new method of performing MACS experiment with micro-coil technology, therefore, was subsequently proposed, namely, micro surface coil magic angle spinning (MISCMAS). The optimized experimental conditions were then determined with both liquid and solid state samples.

In group coupon service, customers get merchandise or service which features significant discount from vendor and service provider. However, there are gaps generated during service delivery and had effect on repurchase intention. We extend the E-S-QUAL and HSQM to find the dimensions in respectively service quality. The purpose of this research is to learn how service quality of vendor and service quality of service provider influence the repurchase intention on vendor and service provider, moderating with price sensitivity dimension. PLS (partial least squared) is used to analyze our measurement and structural models. The results include: (1) key dimensions of service provider¡¦s service quality in group coupon service model and group coupon service model with recovery are interaction quality, physical environment, fulfillment, and policy. Dimensions of service quality of vendor in regular case are information quality, efficiency, system availability, and assurance, while dimensions of service quality of vendor in recovery case are responsiveness, compensation, and contact. (2) Service quality of service provider has greater effect on repurchase intention on vendor than service quality of vendor in regular case. (3) Price Sensitivity has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between service quality of service provider and repurchase intention on service provider with regular price. Our research contributes to the nascent body of group coupon advertisement format and offer unique insights for the vendor and service provider on the importance of each role and what should be concern for the future.

A new high-fidelity integrated system method and analysis approach was developed and implemented for consistent and comprehensive evaluations of advanced fuel cycles leading to minimized Transuranic (TRU) inventories. The method has been implemented in a developed code system integrating capabilities of MCNPX for highfidelity fuel cycle component simulations. The impact associated with energy generation and utilization is immeasurable due to the immense, widespread, and myriad effects it has on the world and its inhabitants. The polar extremes are demonstrated on the one hand, by the high quality of life enjoyed by individuals with access to abundant reliable energy sources, and on the other hand by the global-scale environmental degradation attributed to the affects of energy production and use. Thus, nations strive to increase their energy generation, but are faced with the challenge of doing so with a minimal impact on the environment and in a manner that is self-reliant. Consequently, a revival of interest in nuclear energy has followed with much focus placed on technologies for transmuting nuclear spent fuel. In this dissertation, a Nuclear Energy System (NES) configuration was developed to take advantage of used fuel recycling and transmutation capabilities in waste management scenarios leading to minimized TRU waste inventories, long-term activities, and radiotoxicities. The reactor systems and fuel cycle components that make up the NES were selected for their ability to perform in tandem to produce clean, safe, and dependable energy in an environmentally conscious manner. The reactor systems include the AP1000, VHTR, and HEST. The diversity in performance and spectral characteristics for each was used to enhance TRU waste elimination while efficiently utilizing uranium resources and providing an abundant energy source. The High Level Waste (HLW) stream produced by typical nuclear systems was characterized according to the radionuclides that are key contributors to long-term waste management issues. The TRU component of the waste stream becomes the main radiological concern for time periods greater than 300 years. A TRU isotopic assessment was developed and implemented to produce a priority ranking system for the TRU nuclides as related to long-term waste management and their expected characteristics under irradiation in the different reactor systems of the NES. Detailed 3D whole-core models were developed for analysis of the individual reactor systems of the NES. As an inherent part of the process, the models were validated and verified by performing experiment-to-code and/or code-to-code benchmarking procedures, which provided substantiation for obtained data and results. Reactor core physics and material depletion calculations were performed and analyzed. A computational modeling approach was developed for integrating the individual models of the NES. A general approach was utilized allowing for the Integrated System Model (ISM) to be modified in order to provide simulation for other systems with similar attributes. By utilizing this approach, the ISM is capable of performing system evaluations under many different design parameter options. Additionally, the predictive capabilities of the ISM and its computational time efficiency allow for system sensitivity/uncertainty analysis and the implementation of optimization techniques. The NES has demonstrated great potential for providing safe, clean, and secure energy and doing so with foreseen advantages over the LEU once-through fuel cycle option. The main advantages exist due to better utilization of natural resources by recycling the used nuclear fuel, and by reducing the final amount and time span for which the resulting HLW must be isolated from the public and the environment due to radiological hazard. If deployed, the NES can substantially reduce the long-term radiological hazard posed by current HLW, extend uranium resources, and approach the characteristics of an environmentally benign energy system.

Pricing strategies (e.g. yield management) in the tourism industry, known as non-transparent pricing, have raised fairness issues, and more recently, new pricing schemes in the airline industry have been controversial issues in terms of price fairness. Nonetheless, few tourism researchers have studied price fairness from a consumer perspective. Thus, an understanding of the cognitive processes associated with perceived price fairness could have far-reaching implications for tourist behavior research. The purpose of this study was to examine the antecedents and consequences of tourists‟ perceived price fairness of the ancillary revenue (i.e. extra fees of airlines). In particular, a conceptual model was based on Weiner's (1980) attribution theory, which was expected to complement shortcomings of the traditional dual entitlement principle (Kahneman, Knetsch, and Thaler, 1986). Following the study purpose, four objectives of the study were established: (1) to examine the dimensionality of price fairness in a price change context; (2) to examine the antecedents of price fairness; (3) to examine the consequences of price fairness; and (4) to compare differences in the price fairness model between high and low price sensitivity groups. To achieve the study objectives, this study developed a conceptual model of price fairness with three antecedents (price comparison, cognitive attribution, and emotional response) and four consequences (behavioral loyalty, willingness to pay, complaining, and revenge), and determined the model that best predicted the hypothesized model using Structural Equation Modeling. Data were collected from an online survey and the respondents (n=524) were leisure travel passengers in the United States who had taken domestic flights in the past 12 months. The initial model fit the data well from a global perspective, yet, some hypotheses were not supported. Results suggested that price comparison evaluation and cognitive attribution are antecedents to price fairness, but emotional response was found to be influenced by price fairness as opposed to what was hypothesized. It was also revealed that while price fairness directly influenced favorable behavioral intentions (e.g. behavioral loyalty and willingness to pay more), it also influenced unfavorable behavioral intentions (e.g. revenge and complaining behavior), mediated by negative emotional response. The revised model was alternatively proposed. In addition, significant differences in price fairness, emotional response, willingness to pay more, and revenge intention between high and low price sensitivity groups were found. Results of this study provide potentially important direction for the development of a theoretical framework for the conceptualization of antecedents and consequences of price fairness in a tourism context. It is further expected that findings of this study from an attributional perspective provide managerial guidance for the utilization of marketing strategy when a company encounters inevitable price increases or extra fees.

Numerical reservoir simulation has been used to describe mechanism of methane gas desorption process, diffusion process, and fluid flow in a coalbed methane reservoir. The reservoir simulation model reflects the response of a reservoir system and the relationship among coalbed methane reservoir properties, operation procedures, and gas production. This work presents a procedure to select the optimum well spacing scenario by using a reservoir simulation. This work uses a two-phase compositional simulator with a dual porosity model to investigate well-spacing effects on coalbed methane production performance and methane recovery. Because of reservoir parameters uncertainty, a sensitivity and parametric study are required to investigate the effects of parameter variability on coalbed methane reservoir production performance and methane recovery. This thesis includes a reservoir parameter screening procedures based on a sensitivity and parametric study. Considering the tremendous amounts of simulation runs required, this work uses a regression analysis to replace the numerical simulation model for each wellspacing scenario. A Monte Carlo simulation has been applied to present the probability function. Incorporated with the Monte Carlo simulation approach, this thesis proposes a well-spacing study procedure to determine the optimum coalbed methane development scenario. The study workflow is applied in a North America basin resulting in distinct Net Present Value predictions between each well-spacing design and an optimum range of well-spacing for a particular basin area.

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Abstract According to the idea held by the government, ¡§government has limited resources but the private sector has limitless power,¡¨ the Executive Yuan established and promulgated the enactment, ¡§Promoting the Participation by the Private Sector in Public Works,¡¨ in February 2000. This is a policy that depends on the vitality and capital funds of the private sector to be incorporated for use in a timely manner. This has brought positive meanings and benefits in enhancing government performance, reducing government financial burdens, speeding up the construction of public works, improving the quality of public works and services, and promoting economic growth. The scope and target of this dissertation is the process of planning to regard Kaohsiung International Youth Hostel as a dormitory facility of Kaohsiung Chung-Hwa School of Arts. It is expected, with the investigation of this case, to study how to harmony with related existing laws and regulations, analyze the burdens and favors taken by the participants under various situations, and examine the feasibility of its¡¦ cooperation so that unused government assets, in agreement with the original purpose of such assets, can be fully utilized, enthusiastic artists can have a comfortable housing environment and field where they can exchange art, facilitate the art prosperity in the Fine Arts Museum neighborhood, and then bring in commercial opportunity to help local economic development. Moreover, through this case study, it aims to provide government offices concerned with valuable figures when they conduct related operations so that when executing plans of the same essence, the office-in-charge can achieve more economic benefits and policy objectives. This dissertation used ROT mode to introduce the resources of the private sector into the operation of public works, which will effectively solve the difficulty that government has no choice but to implement the operation of public works even under financial deficits. As a consequence, public works would not fall idle in the wake of short government finances and lack of professional operation, and the public would be encouraged to advocate the plan to recycle and to reuse the unused public works so as to achieve energy conservation and the prospect for the sustainable development of Earth. Through sensitivity analysis on the changes in key parameters, this dissertation has clearly noticed the increase and decrease in various hypotheses and parameters, and will present different effects and evaluate the variable effects of all the parameters. Before it is executed, the effects and impact that may be caused by government, chartered companies, students, and banks should be considered. Before the plan is implemented, risk control measures should be formulated according to the results of sensitivity analysis.

The fish disease epidemiology is urgent to be investigated for the surveillance and prevention. The diseased fish showed splenomegaly with diffusion of white nodules and microscopical granulomatous formation. It is important to develop a method of pathogens isolated from clinical samples with serial dilution method and disc diffusion method. Representative colonies were selected from diseased cobia on BHIA plate and were inoculated onto MacConkey agar, TCBS agar, and blood agar. The cage-culture of the different bacterial groups detected in the survey of bacteria isolated from THOD, HDSB, EMD with serial dilution method. 119 from 128 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (93%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 57% (73/128) in THOD. 54 from 90 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (60%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 12.2% (11/90) in HDSB. 61 from 104 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (59%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 70.2% (77/90) in EMD. In different times diseased grouper, 104 from 139 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (75%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 88% (123/139), in 2003. While 24 from 44 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (55%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 73% (32/44), in 2004. 66 from 75 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (88%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 97% (73/75) by disc dilution method in EMD. 9 from 31 isolated strains were Gram¡¦s negative (30%), including pathogenic Vibrio spp. 26% (8/31), by disc dilution method of grouper in PCG. A DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) technique can identify six groups of bacteria from cobia, and J6, R13, T29 have similarity 100%. Quantity One Version 4.5 (Bio-Rad) can identify six groups of bacteria from diffusion methods that F group diluted the bacterial strain from serial dilution method. B group and E group diluted the bacterial strain from disc diffusion method. Higher resistance rates of the different bacterial strains isolated from cobia and were £]-lactam and susceptible were observed in quinolones.