Tissue-equivalent proportional counters are frequently used to measure dose and dose equivalent in cosmic radiation fields that include high-Z, high-energy (HZE) particles. The fact that particles with different stopping powers can produce the same energy deposition in the same detector means that the measure of lineal energy cannot provide enough information to evaluate the equivalent dose due to HZE particles. To characterize incident particles by mass and velocity, a multiple-detector system composed of three tissue-equivalent proportional counters simulating different size tissue volumes was proposed to be built. This system took advantage of the well-known fact that lineal energy (y) of a HZE particle depends on the site size, as well as the particle mass and energy. Monte Carlo calculations were used to evaluate lineal energy, using GEANT4, in grid-walled (wall-less) proportional counters with simulated unit density site diameter of 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 micrometers in a uniform HZE particle field. Uniform beams of 1000 MeV/n and 100 MeV/n 56Fe26+, 28Si14+, 16O8+, 12C6+, 4He2+ ions and proton particles bombarding the detectors were simulated. The results of the calculations were used to determine how much additional information about particle charge and velocity could be obtained from such a detector system. Comparison of simulation results with those of walled detectors was included in the study to illustrate the wall effect. The results shows that the detector system is capable of characterizing HZE particles in a mixed unknown field based on the lineal energy spectra as well as the calculated mean lineal energy. This suggests that it may be practical to use such a system to measure the average particle velocity of HZE particles in space. The parameters used in the simulation are also good references for detector construction. There is only limited experimental data for lineal energy resulting from a large uniform field of HZE particles incident on a wall-less detector. However, the Monte Carlo results are consistent with the experimental data available.

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Triazenes, compounds containing a diazoamino moiety (–N(1)=N(2)–N(3)<), are known for their reversible cis-trans isomerization character and hence, have the potential to be used in photoswitchable devices and photostorage media. However, little is known about their cis-trans isomerization mechanism. In this thesis, kinetic studies on the thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of N-(phenylazo)-substituted nitrogen heterocycles are presented. It is shown that the isomerization rate constant increases as the size and electron-donating character of the cyclic amine increases, as the electron-withdrawing character of the para substituent group on the phenyl ring increases, and as the polarity of the solvent increases. All these trends are interpreted in terms of a rotational isomerization mechanism involving a dipolar transition state. In addition, photolytic cleavage of the N(2)–N(3) bond of target substrates is shown to be affected as well by the size and electronic character of the cyclic amine, the electronic character of the phenyl ring substituent, and the polarity of the solvent, with the result that the photolysis yield increases as the isomerization rate decreases. Theoretical calculations on target substrates both in the gas phase and various solvents were also performed based on DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G* method. Overall, the cis-to-trans isomerization is predicted to take place through rotation around the N(1)=N(2) bond. Furthermore, the calculated energy barriers are found to be influenced by the size and electronic character of the cyclic amine, the electronic character of the phenyl ring substituent, and the polarity of the solvent, consistent with the effects obtained experimentally from the kinetic studies.

Triazenes, compounds containing a diazoamino moiety (–N(1)=N(2)–N(3)<), are known for their reversible cis-trans isomerization character and hence, have the potential to be used in photoswitchable devices and photostorage media. However, little is known about their cis-trans isomerization mechanism. In this thesis, kinetic studies on the thermal cis-to-trans isomerization of N-(phenylazo)-substituted nitrogen heterocycles are presented. It is shown that the isomerization rate constant increases as the size and electron-donating character of the cyclic amine increases, as the electron-withdrawing character of the para substituent group on the phenyl ring increases, and as the polarity of the solvent increases. All these trends are interpreted in terms of a rotational isomerization mechanism involving a dipolar transition state. In addition, photolytic cleavage of the N(2)–N(3) bond of target substrates is shown to be affected as well by the size and electronic character of the cyclic amine, the electronic character of the phenyl ring substituent, and the polarity of the solvent, with the result that the photolysis yield increases as the isomerization rate decreases. Theoretical calculations on target substrates both in the gas phase and various solvents were also performed based on DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G* method. Overall, the cis-to-trans isomerization is predicted to take place through rotation around the N(1)=N(2) bond. Furthermore, the calculated energy barriers are found to be influenced by the size and electronic character of the cyclic amine, the electronic character of the phenyl ring substituent, and the polarity of the solvent, consistent with the effects obtained experimentally from the kinetic studies.

At micrometer length scales of material removal, size effect is observed in mechanical micro-cutting where the energy per unit volume i.e. specific cutting energy increases nonlinearly as the uncut chip thickness is reduced from several hundred microns to a few microns (or less). There is no consensus in the literature on the cutting mechanism that causes this size effect. Noticeable discrepancy is also observed in the surface roughness produced at small feeds in micro-turning between the theoretical and the measured roughness. To date, there has been little effort made to develop a detailed process model for micro-cutting to accurately predict the size effect in specific cutting energy, and to develop a fundamental understanding of surface generation at the low feeds typical of micro-cutting processes. The main objective of this thesis is therefore to develop a predictive process model of micro-cutting of ductile metals that is capable of accurately predicting the size effect in specific cutting energy based on strain gradient based material strengthening considerations. In addition, this thesis attempts to explain the discrepancy between the theoretical and measured surface roughness at small feeds in micro-turning via a model that accounts for the size effect due to material strengthening. A coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model formulation incorporating strain gradient plasticity is developed to simulate orthogonal micro-cutting process. The thermo-mechanical model is experimentally validated in orthogonal micro-cutting of a strain rate insensitive aluminum alloy Al5083-H116. The model is then used to analyze the contributions of two major material strengthening factors to the size effect in specific cutting energy: strain gradient and temperature. The effects of cutting edge radius on the specific cutting energy and its role relative to the material length scale arising from strain gradient plasticity are also examined. A surface roughness model for micro-turning that incorporates the effects of kinematic roughness, cutting edge roughness and surface roughening due to plastic side flow is developed and shown to explain the observed discrepancy between the theoretical and measured surface roughness in micro-cutting. In addition, the model is found to accurately capture the increase in surface roughness at very low feeds.

This paper probes into institutional investor¡¦s impact on Taiwan¡¦s stock market and its shareholding ratio in the relation of return. We aim to find out an effective return index of degree in order to provide another reference basis for investors. This research uses listed companies from 1999 to 2003 as sample. The analysis result shows that Taiwan has gone against the phenomenon of book-to-market and size effect in the past five years, and institutional investors¡¦ partiality is one of the reasons causing this phenomenon. The stock with high share of all kinds of institutional investors is expected to have high return in addition. In consideration of the momentum of the share of all kinds of institutional investors, we are unable to prove that the stock which has the positive momentum of share of all kinds of institutional investors will yield high return. The size factor and book-to-market ratio factor at the regular value prove whether institutional investors still have the ability to select stocks. The result proves that the group with high share of all kinds of institutional investors still has high return under the same book-to-market ratio and size factor, and proves that institutional investors indeed have better tactics in selecting stocks.

Structure properties of water clusters are investigated in this study by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The oxygen density profile, dipole moment and hydrogen bond properties of water clusters are all examined. The temperature dependence and size dependence of the structure properties are also explored in the present study. Upon the molecular dynamics simulations, the flexible three-centered (F3C) water potential is used to model the inter- and intra-actions of the water molecule. It is found that as the temperature rises, the density of the oxygen and the average number of hydrogen bonds per water molecule will decrease. The effect of cluster size, however, is less significant on the structure properties. The differences between the structural properties for the surface region and those for the interior region of the cluster are also investigated. It is found that as the temperature rises, the average number of hydrogen bonds per water molecule decreases, but the ratio of surface water molecules increases. After comparing the water densities in interior regions and the average number of hydrogen bonds in those regions, we find there is no apparent size effect on water molecules in the interior region, whereas the size of the water cluster has a significant influence on the behavior of water molecules at the surface region.

This work uses different size of strain gages (Gage Grid Length: 10mm, 1mm, 0.2mm) to measure the stress distributions of metal (Al 6061-T6) and composite (laminates of [0/+45/90/-45]2S and [0/90]4S layers ) with a central circular hole and a crack. Both the SCF (Stress Concentration Factor) and SIF (Stress Intensity Factor) are found to consider the stress scatteredness of experimental data in contrast to micro- mechanics. To understand the strain gage size effect is our main purpose in measuring both types of materials. The size effect of strain gage we find appears obviously in the measuring position with stress changing significantly. We find that the size of strain gage is bigger; the error of stress is higher. Analyzing the stress scattering around a central circular hole, we obtain the experimental result that the stress will first reduce drastically from central circular hole edge and then keep uniform. In analysis of the stress scattering around the crack tip, we observe that first stress rises quickly from the specimen¡¦s free edge to the top of crack tip with a maximum value, and the stress keeps a nominal value in the specimen central part. Comparing the empirical result of SCF and SIF, we find that the data of 0.2mm of strain gage close to the theoretical solution, while those of 1mm and 10mm strain gages appear inexact in measuring and calculating SCF and SIF.

This study is the first attempt to investigate heavy metal concentrations in the soldier crab with a view to it being a potential candidate for the monitoring of copper(Cu), zinc(Zn), nickel(Ni), lead(Pb) and cadmium(Cd) levels on the western coast of Taiwan. The objectives of this investigation included the following: (1) to assess the pollution status at different sites by determining the metal concentrations of ambient water and Pacific oysters; (2) to monitor the concentrations of heavy metals, including Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cd, in the soldier crab; (3) to assess the effect of sex, wet weight and reproductive season at different sites¡F(4) to investigate the distribution of metal concentration among carapace, gonads, midgut gland, muscle; and (5). to assess the pollution status at different sites and years by monitoring the concentration of heavy metals, including Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in male soldier crabs The Pacific oyster and stream results proved that site B is contaminated by Cu, Zn and Pb from streams B-1 and B-2. The highest Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb concentrations in soldier crabs appeared at site B, and significant differences in the accumulated concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni in soldier crabs were found between the sites tested. The highest bioconcentration factors of Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb in soldier crabs appeared at site B, indicating that the soldier crab can accumulate Cu, Zn and Pb to the same degree as the Pacific oyster. In fact, soldier crabs can accumulate more Ni than Pacific oysters, better reflecting the conditions of the ambient environment. These phenomena, as well as the fact that the soldier crab is able to accumulate relatively high levels of Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni, suggest that this crab is a potential biomonitor of Pb and Ni pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Only in the case at site A of Pb sex related difference could be detected. In general mean Pb level in male soldier crabs were higher than in female. There are no significant sex related differences of Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni in soldier crab among three sites. The lead mean concentration in reproduction season and pre- reproduction season were higher than non-reproduction seasons. The highest concentrations of lead were found in carapace and the gonad in reproduction season. The results presented that the metal concentration in soldier crabs vary significantly not only because of season change in polluted sites, but also it may be influenced by the sex-related and size-related difference of organisms. After eliminating size effect, sex effect by analyzing 0.7 g~ 1.0 g and male soldier crabs to monitor the pollution status, the Cu and Zn concentrations in soldier crabs along the Changhua coastline(site A and site B) is stable¡F The higher concentrations of Pb and Cd in soldier crabs existed in 2002 and 2003. We suggested that the polluted sources of Pb and Cd along the Changhua coastline in 2002 is abundant, and of Pb contents from 2003 to 2006 and Cd content from 2003 to 2007 are decreasing. Therefore, it is essential to take size effect, sex, season, and polluted status into account in comparative biomonitoring studies using soldier crabs as metals biomonitor. The baseline concentration of soldier crabs were 21.4 £gg g-1 wet wt. Cu, 20.1 £gg g-1 wet wt. Zn, 0.13 £gg g-1 wet wt. Pb, 0.12 £gg g-1 wet wt. and 0.91 £gg g-1 wet wt..

In this thesis the positive relationship between firm size and wages is investigated through the application of hierarchy theories. Many different explanations have been proposed for this relationship, but have met only limited success at best. The strongest finding to date is that unobserved ability is a significant factor. The question of interest here is ???why do wages increase as the size firm increases???? Hierarchy theories take a different approach towards the analysis of firms in comparison to the alternate theories which have dominated previous investigations. As a result of their focus on the organisational relationships within a firm???s internal structure, hierarchy theories offer certain insights to the size-wage relationship which to date have been unnoticed. An empirical investigation into the size-wage differential incorporating structural considerations into an augmented wage equation offers strong support for the propositions of hierarchy theories. I find that half of the firm size effect for workers can be explained by controlling for some aspects of management structure, and that span of control has a discontinuous effect on wages. These results are completely consistent with the existing findings on unobserved ability and have the added attraction of providing economic as well as statistical explanatory power.