Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Instrumental improvements'

The Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR) has been used increasingly as a detector for various forms of chromatography. Clearly the most established marriage has been that of the Gas Chromatograph (GC) with the FTIR. GC-FTIR has been developed well beyond other forms. The main objective of this thesis, however, is to extend the FTIR as a detector to previously untested forms of chromatography using a flow cell interface. These forms of chromatography include High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), both normal-phase and reversed-phase, and packed-column Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC). Normal phase HPLC-FTIR was demonstrated on not only analytical scale columns, but semi-preparative and microbore scales as well. Significant advantages, particularly with respect to the low solvent consumption, were found in the microbore HPLC-FTIR experiment. This led to the development of a chromatographically improved flow cell, the Zero Dead Volume (ZDV) HPLC-FTIR interface. The ZDV cell shows superior chromatographic characteristics and has unique spectrometric characteristics because of its unusual cross-section. Detection limits as low as 40 ng were observed. Extension to reversed-phase HPLC-FTIR required incorporation of the Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) technique of low-dispersion flowing extraction. The compounds separated by HPLC are extracted into an infrared-transparent solvent, and the extracted compounds are detected by similar means to normal-phase HPLC-FTIR. Investigation of SFC-FTIR incorporated a high-pressure, gold-lined lightpipe flow cell to detect the components separated by the supercritical C0₂/packed-column chromatograph. Several unusual spectrometric characteristics were noted. Detection limits as low as 50 ng were observed with SFC-FTIR.
Ph. D.

In 1997 and 2002 the Østfold Hospital Trust conducted patient satisfaction surveys. This study presented the results of the 2002 survey and compares them with the 1997 results. This is done to ascertain if there are any changes with regards to the dimensions the hospital scored poorly on in 1997. The purpose of this study is to find out if the patient satisfaction survey conducted at the Østfold Hospital Trust in 1997 was a serious attempt to improve the quality of the health care provided or only a symbolic act. The concepts of innovation, rational choice and institutional theory were used as spectacles to analyse how the Østfold Hospital Trust acted on the results of the 1997 patient satisfaction survey. The choice of study design is not an "either / or" situation between the quantitative and qualitative approach, since both methods can strengthen each other. This study has therefore employed a form of methodological triangulation. The finding of the study showed that the Østfold Hospital Trust can be termed as innovative, when they implemented the patient satisfaction survey in 1997. This because there was no coercive forces from the hospital owners to implement such surveys. There were only signals in the form of strategy documents. In spite of the hospitals innovative action in implementing the non-mandatory survey in 1997, the hospital leadership did not use the results to improve quality. Based on the findings, the study can conclude that the implementation of the patient satisfaction survey in 1997 was more symbolic, rather than a quality improvement act. Looking further than 1997, it’s important to remark that the hospital leadership resolved a number measures to improve quality, based on the 2002 patient survey. At the time of writing the issue of patient feedback as a quality improvement tool is high on the agenda at the Østfold Hospital Trust. The development point in the direction of a paradigm shift
I 1997 og 2002 gjennomførte Sykehuset Østfold to pasienttilfredshetsundersøkelser. Dette studiet har presentert resultatet av undersøkelsen fra 2002 og sammenlignet det med resultatet fra 1997. Dette for å se om det er forskjell på dimensjonene sykehuset har scoret dårlig på i de to forskjellige undersøkelsene. Hensikten med studiet er å undersøke om pasienttilfredshetsundersøkelsen gjennomført ved Sykehuset Østfold i 1997 var et kvalitetsforbedringstiltak eller en symbolskhandling. Fra organisasjonsteori ble begreper som innovasjon, ”Rational Choice” og institusjonsteori brukt som briller for å analysere det som har skjedd. Valg av metode var ikke en enten eller situasjon i forhold til kvantitativ eller kvalitativ metode, siden metodene kan styrke hverandre. Studiet legger vekt på metodetriangulering Funnene fra studiet har vist at Sykehuset Østfold kan betegnes som en innovativ organisasjon da organisasjonen gjennomførte undersøkelsen i 1997. Dette fordi det ikke var krav fra omgivelsene for å gjennomføre undersøkelsen, kun signaler i form av strategidokumenter fra sentrale myndigheter. Selv om organisasjonen er innovativ hva gjelder initiering og implementering av pasienttilfredshetsundersøkelsen, har sykehusledelsen ikke brukt resultatet til kvalitetsforbedringstiltak. Ut fra funnene kan studiet konkludere med at gjennomføringen av pasienttilfredsundersøkelsen i 1997 var mer preget av en symbolskhandling enn et kvalitetsforbedringstiltak.Ser en utover 1997 er det viktig å nevne at sykehusledelsen har vedtatt flere kvalitetsforbedringstiltak basert på undersøkelsen fra 2002. Akkurat nå er pasienttilfredshetsundersøkelser som kvalitetsforbedringstiltak satt høyt på dagsorden av sykehusledelsen. Utviklingen kan betegnes som et paradigmeskifte

ISBN 91-7997-135-0

This work begins by describing a general theory of value which embraces many of the commonly used valuation techniques that have been developed by economists (the time tradeoff, the standard gamble and willingness to pay). These techniques share the common characteristic that each expresses value in terms of a sacrifice that people are prepared to make in order to achieve the benefit being valued. Here, those benefits comprise improvements in health. In the time tradeoff, the sacrifice used to express the value people would attach to an improvement in health, is the amount of time they would give up to obtain it. Hitherto this technique has usually asked people to accept a premature death as the payment for better health. In the standard gamble, the most commonly used sacrifice that people are asked to make is a risk of death in exchange for better health. With 'willingness to pay', people are asked to value health in terms of the amount of money they would exchange for better health. Empirical evidence is produced from three major studies, involving 4739 respondents. These studies confirm that two health valuation techniques (the standard gamble and the time tradeoff) do indeed appear to be more closely related to each other than to other valuation methods, not based within the economic theory. Further work establishes the validity of an adaptation of the time tradeoff technique to overcome some of the principal disadvantages of the method as it has usually been applied hitherto. This adaptation asks people to value health by giving up time during much shorter and more immediate time intervals.

This thesis uniquely explains the mechanical improvements which have occurred to the flute over the last 147 years. Theobald Boehm revolutionized the flute by changing many of its components culminating with the 1847 model flute. Since that time other improvements have been made which enhance the flute's capabilities in terms of pitch, tone, timbre, and simplification offingeringpassages. Among those improvements which are discussed in the following pages are the Dorus G-sharp key, the gizmo key, the Cooper scale, and The Brogger Mekanik as well as the makers behind the various improvements including Vincent Dorus, George Barrere, and Albert Cooper.

The main focus of the study is the analysis of the effects of marketing mix instruments in higher education institutions in building the image of higher education institutions and the satisfaction of students, all from the perspective of service users, which in turn, leads to a more successful positioning of a higher education institution in the higher education market. Therefore, the goal was to reach insight regarding marketing mix instruments which need to be improved in order to improve the image of higher education institutions and student satisfaction. The research conducted on a complete sample from higher education institutions in the Republic of Serbia and Spain, as well as on research subsample from higher education institutions in each country, led to the results which, matched to theoretical perspectives in this area, produced very useful and widely applicable conclusions, which serve as a contribution to the scientific and practical perspective.
El principal objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es el análisis de los efectos que las estrategias de Mlarketing tienen en la construcción de la imagen de las instituciones de educación superior, así como la satisfacción de sus estudiantes, todo desde la perspectiva de los usuarios del servicio, lo que, a su vez, las conduce a un posicionamiento más exitoso en el mercado de la educación superior. En definitiva, el objetivo es llegar a averiguar cuáles son las estrategias de marketing que deben optimizarse para mejorar la imagen de las instituciones de educación superior y la satisfacción de los estudiantes.La investigación realizada eu una muestra completa en dos instituciones de educación superior en cada uno de los dos países analizados (Serbia y España), así como en una submuestra de las instituciones de educación superior en cada país, ha dado resultados que, combinados con las perspectivas teóricas previas de esta área de investigación.

This study was undertaken in an attempt to establish the cognitive development of student teachers and to determine the impact of Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment programme on the development and/or improvement of the cognitive skills of student teachers. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of thinking abilities necessary for learning, as well as the role of Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment programme in this regard. Explanatory mixed method research by means of testing, as well as a narrative analysis was employed. An empirical study with a pre-experimental research design in which intervention research was incorporated was conducted over a period of twelve weeks with twenty four second-year student teachers majoring in Mathematics. The students were randomly assigned to two groups. A pretest with the DAT-L test was administered to both groups to determine the extent of their thinking skills development. After the pre-test group 1 was exposed to intervention with the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment programme for a period of six weeks in an attempt to develop and/or improve thinking skills. After the intervention program group 1 was tested again with the DAT-L test in order to determine if the intervention programme had developed and/or improved thinking skills or not. After this, group 2 was exposed to intervention with the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment programme for a period of six weeks. After the six week period both groups were tested again with the DAT-L test to determine the impact of the intervention programme on the thinking skills of group 2 and to establish what happened to the thinking skills of group 1 during the period in which they were not exposed to the intervention. In support of the data gained through the test results, participants were requested to write up their perceptions of and experiences related to the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment programme in a narrative. The narratives were analysed and the results were utilized to support the data obtained with the quantitative study. Results indicated that room exists for improving the thinking skills of student teachers and that Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment programme possesses the latent potential to improve and develop thinking skills. The study is concluded with recommendations on how to develop and improve thinking skills.
Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Background: Previous research has identified four distinct developmental stages associated with organizational learning in high-performing hospital units: identity and ownership, team and respect, accountability and support, and reliability and sustainability. We designed a research instrument to measure these constructs. The purpose of this thesis was to establish the content and predictive validity of this instrument.Methods: The Organizational Learning Development Instrument (OLDI) consists of a total of 35 items in Likert-scale format. Item-level and instrument-level content validity were assessed using three cycles of cognitive interviewing with 28 nurses, and eight expert ratings. The OLDI was administered to nurses in Magnet® hospitals via a web-based survey. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) reports were used for comparison of hospital performance. Predictive validity was tested using multiple linear regression. Based on a power analysis for multiple linear regression, reaching 80% power, with a medium effect size of 0.15, an alpha of 0.05, and five predictor variables, the target sample size was 92 hospital units.Results: Results from 63 inpatient units in 11 Magnet® hospitals were used. The scale- level content validity for this instrument was 0.95 and item-level content validity index scores ranged from 0.86 to 1.0, suggesting excellent content validity. No significant relationships were found between OLDI results and NDNQI measures. Significant correlations (P<.05) were found between several OLDI constructs and HCAHPS composites.Discussion: Correlations with HCAHPS scores help validate the OLDI, as well as the theory underlying the instrument. The OLDI may not have predicted NDNQI measures due to a lack of instrument sensitivity or because NDNQI results are strongly influenced by other factors. Nurse managers can use the OLDI to predict unit performance related to patient satisfaction and to determine actions that may improve unit performance. Replicating this study with a larger sample size and more diverse hospital performance and more uniform unit type could further validate this instrument.

The environmental crisis processed in cities is notable for establishing spatial segregation , to the extent that social classes with greater purchasing power occupy privileged places whose urban planning is dictated by marketing reasons. Public parks are important environmental value of the elements of valuation of properties located in its surroundings, exacerbating social inequalities, since spending on the maintenance of these public goods is disproportionately distributed throughout society, while some privileges usufruct of ecosystem services derived from such assets are not equitably accessible to all. This research has the overall objective to analyze the possibility of incidence of Contribution Improvement - kind tax - to fund the maintenance of public parks, as a tool for the implementation of the State Environmental Law, with the following objectives: a) verify that the Constitution Federal 1988 is compatible with the State Environmental Law b) analyze the elements inherent Contribution Improvement and its compatibility with the State Environmental Law , and c) verify and quantify the influence of Parque Augusto Franco in market prices of apartments located its surroundings. Therefore, it is the literature on the subject, we calculate the average concentration of Total Suspended Particles in atmospheric air and applies the method of direct comparative market data, from information collected in the Department of Real Estate Registration the Municipal Farm ( Aracaju - SE), and data for supply of apartments located in the neighborhoods Grageru and Jardins second market prices available in classified newspapers and specialize in buying and selling real estate sites, as well as field research by through contacts with realtors and directly with the owners. The study questions that guided the objectives of this research were answered positively and confirmed the hypothesis: Parque Augusto Franco influences between 5.46 % to 20.74 % the average bid price of apartments located nearby the park, covering the neighborhoods Grageru and Jardins, and can legally and operationally, since the triggering event occurred and assessed the basis for calculating the incidence of Contribution Improvement - both for the cases of construction and renovation, and for maintenance of public parks - as a tool to enable urban access right to the city and how concretizing the State Environmental Law.
A crise ambiental processada nas cidades notabiliza-se por estabelecer segregação espacial, na medida em que as classes sociais de maior poder aquisitivo ocupam espaços privilegiados, cujo ordenamento urbanístico é ditado por razões mercadológicas. Os parques públicos de importante valor ambiental são um dos elementos de valorização de imóveis localizados em seu entorno, agravando as desigualdades sociais, já que os gastos com a manutenção desses bens públicos é repartido de forma desproporcional por toda a sociedade, ao passo que alguns privilégios de usufruto dos serviços ecossistêmicos oriundos de tais bens não são acessíveis de forma equânime por todos. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar a possiblidade de incidência da Contribuição de Melhoria espécie tributária para custeio na manutenção de parques públicos, como um instrumento de concretização do Estado de Direito Ambiental, tendo como objetivos específicos: a) verificar se a Constituição Federal de 1988 é compatível com o Estado de Direito Ambiental; b) analisar os elementos inerentes à Contribuição de Melhoria e sua compatibilidade com o Estado de Direito Ambiental; e c) verificar e quantificar a influência do Parque Augusto Franco nos preços de mercado dos apartamentos localizados em seu entorno. Para tanto, faz-se a pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema, calcula-se a concentração média de Partículas Totais em Suspensão no ar atmosférico e aplica-se o método direto comparativo de dados de mercado, a partir de informações coletadas no Departamento de Cadastro Imobiliário da Secretaria Municipal da Fazenda (Aracaju-SE), e de dados de oferta dos apartamentos localizados nos bairros Grageru e Jardins, segundo preços de mercado disponíveis em jornais classificados e sites especializados em compra e venda de imóveis, bem como em pesquisa de campo por meio de contatos com corretores de imóveis e diretamente com os proprietários. As questões de estudo que nortearam os objetivos desta pesquisa foram respondidas positivamente e as hipóteses confirmadas: o Parque Augusto Franco influencia entre 5,46% a 20,74% o preço médio de oferta dos apartamentos localizados nas proximidades do parque, abrangendo os bairros Grageru e Jardins, sendo possível jurídica e operacionalmente, desde que ocorrido o fato gerador e aferida a base de cálculo, a incidência da Contribuição de Melhoria tanto para os casos de construção e reforma, quanto para manutenção de parques públicos como instrumento urbanístico que possibilita o acesso do direito à cidade e como concretizador do Estado de Direito Ambiental.

 

Introduction

The aim of the research is to understand collaboration between marketing and logistics, increasing knowledge about perceived barriers in organizations, in order to addressing functional silos in organizations by inter-functional collaboration as a solution. The author questions the advantages of inter-functional collaboration in the scope of organizational performance. The significance of this research is that collaboration is one of the remaining cost cutting advantages that are impeccable for organizations in the following decade.

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to understand collaboration between marketing and logistics department, focusing on the instruments that facilitate improved collaboration.

Method

The question of how collaboration in organizations takes place, the author used an inductive, qualitative approach to come up with a theoretical framework to improve collaboration. The author reflected on the history of both marketing and logistics functions in organizations and discussed the common responsibilities of the two. Then, the framework was set to study organizational performance in theory, and to aggregate and review possible methods - so called instruments - to improve collaboration within organizations. To accomplish this, the author listed the key instruments for collaboration purpose and defines the important instruments to perform the implementation of collaboration in organizations. Empirical information acquired with interview sessions with the CEO of Nivea Seoul ltd. Contributed to the validity of the concepts and extended the knowledge about instruments.

Conclusion

The outcome of theoretical research is that collaboration between marketing and logistics, 'logistics leverage' - positive result by planning, coordination and integration responsibility, and marketing intelligence seem to have positive relationship on organization performance. This implication increases the relevance of the study, the author argues that performance gains might also be observed with the key instruments for inter-functional collaboration facilitation, almost 20 were selected and placed in three categories The instruments under the categories can be used for future research or managers to understand collaboration better and could also provide a basis for empirical research in the future.

No presente relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada são referidas opções de ensino, procedimentos e reações dos alunos ao processo de ensino. É dada uma grande ênfase ao ambiente de aprendizagem baseado na tecnologia e suportado por uma comunidade de aprendizagem, que tem lugar na própria sala de aula ou na sala de informática. A tecnologia é assumida como um recurso constante na maior parte das aulas através do recurso a tarefas escolhidas intencionalmente tendo em vista a possibilidade de introdução da tecnologia na sua resolução. Esta implementação assumiu várias formas, tais como a exploração de calculadoras, a manipulação do GeoGebra ou simplesmente através da apresentação de ficheiros acabados, o que constitui uma forma de obter uma boa visualização dos objetos matemáticos. A aplicação dos recursos tecnológicos foi progressivamente tornada mais intensiva, atingindo o seu culminar no Projeto de Estágio, designação atribuída a duas aulas concebidas explicitamente para a exploração da temática: “Estabelecimento de um Paralelismo entre a Geometria Tridimensional Dinâmica e as Funções”; Abstract: The Use of Technology in the Classroom as an Instrument of Visualization and Algebrization of the Mathematical Objects In this paper we refer to teaching options, procedures, and to students’ reactions to the teaching processes. We give a lot of reinforcement in the learning environment based on technology and supported by a community of learners, which take place in their own classroom or in the Informatics Class. Technology is assumed as a constant resource in most part of the classes through the intentional tasks’ choosing taking into account the possibility of technology introduction in their resolution. This implementation has assumed several forms, like calculators’ exploration, GeoGebra manipulation or simply by presenting finished files, which is a way of getting a great visualization of mathematical objects. The technological resources’ application turned itself progressively more intensive, presenting its center point on Practice Project, name who was gave to two classes conceived explicitly for the thematic exploration: “The establishment of a parallelism between Dynamic Tridimensional Geometry and the Functions”.

Mestrado em Gestão de Recursos Humanos
O presente trabalho tem como desígnio iniciar a fase de diagnóstico previsto no Modelo de Estrutura Comum de Avaliação na Direção de Apoio Social da Marinha Portuguesa nos critérios liderança, planeamento estratégico, pessoas e seus resultados e verificar a utilização deste modelo como instrumento de mudança. A metodologia empregue de intervenção organizacional teve em vista a implementação de mudança planeada na organização em causa, tendo sido utilizadas, para o efeito, várias técnicas de recolha de dados, designadamente, a entrevista semiestruturada, com o intento de compreender a situação real da Direção de Apoio Social, a análise documental e os questionários realizados aos colaboradores desta direção. De igual modo os dados recolhidos durante a autoavaliação efetuada constituem-se também como parte do diagnóstico organizacional efetuado, seguindo uma metodologia da mudança planeada. Com base na informação recolhida através das várias técnicas utilizadas é apresentado um plano de melhorias ao nível dos critérios estudados com as áreas de ação e ações a desenvolver que se crê que vão contribuir para a melhoria dos serviços prestados pela Direção de Apoio Social da Marinha Portuguesa.
The main goal of the presented assignment is to start the diagnostic phase in the model of common assessment framework applied to the Social Support Board of Portuguese Navy in what concerns the leadership criteria, strategic planning, people and their results and check the use of the model as a changing instrument. The methodology for organizational intervention was applied in order to implement a planned changing in this organization, so many techniques of collecting data were used, namely a semi-structure interview so that the real situation of the Social Support of the Board could be understood, the documental analysis and the questionnaires to the employees of this direction. The collected data during the self ? assessment constitutes an organizational diagnosis as well and it also follows the planned changing methodology. Based on gathered information obtained through various techniques, an improvement plan is performed, following the studied criteria with the action area or the actions to be developed which, we believe, will lead to the improvement of the Social Support Board of Portuguese Navy performance.

Bakgrund: Kvaliteten på sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsjournal kan återspegla den vårdkvalitet som tillhandahålls patienter. Patienter med en höftfraktur har ofta ett omfattande vårdbehov där omvårdnadsjournalen har en viktig funktion att strukturera dokumentation av vårdinsatser genom patientens vårdförlopp. Patienter med höftfraktur har ofta en komplex sjukdomsbild, där omvårdnadsdokumentationens kvalitet kan bidra till en säkrare vård för patienten. Kvaliteten på dokumentationen ökar vid en strukturerad journal och framförallt när ett standardiserat språk används. Journalgranskning är ett sätt att göra kvalitetskontroll av dokumentation. Motiv: Att drabbas av en höftfraktur innebär stora hälsorisker för en ofta redan skör person. Omvårdnadsdokumentationens kvalitet vid höftfraktur kan bidra till att patienten får bättre förutsättningar för att undvika komplikationer och till kortare vårdtid. Syfte: Att undersöka kvaliteten av omvårdnadsdokumentation för patienter med höftfraktur.Metod: En retrospektiv, deskriptiv och jämförande design där granskning av omvårdnadsjournaler användes för att besvara studiens syfte. Ett konsekutivt urval har gjorts av omvårdnadsdokumentation från 40 vårdtillfällen med patienter över 60 år som vårdats för en höftfraktur på en akutortopedisk avdelning. För granskningen användes journalgranskningsinstrumentet Cat-ch-ing. Resultat: De granskade omvårdnadsjournalernas kvalitet var varierande; ingen av journalerna hade en komplett dokumentation. Dokumentation av vårdplan och resultat av omvårdnadsåtgärder saknades i en majoritet av journalerna. Dokumentationen var av bättre kvalitet i gruppen yngre äldre patienter vid jämförelse med gruppen äldre äldre patienter. Ingen skillnad av kvalitet i dokumentationen kunde urskiljas utifrån vårdtidens längd då patienter som vårdats mindre än sju dygn eller sju dygn eller mer jämfördes. Konklusion: Kvaliteten av omvårdnadsdokumentationen var inte komplett. Det krävs ytterligare kunskap om förbättringsåtgärder i den kliniskas verksamheten för att säkerställa en omvårdnadsdokumentation av god kvalitet där patienter med höftfraktur vårdas.
Background: The quality of the nursing record can reflect the quality of nursing care provided to patients. Patients with a hip fracture often have an extensive need for care. The nursing record has an important function of describing the nursing process, nursing diagnoses and interventions. Patients with hip fractures often have complex health care needs and the nursing documentation can contribute to patient safety. The quality of the documentation increases with a structured journal. Furthermore, it should be written in a standardized language. Audit of nursing documentation can contribute to quality of care. Motive: Great health risks is a fact when suffering from a hip fracture, especially an already fragile person. The quality of the nursing documentation can contribute to better outcome in patient safety and the length of stay. Aim: To explore the quality of nursing documentation for patients with hip fractures. Methods: A retrospective descriptive and comparative design where audit of nursing records was used to attain the study's aim. A consecutive sample was used, where 40 patients’ health care records of nursing documentation for patients over the age of 60 with a hip fracture in an emergency orthopedic ward were included. The audit instrument Cat-ch-Ing was used. Result: The result showed that the quality was variable; none of the records had a complete documentation. Documentation of care plans were missing in a majority of the records. The documentation was of better quality in the group of younger elderly patients compared to that of older elderly patients. No quality differences were seen based on the length of stay. Conclusion: None of the records had a complete documentation. Further knowledge of how good quality nursing documentation on hip fractur patients can be implement for a sustainable result in clinical activities.

Measurement of elastic properties (thermal expansion and magnetostriction) under (multi)extreme conditions is a difficult task. In the vicinity of the room temperature or above it an abundance of methods is available, with decreasing temperature and adding magnetic field and/or hydrostatic pressure their number is limited. Dilatometric cells (either planparaller or tilted plate design) provide superior sensitivity in low temperatures and applied magnetic fields, however, cannot be used in hydrostatic cell. Common choice for the measurement of thermal expansion under hydrostatic pressure are methods based on strain-gauges, with mediocre sensitivity and more importantly a difficult or even impossible usage at very low temperatures (T ≲ 3 K). Measurement of magnetic properties (especially magnetization) under (multi)extreme conditions is also a difficult task. In the vicinity of temperature 2 K and above it an abundance of methods is available, with decreasing temperature and adding magnetic field and/or hydrostatic pressure their number is limited. VSM system provides great sensitivity, but can not be used under 2 K and hydrostatic pressure. MPMS aparature provides pressure up to 9 GPa (diamond pressure cell), but still we can not apply lower temperatures than 2 K. Our aim is to develop a simple yet sensitive...

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
商船學系
104
In recent years, Taiwan has become a popular destination for the drugs distributed in Southeast Asia. Drugs are smuggled in countless ways, such as drugs packed in the checked baggage, containers, automobiles and express parcels, to name just a few. There are so many ways to smuggle drugs that Taiwan’s reconnaissance officers are beset with difficulties when they investigate the drug-smuggling cases. In Taiwan, computer expert system is employed in the cargo clearance procedure to screen out the suspicious goods. Nevertheless, countless goods still have to be inspected by hand. Inadvertently, Taiwan’s customs have a number of problems such as reconnaissance officers’ job rotation system, downsizing policy and declining annual budgets. As a result, reconnaissance officers have hard time dealing with the suspicious drug-smuggling cases. With the limited budgets, manpower and instruments, it is an important task to select the object of reconnaissance effectively. This study surveyed the drugs seized by the customs in 2013~2015, sorting out the data related to drug-smuggling cases, such as the smugglers’ delivery methods as well as using and not using instruments to investigate drug-smuggling cases. Next, case comparative analysis method and risk assessment theory were employed for quantitative analysis and thus a risk assessment matrix table was constructed. Then, the reconnaissance officers who had used the risk assessment matrix table were interviewed, and with the results acquired from the interviews, the risk assessment matrix table was modified in an attempt to help customs staffs improve their reconnaissance efficacy through the innovative and effective cargo risk assessment mechanism. This study employed risk assessment theory as one of the research methods, serving as a reasonable mathematical analysis method to sort out the goods under inspection and thereby improve the accuracy of the risk assessment matrix table. The risk assessment matrix table implemented by this study aims to assess and analyze the risks associated with all imported goods at the time that the Customs Administration is short of manpower. If a piece of goods under inspection reveals the high risk criteria implemented by this study, this piece of goods has a good chance to be inspected by the reconnaissance officers and drugs are very likely to be found and seized. Thus, drugs are intercepted by the customs.

碩士
明道大學
教學藝術研究所
95
Abstract The subject of this research mainly focuses on the study of a school aged child with low vision resulting from an albinism condition. Upon the completion of visual and functional analysis, the individual was fitted with several different types of low vision aids. He then, whether in reading, learning or daily life, without any difficulty, was observed in order to determine the effectiveness and utility of each aid in minimizing his need for assistance from others, as well as maximizing his ability to be involved into his school’s existing curriculum, including the use of hardware and software. Based on a case study design, this research project adopted the following methodologies of the qualitative approach research, participant observation, unstructured interviews, visual analysis, and visual functionality analysis. The research also integrated the evaluations and opinions of each individual’s parents, teachers, ophthalmologist, and optometrist. The conclusions of this research project demonstrate that children afflicted with a low vision condition can, in the long term prospects, have the same mobility and career opportunities as those with normal vision. A comprehensive evaluation of available optical aids determined that a linear magnifier would offer the greatest assistance to this child. A portable, light weight, and handheld magnifier could be easily carried by the child, and used in daily activities and at school. At the same time, a larger desk magnifier could be placed at home for use with reading and writing over longer periods of time. The combination of these two devices could significantly better his near vision capability. To ameliorate his distance vision, a single lens telescope could be used to improve his visual acuity from 0.2 to 0.8. This would substantially assist him in daily activities such as copying notes from a blackboard in school. This research has resulted in two primary conclusions: 1) An eccentric fixation device can be utilized for visual training of the child. This definitely assists him in increasing his attention and fixation on nearby objects, while also relieving an associated discomfort. 2) A single lens telescope can be utilized with his dominant eye in order to improve his ability to see objects at a distance. In a classroom setting, this obviously, allows the child to copy notes from a board just as other children do. Further, for seeing both close and distant objects, this mono-vision method is superior to using both eyes and switching between various vision aid devices. These results indicate that a thorough and comprehensive examination should be made of a child with low vision, with special attention to any binocular vision issues, before completing a diagnosis and formulating a complete visual training program. An additional positive finding shown by this research was that utilizing visual training to treat a low vision patient resulted in superior vision improvement. As optometry is a rather new visual science in Taiwan, there is a lack of well experienced domestic experts; particularly in the field of low vision. The evaluation results of low vision aid devices can be influenced by the variations in outcomes when applying visual training to each low vision child. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that the conclusions drawn from “Visual Training” be considered to be only one type of standard evaluation. In addition, an optometrist should also be included in the team in order to not only assess the effectiveness of the low vision training program but also provide distinct guidance and professional suggestions in the process of assisting those having various eyesight problem students. Only in doing so, I deeply believe that the objective and multi-dimensional viewpoints can be proposed. At the end of the thesis, some more specific suggestions are mentioned.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICE METHODS - A CASE STUDY OF A LABORATORY INSTRUMENT A systematic method can extrapolate tacit knowledge (hidden or subjective knowledge) so that it can become objective and discernable. This process focused on discovering causes of failures by extricating data from medical equipment service software cases closed by telephone by field service personnel. Their responses to observed failures were compared to troubleshooting guides in use by telephone support personnel to find new processes that would increase effectiveness of telephone support staff. We asked “What are indicators of device failure reported in technical support calls?” and then “What factors contribute to user reported device failures identified by callers to technical support?” A series of interviews with veteran personnel were used to validate responses from the “phone closed” cases along with ideas pulled from a review of documentation. Analysis of one hundred seventy three cases yielded over five hundred recommendations to make the telephone support personnel’s responses more accurate, consistent and reliable.