963 resultados para FLUORESCENCE QUANTUM EFFICIENCY


Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

This study measures the efficiencies incorporating waste generation using Japanese prefecture level data. We apply and compare several models using directional distance functions. There are wide variations in the efficiency scores between the two orientations, "input, desirable and undesirable output orientation" and "undesirable output orientation". However, the difference in abatement factor does not result in wide variations in the efficiency scores. Our results show that there are wide differences in the efficiency scores among prefectures. © 2012 Springer.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

The paper analyses technical efficiency of the Japanese banks from 2000 to 2007. The estimation technique is based on the Russell directional distance function that takes into consideration not only desirable outputs but also an undesirable output that is represented by non-performing loans (NPLs). The results indicate that NPLs remain a significant burden as for banks' performance. We show that banks' inputs have to be utilised more efficiently, particularly labour and premises. We also argue that a further restructuring process is needed in the segment of Regional Banks. We conclude that the Japanese banking system is still far away from being fully consolidated and restructured.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

This paper evaluates the production activities of Japanese airports by using a finite mixture model that allows controlling for unobserved heterogeneity. In doing so, a stochastic frontier latent class model, which allows the existence of different technologies, is adopted to estimate production frontiers. This procedure not only enables the identification of different groups of Japanese airports but also permits the analysis of their production efficiency. The main result is that there are two groups of Japanese airports, both following completely different "technologies" to obtain passengers and cargo, suggesting that business strategies need to be adapted to the characteristics of the airports. Some managerial implications are developed.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

The problem of modal choice between rail and air arises as public awareness of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by the transportation sector rises. In this paper, we answer this question quantitatively by performing an efficiency benchmarking analysis that takes into account life-cycle CO2 emission due to transport service provision. The paper employs nonparametric efficiency estimation methods, namely a slacks-based inefficiency measure, as well as a more conventional directional distance function approach. We apply them to a panel data set for three major railway companies and the aviation sector in Japan for the period from 1999 to 2007. Results shows that, contrary to the common argument, air transport can still be more socially efficient than rail transport, even when the environmental load due to CO2 emission is incorporated. This is due to the aviation sector's extremely low user cost, measured in terms of in-vehicle time. In other words, aviation is a necessary transportation mode for those with a very high willingness to pay for their time.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

This study analyses and compares the cost efficiency of Japanese steam power generation companies using the fixed and random Bayesian frontier models. We show that it is essential to account for heterogeneity in modelling the performance of energy companies. Results from the model estimation also indicate that restricting CO2 emissions can lead to a decrease in total cost. The study finally discusses the efficiency variations between the energy companies under analysis, and elaborates on the managerial and policy implications of the results.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

In this paper, the random stochastic frontier model is used to estimate the technical efficiency of Japanese airports, with regulation and heterogeneity included in the variables. The airports are ranked according to their productivity for the period 1987-2005 and homogeneous and heterogeneous variables in the cost function are disentangled. Policy implications are derived.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

This thesis investigates how Open Government Data (OGD) concepts and practices might be implemented in the State of Qatar to achieve more transparent, effective and accountable government. The thesis concludes with recommendations as to how Qatar, as a developing country, might enhance the accessibility and usability of its OGD and implement successful and sustainable OGD systems and practices.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

Accurate three-dimensional representations of cultural heritage sites are highly valuable for scientific study, conservation, and educational purposes. In addition to their use for archival purposes, 3D models enable efficient and precise measurement of relevant natural and architectural features. Many cultural heritage sites are large and complex, consisting of multiple structures spatially distributed over tens of thousands of square metres. The process of effectively digitising such geometrically complex locations requires measurements to be acquired from a variety of viewpoints. While several technologies exist for capturing the 3D structure of objects and environments, none are ideally suited to complex, large-scale sites, mainly due to their limited coverage or acquisition efficiency. We explore the use of a recently developed handheld mobile mapping system called Zebedee in cultural heritage applications. The Zebedee system is capable of efficiently mapping an environment in three dimensions by continually acquiring data as an operator holding the device traverses through the site. The system was deployed at the former Peel Island Lazaret, a culturally significant site in Queensland, Australia, consisting of dozens of buildings of various sizes spread across an area of approximately 400 × 250 m. With the Zebedee system, the site was scanned in half a day, and a detailed 3D point cloud model (with over 520 million points) was generated from the 3.6 hours of acquired data in 2.6 hours. We present results demonstrating that Zebedee was able to accurately capture both site context and building detail comparable in accuracy to manual measurement techniques, and at a greatly increased level of efficiency and scope. The scan allowed us to record derelict buildings that previously could not be measured because of the scale and complexity of the site. The resulting 3D model captures both interior and exterior features of buildings, including structure, materials, and the contents of rooms.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most intensely studied wide band gap semiconductors due to its many desirable properties. This project established new techniques for investigating the hydrodynamic properties of ZnO nanoparticles, their assembly into useful photonic structures, and their multiphoton absorption coefficients for excitation with visible or infrared light rather than ultraviolet light. The methods developed are also applicable to a wide range of nanoparticle samples.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

Archaeology has been called 'the science of the artefact' and nothing demonstrates this point better than the current interest displayed in provenance studies of archaeological objects. In theory, every vessel carries a chemical compositional pattern or 'fingerprint' identical with the clay from which it was made and this relationship is basic to provenance studies. The reasoning behind provenance or sourcing studies is to probe into this past and attempt to re-create prehistory by obtaining information on exchange and social interaction. This paper discusses the use of XRF spectrometry for the analysis of ancient pottery and ceramics to examine whether it is possible to predict prehictoric cultural exchanges.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

Capacity measurement and reduction is a major international issue to emerge in the new millennium. However, there has been limited assessment of the success of capacity reduction schemes (CRS). In this paper, the success of a CRS is assessed for a European fishery characterised by differences in efficiency levels of individual boats. In such a fishery, given it is assumed that the least efficient producers are the first to exit through a CRS, the reduction in harvesting capacity is less than the nominal reduction in physical fleet capacity. Further, there is potential for harvesting capacity to increase if remaining vessels improve their efficiency.

Relevância:

20.00% 20.00%

Publicador:

Resumo:

Internationally, the delivery of vocational education and training is being challenged by increasing skills shortages in certain industries and/or rapidly changing skill requirements. To respond to this challenge, rigid and centralised state bureaucracies are increasingly adopting partnerships between schools and industry as a strategy to encourage school-to-work transition programmes to address the local labour market demand. Drawing on experiences in Australia, this paper reports on a case study of government led partnerships between schools and industry. The Queensland Gateway to industry schools initiative currently involves over 120 schools. The study investigated how two commonly used partnership principles were understood by the Gateway to industry partners. Twelve school–industry partnerships from four industry sectors were analysed in terms of the principles of ‘efficiency’ and ‘effectiveness’ derived from the public–private partnership literature. The study found that some evidence of partnership activities associated with efficiency and effectiveness may be assigned to Gateway schools projects. However, little evidence was found that the above underlying principles were addressed systematically. Some of these partnerships were tenuously facilitated by individuals who had limited infrastructure or strategic support. Implications are that industry–school partnership stakeholders would benefit from applying partnership principles regarding implementation and management to ensure the sustainability of partnerships.