Abstract: Dysprosium is a rare earth element which is essential for many growing high-technology applications. Dysprosium along with neodymium plays a significant role in different applications such as metal halide lamps, permanent magnets, and nuclear reactor control rods preparation. The purification and separation of rare earth elements are challenging because of their similar chemical and physical properties. Among the various methods, membrane processes provide many advantages over the conventional separation processes such as ion exchange and solvent extraction. In this work, selective extraction and separation of dysprosium from aqueous solutions containing an equimolar mixture of dysprosium and neodymium by emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) was investigated. The organic membrane phase of the ELM was a nanofluid consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), Span80 as surfactant, Cyanex 272 as carrier, kerosene as base fluid, and nitric acid solution as internal aqueous phase. Factors affecting separation of dysprosium such as carrier concentration, MWCNT concentration, feed phase pH and stripping phase concentration were analyzed using Taguchi method. Optimal experimental condition was obtained using analysis of variance (ANOVA) after 10 min extraction. Based on the results, using MWCNT nanofluid in ELM process leads to increase the extraction due to higher stability of membrane and mass transfer enhancement and separation factor of 6 for dysprosium over neodymium can be achieved under the optimum conditions. Additionally, demulsification process was successfully performed and the membrane phase reused effectively in the optimum condition.
Abstract: Insufficient informal communication systems can lead to the first crisis (‘Crisis of Leadership’) for start-ups. Management Control Systems (MCS) are one way for high-technology start-ups to successfully overcome these problems. So far the literature has investigated the incubation of a start-up, but focused less on the post-incubation stage. This paper focuses on the use of MCS in post-incubation and, if failed start-ups agree, on how MCS are used. We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews for this purpose, to obtain our results. The overall conclusion is that the majority of the companies were closed down due to a combination of strategic, operative and financial reasons.
Abstract: Research has shown that techno-entrepreneurship is
economically significant. Therefore, it is suggested that teaching
techno-entrepreneurship may be important because such programmes
would prepare current and future generations of learners to recognise
and act on high-technology opportunities. Education in technoentrepreneurship
may increase the knowledge of how to start one’s
own enterprise and recognise the technological opportunities for
commercialisation to improve decision-making about starting a new
venture; also it influence decisions about capturing the business
opportunities and turning them into successful ventures. Universities
can play a main role in connecting and networking technoentrepreneurship
students towards a cooperative attitude with real
business practice and industry knowledge. To investigate and answer
whether education for techno-entrepreneurs really helps, this paper
choses a comparison of literature reviews as its method of research.
After reviewing literature related to the impact of technoentrepreneurship
education on self-employment 6 studies which had
similar aim and objective to this paper were. These particular papers
were selected based on a keywords search and as their aim,
objectives, and gaps were close to the current research. In addition,
they were all based on the influence of techno-entrepreneurship
education in self-employment and intention of students to start new
ventures. The findings showed that teaching techno-entrepreneurship
education may have an influence on students’ intention and their
future self-employment, but which courses should be covered and the
duration of programmes, needs further investigation.