O campo vulcânico Patagônico é composto pelo vulcanismo datado do Quaternário ao Cretáceo e está amplamente distribuído no ambiente geotectônico de extra back-arc continental. Onze vulcões associados à ocorrência de xenólitos mantélicos estão situados dos 36°13’S aos 44°52’S. Estes vulcões são dominantemente compostos por basanitos e a basaltos alcalinos, que são divididos em dois grupos com base em aspectos petrográficos, geoquímicos e isotópicos. (Grupos I e II). Estes Grupos estão relacionados a fontes mantélicas similares, mas foram submetidos a diferentes processos metassomáticos. Os Grupos I e I foram gerados a partir de baixas taxas de fusão a partir de uma fonte mantélica do tipo OIB na zona de estabilidade da granada, mas o Grupo II tem características de manto enriquecido (EMII) possivelmente herdadas de um agente metassomático relacionado à zona de subducção, enquanto que o Grupo I demonstra assinatura geoquímica de magmas tipo OIB relacionados a fontes mantélicas ricas em flogopita. Os basaltos alcalinos do vulcão Agua Poca (37º01’S - 68º07’W) pertencem ao Grupo II e são traquibasaltos. O vulcão Agua Poca é definido é piroclástico monogenético, é composto por intercalações de camadas de spatter e cinder, hospeda xenólitos mantélicos e está localizado a oeste da Província de La Pampa, no extremo norte da Argentina. As amostras de xenólitos mostram textura protogranular, protogranular a porfiroclástica, porfiroclástica e porfiroclástica a equigranular e são compostos por olivina (fosterita), ortopiroxênio (enstatita), clinopiroxênio (diopsídio) e espinélio (sp). Os xenólitos estudados são peridotitos da fácies espinélio e piroxenitos anidros em basaltos alcalinos do Pleistoceno com #Mg em rocha total de 89 a 91. As assinaturas geoquímicas desses xenólitos mostram correlação negativa entre os principais óxidos quando dispostos contra o #Mg e estão empobrecidos em elementos incompatíveis em relação ao manto primitivo (MP). Os xenólitos do vulcão Agua Poca são caracterizados pelo empobrecimento de ETRP e ETRM normalizados para o MP e pelo fracionamento de ETRL em relação aos ETRP (CeN/YbN = 0,15-0,5), com exceção da amostra HAP10 (1,46). Esse comportamento indica que os xenólitos do terreno Cuyania são o resultado de 1 a 10% de fusão do DMM (Manto Depletado) ou de 8 a 17% do MP (Manto Primitivo). Em geral, os peridotitos mostram anomalias positivas de Ba, U, Ta, Pb, Zr e Ti; e anomalias negativas de Rb, Th, Nb, La e Y, enquanto que os piroxenitos mostram anomalias positivas de Ba, U, Ta e Pb; e anomalias negativas de Th, Nb, La, Zr, Hf, Ti e Y. Curvas de mistura calculadas para o resíduo de fusão do MP/DMM com a composição de fluídos/sedimentos derivados de ambientes de subducção indicam interação do manto com até 3% de fluídos/sedimentos. As razões 87Sr/86Sr (0,702874 - 0,704999, com média de 0,704035) são muito similares àquelas definidas para peridotitos com fonte tipo OIB. Agua Poca tem razões 87Sr/86Sr, que estão abaixo daquelas definidas para peridotitos metassomatizados (usualmente >0,705). As razões de Nb/Ta sugerem a presença de um reservatório eclogítico refratário subductado fusão parcial gerando líquidos alcalinos com razões Nb/Ta supercondríticas. / The Patagonian Volcanic Field composed of late Cretaceous to Quaternary volcanism is widely distributed in a continental extra back-arc geotectonic environment. Eleven monogenetic volcanoes accompanied with ultramafic xenoliths are situated from 36°13′S to 44°52′S. These volcanoes are dominantly composed of basanite to alkaline basalt, which are divided into two groups, based on mineralogy, geochemical and isotope compositions (Groups I and II). These Groups are originated from the similar subcontinental mantle sources, but were undergone to different metasomatism processes. Groups I and II were generated from low melting degrees of an OIB-like garnet peridotite, but the Group II has enriched mantle (EMII) characteristics possibly inherited from on-going subduction related metasomatism, while Group I demonstrates the OIB-like signature, which might result from phlogopite-bearing in the subcontinental lithosphere. The alkaline basalts from Agua Poca volcano (37º01’S - 68º07’W) belong to the Group II and are trachybasalts. The Agua Poca volcano is a monogenetic pyroclastic volcano composed by intercalation of spatter and cinder layers, host ultramafic mantle xenoliths and is located in the West of the La Pampa Province, Northernmost of Argentine Patagonia. The xenoliths show protogranular, protogranular to porphyroclastic, porphyroclastic and porphyroclastic to equigranular textures, and are composed of olivine (fosterite), orthopyroxene (enstatite), clinopyroxene (diopside) and spinel (sp). The studied xenoliths are anhydrous spinel-bearing peridotite and pyroxenite xenoliths in Pleistocene alkali basalts with whole rock Mg# from 88 to 91. Geochemical signatures of the mantle xenoliths show negative correlation between main oxides against Mg# and depletion in incompatible elements compared to primitive mantle (PM). Agua Poca mantle xenoliths are characterized by flat Sun & McDonough (1989) primitive mantle (PM) normalized HREE and MREE patterns, and depletion of LREE compared to HREE (CeN/YbN = 0.15-0.5), with exception of the HAP10 (1.46) sample. These characteristics suggest that partial melting event is the main process responsible for the generation of these xenoliths. Model calculations suggest that the xenoliths are the result of 1 to 10% of DMM (Depleted Mantle MORB) or 8 to 17% of PM partial melting. Peridotite samples show positive anomalies of Ba, U, Ta, Pb, Zr and Ti; and negative anomalies of Rb, Th, Nb, La and Y, while the pyroxenite samples show positive anomalies of Ba, U, Ta and Pb; and negative anomalies of Th, Nb, La, Zr, Hf, Ti and Y. Mixing curves calculated to mixtures of melting residue of PM/DMM and fluid or sediment compositions related to subduction tectonic setting end members suggest up to 3% of interaction of the fluid sediment on the depleted mantle residue. 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.702874 - 0.704999, with average of 0.704035) are similar to those defined to peridotites with OIB source (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70244 to 0.70502), being close to Depleted Mantle (DM; 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7023 to 0.7032) values. Nb/Ta ratios suggest that Agua Poca xenoliths were undergone to partial melting processes that generated alkaline magmas with superchondritic Nb/Ta ratios.

La logistique de la Grande Distribution s'appuie sur une organisation multi-acteurs dont les principes de flexibilité et d'adaptabilité au moindre coût sont les leviers d'une performance fondée sur la substituabilité des Prestataires de Services Logistiques (PSL). Cette organisation entraine une dépendance stratégique des PSL vis à vis de la grande Distribution. Néanmoins, certains prestataires intègrent une démarche de Développement Durable. La problématique de la thèse est donc la suivante : Pourquoi et comment les Prestataires Logistiques intègrent-ils, volontairement, une politique de Développement Durable au sein de la chaîne logistique aval de la Grande Distribution ? Le cadre théorique s'appuie d'abord sur le modèle « Plug and Play » permet de caractériser la logistique de la Grande Distribution par la spécificité des actifs et une approche des contrats. Il est complété par la théorie du découplage et l'encastrement, selon de White, ce qui permet d'expliquer le caractère bloquant du modèle « Plug and Play » et d'action possible des PSL. La méthodologie choisie est une approche exploratoire abductive sous un positionnement constructiviste modéré. Elle s'appuie sur l'étude de cas approfondie d'une chaîne logistique aval d'une enseigne de la Grande Distribution et ses PSL. Une triangulation des méthodes mobilise essentiellement une démarche qualitative par le biais d'entretiens, mais également une enquête quantitative. Les résultats de la recherche montre dans le cas étudié que les PSL sont encastré dans le modèle « Plug and Play » de l'enseigne dont ils sont dépendants. En réaction, certains prestataires tentent de se découpler du « Plug and Play », en intégrant une démarche de Développement Durable, et de s'encastrer dans un modèle « Plug and Play » où le rapport de force entre PSL et l'enseigne est plus équilibré. / The Mass-market retailing logistics relies on an organization multi-actor whose principles of flexibility and adaptability to the lesser cost are the levers of a performance based on the substitutability of the logistics service providers (LSP). This organization leads to a strategic dependence of PSL with respect to the large distribution. However, some providers incorporate a sustainable development approach. The problematic of the thesis is as follows: Why and how logistics providers incorporate, voluntarily, a sustainable development policy within the outbound logistics chain of the Mass-market Retail? The theoretical framework is first based on the model "Plug and Play". It allows characterizing the logistics of the Mass-market Retailing by asset specificity and contract approach. It is complemented by the theory of decoupling and embeddedness, according to White, which helps to explain the blocking attribute of the "Plug and Play" model and possible action of LSP. The methodology chosen is an abductive exploratory approach in a moderate constructivist position. It relies on an in-depth case study of an outbound logistics of a Mass-market Retailing and its LSP. A triangulation of methods essentially mobilizes a qualitative approach through interviews, but also a quantitative survey. The results of the research show, in the case studied, that the LSP are embedded in logistics 'Plug and Play' of the trade, and on which they are dependents. In response, some providers attempt to decouple themselves from the 'Plug and Play', by integrating a sustainable development policy and embedded themselves in a model of “Plug and Play” where the power relations between LSP and the trade is balanced.

Stucture simple, faible coût, grand espace de travail et technologie mature, ces avantages font que les manipulateurs sériels sont largement utilisés dans de nombreux domaines industriels. Avec le développement rapide de l'industrie et les diverses applications des manipulateurs sériels, de nouvelles exigences strictes sont souhaitées, telles que la stabilité robuste, la grande précision de positionnement et la cadence élevée.Un des moyens efficaces pour améliorer les performances mentionnées est la conception de manipulateurs sériels à découplage dynamique. Dans ce cadre, l'objectif de cette thèse est de valider une structure simple permettant de réaliser un découplage dynamique complet des manipulateurs sériels en tenant compte de la charge embarquée.Le chapitre 1 présente les solutions connues et décrit les inconvénients liés aux différentes techniques permettant une simplification de la dynamique des manipulateurs. L'étude de la bibliographie a permis d'affiner les objectifs à atteindre. Le chapitre 2 traite de la conception de manipulateurs sériels réglables à dynamique linéarisée et découplée. Sans la charge embarquée, la méthode développée réalise le découplage dynamique par rotation inverse des bras et par redistribution optimale des masses. La charge embarquée qui conduit à une perturbation au niveau des équations dynamiques dedécouplage est compensée par la commande.Le chapitre 3 envisage un nouveau concept de découplage dynamique qui consiste à relier aux bras initiaux d'un manipulateur sériel, deux bras additionnels pour réaliser un mécanisme Scott-Russell. Les mouvements opposés des bras du mécanisme Scott-Russell associés à une redistribution optimale des masses permettent de supprimer les termes non linéaires des équations dynamiques du manipulateur. Le modèle linéaire et découplé ainsi obtenu permet de tenir compte de la charge embarquée.Dans le chapitre 4, on considère les propriétés de robustesse (incertitudes paramétriques) de quatre modèles de manipulateurs sériels (un manipulateur couplé, un manipulateur découplé par la commande et les deux manipulateurs découplés qui sont issus des chapitres 2 et 3). Les études qualitatives sont effectuées par simulation en utilisant la même loi de commande optimale et la même trajectoire de référence. Les résultats des simulations permettentde conclure sur la robustesse des manipulateurs décrits aux chapitres 2 et 3 par rapport au manipulateur couplé et au manipulateur découplé par la commande.La méthodologie de conception et les techniques de commande proposées sont illustrées par des simulations réalisées à l'aide des logiciels ADAMS et MATLAB. Les simulations ont confirmé l'efficacité des approches développées. / Simple structure, low cost, large workspace and mature technology, these advantages make the serial manipulators are widely used in many industrialfields. With the rapid development of industry and various applications of serial manipulators, new strict requirements are proposed, such as highstability, high positioning accuracy and high speed operation.One of the efficient ways to improve the mentioned performances is the design of manipulators with dynamic decoupling. Therefore, the goal in thisthesis is to find simple structure pennitting to carry out complete dynamic decoupling of serial manipulators taking into account the changing payload.The review, given in Chapter I, sunmarizes the known solutions and discloses the drawbacks of different techniques permitting a simplification of thedynamics of manipulators. lt allows an identification of objectives that are of interest and should be studied \within the framework of this thesis.Chapter 2 deals with the design of adjustable serial manipulators with linearized and decoupled dynamics. Without payload, the developed methodaccomplishes the dynamic decoupling via opposite rotation of links and optimal redistribution of masses. The payload which leads to the perturbation ofThe dynamic decoupling equations is compensated by the optimal control technique.Chapter 3 deals with a new dynamic decoupling concept, which involves connecting to a serial manipulator a two-link group forming a Scott-Russell mechanism combined with optimal redistribution of masses allows the cancellation of the coefficients of nonlinear terms in the manipulator's dynamic equations. Then, by using the control, the dynamicdecoupling taking into account the changing payload is achieved.In chapter 4, robustness properties (parametric uncertainties) of four various models of serial manipulators (one coupled manipulator, one decoupled manipulator by feedback linearization and the two decoupled manipulators that modeled in chapters 2 and 3) are considered. The given comparison performed via simutations is achieved with the same optimal control law and the same reference trajectory. Simulation results allow one to derive robustness assessments of manipulators described in chapters 2 and 3.The suggested design methodology and control techniques are illustrated by simulations carried out using ADAMS and MATLAB software, which have confirmed the efficiency of the developed approaches.

L’activité psychologique spontanée contribue de façons importantes à notre expérience du monde qui nous entoure. Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’atténuation spontanée des mécanismes sensoriels cérébraux, qui constitue un important déterminant du découplage attentionnel, menant à une expérience de « mind-wandering » (vagabondage/errance de la pensée). Cet état de mind-wandering se caractérise par une augmentation spontanée de pensées sans lien avec la tâche en cours de réalisation, qui vont varier au cours du temps et interférer avec les processus cognitives. Certain processus de découplage sensoriel apparaissent très précocement après une stimulation, alors que d’autres, comme l’attention sélective, apparaissent plus tardivement. La recherche s’est principalement intéressée aux effets du mind-wandering sur les processus cognitifs, mais nous ne savons que peu de chose sur les processus sensoriels précoces au cours du mind-wandering et sur leur dynamique temporelle. Dans cette thèse, nous nous intéresserons principalement au développement temporel précoce de l’atténuation sensorielle qui précède un état de mind-wandering. Nous chercherons, plus particulièrement, à déterminer si cette atténuation sensorielle est un processus qui se développe progressivement ou s’il s’agit d’un évènement de découplage soudain, qui déclenche alors à un changement cognitif global amenant à un état de mind-wandering. Nous avons développé une nouvelle approche expérimentale, inspiré de la tâche classique de SART (Sustained Attention to Response Task), et basée sur la mesure de l’évaluation en continue de performance psychophysique individuelle. Ceci était réalisé en sondant les participants par une question, lorsque leurs temps de réponse (RT) dépassaient de plus ou moins deux fois la déviation standard (SD) de leur temps de réponse moyen. Les résultats montrent que l’état de mind-wandering est généralement précédé par des temps de réponses plus court, en comparaison aux essais dans lesquels le sujet est focalisé sur la tâche. Plus particulièrement, il est possible de prédire de façons fiables les épisodes de mind-wandering à partir de la différence de temps de réponse entre les deux derniers essaies précédent la question. Ainsi, l’état de mind-wandering suit une augmentation de courte durée de la variabilité comportementale avec une durée comprise entre 2,5 et 10 secondes. Dans une seconde étude, nous avons exploré les corrélats electrophysiologiques de la dynamique de l’atténuation sensorielle précédent les phases de mind-wandering au cours d’une version modifiée de la tâche de SART. Nous avons décrit les modulations de l’activité cérébrale dans plusieurs régions du cortex visuel pendant les épisodes de mind-wandering. Les résultats montrent une modulation de composantes associées au traitement sensoriel précoce (augmentation de P1 et diminution de N1) juste avant le report par les participants d’épisodes de mind-wandering. Ce résultat suggère une diminution des ressources neuronales associées aux traitements visuels précoces du stimulus visuel. Le mind-wandering augmente également l’amplitude d’une composante plus tardive, entre 300 et 500ms, suggérant une augmentation de la préparation à la réponse. Cette thèse apporte ainsi, pour la première fois, une description de l’organisation temporelle précoce du découplage sensoriel précédent l’experience de mind-wandering. En effet, le mind-wandering apparait comme étant fortement associé à une atténuation précoce et abrupte des processus sensoriels. Ainsi, le cours découplage sensoriel (quelques centaines de ms) peut alors entrainer un long et dramatique état de conscience tel que le mind-wandering. / Spontaneous psychological activity substantially contributes to our everyday experience of the external world. This thesis focuses on spontaneous attenuation of sensory processing in the human brain, an important determinant of attentional decoupling, which results in mind-wandering experience. Mind wandering is characterized by the spontaneous rise of thoughts unrelated with the ongoing task, which varies over time and interferes with the current cognitive processes. Some sensory decoupling processes arise very early after an event, whereas others, such as selective attention processes, take place later on. Previous research mainly focused on the general effects of mind-wandering on cognitive processing, but little is known about the early sensory processes during mind wandering and about their temporal dynamics. This thesis focuses on the study of the temporal development of early sensory attenuation previous to mind-wandering experiences. Specifically, we addressed whether this sensory attenuation is a process that develops gradually or whether it is an abrupt decoupling event that consequently triggers a global cognitive change towards a mind-wandering experience. We developed a new experimental approach, inspired by the classic sustained attention to response task (SART), based on the continuous, online assessment of individual psychophysical performance. Probe questions were asked whenever response times (RTs) exceeded 2 SD from the participant’s average RT. Results showed that mind-wandering reports were generally preceded by slower RTs, as compared to trials preceding on-task reports. Specifically, we could reliably predict mind-wandering episodes based on the response time difference between the last and the second-to-last trials. Thus, mind-wandering follow an abrupt increase in behavioral variability, lasting between 2.5 and 10 seconds. In a second study, we addressed the electrophysiological correlates of the dynamics of the sensory attenuation prior to mind-wandering experiences during the performance of a modified version of the RT task. We described the modulation of the brain activity in different regions of the visual cortex during mind-wandering episodes. We found modulations of components related to early sensory processing (increase of P1 and decrease of N1), shortly before participants reported mind-wandering episodes. This suggests a decrease of neural resources related with the early visual processing of the sensory input. Mind wandering also increased the amplitude of a late component peaking around 300-500 ms, perhaps because of increased preparation of response. Overall, this thesis provides for the first time a clear description of the early temporal organization of the sensory decoupling prior to mind-wandering experiences. In particular, mind wandering appears to be strongly linked to early, abrupt sensory attenuation. Thus, short-lasting sensory decoupling (a few hundreds ms) can thus determine a prolonged and dramatic consciousness state such as mind wandering.

The main aim of this research project is to extend theories of four-wheel-steering as developed by J. Ackermann to include an individually steered four-wheel steering system for passenger vehicles. Ackermann’s theories, including theories available in this subject area, dwell much on vehicle system dynamics developed from what is called single track model and some call it a bicycle model. In the bicycle model, the front two wheels are bundled together. Similarly, the rear wheels are bundled together. The problem with this is that it assumes two front wheels or two rear wheels to be under the same road, vehicle and operating conditions. The reality on the ground and experiments that are conducted are to the contrary. Therefore this study discusses vehicle disturbance rejection through robust decoupling of yaw and lateral motions of the passenger vehicle. A mathematical model was developed and simulated using Matlab R2008b. The model was developed in such a way that conditions can be easily changed and simulated. The model responded well to variations in road and vehicle conditions. Focus was in the ability of the vehicle to reject external disturbances. To generate yaw moment during braking, the brake on the left front wheel was disconnected. This was done because lateral wind generators, as used by Ackermann, were not available. The results from both simulations and experiments show disturbance rejection in the steady state. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

One of the major factors in RF circuit design is the ability to predict the performance of these circuits in the presence of uncertainty in the key design parameters. This is referred to as uncertainty quantification in the mathematical literature. Uncertainty about the key design parameters arises mainly from the difficulty of controlling the physical or geometrical features of the underlying design, especially at the nanometer level. With the constant trend to scale down the process feature size, uncertainty quantification becomes crucial in shortening the design time. This thesis presents a new approach to statistically characterize the variability of the Harmonic Balance analysis and its application to Intermodulation distortion analysis in the presence of uncertainty in the design parameters. The new approach is based on the concept of Polynomial Chaos (PC) and Stochastic Galerkin (SG) methods. However, unlike the traditional PC, the proposed approach adopts a new mathematical formulation that decouples the Polynomial Chaos problem into several problems whose sizes are equal to the size of the original Harmonic Balance problem. The proposed algorithm produces significant CPU savings with equivalent accuracy to traditional Monte Carlo and standard PC approaches.

Different management trends have come and gone during recent decades within the public sector. Therefore we found it interesting and relevant to study the current management within the public sector during the end of the 2010. To study this, we chose to study Växjö municipality’s implementation of their new management system. During the study institutional theory was used to create an understanding for how the new management system had been implemented and what consequences the change had for a selected number of employees. Furthermore the study  investigated if the management trends New Public Management and trust-based governance had any impact on Växjö municipality’s new management system. The study was conducted through ten interviews with different managers and politicians within Växjö municipality, to increase the understanding for the implementation process, through taking part of their perception of how the implementation-process proceeded. Through our interpretation of the then respondents it seems like what drove Växjö municipality to realize the change whas that the new manager for Växjö municipality observed problems with the previous management by objectives. Based on the interviews, it seems like the new process-oriented work had broad support from the ten respondents. Furthermore, the respondents highlighted that they had influence as well as they were involved in the change- and implementation process. However, our interpretation from the respondents stories is that it has been more difficult to implement the new management system than to initiate it since the change and implementation proceed proceed to fast and had vague and unclear plans. Through our interpretation of the respondents experiences we found that trends do not have to be volatile, but rather that trends can be implemented thoroughly, which was the case in Växjö municipality. Finally, the results of the study also implies that Växjö municipality's new management system has been influenced more by trust-based governance than by New Public Management. / Olika styrtrender har kommit och gått i den offentliga sektorn under de senaste decennierna. Vi fann det därmed intressant och relevant att undersöka den nuvarande styrningen inom den kommunala sektorn under slutet av 2010-talet. För att undersöka detta utgick vi från Växjö kommuns implementering av deras nya processbaserade styrning. Under studien användes institutionell teori för att skapa förståelse för hur den nya styrningen hade implementerats och vilka konsekvenser detta förändringsarbete medförde för ett utvalt antal medarbetare. Studien utgick även från att undersöka om styrtrenderna New Public Management och tillitsbaserad styrning har haft någon inverkan på Växjö kommuns nya styrning. Studien genomfördes genom tio stycken intervjuer med chefer och politiker inom Växjö kommun, för att öka förståelsen för ett kommunalt implementeringsarbete genom att få ta del av deras uppfattningar om hur implementeringen av en ny styrning har gått till. Utifrån vår tolkning av de tio respondenterna tyder det på att det som drev Växjö kommun att genomföra förändringsarbetet var att den nya kommunchefen uppmärksammade problem med den tidigare målstyrningen. Intervjuerna med respondenterna tyder även på att det nya processorienterade arbetssättet har haft stöd från majoriteten av de tio respondenterna. Vidare framhöll respondenterna även att de har haft inflytande och har varit delaktiga i förändrings- och implementeringsarbetet. Vår tolkning utifrån respondenternas berättelser är dock att det har varit svårare att implementera den nya styrningen än att initiera den då förändrings- och implementeringsarbetet har gått för fort fram och har haft vaga och otydligt definierade planer. Genom vår tolkning av respondenternas berättelser fann vi även att trender ej behöver vara flyktiga, utan att trender har implementerats djupgående i Växjö kommun. Avslutningsvis tyder studiens resultat på att Växjö kommuns styrning har influerats mer av tillitsbaserad styrning än av New Public Management.

Datum: 2022-05-30  Nivå: Magisteruppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 hp Akademi: Akademin för Ekonomi, Samhälle och Teknik, Mälardalens Universitet  Författare: Amanda Gustafsson (98/01/23) och Malva Hornfelt (95/11/21) Titel: Opinionsbildning för ett jämställt arbetsliv? Handledare: Magnus Linderström  Nyckelord: Jämställdhet, institutionalism, särkoppling, isomorfism, idéspridning, intresseorganisationer Forskningsfrågor: Övergripande fråga; Vilka institutionella förhållanden och processer återfinns i opinionsbildningen om jämställdhet?  Underfrågor; Hur kommer idéspridning till uttryck i Ledarnas opinionsbildning? Hur positionerar sig Ledarna i förhållande till isomorfa processer? Hur framställs Ledarnas opinionsbildning och uttalanden i förhållande till särkoppling? Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka Ledarna och deras ställningstaganden kring jämställdhet utifrån ett institutionellt perspektiv, för att skapa djupare förståelse för de institutionella förhållanden och processer som försvårar aktualiseringen av jämställdhet i praktiken. Metod: I studien används en kvalitativ fallstudiemetodik och en tematisk dokumentanalys som främsta verktyg. Det empiriska materialet utgörs av publicerade dokument i form av debattartiklar och blogginlägg. Slutsats: Opinionsbildningen präglas av institutionella processer i form av särkoppling, idéspridning och föreställningar som tolkas som sanning. Idéspridning och föreställningar förekommer i syfte att synliggöra den särkoppling och dissonans som finns i jämställdhetsdebatten. Förståelse för de institutionella strukturernas förhållande till debattens utformning har möjliggjorts i och med studiens teoretiska tolkning av fenomenet. Studiens empiriska bidrag möjliggör en djupare förståelse för fenomenet i den givna kontexten och bör ej generaliseras. / Date: 2022-05-30 Level: Master thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr  Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University  Authors: Amanda Gustafsson (98/01/23) and Malva Hornfelt (95/11/21) Title: Debating for work life equality? Supervisor: Magnus Linderström  Keywords: Equality, institutionalism, decoupling, isomorphic processes, translation of ideas, trade unions. Research questions: Overarching question; Which institutional processes are present in the debate regarding gender equality? Sub-questions; How is translation of ideas presented in the trade union Ledarna’s opinions? What is the trade union Ledarna’s stance regarding isomorphic processes? How are the opinions of the trade union Ledarna presented in regard to decoupling? Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to establish a deeper understanding of the institutional processes which complicate the actualization of gender equality in the workplace, by examining the views presented by the Swedish trade union Ledarna in the debate regarding gender equality. Method: This is a qualitative case study which utilizes a thematic document analysis as its main tool of analysis. The empirical data consists of web-based publications such as blog posts and debate articles. Conclusion: The debate is characterized by institutional processes such as decoupling, translation of ideas and perceptions perceived as truths. Translation of ideas as well as perceptions are used in the debate to visualize the dissonance and decoupling which is present in the views surrounding the gender equality debate. Deeper understanding for the relationship between the debate and the institutional processes have been generated due to the theoretical interpretation of the phenomenon. The empirical contribution of the study establishes a deeper understanding for the phenomena in its given context and thus should not be generalized or used for wider application within organizational theory.

Although multi-element antenna (MEA) systems are already used in some modern wireless communication systems, the issue of mutual coupling between elements remains a challenge during MEA system design. Indeed, communications engineers continue to bemoan the fact that that the antenna elements are often still designed with such coupling as an afterthought. Thus, some authors have used the decoupling surface (DS) idea, whereby a separate DS is added to the MEA systems to reduce the above coupling. Whereas a DS may indeed lower the coupling levels between the elements of a given MEA system, it usually changes the other performance parameters as well, and in an undesirable way. Thus, this design route is a complicated one that is not easily affected. In this thesis we propose, for the first time, a new design process for MEA systems based on shape synthesis. The MEA system performance indicators are combined into an objective that sets the goal of the shape synthesis procedure. The application of the proposed design process is illustrated for three different geometrical arrangements of patch antennas and decoupling surfaces. This confirms the efficacy of the new design method.

In recent years, an increase in geopolitical tensions has prompted discussion within International Business research regarding de-globalization and signs of decoupling between previously interconnected markets. This thesis aims to investigate if high-revenue Swedish multinational enterprises’ communications and strategies are affected by exogenous geopolitical developments in the global economy. By conducting a qualitative content analysis of contents of letters to shareholders between the years 2014 to 2022, we made use of five coded markers and aggregated observations to discern significant events and trends in communication within a sample of 28 multinational enterprises. The findings indicate a shift in market focus among Swedish multinational enterprises, from global to Western markets, as well as increased emphasis on resilience. The study contributes to knowledge of how geopolitical developments affect communication of strategy by Swedish multinational enterprises. / Under de senaste åren har en ökning av geopolitiska spänningar föranlett diskussioner inom internationellt företagande om deglobalisering och tecken på frikoppling mellan tidigare sammanlänkade marknader. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka om svenska multinationella företags kommunikation och strategier påverkas av exogena geopolitiska utvecklingar i den globala ekonomin. Genom en kvalitativ analys av innehållet i avsnittet “VD:n har ordet” inom årsredovisningar mellan åren 2014 till 2022 användes fem markörer och aggregerade observationer för att urskilja viktiga händelser och trender inom kommunikation inom ett urval av 28 multinationella företag. Resultatet visar på en förändring i marknadsfokus bland svenska multinationella företag från globala till västerländska marknader, samt ökad betoning på resiliens. Studien bidrar till kunskap om hur geopolitisk utveckling påverkar kommunikation av strategi från svenska multinationella företag.