The main focus of this paper is the study of elliptic curves, non-singular projective curves of genus 1. Under a geometric operation, the rational points E(Q) of an elliptic curve E form a group, which is a finitely-generated abelian group by Mordell’s theorem. Thus, this group can be expressed as the finite direct sum of copies of Z and finite cyclic groups. The number of finite copies of Z is called the rank of E(Q). From John Tate and Joseph Silverman we have a formula to compute the rank of curves of the form E: y2 = x3 + ax2 + bx. In this thesis, we generalize this formula, using a purely group theoretic approach, and utilize this generalization to find the rank of curves of the form E: y2 = x3 + c. To do this, we review a few well-known homomorphisms on the curve E: y2 = x3 + ax2 + bx as in Tate and Silverman's Elliptic Curves, and study analogous homomorphisms on E: y2 = x3 + c and relevant facts.

Hållbarhetsredovisningen kan ses som ett kommunikationsverktyg för företag gentemot sinaintressenter. Då konsumenter generellt sett är företagens primära inkomstkälla blir det därmed en viktig intressent för företaget. En konsumentgrupp som från och med i år beräknas vara den största konsumentgruppen och utgöra nästan 40% av världens konsumtion är Generation Z. Studiens syfte är att undersöka och förstå Generation Zs syn på två av Sveriges största fastfashion företag, nämligen H&M och Gina Tricot, hållbarhetsredovisningar utifrån 3Cprincipen.Vidare är syftet att undersöka om konsumentens attityd gentemot respektive fastfashion företag förändras efter att ha tagit del av hållbarhetsredovisningarna. Konsumenternas attityder analyserades utifrån Solomons et al. (2016) ABC-modell. Tio semistrukturerade intervjuer utfördes där deltagarna först fick dela med sig av generella åsikter kring företagen, därefter fick de ta del av hållbarhetsredovisningarna för att sedan dagen efter svara på ytterligare frågor. Resultatet visade på att konsumenter uppfattar respektivehållbarhetsredovisning som tydlig och jämförbar. För deltagarna som upplevde att hållbarhetsredovisningen var trovärdig var den genomgående anledningen till detta att den innehöll mer information. Konsumentens attityd gentemot respektive fast fashion företag förändrades inte ur många aspekter efter att ha tagit del av hållbarhetsredovisningen. Deltagarna som innan de tagit del av hållbarhetsredovisningen haft en positiv känsla gentemot företaget och därtill får en positiv känsla till hållbarhetsredovisningen uppgav däremot också ett förstärktbeteende. Med andra ord är de vara villiga att handla mer hos det företaget. Dock stämmer inte alltid attityd och beteende överens vilket innebär att man endast kan anta att de blir så. / The sustainability report can be seen as a communication tool for companies towards their stakeholders. Since consumers generally are seen as the company's primary source of income they therefore become an important stakeholder for the company. A consumer group that starting from this year is expected to be the biggest consumer group and make up for almost40% of the worlds consumption is Generation Z. This study is aimed to examine and understand Generation Z perception towards two of Sweden's biggest fast fashion companies, H&M and Gina Tricot, sustainability report based on the 3C-principle. Furthermore the purpose is to investigate if the consumers attitude towards respective fast fashion companies changes after they have taken part of the sustainability report. The consumers attitudes was analyzed based on Solomons et al. (2016) ABC-model. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted where the participants first got to share their general opinions about the presented companies, thereafter they received the sustainability reports to then the day after answer additional questions. The results showed that the consumers perceive each sustainability report as clear and comparable. For the participants that perceived that the sustainability report as credible the frequent reason was that it contained more information. The consumers attitude towards the fast fashion companies did not change in many aspects after taking part of the sustainability report. The participants that had a previous positive feeling towards the company and in addition developed a positive feeling towards the sustainability report declared a reinforced behavior. However there is a gap between attitude and behavior and therefore one can only assume that they will behave that way. This paper is further on written in Swedish.

Submitted by Jessica Bortoletto null (jessica.bortoletto@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-03T21:27:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação- Jessica Bortoletto.pdf: 1558671 bytes, checksum: 1d2e7fe2c5dce7eda993fe7ef74c63f4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-05T13:18:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 bortoletto_j_me_araiq.pdf: 1558671 bytes, checksum: 1d2e7fe2c5dce7eda993fe7ef74c63f4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-05T13:18:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 bortoletto_j_me_araiq.pdf: 1558671 bytes, checksum: 1d2e7fe2c5dce7eda993fe7ef74c63f4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / Os efeitos antimicrobianos e a baixa toxicidade da prata em seres humanos continuam a despertar o interesse científico. A associação entre íons prata e ligantes biologicamente ativos é uma estratégia bem sucedida para obter complexos com efeitos mais potentes contra microorganismos patogênicos. Dessa forma, o planejamento de compostos de coordenação que possuam ligantes sulfurados e nitrogenados, em específico, visa obter drogas mais eficazes frente à Mycobacterium tuberculosis visto que o surgimento de casos de Tuberculose multi-droga-resistente faz com que o tratamento atual seja ineficaz. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi sintetizar e caracterizar novos complexos de prata (I) do tipo [Ag(phen)n(imt)]X e [Ag(dppz)(imt)]X, onde phen= 1,10-fenantrolina, n = 1, 2; dppz = dipirido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c]fenazina, imt= imidazolidina-2-tiona e X= BF4-, CF3SO3-, NO3-. Os complexos foram caracterizados pelas técnicas de condutância molar, espectroscopia vibracional na região do IV, ressonância magnética nuclear (1H), análise elementar e espectrometria de massas. A atividade biológica in vitro dos compostos [Ag(phen)(imt)]NO3 (1), [Ag(phen)2(imt)]BF4 (2), [Ag(phen)(imt)]CF3SO3 (3), [Ag(dppz)(imt)]NO3 (4), [Ag(dppz)(imt)]BF4 (5), [Ag(dppz)(imt)]CF3SO3 (6) foi avaliada frente ao patógeno Mycobacterium tuberculosis e os resultados obtidos indicaram que a variação do ligante quelante nitrogenado afeta a atividade biológica. Os compostos contendo a dipirido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c]fenazina mostraram-se inativos enquanto que os compostos contendo 1,10-fenantrolina apresentaram resultados de MIC menores que 10 µg.mL-1. Além disso, verificou-se que a substituição da tiouréia por imidazolidina-2-tiona e a alteração dos contra-íons não resultou em uma potencialização do efeito tuberculostático. Os complexos sintetizados nesse trabalho foram tóxicos frente às células de fibroblasto pulmonar MCR5, refletindo em índices de seletividades (SI) desfavoráveis. / The antimicrobial effects of silver ion together with its low toxicity in the human body have attracted considerable attention. Combining silver ions with biologically active ligands represents a well-succeeded strategy to afford complexes with enhanced effects towards pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, the design of new coordination compounds bearing nitrogen/súlfur-based ligands aims at obtain more active agents against Mycobacterium tuberculosis since the outbreak of multidrug resistant tuberculosis is currently hampered by the lack of available treatments. In this work novel silver complexes of the type [Ag(phen)n(imt)]X and [Ag(dppz)(imt)]X (phen= 1,10-phenantroline, n = 1, 2; dppz = dipirido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c]phenazine, imt= imidazolidine-2-thione; X= BF4 - , CF3SO3 - , NO3 - ) have been synthesized and characterized. The complexes have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis, conductance measurements and mass spectrometry techniques. The in vitro biological activity of the compounds [Ag(phen)(imt)]NO3 (1), [Ag(phen)2(imt)]BF4 (2), [Ag(phen)(imt)]CF3SO3 (3), [Ag(dppz)(imt)]NO3 (4), [Ag(dppz)(imt)]BF4 (5) and [Ag(dppz)(imt)]CF3SO3 (6) has been evaluated against foram estudadas frente Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the obtained results suggest that the nature of chelating ligand affects the biological activity. Compounds bearing the dipyrido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c]phenazine demonstrated to be inactive whereas those containing 1,10-phenantroline exhibited MIC values less than 10 µg mL-1 . Besides that, it was verified that the replacement of thiourea by imidazolidine-2-thione did not result in any increase of the tuberculostatic activity. The complexes were cytotoxic towards pulmonar fibroblast cells MCR5, resulting in unfavorable Selectivity Indexes (SI).

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Background: In recent times, last mile deliveries have become critical as these deliveries are generally considered to be the most expensive, least efficient and most polluted part of the entire logistics chain (De Kervenoael, Schwob & Chandra 2020; McKinnon & Edwards 2009). Consumer demands for fast and flexible deliveries are not very easy to combine with the highest possible sustainability focus (PostNord 2018). By informing about different transport alternatives and vehicle types, the consumer gets the opportunity to influence their own environmental impact when making a purchase (Buldeo Rai, Verlinde & Macharis 2019). Despite the fact that companies today have better possibilities to share data about their environmental practices with the end customer, there is still a lack of such information on the website. Few companies adopt effective web-based communications that inform their stakeholders about their sustainable behaviors (Da Giau, Macchion, Caniato, Caridi, Danese, Rinaldi & Vinelli 2016).  Theory: A theoretical research model “Green web communication” has been developed based on the theories 3’C and OSEC. The theory ten signs of greenwash has also been applied to identify signs of greenwash.  Purpose and research question: The purpose of the study is to map out various alternatives for green marketing within the last mile, to increase the understanding of how ecommerce companies can influence consumers to a more conscious delivery choice. Furthermore, the paper aims to study how the web communication should be developed to avoid greenwashing. In order to answer the purpose, the following research questions have been formulated: How do e-commerce companies communicate green deliveries on the website? In what way can green web communication show signs of greenwashing? How is web communication presented in relation to what is expressed internally?  Methodology: To answer the research question a qualitative method was conducted with a constructivism approach. First a qualitative content analysis was performed on the website of sixteen e-commerce companies, divided into four different industries. The second method involved three semi-structured interviews with representatives of the selected companies Skincity, CDON and Ellos.  Conclusion: Communication about green deliveries appeared frequently at the e-commerce companies’ check-out compared with the information page, home page and group’s website. The representation of green commitments appeared in varying degrees in the form of eco-labels, symbols or information text. Furthermore, the green sustainability commitments were expressed in different ways where the content could be found in various green statements: climate compensation, CO2 emissions or green policy. The web communication also showed that transparency was lacking in far too many aspects as the communication could be identified as greenwashing in several cases. Greenwashing was identified when analyzing the green web communication in aspects of no proof and fluffy language. The internal communication from representatives of the e-commerce companies differed from the communication on the websites. This indicates a discrepancy between the internal and the external communication which neglects the e-companies sustainability commitments. / Bakgrund: På senare tid har last mile leveranser blivit ett kritiskt område då leveranserna iallmänhet anses vara de dyraste, minst effektiva och mest förorenade delen i hela logistikkedjan(De Kervenoael, Schwob & Chandra 2020; McKinnon & Edwards 2009). Konsumentens kravpå snabba och flexibla leveranser är inte särskilt enkla att förena med högsta möjligahållbarhetsfokus (PostNord 2018). Genom att informera om olika transportalternativ ochfordonstyper får konsumenten möjlighet att påverka sin egna miljöpåverkan vid ett köp (BuldeoRai, Verlinde & Macharis 2019). Trots det faktum att företag har större möjligheter att deladata om sin miljömässiga praxis med slutkunden finns de fortfarande en brist av sådaninformation på webbplatsen. Få företag antar effektiv webbaserad kommunikation sominformerar sina intressenter om deras hållbara beteenden (Da Giau, Macchion, Caniato, Caridi,Danese, Rinaldi & Vinelli 2016).  Teori: En teoretisk undersökningsmodell “Grön webbkommunikation” har utvecklats baseratpå teorierna 3’C och OSEC. Teorin ten signs of greenwash har vidare tillämpats för attidentifiera tecken på greenwash.  Syfte och forskningsfråga: Syftet med studien är att kartlägga olika alternativ för grönmarknadsföring av last mile, samt att bidra med en ökad förståelse kring hur e-handelsföretagenkan påverka konsumenten till ett medvetet leveransval. Vidare ska även studien beröra hurkommunikationen på webbplatsen bör utformas för att undvika greenwashing. För att besvarasyftet har följande forskningsfrågor utformats: Hur kommunicerar företag gröna leveranser påwebbplatsen? På vilket sätt kan den gröna webbkommunikationen visa tecken pågreenwashing? Hur framställs webbkommunikationen gentemot resonemang som uttrycksinternt?  Metod: Denna studie genomfördes med en kvalitativ metod som är av konstruktivistiskkaraktär. Först utfördes en kvalitativ innehållsanalys på webbplatsen av sexton e-handelsföretagsom delades in i fyra olika branscher. Den andra metoden innefattar tre semistruktureradeintervjuer med företrädare från de utvalda företagen Skincity, CDON och Ellos.  Slutsats: Kommunikation om gröna leveranser framkom frekvent på e-handelsaktörernascheck-out jämfört med webbplatsens informationssida, startsida samt koncernens webbplats.Framställningen av gröna åtaganden förekom i miljömärkning, symbol eller informationstext ivarierande grad. Vidare uttrycktes de gröna hållbarhetsåtaganden på olika sätt där innehålletgick att härleda till olika gröna påståenden: klimatkompensera, CO2-utsläpp eller grön policy.Webbkommunikationen uppvisade en låg grad av transparens och flertalet brister i allt förmånga avseenden då man ofta kunde härleda kommunikationen till greenwashing.Greenwashing identifierades vid granskning av fallförtagens gröna kommunikation som gickatt härleda till no proof och fluffy language. Den interna kommunikationen skiljer sig mot denkommunikation som fanns att tillgå webbplatsen. Det råder således en diskrepans mellan deninterna och externa kommunikationen vilket försummar aktörens hållbarhetåtaganden.

This paper examines the Quintet in A Minor for Piano and Strings by Florence B. Price (1887-1953). One of Price's latest compositions (with final revisions dated January 21, 1952), the Quintet is a masterful example of what is possible when using a multicultural lens to approach the making of American music. This paper exposes the insufficiency of examining (and assessing) multicultural composers and their works only with traditional Western European analytical views, when an expanded approach is needed to explain many of the non-European musical influences and phenomena. While more complex and challenging, this expanded analytical approach sheds added light and understanding on all compositional techniques used within this work. This analysis of the Quintet in A Minor shows that Price often self-quotes from some of her own earlier works; specifically works from her organ, art song, and symphonic oeuvres. The findings also show that Price's understanding of both Western Classical traditions and African-American musical traditions enabled her to intertwine multiple cultures, creating novel forms that are authentic to the American experience she lived. Price created what she referred to as a "very beautiful and very American" sound.