Consumers are increasingly becoming more sustainable and strive towards making sustainable actions and purchases. As a response, companies attempt to follow this trend by offering sustainable and eco-friendly products and services, however, this has increased the tendency of greenwashing techniques. Blockchain technology (BCT), a system that can provide transparent, traceable,and trustworthy information, can thus be the solution for this dilemma in order to decrease the risk of greenwashing. Hence, consumers can feel a lack of trust towards current products that are considered to be eco-friendly, while these actually could be non-eco-friendly, and consumers’ willingness to pay a higher price can be diminished - which is a problem that BCT potentially addresses. The purpose of this present study is to understand and assess the role of blockchain technology (BCT) towards Swedish consumers’ intention of purchasing clothing products that are considered to be eco-friendly.  In order to answer this purpose, Swedish consumers’ attitudes towards BCT are measured empirically in terms of a quantitative study, where a questionnaire was conducted and received a total of 71 respondents. The results highlight that, in the context of clothing product purchases, Swedish consumers currently are not purchasing eco-friendly clothing products and they do not strive to purchase these to a high extent. However, if BCT would be available before the consumer purchases the clothing product, results emphasize that consumers would be more prone to purchase eco-friendly products. Additionally, results reveal that consumers would feel a high level of trust towards clothing companies and their products if BCT would be available prior to purchase. Ultimately, it was uncovered that consumers are willing to pay a higher price for eco-friendly clothing products if BCT is available. This study thus provides insights about the advantages of utilizing BCT within the business, which is applicable to particularly clothing companies but also other companies in general.

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L’objectif central de cette thèse est d’étudier des phases ordonnées en compétition dans des matériaux magnétiques présentant une structure cristalline tétragonale centrée.Ce travail est divisé en deux parties principales. Dans la première, nous présentons les résultats de notre étude de la compétition entre des états ordonnés antiferromagnétiques et des phases liquides de spin. Nous montrons comment ces dernières peuvent être stabilisées par la frustration géométrique et par une généralisation de la symétrie de spinau groupe SU(n). Les états antiferromagnétiques sont décrits par une théorie d’onde despin et l’analyse de liquide de spin est effectuée par une représentation fermionique des opérateurs de spin. Dans la deuxième partie, nous décrivons une théorie effective pour dércrire des expériences de diffusion Raman. Nous fournissons un aperçu de la phase d’ordre caché affichée par le composé de fermions lourds URu2Si2. / The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the competing ordered phases in the metallic heavy fermion compound URu2Si2, which displays a body-centered tetragonallattice. We first provide a study case of the competition between antiferromagnetic(AF) and spin liquid phases. The antiferromagnetic state is study with spin-wave theory. Whereas the spin liquid analysis has been carried out in an algebraic spin liquid representation.In the second part, we describe an effective theory for Raman scattering experiments at these particular phases. We provide insight about the hidden order phase displayed by the heavy fermion compound URu2Si2.

The global climate and energy crisis has amplified the need for renewable energy sources, withsolar photovoltaic (PV) systems expected to play a significant role in the future energy mix. In this context, distributed energy systems (DES) are identified as part of the solution to address climate and energy challenges.With the increasing demand for photovoltaic energy sources, there is a growing requirement forefficient Business Case Tools (BCT) to analyze investments in distributed solar PV installations.A two-part model, consisting of a solar model and spot price data, was developed based onparameters such as solar radiation, location, angle, orientation, system losses, installedcapacity, and historical spot price data. The model was integrated with Power BI for investment calculations and visualization of results. The developed model provides approximations for solar PV system electricity production, which were validated against selected installations in allelectricity areas of Sweden. The validation revealed an average relative absolute error of 14.72 percent for the model. The conclusion drawn is that BCT can be utilized to analyze and visualize solar PV investments at specific locations in Sweden. The results indicate that Power BI, as a BCT, has limitations indynamic data collection but performs well in executing calculation of investments and visualizingthe results. Well-developed BCT can facilitate decision-making through real-time calculations and contribute to smoother implementation of distributed systems by providing detailed insightsinto their financial characteristics. Further research is needed to develop a model specificallytailored for distributed installations with storage capabilities. / Världen befinner sig i en global klimat- och energikris vilket ökat behovet av och efterfrågan på förnybara energikällor. Solceller förväntas utgöra en betydande del av den framtida energimixen. I kombination med detta identifieras distribuerade energisystem (DES) som endel av lösningen på klimat- och energifrågan. I takt med den ökade efterfrågan på fotovoltaiska energikällor ställs större krav på effektiva Business Case Tools (BCT) för att analysera investeringar i distribuerade solcellsanläggningar. En modell bestående av två delar, en solmodell och spotprisdata,utvecklades utifrån parametrarna solstrålning, plats, vinkel, riktning, systemförluster, installerad effekt samt historiska spotprisdata. Modellen sammankopplas med Power BI föratt utföra investeringskalkyler och visualisera resultatet. Den utvecklade modellen gerapproximationer för solcellsanläggningars elproduktion, vilket validerades mot utvaldaanläggningar i Sveriges samtliga elområden. Enligt valideringen uppgår modellens genomsnittliga relativa absoluta fel till 14,72 procent. Slutsatsen dras att BCT kan användas för att analysera och visualisera solcellsinvesteringar på specifika platser i Sverige. Resultatet visar att Power BI som BCT har brister när detkommer till dynamisk datainsamling, men genomför och visualiserar investerings kalkyler med enkelhet. Välutvecklade BCT kan användas för att underlätta beslutsfattande genomrealtidsberäkningar och kan bidra till en smidigare implementering av distribuerade systemgenom att belysa deras finansiella karaktär på ett detaljerat sätt. Fortsatt forskning krävs föratt ta fram en modell anpassad för distribuerade anläggningar med lagringsmöjligheter.

In the presented thesis, lead-free Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3-(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT-BCT) thin films were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using chemical solution deposition method and then the effect of process parameters were investigated to obtain optimum parameters of these lead-free thin films. The phase was selected near to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPH) to increase the number of polarization directions where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases exist together. In this study, the effect of sintering temperatures on microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties were studied systematically. Among the various high-quality BZT-BCT thin films with uniform thickness, the optimum dielectric and ferroelectric responses were observed for films annealed at 800 oC for 1 h sintering time. The thickness was kept constant for all measurements as 500 nm (triple layered films). Therefore, the average grain sizes were found around 60 nm for samples sintered at 700,750 and 800 oC. BZT-BCT thin films sintered at 800 oC showed effective remnant polarization and coercive field values of 2.9 &micro / C/cm2 and 49.4 kV/cm, together with a high dielectric constant and low loss tangent of 365.6 and 3.52 %, respectively, at a frequency of 600 kHz due to pure perovskite phase showing full crystallization and minimum surface porosity obtained at this temperature.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-07-17T13:08:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CarlenePaulaSilvaDeFarias_TESE.pdf: 2687014 bytes, checksum: a677490ff19b9514e32959228d355d32 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-07-18T14:15:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 CarlenePaulaSilvaDeFarias_TESE.pdf: 2687014 bytes, checksum: a677490ff19b9514e32959228d355d32 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-18T14:15:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CarlenePaulaSilvaDeFarias_TESE.pdf: 2687014 bytes, checksum: a677490ff19b9514e32959228d355d32 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-10 / The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the competing ordered phases in the metallic heavy fermion compound URu2Si2, which displays a bodycentered tetragonal lattice. We first provide a study case of the competition between antiferromagnetic (AF) and spin liquid phases. The antiferromagnetic state is study with spin-wave theory. Whereas the spin liquid analysis has been carried out in an algebraic spin liquid representation. In the second part, we describe an effective theory for Raman scattering experiments at these particular phases. We provide insight about the hidden order phase displayed by the heavy fermion compound URu2Si2. / L?objectif central de cette th?se est d??tudier des phases ordonn?es en comp?tition dans des mat?riaux magn?tiques pr?sentant une structure cristalline t?tragonale centr?e. Ce travail est divis? en deux parties principales. Dans la premi?re, nous pr?sentons les r?sultats de notre ?tude de la comp?tition entre des ?tats ordonn?s antiferromagn?tiques et des phases liquides de spin. Nous montrons comment ces derni?res peuvent ?tre stabilis?es par la frustration g?om?trique et par une g?n?ralisation de la sym?trie de spin au groupe SU(n). Les ?tats antiferromagn?tiques sont d?crits par une th?orie d?onde de spin et l?analyse de liquide de spin est effectu?e par une repr?sentation fermionique des op?rateurs de spin. Dans la deuxi?me partie, nous d?crivons une th?orie effective pour d?rcrire des exp?riences de diffusion Raman. Nous fournissons un aper?u de la phase d?ordre cach? affich?e par le compos? de fermions lourds URu2Si2.

This thesis project is exploring and investigates the applications of different methods of reward and nudging strategies and their potential effect on motivating and directing people’s behavior to be more engaged in recycling as a social movement within the society of Saudi Arabia. By creating sustainable behaviors, we contribute to the solutions and help minimize the potential damage of plastic pollution. The designs created throughout this thesis as prototypes of different concepts test the effectiveness of the different strategies on the behaviors of the population in Saudi Arabia. The main findings demonstrated that for people to steer their behavior toward recycling, they need to be financially rewarded. Testing other nudging strategies showed that these strategies might not be as powerful as the traditional system of reward and punishment. Therefore, this project needs to be further investigated and iterated in cooperation with other stakeholders and designers from different fields.

A bipolar charge transport (BCT) model is used to simulate charge injection and transportdynamics inside insulation material which are used in a high voltage direct current (HVDC)cable. Gaining knowledge about space charge density and electric field distribution in theinsulation material enables minimising charge injection at the metal-insulator interface andavoiding unnecessary energy loss. Simulation methods using the numerical Finite ElementMethod (FEM) are implemented in COMSOL multiphysics in order to investigate the effect ofchemical structure such as dipoles, physical defects such as interface roughness and impurityconcentration leading to ions, on the potential barrier and charge injection at the interface.Interface dipoles such as surface dipoles or chemical dipoles can increase or decrease thepotential barrier at the interface depending on direction/orientation of the dipole. Moreover,using a field enhancement factor to include the effect of interface roughness at the interfaceyields increased charge injection when higher values of the field enhancement factor wereused. The barrier height becomes therefore locally lower where the degree of roughness ishigher. Including the effect of ions, the electric field was observed to be enhanced near theelectodes, where it was weakened in the middle of the insulation, depending on the amount ofthe impurity concentration inside the insulation. Improvement on the charge injection lows isalso done using a combination of both Richardson-Schottky and Fowler-Nordheim chargeinjection laws to include both a classical and a quantum mechanical description in the BCTmodel. Solving for the transmission coefficient from Schrödinger equation could improve theaccuracy of Fowler-Nordheim as well. Including potentials due to image effect or chemicalcompositions such as water dipoles will affect the charge injection barrier and the transmission coefficient.

Denna kandidatuppsats undersöker hur beteendeförändringsmodellerna “The Behaviour Change Wheel” (BCW), “BCT-Taxonomin” och ”Foggs Behavioural Model” (FBM) kan appliceras i skapandeprocessen av en informativ teknisk tjänst, i syfte att uppnå positiv beteendeförändring gällande svinn av grönsaker hos individer som är medlemmar av andelsjordbruk. I studien undersöks bland annat om deltagarna upplever att den informativa tekniska tjänsten leder till positiv skillnad i beteenden gällande grönsakssvinn, samt vilka specifika komponenter från beteendeförändringsmodellerna som de upplever gör skillnad. Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer och en analys genom beteendeförändringmodellerna identifieras brister i respondenternas beteenden gällande ett minskat grönsakssvinn. Baserat på analysen länkas lämpliga komponenter från beteendeförändringsmodellerna, som tillsammans med data från intervjuerna är grunden till en webbaserad prototyp med informativa inlägg. Ett användartest utfördes under en veckas tid, som avslutades med enkäter av kvantitativ och kvalitativ form för att ta reda på huruvida det skett en förändring i användarnas beteende samt vilka komponenter från beteendeförändringsmodellerna som användarna upplevde gjorde skillnad. Resultatet visar bland annat att ungefär hälften av användarna upplevde ett minskat grönsakssvinn under användartestet, samt att majoriteten upplevde att de identifierade bristande beteenden till viss del höjdes. / This bachelor thesis investigates how the behavior change models “The Behavior Change Wheel” (BCW), “The BCT-Taxonomy” and “Foggs Behavioral Model” (FBM) can be applied in the design process of an informative technical service, with the purpose to achieve positive behavior change regarding vegetable wastage in individuals who are members of Community Supported Agriculture. The study examines, among other things, whether the participants experience that the informative technical service leads to a positive difference in behaviors regarding vegetable waste, and which specific components from the behavior change models that they experience make a difference in the behaviours. Through semi-structured interviews and an analysis through the behavior change models, deficiencies in the respondents' behaviors regarding a reduced vegetable waste are identified. Based on the analysis, appropriate components are linked from the behavior change models, which together with data from the interviews form the basis for a web-based prototype with informative posts. A user test was performed during a week, which ended with surveys of quantitative and qualitative form to find out whether there had been a change in the users' behavior and which components from the behavior change models that the users experienced had made a difference. The results show, among other things, that approximately half of the users experienced a reduction in vegetable waste during the user test, and that the majority of the users experienced that the identified deficient behaviors were to some extent increased.

Prenatal assessment of fetal health is routinely offered throughout pregnancy to ensure that the most effective management can be provided to maintain fetal and maternal well-being. Currently, invasive testing is used for definitive diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy, which is associated with a 1% risk of iatrogenic fetal loss. Developing non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a key area of research and methods to increase the level of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) within the maternal circulation have been discussed to improve accuracy of such tests. In this study, three strategies; co-amplification at lower denaturation temperature polymerase chain reaction (COLD-PCR), inverse-PCR and Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis, were analysed to identify a novel approach to selectively enrich shorter cffDNA fragments from larger maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA). The sensitivity of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) against real-time PCR (qPCR) was compared for fetal sex and RHD genotyping. In addition RHD zygosity testing was carried out for non-maternal samples. Consequently, Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis was combined with ddPCR analysis for the NIPD of Down Syndrome (DS) in pseudo-maternal samples. The results revealed that the Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis enrichment approach successfully demonstrated 2-fold to 5-fold increases in the cffDNA fraction. However, further optimisation assays of COLD-PCR and inverse-PCR using actual maternal samples were required. The spike experiments for DS detection revealed that with the present assay IV overrepresentation of the chromosome 21 target could be significantly detected for samples with ≥15% ‘cffDNA fraction’. In conjunction with the Pippin Prep™ enrichment method, this would have enabled assessment of all 10 maternal samples. Alternatively, fetal sex and RHD genotyping results determined that ddPCR provides a more sensitive platform compared to qPCR approaches, particularly for samples that express low cffDNA fractions (<2%). The ddPCR platform also proved to be a rapid and accurate system for the determination of RHD zygosity. This study highlights that ddPCR could be used as opposed to qPCR for accurate determination of fetal sex and RHD status. While sequencing approaches currently provide the most sensitive platforms for NIPT of fetal aneuploidy, high costs (>£400) prevent universal application. The combination of cffDNA enrichment with ddPCR analysis could provide a cheaper and more widely available platform for NIPD. However, further large scale validation studies using actual maternal samples are required.