This PhD thesis concerns urban mining, an umbrella term for different recycling strategies aimed to recover materials from the built environment. More specifically, it focuses on hibernating urban infrastructures, that is: cables and pipes that have been left behind in their subsurface location after they were disconnected. I term this subsurface urban realm of system rejects the “Urk World”. “Urk” is short for “urkopplad”, the Swedish word for “disconnected”, an abbreviation often found on old infrastructure maps denoting discarded system parts. Since urks contain high concentrations of copper, my normative stance is that the Urk World should be “mined” as a contribution towards diminishing the persistently wasteful handling of mineral resources in society. The thesis has three focus areas. The first of these discusses how the Urk World has emerged, that is: how the creation of urks is sustained in sociotechnical processes related to infrastructure’s provision. The second concerns the potential of urk mining, how much copper the Urk World contains, where these quantities are located and by which implications they could be recovered. The third focus area is devoted to the politics of urks, and is concerned with the political embeddedness of infrastructure and where politics might intervene for the sake of increased urk recovery. Five papers complete the thesis. The first paper investigates how much copper, aluminium and steel there is in the Urk World of the Swedish city of Norrköping, and how these quantities are spatially dispersed in the urban environment. The second paper is based on interviews with system owners and repair crews, and investigates how urks come into existence in relation to three different infrastructural processes: maintenance, larger installation projects and shutdown. The third paper describes how environmental systems analysis can be beneficially coupled with theories and methods from the social sciences to create knowledge useful to aid the development of urk recycling schemes. The fourth article makes use of the inherent ambiguities of urks to investigate a spectrum of locations where politics aimed for increased urk recovery can intervene as well as what is at stake there. The fifth and final paper investigates urks in Linköping’s power grid in spatial and weight terms, and analyses the implications of urk recovery from several different viewpoints. In overall terms, the major contribution of the thesis is how it improves the knowledge of societal stocks of materials, thereby giving an increased recognition of the built environment as a resource base. In overall scientific terms, it sets an example of how a coherent interdisciplinary research design can provide knowledge useful for the implementation of urk recycling schemes as well as for political decision–making for increased urk recovery.

Decompilation or reverse compilation is the process of translating low-level machine-readable code into high-level human-readable code. The problem is non-trivial due to the amount of information lost during compilation, but it can be divided into several smaller problems which may be solved independently. This report explores the feasibility of composing a decompilation pipeline from independent components, and the potential of exposing those components to the end-user. The components of the decompilation pipeline are conceptually grouped into three modules. Firstly, the front-end translates a source language (e.g. x86 assembly) into LLVM IR; a platform-independent low-level intermediate representation. Secondly, the middle-end structures the LLVM IR by identifying high-level control flow primitives (e.g. pre-test loops, 2-way conditionals). Lastly, the back-end translates the structured LLVM IR into a high-level target programming language (e.g. Go). The control flow analysis stage of the middle-end uses subgraph isomorphism search algorithms to locate control flow primitives in CFGs, both of which are described using Graphviz DOT files. The decompilation pipeline has been proven capable of recovering nested pre-test and post-test loops (e.g. while, do-while), and 1-way and 2-way conditionals (e.g. if, if-else) from LLVM IR. Furthermore, the data-driven design of the control flow analysis stage facilitates extensions to identify new control flow primitives. There is huge potential for future development. The Go output could be made more idiomatic by extending the post-processing stage, using components such as Grind by Russ Cox which moves variable declarations closer to their usage. The language-agnostic aspects of the design will be validated by implementing components in other languages; e.g. data flow analysis in Haskell. Additional back-ends (e.g. Python output) will be implemented to verify that the general decompilation tasks (e.g. control flow analysis, data flow analysis) are handled by the middle-end. / <p>BSc dissertation written during an ERASMUS exchange from Uppsala University to the University of Portsmouth.</p>

This study examines issues surrounding efficiency in the Zimbabwean health sector with specific emphasis on for-profit hospitals in order to find out whether they are significantly more efficient than non-profit hospitals. The study attempts to explore the significance of profit incentives on efficiency. This study uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to examine hospital efficiency scores for the 100 hospitals in the sample classified as for-profit, mission and public. Outputs of the study include inpatient days and outpatient visits. The number of beds, doctors and nurses were used to capture hospital inputs. The findings indicated that there was a marked deviation of efficiency scores from the best practice frontier with for-profit hospitals having the highest mean PTE of 71.1 percent. The mean PTE scores for mission and public hospitals were 64.8 percent and 62.6 percent respectively. About 85 percent, 83 percent and 91 percent of the for-profit, mission and public hospitals were found to be operating below their average PTE. More than half of the hospitals are being run inefficiently. Of more importance to this study is the fact that the hypothesis of for-profit hospital superiority was accepted implying that for profit hospitals are significantly more efficient than the non-profit category. The study indicated that the amount of inputs being used could be decreased substantially without decreasing the quantity of outputs achieved. In each of the hospitals included in the study, the total input reductions needed to make inefficient hospitals efficient are more than 50 percent. These input savings could go a long way in achieving other health concerns without mobilizing additional resources in the sector

Estudos relacionados ao consumo de recursos e à emissão de resíduos na escala territorial local se originaram nas pioneiras pesquisas associadas ao conceito de metabolismo urbano. Nos últimos 15 anos, observa-se um crescimento do número de estudos aplicados a cidades, municípios ou regiões metropolitanas. A Análise dos Fluxos de Materiais - AFM (Material Flow Analysis) vem se consolidando como a abordagem metodológica predominante para esse tipo de investigação, a qual objetiva prover informações sobre fluxos de materiais e de energia, usualmente em unidades de massa, entrando e deixando uma sociedade. No entanto, todos os casos estudados na literatura prévia correspondem a capitais nacionais ou a municípios com centralidade econômica e de gestão do território na região as quais pertencem. Adicionalmente, não há estudos desenvolvidos no Brasil. Em face dessas lacunas, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é a caracterização dos fluxos de materiais associados ao metabolismo de um município brasileiro de pequeno porte (MBPP). Para tanto se adotou como estudo de caso o município de Feliz-RS. Como objetivos intermediários da pesquisa estabeleceram-se: a) Identificação dos métodos existentes para caracterização de fluxos de materiais na escala local e análise das possibilidades de aplicação no contexto dos MBPP; b) Desenvolvimento de um detalhamento metodológico da AFM, para a caracterização dos fluxos de materiais de MBPP; c) Análise das limitações e oportunidades para uso da AFM, na avaliação de sustentabilidade ambiental de municípios. Como resultados, avalia-se que o detalhamento metodológico desenvolvido é funcional e replicável para municípios brasileiros com o mesmo perfil, além de fornecer informações bastante detalhadas acerca dos fluxos ocorrentes no município adotado como caso. Assim, é possível realizar análises com diferentes níveis de desagregação. Quanto aos fluxos de materiais de Feliz, encontrou-se que o consumo doméstico de materiais per capita (DMC/ per capita) do município é alto, se comparado àqueles já caracterizados na literatura. Essa constatação corrobora com a proposição de que municípios com produção primária e secundária tendem a demandar, proporcionalmente, mais recursos do que aqueles que são consumidores finais. Quanto ao uso da AFM, na avaliação de sustentabilidade ambiental, verifica-se um alto potencial, com vantagens, em relação a outros métodos correntemente adotados. Entretanto, essas oportunidades ainda são pouco exploradas no contexto internacional e ignoradas no Brasil, ao se analisar a literatura existente. / Studies related to resources consumption and wastes emissions in a local territorial scale were originated from pioneering researches related to the urban metabolism concept. Over the past 15 years, there was a growth in the number of such studies applied to cities, municipalities and metropolitan areas. At the same time, Material Flow Analysis - MFA was consolidated as the predominant methodological approach for this type of research. However, it must be pointed out that all studied cases have been related to national capitals or counties, with economics centrality and land management in their own area. Besides, no studies of this nature were found as being developed in Brazil. Thus, the main goal of the research presented in this paper was to characterize material flows associated with the metabolism of a small Brazilian municipality and for this purpose the municipality of Feliz was adopted as a case study. Three intermediate objectives were established: a) To identify existing methods for material flows characterization on the local scale and to analyse the possibilities of applying them in the context of small Brazilian municipalities; b) to develop a MFA methodological detailing for the characterization of material flows of small Brazilian municipalities; c) to analyse constraints and opportunities for the use of MFA in the assessment of municipalities environmental sustainability. As results, it is considered that the methodological detailing developed raises the possibility of replicating the procedures applied in Feliz to other Brazilian municipalities, being this research a first and referential step in this direction. Besides, it provides very detailed information on flows occurring in the municipality adopted as the case study. Thus, it is possible ti further develop of analyses considering different levels of disaggregation. Concerning the material flows associated with the metabolism of Feliz, it was found that the studied municipality presents a DMC per capita comparable or superior to that of larger municipalities already analyzed by previous researches. This finding corroborates the hypothesis that municipalities with primary and secondary production tend to demand proportionately more resources than those who are the final consumers. Regarding the use of the MFA in the assessment of municipalities environmental sustainability, it was verified that it presents a high potential, with advantages over other methods currently adopted. However, when analyzing the existing literature it was noticed that these opportunities are still little explored in the international context and ignored in Brazil.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22059号 / 工博第4640号 / 新制||工||1724(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 田中 宏明, 教授 清水 芳久, 教授 藤井 滋穂 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

First part of the master thesis is about displacement pump. Second part is about power plunger pumps. In the third part are equations for power plunger pumps. In the last part the strength calculation of the proposed hydraulic part of the plunger pump was performed using the finite element method in ANSYS. The screw fatigue life is also calculated here. At the end of this section, ANSYS Fluent flow calculation is performed in the suction valve area.

This thesis deals with CFD analysis of a wing-fuselage junction on L410NG airplane. Possible modifications are proposed as well. Calibration problem solved in the introduction serves as a pathway for validation of the results and gives insight into the CFD methodology. The main part analyses the airplane's flow field and shows the details of the modelling process. Description of the computing network followed by final evaluation is presented. Next part is devoted to the creation and aerodynamic analysis of the modified geometry. Final part of the work compares both basic and modified geometry.

This thesis deals with the optimization determination of chondroitin sulfate sequential injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection. The reaction proceeds in the presence of phenothiazine cationic dyes (Azure A, Azure B and methylene blue) and measuring the decrease absorbance dyes in their absorption maximum after the addition of chondroitin sulfate. Have found the optimum conditions for this determination: dye concentration 5 10-5 mole dm-3 , the dosing volume 100 µl CS + 50 µl dye + 100 µl CS, reaction time 0 s, flow rate 40 µl s-1 . For the determination of the CS in a static arrangement was found the lowest limit of detection and quantification using metylene blue (LOD = 0,23 mg l-1 a LOQ = 0,76 mg l- 1 ). The best repeatibility was achieved also using methylene blue 2,4 %. On the other side the best sensitivity was achieved using azure A. For the determination of the CS in SIA arrangement was found the lowest limit of detection and quantification using azure (LOD = 0,34 mg l-1 a LOQ =1,01 mg l-1 ). The best repeatibility was achieved also using azure A 1,9 %. And the best sensitivity was achieved using azure B. Based on these findings was chondroitin sulphate determined in food supplements, the more suitable method were the calibration curve .The determination was also carried out...

<p>Održivo poslovanje i pozicioniranje kompanija na trži&scaron;tu zahteva od kompanija da maksimiziraju dodatu vrednost uz minimalno iskori&scaron;ćenje resursa. Sve veći izazov za kompanije predstavlja racionalna upotreba energije i energetskih izvora, a sve sa ciljem očuvanja životne sredine. Industrijski sistemi, pre svega proizvodni sistemi, predstavljaju najveće potro&scaron;ače energije. Istraživanje ima za cilj utvrđivanje trenutnog stanja u praktičnoj primeni sistema menadžmenta energijom u proizvodnim i uslužnim sistemima u Srbiji. Motivacija za ovakvu temu je pritisak evropske regulative na primenu mera za u&scaron;tedu energije, kao i za za&scaron;titu životne sredine. Standardi za sistem menadžmenta energijom, na kojima se ovo istraživanje zasniva, razmatraju energetsku performansu koju postiže organizacija. Jedan od najpoznatijih predstavnika ove vrste standarda je ISO 50001. Istraživanjem su statistički analizirane veze određenih faktora i nivoa primene zahteva za sistem menadžmenta energijom.</p> / <p>Sustainable business development and companies market positioning require companies to maximize added value with minimal resource utilization. The rational use of energy and energy sources is also a growing challenge, which aims to preserve the environment. Industrial systems, primarily production systems, are the largest energy consumers. The aim of this research is to determine the current situation regarding the application of energy management practices in production and service systems in Serbia. The motivation for these theme is the pressure of European regulation on the implementation of energy saving measures as well as on the environment. The standard for the energy management system on which this research is based consider the energy performance achieved by the organization. One of the most well-known representatives of this type of standard is ISO 50001. The research has statistically analyzed the relations of certain factors and levels of requirements application for the energy management system</p>

A turn to more sustainable resources has lead the research during the last decades to algae. Algae is a resource that has been utilized for thousands of years offering a variety of possibilities. Nevertheless modern technology were able to uncover algae’s great potential and pave the way for alternative uses such as biofuel and biomaterial production. Towards that direction, ‘Seafarm’ aims in utilizing algae in the most efficient and sustainable way. For that purpose various steps have been established, including the biorefinery step which entail among other the extraction of carbohydrates from brown algae. The current thesis is based on an extraction of carbohydrates from Saccharina latissima, a brown algae species, which was developed by Viktor Öberg during his master thesis at KTH. The aim of this work is to assist in the scaling up of that laboratory process by analyzing the basic steps and substances of the process, investigating its environmental performance and identifying improvement areas for theoretical optimization. The results of the aforementioned analysis include a substance flow analysis which reveals the basic steps of the process and constitute the basis for further analysis. The second step examines the environmental performance of the process based on the chemical selection. Hence the results are a risk assessment of chemicals with performance indicators for each chemical as well as the whole process. The final part provides a theoretical optimization of the process based on literature studies where the recommendations are divided in production optimization and environmental performance. The above results constitute the basis of the analysis of the process and sets the foundations for scaling up the process at an industrial level. The current analysis in combination with an energy and economic assessment could be used for the designing of the process and its integration in the biorefinery.