In this thesis a near-infrared laser scanning confocal microscope (NIR-LSCM) is built to operate with optimal performance at 1550nm in combination with simultaneous LED light imaging at 970nm. For detection, a camera equipped with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor and a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) are used for the LED part and the LSCM part, respectively. By using an SNSPD developed for operation in the NIR with a timing jitter of 19ps and a quantum efficiency (QE) of 85$\%$ instead of, for example, a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) or a single photon avalanche photo diode (SPAD), it has been demonstrated that limitations of existing systems can be reduced.  This thesis also demonstrates that it is possible to build a LSCM with commercially available optical components. It is also proved how important it is to consider the features of each optical component chosen as well as how all components work together as a system. Especially how important it is to consider lens coatings and splitting ratios for beamsplitters to realize a system with optimal performance for operation in the NIR. Thorough research in combination with a trial-and-error process was used to arrive at the final NIR-LSCM system setup presented in this thesis. As a final note, this thesis sheds light on some possible NIR-probes which are suitable for operation in combination with our system. / I detta projekt byggs ett nära-infrarött konfokalt laserskanningsmikroskop (NIR-LSCM) med optimal prestanda för våglängder kring 1550nm i kombination med samtidig LED-ljusavbildning vid 970nm. För detektering används en kamera utrustad med en komplementär metalloxidhalvledarsensor (CMOS) för LED-delen och en supraledande nanotrådsdetektor för detektion av enstaka fotoner (SNSPD) för LSCM-delen. Genom att använda en SNSPD optimerad för NIR med 19ps timing jitter och 85$\%$ kvanteffektivitet (QE) istället för exempelvis ett fotomultiplikatorrör (PMT) eller en enkelfoton lavinfotodiod (SPAD) har det bevisats att begränsningar av befintliga system kan reduceras. Detta projekt visar också att det är möjligt att bygga ett LSCM med kommersiellt tillgängliga optiska komponenter. Det har också bevisats hur viktigt det är att beakta egenskaperna hos varje vald optisk komponent samt hur alla komponenter fungerar tillsammans som ett system. Speciell fokus har lagts på hur viktigt det är att ta hänsyn till linsbeläggningar och delningsförhållanden för stråldelare för att realisera ett system med optimal prestanda för drift i NIR. Sammanfattningsvis användes grundliga förstudier av optiska komponenter och existerande NIR-system i kombination med en trial-and-error-process för att komma fram till den slutliga NIR-LSCM-systemuppsättningen som presenteras i detta projekt. Som en sista notering belyser detta projekt några möjliga NIR-prober som är lämpliga för drift i kombination med vårt system.

Diversos anodos para célula a combustível de óxido sólido (SOFC) têm sido estudados devido aos problemas de deterioração dos anodos tradicionalmente usados, os compósitos à base de zircônia estabilizada/Ni (YSZ/Ni). Estudos prévios evidenciaram que a perovskita La0,75Sr0,25Cr0,50Mn0,50O3 (LSCM) possui desempenho similar em SOFCs usando hidrogênio e metano como combustível, tornando essa cerâmica um possível substituto dos compósitos à base de níquel. No presente estudo, foram sintetizados compostos La0,75Sr0,25Cr0,50-xMn0,50- yRux,yO3 (LSCM-Ru) pelo método dos precursores poliméricos. Análises termogravimétrica e térmica diferencial (TG/ATD) simultâneas e difração de raios X (DRX) foram utilizadas para monitorar a evolução térmica das resinas precursoras e a formação de fase dos compostos. As propriedades elétricas de amostras sinterizadas foram estudadas pela técnica de 4 pontas de prova dc na faixa de temperatura entre 25 °C e 800 °C. Os resultados experimentais indicaram a formação de fase única dos compostos LSCM-Ru calcinados a ~1200 °C. Os parâmetros de rede, calculados a partir dos dados de DRX, revelaram que a substituição parcial dos íons Cr ou Mn pelo Ru não altera significativamente a estrutura cristalina do LSCM até x,y ~ 0,10; uma característica consistente com os raios iônicos similares dos cátions Cr, Mn e Ru com número de coordenação seis. Medidas de resistividade elétrica ao ar mostraram que o mecanismo de transporte não é alterado e que o efeito da substituição de Ru nas propriedades elétricas do composto depende do íon substituído (Cr ou Mn) de maneira consistente com suas substituições parciais. Os testes de SOFCs unitárias revelaram que células com os anodos constituídos por uma camada coletora de corrente do anodo cerâmico LSCM-Ru e uma camada funcional de YSZ/Ni têm desempenho superior a células contendo apenas o anodo cerâmico. As células contendo os anodos cerâmicos LSCM-Ru foram testadas em hidrogênio e etanol, entre 800 °C e 950 °C, e mostraram desempenho em etanol superior ao em hidrogênio; uma característica que foi associada às propriedades de transporte eletrônico dos compostos LSCM-Ru em atmosfera redutora. Os resultados sugerem que os compostos LSCM com substituição parcial de Ru são anodos promissores para SOFC operando com etanol. / Several anodes for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been studied because of serious degradation exhibited by the traditionally used yttria-stabilized zirconia/Ni cermets (YSZ/Ni). Previous studies showed that the perovskite La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.50Mn0.50O3 (LSCM) has similar performance in SOFCs running on hydrogen and methane fuels, making such a ceramic a potential alternative to YSZ/Ni cermets. In the present study, compounds La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.50- xMn0.50-yRux,yO3 (LSCM-Ru) were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to monitor the thermal evolution of the precursor resins and the formation of crystalline phases. The electrical properties of sintered samples were studied by the 4-probe dc technique in the temperature range between 25 °C and 800 °C with controlled atmosphere. The experimental results showed the formation of single phase LSCM-Ru compounds after heat treatment at ~ 1200 °C. Lattice parameters, calculated from the XRD data, revealed that the partial substitution of Cr or Mn by Ru has no significant effect on the crystal structure of LSCM up to Ru x,y ~ 0.10; in agreement with the similar ionic radius of Cr, Mn and Ru with coordination number six. Electrical resistivity measurements showed that the transport mechanism is unchanged and that the effect of Ru addition on the electrical properties of the compound depends on the substituted ion (Cr or Mn). Electrochemical tests of SOFCs demonstrated that single cells comprised of a current collector layer of LSCM-Ru ceramic anode and a functional layer for YSZ/Ni have superior performance when compared to single cells with only one layer of the ceramic anode. Single cells with the LSCM-Ru ceramic anode layer were tested under both hydrogen and ethanol fuels, in the 800 °C - 950 °C temperature range. The main results showed that the single fuel cells exhibited higher performance under ethanol than under hydrogen; a feature that was related to the enhanced electronic transport properties of LSCM-Ru in reducing atmosphere. The experimental results suggest that the LSCM-Ru compounds are promising anodes for ethanol fueled SOFCs.

Diversos anodos para célula a combustível de óxido sólido (SOFC) têm sido estudados devido aos problemas de deterioração dos anodos tradicionalmente usados, os compósitos à base de zircônia estabilizada/Ni (YSZ/Ni). Estudos prévios evidenciaram que a perovskita La0,75Sr0,25Cr0,50Mn0,50O3 (LSCM) possui desempenho similar em SOFCs usando hidrogênio e metano como combustível, tornando essa cerâmica um possível substituto dos compósitos à base de níquel. No presente estudo, foram sintetizados compostos La0,75Sr0,25Cr0,50-xMn0,50- yRux,yO3 (LSCM-Ru) pelo método dos precursores poliméricos. Análises termogravimétrica e térmica diferencial (TG/ATD) simultâneas e difração de raios X (DRX) foram utilizadas para monitorar a evolução térmica das resinas precursoras e a formação de fase dos compostos. As propriedades elétricas de amostras sinterizadas foram estudadas pela técnica de 4 pontas de prova dc na faixa de temperatura entre 25 °C e 800 °C. Os resultados experimentais indicaram a formação de fase única dos compostos LSCM-Ru calcinados a ~1200 °C. Os parâmetros de rede, calculados a partir dos dados de DRX, revelaram que a substituição parcial dos íons Cr ou Mn pelo Ru não altera significativamente a estrutura cristalina do LSCM até x,y ~ 0,10; uma característica consistente com os raios iônicos similares dos cátions Cr, Mn e Ru com número de coordenação seis. Medidas de resistividade elétrica ao ar mostraram que o mecanismo de transporte não é alterado e que o efeito da substituição de Ru nas propriedades elétricas do composto depende do íon substituído (Cr ou Mn) de maneira consistente com suas substituições parciais. Os testes de SOFCs unitárias revelaram que células com os anodos constituídos por uma camada coletora de corrente do anodo cerâmico LSCM-Ru e uma camada funcional de YSZ/Ni têm desempenho superior a células contendo apenas o anodo cerâmico. As células contendo os anodos cerâmicos LSCM-Ru foram testadas em hidrogênio e etanol, entre 800 °C e 950 °C, e mostraram desempenho em etanol superior ao em hidrogênio; uma característica que foi associada às propriedades de transporte eletrônico dos compostos LSCM-Ru em atmosfera redutora. Os resultados sugerem que os compostos LSCM com substituição parcial de Ru são anodos promissores para SOFC operando com etanol. / Several anodes for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been studied because of serious degradation exhibited by the traditionally used yttria-stabilized zirconia/Ni cermets (YSZ/Ni). Previous studies showed that the perovskite La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.50Mn0.50O3 (LSCM) has similar performance in SOFCs running on hydrogen and methane fuels, making such a ceramic a potential alternative to YSZ/Ni cermets. In the present study, compounds La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.50- xMn0.50-yRux,yO3 (LSCM-Ru) were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to monitor the thermal evolution of the precursor resins and the formation of crystalline phases. The electrical properties of sintered samples were studied by the 4-probe dc technique in the temperature range between 25 °C and 800 °C with controlled atmosphere. The experimental results showed the formation of single phase LSCM-Ru compounds after heat treatment at ~ 1200 °C. Lattice parameters, calculated from the XRD data, revealed that the partial substitution of Cr or Mn by Ru has no significant effect on the crystal structure of LSCM up to Ru x,y ~ 0.10; in agreement with the similar ionic radius of Cr, Mn and Ru with coordination number six. Electrical resistivity measurements showed that the transport mechanism is unchanged and that the effect of Ru addition on the electrical properties of the compound depends on the substituted ion (Cr or Mn). Electrochemical tests of SOFCs demonstrated that single cells comprised of a current collector layer of LSCM-Ru ceramic anode and a functional layer for YSZ/Ni have superior performance when compared to single cells with only one layer of the ceramic anode. Single cells with the LSCM-Ru ceramic anode layer were tested under both hydrogen and ethanol fuels, in the 800 °C - 950 °C temperature range. The main results showed that the single fuel cells exhibited higher performance under ethanol than under hydrogen; a feature that was related to the enhanced electronic transport properties of LSCM-Ru in reducing atmosphere. The experimental results suggest that the LSCM-Ru compounds are promising anodes for ethanol fueled SOFCs.

Orientador: Eduardo Guilherme Satolo / Resumo: A cadeia de produção do leite é composta por diversos agentes que integram a cadeia de suprimentos desde a aquisição da matéria-prima até a distribuição do produto para o cliente final. Esta cadeia tem importância em termos de contribuição econômica e social para o país ou região. Desta forma, a obtenção de produtividade não está relacionada apenas aos benefícios para o produtor, como aumento de lucratividade, competitividade no mercado, eficiência na gestão das propriedades, mas em aspectos que geram impactos na sociedade, como por exemplo geração de novos postos de trabalho. Este trabalho tem como objetivo geral, analisar quais os principais gargalos na gestão da cadeia de suprimentos leiteira de pequenos produtores da região de Tupã/SP. Desta forma, é indispensável explorar os impactos sofridos pelos produtores, a falta de apoio e orientação para que os mesmos consigam conduzir e realizar uma gestão eficiente em sua propriedade. Tal estudo apresenta a metodologia aplicada em forma de pesquisa de campo de caráter descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa, do tipo survey com aplicação de questionário com questões predominantemente fechadas com uso da escala Likert. O resultado da coleta foi apresentado por meio da análise de correspondência. Tais resultados demostraram os gargalos na cadeia de suprimentos, baseado nos oito pilares da abordagem LSCM, sendo: Gestão da Tecnologia da Informação, Gestão de Fornecedores de Insumos, Eliminação de desperdícios, Produção, Gestão de Relac... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The milk supply chain is made up of products that integrate the supply chain from the raw material to the final distribution of the product to the end customer. This organization has an economic and social building base for the country or region. Thus, a strategy option is not only an advantage for the producer, such as the increase of profitability, market competitiveness, management performance of companies, but also the managerial impact on society, such as the generation of new jobs. This paper aims to analyze what are the main bottlenecks of the milk and milk industry of small farmers in the Tupã / SP region. Therefore, is necessary It is necessary to explore the impacts suffered by the producers, the lack of support and guidance for them to be able to conduct and efficiently manage their property. The study presents the applied method in the search fields, descriptive, with a qualitative approach, on the survey form, of general studies predominated closed to use the scale of Likert. The result of the collection was presented through the correspondence analysis. These results demonstrated bottlenecks in the supply chain, based on the eight pillars of the LSCM approach, namely: Information Technology Management, Input Supplier Management, Waste Disposal, Production, Customer Relationship Management, Logistics Management, Owners Commitment, and Continuous Improvement. Stands out the result of data collection for the need to improve quality, the implementation of technologi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Ce travail est consacré à l'étude des influences de deux cations, le cérium et le baryum, sur les propriétés structurales, physico-chimiques, électriques et électrochimiques de l'oxyde (La,Sr)(Cr,Mn)O3 (LSCM). L'effet de l'état d'oxydation du cérium a été déterminé en substituant les sites A de LSCM et d'un oxyde de composition proche, CexSr1-xCr0,5Mn0,5O3 (CeSCM). L'influence des propriétés de basicité du baryum a été examinée. Les matériaux sont stables en conditions de fonctionnement d'anode pour SOFC. La conductivité est de type p pour CeLSCM et CeSCM. Les composés LBCM sont des semi-conducteurs de type n pour des pressions partielles comprises entre 1 et 10-4 atm, et de type p pour des pressions plus faibles. Sous atmosphère neutre, la conductivité électrique totale augmente avec la teneur en cérium dans LSCM, et la conductivité des matériaux CeSCM est similaire à celle de CeLSCM substitué par 25% de cérium (36 S.cm-1 à 900 °C). Sous atmosphère réductrice, la conductivité des matériaux CeLSCM est de l'ordre de 1 S.cm-1. La quantité de baryum n'a pas d'influence sur la conductivité de LSBCM. La caractérisation d'électrodes ponctuelles denses a permis de montrer que les performances anodiques augmentent avec la teneur en cérium substitué au lanthane dans LSCM. La nature des processus impliqués n'est pas modifiée lorsque le strontium est substitué par le cérium, même si l'absence de lanthane pénalise le comportement anodique. Des performances intéressantes pour une application comme matériau d'anode pour SOFC ont été atteintes pour le composé La0,75Ba0,25Cr0,5Mn0,5O3. Les origines des contributions élémentaires des caractéristiques d'électrode sont discutées.

Environmental pollution is the major problem that mankind faces in present state, the major emission of toxic gases is from vehicles and manufacturing industries. The thesis study focuses on three different types of Small Scale Industries (SSI) in India that are bumper manufacturing industry, dyeing industry and food processing industry. The product life cycles of the process for each industry are identified and their final green waste disposal methods are investigated. The industries are identified with more lean wastes within their product life cycle process. The major green wastes from their disposal methods have high influence on environment. These wastes have to be reduced or eliminated by practicing a suitable supply chain. In present the companies doesn’t practice any supply chain in their organization. The implement of supply chain could reduce the environmental pressures and wastes of the companies to some extent. The lean wastes identified in the process could be eliminated by practicing suitable lean tools and methods. The final disposal wastes are considered to be the green wastes. The method of disposal practiced by the SSIs in India shows an evidence of how much they concern towards the environment. The research tries to explain some suitable waste management techniques for the industries and discusses about importance of government role on making this techniques possible. The small scale industries experiences both wastes, so it has to integrate lean for practicing green supply chain, the implementation of lean would pay a way for green supply chain management. As a result of it a comprehensive lean and green model is suggested for the industries because the model is composed of both lean and green waste reduction techniques and it also helps in achieving both lean and green business results.

M. Tech. (Department of Logistics, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / This study examines the influence of lean supply chain management (LSCM) on supply chain competitiveness in the steel industry in Gauteng, South Africa. The industry suffered a huge blow when imported steel took over the market and collapsed big players within the industry in South Africa.A range of problems hit the market hard, leaving companies applying for section 189 of the labour law to reduce overheads and restructure their organisations. It is evident that organisations need to change their way of thinking,heighten their supply chain strategies and adopt international standards like lean supply chain management practices to become competitive in a broader spectrum. Using a data set of 265 supply chain professionals drawn from the steel manufacturing industry in Gauteng, results showed the importance of proper implementation of LSCM woulddirectly influence SCC, leading to improved organisational performance. The collected quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 27.0) statistical software.Techniques such as correlations and regressions were used to test the hypotheses.The results of the study showed that four lean practices, namely Just in Time, Total Quality Management, Strategic Partnership and Waste Elimination all predictthe establishment of a lean culture. However, Human Resource Management was statistically insignificant. The results further showed that Lean culture predicts the competitiveness of the steel supply chain. Thererefore, an emphasis on lean supply chain management in the steel industry is anessential contributor to its success.

This study mainly explores the development of alternative cathode materials for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ by high temperature solid oxide electrolysis cells (HTSOECs), which operate in the reverse manner of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The conventional Ni-yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) cermets cathode suffered from coke formation, whereas the perovskite-type (La, Sr)(Cr, Mn)O₃ (LSCM) oxide material displayed excellent carbon resistance. Initial CO₂ electrolysis performance tests from different cathode materials prepared by screen-printing showed that LSCM based cathode performed poorer than Ni-YSZ cermets, due to non-optimized microstructure. Efforts were made on microstructure modification of LSCM based cathodes by means of various fabrication methods. Among the LSCM/YSZ graded cathode, extra catalyst (including Pd, Ni, CeO₂, and Pt) aided LSCM/GDC (Gd₀.₁Ce₀.₉O₁.₉₅) cathode, LSCM impregnated YSZ cathode, and GDC impregnated LSCM cathode, the GDC impregnated LSCM cathode, with porous LSCM as backbone for finely dispersed GDC nanoparticles, was found to possess the desired microstructure for CO₂ splitting reaction via SOEC. Incorporating of 0.5wt% Pd into GDC impregnated LSCM cathode gave rise to an Rp of 0.24 Ω cm² at open circuit voltage (OCV) at 900°C in CO₂-CO 70-30 mixture, comparable with the Ni/YSZ cermet cathode operated in the identical conditions. Meanwhile, the cathode kinetics and possible mechanisms of the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ were studied, and factors including CO₂/CO composition, operation temperature and potential were taken into account. The current-to-chemical efficiency of CO₂ electrolysis was evaluated with gas chromatography (GC). The high performance Pd and GDC co-impregnated LSCM cathode was also applied for CO₂ electrolysis without protective CO gas in feed. This cathode also displayed superb performance towards CO₂ electrochemical reduction under SOEC operation condition in CO₂/N₂ mixtures, though it had OCV as low as 0.12V at 900°C. The LSCM/GDC set of SOEC cathode materials were investigated in the application of steam electrolysis and H₂O-CO₂ co-electrolysis as well. For the former, adequate supply of steam was essential to avoid the appearance of S-shaped I-V curves and limited steam transport. The 0.5wt% Pd and GDC co-infiltrated LSCM material has been found to be a versatile cathode with high performance and good durability in SOEC operations.