Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1959.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 642-654).

<p>In this thesis we examine the issue of growth in emerging markets and in specific how MNCs can achieve growth by understanding the customer and building a solid distributor network on the example of EPLSG in the Russian market. In this context we investigate the correlation of the growth potential with institutional environment, customer behaviour, distributorship and brand equity. But let us briefly examine the structure of the thesis chapter by chapter.</p><p>Chapter one explains the five main themes that structure our thesis from a theoretical and an empirical point of view. Chapter two is an account of the methodology used for the conducting of the empirical research as well as of the whole thesis. Chapter three outlines the theoretical background of the thesis while chapter four is a description of the empirical data found on the field. Chapter five is the analysis of the empirical findings and in chapter six the reader can see the conclusions and recommendations for the case company. Finally, chapter seven gives directions for further research.</p><p>Overall, the authors of this thesis purport that in emerging markets an MNC can grow if it can effectively gather and analyze customer and market data as well as build appropriately a distributor network that can deliver the product to the customer and fully capture the market potential. What differentiates this thesis from other studies is the holistic appreciation of the problems that an MNC faces in an emerging market. The building of theory was based on this perspective as well as the recommendations for the case company. That is why, in chapter seven the recommendations for the case company should be read not as individual ones but as set of interconnected tactics that can allow an MNC to grow.</p>

Thesis (MVerbruikerswet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to investigate the compatibility of cotton/nylon and cotton/polyester warpknit terry towelling fabrics with industrial laundering procedures. The literature review focused, on the one hand, on the manufacture, finishing and structure of warp-knit terry towelling fabrics as well as on the physical structure, chemical nature and characteristics of the textile fibres used in the manufacturing of the towelling. On the other hand, a full exposition of the industrial laundering processes is provided, with specific reference to aspects that can have an effect on the towelling fabrics during the wash and tumble-drying cycles. Chapters Three and Four are reports on two research projects that can each be read independently. The aim of the first project was to determine the effect of industrial laundering procedures on the durability of cotton warp-knit terry towelling fabrics with a synthetic base structure. The tensile strength of cotton warp-knit terry towelling samples with a synthetic base structure was determined in the warp and weft directions and after 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wash cycles as well as wash and tumble-drying cycles. The tensile strengths in the warp direction of the washed terry towelling samples decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after 50 wash cycles. In contrast to this, the tensile strength in the weft direction increased, although not significantly (p > 0.05). As far as the comparison of the effect of industrial wash and wash and tumble-drying cycles is concerned, the tensile strengths in the warp direction of the towelling samples that were washed and washed/tumble-dried, were significantly lower (p < 0.001) after 20 and after 50 laundering cycles. As far as the tensile strengths in the weft direction were concerned, a similar pattern as with the wash and wash/tumble-drying processes, occurred. The tensile strengths initially increased and then gradually decreased. Furthermore, the tumble-drying process had greater damaging effects after 40 laundering cycles (p = 0.043) and especially after 50 laundering cycles (p < 0.0001). The aim of the second research project was to compare the durability of cotton warp-knit terry towelling fabrics with a nylon base structure with cotton warp-knit terry towelling fabrics with a polyester base structure after they had been subjected to industrial laundering processes. It was first established whether cotton/nylon and cotton/polyester warp-knit terry towelling fabrics are comparable. Secondly, the durability of cotton/nylon and cotton/polyester terry towelling fabrics was compared by determining the tensile strengths of the samples in the warp direction after they have been subjected to 50 industrial wash as well as wash and tumble-drying cycles. The two groups of untreated samples were regarded as similar on the basis of the percentage of fibre composition, knit fabric structure, knit density, mass and tensile strength. After 50 industrial wash cycles the tensile strengths of the cotton/nylon and cotton/polyester warp-knit terry towelling samples decreased significantly (p < 0.05). But there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the tensile strengths of the cotton/nylon and the cotton/polyester terry towelling samples after 50 washing cycles. There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between the tensile strengths of the cotton/nylon and the cotton/polyester terry towelling samples after 50 wash and tumble-drying cycles. The tensile strength of the cotton/polyester terry towelling samples remained practically unchanged after the 50 wash/tumble-drying cycles, with the tensile strength of the cotton/nylon terry towelling samples decreased significantly (p < 0.001). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die versoenbaarheid van katoen/nylon- en katoen/poliëster- skeringgebreide terriestofhanddoeke met industriële versorgingsprosedures. In die literatuuroorsig is daar enersyds gefokus op die vervaardiging, afwerking en struktuur van skeringgebreide terriehanddoekstowwe asook op die fisiese struktuur, chemiese aard en eienskappe van die tekstielvesels waarvan die handdoeke vervaardig is. Andersyds is ’n volledige uiteensetting van industriële versorgingsprosedures gegee, met spesifieke verwysing na aspekte wat tydens die was- en tuimeldrogingsiklusse ’n uitwerking op die handdoekstowwe kan hê. Hoofstukke drie en vier is opgeskryf as twee navorsingsprojekte wat elk ‘n geheel vorm. Die doel van die eerste projek was om die effek van industriële versorgingsprosedures op die duursaamheid van katoen skeringgebreide terriestofhanddoeke met ‘n sintetiese basisstruktuur te bepaal. Die breeksterkte van katoen skeringgebreide terriestofmonsters met ’n sintetiese basisstruktuur is in die skering- en inslagrigtings tydens en na afloop van 10, 20, 30, 40, en 50 was- asook was- en tuimeldrogingsiklusse bepaal. Die breeksterktes in die skeringrigting van die gewaste terriestofmonsters het betekenisvol afgeneem (p < 0.001) na 50 wassiklusse. In teenstelling hiermee het die breeksterktes in die inslagrigting toegeneem, hoewel nie betekenisvol nie (p > 0.05). Wat die vergelyking van die effek van industriële was- en was en tuimeldrogingsiklusse betref, is die breeksterktes in die skeringrigting van die handdoekmonsters wat gewas en gewas/getuimeldroog is, beduidend laer (p < 0.001) na 20 en na 50 versorgingsiklusse. Wat die breeksterktes in die inslagrigting betref het ‘n soortgelyke patroon by die was- en was/tuimeldrogingprosesse voorgekom. Die breeksterktes neem aanvanklik toe en daarna geleidelik af. Verder het die tuimeldrogingsproses na 40 versorgingsiklusse (p = 0.043) en veral na 50 versorgingsiklusse (p < 0.0001) ’n groter skadelike effek getoon. Die doel van die tweede navorsingsprojek was om die duursaamheid van katoen skeringgebreide terriestowwe met ’n nylon basisstruktuur te vergelyk met katoen skeringgebreide terriestowwe met ’n poliëster basisstruktuur nadat dit aan industriële versorgingsprosedures blootgestel is. Daar is eerstens vasgestel of katoen/nylon en katoen/poliëster terriehanddoekstowwe vergelykbaar is. Tweedens is die duursaamheid van katoen/nylon en katoen/poliëster terriestowwe vergelyk deur die breeksterktes van die monsters in die skeringrigting te bepaal nadat dit aan 50 industriële wasasook was- en tuimeldrogingsiklusse blootgestel is. Die twee groepe onbehandelde monsters is as soortgelyk beskou op grond van die persentasie veselsamestelling, breistofstruktuur, breidigtheid, massa en breeksterkte. Na 50 industriële wassiklusse het die breeksterktes van die katoen/nylon en katoen/poliëster skeringgebreide terriestofmonsters betekenisvol (p < 0.05) afgeneem. Daar was egter nie ’n betekenisvolle verskil (p > 0.05) tussen die breeksterktes van die katoen/nylon en katoen/poliëster terriestofmonsters na 50 wassiklusse nie. Daar was ’n hoogs betekenisvolle verskil (p < 0.001) tussen die breeksterktes van die katoen/nylon en katoen/poliëster terriestofmonsters na die 50 was/tuimeldrogingsiklusse. Die breeksterkte van die katoen/poliëster terriestofmonsters het na die 50 was/tuimeldrogingsiklusse feitlik onveranderd gebly terwyl die breeksterkte van die katoen/nylon terriestofmonsters hoogs betekenisvol (p < 0.001) afgeneem het.

Plaster i marina miljöer är ett mycket uppmärksammat problem. På senare år har även mikroplaster uppmärksammats som ett stort miljöproblem. Mikroplasterna kan anrikas med diverse föroreningar i vattnet, de misstas även för föda och tar sig in i näringskedjan. Hälsoeffekterna av detta är ännu okända, men allt mer forskning pekar på att det kan ha en negativ inverkan. En stor andel av mikroplasterna i haven kommer från tvätt av syntetkläder. De följer med tvättvattnet ut ur maskinen och då de flesta reningsverk inte effektivt filtrerar bort dessa partiklar så förs de vidare ut i våra vattendrag. Utifrån de studier som gjorts på mikroplastemission vid hushållstvätt är det svårt att göra några jämförelser eftersom det inte finns någon standardiserad metod. Det anses viktigt att ta fram standardiserade testmetoder för att kunna få jämförbara resultat vid utvecklandet av textila material som släpper minimalt med fibrer i tvätt. Tygprover av polyetylentereftalat analyserades med syftet att utvärdera och validera en metod för att mäta fibersläpp i tvätt, framtagen hos Swerea IVF genom forskningsprogrammet Mistra Future Fashion. Metoden bygger på gyrowashtest i kombination med optisk mikroskopi med tillhörande mjukvara som automatiskt kvantifierar antalet partiklar. Enligt den statistiska analysen misslyckades försöket att upprepa metoden utan signifikanta skillnader. Troligtvis berodde detta på skillnader i förutsättningar, som exempelvis att en laserskärare nyttjades i detta projekt. För att underlätta förbehandlingen och öka repeterbarheten togs en fixtur fram för dammsugning. Fixturen gjorde även att spridningen på provresultaten minskade. Dock visade resultaten på interaktion mellan material och dammsugningsmetod vilket gör det opassande att dra entydiga statistiska slutsatser beträffande de enskilda huvudfaktorerna. Fixturen ger inga skillnader i antalet observerade fibersläpp för återvunnen polyester, men i resultatet för ny polyester syns en signifikant skillnad vid användandet av fixturen. På grund av interaktion och avvikelser för fler än en konstruktionsparameter i materialparen så går det inte att dra några signifikanta slutsatser om eventuella skillnader mellan ny och återvunnen polyester. Metoden är inte lämplig för att mäta den reella fiberemissionen vid hushållstvätt och endast funktionell för att kartlägga skillnader då en parameter i taget varieras. Vidare bör man undvika att göra jämförelser mellan försök utförda med olika förutsättningar innan dess inverkan ordentligt fastställts. / Plastics in the marine environment are an issue that has gotten a lot of attention. Lately microplastics have also been observed as an environmental problem. Contaminants in the water can be adsorbed onto the microplastics, they can also be mistaken for food and enter the food web. The health effects of this are still unknown, but research suggests that it can have a negative impact. A large proportion of the microplastics in the oceans are derived from synthetic clothing. They are shed from the garments during laundry and since most wastewater treatment plants do not efficiently filter out these particles, they end up in the ocean. Today there is no standardized method of measuring shedding and therefore difficult to make any comparisons between studies. It is considered important to develop standardized testing methods to obtain comparable results in the development of textile materials that shed less. Fabric samples of polyester were analyzed for the purpose of evaluating and validating a method of measuring shedding in laundry, developed by Swerea IVF through the research program Mistra Future Fashion. The method is based on gyrowash combined with optical microscopy and connected software that quantifies the number of particles. The method could not be reproduced at the University of Borås without significant differences in shedding. This is probably due to differences in conditions, such as the use of a laser cutter in this project. To facilitate pre-treatment and increase the reproducibility, a fixture was developed for vacuuming. The fixture also reduced the statistical dispersion of the test results. However, the results showed an interaction between the material and the method of vacuuming, thus making it inadvisable to draw any conclusions regarding each individual factor. For the recycled polyester there is no difference in shedding with the use of the fixture, but in the case of virgin polyester a significant difference is observed. Due to interaction and deviations of more than one construction parameter in the paired materials, it is not possible to draw any conclusions regarding differences in shedding between virgin and recycled polyester. The method is not suitable for measuring the actual shedding in household laundry and only functions to compare differences when one parameter is varied solely. Furthermore, comparisons between trials carried out under different conditions should be avoided unless their impact has been properly established.

Trends in technologies have mostly focused on the work environment, entertainment and communication technologies. Some developments have been made for the home such as microwave ovens, washing machines, HDTV, etc but most tasks are still manually executed. Washing machines are used in laundry but there hasn’t been a significant saving in time compared to manual laundering. The effects of misuse of the machine can be very destructive to clothes. This calls for proper sorting of clothes and adjustment of washing settings as appropriate. However, sorting has become a time consuming activity that requires a lot of attention on the part of the individual. Due to fatigue, individuals may in turn not pay much attention to washing instructions. In this thesis, we put together technologies into a system that would aid the user in planning and executing a laundry through identification of dirty clothes and sorting them in groups that can go into separate washes.

This thesis tries to solve a problem of energy intensity evaluation in professional laundry process via analysis of factors, which influence the energy intensity of the process and presents some computational tools needed for this challenge.

This diploma thesis is solving a problem of energy intensity evaluation of professional laundry process. It presents computational model of tumble dryer and calender. There are described factors in calender model, which influence energy intensity of drying process. Verification of the model has been done according to measured data from real professional laundry premise.

The theme of the work is the integration of gas microturbines in industrial plants. The aim is to extend the application potential of this technology by the design of the integration into the process in which this technology is not exploited yet. This process is a professional laundry service. Professional laundry services have been selected as a representative of the generally known process, which is interesting in terms of energy intensity. Combining of progressive cogeneration technology and enhanced industrial process brings a promising application potential. The work focuses on small industrial laundries to 500 kg of processed linen per shift. As a cogeneration unit a gas microturbine Capstone C30 has been used. The microturbine has an adequate power due to the process. Complete laundry operation and a gas microturbine is a part of the equipment of the Laboratory of energetically demanding processes in the NETME Centre. The main contribution of this work is to design a system for utilization of flue gas heat for heating of the main input currents to the laundry room, a hot water for washing machines and warm air for drying in the dryers. The integration of the gas microturbine made to suit specific process can be a major cost-saving measures with positive impacts on the economy of operation.

Min idé var att skapa ett badhus för invånarna i området Kreuzberg . En offentlig plats där människor från många  olika bakgrunder och traditioner kan mötas. Badet är utformat med ett öppen flöde mellan de olika funktionerna i huset. Öppenheten skapar en atmosfär där det är lätt att känna sig bekväm och röra sig och umgås mellan funktionernas gränser. Huset innehåller både bad och en tvättstuga, där man kan tvättakläder och ta sig ett bad på samma gång, motionssimma, fika och träffa vänner. / My idea was to create a bath for local residents in the area of Kreuzberg. A public place where people from all different backgrounds and traditions can meet. The bath is designed to allow an open flow between the different functions in the house.The openness creates an atmosphere where it is easy to feel comfortable and to socialize. The house contains both a bath and a laundry place, where you can do the laundry at the same time as you have a bath, take a swim and meet friends.