Abstract In this paper an attempt will be made to identify what has been explicitly recognised as central and peripheral within the systems of innovation concept; the inclusion or exclusion of the factors that are important in understanding the political economy of innovation systems; the themes, issues and range of actors and spaces that must be included in NSI types of appreciative theory or modelling. We suspect that those who focus narrowly tend to exclude important variables that must be included in the understanding of the making and development of innovation systems. Conversely those who focus broadly may include factors that may not be helpful in creating clarity of conception and understanding of the innovation systems application to the problems and challenges of development. It is thus important to reflect and review the variety of ways the system of innovation has been used by the economists who have used the NSI perspective in their search to develop alternative frameworks to understand the problems and challenges of economic system dynamics in general and economic development in particular. We will probe how the search for an alternative economic framework for economic development through the NSI perspective have been applied with a view to advance an argument for its judicious application as an intellectual conceptual tool to help understanding and explanation of the problems and challenges of development and underdevelopment. A unified conception of systems of innovation that includes not only history and culture but also the critical political factor that closely impinges and shapes policies on the economics of innovation will be attempted with a view to valorise the explanatory analytical power of the NSI framework in the context of its value in generating new insights, practices and applications to the general problem of economic development.

This paper deals with the Swedish computer and video game industry. The aim is toreach a better understanding of why it has been so successful and why it has seen such a largegrowth during the years 2008-2015. In the paper, this is shown by looking at Sweden’s computerand video game sector as a cluster, as defined by Porter. The analysis is based on a model usingnational systems of innovation. The paper presents a narrative of the development of theSwedish video game industry as well as cases describing specific companies in more detail.The reasons for the growth during the period are found to be primarily three different aspects ofthe sector: (1) success of the Swedish game Minecraft (2) the specific market conditions (3) acycle of growth in the Swedish game industry. The conditions allowing the Swedish gameindustry to be successful are found to be tradition, international focus, the Swedish nationalwelfare system, all supported by well-developed technical educations.

Nitrogen (N) is critical to the quantity and quality of agricultural yields. Excess N fertilization is costly, both economically and environmentally (nitrate leaching, eutrophication, greenhouse gas release, soil degradation). This research identifies zones that could substitute the field-long N-rich strips by using spatial analysis of the nitrogen sufficiency index (NSI) and the relation with Apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa), Elevation, Slope and Soil. NSI calculated from ECa grouped into three classes was capable of minimizing the effects on NDVI. Correlation coefficients (R) between three-class NSI and NSI calculated from the nearest ECA values were very high for all the fields with values between 0.82< R <0.94, with the highest coefficients associated with fields in 2005 and 2007. Meanwhile, three-class NSI coefficients were consistently significant in relation to the NSI reference, with an average of R=0.79 for all the fields. The highest coefficient was detected for 2007, with R=0.89, whereas the lowest values were associated with 2006 (R=0.67). In the case of elevation grouped into four classes, the correlation results were not statistically significant, with overall average values of R<0.70. The maps elaborated from the NSI for ECa grouped into three classes show a high level of accuracy compared to the NSI reference map. The new N-rich zones not only can contribute to mitigating the environmental impact of agricultural practices (reducing 77% of N inputs) but also be an accurate source of data for the analysis of NSI and within-field N variability.

Gamybos pramonės sektorius apima viena iš didžiausių ir pelningiausią rinkos sektorių pasaulyje. Norėdamos išlikti ir sėkmingai dirbti besikeičiančios konkurencinės rinkos sąlygomis, įmonės neišvengiamai susiduria su konkurencinio pranašumo didinimo poreikiu. Tuo tikslu yra kuriamos veiklos vystymo strategijos, taikoma naujų technologijų diegimas, verslo valdymo procesų tobulinimas, produktų kokybės didinimas, valdymas, kokybės reikalavimų ir standartų taikymas. Vienas iš gamybos kokybės proceso optimizavimo sprendimas gali būti RFID technologijos pritaikymas gamybos veiklose. RFID yra viena naujausių ir besivystančių technologijų, kuri pasaulyje yra pritaikoma ir naudojama įvairiose srityse. Įgyvendintas projektas ir jo pasakoje sukurta RFID sistemos modulis, bei priemonės gali būti naudojamos, ne tik su užsakovo UAB „RTech“ plėtojama „QMS“ (Quality Management Systems) programinę įrangą, bet ir kaip sąsaja tarp RFID įrangos ir vartotojo veiklos taikomosios programos. Panaudojus RFID technologas ir sąsajas su RFID technologijomis galima: • dalinai automatizuoti gamybos kokybės valdymo procesą, • padidinti efektyvumą gaminio atsekamume, • sumažinti broko kontrolę tiekiant gaminius užsakovui. Šio darbo vienas iš tikslų yra įvertinti sukurta sistemą ir ką būtu galima patobulinti, kad būtų galima padaryti lankstesne pritaikant darbui su kitomis programinės įrangos sistemomis. Darbo metu yra tiriami ir analizuojami ISO standartų RFID sistemų modeliai, bei jų pritaikymo galimybės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Manufactory industry is the most profitable sector of world’s market. Companies confronts with competitive market advantages to keep working successfully in continually changing market conditions. Therefore activities development strategies are created, new technologies are used in installation process, perfection of business control process, increasing quality of products, use of standards and quality requirements. The solution of these problems can be use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies in manufacture management process. RFID is an automatic identification technology that relies on cheap tags (transponders) that can be attached to objects and storage information on it. The results of this project are RFID systems components witch can be used with other users applications such as „QMS“ (Quality Management Systems) of “RTech” company or other users applications. The successful integration of RFID technologies in manufacture quality management process can give effect in: • Automate and computerize manufacture quality management process; • Increase efficiency of product traceability system process; • Reduce rejects on product supply for consumer’s process. One of the master’s work goals is to evaluate the system, which was created in this work. The system can be improved by ISO standard models and made more flexible to use it for other works.

Färgning av polyester (PET) sker i temperaturer omkring 130℃ och som en följd av den höga värmen migrerar oligomerer ut ur PET-fibern. Dessa oligomerer skapar därefter problem i form av vita fällningar och avlagringar, som leder till en reducering av maskinernas effektivitet, samt försämring av materialets utseende. En vanligt förekommande metod för att begränsa problemet är att tillsätta hjälpkemikalier i färgbadet. Novozymes A/S hävdar att genomförda studier med PET-garn och enzymet cutinase NS59038 har visat en minskning av det vita damm som kan ses på garnet i samband med migration av oligomerer. Eftersom enorma mängder PET produceras globalt varje år skulle endast en liten minskning av mängden kemikalier innebära en stor skillnad. Kemikalier som ersätts med andra kemikalier kan ifrågasättas om det är en bra metod eller om det bestrider syftet. Ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv kan enzymer ses som ett bättre alternativ eftersom de enligt Jajpura (2017) är biologiskt hållbara, formar sällan någon biprodukt och dess reaktion kräver oftast mildare förhållanden. Hjälpkemikalien Sera Con P-NSI används av Ludvig Svensson AB som färgar garn av den flamskyddade polyesterfibern Trevira CS. Syftet med projektet har därmed varit att undersöka om enzymet cutinase NS59038 är ett alternativ till hjälpkemikalien Sera Con P-NSI, för att reducera de problem som uppstår med oligomerer i färgningsprocessen med Trevira CS. Garnets egenskaper har jämförts genom visuell analys med mikroskop, viktförändring, reflektionsspektrofotometer och dragprovning. Metoder som använts i syfte att detektera oligomerer har varit FTIR, UV-vis spektrofotometer och svart svavelfilterpapper. Utifrån genomförda analyser av garnets vikt, styrka, färgupptagning och visuell bedömning har det inte kunnat konstateras att cutinase NS59038 skulle vara ett alternativ till Sera Con P-NSI. Resultat från analysmetoderna visade skillnader i medelvärde, men inget samband mellan val av färgrecept och garnets egenskap har detekterats. De olika färgningsförsöken visade inte någon förekomst av fällningar/avlagringar som med använda testmetoder har kunnat bekräftas som oligomerer. Resultaten bedömdes därmed inte som tillräckliga för att konstatera om cutinase NS59038 påverkar garnets kvalitet i jämförelse med hjälpkemikalien Sera Con P-NSI. / In the dyeing process of polyester (PET) the temperature goes up to around 130℃ and as a result oligomers migrate out of the PET fiber. These oligomers create problems as white precipitates that deposits on the material and the inside of machines. This leads to a reduction in machine efficiency, as well as a change of material appearance. One common method for limiting the problem is to add help chemicals in conjunction with the dyeing process. According to results from previous studies, Novozymes A/S claims that the enzyme cutinase NS59038 has reduced the white dust on the yarn of polyester. Based on the enormous quantity of PET that are produced every year, even a small reduction of the chemicals that are used would mean a huge difference. Chemicals that replace other chemicals can be questioned whether or not it can be seen as an alternative or if it disputes the purpose. From a sustainable point of view enzymes could according to Jajpura (2017) be seen as a better alternative because they are biodegradable, their reaction seldom form any byproduct and often requires less energy. The help chemical Sera Con P-NSI is used by Ludvig Svensson AB and is added to the dye bath in the dyeing process of the specific polyester Trevira CS (a flame retardant polyester fiber). The purpose of the project has thus been to investigate whether the enzyme cutinase NS59038 is an alternative to the help chemical Sera Con P-NSI, to reduce the problems with oligomers in the dyeing process of Trevira CS. The properties of the yarn have been compared by visual analysis with microscope, weight change, measurement of the color change with spectrophotometer and tensile strength. Methods used to detect oligomers have been FTIR, UV-vis spectrophotometer and black sulfur filter paper. Based on the analysis of the weight of the yarn, strength, color uptake and visual assessment, it can not be established that cutinase NS59038 would be an alternative to Sera Con P-NSI. Results from the analysis methods show differences in the mean, but no connection between the choice of dye recipe and the properties of the yarn can be detected. None of the precipitates that was predicted to arise on the surface of the yarn was ever detected. The results are therefore not considered sufficient to determine whether cutinase NS59038 affects the quality of the yarn compared to the help chemical Sera Con P-NSI.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:23:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1055570 bytes, checksum: 538d278c8ba8cb12eb2359c5e1e7fe26 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-23 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The soils show spatial and temporal variability of nutrients. Thus, for avoiding damage to the environment, nutrient leaching losses and decrease production costs, it is necessary to investigate ways to prescribe the correct nitrogen rate. The aim of this work was to adjust a methodology for application of nitrogen fertilizer on Brachiaria decumbens pasture using variable rates based on the nitrogen sufficiency index (NSI). The treatments were a control plot (without N application), a reference plot (fixed N rate of 150 kg ha-1) and three treatments with variable N rates. The first application of fertilizer in the variable rate plots was 75 kg ha-1 and the following applications, when required, were equivalent to 25 % of the first rate, 37.5 kg ha-1.The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with five treatments and five replications. Spectral variables used were the reading obtained with a portable chlorophyll meter (SPAD 502) and vegetation indices calculated from the leaf spectral data acquired using the ASD Field spectrometer, FR SpecPro. The measurements were performed when the mean height of the reference plot plant was 14 and 18 cm. It was used the VARIRedEdge (Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index) and the ratio between the MCARI (Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index) and OSAVI (Optimized Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index). The plot plants were harvested the mean height of the reference plot plants was 25 cm for dry matter determination. The methodology for nitrogen variable rate application was more efficient than fixed rate application and, for leaf measurement, the portable chlorophyll meter proved to be the most suitable for N recommendation in Brachiaria decumbens grass. / O solo apresenta variabilidade espaço-temporal de nutrientes, dessa maneira, para evitar anos ao meio ambiente, perdas por lixiviação e diminuir custos de produção é necessário estudo para que se possa prever a necessidade de aplicação adequada e eficaz do adubo nitrogenado. Assim, objetivou-se com esse trabalho ajustar metodologia de aplicação de adubo nitrogenado com doses variadas de N em Brachiaria decumbens com base em índice de suficiência de nitrogênio (NSI). Os tratamentos constituíram de uma parcela testemunha (sem aplicação de N), parcela de referência (dose única de 150 kg ha-1 de N) e três diferentes técnicas para aplicação de N a dose variada. A primeira aplicação de adubo nas parcelas com doses variadas foi equivalente a 75 kg ha-1 e as aplicações seguintes, quando necessária, equivalentes a 25% da dose inicial aplicada na parcela de referência, ou seja, 37,5 kg ha-1. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. As variáveis espectrais utilizadas foram leitura obtid com um clorofilômetro portátil (SPAD 502) e índices de vegetação calculados a partir de dados da resposta espectral da cultura obtidos com espectrorradiômetro ASD Field Spec Pro espectrômetro FR com adaptador para medidas de contato com a folha. As medidas espectrais foram realizadas quando as plantas da parcela de referência atingiram 14 e 18 cm de altura. Os índices utilizados foram o VARIRedEdge (índice de vegetação resistente à atmosfera)e a razão entre os índices de vegetação MCARI (índice da absorção da clorofila modificado) e OSAVI (índice de vegetação ajustado para o solo otimizado). Aos 25 cm de altura da Brachiaria decumbens na parcela de referência foi realizado colheita das plantas em todas as parcelas para a determinação da massa seca produzida. Verificou-se que a metodologia para aplicação de N com doses variadas com base em variáveis espectrais é mais eficiente que a aplicação em dosagem única e, para leituras pontuais, o clorofilômetro portátil se mostrou o mais indicado para recomendação da ubação nitrogenada em pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens.

This thesis explores Thailand's efforts to pursue greater competitiveness in global markets by enhancing the effectiveness of its National System of Innovation. The concept of national system of innovation (NSI) has been employed widely to study and describe the development of science, technology and innovation in a national context. NSI studies seek to explain systematic differences between national economies in their innovation performance in terms of the flow of knowledge among actors/players and the impacts of institutions and factors on their relationships or interactions. The concept was formally introduced into Thai policies in 2001 and it was adopted widely by the organisations directed to build up a strong national innovation system. However, the Thai innovation system has been identified by previous studies as a weak and fragmented system. This study investigates the current situation of the Thai NSI by exploring the relationships and the patterns of knowledge flows among actors in the Thai innovation system; heavily focusing on exploitation of public sector research. A comparative study was undertaken of innovations arising as a result of initiatives arising through the Thai NSI policy. Eighteen case studies were undertaken including 6 that were seen as successful and 12 failures. The study was carried out using in-depth interviews with relevant staff in both public and private sectors together with secondary analysis of science and technology policy implementation in Thailand. The interviews show that there are still many problems hindering the attempt to build up an effective relationship between the public and private sectors; many of them fail to construct R&D collaboration and to conduct technology transfer. The influential factors are analysed and identified from the cases. Those found repeatedly among successes, but largely absent in the failure cases include technological readiness, R&D capability, good management skills, and positive attitude towards R&D while some external factors are found specific to the individual case. Some of them can be contingent factors for particular features of the case resulting in diversity among the cases especially successful ones. The analysis of science and technology policy implementation is also integrated to explore the case studies in order to investigate the impact of those policies on the pattern of the Thai innovation system. Particularly, the policy that has been implemented after the introduction of the NSI concept which was intended to fix the linear model of innovation in Thailand. However, the analysis from this research demonstrates that there is a shortcoming in the adoption of the NSI policy in Thailand as it still follows the 'linear plus' model of innovation (Tait and Williams, 1999) revolving around promoting knowledge flows from research. The development of ST&I is embedded in the advanced science (most in the public sector) not for building up the competitive firms. The centre of development is not on firm capability development to create learning economies but on a science push model. To summarise from the empirical findings, the concept of NSI adopted in Thailand is used as a tool to briefly analyse the big picture of science and technology development at the national level and to identify the problems facing the country. However, this concept alone is not enough to stimulate a country's innovation process. The NSI concept has been understood in two broad ways: the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) mode and the Doing, Using and Interacting (DUI) mode. In Thailand the former has prevailed. Secondly, the concept itself is too broad and vague to be used as the main guideline for building up innovative capacity; it only tells what should be done not how to do it. The NSI helps Thailand to initiate change in its ST&I development process although greater attention should be given to the DUI mode. However, the process requires other frameworks to support and translate the NSI concept into the level of action plans. As a result this research suggests that the factors that determine the success of technology/knowledge transfer are not only from the policy level but also other factors from the bottom up level such as social factors determining the relationships among actors.

Na presente Tese de Doutorado objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade técnica da substituição do solvente hexana, de fonte não renovável e industrialmente utilizado na extração de óleos vegetais, por solventes geralmente reconhecidos como seguros (GRAS), tais como álcoois de cadeia curta, etanol ou isopropanol, com diferentes graus de hidratação. Em adição, uma propriedade específica dos álcoois de cadeia curta foi estudada, miscibilidade parcial entre álcoois e óleo, objetivando-se a recuperação do solvente, etapa posterior ao processo de extração de óleo, denominada de dessolventização. Nesse sentido, torta de amêndoas de baru proveniente da prensagem mecânica industrial foi submetida à extração, com etanol ou isopropanol, absoluto ou azeotrópico, nas temperaturas de 60 a 90 °C, em um único estágio de contato. Os resultados mostraram que a adição de água ao solvente alcoólico impactou negativamente na eficiência de extração de óleo, enquanto o aumento da temperatura favoreceu este processo, sendo que com solvente isopropanol absoluto, a 80 °C, foi possível extrair aproximadamente 91 % do óleo disponível. Em temperaturas acima de 80 °C, os solventes utilizados, com exceção do etanol azeotrópico, apresentaram rendimentos de extração de óleo estatisticamente iguais. A composição em ácidos graxos dos óleos obtidos da extração alcoólica sequencial foi característica de óleo de amêndoas de baru, com predominância dos ácidos graxos insaturados oleico e linoleico e do saturado palmítico (aproximadamente 51, 28 e 7 %, respectivamente), independentemente da condição de processo empregada. Ainda, a extração alcoólica sequencial não influenciou nos teores dos isômeros &alpha;- e &gamma;- tocoferol e no teor total de tocoferóis. Em relação ao estudo da fração proteica, dos sólidos desengordurados provenientes da extração alcoólica sequencial em três e dois estágios, para as temperaturas 60 e 90 °C, respectivamente, tanto a solubilidade proteica como a estabilidade térmica dos sólidos foram afetadas, sendo o índice de solubilidade de nitrogênio afetado negativamente pela hidratação do solvente alcoólico, temperatura de processo e número de estágios de contato. De uma maneira geral, a extração de óleo com solventes alcoólicos proporcionou a obtenção de um material sólido desengordurado com melhorias na capacidade de absorção de água e de óleo. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que o processo de extração alcoólica exerceu influência negativa na atividade emulsificante e positiva na capacidade de formação e estabilidade de espuma. Ademais, no estudo da recuperação do solvente, dados de equilíbrio de fases determinados para sistemas lipídicos compostos por óleo de torta de amêndoas de baru, obtido da prensagem mecânica industrial, e solventes alcoólicos, na faixa de temperatura de 15 a 60 °C, mostraram que a temperatura exerceu maior influencia na solubilidade mútua dos componentes dos sistemas com solventes absolutos em comparação aos sistemas com solventes azeotrópicos, enquanto a hidratação do solvente levou a diminuição da solubilidade, com consequente redução do coeficiente de partição do óleo. Parâmetros do modelo NRTL ajustados aos dados experimentais apresentaram adequada descrição do comportamento dos sistemas lipídicos, com desvios nas frações mássicas variando de 0,0014 a 0,0086. / The aim of this Ph.D. Thesis was to evaluate the technical feasibility of replacing the solvent hexane, from a non-renewable source and industrially used in the extraction of vegetable oils, by solvents generally recognized as safe (GRAS), such as short chain alcohols, ethanol or isopropanol, with different levels of hydration. In addition, a specific property of the short-chain alcohols, the partial miscibility between alcohols and oil, has been studied aiming at recovering the solvent after the oil extraction process, called desolventization. In this sense, baru almond cake from industrial mechanical pressing was subjected to extraction with ethanol or isopropanol, absolute or azeotropic degress, at temperatures from 60 up to 90 °C, in a single contact stage. Results showed that the addition of water to the alcoholic solvent negatively affected the oil extraction efficiency, while the increase in temperature favored this process. It was possible to extract approximately 91 % of the oil with absolute isopropanol solvent at 80 °C. At temperatures above 80 °C, the solvents, with the exception of azeotropic ethanol, showed no statistical differences regarding extraction yields. The fatty acid composition of oils obtained from sequential alcoholic extraction was characteristic of baru almond oil, with predominance of oleic and linoleic unsaturated fatty acids and palmitic saturated fatty acid (approximately 51, 28 and 7%, respectively), regardless of the condition of used. Also, the sequential alcoholic extraction did not influence the contents of the &alpha;- and &gamma;-tocopherol isomers and the total content of tocopherols. In relation to the protein fraction study, of the defatted solids from the sequential alcoholic extraction in three and two stages, for the temperatures of 60 and 90 °C, respectively, the protein solubility and the thermal stability of the solids were affected, being the nitrogen solubility index negatively affected by the hydration of the alcoholic solvent, by the process temperature and by the number of contact stages. In general, the extraction of oil with alcoholic solvents provided a defatted solid material with improvements in water and oil absorption capacities. Additionally, it was verified that the process of alcoholic extraction exerted a negative influence on the emulsifying activity and a positive on the capacity of foam formation and stability. Moreover, in the study of solvent recovery, phase equilibrium data determined for lipid systems composed of baru almond cake oil, obtained from industrial mechanical pressing, and alcoholic solvents, in the temperature range from 15 up to 60 °C, showed that the temperature exhibited the higher influence on the mutual solubility of the components of the system with absolute solvents compared to systems with azeotropic solvents, while the hydration of the solvent led to a decrease in solubility, with consequent reduction of the partition coefficient of the oil. NRTL model parameters adjusted to the experimental data presented an adequate description of the behavior of the lipid systems, with deviations in mass fractions varying from 0.0014 to 0.0086.