This thesis is divided into two distinct chapters. In the first chapter, we apply network representation learning to the field of materials science in order to predict aluminum grain boundaries' properties and locate the most influential atoms and subgraphs within each grain boundary. We create fixed-length representations of the aluminum grain boundaries that successfully capture grain boundary structure and allow us to accurately predict grain boundary energy. We do this through two distinct methods. The first method we use is a graph convolutional neural network, a semi-supervised deep learning algorithm, and the second method is graph2vec, an unsupervised representation learning algorithm. The second chapter presents our dynamic global value chain network, the combination of the dynamic global supply chain network and the dynamic global strategic alliance network. Our global value chain network provides a level of scope and accessibility not found in any other global value chain network, commercial or academic. Through applications of network theory, we discover business applications that would increase the robustness and resilience of the global value chain. We accomplish this through an analysis of the static, dynamic, and community structure of our global value chain network.

The conventional approach to vehicle design is restrictive, limited, andbiased. This often leads to sub-optimal utilisation of vehicle capabilities and allocated resources and ultimately entails the repercussions of designing andlater on an using an inefficient vehicle. To overcome these limitations, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the interaction effects at component,subsystem, and system level. In this thesis, the research is focused on identifying appropriate methods and developing robust models to facilitate the interaction analysis. To scrutinise and identify appropriate methods, criteria were developed.Initially, the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) and its variations were examined.While DSM proved to be fundamental for capturing interaction effects,it lacked the ability to answer questions about the structure and behaviour ofinteractions and to predict unintended effects. Therefore, network theory wasexplored as a complementary method to DSM which was capable of providing insights into interaction structures and identifying influential variables. Subsequently, two criteria were established to identify subsystems significant to interaction analysis: high connectivity to other subsystems and multidisciplinary composition. The traction motor was observed to satisfyboth criteria as it had higher connectivity with other subsystems and was composed of multiple disciplines. Therefore, a detailed model of an induction motor was developed to enable the interaction analysis. The induction motor model was integrated into a cross-scalar design tool.The tool employed a two-step process: translating operational parametersto motor inputs using Newtonian equations and deriving physical attributes,performance characteristics, and performance attributes of the motor. Comparing the obtained performance characteristics curve against existing studiesvalidated the model’s reliability and capabilities. The design tool demonstrated adaptability to different drive cycles and the ability to modify motor performance without affecting operational parameters. Thus validating the capability of the design tool to capture cross-scalar and intra-subsystem interaction effects. To examine inter-subsystem interaction, a thermal model of an inverter was developed, capturing temperature variations in the power electronics based on motor inputs. The design tool successfully captured interaction effects between motor and inverter designs, highlighting the interplay with operational parameters. Thus, this thesis identifies methods for interaction analysis and develops robust subsystem models. The integrated design tool effectively captures intra-subsystem, inter-subsystem, and cross-scalar interaction effects. The research presented contributes to the overarching project goal of developing methods and models that capture interaction effects and in turn serve as a guiding tool for designers to understand the consequences of their design choices. / Det konventionella tillvägagångssättet för fordonsdesign är restriktiv, begränsat och partiskt. Detta leder ofta till en suboptimal användning av fordonets kapacitet och tilldelade resurser och innebär i slutändan att konsekvenserna blir att använda ett ineffektivt fordon. För att övervinna dessa begränsningar är det viktigt att få en djupare förståelse för interaktionseffekterna på komponent-, delsystem- och systemsnivå. I denna avhandling fokuserar forskningen på att identifiera lämpliga metoder och utveckla robusta modeller för att underlätta interaktionsanalysen. För att granska och identifiera lämpliga metoder utvecklades kriterier. Till att börja med undersöktes Design Structure Matrix (DSM) och dess variationer. Medan DSM visade sig vara grundläggande för att fånga interaktionseffekter, saknade den förmågan att besvara frågor om interaktionsstrukturer och beteende samt förutsäga oavsiktliga effekter. Därför utforskades nätverksteori som en kompletterande metod till DSM, vilket kunde ge insikter i interaktionsstrukturer och identifiera inflytelserika variabler. Därefter etablerades två kriterier för att identifiera delsystem som är betydelsefulla för interaktionsanalysen: hög anslutning till andra delsystem och mångdisciplinär sammansättning. Dragkraftmotorn observerades uppfylla båda kriterierna eftersom den hade högre anslutning till andra delsystem och var sammansatt av flera discipliner. Därför utvecklades en detaljerad modell av en induktionsmotor för att möjliggöra interaktionsanalysen. Induktionsmotormodellen integrerades i ett tvärskaligt designverktyg. Verktyget använde en tvåstegsprocess: att översätta operativa parametrar till motorinsatser med hjälp av Newtons ekvationer och härleda fysiska egenskaper, prestandakaraktäristik och prestandaattribut hos motorn. Jämförelse av den erhållna prestandakaraktäristikkurvan med befintliga studier validerade modellens tillförlitlighet och förmågor. Designverktyget visade anpassningsbarhet till olika körcykler och förmågan att modifiera motorprestanda utan att påverka operativa parametrar. Detta validerade designverktygets förmåga att fånga tvärskaliga och intra-subsystem interaktionseffekter. För att undersöka inter-subsysteminteraktion utvecklades en termisk modell av en inverter, som fångade temperaturvariationer i kraftelektroniken baserat på motorns styrning. Designverktyget fångade framgångsrikt interaktionseffekter mellan motor- och inverterdesign och belyste samspelet med operativa parametrar. Därmed identifierar denna avhandling metoder för interaktionsanalys och utvecklar robusta delsystemmodeller. Det integrerade designverktyget fångar effektivt intra-subsystem-, inter-subsystem- och tvärskaliga interaktionseffekter. Den presenterade forskningen bidrar till det övergripande projektets mål att utveckla metoder och modeller som fångar interaktionseffekter och i sin tur fungerar som ett vägledande verktyg för designers att förstå konsekvenserna av sina designval. / <p>QC 231003</p>

The fashion industry, the world's third-largest manufacturing sector, is a complex network involvingcreation, production, distribution, and consumption of fashion products. Despite extensive research onsustainable transitions in supply chains, little attention has been given to the role of supply chain actorsin sustainability, especially yarn mills and manufacturers. This thesis investigates the sustainabilitytransition within fashion supply chains with a specific focus on knitwear and textile production in thePrato textile Industrial District (Italy), characterized by its interconnected small and medium-sizedenterprises, which evolved from wool production to a diverse fashion hub. This research aims tounderstand the role of knitwear and woven producers in sustainability transition, exploring drivers,barriers, and sustainability identification. To address this gap, semi-structured interviews wereconducted with members of four different companies, and company sustainability reports andcertifications were also analyzed. The theoretical foundation integrates the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)concept, organizational change, and network theory to explore economic, social, and environmental aspects, fostering a holistic approach to sustainability. Organizational change models like Lewin's three-step model and Kotter's 8-step change model inform the investigation of sustainable organizational practices. Thematic analysis uncovers key themes surrounding sustainable transition, spanninghistorical context, sustainability definitions, sustainability practices, barriers, drivers, and sustainabilitypartners. These themes are linked to organizational change and Network theory in the axial codingprocess, illustrating connections between theory and empirical findings. A conceptual framework isdesigned to link fashion companies' strategies with triple bottom line (TBL), highlightingmanufacturing processes and strategic approaches towards sustainability. Key themes includegovernance, material sourcing, transparency, partnerships, diverse practices, and categorizing driversand barriers. This study contributes to understanding how economic, social, and environmental factorsintersect in fostering sustainable fashion practices. The findings also provide valuable insights intoorganizational change theory and network theory's applicability in sustainable fashion contexts.Recommendations for future research include broader industry scopes, technology impacts, governmentpolicies, and longitudinal studies to track evolving perceptions and practices. The analysis enriches thediscourse on sustainable fashion manufacturing and guides further research endeavors in the fashionindustry's sustainability domain.

This study researches anti-vaccine discourses related to the COVID-19 vaccine shared on the Flashback forum in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2022). Using a framework of Critical Discourse Analysis and Actor-Network Theory, the goal of the study is to identify the components of conspiratorial anti-Covid vaccine discourses on the Flashback forum, and unpack how conspiracy theories related to the COVID-19 vaccine found in the sample can contribute to diminishing trust in authorities in the Swedish context.  Departing from Berlet’s (2009) list of eight common scapegoats, the study demonstrates how universally present stereotypes of various ‘Others’ commonly invoked within the context of conspiracy theories are adapted in the national and social context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Results of the study discuss how traditional conspiracy theory elements find their way into the analyzed Flashback thread, and how their evocation is discursively used to undermine trust in Swedish authorities and government organs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, this study contributes to filling a gap in research on the online dissemination of conspiracy theories and its effect on institutional trust and support for (and consecutively, adoption of) regulations put forward by these institutions – an immensely dangerous phenomenon in times of a global health crisis. The study concludes by suggesting further research on how effects such as anonymity online intersect with a growing polarization of society.

Correlated stocks should, in equilibrium, have correlated momenta, but in practice momenta do not always correlate. We use short-term inconsistencies between correlations and momenta to predict price corrections, produce more meaningful investment indicators, and improve upon accepted investing strategies. In particular, our approaches integrate inconsistencies within an entire security class rather than relying only on individual or pairwise security data. We use this theory to improve upon not only the standard momentum portfolio but also Pair Trading and Momentum Reversion methods. This results in three strategies for portfolio allocation that outperforms overlying indices and market benchmarks by 5%-10% in annual gain with an increase of CAPM alpha over the standard momentum portfolio from -0.1 to 5.4. We expand on these strategies by showing applications generalized to comparable investing indicators including volatility.

Purpose – This study aims to look into how foreignness and outsidership affect the market entry of a SME and the individual firm's ability to access the correct network as well as look at which support structures are available for the individual firms entering into a new market. Theory/Design &amp; Research Questions – By looking through the lens of Social Network theory, aspects of trust, legitimacy, nodes, foreignness and outsidership, this study has looked into the journey of a large hamburger chain in Sweden that has successfully entered into different markets outside of Sweden. The research questions explored were (i) how SMEs can overcometheir liabilities and leverage network connections to form strategic partnerships with other firms or organizations, and (ii) how centrality of nodes can be utilized by SMEs to gain access to valuable information and resources, and (iii) how intermediary networks can support SMEs in their efforts to enter new markets, and what policies and programs have proven effective in this regard. Methodology – The data was gathered using a non-probability sampling by conducting a semi-structured qualitative interview and was complemented with secondary sources from the company profile. Findings – Depending on the size of the firm the level of ability to access networks can differ. Smaller firms are more inclined to seek help from intermediaries compared to larger firms. Furthermore actors that are more central have been found to have a key role for firms entering foreign markets.

The influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) particularly internet technology has had a fundamental impact on the way government is administered, provides services and interacts with citizens. Currently, the use of social media is no longer limited to informal environments but is an increasingly important medium of communication between citizens and governments. The extensive and increasing use of social media will continue to generate huge amounts of user-generated content known as Big Social Data (BSD). The growing body of BSD presents innumerable opportunities as well as challenges for local government planning, management and delivery of public services to citizens. However, the governments have not yet utilised the potential of BSD for better understanding the public and gaining new insights from this new way of interactions. Some of the reasons are lacking in the mechanism and guidance to analyse this new format of data. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate how the body of BSD can be mined, analysed and applied in the context of local government in the UK. The objective is to develop a Big Social Data Analytics (BSDA) model that can be applied in the case of local government. Data generated from social media over a year were collected, collated and analysed using a range of social media analytics and network analysis tools and techniques. The final BSDA model was applied to a local council case to evaluate its impact in real practice. This study allows to better understand the methods of analysing the BSD in the public sector and extend the literature related to e-government, social media, and social network theory / Universiti Utara Malaysia

This thesis focuses on repatriation of archives and records in a Swedish context with the aim to highlight the agency of the material object and its value in the repatriation process, as well as its connection to authenticity. The thesis consists of four case studie that focuses on different cases where some form of repatriation has occurred. Two of the four cases were completed before this thesis was written, and two were still ongoing processes while it was being written. All four processes took place in a Swedish context, for example between different nations where Sweden was one of them, or between different archival institutions in Sweden. The method that was used to study the cases was document analysis, a type of qualitative content analysis. The results of the study show that repatriation processes are complex and that they can be executed in several different ways with different motivations. In every process there are multiple claimants, values and contexts that effect it. The archives and records are connected to culture, history and identity and throughout these case studies it also becomes apparent that there exists an idea of them belonging in a specific place, whether that be in a na- tion, a city or within a community. The study also show that the claimants place an importance on the archive as the authentic original object and on the ownership of that object. This is a two-year master’s thesis in Archival Science.

Hunting is often summarised to the act of searching for and killing an animal. Due to this fact, hunting has in recent years, come under scrutiny for its’ morality and lack of environmental consciousness. The thesis will be countering this idea, by demonstrating the entanglement of hunting in specific social and material circumstances what is referred to here as the assemblage of hunting. Following this thread, it will highlight the relationship between hunting, conservation, rewilding, rurality. To illustrate this point, the thesis will be analysing the case of hunting in Alsace. With the help of five interviewees, including three Alsatian hunters, and two members of a local conservation organisation, Alsace Nature, I discuss how the local Alsatian hunting system is experienced, perceived and produced, within a local and more global context. By using theories of Actor-Network-Theory, Assemblage Theory, Landscape Theory, Lefebvre’s production of space, and Disturbance Ecology, I analyse how hunting in Alsace has been shaped by the industrialisation of agriculture in the 20th century, how the activity connects to tradition and the creation of a wider Alsatian identity as Germanic, how hunting, conservation, and agricultural policy intertwine to produce a set of practices – or territorialisations but also how they continuously challenge each other. In addition, I trace the prey animals as deterritorialising agents. Overall results show that hunting in Alsace, while not static, has seen little change when it comes to the local hunting system. This creates conflict, as the local Alsatian landscape has changed heavily. Debates on hunting, such as the return of the lynx, or rural-urban divides can be tied to this perceived divide between hunting and the local landscape. Despite these conflicts, hunting stays an important activity in the Alsatian landscape, and a valuable way of managing the environment according to the interviewees.

Ettsyfte med denna uppsats är jämförelsen mellan två behandlingsalternativ för matavfall, hemkompostering eller biogasproducering sett från klimatperspektivet. Koldioxidekvivalenter har beräknats för de två alternativen. Ett annat syfte har varit att studera den politiska processen för att förstå varför det först under 90-talet uppmuntras till att hushållen ska hemkompostera för att sen under början av 2000-talet förespråka rötning av matavfallet. Mina uträkningar och jämförelser visar att det är mer fördelaktigt för klimatet att röta matavfallet, koldioxidutsläppet blir mindre än vid hemkompostering. Mitt andra syfte visar att det kan finnas en klimatvinst genom att låta politiken fatta besluten men det kan även finnas en risk att det egentliga syftet med hemkompostering glöms bort och att hushållen måste betala för något som de egentligen inte behöver (matkärl) eller som inte kanske finns (tillsynen). / One purpose of this study is to compare two treatment options for food waste. Home composting or biofuel production, seen from the climate perspective. The carbon dioxide equivalent has been calculated for the two options. The second purpose was to study the political process with regard to food waste to understand why Swedish households were encouraged to home compost food waste during the nineties only to early twenties advocate biofuel production. My calculations and comparisons shows that it is more beneficial for the climate to digest the food waste then composting since the carbon dioxide emissions is less. My second analysis indicates that while the political reorientation has led to environmental improvements, the effect has also been that to gain control of the food waste stream, waste management organisations effectively provide customers with no choice and economically punish households that have no food waste to collect since they have effective home composting.