Global environmental change is a concern in society, and companies sees the importance of more environmentally- friendly practices. Consequently, the need for environmental information is becoming more and more important. A common tool for strategic environmental decisions is life cycle analysis (LCA), which is recognized for its robustness in assessing the environmental performance of products systems. This study reports on a streamlined consequential life cycle analysis (CLCA) commissioned by the organisation Ragnsells, and to analyse the strenghts, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for applying this approach to similar projects. The initial LCA is conducted on FAIR plastic recycling, an innovation provided by Ragnsells AB. The geographical scope of the project is delimited to Denmark in 2022. Moreover, as CLCA has been applied, the used allocation has been the system expansion method. Data have been collected from direct contact with stakeholders in Denmark, literature and CLCA databases. The results of the study indicate that demanding FAIR plastic recycling is favourable from a climate change perspective, but detrimental in terms of e.g. land change. Furthermore, the lack of available data limits the study and shows need of further research. LCA applied within the organisation can increase awareness, simplify decision-making and provide comprehensive environmental information, despite the significant time and resources needed. Furthermore, increasing research within the field presents opportunities to improve quality aspects that can lead to better environmental performance and enhances collaboration and communication. However, the need for environmental information is threatened by misleading environmental claims, and could be minimized by increasing knowledge about underlying assumptions and uncertainties in LCA studies. / Miljöförändringen erkänns alltmer som strategiskt viktigt i samhället och allt fler företag ser vikten av att ställa om till mer miljövänliga tekniker. Följaktligen ökar efterfrågan på miljöinformation snabbt. Ett vanligt verktyg för strategiska miljöbeslut är livscykelanalys (LCA), som används för att bedöma miljöprestanda hos produkter och tjänster. Denna rapport syftar till att göra en initial LCA inom organisationen Ragnsells, och att analysera styrkor, svagheter, möjligheter och hot (SWOT-analys) för att tillämpa liknande projekt. Den initiala studien är gjord på FAIR plaståtervinning, en innovation från Ragnsells AB. Projektets geografiska omfattning är avgränsad till Danmark och genomförs från tidpunkten 2022. Eftersom en konsekvens-LCA (cLCA) har tillämpats har allokeringsmetoden systemexpansion använts. Data har samlats in från direkt från kontakt med intressenter i Danmark, litteratur och CLCA-databaser. Resultaten från studien visar att krav på FAIR- plast är fördelaktigt ur ett klimatförändringsperspektiv. Däremot rekommenderas insatser för att analysera och vid behov minska negativa effekter. Dessutom tyder bristen på tillgängliga data på behovet av ytterligare analyser. Analysen visar att LCA inom organisationen kan öka allmänhetens medvetenhet, förenkla beslutsfattande och ge omfattande miljöinformation. Samtigit finns svagheter med den tid och de resurser som krävs för att genomföra en LCA. Vidare visar ökande forskning inom området möjligheter till att förbättra kvalitetsaspekter för bättre miljöprestanda samt förbättrad samverkan och kommunikation. Behovet av miljöinformation hotas dock av vilseledande miljöpåståenden, och skulle kunna minimeras genom att öka kunskapen om underliggande antaganden och osäkerheter inom LCA.

This project investigated the effect of PP skin on the PE core pipe in a PP/PE dual layer pipe during production and outdoor exposure under various radiation dosages by comparing the results with the corresponding uncoated pipe using different characterization techniques. It was found for unaged samples that after extrusion the adhesion reducer present in the PP skin migrated to the PE core pipe outer surface but had little effect on the electrofusion (EF) joint quality. The PP skin prevents the PE core pipe from quenching therefore more perfect PE crystal is formed as shown by a higher crystallinity and the residual stress is reduced as shown by a slit ring method. Due to the reduced residual stress, the skinned pipe had higher long term hydrostatic strength (LTHS) than the uncoated pipe. After outdoor weathering, photo-oxidation products were evident at the solar irradiated PP outer surface after 3 GJ/m2 weathering and the whole PP outer surface was oxidized after 10 GJ/m2 weathering. By deconvoluting the IR peaks, ketones, carboxylic acid and esters were found the main products. Although only slight photo-oxidation was identified after 10 GJ/m2 aging on the uncoated PE pipe outer surface, oxidation induction time (OIT) results indicated that the solar irradiated side of the surface lost most of its antioxidants after only 1 GJ/m2 weathering which led to production of weak layer in the EF joint. In the middle pipe wall and at the inner surface, a more gradual decrease of antioxidant was found. The skinned pipe showed better resistance to antioxidant loss than the uncoated pipe and still had adequate antioxidant for EF. The thermal effect of solar irradiation was thought to cause secondary crystallization of the uncoated pipe at the irradiated side and release of residual stress of both uncoated and skinned pipes after aging. The residual stress release rate was found to decline with weathering. As the pipe with thicker skin always had a lower residual stress, it can be inferred that the skinned pipe still had a higher LTHS value than the uncoated pipe even after aging.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Business strategy provides direction to Sasol Polymers PP and deserves the attention of all levels in the organization. Strategic management can be defined as an explicit guide that allows the organization to specify objectives, formulate plans to achieve these objectives and then allocate resources to execute the plans to achieve the desired outcomes. The business strategy process involves identifying Sasol Polymers PP's business environment, its resources, circumstances within which it operates and its competitive advantages. There is a basic three step process in formulating a business strategy. 1. Determine where Sasol Polymers PP currently stands. 2. Determine where Sasol Polymers PP wants to go. 3. Determine how Sasol Polymers PP will get there. The research report validates not only the importance of business strategy and the essential components of the strategic management process, but also the importance of strategy execution within Sasol Polymers PP. The implication is that managers within Sasol Polymers PP need to achieve synergy between the strategy of the organisation and the people that must execute the strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bedryfstrategie voorsien rigting aan die organisasie en verdien die aandag van alle vlakke in die organisasie. Strategiese bestuur kan beskryf word as 'n eksplisiete gids wat die organisasie toelaat om doeleindes te spesifiseer, planne te formuleer om hierdie doeleindes te bereik en dan bronne aanwys om planne te implementeer om die verlangde uitkomstes te bereik. Die proses behels identifisering van Sasol Polymers PP se besigsheidsomgewing, sy bronne, omstandighede waarin die maatskappy opereer en sy mededingende voordele. Daar is 'n basiese drie stap proses in die formulering van 'n bedryfstrategie. 1. Bepaal waar Sasol Polymers PP nou staan. 2. Bepaal waar Sasol Polymers PP wil wees. 3. Bepaal hoe Sasol Polymers PP daar wil uitkom. Die navorsingsverslag valideer nie net die belangrikheid van bedryfstrategie en die noodsaaklike komponente van die bedryfstrategieproses nie, maar ook die belangrikheid van strategie uitvoering binne Sasol Polymers PP. Die implikasie daarvan is dat bestuurders binne Sasol Polymers PP sinergie tussen die strategie van die maatskappy en die mense wat die strategie moet uitvoer moet bereik.

The objective of this thesis is to develop an easy-to-use and computationally economical numerical tool to investigate the flow field in the Pulsed Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (PP-CVD) reactor. The PP-CVD process is a novel thin film deposition technique with some advantages over traditional CVD methods. The numerical modelling of the PP-CVD flow field is carried out using the Quiet Direct Simulation (QDS) method, which is a flux-based kinetic-theory approach. Two approaches are considered for the flux reconstruction, which are the true directional manner and the directional splitting method. Both the true directional and the directional decoupled QDS codes are validated against various numerical methods which include EFM, direct simulation, Riemann solver and the Godunov method. Both two dimensional and axisymmetric test problems are considered. Simulations are conducted to investigate the PP-CVD reactor flow field at 1 Pa and 1 kPa reactor base pressures. A droplet flash evaporation model is presented to model the evaporation and transport of the liquid droplets injected. The solution of the droplet flash evaporation model is used as the inlet conditions for the QDS gas phase solver. The droplet model is found to be able to provide pressure rise in the reactor at the predicted rate. A series of parametric studies are conducted for the PP-CVD process. The numerical study confirms the hypothesis that the flow field uniformity is insensitive to the reactor geometry. However, a sufficient distance from the injection inlet is required to allow the injected precursor solution to diffuse uniformly before reaching the substrate. It is also recommended that placement of the substrate at the reactor’s centre axis should be avoided.

The aim of the research documented in this thesis was to explore issues associated with the development of instrumentation for life detection and characterisation in a planetary exploration context. Within this aim, the following objectives had to be achieved: 1. To consider current and near-future single molecule detection (ultra-low lower limit of detection) analytical techniques that would be compatible with development into a Space qualifiable in situ analytical instrument for the detection of biomarkers in a planetary exploration context. 2. To practically consider the consequences of Planetary Protection and Contamination Control on the development of a sample return instrumentation in a planetary exploration context. 3. To consider the implications of flying an in situ instrument on-board a stratospheric balloon platform in order to apply them into a specific planetary exploration mission: In order to achieve the objectives described above, the following work was pursued:  A desk-based European Space Agency (ESA) study was carried out which entailed producing a literature review on single molecule detection technologies that had to be validated by the expert community. This was done by organising an International Workshop on Single Molecule Detection Technologies for Space Applications in March 2009 at Cranfield University, UK. The approved technologies then had to be analysed with standard analytical techniques (i.e., tradeoffs) in order to propose a specific technology for development and present its breadboard implementation and test plans at the end of the study.  A sample return experiment implementing PP&CC constraints and protocols was designed, built, tested and flown on-board the ESA, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) and German Space Agency (DLR) BEXUS stratospheric balloon platform. The biological and engineering results obtained from the sample return flight were then analysed and lessons learnt obtained for future flights.  Another desk-based study was performed to research future stratospheric balloon platforms for the exploration of Venus’ cloud layer. The in situ instrument previously proposed for the detection of biomarkers for planetary exploration missions was then put forward as a possible payload for a Venusian stratospheric balloon platform and approved by experts during the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) conference held in August 2011 in Washington D.C, USA. The first part of the research involved studying ultra-low lower limit of detection technologies as these have the potential to impact significantly on the technological and scientific requirements of future Space missions. Two systems were proposed: one based on Tandem Mass Spectrometry (with Cylindrical Ion Trap analysers) followed by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering spectroscopy to create an MS/MS-SERS instrument for the detection of astrobiology biomarkers in Martian regolith, Europan ice and samples from Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes; and a second one as a Stand-Alone SERS system for the detection of biomarkers in Enceladean plumes, Venusian clouds and cometary coma. The second part of the research practically explored the design of instrumentation for stratospheric balloon platforms. CASS•E, the Cranfield Astrobiological Stratospheric Sampling Experiment, was a life detection experiment that aimed to be capable of detecting stratospheric microorganisms. The experiment consisted of a pump which drew air from the Stratosphere through a 0.2 μm collection filter which retained any microorganisms and >0.2 μm particulates present in the pumped air. Due to the expected rarity of microbes in the Stratosphere compared to the known levels of contamination at ground level, Planetary Protection and Contamination Control (PP&CC)constraints were introduced. Therefore PP&CC protocols were followed to implement Space qualified cleaning and sterilisation techniques; biobarrier technology was implemented to prevent re-contamination of the instrument after sterilisation; and cleanliness and contamination was monitored throughout assembly, integration and testing. The third part of the research demonstrated how an instrument from the first part of the study could be proposed as a payload on-board a stratospheric balloon platform with a focused mission context, i.e., a life detection mission for Venus. Therefore, the research concluded with the proposal of a payload for a Venus mission based on SERS technology on-board a stratospheric balloon platform to search for life above or in the mid Venusian cloud cover.

Die ertragsteuerliche Belastung eines Investments in strukturierte Finanzprodukte spielt bei der Investitionsplanung eine entscheidende Rolle. Anleger treffen ihre Investitionsentscheidung nicht nur aufgrund des Renditen- und Risikopotentials vor Berücksichtigung von Steuern, sondern auch aufgrund der erwarteten abgabenrechtlichen Konsequenzen. Die Komplexität strukturierter Finanzprodukte und die damit in praxi häufig weitreichenden steuerlichen Implikationen werden in der Literatur derzeit nur rudimentär behandelt. Neben einer eingehenden Behandlung der gesetzlichen Vorgaben soll anhand standardisierter Anlageentscheidungen (in strukturierte Finanzprodukte) die potentielle ertragsteuerliche Belastung im Rahmen einer Veranlagungssimulation aus der Sicht eines in Österreich steuerpflichtigen Anlegers evaluiert werden. Die durchgeführten Simulationen variieren hinsichtlich des Depotverwaltungsorts, wobei der deutschsprachige Raum (Österreich, Deutschland, Schweiz) untersucht wird. Ein Nachsteuerrenditenvergleich ermöglicht die Beantwortung der Frage nach einer sachgerechten Besteuerung. Das Ergebnis der Arbeit zeigt, dass die Komplexität der Besteuerungsregeln und der Verwaltungsaufwand im Falle einer deutschen oder schweizerischen Depotverwaltung im Vergleich zu einem reinen Inlandsachverhalt zunimmt. Im Falle der Schweiz ist eine Vielzahl an Normvorgaben zu beachten, welche zum Teil überschneidende, teils widersprüchliche Regelungen beinhalten. Unterschiedliche Depotverwaltungsorte führen zu unterschiedlichen Nachsteuerrenditen. Auch wenn in vielen Fällen im Rahmen einer freiwilligen Steuerveranlagung Renditeabweichungen reduziert werden können, ist nicht für alle entdeckten Differenzen in der Nachsteuerrendite ein rechtfertigender Grund zu finden. (author's abstract)

Trichoderma species are soil-borne filamentous fungi widely utilized for their many plant health benefits, such as conferring improved growth, disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance to their hosts. Many Trichoderma species are able to produce the auxin phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and its production has been suggested to promote root growth. Here we show that the production of IAA is strain dependent and diverse external stimuli are associated with its production. In in vitro assays, Arabidopsis primary root length was negatively affected by the interaction with some Trichoderma strains. In soil experiments, a continuum effect on plant growth was shown and this was also strain dependent. In plate assays, some strains of Trichoderma spp. inhibited the expression of the auxin reporter gene DR5 in Arabidopsis primary roots but not secondary roots. When Trichoderma spp. and A. thaliana were physically separated, enhancement of both shoot and root biomass, increased root production and chlorophyll content were observed, which strongly suggested that volatile production by the fungus influenced the parameters analyzed. Trichoderma strains T. virens Gv29.8, T. atroviride IMI206040, T. sp. "atroviride B" LU132, and T. asperellum LU1370 were demonstrated to promote plant growth through volatile production. However, contrasting differences were observed with LU1370 which had a negative effect on plant growth in soil but a positive effect in plate assays. Altogether our results suggest that the mechanisms and molecules involved in plant growth promotion by Trichoderma spp. are multivariable and are affected by the environmental conditions.

O objetivo desta dissertação é comparar o uso ou a omissão de preposições e artigos nas orações relativas de estudantes brasileiros de ELE e nativos de E. O estudo buscou verificar se os estudantes brasileiros de ELE utilizam o relativo acompanhado de preposição e artigo, quando o usam e como o fazem; quais contextos favorecem a elipse de preposição + artigo; se o comportamento sintático entre os estudantes brasileiros e os nativos se assemelha e quais as possibilidades para essas semelhanças / diferenças. Para tanto, analisamos um corpus recolhido de testes escritos de reformulação de orações de três grupos de estudantes brasileiros adultos de ELE e o comparamos às produções de reformulações de um grupo de nativos de E argentinos. De acordo com nossas hipóteses iniciais e bibliografia consultada, as orações cortadoras seriam as mais produzidas pelos estudantes, mas de acordo com nossos dados, essa não foi a opção mais usada, e sim a opção sem o artigo com preposição. Pensamos que isso se deve ao caráter mais formal (escrito) dos testes. Concluímos que os brasileiros, em sua língua nativa, não usariam tal estrutura, mas quando têm que lidar com o E, preferem cortar o artigo em vez de produzir uma estrutura que seja mais comum em PB como a cortadora. Em contrapartida, os nativos usaram com mais frequência as orações padrão, que quase não apareceram nos resultados dos estudantes brasileiros. Ou seja, o comportamento sintático dos estudantes brasileiros e dos nativos foram evidentemente diferentes. Os estudantes brasileiros nem sempre preferiram o uso de relativas com quien para antecedente [+animado], como predizem as gramáticas. Aliás, o uso das duas orações padrão (prep. + quien e prep.+ art. + que) foi bastante equilibrado. Os nativos de E, para o mesmo tipo de antecedente, usaram a oração padrão com o relativo que com maior frequência. Quando a oração relativa apresentou caráter causal, os informantes brasileiros e nativos foram levados a expressar essa relação causal e evitaram a oração relativa. / The objective of this dissertation is to compare the use or omission of prepositions in relative clauses and articles of Brazilian students of ELE and native E speakers. The study aimed at verifing whether the Brazilian students use prepositions, accompanied by the relative pronoun and articles, when they use and how they do that; contexts which favor the ellipse \"preposition + article\"; if the syntactic behavior among Brazilian students matches the native speakers and the possibilities for these similarities / differences. To this end, we collected a corpus reformulation\'s sentences of written tests of three groups of Brazilian adult students of ELE and compared to the production of reformulations of a group of Argentinian E. native speakers. According to our initial hypotheses and consulted literature, students produce more often pp-chopping sentences, but according to our data, this was not the preferred option, but the one without article and with preposition. We think this is due to the more formal nature of the (written) tests. We concluded that Brazilian students in their native language would not use such a structure, but when they have to deal with E, they prefer to cut the article instead of producing a structure that is more common in PB - like the pp-chopping. In contrast, the native speakers used standard sentences more often, which hardly ever appeared in the results of Brazilian students. That is, the syntactic behavior of Brazilian students and native speakers were evidently different. Brazilian students do not always preferred the use of relative pronoun using \"quien\" for the antecedent [+ animate], as grammatically expected. In fact, the use of two standard sentences (\"prep. + quien\" and \"prep. + art. + que) was fairly balanced. The native speakers of E, for the same type antecedent, used the standard sentence with the relative \"que\" with more frequency. When the relative clause introduced causal character, Brazilians and native speaker informants were led to express this causal relationship and avoided the relative clause.

ABSTRACT WOULD NOT LOAD ON DSpace

<p>Denne studien har fokus på PP-rådgiverens perspektiv på arbeid med problematferd i skolen. Jeg valgte å vinkle min prosjektbeskrivelse og det videre arbeidet mot en studie av Pedagogisk - Psykologisk tjeneste (heretter PP-tjenesten). Nærmere bestemt rettes blikket mot PP-rådgiverens erfaringer med og perspektiv på arbeid med hjelpetrengende elever i skolen, deres foresatte og lærere. Å undersøke slike perspektiv kan ha interesse fordi PP-tjenesten har et særlig godt kjennskap til skolen og det som skjer der gjennom sin rolle som skolens hjelpetjeneste. Analysen bygger på intervju av 12 Pedagogisk-psykologiske rådgivere på 4 PP-kontor i Nord-Norge 1999 -2000 og på direkte observasjon i 30 møter av ulike typer som ble gjennomført på disse kontorene. ”Grounded Theory” er brukt som metodologi og metode. Jeg utviklet 5 substantive koder: 1) ”faglig usikkerhet”, 2) ”skjønn og fagkunnskap”, 3) ”å arbeide eklektisk” 4) ”respons på antatte forventninger” og 5) ”diagnosekommunikasjon”. På basis av de substantive kodene utviklet jeg følgende substantive kode: ”å jobbe eklektisk på basis av skjønn og fagkunnskap gir ulik grad av faglig usikkerhet”. I tillegg har jeg utviklet ulike ”typer” PP-rådgivere, ”eksperten”, ”brannslukkeren” og ”analytikeren”. De teoretiske hypotesene som ble utviklet i dette arbeidet har blitt relatert og drøftet i forhold til annen relevant forskning som for eksempel Bernsteins begrep ”den pedagogiske anordning”, der diskurser og makt er sentralt.</p>