Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the barriers for and their impact cooperation and coopetition for sustainable distribution of Municipality goods in three selected cities. Design/Methodology/Approach: This thesis is based on a qualitative approach using a multiple case study as data collection strategy. The population building up three cases consists of ten Swedish mid-sized cities with an urban consolidation center. Of these are the three cities Växjö, Kalmar and Borlänge sampled and both the municipality and two locally active freight forwarders (one RFP-winner and one non-RFP-winner) per city are interviewed. These interviews aimed at identifying barriers to cooperation between municipalities and freight forwarders and barriers to coopetition between private freight forwarders for a sustainable distribution of municipality goods. The secondary data is based upon three literature streams: Sustainability, Distribution in Urban Environments and, Cooperation and Coopetition. Findings: The results indicate that the main barriers to cooperation from a freight forwarder perspective are incorrect or missing data in the RFP, price for municipality goods distribution and prohibition of goods consolidation. The main barrier to cooperation, fossil fuel free trucks, is a potential future barrier. The main barriers to coopetition are higher costs, lack of trust and price. These barriers have mainly an impact on the economical sustainability but can, and in some cases, will have effects on the other TBL-aspects. Research Limitations/Implications: The findings of this thesis provide the municipality with knowledge about barriers from the perspective of the freight forwarders which can aid construction of future RFPs. It also provides both municipality and freight forwarders with knowledge of the potential future barriers which could affect ongoing cooperation. Lastly it provides involved actors with knowledge of barriers hindering a coopetition approach in distribution, enabling the next step of solving the barriers. The value of this thesis is the knowledge of the implications as well as the combination of the three chosen literature streams which have not been researched in this context previously

The aim of this thesis is to propose a socially responsible activities, which could a smaller company, like Liho Blanice, deals with and implement them in practice. The theoretical part focuses on the introduction of the concept of CSR, its basic features and principles, as well as the methodology of Standard Responsible Company, and some concepts related to CSR. The next part deals with the application of CSR practices, from initial planning to its measurement. CSR strategies of three global producers of alcohol are compared. The practical part introduces the current activities of the company, the results of research to costumers, and based on them are then designed individual activities within CSR.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Cape Town includes two vegetable farming areas within the city limits, the Joostenbergvlakte/Kraaifontein area and the Philippi area. Both areas supply produce to local markets and further afield. Sporadically, high levels of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc have been found to occur in some of the soils, irrigation water resources and crops. To find the sources of specifically Cd, Pb and Zn to these agricultural systems, extensive analysis of several heavy metals in inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals and supplementary water resources to these farming areas was undertaken. Heavy metal concentrations in soils, irrigation water resources and crops were also determined. Two mitigation techniques that could be used to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn contamination were investigated. The first mitigation method included immobilization of heavy metals as phosphate complexes by using a triple super phosphate fertilizer, while the second method involved mobilisation and thus leaching of heavy metals away from plant roots using EDTA. These mitigation methods were tested in a pot experiment using cabbage as the experimental crop and soil from these areas as growth medium. A survey of common farming practices in these two areas and farmers willingness to use remediation methods was conducted. / South Africa

This thesis is about Circular Economy and sustainability through a retailer’s perspective. There has also been a focus on researching and trying to find out if the size of the retailer matters in a sustainability perspective and to achieve a Circular Economy. The research that has been made is done with a deductive approach and a qualitative method. Interviews have been held over a timeframe of a week in May 2020. Because of the pandemic, Covid-19, all of the interviews were held over telephone or email to ensure safety for all respondents, including the safety for the authors. The theory chapter has been conducted through peer-reviewed articles and literature. This chapter has then been divided into smaller parts chapters, as Circular Economy, Sustainability and Supply chain, and Triple bottom line. After the theory chapter the method in how the research have been done and why specific methods have been preferred over others. Following chapter is the empirical findings bundled together with analysis, each interview comes first separately and divided in the same way as the theory and are then compared in an analysis. The conclusion is that retailers need to continue working to become more sustainable. A way for retailers to present their work towards Circular Economy and sustainability is to be transparent and will reach consumers’ which can lead to higher reliability. There is a difference between larger and smaller retailers, it is in how the larger retailers have worked more towards incorporate Circular Economy model and sustainability in comparison to the smaller retailers.

The project elaborated in frame of engineering studies branch Manufacturing Technology (N2307-00) is submitting design of technology production of the latch claw. The latch claw is a component of a car side-door latch assembly and can be used for different car models. The part is made of sheetmetal 4 mm thick. The material for the part is 15CrMo5, alloy steel for case-hardening purposes. Pursuant of the literary pursuit was designed several options of the part manufacture. With regard to required dimensional accuracy, cut-edge quality and expected production run (800 000 pcs. per year) was proposed manufacturing the part by fineblanking technology. Fineblanking is a cost-effective manufacturing method for accurate sheetmetal parts. For manufacturing parts was chosen Feintool hydraulic fineblanking press HFA 3200plus with total force 3200 kN. The press is coupled to a coil reel a strip straighter. Both units of Feintool feeding line FBA 8/300 are very compact, reducing space requirement. For the fineblanking tool design is used a moving-punch system because these tool systems are compact and economical to make and use. The tool make use of standardized cast iron fineblanking die set made by Fibro company. At the conclusion was compared the cost-effectiveness between two production methods – fineblanking with that of laser beam cutting.

The aim of the thesis is to design a manufacturing technology of a part of the universal opener with an innovated design. The component is made of stainless steel 17 240 (X5CrNi18-10). The blank is 2 mm thick sheet metal. Within the literary study the comparison of the possible technologies of manufacturing has been carried out. With respect to the batch size (200 000 pieces) and to the required quality of the component the fineblanking technology has been selected. For the manufacturing of the component a triple action hydraulic press HFA 3200plus has been chosen. This press will be coupled in production line with a feeding line FBA 8/300. The main point of the thesis is to design a cutting tool and to create a drawing documentation. Another part of the project is the technical and economical evaluation of the designed manufacturing process.

This diploma thesis deals with the Triple Screen trading system in the theoretical and practical level. As part of the work semiautomatic trading system, which focuses on trading with corn is designed. Previously, there are discussed theoretical assumptions necessary for the successful implementation of the trading system. There is explained and described deal with corn and principles and possibilities nowadays. The practical part includes the creation of custom application in Matlab development environment and scripting language. Using this application is simulated trading corn with selected trend indicators and oscillators. Using historical data there is found the best combination of indicators and it is subsequently applied on the following dates.

Na capa consta o título "Efeito do processo de compostagem sobre a solubilização e a eficiência agronômica de diferentes fontes de fósforo" / Orientador: Roberto Lyra Villas Bôas / Banca: Dirceu Maximino Fernandes / Banca: Iraê Amaral Guerrini / Banca: Edmar José Kiehl / Banca: Mario Sergio Rodrigues / Resumo: Com o intuito de avaliar o efeito do processo de compostagem sobre a solubilização e a eficiência agronômica de diferentes fontes de fertilizantes fosfatados, foram desenvolvidos dois experimentos. O primeiro constou da produção de compostos orgânicos enriquecidos ou não com superfosfato triplo (ST) ou fosfato natural de Arad (FN). Foi realizado o acompanhamento da temperatura da pilha e do pH do material orgânico durante o processo, além de uma análise química do composto ao final do processo de compostagem. No experimento II, conduzido em vasos com plantas de alface, em casa de vegetação, os compostos orgânicos gerados foram aplicados ao solo para avaliar, através da planta, a Eficiência Agronômica (IEA) do fósforo. Para ambas as fontes, as quantidades de P adicionadas nos vasos foram de 200 mg de P L-1 de terra. Os tratamentos foram: testemunha, fosfato natural de Arad (FN), superfosfato triplo (ST), composto orgânico + ST (COST) com 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0% de P, composto orgânico com FN (COFN) com 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0% de P adicionada antes da compostagem, COSTF e COFNF com adição das mesmas quantidades de P (ST ou FN) no composto orgânico após o processo de compostagem. Utilizou-se o delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado para os dois experimentos. Não se observou no experimento I, efeito favorável do enriquecimento com diferentes porcentagens de superfosfato triplo na compostagem sobre os parâmetros avaliados. Já para adição de diferentes porcentagens de fosfato natural de Arad, observou-se aumento sobre os valores de temperatura, pH, redução da massa da pilha e diminuiu à solubilidade do P solúvel em água, o que sugere que o processo biológico não promoveu a solubilização do fósforo. Para o experimento II os resultados do IEA, baseado na matéria seca e na quantidade de fósforo extraído pela parte aérea... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: To evaluate the composting process on the solubility and agronomic efficiency of different phosphate sources, two experiments were developed. The first consisted of producing organic composts enriched with different levels of triple superphosphate (TS) or natural Arad phosphate (NP). Compost heap temperature and organic material pH were monitored throughout the process; compost chemical analysis was performed at the end of the composting process. In the second experiment, the organic composts were applied to the soil in potted lettuce plants under greenhouse conditions and agronomic phosphate efficiency (APE) was evaluated analysing the plants. For both compost sources, the quantity of additional phosphate was 200mg/L soil. Treatments were: control, NP, TS, organic compost + TS (OCTS) with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0% P, organic compost + NP (OCNP) with 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0% P added before composting, OCTSP and OCNPP adding the same quantities of P (NP or TS) after the composting process. A completely randomized experimental design was used for both experiments. No favourable enrichment effects were seen in Experiment I from the different TS levels. However, increase in NP increased temperature and pH, and reduced heap mass and soluble P solubility; this suggests that the biological process did not promote phosphate solubility. APE results from Experiment II, based on dry material and quantity of phosphorous extracted from the above soil part of the lettuce plants, showed that the pre-enrichment composts were inferior to the post-enrichment composts in both crops, indicating that there was no favourable effect in adding TS and NP to the composting process in the evaluated period. / Doutor

Radiation effects encountered in space or aviation environments can affect the configuration bits in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) causing errors in FPGA output. One method of increasing FPGA reliability in radiation environments includes adding redundant logic to mask errors and allow time for repair. Despite the redundancy added with triple modular redundancy (TMR) and configuration scrubbing there exist some configuration bits that individually affect multiple TMR domains causing errors in FPGA output. A new tool called DeBit is introduced that identifies hardware resources associated with a single bit failure. This tool identifies a novel failure mode involving global routing resources and the failure mode is verified through a series of directed tests on global routing resources. Lastly, a mitigation strategy is proposed and tested on a single error in a triple modular redundancy (TMR) design.

Sustainability issues have been a popular and important topic on the world’s agenda the recent years, which has caused businesses to follow the policies of operating more sustainable. One of the latest introduced guidelines is the Global Goals imposed by the United Nations to be met by 2030. In light of these goals, awareness regarding sustainability issues among consumers and other stakeholders has increased, leading to that change is inevitable for businesses to start operating sustainably. The concept of sustainable business model innovation therefore becomes relevant. There is a lot of research regarding sustainable business model innovation. However, the research is heavily focusing on theoretical aspects of it, and less is given to the practical creation and implementation of sustainable business models. Further, less focus is given to start-up companies specifically. Due to the identified research gap, this study aims to answer the research question: “How can start-ups successfully create and implement sustainable business models to become an established actor on its specific market?” The purpose of this study is to create an understanding and contribute with extended knowledge of how sustainability is practiced in start-ups. More specifically, how sustainable business models are created and implemented in start-ups. A qualitative abductive approach was used to fulfill this purpose. Additionally, six semi-structured interviews were conducted with founders of start-ups and business coaches from Swedish incubators, which were structured based on the themes from the Lean Start-up Framework (LSF). This framework, along with the Triple Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC) showed to be of importance after the theoretical review. The key findings retrieved displayed that the LSF is suitable to describe the sustainable start-up process as well. Yet, the TLBMC needs to be integrated to fulfill the purpose of sustainability. Further, the benefit versus impact is shown to be of great importance whereas the framework’s components were modified in that sense as well in those cases needed. This study theoretically contributes to extended knowledge and additional components of the Lean Start-up framework that are advocated to be crucial to create a sustainable business model. These additional components are further of value for the existing field of research. Practically, by the extended and modified framework, it offers valuable insight for entrepreneurs with a business idea where the purpose is to offer a sustainable value proposition. Lastly, this study contributes to a social level by providing guidelines on the implementation of sustainability in the business model, leading to the encouragement to operate sustainably and towards a better environment and society.