Pharmaceutical product claim and help-seeking advertisements have prompted the types and purposes of medical dermatology service(s) that patients have used in the United States. Indeed, researchers have demonstrated that 94% of working nurse practitioners affirmed receiving from their patients a request for a cancer drug advertised. However, adult dermatology patients members of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church or/and patients at MedStar Clinic in Houston, Texas, have not been of interest for any study so far. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between product claim, help-seeking, types, and purposes of medical dermatology services used amongst males and females aged at least 18 years. Prospect theory (PT) was the theoretical framework used to analyze the purpose of this study. A cross-sectional survey approach permitted to collect primary data from 120 participants who were members of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church or/and patients at MedStar Clinic. The results, based on a forced entry multiple regression analysis at 95% confidence interval, indicated that product claim and help-seeking significantly explained (p -?¤ .05) the variances of certain types and purposes of medical dermatology services used. Thus, product claim and help-seeking predicted the types and purposes of medical services used by the study population. Pharmaceutical announcers may benefit from the results of this study by using the study results to create new direct-to-consumers advertisements for the dermatology health promotion. The study population may benefit healthy skin, hairs, and nails by using medical dermatology services after exposure to the new pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer advertisements.

En la actualidad la lectura cumple un rol muy importante en la sociedad, dado que ayuda a aumentar la comprensión y atención de cada persona. Asimismo, se ha venido demostrando que la lectura activa la curiosidad y la imaginación, es por ello que se desarrolló este proyecto de negocio que consiste básicamente en fomentar la lectura mediante una plataforma web en la que se podrá realizar la venta y compra de libros de segunda mano.  Dentro del trabajo se especifica la idea negocio, se analizó el BMC, también se elaboraron distintos experimentos con la finalidad de reconocer si el proyecto propuesto es viable, mediante entrevistas y encuestas virtuales, después de ello se procedió a realizar las respectivas proyecciones de ventas. Finalmente, después de haber realizado las actividades correspondientes se llegó a la conclusión de que el presente proyecto es viable, puesto que hoy en día existe un crecimiento constante de número de lectores, porque durante la pandemia muchas personas encontraron en la lectura un lugar donde combatir el estrés y desconectarse de sus propios problemas personales. / Currently reading plays a very important role in society, since it helps to increase the understanding and attention of each person. Likewise, it has been shown that reading activates curiosity and imagination, which is why this business project was developed, which basically consists of promoting reading through a web platform where the sale and purchase of books from second hand. Within the work the business idea is specified, the BMC was analyzed, different experiments were also developed in order to recognize if the proposed project is viable, through virtual interviews and surveys, after which the respective sales projections were carried out. Finally, after having carried out the corresponding activities, it was concluded that this project is viable, since today there is a constant growth in the number of readers, because during the pandemic many people found reading a place to fight stress and disconnect from their own personal problems. / Trabajo de investigación

The informal sector is described as groups of persons who act in parallel to official waste management systems without official authorisation. Such informal activities can result in risks as well as benefits both to the environment and involved stakeholders, which explains the continuing lively discussions in politics, science and society. Transhipments of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are increasingly focused in Germany. In addition to informal exports via the port of Hamburg to countries such as China, Ghana or Nigeria, informal transports to Eastern European countries have been recognised for decades. This paper describes investigations regarding the characteristics, transhipped amounts as well as the eco-efficiency of informal sector activities originating from Eastern European countries, while thereby highlighting transhipments of used appliances to destination countries and a corresponding sale for reuse. Investigations reveal that a majority of informal collectors originate from Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania and are recognised across Germany. A high WEEE specialisation was determined, whereby average annual transhipped amounts are estimated at 77,000 tons. Collected materials are transhipped and partially sold for reuse. A case study considers the example of Polish informal collectors. The ratio between economic and environmental performance reveal that informal sector reuse activities in Poland achieve a higher environmentally sound performance in comparison to further usage of appliances under consideration. The informal collection of a television in Germany (and subsequent reuse in Poland) causes 8.34 kg less specific CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€) than the production, usage and further use in Poland. Conversely, a further use of a television in Germany only results in 2.2 kg less CO2 emissions per spend-costs (€). These results demonstrate that reuse as a result of informal sector activities can have a positive effect. Future electrical and electronic products available for reuse will have lower energy consumptions. A positive contribution to resource protection is thereby achieved while extending already short life cycles. Taking into account a dependency on collections with respect to their income, a pure ban of informal sector activities would therefore be socially counterproductive. A structured and controlled accomplishment of informal collection processes would open up new opportunities to enlarge the (already existing) concept of reuse at an international level.

Master of Arts / This thesis is an exploratory study that aims to identify whether it is adequate to apply the current approach of considering policies related to geothermal energy under the general umbrella of renewable policies or we need to use a system-sector based approach specifically for geothermal energy systems. I have identified a total of twenty-three different policy types related to geothermal energy systems in U.S. states. To understand how geothermal related policies diffuse from one U.S. state to another, and, therefore, better design policies to promote the use of geothermal energy in U.S. states, we need to perform several diffusion studies. This process is time consuming and expensive. Thus, focusing on the most promising geothermal related policies, at least as a start, is crucial for future studies focusing on the diffusion of geothermal related policies between U.S. states. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the preliminary step of selecting a limited set of geothermal related policies for future policy diffusion studies. The main conclusions and answers provided in this thesis provide a strong support to the hypothesis that a system-sector based approach is needed when studying policies related to geothermal energy in U.S. states. I explicitly report that each of the three main geothermal systems is impacted by different set of policy categories and types. I also discuss that not all policies have the same impact on all sectors in which the geothermal energy is applied; in other words, the utilization of geothermal energy in the different sectors is promoted by different policies in distinguished ways. Moreover, the discussion in this thesis highlights the shortcomings of the common approach usually used in diffusion v studies of renewable energy policies. This approach considers all renewable energies as a general category, neglecting any potential impacts due to the unique characteristics of each renewable source. I show that, for example, the most popular policy types considered in policy diffusion studies for renewable energies are not the most significant ones for the different geothermal systems. I also highlight the fact that other policy types that are generally overlooked in policy diffusion studies of the generalized renewable energies are more significant for geothermal energy systems. These results indeed support my hypothesis regarding the importance of system-sector based approach when investigating geothermal energy policies.

Titel: Closed-loop supply chain: Implementering av utvecklat returflöde gällande begagnade handskar på HESTRA-Handsken AB. Kontext: Dagens konsumtions ökar allt mer då konsumenten ser stil och pris som en viktigare komponent än hållbarhet. För att istället öka produkters livslängd och minska dess miljöpåverkan kan en implementering av CLSC genomföras.  Syfte: I denna studie kommer CLSC att diskuteras utifrån textil- och läderindustrin. En fördjupning kommer att ske i HESTRA-Handsken AB:s omvända logistikprocess där skribenterna menar att komplettera denna. Studiens syfte blir därmed att identifiera hur företagets nuvarande returflöde kan utvecklas med målet att slutligen implementeras. Metod: Denna studie grundas i ett kvalitativt hermeneutiskt synsätt för besvarande frågeställning ett, samt en systematisk litteraturgranskning för att besvara frågeställning två. Empiriskt material har samlats in genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer där respondentvalidering har använts för att säkra att denna primärdata håller hög kvalitet. För att finna vetenskapligt granskade artiklar till teoriavsnittet har sökningar gjorts i databasen BSU. Vidare har mönsterjämförelse tillämpats för att analysera resultatet utifrån studiens frågeställningar. Resultat: Denna studie visar på att det finns potential hos HESTRA-Handsken AB att utveckla dess nuvarande returflöde. Studiens skribenter menar på att ett prisdiskrimineringsalternativ kan tillämpas för att öka inflödet av returer. Det finns ett intresse och engagemang hos ledningen till att utöka dess hållbarhetsprofil och detta är ett ypperligt exempel på det. Implementering är möjlig genom att antingen se till Dowlatshahis 11 förståelser för framgångsrik implementering, Lacys fem affärsmodeller eller Kirons fem innovationsmetoder. Bidrag: Studien bidrar med en litterär genomgång av ämnet CLSC och mer ingående returer samt återbruk. Sedermera ges praktiskt bidrag till HESTRA-Handsken AB, i form av förslag om hur dess nuvarande returflöde har potential att utvecklas och hur en implementering kan utformas. Slutligen kan andra företag, likt HESTRA-Handsken AB, se till denna studie för att tilldelas förslag kring hur dess returflöde kan utvecklas samt vad som bör beaktas vid en implementering av detta. Nyckelord: Closed-loop supply chain, returer, återbruk, begagnat, textil, läder / Title: Closed-loop supply chain: Implementation of developed return flow regarding used gloves at HESTRA-Handsken AB. Context: Today's consumption is increasing more and more as the consumer sees style and price as a more important component than sustainability. To increase the lifespan of products and reduce their environmental impact, an implementation of CLSC can be worth pursuing.  Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the CLSC based on the textile and leather industry. A deepened study will take in HESTRA-Handsken AB´s reverse logistics process, where the writers intend to supplement this. The purpose of the study will thus be to identify how the company's current return flow can be developed with the goal of finally being implemented.  Method: This study is based on a qualitative hermeneutic approach to being able to answer question one, as well as a systematic literature review to answer question two. Empirical material has been collected through semi-structured interviews where respondent validation has been used to ensure that this primary data is of high quality. To find peer reviewed articles for the theory section, searches have been made in the BSU database. Furthermore, pattern comparison has been applied to analyze the results based on the study´s questions.  Results: This study shows that there is potential at HESTRA-Handsken AB to develop its current return flow. The study´s authors believe that a price discrimination alternative can be applied to increase the inflow of returns. There is an interest and commitment on the part of management to expand its sustainability profile and this is an excellent example of this. Implementation is possible by either looking at Dowlatshahi´s 11 understandings of successful implementation, Lacy´s five business models, or Kiron´s five innovation methods.  Contribution: The study contributes with a literary review of the subject CLSC and focuses on returns and recycling. Furthermore, a practical contribution is given to HESTRA-Handsken AB, with suggestions on how their current return flow can be developed and how an implementation can be designed. Finally, other companies can look at this study to be assigned proposals on how its return flow can be developed and what should be taken into account when implementing this. Keywords: Closed-loop supply chain, returns, recycling, used, textile, leather

[pt] Dentre os aditivos empregados nas formulações de óleos lubrificantes, cabe destacar os de natureza polimérica, utilizados como melhoradores de viscosidade. Atualmente, testes complexos e de alto custo são empregados para avaliação de novos componentes nos óleos lubrificantes. Portanto, análises preliminares para estudo e caracterização de aditivos são de extrema relevância. Este trabalho tem como objetivo caracterizar diferentes polímeros, utilizados como modificadores de viscosidade, empregando métodos de análise térmica e reológica, e ainda avaliar o impacto destes aditivos em bases lubrificantes. Os resultados encontrados permitem avaliar o comportamento das borrachas poliméricas frente à degradação térmica, influenciada pelo processo de polimerização e estrutura química, e frente ao seu comportamento reológico mostrando ser uma metodologia eficiente para diferenciação destes materiais. As bases lubrificantes avaliadas mostraram um comportamento de fluido newtoniano clássico e quando os polímeros modificadores foram adicionados, em determinadas concentrações, observou-se uma alteração deste comportamento de fluido. As análises e técnicas empregadas permitiram avaliar o impacto no comportamento reológico dos óleos básicos bem como das soluções preparadas com diferentes concentrações de polímeros. Foi possível concluir que os aditivos poliméricos empregados em bases lubrificantes são capazes de alterar o comportamento térmico e reológico das bases lubrificantes estudadas. As metodologias empregadas se mostraram eficientes para avaliação preliminar destes polímeros e das bases lubrificantes contendo estes aditivos. / [en] The most important additives used in lubricant formulas are polymeric in nature, which play an important role in the performance of the fluid and act as a viscosity modifier. Due to the fact that lubricants with lower viscosities are higher in demand, the viscosity modifier function has become increasingly important and differential in lubricant formulas. In order to develop new components of technology for lubricants, complex tests, which are high in cost, are necessary. Therefore, preliminary analyses of new studies and the characterization of new data are extremely relevant and important for the customization of the process and timing. The intention is to characterize polymers available on the market as viscosity modifiers using thermal and rheological methodologies, as well as to have a better understanding of the influence of these additives on base oils used in lubricants. The results showed the polymers behaviors on thermal degradation, which are influenced by the polymerization process as well as chemical structure. Rheological analyses demonstrated to be an efficient methodology for the differentiation of these materials. Base oil study results showed the Newtonian fluid behavior and this was modified when substantial amount of polymers were added. The rheological and thermal behaviors of base oils as well as solutions with polymers in different treatment rates were realized by the analyses and techniques executed. For the preliminary evaluations of polymer additives and base oils with them, the methodologies used in this study proved to be efficient.

The current socio-economic and environmental context worldwide, with different actors and needs, requires continued progress towards energy efficiency and environmental improvements in order to create a sustainable future, and this implies a scientific and technologic effort to achieve the proposed goals. Transport by propulsive systems based on reciprocating internal combustion engines (ICE) is one of the major agents affecting future environmental sustainability. Included in the wide research done in this area, one of the options considered is the use of low viscosity oils (LVO) as an option for increasing ICE efficiency. This technology presents a modest contribution to the efficiency target, but the excellent cost-effectiveness ratio and ease of application to current and future vehicle parc are two reasons that has driven towards research into the use of these oils. The low viscosity oils base their contribution to improving energy efficiency by reducing mechanical losses associated with viscous friction in hydrodynamic regime. This in turn reduces energy consumption to operate the system, and it is associated with a reduction of pollutant emissions for the same performance. The hypotheses of application of LVO are well founded, but there are a number of uncertainties surrounding the application of low viscosity oils in MCIA today. On one hand, it is possible to expect a modification of the ICE tribological performance, as well as changes in lubricant performance which ultimately could lead to a reduction in the period of useful life, an early lubrication failure or other consequences difficult to predict. Also, a reduction in viscosity may increase wear production, so there is also an interest in the remote diagnosis of lubricated system status. In this Thesis a concise review of the state-of-the-art has been done applied to ICE tribology and lubricating oils, with special interest in the low viscosity oils development. Then, a series of different studies have been performed to deepen the understanding of oil performance and its influence on ICE wear, supported by a set of physico-chemical analytical techniques applied to diagnose the state of the lubricating oil. The different results obtained show that the application of low viscosity oils in ICE is a viable alternative, since the results obtained in the various tests validate the different hypotheses done, and it opens a line of research possibilities around future enhancements and technology development. / La situación actual a nivel mundial, enmarcada en un contexto socioeconómico y medioambiental complejo, con diferentes actores y necesidades presentes, requiere un avance continuo hacia la eficiencia energética y las mejoras medioambientales de cara a poder crear un futuro sostenible, así como de un esfuerzo científico y tecnológico para poder alcanzar los objetivos propuestos. El transporte mediante sistemas propulsivos basados en motores de combustión interna alternativos (MCIA) es uno de los grandes agentes que afectan a la sostenibilidad medioambiental futura. Dentro de la profunda investigación que se realiza en éste ámbito, una de las opciones estudiadas es la del uso de aceites de baja viscosidad (LVO) como opción para el aumento de la eficiencia de los MCIA. Esta tecnología presenta una aportación modesta al objetivo de eficiencia energética, pero la excelente relación coste-beneficio y la facilidad de aplicación al parque automovilístico actual y futuro son dos razones que han impulsado a la industria hacia la investigación en el uso de estos aceites. Los aceites de baja viscosidad basan su aportación a la mejora de la eficiencia energética en la reducción de las pérdidas mecánicas asociadas a la fricción viscosa en régimen hidrodinámico. Así, se consigue reducir el consumo de energía utilizado para hacer funcionar el sistema, y lleva asociada una reducción de las emisiones contaminantes para el mismo desempeño. La hipótesis de aplicación de los aceites de baja viscosidad están bien fundamentadas, pero existen una serie de incertidumbres alrededor de la aplicación de los aceites de baja viscosidad en MCIA a día de hoy. Por un lado, es posible esperar una modificación del comportamiento tribológico en el propio MCIA, así como una variación del propio comportamiento del lubricante que en último lugar podría provocar una reducción del período de vida útil del mismo, un fallo temprano de lubricación u otras consecuencias difíciles de prever. Además, la bajada de viscosidad puede aumentar el fenómeno de desgaste, por lo que existe también un interés en la cuantificación y diagnóstico de manera continua y remota del estado del sistema lubricado. Así, en esta Tesis se ha realizado un conciso trabajo de revisión del estado del arte de la tribología aplicada a MCIA y de los aceites lubricantes, poniendo especial interés en el desarrollo de la idea de los aceites de baja viscosidad. A continuación, y con el apoyo de un conjunto de técnicas analíticas físico-químicas aplicadas a diagnosticar el estado del aceite lubricante, se han planteado una serie de estudios desde diferentes ámbitos para poder profundizar en el conocimiento del comportamiento del aceite y de su influencia en el desgaste en MCIA. Los diferentes resultados obtenidos señalan que la aplicación de los aceites de baja viscosidad en MCIA es una alternativa viable y exitosa, ya que los resultados obtenidos en los diferentes ensayos realizados validan el comportamiento de esta opción, y abre una línea de posibilidades de investigación alrededor de futuras mejoras y de desarrollo de la tecnología. / La situació actual a nivell mundial, emmarcada en un context socioeconòmic i mediambiental complex, amb diferents actors i necessitats presents, requereix d'un avanç continu cap a l'eficiència energètica i les millores mediambientals de cara a poder crear un futur sostenible, així com d'un esforç científic i tecnològic per poder assolir els objectius proposats. El transport mitjançant sistemes propulsius basats en motors de combustió interna alternatius (MCIA) és un dels grans agents que afecten la sostenibilitat mediambiental futura. Dins de la profunda investigació que es realitza en aquest àmbit, una de les opcions estudiades és la de l'ús d'olis de baixa viscositat (LVO) com a opció per a l'augment de l'eficiència dels MCIA. Aquesta tecnologia presenta una aportació modesta a l'objectiu d'eficiència energètica, però l'excel¿lent relació cost-benefici i la facilitat d'aplicació al parc automobilístic actual i futur són dues raons que han impulsat a la indústria cap a la investigació en l'ús d'aquestos olis. Els olis de baixa viscositat basen la seva aportació a la millora de l'eficiència energètica en la reducció de les pèrdues mecàniques associades a la fricció viscosa en règim hidrodinàmic. Així, s'aconsegueix reduir el consum d'energia utilitzat per fer funcionar el sistema, i porta associada una reducció de les emissions contaminants per a l'obtenció del mateix resultat. Les hipòtesis d'aplicació dels olis de baixa viscositat estan ben fonamentades, però hi ha una sèrie d'incerteses al voltant de l'aplicació dels olis de baixa viscositat en MCIA a dia de hui. D'una banda, és possible esperar una modificació del comportament tribològic en el propi MCIA, així com una variació del propi comportament del lubricant que en últim lloc podria provocar una reducció del període de vida útil d'aquest, una fallada de lubricació primerenca o altres conseqüències difícils de preveure. A més, la baixada de viscositat pot augmentar el fenomen de desgast, pel que existeix també un interès en la quantificació i diagnòstic de manera contínua i remota de l'estat del sistema lubricat. Així, en aquesta Tesi s'ha realitzat un concís treball de revisió de l'estat de l'art de la tribologia aplicada a MCIA i dels olis lubricants, posant especial interès en el desenvolupament de la idea dels olis de baixa viscositat. A continuació, i amb el suport d'un conjunt de tècniques analítiques fisico-químiques aplicades a diagnosticar l'estat de l'oli lubricant, s'han plantejat una sèrie d'estudis des de diferents àmbits per poder aprofundir en el coneixement del comportament de l'oli i de la seva influència en el desgast en MCIA. Els diferents resultats obtinguts assenyalen que l'aplicació dels olis de baixa viscositat en MCIA és una alternativa viable, ja que els resultats obtinguts en els diferents assajos realitzats validen el comportament d'aquesta opció, i obre una línia de possibilitats d'investigació al voltant de futures millores i de desenvolupament de la tecnologia. / Miró Mezquita, G. (2017). Estudio del comportamiento y de la influencia en el desgaste de los aceites lubricantes de baja viscosidad en MCIA [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/78615

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a compelling question arises, could this event have brought Europeans closer? Armed conflicts often strengthen in-group identity as individuals seek safety from external threats. This study speculates that the perceived threat of the invasion might have intensified emotional attachments to Europe across the continent. Additionally, it explores how the response differed between Western Europe and Central and Eastern European countries. This study bases its conceptualization, hypotheses, and interpretations on social identity theory, alongside a comprehensive review of the literature on armed conflict and identity. Utilizing a quasi-experimental method to investigate the probable causal link and using 12 countries from the 10th round of the European Social Survey to generalize the findings across a diverse European population. The findings reveal that Europeans did not develop a stronger sense of European identity in response to the invasion, suggesting that Europeans do not perceive Europe as a meaningful identity to unite under or seek safety in when military conflicts intensify on the continent. This study contributes to the understanding that the European project, along with its socio-political efforts, has been relatively unsuccessful in establishing itself as a significant unifying point when conflicts intensify.

The goal of this master thesis is to summarise the theoretical knowledge and subsequently analyse the so-called Assessment Centre, a modern methodology used for recruitment of employees out of a larger pool of applicants. A unified approach to the recruitment process has been developed based on the results of this analysis The analysis includes a detailed insight into the preparation and the course of the Assessment Centre, a competency assessment of the committee members, assessment of the job description, job requirements and selection criteria and an analysis of satisfaction of the applicants themselves. The analysis was conducted on two workplaces of the Insurance Company "XY", with each of them having a different approach towards the assessment centre. Free as well as partially standardised observations were used as a methodological background for the assessment centre analysis. The assessment of satisfaction of the AC participants was conducted with the help of questionnaires.

The theoretical part of my thesis at first introduces the most common benign neoplasm in men over fifty, a non cancerous prostate gland enlargement called the benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The main focus of this section will be on BPH's anatomy, etiology, symptomatology, complications, diagnosis and therapy. I will also describe four cost analyses used in health services: CMA, CEA, CUA and CBA. In the practical section of my thesis I will analyze the therapy effectiveness of transurethral resection of the prostate and photoselective vaporization of the prostate with the use of cost-effectiveness analysis.