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AKAD-Fachhochsch., Diplomarbeit--Leipzig, 2006.

Ludwig Maximilian Univ., Diplomarbeit--München, 2007.

WirtschaftsUniversiẗat, Masterarbeit--Wien, 2007.

Zugl.: Kaiserslautern, Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2009.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Linz, 1999.

Linz, Universiẗat, Thesis (doctoral), 2002.

Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the challenges related to measuring sustainability within the textile industry. The study concentrates on the industry-specific self-assessment tool Higg Index and strives to point out the challenges of using the tool. In order to find a solution for the measurement problems, the purpose is to investigate how the current, non-financial Higg Index indicators could be translated into financial ones. Method The nature of the research is qualitative and it comprises of two parts: structured interviews and a desk research. Methodological triangulation is used in order to gain data on different levels – both from the users of the Higg Index and from literature. The data collection has been conducted through four structured interviews with the users of the Higg Index. The second part of the thesis is concerned with converting the non-financial indicators of the Higg Index into financial indicators using the balanced scorecard approach. Conclusion Measuring sustainability has been considered difficult due to the qualitative nature of the measured matters. Higg Index has proven to be a comprehensive self-assessment tool for organizations in the textile industry to use. It is considered to enhance communication, increase information sharing, and facilitate benchmarking. However, in order to develop the tool and make it more attractive to non-users, there are opportunities for improvement. These opportunities include adding verification and making the data collection easier. Transforming non-financial indicators of the Higg Index into financial indicators can simplify the data collection and increase the attractiveness of sustainability performance measurement tools.

Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the dominant tool used for mapping human brain function because it is non-invasive, does not use ionizing radiation, and offers relatively high spatial and temporal resolution compared to other neuroimaging techniques. Unfortunately, conventional fMRI techniques cannot map brain function in the inferior temporal cortex (ITC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). These brain regions experience severe magnetic field distortions due to magnetic susceptibility mismatch with the neighboring air-filled ear-canals (ITC) or sinus cavities (OFC), causing loss of the fMRI signal. Functional imaging capability is important for gaining a better understanding of these brain regions and the diseases that commonly affect them (Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy (ITC), Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia (OFC)). Balanced steady state free precession (balanced SSFP) is a relatively new fMRI technique that can measure function in all brain regions. Rather than diffuse signal loss, balanced SSFP images exhibit signal loss in spatially periodic, narrow bands. Banding artifacts cannot be eliminated in a single scan, but the phase of the banding artifacts can be controlled by the experimenter, permitting the combination of two antiphase balanced SSFP images to produce a single image free of banding artifacts. Unfortunately, image-corrupting transient signal oscillations limit the rate at which the banding artifact phase can be modified, such that the banding-artifact-free image acquisition rate is prohibitively slow for most clinical and neuroscience applications. This work describes the development of a modified balanced SSFP fMRI technique, alternating SSFP, which permits rapid, banding-artifact-free balanced SSFP fMRI. Theoretical modeling was used to find a rapid transition between antiphase balanced SSFP images with minimal transient signal oscillations. Monte Carlo simulations were used to optimize alternating SSFP acquisition parameters for BOLD sensitivity, with comparison to established balanced SSFP acquisitions. Rat fMRI was used to confirm these predictions. Finally, the ability of alternating SSFP to provide rapid, banding-artifact-free balanced SSFP fMRI in humans at 4 T was demonstrated.

An incomplete Latin square is a v x v array with an empty n x n subarray with every row and every column containing each symbol at most once and no row or column with an empty cell containing one of the last n symbols. A set of t incomplete mutually orthogonal Latin squares of order v and hole size n is a set of t incomplete Latin squares (containing the same empty subarray on the same set of symbols) with a natural extension to the condition of orthogonality. The existence of such sets have been previously explored only for small values of t. We determine an asymptotic result for the existence of t incomplete mutually orthogonal Latin squares for general t requiring large holes, which we develop from our results on incomplete pairwise balanced designs and incomplete group divisible designs. / Graduate