Recombinant DNA technology has been commonly used in a number of fields to synthesize new products or generate products with a new pathway. Conventional cloning methods are expensive and require significant time and labor; λ-PCR, a new cloning method developed in the Senger lab, has a number of advantages compared to other cloning processes due to its employment of relatively inexpensive and widely available materials and time-efficiency. While the amount of lab work required for the cloning process is minimal, the importance of accurate primer design cannot be overstated. The target of this study was to create an effective procedure for λ-PCR primer design that ensures accurate cloning reactions. Additionally, synthetic ribosome binding sites (RBS) were included in the primer designs to test heterologous protein expression of the cyan fluorescent reporter with different RBS strengths. These RBS sequences were designed with an online tool, the RBS Calculator. A chimeric primer design procedure for λ-PCR was developed and shown to effectively create primers used for accurate cloning with λ-PCR; this method was used to design primers for CFP cloning in addition to two enzymes cloned in the Senger lab. A total of five strains of BL21(DE3) with pET28a + CFP were constructed, each with the same cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) reporter but different RBS sequences located directly upstream of the start codon of the CFP gene. Expression of the protein was measured using both whole-cell and cell-free systems to determine which system yields higher protein concentrations. A number of other factors were tested to optimize conditions for high protein expression, including: induction time, IPTG concentration, temperature, and media (for the cell-free experiments only). Additionally, expression for each synthetic RBS sequence was investigated to determine an accurate method for predicting protein translation. NUPACK and the Salis Lab RBS Calculator were both used to evaluate the effects of these different synthetic RBS sequences. The results of the plate reader experiments with the 5 CFP strains revealed a number of factors to be statistically significant when predicting protein expression, including: IPTG concentration, induction time, and in the cell-free experiments, type of media. The whole-cell system consistently produced higher amounts of protein than the cell-free system. Lastly, contrasts between the CFP strains showed each strain's performance did not match the predictions from the RBS Calculator. Consequently, a new method for improving protein expression with synthetic RBS sequences was developed using relationships between Gibbs free energy of the RBS-rRNA complex and expression levels obtained through experimentation. Additionally, secondary structure present at the RBS in the mRNA transcript was modeled with strain expression since these structures cause deviations in the relationship between Gibbs free energy of the mRNA-rRNA complex and CFP expression. / Master of Science / Recombinant DNA technology has been used to genetically enhance organisms to produce greater amounts of a product already made by the organism or to make an organism synthesize a new product. Genes are commonly modified in organisms using cloning practices which typically involves inserting a target gene into a plasmid and transforming the plasmid into the organism of interest. A new cloning process developed in the Senger lab, λ-PCR, improves the cloning process compared to other methods due to its use of relatively inexpensive materials and high efficiency. A primary goal of this study was to develop a procedure for λ-PCR primer design that allows for accurate use of the cloning method. Additionally, this study investigated the use of synthetic ribosome binding sites to control and improve expression of proteins cloned into an organism. Ribosome binding sites are sequences located upstream of the gene that increase the molecule’s affinity for the rRNA sequence on the ribosome, bind to the ribosome just upstream of the beginning of the gene, and initiate expression of the gene. Tools have been developed that create synthetic ribosome binding sites designed to produce specific amounts of protein. For example, the tools can increase or decrease expression of a gene depending on the application. These tools, the Salis Lab RBS Calculator and NUPACK, were used to design and evaluate the effects of the synthetic ribosome binding sites. Additionally, a new method was created to design synthetic ribosome binding sites since the methods used during the design process yielded inaccuracies. Each strain of E. coli contained the same gene, a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), but had different RBS sequences located upstream of the gene. Expression of CFP was controlled via induction, meaning the addition of a particular molecule, IPTG in this system, triggered expression of CFP. Each of the CFP strains were tested with a variety of v conditions in order to find the conditions most suitable for protein expression; the variables tested include: induction time, IPTG (inducer) concentration, and temperature. Media was also tested for the cell-free systems, meaning the strains were grown overnight for 18 hours and lysed, a process where the cell membrane is broken in order to utilize the cell’s components for protein expression; the cell lysate was resuspended in new media for the experiments. ANOVA and multiple linear regression revealed IPTG concentration, induction time, and media to be significant factors impacting protein expression. This analysis also showed each CFP strain did not perform as the RBS Calculator predicted. Modeling each strain’s CFP expression using the RBS-rRNA binding strengths and secondary structures present in the RBS allowed for the creation of a new model for predicting and designing RBS sequences.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) är ett aktuellt ämne som syftar till att företag ska ta ett större samhällsansvar, både ur ett ekonomiskt, miljömässigt och socialt perspektiv. Den globalisering som råder i världen påverkar inte bara ett internt företagsklimat, det ger även effekter på omgivande samhälle och individer, vilket tillsammans med sociala påtryckningar skapar ett behov av CSR. Ansvaret till samhället innebär inte bara ekonomiska och lagliga aspekter, dock ska ett etiskt och filantropiskt perspektiv också antas. Idag är CSR ett frivilligt åtagande och för att kunna motivera företag till ett större ansvarstagande för sitt agerande ämnar denna studie att undersöka, ur ett nordiskt sammanhang, om ett företags hållbarhetsarbete genererar lönsamhet. Studien utgår från nordiska börsnoterade företag som ingår i Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). Indexet representeras av de bäst presterande hållbarhetsföretagen i världen som kvalificerat sig till att ingå. Genom en deduktiv kvantitativ metod studeras sambandet mellan CSR och lönsamhet för att förklara vilken effekt variabeln Corporate Social Performance (CSP) har på variabeln Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) under tidsperioden 2010-20162010–2016. Fortsättningsvis undersöks skillnaden i lönsamhet mellan företag som inkluderats i DJSI och matchade likartade nordiska företag som inte ingår i indexet. Undersökningen baseras på sekundärkällor ur ett naturvetenskapligt perspektiv. Studien erhåller ett resultat som påvisar att företag som ingår i hållbarhetsindexet tenderar att vara mer lönsamma än företag som inte ingår genom att redovisningsbaserade mått, bruttomarginal och avkastning på totalt kapital (ROA), har applicerats. Studiens slutsats blir att CSR-arbete kan öka lönsamheten i nordiska företag genom att bli inkluderade i DJSI, studien visar dock att placeringen i indexet inte har någon betydelse. Därav blir studiens bidrag att motivera företag till ett större åtagande av hållbarhetsarbete eftersom CSR kan generera högre lönsamhet. / Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a current topic which aims to encourage companies to be more responsible as an societal actor, both from an economic, environmental and social perspective. The consequences of the globalization may not only affect the internal business environment, it will also affect the surrounding society and individuals, which together creates a demand for CSR. As a societal actor, companies needs to include ethical and philanthropic responsibilities, and not only take economic and legal aspects into consideration. Currently, CSR is a voluntary commitment and to motivate companies to embrace the responsibility for the society, this study aims to investigate, from a Nordic context, whether companies’ sustainability work generates profitability.   The study is based on Nordic listed companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World (DJSI), which is an index where the top performing sustainability companies can qualify for an inclusion. The correlation between CSR and profitability will be studied through a deductive quantitative method to explain what impact Corporate Social Performance (CSP) has on Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) during the years between 2010-2016. Furthermore, the differences in profitability between companies included in DJSI matched Nordic companies that are not included in the index will be investigated. From a scientific perspective, the survey is based on secondary sources. The results of the study indicates that companies included in the sustainability index tend to have an improved profitability than companies that are not included. This by applying the accounting-based measures gross margin and return on assets (ROA). The conclusion of the study is that CSR can improve profitability among the Nordic companies by an inclusion in DJSI, but the study shows that the placement in the index does not have an impact. Hence, the contribution of this study is to motivate companies to a greater commitment to sustainability because CSR can generate improved profitability.

Syfte: Ett växande intresse för CSR och dess betydelse lyfter fram rollen av bolagsstyrning. Bland annat ifrågasattes styrelsens roll i att utveckla strategier och uppfylla krav från diverse intressentgrupper. Frågan om finansiell prestation, eller tillgängligheten av finansiella resurser, kan påverka förhållandet mellan CSR och styrelseegenskaper har sällan undersökts tidigare. Syftet med denna studie är därmed uppdelat i två frågeställningar; den första delen undersöker hur styrelseegenskaperna påverkar CSR. Vidare behandlar den andra delen potentiella modererande effekter av finansiell prestation på förhållandet. Metod: Studien utgår från en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi och en tvärsnittsforskning som bygger på en kvantitativ strategi. Data inhämtades via Refinitiv Eikon om 433 börsnoterade nordiska bolag för året 2021. Behandling och analys av data genomfördes via SPSS; ett statistiskt mjukvaruprogram. Resultat & slutsats: Resultaten tyder på positiva och statistiskt signifikanta effekter av styrelsens storlek, andelen kvinnor i styrelsen respektive andelen oberoende styrelseledamöter på CSR. Likaså fanns ett positivt samband mellan CSR och finansiell prestation samt att påverkan av styrelsestorleken på CSR positivt stärks av finansiell prestation. Däremot indikeras att påverkan av andelen kvinnor i styrelsen respektive andelen oberoende styrelseledamöter på CSR försvagas av finansiell prestation.  Examensarbetets bidrag: Studiens resultat har praktiska och teoretiska bidrag. Studiens teoretiska bidrag avser resultatens tillägg i den nuvarande forskningen om förhållandet mellan CSR och styrelsen. Studiens empiriska resultat kan därmed användas för att bättre förstå hur styrelsesammansättningen kan uppmuntra ansvarsfullt beteende. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Genom studiens resultat har vi kunnat föreslå tre ytterligare frågor för fortsatt undersökning. Den första frågan föreslår att VD:ns personlighet, engagemang och värderingar kan vara en närmare indikator på hur VD-dualitet kan påverka CSR. För det andra, föreslås vidare behandling av företagsbeteende mot CSR under olika ekonomiska förhållanden. Slutligen, har tidigare studier föreslagit vidare undersökning av interaktionseffekterna av styrelsens beståndsdelar för närmare indikation av en effektiv styrelsesammansättning. Syftet är att undersöka den gemensamma effekten av styrelsesammansättningen på CSR, till skillnad från att se hur enskilda egenskaper påverkar CSR. / Aim: The growing interest in corporate social responsibility and discussions of its importance inquired the role of corporate governance by numerous researchers. Specifically, the board has been highlighted as a pilar to developing strategies and maintaining the goals of diverse stakeholders. The role of financial performance, or the availability of slack financial resources, is a question rarely posed in its effects on the relation between the previously mentioned variables. The objective of this study is thereby divided into two inquiries; the first part investigates the effects of board characteristics on CSR, whereas the second part explores potential moderation effects of financial performance on the relationship.  Method: This study employs a positivistic research philosophy and cross-sectional research design based on a quantitative strategy. Data was collected through Refinitiv Eikon on 433 Nordic public firms for the year 2021. Processing and analysis of data was conducted through a statistical software program, SPSS.   Results & conclusions: Our findings suggest positive and statistically significant effects of board size, proportion of female board members and proportion of independent board members on CSR, respectively. Likewise, we find that financial performance has a positive effect on CSR and positively accentuates the effects of board size on CSR. Meaning that, higher financial performances positively influence firms’ level of CSP and accentuate the effects of board size on CSR. However, the effects of the proportion of female board members and proportion of independent board members are respectively weakened by firms’ financial performance. Contribution of the thesis: The findings of this study have practical and theoretical contributions. Theoretical contributions refer to our additions to the current research bank by providing more evidence on the effects of board characteristics on CSR. Practical contributions regard the empirical results given the limitations of the study, which can aid in understanding how specific board structures can encourage socially responsible behavior.  Suggestions for future research: Findings of the study inquired the role of three additional topics in relation to CSR. First, our insignificant results for CEO-duality is an additional indication to instead investigate the role of CEOs’ personalities and their engagement toward CSR-related questions, especially in institutional settings with coercive standards for socially responsible behaviors. Second, differences between fostering and declining economical/market conditions may result in re-prioritizations of goals and reformulations of CSR-strategies. Thereby inquiring if economic conditions may be a moderating factor in the relationship between CSR and financial performance. Third, researchers have suggested further investigation on the interaction effects between board characteristics due to their influence on one-and-another.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The causative agent of human tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an intracellular pathogen that secretes virulence factors, namely ESAT-6 and CFP-10, as substrates of the ESX-1 secretion system. It is hypothesised that these substrates interact with host proteins in a targeted manner in order to elicit a required immune response, and they have been shown to be involved in processes related to pro-inflammatory responses, necrosis, apoptosis, membrane lysis and cytolysis. However, the biological function of ESX-1 substrates during host-pathogen interactions remains poorly and incompletely understood. Therefore, the present study was designed to gain insight into the role of the ESX-1 secretion system substrates in host-pathogen interactions and to identify how M. tuberculosis mediates the response of the human host. In this study, a cDNA yeast two-hybrid library was constructed from human lung mRNA, to identify mycobacterial-host protein-protein interactions that occur within the lung alveoli. The ESX-1 secretion system substrates, ESAT-6 and CFP-10, were cloned in-frame into the pGBKT7 vector, which was used in the yeast two-hybrid system to screen the lung cDNA library in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ESAT-6 and CFP-10 screens identified 79 and 19 positive colonies, respectively. Of the total number of clones characterised, only two in-frame inserts were identified with the ESAT-6 screen, corresponding to the human proteins filamin A and complement component 1, q subcomponent, A chain (C1QA). In addition, the screen with CFP-10 also identified C1QA as binding partner. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments were unable to confirm the putative interactions of C1QA with ESAT-6 and CFP-10. However, the interaction between filamin A and ESAT-6 was demonstrated and confirmed by both in vivo co-localisation and co-immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, the degradation of filamin A in the presence of ESAT-6 was shown to be reflective of cytoskeleton remodelling and the induction of cell death. The work presented here suggests that as ESAT-6 gains access to the cytosol, it initiates cell death by inducing destabilisation of the cytoskeleton cell structure. This may possibly be driven by the interaction of ESAT-6 and filamin A. Finally, we also initiated an investigation of the identified putative binding partners (filamin A and C1QA) as possible genetic markers for genetic susceptibility studies to tuberculosis. A case-control analysis was performed involving 604 cases, of which 109 were Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM), and 486 were controls from the South African Coloured (SAC) population within the Ravensmead-Uitsig catchment area. The results of this analysis demonstrated a novel association of a regulatory variant (rs587585) located upstream of the C1QA gene and demonstrated an increasing trend towards increased values in tuberculosis patients with the associated genotype. This study has contributed significantly to our understanding of human-mycobacterial hostpathogen protein-protein interactions and has opened the way for future studies further exploring the consequences and function of the identified ESAT-6-filamin A interaction. It has also led to the identification of a novel genetic association with tuberculosis. Finally, it demonstrates the usefulness of the yeast two-hybrid system to identify potential proteinprotein (host-pathogen) interactions that can lead to additional important and exciting research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die organisme wat tuberkulose veroorsaak, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is `n intrasellulȇre patogeen wat virulensie faktore afskei, naamlik ESAT-6 en CFP-10, as substrate van die ESX-1 sekresiesisteem. Daar word vermoed dat hierdie substrate met gasheerproteïene in „n teiken wyse interaksie het om `n vereiste immuunreaksie voort te bring. Hierdie substrate is betrokke by prosesse soos pro-inflammatoriese reaksies, nekrose, apoptose, membraanlise en sitolise. Die biologiese funksie van die ESX-1 substrate tydens gasheer-patogeen interaksies word egter tans swak en onvolledig verstaan. Daarom was die huidige studie ontwerp om insig te bekom oor die rol hiervan in gasheer-patogeen interaksies en om te identifiseer hoe M. tuberculosis die reaksie teenoor die gasheer bemiddel. In hierdie studie was `n komplementȇre deoksiribonukleïensuur (kDNS) gis twee-hibried biblioteek gemaak vanaf long boodskapper ribonukleïensuur (bRNS) om proteïen-proteïen interaksies wat in die long plaasvind, te identifiseer. Die substrate van die ESX-1 sekresiesisteem, ESAT-6 en CFP-10, is in volgorde gekloneer in die pGBKT7 vektor en is gebruik om die long kDNS biblioteek in Saccharomyces cerevisiae te ondersoek. In die soeke na interaksies met ESAT-6 and CFP-10, was 79 en 19 positiewe kolonies onderskeidelik geïdentifiseer. Van die aantal klone, was slegs twee volgordes in-leesraam geïdentifiseer met ESAT-6. Hierdie proteïene het ooreengestem met filamin A en “complement component 1, q subcomponent, A chain” (C1QA). Bykomend hiertoe, is C1QA ook geïdentifiseer as „n bindende vennoot met CFP-10. Daaropvolgende in vitro and in vivo eksperimente kon nie die vermeende interaksie van C1QA met ESAT-6 en CFP-10 bevestig nie. Maar die interaksie tussen filamin A en ESAT-6 kon wel gedemonstreer word deur die gebruik van mede-lokalisering en medeimunopresipitasie. Die afbreek van filamin A in die teenwoordigheid van ESAT-6 is ook aangetoon en blyk „n weerspieëling te wees van sitoskelet hermodellering en die induksie van seldood. Die werk wat hier aangebied word, dui daarop dat soos ESAT-6 toegang kry tot die sitosol, inisieër dit seldood deur die destabilisaisie van die sitoskelet selstruktuur. Dit word moontlik aangedryf deur die interaksie van ESAT-6 met filamin A. Laastens het ons `n ondersoek van die geïdentifiseerde bindingsvennote (filamin A and C1QA) as moontlike genetiese merkers vir genetiese vatbaarheidsstudies vir tuberkulose uitgevoer. `n Pasiënt-kontrole studie is gedoen waarby 604 individue ingesluit is, waarvan 109 gediagnoseer is met Tuberculosis Meningitis (TBM), en die ander 486 kontrole individue was van die Suid Afrikaanse Kleurling (SAC) bevolking binne die Ravenmead-Uitsig opvanggebied. Die resultate het „n nuwe assosiasie van „n regulerende variant (rs587585) wat stroomop van die C1QA geen gelokaliseer is, getoon. Hierdie variant het `n verhoogde neiging in tuberkulose pasiënte met die geassosieërde genotipe getoon. Hierdie studie het `n beduidende bydrae gemaak tot ons begrip van menslike-mikobakteriese gasheer-patogeen proteïen-proteïen interaksies. Hierdie resultate het die weg oopgemaak om die gevolge en funksie van die geïdentifiseerde ESAT-6-filamin A interaksie verder te ondersoek. Dit het ook aanleiding gegee tot die identifikasie van `n genetiese assosiasie met tuberkulose. Om saam te vat, hierdie werk bewys die bruikbaarheid van die gis twee-hibriede sisteem, om potensiële proteïen-proteïen interaksies te ontdek wat die moontlikheid het om aanleiding te gee tot addisionele navorsingsvrae. / The National Research Foundation, / Harry Crossley Foundation / Medical Research Council of South Africa / Stellenbosch University Postgraduate bursary / Prof. Paul van Helden

<p>The study begins with a historical background over the fisheries development in North America and in the Baltic Sea area in Finland and Sweden. As we can see the fisheries development depends on the interaction between ecology, state of production, politic and also social factors. In Sweden the fishery politic has changed over the period of the study. In the 1970: s the main politic focus was on the fisheries progress, expansion and rationalization. The State in Sweden took a vast part in this development and gave economic support. In the 1980: s the fishery politic in Sweden started to change and the environmental politics began to enter the fishery politic. The environmental problems in the Baltic Sea were given attention and it was a great anxiety over the eutrophication. In the 1980: s the codpopulation declined and with them the catches declined. The conflict over the White zone 1978-1988 between Former Soviet Union and Sweden resulted in a plunder fishery in the area east of Bornholm. This plunder fishery effected the cod population enormous and the effect has continued to the late 1990: s. </p><p>In 1995 Sweden joined the European Union and the common fishery politic replaced the Swedish fishery politic. </p><p>The system with TAC (Total Allowable Catch) is central in the common politic and it is used to control the cod catches. But the problem is that the TAC -volume has been higher than the codpopulation could stand. Despite the politic goal in Sweden and EU to preserve the codpopulation in the Baltic Sea, the codpopulation has continued to decline. The reason to this politic failure is that the limit of the ecology has been overseen. Instead, the economic and social values have been dominating the politic and together with a to weak control of the catches and environmental problems in the Baltic Sea, the situation for the cod has been devastating.</p>

企業社會績效(Corporate Social Performance; CSP)和企業財務績效(Corporate Financial Performance; CFP)的關聯性是近年來在學術界最常被討論的一個議題，從企業經營的觀點，到底企業進行企業社會責任(Corporate Social Responsibility; CSR)所表現出來的企業社會績效能不能帶動企業財務績效的提升最後創造企業價值(Firm Value; FV)，則是許多企業經營者所關心的。本文試圖研究企業社會績效和企業價值的關聯，希望藉由全盤的分析，從企業社會績效對企業財務績效的因果關係，和企業社會績效透過何種管道提升企業價值，以及企業到底該如何看待企業社會責任這幾個面向，去探討企業社會績效和企業價值的關係。希望能夠將學理上的理論和實務面的思考進行結合。 　　本研究利用Tobin’ q拆解的方式分析可能的假說，接著採取迴歸模型進行實證分析，之後進一步利用兩階段迴歸模型排除可能的內生性問題，最後得到以下的實證結果：企業社會績效能夠提升企業財務績效最後創造企業價值，而企業社會責任是一種策略性的思維，是一種價值維護甚至是創造的手段，財務績效好的公司會更有能耐去利用企業社會責任做為差異化的策略。從以上發現，本研究實證結果支持企業社會責任對於企業經營與企業價值創造有正面的效益，換言之，企業社會績效的提升對企業價值的創造是正面的。 / The relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) is the most popular issue for the past few years. From the perspective of business administration, there is always a question aroused. “As a company investment, is it really make sense to invest corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to increase the CSP?” In other words, is higher CSP really means higher CFP and creating more firm value? This is the central question that all the business manager will like to know. This is the topic that this research paper wants to study. Besides, this research paper not only try to understand the linkage between CSP and CFP but also try to clarify how CSP affect CFP and create firm value. 　　The methodology be used in this study is the decomposition of Tobin’s q and two-stage regression in order to avoid potential endogenous problem. After several empirical tests for the potential hypothesis, the empirical evidence shows that a higher CSP can increase CFP and create firm value in the end. Furthermore, the investment of CSR is a strategic thinking for company to preserve their firm value and create new value of the firm. The linkage between CSP and firm value is positive and should be consider as a strategy for company who want value creation.

Orientador: Carlos Alberto Canesin / Resumo: Uma das principais dificuldades para a adoção dos veículos elétricos (VE) é o tempo de abastecimento (carregamento elétrico), considerado elevado quando comparado com o tempo requerido para abastecer um veículo com motor a combustão interna. O carregamento do VE típico de passageiros é geralmente realizado na residência do proprietário, ligando o carregador interno do VE em uma tomada convencional monofásica. Este método de carregamento é conhecido como de Corrente Alternada (CA), requer, tipicamente pelo menos 7 horas para fornecer uma carga completa. Por outro lado, o método de carregamento por Corrente Continua (CC) oferece tempos de carregamento entre 10 e 80 minutos. Contudo, para obter este nível de desempenho, são empregados carregadores externos de alta potência ligados de forma direta ao banco de baterias do VE. Devido ao custo e aos requerimentos de alimentação, estes carregadores rápidos são usados principalmente em aplicações públicas e comerciais. As pesquisas pelas melhores topologias a serem empregadas nos carregadores rápidos ainda são, neste ano de 2017 objeto de estudos em escala mundial. Neste contexto, este trabalho descreve a análise e implementação de um protótipo de carregador externo rápido para VE, o qual é composto por um retificador híbrido trifásico com correção ativa do fator de potência (Etapa CA-CC), seguido de um conversor tipo Buck entrelaçado (Etapa CC-CC). Na etapa CA-CC são impostas correntes de entrada senoidais, obtendo desta forma uma r... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Submitted by CAMILO ALEXEY SUAREZ BUITRAGO null (camiloalexey@gmail.com) on 2017-05-05T23:51:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILO ALEXEY SUAREZ BUITRAGO.pdf: 4865572 bytes, checksum: e8593c9e425def26a441b4b919b9d371 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-08T16:36:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 suarezbuitrago_ca_me_ilha.pdf: 4865572 bytes, checksum: e8593c9e425def26a441b4b919b9d371 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-08T16:36:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 suarezbuitrago_ca_me_ilha.pdf: 4865572 bytes, checksum: e8593c9e425def26a441b4b919b9d371 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Uma das principais dificuldades para a adoção dos veículos elétricos (VE) é o tempo de abastecimento (carregamento elétrico), considerado elevado quando comparado com o tempo requerido para abastecer um veículo com motor a combustão interna. O carregamento do VE típico de passageiros é geralmente realizado na residência do proprietário, ligando o carregador interno do VE em uma tomada convencional monofásica. Este método de carregamento é conhecido como de Corrente Alternada (CA), requer, tipicamente pelo menos 7 horas para fornecer uma carga completa. Por outro lado, o método de carregamento por Corrente Continua (CC) oferece tempos de carregamento entre 10 e 80 minutos. Contudo, para obter este nível de desempenho, são empregados carregadores externos de alta potência ligados de forma direta ao banco de baterias do VE. Devido ao custo e aos requerimentos de alimentação, estes carregadores rápidos são usados principalmente em aplicações públicas e comerciais. As pesquisas pelas melhores topologias a serem empregadas nos carregadores rápidos ainda são, neste ano de 2017 objeto de estudos em escala mundial. Neste contexto, este trabalho descreve a análise e implementação de um protótipo de carregador externo rápido para VE, o qual é composto por um retificador híbrido trifásico com correção ativa do fator de potência (Etapa CA-CC), seguido de um conversor tipo Buck entrelaçado (Etapa CC-CC). Na etapa CA-CC são impostas correntes de entrada senoidais, obtendo desta forma uma reduzida distorção harmônica total (DHT). Nesta etapa são empregados retificadores SEPIC comutados sob corrente nula (Zero Current Switching, ZCS) controlados por uma simples modulação por histerese, em paralelo com um retificador trifásico a diodos de seis pulsos. O estágio SEPIC processa apenas uma fração da potência total entregue pelo retificador híbrido, reduzindo deste modo os esforços de corrente dos semicondutores empregados, permitindo o uso desta topologia em elevados níveis de potência. Na etapa CC-CC o conversor Buck entrelaçado é controlado por modulação de largura de pulso (Pulse-Width Modulation, PWM), permitindo assim a implantação da técnica de carregamento por corrente constante e tensão constante (Constant Current-Constant Voltage, CC-CV), comumente empregada em baterias de íons de lítio e supercapacitores (SC). Como principal resultado foi obtido o carregamento de um banco de supercapacitores de 2,54 F, com corrente constante de 20 A, variando sua tensão de 180 V a 270 V com uma duração de 40 s, obtendo uma distorção harmônica total de 3,52% na corrente de entrada, ajustando-se ao padrão IEEE 2030.1.1-2015. / One of the main barriers against electric vehicle (EV) adoption is related to the battery recharging time, which is relatively high when compared to the time required to fill up a gasoline/diesel internal combustion engine vehicle. EV charging generally is done at home, using the on-board EV charger tied to conventional single phase power inlet, this charging method is known as Alternating Current (AC) and takes at least 7 hours to provide a full charge. On the other hand, the Direct Current (DC) method offers charging times from 1.2 hours to 10 minutes. However, to reach this performance, high power off-board chargers also known as fast-chargers (FC), directly charge the EV battery bank. Due to its cost and power supply requirements FC are used only in public or commercial applications. The researches for the best FC topologies are an active area of studies over the world. This work describes the analysis and implementation of an off-board electric vehicle (EV) Fast Charger prototype. It is composed by a three-phase hybrid rectifier with power factor correction (AC/DC stage), followed by an interleaved buck converter (DC/DC stage). At AC/DC stage, sinusoidal input phase currents are imposed, and consequently low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is obtained by the use of Zero Current Switching (ZCS) SEPIC rectifiers, applying a simple hysteresis control technique, in parallel with a conventional three-phase six pulses diode rectifier. The SEPIC converters manage only a fraction of the total power delivered by the hybrid rectifier, reducing the semiconductors current stresses, and allowing the use of this topology for high power levels. At DC/DC stage, the interleaved buck converter is controlled by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), allowing Constant Current–Constant Voltage (CC-CV) charging technique, typically used for Lithium-ion (Li) batteries and Supercapacitors (SC). As main result of this implementation was obtained a charging process using constant a constant current of 20A over a supercapacitor bank of 2,54 F, raising its voltage from 180V to 270V in less than 40s, having a input phase current THD of 3,52%, fulfilling the requirements of IEEE 2030.1.1-2015 standard.

The study begins with a historical background over the fisheries development in North America and in the Baltic Sea area in Finland and Sweden. As we can see the fisheries development depends on the interaction between ecology, state of production, politic and also social factors. In Sweden the fishery politic has changed over the period of the study. In the 1970: s the main politic focus was on the fisheries progress, expansion and rationalization. The State in Sweden took a vast part in this development and gave economic support. In the 1980: s the fishery politic in Sweden started to change and the environmental politics began to enter the fishery politic. The environmental problems in the Baltic Sea were given attention and it was a great anxiety over the eutrophication. In the 1980: s the codpopulation declined and with them the catches declined. The conflict over the White zone 1978-1988 between Former Soviet Union and Sweden resulted in a plunder fishery in the area east of Bornholm. This plunder fishery effected the cod population enormous and the effect has continued to the late 1990: s. In 1995 Sweden joined the European Union and the common fishery politic replaced the Swedish fishery politic. The system with TAC (Total Allowable Catch) is central in the common politic and it is used to control the cod catches. But the problem is that the TAC -volume has been higher than the codpopulation could stand. Despite the politic goal in Sweden and EU to preserve the codpopulation in the Baltic Sea, the codpopulation has continued to decline. The reason to this politic failure is that the limit of the ecology has been overseen. Instead, the economic and social values have been dominating the politic and together with a to weak control of the catches and environmental problems in the Baltic Sea, the situation for the cod has been devastating.

Sustainable business has become highly sought after today by stakeholders, which explains the importance of CSR for companies. Companies are required to work sustainably in order to legitimize themselves both in the market and society. This can be done by fulfilling and satisfying the economic, environmental and sustainable, as well as the social frameworks that exist in business society. Despite CSR's central role in companies, researchers have differentiated meanings on whether CSR initiatives really improve corporate profitability in terms of financial performance, and whether it has a positive relationship with corporate value. Regarding this, the report examines CSR's relationship to CFP and company value, through the profitability measures ROA and ROE, as well as the valuation measures market value and P/E ratio. A quantitative method has been applied to examine the companies published on Dagens Industri's sustainability index for the year 2021. Dagens Industri's list includes the largest listed companies in the GICS categories on the Swedish stock market exchange. The study uses regression analysis as a choice of statistical analysis method to examine the variables relationships. From the regressions, a small part of the result showed a weak negative relationship between CSR and ROA. The regressions otherwise mainly showed a non-significant relationship between CSR and a company's profitability and value. The variables do not have a significant relationship with each other, and a neutral relationship between them can thus be demonstrated. The existing research gap is therefore still ambiguous, hence the room for further future studies in the field.