ZNF292 is a gene that encodes for a large multifunctional zinc finger protein. ZNF292 has a role in Growth Hormone transcription, developmental disorders on the autism spectrum, and in the initiation of tumorigenesis. Cancer cells have revealed ZNF292 as a gene with unique features: it is present in both linear and circular RNA (circRNA) forms. Circular ZNF292 RNAs vary in size depending on the number of exons that are back-spliced together forming a nested set of babushkas or “Russian dolls” – larger forms add an exon to a smaller circle. To determine whether anti-cancer treatments change the expression of circRNA forms as well as the linear form of ZNF292, we performed quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Primers used were designed to amplify only the specified form of ZNF292, either the linear form or one of four targeted circular forms. Control and flavone (3,5 dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone)-treated cell lines were grown, harvested, and total RNA extracted. Then, samples were analyzed by qRT-PCR with specific ZNF292 primer sets for each product using a standard curve for comparisons. All results were normalized to actin levels in each sample prior to statistical analysis. When compared to untreated controls, two linear ZNF292 RNAs were each reduced to 52% of control levels (p Funded by the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.

The circular dataimage is defined by displaying direction as the color at the same direction in a color wheel composed of a sequence of two-color gradients with color continuity between gradients. The resulting image of circular-spatial data is continuous with high resolution. Examples include ocean wind direction, Earth's main magnetic field, and rocket nozzle internal combustion flow. The cosineogram is defined as the mean cosine of the angle between random components of direction as a function of distance between observation locations. It expresses the spatial correlation of circular-spatial data. A circular kriging solution is developed based on a model fitted to the cosineogram. A method for simulating circular random fields is given based on a transformation of a Gaussian random field. It is adaptable to any continuous probability distribution. Circular random fields were implemented for selected circular probability distributions. An R software package was created with functions and documentation.

A double-change covering design (dccd) is an ordered set of blocks with block size k is an ordered collection of b blocks, B = {B1,B2, · · · ,Bb}, each an unordered subset of k distinct elements from [v] = {1, 2, · · · , v}, which obey: (1) each block differs from the previous block by two elements, and, (2) every unordered pair of [v] appears in at least one block. The object is to minimize b for a fixed v and k. Tight designs are those in which each pair is covered exactly once. We present constructions of tight dccd’s for arbitrary v when k = 2 and minimal constructions for v <= 20 when k = 4. A general, but not minimal, method is presented to construct circular dccd for arbitrary v when k = 4.

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Over the last years, environmental concerns have grown regarding the pressure manufacturing activities exerts on natural resources. Many materials have been classified by the EU as scarce, rare earth elements found in magnets are amongst critical materials with high supply risk. Furthermore, this has led to increasing material costs and disruptions in the supply chain. Efforts towards increased electrification are reliant on these and other critical materials. Electric machines that power a battery electric vehicle (BEV), are vulnerable to this price variations as magnets represent high material costs. Circular business strategies present the opportunity to decouple value generation from resource use, providing a cost effective way to support net zero targets. Legislation is toughening up, increasing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) extended responsibility, which might lead to mandatory product returns that require end of life (EOL) treatment. Therefore, OEMs need a systematic way to explore EOL design strategy combinations, that can quantify the impact of a circular business model, which considers product returns and remanufacturing activities. Thus preparing to meet greener demands from customers, government and society in general. This thesis work focuses on quantifying economic and environmental factors, of circular design strategies, through simulations tools to support EOL decisions at component level. Scania’s electric machine (EM) has been used as a case study for the simulation, collecting expert input from 6 different groups. Anylogic Professional software (8.8.1 version) has been used to set up a model that represents a closed loop supply chain. An optimization experiment has been conducted, to find the cost minimum design strategies for the EM’s parts. It shows redesigning part 1 and one entire module for easy reuse minimizes overall costs. This generates economic and environmental benefits in the form of savings compared to business as usual (linear) scenario; cost savings amount to 17.7%, CO2 equivalent emissions savings to 38.7% (cradle-to-gate), and virgin material saved (from extraction) to 14.7%. The results of this work are intended to provide data supporting circular initiatives, for Scania and potentially other OEMs, for better decision making.

Inspired by the implicit beauty Asian paper could create in interior design (Tanizaki 1977), the cultural and historical value it bears, and its sustainable papermaking process, this research intends to apply Asian paper’s aesthetic and sustainable value in luminaire design. This is an exploratory and project-based study, which includes four steps. The first step investigates different types of Asian paper, their characteristics, and their visual qualities when interacting with light. The second step examines what is available in the market with similar materials in case studies. The third step follows the prototype making with the focus on design for the circular economy. The fourth step concludes the study with an in-depth discussion on sustainability, and in particular, the significance of the application of the circular economy in the lighting industry. The objective is to promote Asian paper as a sustainable material, which is beneficial for creating good light for modern interior lighting design.

The lighting industry has not only approached circularity within production of luminaires but also in contemporary time introduced a model of service that uses circular principles, lighting as a service (LaaS). Lighting as a service offers clients a leasing contract of luminaires including maintenance, upgrades and repairs. The concept is yet new and not very established to suit all fields. This thesis is focused on visual aesthetics and functional factors of lighting as a service in relation to clothing retail spaces. Lighting design has an important role for clothing stores' representation of products and customer’s experience which makes a complex relation between retail lighting design aims and lighting as a service to cohere. Methods used in this thesis includes site-visits to evaluate retail lighting qualities of various stores in Stockholm city, two case studies of earlier documented lighting as a service project that’s evaluated through two separate SWOT-analyzes. This to investigate principles of lighting as a service, visual aesthetics and functional factors and the possibility to practice the service in clothing retail spaces. The result is presented in written form and a 3d model made in the software program DIAlux evo.

Copper is a metal that is commonly found in our society's infrastructure, such as cables and wires. In addressing the climate threat, society is facing a major transition towards electrification and digitization, and here copper plays an essential role. Since copper is a main component in the infrastructure, the demand for copper has increased rapidly due to the electrification of, for example, the automotive industry. Even though copper in the earth’s crust is a scarce resource, it can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing its quality. For this reason, meeting future demand partly through secondary copper production is likely to be important. The aim of this study is to investigate what factors influence the secondary refined copper production levels in nine different countries in Europe. Specifically, the study examines how electricity prices, copper scrap prices, primary production of copper, GDP per capita and cost of labor affect the supply of secondary refined copper. The empirical analysis is based on data from nine European countries and over a period of 21 years, 1998 – 2019, thus adopting a panel data approach. The results from the econometric analyses show that all five variables tend to influence the supply of secondary refined copper, some having a more profound effect than the others. For instance, the findings suggest the presence of a low and negative electricity price elasticity of secondary refined supply, while an increase in the copper scrap price appears to have significant deterring impact on secondary refined copper production.

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Research in developing a Positively Engaged Continuously Variable Transmission (PECVT) has been underway at Brigham Young University for some time. The inherent problems associated with embodiments of this type of transmission, namely the Non-Integer Tooth Problem (NITP), have been identified. This research is focused on the development of a Positively Engaged Piecewise Continuous Transmission (PEPCT), which is a subset of the PECVT. This document describes the hypothesis and analysis of using non-circular gearsets to overcome the NITP. This proposed solution enables a varying angular output from a constant angular input. In this research two analytical methods were evaluated based on their theory, mathematics and simulated results. Haupt's concept is shown to have discrepancies between the theorized and mathematical results which produce a gearset that has velocity spikes in its output. The second method, proposed by Danieli, describes the behavior on an infinitesimal level and the theorized results match up with the mathematical result. As a result of the analysis, Danieli's method is declared to produce a varying output from a constant input. The method requires only the definition of an input function that defines the shape of the pitch line similar to the pitch circle for circular gears. Using this function an infinitesimal approach is used to describe the interaction of consecutive contact points on the tooth profiles. This interaction takes into consideration adapted principles that are derived from the Fundamental Law of Gearing and the Law of Conjugate Action. With these principles defined it is possible to design gearsets that are capable of producing a varying angular output from a constant angular input. With the validation of the second method, and the principles defined by which it is governed, the proposed gearset is achievable allowing a PEPCT to be conceived. The proposed transmission utilizes the non-circular gearset to accelerate a secondary shaft to the next desired ratio while maintaining constant engagement. This concept is then analyzed and recommendations are made for the development of a Positively Engaged Continuously Variable Transmission.