Climate change is connected to several negative effects on local environments around the globe such as, longer, and more intense droughts, less freshwater supplies, ocean warming, sea level rise, polar ice melting, more intense storms, and rainfall (NASA, 2021).  These problems are mainly due to the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as well as other greenhouse gases (GHG) which cause a similar or stronger climate change effect (WWF, 2021). Practically all climate researchers agree that climate change is caused by human activities (WWF, 2021), as such human activities will have to change to reduce their climate impact. One possible approach to achieve sustainable products is the concept of a circular economy (CE). The proponents of a circular economy describe it as an economic or industrial system which is restorative by its design (EMF, 2010). Currently there is a substantial body of knowledge on how LCA can be used to guide product design in a sustainable direction.  However, as of yet there are limited academic research focused on how environmental assessment can impact the design of Vertical Access Equipment (VAE) and of similar products. This thesis aims to support the VAE sector’s transition towards a CE. The objective of this study was to understand and provide improvement suggestions for the environmental performance and energy use of VAE. This Involved a case study where a LCA was conducted to establish a baseline of four VAE products, a construction hoist, a service lift, an industrial elevator, and a BMU. The results of the initial LCA varied greatly depending on the different products and their use case. Guided by the LCA results, semi-structured workshops were held to find feasible improvement suggestions whose impacts were investigated using LCA once more. Feasible and substantial improvements focusing on the products high impact areas were found for all products. For the construction hoist improvements regarding eliminating waste in the lifting work was most impactful, whilst the service lift required optimizing of maintenance and use of sensors to reduce the maintenance time. For the industrial elevator and the BMU, measures which focused on reducing virgin material extraction showed most promise, such as lifespan extension, remanufacturing, and use of recycled materials. / Mistra REES

<p>Embedding information into a printed image is useful in many aspects, in which reliable channel encoding/decoding systems are crucial due to the information loss and error propagation during transmission. So how to improve the transmission accuracy and control the decoding error rate under a predictable level is always crucial to the channel design.</p><p>The current dissertation aims to discuss the design and performance of a two-dimensional coding method for printed materials – Circular Coding. It is a general two-dimensional coding method that allows data recovery with only a cropped portion of the code, and without the knowledge of the carrier image. While some traditional methods add redundancy bits to extend the length of the original massage length, this method embeds the message into image rows in a repeated and shifted manner with redundancy, then uses the majority votes of the redundant bits for recovery.</p><p>We introduce the encoding and decoding system and investigate the performance of the method for noisy and distorted images. For a given required decoding rate, we model the transmission error and compute the minimum requirement for the number of bit repeats.</p><p>Also, we develop a closed form solution to find the the corresponding cropped-window size that will be used for the encoding and decoding system design.</p><p>Finally, we develop a closed-form formula to predict its decoding success rate in a noisy channel under various transmission noise levels, using probabilistic modeling. The theoretical result is validated with simulations. This result enables the optimal parameter selection in the encoder and decoder system design, and decoding rate prediction with different levels of transmission error.</p><p>We also briefly discuss two other projects: development of print quality troubleshooting tools and text line detection in scanned pages.</p>

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá teoretickými poznatky a návrhem bikónické antény pracující v kmitočtovém rozsahu 4 až 8 GHz. V rámci práce jsou také popsány způsoby impedančního přizpůsobení a vybrané typy polarizátorů elektromagnetických vln a radioprůzračných krytů. Na základě teoretických poznatků je určena koncepce návrhu bikónické antény a vybrán vhodný polarizátor pro zajištění kruhové polarizace vyzařovaných elektromagnetických vln.

El presente estudio aborda el uso de barras de polímero reforzado con fibra de vidrio (GFRP) como reemplazo del acero en una sección circular de concreto armado, con el fin de evitar la corrosión de las barras de refuerzo y así mejorar su durabilidad. El caso de estudio es la sección de un pilote cuadrado convertida en una sección circular equivalente de concreto armado del puerto artesanal de Huacho, provincia de Huaura, departamento de Lima. Se realizó el análisis comparativo del desarrollo del diagrama de interacción para el diseño por flexocompresión y ratio de cuantía requerida de refuerzo transversal para ambos tipos de refuerzo. Asimismo, se desarrolló el diagrama Momento–Curvatura para calcular factores de ductilidad y deformabilidad de ambas secciones. / The present study addresses the use of fiberglass reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars as a replacement for steel in a circular section of reinforced concrete, in order to avoid corrosion of rebar and thus improve its durability. The case study is the section of a square pile converted into an equivalent circular section of reinforced concrete from the Huacho artisanal port, Huaura province, department of Lima. The comparative analysis of the development of the interaction diagram for the flexo-compression design and ratio of the required amount of transversal reinforcement was carried out for the design by cutting by Excel spreadsheets and the Matlab programming software, for both types of reinforcement. Likewise, the relative flexural stiffness at ultimate load level and the ductility of both sections under lateral load were analyzed by obtaining the Moment-Curvature diagram. / Tesis

Circular polarization is valuable for many electromagnetic radiation applications such as wireless and satellite communication, radars, RFID, global positioning systems, etc. Many efforts have been made to manipulate and control polarization by using linear-to-linear or linear-to-circular transmission or reflection polarization converters. Most of the existing linear-to-circular single-layer polarizers have been found to be narrowband. Some attempts have been made to improve the bandwidth of these polarizers including using multiple layered structures at the expense of a bulkier device. There was, however, still a requirement for thin single-layer linear-to-circular polarizers with enhanced bandwidth. The purpose of this research was to design two thin single-layer linear-to-circular polarizers, one for transmission and the other for reflection, with enhanced bandwidth. A thin single-layer linear-to-circular transmission polarizer with a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 34% is presented. The bandwidth of this polarizer is significantly better than that of previously published polarizers of the same type. The unit cell of the polarizer consists of an I-shaped strip and a perpendicular linear strip printed on the one side of a thin dielectric substrate and two additional capacitive coupling strips printed on the other side of the substrate. Experimental results were found to agree well with the simulated results. A thin single-layer reflective linear-to-circular polarizer with a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 57% is also presented. The unit cell of the polarizer consists of an I-shaped strip and a perpendicular linear strip printed on the one side of a substrate and a ground plane on the other side of the substrate. Experimental results for this polarizer were also found to agree well with the simulated results. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Research questions:  How do social media influencers affect fashion purchase intent? How is slow fashion behavior affected by social media influencers?                                 Purpose:                  The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible effects that social media influencers have on slow fashion behavior, in addition to explore the effects of social media influencers on fashion purchase intent. Method:                   This research was conducted through a quantitative study and the data was collected using an online survey. The survey was constructed and distributed in collaboration with a research group at Mälardalen University.  Conclusion:             This study confirms that influencers have the possibility to influence consumers’ behavior and provides initial insight into how their communities can affect consumers. The study concludes that influencers can persuade consumers to purchase fashion products online. However, there is ambiguity into how much influencers affect consumers. The study showed that the relationship between influencers and their communities is not clear, and especially how the two concepts interact in the way they influence consumers to behave more sustainably. Despite the complex relationship, both have the capability to positively and negatively affect consumers’ slow fashion behavior. While consumers may not employ all behaviors favorable in the slow fashion movement, any positive behavior will make a difference.

Orientador: Eduardo Maffud Cilli / Banca: Eduardo Maffud Cilli / Banca: Clovis Ryuichi Nakaie / Banca: Hosana Maria Debonsi Navickiene / Resumo: Este trabalho descreve a sintese, a relacao estrutura-funcao, a interacao com membranas e a atividade biologica de um peptideo proveniente da regiao amino-terminal da proteina Esticolisina II (St II). Esta proteina e uma citolisina pertencente a familia das actinoporinas, obtida da anemona marinha Stichodactyla heliantus. Estudos estruturais e biologicos da proteina nativa indicam que a regiao amino-terminal da St II participa do processo de formacao de poros em membranas. Deste modo, visando compreender o comportamento e a importancia dessa regiao para a atividade biologica da St II, 3 analogos contendo os 30 primeiros residuos que compoem a extremidade amino-terminal da St II foram sintetizados e analisados. Os peptideos foram obtidos mediante sintese em fase solida modificando-se um residuo de leucina ou isoleucina por triptofano nas posicoes 2, 7 ou 24. Os estudos conformacionais foram realizados atraves das tecnicas de fluorescencia e dicroismo circular. Para avaliar o comportamento estrutural dos peptideos em solucao, foram realizados estudos de variacao de pH, forca ionica e titulacao com um agente indutor de estrutura, o trifluoroetanol (TFE). Na interacao com mimeticos de membranas, os peptideos foram titulados por tres tipos de detergentes: dodecil-sulfato de sodio (SDS), HPS (N-hexadecil-N,N-dimetil-3-amonio-1-propano-sulfonato) e LPC (1-palmitoil-2-hidroxi-sn-glicero-3- fosfocolina). Complementando o estudo acima, tambem foram realizados experimentos utilizando acrilamida como agente supressor de fluorescencia. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a estrategia de sintese de peptideos em fase solida atraves do protocolo Fmoc/tBu, utilizada na sintese dos peptideos deste trabalho, foi viavel. O processo de purificacao dos peptideos atraves de HPLC tambem se mostrou eficiente e viabilizou a obtencao do material com alto indice de pureza. / Abstract: In this study, we describe the synthesis, the relation function-structure, the interaction with membranes and the biological activity of the N-terminus region of the protein Sticholysin II (St II). This protein is a citolisin, which belongs to the family of the actinoporins, purified from the sea anemone Stichodactyla heliantus. According to biological and structural studies of the native protein, the N-terminus region of St II is involved on the pore formation process in membranes. In order to elucidate the function and the importance of this region to the biological activity of St II, three analogs containing the first 30 residues of the N-terminus region of St II were synthesized and analyzed. The peptides were obtained by solid phase synthesis and altered through the substitution of a leucine or isoleucine for a tryptophan on the positions 2, 7 and 24. Circular dichroism (CD) and tryptophan fluorescence studies have been carried out to investigate conformational properties of the peptides. In order to evaluate the structural modification on aqueous solution, studies were performed in order to evaluate the pH, ionic strength and addition of the secondary structural-inducing solvent TFE. The interaction studies with micelles were performed using three different surfactants: sodium dodecil-sulfate (SDS), N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammoniumpropanesulfonate (HPS) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and using acrylamide as a fluorescence suppression agent. We have demonstrated that on solid phase peptides synthesis using the Fmoc/tBu strategy is a success. The purification process of peptides through HPLC, has also revealed to be efficient, once the material was obtained with high purity level above 95%. The experiments of hemolytic activity showed that the three peptides have activities in æM concentration, this results reinforce the idea that the 30 residues of the N-terminus region have an important role on pore formation in membranes. / Mestre

Orientador: Alberto José Cavalheiro / Banca: Angela Regina Araujo / Banca: Isabele Rodrigues Nascimento / Banca: Daniel Rinaldo / Banca: Edson Rodrigues Filho / Resumo: Levando em consideração a diversidade química das estirilpironas isoladas de Cryptocarya mandioccana, este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar o mecanismo de fragmentação de 6 dessas substâncias por ESI-MS/MS e por GC-EI-MS e também determinar a configuração absoluta dos centros metínicos hidroxilados e do centro C6 do anel pirônico. Foram isoladas seis estirilpironas polihidroxiladas: desacetilcriptocarialactona (1), criptomoscatona D1 (2), criptomoscatona E2 (3), criptomoscatona E1 (4), criptomoscatona E3 (5) e criptomoscatona F1 (6). As análises por ESI-MS/MS e os cálculos teóricos indicaram que em fase gasosa os sítios de protonação e cationização das estirilpironas ocorrem no oxigênio carbonílico, similarmente aos anéis lactônicos descritos na literatura. O mecanismo de fragmentação proposto para as estirilpironas cationizadas com Na+ é comum a todas, apresentando perda neutra de C10H12O [M+Na148]+ e as substâncias tri-hidroxildas sofreram uma segunda fragmentação com perda neutra de acetaldeído [M+Na14844]+. Nos espectros de massas de íons totais não é observado o íon referente às moléculas protonadas [M+H]+, mas sim o íon [M+HH2O]+ referente à perda de água, portanto uma dissociação na fonte. Assim como para a espécie cationizada, este íon foi submetido à CID e no espectro MS/MS é observado novas eliminações de água referentes as perdas das demais hidroxilas, íons [M+HnH2O]+, e posteriormente abertura do anel pirônico e eliminação de mais uma molécula de água, seguida de CO [M+HnH2OCO]+. A derivação das estirilpironas com MSTFA permitiu analisá-las por CG-MS, porém em quase todos os casos não foi possível detectar o íon molecular. O pico base sempre é referente ao cátion de TMS (m/z 73), comum para substâncias derivadas com este reagente, enquanto que os outros íons fragmentos são resultantes da clivagem homolítica... / Abstract: Taking into account the chemical diversity of styrylpyrones isolated from Cryptocarya mandioccana, this work aimed to study the mechanism of fragmentation of six compounds belonging to this class by means of ESI-MS/MS and GC-EI-MS analysis and also to assign the absolute configuration of hydroxylated methinic centers and that at C6 in the pyrone ring. Six styrylpyrones poli-hydroxilated: desacetilcryptocaryalactone (1), cryptomoscatone D1 (2), cryptomoscatone E2 (3), cryptomoscatone E1 (4), cryptomoscatone E3 (5), e cryptomoscatone F1 (6) were isolated. Analysis by ESI-MS/MS and data from theoretical calculations in gas phase suggest the carbonyl oxygen as protonation and cationization site of the styrylpyrones, which is in accordance to data reported for the lactone rings. The fragmentation mechanism proposed for cationized styrylpyrones with Na+ is common to compounds 1-6, with loss of neutral C10H12O [M+Na148]+. Tri-hydroxylated substances showed a second fragmentation with loss of an acetaldehyde unit [M+Na14844]+. Although it was not possible to observe the protonated molecule ions [M+H]+ in the MS total ion spectrum, the ion [M+HH2O]+ referring to water loss was observed, which indicates in-source dissociation. As for the cationized species, this ion was subjected to CID process and the MS/MS spectrum showed an additional water loss related to a second hydroxyl group, ions [M+HnH2O]+. It was then followed by pyrone ring-opening and eliminations of a water molecule and CO [M+HnH2OCO]+. Derivatization of the styrylpyrones with MSTFA was conducted to allow the analysis by GC-MS. On the mass spectra, in almost all cases, it was not possible to detect the molecular ion, and the base peak was always related to cation TMS (m/z 73). This ion is common for substances derived with this reagent, while the others ions are fragments resulting from the homolytic β cleavage with... / Doutor

Orientador: João Ruggiero Neto / Banca: Amando Siuiti Ito / Banca: Sebastião R. Taboga / Banca: Manoel de Arcísio Miranda Filho / Banca: Marcia Perez dos Santos Cabrera / Resumo: Peptídeos bioativos são de grande interesse como substitutos de antibióticos e quimioterápicos convencionais já que, alguns deles apresentam atividades antimicrobiana, antifúngica e/ou anticâncer. Eles são predominantemente catiônicos e sua atividade tem se mostrado ser modulada por interações eletrostáticas, contribuições hidrofóbicas e por características elásticas da membrana, o seu alvo. O peptídeo mastoparano Polybia MP1 (MP1) possui dois resíduos ácidos (D2 e D8) e três resíduos básicos (K4, K5 and K11), que somados ao C terminal amidado conferem a ele uma carga elétrica líquida relativamente baixa, Q= +2. Nesta tese, foi analisada a importância da sequência de aminoácidos do MP1, da sua carga elétrica líquida e da sua hidrofobicidade média na interação com distintas membranas modelo, já que a presença de resíduos ácidos é rara dentre os peptídeos bioativos e além disto, o MP1 apresenta elevadas atividades antimicrobiana e anticâncer sem ser hemolítico. Para entender a sua especificidade e o seu mecanismo de ação em células bacterianas e de câncer, a atividade e a afinidade do MP1 foi acessada através de espectroscopia de fluorescência e de dicroísmo circular, medidas de potencial eletrocinético e de espalhamento de luz dinâmico e microscopia confocal. Estas técnicas permitiram a observação da estruturação do peptídeo, da sua partição da água para a interface de membranas modelo, da sua atividade lítica e da agregação dos lipossomos devido a sua adição. Assim, foi possível estimar as contribuições energéticas envolvidas no sistema além das dimensões dos danos causados pelo MP1 na superfície da membrana. MP1 mostrou que sua baixa carga elétrica líquida e a presença de dois resíduos ácidos na sua sequência de aminoácidos apresentam um papel importante em modular a sua estruturação e a sua atividade em uma ampla gama de composições lipídicas. Isso é atribuído... / Abstract: Bioactive peptides are of high interest as substitutes of conventional drugs since some of them present antimicrobial, antifungal and/or anticancer action. They are predominantly cationic and it has been shown that their activity is modulated by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic contributions and the elastic features of the membranes their target. The mastoparan peptide Polybia MP1 (MP1) possesses two acidic residues (D2 and D8) and three basic ones (K4, K5 and K11), which together with the amidation of the C-terminal confers to it a relatively low net charge Q=+2. In this thesis, we analyzed the importance of the MP1 amino acid sequence, charge and hidrophobicity to the interaction with distinct model membranes, since the presence of acidic residues is a rare characteristic among the bioactive peptides and, beyond this, MP1 presents high antimicrobial and anticancer activities without being hemolytic. In search of understand its specificity and mechanism of action for bacteria and cancer cells, the activity and affinity of MP1 was assessed through circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, electrophoretic and dynamic light scattering measurements, and confocal microscopy. These techniques allowed the observation of the peptide structuration, the peptide partitioning from water to the model membranes interface, the peptide lytic activity, and the liposome aggregation due to peptide addition. From this, it was possible estimate the energetic contributions involved in the system, besides the dimension of the damages caused by MP1 on the membranes surface. MP1 showed that its low net charge and the presence of two acidic residues play an important role in modulating its structuration and activity in a wide range of lipid compositions, by equilibrating electrostatic and non-electrostatic contributions giving basis to understand its action as bioactive... / Doutor

Orientador: João Ruggiero Neto / Banca: Alexandre Suman de Araujo / Banca: Fernando Luis Barroso da Silva / Resumo: Peptdeos antimicrobianos possuem em geral cadeias curtas, carga líquida positiva devido ao excesso dos res duos b asicos e são ricos em amino acidos hidrof obicos. Possuem um grande potencial farmacológico, com atividade antimicrobiana modulada por interações eletrost aticas e hidrof obicas. Neste trabalho utilizou-se o pept deo sintético L1A (IDGLKAIWKKV ADLLKNT ���� NH2), que devido aos res duos de acido asp artico e lisinas constituintes de sua cadeia, possui carga liquida +3, em pH neutro. Foram analisadas as insuficiências do pH e da carga de ves culas aniônicas na adsorçãao do pept deo. Este estudo utilizou medidas de potencial eletrocin etico de ves culas e experimentos de titulação monitorados por dicro smo circular (CD). A adsorção do L1A a LUVs de POPC e misturas POPC/POPG em diferentes proporções de POPG, foi medida nos pHs 4, 7 e 10. Os espectros de dicro smo circular dos peptídeos, na presença de vesícula, apresentaram caracter sticas de estruturas helicoidais, enquanto apresentaram estruturas desordenadas em tampão. As frações de hélices obtidas são maiores quando o pept deo adsorve em ves culas com maiores quantidades de POPG, indicando forte contribuição eletrost atica. As constantes aparentes de adsorção dos pept deos as membranas modelo foram calculadas atrav es da elipticidade de CD normalizada em 222 nm, obtidas por titulações de pept deo com ves culas. A a - nidade do pept deo a ves culas aniônicas e signi cativamente maior do que a ves culas zwitteriônicas, o que refor ca a import^ancia das interçõeoes eletrost aticas no processo de adsorção do pept deo na bicamada. O efeito conjunto de carga das ves culas e de pH resultaram em signi cativa regulação de carga do pept deo resultando em valores de carga efetiva alta em pH 4,0 devido a protonação dos res duos de asp artico. Em pH 10,0 a pequena carga efetiva calculada deve-se as desprotona ações do N-terminal e das lisinas... / Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides have in general short chains, positive net charge due to the excess of basic residues and are rich in hydrophobic amino acids. They have pharmacological potential as antimicrobial agents and their activity is modulated by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. In this work, we used the synthetic peptide L1A (IDGLKAIWKKV ADLLKNT ���� NH2) that due to its acid and basic residues have an net charge +3, at neutral pH. The e ects of the pH and of the charges of anionic vesicles on the adsorption of L1A were analized. This study used measurement of electrokinetic potential of vesicles and titration experiments monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). Adsorption of L1A to POPC and POPC/POPG LUVs in di erent POPG contents were assessed in the pH 4.0, 7.0 and 10.0. Circular dichroism spectra of the peptides in the presence of vesicles showed to features of helical structures; while random coil structures were observed at bu er for all the used pHs. The helical content was evaluated and showed to increase when the peptide adsorbs into vesicles with increasing amounts of POPG, indicating that there is a strong electrostatic contribution. Partition coe cients were calculated through the normalized CD ellipticities at 222 nm and showed that the a nity of the peptide for anionic model membranes is e ectively higher than those found for zwitterionic ones. It reinforces the importance of the electrostatic contribution to the process of peptide-lipid interaction. The coupled e ect of the vesicle charge and pH lead to signi cant charge regulation of the peptide resulting in high values of e ective charge at pH 4.0 due to the deprotonation of aspartic acid residues. At pH 10.0 the estimated e ective charge is small as a consequence of the deprotonation of both N-terminus and the lysines. The electrostatic and interfatial free energies seems to be additive only at pH 4.0, especially for the bilayers with higher content... / Mestre