With sustainability means taking responsibility for the reality that you live and operate in. The concept sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Elkington, 1999, p, 55). Sustainable reporting means to extend the ordinary financial reporting to include both the environmental and social/ethical impacts that the organisation have, so called triple bottom line. We are in our essay discussing the element of sustainability reporting and how to perform one. Today there are an increased pressure from stakeholders on companies to express their values and ethical responsibility. This forces the organisations to extend their ordinary financial reporting to include environmental and social impacts that their operations have. We have in our essay looked at the global ethical guidelines for sustainability reporting, the Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative and from these tried to examine how companies can establish a sustainability report. Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative are two voluntary codes that companies can draw inspire from when creating a sustainability report. Our purpose with this essay is to examine the concept of sustainability reporting on the basis of observing three financial institutions and their sustainability reports. We have chosen to look at the three different banks, Rabobank Group, the Co-operative Financial Services and Swedbank, to compare how they have constructed their sustainability reports, and to see how they have drawn inspiration from the Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative. The investigation is of a qualitative approach where the examined source is the companies’ sustainability reports. The reports have been analyzed and from the analysis have conclusions been drawn to try and interpret how the companies have acted towards the guidelines. Mainly we have been looking at the organisations and the existing balance between the economical, social and environmental aspects. Further we have also been looking at the organisational structure and the management’s attitude towards Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, and the progress to implement it within the organisations. Finally we have tried to observe the relationship between the organisations and stakeholders and the transparency in communicating about the measures being taken. We have come to the conclusion that both Rabobank and Co-operative Financial Services, CFS, have a more developed sustainability report compared to Swedbank. We believe the reason why can be found in many different aspects, since there is not just one component that makes a sustainability report. Both Rabobank and CFS are co-operative organisations that are being owned and controlled by its members, compared to Swedbank who is a public company that have obligations towards its shareholders. The managements’ attitude towards sustainability also has an effect of the outcome of the reports as well as attitudes from the society in which the company is operating.

The objective of this investigation was to develop micro/nano-scale temperature sensors for measuring surface temperature transients in multi-phase flows and heat transfer. Surface temperature fluctuations were measured on substrates exposed to phase change processes. Prior reports in the literature indicate that these miniature scale surface temperature fluctuations can result in 60-90 percent of the total heat flux during phase change heat transfer. In this study, DTS (Diode Temperature Sensors) were fabricated with a doping depth of ~100 nm on n-type silicon to measure the surface temperature transients on a substrate exposed to droplet impingement cooling. DTS are expected to have better sensor characteristics compared to TFTs (Thin Film Thermocouples), due to their small size and faster response (which comes at the expense of the smaller operating temperature range). Additional advantages of DTS include the availability of robust commercial micro fabrication processes (with diode and transistor node sizes currently in the size range of ~ 30 nm), and that only 2N wire leads can be used to interrogate a set of N x N array of sensors (in contrast thermocouples require 2 N x N wire leads for N x N sensor array). The DTS array was fabricated using conventional semi-conductor processes. The temperature response of the TFT and DTS was also calibrated using NIST standards. Transient temperature response of the DTS was recorded using droplet impingement cooling experiments. The droplet impingement cooling experiments were performed for two different test fluids (acetone and ethanol). An infrared camera was used to verify the surface temperature of the substrate and compare these measurements with the temperature values recorded by individual DTS. PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) was used for obtaining the catalyst coatings for subsequent CNT synthesis using CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) as well as for fabricating the thin film thermocouple (TFT) arrays using the "lift-off" process. Flow boiling experiments were conducted for three different substrates. Flow boiling experiments on bare silicon wafer surface were treated as the control experiment, and the results were compared with that of CNT (Carbon Nano-Tube) coated silicon wafer surfaces. Similar experiments were also performed on a pure copper surface. In addition, experiments were performed using compact condensers. Micro-scale patterns fabricated on the refrigerant side of the compact heat exchanger were observed to cause significant enhancement of the condensation heat transfer coefficient.

Bakgrund och Problem CSR står för "Corporate Social Responsibility" och innefattar företags sociala, etiska och miljömässiga arbete. Då CSR och särredovisningen av CSR är juridiskt frivilligt för företag uppkom frågor gällande bakomliggande motiv. Eftersom CSR- arbete kostar pengar väcktes ett intresse för att studera konceptets förtjänst. Utifrån förförståelse grundades en uppfattning om att det kan vara så att anseendet påverkas. Om inte så skulle företag i större utsträckning ta ansvaret i det tysta, och inte ta på sig de merkostnader som tillkommer med särredovisningen. Dessa tankar gav upphovet till studiens frågeställningar. Frågeställningar Vilka företagsstrategiska motiv ligger till grund för CSR- satsningar och hur förmedlas dem samt vilka är effekterna av konceptet CSR? Syfte Syftet med studien är att beskriva vad utvalda företag förmedlar med sin CSR- redovisning, och vilka motiv som ligger till grund för dessa. Studien syftar även till att försöka förstå och utvärdera det företagen förmedlar samt hur varumärket och samhället påverkas av effekterna. Fokus Studien har en tydlig fokusering på redovisning. Alltså redovisning av CSR och de företag som redovisat sina CSR- satsningar. Det finns företag som jobbar med sociala, etiska och miljömässiga program i det tysta. Dessa företag är svårstuderade och vi har därför medvetet valt bort att studera dem.     Metod Detta är en kvalitativ undersökning som börjar i teorin och testas genom dokumentstudier och intervjuer med fyra företag, som alla aktivt arbetar med CSR. Då studien är baserad på det företagssociala, har även en enkätundersökning med 70 respondenter utförts för att se hur CSR påverkar ett företags anseende.  Slutsatser CSR- arbete är ofta baserat på långsiktiga strategier. Motiven är sällan sådana att de kan uppfattas som altruistiska eller filantropiska. Förtjänsten är svår att mäta men kostnaderna bör ses som investeringar i varumärket såsom marknadsföring. För ett välfungerande CSR- arbete krävs integrering i hela verksamheten. Studien visar på att en skandal som är motsatsen till ett företags uttalade positiva profil, gör stor skada.

Nowadays, one of strong trends is globalization all over the world.That is not a surprising issue anymore and still going on. Furthermore, since many of people are gathering in cities to get jobs and live in convenience, the urban areas are growing wider and more crowded constantly. This fact automatically makes transportation usages and buildings increase. In this environment, the city offers some of publictransportations and infrastructures to make citizen transport efficiently. But, lots of people are still driving by private cars despite rising fuel costs. So, trafic jam, lack of parking space and waste of resource are getting serious. If we look around a city, there are many drivers going to work alone by a big commuter. It is a crucial cause of these issues. It aims to create a suitable personal commuter for primarily single drivers, with fascinating look despite its compact size. That will catch the eyes of people, and then make them desire it.

W. D. Munn proved that a finite dimensional representation of an inverse semigroup is equivalent to a ⋆-representation if and only if it is bounded. The first goal of this thesis will be to give new analytic proof that every finite dimensional representation of a compact inverse semigroup is equivalent to a ⋆-representation. The second goal is to parameterize all finite dimensional irreducible representations of a compact inverse semigroup in terms of maximal subgroups and order theoretic properties of the idempotent set. As a consequence, we obtain a new and simpler proof of the following theorem of Shneperman: a compact inverse semigroup has enough finite dimensional irreducible representations to separate points if and only if its idempotent set is totally disconnected. Our last theorem is the following: every norm continuous irreducible ∗-representation of a compact inverse semigroup on a Hilbert space is finite dimensional.

The overriding objective of core French (CF) teaching in Canada since the National Core French Study (NCFS) is that of communicative competence (R. Leblanc, 1990). Results from the traditional form of CF, though, suggest that students are not developing desired levels of communicative competence in the drip-feed (short daily periods) model (Lapkin, Harley, & Taylor, 1993). The present study aims to investigate the role of compacted second language program formats in promoting higher levels of language proficiency and achievement among elementary core French students; in particular, the study investigates the pedagogic approach, based on the principle that longer class periods should facilitate a more communicative/ experiential teaching approach. Students in three Grade 7 classes served as participants. Two of the classes served as the compacted experimental classes, and the other as a comparison class. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests and delayed post-tests recorded differences in student achievement. A multi-dimensional, project-based curriculum approach was implemented in all three classes, and was recorded by teacher observations in her daybook and daily journal. Student attitudes toward their CF program format and their self-assessed language proficiency were measured during recorded focus group sessions and on student questionnaires. Parental and teacher perceptions of student attitudes were measured using a short survey. Results indicate that students in both the compact and comparison classes performed similarly, with few significant differences in measured language growth or retention over time. Parents of all classes indicated satisfaction with the teaching and learning activities, and with the program format in which their child was enrolled. Excerpts from the teacher daybook and reflective journal demonstrated that communicative activities fostering student interaction in the target language were more frequently and readily implemented in the longer compact CF periods. Students generally stated a preference for the program format in which they were enrolled, although only students in the compact classes outlined pedagogic reasons in support for their preference. Additionally, most students self-assessed a higher level of language competence than in previous years, which students in the compact (experimental) classes attributed to the longer class periods, stating that they promoted task completion, group work, in-depth projects and communicative activities.

The overriding objective of core French (CF) teaching in Canada since the National Core French Study (NCFS) is that of communicative competence (R. Leblanc, 1990). Results from the traditional form of CF, though, suggest that students are not developing desired levels of communicative competence in the drip-feed (short daily periods) model (Lapkin, Harley, & Taylor, 1993). The present study aims to investigate the role of compacted second language program formats in promoting higher levels of language proficiency and achievement among elementary core French students; in particular, the study investigates the pedagogic approach, based on the principle that longer class periods should facilitate a more communicative/ experiential teaching approach. Students in three Grade 7 classes served as participants. Two of the classes served as the compacted experimental classes, and the other as a comparison class. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests and delayed post-tests recorded differences in student achievement. A multi-dimensional, project-based curriculum approach was implemented in all three classes, and was recorded by teacher observations in her daybook and daily journal. Student attitudes toward their CF program format and their self-assessed language proficiency were measured during recorded focus group sessions and on student questionnaires. Parental and teacher perceptions of student attitudes were measured using a short survey. Results indicate that students in both the compact and comparison classes performed similarly, with few significant differences in measured language growth or retention over time. Parents of all classes indicated satisfaction with the teaching and learning activities, and with the program format in which their child was enrolled. Excerpts from the teacher daybook and reflective journal demonstrated that communicative activities fostering student interaction in the target language were more frequently and readily implemented in the longer compact CF periods. Students generally stated a preference for the program format in which they were enrolled, although only students in the compact classes outlined pedagogic reasons in support for their preference. Additionally, most students self-assessed a higher level of language competence than in previous years, which students in the compact (experimental) classes attributed to the longer class periods, stating that they promoted task completion, group work, in-depth projects and communicative activities.

This study examines the lapping machining process used during the manufacturing of polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs). More specifically, it is aimed at improving the productivity of the process by developing a better understanding of the parameters that affect the material removal rate (MRR) and MRR uniformity of lapped PDC samples. Experiments that focused on several controllable lapping parameters were performed to determine to what extent they affected the process. It was determined that the MRR can be modeled with the Preston equation under certain ranges of pressure and speed. It was also found that using a hard and rigid sample holder produces higher MRRs than soft and flexible sample holders. The results have also shown that MRRs in excess of 300 micrometers per hour can be achieved while using 10 grams of diamond abrasive per PDC per hour of lapping. The productivity of the lapping process can also be improved by placing the maximum allowed PDC samples in a concentric circle on the edge of the sample holder. The MRR uniformity between samples lapped on the same sample holder was found to be dependent on the sample holder material. This thesis is composed of six chapters. The first chapter introduces the need for PDC's as extreme cutting tools, the manufacturing process of PDC's, and the lapping process. The second chapter discusses the motivation behind this research and the primary objectives that were established. The third chapter details the materials and the experimental procedure, and the fourth chapter presents the results. The fifth chapter discusses the results, and the sixth chapter presents conclusions and information on possible future work.

W. D. Munn proved that a finite dimensional representation of an inverse semigroup is equivalent to a ⋆-representation if and only if it is bounded. The first goal of this thesis will be to give new analytic proof that every finite dimensional representation of a compact inverse semigroup is equivalent to a ⋆-representation. The second goal is to parameterize all finite dimensional irreducible representations of a compact inverse semigroup in terms of maximal subgroups and order theoretic properties of the idempotent set. As a consequence, we obtain a new and simpler proof of the following theorem of Shneperman: a compact inverse semigroup has enough finite dimensional irreducible representations to separate points if and only if its idempotent set is totally disconnected. Our last theorem is the following: every norm continuous irreducible ∗-representation of a compact inverse semigroup on a Hilbert space is finite dimensional.

The subthreshold region of operation has simple physics which allows for a balanced-force approach to behavioral modeling that has shown to be robust to temperature, and a model that encapsulates MOSFET behavior across all operational regions has been developed. The subthreshold region of operation also allows for injection of charge onto floating nodes that allows for persistent storage that can be used in a variety of applications. The combination of charge storage and device modeling has allowed for the development of programmable circuits for digital applications.