Mortar is the cementitious binding material placed between masonry blocks to create a composite system. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), along with other organizations, have established the testing of prismatic mortar specimens for evaluating mechanical properties, like compressive strength. Mortar joints, however, possess vastly different characteristics compared to prismatic specimens, especially in terms of geometry and water content. These differences prevent a direct comparison of compressive strength between prismatic specimens and actual mortar joints in the assembly. The objective of this study was to analyze Type S mortar joints, with particular emphasis on specimen shape and water content, to draw accurate comparisons of compressive strength to ASTM prescribed mortar prismatic specimens.To examine the effect of water on mortar compressive strength, three different water contents were evaluated across nearly all testing series. Cubic (2-in) and cylindrical (2 by 4-in) mortar specimens were prepared and tested according to ASTM guidelines to verify the compressive strength relationship described by ASTM and to be used as comparative data. In addition, a small masonry wall was assembled and cured in a laboratory to simulate true properties of mortar joints. Mortar joints subjected to testing were a combination of thin slices cut from prismatic specimens as well as in-place bed joints cured between concrete masonry units (CMU). Two unorthodox test methods, the double punch test (DPT) and helix pull-out test (HPT), were selected as methods for assessing mortar joints. In addition, confining effects from neighboring material common to DPT were evaluated as a function of specimen face dimensions. The compressive strength ratio obtained through testing of 2-in cubic and 2 by 4-in cylindrical specimens was lower than ASTM recommendations. This may have been in part due to testing cylindrical specimens with rough surfaces and no capping material. DPT confinement on 2-in square and 2-in diameter circular specimens was found to be equivalent. Thinly sliced specimens tested in DPT showed increases in compressive strength as water content and specimen thickness decreased. As a whole, DPT results on thin mortar slices showed promise for accurate comparison to prismatic mortar specimens. In-place mortar joints tested in HPT showed moderate to high scatter. In addition, evaluation via HPT was determined to be more appropriate for qualitative rather than quantitative assessments of in-situ mortar.

As society moves towards being more and more digitalised, so does agriculture as well. Hopefully these digital tools will help us reach environmental goals through optimizing the use of resources in the agricultural sector. However, there are a few barriers to overcome for the digital transition to run smoothly. This thesis investigates a small portion of the agricultural innovation network in Sweden. This is done through multiple interviews and literary research. We can clearly see how this innovation network during the last decades has moved towards becoming more knowledge centered and how the model triple helix now easily can be applied to the network. The network is then analysed using Ron Boschma’s five proximity factors and it becomes clear that concerning the agricultural innovation network, the cognitive and institutional proximity is of great importance for the innovational strength. It also becomes clear that the different proximity factors seldom act alone, but instead build upon each other to increase the negative respectively positive outcomes. Moreover it is shown that regarding the agricultural innovation network in Sweden, it can only benefit from improving the proximity factors, which is different from other types of industries.

Social innovation brings about sustainability which is regarded as a new paradigm for development. In order to bring about social innovation, cross-sector collaboration among different actors is required. However, it is known that establishing cross-sector collaboration is very complex, especially in a penta helix model where the public administration, business, academia, third sector and citizens are all involved. The research aims to investigate the initial conditions for establishing penta helix collaboration in the context of co-produced social innovation from the perspectives of core co-producers. Through a case study of ReTuren, a co-produced public platform for waste handling and prevention in Malmö, Sweden, the research finds out four themes of initial conditions, viz. environment, resources, relationships, and strategy. It is also discussed that the significance of these conditions to the collaboration establishment can depend on the development stage of the social innovation initiative. The research also provides new insights about the unclear boundary and the flexible role of each sector in the penta helix model. Based on the findings, an adapted model of initial conditions from Bryson et al. (2015) for penta helix collaboration in social innovation is created.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第18949号 / 工博第3991号 / 新制||工||1615(附属図書館) / 31900 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料化学専攻 / (主査)教授 木村 俊作, 教授 瀧川 敏算, 教授 秋吉 一成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第20412号 / 工博第4349号 / 新制||工||1674(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科合成・生物化学専攻 / (主査)教授 杉野目 道紀, 教授 松田 建児, 教授 澤本 光男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

Molecular structures of biomaterials have close relation to their functions. We are interested in how biological building blocks assemble into the structures of native biomaterials and the hierarchy of those structures. We tackled the problem mainly with X-ray diffraction experiments and developed a thorough analysis technique to assign the X-ray signals to protein secondary structures and chitin. Three different types of biomaterials were examined: vimentin fibres, squid pens, and human hair. In vimentin fibres, we found that the secondary protein structures play an important role in the strength of the fibres. In native squid pens, we found a self-similar, hierarchical structure from millimetres down to nanometres. In human hair, we compared the signals corresponding to keratin proteins, intermediate filaments, and lipids between different subjects, and found small deviations. The structures of these three biomaterials, which encompass different orders of length scales, were described both quantitatively and graphically. We hope that this work will eventually allow us to understand how and why nature builds biomaterials this way. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

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The objective of this study is threefold. The first objective is to provide an integrated perspective towards the territorial engagement of universities and their related models and strategies. The second objective is to verify whether tendencies pointing to an integrated strategy of university engagement are emerging in real settings, while the third objective is to deepen the understanding of the university’s potential contribution to social innovation practices. The first part of the work is devoted to review the literature on the institutionalization of university third mission and its relation to university territorial engagement and it presents an analysis of the different university models and strategies adopted by the academic system to reach engagement goals in the last decades. In this context, the System-based University is introduced as a university model which encompasses an integrated approach to university territorial engagement. Such model is built upon contributions on Civic and Developmental universities and their role in local socio-economic dynamics. It presents itself as an integrated model that includes but goes beyond the focus on technology transfer featuring third mission activities embodied at the beginning of the 21st century by the so-called Entrepreneurial university. The System-based model is represented by three main factors: i) synergy between the core missions of teaching and research and the third mission, ii) alignment between the needs expressed by the territory and the knowledge produced by the university, and iii) a balanced approach to research excellence. The second part of the work proposes an empirical analysis aimed at identifying tendencies towards system-based models of university, in particular within the Italian academic system. This part makes use of multivariate statistical techniques. Eventually, the third part aims at deepening the role of universities in the social innovation realm, drawing on the few contributions on this topic and on a recent stream of research that connects social innovation to quadruple helix model of interaction between government, industry, universities and civil society. Namely, this last part investigates how and why universities may engage in quadruple helix partnerships, applying an exploratory case study methodology on data stemming from the Urban Innovative Actions, a novel European programme in the context of social innovation in urban areas.

In order to stimulate innovation and sustainable development in a business environment that is always changing, it is important to support successful collaboration between academia, industry, and society. This project is focused on creating and implementing MDU's Creative Lab, an innovation lab based on the Quintuple Helix Model, in order to promote collaboration between students, academic institutions, and business partners and to meet the needs of all parties. The study was conducted utilizing a methodology that included a review of the literature, interviews, and data analysis. The primary issues that need to be resolved have been highlighted through the interviews as the absence of support systems, the requirement to create clear objectives at the outset of the project, and the significance of ensuring projects and authors maintain continuity.The results of the research have shown that better communication between parties, a clear connection between projects and courses, and opportunities for students to obtain knowledge and experience in the real world are all necessary. In addition, major motivators such as the desire for a social impact, interdisciplinary teamwork, and satisfaction in one's job have been highlighted. As a result, a business model has been developed that takes into account the information gleaned from the presentations and aims to facilitate collaboration and communication between academic institutions, students, and business partners, guarantee the quality of collaborations, offer mentoring and guidance to students, and plan workshops and events that encourage creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.This project provides a thorough analysis of how to create and implement a student-driven innovation lab that adheres to the Quintuple Helix Model and is geared toward sustainable growth in the direction of Industry 5.0. By encouraging student cooperation and contentment, it fosters an environment that fosters the development of creative ideas and the development of a team-oriented workforce that will progress society and business.

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