I studien undersöks det hur teorier från slow food och slow fashion genom olika designprocesser kan överföras till nya produktkategorier, i detta fall har möbler valts ut som kategori. Syftet med denna studie har varit skapa medvetenhet och synliggöra möjligheter för produktdesigners att arbeta med slow principer i kombination med kritisk design på nya produktkategorier. Detta för att främja hållbar utveckling och vår miljö. Det teoretiska ramverket ligger som grund för studien och innefattar slow fashion, Slow food, kritisk design och slow design. Som metoder har det bland annat samlats in information genom funktionsanalys, fokusgrupper och intervjuer.Resultatet blev en hylla vars hyllplan monteras på i takt med att dess ramar i form av träd växer. Detta ska skapa ett kritiskt tänkande hos betraktaren angående snabb produktion och miljön. / The study examines how theories of slow food and slow fashion can be transferred to new product categories through different design processes. In this case furniture has been selected as a category. The purpose of this study is to create awareness and make opportunities visible for product designers to work with slow principles in combination with critical design on new product categories. This is to encourage sustainable development and benefit our environment. The theoretical framework forms the basis of the study and includes slow fashion, slow food, critical design and slow design. As methods, among other things, information has been collected through function analysis, focus groups and interviews.The result is a shelf whose shelves are mounted on progressively as its frame in the form of trees grows. This should create a critical thinking on the part of the viewer regarding fast production and the environment.

Over the past few years, researchers have directed a significant amount of effort towards realizing tunable all-optical devices using nonlinear optical methods. It is now possible to exercise dynamic control of the group velocity of light traveling through a wide variety of material systems. The slow and fast light refer to situations in which the group velocity íg of an optical pulse through a dispersive material can be made to be smaller and larger, respectively, than the phase velocity vp = c/n. This ability could overcome the remaining challenge in current optical networks of storing and manipulating an optical signal directly in optical domain so as to avoid a bottleneck due to optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversions. The overall purpose of the dissertation is to study novel slow-light systems that provide controlled generation of large pulse delays relative to the pulse width with minimal pulse shape distortion by optimally design resonance profiles of such systems. The system design studies utilize several measures of performance such as the fractional delay, power throughput, and signal distortion under the limited system resource constraints. To this end, powerful data fidelity metrics are required to quantify the performance of tunable delay devices. Here, a new framework for measuring an information velocity and throughput is described and implemented using Shannon mutual information concepts. This new technique is used to investigate trends, trade-offs, and limits in slow light devices, which are physically sensible and in good agreement with analyses obtained using a conventional eye-opening(EO) metric. Using these information-theoretic and/or conventional metrics, we present the quantifying performance of gain-based stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) system in optical fibers as well as optical passive devices such as Fabry-Perot, fiber Bragg gratings, and ring resonators. It is shown that combining the SBS gain medium with these passive devices can compensate their respective disadvantages and thus increase delay performance without using additional resource of SBS pump power. The results show the possibility of achieving a fractional delay up to 10 at a signal bandwidth up to tens of GHz.

This report is oriented at defining characteristics of children who have problems with school-related skills and abilities (Learning Disabled, N=17) as compared with Brain Damaged children (N=17) and Normals (N=17) as measured by selected measures of the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Also, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) were given to each subject. Subjects were matched for age, sex, and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient as measured by the WISC.It was found that Control children differed significantly on neuropsychological measures when compared to Brain Damaged children. There were no significant differences on the WISC or WRAT. The Learning Disabled children resembled the Brain Damaged children more than they resembled the Control children on several of the neuropsychological measures. No significant lateralized deficits on motor or sensory-motor tasks were found to differentiate between the HV-LP and the LV-HP groups with respect to consistent lateralized deficits on the motor, perceptualmotor, or sensory measures, although both groups were significantly poorer than Controls on some of the sensory measures, particularly perception. of numbers written on the fingertips.

This piece was started during the spring semester of 2005. The original conception was to write something that was both emotionally and mentally moving. The tempo is very slow, 54 beats per minute. The underlying theme is the harmonic movement of an E minor triad (E G B) moving to a F major 7th chord (F A C E). This chord is often approached using deceiving the listener with a do – re – ma – do melody in E minor, but when the final E is heard, it has become the 7th degree of the cadence chord, F major 7th. This theme is carried through several colors. The first time it is heard is in the strings. Then, primarily stated in the middle register, we hear it in a wind trio consisting of clarinet, bassoon and horn. The next section is a low rumbling effect where the low strings and bass clarinet make the statement. Lastly, before a quasi-development section, the statement is heard in highest register with the flute, oboe, clarinet, and violins. This last statement peaks and the piece begins to slightly accelerate and make use of eighth notes in a polyphonic exploration in E minor. After this is established the tonality becomes blurred and cadences are delayed. The first violin and flute seem to be behind a couple measures even though they are considered of the fastest instruments in the orchestra. Eventually the orchestra collides and unites again to build strength, but it is of no use because they seem to have hard trouble finding the original tonality. When they final reach the E minor tonality again, they are exhausted and gradually fade away to the final cadence where we hear the two thematic chords simultaneously: strings – E minor, high winds – F major.

The fashion industry is today a global industry and has huge effect on our environment as well as on people. It is dominated by fast fashion and just-in-time production that has lead to increased seasons and mini-collections in season, which generate new low price items in store every week and even every day. This in turn has lead to an escalation in fashion trends that spris our desires for new experiences and leads to overconsumption where consumers buy more than they need, which in the end results in fashion waste. / Program: Magisterutbildning i Applied Textile Management

Biochar has been heralded as a promising technology for climate change mitigation that can also benefit soils. Biochar is a carbonaceous solid produced by pyrolysis of biomass – the thermal decomposition of plant and plant-derived matter in the absence of oxygen. When added to soils, biochar has the potential to increase crop yields and suppress soil emissions of greenhouse gases, whilst sequestering carbon in a stable form. In addition to biochar, biomass pyrolysis produces liquids and gases that can serve as biofuels. Biochar production systems that generate excess heat or power are particularly environmentally and economically attractive. Rotary kilns are the favoured process reactor in many industries, given their potential to handle a wide range of feedstocks and provide good process control. This thesis investigates the potential to coproduce biochar and excess biofuels by slow pyrolysis in a pilot-scale rotary kiln. The work attempts to progress towards the ultimate aim of scaling up the rotary kiln and optimising its operating conditions to produce biochar of good quality along with an excess of useful biofuels. Experimental work, involving the development and application of new methodologies, was used to gain a better understanding of the process. The data gathered were then used to support preliminary numerical simulation efforts towards the development of a comprehensive process model. Five biomass feedstocks were considered: softwood pellets, miscanthus straw pellets, wheat straw pellets, oilseed rape straw pellets and raw rice husks. The granular flow of biomass feedstocks was observed in a short closed drum faced with acrylic and resting on rollers. All pelletized feedstocks displayed similar angles of repose, validating the use of softwood pellets as a model biomass for these feedstocks. Bed mixing, which can improve product uniformity, was slow under typical operating conditions, requiring 5 min to complete at 4 rpm for softwood pellets. Mixing quickened considerably at higher rotation rates. A digital image analysis method was developed to measure the distribution of solid residence times inside the rotary kiln. The mean residence time of softwood pellets ranged from 19 to 37 min under typical operating conditions, decreasing with increases in kiln rotation rate, but mostly unaffected by feeding rates. These findings show that kiln rotation rates must be selected to balance the residence time of solids inside the kiln with bed mixing levels. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were performed on samples of ground softwood pellets under five different heating profiles to study the kinetics and heat flows of the pyrolysis process. Both exothermic and endothermic regions were identified, with most reactions taking place between 250°C and 500°C. Results suggest that exothermic pyrolysis reactions can be promoted by altering the process heating rate, thereby improving net biofuel yield from the process. The thermogravimetric data collected was used to develop a distributed activation energy model (DAEM) of the kinetics of softwood pellet pyrolysis for integration into a comprehensive model of the process. The applicability of the kinetic model to large-scale processes was confirmed using a simplified process model developed to simulate biomass pyrolysis inside the pilot-scale rotary kiln. Although crude, the simplified process model produced sufficiently accurate estimates of char yield for preliminary design purposes. The simplified model also allowed important process parameters, such as kiln filling degree, solid residence time and heating rate, to be evaluated. A series of pyrolysis experiments was performed on the pilot-scale rotary kiln to evaluate the yields of biochar and biofuels and determine the temperature profile inside the kiln. This work required the design of a suspended thermocouple system that measures temperatures along the kiln, both in the gas phase and inside the solid bed. For most experiments at 550°C, a region of high temperature gas and solids was observed, possibly indicative of exothermic reactions. Biochar yield varied from 18% to 73% over the range of feedstocks and operating conditions tested. A vapour sampling methodology that relies on the use of a tracer gas was developed to determine the yield of pyrolysis liquids and gases. Due to analytical difficulties, it was not possible to obtain accurate mass closure with this method. However, the methodology revealed significant air ingress into the pilot-scale rotary kiln that is responsible for partially combusting biofuels produced by the process, thereby reducing their calorific value. Energy balances on the kiln confirmed that the calorific content of pyrolysis liquids and gases exceeds the energetic demand of the process, yielding between 0.3 and 11 MJ in excess biofuels per kg of biomass feedstock. An attempt was made to develop a multiphase model of the flow of vapours and solids inside the rotary kiln using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), but the continuous modelling approach was found inadequate to simulate the dense bed of biomass inside the kiln. The discrete element method (DEM) was sought as an alternative to model the granular flow of biomass inside the kiln. Extensive parameter calibration was required to reproduce the experimental behaviour of softwood pellets observed in the short closed drum. A model of the pilot-scale rotary kiln was constructed to simulate particle residence times. Further parameter calibration was required to replicate softwood pellet holdup inside the kiln. The calibrated model was able to reproduce the mean residence time of softwood pellets within 10% under different kiln operating conditions. However, simulated residence time distributions could not be established as a result of the long execution times required for this modelling work. Few data are currently available on large-scale continuous biomass pyrolysis processes; the experimental data gathered in this thesis help to fill this gap. Along with the numerical simulation work presented herein, they provide the foundation for the development of a comprehensive model of biomass pyrolysis in rotary kilns. Such a numerical model would prove invaluable in scaling up the process and maximizing its efficiency. Future work should consider the agronomic value and carbon sequestration potential of biochar produced under different operating conditions. In addition, the performance and efficiency of different conversion technologies for generating heat and power from biofuels need to be investigated.

No description available.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if language delayed toddlers, 18 to 30 months of age, were at one end of the referential/expressive continuum. It was this researcher's hypothesis that due to the restricted vocabulary of children who use an expressive language style, that the delayed toddlers would tend to be more expressive speakers.

In the present study, the speech of twenty-four normally speaking toddlers and twenty-eight late talking toddlers was analyzed with respect to the syllable structures produced during a speech sample. The groups were matched with regard to age, sex, and socio-economic status, all passed a hearing screening, and all scored at least 85 on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

There is a growing group of researchers who believe that narrative skills are the bridge from oral language to literacy (Culatta, Page, & Ellis, 1983; Roth & Spekman, 1989; Westby, 1989). Narrative production requires higher level language skills to create a cohesive discourse unit using decontextualized language. Narrative ability has also been found to be the best predictor for normal speech and language development for preschoolers with language impairments (Bishop & Edmundson, 1987) and reading comprehension achievement for learning-disabled, school-age children (Feagans & Applebaum, 1986) . These same skills are prerequisites for achievement of literacy and school success. The purpose of the present study was to compare the story retelling ability of 4-year-olds who did not achieve normal expressive language milestones at age 2 with those who did. The original group size was 22 children with normal expressive vocabulary size at age 24-34 months, and 23 children whose expressive vocabulary size fell below the normal range at 24-34 months referred to as "late talkers."