Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This master’s thesis analyses Kalina cycle, a power cycle where ammonia – water solution is used as a working fluid. The first part of this study introduces us to the Kalina cycle, presents its advantages and disadvantages, characteristics of the working fluid and its applications. Second section concerns with the method of cycle design and describes the calculation model made in this thesis. The calculation model is attached in a separate .XLSM file. The third part shows calculation of the cycle for given parameters, determination of cycle efficiency and main proportions of the thermal turbine. In the conclusion are the interpretations of the calculations results.

Many of the water sectors in developing countries are facing challenges and obstacles in providing potable water to their customers. These challenges resulted from many reasons such as; shortage of water, huge population, low water tariff, regulations, unplanned development, shortage of financing, absence of commercial orientation and others. Therefore, these sectors are requested to work innovatively to overcome these problems and find out proper solutions. One effective option to address these challenges is appropriate pricing of water. Setting up appropriate water price aims to recover service cost, reduce rate of subsidy and achieve financial sustainability. This research was carried out to determine how to achieve financial sustainability in the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The study is based on three main issues, improving the water tariff structure, the role of the customer and his expectation to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Two stages of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were adopted in order to answer the research question. 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with PAEW key staff and other relevant parties outside PAEW. 610 quantitative surveys were returned from a total of 1600 PAEW customers to get their views about the role of the customer and his expectations of PAEW in order to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Findings from qualitative data showed the appropriate water tariff is the cost reflective tariff which increases the chance of financial sustainability and cost recovery. The quantitative findings present the willingness of customers' participation and his expectation. Customer participation is expressed in three main roles: leakage and defect reporting, payment and conservation. In all of these, the research outcomes prove the role of the customer and the importance of these roles to increase the chance of financial sustainability. Customer expectations are expressed in customer service, billing system and water service. The outcomes reflect the customer expectations in terms of satisfaction and identify the gap that should be filled by PAEW to make the customer satisfied and loyal.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Syftet med produktarbetet var att skapa ett didaktiskt lärandematerial bestående av en bilderbok med tillhörande lärarhandledning med inriktning på vattnets kretslopp, för en hållbar utveckling. Det didaktiska lärandematerialet utformades för att stödja och inspirera förskolepersonalen i sin dagliga undervisning tillsammans med barnen i förskolan. Utformningen av det didaktiska lärandematerialet bygger på det som kom fram i besvarandet kring vår frågeställning: Hur kan ett didaktiskt lärandematerial utformas för att hjälpa förskolepersonalen att ge barn i förskolan tidiga erfarenheter om vattnets kretslopp? Frågeställningen besvarades i relation till den tidigare forskningen som gjorts inom samma ämnesområde. En bakgrund inom redan befintlig barnlitteratur och/eller lärandematerial samt våra didaktiska övervägande kring utformning av barnböcker har också bidraget till produktarbetets resultat. Allt material har samlats in via olika infallsvinklar såsom databassökningar och studiebesök. Materialets insamling har dokumenterats med hjälp av minnesanteckningar, fotografering och ljudupptagningar. I produktarbetets resultatavsnitt presenteras vårt didaktiska lärandematerial som kommer i form av en faktabilderbok med tillhörande lärarhandledning. Utifrån den befintliga barnlitteraturen och lärandematerialen saknas det sen tidigare motsvarande didaktiska lärandematerial, därför blir vår slutsats att vår produkt kan fylla en funktion som inget annat material gör just nu.