There are various large competitors, dominating the digital payment market. These competitors acquire most of the customers, maintaining their dominant influence in the market by charging customers and merchant’s fees for mobile payments. The purpose of this study is to investigate and develop a payment system that connects various payment applications and bank services. This system is developed with the help of blockchain and open banking technology. The blockchain system is utilized as a secure universal database, while the open banking technology is used for transactions. This study proposes an architecture for a multi-sided payment platform. The architecture follows the microservice design pattern which allows the components of the system to be individually developed and maintained. A prototype system was developed as a proof of concept for the architecture, proving the possibility of a multisided payment platform. The “ICA Handla” payment application and Nordea (open banking) system were used to connect to the prototype through gateway programs. The purpose of gateway programs is to connect a mobile payment application or a bank service with the blockchain system. The multi-sided payment application creates opportunities in the digital payment market. / Det finns flera dominerande konkurrenter på den digitala betalningsmarknaden. Dessa företag har en majoritet av kunderna och upprätthåller sitt dominerande inflytande på marknaden genom att ta avgifter från kunder och handlare för mobila betalningar. Syftet med denna studie är att utveckla ett betalningssystem som ansluter olika betalningsapplikationer och banksystem med hjälp av blockkedjeteknik och öppen bankteknologi. Blockkedja-systemet används som en säker universell databas, medan den öppna banktekniken används för transaktioner. Denna studie utvecklade en arkitektur för en gemensam betalningsplattform. Arkitekturen följer ett mikro-tjänst designmönster vilket tillåter systemets komponenter att utvecklas och underhållas individuellt. En prototyp utvecklades som en konceptvalidering för arkitekturen, vilket bevisar möjligheten till en gemensam betalningsplattform. Betalningsapplikationen “ICA Handla” och Nordea öppen bankteknologi är anslutna till prototypsystemet via ett gateway program. Syftet med gateway programmet är att ansluta mobila betalningsapplikationer eller banktjänster med en blockkedja-system. Den gemensamma betalningsapplikationer skapar möjligheter på den digitala betalningsmarknaden.

In controlled release applications a drug is molecularly dispersed in a polymer phase. In the presence of a thermodynamically compatible solvent, swelling occurs and the polymer releases its content to the surrounding medium. The rate of the drug release can be controlled by interfering with the swelling rate of the beads or by influencing diffusion through the viscosity of the polymer. Beads that contain chitosan were prepared through the ionotropic gelation method where tripolyphosphate (TPP) was used as the crosslinking agent. Beads that consisted of 3% w/v isoniazid (lNH) and 5% w/v chitosan were prepared in a 5% w/v TPP solution (pH 8.7) as the primary beads. To improve the drug loading of chitosan isoniazid beads (ClB) the TPP concentration, pH of the TPP solution and the INH concentrations were altered for maximum drug loading. To increase the porosity of the beads of chitosan beads Explotab® (EXPL), Ac-Di-Sol® (ADS) and Vitamin C (VC) were added individually to chitosan solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% w/v before adding the mixture to the TPP solution. Morphology, swelling and drug loading studies were used to evaluate the different formulations. After these excipients were added individually they were also added in combinations of two excipients respectively and characterised. From the results of the drug loading studies the beads that contained only chitosan and isoniazid showed a percentage drug loading of (43.92%) which is the best of all the beads that were analyzed. The multi excipient combination of Ac-Di-Sol® and Explotab® showed the best swelling capability at both pH levels. Dissolution studies were conducted on all the formu lations over a period of 6 hours (360 minutes) at pH 5.6 and pH 7.4. From the dissolution results it were clear that no chitosan dissolved at both pH values. The dissolution of single pharmaceutical excipient (SPE) and multi pharmaceutical excipient (MPE) formulations can be arranged in the following order: VC/ADS < VC < ADS/EXPL < ADS < VC/EXPL < CIB < EXPL. Explotab® is a potential excipient for enhanced drug release over a wide pH range. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Contents: Chitosan -- Controlled drug delivery -- Indomethacin -- Inotropic gelation -- Tripolyphosphate (TPP) -- Explotab® -- Ac-Di-Sol® -- Vitamin C / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

自1990年代起，全球區域經濟整合蓬勃發展，大幅影響與塑造了世界各地經濟及貿易的運作。我國一直為貿易導向之國家，在世界貿易體系中扮演優良產品出口國之角色，更不能免於區域經濟整合之外。時至今日，當亞太地區的兩個重要大型區域貿易協定TPP及RCEP即將成形，我國卻尚未加入，也未見在短期內能夠加入之明確曙光，故本研究欲探討在我國未能加入TPP及RCEP之假設前提下，此二區域經濟整合對我國總體經濟及產業部門之衝擊。本文先概述TPP及RCEP之協定內容、特色與重要性，再蒐集政府機關之研究報告、國際組織發布之公開資訊與國內外既有文獻之內容與數據分析，並根據文獻內容探討TPP及RCEP對我國總體經濟及產業的衝擊和影響，發現當TPP及RCEP生效而我國未能加入，此二區域經濟協定將使我國總體經濟數據負成長；此外針對作者所服務的電子設備產業，也帶來負面的衝擊。基於此結果，作者以電子設備產業為例，對我國廠商在面對整體經濟環境的影響下提出因應策略，包括海外供應鏈佈局、建立海外經銷體系、增強產品及服務差異化、國際人力資源管理、策略結盟以及海外台商交流互助平台等，以期能建立並持續保有自身優勢，在國際競爭中獲得佳績。

Chitosan has proven through the years as a versatile biomaterial to be used in pharmaceutical applications. Its mucoadhesive properties as well as its ability to manipulate the tight junctions in epithelium membranes have qualified it as an effective drug carrier in controlled drug delivery systems. Microparticles or beads as they are forward called in this study have advantages over conventional drug dosage forms because of a large surface to volume ratio and have the ability to target a specific site for drug release. Indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug that causes gastrointestinal side effects in conventional immediate-release dosage forms. The goal is to manipulate the drug delivery vehicle to target the intestines/colon as the site for drug delivery and to minimize this side effect. Thus chitosan beads have been chosen as a drug delivery system for indomethacin in this study. Chitosan beads have been prepared through the ionotropic gelation method using tripolyphophate (TPP) as a cross-linking agent. To prepare the most effective bead to encapsulate indomethacin different formulation and system variables (pH of the TPP solution, the concentration of the TPP solution as well as the indomethacin concentration) have been evaluated according to the following parameters: morphology, drug loading capacity and swelling capability. The ideal pH of the TPP solution was determined at 8.7 and the most effective TPP and indomethacin concentration were 5% w/v and 4% w/v respectively. The chitosan concentration was kept at 3% w/v throughout the study. These concentrations were used to examine the effect of pharmaceutical excipients on the indomethacin release from chitosan beads. The effect of the different excipients namely, ExplotabⒽ(0.25% w/v), Ac-Di-SolⓀ (0.5% w/v) and Vitamin C (0.25% w/v), on the morphology, drug loading capacity, swelling capability as well as the drug release of indomethacin chitosan beads (ICB's) were also studied. The excipients were used in the individually above mentioned concentrations and in combination with each other in the same concentrations. These formulations were used in dissolution studies over a period of 6 hours in PBS pH 7.4 solutions. The indomethacin release rate increased when an excipient was added to the formulation and it dramatically increased when the excipients were added in their various combinations, compared to the formulation that did not contain excipients. / Contents: Chitosan -- Controlled drug delivery -- Indomethacin -- Inotropic gelation -- Tripolyphosphate (TPP) -- Explotab® -- Ac-Di-Sol® -- Vitamin C / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Controlled release systems aim at achieving a predictable and reproducible drug release over a desired time period. These systems allow reduced dosing frequency, constant drug levels in the blood, increased patient compliance and decreased adverse effects. In a recent study, Chitosan beads, containing N-trimethyl Chitosan chloride, have shown a potential in the delivery of rifampicin. However, because of inadequate amounts of rifampicin released over 24 hours, incorporation of other pharmaceutical excipients to increase the swelling behaviour of the beads to improve drug release, was considered in this study. Chitosan beads were prepared through ionotropic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a crosslinking agent. To increase the porosity if the Chitosan beads Explotab®, Ac-Di-Sol® and vitamin C were added individually to Chitosan solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 % w/v before adding the mixture to the TPP solution. Swelling and morphology studies were used in the evaluation of the different formulations. The swelling and morphology results were then used to select a set of combination and concentrations of two excipients sand then prepare and characterise beads containing two combinations. The combination formulations and formulations containing single excipients were then loaded with rifampicin. Pure chitosan beads exhibited a higher drug loading capacity (67.49 %) compared to the lowest loading capacity of 41.61 % exhibited by chitosan beads containing a combination of Explotab®, Ac-Di-Sol®.For all the other formulations the drug loading capacity ranged within 48 and 63 %. These formulations were used for dissolution studies over a period of 6 hours at pH 5.60 and 7.40. The dissolution results showed that no chitosan has dissolved at both pH values. A significant amount of rifampicin was, however, released from the beads, especially at pH 7.40. chitosan beads containing vitamin C also exhibited high rifampicin release (48.34 ± 1.00) %) at pH 5.60 compared to the other formulations and this makes vitamin C a potential excipient for enhanced drug release over a wide pH range (both acidic and alkalinic). However, further studies are necessary to optimise the preparation method to minimise drug loss during loading and to improve the drug loading capacity of the beads. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Chitosan has proven through the years as a versatile biomaterial to be used in pharmaceutical applications. Its mucoadhesive properties as well as its ability to manipulate the tight junctions in epithelium membranes have qualified it as an effective drug carrier in controlled drug delivery systems. Microparticles or beads as they are forward called in this study have advantages over conventional drug dosage forms because of a large surface to volume ratio and have the ability to target a specific site for drug release. Indomethacin is an anti-inflammatory drug that causes gastrointestinal side effects in conventional immediate-release dosage forms. The goal is to manipulate the drug delivery vehicle to target the intestines/colon as the site for drug delivery and to minimize this side effect. Thus chitosan beads have been chosen as a drug delivery system for indomethacin in this study. Chitosan beads have been prepared through the ionotropic gelation method using tripolyphophate (TPP) as a cross-linking agent. To prepare the most effective bead to encapsulate indomethacin different formulation and system variables (pH of the TPP solution, the concentration of the TPP solution as well as the indomethacin concentration) have been evaluated according to the following parameters: morphology, drug loading capacity and swelling capability. The ideal pH of the TPP solution was determined at 8.7 and the most effective TPP and indomethacin concentration were 5% w/v and 4% w/v respectively. The chitosan concentration was kept at 3% w/v throughout the study. These concentrations were used to examine the effect of pharmaceutical excipients on the indomethacin release from chitosan beads. The effect of the different excipients namely, ExplotabⒽ(0.25% w/v), Ac-Di-SolⓀ (0.5% w/v) and Vitamin C (0.25% w/v), on the morphology, drug loading capacity, swelling capability as well as the drug release of indomethacin chitosan beads (ICB's) were also studied. The excipients were used in the individually above mentioned concentrations and in combination with each other in the same concentrations. These formulations were used in dissolution studies over a period of 6 hours in PBS pH 7.4 solutions. The indomethacin release rate increased when an excipient was added to the formulation and it dramatically increased when the excipients were added in their various combinations, compared to the formulation that did not contain excipients. / Contents: Chitosan -- Controlled drug delivery -- Indomethacin -- Inotropic gelation -- Tripolyphosphate (TPP) -- Explotab® -- Ac-Di-Sol® -- Vitamin C / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Controlled release systems aim at achieving a predictable and reproducible drug release over a desired time period. These systems allow reduced dosing frequency, constant drug levels in the blood, increased patient compliance and decreased adverse effects. In a recent study, Chitosan beads, containing N-trimethyl Chitosan chloride, have shown a potential in the delivery of rifampicin. However, because of inadequate amounts of rifampicin released over 24 hours, incorporation of other pharmaceutical excipients to increase the swelling behaviour of the beads to improve drug release, was considered in this study. Chitosan beads were prepared through ionotropic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a crosslinking agent. To increase the porosity if the Chitosan beads Explotab®, Ac-Di-Sol® and vitamin C were added individually to Chitosan solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 % w/v before adding the mixture to the TPP solution. Swelling and morphology studies were used in the evaluation of the different formulations. The swelling and morphology results were then used to select a set of combination and concentrations of two excipients sand then prepare and characterise beads containing two combinations. The combination formulations and formulations containing single excipients were then loaded with rifampicin. Pure chitosan beads exhibited a higher drug loading capacity (67.49 %) compared to the lowest loading capacity of 41.61 % exhibited by chitosan beads containing a combination of Explotab®, Ac-Di-Sol®.For all the other formulations the drug loading capacity ranged within 48 and 63 %. These formulations were used for dissolution studies over a period of 6 hours at pH 5.60 and 7.40. The dissolution results showed that no chitosan has dissolved at both pH values. A significant amount of rifampicin was, however, released from the beads, especially at pH 7.40. chitosan beads containing vitamin C also exhibited high rifampicin release (48.34 ± 1.00) %) at pH 5.60 compared to the other formulations and this makes vitamin C a potential excipient for enhanced drug release over a wide pH range (both acidic and alkalinic). However, further studies are necessary to optimise the preparation method to minimise drug loss during loading and to improve the drug loading capacity of the beads. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

In controlled release applications a drug is molecularly dispersed in a polymer phase. In the presence of a thermodynamically compatible solvent, swelling occurs and the polymer releases its content to the surrounding medium. The rate of the drug release can be controlled by interfering with the swelling rate of the beads or by influencing diffusion through the viscosity of the polymer. Beads that contain chitosan were prepared through the ionotropic gelation method where tripolyphosphate (TPP) was used as the crosslinking agent. Beads that consisted of 3% w/v isoniazid (lNH) and 5% w/v chitosan were prepared in a 5% w/v TPP solution (pH 8.7) as the primary beads. To improve the drug loading of chitosan isoniazid beads (ClB) the TPP concentration, pH of the TPP solution and the INH concentrations were altered for maximum drug loading. To increase the porosity of the beads of chitosan beads Explotab® (EXPL), Ac-Di-Sol® (ADS) and Vitamin C (VC) were added individually to chitosan solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% w/v before adding the mixture to the TPP solution. Morphology, swelling and drug loading studies were used to evaluate the different formulations. After these excipients were added individually they were also added in combinations of two excipients respectively and characterised. From the results of the drug loading studies the beads that contained only chitosan and isoniazid showed a percentage drug loading of (43.92%) which is the best of all the beads that were analyzed. The multi excipient combination of Ac-Di-Sol® and Explotab® showed the best swelling capability at both pH levels. Dissolution studies were conducted on all the formu lations over a period of 6 hours (360 minutes) at pH 5.6 and pH 7.4. From the dissolution results it were clear that no chitosan dissolved at both pH values. The dissolution of single pharmaceutical excipient (SPE) and multi pharmaceutical excipient (MPE) formulations can be arranged in the following order: VC/ADS < VC < ADS/EXPL < ADS < VC/EXPL < CIB < EXPL. Explotab® is a potential excipient for enhanced drug release over a wide pH range. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Marknaden för betaltjänster har ökat avsevärt de senaste åren i och med teknikens utveckling och konsumenters ändrade betalningsvanor. Betalningarna har gått från att domineras av kontanter till att idag bestå av kortbetalningar och moderna betaltjänstlösningar via t.ex. mobiltelefoner. I takt med att e-handeln har expanderat och nya leverantörer av betaltjänster har trätt in på marknaden har behovet av ett gemensamt regelverk på EU-nivå för betaltjänster ökat, detta för att samtliga betalningar som sker inom EU ska vara lika effektiva och säkra som nationella betalningar.   Den 13 januari 2018 trädde det andra betaltjänstdirektivet (PSD2) ikraft, vilket syftar till att harmonisera marknaden för elektroniska betalningar och skapa bättre förutsättningar för innovativa, säkra och effektiva betalningar inom EU. I och med införandet av PSD2 utvidgades definitionen av betaltjänster till att innefatta betalningsinitieringstjänster och kontoinformationstjänster, vilka är tredjepartsleverantörer och fungerar som ett mellanled mellan en bank och slutkunden på betaltjänstmarknaden. Marknaden för tredjepartsleverantörer har hittills varit oreglerad, men omfattas nu av PSD2:s tillämpningsområde, vilket gör att tredjepartsleverantörerna kan få tillgång till bankernas kundinformation och kunddata genom öppna applikationsprogrammeringsgränssnitt. Under våren 2018 kommer en ny dataskyddsförordning att träda i kraft, vilken ämnar till att ge ett ökat skydd för den personliga integriteten genom att införa striktare regler angående behandling av personuppgifter.   Uppsatsen fokuserar på tredjepartsleverantörer och hur de påverkas av de nya regelverken och om innovationsmöjligheterna för nya betaltjänster kommer att främjas genom införandet av PSD2. För att kunna se hur tredjepartsleverantörerna påverkas av regelverken kommer uppsatsen fokusera på behandlingen av person- och kontouppgifter för att avgöra om bestämmelserna i PSD2 är förenliga med dataskyddsförordningen. Av uppsatsens resultat går det att utläsa att innovationen av nya betaltjänster fortsättningsvis torde främjas av de nya reglerna i PSD2 och att utvecklingen torde ske i en snabbare takt än tidigare. Det går även att utläsa att reglerna i de båda regelverken till viss del stämmer överens, men även att det finns bestämmelser som är motstridiga.