Purpose: The paper aims to identify the ecological orientations of the Swedish start-ups and explore the opportunities and challenges to determine their environmental sustainability actions. Methods: The study used a qualitative method for conducting this exploratory type of research. This paper focused mainly on primary data; semi-structured interviews were conducted on ten Swedish start-ups to explore their sustainable environmental practices. Finally, the collected data were analyzed through cross-case analyses. Findings: Firstly, the findings of the paper posit that the ten Swedish start-ups belong to eco-dedicated, eco-open and eco-reluctant orientations according to their business practices. Secondly, the study explores that saving cost for long run, reusability of components, and the best use of available resources are major opportunities whereas the prime challenges are the additional cost of eco-friendly solutions, customers' price sensitiveness and market competition. And thirdly, the study determines sustainability actions of three categories of start-ups that are self-motivated, hybrid and government support driven.  Contribution: This study contributes to the knowledge of environmental sustainability practices of Swedish start-ups through the lens of ecological orientation. The sole focus on environmental sustainability dimension enhances the theoretical understanding of the start-ups’ actions according to their ecological orientations. Further, this paper equips academic researchers with valuable information of Swedish start-ups’ environmental sustainability actions and help to determine the contribution of the start-ups in environmental sustainability continuum. Moreover, the findings inform about the benefits of environmentally sustainable practices for new businesses. The paper also provides multifaceted information to the business managers about the sustainability actions of start-ups as per their ecological orientations. Conclusions: The result of the study shows that eco-dedicated start-ups are proactive in case of pursuing the environmental sustainability actions while eco-open businesses incorporate both self-driven and regulatory actions. And the sustainability actions of eco-reluctant startups are dependent on the government supports and regulations.

The thesis focuses on the integration of sustainability in the early stages of startups by developing a new framework. Given the resource constraints and focus on viability, it might be difficult for startups to consider sustainability at these early stages. A literature review revealed a lack of information on this subject. The research investigates the sustainability-related challenges startups face, identifies factors for sustainable business models using expert interviews and literature review. Due to the lack of information related to sustainable early stages start-ups, the author analyses basic principles related to start-ups and sustainability. The author looks into holistic approach to sustainability since a fragmental approach to sustainability risks harming the ecosystem while improving some metrics without systemic overview. Life-centred design is an emerging design approach that focuses on the well-being of all life forms and the health of our planet, thus making a shift from just human-centred design. The life-centred design was taken into consideration since it covers different aspects of sustainability as well as ethics and provides practical guidance for the designing process. Based on literature review and expert interviews the framework was formulated. The developed solution was tested with three early-stage startups, providing practical insights. The author analyses the findings and concludes that start-ups which have sustainability as a core value proposition are already sustainable and their sustainable impacts potentially scales with their product growth. At the same time for these types of start-ups it’s vital to consider additional value for the customer apart from sustainable value. For the start-ups with core value not directly related to sustainability, the sustainability can be embedded within a lean approach and aligning sustainability with their business goals if it doesn't require sacrificing limited resources such as money. Finally, the author suggests tools that raise awareness of participants and can be useful for holistic picture, based on findings during the workshop.

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With the ever increasing rates of sexual violence and sexually transmitted diseases, many people wishing to continue an active and healthy sexual lifestyle are forced to avoid bars, clubs, and other places that "pick-ups" or casual sex might occur. It has been noted that an alternative to this has arisen among college age students in Orlando, Florida. As yet with no official term it is colloquially know as "Friends With Benefits." Research through professional and scholarly journals makes no mention of this phenomenon. The bulk of this study attempts to document the prevalence of this phenomenon in college age student in Orlando, Florida. Through the development of surveys accurate statistics can be obtained and possible contributing factors regarding its instigation can be found. Further discussion should predict what overall and long-term affects "Friends With Benefits'' will have on society and its views on acceptable dating practices.

No / Purpose - The aim of this paper is to gain a better understanding of how small technology start-ups learn about a key customer in the context of B2B relationships, and to propose a model of interfirm learning with customers. Design/methodology/approach - Using a qualitative case-based approach, the authors immerse themselves in the development of three learning alliances between technology startups and industry leaders, two successes and one failure, to gain an in-depth understanding of the dynamics involved. Data were collected on both sides of the alliance dyad. Findings - The paper delineates four learning cycles: alliance inception, joint-learning, specialization and discovery. These learning cycles constitute sequences of increasing understanding, cooperation, and higher order learning between the partners; evolving from an exchange of existing knowledge to the joint development of new knowledge. Originality/value - This study contributes to an integration of the alliance and marketing literatures by offering empirical evidence of a different type of alliance, namely the reciprocal learning alliance. It also contributes to broadening our understanding of market orientation in inter-organizational settings. In the context of business-to-business relationships, the study has identified four critical dimensions of learning alliance success, and proposed how they could be measured: Learn about customers; Interact with customers; Customer-specific investments; and Co-develop breakthrough innovations. Finally, the study demonstrates the significant role played by 'committed champions'.

Les processus photocatalytiques à la surface d’oxydes métalliques semi-conducteurs font l’objet d’intensesrecherches au niveau mondial car ils constituent des alternatives efficaces, respectueuses de l’environnement etpeu coûteuses aux méthodes conventionnelles dans les domaines de la purification de l’eau et de l’air, et de laproduction « verte » d’hydrogène. Cependant, certaines limitations pour atteindre des efficacitésphotocatalytiques élevées ont été mises en évidence avec les matériaux semiconducteurs classiques du fait de larecombinaison rapide des porteurs de charge générés par illumination. Le développement de photocatalyseurs àbase d’héterostuctures obtenues par dépôt de métaux à la surface de matériaux semiconducteurs ou parassociation de deux semiconducteurs possédant des bandes d’énergie bien positionnées devrait permettre delimiter ces phénomènes de recombinaison via un transfert de charge vectoriel. Dans ce contexte, trois typesd’hétérostructures telles que des nanomatériaux à base d’hétérojonction semiconducteur n/semiconducteur n(SnO2/ZnO), metal/semiconducteur n (RuO2/TiO2 and RuO2/ZnO) et semiconducteur p/semiconducteur n(NiO/TiO2) ont été synthétisées avec succès par différentes voies liquides. Leur composition, leur texture, leurstructure et leur morphologie ont été caractérisées par spectroscopies FTIR et Raman, par diffraction des rayonsX, microscopie électronique en transmission (MET) et porosimétrie de sorption d’azote. Par ailleurs, unecombinaison judicieuse des données issues de mesures effectuées par spectroscopie UV-visible en réflexiondiffuse (DRS) et par spectroscopies de photoélectrons X (XPS) et UV (UPS) a permis de déterminer lediagramme d’énergie des bandes pour chaque système étudié. Les catalyseurs ainsi obtenus ont conduit à desefficacités photocatalytiques plus élevées qu’avec le dioxyde de titane P25 pour la dégradation de colorantsorganiques (bleu de méthylène, l’orangé de méthyle) et la production d’hydrogène. En particulier, lesnanocomposites RuO2/TiO2 et NiO/TiO2 contenant une quantité optimale de RuO2 (5 % en masse) et de NiO(1% en masse), respectivement, ont conduit aux efficacités photocatalytiques les plus importantes pour laproduction d’hydrogène. Ces excellentes performances photocatalytiques ont été interprétées en termesd’alignement adéquat des bandes d’énergies des matériaux associé à des propriétés texturales et structuralesfavorables. Ce concept de photocatalyseurs à base d’hétérojonctions semiconductrices d’activité élevée devrait àl’avenir trouver des débouchés industriels dans les domaines de l’élimination de l’environnement de composésorganiques indésirables et de la production « verte » d’hydrogène. / Photocatalytic processes over semiconducting oxide surfaces have attracted worldwide attention aspotentially efficient, environmentally friendly and low cost methods for water/air purification as well as forrenewable hydrogen production. However, some limitations to achieve high photocatalytic efficiencies havebeen found due to the fast recombination of the charge carriers. Development of heterostucture photocatalystsby depositing metals on the surface of semiconductors or by coupling two semiconductors with suitable bandedge position can reduce recombination phenomena by vectorial transfer of charge carriers. To draw newprospects in this domain, three different kinds of heterostructures such as n-type/n-type semiconductor(SnO2/ZnO), metal/n-type semiconductor (RuO2/TiO2 and RuO2/ZnO) and p-type/n-type semiconductor(NiO/TiO2) heterojunction nanomaterials were successfully prepared by solution process. Their composition,texture, structure and morphology were thoroughly characterized by FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ramanspectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N2 sorption measurements. On the other hand, asuitable combination of UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) data provided the energy band diagram for eachsystem. The as-prepared heterojunction photocatalysts showed higher photocatalytic efficiency than P25 TiO2for the degradation of organic dyes (i.e. methylene blue and methyl orange) and the production of hydrogen.Particularly, heterostructure RuO2/TiO2 and NiO/TiO2 nanocomposites with optimum loading of RuO2 (5 wt %)and NiO (1 wt %), respectively, yielded the highest photocatalytic activities for the production of hydrogen.These enhanced performances were rationalized in terms of suitable band alignment as evidenced by XPS/UPSmeasurements along with their good textural and structural properties. This concept of semiconductingheterojunction nanocatalysts with high photocatlytic activity should find industrial application in the future toremove undesirable organics from the environment and to produce renewable hydrogen.

Nous étudions l'adsorption de molécules de C60 sur deux reconstructions riches en silicium du 6H-SiC(0001) par IPES, UPS et XPS. Nous mettons en évidence que l'adsorption de C60 sur (3*3) est singulière et définit un nouveau type de liaison entre C60 et substrat : liaison covalente forte avec désorption par recuit à haute température et récupération de la reconstruction de surface. Ces expériences illustrent la complexité de la liaison Si-C60 et permettent une nouvelle mise en perspective.En combinant ARPES à basse énergie de photon et DFT sur une monocouche de ZnPc sur Ag(110), nous prouvons que l'effet de "Umklapp de surface" est effectif pour un réseau de molécules organiques organisé à grande distance. C'est à dire que les conditions de sortie des photoélectrons de volume sont modifiées par la présence du réseau.Nous démontrons aussi que l'HREELS est une technique de choix pour l'étude de l'adsorption d'hydrogène sur graphène, et l'étude de l'interaction d'un plan de graphène sur un substrat, ici le SiC. En effet l'adsorption (réversible) d'atomes d'hydrogène sur du graphène permet à l'HREELS d'être sensible sous le plan de graphène. / We study by IPES, UPS and XPS the adsorption of fullerene on two silicon-rich reconstructions of 6H-SiC(0001). We show that adsorption of C60 on the (3*3) is singular and defines a new bonding type between C60 and a substrate: covalent bond accompanied by the desorption of molecules and the reconstruction's recovery. Our experiments shed a new light on the Si-C60 bounding complexity and provide new insights.By combining low photon energy ARPES and DFT on a monolayer of ZnPc on Ag(110), we provide a direct evidence that the "surface Umklapp'" effect is effective for long-range ordered organic films. Namely, the photoelectrons escape conditions are modified by the bare presence of the molecular lattice.We show that HREELS is a convenient tool to investigate the adsorption of hydrogen on graphene and the interaction of graphene with a substrate, SiC in our study. Indeed, the reversible adsorption of hydrogen on graphene permits the HREELS to gain sensitivity below the graphene layer.