The purpose of this project is to create a light weight robotic version of an ant that can withstand great forces, trying to come close to the ant’s lifting technique as much as possible. This idea was chosen with inspiration from nature, especially from the obscure forces of an ant. These insects are proven to be able to lift and carry heavy loads, up to a thousand times their body weight. Various lifting technologies are used by several facilities today and therefore there is a need for improvements in this field. By trying to come close to an ant’s appearance and mimic certain ant movements, a hexapod was designed over a period of four months. The tests made in this project were divided into three categories; stability, lifting and gripping ability. The best balance was achieved by placing the legs’ contact points on the ground as far away from each other as possible. In total the robot ant could lift about 1.02 times its own weight and bear 3.01 times its own weight on the thorax. / Målet med projektet är att konstruera en lågvikts robotmyra som kan uthärda stora krafter och härma myrors rörelse vid lyft så mycket som möjligt. Projektidén valdes med inspiration från naturen, speciellt från de otroliga krafter hos en myra. Myror har bevisats kunna lyfta och bära tunga laster eller mer exakt tusen gånger sin egen vikt. Olika lyfttekniker används av flera faciliteter idag och därmed finns det behov av förbättringar i detta område. Genom att efterlikna en myras utseende och härma dess rörelser designades en sexfoting under en period på fyra månader. Testerna delades in i tre olika kategorier; stabilitet, lyft- och greppförmåga. Den bästa balansen uppnåddes då benens kontaktpunkter med marken placerades så långt ifrån varandra som möjligt. Totalt klarade robotmyran att lyfta 1.02 gånger sin egen vikt och bära 3.01 gånger egna vikten på ryggen.

Syftet med denna placebostudie är att studera energidryckens effekter på QTc-tiden, hjärtfrekvens (HR), systoliskt blodtryck (SBP) och diastoliskt blodtryck (DBP) efter konsumtion av 2 mg koffein per kilogram kroppsvikt. Dessutom belysa om skillnader finns beroende på koffeinkonsumtions vanor. Variabler registrerades av ett 12-avlednings-elektrokardiogram och en automatiserad blodtrycksanordning. Undersökningen genomfördes före intag av sockerfri (ED) och 30–40 minuter efter ED konsumtion. I resultatet inkluderades 58 deltagare i åldrarna 18–30 år. En signifikant skillnad mellan QTc, HR, SBP och DBP identifierades före och efter konsumtion av ED, genom ett parvis t-test. Ingen signifikant skillnad identifierades på HR (P=0,2), SBP (P=0,4) och DBP (P=o,4) före och efter konsumtion av placebodryck. En signifikant skillnad på QTc (P=0,03) före och efter konsumtion av placebo dryck påvisades. Ingen signifikant skillnad påvisades mellan variablerna i relation till dryckerna, genom ett oberoende t-test. Ingen signifikant skillnad identifierades mellan variablerna, i relation till sällan konsumenter respektive ofta konsumenter, genom ett oberoende t-test. Ingen signifikant skillnad påvisades mellan ED respektive placebo dryck per konsumtions grupp, utfört med två-vägs ANOVA. / Effects of energy drink on corrected QT interval, heart rate and blood pressure in womena placebo study The purpose of this placebo study is to study the effects of the energy drink on the QTc time, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after consumption of 2 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. Additionally, highlight whether differences exist depending on caffeine consumption habits. Variables were recorded by a 12-lead-electrocardiogram and an automated blood pressure device. The survey was conducted before consuming a sugar-free energy drink (ED) and 30–40 minutes after ED consumption. The results included 58 participants aged 18-30 years. A significant difference between QTc, HR, SBP, and DBP was identified before and after consumption of ED, by a paired t-test. No significant difference was identified in HR (P=0.2), SBP (P=0.4), and DBP (P=0.4) before and after consumption of the placebo drink. A significant difference in QTc (P=0.03) before and after consumption of the placebo drink was demonstrated. No significant difference was detected between the variables about the drinks, through an independent t-test. No significant difference was identified between the variables, to infrequent and frequent consumers, using an independent t-test. No significant difference was detected between the ED and placebo drink per consumption group, performed with two-way ANOVA.

The bachelor dissertation Thin at every cost? is a discourse analysis of how the human body is portrayed in the two Swedish evening tabloid newspapers Aftonbladet and Expressen. The study aims to investigate how the ideal body is portrayed, which qualities that we associate with the ideal body and also where the focal point is.   The investigation has been conducted by the implementation of Ernesto Laclau’s and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse analysis as both a theoretical framework and analysis tool, and uses agenda-setting theory, consumerist culture and weight, health and body ideal research to form a scientific base for the analysis.   The result of the study shows that the ideal body is thin. To achieve a thin body you must exercise and diet, because being in possession of an overweight body suggests that you are lazy and lack self-control. To promote a thin body most of the researched articles uses health as a concept. To achieve a thin body you must therefore “consume” health. Body image has become a marketing tool and something to buy and sell. If you consume body image and/or health, you will often find yourself being drawn back into the “void”, because the diets and exercises that the articles use to promote weight-loss are often short-term and therefore make you as a reader have to return for another diet, i.e. you have to consume more. The articles often use a big element of control to promote the thin body, but at the same time try to use a positive language to set the tone of the article. Body shaming also occurred, and articles that dealt with the negative aspects of weight loss were also researched and reinforced that the overweight body is often a subject of course language and judgement.

We have investigated the visual representation of men and women in Aftonbladet’s weight site. We have made a calculation of how many of the women and the men who were portrayed smiling/ not smiling, active/passive, looking into the camera/looking away from the camera and from which camera angle the picture is taken. We also kept statistic on the gender representation of the authors of the articles. Our investigation shows that Aftonbladet’s weight site has a distinct overrepresentation of women on their pictures, but also in terms of the authors of the articles. All of the authors were women and 78 percent of the pictures were pictures of women. Previous scientific results have shown that women often are depicted as passive, smiling and looking into the camera and men as active, serious and looking away from the camera. Our results were consistent with earlier scientific results, but in terms of activity and visual angle the results were not that different between women and men. As for the viewing perspectives, our study shows that the power relationship between the depicted and the viewer often is equal for both women and men. The power relationship is however more equal for women than for men, the power relationship for the men is more complex. The viewer both looks down on the men and looks up to them. Based on the theory of the viewing perspectives, Aftonbladet’s weight site portrays women as more equal to the viewer than men.

The purpose of this essay is to investigate the deformed Viking swords as seen in the historical Swedish province of Uplands during the Late Iron Age.Three sites have been selected for their concentration of deformed and fragmented swords,as well as other phenomena that are part of the phenomenon. Birka,Kiplingeberg and Söderby are the three choose parts of Upland chosen for the similarities and difference of the swords appearing in cremation graves. To get a deeper understanding of the phenomenon beyond “killing of an object”, the theoretical perspective of charismatic objects, personhood and ritual theories have been used to approachthe swords.This will allow the essay to address the question of why different forms of swords appear and discuss who the form was for.

På senare år har efterfrågan på stålmaterial av låg vikt ökat, speciellt inom transportsektorn. Genom att addera Al till stål sänks densiteten vilket gör att FeAl-legeringar är ett lovande material för fordonskonstruktion. Vätskekorrosionsegenskaper undersöktes av 3D – printade FeAl prover som innehöll 0 – 10 vikt% Al och 0,1 vikt% Zr för att bestämma hur korrosionsegenskaperna förändrades med avseende på Al – innehållet. Korrosionsresistansen var i stor utsträckning beroende av huruvida en passiv film av Al2O3 bildades på ytan eller ej. Korrosionshastigheten bestämdes genom EIS – och PDP – analyser utförda i 3,5 vikt% NaCl-lösning samt genom viktförlusttester i 1 M HCl respektive 0,5 M H2SO4. Vidare karaktäriserades proverna genom XRF, XRD, EDS, SEM och optisk mikroskopi vilket bland annat visade på att samtliga prover var enfassystem samt att den kemiska sammansättningen var enligt förväntan. Vidare indikerade optisk mikroskopi och SEM att ett högre Al – innehåll resulterar i att proverna blir mer porösa. Elektrokemiska tester antyder att ett Al – innehåll om 10 vikt% förbättrade korrosionsresistansen. Detta antyder möjligen, men kan inte definitivt fastslås från de utförda experimenten, att det krävs 10 vikt% Al för att en passiv film som täcker hela materialytan ska bildas. Korrosionshastigheten var 7 – 10 gånger högre vid viktförlusttest jämfört med elektrokemiska test. Detta förklaras genom att den skyddande passiva filmen bröts ned under de sura förhållanden som viktförlusttesten utfördes i medan den passiva Al2O3 filmen kunde bestå i de pH – neutrala förhållanden som elektrokemiska test utfördes vid. Detta speglar att bildandet och stabiliteten av Al2O3-filmen är vitalt för att sänka korrosionshastigheten. / In recent years the demand for lightweight ferritic steels has increased, particularly for transport applications. The addition of Al lowers the density, hence making FeAl alloys promising materials for such constructions. Aqueous corrosion properties of 3D – printed FeAl samples ranging from 0 – 10 wt% Al and containing 0.1 wt% Zr were investigated to determine how the Al content affects the corrosion resistance. The corrosion rate was found to greatly depend on the formation and stability of a protective passive film of Al2O3 forming on the material surface. A corrosion rate was obtained via EIS and PDP in 3.5 wt% NaCl as well as via weight loss testing in 1 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4. Additionally, XRF, XRD, EDS, SEM and optical microscopy tests were carried out to characterize the samples. XRF and EDS confirmed that the elemental composition of the samples was as expected and XRD indicated that all samples were single phase systems. Furthermore, optical microscopy and SEM indicated that higher Al content makes the samples more porous. Electrochemical testing indicated that addition of 10 wt% Al greatly improves the corrosion properties suggesting that it may require 10 wt% Al to form a passive film that covers the whole surface, although this cannot be said for certain from these experiments. Moreover, the corrosion rate was 7 – 70 times lower during electrochemical testing compared to weight loss testing, in which the passive film breaks down due to the acidic conditions. This emphasizes that the stability of the Al2O3 film is vital for slowing down the corrosion rate of FeAl alloys.

Title: Is fat the new skinny? A study on weight and perception of models in green marketing. Date: 2018-05-22 Level: Bachelor Thesis in International Marketing Author: Oskar Wagrelius & Sara Eriksson Supervisor: Ulf Aagerup Problem formulation: How does the perceived weight and warmth/competence of a model in green marketing affect sales through perceived greenness and attractiveness? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge, for brands being green, about how the choice of models in their advertisement will impact the brand's perception and affect greenness, attractiveness, and sales. The goal is to understand if the choice of a diverse model (considering weight) might be more effective considering green marketing and brands who want to be perceived as warm and/or competent. Theoretical framework: In this thesis, the theoretical framework is made up of existing theories on brand positioning, brand identity, consumer behavior, the perception of people and the usage of models. Methodology: This thesis is conducted with a deductive approach through a quantitative study made up of 131 respondents since non-coffee drinkers and non-coffee buying respondents as well as, non-Swedish people were excluded from participating. A total of 160 people responded to the online survey. The groups were randomized as to which one of four different surveys they got to answer. Secondary sources are scientific articles and books, journals as well as websites since the topic is in an academic viewpoint under-researched. Empirical findings: This thesis and its findings consist of an analysis of the quantitative study which is presented through theoretical models, figures, diagrams and tables as well as text. Conclusion: The findings in this thesis shows that green products have a higher purchase propensity than neutral products. Therefore the first assumption is considered to be true. The second and third assumptions are however falsified through the findings that a brands (being either warm or competent) choice of model will not affect the perceived greenness, attractiveness or sales.

Volvo Powertrain, VPT, i Köping tillverkar idag växellådor för tunga fordon. Till medeltunga fordon köper Volvo växellådor från bland annat underleverantören ZF. Volvo vill undersöka scenariot att ta fram AMT - växellådor för medeltunga fordon. I-shift modellen AT2412, som är dimensionerad för en max belastning på 2400 Nm och anpassad för tunga lastbilar, skulle kunna fungera även i medeltunga fordon men är då överdimensionerad och onödigt tung. Med tanke på kommande utvecklingsprojekt behöver Volvo öka sin kunskap hur val av tillverkningsmetoder påverkar vikt och tillverkningskostnader. Det behövs för att öka förståelsen för hur olika prioriteringar ska göras med avseende på vikt och tillverkningskostnader. Examensarbetets syfte var att ge denna förståelse för hur olika tillverkningsprocesser påverkar en transmissions utformning med avseende på mått och vikt utifrån ett givet momentområde. Målet med examensarbetet var att påvisa samband mellan valet av tillverkningsmetoder för enskilda artiklar och hur mycket det kan påverka den kompletta transmissionens vikt samt tillverkningskostnad. Arbetet var avgränsat till att analysera modifierade kugghjul i baslådan. Första delen av arbetet bestod av att dimensionera nya kugghjul anpassade för max belastning på 1600 Nm, detta utifrån samma produktionsupplägg som för befintliga kugghjul som återfinns i bland annat AT2412. Den andra delen bestod av att ta fram faktorer för hur olika tillverkningsmetoder påverkar dimensioneringen och för varje enskilt kugghjul beräkna vikt och tillverkningskostnad då åtta kombinationer av tillverkningsmetoder används. Avslutningsvis gjordes en summering för att visa vilka varianter som ger en optimal växellåda utifrån minimal vikt respektive minimal tillverkningskostnad. Resultatet visar att valet av tillverkningsmetoder leder till att vikten på kugghjulen kan reduceras mer eller mindre. Generellt visar beräkningarna att kugghjul som slipas, kulpenas och manganfosfateras får lägst vikt och blir dyrast att producera. Lägsta tillverkningskostnad uppnås genom att vissa tillverkningsprocesser som kulpening och manganfosfatering utesluts men detta måste då kompenseras med ökad kuggbredd vilket leder till högre vikt. Om VPT väljer att ta fram en ny variant av I-shift där kugghjulen är dimensionerade för 1600Nm så kan växellådan göras 6-11 kg lättare och tillverkningskostnaderna för kugghjulen kan minska med ca 10 procent. / Volvo Powertrain, VPT, in Köping currently manufactures transmissions for heavy-duty vehicles. For medium-duty vehicles Volvo purchase transmissions from their parts supplier ZF. Volvo wants to investigate the scenario to develop AMT - gearboxes for medium-duty vehicles. The I-shift model AT2412, which is designed for a maximum load of 2400 Nm and adapted for heavy-duty vehicles, would be able to function even in the medium-duty vehicles, but would be oversized and excessively heavy. In view of future development Volvo need to increase their knowledge in how the choices of manufacturing methods affect the mass and the manufacturing costs. They need to increase the understanding to make the optimal priorities with respect to mass and manufacturing costs. This study aimed to provide this understanding of how different processes affect a transmission design with respect to mass and measures from a given torque range. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the influence of the choice of production methods for individual items and how much it can affect the complete transmission's mass and manufacturing cost. The work was limited to analyzing the modified gears in the base unit. The first part of the work consisted of designing new gears designed for a maximum load of 1600 Nm, based on the same list of operations as the existing gears, which are found in AT2412. The second part consisted of revealing the factors for the different processes affecting the design regarding to fatigue and structural strength. For eight combinations of manufacturing processes the mass and manufacturing cost was calculated for each gear. Finally, a summary was made to show which combination of manufacturing methods that would give the optimum transmission based on minimum mass and minimum manufacturing cost. The results show that the choice of production methods leads to more or less reduction of mass of the gears. Generally, the calculations show that the gear that is ground, shootpeened and manganese phosphated get the lowest mass and become the most expensive to produce. On the other hand, lower manufacturing cost can be achieved by excluding certain manufacturing operations as shootpeening and manganese phosphate, but this must be compensated by increased facewidth of the gear, leading to increased mass. If VPT decide to develop a new variant of the I-shift in which the gears are designed for 1600Nm then the gearbox can be 6-11 kg lighter and the manufacturing costs of the gears can be reduced by about 10 percent.