Patterns and processes of littoral zooplankton composition in relation to the trophic state of the environment

Avhandlingen handlar om hur kompositionen hos litoralt djurplankton varierar med omgivningens trofiska nivå (m.a.o. eutrofieringsgrad). Arbetets inledande mål är att beskriva hur mängden och artmångfalden hos djurplankton i strandnära vattnen och de omgivande organismsamhällen ändras med närsaltshalter. Huvudsyftet är att utreda allmänna mekanismer som styr dessa mönster och som på så sätt kan vara viktiga i att reglera samhällen även i andra ekologiska system. Undersökningarna gjordes i åländska flador över flera tillväxtsäsonger samt i laboratorier där omgivningsförhållanden i fladorna kunde simuleras och manipuleras. Djurplankton i dessa lagunlika vikar är lägliga modellsystem. Flador är lämpligt avgränsade från det omgivande havet och förekommer allmänt i norra Östersjöregionen. Således kan de inom ett litet område som Åland representera hela regionala gradienten från näringsfattiga till näringsrika förhållanden. De små kräft- och hjuldjuren som djurplankton består av befinner sig i mitten av näringsväven. De sammankopplar olika typer av mikrobiell produktion vidare till högre konsumenter och är på så sätt centrala för organismsamhällens struktur och funktion i nästan alla akvatiska miljöer. I likhet med primärproducenterna (d.v.s. växter och alger som direkt påverkas av närsaltshalterna, och som bl.a. utgör föda och habitat för djurplankton) samvarierar kompositionen hos djurplankton tydligt med omgivningens trofiska nivå tills den blir hög. Sedan börjar hela samhällskompositionen utveckla sig åt två skilda håll. Dessa mönster kan för djurplanktonets del förklaras med att dess komposition ingalunda styrs endast av primärproducenterna, utan av ett komplicerat samspel mellan dessa resurser samt konkurrerande och högre konsumenter (d.v.s. predatorer på flera högre trofinivåer). Detta kom fram speciellt i laboratorieförhållanden då kompositionen hos dessa samhällskomponenter manipulerades. Både deras sammansättning och relativa tätheter i sig, samt en kombination av båda visade sig styra djurplanktonkompositionen. Lokala processer (inom fladorna) och synnerligen förändringar hos olika fundament- (speciellt vass, borstnate och rödsträfse), kärn- (speciellt yngel av a bborre och mört) och nyckelarter (stora predatorer som gädda) verkar kunna avgöra till vilken grad djurplanktonkompositionen samvarierar med omgivningens trofiska nivå. Inte bara samhällen utan också de mekanismer som styr dem ändras med omgivningens trofiska nivå. Flador är ypperliga naturliga laboratorier för att studera dessa och även andra allmänekologiska mönster och mekanismer. De är också oerhört viktiga miljöer för hela kustregionens natur.

Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment : Prosperity, competitiveness, sustainable development

Broschure of Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

Strategy for 2012–2015 : The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment create sustainable well-being

ELY Centres strategy brocshure.

Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment at Your Service

Broschure of The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.

Strategic outsourcing of R&D: The location-specific advantages of India to the pharmaceutical industry

Companies are increasingly under pressure to be more efficient both in terms of costs and overall performance and thus, they seek new ways to develop their products and innovate. For pharmaceutical industry it can take several decades to launch a new drug to the markets. Since pharmaceutical industry is one of the most research-intensive industries, is outsourcing one way to enhance the R&D processes of such companies. It is said that outsourcing to offshore locations is vastly more challenging and complicated than any other exporting activity or inter-company relationship that has evoked a lot of discussion. By outsourcing strategically, companies must also thoroughly focus on transaction costs and core competences. Today, the suppliers are looked for beyond national boundaries and furthermore, the location of the outsourcing activity must also be thoroughly considered. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to analyze what is known of strategic outsourcing of pharmaceutical R&D to India. In order to meet the purpose of the study, this study tries to answer three sub-questions set to it: first, what is strategic outsourcing, second, why pharmaceutical companies utilize strategic outsourcing of R&D and last, why pharmaceutical companies select India as the location for outsourcing their R&D. The study is a qualitative study. The purpose of the study was approached by a literature review with systematic elements and sub-questions were analyzed through different relevant theories, such as theory of transaction costs, core competences and location advantages. Applicable academic journal articles were comprehensively included in the study. The data was collected from electronic journal article databases using key words and almost only peer-reviewed, as new as possible articles were included. Also both the reference list of the included articles and article recommendations from professionals generated more articles for inclusion. The data was analyzed through thematization that resulted in themes that illuminate the purpose of the study and sub-questions. As an outcome of the analysis, each of the theory chapters in the study represents one sub-question. The literature used in this study revealed that strategic outsourcing of R&D is increasingly used in pharmaceutical industry and the major motives to practice it has to do with lowering costs, accessing skilled labor, resources and knowledge and enhancing their quality while speeding up the introduction of new drugs. Mainly for the above-mentioned motives India is frequently chosen as the target location for pharma outsourcers. Still, the literature is somewhat incomplete in this complex phenomenon and more research is needed.

Developing the measurement and management of knowledge: applying the constructive research approach in a knowledge intensive service environment

Intellectual assets have attained continuous attention in the academic field, as they are vital sources of competitive advantage and organizational performance in the contemporary knowledge intensive business environment. Intellectual capital measurement is quite thoroughly addressed in the accounting literature. However, the purpose of the measurement is to support the management of intellectual assets, but the reciprocal relationship between measurement and management has not been comprehensively considered in the literature. The theoretical motivation for this study rose from this paradox, as in order to maximise the effectiveness of knowledge management the two initiatives need to be closely integrated. The research approach of this interventionist case study is constructive. The objective is to develop the case organization’s knowledge management and intellectual capital measurement in a way that they would be closely integrated and the measurement would support the management of intellectual assets. The case analysis provides valuable practical considerations about the integration and related issues as the case company is a knowledge intensive organization in which the know-how of the employees is the central competitive asset and therefore, the management and measurement of knowledge are essential for its future success. The results suggest that the case organization is confronting challenges in managing knowledge. In order to appropriately manage knowledge processes and control the related risks, support from intellectual capital measurement is required. However, challenges in measuring intellectual capital, especially knowledge, could be recognized in the organization. By reflecting the knowledge management situation and the constructed strategy map, a new intellectual measurement system was developed for the case organization. The construction of the system as well as its indicators can be perceived to contribute to the literature, emphasizing of the importance of properly considering the organization’s knowledge situation in developing an intellectual capital measurement system.

Working capital management in the small and medium-sized enterprises Case: Project-based business environment in Flowrox Oy

This Master´s thesis illustrates how growing a business ties up the company´s working capital and what the cost of committed capital. In order to manage a company´s working capital in rapid business growth phase, the thesis suggests that by monitoring and managing the operating and cash conversion cycles of customers´ projects, a company can find ways to secure the required amount of capital. The research method of this thesis was based on literature reviews and case study research. The theoretical review presents the concepts of working capital and provides the background for understanding how to improve working capital management. The company in subject is a global small and medium-sized enterprise that manufactures pumps and valves for demanding process conditions. The company is expanding, which creates lots of challenges. This thesis concentrates to the company´s working capital management and its efficiency through the supply chain and value chain perspective. The main elements of working capital management are inventory management, accounts receivable management and accounts payable management. Prepayments also play a significant role, particularly in project-based businesses. Developing companies´ working capital management requires knowledge from different kind of key operations´ in the company, like purchasing, production, sales, logistics and financing. The perspective to develop and describe working capital management is an operational. After literature reviews the thesis present pilot projects that formed the basis of a model to monitor working capital in the case company. Based on analysis and pilot projects, the thesis introduces a rough model for monitoring capital commitments in short time period. With the model the company can more efficiently monitor and manage their customer projects.

Challenges in scaling agile software development in offshoring environment

Corporate decision to scale Agile Software development methodologies in offshoring environment has been obstructed due to possible challenges in scaling agile as agile methodologies are regarded to be suitable for small project and co-located team only. Although model such as Agile Scaling Model (ASM) has been developed for scaling Agile with different factors, inabilities of companies to figure out challenges and addressing them lead to failure of project rather than gaining the benefits of using agile methodologies. This failure can be avoided, when scaling agile in IT offshoring environment, by determining key challenges associated in scaling agile in IT offshoring environment and then preparing strategies for addressing those key challenges. These key challenges in scaling agile with IT offshoring environment can be determined by studying issues related with Offshoring and Agile individually and also considering the positive impact of agile methodology in offshoring environment. Then, possible strategies to tackle these key challenges are developed according to the nature of individual challenges and utilizing the benefits of different agile methodologies to address individual situation. Thus, in this thesis, we proposed strategy of using hybrid agile method, which is increasing trend due to adaptive nature of Agile. Determination of the key challenges and possible strategies for tackling those challenges are supported with the survey conducted in the researched organization.

Utilization of non ferrous metals in boiler combustion environment

The made research is focused on possibility of application of non ferrous metals in boiler pressure parts as a substitute of currently used ferrous-base alloys. The main issue was to define resistive ability of some perspective non ferrous metals to chlorine induced corrosion. Experimental study was performed using simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) in the temperature range of 400-700 °C. The chloride induced corrosion was simulated by mixtures of metal samples with potassium chloride treated by synthetic air. The advantage of synergetic effect of non ferrous alloys compare to single metals is shown due to the obtained data from conducted thermal balance tests.

Modeling and Control of the Power Conversion Unit in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Environment

In this doctoral thesis, a power conversion unit for a 10 kWsolid oxide fuel cell is modeled, and a suitable control system is designed. The need for research was identified based on an observation that there was no information available about the characteristics of the solid oxide fuel cell from the perspective of power electronics and the control system, and suitable control methods had not previously been studied in the literature. In addition, because of the digital implementation of the control system, the inherent characteristics of the digital system had to be taken into account in the characteristics of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The characteristics of the solid oxide fuel cell as well the methods for the modeling and control of the DC/DC converter and the grid converter are studied by a literature survey. Based on the survey, the characteristics of the SOFC as an electrical power source are identified, and a solution to the interfacing of the SOFC in distributed generation is proposed. A mathematical model of the power conversion unit is provided, and the control design for the DC/DC converter and the grid converter is made based on the proposed interfacing solution. The limit cycling phenomenon is identified as a source of low-frequency current ripple, which is found to be insignificant when connected to a grid-tied converter. A method to mitigate a second harmonic originating from the grid interface is proposed, and practical considerations of the operation with the solid oxide fuel cell plant are presented. At the theoretical level, the thesis discusses and summarizes the methods to successfully derive a model for a DC/DC converter, a grid converter, and a power conversion unit. The results of this doctoral thesis can also be used in other applications, and the models and methods can be adopted to similar applications such as photovoltaic systems. When comparing the results with the objectives of the doctoral thesis, we may conclude that the objectives set for the work are met. In this doctoral thesis, theoretical and practical guidelines are presented for the successful control design to connect a SOFC-based distributed generation plant to the utility grid.

The impact of a new partnership outsourcing arrangement: a routine-based case study in detail engineering

This thesis investigated the contemporary phenomenon of detail engineering outsourcing. The case organization had pursued a new outsourcing approach with a trusted partner. The goal of this empirical study was to examine the impact of the consequential partnership outsourcing arrangement. Particularly, the beneficence of the arrangement was evaluated based on the underlying organizational routine and the long-term economic implications of its performance outcome. The case study was needed, as the unit will likely have to rely on such distance outsourcing arrangements more and more in the future, and understanding on the impact of such operations is needed. The main findings revealed that the new outsourcing arrangement is not currently a very attractive strategic option for organizing production. The benefits which stem from the emerged, unique engineering project routine are not significant enough to make the arrangement an advantageous one, especially since increasing partnering costs are being met. This conclusion was drawn via the extended transaction cost view. Benchmarking was done in reliance to an old arrangement from which the new pursuit was a departure from. The case study then enlightened the engineering unit on the impact of its strategic maneuver by combining the routines-theory framework with contemporary methods of governance structure evaluation. Through this, it was shown that greater efforts are needed to make the new outsourcing approach a more beneficial one. However, the studied arrangement was seen to inhold potential for better results. The findings can be used to capitalize on this.

Occurrence and photochemical fate of selected pharmaceutical active ingredients in the aquatic environment

Läkemedel konsumeras årligen i enorma mängder världen över. Efter intag kommer en del av läkemedlets aktiva förening(ar) att utsöndras från kroppen med urin och fekalier för att sedan transporteras till avloppsreningsverk. Till följd av att reningsverken inte fullständigt förmår rena avloppsvattnet från dessa föreningar kommer de att kontinuerligt tillföras vattenmiljön. Således är det viktigt att utveckla analytiska metoder för att kunna studera halterna av de aktiva föreningarna i reningsverkens utloppsvatten och den närliggande vattenmiljön. Ute i naturen kommer föreningarna att utsättas för olika fysikaliska, kemiska och biologiska processer, vilka kan orsaka förändringar i deras kemiska struktur och därigenom deras identitet och biologiska aktivitet. En stor del av de befintliga aktiva föreningarna genomgår kemisk förändring då de i vattenmiljön utsätts för solljus (fototransformation). Genom fototransformation kan nya föreningar (transformationsprodukter) med andra kemiska och biologiska egenskaper bildas. Denna avhandling inriktar sig på de aktiva föreningarnas förekomst och fotokemiska öde i miljön. I avhandlingen presenteras framtagna analytiska metoder för kvantifiering av läkemedelsföreningar i avloppsvatten och ytvatten samt för studier av vissa utvalda föreningars fotokemiska transformationsvägar. Därtill beskrivs några syntetiska metoder för att få tillgång till transformationsprodukter av det antiinflammatoriska ämnet diklofenak.

The case of web based information environment in web based weight management services

Abstrakti

Design of an amplifier and an instrumentation setup for a harsh environment heat flux measurement application – case axial flux electric machine

Measurement is a tool for researching. Therefore, it is important that the measuring process is carried out correctly, without distorting the signal or the measured event. Researches of thermoelectric phenomena have been focused more on transverse thermoelectric phenomena during recent decades. Transverse Seebeck effect enables to produce thinner and faster heat flux sensor than before. Studies about transverse Seebeck effect have so far focused on materials, so in this Master’s Thesis instrumentation of transverse Seebeck effect based heat flux sensor is studied, This Master’s Thesis examines an equivalent circuit of transverse Seebeck effect heat flux sensors, their connectivity to electronics and choosing and design a right type amplifier. The research is carried out with a case study which is Gradient Heat Flux Sensors and an electrical motor. In this work, a general equivalent circuit was presented for the transverse Seebeck effect-based heat flux sensor. An amplifier was designed for the sensor of the case study, and the solution was produced for the measurement of the local heat flux of the electric motor to improve the electromagnetic compatibility.