| 1. |
- Guyard, Carina
(författare)
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Kommunikationsarbete på distans
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This research thesis analyzes the characteristics of communication work in a call centre, by examining the communication work at a Swedish call centre which is outsourced to Latvia. The thesis studies the ways in which communication with the customers is organized, carried out and assigned meaning. Theoretically, the thesis draws on both critical and management-oriented perspectives of work. The empirical investigation combines participant observations at the call centre with individual interviews, mainly conducted with operators and management staff.The communication work is analyzed both as labour and as communicative activity. The concept of labour focuses upon the relation between employer and employee. Therefore, the analysis is placed within the framework of a capitalistic production system, through a survey of the economic and the organisational working conditions. The communicative activity deals with how the telephone conversations with the customers are enacted. In that part of the analyses, the working routines and the meaning making practices are illuminated.As examined in the current research, the communication work is indeed constructed in an alienated manner, through high levels of standardization, immobility, and estrangement from both customers and the customers’ culture. Nonetheless, merely being employed has meant significant economic security for the operators of the Latvian call centre. The operators are incumbents of a society affected by deep economic crises with high unemployment rates. In relation to their broader society, the employees have found meaning within their immediate social situation. This may explain why they endure the monotonous work with few opportunities for development.
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| 2. |
- Aman, Robert, 1982-
(författare)
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Impossible Interculturality? : Education and the Colonial Difference in a Multicultural World
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- An increasing number of educational policies, academic studies, and university courses today propagate ‘interculturality’ as a method for approaching ‘the Other’ and reconciling universal values and cultural specificities. Based on a thorough discussion of Europe’s colonial past and the hierarchies of knowledge that colonialism established, this dissertation interrogates the definitions of intercultural knowledge put forth by EU policy discourse, academic textbooks on interculturality, and students who have completed a university course on the subject. Taking a decolonial approach that makes its central concern the ways in which differences are formed and sustained through references to cultural identities, this study shows that interculturality, as defined in these texts, runs the risk of affirming a singular European outlook on the world, and of elevating this outlook into a universal law. Contrary to its selfproclaimed goal of learning from the Other, interculturality may in fact contribute to the repression of the Other by silencing those who are already muted. The dissertation suggests an alternative definition of interculturality, which is not framed in terms of cultural differences but in terms of colonial difference. This argument is substantiated by an analysis of the Latin American concept of interculturalidad, which derives from the struggles for public and political recognition among indigenous social movements in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. By bringing interculturalidad into the picture, with its roots in the particular and with strong reverberations of the historical experience of colonialism, this study explores the possibility of decentring the discourse of interculturality and its Eurocentric outlook. In this way, the dissertation argues that an emancipation from colonial legacies requires that we start seeing interculturality as inter-epistemic rather than simply inter-cultural.
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| 3. |
- Nicol, Christopher, 1980-
(författare)
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Change in the cage : Exploring an organisaitonal field: Sweden's biofuel region
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This Ph.D. thesis seeks to better understand how change occurs within a group of organisations. Aiming to make a contribution to institutional theory, it brings together three main schools, namely: old, new and neoinstitutionalism, in an integrative approach for understanding organisational field change. The study seeks to examine and explore a community of organisations who have come together to form an organisational field. More specifically, the object is to better understand how an organisational field is formed and developed and how change is driven, at an organisational and organisational field level, as a consequence of this field formation. Moreover, the study investigates the impact of triggers for change upon the field, and the role that institutional forces and individuals play in the process of organisational field change.The theoretical chapters, as discussed, integrate the concepts of change from three schools developing a comprehensive framework of organisational field change with which the empirical material can be analysed, in order to make the theoretical contribution. The empirical work is based on a case study, incorporating two rounds of interviews and secondary data collection, undertaken from 2007 - 2011. The case study examines the development of the Biofuel Region, a collection of organisations based, principally, in Ornskoldsvik, Northern Sweden, that have worked together to develop a public and private biofuel transportation infrastructure. Besides being a fascinating case of regional development and having the reassuring object of creating an eco-efficient fuel the Biofuel Region, regarded as an organisational field, provided good access to respondents and useful insights into the way that fields form and change.The contributions of this thesis offer an insight into the manner with which the formation of an organisational field can begin with a drive for a legitimisation of the field's endeavours.Underscored is how the field can restructure continuously as a consequence of triggers for change, and that consequently fields are dynamic and not static and are thus changing frequently. Furthermore, it highlights that given the correct conditions individuals can play a key role in the management of an organisational field. The overarching contribution is that change occurs in a plethora of different ways within a field as a consequence of its formation,development, triggers for change, individual's contributions and institutional forces.
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| 4. |
- Ekström, Madeleine, 1984-
(författare)
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Development of a ferritic ductile cast iron for improved life in exhaust applications
- 2013
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Due to coming emission legislations, the temperature is expected to increase in heavy-duty diesel engines, specifically in the hot-end of the exhaust system affecting components, such as exhaust- and turbo manifolds. Since the current material in the turbo manifold, a ductile cast iron named SiMo51, is operating close to its limits there is a need for material development in order to maintain a high durability of these components. When designing for increased life, many material properties need to be considered, for example, creep-, corrosion- and fatigue resistance. Among these, the present work focuses on the latter two up to 800°C improving the current material by additions of Cr, for corrosion resistance, and Ni, for mechanical properties. The results show improved high-temperature corrosion resistance in air from 0.5 and 1wt% Cr additions resulting in improved barrier layer at the oxide/metal interface. However, during oxidation in exhaust-gases, which is a much more demanding environment compared to air, such improvement could not be observed. Addition of 1wt% Ni was found to increase the fatigue life up to 250°C, resulting from solution strengthening of the ferritic matrix. However, Ni was also found to increase the oxidation rates, as no continuous SiO2-barrier layers were formed in the presence of Ni. Since none of the tested alloys showed improved material properties in exhaust gases at high temperature, it is suggested that the way of improving performance of exhaust manifolds is to move towards austenitic ductile cast irons or cast stainless steels. One alloy showing good high-temperature oxidation properties in exhaust atmospheres is an austenitic cast stainless steel named HK30. This alloy formed adherent oxide scales during oxidation at 900°C in gas mixtures of 5%O2-10%H2O-85%N2 and 5%CO2-10%H2O-85%N2 and in air. In the two latter atmospheres, compact scales of (Cr, Mn)-spinel and Cr2O3 were formed whereas in the atmosphere containing 5%O2 and 10%H2O, the scales were more porous due to increased Fe-oxide formation. Despite the formation of a protective, i.e. compact and adherent, oxide scale on HK30, exposure to exhaust-gas condensate showed a detrimental effect in form of oxide spallation and metal release. Thus, proving the importance of taking exhaust-gas condensation, which may occur during cold-start or upon cooling of the engine, into account when selecting a new material for exhaust manifolds.
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| 5. |
- Jonsson, Ove, 1966-
(författare)
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Cerebral Perfusion and Metabolism during Experimental Extracorporeal Circulation
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Neurologic injuries are major causes of mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery. This thesis aimed to investigate cerebral metabolism and perfusion abnormalities in pigs during hypothermic circulatory arrest, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) and extracorporeal circulation following progressive venous stasis. Hypothermic circulatory arrest induced a metabolic pattern consistent with overt ischaemia, which was absent following SACP. In contrast, metabolism during SACP was influenced by the perfusate temperature, where a colder perfusate (20 °C) preserved cellular metabolism and membrane integrity better than a warmer perfusate (28 °C). The minimum SACP flow required to maintain metabolism during hypothermia at 20 °C was investigated with magnetic resonance imaging, protein S100β, near infrared spectroscopy and microdialysis. The findings suggested an ischaemic threshold close to 6 ml/kg/min in the present models. Furthermore, regional differences in perfusion with a hemispheric distribution were apparent at all flow levels and differed from earlier studies where the differences were uniform and followed a neuranatomical pattern. Venus stasis following superior vena cava congestion produced measurable signs of impaired cerebral perfusion and patterns of cerebral ischaemia were evident in individual animals. As venous pressure increased, the mean arterial pressure stayed more or less unchanged, generating reduced cerebral perfusion pressure and consequently an increased risk of ischaemia, which may impair cerebral perfusion, especially in cases of compromised arterial flow during extracorporeal circulation. In conclusion, cerebral metabolism and perfusion are influenced by temperature, SACP flow levels and venous congestion. In clinical practice, the regional differences in perfusion during SACP may be of pathogenic importance in focal cerebral ischaemia. Furthermore, the reduced superior vena cava cannula flow may pass undetected during bicaval cardiopulmonary bypass if the superior vena cava flow is not specifically monitored.
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| 6. |
- Kasedde, Hillary, 1984-
(författare)
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Characterization of Raw Materials for Salt Extraction from Lake Katwe, Uganda
- 2013
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Uganda is well endowed with economic quantities of salt evident in the interstitial brines and evaporite deposits of Lake Katwe, a closed saline lake located in the western branch of the great East African rift valley. Currently, rudimentally methods of salt mining based on solar evaporation of brine continue to be used for salt extraction at the lake. These have proved to be hazardous and unsustainable to the salt miners and the environment. In this work, literature concerning the occurrence of salt and the most common available technologies for salt extraction is documented. Field studies were undertaken to characterize the salt lake deposit and to devise strategies of improving salt mining and extraction from the salt lake raw materials. The mineral salt raw materials (brines and evaporites) were characterized to determine their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and morphological composition through field and laboratory analyses. In addition, laboratory extraction techniques were undertaken to evaluate possibilities of future sustainable salt extraction from the lake deposit. Also, PHREEQC simulations using Pitzer models were carried out to determine the present saturation state of the lake brine and to estimate which salts and the order in which they precipitate from the brine upon concentration by evaporation.Results reveal that the raw materials from the salt lake contain substantial amounts of salt which can be commercialized for optimum production. The brines are highly alkaline and rich in Na+, K+, Cl-, SO42-, CO32-, and HCO3-. Moreover, they contain trace amounts of Mg2+, Ca2+, Br-, and F-. The lake is hydro-chemically of a carbonate type with the brines showing an intermediate transition between Na-Cl and Na-HCO3 water types. The evaporites are composed of halite mixed with other salts such as hanksite, burkeite, trona etc, with their composition varying considerably within the same grades. The laboratory extraction experiments indicate that various types of economic salts such as thenardite, anhydrite, mirabilite, burkeite, hanksite, gypsum, trona, halite, nahcolite, soda ash, and thermonatrite precipitate from the brine of Lake Katwe. The salts crystallize in the order following the sequence starting with sulfates, followed by chlorides and carbonates, respectively. Moreover, thermodynamic modeling in PHREEQC accurately predicted the solubility and sequence of the salt precipitation from the lake brine. Understanding the sequence of salt precipitation from the brine helps to control its evolution during concentration and hence, will lead to an improved operating design scheme of the current extraction processes. The work providesinformation towards future mineral salt exploitation from the salt lake.
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| 7. |
- Olupot, Peter Wilberforce, 1976-
(författare)
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Characterization of Ceramic Raw Minerals in Uganda for Production of Electrical Porcelain Insulators
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this work an extended literature survey on ceramics and porcelains in particular, has been documented. Samples from two Ugandan deposits of each feldspar and quartz were characterised by means of X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, chemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy and found to possess requisite properties for making electro porcelain insulators. Five porcelain bodies were formulated and samples were fabricated from materials collected from selected deposits in Uganda using different mixing proportions of clay, feldspar and quartz. The properties of the formulated bodies were studied in relation to workability, firing temperature, dielectric and bending strengths. The strengths (both mechanical and dielectric) were found to decrease as the firing temperature was increased above 1250°C. Additionally, ten formulations with components in the range of 30-60% clay, 20-45% feldspar and 20-25% sand were prepared. Specimens for mechanical and physical characterisation were made using the plastic extrusion method. The samples were characterised in terms of constituent oxide composition, flexural strength, fracture toughness, dielectric strength along with microstructural and phase properties using ICP-AES analyses, 4-point load bending strength test, Vicker’s indentation method, SEM and XRD analyses respectively. XRD studies revealed that the crystalline phases formed were mullite and quartz and their intensity was almost identical for all samples fired at 1250°C but there was a decrease inquartz content as temperature was increased above 1250°C. Samples with 20% sandcontent resulted in higher density, MOR and fracture toughness compared to thosecontaining 25% sand. Mullite content on the other hand did not change at temperatures above 1200°C but there were significant differences in the morphologies of the mullite crystals in the samples. Optimum mechanical and electrical properties were found at maximum vitrification and a microstructure showing small closely packed mullite needles. This occurred at a firing temperature of 1250°C. Three promising porcelain formulations from the above investigations were chosen and five glazes formulated to fit on biscuit fired specimens. The best-fitting glaze was adopted. The formulated specimens were investigated using dilatometry, Steger test, FEG-SEM, XRD, 4-point bending, dielectric strength and fracture toughness tests. A porcelain specimen consisting of 68% SiO2, 19% Al2O3, 4.7% K2O and a glaze of Seger formula RO:0.57Al2O3:4.86SiO2 exhibited MOR of 105MPa with Weibull modulus of 5.6 and a dielectric strength of 18kV/mm upon firing at a heating rate of 6ºC/min to 1250ºC, soaking for 2h at the top temperature and cooling down to 500°C at a rate of 6°C/min, followed by furnace cooling. The microstructure of the high strength specimen exhibited round mullite needles, quartz and glass. Holding samples for 2h at peak temperature resulted in a 22% increase in MOR compared to 1h holding. Glazing further improved strength by 67% for the best sample. Compressive stresses in glaze contributed to the strengthening effect. The dielectric and mechanical strengths obtained make the ormulated sample suitable for application in low voltage electrical insulation.
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