40 research outputs found
A study of strategy formulation in an automotive manufacturer
No full textThe strategies and operations of the Rover Group were investigated using a behaviour based longitudinal examination. The investigating method used was developed from Mintzberg's classical diachronic study approach through the adoption of an observing participant approach supplemented with probes into specific areas of the organisation's activities. The thesis argues, through the use of a future-forward perspective of organisation capability, that an organisation's future capability can be assessed. The thesis questions the periodisation approach normally adopted in longitudinal studies and proposes an alternative method which the author believes generates a better understanding of the operations and future potential of the organisation. This method also produces generalisations which can be readily applied to other organisations. The introduction of a process perspective to behavioural studies has led to the promise of a unified understanding of strategic management and organisation development
Method and apparatus for separating parts, in particular seeds, having different densities
No full textA method for separating seeds of different densities in a process stream, wherein the seeds are introduced into a magnetic process fluid for the formation of the process stream, which process stream is subjected to a magnetic field for the realization of a density stratification in the process stream, such that the individual seeds in the process stream assume a density-dependent position, after which the seeds located in or near a predetermined position or positions in the process stream, are separated from the remaining seeds in the process stream.Civil Engineering and Geoscience
A 2D test setup for scaled real-time hybrid tests of dynamic ice-structure interaction
No full textWith the ongoing development of offshore wind in cold regions where the foundations are exposed to sea ice, there is a strong need for data to validate the numerically predicted dynamic interaction between ice and structure used for design. Full-scale data is non-existent and only a limited number of experimental campaigns in ice tanks have been conducted for this specific problem. When compared to traditional structures subjected to sea ice loading like lighthouses and oil and gas platforms, the motion of the turbines at the ice action point is both in line with the ice drift direction but also significantly across due to the interaction of the turbine with the wind. Furthermore, the structure being slender overall and having a large top mass results in a very particular set of modes of oscillation where at least both the first and second global bending mode are expected to interact with the ice. To capture this complexity, a real-time hybrid test setup has been designed for basin tests in the SHIVER project and is presented in this paper. The setup uses two integrated linear actuators to control the motion of a rigid pile in two dimensions. Loads at the ice-action point are measured and used in a numerical model where these are combined with virtual loads, for example wind loading, to determine the response of the structure which is then applied in the physical setup by the actuators. The system allows to test a wide range of combinations of structural stiffness, mass, and damping, including structural properties typically associated with the relevant modes of oscillation of offshore wind turbines
Influence of inorganic carbon on purple phototrophic bacteria polyhydroxyalkanoates production under high reductive stress environment
No full textFunding Information:
This work was supported by national funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences - UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB. J.R.A. also acknowledges the financial support of FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the Ph.D. grant DFA/BD/8201/2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)Fermented wastes rich in reduced compounds challenge anaerobic purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) systems by causing redox imbalances. This study evaluated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production and CO2 fixation by PPB mixed cultures as means to balance internal redox, under four inorganic carbon (IC) availability conditions in a sequencing batch reactor. Culture selection under permanent IC presence promoted higher microbial diversity, but, strongly dependent on IC to balance internal redox, even when more oxidized substrates were supplemented. Increasing IC limitation favoured Rhodopseudomonas palustris, revealing its redox balancing capability independently of IC fixation. PHA contents of 20–29% gPHA/gVSS were achieved across all IC availabilities, however, when IC was present, growth was promoted over PHA production, indicating a preferable electron balance through CO2 fixation. Nevertheless, cultures selected under feast-famine IC exhibited a preference for PHA accumulation under IC limitation, suggesting IC tuning as a potential growth-controlling strategy to boost phototrophic PHA production using reduced feedstocks.publishersversionpublishe
Unravelling the structural and chemical features influencing deformation-induced martensitic transformations in steels
No full textA combination of Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) and high-sensitivity Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) was used to correlate the changes in microstructural features upon deformation with local chemical composition in Transformation-Induced Plasticity steels. A novel cleaning procedure was developed that allows complete monitoring of transformation and deformation processes in relation to the local crystal structure, microstructure and chemical composition. Here we show direct evidence that local variations in manganese content enable a gradual transformation of the retained austenite grains.Kavli Institute of Nanoscience DelftApplied Science
Antifouling potential of Nature-inspired sulfated compounds
No full textNatural products with a sulfated scaffold have emerged as antifouling agents with low or nontoxic effects to the environment. In this study 13 sulfated polyphenols were synthesized and tested for antifouling potential using the anti-settlement activity of mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) plantigrade post-larvae and bacterial growth inhibition towards four biofilm-forming bacterial strains. Results show that some of these Nature-inspired compounds were bioactive, particularly rutin persulfate (2), 3,6-bis(β-D-glucopyranosyl) xanthone persulfate (6), and gallic acid persulfate (12) against the settlement of plantigrades. The chemical precursors of sulfated compounds 2 and 12 were also tested for anti-settlement activity and it was possible to conclude that bioactivity is associated with sulfation. While compound 12 showed the most promising anti-settlement activity (EC50 = 8.95 μg.mL-1), compound 2 also caused the higher level of growth inhibition in bacteria Vibrio harveyi (EC20 = 12.5 μg.mL-1). All the three bioactive compounds 2, 6, and 12 were also found to be nontoxic to the non target species Artemia salina (<10% mortality at 250 μM) and Vibrio fischeri (LC50 > 1000 μg.mL-1). This study put forward the relevance of synthesizing non-natural sulfated small molecules to generate new nontoxic antifouling agents. © 2017 The Author(s).The authors thank to Elisabete Silva from the FFCUL for the ECONEA® sample. This research was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Projeto 9471 – Reforçar a Investigação, o Desenvolvimento Tecnológico e a Inovação (RIDTI) and by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER - PTDC/AAG-TEC/0739/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016793) under the project PTDC/AAG-TEC/0739/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016793), and through a postdoctoral scholarship to J.R.A. (SFRH/BPD/87416/2012), to M.C.d.S. (SFRH/BPD/81878/2011), and a PhD scholarship to J.A. (SFRH/BD/ 99003/2013)
A versatile shear cell for investigation of structure of food materials under shear
No full textA versatile cell for X-ray and neutron scattering experiments on samples under shear has been designed. To our knowledge, it is the first shear cell which can be used for both SAXS and SANS in respectively synchrotron or reactor beamlines. The cell is mainly intended for scattering experiments in so-called “1–2 plane geometry” but can also be modified into cone–plate and plate–plate rheological geometries, giving access to the 1–3 scattering plane. The latter two geometries, however, can only be used with neutron scattering. The final cell design is compact, which allows it to be used even with lab-based X-ray sources. A special thermostatic shell allows for the temperature control of the samples under investigation in the range from 5 up to 100 °C. Several X-ray and neutron scattering experiments performed with the cell have helped in better understanding of the structuring under shear of food materials, such as: cellulose suspensions, fat crystal networks and milk proteins.</p
Communities of innovation for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction: Niche creation and anticipation
No full textThis paper presents the concept of communities of innovation for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The paper discusses the added value of these types of communities to help address uncertain futures from the impact of climate change, which are highly context dependent. The paper frames these communities of innovation as part of innovation ecosystems in order to reflect on their key elements and added value. We argue that climate change and disaster risk management responses need to meet the needs of those experiencing problems with those that can offer solutions in distinct localities, including those that could fund or finance potential innovative solutions. Developing communities of innovation with the specific task of anticipating and creating niche solutions has been gaining traction in the EU. Some developed under the H2020 BRIGAID project are analysed here for other emergent COIs, as future-oriented communities tasked with the challenge to reduce disaster risks and enhance the climate resilience in their own spaces. This paper reflects on the experience of participants in these communities and their reflections and experience on whether these offer a useful form of organisation to anticipate future challenges, create niche solutions, and bring innovations to the market. The paper concludes with how communities of innovation can contribute to niche design and narratives of change to help achieve social and environmental resilience to reframe and help transition and transform current systems into more resilient, future-oriented communities
A breakthrough in outdoor pilot-scale operation
No full textThis work was supported by national funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia , I.P., in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences - UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB . Likewise, the INCOVER project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement n° 689242 ). J.R.A. also acknowledges the financial support of FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the Ph.D. grant DFA/BD/8201/2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)The versatile capacity of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) for producing valuable bioproducts has gathered renewed interest in the field of resource recovery and waste valorisation. However, greater knowledge regarding the viability of applying PPB technologies in outdoor, large-scale systems is required. This study assessed, for the first time, the upscaling of the phototrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production technology in a pilot-scale system operated in outdoor conditions. An integrated system composed of two up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors (for fermentation of wastewater with molasses), and two high-rate algal ponds retrofitted into PPB ponds, was operated in a wastewater treatment plant under outdoor conditions. UASB's adaptation to the outdoor temperatures involved testing different operational settings, namely hydraulic retention times (HRT) of 48 and 72 h, and molasses fermentation in one or two UASBs. Results have shown that the fermentation of molasses in both UASBs with an increased HRT of 72 h was able to ensure a suitable operation during colder conditions, achieving 3.83 ± 0.63 g CODFermentative Products/L, compared to the 3.73 ± 0.85 g CODFermentative Products/L achieved during warmer conditions (molasses fermentation in one UASB; HRT 48 h). Furthermore, the PPB ponds were operated under a light-feast/dark-aerated-famine strategy and fed with the fermented wastewater and molasses from the two UASBs. The best PHA production was obtained during the summer of 2018 and spring of 2019, attaining 34.7 % gPHA/gVSS with a productivity of 0.11 gPHA L−1 day−1 and 36 % gPHA/gVSS with a productivity of 0.14 gPHA L−1 day−1, respectively. Overall, this study showcases the first translation of phototrophic PHA production technology from an artificially illuminated laboratory scale system into a naturally illuminated, outdoor, pilot-scale system. It also addresses relevant process integration aspects with UASBs for pre-fermenting wastewater with molasses, providing a novel operational strategy to achieve photosynthetic PHA production in outdoor full-scale systems.publishersversionpublishe
