Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Techno-economy'

The research conducted is in the field of innovation and focuses on the UK energy sector. The key theme of the study is the transition towards a hydrogen economy with fuel cell technologies at the epicentre and takes into account the relevant scientific, technological, economic and policy issues. In order to provide an understanding of the factors that affect techno-economic transitions to alternative energy systems, the thesis investigates the historical transition processes such as the transition to electrification in the early 1900s and recent transitions to CCGT and renewable energy systems (wind, biofuels and solar) that have taken place since the late 1980s. As the developmental status of hydrogen technologies lay at the heart of these transitions, a thorough analysis of the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, the R&D requirements, and innovations required in different scientific fields (including materials science) to develop these technologies is conducted. At the same time, as other factors such as sustainability, climate change and security of supply concerns can greatly affect the direction of the transition processes, that includes R&D activities and investment in alternative energy technologies, an overview of these factors is also provided. The analysis employs a new theoretical framework that combines two well established theories in the literature, Techno-economic Transitions and Large Technological Systems. By using this new framework, the technological transition towards a hydrogen energy system can be analysed at three levels, (global, national and local). The analysis is narrowed down to the local level in order to determine the timing of a transition in London and how it can form the foundation for a wider a transition at the national level based on alternative technologies.

Thesis: Ph. D. in History and Social Study of Science and Technology (HASTS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Science, Technology and Society, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-285).
This dissertation is a study of emergent economic forms of life. It investigates recent remakings of economic existence and modes of disseminating these forms of life, and does so with particular reference to the crafting of electricity markets in the United States. It draws on more than a year of fieldwork among experts and users involved in electricity exchange. The experts and users among whom I conducted participant observation include computer programmers who assist companies that trade in electricity markets by collecting information and making trading suggestions, electrical engineers who design new infrastructures such as electricity markets for buying and selling electricity in bulk, psychologists and social scientists who study people's electricity consumption behavior to generate economic technologies to save money to users and providers of electricity, and citizen groups based in West Virginia and rural Illinois that organize against electricity markets' exclusion of consumers from decision-making mechanisms. Bringing questions of economic anthropology to bear upon the emergent literature of the anthropology of infrastructures, I propose that new economic forms of existence often come to being though infrastructure building and maintenance. For the last 20 years, experts of diverse technical backgrounds have been reprogramming the electric grid to allow for enhanced calculative choice and competition - principles at the core of the neoliberal agenda. I demonstrate that people who do not necessarily concern themselves with the formal study of economics often take the lead in creating and propagating wide-ranging economic emergent forms of life, such as neoliberalism, across the social field. To zero in on their work, I develop the concept of "techno-economics": an approach that understands commodities, whether they are living nonhumans such as livestock or inorganic processes like electricity, as more than passive receptacles of human design, and locates humans within their efforts to commoditize and marketize unruly objects, like electricity - a commodity that cannot be stored in warehouses or shipped on highways. Anthropological studies of the techno-economic, I suggest, are best equipped to make connections in ethnographic representation between otherwise disparate nodes of social life, like expertise and wires, law and steel, and finally, economics and electricity.
by Canay Özden-Schilling.
Ph. D. in History and Social Study of Science and Technology (HASTS)

Thesis advisor: Judith Schwartz
Increased access to media and production tools has given the civilized masses the means not only to consume an increasingly comprehensive wealth of content, but also the means to interact with that content in ways never before imagined. This has allowed the digital generation to grow ever more comfortable creating and editing content outside of the professional environment. Much of the creative output of our day comes in the form of the “remix,” a piece of content which is constructed, in full or in part, from bits (most often in the form of bytes) of other media artifacts. However, because of American law and international copyright agreements that prohibit the copying (reproduction or derivation) of creative works, a generation of amateur producers has been criminalized. Despite the message sent by recent prosecutions in light of the letter of copyright law, the original spirit of copyright law was to encourage creative production, not restrict it. Within the music industry, the international electronic dance music community demonstrates how new forms of content and copyright management within a hybrid economy could benefit artists, fans, and industry alike
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2009
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: College Honors Program
Discipline: Communication

A sustainable energy system defines the pattern of energy generation and uses that can be sustained into the future. This study develops possible transition paths towards the future low carbon energy by proposing various energy flow scenarios using natural gas as a clean source of energy for micro-CHPs, and then renewable biogas/biomethane as a replacement fuel. In Part 1, mathematical modelling/optimization of the natural-gas based Distributed Energy Supply System (DESS), both at the building and overall energy supply network level was carried out for three types of micro-CHPs – SOFCs, Stirling Engines, ICEs – and for various operating strategies – cost-driven, primary energy-driven, CO2-emission-driven, with a novel cap on electricity export. In Part 2, Mathematical modelling/optimization at both levels was also developed for a retrofit energy supply network with biogas/biomethane generation from different feedstocks. The biogas utilization framework consisted of a novel approach suggested by this study for upgrading biogas in an existing natural gas processing plants. Optimization criteria included maximizing the NPV, the GHG reduction, the use of biogas/biomethane, and minimizing the use of natural gas. All optimization was carried out using the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). Utilizing micro-CHPs on a natural gas-based energy network showed the primary energy consumption driven options achieving a 6-10% reduction of total primary energy use compared to the base case. When the system was optimized for cost, applying a cap on the electricity export did not change the selected optimal PGU technology/capacity, but affected some quantitative assessments significantly – primary energy consumption; or at least moderately – payback time. It was established that biogas/biomethane could replace 25% to 84% of the domestic natural gas demand for the UK, with GHG savings of 1.61 – 3.23 tonnes CO2e/year/household (42% to 85% reduction from the base case). Total capital spend ranged from £5,133 to £29,955/household with NPVs ranging from £7,036 to -£19,202 per household, propped up by government subsidies. Gasification had a greater potential than Anaerobic Digestion (AD). Also, centralized CHP heat was established as too expensive at current prices, and its use made no significant impact to the overall energy flow. Sensitivity for subsidies, CO2 price and capital costs revealed both several positive and negative effects.

Caviro is one of the main wine producers in Italy. Caviro has two main headquarters in Emilia-Romagna. The one which is known as production plant is based in Faenza, while the other one where the bottling and storing is mainly carried out is in Forli. Wine and by-products are produced in Faenza. Then, produced wine is sent to the plant in Forli for storing, aging in case of some wines, analogical testing, and bottling for selling. Extraction of polyphenols from grape seeds has been investigated for couple of years. According to company’s goals and in compliance with circular economy goals of the company, the extraction process has been determined as a high added value by-product production. During my internship in the company, I had the opportunity to carry out extraction in lab-scale and pilot scale. In lab-scale experiments, 1 L Pyrex bottles were used as extraction chambers. Based on literature review, liquid to solid ratio of 4.75 has been applied. 850 mL of 50% v/v ethanol solution as extraction solution. The extraction cycle consists of two stages. Each stage lasts for four hours. After the first stage, solution is measured transferred to another Pyrex bottle. According to the same L/S ratio, fresh seeds has been added to the bottle to conduct the second stage of the extraction. The obtained solution was distilled in vacuum condition (-1barg) to recover the ethanol and concentrate the product. Exhausted seeds were washed to recover the adsorbed ethanol from seeds to optimize the process. By optimizing the process around 95% of inserted ethanol has been recovered. The washing solution has been used for 4 washing cycles to fulfil the recovery goals. By conducting the mass balance all obtained results were verified.

Les données acquises dans le cadre de l'ANR MAGDATIS sur la période 19-18 Ky calBP permettent des soulever un certain nombre de questions relatives à la mise en place du Magdalénien classique dans le sud-ouest français. En outre, de nombreux résultats de datations C14 offrent un nouveau cadre plus précis pour cette période synchrone avec les débuts de l’événement climatique d’Heinrich 1 et ses conséquences sur l'environnement (paysages et disponibilités en gibier). Parallèlement, cette période est marquée par d'importantes transformations sociales et symboliques visibles dans différents registres : sépultures primaires richement dotées, sculptures pariétales, développement de la figuration humaine et sexuelle, recomposition des équipements lithiques et osseux. L'objectif de cette thèse est de confronter les comportements techniques et économiques à partir de l’examen de séries lithiques du Magdalénien moyen ancien (19-18 Ky calBP) à ces changements suscités afin d'en inférer sur les transformations sociétales des groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs de cette période charnière. Plusieurs séries lithiques sont disponibles pour mener à bien ce projet dans le cadre d'analyses taphonomiques (numérisation des carnets de St Germain ou Roc de Marcamps disponibles). Une révision des séries de Marcamps, St Germain, Moulin Neuf, Combe Cullier, Petit Cloup Barrat couche 3, mais également l'apport de nouvelles fouilles (Laa2 et Ste Colome dans le Béarn) permettront d'appréhender sous un nouveau jour les premiers temps du Magdalénien moyen. L'espace géographique est circonscrit au sud-ouest de la France et centré sur la façade atlantique, participant ainsi également à des réflexions sur le peuplement, les territoires et les interactions sociales développées par ces groupes
The data acquired within the framework of the MAGDATIS RNA for the period 19-18 Ky calBP allow us to raise a certain number of questions concerning the establishment of the Classic Magdalenian in southwestern France. In addition, numerous C14 dating results offer a new and more precise framework for this period, synchronous with the beginning of the Heinrich 1 climatic event and its consequences on the environment (landscapes and availability of game). At the same time, this period is marked by important social and symbolic transformations visible in different registers: richly endowed primary burials, parietal sculptures, development of human and sexual figuration, recomposition of lithic and bone equipment. The objective of this thesis is to compare technical and economic behaviors based on the examination of lithic series from the Early Middle Magdalenian (19-18 Ky calBP) with these changes in order to infer about the societal transformations of hunter-gatherer groups during this pivotal period. Several lithic series are available to carry out this project within the framework of taphonomic analyses (digitization of the St Germain or Roc de Marcamps notebooks available). A revision of the series from Marcamps, St Germain, Moulin Neuf, Combe Cullier, Petit Cloup Barrat layer 3, but also the contribution of new excavations (Laa2 and Ste Colome in Béarn) will allow us to apprehend the early Middle Magdalenian period in a new light. The geographical area is limited to southwestern France and centered on the Atlantic coast, thus also contributing to reflections on the settlement, territories and social interactions developed by these groups

L'Épigravettien est probablement la phase la mieux documentée du Paléolithique supérieur en Italie. Les attestations de cette période, entre la fin du Dernier Maximum Glaciaire et le début de l'Holocène, ne sont cependant pas homogènes d'un point de vue chronologique et du point de vue du nombre des recherches dans les différentes régions de la Péninsule. Les phases les plus anciennes sont, en fait, beaucoup moins documentées que les phases finales-terminales et seules certaines zones (comme le Nord-Est de l'Italie) ont été systématiquement étudiées, en utilisant des méthodologies en ligne avec les dernières tendances des études.La sériation chronologique classique en trois macro-phases, basée sur la typologie analytique de G. Laplace, a été en partie revue et constamment mise à jour. Dans ce modèle les industries ont été encadrées dans un processus évolutif continu avec l'émergence progressive de caractéristiques spécifiques régionales, en particulier dans la phase finale.Depuis les années 2000, de nouveaux modèles, plus focalisés sur les données technologiques et techno-économiques, ont été proposés, à la fois pour les industries du Tardiglaciaire en particulier et pour toute la séquence des industries épigravettiennes en général. Cependant, l'extensibilité de ces séries en dehors des contextes où elles ont été développées doit encore être largement démontrée.Cette thèse propose donc d'analyser du point de vue techno-économique certaines industries épigravettiennes de la Toscane tyrrhénienne, inédites ou déjà examinées dans le passé, afin de reconstruire les objectifs du débitage et déterminer, si possible, le rôle des sites au sein du peuplement humain épigravettien du territoire.La détermination précise des lithotypes représentés dans l'industrie, préalable à la reconstruction des chaînes opératoires et des modes d'approvisionnement en matières premières, a vu l'utilisation systématique de l'observation au microscope binoculaire. Le même outil a également été utilisé pour la caractérisation des lithotypes collectés lors de l'intense activité d'échantillonnage menée sur le terrain, visant à approfondir la connaissance des matériaux siliceux utilisés - ou potentiellement utilisés - par les groupes humains du territoire considéré.À la lumière des nouvelles données et de la datation absolue disponibles, on a donc tenté d’encadrer les industries analysées dans la chronologie classique mais aussi dans les nouvelles sériations proposées. Cela a permis d'apprécier si les éléments identifiés par ces nouveaux modèles comme marqueurs de discontinuité réelle des traditions techniques et les objectifs du débitage se retrouvent effectivement aussi dans les industries examinées dans ce travail
The Epigravettian is probably the well documented phase of the Upper Palaeolithic in Italy. The evidences of this period, between the end of the Last Glacial Maximum and the beginning of the Holocene, are not, however, homogeneous both from the chronological view and of the researches in the various regions of the Peninsula. The oldest phases are, in fact, less documented than the final-terminal ones and only some areas (such as North-Eastern Italy) have been systematically investigated, using methodologies in according with the latest study trends.The classical chronological sequence in three macro-phases, based on the analytical typology of G. Laplace, has been partly revised and constantly updated. In this model the industries are framed within a continuous evolutionary process with the progressive emergence of regional specific features, especially in the final phase.Since the 2000s, new chronological models, more focused on technological and techno-economic data, have been proposed for the epigravettian lithic industries. However, the extensibility of these series outside the contexts where they were developed must still be largely demonstrated.This thesis analyses from the techno-economic view some Epigravettian industries of Tyrrhenian Tuscany, unpublished or already examined in the past, with the aim of to reconstruct the objectives of the lithic exploitation and determine, where possible, the role of the sites within the epigravettian human settlement of the territory.The precise determination of the lithotypes present in the industries, preliminary to the reconstruction of the operating chains and methods of supplying raw materials, saw the systematic use of observation under the binocular microscope. The same tool was also used for the characterization of the lithotypes collected during the intense sampling activity, aimed at expanding the knowledge of the lithic raw materials used - or potentially usable - by the human groups of the Northern Tyrrhenian Tuscany.In light of these data and absolute dating available, the industries were included within the classical chronology, but the possibility of placing them within the new models was also verified. This made it possible to evaluate whether the elements considered by these models as markers of real discontinuity of the technical traditions and the aims of exploitation are also present in the lithic industries examined in this work

La caractérisation des matières premières lithiques est un important moyen d’étude des territoires paléolithiques, permettant d’inférer les modes de déplacement et d’organisation des groupes humains. Le Bassin aquitain est une des provinces archéologiques les mieux documentées d’Europe. Pourtant, certains matériaux depuis longtemps reconnus au sein des collections archéologiques, restent mal identifiés (origine géographique, unicité…). C’est en particulier le cas d’un type de silex dénommé « Grain de mil » par les préhistoriens. Pour combler cette lacune, ce travail s’organise en deux temps :- Une étude pétroarchéologique de ce matériau, axée sur sa caractérisation et la détermination de son origine géographique et géologique. Cette première phase du travail a permis de définir le Grain de mil comme un matériau typique de Charente-Maritime puisque sa formation est liée à l’anticlinal de Jonzac. Elle montre aussi que les critères de sa caractérisation, principalement issus de l’analyse des faciès sédimentaires, peuvent être appliqués lors de l’étude pétro-techno-économique d’une collection archéologique.- Une caractérisation techno-économique des modes de gestion de ce matériau à l’Aurignacien ancien et récent dans les sites nord-aquitains. A l’Aurignacien ancien, les groupes circulent à travers l’ensemble du Bassin aquitain au cours de grands déplacements saisonniers ; il semble que l’exploitation du Grain de mil témoigne d’une faible circulation dans le Nord-ouest du Bassin. A l’Aurignacien récent au contraire, les territoires d’approvisionnements ont centrés sur le Nord du Bassin aquitain mais ouverts à l’Ouest voire au Nord ; le Grain de mil serait alors au coeur de larges réseaux de circulation des groupes. Les moteurs d’évolution des sociétés à l’origine de ces changements de stratégie de déplacement sont ensuite discutés, testant pour cela le rôle des facteurs environnementaux et humains
Characterising lithic raw materials is an important means of studying palaeolithic territories, allowing modes of mobilityand the organisation of human groups to be deduced. The Aquitaine Basin is one of the best-documented archaeologicalregions of Europe. However, certain materials have long been recognised within archaeological collections without theirgeographic origin or even their uniqueness being clearly demonstrated. This is particularly the case with a specific type offlint, which prehistorians call “Grain de mil”. In order to address these shortcomings, this work was carried in two phases:- a cross-disciplinary study of this material, focusing on its petroarchaeological characterisation and its geographicand geological origins. This initial phase of analysis lead to the definition of Grain de mil flint as a material typical ofthe Charente-Maritime as its formation is tied to the Jonzac anticline. It also shows that criteria for itscharacterisation, which stem mainly from the sedimentological analysis, can be applied to the petro-technoeconomicstudy of an archaeological assemblage.- a techno-economic characterisation of the management of this material during the Early and Late Aurignacian,from northern Aquitaine sites. During the Early Aurignacian, groups move seasonally across the Aquitaine Basin;exploitation of Grain de mil flint seems to indicate little circulation in the north-west of the Basin. In contrast, duringthe Late Aurignacian, provisioning territories centre to the north of the Aquitaine Basin, but open to the west andalso to the north. Grain de mil then appears to be at the heart of large-scale networks of circulations. Finally, theunderlying forces driving these strategic changes in mobility patterns are discussed, evaluating the role of bothenvironmental and human factors

No escopo de organização econômica do mundo, a globalização conduziu a uma limitação do papel das instituições públicas com relação ao mercado, haja vista a repercussão do poder econômico do capital na tomada de decisões de política econômica interna: a estruturação mundial dos mercados somente se torna plausível por meio da institucionalização de direitos no espaço dos Estados nacionais. Desse modo, os direitos nacionais tendem a uniformizar e harmonizar a regulação dada ao capital: trata-se da homogeneização dos direitos, porquanto, tendo em vista as necessidades decorrentes de uma indefectível interdependência econômica, os Estados nacionais acabam por adotar, com mais ou menos independência e criatividade, as instituições necessárias ao desenvolvimento do capital. É isso que torna a vontade planetária homogênea, por meio da artificialidade jurídica que permite ao direito se libertar dos vínculos terrestres e tradições históricas, instituindo, por assim dizer, uma espacialidade própria do direito, a espacialidade jurídica. Deixa-se, assim, o antigo nomos, que vinculava o direito aos lugares, a uma histórica e específica determinação de uma comunidade, para ir-se em direção ao novo nomos, que, estendendo-se às dimensões planetárias da tecno-economia, desliga-se dos vínculos tradicionais e assume plenamente o caráter da artificialidade. Apesar de os Estados continuarem desenvolvendo um papel importante, não se pode deixar de constatar que sua soberania econômica foi matizada: antes detinham poder absoluto em relação à economia, agora detêm poder relativo. As transformações e arranjos institucionais, que eram congruentes em nível nacional, agora estão dispersos em múltiplos níveis espaciais, pois o desempenho econômico requer que os atores sejam simultaneamente coordenados em todas as áreas espaciais, precisam ser alocados e aninhados em arranjos institucionais conectados a todos os níveis da realidade. Nesse contexto, Redes de Governo constituem um bom instrumento de política pública tanto para os países desenvolvidos quanto para os países em desenvolvimento que procuram participar do processo regulatório global e precisam reforçar sua capacidade de governança doméstica. Pode-se dizer que a partir da homogenia dos direitos pretende-se estudar três movimentos distintos e simultâneos que vêm influenciando a produção normativa dos Estados nacionais: a harmonização dos direitos, a uniformização dos direitos e a ambivalência dos direitos. Procurou-se empreender a revisão do tema escolhido na literatura existente no intuito de perquirir informações e conhecer as contribuições teóricas já produzidas pela ciência até o momento. A partir dessas contribuições teóricas, fez-se a identificação dos alicerces que permitiram dialogar com duas grandes tendências teóricas que prevalecem na análise do tema: a primeira, de cunho técnico, aposta na relevância do papel das Administrações Públicas no processo de regulação do mercado global; a segunda, de cunho político, visa a estabelecer mecanismos políticos de neutralização e compensação dos efeitos da globalização. Em linha com esses pontos, a pesquisa comprometeu-se com a realidade concreta e, simultaneamente, engajou-se com a transformação dessa mesma realidade. De conseguinte, o trabalho procurou evidenciar as formas como as forças econômicas influenciam os fenômenos legais, bem como, em sentido oposto, o direito, como instrumento político, pode e deve afetar a economia.
In the scope of the global economic organization, the international integration of markets led to a limitation of the role of public institutions regarding the markets because of the economic power repercussion of the capital in the decision-making of internal economic policy: the world structuring of markets only becomes plausible by the institutionalization of Law in the national States. Thus, the national Law tends to standardize and harmonize the regulation of the capital: it is the homogenization of the Law as the resulting needs of an economic interdependence, which leaves the national States to adopt the necessary institutions to the capital development. It is this that turns the planetary will homogeneous through legal artificiality that allows the Law gives out of the terrestrial bonds and historical traditions, instituting the legal spatiality. Free from the old nomos, which links the Law to places, to a historical and specific determination of a community, the Law gives place to the new nomos, which detaches itself from the traditional bonds and fully assumes the artificiality character by extending itself to the planetary dimensions of the techno-economy. Despite the States continue to play an important role, it should be noticed that their economic sovereignty was tinged: before, they had an absolute power over the economy, whereas they now have a relative power. The transformations and institutional arrangements that were congruent in national level are now scattered in multiple spatial levels as the economic performance requires actors to be simultaneously coordinated in all spatial areas and they need to be allocated and nested in institutional arrangements connected to all levels of reality. In that context, Government Nets constitute a good instrument of public policies both for the developed countries and for the developing countries that attempt to take part of the global regulatory process and need to reinforce their capacity of domestic governance. It can be said that from the homogeneity of the Law on, this work aims at studying three simultaneous and distinct movements that have been influencing the normative output of the national States: the harmonization, the uniformization and the ambivalence of the Law. A literature review was presented with the objective of looking for specific information as well as knowing the theoretical contributions of the field. Based on those theoretical contributions, it was possible to keep a dialogue with two important theoretical tendencies that prevail in the analysis of the subject: first, the technical theoretical tendency, supported by the relevance of the role of Public Administrations in the process of global market regulation; second, the political theoretical tendency aims at establishing political mechanisms of neutralization and compensation of the globalization effects. In line with those theoretical tendencies, this study was committed to the concrete reality and it was simultaneously engaged with the transformation of that same reality. Therefore, the study aimed at showing the ways the economic forces influence the legal phenomena and the Law, as a political instrument, can and does affect the economy.

Increasing resource efficiency by utilising secondary raw material is one of the key characteristics of a circular economy. Textile dust fibre, a waste generated from textile mechanical recycling has the prospect to be utilised as secondary raw material for producing novel material: textile paper suitable for packaging and other applications. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of carrier bags made from one ton of virgin paper, recycled paper and novel textile paper (~22584paper bags with grammage of 100 g/m2 and same dimensions for all 3 types of bags) showed that textile paper bag is more environmentally friendly in terms of carbon footprint. The largest environmental contributors were energy consumed in the pulping and paper making processes, followed by the use of adhesives and printing ink in the conversion process of paper to papercarrier bags. A comparative Techno-economic Assessment (TEA) was carried out for the operating cost of producing the three selected carrier bag types. The analysis conveyed that textile paper bags are more economically attractive, mainly due to the partial substitution of paper fibre with low-cost textile dust fibre. Furthermore, a simple tool was developed with an attempt to assess and compare materials suitability for the circular economy considering life cycle thinking and business perspectives. Assessment of textile paper using the Circular material assessment tool indicated that there is still scope for improvement on the following circularity characteristics of circular material: scarcity of raw material, local supply of resources, clean and non-toxic resources. Textile paper material scored high in the following circularity characteristics: secondary raw material, industrial symbiosis, recycling, resource efficiency in manufacturing and use. In the final step, the textile paper bag was eco-designed through the combined and iterative LCA and TEA approach with the aim to achieve improved scores as a circular material. In order to understand the overall sustainability advantages and trade-offs, further research is recommended on different textile dust fibre grades as well as textile paper performance based on mechanical properties. It is also recommended to investigate textile paper in other applications like one time fashion clothes, reusable paper bags as textile hangers etc.

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Tomando como referência a Economia Política da Comunicação e utilizando-se do materialismo histórico-dialético como instrumento de reflexão teórico-prático, a presente pesquisa analisa de que forma a comunicação alternativa pode contribuir para a construção de espaços democráticos, com atuação de atores sociais contra-hegemônicos. Nessa direção, procura-se, com este estudo, não apenas acompanhar, mas, acima de tudo, questionar o papel da atuação sindical no campo da comunicação. Não no sentido de contrapô-la, mas retomando a sua trajetória e, desta forma, aproximando-a das experiências audiovisuais contemporâneas. Deste modo, antes de abordar propriamente o espaço de disputa do alternativo, em meio à operacionalização da mídia sindical, é traçado o panorama histórico da televisão brasileira, atualizando o processo de apropriação dos recursos de áudio e vídeo pelos operários metalúrgicos do ABC. Ao observar as especificidades do padrão tecno-estético alternativo percebe-se que, embora ainda de forma muito incipiente, a contra-hegemonia manifesta-se no bojo produtivo da TV dos Trabalhadores (TVT), sobretudo se comparada ao restante das configurações estético-produtivas provenientes desta emissora. Os processos midiáticos decorrentes de tal prática operacional estão inseridos no contexto das mídias digitais, cuja alteração nas relações de produção afeta diretamente o conjunto das relações sociais e, conseqüentemente, o resultado final dos conteúdos. Evidencia-se, portanto, a dificuldade de ruptura com o modelo hegemônico, mesmo em um canal de televisão mantido por uma organização sindical com passado marcante no período de redemocratização do Brasil.
Taking as a reference to Political Economy of the Communication and using the historical materialism-dialectic as an instrument of reflection theoretical-practical, this research analyzes how the alternative communication can contribute to building democratic spaces with performance of actors counter-hegemonic. In this direction, we try to, with this study, not only follow but, above all, questioning the role of union activity in the field of communication. Not in the sense to oppose it, but resuming its trajectory and, thus bringing it closer to the audiovisual contemporary experience. In this way, before to approach exactly the area of dispute of the alternative communication, , is traced the historical background of brazilian television, updating the process of ownership of the resources of audio and video by the workers of the metallurgical ABC. Looking at the specifics of the alternative techno-aesthetic standard we can perceive that, even incipiently, the counter-hegemony manifests in the TV programming Workers (TVT). Especially, compared with the rest of the aesthetic and productive settings this television channel. The media processes resulting from the practice operating the television channel of the metallurgical is placed in the context of digital media, where changes in production relations directly affect the set of social relations and, consequently, outcome of the content. It is evident, therefore, the difficulty in breaking with the hegemonic model, even in a television channel maintained for one labor union with remarkable past during the re-democratization of Brazil.

Abstract Electrocoagulation (EC) is an emerging technology that combines the functions and advantages of conventional coagulation, flotation, and electrochemistry in water and wastewater treatment. The aims of this work included doing an updated literary review of recent feasible applications of EC, which were found to be plentiful. Since the economic and practical operational key figures related to EC haven’t been extensively mapped out before, this was a prime objective of this part of the work. The aim of the next part of this work was to find new feasible applications for EC in the treatment of water and wastewater. The studied wastewaters included bio- and synthetic oil-in-water emulsions, various industrial nutrient-containing wastewaters, and peat bog drainage water containing humic substances (an interesting and topical problem, especially in Finland). These studies proved the feasibility of EC. In addition, larger-scale experiments were also conducted successfully, thus proving the scalability of the EC process. Extensive economic analyses of the studied EC applications were also done. The operational costs and energy consumption of EC were found to be very low—typically about 0.1–1.0 €/m3 and 0.4–4.0 kWh/m3. It has been forecasted that in the future there will be a shortage of virgin phosphorus. Therefore, another essential purpose of this work was to conduct a preliminary study on the feasibility of using EC for nutrient (especially phosphorus, but also nitrogen) removal and recovery from different types of real wastewater. Specifically, it may be possible to use EC sludges containing notable amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen as additives in granulated bio ash-based fertilizer products for various applications. This is a novel idea and a “hot topic” in the waste utilization sector and in circular and bioeconomy
Tiivistelmä Elektrokoagulaatio (electrocoagulation, EC) on nosteessa oleva teknologia, joka yhdistää perinteisen koagulaation, flotaation ja sähkökemian hyödyt ja mahdollisuudet vesien ja jätevesien käsittelyssä. Tämän työn ensimmäisenä tavoitteena oli laatia kirjallisuuskatsaus EC:n viimeaikaisista käyttökelpoisista sovelluksista, joita löytyi runsaasti. Koska EC:n toiminnallisia ja taloudellisia avainlukuja ei ole kartoitettu kattavasti aiemmin, tämän tekeminen oli tämän osion tärkein tavoite. Väitöstyön seuraavana tavoitteena oli löytää uusia sovellutuksia EC:lle vesien ja jätevesien käsittelyssä. Tutkittuja vesiä olivat bio- ja synteettisistä öljyistä valmistetut öljy-vesiemulsiot, erilaiset teolliset ravinnepitoiset jätevedet ja humusainepitoiset turvesoiden valumavedet (kiinnostava ja ajankohtainen ongelma, erityisesti Suomessa). EC todettiin käyttökelpoiseksi teknologiaksi näissä kokeissa. Suuremman skaalan kokeilla todistettiin lisäksi EC-prosessin skaalautuvuus. Lisäksi, em. EC-sovellutuksista suoritettiin kattavat taloudelliset analyysit. EC:n käyttökustannukset ja energiankulutus todettiin erittäin pieniksi, tyypillisesti ne olivat välillä 0.1–1.0 €/m3 ja 0.4–4.0 kWh/m3. On ennustettu, että tulevaisuudessa on pulaa neitseellisestä fosforista. Tästä johtuen eräs tämän työn keskeisistä tarkoituksista oli suorittaa alustavia kokeita liittyen EC:n käyttökelpoisuuteen ravinteiden (erityisesti fosfori, mutta myös typpi) poistossa ja talteenotossa aidoista jätevesistä. Erityisesti jatkossa voisi olla järkevää hyödyntää runsaasti fosforia ja typpeä sisältäviä EC-sakkoja lisäaineina rakeistetuissa biotuhkapohjaisissa lannoitteissa eri sovellutuksissa. Tämä idea on uusi ja on jo herättänyt suurta kiinnostusta mm. kierto- ja biotaloussektoreilla

Since 2009 the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima has partnered with private corporations to deliver three highway projects worth US$1.5bn. This process follows a state-building strategy developed since the 1990s to allow different levels of government to deliver infrastructure projects with private finance. In Lima, the model has almost exclusively produced highways through a specific scheme that allows firms to submit unsolicited proposals. In this dissertation, I investigate how the availability of private finance transforms the political process and local planning outcomes. I argue that rather than being simply a solution for cash-strapped governments looking to invest in specific pieces of infrastructure, the introduction of private finance shapes what projects get built. Private finance not only transforms the implementation part of a two-step process: it has a deep impact on the planning phase itself by setting constraints on what can be done and to what ends. I call the specific mechanism by which private finance influences planning ‘unplanning.’ Here, the state is not simply retreating to let the private sector determine priorities. In other words, it is not abandoning planning, or simply not planning. Rather, it is being transformed in order to follow a proactive role in attracting investment, and to adapt planning to the needs of private capital. The dissertation goes beyond understandings of infrastructures as neutral conduits and into their techno-political nature in order to reveal how they reflect, reproduce and become both the conduit and the site of political conflicts between private capital, the state, and urban dwellers.

Cette thèse porte sur l’analyse technologique d’assemblages lithiques provenant du Témiscouata dans le Bas-Saint-Laurent (Québec, Canada) et datés entre le Sylvicole moyen tardif (500 à 1000 apr. J.-C.) et la période de Contact (XVIe et XVIIe siècles apr. J.-C.). Cette région, située dans l’extrémité septentrionale de la haute vallée de la rivière Saint-Jean, possède une importante source de matière première lithique, le chert Touladi, qui a été fortement exploitée à la préhistoire et même durant la période historique par les Premières Nations. Les chaînes opératoires lithiques de cinq sites archéologiques du Témiscouata ont été analysées via l’approche technologique afin d’en reconstituer les schèmes techno-économiques et leur implication dans les modes de vie des chasseurs-cueilleurs nomades de la région. Les industries lithiques du Témiscouata montrent l’existence de trois chaînes opératoires : la taille de pièces bifaciales, le débitage de nucléus et l’utilisation de pièces esquillées. Quant à l’outillage, il est constitué par des pièces bifaciales et des outils simples sur éclats (outils ad hoc, grattoirs et pièces esquillées). La production des outils sur éclats a été faite sur des supports issus de ces trois chaînes opératoires, mais c’est le processus bifacial qui est cependant à l’origine de la majorité d’entre eux et c’est pourquoi il occupait une place centrale dans ces industries. Les pièces bifaciales combinaient ainsi les rôles d’outils et de « nucléus » fournissant l’essentiel des supports. Les artefacts en chert local ont permis de mieux comprendre comment les technologies étaient organisées pour les besoins à une échelle locale, mais également territoriale alors que les groupes profitaient des carrières de chert Touladi pour se préparer à leurs besoins futurs, anticipés ou non. Quant aux pièces en matériaux exogènes, même si elles comptent pour une part minime des assemblages lithiques, elles ont permis d’entrevoir les stratégies économiques adoptées préalablement à l’occupation du Témiscouata, dans des contextes de rareté en matières premières lithiques de bonne qualité. Les schèmes techno-économiques mis en œuvre par les communautés de chasseurs-cueilleurs du Témiscouata ont constitué des éléments importants de leur stratégie d’adaptation en leur fournissant l’outillage nécessaire selon les multiples contextes rencontrés au cours de leur cycle annuel de nomadisme. Ils traduisent ainsi des choix révélateurs de leurs modes de vie, de leurs modalités d’occupation des sites et de leur réalité socio-économique.
This thesis presents data and analyses on chipped stone tool techno-economic patterns of nomadic hunters-gatherers at a quarry source area in the Témiscouata region (Québec, Canada) during the latter part of the Middle Woodland (500-1000 AD), the Late Woodland (1000-1550 AD) and also the early historic period (XVIe-XVIIe centuries AD). Located in the hinterland of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, in the upper St. John river drainage, the Témiscouata region is rich in natural resources, perhaps among the most important is an important chert outcrop. The Touladi chert is present in two main quarries and is also found in pebble form scattered in the vicinity of the surrounding lakes and rivers. We applied a technological analysis, from the technological approach in the French tradition, to five lithic collections with the objective of reconstructing the chaînes opératoires and their economic management patterns (techno-economy). The most prominent artifacts found are of course the countless flakes which have been derived from three different chaînes opératoires: the bifacial process, the multidirectional (ad hoc) core reduction, and the use of pièces esquillées. The production of bifacial tools is the most important process in the Témiscouata lithic industries and is the one which produced most of the flakes found on the prehistoric settlements. The tool assemblage is first characterized by the bifacial tools which are primarily manufactured from tabular blocks of chert. As for the flake tools, they are mostly represented by informal (ad hoc) tools (retouched and used flakes), endscrapers and pièces esquillées. Techno-economic patterns of Touladi chert use have demonstrated that most of the flake tools were made on flake blanks derived from the bifacial process, mostly from the early and middle stages of this chaîne opératoire. The bifacial process was also segmented in time and space so that blanks and preforms could be carried throughout the territory to be used as “cores”. The two other production sequences are quite secondary based on the small amount of tools manufactured and they are far less mobile than the bifacial process. Stone tools that are made of exotic materials, even if they represent a small part of the archaeological record, reveal the patterns that prevailed while hunters-gatherers were outside the quarries zone. The technological analysis provides empirical evidence that hunter-gatherers of the Témiscouata region adopted flexible and simple, yet efficient, techno-economical strategies. These management schemes, which use the bifacial chaîne opératoire as the central element of tool manufacturing, are well adapted to their way of life based on a generalist, seasonal and flexible subsistence economy.