High-precision measurements

Power converters in the accelerator context are often required to deliver a performance that is unusual in an industrial context. This paper deals with some of the important aspects of high-precision output voltage and current control and in particular the current measurement transducers and their application

The measurement challenge of the LHC project

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is CERN's next accelerator project, to be commissioned in 2005. The project presents unprecedented challenges in the accurate control of high currents up to 13 kA. Arou nd 1700 superconducting magnet circuits are deployed in the underground, 27 km circumference, tunnel. A new concept with quasi-on-line calibration is proposed

(Inter)Active Interviewing in Childhood Research: On Children\u27s Identity Work in Interviews

Seeing identity as work produced in interaction is a starting point in this current study, were analyzing interviews with children living in economic hardship, and how everyday life in economic hardship in one way or another becomes significant for their identity work, is the main empirical material. This article is intended to illustrate how to (a) combine James A. Holstein and Jaber F. Gubrium\u27s (1995) active interview approach with elements from Erving Goffman\u27s (1974/1986) frame analysis, and (b) introduce this approach as a fruitful way of analyzing children\u27s narratives. Also, by regarding the interview as interaction and thereby acknowledging the respondents\u27 participation in the research process, I argue that an interactive interview approach has both ethical and analytical advantages that should appeal to qualitative childhood studies

Inside out: Individuals’ sustainability engagement in energy system transition

Sustainability transitions research has been criticised for being mostly on the system level. To the extent individuals have been recognised, they have mostly been acting in so called niche initiatives, as entrepreneurs, grassroot innovators or users. Not much attention has been paid to individuals connected to established organisations, here called insiders. Through case studies in three different settings, this thesis shows that insiders, who actively and independently choose to engage in sustainability initiatives, can be key enablers of an energy system transition. Engaged insiders, contextualise the value of a sustainability initiative through adding to a new narrative and attracting others to join the narrative. Three contexts in which insiders can choose to engage are introduced and explained: outreach engagement, entrepreneurial engagement and job engagement. Assisted by theories from social psychology, it is also explained why sustainability engagement sometimes does not occur when expected. The main contribution of this thesis is that individuals can choose to engage in a sustainability transition in different contexts in and beyond their organisational home grounds. These individuals are important to see and appreciate if we want to better understand how sustainability transitions are achieved

Innovation in Agri-food Systems – A Systematic Mapping of the Literature

This study systematically explores, analyses, reports on and synthesises research on the topic of sectoral innovation systems related to agriculture and agri-food in OECD countries. It is based on systematic mapping of the literature (academic papers published in scientific journals) in the period 1997-2017. The aim is to show the state of current knowledge on sectoral innovation systems in agri-food, in order to identify knowledge gaps and future areas for research and provide methodological and theoretical perspectives. Abstracts for a total of 320 papers were analysed, using a qualitative approach. Key elements of agricultural innovation systems identified were organised into 8 main themes/topics: agents, basic technologies, knowledge and learning processes, mechanisms of interaction, institutions, end-users, system transition and contextual variables. Areas identified as requiring research included making the sector more consumer- and market-oriented, increasing interactions outside conventional system boundaries, including the consumer perspective and societal changes, and determining the role of gender in innovation in agri-food systems

Entrepreneurial Sustainability Engagement of Insiders Initiating Energy System Transition

The central point in this article is that energy system transition can be initiated by a\ua0team of individuals interacting entrepreneurially beyond their different home-grounds in business,\ua0research, or regional development. Such entrepreneurial engagement of insiders with belongings to\ua0an established socio-technical system has not been captured in prevalent sustainability transitions or\ua0entrepreneurship perspectives. Insiders have mostly been expected to act within (and not outside)of their role expectations. This study investigates who individuals initiating energy transition are,\ua0what motives they have, and how they accomplish institutional change. The purpose is to qualify\ua0a perspective that can help us better appreciate how transitions, such as in energy systems, can be\ua0initiated. The new perspective recognizes the importance of insiders, their personal sustainability\ua0beliefs, their choice to teamwork entrepreneurially, and their narratives about the initiative affecting\ua0institutional change. It explains how transition in a heavily regulated Swedish energy system can\ua0occur. Implications are drawn for research, policy and entrepreneurial teamwork

We do it our way - small scale farms in business model transformation for sustainability

Value creation is at the core of business model (BM) research, but the link between BM and value creation remains unclear. In this work, empirical data on BM transformation towards sustainable value creation in the agrifood sector, were obtained through case studies. Factors in BM transformation were identified, transformations in different BM segments were analysed and sustainable value created through these transformations was assessed. Factors such as owner-manager mind-set, experiences of sustainability and market pressures were found to drive transformation. All cases performed generic and case-specific transformation activities, with an animal welfare ethos and sustainable solutions for distribution and transport being central for all firms. Differences in strategies and cooperation derived mainly from the geographical and micro-context. While exhibiting innovativeness, the sustainable value created was predominantly within the current time horizon. Holistic integration of sustainability into core business was challenging for the farms, due to lack of knowledge and systemic approach to sustainability. All farms expressed a desire for learning and exchange of knowledge, a gap not met by other institutions in the sector. Six directions for future research on sustainable value creation through BM transformation are suggested

Sustainable value creation: a farm case on business model innovation

The agricultural sector in Sweden, as elsewhere, is affected by increased intensification and specialisation, leading to fewer and larger farms. The majority of agricultural firms acquire profits by pushing an economies of scale strategy, which is not always possible for small farms. However, there are alternative strategies. This teaching case focuses on a small farm in Sweden and offers students an opportunity to study the management of business model innovation in this context. The case explores the value creation strategy of a cattle farm and applies activities such as mapping a business model, developing suggestions for business model innovation, analysing existing and lacking managerial competences and pinpointing implications for agricultural policy. As a result, profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of the study farm should be achieved, together with acquisition of knowledge and skills by its owner. This educational case is suitable for agricultural students of different levels requiring knowledge of business and management

Recommendation and context: the missing links for increased life cycle impact in large industries

PurposeThis study takes an open and explorative approach to investigating the impact, or lack of impact, of life cycle information on behaviours throughout large production companies. Based on cases where life cycle information has been provided, this paper analyses how life cycle information has been interpreted and acted upon—not only by the life cycle assessment (LCA) practitioner conducting the study but also by employees outside the environmental departments.MethodsTo understand the impact of life cycle information on everyday actions in organisations and how this impact can be enhanced, this study takes a grounded approach to following flows of life cycle information from the environmental department through other departments of an organisation. From the flows of information, the research team selected rich descriptions of empirical data that reflect action and inaction. Using interviews and documents, we collected barriers and enablers for acting on life cycle information. Barriers and enablers were interpreted and clustered into categories and arranged into concepts. Next, we reviewed the empirical data using theories from social psychology.Results and discussionThe results show that it is difficult for life cycle information to result in subsequent action outside of environmental departments. The barriers to this action were partly due to the life cycle information per se such as gaps between what life cycle information is available and what life cycle information is needed. Barriers and enablers were also found in relation to the context in which life cycle information was applied and new behaviours were adopted, including timing and software structures, reward systems, trade-offs, and personal beliefs about the profession. The results suggest a new role of the life cycle proponent that includes providing the right life cycle information and understanding and influencing the expected agents’ situations.ConclusionsAssisted by theories from social psychology, we found that behaviour can be changed if ‘recommendations’ and ‘contexts’ are considered when providing life cycle information. The paper suggests that the impact of life cycle information could increase if normative arguments about environmental visions, strategies, and overarching goals are aligned with enablers that focus on personal goals, such as meeting a deadline, reducing uncertainty, and reaching the threshold for a bonus

Developments in high-precision aspects of power converter control for LHC

The initial results from integration testing of the LHC magnet power converters revealed problems of lowfrequency noise, settling time, drift with time and temperature, thermal management and EMC. These problems originated in the use of DSP, the A/D converter (ADC), the DCCT and their respective environments. This paper reports the methods used to improve the performance through hardware and software modifications and the results achieved