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This thesis is a description of how knowledge of atomic physics can be used in a stellar spectrum analysis. Stellar investigations are spectroscopically performed based on wavelengths, intensities and spectral line structure. Properties such as isotopic shifts, hyperfine structure, Zeeman effect, line blending and spectral line broadening are investigated in stellar spectra to improve results of a
In higher plants photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplast. This work focuses on two different processes that effects photosynthesis. Firstly, we studied the events occurring prior to the phosphorylation of LHCII. Secondly, we also studied two novel proteases, with the potential to degrade LHCII. In oxygenic photosynthesis two different photosystems partake in the gathering of light, PSI and
In recent years, awareness has grown of the necessity of understanding the inner world of refugees (in particular traumatized refugees), immigrants, and their children. These groups have come in increasing numbers to Scandinavia, and otherwise confident and capable professionals in all arenas of mental health, social work and other fields have often felt inadequate when working with them. After m
Pathomechanisms of work-related myalgia are poorly understood. Myalgia is caused by exitation of nociceptors present in the muscular tissue but not in the muscle fibres themselves. Morphological analysis can contribute to knowledge of excitation of nociceptors. Surface EMG is a widely used method in the research field of ergonomics. Knowledge of influence of myalgia, occupation, age and intrinsic
The vertical distribution of the nutrient uptake of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) has been investigated in southern Scandinavia. Two approaches were employed. The first involved estimation of the nutrient uptake capacity of the trees at different soil depths by determining the distributions of roots, external ect
The aim of this thesis is to explore discursive changes in conceptions of life course and ageing. In a sense the Life- Span embodies the boundaries of human existence, but furthermore, it symbolizes a discursive system with distinctive symbols and meaning, that regulates and re-construct a cultural context. Hence, a cultures notion of the Life-Span also reveals its images and apprehensions of agei
Both ovariectomy (OVX) and gastrectomy (GX) cause osteopenia in several animal species including humans. While the effect of OVX has been ascribed to estrogen deficiency, the underlying mechanism behind GX-induced osteopenia is poorly understood. Nutritional deficiencies, including lack of calcium and vitamin D, have been claimed to cause the osteopenia induced by GX. This thesis attempts to clari
Cardiovascular disease prevention has been a challenge for research for decades. The studies of this thesis were designed to investigate the role of health professionals in everyday clinical work based upon the concept of comprehensive primary care consultation. Routine check-up of blood pressure was the basis for the inclusion in an opportunistic screening for hyperchol-esterolaemia. Additionally
This thesis examines the concept of travel habits, public responses to large-scale traffic congestion regulations and how travel patterns of urban dwellers can be made environmentally sustainable in the long term. It also examines the interrelationships of different scientific disciplines dealing with urban travel. The main conclusions relate to the scientific concept of habit. This concept and th
Under aerobic conditions, most yeasts such as Kluyveromyces lactis, prefer the respiratory pathway and some, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae prefer less energy efficient fermentative pathway for their energy metabolism. These two metabolic strategies are also known as Crabtree negative and Crabtree positive respectively, and the evolution of the latter has lately been explained by the “make-accum
ECL cells are endocrine/paracrine cells located in the acid-producing part of the stomach. They are important regulators of gastric acid secretion in the stomach by virtue of their histamine synthesizing and secreting capacity. Histamine in turn stimulates parietal cells to secrete acid. The ECL cell also contains the endocrine polypeptide chromogranin A (CGA) and CGA-derived peptides such as panc
The insertion of Mg2+ into protoporphyrin IX represents the first committed step in the chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthetic pathways. The reaction is catalyzed by the multisubunit enzyme Mg-chelatase, which consists of three subunits, known as I (molecular weight ~40 kDa), D (~70 kDa), and H (~140 kDa). To fully understand this first step in chlorophyll biosynthesis each protein compo
Parkinson's disease is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to a loss of dopamine in the target structure striatum and development of motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. New experimental treatment strategies for Parkinson's disease are aimed at either preventing the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons, or a
Due to our own preference for bright light, we tend to forget that many insects are active in very dim light. The reasons for nocturnal activity are most easily seen in tropical areas of the world, where animals face severe competition for food and nocturnal insects are able to forage in a climate of reduced competition and predation. Generally nocturnal insects possess superposition compound eye
Aquaporins, or Major Intrinsic Proteins (MIPs), are integral proteins that facilitate transport of water and other small neutral solutes across biological membranes. They belong to a well conserved and ancient family of proteins, present in all organisms ranging from bacteria to plants and humans. The aquaporin family in plants is large, indicating complex and regulated water transport within the
This thesis concerns the interplay between the lipid phase behaviour, domain formation and the permeability of bilayer membranes. An essential part of this work has been the understanding of the phase transitions and equilibrium properties of lipid bilayers. In this approach experimental results of lipid phase behaviour have been correlated to theoretical descriptions of the systems. An isothermal
This work is not so much about religion as about individual religiosity. It is primarily about people practicing Zen, less about Zen Buddhism as a systematic ideology or philosophy. I set out from the start to try to explore the wide gap between theory and practice in Zen. The more abstract doctrines and idealized norms have had a tendency to dominate works on Zen, confessional as well as scholast
The presence of genes in food, encoding some virulence factors, was studied by PCR, and species of Enterobacteriaceae, associated with food, were studied by the DNA-based methods of TTGE, ribotyping and sequencing. The flora of fresh and chill-stored pork were analysed by a culture-independent approach, using specific amplification of 16S rRNA genes followed by cloning and sequencing. No evidence
Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) is not infrequent in the clinical situation and the intestinal barrier plays an important role in gut barrier function, preventing not at least septic complications and potentially the development of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Mechanisms of intestinal I/R induced gut epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction and remote organ dysfunction
Psychological processes involved in moral cognition were examined in three studies, taking as their starting point the assumption that the cognitive-developmental perspective commonly taken is too narrow and that individual differences and implicit processes need to be taken into consideration. Study I focused on the role of defense mechanisms in moral thinking. A self-report questionnaire was co
