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This study has involved investigation of number of populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans over several years, looking at frequency changes over time, morphological differences between the sexes and the morphs, differences in growth rate and development time, differences in fecundity between the morphs, and genetic differentiation between populations. I. elegans is a small annual damselfly w
Microbial activity in soil is generally assumed to be limited by carbon availability. The soil closest to roots, the rhizosphere, is therefore a zone of high microbial activity due to carbon containing substances released by the root. In this work short-term effects in the rhizosphere have been the subject of investigation. I have shown that the thymidine and leucine incorporation techniques are w
Molar mass and molar mass distribution of polymers are parameters of fundamental importance as they influence the performance of the polymer in applications. Polysaccharide derivatives are a class of polymers that have attracted significant scientific and commercial interest as they can be manufactured from a wide range of abundant sources in nature and thereby often are both cheap and biocompatib
Inhalation of air-borne microorganisms and components thereof can cause illnesses and diseases. However, lack of specific and sensitive methods for exposure assessment can pose problems in predicting health outcomes. Characterization of microbial load from indoor environments using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and/or tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MSMS) as well as various bioassays (
A number of homo- and heterodinuclear complexes have been synthesized as structural and functional models for the the active sites of phosphoesterases and soluble methane monooxygenases. The complexes are based on four new dinucleating ligands containing a central, potentially bridging, phenolate moiety. The hydrolytic activity of the complexes was examined by exploring the ability of the complexe
This thesis focuses on i) the effect of packing on the molecular geometry ii) packing arrangements of neutral Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes iii) the trans influence in Pt(II) complexes iv) the differences in bonding in corresponding Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes and v) the geometry of Pd(II) complexes with potential catalytic properties. Detailed three-dimensional structural information at the atomic
Organic carbon and bacteria have a high variability at different scales in the soil, and organic carbon may be a limiting factor for growth of soil bacteria. Thus, it can be expected that these co-vary at different scales in the soil. In this thesis, I have studied the spatial interaction between soil bacteria and natural and contaminant (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, PAH) organic carbon. The o
Little is known of respiratory symptoms in female hairdressers, and of the impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), nor of knowledge of their own views on preventive work. The aim of this thesis was to examine the occurrence of asthma, symptoms and mechanism of bleaching-associated nasal symptoms, the effects on HRQoL and how young hairdressers reason about the work environment. A m
Epoxy resins based on bisphenol A are well-known contact allergens and often cause occupational contact allergy. The most important allergen is the monomer diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Epoxy resins of the bisphenol F-type contain 3 isomers of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F; p,p'-DGEBF, o,p'-DGEBF, and o,o'-DGEBF, whereas epoxy resin(s) based on bisphenol A (DGEBA-R) contain virtua
Chemical processes are usually expensive to run. To optimise a process, we need to know how the process behaves, and this is usually accomplished by studying the process experimentally. However, experiments are very expensive, particularly if an existing plant has to shut down normal operation to conduct an experiment. A better way is to build a model and simulate the process. In order to obtain t
The aim of this thesis has been to study protein-polymer interaction and association. Two different techniques were used; Monte Carlo simulations were combined with partitioning in polymeric aqueous two-phase systems. Monte Carlo simulations have been used to evaluate the hydrophobic interaction in electrolyte solution. The results showed that monovalent salt only slightly increases the hydrophob
Harvesting changes population abundance and can affect adaptation of several life-history traits. Harvesting can also have indirect effects ? effects on non-target species and secondary effects on target species ? because interactions between species in a community determine the relevant ecological and evolutionary feedback environment. Species interactions therefore influence the effect of harves
Telomeres are specialized complexes of DNA and associated proteins that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Although most organisms have short repeated DNA sequences at their telomeres, which are specified and maintained by the enzyme telomerase, there are a few exceptions. Dipteran insects, including the genus Chironomus (non-biting midges), lack telomerase and have atypical terminal sequ
A laser-produced plasma was generated by focusing 100 fs laser pulses, with an energy of 150 mJ, onto metal targets. The laser intensity was expected to reach 10E17 W/cm2. Radiation was emitted from the created plasma, with photon energies extending up to the MeV regime. The laser-based X-ray source was optimised, with the purpose of making it a realistic source of hard X-rays (>10 keV). Dedicated
In the present thesis, I investigated the inter- and intraspecific variation in the Silene vulgaris/uniflora species-complex (the bladder campions). I have focused on the effects of past and present hybridization both on a large scale ? over the whole of Europe ? and on a local scale. Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora are perennial herbs and they are interfertile. The results from my studies sugges
Food production and consumption are key drivers of environmental pressures and are essential factors in the promotion and maintenance of health. Production of food occupies more than one third of global land areas and is estimated to be responsible for some 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we live in a world where nearly one billion people go hungry and even more people su
The evaluation of skeletal muscle strength is an important part of the physiotherapist’s clinical examination in order to plan and execute appropriate interventions. This requires the objective assessment of muscle strength and the determination of the underlying factors of muscle weakness. One factor that can contribute to muscle weakness is the inability of the central nervous system to voluntar
Cellulose and starch are non-toxic, biodegradable and modifiable polymers. These properties have made them increasingly important in industrial products e. g. in pharmaceutical applications and in technical dispersions. By chemical modification of these polymers the physical and chemical properties of the polymer can be adjusted to suit a certain area of application. The characteristics of modifie
This thesis is founded on the premise that traditional discourses of travel and mobility are inherently masculinist, that is, travel is seen as a masculinity rite-of passage for the Euro-American male, shaping his subjectivity through the othering and marginalization of women. Taking Jack Kerouac’s On the Road (1957), the epitome of masculinist travel literature, as a starting point for an examina
Since the end of the Cold War, international politics and international law have not only become increasingly intertwined, but their mutual implications have also become increasingly recognized by scholars. Yet research explicitly addressing the question of how political factors affect the emergence of legal rules is still limited. This doctoral dissertation aims to take a step in the direction of
