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Fluids composed of dipolar molecules are ubiquitous in nature, with water being the most prominent example. Due to their great importance and large complexity, a basic scientific understanding of the structure and thermodynamics of polar fluids is essential. In this thesis, simple polar model fluids are investigated with the aim of adding a bit to this understanding. In particular, the topics addr
Tuberculosis (TB) has plagued the humanity for several thousands of years. The bacteria causing TB is mainly spread from person to person as an aerosol transmission. It is estimated that one third of the world’s population is infected with the disease; about 10% of these will develop active TB during their lifetime. In year 2000, 8 million TB-cases were detected, of which 2 million died. Except fo
The aims of the study were to investigate the applications of digital radiography to musculoskeletal radiology. In the first part of the research, the diagnostic accuracy of digital images as compared to film-screen radiographs was studied and the spatial resolution requirements evaluated. Using computed radiography (CR), the pathological changes included were erosions, soft tissue swelling, peri
Gel dosimetry is a new dosimetry method applied in radiation therapy. Gel dosimeters consist of a radiation sensitive gel, which can integrate absorbed doses from several radiation sources or beams. The dose to the gel can be evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a procedure that is the focus of the present thesis. A robust tool for the evaluation of the nonuniformity in MRI has been dev
In this thesis, a new electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal from photosystem II is presented. The signal is shown to originate from the S0 oxidation state of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). It is a Mn-derived signal displaying clear hyperfine structure, centered at g=2, and is significantly broader than the well-known multiline signal from the S2 state, indicating the presence of MnII in
The nuclear model for three dimensional cranking is extended to include a generalization of the Strutinski renormalization procedure from principal axis cranking to cranking about an tilted axis. A new computer code has been written for realistic, full-scale calculations within the three dimensional cranking model. The code is developed for calculations to produce output of high precision to allow
This thesis has two main themes, autonomous agents and concepts. An autonomous agent is a system capable of interacting with its environment via its own sensors and effectors in order to accomplish some task. Arguments against both purely reactive and purely deliberative agent architectures are presented in favor for hybrid approaches. A novel hybrid approach based on the concept of anticipatory s
The etiology of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is unclear. By linking three nationwide medical registries we evaluated maternal and obstetric factors associated with later SUI surgery. Surgery for SUI was strongly associated with vaginal delivery, but not with pregnancy as such. Maternal conditions and interventions during delivery modified the association. Proper evaluation of treatment
Evolutionary theory predicts a disadvantage to sexual reproduction. This manifests itself either by the higher growth rate of asexual females in a dioecious species, or by the higher transmission rate of a gene conferring asexual female function to its carriers in a hermaphrodite species. The disadvantage to sexual reproduction may be as high as two-fold provided all else is equal. This phenomenon
In children, it is often desirable to minimize allogenic blood transfusion, and this thesis explores the physiology of an alternative method of managing perioperative blood loss: hemodilution with Ringer´s dextran. Methods Clinical studies: Arterial pressure, superior caval venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) and blood lactate concentration (L) were studied during bone marrow harvesting (BMH) on 23
This Ph.D. thesis is about how the design of measurement systems may influence-or even drive-the integration of firms in supply chains, and is based on research presented in my licentiate thesisR. The research aims at providing a conceptual framework for designing measurement systems in supply chains, and at supporting firms in their quest for ways of developing closer relationships with suppliers
This thesis focused on the mechanisms involved in the effects of long-term ethanol treatment on mAChRs and their coupled-signal transduction pathway in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. All 5 subtypes of mAChRs were expressed in these cells. Acute ethanol exposure induced a minor and transient decrease in the number of cell surface mAChRs, which could not account for the previously described pron
This thesis focuses on contemporary organ improvisation in Western European musical culture. The aim of the study is to explore organists’ descriptions, constructions and definitions of improvisation in words and music, with an interest in the interaction between receptivity, creativity and change. As a research object, the art of organ improvisation is defined as a source for exploring learning a
An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for the determination of lead in blood plasma has been developed. The detection limit was below 0.1 microgram/liter, and the precision 5%. There was no significant difference between levels in plasma and serum. Studies of individuals with varying lead exposure showed that in the general population the plasma concentrations were less t
In the present thesis benign breast lesions of various histologies, i.e., fibrocystic lesions from women with and without a known hereditary predisposition to breast cancer, fibroadenomas, phyllodes tumors, and papillomas were cytogenetically investigated with the aim to characterize the chromosomal patterns, and to relate the findings with those in breast carcinomas. No lesion-specific aberration
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer diagnosed in western countries. Complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH) reflects a state of hyperestrinism and its role as a precursor lesion of this cancer is established. Endometrial cancers arising in association with CAH are reported in women of younger age, with early stage disease, favorable histological types, higher progesterone recepto
Sample clean-up methodologies based on supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) have been developed for determination of fat-soluble vitamins in foods. This thesis focuses on method development, stressing important issues concerning sample pre-treatment, extraction conditions and collection parameters. It was demonstrated that by using SFE followed by saponification and determination using RP-HPLC wit
In the present work, I study various aspects of Martin Buber's model of how a human being can communicate, in a meaningful way, his or her religious experiences to and with another human being. My method has aspects of both conceptual analysis and phenomenologial description. I focus on the individual partners, their mutual relationships and the religious message. Buber's model is based on the con
Diffusion in bone is needed for bone remodeling and bone healing. Understanding the phenomenon is often important for comprehension bone diseases. Mathematical modeling of the diffusion processes is a required prerequisite in the study of this important physical process in living bone tissue. A proper model is crucial in order to obtain realistic results. An easily accessible method to measure the
Visual conditions are changing in several different ways. Some lakes are getting turbid due to eutrophication or erosion while others are getting browner due to brownification. These two types of visual degradation results in completely different optical properties of lakes. Turbid water scatter light which degrades image quality severely while brown coloured humic water mainly absorb light making
