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The grammatical marker LE in Mandarin Chinese can occur in two syntactic positions, either immediately following the verb or at the end of a sentence. Traditionally, it has been described as two homophonous but syntactically distinct morphemes, verbal LE and sentence-final LE. This view seems to be based on assumptions about (1) the historical origin of LE, (2) the relation between LE and its coun
Hemodilution reduces the need for blood transfusion and hereby the risk for transmission of infectious agents. The present study investigated effects on systemic and myocardial circulation and oxygenation, and blood lactate concentrations; induced by nitrous oxide, isoflurane, hypoxia, and uncompensated blood loss, in pigs hemodiluted to a hematocrit of 11%. In addition, indicators of hypovolemia
This thesis presents a new verification concept, the virtual accelerator, for dose calculation algorithms used in treatment planning systems (TPSs) for external beam radiotherapy. The algorithm input data required to implement a treatment unit in the TPS are generated by Monte Carlo simulations as are the beam reference data needed for the subsequent evaluation of the dose calculation algorithm. T
Ectomycorrhiza are a symbiosis between trees and soil inhabiting fungi. The fungal hyphae ensheath the fine roots creating a mantle and grow in between root cells to create the Hartig net, where the exchange of carbon and mineral nutrients occurs. The ectomycorrhizal fungus is dependent on the host tree to receive the carbon it needs to grow. Trees with different nutrient deficiencies differ in t
Abnormal gastric motor function, a frequent complication among the increasing diabetic population of the world, also includes other patient groups such as those many patients with functional dyspepsia. These facts stress the need for a reliable, safe, cost-effective, and simple technique for measuring gastric emptying. To date the ultrasound technique for measuring gastric emptying has been regard
Prolonged musculoskeletal disorders (PMSD) is an escalating medical, social and cost problem in developed countries. The complexity of PMSDs has emphasised the need of developing effective multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme with a holistic approach. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate the outcome of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme focusing on Body Awareness Therapy and cogn
The global terrestrial carbon cycle plays a pivotal role in regulating the atmospheric composition of greenhouse gases. Currently it is responsible for removing 25-30% of our emissions every year, an important ecosystem service that may not persist in the long term. Global warming tends to decrease the CO2 sink capacity of the world’s oceans and ecosystems leading to a larger fraction of our emiss
In this work a number of theoretical models, describing light propagation in matter, have been applied to and developed for the examination of tissue. The aim was to model the light scattering and absorption in tissue in order to improve the understanding of underlying mechanisms of laser-based diagnostics and treatment modalities utilised for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The models studied
Nanowires have the potential to be a very flexible platform for the design of semiconductor devices. In nanowires it is possible to form crystal structures not found in the bulk materials under normal conditions, and to combine different III-V and group IV materials into axial or radial heterostructures. As quite complex structures can be formed, both intentionally and unintentionally, characteriz
The purpose of this dissertation was to increase - through an empirical investigation - our understanding of early parenthood in relation to children with Down syndrome. My point of departure has been the parents’ life-worlds, and I have developed an accompanying working method. Ten families with newborn infants with Down syndrome were followed through regular home visits during the first year of
The thesis is a bioelectrochemical study of heme enzymes, mainly peroxidases and cellobiose dehydrogenases (CDH). It covers both fundamental and applied aspects, viz. studies of the direct electron transfer and kinetics of enzymes on electrodes, and the development of amperometric enzyme-based biosensors. The kinetics of the direct and mediated electron transfer of a wide range of peroxidases (bo
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) has been used to determine the kinetics of ligand binding to the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), as well as the oligomerisation and inter- and intramolecular dynamics of the low molecular weight-protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) in solution. NMR spectroscopy is sensitive to dynamic processes on timescales ranging from picoseconds t
Nuclear medicine is based on the radiotracer principle of George de Hevesy and the magic bullet concept by Ehrlich and focuses on the diagnosis, the treatment of diseases and the investigation of normal states within the human body using radiopharmaceuticals. A radiopharmaceutical is an atom or a chemical compound in which one or several atoms are replaced with a radionuclide. Several diagnostic a
For the development of a Single–Ion Hit Facility (SIHF) for living cells irradiation at the Lund Ion Beam Analysis facility (LIBAF), newly developed pre-cell detectors have been investigated. These detectors can determine the number of ions reaching the sample. Central to the thesis is their fabrication and characterization. Two different detectors ’ Design A and Design B’ were fabricated with thi
The purpose of the thesis is to further understand key conceptual and operational challenges that international aid donors, and public and private institutions, face while designing and implementing alternative forms of social housing finance which aim to be inclusive for the urban poor. Based on an in-depth study of the work of the Foundation for the Promotion of Local Development (PRODEL) in thr
The study included 44 Scandinavian individuals with the autosomal recessive inherited Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Inclusion criteria were retinal dystrophy plus at least 2 more of the remaining traditional cardinal signs of the syndrome: obesity, polydactyly, hypogenitalism and mental retardation. The study showed that the patients had an early onset of night blindness and a poor visual p
Π-conjugated polymers are an important class of materials which can be used in e.g. photoelectric (solar cells) or electroluminescent (displays) devices. These materials are implemented in a number of applications these days since a lot is already known about them. There is, however, still a lot to learn in order to increase the efficiency and reduce the power consumption of devices. There are man
Today’s requirements of fast, reliable and selective analytical methods with minimal usage of organic solvents have accelerated the development of new, automated extraction techniques. In this thesis recent extraction techniques with emphasis on supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were investigated. Different environmental and industrial applications such a
In total hip arthroplasty cemented fixation of the acetabular component is a generally successful concept, but the rate of aseptic loosening and consequent revision surgery is still too high. One of the crucial factors for longterm implant survival is the initial fixation and stability. This thesis comprises experimental and clinical studies, including radiostereometry (RSA) with up to 5 years fol
Seven-transmembrane, G-protein coupled receptors play a central role in physiology since they facilitate cell communication in multicellular organisms by recognition of a broad range of ligands. They also represent important drug targets. Unfortunately, for many of these receptors the endogenous ligands, and, hence, their physiological functions, remain to be identified. These receptors are usuall
