Search results

Introduction Prevalence of planned pregnancies varies between countries but is often measured in a dichotomous manner. The aim of this study was to investigate to what level pregnant women had planned their pregnancies and whether pregnancy planning was associated with background characteristics and pregnancy-planning behavior. Material and methods A cross-sectional study that utilized the baselin

This paper investigates a methodology for the precise statistical deconvolution of hardness properties within various metallic matrix multiphase materials. The central focus is on accurately characterizing mechanical behaviour in the context of complex materials. To meet these objectives, we implemented an approach involving nanoindentation analyses of the selected materials. This technique allowe

A continuously growing and mutating market with increasing demands on environmental sustainability, illuminated by unraveling environmental threats, highlights the need for greater resource efficiency in modern manufacturing industries. Machining has become pivotal in the pursuit of sustainability given its superior efficiency in manufacturing of metallic products. In theory, the efficiency of a m

This study uniquely combines advanced continental-scale data from two distinct sources: pollen-based past land cover (paleoecology) and ancient DNA (aDNA), developing a novel statistical model for spatiotemporal reconstructions of past land use across Europe. This groundbreaking approach integrates paleo-pollen and aDNA data, providing unprecedented insights into the environmental impacts of Holoc

Molecular imaging, both in vivo and ex vivo, is playing an increasingly important role in preclinical medical research. When using radionuclide-labeled tracers, e.g. in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging or for radionuclide therapy, quantitative in vivo imaging can be performed using emission tomography. Quantitative autoradiography of thin tissue sections is employed t

The formation of lumps during powder dissolution is undesirable in most cases. In a world where the use of dry products is increasing, incomplete powder dissolution and lump formation can for instance affect the color of a paint or the nutritional content of baby food. In this thesis, the phenomena governing lump formation of agglomerated spray dried dairy powders were investigated. The focus of t

Internal combustion engines have been an important technological field for more than a century. It has had an important impact on society through improved transportation and industrial applications. However, concerns about environmental effects of exhaust gases and utilization of oil resources have pushed development of combustion engines towards cleaner combustion and higher efficiencies. The d

Many scientists believe that the oil production will peak in the near future, if the peak has not already occurred. Peak oil theories and uncertain future oil deliveries have stimulated interest in alternative sources of fuel and chemicals. This interest has been enhanced by concerns about energy security and about the climate change caused by emissions of carbon dioxide. The result has been incre

Continuum based elasto-plastic-damage models for paperboard have been established in this work. The thesis begins with an introductory section that describes the mechanical properties of paperboard and some of the converting processes during forming of a package. A short review of modeling concepts that have been applied to paperboard is presented and then some key aspects and assumptions develope

Heat stress has been studied extensively. However, in the contemporary context of climate change there is a lack of information on the extent of future heat stress and its consequences, especially in occupational settings. The main aim of the research was to identify the current knowledge gaps by conducting a literature review (paper I) together with the collection of empirical data to examine the

The industrial use of biocatalysts is increasingly important in the production of e.g. pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fuels and foodstuffs. A successful biocatalytic process is dependent on many factors, such as the biocatalyst properties, the nature of the reaction, reactor type and downstream processing. This work is focused on two important issues: Immobilization of the biocatalyst and in situ pro

NADH:quinone oxidoreductase, or complex I, is a large, complex and poorly understood bioenergetic enzyme in the respiratory chain of living organisms. The enzyme has a conserved core structure, comprising fourteen protein subunits: Seven subunits protrude from the membrane and contain a flavin prosthetic group and eight iron-sulfur clusters that guide electrons from the oxidation of NADH towards t

The reuse and closed-loop recycling of food packaging was studied in order to assess consumer safety and the sensory quality (e.g. taste and smell) of packaged food. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles that were refillable or that contained recycled material, either in direct contact or with a functional barrier protecting the food, were investigated with focus on odorous compounds f

There is a growing need for multifunctional polymeric materials for the development of several important energy conversion technologies. For example, the polymer electrolyte is a key component in lithium polymer batteries. The basic functions of this electrolyte are to efficiently conduct the lithium ions and physically separate the electrodes. Consequently, these electrolytes should ideally posse

In this thesis, the phylogenetic relationships of the Mammalia have been studied at various levels. Different sources of genetic information have been evaluated and used as phylogenetic markers. These include the well-known mitochondrial genome, cDNA from housekeeping genes and expressed sequence tags from nuclear genes. Applying RT-PCR on mRNA from nuclear genes is a new approach for collecting

The cyanoprokaryote (blue-green algae) genus Arthrospira occurs in saline, alkaline tropical waters of Africa, Asia, and Central America. Traditionally Arthrospira has been used as a food supplement by the Kanembu tribe of Lake Chad and Aztecs living in the valley of Mexico City. It is presently cultivated in large scale throughout the world and sold as a health food supplement due to its nutritio

Vascular smooth muscle can adapt to increased intraluminal pressure by remodelling and hypertrophy, as seen in hypertension. The molecular mechanisms responsible for this are still incompletely characterized. We have developed an organ culture system where strips of rat or mouse portal veins are cultured for 1 to 3 days loaded (stretched) by an attached weight and then studied for morphology, func

Fuel ethanol from lignocellulose is one sustainable alternative to the fossil fuels of today. All sugars in the material must be utilized in order to achieve high overall ethanol yields. Baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been engineered to ferment the pentose sugar xylose from lignocellulose to ethanol. However, ethanol production from xylose is slow and often incomplete. In this work s