Search results

This thesis presents results of a series of experimental studies on the spreading dynamics of small drops of complex solutions on solid surfaces. The capillary flow dynamics of complex solutions have also been investigated. In the wetting experiments, water, alcohols, aqueous surfactant solutions and commercial ink-jet inks were used as test liquids, and a number of substrates, including silicate

This thesis consists of two parts, the first dealing with the design of iron-powder synchronous machines, and the second with the analysis and prediction of the acoustic noise in electrical machines. In Part I, a 1.6 kW electrically magnetized claw-pole machine with magnetically conducting end-plates has been analyzed and a prototype tested. The machine is built from soft magnetic composite mater

In order to understand the formation and evolution of the Galaxy it is imperative to know when different components formed. This means at the most basic level that we need to know the ages of stars. The present work demonstrates the many problems inherent in determining the ages of stars through comparison with stellar evolutionary models. Furthermore, solutions to some of these problems are prese

The work in this thesis has been focused on chondrocyte integrins and their interaction with the matrix proteins chondroadherin (CHAD) and collagen type II (CII). Affinity purification of CHAD-binding proteins from chondrocyte lysate, followed by immunoprecipitation of EDTA-eluted material identified alpha2beta1 as a CHAD-binding integrin. Interaction between alpha2beta1 and CHAD was found to prev

This thesis introduces and summarizes four papers dealing with computer simulations of astrophysical processes involving binaries. The first part gives the rational and theoretical background to these papers. In paper I and II a statistical approach to studying eclipsing binaries is described. By using population synthesis models for binaries the probabilities for eclipses are calculated for diff

The amino acid glutamate is today regarded as the main fast excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and a large body of evidence support that glutamate serves as a neurotransmitter in primary afferent terminals in the spinal cord. Previous evidence also suggests that the closely related amino acid aspartate may serve a similar role in some primary afferent terminals. However, the

This study examines safety and fear of crime in Åboland, a predominantly rural area in southwestern Finland. It also examines crime and criminals in the area, as well as the distinctive social control that characterises Åboland's eight municipalities. The study continues two strands of research, the first about criminality and fear of crime in societies that are considered safe by their inhabitant

Fine-grained soils are often regarded as problematic soils in earthworks because of their water- and frost sensitivity. Only limited amounts of fine-grained tills are used as earthwork material today. The main objective of this thesis is to improve the knowledge of how to use and also treat a fine-grained till, so that a greater amount can be utilised as earthwork material. To achieve an increasin

In an 18-month period all throat cultures in our laboratory were examined for Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and clinical information was obtained. The great majority of the patients suffered from pharyngitis or tonsillitis, accompanied by a rash in 46% of cases. One third of the patients had a history of recurrent tonsillitis. Three types of exanthema was described, scarlatiniform, urticarial and e

The molecular process under which message in DNA is relayed onto RNA is called transcription, and it accomplished through involvement of so-called transcription factors. Zinc finger proteins are one of the most abundant classes of regulatory proteins in eukaryotic cells where they play central roles in a variety of cellular activities. A classical zinc finger is a small protein motif with a simple

There are many examples of complex networks in science. It can be genetic regulation in living cells, computers on the Internet, or social and economic networks. In this context, Boolean networks provide simplistic models that are relatively easy to handle using computer simulations and mathematical methods. A good understanding of Boolean networks may form a foundation to investigations of more c

Together with other molecular chaperones, small heat shock proteins are key components of the protein quality control system, which is comprised of several hundred proteins and acts to maintain proteome homeostasis in the cell. Small heat shock proteins bind unfolding proteins at an early stage, to prevent these from further unfolding and aggregating. Partially unfolded proteins are being held in

Plants and microbes can interact in several ways. Plants can be attacked by different types of pathogens like fungi, virus and bacteria, but can also form symbioses with fungi and bacteria. Certain common antimicrobial proteins are produced by the plants regardless of the type of microbial interaction with the plant. In this work, different factors involved in plant-microbe interactions have been

Over the past two decades, grafting of embryonic nigral tissue has developed into a feasible therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). It has become apparent that the degree of restoration of dopaminergic neurotransmission by the transplanted cells is highly correlated to the symptomatic relief. However, the efficacy of the treatment is still far from optimal: More than 90% of the grafted

Surfaces and interfaces have a special significance to nanotechnology because the surface/volume ratio of nanomaterials is larger than for bulk materials. Therefore, interfaces of nanomaterials are usually more important to the properties of nanomaterials than for larger scale materials. Furthermore, crystal growth occurs at the interfaces between the growing crystals and the supply media. An unde

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of macromolecules which, together with cells, forms the various tissues of all metazoan organisms. Cartilage, in contrast to most other tissues, contains relatively few cells in proportion to the volume occupied by ECM. Part of this work involves investigation of cartilage ECM for expression and secretion of proteins that are considered to be the definin

This thesis consists of four chapters where chapter 1 introduces the topics in the following chapters and discusses some related literature. Chapter 2 moves beyond the disability insurance with two types, able and disabled, in Parsons (1996). This is done in two ways: by introducing a third type, the partially disabled, and by allowing for a continuum of types. It is assumed throughout that the in

What kind of public sphere is possible in the European Union? Against the backdrop of debates on the transformation of democracy beyond the nation-state, this study explores daily newspapers’ role in providing forums for transnational debate in the presumed absence of an overarching European collective identity. It uses empirical means to reconsider the question of the supposed co-constitutiveness

This thesis deals with electrical measurements on quantum devices. The thesis is divided into three major areas: electrical characterization, semiconductor devices, and metal devices. The electrical characterization part present problems and advantages with the measurement techniques used in the the thesis, .i.e., Current-Voltage; Conductance, including higher order harmonics; Capacitance; Cross-