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Hematopoiesis is a highly complex process by which a range of specialized blood cells are generated from a small pool of multipotent stem cells in the bone marrow. The survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells are tightly regulated by both soluble and membrane-bound cytokines produced within the bone marrow microenvironment. Kit Ligand (KL) and Flt3 Ligand (FL) are t
Mucosal inflammation and airway hyperreactivity are regulated by hundreds of different mediators. The recent discovery of gaseous mediators, produced and active within the airways, opens new possibilities for identification of therapeutic targets and ways to monitor airway inflammation. This thesis is focused on two such mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) along with their role i
Multiplex protein quantification, proteomics, is essential for uncovering new biomarkers and understanding biology. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is the predominant technique for these measurements. In this thesis, optimization and quality control strategies for different phases of the LC-MS pipeline have been developed. Due to the inherent complexity and dynamic rang
The thesis presents the results from a research project targeting architectural design and house-building in a setting of industrialized design process and product platforms. During the early stages of a traditional design process, architects manage a degree of problem complexity, besides technical aspects, also includes user function, material, environment, aesthetics etc. As a result of the des
The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) genes are crucial for the recognition of self and non-self peptides by the immune defence system. They are extremely variable in most studied vertebrate species. I have studied the extent and the importance of Mhc variation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), mainly from the Baltic Sea. Levels of Mhc heterozygosity in hatchery populations of salmon were bet
This dissertation covers studies of excited state processes in two types of solar energy materials: alternating polyfluorene polymers and their blends with fullerenes in the active layer of plastic solar cells, and bis-tridentate RuII-polypyridyl complexes to be used as sensitizer in systems for artificial photosynthesis. The polymer:fullerene blends were studied by transient absorption and time-
Historically, research on radio communication has focused on improving range and data rate. In the last decade, however, there has been an increasing demand for low power and low cost radios that can provide connectivity with small devices around us. They should be able to offer basic connectivity with a power consumption low enough to function extended periods of time on a single battery charge,
This study was undertaken to evaluate relationships between endothelial function (assessed as mediators of endothelium-derived vasoactive factors such as nitric oxide [NO], prostacyclin [PGI2] and endothelin [ET-1] ), and risk factors for atherosclerosis, as well as to study possible relationships between endothelial function and leukocyte activation (indicated by measurements of leukocyte-derived
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to maintain hematopoiesis throughout life. HSCs are ideal targets for permanent gene transfer, as the transgene will be expressed in all the progeny of the gene-modified stem cells. The aim of this thesis was to optimize conditions for retroviral gene transfer to human candidate HSCs and to study mechanisms interfering with efficient gene transfer.
Development of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow takes place in association with the hematopoietic microenvironment. Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and stromal cells in bone marrow provide a structural environment for hematopoietic cells, but they also directly influence proliferation, differentiation and migration of cells by signal transduction mediated by ligand binding to cell surface a
The operational core of firefighting operations was examined. The effects of various firefighting procedures on the fire ground, their impact upon conditions on the fire ground in which decisions by commanding officers are made and the effects of allocating resources in time and space on the fire ground were explored. In addition, various approaches for modelling firefighting operations were discu
The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effects of strength training on muscle function, gait performance and perceived participation in subjects with chronic mild to moderate post-stroke hemiparesis. A main impairment after stroke is reduced muscle strength. This post-stroke weakness is a major contributor to mobility limitations, which can prevent the resumption of activities of dail
The North Taymyr ice-marginal zone (NTZ) on the Taymyr Peninsula, Arctic Siberia and the Ugleelv Valley on Jameson Land, East Greenland, have been investigated with the aim of reconstructing the glacial history, including depositional processes and environments. Geomorphological, sedimentological, stratigraphical and remote sensing methods have been combined to give a comprehensive view of develop
This thesis examines the microvascular inflammatory response in the skin. The microvascular response includes vasodilatation and plasma exudation. In the first three studies, the combined response was measured in guinea pig skin with a technique based on detection of radiolabelled protein. Transferrin was labelled in vivo by injection of 113mIn and the conversion electrons detected over the skin u
Estrogen receptor (ER) status can define breast cancer patients who would benefit from adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. However, resistance to tamoxifen is often observed and possible mechanisms may be loss or reduction of ER, dysfunctional ER- signaling and ligand independent activation of the receptor. Hypoxia and hypoxia inducible factor-1? (HIF-1) expression has been correlated to loss of ER in bre
“Cutaneous melanoma is a most unpredictable lesion” wrote Alexander Breslow in 1970. He was one of the first to predict outcome in melanoma patients, based on the thickness of the primary tumor, and today this parameter bears his name and remains the main prognostic factor in melanoma. The aim of this thesis has been to contribute to the understanding of melanoma biology in order to make this canc
Between ca 1.53 and 1.40 Ga, the southwestern margin of the East European Craton was subjected to extensive magmatism and deformation. While various suites of anorthositic, mangeritic and charnockitic-granitic rocks were emplaced between ca. 1.53 and 1.50 Ga, a major event of A-type granitic magmatism took place around 1.45 Ga. During that event, numerous voluminous plutons were intruded in a wide
Streptococcus pyogenes is a common human pathogen, which causes a variety of diseases. A major virulence factor of S. pyogenes is the surface-associated M protein, which mediates resistance to phagocytosis. Several studies indicate that M proteins inhibit complement deposition and thereby phagocytosis. It is often assumed that S. pyogenes lacking M protein activates complement via the alternative
The present thesis aimed to examine how ischemic stroke affects the vascular endothelin and angiotensin systems in cerebral arteries. To study vascular receptor changes in ischemic stroke transient focal ischemia was induced in rats. In addition, rat cerebral arteries and arterial smooth muscle cells were cultured for further analysis of cerebrovascular receptor regulation. For functional studies
Interstitial laser thermotherapy (ILT) is a method well suited for selective local destruction of malignant tumours. In the present work, a laser thermotherapy system based on feedback temperature control of energy delivery (through computerised feedback system) was developed. Temperature control was excellent in experiments without carbonization and with preserved light penetration, whereas tempe
