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This dissertation critically examines the tension between mainstream and counterpoint perspectives on sustainability on the basis of analyses of four approaches to this issue: environmental economics, ecological economics, adaptive management, and bioregionalism, which are presented as successive attempts to challenge mainstream, modernist perspectives on socio-ecological relationships. The differ
Natural products have until recently provided the only remedy for treatment of diseases. The development of modern chemistry in the last centuries has opened the door for tapping into the chemical diversity found in nature. Synthetic natural products, together with analogues, are an important piece in the puzzle towards curing many ailments. In this thesis, synthetic endeavors towards different bi
This thesis work presents various performance estimation methods of compact brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHE) operating in single phase, condenser, evaporator, cascaded and transcritical applications. Such methods play a vital role in development of heat exchanger selection software and during geometry parameter estimation in the new product development process. The suitability of employing comm
In recent years, the supreme courts in the Nordic countries have set aside statutes as contrary to the constitution of the country or to the ECHR. A much debated question is whether the courts have gone too far – or if they have waited too long to take on this task. In this dissertation, the task of Nordic judges to critically examine the compatibility of legislation with constitutional norms is
Biologically harmful ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-320 nm) is increasing at the Earth´s surface owing to stratospheric ozone depletion. This is of global concern due to potential impacts of enhanced UV-B radiation on the biosphere. The aim of this thesis was to investigate effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on components (bryophytes) and processes (decomposition, productivity, species interac
This thesis deals with the structure and function of two different enzymes, ferrochelatase and magnesium chelatase, that catalyse similar reactions. When this work started, a three-dimensional model of ferrochelatase existed. Much was known about the enzyme, but some details remained unclear. The focus has been to establish where the metal and the porphyrin binds to the enzyme, and how they are pu
A new detector for on-line digital detection of charged particles (beta-particles, conversion electrons and alpha-particles) from thin samples for rapid autoradiography has been developed; the Beta Camera. The device consists of a photon-sensitive detector (image photon detector, IPD); the main component of which is a microchannel plate. The sample to be measured is mounted in close contact to a t
The pedigree of the elements heavier than iron is a vital question in the history and evolution of our galaxy. The elements up to and including those of the iron group are produced mainly through fusion processes within stars, giving the stars their energy. The even heavier elements are instead mainly produced through neutron capture processes: weak s-process, main s-process and r-process. The wea
As the tridentate chelate complexes referred to as pincer complexes have expanded their scope as homogeneous catalysts, there is an increased interest in electronic and steric fine-tuning of such complexes. One accessible variable in this aspect is the hybridisation of any coordinated carbon atoms. This thesis describes the synthesis of bis(phosphine) and bis(phosphinite) PCP pincer complexes with
This thesis is based on the Internet experiences of people with significant mobility/physical impairments who are proficient and experienced computer users in their computer world but have limitations in mobility that severely restrict their functioning in the physical world. The Internet functioning of this group is analysed by means of the factors attitude, control and enabling, with the m
This dissertation studies Wallace Stevens? ideas and practice of poetic language with a focus on the 1930s, an era in which Stevens persistently thematized a keenly felt pressure for the possible social involvement and political utility of poetic language. The argument suggests how mutually implicated elements of his poetry such as diction, prosody and metaphor are relied on to signify or enact ae
Increasing attention is paid to mechanical ventilation as one cause behind aggravation of lung injury. Lung protective ventilation can be achieved e.g. by minimising tidal lung collapse and re-expansion and by the use of small tidal volume allowing some degree of permissive hypercapnia. The ventilator and the sick lung comprise a very complex system. Identification of a ventilator setting that wit
The purpose of the present investigations was to obtain a more comprehensive view of fire setting by children and adolescents; to explore the prevalence of the phenomenon; whether or not it experimentally may be related to frustration or boredom and to examine the role of personality traits such as optimism, pessimism and creativity. This dissertation consists of two experimental and two interview
Cellulose based derivatives, such as cellulose ethers, today find many applications in a diverse range of fields. The numerous applications put high demands on the technological performance of the cellulose ethers. In order to be able to control the technological properties it is necessary to develop analytical methods by, which they can be correlated to the chemical structure. In some cases va
Based on the results of two rehabilitation engineering design projects, this thesis aims to present and analyze: ? What is required for genuine engineering knowledge and expertise to come into its own in rehabilitation engineering when the entire effort starts and ends with the person for whom it is intended. ? How the work of an engineer not only can improve the conditions for the actual d
This thesis consists of three separate papers. They are all empirical papers that examine how fragmentation of production processes and global value chains have affected international trade patterns. The first paper focuses on how private standards in the increasingly geographically fragmented food sector affect firm-import behaviour. By providing a quality insurance for the imported good, certi
Property-oriented systems are a new kind of information systems that are based on concepts of properties instead of concepts of things or classes of things. By focusing on properties, the property-oriented systems become more flexible and more suited to the dynamic early stages of design than the traditional class-oriented systems can be. The theoretical framework for property-oriented systems de
The composition of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) is altered during remodeling conditions such as atherosclerosis. The changed ECM regulates events that are important for the progression of disease including smooth muscle cell (SMC) behaviour and collagen fiber formation. The overall aim of this project was to relate changes in the composition of ECM in the arterial wall to processes duri
Flowers use different cues to attract pollinators including colour and odour. How do hawkmoths use these cues to find the flowers? This question was investigated in two species of hawkmoth, the diurnal species, Macroglossum stellatarum, and the nocturnal species, Deilephila elpenor. Both species have colour vision and D. elpenor can discriminate colours under very dim light intensities. Both speci
