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The thesis comprises an introductory chapter and four research papers. The introductory chapter provides a brief overview of recent economic growth performance in Africa, places the individual papers into a coherent context, summarizes the main findings, and discusses their relevance for economic policy. The first paper, The Role of Capital Accumulation, Adjustment and Structural Change for Take-
The present thesis deals with the activation of CO2 by insertion reactions into palladium-carbon bonds. This has been realised for the complexes {2,6-bis[(di-t-butylphosphino)methyl]benzene}palladium(II)methyl [(PCP)PdMe] and (PCP)PdCH2CHCH2. These complexes have also been used in the catalytic carboxylation of ZnMe2 and Bu3SnCH2CHCH2. Because of trans influence the palladium-methyl bond is severe
The principal purposes of the studies reported in this thesis were to develop new methods to make computerised decision support systems in medicine both more reliable and fully automated. These aims were pursued in the belief that the solution to these problems will lead to an increased clinical use of such systems resulting in benefit to both patient and physician. In the first two studies, meth
This study attempts to answer the question of why Laban the Aramean, a rather harmless character as presented in the biblical text, is generally portrayed in rabbinic literature as a major enemy of Jacob and Israel. It is argued that the portrait of Laban as a villain developed as a result of rabbinic hermeneutics, and that the characteristics which are attributed to him in rabbinic literature wer
The aim of this work was to investigate the dosimetric effects of removing the flattening filter from conventional C-arm medical linear accelerators. In conventional linear accelerators used for radiotherapy, a flattening filter is positioned in the beam line to provide a uniform lateral dose profile at a specified depth in water. However, for some radiotherapy treatments, a uniform lateral dose p
How are access to asylum and other forms of extraterritorial protection regulated in the European Union? Is the EU acquis in these areas in conformity with international law? What tools does international law offer to solve conflicts between them? And, finally, is law capable of bridging the foundational oppositions embedded in migration and asylum issues? This work combines the potential of legal
The current form-giving activity in industrial design is characterized by explorations that depend on the individual capability to mentally manipulate a solution space from which to select and express the intended result. Industrial designers frequently rely on artistic experimentation, aesthetic inspiration, or design briefs. These points of departure often result in satisfactory results, but the
In the last two decades, phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) has evolved from two-dimensional velocity and flow measurements to volumetric, time-resolved depictions of velocity fields (4D PC). The acquisition of time-resolved velocity fields allows flow visualisations that might provide better understanding of the dynamics of the cardiac system. Because 4D PC is increasingly being u
In the normal functioning organism, there is a balance between cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. An imbalance in these processes results in different diseases. This thesis concerns the imbalance where there is too little cell death and cell differentiation with increased cell proliferation. The result is uncontrolled cell proliferation resulting in the development of cancer
This dissertation discusses the personal implications of the early consequences of rheumatoid arthritis, how they effect the person's working life and how they are dealt with. In this qualitative study thematized interviews are used. Twenty-three persons, recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, were interviewed twice, two years apart. The study is influenced by an interactionist perspective
The role of stochasticity throughout many biophysical systems is of great importance. From evolution to foraging, from the spreading of viruses to cell fate, all hinge in one way or another on inherent stochasticity. The aim of this thesis is to explore the tools often used to quantify randomness in nature, and employ these tools on a selected range of biophysical systems (Papers I-IV). In these p
Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen strongly associated with chronic type B gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma. Our aims were to establish a mouse model of H. pylori infection, to study pathogenesis of gastritis and gastric cancer and to investigate new treatment strategies in this model. Both spiral and coccoid forms of H. pylori strains 17874, 25 and 553/93 cau
Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica hosts nesting by four species of highly migratory and endangered sea turtles (green, hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead turtles). Sea turtle research at Tortuguero has been continuous since Dr. Archie Carr began studies in the 1950?s. This dissertation aims to clarify the Tortuguero sea turtles? post-nesting migrations, nesting trends and survival threats.
This book attempts to answer the question of how it is possible that Christianity in the beginning of the second century C.E. had developed into a non-Jewish, Gentile religion. Since Christianity was originally one of many Jewish factions within the diversified Judaism of the period, and one that even primarily seems to have directed its attention to the people of Israel, the problem of its separa
The crystalline properties of starch constitutes a puzzling area of research. Our understanding of the crystalline structure of amylopectin, that is the crystalline component in starch, is based on the observations from investigations on modified amylose. The first part of this thesis includes a discussion of the unit cells (the smallest crystalline units) suggested in the literature. The differen
The wavelength of x-ray radiation is much shorter than that of visible light. In fact, it is comparable to the distances between atoms in solids, which is on the order of one tenth of a nanometer. Using light of such a short wavelength, it is possible to study the structure of materials on the atom level. Scattering of x-rays has been developed into an invaluable tool to analyze various characteri
The view of the exchange and trade that took place during the Viking Age has varied considerably. This variation is obvious from a scrutiny of how one and the same place, Birka, is described by different scholars over a period of a hundred years. Two very polarized pictures of Birka appear: A town with a mostly free market-oriented trade or an emporium with an administered commodity exchange contr
The subject of this study is the re-construction of German national identity and nationalist thinking within the framework of the 1990s’ history discourse in relation to the Nazi past and the Holocaust. The empirical focus is on national politics and the press. Maurice Halbwachs’ social constructionist theory on collective memory and Jan Assmann’s thesis on the defining power of elites in the cult
This thesis focuses on the electromagnetic design of a synchronous machine suited for a belt-driven alternator and starter (BAS) in a micro hybridisation of a mid-size passenger car. The BAS needs to provide a high cranking torque to start the combustion engine, especially in a cool condition where the requirements are highest. Besides the high cranking torque it is desirable to have high power pe
