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The vertical distribution of the nutrient uptake of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) has been investigated in southern Scandinavia. Two approaches were employed. The first involved estimation of the nutrient uptake capacity of the trees at different soil depths by determining the distributions of roots, external ect
The aim of this thesis is to explore discursive changes in conceptions of life course and ageing. In a sense the Life- Span embodies the boundaries of human existence, but furthermore, it symbolizes a discursive system with distinctive symbols and meaning, that regulates and re-construct a cultural context. Hence, a cultures notion of the Life-Span also reveals its images and apprehensions of agei
Both ovariectomy (OVX) and gastrectomy (GX) cause osteopenia in several animal species including humans. While the effect of OVX has been ascribed to estrogen deficiency, the underlying mechanism behind GX-induced osteopenia is poorly understood. Nutritional deficiencies, including lack of calcium and vitamin D, have been claimed to cause the osteopenia induced by GX. This thesis attempts to clari
Cardiovascular disease prevention has been a challenge for research for decades. The studies of this thesis were designed to investigate the role of health professionals in everyday clinical work based upon the concept of comprehensive primary care consultation. Routine check-up of blood pressure was the basis for the inclusion in an opportunistic screening for hyperchol-esterolaemia. Additionally
The global expansion of democratic rule in the developing world has attracted much scholarly interest. The societal implications of the democratisation process, i.e. what democratisation actually means for the citizens in terms of opportunities for participation and influence, have not received as much attention though. This study makes a contribution to redressing the imbalance. Drawing on normat
The thesis consists of an introductory chapter and four independent research papers, summarized as follows. The introductory chapter discusses the role of economics in international health and the policy contributions of each of the particular papers. In addition, the data and the methods that have been used are discussed. Paper I, entitled Community-based health insurance in low-income countries:
In this thesis, the usability of Virtual Reality (VR) has been investigated and developed within two applications: participatory design of workplaces and brain injury rehabilitation. In the first application, VR is used in combination with full scale modelling, drama and democratic meetings in an Envisionment Workshop. This workshop has been developed and tested through several real workplace int
ABO is the most important blood group system in transfusion medicine and transplantation immunology. The ABO blood groups differ by the presence or absence of antigens on RBCs and antibodies in plasma. Accurate determination of ABO status is critical. Genomic typing can increase the precision of blood group determination in complicated cases, e.g. when variant expression of A or B antigen is encou
The purpose of this study has been to investigate the social consequences of unemployment and to give a possible interpretation of unemployment experiences through the application of the economy-shame model. It intends to put forward and show the significance of economic stress in combination with the feeling of shame as a factor important for the understanding of differences in unemploy-ment expe
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and affects 2% of the population over 65 years of age. The disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. Over time, symptoms increase and, in particular, lead to a dramatic slowness of movements. Unfortunately, when the fi rst symptoms are discovered, more than 50% of the dopaminergic neurons a
Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a progressive cell-death in the brain, and loss of different functions in the patient. Today, there are no cures for any of the various diseases. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence of 0.1% and the first symptoms usually start to appear between 50-60 years of age with rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia and postural abno
This thesis examines the concept of travel habits, public responses to large-scale traffic congestion regulations and how travel patterns of urban dwellers can be made environmentally sustainable in the long term. It also examines the interrelationships of different scientific disciplines dealing with urban travel. The main conclusions relate to the scientific concept of habit. This concept and th
Sustainable development relies on our ability to make decisions today that will determine our tomorrow. Given that uncertainty is explicitly allowed to influence our view of what the future holds for us, most ex ante analyses of challenges for sustainable development can be viewed as analysing risk. Many frameworks for analysing risk exist today, but analysing risk for sustainable development enta
Shape stability, the ability of the wood to retain its shape, is one of the most important parameters when using timber as a building material and for other applications. Generally, timber undergoes changes in dimensions and shape when its moisture content is changed. However, this can often not be tolerated in constructions and thus, methods to improve the shape stability have to be found. In th
The simulation of physical phenomena occurring in chemical reactors requires the description of the kinetics involved in the underlying combustion process. Kinetic models are developed for this purpose. A software package, BlueBellMouse, has been developed to facilitate a deeper automatization and ease of simulation, reduction and optimization of kinetic models. A kinetic model is made of a list o
In recent decades there has been an increasing interest in the indoor environment and its connections with public health. One important topic discussed has been the relation between the moisture in buildings and health.
Cementitious materials, when cast, contain excess water since this is necessary for workability and for flow properties. The pore solutions in cementitious materials, besid
Abstract: The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate ProstaLund Feedback Treatment® (PLFT®) and the CoreTherm® device with regard to biophysics, mechanisms of action, treatment indications, additional techniques, efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The application of two biophysical equations in the PLFT software is explained. The calculations
Politics induce economic agents to organise into special interest groups (SIGs) and act strategically to adjust their economic decisions and to conduct rent-seeking activities in order do improve the situation inflicted on them by policy. This thesis examines, in four essays, different forms of SIG influence on public policy in different institutional contexts. The two first essays examine two rel
Nearly one million new cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed annually throughout the world. Even though the incidence has fallen dramatically in recent decades, this disease is still the second leading cause of cancer death in a global perspective. The geographic distribution of gastric cancer varies markedly, with the highest rates in Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China. This variatio
The price of a good is said to be nonlinear if the unit price not is constant but depends on some aspect of the quantity (or quality) purchased. This form of pricing is commonly used in many industries, e.g. the electricity and water industries, and has many desirable properties. For example, nonlinear pricing is often necessary for (Pareto) efficiency and nonlinear pricing can be used as an instr
