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 metabolic syndrome (type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, dyslipidaemia, and hyperinsulinaemia), is increasing in prevalence world-wide. The progression of this syndrome proceeds through a step-wise deterioration of metabolic events where deterioration of insulin sensitivity appears to have a key role in a ?vicious circle? of hyperinsulinaemia/hypergly

In this thesis four new algorithms are presented for automatic segmentation in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR); automatic segmentation of the left ventricle, myocardial infarction, and myocardium at risk in two different image types. All four algorithms were implemented in freely available software for image analysis and were validated against reference delineations with a low bias and hig

The primary aim of this thesis is to formulate a theoretically and empirically based consultation model for psychologists in school contexts. Ideas and strategies are clarified so that they can be applied, evaluated, and further developed by other professionals. The model has been constructed with an interactional approach, with the stress on patterns of interaction between grown-ups and children

The steric and electronic properties of eight water-soluble phosphines (1-8) were investigated by different methods. Phosphines 1-6 were tested as ligands in palladium catalysed hydroxycarbonylation of styrene. In line with the proposal that a ligand with low basicity should facilitate nucleophilic attack of water on the acyl complex, the electron rich {4 - [Bis(2 - diethylaminoethyl)] - aminobenz

Pathogenic bacteria often produce potent proteases capable of destroying host tissue thereby providing the bacteria with tools for spreading and nutrient access. This thesis describes how group A, C and G streptococci can acquire surface bound protease activity through an alternative mechanism, namely by binding and activation of the human protease precursor plasminogen. Group A streptococci of c

Introduction: Shunting systems are implanted for draining cerebrospinal fluid to treat hydrocephalus, intracranial cysts, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Most shunt systems include a valve which regulates drainage. A differential pressure valve opens when intracranial pressure exceeds the valve’s opening pressure. The difficulty with these valves is selecting and predicting the most sui

Aim of the study Today´s methods for the staging of rectal carcinoma: ultrasonography with transrectal probe, CT, MRI or MRI with a rectal coil, all have limitations. The aim was therefore to develop a new, double-contrast MRI method for evaluation of rectal carcinoma. The idea was that a rectally applied contrast medium causing distension and signal void of the rectal lumen and an intravenous inj

It is well established that dietary fibre, especially soluble dietary fibre, has beneficial effects and can prevent diseases associated with the modern lifestyle. This has been explained by the viscous effects of soluble fibre, which can reduce or delay the absorption of carbohydrates and fat in the small intestine, resulting in lower blood concentrations of glucose, insulin and cholesterol. Oats,

The studies in this doctoral thesis report aspects of cognitive and socio emotional development in a group of teenagers and young adults with dyslexia. The 75 subjects, between 14 and 25 years of age, had been diagnosed in the latter half of the 1990s, and the collection of quantitative and qualitative data was performed in 2003-04. Study I investigated the stability of intelligence. Earlier rese

Moths use chemical signals emanating from food to find sites for oviposition and subsequent larval feeding. By identifying these odours, novel approaches to pest management can be developed, such as monitoring of females in pest populations. The pyralid moths studied in this thesis, the almond moth (Ephestia cautella), the Mediterranean flour moth (E. kuehniella) and the Indian meal moth (Plodia i

GRASP (Group and Social Psychology) is an interdisciplinary conference, which aims to provide a community around social psychological issues for researchers, practitioners, and graduate students from the Nordic countries within the fields of psychology, sociology, education, behavioural sciences and social work to share, exchange, learn, and develop preliminary results, new concepts, ideas, princi

Hydrogen holds a great promise as an efficient and clean future energy carrier due to its high energy density and lack of pollutant generation. Anaerobic degradation of organic substrates by heterotrophic microorganisms enables the production of hydrogen from a wide spectrum of agricultural feedstock and waste products. Using thermophiles in this process is preferable for maximizing the substrate

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)s are increasingly regarded as promising environmentally benign power sources. Intensive development is today directed towards reducing the cost and increasing the durability of the fuel cell, as well as expanding the operational window for the PEMFC for a range of applications. The proton-conducting membrane is one of the key components in the PEMFC. The

Many fishes have well-developed visual systems with color vision capabilities. The crystalline lens is the major refractive element in a fish eye since the cornea is optically inactive underwater. A typical fish eye has a large pupil and a lens of short focal length, features that increase light gathering ability. They lead also to short depth of focus, which makes the eye particularly susceptible

The thesis deals with the further development of pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (RCARS) for improving the capabilities of gas phase thermometry. The main effort has been to make the technique more robust when employed under a wide range of temperatures and operational conditions. A primary aim has been to investigate the impact of collisional broadening on N2 RCARS thermom

The electroactive polymer materials considered in this work react to electric stimuli by producing deformations. In some cases, the electrically induced deformations are moderate, while in other cases they can be very large and the specimen is stretched to more than twice its original length. The latter response is seen in so called dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA). The possibility of very lar

Different approaches and sub-models for the modelling of emulsification in a high-pressure homogenizer are reviewed and compared in terms of both practical aspects and how well they describe what is currently known on the emulsification process in general and on high-pressure homogenization in particular. Special effort is devoted to comparing the model developments presented in the appended paper

With an increasing demand to improve efficiency and to cut costs, the industry is constantly seeking to reduce the time and money spent in product development and manufacturing. Use of computer-based simulations has become more or less a standard tool to meet this demand. Cost reduction is in this way made possible by for example shortened product development cycles, less need for expensive protot