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This thesis deals with optical spectroscopy and imaging of complex and strongly scattering turbid media. Focus is mainly placed on three topics, being i) diffuse optical spectroscopy of choroidal tumors, ii) gas spectroscopy in scattering materials using the GASMAS (gas in scattering media absorption spectroscopy) technique, and iii) luminescence diffuse optical imaging and tomography of tissues.
Using an animal model, the thesis explores how the initial ventilation of the lungs, and surfactant therapy, should best be managed after premature birth. Material and measurements: The studies were made in newborn lambs delivered by cesarean section. Spread of exogenous surfactant was analysed by mixing it with technetium-labelled macroaggregated human serum albumin and imaging the radioactivity
In clinical situations with raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and impending insufficient cerebral blood flow (ischaemia), bedside information about energy metabolism in the brain would be helpful. Microdialysis is a technique that makes it possible to monitor the interstitial concentrations of various compounds in an organ. Intracerebral microdialysis with bedside analysis of metabolites related
This thesis deals with the combination of electrochromatography and molecular imprinting technology. Electrochromatography is characterised by high separation efficiency, simple instrumentation, and minute consumption of sample. As a novel approach to obtain unique selectivity in capillary electrochromatographic systems molecularly imprinted matrices were used. Molecular imprinting technology repr
The main objective of this thesis is to study the response and development of permanent deformation in unbound granular materials, theoretically and experimentally. A testing box technique is used here to more closely simulate the behaviour of unbound aggregates subjected to external vertical loading. A small box device (800×800×800 mm) is employed to test both the response and permanent deforma
The South American golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) was intentionally introduced to aquacultures in South East Asia to produce snails for human consumption, but the aquatic snails soon escaped and started to consume large amounts of rice seedlings. The aim of this thesis was to quantify the effects of this invasive herbivore on aquatic plants in natural wetlands since previous research h
Originally studying the molecular mechanisms for the insulin-like effects of growth hormone (GH), lipogenesis and antilipolysis, in isolated rat adipocytes we found that the GH receptor (GHR) was tyrosine phosphorylated in response to GH in cells that were responsive to these effects. Then, as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) was described as a GH-stimulated and GHR-associated tyrosine kinase, we found that
Inflammation plays an important role in atherosclerosis. One of the most potent pro-inflammatory cytokines is tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), a cytokine identified to have a pathogenic role in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The major objectives of this investigation was to establish a role for TNF-a in the development of atherosclerosis and neointimal formati
Chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF), with a prevalence progressively increasing with age, is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias in man and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown that, in animals as well as in man, experimental atrial fibrillation is based on different types and dimensions of intra-atrial electrical re-entry. However, there is a lack of
Body dimensions of 2,936 newborns with cleft lip/palate (CLP) were compared with 2,031,140 singleton newborns between 1973 to 1992. The risk of cleft development was found to be associated with intra-uterine growth retardation - the more severe the cleft, the stronger the association. As digital photography is being increasingly applied in clinical medicine, we devised a computer software program
Calcium homeostasis involves mainly the interaction of PTH, vitamin D and CT. The stomach may be important for calcium homeostasis. Gastric acid is thought to mobilize calcium from the diet, thereby facilitating the absorption of calcium in the small intestines. In the rat, gastrectomy rapidly reduces the calcium content, the density and the trabecular volume of the bone. The gastrectomy-evoked bo
The general aim of this thesis was to characterize hematologic malignancies using gene expression profiling in order to obtain an improved classification and to study deregulated transcriptional networks in leukemia. In the first study (Article I), the gene expression profiles of hematologic cell lines were analyzed to investigate whether such cell lines maintain expression profiles that are chara
The theory and practice of international relations are replete with dilemmas related to the distribution of responsibility for human rights protection. Institutionalized notions of public and private empower and shape knowledge of what the spheres of responsibility signify for different kinds of actors. This study examines how the public-private distinction is manifested in controversy concerning
Clinical cytology is a rapid method to detect malignancy in effusions of the serous cavities, but the morphological characteristics of the cells do not always allow diagnosis and a specific marker for malignant cells would improve the diagnostic performance. Telomerase adds telomere repeats to the chromosome ends. It is the most promising universal indicator of malignancy and the project focuses o
Inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain is mostly mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. These receptors are involved in both phasic inhibition (point-to-point inhibition, synaptic transmission) and tonic inhibition (diffuse form of inhibition, brain homeostasis). In this thesis the functional and pharmacological properties of GABAA receptors expressed in brain slices or i
The aim was to evaluate first trimester nuchal translucency (NT) measurement for detection and risk assessment of fetal malformations and fetal loss. 39 572 pregnant women were randomised to either a routine ultrasound scan at 12-14 weeks including NT measurement or to a routine scan at 18-20 weeks. Prenatal diagnosis of major congenital heart malformations was compared between the two groups. In
The aim was to explore possible areas and sources that could inform the care for people with dementia. These were the people with dementia themselves, nurses reflective discussions about caring, nurse-patient interaction together with information from close family members, and the previous personality and sense of coherence of people with dementia in relation to behaviour during the disease as rel
This dissertation contains seven studies exploring novel instrumentation for ion and electron spectroscopy, including their applicability at storage ring light sources. The studies focus on instrumentation to study decay, dynamics and dissociation of photoexcited molecules, and the possibility to host such instruments at MAX~IV. Commissioning of an instrument for negative-ion/positive-ion coincid
