A concept for time-sensitive optical detectors is described that shows how to confirm whether the detection device is operating in the linear response regime. By evaluating the recorded time decay of a thermographic phosphor, even weak saturation effects far from obvious situations can be identified and further related to either optical or electrical saturation. The concept has been validated by r

It is well known that increased growth and survival of cancer cells often is a result of dysregulated kinase activity and aberrant kinase signaling. The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit and its ligand SCF are contributors to this phenomenon in a variety of human cancers, for example hematological malignancies, germ cell tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In this thesis I have investigated

Objective Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a significant reduction in life expectancy. A simple prognostic model to predict 5-year survival in SSc was developed in 1999 in 280 patients, but it has not been validated in other patients. The predictions of a prognostic model are usually less accurate in other patients, especially from other centres or countries. A study was undertaken to v

Truncated correlation and convolution operators is a general operator-class containing popular operators such as Toeplitz (Wiener-Hopf), Hankel and finite interval convolution operators as well as small and big Hankel operators in several variables. We completely characterize the symbols for which such operators have finite rank, and develop methods for determining the rank in concrete cases. Such

In this work, an on-line process for pressurised hot water extraction (PHWE) of antioxidants from plants as well as drying of the extract in one step by particle formation based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) has been developed. This process has been called WEPO (R), water extraction and particle formation on-line. With this process, dried extracts from onion with the same com

Regulations regarding impact and airborne sound insulation for lightweight timber constructions have become increasingly stringent due in particular to complaints by inhabitants. Accordingly, some building techniques frequently use elastomers at junctions so as to reduce low frequency noise. Development of accurate predictive tools (involving exact material properties) by using numerical methods s

A number of novel oral anticoagulants that directly target factor Xa or thrombin have been developed in recent years. Rivaroxaban and apixaban (direct factor Xa inhibitors) and dabigatran etexilate (a direct thrombin inhibitor) have shown considerable promise in large-scale, randomised clinical studies for the management of thromboembolic disorders, and have been approved for clinical use in speci

The vasoconstricting peptide endothelin-1 has been proposed to be a marker of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to investigate whether circulating endothelin-1 levels predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in Sweden.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from somatic cells of patients can be used to model different human diseases. They may also serve as sources of transplantable cells that can be used in novel cell therapies. Here, we analyzed neuronal properties of an iPSC line derived from a patient with a juvenile form of Huntington's disease (HD) carrying 72 CAG repeats (HD-iPSC). Although its i

Xenon atoms are double-ionized by sequential two-photon absorption by ultrashort extreme ultraviolet free-electron laser pulses with a photon energy of 23.0 and 24.3 eV, produced by the SPring-8 Compact SASE Source test accelerator. The angular distributions of photoelectrons generated by two-photon double ionization are obtained using velocity map imaging. The results are reproduced reasonably we

DNA evidence, linking perpetrators to crime scenes, is central to many legal proceedings. However, DNA samples from crime scenes often contain PCR-inhibitory substances, which may generate blank or incomplete DNA profiles. Extensive DNA purification can be required to rid the sample of these inhibitors, although these procedures increase the risk of DNA loss. Most forensic laboratories use commerc

The surface of a Ga0.95Mn0.05As layer subjected to low temperature annealing under As capping has been studied by core level photoemission with focus on As3d spectrum. By detailed comparison with the surface of pure GaAs subjected to the same surface treatment, the As spectral component of the reacted surface layer has been identified. The relative intensity of this component is consistent with th

Mixing of powders into liquids is a common unit operation. Mixing can be divided into several steps, imbibation of the powder into the liquid being the first. Under some circumstances, such as when the powder has poor wetting properties, imbibation can be the rate-determining step. The effects of different powder properties on the imbibation rate were evaluated using an experimental imbibation mod

Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most common health care challenges, with significant direct medical costs and severe impact on lower airway disease and general health outcomes. The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) currently is based on clinical signs, nasal endoscopy and CT scanning, and therapeutic recommendations are focussing on 2 classes of drugs, corticosteroids and antibiotics.

The aim of this paper is to provide an explanation to why the degree of informal employment may vary substantially between different regions within a country. In Brazil, 45% of workers in the urban labor force are employed informally. The degree of informal employment, however, varies substantially across regions, with some cities having 20% and others having 80% or more of their labor force in th

Force sensing provides robots the capability to accomplish tasks where physical interaction with the environment is required, such as assembly. Small position uncertainties can then be corrected for by sensing the contact forces. This thesis considers the problem of force-controlled assembly, including how tasks can be specified in a simple and intuitive way and how robust task execution under unc

In this paper, we analyze the performance of regularized channel inversion (RCI) precoding in multiple-input single-output (MISO) broadcast channels with confidential messages under transmit-side channel correlation. We derive a deterministic equivalent for the achievable per-user secrecy rate which is almost surely exact as the number of transmit antennas and the number of users grow to infinity