This thesis presents experimental results on the development and optimization of novel and highly compact sources of beams of fast ions, relativistic electrons and coherent x-rays, driven by intense laser-plasma interactions. The rapid development of high-power, short-pulse laser systems have made available peak powers reaching the petawatt regime and focused intensities reaching 10^21 W/cm2. Whe

Popular Abstract in Swedish I avhandlingen presenteras nya teoretiska och experimentella metoder för att analysera spridning av elektromagnetiska vågor, framförallt med fokus på antenner och trådlös kommunikation. Oavsett det handlar om radio- och TV-sändningar, mobiltelefoni, trådlösa datornätverk, eller radar, så är antenner oumbärliga; de är nämligen länken mellan de elektromagnetiska vågorna oSum rules and physical limitations within electromagnetic theory and antenna theory have received significant attention in the last few years. However, the derivations are often relying on application specific and sometimes unsupported assumptions, and therefore a mathematically rigorous and generally applicable approach seems timely. Such an approach is presented in this thesis, along with exampl

Background: Increasing evidence about the high social and economic costs of poor mental health has contributed to a growing recognition of the need for health promotion interventions in mental health services. In spite of this, little empirical research has been performed investigating patients' attitudes to health promotion interventions. Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate diff

Scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei that causes significant morbidity worldwide, in particular within socially disadvantaged populations. In order to identify mechanisms that enable the scabies mite to evade human immune defenses, we have studied molecules associated with proteolytic systems in the mite, including two novel scabies mite serine protease inhi

Abstract in UndeterminedStereoisomers of long-chain secondary alcohols are used as sex pheromone precursors among pine sawflies and some species can be severe pine forest pests. To use their pheromone in environmentally friendly pest management, methods are needed that can determine the stereochemistry of the precursor alcohols. Combinations of 11 acid chloride derivatives and 10 GC columns were e

Background: National guidelines recommend that healthy pregnant women take 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise a day. Most women reduce the level of physical activity during pregnancy but only a few studies of women's experiences of physical activity during pregnancy exist. The aim of the present study was to elucidate experiences and views of leisure time physical activity during pregnancy in

A number of measures have been taken by the society to ensure gender equality in higher education. Nevertheless, women still face great difficulties when pursuing an academic career. Our aim is to increase the understanding of how the society, conceptualised as the organisational field, interacts with organisational factors and personal actions as women try to establish themselves within academia.

The service sector in the USA accounts for 80% of gross domestic product. However, in spite of the pivotal role of the service sector in the US economy and its impact on daily life, the level of productivity in this sector has been much lower than that of the manufacturing area. This situation has been in existence for some time, but in the current context, there are growing external pressures to

A means for noninvasive measurement of transverse and longitudinal characteristics of bunched beams in synchrotrons has been developed based on high sensitivity slotted waveguide pickups. The pickups allow for bandwidths exceeding hundreds of MHz while maintaining good beam sensitivity characteristics. Wide bandwidth is essential to allow bunch-by-bunch measurements by means of a fast gate. The Sc

The aim of this study was to determine how roots and their ectomycorrhizal symbionts affect the fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) from nutrient-rich drained organic forest soils. Specifically, the relative impacts of roots and mycorrhizal mycelia on N2O fluxes were investigated using two different trenching treatments, excluding (a) roots or (b) roots and mycorrhizal mycelia, from the soil. N2O fluxes

High-spin states have been studied in Pr-135(59), populated through the Cd-116(Na-23,4n) reaction at 115 MeV, using the Gammasphere gamma-ray spectrometer. The negative-parity yrast band has been significantly extended to spin similar to 45 (h) over bar and excitation energy 21.5 MeV, showing evidence for several rotational alignments. The positive-parity yrast band of Ce-135(58), populated throug

Our study had three objectives: to extend the plasmid-based transformation protocol to a clinical isolate of C. trachomatis belonging to the trachoma biovar, to provide "proof of principle'' that it is possible to "knock out'' selected plasmid genes (retaining a replication competent plasmid) and to investigate the plasticity of the plasmid. A recently developed, plasmid-based transformation proto

Ur regnskogens skugga berättar om en ovanlig resa. År 1754 gav sig Daniel Rolander iväg på en strapatsrik färd till Sydamerika och Surinams urskogar. Han var Carl von Linnés mest litterärt begåvade lärjunge och hade skickats ut för att insamla växter och djur och beskriva landet. Resultatet av den tvååriga resan blev rika samlingar och en 700-sidig resejournal som målande berättar om växt- och dju

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain tumor in adults. It presents an extremely challenging clinical problem, and treatment very frequently fails due to the infiltrative growth, facilitated by extensive angiogenesis and neovascularization. Pericytes constitute an important part of the GBM microvasculature. The contribution of endogenous brain pericytes to the tumor vasculature in