Filtyp
Attosecond science refers to physical processes that occur on the natural timescale of electron motion in atomic and molecular systems. Attosecond time resolution can be obtained experimentally through a process called high-order harmonic generation where sharp attosecond pulses are formed in the time domain. Attosecond pulse trains contain many attosecond pulses with a constant pulse-to-pulse s
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activities of the antidepressants venlafaxine (VEN) and citalopram (CIT) were investigated in the portacaval shunted (PCS) rat, a model of chronic hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and normal/control rats. The levels of VEN in serum and brain were higher in PCS rats than in controls after a single injection and chronic treatment with VEN (10 mg/kg). After reducing th
The Mylonite zone (MZ) is a prominent late-Sveconorwegian lithological terrane boundary in the SW Baltic Shield along which large-scale crustal block movements took place during the Sveconorwegian orogeny. The southern section of the MZ also defines a conspicuous metamorphic break separating upper amphibolite and high-pressure granulite facies rocks in the parautochthonous Eastern Segment (ES), fr
This thesis is about the formation of amylose-lipid complexes, and their properties. Two forms of superstructures can be identified. Complex form I has more randomly distributed helices, while the structure of form II is crystalline and therefore exhibits the typical V-pattern in X-ray diffraction analyses. Form II has higher heat stability, and is produced by heating at a temperature at least suf
Phosphoinositides are of particular interest in signal transduction processes as they can be sequentially phosphorylated and used as precursors for the intracellular messengers inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) that in turn affects calcium levels and protein kinase cascades, eventually leading to a physiological response. The activity and regulation of PtdIns 4-kinases and Pt
In order to create a heme environment which permits biomimicry of heme-containing plant peroxidases and investigate the role played by the vinyl side chains of the porphyrin ring on the stability and, possibly, catalytic activity of model compounds, a number of new synthetic microperoxidases -– hemin-6(7)-gly-his methyl ester (HGH) and hemin-6(7)-gly-gly-his methyl ester (HGGH) and hemin-6,7-bis(g
Despite the availability of antibiotics and modern health care, infectious diseases continue to cause great suffering and costs. Bacterial surface proteins are important for the interaction between host and pathogen. This thesis gives an overview of the importance of bacterial surface proteins in Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. A novel cont
This thesis describes inter and intramolecular dynamics in porphyrin molecules. To create a basis for understanding the energy and electron transfer processes in photosynthesis, the ultrafast dynamics of monomeric chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and bacteriochlorophyll a were studied with ultrashort laser pulses. The transient absorption spectra of all three molecules were found to have pronounced co
Regulation of blood flow involves several endogenous substances and mechanisms, and exogenous substances may also affect the blood flow. In the present thesis, human omental blood vessels were investigated in vitro concerning (i) characteristics of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors; (ii) mediators of substance P (SP)-induced relaxation; (iii) direct and indirect (via effects on sympathetic neur
Immunological self-tolerance is a state of the whole organism where deleterious responses are either avoided or regulated. Breaking of immunological tolerance will lead to autoimmune disease or chronic inflammatory conditions. T cell maturation in the thymus generates a peripheral T cell pool with an enormous TCR repertoire, from which specific T cells are selected and activated upon encounters wi
Most organisms on Earth live a life where they are exposed to multiple and variable threats. In order to maximise survival they need to be able to perceive and respond to these threats. Two common threats that crustacean zooplankton are faced with are predation and ultraviolet radiation (UVR). To cope with these threats zooplankton use different strategies such as diel vertical migration and the a
Left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) has been shown to correlate well with left ventricular (LV) systolic function measured as ejection fraction (EF). AVPD has also been shown to be related to diastolic performance. Other factors related to AVPD include age, heart rate, LV and atrial dimensions, myocardial thickness, bodysurface, and afterload. In this thesis the left AVPD was studied i
Epoxy resins based on bisphenol A are well-known contact allergens and often cause occupational contact allergy. The most important allergen is the monomer diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Epoxy resins of the bisphenol F-type contain 3 isomers of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F; p,p'-DGEBF, o,p'-DGEBF, and o,o'-DGEBF, whereas epoxy resin(s) based on bisphenol A (DGEBA-R) contain virtua
Chemical processes are usually expensive to run. To optimise a process, we need to know how the process behaves, and this is usually accomplished by studying the process experimentally. However, experiments are very expensive, particularly if an existing plant has to shut down normal operation to conduct an experiment. A better way is to build a model and simulate the process. In order to obtain t
The aim of this thesis has been to study protein-polymer interaction and association. Two different techniques were used; Monte Carlo simulations were combined with partitioning in polymeric aqueous two-phase systems. Monte Carlo simulations have been used to evaluate the hydrophobic interaction in electrolyte solution. The results showed that monovalent salt only slightly increases the hydrophob
Harvesting changes population abundance and can affect adaptation of several life-history traits. Harvesting can also have indirect effects ? effects on non-target species and secondary effects on target species ? because interactions between species in a community determine the relevant ecological and evolutionary feedback environment. Species interactions therefore influence the effect of harves
Telomeres are specialized complexes of DNA and associated proteins that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Although most organisms have short repeated DNA sequences at their telomeres, which are specified and maintained by the enzyme telomerase, there are a few exceptions. Dipteran insects, including the genus Chironomus (non-biting midges), lack telomerase and have atypical terminal sequ
A laser-produced plasma was generated by focusing 100 fs laser pulses, with an energy of 150 mJ, onto metal targets. The laser intensity was expected to reach 10E17 W/cm2. Radiation was emitted from the created plasma, with photon energies extending up to the MeV regime. The laser-based X-ray source was optimised, with the purpose of making it a realistic source of hard X-rays (>10 keV). Dedicated
In the present thesis, I investigated the inter- and intraspecific variation in the Silene vulgaris/uniflora species-complex (the bladder campions). I have focused on the effects of past and present hybridization both on a large scale ? over the whole of Europe ? and on a local scale. Silene vulgaris and S. uniflora are perennial herbs and they are interfertile. The results from my studies sugges
Food production and consumption are key drivers of environmental pressures and are essential factors in the promotion and maintenance of health. Production of food occupies more than one third of global land areas and is estimated to be responsible for some 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we live in a world where nearly one billion people go hungry and even more people su
