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Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen colonising the gastric mucus layer and epithelium of gastric tissue and is associated with chronic type B gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The attachment of H. pylori to gastric epithelial cells involves several structures recognised by specific bacterial surface proteins. Since colonisation is an initial and critical step in the development of a chroni
Thermal endometrial destruction by means of a silicone balloon catheter is a new form of treatment for menorrhagia aimed at reducing menstrual blood loss. The purpose of the present work was to study, experimentally, the thermal effects on and the thermal conductivity of uterine tissue, to obtain a basis for the estimation of optimal treatment conditions by means of numerical analyses using a comp
All viruses that infect bacteria, plant, or animal cells involve a genome (RNA or DNA) that is encapsidated by a rigid protein shell. After delivery of the viral genome into the host cell, new capsid proteins, which are encoded by viral DNA or RNA, are expressed and self-assembled into new viral capsids. The main objective of my research was to study the key physical factors of genome ejection tha
The aim of this work was to study atmospheric aerosols, focusing on the chemical composition, the morphology and the origin of the aerosol in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere. An aerosol sampler was developed for this purpose. A new method for quantitative analysis of the major components of the aerosol, i.e. C, N and O was developed, and methodologies for single-particle analysis
Selenium is an essential nutrient and in animals and humans it can either be specifically incorporated into proteins as selenocysteine or randomly as selenomethionine. It can also occur as low-molecular-weight compounds and the form of selenium in foods may also influence food quality. The aims of the present studies were: to study selenium and other trace element compounds in milk and whey; to el
Power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) is a sensitive technique to detect slow blood movement. The aim of the present study was to develop a standardized method for quantification of the PDU signals recorded from a specific region of interest (ROI) within fetal organs. The quantification method - fractional moving blood volume (FMBV) - compensating for factors potentially affecting the final results, e.g.
The subject of this thesis is plasma protein C4b-binding protein (C4BP). C4BP is an important regulator of the classical pathway of the complement system, a cascade-like system comprised of over 35 proteins, which partakes in the defence against micro-organisms and is involved of clearance of immune-complexes and apoptotic cells. C4BP contains two different types of subunits, seven identical alfa-
Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a devastating complication associated with median sternotomy, which occurs mainly after cardiac surgery. The optimal treatment is still controversial. The aim was to develop, describe and evaluate a surgical procedure consisting of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in combination with delayed primary closure in patients with mediastinitis. A porcine sternotomy wound mo
Coagulase-negative staphyloccoci (CoNS) are the most frequently isolated micro-organisms from infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts and temporary ventricular drainage catheters, used in modern neurosurgery. CoNS originate from the skinflora of the patient or the surgeon and gain access to the surface of the implant at the insertion, but the infection can erupt up to a year later or more. Immed
Postoperative pain relief with opioids after major non-cardiac surgery may give rise to adverse effects. The fear of dangerous side effects may therefore limit the optimal use of different treatment modalities in surgical wards. Opioids can be administered alone as an intravenous infusion, or in combination with local anaesthetics as an epidural infusion. Both regimes can be tailored with a patien
Around 1750 a German chemist discovered it to be possible to extract sugar crystals from beet juice. Since then, breeding and improved agricultural practices have increased the concentration of sucrose per root from around 4% to around 18%. Sugar content is still one of the most important characters in sugar beet breeding, but breeders of today are also faced with many more characters, many of a c
Carex humilis forms rings of densely aggregated ramets in dry grassland vegetation in Central Europe. In the thesis I conclude that ramet demography is important both for analyzing fitness in clonal plants and for understanding how C. humilis rings are formed. I studied the ramet demography of C. humilis from 1993-1998 at the Hexenberg mountain, 300 m.a.s., 60 km east of Vienna, Austria. In total,
Glycoproteins, a class of biomolecules, exhibit a variety of biological activities and therefore are of importance in modern biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Pure glycoproteins are needed for structural and functional studies. However, the separation of glycoproteins has been a problem until now due to their structural complexity. Efficient separation techniques are thus required. This
The present study is about media reception as an educational form, supporting meaning-making over time. The thesis stems from the desire to understand the complexity in a meaning-making process that takes its point of departure in media productions. The aim is to investigate the possibilities and limitations for meaning-making over time, afforded by the meeting of a group of student teachers and t
This thesis explores and analyzes segregation and self-sorting in education. It aims at discussing how this relates to gender, individualization and young men and women's positionings in local practices, through choices of upper secondary school education. It focuses on how young men and women cope with and adapt to the changing society in late modernity. The thesis is based on three empirical st
This thesis presents results from two projects using photometric observations to investigate stellar populations in Local Group galaxies. In the first project, Strömgren photometry is used to study stellar populations in dwarf spheroidal galaxies. It is demonstrated that the Strömgren c1 and m1 colour indices can be efficiently used to identify RGB members in dwarf spheroidal galaxies, and d
Resident skin micro-organisms such as S. epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), are by far the most common causes of biomaterial-associated infections. These micro-organisms often exhibit surface adhesins that specifically bind serum and tissue proteins adsorbed to implanted biomaterials. The aim of this study was to extend our knowledge about such adhesins produced by CoNS
In 2009 the EU approved two directives as a first initiative towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and becoming independent of fossil fuels: the Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive. As a result, the demand for biofuels will increase enormously over the next decade, both nationally and in the entire EU. This huge demand will require a more advanced type of biofuels, produc
The adaptation of geophysical methods for civil engineering purposes represents an important contribution to the development of geotechnical site investigation methodology. The term geotechnical site investigation here refers to all investigations performed prior to or during construction; i.e. investigations to support and refine a conceptual geological model as well as to provide a model of geot
This work contributes to our understanding of mitochondrial responses to changing environmental conditions in plants. The first part of this thesis is focused in the study of redox regulation of mitochondrial gene expression. By using inhibitors, the redox state of the components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain was selectively affected. Effects of the altered redox state of these components
