| 1. |
- Berg, Thomas, 1975-
(författare)
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Medical Treatment and Grading of Bell's Palsy
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valaciclovir in a large number of Bell's palsy patients. The incidence and intensity of pain around the ear, in the face or in the neck during the first two months of palsy, and its prognostic value, was also assessed. We also investigated how study design and choice of analysis method affect the rate of facial recovery. Furthermore, the agreement between the Sunnybrook, House-Brackmann and Yanagihara facial grading systems was evaluated. From May 2001 to September 2007, a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial with 12-month follow-up was performed in patients with Bell's palsy. Of 839 randomised patients, 829 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis; 206 received placebo plus placebo, 210 prednisolone plus placebo, 207 valaciclovir plus placebo, and 206 prednisolone plus valaciclovir. Time to recovery was significantly shorter in the 416 patients who received prednisolone compared with the 413 who did not (p<0.0001). At 12 months, 300 of 416 patients (72%) in the prednisolone group had recovered compared with 237 of 413 patients (57%) in the no prednisolone group (p<0.0001). Valaciclovir was not found to affect time to facial recovery or outcome at 12 months. Prednisolone and/or valaciclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of pain. Presence of pain at day 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery at 12 months. We also found that recovery rates in a Bell's palsy trial are substantially affected by the choice of analysis method and definition of facial recovery. We used weighted Kappa statistics in 100 examinations of patients with facial palsy to assess the agreement between the Sunnybrook, House-Brackmann and Yanagihara scales. The highest agreement was found between the regional Sunnybrook and Yanagihara scales. An evaluative difference between the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems was observed.
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| 2. |
- Ekenbäck, Andreas, 1975-
(författare)
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Numerical modelling of ENAs from stellar wind interactions
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) are produced whenever a stellar wind encounters a neutral atmosphere. If a stellar wind proton comes sufficiently close to a neutral a charge-exchange reaction may take place, transforming the proton into an ENA. Unaffected by magnetic and electric fields, ENAs provide an opportunity for global imaging of stellar wind interactions.This thesis presents methods and results of numerical modelling of stellar wind interactions. In particular it treats in depth production of ENAs at comets, Mars and the extrasolar planet HD 209458b.Sufficiently accurate numerical models of stellar wind interactions require extensive computations. Parallel computing has therefore been used throughout the work, both for fluid and particle simulations of space plasmas. This thesis describes the use of a general simulation tool, providing parallel computing for space plasma simulations.The thesis presents estimations of the magnitude and morphology of the ENA production at comets and HD 209458b. It compares the results obtained with observations and analyzes them in the light of ENA production at similar objects. Also, simulated ENA images for Mars were produced and compared to observations.
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| 3. |
- Holmström, Christine, 1969-
(författare)
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In Search of MNC Competitive Advantage : The Role of Foreign Subsidiaries as Creators and Disseminators of Knowledge
- 2004
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Research on the multinational corporation (MNC) has highlighted the development of knowledge that occurs in geographically dispersed subsidiaries, and several scholars have emphasized the significance of subsidiary knowledge for the success of the MNC. This thesis contributes to the understanding of how knowledge is developed within MNC subsidiaries and how the development of subsidiary knowledge is related to the transfer of subsidiary knowledge and subsidiary impact on the performance of the larger MNC.The empirical setting consists of a combination of quantitative and qualitative data. The results of the empirical studies suggest that the development of subsidiary knowledge is contingent upon the business conditions within the local environment and, in particularly, interactive learning within relationships with important business actors external to the organization. Furthermore, the findings show that the development of knowledge within these subsidiaries is driven not only by external actors, but also by business relationships within the corporation. The results reveal that, whether a subsidiary learns and develops knowledge from external or internal sources has direct implications on how the knowledge can be used and applied by other units within the MNC, which in turn affects the extent to which the subsidiary can contribute to the performance of the MNC. It is also revealed that the barriers to transfer are especially manifest in situations in which a subsidiary is deeply embedded in relationships with demanding customers or suppliers. Thus, the embeddedness of subsidiaries in external relationships is a constraining factor for knowledge transfer. In situations in which the subsidiary is deeply embedded in its local market, the headquarters can influence the transfer across subsidiaries through the use of means such as centres of excellence.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Kastinen, Daniel
(författare)
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From meteors to space safety : dynamical models and radar measurements of space objects
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Every day the Earth's atmosphere is bombarded by 10-200 metric tons of dust-sized particles and larger pieces of material from space called meteoroids. Dust and meteoroids come from parent bodies such as comets and asteroids, which are remnants from the formation of the solar system. In addition to natural objects, geospace contains artificial satellites and space debris that needs to be monitored to reduce the risk of collisions. Studies of all these kinds of space objects form a cross-disciplinary research field that stretches from meteors to space safety. The primary goal of this thesis has been to rigorously connect measurements and their uncertainties with high-level analysis and dynamical simulations of distributions.An automated radar data analysis algorithm was developed for meteor head echo measurements. The analysis algorithm is able to produce realistic uncertainties for each individual meteor event, including the meteoroid orbit. Many of the resulting probability distributions are non-Gaussian, which needs to be accounted for. The analysis algorithm was applied to interferometric high-power large-aperture MU radar data in a case study on high altitude meteors. The study found that 74 out of 106,000 meteors appeared higher than 130 km and a few confirmed detections reached up to 150 km altitude.Comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner is the parent body of the meteoroid stream giving rise to the October Draconid meteor shower. The meteoroid stream was simulated accounting for parent body orbital uncertainties to estimate meteor shower parameters. The simulation was able to model the unexpected mass distribution observed in the 2011 and 2012 October Draconids. It also successfully predicted a meteor outburst in 2018. Further, methods to reduce the computation time of meteoroid stream simulations using importance sampling were derived and implemented on a test model.EISCAT radar measurements were performed to study space debris from the Kosmos-1408 satellite, which had been destroyed and fragmented in orbit on 15 November, 2021. A novel method to estimate the size distribution of debris objects was developed. Data from two EISCAT radars were used to demonstrate a new initial orbit determination technique, yielding good agreement with known catalogue orbits. Finally, the detectability of near-Earth objects (NEOs) with the EISCAT~3D radar currently under construction was simulated. It was predicted that as many as seven temporarily captured NEOs, i.e. minimoons, could be discovered per year depending on the amount of allocated observation time. The predictions also show that hundreds of NEOs could be tracked yearly to improve their orbits.
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| 6. |
- Lindkvist, Jesper, 1986-
(författare)
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Plasma Interactions with Icy Bodies in the Solar System
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Here I study the “plasma interactions with icy bodies in the solar system”, that is, my quest to understand the fundamental processes that govern such interactions. By using numerical modelling combined with in situ observations, one can infer the internal structure of icy bodies and their plasma environments.After a broad overview of the laws governing space plasmas a more detailed part follows. This contains the method on how to model the interaction between space plasmas and icy bodies. Numerical modelling of space plasmas is applied to the icy bodies Callisto (a satellite of Jupiter), the dwarf planet Ceres (located in the asteroid main belt) and the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.The time-varying magnetic field of Jupiter induces currents inside the electrically conducting moon Callisto. These create magnetic field perturbations thought to be related to conducting subsurface oceans. The flow of plasma in the vicinity of Callisto is greatly affected by these magnetic field perturbations. By using a hybrid plasma solver, the interaction has been modelled when including magnetic induction and agrees well with magnetometer data from flybys (C3 and C9) made by the Galileo spacecraft. The magnetic field configuration allows an inflow of ions onto Callisto’s surface in the central wake. Plasma that hits the surface knocks away matter (sputtering) and creates Callisto’s tenuous atmosphere.A long term study of solar wind protons as seen by the Rosetta spacecraft was conducted as the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko approached the Sun. Here, extreme ultraviolet radiation from the Sun ionizes the neutral water of the comet’s coma. Newly produced water ions get picked up by the solar wind flow, and forces the solar wind protons to deflect due to conservation of momentum. This effect of mass-loading increases steadily as the comet draws closer to the Sun. The solar wind is deflected, but does not lose much energy. Hybrid modelling of the solar wind interaction with the coma agrees with the observations; the force acting to deflect the bulk of the solar wind plasma is greater than the force acting to slow it down.Ceres can have high outgassing of water vapour, according to observations by the Herschel Space Observatory in 2012 and 2013. There, two regions were identified as sources of water vapour. As Ceres rotates, so will the source regions. The plasma interaction close to Ceres depends greatly on the source location of water vapour, whereas far from Ceres it does not. On a global scale, Ceres has a comet-like interaction with the solar wind, where the solar wind is perturbed far downstream of Ceres.
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| 7. |
- Mani, Maria
(författare)
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Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate : Quality of Life and Nasal Form and Function among Adults
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is a craniofacial malformation with functional and aesthetical impact on the face and the upper airways. The aims of the current thesis were to evaluate Quality of life (QoL) in adults treated for UCLP (I), to objectively evaluate nasal form and function and to search for possible differences in residual nasal deformity and impairment of function between patients operated according to one-stage and two-stage palate closure (II) as well as to evaluate the relationship between professional and lay rating and patient satisfaction with nasolabial appearance (III) and to identify factors associated with lower levels of QoL and less satisfaction with nasal appearance among adults treated for UCLP (IV). Analyses of data from a homogenous population of UCLP patients treated at Uppsala University Hospital form the basis of this thesis. The mean follow-up time after primary surgery was 35 years (20-47 years) and participation rate was 79% (n=86). An age and gender matched control group of 68 people without clefts were evaluated according to the same protocol. The evaluation protocol included the Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36), rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, odor test, peak nasal inspiratory flow test and photographies of faces. For the SF-36 data, age- and gender-matched norm data of 1385 people from the Swedish population were used. Unilateral cleft lip and palate affected QoL differently depending on gender and age of the patient. Younger patients were affected more negatively than older patients in several subscales. However, except for lower values in the Mental Health subscale, QoL was similar among UCLP patients and norm data. Objectively measured nasal function was extensively affected among adults treated for UCLP. No difference in impairment of nasal function was found between one-stage and two-stage palate closure protocols on the cleft side. Judgment of nasolabial appearance differed between professionals, lay people and patients. Large infant cleft width was associated with less satisfaction with nasal appearance and male gender was associated with lower levels of mental QoL. Correlation between high nasal breathing resistance and low levels of physical QoL was found. In conclusion, this thesis provides a platform for future research for optimal evaluation of cleft treatment outcome.
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| 8. |
- Morén, Staffan
(författare)
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Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate : Speech, Voice and Nasal Function in Adults
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most common craniofacial malformation. Even after repair of the cleft there may be persistent symptoms affecting speech, voice, nasal breathing, dentition, appearance and quality of life. The aims of the thesis were to: (I) investigate subjective nasal function and nasal airway at clinical examination, (II) evaluate speech by perceptual evaluation, (III) assess voice quality by perceptual evaluation and acoustic analysis and (IV) compare ratings of speech by naïve listeners, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and patients.All consecutive patients with complete unilateral CLP, born 1960-1987, and treated at Uppsala University Hospital were invited. A total of 83 (76%) (I) and 73 (67%) (II, III, IV) of the 109 eligible patients and non-cleft controls (n=63) participated. Patients had been treated in childhood with one- or two-stage palate closure. The participants underwent clinical examination, recording of speech and filled in questionnaires.The results showed that: (I) Patients earlier treated for UCLP suffer from more nasal symptoms than controls. However, nasal symptoms were not associated with clinical findings or method of palate closure. (II) Seven patients (10%) presented with hypernasality, 12 (16%) had audible nasal emission and/or nasal turbulence, five (7%) had consonant production errors, one (2%) had glottal reinforcements/substitutions, and one had reduced intelligibility. Controls had no quantifiable problems with speech. (III) Among patients, the mean values for the 12 perceptual voice variables on a visual analogue scale (0 = no abnormality, 100 = maximal abnormality) ranged between 1 and 22 and the mean for all was 6 mm. Voice variables were similar between patients and controls except “vocal fry”; this and total mean of all the perceptual voice variables were slightly lower among patients (p = 0.009 and p = 0.018 ). No clear association was found between velopharyngeal insufficiency and dysphonia. (IV). There were positive correlations between speech ratings by naïve listeners and SLPs (r =0.44 to 0.69, p always < 0.001, Spearman). The correlations between ratings of any of these groups and the patients’ self-ratings were weaker (r < 0.40). The patients were less satisfied with their speech and rated themselves to have more speech abnormalities than controls (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in any of the variables regarding speech, voice or nose between patients treated with one-stage and two-stage palate closure in any of the studies.This thesis shows that adults treated for unilateral CLP have more nasal symptoms and cleft related speech abnormalities compared to the controls, however the prevalence of speech abnormalities are relatively low. Voice quality is not affected. Speech quality is rated differently by naïve listeners, SLPs and patients.
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| 9. |
- Pontoni, Angèle, 1994-
(författare)
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Development and simulated observations of the Jovian Neutrals Analyzer
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis deals with the development of the Jovian Neutrals Analyzer (JNA) for the Jupiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission to Jupiter, planned to launch in 2023. Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System, orbits the Sun at five times the distance from the Earth to the Sun, accompanied by dozens of moons, rings, and the largest object in the SolarSystem: the Jovian magnetosphere. Born of the interaction betweenthe solar wind and Jupiter’s strong magnetic field, the Jovian magneto-sphere is host to a number of unique, complex phenomena, includingthe creation of a sheet of energetic particles orbiting the giant planetand interacting with its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.A better understanding of Jupiter’s magnetosphere and its interaction with its four largest moons is one of the main objectives of the JUICE mission. To achieve this goal, JUICE is equipped with the Particle Environment Package (PEP), comprised of six particle sensors, including JNA. By measuring low-energy Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs) in the range from 10 eV to 3.3 keV, JNA will image the plasma co-located with the orbit of Io, and reveal ion precipitation patterns at the surface of Jupiter’s icy moons.JNA improves on its predecessors (CENA on Chandrayaan-1 and ENA on BepiColombo) by featuring a higher angular resolution, with a 150◦ field-of-view divided into 11 pixels. JNA is also more resistant to radiation, a necessary improvement to be able to make measurements in the harsh radiation environment expected in the Jovian system. To measure ENAs in the low-energy range, JNA uses a charged particle deflector to remove ambient ions; a charge conversion surface to ionize incoming neutral particles, which are then energy-analyzed by an electrostatic wave system; and a Time-of-Flight cell to derive the mass of the original particle.In this work, we report on how JNA was designed, developed, and calibrated. We show the first results of JNA’s calibration campaign, and compare them to its expected performance. Finally, to facilitate the interpretation of JNA data at Jupiter, we estimate ENA fluxes expected at Ganymede and use our results to simulate JNA observations.
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| 10. |
- Svensson, Malin, 1965-
(författare)
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Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Women : Risk Factors, Signs and Consequences
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by snoring, apneas and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Obesity is a risk factor for snoring and sleep apnea, but data on other factors in relation to obesity are ambiguous. Symptoms of sleep apnea in women have not been fully elucidated. OSAS is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A common feature in patients with CVD and sleep apnea is an increase in systemic inflammation.From the general population 7,051 women ≥ 20 years answered a questionnaire on snoring and sleep disturbances. Habitual snoring was found in 8% of the total population, and influenced by age, obesity and smoking. The highest prevalence (14%) was found in women 50-59 years. In lean women, alcohol dependence was associated with snoring, while physical inactivity was a risk factor for snoring in obese women.Further, 230 snoring women and 170 women regardless of snoring status were investigated with polysomnography, blood sampling and anthropometric measurements. Of these, 132 participants underwent an ocular and endoscopic examination of their upper airways. Several findings in the upper airways characterised normal-weight women with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 10. In women with BMI of > 25, no pharyngeal characteristics predicted sleep apnea.When adjusting for age, obesity, smoking, AHI and sleep parameters, several aspects of daytime sleepiness correlated to snoring independently of AHI (EDS, falling asleep involuntarily during day, waking up unrefreshed and fatigue). No symptoms correlated to AHI independently of snoring.Blood samples were analysed for systemic inflammation (CRP, TNFα, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lysozyme). Strong correlations were found between obesity and inflammatory markers. AHI and nocturnal hypoxia correlated to all markers except MPO. When adjusting for age, obesity and smoking, only IL-6 and TNFα were independently associated with nocturnal hypoxia.In conclusion, age and obesity influence the prevalence of snoring and sleep apnea in women from the general population. Other risk factors differ according to BMI. Daytime symptoms are independently related to snoring per se. Despite a strong correlation between obesity and inflammation, an independent relationship between sleep apnea and inflammatory markers was found.
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