| 1. |
- Höglund, Anna, 1970-
(författare)
-
Vampyrer : En kulturkritisk studie av den västerländska vampyrberättelsen från 1700-talet till 2000-talet
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Vampires haunt our culture. They live amongst us, they live with us, and very likely, they live for us. Considering the never fading popularity of vampires, it is obvious that these beings satisfy some kind of basic human need. Why are vampires so popular? What kinds of specific characteristics do vampires possess that lead to our never-ending fascination with them? These are questions that are answered in this dissertation, which deals with the vampire narrative’s most significant transformations during the period 1700-2000. This study reveals that the vampire is a monster that allows both identification and distance, which makes it into an appropriate character for people to use when they tell stories about themselves and the surrounding world. This is reflected in vampire narratives. The nature of vampires and the material of vampire narratives are not something that has undergone random changes in the course of history. These transformations have their origins in various societal and cultural processes. Through studying the historical and cultural contexts that have produced vampire narratives, one can understand why vampires have been portrayed in different ways at different times and places. Similarly, studying the vampire narrative can also be used to understand the history and culture in which the narrative was created. An examination of the vampire narrative’s history from a cultural criticism perspective reveals a distinct pattern. The vampire narrative has always attracted most attention in times of social and cultural unrest. In all of the varying contexts where vampire characters appear throughout a story, a power game is occurring – a game where the vampire’s character is strategically used to express political opinions and strengthen ideological beliefs. The constant appearance of vampires in such power games is a distinctive feature within the history of vampire narratives, and the societal turbulence leaves its impression on the vampire narrative. These impressions are analyzed and interpreted in this dissertation in order to reveal the power and the strategies of power within the discourse in which the narrative has been produced. In order to describe how the vampire character has functioned and continues to function in what the study calls conflicts of power relations, the term and phenomena power improvisation is used. In the description of the history of the vampire narrative, one can discern two important sub-processes. The first describes how the vampire character and narrative have been fashioned into what they are today. During the period of interest, the vampire is transformed from the un-dead of folklore to an attractive nobleman and further into to a Count Dracula, in order to simultaneously be portrayed as what this study terms a human vampire. The second sub-process explains why the vampire character and narrative have been fashioned into what they are today. It describes the political and ideological beliefs which exist in the society where the vampire form is created and which give birth to different kinds of vampires. If, in the past, the vampire was a monster that was used to portray that which humans are afraid of, today it is a monster with which humans identify. This, claims the author, is due to the fact that the age in which we live is to a great extent imbued with the logic of consumer culture. People in a consumer culture live lives filled with demands which influence their self-image. Feelings of inadequacy and isolation are typical. For people of today, the vampire is an ally that offers an alternative and meets those needs that are neglected in a consumer society.
|
|
| 2. |
- Berglund, Eva Caroline, et al.
(författare)
-
A Study Protocol for Validation and Implementation of Whole-Genome and -Transcriptome Sequencing as a Comprehensive Precision Diagnostic Test in Acute Leukemias
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Medicine. - Lausanne, Switzerland : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-858X. ; 9, s. 1-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS), with the ability to provide comprehensive genomic information, have become the focal point of research interest as novel techniques that can support precision diagnostics in routine clinical care of patients with various cancer types, including hematological malignancies. This national multi-center study, led by Genomic Medicine Sweden, aims to evaluate whether combined application of WGS and WTS (WGTS) is technically feasible and can be implemented as an efficient diagnostic tool in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition to clinical impact assessment, a health-economic evaluation of such strategy will be performed. Methods and Analysis: The study comprises four phases (i.e., retrospective, prospective, real-time validation, and follow-up) including approximately 700 adult and pediatric Swedish AML and ALL patients. Results of WGS for tumor (90×) and normal/germline (30×) samples as well as WTS for tumors only will be compared to current standard of care diagnostics. Primary study endpoints are diagnostic efficiency and improved diagnostic yield. Secondary endpoints are technical and clinical feasibility for routine implementation, clinical utility, and health-economic impact. Discussion: Data from this national multi-center study will be used to evaluate clinical performance of the integrated WGTS diagnostic workflow compared with standard of care. The study will also elucidate clinical and health-economic impacts of a combined WGTS strategy when implemented in routine clinical care. Clinical Trial Registration: [https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN66987142], identifier [ISRCTN66987142].
|
|
| 3. |
- Bremer, Anders, 1957-
(författare)
-
Vid existensens gräns : Etiskt vårdande och professionellt ansvar vid hjärtstopp utanför sjukhus
- 2012
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: To describe and interpret patients’, family members’ and ambulance personnel’s experiences with regard to survival, attendance, and caring at cardiac arrests and deaths, and to analyze ethical conflicts that arise in relation to families and how the personnel’s ethical competence can affect caring and the ability to handle ethical problems.Method: The three interview studies were guided by a reflective lifeworld approach grounded in phenomenology and analyzed by searching for the essence of the phenomenon in two studies and by attaining a main interpretation in one study. In the fourth study, the general approach was supplemented by “reflective equilibrium” that guided the ethical analysis.Results: The survivors are striving towards a good life by means of efforts to reach meaning and coherence, facing existential fear and insecurity as well as gratitude and the joy of life. Family members lose everyday control through feelings of unreality, inadequacy and overwhelming responsibility. Ambulance personnel’s care mediates hope and despair until the announcement of survival or death. After the event, family members risk involuntary loneliness and anxiety about the future. For the ambulance personnel, caring for families involves a need for mobility in decision making, forcing the personnel to balance their own perceptions, feelings and reactions against interpretative reasoning. To base decision making on emotional reactions creates the risk of erroneous conclusions and a care relationship with elements of dishonesty, misdirected benevolence and false hopes. Identification with family members can promote recognition of and response to their existential needs, but also frustrate meeting family members emotions’ and handling one’s own vulnerability and inadequacy. It was found that futile cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administered to patients for the benefit of family members, is not an acceptable moral practice, due both to norms of not deliberately treating persons as mere means and to norms of taking care of families.Conclusions: Ethical conflicts exist when it comes to conveying realistic hope, relief from guilt, participation, responsibility for decision making, and fairness in the professional role. Ambulance personnel need support to enhance ethical caring competence and to deal with personal discomfort, as well as clear guidelines on family support.
|
|
| 4. |
- Christenson, Nina, 1975-
(författare)
-
Knowledge, Value and Personal experience : Upper secondary students' resources of supporting reasons when arguing socioscientific issues
- 2011
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis focuses on upper secondary students’ use of resources in their supporting reasons when arguing socioscientific issues (SSIs). The skills of argumentation have been emphasized in science education during the past decades and SSIs are proven a good context for learners to enhance skills of argumentation and achieve the goal of scientific literacy. Research has shown that supporting reasons from various resources are embedded in students’ argumentation on SSIs, and also that multi-perspective involvement in reasoning is important for the quality of argumentation. To explore the reasons used by students in arguing about SSIs in this thesis, the SEE-SEP model was adopted as an analytical framework. The SEE-SEP model covers the six subject areas of sociology/culture, economy, environment/ecology, science, ethics/morality and policy, which are connected to the three aspects of knowledge, value and personal experience. Two studies covering four SSIs (global warming, GMO, nuclear power and consumption) explore how students construct arguments on one SSI topic chosen by them. In paper I, I investigated students’ use of resources in their informal argumentation and to what extent students made use of knowledge. The results showed that students used value to a larger extent (67%) than knowledge (27%). I also found that the distribution of supporting reasons generated by students varied from the different SSIs. In paper II, I explored students’ use of resources in relation to students’ study background (science majors and social-science majors) and gender. The results showed that social-science majors and females generated more numbers of reasons and also showed a larger amount of multi-disciplinary resources in their supporting reasons. From the findings of this thesis, the SEE-SEP model was established as a suitable model used to analyze students’ resources of supporting reasons while arguing about SSIs. Furthermore, the potential for applying the SEE-SEP model in teachers’ SSI-teaching and students’ SSI-learning is suggested. The implications to research and teaching are also discussed.
|
|
| 5. |
- Cristea, Alexander, 1966-
(författare)
-
Effects of Ageing and Physical Activity on Regulation of Muscle Contraction
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aims of this study were to investigate the mechanisms underlying (1) the ageing-related motor handicap at the whole muscle, cellular, contractile protein and myonuclear levels; and (2) ageing-related differences in muscle adaptability.In vivo muscles function was studied in the knee extensors. Decreases were observed in isokinetic and isometric torque outputs in old age in the sedentary men and women and elite master sprinters. A 20-week long specific sprint and resistance training successfully improved the maximal isometric force and rate of force development in a subgroup of master sprinters.In vitro measurements were performed in muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle. Immunocytochemical and contractile measurements in single membrane permeabilized muscle fibres demonstrated ageing- and gender-related changes at the myofibrillar level. In sedentary subjects, data showed a preferential decrease in the size of muscle fibres expressing type IIa MyHC in men, lower force generating capacity in muscle fibres expressing the type I MyHC isoform in both men and women and lower maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V0) in fibres expressing types I and IIa MyHC isoforms in both men and women. The master sprinters also experienced the typical ageing-related reduction in the size of fast-twitch fibres, a shift toward a slower MyHC isoform profile and a lower V0 of type I MyHC fibres, which played a role in the decline in explosive force production capacity. The fast-twitch fibre area increased after the resistance training period. A model combining single muscle fibre confocal microscopy with a novel algorithm for 3D imaging of myonuclei in single muscle fibre segments was introduced to study the spatial organisation of myonuclei and the size of individual myonuclear domains (MNDs). Significant changes in the MND size variability and myonuclear organization were observed in old age, irrespective gender and fibre type. Those changes may influence the local quantity of specific proteins per muscle fibre volume by decreased and/or local cooperativity of myonuclei in a gender and muscle fibre specific manner.In conclusion, the ageing-related impairments in in vivo muscle function were related to significant changes in morphology, contractile protein expression and regulation at the muscle fibre level. It is suggested that the altered myonuclear organisation observed in old age impacts on muscle fibre protein synthesis and degradation with consequences for the ageing-related changes in skeletal muscle structure and function. However, the improved muscle function in response to a 20-week intense physical training regime in highly motivated physically active old subjects demonstrates that all ageing-related in muscle function are not immutable.
|
|
| 6. |
- Höglund, Carina, 1981-
(författare)
-
Growth and Phase Stability Studies of Epitaxial Sc-Al-N and Ti-Al-N Thin Films
- 2010
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- ¨This Thesis treats the growth and characterization of ternary transition metal nitride thin films. The aim is to probe deep into the Ti-Al-N system and to explore novel Sc-Al-N compounds. Thin films were epitaxially grown by reactive dual magnetron sputtering from elemental targets onto single-crystal substrates. Ion beam analyses were used for compositional analysis and depth profiling. Different X-ray diffraction techniques were employed, ex situ using Cu radiation and in situ during deposition using synchrotron radiation, to achieve information about phases, texture, and thickness of films, and to follow roughness evolution of layers during and after growth. Transmission electron microscopy was used for overview and lattice imaging, and to obtain lattice structure information by electron diffraction.In the Sc-Al-N system, the perovskite Sc3AlN was for the first time synthesized as a thin film and in single phase, with a unit cell of 4.40 Å. The hardness was found to be 14.2 GPa, the elastic modulus 21 GPa, and the room temperature resistivity 41.2 μΩcm. Cubic solid solutions of Sc1-xAlxN can be synthesized with AlN molar fraction up to ~60%. Higher AlN contents yield three different epitaxial relations to ScN(111), namely, #1 Sc1-xAlxN(0001) || ScN(111) with Sc1-xAlxN[11210] || ScN[110], #2 Sc1-xAlxN(1011) || ScN(110) with Sc1-xAlxN[1210] || ScN[110], and #3 Sc1-xAlxN(1011) || ScN(113). An in situ deposition and annealing study of cubic Sc0.57Al0.43N films showed volume induced phase separation into ScN and wurtzite structure AlN, via nucleation and growth at the domain boundaries. The first indications for phase separation are visible at 1000 °C, and the topotaxial relationship between the binaries after phase separation is AlN(0001) || ScN(001) and AlN<01ɸ10> || ScN <1ɸ10>. This is compared with Ti1-xAlxN, for which an electronic structure driving force leads to spinodal decomposition into isostructural TiN and AlN already at 800 °C. First principles calculations explain the results on a fundamental physics level. Up to ~22% ScN can under the employed deposition conditions be dissolved into wurtzite Sc1-xAlxN films, while retaining a single-crystal structure and with lattice parameters matching calculated values.In the Ti-Al-N system, the Ti2AlN phase was synthesized epitaxially by solid state reaction during interdiffusion between sequentially deposited layers of AlN(0001) and Ti(0001). When annealing the sample, N and Al diffused into the Ti layer, forming Ti3AlN(111) at 400 ºC and Ti2AlN(0001) at 500 ºC. The Ti2AlN formation temperature is 175 ºC lower than earlier reported results. Another way of forming Ti2AlN phase is by depositing understoichiometric TiNx at 800 °C onto Al2O3(0001). An epitaxial Ti2Al(O,N) (0001) oxynitride forms close to the interface between film and substrate through a solid state reaction. Ti4AlN3 was, however, not possible to synthesize when depositing films with a Ti:Al:N ratio of 4:1:3 due to competing reactions. A substrate temperature of 600 ºC yielded an irregularly stacked Tin+1AlNn layered structure because of the low mobility of Al ad-atoms. An increased temperature led to Al deficiency due to outdiffusion of Al atoms, and formation of the Ti2AlN phase and a Ti1-xAlxN cubic solid solution.
|
|
| 7. |
- Höglund, Carina, 1981-
(författare)
-
Reactive Magnetron Sputter Deposition and Characterization of Thin Films from the Ti-Al-N and Sc-Al-N Systems
- 2009
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This Thesis treats the growth and characterization of ternary transition metal nitride thin films. The aim is to probe deeper into the Ti-Al-N system and to explore the novel Sc-Al-N system. Thin films were epitaxially grown by reactive magnetron sputtering from elemental targets onto single-crystal substrates covered with a seed layer. Elastic recoil detection analysis and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy were used for compositional analysis and depth profiling. Different x-ray diffraction techniques were employed, ex situ using Cu radiation and in situ during deposition using synchrotron radiation, to identify phases, to obtain information about texture, and to determine the thickness and roughness evolution of layers during and after growth. Transmission electron microscopy was used for overview and lattice imaging, and to obtain lattice structure information by electron diffraction. Film properties were determined using van der Pauw measurements of the electrical resistivity, and nanoindentation for the materials hardness and elastic modulus. The epitaxial Mn+1AXn phase Ti2AlN was synthesized by solid-state reaction during interdiffusion between sequentially deposited layers of (0001)-oriented AlN and Ti thin films. When annealing the sample, N and Al diffused into the Ti, forming Ti3AlN at 400 ºC and Ti2AlN at 500 ºC. The Ti2AlN formation temperature is 175 ºC lower than earlier reported results. Ti4AlN3 thin films were, however, not possible to synthesize when depositing films with a Ti:Al:N ratios of 4:1:3. Substrate temperatures at 600 ºC yielded an irregularly stacked Tin+1AlNn layered structure because of the low mobility of Al adatoms. An increased temperature led, however, to an Al deficiency due to an out diffusion of Al atoms, and formation of Ti2AlN phase and Ti1-xAlxN cubic solid solution. In the Sc-Al-N system the first ternary phase was discovered, namely the perovskite Sc3AlN, with a unit cell of 4.40 Å. Its existence was supported by ab initio calculations of the enthalpy showing that Sc3AlN is thermodynamically stable with respect to the binaries. Sc3AlN thin films were experimentally found to have a hardness of 14.2 GPa, an elastic modulus of 21 GPa, and a room temperature resistivity of 41.2 μΩcm.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Salmasi, Armin, 1983-
(författare)
-
ICME guided study of mass transport in production and application of cemented carbides
- 2022
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Cemented carbides are metallic composites consisting of a WC hard phase and a ductile binder, usually Co-based, produced by powder metallurgy and sintering. Cemented carbides are an essential part of modern material and manufacturing processes. However, Co powder is classified as a carcinogenic material with serious health hazards, and most virgin Co reservoirs are located in conflict regions. In addition, there are monopolies in the market for pure tungsten. Therefore, reducing the consumption of cobalt or replacing it with other non-hazardous elements would increase the sustainability of cemented carbide production. Furthermore, advances in production technology can help overcome raw material limitations. One such advancement is non-homogeneous structures and properties for optimization of microstructure which is the topic of this thesis. Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and its complementary tools, calculation of phase diagram (CALPHAD), and ab-initio modeling are strong tools that bridge experimentation and modeling. In this thesis, a framework for the material design of non-homogeneous cemented carbides is proposed and tested using these computational tools. The workflow of the material design of non-homogeneous microstructure and properties were studied on different length scales. Atomistic modeling with density functional theory (DFT), ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD), and generalized hydrodynamics (GHD) were used to model the viscosity of liquid Co binder. In addition, the mobility of Ti and Fe in disordered BCC TiFe alloy was assessed using new experimental data from the diffusion couple experiments and an electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). These two studies were conducted to complete the data necessary to study cemented carbides’ processing and performance. The other studied phenomenon studied by experimentation and modeling is the formation of the gradient zone and the γ cone structure. In addition, a phenomenological model for liquid phase migration (LPM) was created and implemented using the homogenization approach. The LPM pro- cess was studied experimentally and modeled with the YAPFI software. A study of these performers was necessary to link processing and microstructure. On the performance side, the chemical interaction between cutting tools and Ti alloys was studied in detail through experimentation and modeling of diffusion. In addition, hardness and toughness models were applied to predict the longevity of studied cemented carbides. Finally, by applying ICME and material design, a high entropy alloy (HEA) alternative to Co binder was designed, produced, and tested. The research presented in this dissertation attempts to fill the gaps in the material design workflow of cemented carbides by developing new tools and methods based on ICME and CALPHAD paradigms. This goal is achieved by studying different length scales, processing methods, microstructure, properties, and performance of cemented carbides.
|
|
