| 1. |
- Adnane, Bouchaib
(author)
-
Optical characterization of Silicon-based self-assembled nanostructures
- 2010
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This PhD thesis summarizes the work carried on the optical characterizations of some Si-based self-assembled nanostructures, particularly SiGe/Si quantum dots (QDs) and nanocrystalline (nc)-Si embedded in mesoporous silica (MS) using photoconductivity (PC), photoluminescence (PL), and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements. The spectroscopic studies of SiGe/Si QDs grown on Si by molecular beam epitaxy revealed for the first time well-resolved PLE resonances. When correlated with numerical analysis, these resonances were directly related to the co-existence of spatially direct (inside the SiGe dot) and indirect (across the Si/Ge interface) recombination processes involving different dot populations selected by the monitored detection energy for PLE acquisition. The characteristics of these two transitions were further studied in detail by PLE (in some case implemented together with selective PL) on various samples, which contained either only one Ge dot layer or multiple Gedot/Si stacks, grown at substrate temperatures ranging from 430 to 580 °C; especially the temperature- and excitation power-dependence of the excitation properties. The results illustrated that the electronic structure of SiGe dots are influenced by size, Ge composition, as well as strain connected, and sometimes a mixed effect. Another attempt of the project was the fabrication of lateral transport mid-infrared photodetectors based on multiple Ge-dot/Si stacked structures. A broadband photoresponsivity of the processed multi-finger detectors was estimated to be about 90 mA/W over 3-15 μm range at 20 K, and the peaked photoresponse was measured at ~10 μm. The origin of the measured photocurrent, as elucidated by photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopies, was related to intersubband absorption of normal incidence infrared radiation corresponding to energies between the ground states of the heavy hole and the light hole in the valence band of the SiGe/Si QDs, and subsequent charge transfer to the Ge 2D wetting layer acting as a conduction channel. The absence of photocurrent in the energy range expected for a transition from the ground state to the first excited state of the heavy hole indicated that the holes in the SiGe dots behave essentially as 2D in character rather than a truly 3D confinement, where the transitions between heavy holes states are not allowed for TE polarized radiation (normal incidence). Finally, Si(or Ge) nanocrystals embedded in mesoporous silica samples prepared by spincoating and atomic layer chemical vapor deposition were optically investigated by means of PL with various excitation powers, together with several attempts using different post rapid thermal annealing processes. The shape and energy position of the PL spectra of the nc-Si embedded in MS samples and a reference MS template without nc incorporation were rather similar, but the luminescence was much more intense for those embedded with nanocrystals. This implies that the emission mechanism for MS samples with or without nc-Si could be the same, i.e., the light emission was governed by the surface properties of silica. The semiconductor nanocrystals played a role by sensitizing the luminescence emission through generating more photo-excited carriers. These carriers were then trapped in the defect state e.g. the interfacial oxygen defect sites and subsequently recombine to increase the PL intensity.
|
|
| 2. |
- Hansson, Per-Olof
(author)
-
New ways of learning : Participatory action research and Kenyan runners’ appropriation of smartphones to improve their daily lives and participation in m-learning
- 2015
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In Kenya, mobile technology is widely used, with more and more people gaining access to the Internet. Mobile technology has the potential to support learning and improve lives, particular those of impoverished people. In this study, 30 Kenyan runners from poor backgrounds and with limited formal education participated. They were provided with a basic smartphone and Internet data bundles for one year so that they could participate in m-learning. The participatory action research approach was used. Sources of data included interviews, observations, fieldnotes, web inquiries, and mobile log files. A sociocultural perspective was used to analyze how the participants learned informally using the smartphones.Findings indicate that the Kenyan runners’ rapid appropriation and mastery of the smartphones was based on their curiosity and interest in sports. The runners’ skills and knowledge increased over time, showing how digital resources improved their training, increased their social interactions, developed entrepreneurial skills, created awareness in and with the rest of society, and improved participation in m-learning. Sociocultural analysis showed that feedback from peers and the tool itself were both significant for learning. The participants themselves influenced the research process. From their interest emerged an online course (MOOC) about human rights. Key challenges in the process were power consumption, lack of electricity, and the availability and cost of Internet access. A lack of critical attitude about content on the Internet was also discernible. The main findings highlight how mobile technology can not only improve daily lives, but also develop new ways for people to participate in mlearning.
|
|
| 3. |
- Norström, Per, 1971-
(author)
-
Technology education and non-scientific technological knowledge
- 2011
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis consists of two essays and an introduction. The main theme is technological knowledge that is not based on the natural sciences.The first essay is about rules of thumb, which are simple instructions, used to guide actions toward a specific result, without need of advanced knowledge. Knowing adequate rules of thumb is a common form of technological knowledge. It differs both from science-based and intuitive (or tacit) technological knowledge, although it may have its origin in experience, scientific knowledge, trial and error, or a combination thereof. One of the major advantages of rules of thumb is the ease with which they can be learned. One of their major disadvantages is that they cannot easily be adjusted to new situations or conditions.Engineers commonly use rules, theories and models that lack scientific justification. How to include these in introductory technology education is the theme of the second essay. Examples include rules of thumb based on experience, but also models based on obsolete science or folk theories. Centrifugal forces, heat and cold as substances, and sucking vacuum all belong to the latter group. These models contradict scientific knowledge, but are useful for prediction in limited contexts where they are used when found convenient. The role of this kind of models in technology education is the theme of the second essay. Engineers’ work is a common prototype for pupils’ work with product development and systematic problem solving during technology lessons. Therefore pupils should be allowed to use the engineers’ non-scientific models when doing design work in school technology. The acceptance of these could be experienced as contradictory by the pupils: a model that is allowed, or even encouraged in technology class is considered wrong when doing science. To account for this, different epistemological frameworks must be used in science and technology education. Technology is first and foremost about usefulness, not about the truth or even generally applicable laws. This could cause pedagogical problems, but also provide useful examples to explain the limitations of models, the relation between model and reality, and the differences between science and technology.
|
|
| 4. |
- Hansson, Edvin, 1987-
(author)
-
Internal Dosimetry in Nuclear Fuel Fabrication : Occupational Exposure to Uranium Aerosols
- 2022
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The production of nuclear fuel can be associated with occupational exposure to ionizing radiation from radioactive decay of uranium. Such exposure must be sufficiently low and radiation doses adequately determined. Radiation doses from internal exposure, i.e., following intake (usually inhalation), cannot be estimated using dosimeters, but must be calculated based on indirect measurements in combination with biokinetic models.Such biokinetic models have been developed and refined for decades. Good knowledge of the material characteristics is crucial. However, the physicochemical properties of chemical compounds can vary between different production facilities. Aerosol size distributions and dissolution characteristics in lung fluid are of particular importance. The latter is important since dissolved material is absorbed to blood, whereupon a large fraction reaches the urine after filtering by the kidneys. This enables urine sampling as a method to monitor occupational exposure.The aim of this thesis was to investigate the physicochemical properties of uranium aerosols and their implication on internal dose assessments at a nuclear fuel fabrication plant in Sweden. Uranium aerosols were sampled and size fractionated using personal cascade impactors carried by workers at the factory’s different main workshops. Aerosols were studied using scanning electron microscopy in Paper I. In Paper II the activity size distributions were determined and in Paper III dissolution rates in simulated lung fluid were investigated. Paper IV is an internal dose assessment based on records of urine sample analyses from about 10 years of routine occupational exposure monitoring of uranium pelletizing workers at the site.For a median worker, the urinary daily excretion rate of uranium increased due to chronic exposure for about 1000 days, after which the excretion rate stabilized. This suggests that inhaled material dissolves in the respiratory tract rapidly enough to prevent a net buildup in the lung after several years of exposure. This could be modelled using the default recommendations for uranium oxide materials provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. However, the best model fit to measurement data was obtained using a different set of parameters, that showed some discrepancies with results from Papers II-III. For individual cases, excretion rates could vary between sampling occasions to a greater extent than predicted using the default recommendations, which could indicate a more rapid body clearance than expected. Whether this is an effect of experimental methods or simplifications in the biokinetic models should be further investigated in future work.
|
|
| 5. |
- Holliland, Per B., 1984-
(author)
-
Trophic interactions and behaviour : Studies relevant to a Baltic Sea biomanipulation
- 2012
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The main theme of this thesis is the interactions of animals with the environment and each other. The thesis was written within the framework of a biomanipulation project “Pikeperch in Himmerfjärden”. With the aim to investigate possible trophic pit-falls, give the manipulation the best possible start, and find ways to monitor the progression of the manipulation. In Paper I the diet of the invader cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi is analysed with stable isotopes; conducted prior to stocking. C.pengoi has a preference for large copepods, indicating possible competition with fish. Paper II investigates the behavioural differences between pikeperch fingerlings reared in different environments (pond vs. tank). Results suggest that fish reared in semi-natural ponds are more likely to survive directly after stocking. In Paper III and IV, the diel vertical migrations (DVM) of copepods are in focus. In Paper III the migrations of two copepod species: Acartia spp. and Eurytemora affinis are studied over season and life stage. The amplitude of migration was found to increase with ontogeny for both species, indicating evasion of visual predators. Paper IV examines the varying migratory patterns of adult female E. affinis finding that these animals migrate more actively when feeding conditions deteriorate and growth decreases. The overall conclusions of the thesis are that behavioural, not only direct trophic interactions are key when studying ecosystems.
|
|
| 6. |
- Nordström, Randi
(author)
-
Polymeric Nanoparticles as Carriers for Antimicrobial Peptides : Factors Affecting Peptide and Membrane Interactions
- 2019
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- As resistance towards conventional antibiotics is becoming more pronounced, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have received considerable attention as possible therapeutic alternatives. Thousands of potent AMPs occur in humans, animals, plants and fungi as a natural part of the immune system. However, there are several challenges with AMP therapeutics related to formulation and delivery. Examples include proteolytic sensitivity and serum protein binding, resulting in quick degradation, loss of activity and clearance. Therefore, it is important to find a suitable drug delivery system to meet these protection and delivery challenges. Micro-/nanogels are loosely crosslinked polymer colloids with high water content that can be made to trigger at a wide range of stimuli. They have shown promise as delivery systems for AMPs, as the aqueous environment they create allows the peptides to maintain their natural conformation, while their gel networks offer protection and triggered release. This thesis aims towards expanding the knowledge about degradable and non-degradable pH-responsive micro-/nanogels as carriers for AMPs.The results in this thesis show that factors relating to the drug delivery system (degradability, charge and crosslinker density), the surrounding media (pH and ionic strength) and the peptide properties (length, charge, PEGylation) all affect the peptide loading to, protection, release from and effect of AMP-loaded gels. Studies of the interaction of AMP-loaded microgels with bacteria-modelling liposomes and lipid bilayers have verified peptide effect after gel incorporation, as further demonstrated by in vitro studies on several bacterial strains. Neutron reflectometry provided detailed mechanistic information on the interaction between AMP-loaded gels and bacteria-modelling lipid bilayers, showing that the antimicrobial unit is the released peptide. All gels showed low, promising hemolysis and some gels could offer protection against proteolytic degradation of AMPs.In summary, non-degradable and degradable micro-/nanogels are versatile and interesting candidates as AMP carriers. Small changes in the gel composition or the AMP used can dramatically change the peptide loading, release and effect. It is therefore necessary to carefully consider and evaluate the optimal carrier for every AMP and the application at hand.
|
|
| 7. |
- Norström, Per, 1971-
(author)
-
Technological knowledge and technology education
- 2014
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Technological knowledge is of many different kinds, from experience-based know-how in the crafts to science-based knowledge in modern engineering. It is inherently oriented towards being useful in technological activities, such as manufacturing and engineering design.The purpose of this thesis is to highlight special characteristics of technological knowledge and how these affect how technology should be taught in school. It consists of an introduction, a summary in Swedish, and five papers:Paper I is about rules of thumb, which are simple instructions, used to guide actions toward a specific result, without need of advanced knowledge. One off the major advantages of rules of thumb is the ease with which they can be learnt. One of their major disadvantages is that they cannot easily be adjusted to new situations or conditions.Paper II describes how Gilbert Ryle's distinction between knowing how and knowing that is applicable in the technological domain. Knowing how and knowing that are commonly used together, but there are important differences between them which motivate why they should be regarded as different types: they are learnt in different ways, justified in different ways, and knowing that is susceptible to Gettier type problems which technological knowing how is not.Paper III is based on a survey about how Swedish technology teachers understand the concept of technological knowledge. Their opinions show an extensive variation, and they have no common terminology for describing the knowledge.Paper IV deals with non-scientific models that are commonly used by engineers, based on for example folk theories or obsolete science. These should be included in technology education if it is to resemble real technology. Different, and partly contradictory, epistemological frameworks must be used in different school subjects. This leads to major pedagogical challenges, but also to opportunities to clarify the differences between technology and the natural sciences and between models and reality.Paper V is about explanation, prediction, and the use of models in technology education. Explanations and models in technology differ from those in the natural sciences in that they have to include users' actions and intentions.
|
|
| 8. |
- Nyström, Lina
(author)
-
Microgels as Carriers for Antimicrobial Peptides : Surface-bound microgels, and factors affecting peptide interactions
- 2018
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- With a growing number of multi-resistant bacteria against conventional antibiotics, there is an urgent need to identify new antimicrobial therapeutics. One example that has gained considerable interest is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). For AMPs to reach their full potential as therapeutics, as well as for other peptide and protein drugs, the right drug delivery system may overcome reported shortcomings, such as fast clearance in the bloodstream and proteolytic degradation. Microgels are weakly cross-linked polymer colloids, which can be made responsive to various stimuli. In the context of drug delivery, microgels are of particular interest as carriers for biomacromolecular drugs, such as peptides and proteins, as their water-rich environment offers both protection against enzymatic degradation and triggered release possibilities. Combining these, the aim of this thesis was to investigate electrostatically triggered surface-bound microgels as a delivery system for AMPs, as well as evaluate such systems as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory coating for biomaterials.Results presented in this thesis demonstrate effects of microgel charge density, pH, and ionic strength on microgel volume transitions at solid interfaces, surface-induced microgel deformation and nanomechanical properties. In addition, effects of both microgel properties (charge density) and peptide properties (molecular weight, charge density, and posttranslational modifications) on peptide loading and release from surface-bound microgels were investigated. The presented thesis also reports in vitro studies of AMP-loaded microgels in dispersion and surface-bound, as either mono- or multilayers. Notably, the interplay between surface- and release-related effects for the antimicrobial properties of AMP-loaded microgels are investigated. In addition, anti-inflammatory properties of AMP-loaded microgels are also reported.Taken together, microgels prove an interesting and versatile drug delivery system for AMPs. Results obtained in this thesis have demonstrated that several key factors need to be taken into consideration in the development of surface-bound microgels as a carrier for AMPs, and that small changes in microgel and peptide properties can alter peptide loading and release profiles.
|
|
| 9. |
- Singh, Shalini, 1982-
(author)
-
Amphiphilic Peptide Interactions with Complex Biological Membranes : Effect of peptide properties on antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects
- 2016
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- With increasing problem of resistance development in bacteria against conventional antibiotics, as well as problems associated with diseases either triggered or enhanced by infection, there is an urgent need to identify new types of effective therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases and its consequences. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides have attracted considerable interest as potential new antibiotics in this context. While antimicrobial function of such peptides is being increasingly understood demonstrated to be due to bacterial membrane disruption, the mechanisms of their anti-inflammatory function are poorly understood. Since bacterial membrane component lipopolysaccharide triggers inflammation, this thesis aims at clarifying importance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-peptide interactions while investigating possible modes of action of peptides exhibiting anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, effect of poly(ethylene)glycol (PEG)-conjugation was investigated to increase performance of such peptides.Results presented in this thesis demonstrate that peptide-induced LPS- and lipid A binding/scavenging is necessary but not sufficient criterium for anti-inflammatory effects of peptides. Furthermore, preferential binding to LPS over lipid membrane, as well as higher binding affinity to the lipid A moiety within LPS, are seen for these peptides. In addition, results demonstrate that apart from direct LPS scavenging, membrane-localized peptide-induced LPS scavenging seem to contribute partially to anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, fragmentation and densification of LPS aggregates, in turn dependent on the peptide secondary structure on LPS binding, as well as aromatic packing interactions, correlate to the anti-inflammatory effect, thus promoting peptide-induced packing transition in LPS aggregates as key for anti-inflammatory functionality. Thus, peptide-induced LPS aggregate disruption together with reduction of the negative charge of LPS suggests the importance of phagocytosis as an alternative to the inflammatory pathway, which needs to be further investigated. Furthermore, PEG conjugation of peptide results in strongly reduced toxicity at a cost of reduced antimicrobial activity but markedly retained anti-inflammatory effect.Taken together, the results obtained in this work have demonstrated several key issues which need to be taken into consideration in the development of effective and selective anti-inflammatory peptide therapeutics for the treatment of severe Gram-negative bacterial infections.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
