| 1. |
- Ljunggren, Stefan, 1988-
(author)
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Lipoproteomics : Environmental and Genetic Factors Affecting High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Lipoprotein particles act as lipid transporters in the blood stream, and measuring cholesterol content in specific subclasses of lipoprotein particles has long been, and still is, a frequently used tool to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a subclass of lipoproteins often regarded as providing protection against CVD via several functions including reverse cholesterol transport and anti-inflammatory capacities. However, the precise relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and health outcome is still unclear. Lately, new approaches to study HDL composition and function have therefore become more important.HDL function is to a large extent dependent on its proteome, containing more than 100 proteins. Investigating the proteome in individuals with altered gene expression for HDL-associated proteins or with known exposure to environmental contaminants may reveal new insights into how HDL metabolism is affected by various factors. This is of interest in order to better understand the role of HDL in CVD.Papers I and II focus on two different mutations in a structural HDL protein, apolipoprotein A-I (L202P and K131del), and one mutation in the scavenger receptor class B-1 (P297S), which is involved in selective lipid uptake of cholesterol mainly into hepatocytes and adrenal cells. The HDL proteome was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The L202P mutation was identified in HDL of the heterozygote carriers together with a significant decrease of apolipoprotein E and increased zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein. By contrast, the second apolipoprotein AI mutation (K131del) was associated with significantly elevated alpha-1-antitrypsin and transthyretin levels. Protein analyses of the scavenger receptor class B1 P297S heterozygotes showed a significant increase in HDL apoL-1 along with increased free apoE. The carriers showed no difference in antioxidative capability but a significant increase in apoA-I methionine oxidation.Papers III and IV focus on persistent organic pollutants that may influence HDL composition and function. These compounds accumulate in humans, and exposure has been linked to an increased risk of CVD. To provide a better understanding of the HDL system in relation to pollutants, a population living in a contaminated area was studied. Persistent organic pollutants in isolated HDL were quantified using high-resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry and significantly increased levels were found in individuals with CVD as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a significant negative association between the pollutants and paraoxonase-1 anti-oxidant activity. Studying the proteome with nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry led to the identification of 118 proteins in HDL, of which ten were significantly associated with the persistent organic pollutants.In summary, the present studies demonstrate protein pattern alterations in HDL associated with inherited genetic variants or pollutant exposure. The studies also provide a set of methods that are useful tools to further comprehend the complexity of lipoprotein metabolism and function. The results are important in order to improve our understanding of HDL in CVD and to explain an increased risk of CVD associated with exposure to organic pollutants.
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| 2. |
- Wang, Weilong, 1978-
(author)
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Mobilized Thermal Energy Storage for Heat Recovery for Distributed Heating
- 2010
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Conventional energy sources—oil and electricity—dominate the heat supply market. Due to their rising costs and their negative environmental effects on global climate change, it is necessary to develop an alternative heat supply system featuring low cost, high energy efficiency and environment friendliness. At present, it is often challenging to supply heat to detached buildings due to low energy efficiency and high distribution cost. Meanwhile, significant amounts of industrial waste and excess heat are released into the environment without recycling due to the difficulty of matching time and space differences between suppliers and end users. Phase change materials (PCMs), with the advantages of being storable and transportable, offer a solution for delivering that excess heat from industrial plants to detached buildings in sparse, rural areas. The objective of this thesis is to study PCMs and latent thermal energy storage (LTES) technology, and to develop a mobilized thermal energy storage (M-TES) system that can use industrial waste or excess heat for heat recovery and distribution to areas in need. Organic PCMs were chosen for study because they are non-toxic and non-corrosive, and they exhibit no phase separation and little sub-cooling when compared to inorganic PCMs. Two major issues including leakage of liquid PCMs and low thermal conductivity. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was chosen to help analyze the thermal behavior of organic PCMs and PEG-based form-stable composites. To overcome the issue of low thermal conductivity, modified aluminum nitride (AlN) powder was added to the composites. Increased thermal conductivity traded off decreased latent heat. The PEG/EG composite, prepared by mixing the melted PEG into an expanded graphite (EG) matrix showed good thermal performance due to its large enthalpy and high thermal conductivity. To make a systematic study of the M-TES system, a compact lab-scale system was designed and built. Characteristics of PCM were studied, and the performance of the direct-contact TES container was investigated. A case study using an M-TES system to deliver heat from a combined heat and power (CHP) plant to a small village was conducted. A technical and economic feasibility study was conducted for an integrated heat supply system using the M-TES system. In addition, the options for charging a TES container at a CHP plant were analyzed and compared from the viewpoints of power output, heat output and incomes.
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| 3. |
- Gustafsson, Mattias, 1972-
(author)
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Energy efficiency measures in the built environment - some aspects to consider in Sweden
- 2018
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The traditional energy system as we know it today will change in the future. There is a worldwide concern about the global warming situation and there are different actions implemented to limit the consequences from, mainly, the use of fossil fuels.In this thesis, multi-unit apartment buildings have been simulated according to how the global CO2 emissions change when different energy efficiency measures are implemented. The simulated buildings have also been used to investigate how the calculated energy efficiency of a building according to Swedish building regulations varies depending on which technology for heating is used in the building and if the building has a solar PV installation or solar thermal system. When the energy efficiency of a building is calculated accord-ing to Swedish building regulations, this thesis shows that heat pumps are a favored technology compared to district heating. Another result is that electric-ity use/production within the investigated district heating system is the most important factor to consider when minimizing global CO2 emissions.This thesis also investigates how the configuration of electric meters owned by the distribution system operator affects the monitored amount of self-consumed and produced excess electricity. Finally, four local low-voltage distri-bution networks were simulated when a future charging scenario of electric vehicles was implemented.If a single-family house installs a solar PV installation, this thesis reveals that the configuration of the electric meter is important for the monitored amount of self-consumed electricity. This thesis also shows that the investigated low-voltage distribution networks can handle future power demand from electric vehicles and a high share of solar PV installations, but rural low-volt-age distribution networks will need to be reinforced or rebuilt to manage the investigated future scenarios.
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| 4. |
- Amiri, Shahnaz, 1962-
(author)
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Economic and Environmental Benefits of CHP-based District Heating Systems in Sweden
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Future energy systems and thus the climate are affected by many factors, such as energy resources, energy demand, energy policy and the choice of energy technologies. Energy systems of the future are facing three main challenges; the steady growth of global energy demand, the energy resource depletion, as well as the increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change. To meet the mentioned challenges with sustainability in mind, actions that increase energy efficiency and choosing an energy-efficient energy system which is cost efficient will be essential. Combined heat and power (CHP) plants and district heating and cooling could contribute greatly to increased system efficiency by using energy otherwise wasted.The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of how CHP-based district heating and cooling systems using different primary energy sources can contribute to more cost-efficient energy systems, which reduce global CO2 emissions, and to highlight the impact of some important parameters and measures on Swedish municipal district heating systems. An important assumption in this study is the estimation of CO2 emissions from electricity production, which is based on marginal electricity perspectives. In the short term, the marginal electricity is assumed to come from coal-fired condensing power plants while in the long term it consists of electricity produced by natural gas-fired combined cycle condensing power plants. This means that the local electricity production will replace the marginal electricity production. The underlying assumption is an ideal fully deregulated European electricity market where trade barriers are removed and there are no restrictions on transfer capacity.The results show that electricity generation in CHP plants, particularly in higher efficiency combined steam and gas turbine heat and power plants using natural gas, can reduce the global environmental impact of energy usage to a great extent. The results confirm, through the scenarios presented in this study, that waste as a fuel in CHP-based district heating systems is fully utilised since it has the lowest operational costs. The results also show how implementation of a biogas-based CHP plant in a biogas system contributes to an efficient system, as well as lowering both CO2 emissions and system costs. The results show that replacing electricity-driven (e.g. compression) cooling by heat-driven cooling using district heating (e.g. absorption chillers) in a CHP system is a cost-effective and climate friendly technology as electricity consumption is reduced while at the same time the electricity generation will be increased. The results of the study also show that there is potential to expand district heating systems to areas with lower heat density, with both environmental and economic benefits for the district heating companies.The results reveal that the operation of a studied CHP-based district heating system with an imposed emission limit is very sensitive to the way CO2 emissions are accounted, i.e., local CO2 emissions or emissions from marginal electricity production. The results show how the electricity production increases in the marginal case compared with the local one in order to reduce global CO2 emissions. The results also revealed that not only electricity and fuel prices but also policy instruments are important factors in promoting CHP-based district heating and cooling systems. The use of electricity certificates has a large influence for the introduction of biogas-based cogeneration. Another conclusion from the modelling is that present Swedish policy instruments are strong incentives for cogeneration with similar impact as applying external costs.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Danestig, Maria, 1965-
(author)
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Efficient heat supply and use from an energy-system and climate perspective
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this thesis is to illustrate whether the heat demand in district heating systems can be seen as a resource that enables efficient energy utilization, how this can be achieved and to discuss consequences of this assumption. Based on the answers to posed research questions and on the studies included in this thesis, it is concluded that the hypothesis “A common system approach for energy supply and heat demand will show climate and economic efficient solutions” is true.In cold-climate countries, energy for heating of buildings is essential and heating options that interplay with the power system through electricity use or generation have potential for efficiency improvements. In Sweden, district heating is used extensively, especially in large buildings but to a growing extent also for small houses. Some industrial heat loads and absorption cooling can complement space heating demand so that the production resources may be more evenly utilised during the seasons of the year.Rising electricity prices in recent years cause problems for the extensive use of electric heating in Sweden and further switching to district heating should be a possible option. To be economically favourable, district-heating systems require a certain heat load density. New low-energy houses and energy-efficiency measures in existing buildings decrease the heat demand in buildings and, thus, in district heating systems. Optimisation models have been used in several studies of large, complex energy systems. Such models allow scenarios with changing policy instruments and changed consumer behaviour to be analysed. Energy efficiency measures as well as good conditions for efficient electricity generation, which can replace old, inefficient plants, are needed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector.Results when having a European energy perspective to studies of changes in Sweden differ from when having for example a Swedish energy system perspective The effects on global carbon dioxide emissions, when studying combined heat and power electricity generation in Sweden, are greater than it is on local emissions.
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| 7. |
- Djuric Ilic, Danica
(author)
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With district heating toward a sustainable future : System studies of district heating and cooling that interact with power, transport and industrial sectors
- 2014
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this thesis is to identify measures which should be taken in DH systems (DHSs) in order to contribute to the development of the DHSs and other energy systems (especially transport, industrial and power sectors) toward sustainability.Four business strategies were analysed: delivering excess heat from biofuel production industry to DHSs, conversion of industrial processes to DH, integration of biofuel production in DHSs and integration of DHdriven absorption cooling technology in DHSs. Delivering excess heat from biofuel production industry to DHSs was analysed with a focus on the biofuel production costs for four biofuel production technologies. Integration of biofuel production and integration of DH-driven absorption cooling technology in DHSs were analysed with a focus on Stockholm’s DHS, using an optimisation model framework called MODEST. When the conversion of industrial processes to DH was analysed, DHSs and industrial companies in Västra Götaland, Östergötland and Jönköping counties were used as case studies; a method for heat load analysis called MeHLA was used to analyse the effects on the local DHSs.The results showed that when considering biomass an unlimited resource, by applying the abovementioned business strategies DH has a potential to reduce global fossil fuel consumption and global GHG emissions associated with power, industrial and transport sectors.DH producers may contribute to the sustainable development of the transport sector by buying excess heat from the biofuel production industry. This business strategy results in lower biofuel production costs, which promotes development of biofuel production technologies that are not yet commercial. Moreover, introduction of large-scale biofuel production into local DHSs enables development of local biofuel supply chains; this may facilitate the introduction of biofuel in the local transport sectors and subsequently decrease gasoline and fossil diesel use. Conversion of industrial processes from fossil fuels and electricity to DH is a business strategy which would make the industry less dependent on fossil fuels and fossil fuelbased electricity. DH may also contribute to the sustainable development of the industry by buying waste heat from industrial processes, since this strategy increases the total energy efficiency of the industrial processes and reduces production costs. Furthermore, DH has a possibility to reduce fossil fuel consumption and subsequently GHG emissions in the power sector by producing electricity in biomass- or waste-fuelled CHP plants.When the marginal electricity is associated with high GHG emissions (e.g. when it is produced in coal-fired condensing power (CCP)) plants, the reduction of the marginal electricity production (due to the conversion of industrial processes from electricity to DH and due to the conversion of compression cooling to DHdriven absorption cooling) results in higher environmental benefits. On the other hand, the introduction of biofuel production into DHSs becomes less attractive from an environmental viewpoint, because the investments in biofuel production instead of in CHP production lead to lower electricity production in the DHSs. The increased DH use in industry and introduction of the biofuel production and DH-driven absorption cooling production into the DHSs lead to increased biomass use in the DHSs. Because of this, if biomass is considered a limited resource, the environmental benefits of applying these business strategies are lower or non-existent.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Karlsson, Henrik
(author)
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Vården av de arbetsoförmögna : reumatikervårdens framväxt i den tidiga välfärdsstaten
- 2012
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This dissertation is about the development of care for the chronically ill, particularly rheumatics, from 1900 to 1960. Two aspects, economic support and medical care, are discussed regarding the efforts made by society to improve the situation for the chronically ill. The aim is to investigate the underlying motives for the care, and the interests of the state and the medical profession in the matter. The development of the care takes place in a historical context in which the state increased its responsibility for the social security of the citizens. Primarily this was seen in the creation of a social insurance system. There is a focus on the introduction of a national basic pensions scheme in 1913, which apart from giving old age pension would also give economic security to those who were struck with disablement. To reduce the costs for early retirement disability pensions, where rheumatics were the largest group, economic resources were set aside for the purpose of combating and curing disablement. As a consequence of this initiative, specialist care for rheumatics was built up within the framework of the basic pensions scheme. At the same time, doctors were arguing that the care for rheumatics should have been organised in the public health service. The dissertation follows the institutional development of specialist care for rheumatics up to the 1960s, when the National Social Insurance Board took over the pension board’s duties and powers, and the decision was taken to transfer the specialist care for rheumatics to the county councils. In the organisational development, the influence of the medical profession and medical science in the shaping of the work is discussed. In addition, other factors such as changes in the labour market, where the motive was to rehabilitate the sick so that they could work and be self-supporting, are put forward as an important explanation for the organisational structuring that the care of rheumatics underwent during the twentieth century. This meant that social work became an important complement to the medical care itself.
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| 10. |
- Khatiwada, Dilip, 1971-
(author)
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Assessing the sustainability of bioethanol production in Nepal
- 2010
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Access to modern energy services derived from renewable sources is a prerequisite, not only for economic growth, rural development and sustainable development, but also for energy security and climate change mitigation. The least developed countries (LDCs) primarily use traditional biomass and have little access to commercial energy sources. They are more vulnerable to problems relating to energy security, air pollution, and the need for hard-cash currency to import fossil fuels. This thesis evaluates sugarcane-molasses bioethanol, a renewable energy source with the potential to be used as a transport fuel in Nepal. Sustainability aspects of molasses-based ethanol have been analyzed. Two important indicators for sustainability, viz. net energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances have been used to assess the appropriateness of bioethanol in the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework. This thesis has found that the production of bioethanol is energy-efficient in terms of the fossil fuel inputs required to produce it. Life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from production and combustion are also lower than those of gasoline. The impacts of important physical and market parameters, such as sugar cane productivity, the use of fertilizers, energy consumption in different processes, and price have been observed in evaluating the sustainability aspects of bioethanol production. The production potential of bioethanol has been assessed. Concerns relating to the fuel vs. food debate, energy security, and air pollution have also been discussed. The thesis concludes that the major sustainability indicators for molasses ethanol in Nepal are in line with the goals of sustainable development. Thus, Nepal could be a good example for other LDCs when favorable governmental policy, institutional set-ups, and developmental cooperation from donor partners are in place to strengthen the development of renewable energy technologies.
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