<p>Denna uppsats har för avsikt att undersöka det negativa sambandet mellan arbetslöshet och tillväxt i svenska län. Sambandet vi använder oss av är den inom nationalekonomin välkända Okun’s lag. Denna lag kommer vi att applicera på Sveriges 21 län mellan åren 1986 till 2003. Vi förväntar oss att sambandet kommer att variera mellan länen. Vi har även tagit med tidigare regional forskning från USA där man har estimerat Okun’s lag för 26 delstater. Uppsatsen tar även upp troliga faktorer som inverkar på sambandet, detta är gjort för att läsaren skall kunna bilda sig en uppfattning om de bakomliggande orsakerna till variationen i sambandets styrka mellan de svenska länen.</p>

Dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is required for synapses to form and maintain their shape. The actin cytoskeleton is regulated by Rho GTPases in response to genetic and extracellular signals. Rho GTPases are regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). Syd-1 is a protein that has been identified as necessary for synapse formation in worms, with similar proteins in flies, and mice. Little is known about the molecular mechanism by which Syd-1 is acting. While genetic techniques are great tools for examining synapse development, they are limited by their inability to consider the molecular nature of the protein product. By studying the biochemical nature of synaptic proteins, we can begin to understand their function with a new level of clarity. Syd-1 has a predicted Rho GAP domain; however it is thought to be inactive. The activity of the fly protein, Dsyd-1, has never been examined although it has been speculated that it is inactive in all invertebrates. Recently the mouse version was reported to have Rho GAP activity. By performing GTPase activity assays on purified proteins, I found the GAP domain of Dsyd-1 increased the GTPase activity of Rac-1 and Cdc42 but not RhoA. Members of our lab found the activity of Dsyd-1 is necessary for proper synapse formation both at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction as well as in R7 neurons. In Caenorhabditis elegans, Syd-1 was found to interact with presynaptic protein RSY-1. Since RSY-1 is evolutionarily conserved, I tested whether or not RSY-1 has a similar effect on R neurons in Drosophila. I also isolated mRNA from R neurons and evaluated the possibility of analyzing mutant neurons using comparative transcriptomics. This dissertation includes previously unpublished coauthored material.

Denna uppsats har för avsikt att undersöka det negativa sambandet mellan arbetslöshet och tillväxt i svenska län. Sambandet vi använder oss av är den inom nationalekonomin välkända Okun’s lag. Denna lag kommer vi att applicera på Sveriges 21 län mellan åren 1986 till 2003. Vi förväntar oss att sambandet kommer att variera mellan länen. Vi har även tagit med tidigare regional forskning från USA där man har estimerat Okun’s lag för 26 delstater. Uppsatsen tar även upp troliga faktorer som inverkar på sambandet, detta är gjort för att läsaren skall kunna bilda sig en uppfattning om de bakomliggande orsakerna till variationen i sambandets styrka mellan de svenska länen.

When testing new vehicles, tyres or snowmobiles the snow can differ from one minute to another. Developers need to know what kind of snow they are testing to be able to evaluate the characteristics and performance from the vehicles and tyres. The bevameter measures the stickiness, strength, friction and recovery of the snow with a torque and force number. This device is at the moment too big, it weighs about 70 kg and is 1 meter long and 0.7 meters wide and has to be towed by a snowmobile. This thesis will go through a redesign of the bevameter. The goal is to make this device as simple as possible so everyone can use it and master it. The proposed bevameter should be small, nimble and weigh about 4kg. It shall also be quick and easy to do tests with.

Die intakte Signalübertragung im animalischen Nervensystem erfordert eine an richtiger Stelle ausgebildete funktionsfähige Synapse zwischen zwei Nervenzellen bzw. zwischen Nerv und Muskel. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde eine Mutante von Drosophila melanogaster untersucht, bei der es zu Veränderungen der Verteilung eines wichtigen Organisationsproteins der synaptischen aktiven Zone kommt. Ein wichtiges Ergebnis der Untersuchungen ist die Beobachtung, dass es in der Mutante zu einer ektopen Ausbildung von Elementen aktiver Zonen in Axonen kommt. In den Arbeitsgruppen von E. Buchner und S. Sigrist ist bereits das Protein Bruchpilot (BRP) charakterisiert worden, das Bestandteil der präsynaptischen Ribbons, bei Drosophila als T-bars bezeichnet, ist. Bei der Suche nach Interaktionspartnern von BRP, ist eine Serin-Arginin-Protein spezifische Kinase SRPK79D entdeckt worden, die offenbar an der Regulation des Aufbaus der Tbars beteiligt ist (Nieratschker et al., 2009). Es gibt vier verschiedene Isoformen der Kinase. Werden nur zwei Isoformen der Kinase (SRPK79D-RB und -RE) exprimiert bzw. das Gen der Kinase komplett ausgeschaltet, findet man Ansammlungen von BRP als immunreaktive Aggregate in der Immunfluoreszenz- Färbung von larvalen Motoneuron-Axonen (Nieratschker, 2008). Es ist unser übergeordnetes Ziel, die Funktion und den molekularen Signalweg der Kinase SRPK79D zu entschlüsseln. Ein Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, PB-Protein in Reinform für eine Affinitätsreinigung eines PB-Antikörpers zu gewinnen, um in nachfolgenden Untersuchungen die Lokalisation dieser Kinase-Isoform zu untersuchen. Die Proteinreinigung war erfolgreich, aber es gelang nicht, eine für eine Affinitätsreinigung ausreichende Menge des Proteins zu isolieren. Ein weiterer Versuch, Lokalisationsuntersuchungen zur Expression der Kinase in Drosophila- Embryonen durchzuführen, war ebenfalls nicht erfolgreich. Obwohl die Herstellung einer für die SRPK79D mRNA spezifischen RNA Sonde für die in-Situ-Hybridisierung gelang, war die Sensitivität dieser Sonde nicht hoch genug, um die Lokalisation vornehmen zu können. Eindeutige und aufschlussreiche Ergebnisse dagegen ergab die Untersuchung der Ultrastruktur der BRP-Ansammlungen in den larvalen Motornerven. Als deren Korrelat fanden sich elektronenmikroskopisch charakteristische Ansammlungen elektronendichter intraaxonaler Strukturen, deren Form Ähnlichkeiten zu T-bars aufwies und die von Vesikeln umgeben waren. Die elektronendichten Strukturen zeigten zahlreiche Formvariationen, die wie Ansammlungen von T-bars nebeneinander bzw. „miteinander verklebte“ T-bars oder wie zerstörte T-bars aussahen. In einer nachfolgenden Studie wurde durch eine immun-elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung gezeigt, dass diese Strukturen in der Tat BRP enthalten (Nieratschker et al., 2009). Ergebnis der Untersuchungen der vorliegenden Arbeit war der Nachweis, dass prinzipiell ähnliche Aggregate auch im Wildtyp gelegentlich gefunden werden, dass sie aber in Mutanten signifikant häufiger vorkommen und auch einen signifikant höheren Durchmesser aufweisen. Doppelimmunreaktionen mit Antikörpern, die den C- bzw. N-terminalen Bereich von BRP erkennen, belegten darüber hinaus, dass in den Aggregaten das vollständige BRP-Protein vorliegt. Angeregt durch die Ultrastrukturbefunde von mit den elektronendichten Strukturen in den Aggregaten assoziierten Vesikeln wurde in weiteren Doppelimmunreaktionen untersucht, ob ein typisches Protein synaptischer Vesikel neuromuskulärer Synapsen in Drosophila, der vesikuläre Glutamattransporter (DVGlut), in den BRP-Ansammlungen nachweisbar ist. Während Kolokalisation von BRP und DVGlut in aktiven Zonen präsynaptischer Boutons nachgewiesen werden konnte, war der Vesikelmarker in BRP-Aggregaten nicht kolokalisiert. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass die Kinase SRPK79D für die Vermeidung einer ektopen Bildung von BRP-enthaltenden, elektronenmikroskopisch atypischen aktiven Zonen ähnelnden Strukturen in larvalen Motoneuronaxonen notwendig ist. Die in diesen Aggregaten regelmäßig zu beobachtenden Vesikel ähneln morphologisch synaptischen Vesikeln, besitzen aber keine dafür typischen Vesikelmarker. / Intact signal transmission in an animal’s nervous system requires a properly localized and functional synapse between two neurons or between neuron and muscle. This dissertation is part of the investigation of a Drosophila melanogaster mutant which displays alterations in the distribution of a synaptic active zone protein. An important result of the present study is the documentation of an ectopic formation of active zone structural elements in this mutant. Analyses carried out in the laboratories of E. Buchner and S. Sigrist contributed to the characterization of the protein Bruchpilot (BRP), a constituent of the T-bar, the characteristic presynaptic ribbon in Drosophila. Searching for interaction partners of BRP, a serine-arginine-protein specific kinase was identified that apparently regulates T-bar assembly (Nieratschker et al., 2009). There are four kinase isoforms. Knocking out two of these isoforms (SRPK79D-RB and -RE) results in accumulations of BRP-immunoreactive aggregates in the larval ventral nerves (Nieratschker, 2008). Further studies were designed to identify the function and molecular signalling pathways of the kinase SRPK79D. One objective of the present experiments was to produce purified PB-protein in order to enable affinity-purification of an antibody against this isoform of the kinase for subsequent specific immunohistochemical localization analyses. Although production of the antigen was successful, the amount of protein produced was too low to allow efficient affinity purification. An attempt to show the expression pattern of the kinase in Drosophila embryos with in-situ hybridization resulted in production of a SRPK79D specific RNAprobe, however, the probe sensitivity was not high enough to yield conclusive results for mRNA localization. Ultrastructural analyses of the BRP-ir aggregates in the larval ventral nerves, on the other hand, yielded definite and conclusive results. These aggregates corresponded to extensive intraaxonal electron-dense, ribbon-like structures surrounded by vesicles. These electron-dense structures were differently shaped and resembled accumulations of regularly shaped, clotted or dysmorphic T-bars, which in subsequent immuno-electronmicroscopic analyses carried out by another investigator were proven to contain BRP (Nieratschker et al., 2009). An important result of the present study was the observation that similar intraaxonal aggregates were occasionally also present in wild type nerves, however, the aggregates found in the mutants were significantly more frequent and of significantly larger size than those observed in wild-type larvae. Moreover, double-immunostaining using BRP-antibodies recognizing specifically the C- and the N-terminal part of the protein, respectively, provided evidence that the complete BRP protein is localized in the aggregates. Since electron microscopy had showed that numerous vesicles were associated with the electron dense aggregates, we tested whether the vesicular glutamate transporter (DVGlut), a marker protein for synaptic vesicles of motoneurons in Drosophila, could be localized in BRP-ir aggregates. While colocalization of BRP and DVGlut was observed at the presynaptic active zones, no colocalization of the synaptic vesicle marker was observed in the BRP-ir aggregates in the larval nerves. In conclusion, the results provide evidence that the kinase SRPK79D is required for the prevention of ectopic formation of BRP-containing ribbon-like structures in larval ventral nerves. These structures include vesicles resembling synaptic vesicles, which however do not display immunoreactivity for a typical synaptic vesicle marker protein.

<p>This Master Thesis was conducted at Octapharma AB in Stockholm.</p><p>Anticomplementary activity (ACA) is a measure of the product’s abilities to activate the complement system. IgG aggregates are mainly responsible for this activation. Two different performances of a method for determination of ACA in Octagam^® are available. The two performances are based on the reference method for test of ACA in immunoglobulins in the European Pharmacopoeia Commission Guideline 6.0 (chapter 2.6.17). The method is carried out either in test tubes or on microtiter plates. The test tube method can be performed either in a manual manner or modified, being more automated. The latter performance has been applied in this study. The plate method is more automated than both of the tube methods. The plate method and the manual tube method have earlier seemed to result in different outcomes, which was the basis for this thesis.</p><p>The plate method and the modified test tube method have been compared and robustness parameters have been studied in order to see which factors influence on the end result. The adequacy of using Human Biological Reference Preparation (human BRP) as a control for the ACA method in general has also been investigated. Samples of the product are outside the scope of this thesis and have not been investigated.</p><p>According to this study, the plate method and the modified tube method are not comparable with regard to complement titration results and to ACA of the BRP control. A higher precision is gained with the plate method. This in combination with the higher degree of automation makes the plate method advantageous in several aspects. When it comes to the robustness of the ACA method in general, the sheep red blood cells (SRBC) used are critical. Haemolysin dilution and complement activity seem to be critical as well.</p><p>Human BRP is, according to this study more adequate as a reference for the plate method than for the tube method. An In house control is believed to be more representative to the ACA method in general as it is of the same nature as the samples analysed, in contrast to the human BRP.</p>

Under det senaste decenniet har idén om en allmän garanterad inkomst diskuterats av politiker, akademiker och institutioner som ett alternativ för att hantera arbetslöshet och sjukdom. Debatten har på senare tid aktualiserats av den växande andel deltidsanställningar, arbeten med otrygga villkor och utsikterna på den högteknologiska arbetsmarknaden. Att införa en garanterad inkomst har omfattade implikationer ur ett samhällsperspektiv och beslutets förväntade konsekvenser är på förhand osäkra. Uppsatsens syfte är att utifrån ett antal aspekter föreslå hur beslutsfattare kan strukturera beslutsproblemet vid införandet av en garanterad inkomst i Sverige. Grunden för aspekterna är studier och experiment med basinkomst, negativ inkomstskatt och icke förvärvade inkomster. Uppsatsen sammanställer forskning kring olika typer av garanterad inkomst och identifierar ett antal aspekter, utifrån tidigare studier och experiment med basinkomst, negativ inkomstskatt och icke-villkoradeutbetalningar. Uppsatsen presenterar tre garantinivåer och ett nollalternativ, samt visualiserar beslutsproblemets grundläggande struktur.

La dépollution des eaux souterraines est actuellement une des principaux défis environnementaux, considérant le nombre de sites contaminés et le risque posé à la santé humaine et à l'environnement par l'exposition à la contamination des eaux souterraines. La barrière réactive perméable (PRB) est une technologie in situ passive pour la remédiation des eaux souterraines contaminées. Il se compose d'une barrière placée perpendiculairement à l'écoulement des contaminants et constituée d'un matériau réactif qui traite la panache de contaminants le traversant sous le gradient hydraulique naturel. C’est la technologie de remédiation des eaux souterraines la plus rentable ; elle permet l'utilisation des terres de surface et réduit l'exposition des travailleurs aux polluants. Le matériau réactif le plus utilisé est le fer à valence zéro (ZVI), qui peut dépolluer l'eau souterraine contaminée par une large gamme de contaminants au moyen de mécanismes chimiques et physiques différents. Le problème principal de l'utilisation de ZVI granulaire est la réduction de la porosité du milieu poreux, en raison de la nature expansive de produits de corrosion, des précipités et la formation de gaz. Pour surmonter ce problème, des mélanges de matériaux granulaires et ZVI ont été testés afin de déterminer leur efficacité de dépollution et le comportement hydraulique à long terme. L'utilisation de Lapillus volcaniques à mélanger avec ZVI pour dépolluer les eaux souterraines contaminées par métaux lourds est proposée dans ce travail. Des essais sur Lapillus ont montré une efficacité d'élimination de métaux lourds non négligeable, tandis que les tests en colonne effectuée en utilisant des mélanges n’ont pas montré une réduction élevée de la conductivité hydraulique au cours du temps.La modélisation des essais batch et colonne en tant qu’outil pour la compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans les milieux poreux réactifs a été mis en place. L’étude de la sensibilité des paramètres des modèles sur leurs réponses a également été explorée. / Groundwater remediation is currently one of the major environmental challenges, considering the number of contaminated sites and the risk posed to human health and to the environment by exposure to groundwater contamination. Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) is a passive in situ technology for the remediation of contaminated groundwater. It consists of a barrier placed perpendicularly to the contaminant flow and made of reactive material that treats contaminant plume flowing through it under the natural hydraulic gradient. It is the most cost-effective groundwater remediation technology; it allows the use of surface land and reduces the exposure of workers to contaminants. The most used reactive material is Zero Valent Iron (ZVI), which is able to remediate groundwater contaminated by a large range of contaminants by means of different chemical and physical mechanisms. The main issue of granular ZVI use regards the reduction of the porous medium porosity, because of the expansive nature of corrosion products, precipitates and gas formation. To overcome this problem, mixtures of ZVI and granular materials were tested to investigate their long-term removal efficiency and hydraulic behavior. The use of volcanic Lapillus to be mixed with ZVI to remediate heavy-metals contaminated groundwater is proposed in this work. Tests on Lapillus showed a not negligible heavy metal removal efficiency of the volcanic material, while the hydraulic monitoring of column tests performed using mixtures showed a not high reduction of hydraulic conductivity over time.Modelling batch and column tests as a tool for understanding the mechanisms involved in the reactive porous media has been set up. The analysis of the sensitivity of the models response with respect to the input parameters has also been explored.

This Master Thesis was conducted at Octapharma AB in Stockholm. Anticomplementary activity (ACA) is a measure of the product’s abilities to activate the complement system. IgG aggregates are mainly responsible for this activation. Two different performances of a method for determination of ACA in Octagam® are available. The two performances are based on the reference method for test of ACA in immunoglobulins in the European Pharmacopoeia Commission Guideline 6.0 (chapter 2.6.17). The method is carried out either in test tubes or on microtiter plates. The test tube method can be performed either in a manual manner or modified, being more automated. The latter performance has been applied in this study. The plate method is more automated than both of the tube methods. The plate method and the manual tube method have earlier seemed to result in different outcomes, which was the basis for this thesis. The plate method and the modified test tube method have been compared and robustness parameters have been studied in order to see which factors influence on the end result. The adequacy of using Human Biological Reference Preparation (human BRP) as a control for the ACA method in general has also been investigated. Samples of the product are outside the scope of this thesis and have not been investigated. According to this study, the plate method and the modified tube method are not comparable with regard to complement titration results and to ACA of the BRP control. A higher precision is gained with the plate method. This in combination with the higher degree of automation makes the plate method advantageous in several aspects. When it comes to the robustness of the ACA method in general, the sheep red blood cells (SRBC) used are critical. Haemolysin dilution and complement activity seem to be critical as well. Human BRP is, according to this study more adequate as a reference for the plate method than for the tube method. An In house control is believed to be more representative to the ACA method in general as it is of the same nature as the samples analysed, in contrast to the human BRP.