Forskning har visat att self-efficacy, självkänsla, KASAM och locus of control alla har en effekt på graden av upplevd stress. Dock inte alla tillsammans, vilket denna studie avsåg att undersöka samt deras inbördes relationer och vilken variabel som predicerar stress bäst. Högskolestudenter (n = 65) svarade på varsin enkät. Resultatet visade att alla variablerna hade signifikant negativ korrelation med upplevd stress. Ju högre nivå på variablerna desto mindre stressade var studenterna. De kvinnliga studenterna var mer stressade än de manliga. Resultatet visade även genom multiple regression att self-efficacy var den variabel som var viktigast för att hantera stress inför en examination, näst viktigast var KASAM. Slutsatsen blev att dessa variabler hade en avgörande inbördes relation när det gäller graden av upplevd stress inför en examination.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO INVESTIGATE YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCE´ OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. THE STUDY WAS QUALITATIVE, BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH FIVE RESPONDENTS WHO HAD STAYED AT A TREATMENT HOME FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE FOCUS WAS ON THE RESPONDENTS´ EXPERIENCES OF MILIEU THERAPY AND THEIR VIEW ON NORMALITY. THE RESULTS WERE ANALYZED FROM EARLIER RESEARCH, THEORIES FROM SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISM AND ANTONOVSKYS´ THEORY ABOUT SENSE OF COHERENCE. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE RESPONDENTS HAD TO EXAGGERATE THEIR DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOUR IN ORDER TO FIT AMONG THE OTHER RESIDENTS. THE GROUP OF RESIDENTS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE RESPONDENTS´ EXPERIENCE OF THE STAY. THEY ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WERE CONTAGIOUS WITHIN THE GROUP. AFTER THE TREATMENT THE RESPONDENTS FELT MORE SECURE IN THEMSELVES AND HAD A BETTER CONNECTION WITH THEIR FAMILIES. NORMALIZATION THROUGH EDUCATION SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE ALL THE RESPONDENTS EXCEPT ONE ARE INVOLVED IN AN EDUCATION-PROGRAM NOW.

In frequency-domain photothermal radiometry (FD-PTR) a low-power intensity-modulated optical excitation generates thermal-wave field inside the sample and the subsequent infrared radiation from the sample is analyzed to detect material’s inhomogeneities. The non-contact nature of FD-PTR makes it very suitable for non-destructive evaluation of broad range of materials. Moreover, the methodology is based on intrinsic contrast of light absorption which can be used as a diagnostic tool for inspection of malignancy in biological tissues. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that the physics of heat diffusion allows for a highly damped and dispersive propagation of thermal-waves. As a result, the current FD-PTR modalities suffer from limited inspection depth and poor axial/depth resolution. The main objective of this thesis is to show that using alternative types of modulation schemes (such as linear frequency modulation and binary phase coding) and radar matched filter signal processing, one can obtain localized responses from inherently diffuse thermal wave fields. In this thesis, the photothermal responses of turbid, transparent, and opaque media to linear frequency modulated and binary phase coded excitations are analytically derived. Theoretical simulations suggest that matched-filtering in diffusion-wave field acts as constructive interferometry, localizing the energy of the long-duty excitation under a narrow peak and allowing one to construct depth resolved images. The developed technique is the diffusion equivalent of optical coherence tomography and is named thermal coherence tomography. It was found that the narrow-band binary phase coded matched filtering yields optimal depth resolution, while the broad-band linear frequency modulation can be used to quantify material properties through the multi-parameter fitting of the experimental data to the developed theory. Thermophotonic detection of early dental caries is discussed in detail as a potential diagnostic application of the proposed methodologies. The performance of the diagnostic system is verified through a controlled demineralization protocol as well as in teeth with natural caries.

Radiotherapy plays a significant role in cancer treatment, and is thought to be curative by mainly killing tumor cells through damage to their genetic material. However, recent findings indicate that the tumor’s vascular blood supply is also a major determinant of radiation response. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) develop an experimental platform for small animals to deliver ionizing radiation and perform high-resolution optical imaging to treatment targets, and (2) use this toolkit to longitudinally monitor the response of tumors and the associated vasculature. The thesis has achieved: (1) customization of a novel micro-irradiator for mice, (2) technical development of an improved optical coherence tomography imaging system, (3) comprehensive experimental protocol and imaging optimization for optical microscopy in a specialized animal model, and (4) completion of a feasibility study to demonstrate the capabilities of the experimental platform in monitoring the response of tumor and vasculature to radiotherapy.

We demonstrated simultaneous intrinsic optical signal imaging (IOSI) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) using coherence modulation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes. The unique properties of VCSELs were exploited to deliver rapidly switched coherent and non-coherent illumination suitable for high resolution LSCI and IOSI, respectively. Utilizing three near-infrared VCSELs we were able to map changes in cortical blood oxygenation and flow during ischemia. Additionally, the subtle reflectance changes associated with cortical spreading depression were imaged using non-coherent VCSEL illumination. We are currently using two-photon laser-scanning microscopy to quantify the accuracy of LSCI and IOSI implementations. The small size and efficiency of VCSELs and modern photo diodes, makes the development of implantable dual-mode imaging devices feasible. Devices capable of chronic imaging of cortical hemodynamics could significantly enhance the range of studies available to neuroscientists and significantly aid clinicians postoperatively. The research presented in this thesis significantly furthers this objective.

The biological significance of photosynthesis is indisputable as it is necessary for nearly all life on earth. Photosynthesis provides chemical energy for plants, algae, and bacteria, while heterotrophic organisms rely on these species as their ultimate food source. The initial step in photosynthesis requires the absorption of sunlight to create electronic excitations. Light-harvesting proteins play the functional role of capturing solar radiation and transferring the resulting excitation to the reaction centers where it is used to carry out the chemical reactions of photosynthesis. Despite the wide variety of light-harvesting protein structures and arrangements, most light-harvesting proteins are able to utilize the captured solar energy for charge separation with near perfect quantum efficiency. This thesis will focus on understanding the energy transfer dynamics and photophysics of a specific subset of light-harvesting antennae known as phycobiliproteins. These proteins are extracted from cryptophyte algae and are investigated using steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopic techniques.

Radiotherapy plays a significant role in cancer treatment, and is thought to be curative by mainly killing tumor cells through damage to their genetic material. However, recent findings indicate that the tumor’s vascular blood supply is also a major determinant of radiation response. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) develop an experimental platform for small animals to deliver ionizing radiation and perform high-resolution optical imaging to treatment targets, and (2) use this toolkit to longitudinally monitor the response of tumors and the associated vasculature. The thesis has achieved: (1) customization of a novel micro-irradiator for mice, (2) technical development of an improved optical coherence tomography imaging system, (3) comprehensive experimental protocol and imaging optimization for optical microscopy in a specialized animal model, and (4) completion of a feasibility study to demonstrate the capabilities of the experimental platform in monitoring the response of tumor and vasculature to radiotherapy.

We demonstrated simultaneous intrinsic optical signal imaging (IOSI) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) using coherence modulation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes. The unique properties of VCSELs were exploited to deliver rapidly switched coherent and non-coherent illumination suitable for high resolution LSCI and IOSI, respectively. Utilizing three near-infrared VCSELs we were able to map changes in cortical blood oxygenation and flow during ischemia. Additionally, the subtle reflectance changes associated with cortical spreading depression were imaged using non-coherent VCSEL illumination. We are currently using two-photon laser-scanning microscopy to quantify the accuracy of LSCI and IOSI implementations. The small size and efficiency of VCSELs and modern photo diodes, makes the development of implantable dual-mode imaging devices feasible. Devices capable of chronic imaging of cortical hemodynamics could significantly enhance the range of studies available to neuroscientists and significantly aid clinicians postoperatively. The research presented in this thesis significantly furthers this objective.

The biological significance of photosynthesis is indisputable as it is necessary for nearly all life on earth. Photosynthesis provides chemical energy for plants, algae, and bacteria, while heterotrophic organisms rely on these species as their ultimate food source. The initial step in photosynthesis requires the absorption of sunlight to create electronic excitations. Light-harvesting proteins play the functional role of capturing solar radiation and transferring the resulting excitation to the reaction centers where it is used to carry out the chemical reactions of photosynthesis. Despite the wide variety of light-harvesting protein structures and arrangements, most light-harvesting proteins are able to utilize the captured solar energy for charge separation with near perfect quantum efficiency. This thesis will focus on understanding the energy transfer dynamics and photophysics of a specific subset of light-harvesting antennae known as phycobiliproteins. These proteins are extracted from cryptophyte algae and are investigated using steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopic techniques.

I denna uppsats undersöker jag relationen mellan känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) och styrkan i den religiösa tron (SCSORF) genom en enkätundersökning genomförd utifrån ett bekvämt urval. Resultatet från undersökningen visade att ingen korrelation föreligger mellan KASAM och SCSORF och att styrkan i den religiösa tron därför inte kan antas påverka KASAM. Dock innebär urvalsmetoden och storleken på urvalet (n = 22) att denna slutsats är osäker och att en större undersökning med bättre forskningsdesign behövs för att slutligen kunna fastställa om styrkan i den religiösa tron påverkar KASAM.