This thesis summarizes findings on a recognition and categorization of different sorts of stimuli at birds, it deals with predator recognition in the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) in its practical part. The aim of my study was to examine if Red-backed Shrikes follow by sign stimuli or colour of stimulus during the predator recognition. I performed my research by means of experiments with dummies, I have observed antipredatory reactions of Red-backed Shrikes on various types of dummies which differ in the presence or absence of features of raptor or in the different coloration. I concluded according to Shrikes' reactions that during the predator recognition the information on sign stimuli playes the principal role, but only this information alone is not fully sufficient. Antipredatory behaviour of the Red-backed Shrike was also influenced by sex of bird apart from type of dummy, males were more active during the nest defence than females.

The manufacturing industry has experienced a change in the business environment during the last decade and has started to explore the possibilities of integrating products and services into new bundled offerings. A great deal has been published about this new phenomenon and it is often referred to as integrated solutions. When implementing an integrated solution it requires changes in the organizational structure, resulting in a need to develop further capabilities. Capabilities are explained as complex bundles of skills and accumulated knowledge possessed by organizations that enables them to coordinate their activities and make use of their assets. Previous literature has focused on the capabilities needed for suppliers that develop integrated solutions, leaving uncertainties regarding the needed capabilities for the customer. This research intends to investigate the capabilities needed from both the supplier’s and customer’s perspective and how they affect the development of integrated solutions. To investigate this, a thorough literature review was conducted to create a foundation of knowledge regarding the research area and resulted in a theoretical framework. The research follows a qualitative case study approach where empirical data was collected primarily through interviews but also by analyzing documents that resulted in needed capabilities for both actors. Furthermore, economic models were developed to provide a holistic view of the integrated solution and enable comparison with the current trading situation. The research resulted in five dimensions including capabilities needed for the supplier and four dimensions including capabilities needed for the customer when developing the integrated solution. The dimensions are: Control capability, Economic capability, Organizational capability, Production capability, and Relational capability. In this specific case study, the production capability dimension was considered unique for the supplier and did not iterate from the perspective of the customer. Apart from this, the dimensions were considered important for both actors. The findings indicate that the capabilities possessed by both the supplier and the customer affect the integrated solution and that it is important to investigate the needed capabilities form the perspective of both actors before developing the integrated solution. However, there were differences since some capabilities were required by only one actor and some were considered more or less essential depending on the actor. Furthermore, the findings imply that the uniqueness of the business relationship and the industry may affect the needed capabilities. / Under det senaste årtiondet har det skett en förändring i tillverkningsindustrin då flera företag har börjat undersöka möjligheterna att integrera produkter och tjänster till kombinerade erbjudanden. Denna förändring har förekommit frekvent i litteraturen och benämns ofta som integrerade lösningar. När man implementerar en integrerad lösning krävs förändringar i den organisatoriska strukturen vilket har resulterat i ett behov av att utveckla ytterligare förmågor. Förmågor definieras som komplexa kombinationer av kompetenser och den kunskap som finns hos organisationen som möjliggör att kunna koordinera sina möjligheter och utnyttja sina tillgångar optimalt. Tidigare litteratur har fokuserat på de förmågor som leverantörer behöver för att utveckla integrerade lösningar vilket skapar en osäkerhet gällande de förmågor som krävs av kunden. Studien avser att undersöka de förmågor som krävs både ur ett leverantörs- och kundperspektiv när man utvecklar integrerade lösningar. En noggrann litteraturundersökning gjordes för att skapa en grund av kunskap gällande forskningsområdet och resulterade i ett teoretiskt ramverk. En kvalitativ fallstudie utfördes där empirisk data samlades in genom huvudsakligen intervjuer men också genom att analysera dokument. Således resulterade fallstudien i de förmågor som krävdes av båda aktörerna för att utveckla den integrerade lösningen. För att skapa en helhetssyn över den integrerade lösningen utvecklades en ekonomisk modell vilket möjliggjorde för en jämförelse av den nuvarande handelssituationen. Undersökningen resulterade i fem dimensioner innehållande förmågor för leverantören respektive fyra dimensioner innehållande förmågor för kunden vid utveckling av den integrerade lösningen. Följande dimensioner identifierades: kontrollförmåga, ekonomisk förmåga, organisatorisk förmåga, produktionsförmåga och relationsförmåga. I denna specifika fallstudie ansågs produktionsförmågorna endast beröra leverantören och därav itererade dem inte ur ett kundperspektiv. Utöver denna förmåga ansågs alla dimensioner viktiga för båda aktörerna. Resultatet indikerar att det är viktigt att undersöka vilka förmågor som behövs både för leverantören och kunden vid utvecklingen av en integrerad lösning. Trots att många av de förmågor som identifierades i studien ansågs viktiga för båda aktörerna fanns det olikheter då vissa förmågor endast behövdes för en av aktörerna och vissa ansågs mer eller mindre viktiga beroende på aktör. Resultatet indikerar även att den unika affärsrelationen och den specifika industrin kan ha en påverkan på vilka förmågor som anses viktiga för aktörerna.

Långvarig smärta innebär ofta stora påfrestningar för individen med konsekvenser på många livsområden vilket utgör en utmaning för hälso- och sjukvården gällande bemötande utifrån ett helhetsperspektiv. En central aspekt av att leva med långvarig smärta är hur stress och påfrestningar hanteras exempelvis genom användning av psykologiska försvar. Syftet med denna studie var att bidra till ökad kunskap om psykologiska försvar hos personer med långvarig smärta utifrån frågeställningen:  vilka psykologiska försvar och psykologiska försvarsstrukturer framkommer när vuxna personer med långvarig smärta intervjuas om personligt relevanta områden. Datainsamlingen bestod av tio telefonintervjuer som transkriberades och analyserades med Defense Mechanism Rating Scales (DMRS). Resultaten visade på en varians av psykologiska försvar i deltagargruppen. Mest förekommande var högadaptiva försvar, särskilt humor och anknytning.  Utmärkande var även förekomsten av flertalet medeladaptiva försvar såsom annullering, samt det lågadaptiva försvaret nedvärdering av sig själv. Resultaten kan bidra till ökad förståelse om omedvetna hanteringsstrategier som kan påverka upplevelsen av smärta och även vara av vikt för hälso- och sjukvårdens bemötande av patienter med långvarig smärta. Vidare forskning inom området behövs för att undersöka samband mellan psykologiska försvar och andra relevanta faktorer såsom smärtdiagnos, smärtsymtom och behandlingsutfall. / Chronic pain is associated with extensive distress for the individual with consequences on several areas of life and constitutes a challenge for the healthcare system in approaching chronic pain from a holistic perspective. How individuals cope with distresses for example by using psychological defences is of significance for the chronic pain condition. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding psychological defences that are used by individuals with chronic pain. The research question was: what psychological defences and structures of psychological defences appear when adults with chronic pain are being interviewed on personally relevant topics.  Ten telephone interviews were conducted, the material from interviews was transcripted and analysed using Defense Mechanism Rating Scales (DMRS). The results showed a variety of different psychological defences used by participants. High adaptive defences such as humour and affiliation were the most appearing. Furthermore, the occurrence of middle adaptive defences such as undoing was also detected in the material. Among the low adaptive defences devaluation of self stood out the most. The results contribute to the understanding of involuntary coping-strategies that may influence the experience of chronic pain. In addition, the results are important for the treatment of chronic pain patients within the healthcare. Further research in this field is needed to study links between defence mechanisms and other relevant aspects such as pain diagnosis, pain symptoms and treatment outcome.

The strategic decision-making mechanisms a state has at its disposal to shape and develop its military means of power are complex. Perceptions of the outside world may be particularly problematic because perceptions of threats change. Political decisions which aim to create robust and long-term security strategies where several factors must be taken into account that are largely determined by the interests of other actors can be difficult to understand and explain. The investment in defence set out in Swedish Defence Bill 2020 is a paradigm shift from reducing to enlarging the armed forces This involves a continued investment into a dedicated professional defence, but in combination with conscription, new establishment of regiments, more military units and increased materiel investment. The purpose of this study is to, examine the driving forces and explanatory factors linked to this paradigm shift, where political decisions to enlarge the military are in focus and examined using Graham Allison and Philip Zelikow's three theoretical perspectives on strategic decision-making. The results of this study clearly show that the dominant driving force for the re-expansion of Sweden's defence capability was the deteriorating external situation, which was evident in terms of all three theoretical perspectives. It is also possible to see traces of other driving forces in the bill, such as long-termism, sustainability and the degree of detailed control of the Armed Forces, which demonstrates the complexity of political decision-making about the creation of military power.

The aim of my work is to apply the political-geographical or geopolitical optics to a specific foreign security activities of the EU, i.e. to put political aims and activities of political-geographical framework. In geopolitical terms, it is necessary to assess the potential and the current deployment of civilian missions. For this purpose, in accordance with the hypothesis of my work, that the civilian aspects of crisis management CSDP are based mainly on the willingness and desire of Member States in a given area or country involved should be analyzed for the three major priorities of Member States (UK, Germany and France) in civilian areas (see National Security Strategy). The work compares the current activities of EU civil security-CSDP and geopolitical intentions of the three great European powers, Germany, France and Great Britain. Civilian CSDP should concentrate in geographic areas that are of key importance to most member states and especially for three large powers. The question is whether the major European powers reflect their priorities in EU policy in its entirety or whether there are other factors that prevent them from doing so. Such factors include decisions based on consensus and the growing power of the European Commission, which defends its interests very hard in the CSDP. Large Member...

Almost all conifer ovules produce a liquid secretion as part of reproduction. This secretion, termed an ovular secretion, is produced during ovule receptivity and is involved in pollen capture and transport. Historically, examinations of the ovular secretion have focused on how they are part of pollination mechanisms. As a result, the chemical composition of the ovular secretion has not been examined systematically. Investigations into the constituents of the ovular secretion were limited to analyses for simple water soluble compounds such as sugars, minerals, amino acids and organic acids. More recently, the protein component of the secretion has been investigated using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Proteins involved in processes such as carbohydrate modification, proteolysis, and defence have been identified in conifer ovular secretions. This biochemical complexity suggests a broader view of the function of the ovular secretion is warranted. However, protein identifications only provide putative information on function. Functional characterization of these proteins is needed in order to fully understand how they contribute to ovular secretion function. The research outlined in this dissertation describes the first functional characterizations of proteins found in conifer ovular secretions. Three proteins - invertase, chitinase, and thaumatin-like protein - were characterized in the ovular secretions of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and hybrid yew (Taxus × media). The Douglas-fir ovular secretion is capable of converting sucrose to glucose and fructose, confirming that invertases present in the secretion are functional. The invertase activity was maximal at pH 4.0. Activity was 77% of maximal at pH 4.5, the physiological pH. This indicates that post-secretory hydrolysis of sucrose occurs in situ in the Douglas-fir ovular secretion. Invertases in the ovular secretion are likely involved in controlling the movement of carbohydrates to developing pollen and could facilitate pollen selection. Chitinases present in the Douglas-fir ovular secretion are functional at physiological conditions. All three modes of chitinolytic activity, i.e. endochitinase, chitobiosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, were detected at physiological pH. β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was 80 % of maximal at physiological pH. Chitinases are pathogenesis-related proteins capable of hydrolysing chitin in fungal cell walls. These results suggest the ovular secretion is capable of defending the ovule against infection by phytopathogens. Thaumatin-like protein was immunolocalized to the cell wall and amyloplasts in Douglas-fir and yew nucellar tissue in a pattern consistent with a defensive role. It was also localized to the cell wall of fungal spores and germinating hyphae that were present in the micropyle of a yew ovule. These results provide additional evidence for an antifungal role for the ovular secretion. Functioning enzymes involved in pollen-ovule interactions and ovule defence are present in the conifer ovular secretion. The ovular secretion has functions beyond pollen capture. A revised functional model for the conifer ovular secretion is proposed. / Graduate / 2021-08-17

Les extensines sont des glycoprotéines pariétales appartenant à la famille des HRGPs (Hydroxyprolin-rich glycoproteins) impliquées dans plusieurs fonctions telles que la croissance, le développement et la défense des plantes contre les pathogènes. Toutefois, leur mode d’action dans la réponse immunitaire végétale n’est pas encore bien connu et reste à élucider. Les extensines interviennent dans le renforcement de la paroi, un des premiers remparts cellulaires contre les pathogènes, en se liant entre elles de manière intra- et intermoléculaire. Ce « cross-linking » est catalysé par des enzymes peroxydases spécifiques et nécessite une correcte conformation des extensines, laquelle est conférée par leur partie glycosylée. Dans ce projet de thèse, nous avons donc entrepris d’étudier l’impact de la glycosylation des extensines sur la défense racinaire et tenté de caractériser, de manière préliminaire, des peroxydases potentiellement impliquées dans le « cross-linking » chez Arabidopsis thaliana. Des techniques d’immunocytochimie réalisées sur une sélection de mutants affectés dans la glycosylation des extensines ont révélé une modulation de la distribution des extensines dans la racine d’A. thaliana en réponse à une élicitation avec un peptide bactérien, la flagelline 22. L’un des résultats majeurs de cette étude a été de montrer l’importance de l’arabinosylation des extensines dans la colonisation de la racine par l’oomycète pathogène Phytophthora parasitica. Ainsi, l’ensemble de ces résultats nous apermis d’élaborer un modèle proposant d’illustrer l’importance de l’arabinosylation des extensines dans l’organisation et l’architecture de la paroi, modulant ainsi l’adhésion du pathogène sur les cellules de la racine et influençant in fine la colonisation de cette dernière. / Extensins are cell wall glycoproteins involved in various biological processes including plantprotection. However, their mode of action in plant immunity response is not clearly established and remains to be elucidated. Extensins are able to strengthen the cell wall, one of the first cellular barriers against pathogens, through intra- and intermolecular cross-links. This cross-linking is catalysed by specific peroxidase enzymes and requires a correct conformation of extensins conferred by their glycan moiety. This PhD project aimed to investigate the impact of extensin glycosylation in root defence and to characterize, as a preliminary study, the peroxidases potentially involved in the extensin crosslinking in Arabidopsis thaliana. Through immunocytochemistry techniques on mutants impaired withextensin glycosylation, we have revealed that a modulation of extensin distribution occurs in A. thaliana root in response to elicitation with the bacterial peptide, flagellin 22. We have also showed that extensin arabinosylation plays a major role, although probably indirect, in the root colonization by the pathogen oomycete Phytophthora parasitica. We have therefore elaborated a model proposing to illustrate the importance of extensin arabinosylation in the cell wall organization and architecture,modulating pathogen adhesion on root cells and influencing in fine root colonization.

Officials of varying backgrounds from a sample of nine municipalities in Sweden were interviewed in a semi-structured format regarding the state of their work on food preparedness, challenges and opportunities for working on said topic, as well as the relation between municipalities and national actors related to civil defence. A vast majority of Swedish municipalities were contacted, and the final interviewees were hand-picked from a group of candidates that accepted a request for an interview. A selection process was used that favoured geographic dispersion throughout Sweden as well as diversity in population densities to capture experiences, perspectives and unique conditions from as diverse of a sample as possible. The results showed that, among other findings, unclear instructions exist regarding legal responsibilities for ensuring food preparedness exist, what level of food preparedness is expected and how municipalities can work on improving it, sometimes also limited by financial and personnel constraints. These governance issues in turn have an impact on overall societal resilience in the case of crises, threatening long-term sustainability through the ability to respond to and recuperate after sudden disruptive, societal events. The Swedish Government and its agencies are recognized, both by municipalities and other actors, as needing to give this field increased attention and take decisive policy steps in order to improve food preparedness nationwide and to fulfil the goals of the Swedish civil defence. Steps suggested by the interviewees include explicit and direct instructions to municipalities and other actors on what needs to be achieved, adequate levels of funding toward increasing food preparedness capacity at all levels of government, and reconsidering the national government’s own role in ensuring a sufficient supply of food during peacetime, heightened state of alert and wartime.

The action in distressed situations must be resolved in accordance with the laws and regulations that the police must take into consideration. In order to achieve this in the best possible way, the individual police officers sense of security in the situation is a key factor. A security that is closely associated with a deeper knowledgement, a feeling that arises when you feel in control of the situation, regardless of whether physical violence is ongoing or imminent. The individual´s own insight into their own ability means that the individual police officer will resolve the situation quickly and efficiently, which is described as a feeling of being one step ahead, being able to control the course of events. A belief that one can initially solve the situation through communication, physical coercion or finally with the tools available on the belt. The actions of an individual police officer in distressed situations depend on the knowledge and experience that the individual already possessed. It can be experiences from more controlled situations like MAT, POLKON-training or from similar events that have taken place earlier in duty. These underlying skills is the base for resolving the situation accordance with the laws and regulations that the police have to take into account. Eight respondents chose to participate in this qualitative study which consisted of an interview where the conversations were held about the concept of security and how the respondents would solve two situations as they were presented via video. This hermeneutic interpretation of the material can´t give any direct conclusions as the basis of the study is small but an indication that knowledge in MAT, makes the respondents more confident in the situations they were face with during the interviews.

This research focuses on the concept of European strategic autonomy and what it really is. Through two different European Union Member States, France and Germany, the research will compare how European strategic autonomy is interpreted and why. The research will use different concepts from the theory of realism to focus on the conventional perspective of strategic autonomy in Europe. The research will show how France pushes for greater European strategic autonomy to secure the future of Europe through strategic hedging strategy when again Germany wants to strengthen European strategic autonomy to be taken more seriously by European external allies and by strengthening European bandwagoning strategy. Based on the previously mentioned, the research will analyze how France and Germany interpret the meaning of European strategic autonomy. The research suggests that France’s approach to European security is through Europeanism when Germany’s approach is through Atlanticism. The research will conclude with findings that the significance of European strategic autonomy is in its meaning of increasing Europe’s and European Union’s credibility, sovereignty, and European integration, to name a few.