European Strategic Autonomy (ESA) has become one of the key concepts in the European security debate. Its essential meaning is that European states need to collectively ensure their autonomy to act independently of external parties in the wake of unfolding geopolitical shifts, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, given the complex nature of cooperation in Europe, Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) have different understandings of how ESA should be pursued. This divergence has led to an elusiveness of the concept, both in the World of policy and academia, which is problematic as it has hindered cooperative developments. This thesis systematically investigates how two Member States in the EU, Finland and Sweden, understand ESA. Given ESA’s lack of theorisation, an ‘ESA model’ has been developed that has helped measure the two cases’ respective understandings. ESA has traditionally been limited to the policy area of defence, however, in line with the current broader understanding of ESA, this thesis also considers energy and economy. In doing so, this thesis gives a more nuanced picture of the two countries respective ESA understandings. The findings show that both Finland and Sweden are strongly in favour of ESA measures for energy, Russia’s energy leverage over the EU being the main explanation. Both countries are also in favour of ESA measures for economy, to avoid being vulnerable to China’s growing assertiveness; however, unlike energy and Russia, both Finland and Sweden also emphasise the importance of maintaining trade with China that is beneficial for companies in the respective countries. Both countries are more circumspect towards ESA measures for defence. This is especially the case for Sweden which strongly emphasises the importance of a robust defence relationship with the United States.

During the last decade, substantial advances have been made in the understanding of the complex molecular, immunological and cellular disturbances involved in the initiation as well as evolution of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In 85% of the mainly frail and older patient population, anemia is present at the time of diagnosis and is thus a major therapeutic challenge. High rates of primary resistance to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), the currently only approved standard therapy to treat anemia in lower-risk MDS, demand the development of novel and effcient drugs with a good safety profile. Luspatercept, a ligand trap of activin receptor II, is able to promote late stage erythropoiesis even in patients failing prior ESA treatment. The presence of ring sideroblastic phenotype defines a subgroup of patients with higher response rates. Additionally, recent developments in clinical research using HIF-1 or telomerase modulation by roxadustat or imetelstat are promising. Other areas of translational research involve targeting the inflammasome by anti-inflammatory drugs in order to improve anemia. These efforts will hopefully pave the way for new targeted treatment options for anemic low-risk MDS patients.

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The electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) method presents an effective application in the field of biosensing due to the uniform nanoscale structure. In previous research, a single mode fiber (SMF) sensor system had been investigated for the thin-film measurement due to the high fringe visibility. However, compared with a SMF sensor system, a multimode fiber (MMF) sensor system is lower-cost and has larger sensing area (the fiber core), providing the potential for higher sensing efficiency. In this thesis, a multimode fiber-optic sensor has been developed based on extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometry (EFPI) for the measurement of optical thickness in self-assembled thin film layers as well as for the immunosensing test. The sensor was fabricated by connecting a multimode fiber (MMF) and a silica wafer. A Fabry-Perot cavity was formed by the reflections from the two interfaces of the wafer. The negatively charged silica wafer could be used as the substrate for the thin film immobilization scheme. The sensor is incorporated into the white-light interferometric system. By monitoring the optical cavity length increment, the self-assembled thin film thickness was measured; the immunoreaction between immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-IgG was investigated. / Master of Science

<p dir="ltr">This paper examines whether Virtual Reality (VR) can be a good alternative to Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) for emotional support. With new advancements, VR is becoming more popular in mental health treatments. This study looks at how VR can address issues like allergies, housing restrictions, and the need for constant care that comes with having ESAs. By reviewing various studies, the paper compares the benefits of VR and ESAs for emotional and psychological support. Key findings show that VR can help reduce stress, create feelings of love and belonging, and reduce loneliness, just like a physical ESA. VR is also accessible, flexible, and cost-effective, making it a great option for those who cannot have traditional ESAs. However, the study notes some limitations of VR, such as the absence of physical touch and technical challenges. It highlights the need for long-term studies and diverse samples to confirm VR's long-term benefits. This research shows that VR could be a new, scalable, and inclusive way to support mental health.</p>

Ce travail de recherche a pour but d’étudier des matériaux cimentaires soumis à des attaques sulfatiques selon trois différentes conditions : attaques sulfatiques externes (ASE), formation différée d’ettringite communément appelée attaque sulfatique interne et l’effect couplé des deux réactions, ainsi que de proposer un mécanisme uniforme pour les dégradations causées par ces réactions. En se basant sur le mécanisme proposé, un model poro-mécanique est proposé pour simuler l’expansion induite par les produits expansifs néoformés pendant la dégradation. Cette étude inclut trois parties : dans la première partie, les dégradations des éprouvettes de pâte de ciment correspondant à deux types de ciments (CEM I et CEM III) et deux dimensions exposées à trois différents types d’attaques sulfatiques (ASE, ASI, et le couplage des deux réactions), sont étudiés et comparés : variations de longueur, de masse, ainsi que des observations visuelles. Les éprouvettes exposées au couplage ASE-ASI montrent la cinétique d’expansion la plus rapide et le degré de dégradation le plus important, comparé aux autres cas. Ensuite, la structure poreuse des pâtes de ciment avant et après les attaques sulfatiques est caractérisée en utilisant différentes techniques : porosimétrie à mercure (MIP), sorption dynamique de vapeur (DVS), porosité accessible à l’eau ou essais de dissolution par traitement thermique. En comparant les variations de la distribution de la taille des pores des pâtes de ciment exposées à différentes conditions, les cristaux néoformés se trouvent précipités à la fois dans les pores capillaires et les pores des C-S-H. En plus de l’évolution de la distribution de la taille des pores pendant l’ASI, un mécanisme de dégradation est proposé : les cristaux néoformés (l’ettringite) sont précipités dans les grands pores, sans provoquer une expansion manifeste, et ils sont ensuite précipités dans les pores capillaires et les pores des C-S-H, ce qui induit un gonflement. Par ailleurs, le volume des pores occupé par les produits de l’ASI sont libérés après des essais de dissolution par traitement thermique, ce qui confirme la formation de produits d’expansion dans cette gamme de pores. Enfin, en se basant sur les résultats expérimentaux montrant que l’ettringite se forme en allant des grands pores vers les plus petits, un model poro-mécanique est proposé pour simuler l’expansion des matériaux cimentaires soumis à des attaques sulfatiques. Le modèle est basé sur la croissance contrôlée en surface et les propriétés physicochimiques pour l’ASE et l’ASI, malgré les différences entre ces deux réactions. Deux constantes indépendantes : ai et ap sont proposées pour représenter la cinétique de l’invasion des cristaux et la déformation. De plus, le modèle peut être couplé avec toutes les théories mécaniques, par exemple : l’élasticité, la plasticité, la théorie de l’endommagement ou autres. Le modèle illustre bien le processus de cristallisation et il prédit l’expansion correspondante à la fois à l’ASE et l’ASI / This work aims to study cement-based materials subjected to sulfate attacks in three different conditions: External Sulfate Attack (ESA), Delayed Ettringite Formation (DEF) and the Coupling effect of both, and to propose the same damage mechanism for all of them. Based on the proposed mechanism, a poromechanical model is established to simulate the expansion induced by expansive crystals during the degradation. The study includes the following three parts. In the first part, the degradation of cement paste specimens with two kinds of cement type (CEM I and CEM III) and two dimensions (2 2 12 cm3 and 11 11 22 cm3) exposed to three sulfate attack conditions (ESA, DEF, and Coupling effect) are studied and compared, including the length variation, mass variations, and observations. The specimens exposed to the coupling effect show the fastest kinetics and the most serious degree of degradation compared to the other cases. Then, the pore structure of cement pastes before and after sulfate attacks is characterized via different techniques: MIP, DVS, water accessible tests and heat-based dissolution tests. By comparing the variation of pore size distribution of cement pastes exposed to different conditions, the generated crystals are found to be precipitated both in capillary and gel pores. In addition to the evolution of pore size distribution during DEF, a damage mechanism is proposed: the generated crystals (ettringite) precipitate in the big pores without inducing an obvious expansion, and then penetrate into capillary and gel pores, which leads to a swelling. Moreover, the pore volume occupied by DEF induced products is released after heat-based dissolutiontests, which further confirms the formation of expansive products in that porerange. Finally, based on the experimental conclusion that ettringite forms through the large to small pores in all cases, a poromechanical model is proposed to simulate the expansion of cement-based materials submitted to sulfate attacks. The model is based on the surface-controlled growth and physicochemical properties both for ESA and DEF, despite the different source of sulfate ions. Two independent constants, ai and ap, are proposed to represent the kinetics of crystal invasion and deformation. Moreover, the model could be coupled with any mechanical theories, e.g. elasticity, plasticity, damage theory or any other. The model well illustrates the crystallization process and well predicts the corresponding expansion both in ESA and DEF

In the future, international Lunar missions will include both surface and lava tunnel EVA explorations, together with the collection of soil composition and ground data. Some issues with the realization of these activities are the communication constraints between the astronauts and the ground base on the Moon’s surface (especially in the first phases of Lunar exploration, when the satellite communication network will be under-supplied), and the limited area that a classical ground analyzing scientific instrument can cover. A solution to those issues has already been explored by previous interns at Spaceship EAC, resulting in a set of hardware prototypes communicating via LoRa protocol in an Internet of Things network configuration. The main idea behind these devices is to act both as signal transmitters and receivers, bridging the astronaut’s EVA suit to the ground base, and as a broad sensor network, capable of collecting a large amount of ground data from a vast area (crucial, for example, because of the proven heterogeneity of lunar soil chemical composition between different zones).This thesis explores the feasibility of miniaturizing these prototypes and creating a new set of smaller units with enhanced functionalities and performance. The designed device is called CRUMB (Compact Radio Unit for Moon data Broadcasting), and each unit is capable of communicating to other CRUMBs via LoRa frequencies (868 MHz – standard for European applications) while answering to an IoT mesh protocol. Via an accelerometer sensor, the CRUMB units are also able to send gravimetry data to the rest of the mesh, and to send an emergency communication whenever a moonquake is detected. Moreover, CRUMB’s volume is 92% smaller than its predecessor’s, and it nominally operates with a low power consumption (less than 1 W). / I framtiden kommer internationella månuppdrag att omfatta EVA-utforskning av både ytan och lavatunnlar, tillsammans med insamling av jordsammansättning och markdata. Några problem med att genomföra dessa aktiviteter är kommunikationsbegränsningarna mellan astronauterna och markbasen på månens yta (särskilt under de första faserna av månutforskningen, när satellitkommunikationsnätverket kommer att vara underförsörjt) och det begränsade område som ett klassiskt markanalyserande vetenskapligt instrument kan täcka. En lösning på dessa problem har redan utforskats av tidigare praktikanter vid Spaceship EAC, vilket har resulterat i en uppsättning hårdvaruprototyper som kommunicerar via LoRa-protokollet i en Internet of Things-nätverkskonfiguration. Huvudidén bakom dessa enheter är att fungera både som sändare och mottagare av signaler, som en brygga mellan astronautens EVA-dräkt och markbasen, och som ett brett sensornätverk som kan samla in en stor mängd markdata från ett stort område (avgörande, till exempel på grund av den bevisade heterogeniteten i månjordens kemiska sammansättning mellan olika zoner).I denna avhandling undersöks möjligheten att miniatyrisera dessa prototyper och skapa en ny uppsättning mindre enheter med förbättrade funktioner och prestanda. Den designade enheten kallas CRUMB (Kompakt Radioenhet för Utsändning av Måndata), och varje enhet kan kommunicera med andra CRUMB-enheter via LoRa-frekvenser (868 MHz - standard för europeiska tillämpningar) och samtidigt svara på ett IoT mesh-protokoll. Via en accelerometersensor kan CRUMB-enheterna också skicka gravimetridata till resten av nätet och skicka ett nödmeddelande när en månbävning upptäcks. CRUMB:s volym är dessutom 92% mindre än föregångarens och den nominella energiförbrukningen är låg (mindre än 1 W).

Several Langmuir probe voltage sweeps by a model of the ESA spacecraft Rosetta was simulated in a plasma with solar wind parameters using the ESA open source software SPIS 5. The simulations were carried out to in- vestigate the features of the spacecraft’s environment in the solar wind and the effect of photoemission from the spacecraft surface on the measurements made by the Langmuir probes on board Rosetta. We report a best fit to an existing probe sweep result in the solar wind near the Earth at 1 AU from 9 Nov 2009 for a 4 million particle simulation in SPIS of an 8 V positively charged spacecraft with the following parameters: Tph = 2 eV, Te = 12 eV, Ti = 5 eV, ne = 5 cm−3. We also report that the spacecraft is shielding the Langmuir probes on Rosetta from plasma electrons, and particularly low energy electrons. In one instance, this blocking is shown to lead to an over- estimation of solar wind electron temperature by 12% and underestimate the plasma density by 24% by the Langmuir Probe for a +10 V charged spacecraft in ne= 5 cm−3, Te = 12 eV solar wind. Two models used in lit- erature on photoemission, one for isotropical emission from a plane and the other for radial emission from a point, was used and compared. We report a clear preference to the approximation of a Maxwellian energy distribution of photoelectrons emitted radially from a point source model with our sim- ulation result on the Langmuir Probe aboard Rosetta. We also report the solar aspect angle dependence on the plasma potential and plasma density result, which are in overall agreement with Rosetta measurements from the second Earth fly-by.

Conservation is costly, and choices must be made about where to best allocate limited resources. I propose a regional evolutionary diversity and endangerment (RED-E) approach to prioritization of endangered species. It builds off of the evolutionary diversity and global endangerment (EDGE) approach, but will allow conservation agencies to focus their efforts on species in specific regions. I used the RED-E approach to prioritize mammal and bird species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as to make a ranking of species without ESA critical habitat (CH), as a practical application. Regional conservation approaches differ significantly from global approaches. The RED-E approach places a high significance on the level of endangerment of a species, but also allows for very distinct species to have increased prioritization on the RED-E list. Using the CH RED-E list, the U.S. government could begin focusing resources toward endangered and genetically diverse species.

Nowadays taxes are the most important tax income of the state budget and at the same time they affect the standard of living of the population in various ways. Although the countries try to harmonize tax systems, there are still considerable differences between them. The aim of the thesis is to capture taxes in the Czech Republic from the point of view of statistics and then perform the comparison within the countries of the European Union. The thesis contains a brief characterization of the national accounts and the classification of the taxes in the national accounts according to the ESA 2010. It further deals with the description of the Czech tax system, including a definition of the individual taxes. The subsequent section captures the tax burden expressed by tax quota and the rest of the thesis is devoted to the cluster analysis, which is then applied to the data from the annual national accounts. Using cluster analysis, EU countries have been divided into groups according to similarities and differences in tax systems and in particular on the basis of the tax quota.