This study seeks to analyze and understand the Russian propaganda before and after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 15th of October 2021 to the 28th of February 2022 is the chosen research period, mainly because of the importance to get an understanding of how Kremlin used its propaganda machine to first justify the invasion and then legitimizing it after 24th of February. The study aims to shed light on how the propaganda can be understood from the perspective of the theories classical realism and authoritarian propaganda. Also, from a more general perspective to recognize what truly pervades the Russian propaganda during the period. The result reveals that the propaganda is strongly shaped by realistic beliefs regarding Russia’s national security in relation to the supposed threat coming from Kyiv and the West. It also shows that the propaganda is heavily restricted to the Russian authorities, seeing that it aims to create a reality where the western hegemony is in the wrong, while the Russian society is an idealistic alternative. Therefor the propaganda creates an image that Russia did not have any other choice than to invade Ukraine, to save it from Nazism and the presumed disastrous western civilization.

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). They cause millions in damage annually to agriculture, and likely negatively affect native wildlife species. Using camera traps, I monitored 36 forest patches within the MAV to assess the effects of swine invasions on native wildlife species richness. I also modified the double-observer point count technique into a new method for estimating swine abundance with camera traps. Feral swine suppressed native vertebrate richness by 26% when compared to uninvaded patches. I validated the new double-observer technique by determining if it could detect an abundance-area relationship in wildlife populations and estimate a known decrease in abundance following swine removal. This technique was sensitive enough to detect the increase and decrease in abundance and estimated the number of individuals removed from the population relatively accurately. This technique may be useful in the future to manage feral swine populations.

Cervical carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Histological subtype, lymphovascular space invasion and tumor grade could have a prognostic and predictive value for patients’ outcome and the knowledge of these histologic characteristics may influence clinical decision making. However, studies evaluating the diagnostic value of various biopsy techniques regarding these parameters of cervical cancer are scarce. We reviewed 318 cases of cervical carcinoma with available pathology reports from preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) assessment and from final postoperative evaluation of the hysterectomy specimen. Setting the postoperative comprehensive pathological evaluation as reference, we analysed CNB assessment of histological tumor characteristics. In addition, we performed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors influencing the accuracy in identifying LVSI and tumor grade. CNB was highly accurate in discriminating histological subtype. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.8% and 89% for squamous cell carcinoma, 92.9% and 96.6% for adenocarcinoma, 33.3% and 100% in adenosquamous carcinoma respectively. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was always recognized correctly. The accuracy of the prediction of LVSI was 61.9% and was positively influenced by tumor size in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and negatively influenced by strong peritumoral inflammation. High tumor grade (G3) was diagnosed accurately in 73.9% of cases and was influenced by histological tumor type. In conclusion, CNB is an accurate sampling technique for histological classification of cervical cancer and represents a reasonable alternative to other biopsy techniques.

Cell migration performs a critical function in numerous physiological processes, including tissue homeostasis or wound healing after tissue injury, as well as pathological processes that include malignant progression of cancer. The efficiency of cell migration and invasion appears to be based on the mechano-phenotype of the cytoskeleton. The properties of the cytoskeleton depend on internal cytoskeletal and external environmental factors. A reason for this are connections between the cell and its local matrix microenvironment, which are established by cell-matrix adhesion receptors. Upon activation, focal adhesion proteins such as PINCH1 are recruited to sites where focal adhesions form. PINCH1 specifically couples through interactions with ILK, which binds to cell matrix receptors and the actomyosin cytoskeleton. However, the role of PINCH1 in cell mechanics regulating cellular motility in 3D collagen matrices is still unclear. PINCH1 is thought to facilitate 3D motility by regulating cellular mechanical properties, such as stiffness. In this study, PINCH1 wild-type and knock-out cells were examined for their ability to migrate in dense extracellular 3D matrices. Indeed, PINCH1 wild-type cells migrated more numerously and deeper in 3D matrices, compared to knock-out cells. Moreover, cellular deformability was determined, e.g., elastic modulus (stiffness). PINCH1 knockout cells are more deformable (compliable) than PINCH1 wild-type cells. Migration of both PINCH1−/− cells and PINCH1fl/fl cells was decreased by Latrunculin A inhibition of actin polymerization, suggesting that actin cytoskeletal differences are not responsible for the discrepancy in invasiveness of the two cell types. However, the mechanical phenotype of PINCH1−/− cells may be reflected by Latrunculin A treatment of PINCH1fl/fl cells, as they exhibit resembling deformability to untreated PINCH1−/− cells. Moreover, an apparent mismatch exists between the elongation of the long axis and the contraction of the short axis between PINCH1fl/fl cells and PINCH1−/− cells following Latrunculin A treatment. There is evidence of this indicating a shift in the proxy values for Poisson’s ratio in PINCH1−/− cells compared with PINCH1fl/fl cells. This is probably attributable to modifications in cytoskeletal architecture. The non-muscle myosin II inhibitor Blebbistatin also reduced the cell invasiveness in 3D extracellular matrices but instead caused a stiffening of the cells. Finally, PINCH1 is apparently essential for providing cellular mechanical stiffness through the actin cytoskeleton, which regulates 3D motility.

During the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, the intracellular cytoskeleton undergoes severe reorganization which allows epithelial cells to transition into a motile mesenchymal phenotype. Among the different cytoskeletal elements, the intermediate filaments keratin (in epithelial cells) and vimentin (in mesenchymal cells) have been demonstrated to be useful and reliable histological markers. In this study, we assess the potential invasiveness of six human breast carcinoma cell lines and two mouse fibroblasts cells lines through single cell migration assays in confinement. We find that the keratin and vimentin networks behave mechanically the same when cells crawl through narrow channels and that vimentin protein expression does not strongly correlate to single cells invasiveness. Instead, we find that what determines successful migration through confining spaces is the ability of cells to mechanically switch from a substrate-dependent stress fibers based contractility to a substrate-independent cortical contractility, which is not linked to their tumor phenotype.

No description available.

Biological invasions are driving environmental state changes on a global scale. Exotic plant species must be successful at passing several abiotic and biotic filters to establish and disrupt the native plant community assembly. Understanding where exotic plants are on a regional scale and being able to characterize how exotic plants are generally interacting with their environment is crucial information for exotic species management (chapter 1). In the western United States human-related activities are augmenting the spread of exotic plant species by increasing the ignitions of wildfire. Wildfire can lead to nutrient pulses through the removal of intact native communities and returning some mineral content into the soil. Exotic plant species that have traits that efficiently acquire nutrients accompanied by rapid growth rates may outcompete native plants. In chapters 2, 3, and 4 experimental fires demonstrated that the direct effect of fire may not be as critical as the potential indirect effects of fire such as altering the behavior of consumers (chapter 2) and reducing competition (chapters 3 and 4). In the Mojave desert, rodent consumers can have strong top-down effects on plant community assembly through foraging selection preferences. Life history traits such as seedling and seed size can lead to differential herbivory and positively benefit some plant species while inhibiting others (chapter 1) which could indirectly alter plant-plant interactions. Plant competition is a biotic filter than can determine establishment success or failure. Species that with rapid growth rates and plastic growth responses are likely to be able to capitalize on fluctuations in available resources. In the Great Basin, forecasts in climate change models predict that precipitation timing will lead to heavier fall rains and more rain than snow in the winter. Water availability is one of the main limiting factors in semi-arid and arid ecosystems where native plants have adaptive traits to maximize resource use. The interaction of wildfire and changes in climate, specifically timing of precipitation is critical to understand to be able to predict and protect against increasing wildfire frequency and severity. In chapter three, the responses by a key exotic annual grass, Bromus tectorum, and keystone native perennial shrub Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis, were positive for increased early fall precipitation but much more pronounced for B. tectorum. Exotic annual plants are able to respond to changes in timing of fall precipitation and have extreme growth which leads to superior competitive abilities through interference and priority effects (chapter 4). Native plants can compete with exotics but the magnitude of the effects are diminished compared to the negative interaction from exotics. Together these findings demonstrate that across several regions exotic annual grasses are capable of passing through abiotic filters and disrupting biotic interactions of the native plant community. This is likely to lead to increased spread of exotic annual species and may indicate potential and availability of fine fuel production supporting increases in size and frequency of wildfires in the western United States.

Tumorigenesis is a multistep process, during which cells acquire a series of mutations that lead to unrestrained cell growth and proliferation, inhibition of cell differentiation, and evasion of cell death. Growing tumors stimulate angiogenesis, providing them with nutrients and oxygen. Ultimately, tumor cells invade the surrounding tissue and metastasize; a process responsible for about 90% of cancer-related deaths. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) modulate the cellular processes closely related to tumor cell biology, such as adhesion and detachment, migration, polarity, and guidance. Soon after first being described, individual human aGPCRs were found to be involved in tumorigenesis. Twenty-five years ago, CD97/ADGRE5 was discovered to be induced in one of the most severe tumors, dedifferentiated anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. After decades of research, the time has come to review our knowledge of the presence and function of CD97 in cancer. In summary, CD97 is obviously induced or altered in many tumor entities; this has been shown consistently in nearly one hundred published studies. However, its high expression at circulating and tumor-infiltrating immune cells renders the systemic targeting of CD97 in tumors difficult.

This master’s thesis offers a contribution to the ongoing debate on the utilization of social media by a world leader. It focuses on the role of president Zelensky as a political leader and his online communication in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This study investigates the role of a diplomatic practice in an online environment. An abductive content analysis is used for this research. President Zelensky’s Twitter communication is divided into the categories of Political communication, Anti-Russia discourse and Leadership communication. Tweets of president Zelensky between February 24, 2022, and February 24, 2023, have been used as an empirical material employing the Twitter advanced search. The theoretical perspectives of Diplomacy and Media Ecology are therefore utilized to create an understanding of Zelensky’s communication. The results of the study reveal that president Zelensky incorporates in his Twitter communication different diplomatic concepts that are affected by the current Media Ecology, while traditional diplomatic negotiations are only reported on through his Twitter account, other aspects of modern diplomatic practices, namely Track II Diplomacy and Public Diplomacy are highlighted throughout the tweets.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att utreda vilka förutsättningar som krävs för att ett krigsbrott ska föreligga enligt folkrätten, och illustrera detta genom Rysslands angrepp på Ukraina perioden 2014 fram till idag. Den kvalitativa metoden ligger till grund för arbetet, där information hämtats från folkrättsliga källor, såsom internationell sedvanerätt, konventioner och deklarationer, litteratur, pressmeddelanden och artiklar. Ett krigsbrott är en överträdelse av de seder och lagar som finns i krig. Exempel är attacker mot civila och dess egendom, tagande av gisslan, samt användning av viss typ av stridsmedel. Resultatet av analysen visar att Ryssland har gjort sig skyldiga till en rad folkrättsbrott i Ukraina. Ryssland har inte respekterat suveränitetsprincipen, och de har gjort sig skyldiga till brott mot FN-stadgans våldsförbud. De har attackerat civilbefolkningen vilket strider mot Internationell humanitär rätt. Rysk militär har brutit mot Genèvekonventionen om behandlingen av civila, militära och krigsfångar, och de har utsatt Ukraina för cyberattacker. Omvärlden tog tidigt ställning i konflikten genom att sanktionera bland annat ryska medborgare och företag. Internationella brottmålsdomstolen agerade genom att utfärda en arresteringsorder mot president Vladimir Putin och ryska barnrättskommissionären Maria Lvova-Belova, för deportering av ukrainska barn.