Modern conflict transformation emerged after World War II as a discipline and a field of academic research. Since the early 1990s it has increasingly concerned itself with psycho-social issues (e.g. trauma treatment or reconciliation) in the aftermath of violent protracted social conflicts. Within this psycho-social space there has been a growing interest in the use of music in conflict transformation to improve relationships between in and out-groups. However, the field of music and conflict transformation is still nascent, with little in-depth research available. The majority of studies have been undertaken by interested parties or relies on anecdotal evidence from organisers and musicians with little concern for the context of the music use. Participants, whose attitudes and relationships to out-groups are the focus of conflict transformation interventions, are largely overlooked and their views are rarely discussed. Furthermore, there are few detailed studies on exactly how music affects conflict transformation outcomes. Instead allusions are often made to terms such as “the power of music” which act as a black box intended to explain how music “works”, but patently fail to do so. This thesis attempts to fill these two gaps in the literature by focusing on the participants’ experiences in two different conflict transformation contexts, a multi- cultural music project for school children in Noway and the casual music use in a settlement of internally displaced persons in Sudan. Through qualitative research methods, rich descriptive data from different parties is gathered. The data is analysed using grounded theory. As a result a very different and more complex picture emerges that enriches the current understanding of how music is used and perceived in conflict transformation contexts. In particular, how participants view these activities and how power relationships, though rarely mentioned, affect the music use is explored in detail. Some tentative suggestions indicate that music works best when used in longitudinal bottom-up activities and that music can augment conflict transformation activities rather than replace them. Additionally, it is proposed that music may work as a form of benign interruption in conflict transformation activities and that musical events provide a liminal space where the real work lies in the process of bringing any changes in attitudes from the liminal space into everyday life.

Wood products play a key role in the transformation to a more sustainable society based on renewable bio-based resources, together with the positive effects on climate mitigation by replacing fossil fuels. However, to increase the use of forest fuel in practice it is important to understand the effects of handling and storage on its quality and removal of nutrients from the forest. This thesis addresses these effects with special focus on a comparative evaluation of the traditional dried-stacked with “new” and to some extent more controversial fresh-stacked methods for extraction of logging residues from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). The results indicate that a normal extraction of logging residues will leave at least 20% of logging residues at the clear-felled area, in accordance with Swedish Forest Agency recommendations. However, the results also indicate that the ambition of the dried-stacked method to leave the majority of the needles well spread over the clear-felled area does not meet these recommendations. In fact, the harvesting operation is more important than the extraction method, with respect to how much logging residues (nutrients) being left in the forest. The results also show that the quality of fuel yielded by the two handling methods differs only to minor extent, indicating that other factors have stronger effects, where “dried-stacked” and “fresh-stacked” logging residues from different clear-felling areas is often similar. Generally, logging residues stored over summer (regardless method), seem to provide sufficiently dry forest fuel, with a needle content of about 5–10%. There is a clear correlation between drying and effective loss of needles from twigs, but the loss does not necessarily mean that the needles will remain in the forest.  However, needle color (green or brown) is not a strong indicator for a reduction in needle content. Acceptance of the fresh-stacked method would provide opportunities for the development of new technologies, more efficient use of machinery throughout the whole year, reduced costs, shorter lead times and increased amounts of logging residues extracted from each clear-felled area. This is mainly because it would enable extraction at optimal times from a logistical, financial and/or forestry perspectives. Written in English with summary and conclusion in Swedish. / Skogen och dess produkter har en nyckelroll i omställningen till ett framtida hållbart samhälle eftersom användande av träråvara har en positiv effekt på klimatet, t.ex. genom träbyggande eller att fossila bränslen ersätts med bioenergi. Men för att kunna ta tillvara mer skogsbränsle i form av grenar och toppar (grot) från bestånd dominerade av gran (Picea abies (L.) Karst) är det viktigt att förstå hur hanteringen påverkar såväl bränslekvalitet som bortförsel av näringsämnen från skogen. Denna avhandling belyser hanteringens effekter på bränslekvalitet och näringsförluster genom att jämföra den traditionella metoden (skotning av torkad grot, ”brunrisskotning”), med den ”nya” och till viss del ifrågasatta skotningen av färsk grot (”grönrisskotning”). Resultatet visar att ett normalt grot-uttag kommer att lämna minst 20 % av groten kvar på hygget, helt i linje med Skogsstyrelsens rekommendationer. Däremot uppfylls inte rekommendationerna med avseende på att lämna merparten av barren väl spridda på hygget, detta trots att det är ambitionen med den traditionella hyggestorkningen av grot. Hur mycket grot (och således näringsämne) som lämnas kvar på hygget påverkas i själva verket mer av hur avverkningen utförs, än när groten skotas ihop. Resultatet visar också en skillnad i bränslekvalitet mellan de båda beskrivna hanteringsmetoderna. Denna skillnad är dock så liten att andra faktorer sannolikt påverkar mer än hanteringsmetoden. Hyggestorkad grot från ett enskilt hygge i södra Sverige, kan i verkligheten ofta vara ganska likt färskskotad grot från ett annat hygge. Grot som har lagrats över sommaren kan alltså förväntas ha torkat tillräckligt, samt ha en barrandel på ca 5–10 % oavsett hanteringsmetod. Det verkar också finnas ett klart samband mellan torkning och att barren släpper från kvisten, men det betyder inte nödvändigtvis att barren blir kvar i skogen. Hur som helst, barrens färg (gröna eller bruna) är inte en rättvisande indikator på avbarrning. Om skotning av färsk grot accepteras ger det möjligheter för utveckling av ny teknik, effektivare användning av maskinresurser över hela året, minskade kostnader, kortare ledtider, samt möjligt ökat grot-uttag från enskilda hyggen. Detta beror främst på att det skulle vara möjligt att utföra grot-uttaget när det passar bäst ur ett logistiskt, ekonomiskt och/eller skogligt perspektiv. Skriven på engelska, men med sammanfattning och slutsatser på svenska / <p><strong>Tidigare handledare har också varit:</strong></p><p>Thomas Thörnqvist, Professor, Linnéuniversitetet</p><p>Dick Dandberg, Professor, Linnéuniversitetet</p><p>Åsa Blom, Docent, Linnéuniversitetet</p><p><strong>Sammanläggningsavhandlingen består av totalt fyra Paper:</strong></p><p>Paper I</p><p>Nilsson, B., Blom, Å., Thörnqvist, T. 2013. The influence of two different handling methods on the moisture content and composition of logging residues. <em>Biomass and Bioenergy</em>, 52, 34–42.</p><p>Paper II</p><p>Nilsson, B., Nilsson, D., Thörnqvist, T. 2015. Distributions and losses of logging residues at clear-felled areas during extraction for bioenergy: Comparing dried- and fresh-stacked method. <em>Forests</em>, 6, 4212–4227.</p><p>Paper III</p><p>Nilsson, D., Nilsson, B., Thörnqvist, T., Bergh, J. 2016. Amount of nutrients extracted and left behind at the clear-felled area using the fresh- and dried-stacked method of logging residue extraction. Submitted to <em>Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research </em>(2016-11-01).</p><p>Paper IV</p><p>Nilsson, B., Lerman, P. 2016. Experimental study of relations between defoliation, moisture content and color change in logging residues. Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden. <em>Manuscript</em>.</p>

Diplomová práce Abstract - Iveta Brabcová Abstract Ischemia-reperfusion heart injury is one of the most significant diseases affecting mankind and therefore current research pays more attention to its prevention and knowledge of the possible mechanisms which protect the heart. Adaptation to hypoxia has been known for several decades as a cardioprotective intervention but the main issues of protective mechanisms which are induced by the adaptation are still not completely understood. An important role of mitochondria as the main producers of energy and reactive oxygen species which can play a signalizing role in these mechanisms is confirmed in many studies. For this reason a special conplastic strain SHR/OlaIpcv-mtBN/Crl was created. This strain carries the nuclear genome of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the mitochondrial genome of normotensive, highly resistant strain Brown Norway (BN). The aim of this study was to compare the expression of selected gene transcripts in the area of energy metabolism, of genes which are related to mitochondrial biogenesis and signaling and antioxidant systems. Comparing the expression was analyzed between strains and after chronic hypoxia adaptation, which cause cardioprotective phenotype in both of these strains. Our results showed a different expression HIF-1α...

The Digermulen Peninsula, Arctic Norway, offers a unique section of late Ediacaran to Cambrian sediments in an almost complete succession within the Vestertana Group. The proposed annelidan fossil Sabellidites cambriensis is found here, within the Lower Breidvika Member and is believed to exist also in the underlying Manndrapselva Member of the Stáhpogieddi Formation. Three cycles are recognized from the Manndrapselva Member, the uppermost being the third cycle, and the sediment interval of interest for this study ranges from the third cycle of the Manndrapselva Member to the Lower Breidvika Member where the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary is situated. The distribution of Sabellidites has been investigated in three different localities on the Digermulen Peninsula, and from two of these stratigraphical logs were made and the sections were documented with photographs. The logs were created over sediments from Locality 1: Bárdeluovttjohka and Locality 3: Manndrapselva in the interval of the top of the Manndrapselva Member and Lower Breidvika Member. Previous studies have shown that the stratigraphical distribution of Sabellidites is within the Lower Breidvika Member. New results presented in this study extended the temporal distribution downwards in the third cycle of the Manndrapselva Member and closer to the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary. The boundary is indicated by the trace fossil Treptichnus pedum. A few samples, collected from the logged sections, were found below the T. pedum level, indicating late Ediacaran origin. Three samples were collected even further down, close to the base of the Manndrapselva log, but these could only loosely be identified as Sabellidites and further analysis is required on these specimens. The Sabellidites distribution range from the Digermulen Peninsula was briefly compared to other locations and a global correlation is possible. The results here indicate that Sabellidites is an excellent reference taxon for the terminal Ediacaran and early Cambrian and that the succession on the Digermulen Peninsula may be one of the most important for global correlation across the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary. / På Digermulenhalvön i arktiska Norge finns en nästan helt oavbruten sektion av sediment från sen ediacara och tidig kambrium. Fossilet Sabellidites cambriensis, som tros tillhöra phylat Annelida, går att hitta här inuti sediment från det undre Breidvikaledet och det underliggande Manndrapselvaledet. De här två leden ingår i Vestertanagruppen. Tre cykler är identifierade från Manndrapselvaledet och den översta är den tredje cykeln. Distributionen av Sabellidites i de här sedimenten har undersökts i tre olika lokaler på Digermulenhalvön, och två biostratigrafiska loggar ritades och dokumenterades med foton. Tidigare har studier påvisat Sabellidites i det undre Breidvikaledet, men resultaten från den här studien visar att det går att hitta Sabellidites även i den tredje cykeln av Manndrapselvaledet vilket är längre ned i sedimentföljden, och således också äldre sediment som ligger nära gränsen mellan ediacara och kambrium, som är ett mycket intressant och omdiskuterat geologiskt tidsavsnitt. Gränsen indikeras av ett spårfossil vid namn Treptichnus pedum och resultat ifrån den här studien påvisar Sabellidites nedanför nivån för T. pedum. Det här förlänger spannet inom vilket man kan hitta Sabellidites och resultaten från Digermulenhalvön har jämförts med områden runt om i världen i ett försök att korrelera dem med varandra. Studien visar att en global korrelation är möjlig vilket gör Sabellidites till ett utmärkt referensfossil för undre kambrium och sektionen på Digermulenhalvön är exceptionellt bra för att undersöka förhållandena kring gränsen mellan ediacara och kambrium.

Research shows that being in nature is important for children's health and psychosocial and physical development. Outdoor education can significantly improve the quality and meaningfulness of learning, contribute to the teachers' and pupils' well-being and help to build a positive attitude towards nature. However, learning outside the school building is rather an exception in the Czech Republic and has not yet received much attention here. On the contrary, Norway is specific in its attitude to outdoor recreation and outdoor education. The purpose of this paper is to present Norwegian approach to outdoor education in primary schools. The theoretical chapters describe the issue of outdoor education in general with a specific focus on the Czech tradition and discourse, the Norwegian education system and the local situation of outdoor education. This part is followed by a qualitative research carried out in the Bodø district in northern Norway. The main method of data acquisition were interviews with teachers from seven local primary schools. The research describes the teachers' concept of outdoor education and answers the question of where the sources of support for outdoor education in Norway are.

The aim of this study was to design and optimize new PCR primers for detection of potential cyanobacterial producers of cytotoxic lipopeptides puwainaphycins and minutissamides in environmental samples. Samples from two distinct localities were tested, as suggested based on preliminary data. The first set of samples consisted of cyanobacterial soil biofilms from sheep pastures affected by Alveld illness in Norway. The other one contained samples of planktic cyanobacaterial blooms from Protected Landscape Area Třeboň and its vicinity. Three different approaches were used for evaluation of the presence of cyanobacterial lipopeptide producers: microscopy, PCR with the designed primeres, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Results of this study confirmed the specificity of the newly designed PCR primers. The presence of producers of puwainaphycins/minutissamides was proven at both tested localities.

This thesis examines the memorial meaning attributed to royal power in the Icelandic legal tradition, as it is textually negotiated in sources extant from the period c. 1250-1500. It discusses the significance and functions of the Norwegian king's legal authority as part of the Icelanders' collective remembrance of their country's legal past (spanning the years c. 870-1302), and as a defining element in the creation of the Icelandic identity as a community of law. The scope of analysis covers thirteenth- to fifteenth-century legal sources (sections of law-books and legal texts preserving legal arrangements between Iceland and Norway made in the eleventh century and in the period c. 1260-1302), and a fourteenth-century account of the Norwegian king's involvement in a settlement dispute in ninth-century Iceland. These main sources are analysed against the background of several auxiliary sources (saga narratives, diplomas) from a New Philological perspective and scrutinised using the methods developed in cultural memory studies. This provides a novel perspective on the primary sources, filling a gap in recent scholarship on cultural memory in Old Norse literature and historiography. Both categories of texts, drawing on oral and written traditions of law-making and story-telling, are vehicles for multi-faceted culturally meaningful and often contradictory memories of the Norwegian king. The Icelandic laws preserve provisions bestowed upon the Icelanders by the Norwegian monarchs, whereas the sagas convey semi-mythological images of the monarchs, who act as legislators, negotiators of legal agreements with the Icelanders, and as law-keepers. By analysing the memorial functions of royal power in the primary sources, the thesis argues for the complexity of the Icelanders' self-definition as a kingless community of law, who nevertheless incorporate and actively engage with royal power, which shapes the collective memory of the country's legal tradition.

The Nordic countries are geographically, culturally and politically close, and have all witnessed an upsurge in support for radical right-wing parties over the past decades. Although the five parties: the Danish People’s Party, the Finns Party, the Icelandic Progressive Party, the Norwegian Progress Party, and the Sweden Democrats, are different when it comes to party history and how accepted they have been by other parties, they are today similar in their anti-immigration rhetoric, their critique of the established elites and to some extent their welfare chauvinism. According to theories on radical right-wing parties and environmental attitudes, caring for nature and the environment would make a person less probable to vote for a radical right-wing party. Using data from the European Social Survey, the relationship between environmental attitudes and radical right-wing support is examined. The initial results support this thesis, but when adding control variables the relationship is no longer significant. However, when looking at the countries separately, it shows that the relationship between environmental values and radical right-wing voting varies across the Nordic countries. Here, Norway stands out as the country with the strongest negative relationship between environmental values and support for radical right-wing parties.

No description available.

This thesis describes aspects of durability of Swedish softwood in above ground applications. The thesis consists of a summary of nine papers, which all aim to explain the existing variation in above ground microbial durability and moisture sensitivity of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The methods used were two field tests, one accelerated durability test, and three water permeability tests. The main conclusions made in the study were that Norway spruce sapwood is more susceptible to discolouring fungi than heartwood. With respect to Scots pine, the only important factor for its natural durability above ground was whether the samples consisted of heartwood or of sapwood. There was also no systematic variation between pine heartwood from different stand origins in above ground conditions. Origin had no influence on durability in practice for neither spruce nor pine. Furthermore, in contradiction with traditional thinking, annual ring width and density had no influence on durability in any of the tests. The material came from two different samplings. The ‘old’ material was sampled in the beginning of the 1980s and consisted of Scots pine and Norway spruce from three different origins: the north, the central area, and the south of Sweden. The material was subjected to different handling conditions and surface and end-grain treatments. The ‘old’ material was used in a large above ground field test, carried out between 1985 and 1994. Unfortunately, the spruce sapwood and heartwood was not separated in this field test. In the field trial with the ‘old’ material, the most important factor for the durability of Norway spruce was the samples’ surface- and end-grain treatment. It was also observed that untreated spruce showed better durability than samples that were painted but without proper end-grain treatment. Samples originating from one of the stands were more sensitive towards air-drying than samples from the other two, which was reflected in a higher average moisture content and mass loss for the untreated samples. With respect to Scots pine, the most important factor was whether the sample consisted of heartwood or of sapwood. The heartwood samples were durable irrespective of their previous treatment. The Scots pine sapwood samples, on the other hand, had a very fluctuating moisture content if they were not surface- and end-painted. This was also reflected in higher mass losses in these samples. Even when properly surface- and end grain treated, the sapwood samples did not perform as well as the heartwood samples. The ‘new’ material consisted of Scots pine taken from six different stands, and Norway spruce from five different stands, all from areas in southern Sweden. The sampling was performed in order to achieve a large variation in wood properties. Thus, logs from areas with different climate and growth conditions were collected. This material was used for laboratory tests, and also for the second field test, which was evaluated after a test period of two years. In the second field test untreated Scots pine and Norway spruce samples from the ‘new’ material were investigated. Effects of origin and different tree diameters were examined. Furthermore, Scots pine was separated to heartwood and sapwood, and Norway spruce to mature and juvenile wood. The Norway spruce samples were sawn with vertical or horizontal annual rings. For the Norway spruce in the second field test, vertical annual rings were shown to be very beneficial for avoiding crack formation, while samples with horizontal annual rings displayed a large number of cracks. Despite this, the larger number of cracks did not result in a higher moisture content or more fungal discoloration. Juvenile wood had a slightly higher average discolouring fungal growth grading than the other spruce samples. For Scots pine, the only factor of importance was whether the samples consisted of heartwood or of sapwood. Annual ring width, density and origin had no significant effect on either fungal growth or moisture uptake. This observation held for both Norway spruce samples and Scots pine samples. An accelerated test was run in order to investigate Norway spruce sapwood and heartwood with respect to their differences in durability towards discolouring fungi and moisture uptake. The Mycologg method was used to accelerate fungal growth during a number of forced moisture cycles. The results showed that sapwood was much more sensitive to discolouring fungi than heartwood. Sapwood also recorded a higher average moisture content than heartwood. The differences that were observed between the types of samples were not due to annual ring width, density or origin. It was observed that Norway spruce sapwood samples and heartwood samples showed differences in liquid water permeability. This observation was made especially evident in a droplet absorption test. Water droplets were absorbed much faster on the sapwood samples in comparison with the heartwood samples. This higher affinity to water suggested that a sapwood surface would reach a higher moisture content than a heartwood surface. This observation provides a major explanation of why the sapwood samples showed poorer durability towards discolouring fungi in the Mycologg trials.