The aim of this thesis has been to investigate the technical and social potential for electric car charging as a flexibility resource in Uppsala. In addition, the user pattern has been examined, as well as the drivers’ motivation and obstacles contributing to flexibility. This has been done through quantitative and qualitative methods in the form of simulations and semi-structured interviews. The results show that the user pattern of the chargers and Uppsala city show a great similarity in form of two peaks. However, the peaks do not coincide, as they are separated by two and three hours, respectively. Furthermore, the public charging station occupancy turns out to be low, which is explained by the interviewees as the fact that the majority have their primary charging station at home. It is not important when charging takes place, only that it takes place. However, it is of great importance to always be able to charge. The drivers' motivation and impediments to assist with flexibility vary greatly in terms of the size and significance of the compensation. The results show that just over 2/5 of every charging session has flexibility potential, and that charging takes place for about half of the connected time. The largest proportion of flexibility potential lie within 30 min-1h followed by 1-2h respectively. Thus, with the possibility of shifting or pausing charge during that time. The greatest potential is obtained for 1,85 kW charging, largely due to an overrepresentation in the data set used for the simulations. A theoretical flexibility has been established based on the available energy data. However, to analyze in detail how car charging affects Uppsala's capacity shortage, access to high resolved power data is of great importance. To sum up, the overall results show that there are substantial preconditions for a technical and social potential for electric cars as a flexibility resource in Uppsala. Although, it requires well-developed incentives and aids to be realized, where end users assist with flexibility to the electricity grid.

Bupropion (BUP) is an efficacious pharmacologic aid for individuals attempting to quit tobacco smoking (Wilkes., 2008), yet little is known about the effects of BUP on neural responses to either smoking cues (SC) or affective cues (AC), stimuli that are known to promote smoking and relapse to smoking for those attempting to quit. In fact, only one published study has assessed BUP’s effects on neuroelectrical event-related responses (ERPs) to SC or AC (Versace, Stevens, Robinson, Cui, Deweese, Engelmann, et al., 2019), and this study did not detect any neural effects of BUP, relative to placebo. It is important to note that Versace et al. (2019) study’s smokers were instructed to focus their attention solely on large color pictures of SC or AC that were presented for several seconds, something that may differ from conditions in which BUP might alter brain responses to SC. In contrast, several studies have assessed the effects of BUP on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-assessed brain activity, with several finding that BUP enhanced activation of the nucleus accumbens during the anticipation of a brief (140-460ms) monetary target (Ikeda et al., 2019) and in the right middle and inferior frontal gyri, right caudate, and bilateral precuneus during AC presentation (Robertson et al 2007), while several others found reductions in activation in the left ventral striatum, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex during presentation of SC (Culbertson et al., 2011), and reductions in the activation of right orbitofrontal cortex, left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, right ventromedial prefrontal cortex, right anterior cingulate cortex, right inferior frontal cortex, right amygdala/parahippocampal area, right caudate, right fusiform gyrus, and left posterior cingulate during AC presentation (Robertson et al 2007). The inconsistencies across these studies may reflect underlying effects of the task used to assess the participant (i.e., context of the task). Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the effects of BUP SC and AC on brain reactivity depend on assessment context and task demands. Few studies have assessed the effects of BUP on brain responses to SC and AC when they are briefly presented distractors, as opposed to the primary focus of sustained attention. This study demonstrates the importance of task context for SC and AC presentation to detect the effects of BUP. By neglecting context-specific effect, the field is missing measurable targets for drug efficacy. This is the 1st study to find an BUP induced LPP reduction. The data is obtained from smokers who were randomly assigned to a BUP (n=24) group or a placebo group (n=66) and assessed prior to and after 14 days on BUP or PLA capsules while still smoking at their typical rate.

Det framgår i Svenskämnets syfte för gymnasieskolan att svenskämnet kärna ska vara språk och litteratur. Vidare framskrivs det Svenskämnets centrala innehåll för gymnasieskolan att elever ska utveckla förmågan att använda skönlitteratur som en källa till självinsikt och förståelse för andra människor. I skolans värdegrund står det att skolan ska värna om elevernas lika värde, oavsett, kön, etnicitet eller sexuell läggning. Det finns skönlitteratur som utmanar traditionella könsmönster och normer, ändå vittnar studiens bakgrund om att andra sexualiteter än den heterosexuella inte synliggörs eller anses avvikande i litteraturundervisningen. Studiens syfte är tvådelat. Undersökningen syftar till att lämna kunskapsbidrag dels till vad som kan påverka svensklärares på gymnasiet val av skönlitteratur för undervisning, dels till hur deras litteraturundervisning kan behandla sexualitet som en del i elevers identitetsskapande. Studien är lokal och eftersträvar att ge en bild av hur några svensklärare och en skolbibliotekarie på en skola resonerar om följande frågeställningar:  ·       Vilka faktorer styr de undersökta lärarnas val av skönlitteratur i för elevers identitetsskapande? ·       På vilka sätt behandlas den identitetsskapande komponenten sexualitet i litteraturundervisningen på gymnasiet? Studien är kvalitativ i sin lokala kontext och datainsamlingen utgörs av en fokusgrupp med tre deltagande svensklärare och en deltagande skolbibliotekarie. Analysen av materialet är baserad de teoretiska begreppen didaktisk potential och Critical literacy samt studiens bakgrund.  Slutsatserna av studien är att deltagarnas val av skönlitteratur är centrerat kring elevernas personliga utveckling, både som en språk- och läsutvecklande handling men även som en identitetsskapande komponent. Lärarna väljer medvetet böcker med hänsyn till elevernas erfarenheter, igenkänning, intresse och bakgrund i syfte att tillämpa didaktisk potential och ett kritiskt förhållningssätt för att diskutera normer och vidga elevernas perspektiv. Deltagarna arbetar aktivt med att bryta ner och ifrågasätta normer i litteraturundervisningen. Skönlitteraturen har stor potential i arbetet med elevers identitetsskapande i allmänhet och sexualitet i synnerhet. Elevernas svaga läsförmåga står som ett initialt hinder som måste överbryggas genom aktivt lärararbete för att de ska kunna nå längre i sitt kritiska tänkande kring texten. Critical literacy-förhållningssättet kan vara ett verktyg för att skapa meningsfullhet som i sin tur kan leda till ökat driv hos elever för att klara läs- och litteraturundervisningen.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) apart from being chemically significant, have shown a lot of health benefits, the most studied being their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These biological properties can be further enhanced by adding compounds with known medical properties giving rise to even more desired potent materials. Anti-bacterial and cytotoxicity studies show that these AgNPs can kill bacteria, prevent infections and regenerate skin cells. On the other hand, previous studies have reported dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with attractive wound healing abilities specifically cell growth promotion. It was then envisaged that the combination of DMSO and AgNPs could lead to a potent wound healing agent. It is a well-known fact that non-healing wounds pose a socioeconomic threat to a large population worldwide. / 2023

Mouse hepatocytes respond to osmotic stress with adaptive changes in transmembrane potential, Vm, such that hypotonic stress hyperpolarizes cells and hypertonic stress depolarizes them. These changes in Vm provide electromotive force for redistribution of ions such as CI−, and this comprises part of the mechanism of hepatocyte volume regulation. We conducted the present study to determine whether ethanol administered in vitro to mouse liver slices increases hepatocyte water volume, and whether this swelling triggers adaptive changes in the Vm. Cells in mouse liver slices were loaded with tetramethylammonium ion (TMA). Changes in hepatocyte water volume were computed from measurements with Ion sensitive micro‐electrodes of changes in intracellular activity of TMA (a1TMA) that resulted from water fluxes. Ethanol (70 mM) increased hepatocyte water volume Immediately, and this peaked at 17% by 7 to 8 min, by which time a plateau was reached. Liver slices also were obtained from mice treated 12 hr prior with 4‐methylpyrazole (4 mM). The effect of ethanol on their hepatocyte water volume was identical to that from untreated mice, except that the onset and peak were delayed 2 min. Hepatocyte Vm showed no differences between control or ethanol‐treated cells during the course of volume changes. In contrast, hyposmotic stress, created by dropping external osmolality 50 mosm, increased Vm from –30 mV to –46 mV. Ethanol did not inhibit this osmotic stress‐induced hyperpolarization, except partially at high concentrations of 257 mM or greater. We infer that ethanol‐induced swelling of hepatocytes differs from that resulting from hyposmotic stress. Cellular events associated with increased activity of intracellular water most likely trigger the hyperpolarization of Vm that accompanies the latter. We conclude, therefore, that ethanol‐induced swelling occurs without change in cell water activity. This may result from the retention of macromolecules by ethanol in cells that constitutively secrete protein.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) enables communication without movement based on brain signals measured with electroencephalography (EEG). BCIs usually rely on one of three types of signals: the P300 and other components of the event-related potential (ERP), steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), or event related desynchronization (ERD). Although P300 BCIs were introduced over twenty years ago, the past few years have seen a strong increase in P300 BCI research. This closed-loop BCI approach relies on the P300 and other components of the event-related potential (ERP), based on an oddball paradigm presented to the subject. In this paper, we overview the current status of P300 BCI technology, and then discuss new directions: paradigms for eliciting P300s; signal processing methods; applications; and hybrid BCIs. We conclude that P300 BCIs are quite promising, as several emerging directions have not yet been fully explored and could lead to improvements in bit rate, reliability, usability, and flexibility.

Externalizing disorders, as described by DSM-V (2013), are an empirically supported group of mental health conditions characterized by impulsiveness, antisocial behaviors, and disruptive conduct. These include Conduct Disorder (CD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs). Symptoms often emerge during childhood or adolescence, when brain development is still ongoing. A prematurely-developed prefrontal cortex, paired with reward-seeking and emotional responses in youth, can contribute to impulsive behaviors and limited ability to predict the consequences of one’s actions (Casey, Jones, & Hare, 2008). Compared to females, males tend to be diagnosed with higher rates of externalizing disorders (Kerr, Reinke, & Eddy, 2013), which may place them at higher risk for engaging in risky and/or harmful behaviors. Research indicates that youth with externalizing disorders engage in a number of risky/harmful behaviors that could have negative consequences. A meta-analysis by Allely (2014) suggests that certain externalizing disorders, such as ADHD, may be a risk factor for self-harm behaviors in child, adolescent, and adult populations. Further, those with externalizing disorders in late childhood tend to have co-morbid depression and are more prone to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts during late adolescence and early adulthood (Kerr, Reinke, & Eddy, 2013). Others have also found a strong connection between externalizing disorders and suicidal behaviors among youth (Beautrais, 2000; Goldston et al., 1998; Hills, Cox, McWilliams, & Sareen, 2005; Verona & colleagues, 2000; 2001; 2004). Moreover, externalizing disorders, such as ADHD or CD, are correlated with sexual offending behaviors, which may be a result of sexual disinhibition (Kafka, 2012). While diverse, persons who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior often evidence antisocial behaviors and diagnoses of ADHD and CD (Prendergast, 2004; Shields, 1995). Grant et al. (2009) additionally indicated that the presence of trauma may also contribute to behavioral problems that resemble externalizing disorders. The current study aims to investigate male adolescents with and without externalizing disorders (i.e., ADHD, ODD, CD, and ICDs) by investigating a sample of youth in a residential treatment facility for sexually abusive behaviors (N = 295). Data related to adolescents’ self-harm behaviors, suicidal ideation and/or attempts, sexual offending behaviors, arrest histories, and diagnostic mental health histories were gathered from archival records. Within the sample, 234 participants were diagnosed with at least one externalizing disorder, including ADHD (n = 209), ODD (n = 91), CD (n = 102), and ICDs (n = 50). Chi-square analyses and one-way ANOVAs will be conducted to explore relationships among externalizing disorders, presence and frequency of self-harm behaviors and/or suicide attempts, frequency and types of sexual offenses committed, and frequency and types of arrest. Presence of PTSD diagnoses and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) will also be taken into consideration, as previous literature suggests that early sexual, physical, and emotional trauma may also contribute to behavioral problems and sexual offending behaviors in adolescents (Grant et al., 2009). The goal of the current study is to fill gaps within the literature by identifying areas of concern among adolescents with externalizing disorders. The findings from the current study will be discussed in terms of clinical implications regarding risk reduction, prevention, and treatment.

The work in this thesis was based on analyzing water samples collected from three exploratory boreholes drilled during Project Hotspot. The water samples were analyzed for their chemical properties. The chemical properties of the water samples were used as a basis for further analysis.Geophysical logs, mainly temperature logs, were also analyzed for this project. Temperature logs measure temperature in relation to depth within a borehole.All the analyses were made in order to estimate the geothermal potential of the project areas. The exploratory boreholes were all drilled in different areas and each had unique characteristics. The Mountain Home borehole provided the most promising evidence for future geothermal potential. Geothermal energy is a form of renewable energy and potential production areas are difficult and expensive to locate.

The filter paper method for measuring soil water potential was evaluated. The method was calibrated using salt solutions (-1.4 bars to -22.4 bars), sample chamber psychrometer (-1 to -50 bars), pressure plate (-0.1 to - 15 bars) and soil column at equilibrium (0 to -0.2 bars). It was found that the absolute temperature had little effect on the predicted soil water potential, but a temperature variation had a large effect. It was found that the temperature fluctuation must be small. The predicted water potential was influenced by the type of contact of the soil with the filter paper. It is suggested that one filter paper be placed beneath the soil (good contact for liquid or vapour flow) and one filter paper be placed above the soil not in physical contact (allowing vapour flow only). The equilibrium between the filter paper and soil mass was essential completed by the end of two days and certainly by the end of five days.

The partial specific Gibbs1 free energy or the chemical potential has been shown to be the most desirable thermodynamic function for describing soil-water systems. The absolute value of the chemical potential of soil water cannot be determined. If pure water at standard temperature and pressure is taken as the reference, the difference between the chemical potential of soil water and that of the reference can be measured and is called "soil water potential," which has the dimension of energy per unit mass. The barometric pressure at the sea level has been accepted as the standard reference pressure. Thus, any device that measures a certain property with respect to local barometric pressure should be standardized to the pressure at sea level. In case of a tensiometer, a device for measuring soil water potential operating at different locations with varying altitudes, the reference pressure changes from place to place and time to time. In pressure plate or pressure membrane apparatus, on the other hand, the soil water potential, there would be a problem with respect to pressure in evaluation of water potential. The effect of external pressure on soil water potential has been neglected by most workers in the past. That is, they have assumed that soil water behaves the same way toward pressure as pure free water. The main objective of this investigation is to evaluate the validity of this assumption and to determine the nature of the pressure dependence of soil water potential.