Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2001. / Härtill 11 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Urban Planning and Environmental Management / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

If there is anything that challenges a discussion about architecture, it would be defining architecture. It is too broad a subject to construct any particular opinion and follow on, even while attempting to create an understanding of it at the level within graduate program. For me, in a way, architecture has constantly re-constructed its character and impression, and that by itself becomes its permanent trait vis-a-vis a given place and time. But, it also subtly shifts its prominence from being an object to being an experience, from being permanent to being ephemeral or from being a summation to being a subtraction. At this moment, my pursuit of understanding architecture lies in its subtraction or absence from a collage of variables that compose everyday life.Revisiting Bombay's busy streets after spending a considerable amount of time in the United States was a familiar experience for me, but it quickly helped me recognize and acknowledge constituents of my everyday living (associated with the events of the city) that were immediately subtracted while living in the West. An everyday experienceassociated with the city, like the vending stalls, convenience stores, songs, noise, people, etc. could not be found in cities I visited in the U.S. All these experiences such as eating at food stalls and having a cup of tea on the street-side, buying electronics and latest music albums from a make-shift stall assembled from pieces of wooden planks; or simply walking on the street-side as if it were never a side walk but a festival of attainable consumerism - collectively form an event that is embedded in Bombay's urbanism. Herein, I chose to get up-close with the actors and their created spaces and interview them in order to gain insights into the totality of making a living on the street-side. Additionally, in order to extend my knowledge of architecture, I designed a vending stall that both acknowledges the worlds of the street-side and vendors, even as it is informed by my training as an architect.I am challenged as a graduate student to consider architecture within the context of my everyday life. A whole new dimension of space (of ad-hoc and tactical nature) that has always been there, gradually and randomly shaping my relationship with the city's streets while challenging the order of the city. Although invisibly present all the time, this study has made me more aware of its influence. Hence, I have tried to readdress everyday life on the street-sides within the local and global settings of Bombay, studying events and people associated with it. Looking for a probable architecture on the street-sides of Bombay within the boundaries of the quotidian and the modem realities becomes my thesis. / Department of Architecture

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Birch is the dominant deciduous tree species in Sweden but only 16 % is found in pure birch stands. The majority of the birch (51 %) is to be found in conifer dominated stands. Swedish forest land comprises approximately of 23 % mixed stands and one problem is that for mixed stands there are few management recommendations. The underlying aim of this thesis was to study the management of mixed forest stands of spruce and birch to achieve good timber quality of birch. The study was based on a literature study and measurement in a field experiment launched in 1998 by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). This study indicates that it is possible to achieve good timber quality of birch in mixed stands of birch and spruce. However, it requires that birch in mixed stands with spruce should be managed similar to management programs of pure birch stands.   Keywords: Birch, spruce, timber quality, mixed stands.

The MSc. Thesis is part of project No. 2B06131 of the National Research Programme of the Czech Republic. The aim of the work was to assess selected herbaceous stands in repsct to their use for biogas production. A working hypothesis was set as follows: The biogas production per unit organic matter does not differ between biomass coming from different types of grasslands/biotopes. The results support the hypothesis. The sites studied were located in altitudes from 400 to 800 m a.s.l., water availavility ranged from mesexerophytic to hydrophytic conditions and nutrient availability ranged from mesooligotrophic to eutrophic conditions. According to plant species composition, the stands corresponded to stand types Alopecuretum pratense, Phalaridetum, Poetum pratense, Arrhenatheretum elatioris, Festucetum pratense and the ruderal stand type. In spite of these differences, biogass production estimated according to ZIFO was very similar for all stands, i.e. in a range of 518 {--} 546 NL biogas per kg organic substances in dry matter and had almost identical methan content. The results indicate that, in assessment of suitability of herbaceous stands for biogass production, biomass production is of greater importance than plant species composition.

Rising up from a chair (sit-to-stand; STS) and stair climbing are both activities of daily living (ADLs) done throughout our lives. The ability to complete ADLs is crucial for independent living. The goal of this thesis was to research how two ADLs interact with each other and affect postural control. It was hypothesized that an increased number of flights of stairs climbed would lead to a decline in postural control during/after a STS in older more than younger adults. Fourteen older adults and fourteen young adults were tested by completing three STSs before and after climbing 1, 3 and 5 flights of stairs, chosen at random. Movements of the center of pressure (COP) for each STS were obtained from a force platform. Only an age effect was found for COP velocity (left-right and anterior-posterior directions) during the momentum transfer phase, during stabilization and after stabilization. Therefore, contrary to our hypothesis, stair climbing did not lead to significant changes in COP movements during and following a STS.

Mississippi growers often have issues with corn seedling establishment due to saturated and cool soils, which can reduce productivity. Our first objective was to quantify yield reduction associated with variable emergence. Four patterns simulating various extent of affected plants and four different emergence delays were hand planted uniformly at a standard population. Plants were closely monitored to document emergence variability. Growth stages were measured three separate ways to identify the best field method to characterize stand variability. Data suggest there were yield disadvantages associated with emergence variability. Another objective was to evaluate practical replanting methods for Mid-South corn growers. Treatments included four populations planted at a normal time and replant interval. Two different series of treatments were imposed to evaluate the productivity of intra-planting seed in a partial stand. Corn grain yield was 11% greater when replanting in a clean seedbed, compared to all intra-planted treatments.