The aim of this thesis is to determine the efficiency of the hydronic heating system implemented in building with passive envelopes. Thermal losses and energy consumption of the pump are relative values for determining the efficiency.The first step towards this aim is to provide theoretical background for better understanding of the hydronic system. The advantages of this system are also presented.Good knowledge of hydronic systems, first of all, modes of transport of the work fluid and heat distribution into the space, makes a good basis for the next step- designing the system.Once the system is designed, it is possible to create mathematical model. This model together with the input values given enables creation and a running of a simulation program.In the end the results from the simulation are obtained for a typical Norwegian house which satisfies recommendation for the passive house concept.The analyses of our results shows, in spite of the heat losses from the pipes and pump energy consumption, it is feasible to fulfill the prescribed limitations regarding the Passive house energy consumption. Unfortunately, the heat losses values are not negligible and it will eventually disturb thermal comfort.The method derived in this report as well as the simulation program presented can serve as a starting point for future investigation of an assortment of hydronic systems variations. One of the logical choices is certainly a system with insulated pipes. Such system could provide the key advantage of hydronic systems compared to other heating systems. In that way they could present themselves as the best heating solution for future buildings with passive envelopes.

The County Administrative Board of Dalarna conducts controlled conservation burnings in nature reserves to increase biodiversity. The fire increases diversity in several ways by attracting fire dependent organisms, increasing the number deciduous trees, enhancing the volume of dead wood and bringing morphological diversity as fire scars on trees. After the burnings deciduous trees usually increase, but to reduce grazing from browsers (who would consume most of the deciduous biomass) fences can be used to exclude the grazers.   In the first part of my study I inventoried tree status after two controlled nature conservation burnings in eastern and northern Dalarna (Trollmosseskogen and Rensjön). The aim was to increase the knowledge of fire effects on trees and to find out if the desired results were achieved on diversity. The results show that the number of tree species has increased in Trollmosseskogen. Fire damages on trees were more common in Rensjön than in Trollmosseskogen. In both nature reserves the volume of dead wood has increased successively over time which suggests that the fire gives prolonged effects on tree mortality. This shows that long-term inventories are important to do to get an overall picture on the effect on tree mortality.   The second part of my study deals with Vändleberget, a nature reserve that was fenced 2005 after burning to protect particularly deciduous tree re-growth from browsers. Tree inventories and measurements were performed by placing plots both inside and outside the fenced area. Tree height and tree diversity showed a trend towards higher levels inside the fenced area, but the differences were not significant. Stem density, in total, is very high in the investigated area in Vändleberget and therefore I suggest selective logging to promote deciduous trees such as aspen (Populus tremula), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), oak (Quercus robur) and goat willow (Salix caprea). Spruce (Picea abies) and some trivial deciduous trees, especially birch (Betula spp.) can be removed. When the remaining trees are about four meters high I suggest that the fence can be taken down, as at that height the browsers can no longer harm the deciduous trees severely by eating the top of the trees or physically breaking the tree trunk.    To conclude, I found that conservation burning increases biodiversity on several levels such as number of species and morphological diversity. Fences can be used to reduce grazing which could promote tree diversity.

A tese tem por objetivo efetivar a análise e demonstração das estratégias discursivas através das quais Çaìkara, o célebre pensador do Hinduísmo medieval (circa 788-820 d.C.), formulou a doutrina monista do Advaita-ved Tnta, construindo para isso um discurso dialógico com relação às principais doutrinas dualistas e ritualísticas adversárias de seu tempo, dentre elas, respectivamente, o S TRkhya-Yoga-darçana e o Mémäàsä-darçana. A análise dos textos sânscritos de Çaìkara dedicados a interpretar as escrituras védicas segue os pressupostos da teoria do discurso, da semiótica de nivel fundamental e dos estudos de intertextualidade, e radica em dois eixos: (1) - o estudo da construção de um discurso monista, apesar das exigências irredutíveis das categorias binárias às quais se curvam a linguagem e o raciocínio humanos; e (2) - o exame dos mecanismos diversos de persuasão e argumentação constantes nos escritos do pensador, os quais constroem uma interpretação específica dos textos védicos ao mesmo tempo em que refutam pontos de vista outrora válidos na tradição sânscrita. A primeira parte da tese, intitulada \"A revelação do Um\", apresenta uma síntese da herança cultural que é pressuposta na leitura dos textos do pensador e uma análise semiótica da articulação, no nível fundamental, do conceito de Absoluto ou \"um-sem-segundo\", Brahman, conforme descrito nas Upaniñad e interpretado por Çaìkara. A segunda parte, intitulada \"Os percursos do dois\", investiga as estratégias discursivas e intertextuais por meio das quais o pensador consegue ressignificar e assimilar em sua doutrina monista o universo relativo e as categorias binárias e ternárias afirmadas em outras doutrinas de sua herança cultural. A tese visa a contribuir para a demonstração de que as teorias do discurso constituem instrumentos que auxiliam a elucidar os mecanismos com os quais a linguagem verbal consegue criar e expressar conceitos abstratos não apreensíveis no mundo dos fenômenos. O trabalho representa também um esforço para suprir uma lacuna da bibliografia brasileira, apresentando sob enfoque inédito fontes textuais relativos a uma vertente nuclear da cultura sânscrita. / The main purpose of this thesis is to analyse and demonstrate those discursive strategies through which Çaìkara, the famous philosopher of medieval Hinduism (circa 788-820 a.C.), has formulated the monistic doctrine of Advaita-vedänta, to which purpose he has elaborated a dialogical discourse in relation to some of the main dualistic and ritualistic opposing doctrines of his time: the Säàkhya-Yoga-darçana and the Mémäàsä-darçana, respectively. Our analysis of the sanskrit texts in which Çaìkara interprets the vedic scriptures is based on the theories of discourse, on the principles of the French school of Semiotics and also on studies of intertextuality. This inedit analysis intends to: (1) - analyse the inter-relation of concepts in the fundamental level of significance that can build a monistic discourse, in spite of those irreductible binary categories that govern human language and reasoning; (2) - examine those mechanisms of persuasion and argumentation which are constant in Çaìkara\'s writings and which help to build specific interpretations of the vedic scriptures, refuting at the same time the points of view of other doctrines. The first part of the thesis, entitled \"The revelation of One\", gives a synthesis of the cultural heritage which is pressuposed in the reading of Çaìkara\'s writings, and afterwards makes a semiotic analysis, on the fundamental level, of the concept of Absolute or \"one-without-a-second\", Brahman, according to the way it\'s given by the Upaniñad texts and interpreted by Çaìkara. In the second part of the thesis, entitled \"Paths of the Two\", are analysed some of those discoursive and intertextual mechanisms through which the thinker can re-signify and assimilate into his monistic doctrine the relative universe and those binary and ternary categories according to what was postulated by other doctrines of his cultural heritage. The thesis contributes to demonstrate that the theories of discourse are valid instruments in the process of analysis of those mechanisms through which verbal language can create and express abstract concepts which, at first, are not aprehensible in the world of phenomenae. The work has also the purpose of adding to brazilian bibliography, under an inedit approach, texts belonging to an important aspect of sanskrit culture.

A tese tem por objetivo efetivar a análise e demonstração das estratégias discursivas através das quais Çaìkara, o célebre pensador do Hinduísmo medieval (circa 788-820 d.C.), formulou a doutrina monista do Advaita-ved Tnta, construindo para isso um discurso dialógico com relação às principais doutrinas dualistas e ritualísticas adversárias de seu tempo, dentre elas, respectivamente, o S TRkhya-Yoga-darçana e o Mémäàsä-darçana. A análise dos textos sânscritos de Çaìkara dedicados a interpretar as escrituras védicas segue os pressupostos da teoria do discurso, da semiótica de nivel fundamental e dos estudos de intertextualidade, e radica em dois eixos: (1) - o estudo da construção de um discurso monista, apesar das exigências irredutíveis das categorias binárias às quais se curvam a linguagem e o raciocínio humanos; e (2) - o exame dos mecanismos diversos de persuasão e argumentação constantes nos escritos do pensador, os quais constroem uma interpretação específica dos textos védicos ao mesmo tempo em que refutam pontos de vista outrora válidos na tradição sânscrita. A primeira parte da tese, intitulada \"A revelação do Um\", apresenta uma síntese da herança cultural que é pressuposta na leitura dos textos do pensador e uma análise semiótica da articulação, no nível fundamental, do conceito de Absoluto ou \"um-sem-segundo\", Brahman, conforme descrito nas Upaniñad e interpretado por Çaìkara. A segunda parte, intitulada \"Os percursos do dois\", investiga as estratégias discursivas e intertextuais por meio das quais o pensador consegue ressignificar e assimilar em sua doutrina monista o universo relativo e as categorias binárias e ternárias afirmadas em outras doutrinas de sua herança cultural. A tese visa a contribuir para a demonstração de que as teorias do discurso constituem instrumentos que auxiliam a elucidar os mecanismos com os quais a linguagem verbal consegue criar e expressar conceitos abstratos não apreensíveis no mundo dos fenômenos. O trabalho representa também um esforço para suprir uma lacuna da bibliografia brasileira, apresentando sob enfoque inédito fontes textuais relativos a uma vertente nuclear da cultura sânscrita. / The main purpose of this thesis is to analyse and demonstrate those discursive strategies through which Çaìkara, the famous philosopher of medieval Hinduism (circa 788-820 a.C.), has formulated the monistic doctrine of Advaita-vedänta, to which purpose he has elaborated a dialogical discourse in relation to some of the main dualistic and ritualistic opposing doctrines of his time: the Säàkhya-Yoga-darçana and the Mémäàsä-darçana, respectively. Our analysis of the sanskrit texts in which Çaìkara interprets the vedic scriptures is based on the theories of discourse, on the principles of the French school of Semiotics and also on studies of intertextuality. This inedit analysis intends to: (1) - analyse the inter-relation of concepts in the fundamental level of significance that can build a monistic discourse, in spite of those irreductible binary categories that govern human language and reasoning; (2) - examine those mechanisms of persuasion and argumentation which are constant in Çaìkara\'s writings and which help to build specific interpretations of the vedic scriptures, refuting at the same time the points of view of other doctrines. The first part of the thesis, entitled \"The revelation of One\", gives a synthesis of the cultural heritage which is pressuposed in the reading of Çaìkara\'s writings, and afterwards makes a semiotic analysis, on the fundamental level, of the concept of Absolute or \"one-without-a-second\", Brahman, according to the way it\'s given by the Upaniñad texts and interpreted by Çaìkara. In the second part of the thesis, entitled \"Paths of the Two\", are analysed some of those discoursive and intertextual mechanisms through which the thinker can re-signify and assimilate into his monistic doctrine the relative universe and those binary and ternary categories according to what was postulated by other doctrines of his cultural heritage. The thesis contributes to demonstrate that the theories of discourse are valid instruments in the process of analysis of those mechanisms through which verbal language can create and express abstract concepts which, at first, are not aprehensible in the world of phenomenae. The work has also the purpose of adding to brazilian bibliography, under an inedit approach, texts belonging to an important aspect of sanskrit culture.

Död ved är mycket viktigt för skogens ekosystem. Minskningen av död ved i dagens produktionsskogar har skapat ett stort problem för flertalet vedlevande arter. Denna studie gjordes för att ge en ökad kunskap om vilka faktorer som spelar in när det gäller förekomst och utbredning av de två vedlevande arterna Anastrophyllum hellerianum och Dicranum flagellare. Täckningsgraden av de två arterna undersöktes på lågor, tillsammans med faktorerna: art, diameter, nedbrytningsgrad, antal lågor i närheten, solexponering, markkontakt och fuktighet i mark. Tre typer av skogar inventerades. Studien visade att diameter/tillgänglig area, nedbrytningsgrad och solexponering var de viktigaste faktorerna som påverkade förekomst och utbredning av de två undersökta arterna. Utbredningen och sannolikheten för förekomst av arterna ökade med en ökad diameter samt med mer nedbrutna lågor, men minskade med ökad solexponering. Studien visade även att A. hellerianum föredrog lågor av nedbrytningsklass 5. Fördelningen av nedbruten ved var väldigt olika i de tre undersökta skogarna. I den urskogsartade skogen fanns stor volym död ved och många lågor av olika diameter och nedbrytningsklass. I produktionsskogen fanns endast ett fåtal lågor, varav ingen av större diameter och de flesta i tidigare nedbrytningsstadier. En slutsats av studien var att mängden död ved i brukade skogar verkar vara för liten för de båda undersökta arterna. Därför krävs en större mängd död ved i brukade skogar alternativt tillräckligt stor areal skyddad skog i landskapet för att långsiktligt bevara dessa arter. / Dead wood is a very important element of forest ecosystems. The reduction of dead wood in production forests has created major problems for several dead wood dependent species. This study was made to provide a better understanding of the factors that affect presence and coverage area of the two dead wood dependent species Anastrophyllum hellerianum and Dicranum flagellare. The coverage area of these species on logs was examined in relation to the factors: species of the log, diameter, length, degree of decomposition, number of logs close to the one examined, sun exposure, ground contact and soil moisture. The key finding of the study was that diameter/available area, degree of decomposition and sun exposure was the most important factors that affected the two species. The coverage area and the probability of presence of the species increased with increased log diameter and extent of decomposition, but decreased with sun exposure. Other findings were that A. hellerianum preferred logs of decomposition stage 5. The distribution of decayed wood differed greatly in the studied forests. In the primeval forest there were many logs, of many different diameters and decay stages. In the production forest there were only a few logs, none of larger diameters and most of them less decayed. As a conclusion the amount of dead wood in production forests seem too small for the two studied species to occur. Therefore, a larger amount of dead wood in production forests or sufficiently large areas of protected forests are needed to preserve these species.

Research on Stone Age hunters and gatherers in Norrland has been lively since the 1960s. Central to this research are questions about the organization of society, sedentariness, continuity and resource management. One central part of life in the taiga is the need for fire and fuel. This aspect has been little discussed in conjunction with the mentioned research questions. My goal is to show that the matter of fire and fuel is an important one that needs to be taken in to consideration when discussing Stone Age Norrland and hunter/gatherers. The questions concerns fuel consumption and requirement, the amount of available fuel, the impact these factors may have had on settlement patterns and continuity and the possible              ways in which we could proceed to study this subject further. The material consists of ethnographic records, forestry research on old-growth forests, archaeological and environmental archaeological material, experimental research on fuel consumption and records of traditional Sami fire techniques. With this information I have constructed a number of cases, not with the goal of gaining any conclusive answers but rather to discuss different factors and implications the use of fire and need for fuel could have had and how those may connect to the present archaeological record. Lastly I have looked at the possibility of further research, the material and methods that will allow researchers to approach these questions in further depth.

Död ved är av stor betydelse för evertebratsamhället i rinnande vatten. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur fin död ved påverkar biomassa, abundans och diversitet hos det driftande evertebratsamhället i rinnande vatten, samt att relatera detta till fint och grovt bottensubstrat. Hypoteserna var att (1) en ökning av fin död ved ökar abundans, biomassa och biodiversitet samt förändrar taxonomisk sammansättning hos det driftande evertebratsamhället (2) en ökning av fin död ved har en större effekt, på abundans och biomassa i evertebratsamhället i vattendrag med fint bottensubstrat än i vattendrag med grovt bottensubstrat. Studien utfördes på sex lokaler i Ölmans avrinningsområde i Karlstad kommun, tre med fint och tre med grovt bottensubstrat. Driftprover togs på samtliga lokaler, uppströms och nedströms en utplacerad bunt fin ved, under fem tillfällen juni-oktober 2017. Ingen signifikant skillnad i biomassa, abundans eller biodiversitet visades uppströms och nedströms veden, varken på lokaler med fint eller grovt bottensubstrat. Det fanns däremot en tydlig signifikant skillnad i taxonomisk sammansättning uppströms och nedströms veden på lokaler med fint bottensubstrat, då andelen Trichoptera var högre nedström veden än uppströms veden (tre av fem provtagningstillfällen). Det fanns även en signifikant skillnad i taxonomisk sammansättning mellan lokaler med grovt och fint bottensubstrat, med en högre andel Diptera i lokaler med fint bottensubstrat (samtliga provtagningstillfällen) och en högre andel Plecoptera i lokaler med grovt bottensubstrat (tre av fem provtagningstillfällen).

Död ved i skogen har en viktig betydelse för den biologiska mångfalden. I Sverige är över 6000 arter knutna till död ved. När skogen utsätts för många störningar av oss människor påverkas artrikedomen relaterad till död ved. Volymen död ved har minskat och dess komposition förändrats, till följd av ett intensivt skogsbruk. Mängden död ved i framförallt brukade skogar är väsentligt mindre än vad som är hållbart för den biologiska mångfalden. Denna studie har inventerat död ved och vedlevande signalarter i barrdominerade skogar ägda av Skövde kommun. Detta för att visa på hur sambandet mellan volymen död ved och artrikedom ser ut inom och mellan naturreservat och brukade skogar. Resultatet visade att mängden död ved är större i naturreservat än i brukade skogar. Genomsnittet av volymen död ved i brukade skogar ägda av Skövde kommun är större jämfört med genomsnittet för Västra Götaland och landet som helhet. Ett starkt samband hittades mellan volymen död ved och artrikedom för mycket nedbruten ved men inte för hård ved eller mindre nedbruten ved. Detta kan delvis förklaras av de arter som användes för mått på artrikedom, mossor och lavar, främst prefererar ved i senare nedbrytningsstadie. Denna studie visar på att tillförsel av väl nedbruten ved är ger ett starkt utslag för artrikedomen i brukade skogar och framförallt i naturreservat. Det styrker vikten av att kontinuerligt tillföra död ved och låta den brytas ned, då olika arter är beroende av olika nedbrytningstadier.

Död ved är en viktig del i ekosystem och har många olika funktioner. Många arter är beroende av att ha tillgång till död ved, exempelvis som födokälla, bo-/växtplats eller skydd. I kalhyggen, där den naturliga produktionen av död ved inte längre finns kvar, är det därför viktigt att det lämnas kvar en viss mängd, så att området bibehåller sina biologiska förutsättningar. I undersökningen jämfördes kalhyggen med produktionsskog för att se om det fanns någon skillnad i mängd död ved. Detta gjordes genom att inventera 5 lokaler av 70–100 årig gran- och tallskog där varje lokal innehöll ett kalhygge som sammanhängde med ett område produktionsskog. Resultatet visade att det inte fanns någon skillnad i volym död ved mellan kalhyggen och produktionsskog. I inventeringen kunde man dock se att mycket av den döda veden som uppmättes i kalhyggena hade en diameter runt 10 cm medan skogsområdena hade mer varierande omkretsar. En högre volym av död ved uppmättes i granskog än i tallskog. Således kan man dra slutsatsen att slutavverkning av en produktionsskog inte verkar ha någon större påverkan på hur stor volym död ved som finns tillgängligt. De uppmätta värdena ligger dock långt under vad som finns i naturskogar, vilket indikerar att man behöver göra insatser för att öka mängden död ved i många av våra skogar. / Woody debris is an important part in many ecosystems and has several different functions. Many species depend on the existence of woody debris, where it is used for example as a food source, nesting site, growing site or as a refuge. In clearcut areas, where the natural production of woody debris no longer exists, it is therefore important that a certain amount of woody debris is left behind to make sure that the area continues to have good biological function? In this investigation, I compared clearcut areas with production forest to see if there was a difference in the volume of woody debris. Five sites with 70–100-year-old spruce- and pine forests were inventoried. Every site consisted of one clearcut area that was adjacent to an area with production forest. No difference in volume of woody debris was found between the areas. The inventory showed that many of the measured trunk diameters that were found in the clearcut areas were around 10 centimeters, whereas in the areas with production forest the diameter varied more. Larger volumes of woody debris were found in spruce forests then in pine forests. Thus,the conclusion is that clearcutting an area with production forest does not seem to have a big impact on the volume of woody debris. Nevertheless, the measured amounts of woody debris are far less then what are found in natural forests, which indicates management needs to see what improvements can be done to increase the amount of woody debris in many of our forests.

The military area Skillingaryds skjutfält is considered to harbor a great amount of value for saproxylic beetles, despite the fact that no inventory has been made, because of the high amount of dead wood. After the storms Gudrun (2005) and Per (2007) the County Administrative Board of Jönköping decided to leave a large amount of dead wood in the area to promote biodiversity. During the summer of 2016 the area was surveyed with window traps that were emptied three times. 121 species of saproxylic beetles belonging to 41 families were found during this time. Of these species there were three red listed: Uloma culinaris, Pseudanidorus pentatomus and Orchesia minor. Aside from the red listed species one species that indicate high nature values, Necydalis major, was found and four rare species from the genus Hylis sp. which are rare due to intense forestry. In comparison to other studies Skillingaryds skjutfält exhibit a less interesting fauna than expected. The reason for this is believed to be overgrowth, lack of variation and canopy closure that limits sun exposure. The summer of 2016 was quite mediocre in both temperature and sunny days which also may have affected the results. Since there hasn’t been any previous study of the saproxylic fauna in the area it is impossible to say if the windthrow from the big storms has affected the fauna in any direction. But since it is a known fact that storms generate dead wood it can be concluded that the increase of dead wood should have affected the fauna. This study is the start-up of a proposed continual survey and to draw any conclusions, comparison to other similar studies has been made. It should be emphasized that this study does not give the full picture of the saproxylic fauna and that there probably are more species living in the area than presented here.