Genomics has become an important tool in agriculture. Many modern crop breeding approaches such as genomic selection and genome editing require detailed information of the genomic composition of a crop species. However, the assembly of high-quality genome sequences is prone to technical artifacts that arise from inaccuracies in the sequencing technology and assembly algorithms. This is particularly true for the genomes of cereal crops, which are often very large, repeat-rich, and polyploid. Until recently, the highly continuous assembly of such cereal crop genomes from short-read data was mainly possible with proprietary assembly tools. In this work, we combined data generated with several short-read sequencing protocols and genomics technologies, including paired-end and mate-pair reads with multiple insert sizes, 10X linked reads, Hi-C contacts, and optical maps to assemble a chromosome level reference genome of Digitaria exilis (fonio millet) with open-source tools. Fonio millet is a semi-domesticated cereal orphan crop native to West Africa that has a high potential for desert agriculture. We implemented the TRITEX pipeline - a recently developed open-source pipeline for the assembly of large Triticeae genomes. We modified the pipeline to include 10X and Hi-C reads into the assembly process independently. We then compared the TRITEX assembly to the fonio reference genome, which had previously been assembled from the same input data but using proprietary algorithms. We found the two assemblies highly similar in content with high concordance in the local order (0.91 Pearson coefficient for alignments). However, we detected many small putative discrepancies between the two assemblies. While the TRITEX assembly was able to produce a highly continuous genome assembly, further work is needed to characterize the putative discrepancies in more detail.

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The first part of the master's thesis deals with basic types and functions of dampers, together with a search of commonly used methods of damper force measurements. Consequently, a design of an on-road damper force measuring assembly is made and positioned onto a 3D model of a vehicle's damper. In the final part of the thesis there is made an evaluation of conditions of use of the measuring assembly together with its versatility.

<a>The 20S proteasome, a multi-subunit protease complex, present in all domains of life and some orders of bacteria, is involved in degradation of the majority of cellular proteins. Structurally, it is made of α and β subunits arranged in four heptameric rings, with inner two β-rings sandwiched between outer two α-rings. The 20S proteasome in prokaryotes usually has one type of α and one type of β subunits, whereas eukaryotes have seven distinct types of α and seven distinct types of β subunits. Unlike the highly conserved structure of proteasome, its assembly pathway is different across the domains. In archaea and eukaryotes, proteasome assembly begins with α subunit interactions leading to the α-ring formation. By contrast, bacterial proteasome assembly pathway bypasses the α-ring formation step by initiating assembly through an α and β subunit interaction first. These early interactions are not well understood due to their highly rapid and dynamic nature. This dissertation focused on understanding the early events in proteasome assembly and contributed three significant findings. First, the archaeal proteasome assembly can also begin without formation of α-rings, demonstrating the coexistence of a bacterial-like assembly pathway. Second, a novel assembly intermediate was identified in yeast, and its composition argues for the presence of a similar α-ring independent assembly pathway. Third, the assembly chaperone Pba3-Pba4 prevents the formation of high molecular weight complexes arising from spontaneous and non-productive interactions among the α subunits. These findings provide a broader understanding of proteasome biogenesis and suggest considering proteasome assembly event as a network of interactions rather than a linear pathway. The results also shed light on assembly chaperone’s contribution in increasing the efficiency of proteasome assembly by streamlining the productive interactions.</a>

Le rattachement de la liberté de manifestation à la liberté d’expression, la qualification sociologique de la manifestation comme « expression politique », son exercice par les citoyens depuis plus de deux siècles sont autant de facteurs qui unissent cette liberté à la démocratie. C’est à partir d’une étude théorique puis juridique de la liberté de manifestation, que ce rapport complexe, n’excluant pas le conflit, a été étudié. Comme cette liberté n’a pas d’objet défini, il est apparu nécessaire de s’interroger sur sa fonction (et ses limites) à l’intérieur du « système » de droits des démocraties occidentales, en s’appuyant sur une méthodologie de type interdisciplinaire. Les hypothèses ainsi dégagées ont servi de point d’appui pour une lecture comparée à plusieurs entrées : droits français, allemand et américain, d’une part, droit européen des droits de l’homme de l’autre. Cette comparaison a permis de dégager certaines convergences prévisibles et quelques différences. Celles-ci tiennent surtout aux positions et aux méthodes originales des juges nationaux et européens. La réflexion s’est donc portée sur le rôle des juges dans la réalisation du droit à la liberté de manifestation, ce qui a conduit à dégager un certain nombre d’enseignements de portée générale sur les rapports ente libéralisme et démocratie. / The link between the Freedom of Assembly and the Freedom of Speech, the sociological acceptance of demonstration as a political way to express oneself, the fact it has been put into practice by the citizens for more than two centuries, are as many factors binding this liberty together with the Democracy. This complex connection, occasionally conflicting, has been studied starting from theoretical analysis toward a juridical approach of the freedom of assembly. Since this Freedom has no particular object, it seemed necessary to question ourselves about its functions (and its limits) within the western democracies law system, using an interdisciplinary methodology. The resulting different hypotheses served as a base for a comparative study: French, German and American Law on one side, European Human Rights System on the other side. This comparison led to some predictable points of convergence, and to a few differences. These differences are mainly due to the original stances and methods of the national and European judges. Our reflection was then oriented towards the role of the judges in the achievement of the Freedom of Assembly, from which we have drawn a few lesson of general application about the links between Liberalism and Democracy.

Master of Science

Master of Engineering

Over the last decade, impressive development in lead halide perovskites (LHPs) have made them leading candidate materials for photovoltaics (PVs), X-ray scintillators, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The success of LHPs NCs in lighting and display applications is mainly originated from their high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), narrow emission, sizable bandgap, and cost-effective fabrication. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the design principles of LHP NCs will fuel further innovations in their optoelectronic applications. This dissertation centers on the synthesis and self-assembly of LHP NCs. At first, we investigate the capability of colloidal synthetic routine to engineer the shape, size, and dimensionality of the resulting LHPs NCs (chapter 2), including 0D nanospheres, 2D nanoplates, and 3D nanocubes. Starting from the LHPs NCs, nanoplates (chapter 3), nanowires (chapter 4), and superstructures (chapter 5) are successfully achieved via various self-assembly strategies. In chapter 3, we present a liquid-air interfaces-assisted self-assembly technique to obtain micro-scale CsPbBr3 nanoplates from as-synthesized nanoscale NCs. The AC-HRTEM offered an atomic-level observation during the structural evolution and revealed an oriented attachment-mediated assembly mechanism. The assembled CsPbBr3 nanoplates exhibited ultrahigh stability under X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping conditions (300-kV electron beam), and the first atomic-resolution EDS elemental mapping data of LHP NCs were acquired. In chapter 4, we demonstrate an efficient green-chemistry approach for the self-assembly of CsPbBr3 NCs into 1D nanowires and nanobelts via the light induction. As an elegant and promising green-chemistry approach, light-induced self-assembly represents a rational method for designing perovskites. In chapter 5, we will explore the self-assembly of CsPbBr3 NCs into superstructures to overcome the ‘green gap’ to achieve a pure green emission with high PLQY for realizing next-generation vivid displays. In summary, we systematically investigated the mechanisms of LHP NC self-assembly, the kinetics of their morphological evolution and phase transitions, and driving forces that govern the self-assembly process. The assembled LHP NCs manifest desirable properties (e.g., superfluorescence, improved photoluminescence lifetime, enhanced stability against moisture, light, electron-beam irradiation, and thermal-degradation) that translate into dramatic improvements in device performance.

Modern product assembly is a demanding challenge due to the high number of parts, machines, tools, techniques and people involved in the process. Many assembly operators, therefore, are exposed to an intense cognitive load and also physically challenged due to a large number of repetitive tasks. Even though modern assembly lines use machines and industrial robots for physically intense, harmful or repetitive tasks, human operators still have some advantages over fully automated systems. This thesis explores how to fuse the strengths of both, industrial robots and human operators, to reduce the difficult challenges for the operators and to improve the general work environment while improving productivity and flexibility of the assembly line. To get first-hand insights of current assembly, I observed the work environments of four different manufacturers around Sweden. I analysed their setups, watched the processes, and got to interview the production managers and operatives to get to know the various challenges of today’s assembly lines. I clustered those insights into development fields and advanced ideas to improve the work environment. Then, I chose the most promising idea and started to prototype it with cardboard mockups. Roleplaying an assembly scenario using the mockups, I learned how to finetune the service and products. Then, I was able to define the complete archetype of the system. With further idea generation in sketches, I developed the form and function of the concluding product. Finally, I created the complete model in a 3D CAD platform and tested its features with CNC milled prototypes. The final result is called COOE. It is a smart table-based assembly system combining the strengths of the machine and the human. It takes human motions and behaviour into account while boosting productivity as a collaborative team.

Collagen I, a natural protein found in animal tissues, can self-assemble into fibrous matrices that support cell and tissue growth. Peptide mimics of collagen are able to recapitulate this selfassembly process towards the development of biomaterials for tissue engineering. In recent years, the metal mediated self-assembly of collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs) has allowed access to various particle morphologies. Herein, two studies are presented. In the first, NCOH-FOGER, a cell adhesive CMP capable of metal-triggered self-assembly, was utilized to develop a model system to mimic natural collagen’s interactions with endothelial cells. Notably, a cobalt(III)- NCoH-FOGER assembly was able to induce endothelial cells to form network-like structures. In the second, a CMP was modified to include an unnatural amino acid, L-4-trans-fluoroproline, which increased the thermostability of its folded state. The effect of this substitution on the morphology of self-assembled particles was evaluated.