Malignant gliomas belong to a highly aggressive class of tumours. Average patient survival time generally does not exceed 15 months. Despite intensive research, no therapeutic strategies capable of significantly extending the lives of those affected by the disease have been established to date. One potentially viable area of research into possible therapeutic targets in cancer therapy focuses on cell surface proteases. This group of proteins includes dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Changes to DPP-IV expression have been established in the case of various cancer types including malignant gliomas. Understanding the role of DPP-IV in the biological processes of this malignant disease may thus contribute to the development of new therapeutic modalities. This thesis is therefore dedicated to establishing an orthotopic xenograft model as well as a genetically engineered model (GEM) of the glioma. The effects of DPP-IV on the growth of an experimental glioma were subsequently examined, as was the ratio of catalytic and non- catalytic mechanisms in this process. The GEM model was used for monitoring enzymatic activity and DPP-IV distribution. Non-invasive fluorescence imaging was employed in order to monitor the intraexperimental dynamics of experimental gliomas. The results indicated that DPP-IV...

Malignant gliomas belong to a highly aggressive class of tumours. Average patient survival time generally does not exceed 15 months. Despite intensive research, no therapeutic strategies capable of significantly extending the lives of those affected by the disease have been established to date. One potentially viable area of research into possible therapeutic targets in cancer therapy focuses on cell surface proteases. This group of proteins includes dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Changes to DPP-IV expression have been established in the case of various cancer types including malignant gliomas. Understanding the role of DPP-IV in the biological processes of this malignant disease may thus contribute to the development of new therapeutic modalities. This thesis is therefore dedicated to establishing an orthotopic xenograft model as well as a genetically engineered model (GEM) of the glioma. The effects of DPP-IV on the growth of an experimental glioma were subsequently examined, as was the ratio of catalytic and non- catalytic mechanisms in this process. The GEM model was used for monitoring enzymatic activity and DPP-IV distribution. Non-invasive fluorescence imaging was employed in order to monitor the intraexperimental dynamics of experimental gliomas. The results indicated that DPP-IV...

Under the name EUSO, or Extreme Universe Space Observatory, are multiple instruments where some are currently under design or construction and others have concluded their mission. The main goal they have in common is to detect and analyse cosmic rays with very high energies by using the Earth's atmosphere as a detector. One instrument is called Mini-EUSO, will be placed on the international space station during 2019, and its engineering model is currently being used to collect data and test the function of different components. The engineering model differ from the full scale instrument, and it is also possible to use it for other purposes as well. In this thesis, some of the collected data is used to analyse and compare the engineering models specification to the full Mini-EUSO instrument, with focus on field of view, inert areas on the sensor and its general function. Objects, such as stars, meteors and satellites were also detected, and used in the tests. In addition a short test regarding the possibility to use the instrument to detect plastic residing in the ocean is made, by utilizing fluorescent properties of the plastics. The thesis came to the conclusion that some adjustments needed to be made on the engineering model, but also that the specifications of it was within expected ranges. Several of the objects found can also be used to improve detection algorithms. In addition, the preliminary tests regarding plastic detection in the ocean, have positive results.

In Uppsala, Sweden, Vattenfall has a combined heat and power plant. On the premises there is an engineering workshop with old fluorescent and mercury lamps that need to be replaced. This provides a great opportunity to save energy and money by installing more efficient lighting. The main purpose of this study was to present two functional and energy efficient lighting systems including control system. The lighting systems were designed by investigating the working environment, measuring illuminance and by simulations in the software DIALux. Additionally Life Cycle Cost (LCC) was used as an instrument of comparison. One alternative was designed using mainly modern T5 fluorescent lighting. For the other alternative powerful LED-lamps were chosen as the primary light source. The simulations showed the two alternatives to be equally good in regard to performance and energy saving potential. With sustained illuminance level the installed power of both systems was around 34 kW ascompared to 54 kW, the estimated value of the existing lighting system. The LCC, however, differed significantly with the fluorescent alternative having a total cost of 1.1 million SEK over a 20 year period while the same number for the LED alternative being 2.2 million SEK. The difference in LCC makes fluorescent lighting the preferable alternative. The present consumption is estimated to 142 MWh. The fluorescent lighting alternative would have an approximated energy consumption of 78.6 MWh including a control system, giving an energy saving potential of 45 %.

The large-scale use of artificial light throughout the night has occurred in the last 100 years and continues to increase globally. Artificial light impacts many animal and plant taxa. The effects of artificial light on bats is species specific. The Namib Desert in Namibia is still relatively dark but subject to the same drivers of increasing development and urbanization that have increased the spread of artificial light globally. This study investigated the effects of the introduction of ultraviolet, yellow and white artificial light on the activity of bats in a rural environment with minimal development in the Namib Desert. Four sites, 100 m apart, had one light and one bat detector each. The fourth light was a dark control. Each site was sampled four times by each light type. Bat activity was recorded by the bat detectors. Eight bat species were recorded during the experiment. Activity increased for open air and clutter-edge foraging species analysed. Broadband white light caused the highest increases in activity followed by yellow light when compared with the dark control site. Ultraviolet light caused the lowest increases in activity contrary to expectations. / Mengwaga ye 100 ya go feta go bile le koketšego ye kgolo ya tšhomišo ya seetša sa maitirelo bošego ka moka. Setlwaedi se se ata kudu lefaseng ka moka go feta pele, gomme se ama diphoofolo tše ntši le mehuta ya dimela. Leganata la Namib go la Namibia gabotse le sa ntše le swiswetše, eupša le ka fase ga dikgontšhi tša go oketša tlhabollo le toropofatšo tšeo di hlotšego koketšego tšhomišong ya seetša sa maitirelo lefaseng ka bophara. Dikhuetšo tša seetša sa maitirelo go memankgagane di fapana go ya ka mohuta. Nyakišišo ye e nyakišišitše dikhuetšo tša tsebagatšo ya seetša sa maitirelo sa go phadima, serolwane le se sešweu go modiro wa memankgagane ka tikologong ya nagaselegae ya go ba le tlhabollo ye nyane ka Leganateng la Namib. Seetša se setee le tithekethara e tee ya mankgagane di hlomilwe go le lengwe le le lengwe la mafelo a mane, a go arogantšhwa ka 100 m. Seetša sa bone se be se le taolo ya leswiswi. Lefelo le lengwe le le lengwe le dirilwe mohlala makga a mane ka mohuta wo mongwe le wo mongwe wa seetša. Modiro wa mankgagane e rekotilwe ka ditithekethara tša mankgagane. Mehuta ya mankgagane ye seswai e rekotilwe nakong ya eksperimente. Modiro wa mehuta ya sebakabakeng le ya go sela thobekgeng ye e sekasekilwego e oketšegile. Seetša se sešweu sa porotepente se hlotše dikoketšego tša modiro, sa latelwa ke seetša se se serolwane, ge se bapetšwa le lefelo la taolo ya leswiswi. Go fapana le ditetelo, seetša sa go phadima se hlotše dikoketšego tša fasefase modirong. / School of Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Nature Conservation)