<p>When paper is manufactured, deposits often form in the machines. These deposits are slimelike and can interfere with the papermaking process. The slimelike deposits are aggregates of micro-organisms, also known as biofilm. One single type of micro-organism can form a biofilm, but most biofilms consists of a mixture of several different kinds of micro-organisms and can form on about any conceivable surface. To control the aggregates of micro-organisms a slimecide is added, a so-called biocide. To examine what kind of bacteria that is included in the biofilm and also which bacteria that is killed or not killed by the biocide, Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) can be used.</p><p> </p><p>In this report we examine biocides impact on biofilm produced in the laboratory.The biocides were first tested for possible interference with the PCR-step of the T-RFLP analysis. None of the tested ten biocides inhibited the PCR process the biofilm was formed on metal plates when these were lowered in a beaker with white water. Three different beakers were set up, one with addition of a biocide with active component 4,5-DICHLORO-1,2-DITHIOLONE from the start, one with the addition of the same biocide after three days and one with no addition at all of biocide. Samples were taken from the beakers and analyzed with T-RFLP.</p><p> </p><p>In this report, we show that biocides affect planktonic and biofilm micro-organisms differently. There are however some micro-organisms in the biofilm that does not get affected by the biocide.</p><p> </p><p>The experimental in this report is a good way of investigate the influence that biocides have on planktonic and biofilm micro-organisms, but to get even greater result the experiment should be done over a longer period of time and repeatedly.</p>

<p>Electric current is known to flow through the π-bonds in oligothiophenes. In order to use them as molecular wires it is important to use a technique where the potential gradients can be generated and maintained in supramolecular networks. A solution to this problem can be the use of metal complexes as junction points within such a network.</p><p> In this project pathways to synthesize 2-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene <strong>(1)</strong> and 1-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene <strong>(2)</strong> for use in molecular electronic devices have been investigated. 4-(5-Bromo-thiophen-2-yl)2,2’-bipyridine <strong>(3)</strong> was prepared via Kröhnke reaction from 3-(5-bromothiophene-2-yl)acrolein and 1-(2-Oxo-2-pyridine-2-yl-ethyl)-pyridinium iodide in an overall yield of 14 %.  </p><p> Several routes towards 2-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene (<strong>1)</strong> and 1-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene <strong>(2) </strong>were tested. Since the original planned pathway did not work, lack of time made it impossible to complete the series of experiments that were needed. The synthesis of 2-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene (<strong>1) </strong>is almost finished. Due to the solvation problems, after the decarboxylation step, the product could not be analyzed by ¹H-NMR in a satisfactory manner. The product was sent for analysis.</p><p> A number of experiments towards 1-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene <strong>(2) </strong>were tested but few of them worked as planned. There is a lot of work left to be done in the synthesis of this compound but the lack of time made it impossible.</p><p> The chemistry that has been achieved is the synthesis of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione in the synthesis of 2-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene (<strong>1)</strong>. The following Hinsberg thiophene synthesis probably worked but due to solvation problems the product could not be isolated. The final product after hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the remaining ester groups after the Hinsberg thiophene synthesis was tested but the results were difficult to confirm.</p><p> In the synthesis of 1-thia-7,8-diaza-cyclopenta[<em>l</em>]phenanthrene <strong>(2)</strong> several attempts to make 3,4-diamino-<em>N,N</em>-diethyl-benzamide were made. The attack from the primary amines on the carbonyl carbon made it necessary to protect them. The attempt to synthesize 3,4-bis-acetylamino-<em>N,N</em>-diethyl-benzamide also failed, both the attempt directly from the carboxylic acid and through the acylchloride, even though the amines were protected.  </p>

<p>Denna studie belyser hur elever uppfattar korta och vardagsnära laborationer. Den fokuserar på elever som går Kemi B kursen men kan till viss del användas för alla kemikurser på gymnasiet. Studien har uppkommit framförallt av två anledningar. Det första motivet är att belysa hur lärare, i undervisningen, kan utnyttja korta laborationer för att göra undervisningen mer varierad genom att använda flera laborationer under ett pass istället för en. Studien vill visa vad eleverna tycker om dessa mer begränsade laborationer. Resultatet visar att elever anser att korta vardagsnära laborationer är intressanta och givande. En hel del elever tyckerrentav att de förstår mer än under de vanliga laborationerna under kursen. Den korta laborationstiden tycker många av eleverna ger mer tid till reflektioner kring uppgiften. Det andra motivet är att undersöka hur lärare anställda av små skolor med begränsad kemiutrustning kan använda vardagslaborationer för att ersätta störremer utrustningskrävande laborationer. Eleverna tycker överlag att de vardagsnära laborationerna är intressanta. Dock anser de flesta elever att de korta vardagsnära laborationerna inte fullt ut kan ersätta längre och mer avancerade laborationer.</p>

<p>Södra Cell Mörrum is one of the five paper pulp plants that are included in Södra Cell, and the paper pulp that is produced here is not only sold to Swedish paper mills. Most of the paper pulp is exported to different countries in Europe. In the manufacturing process the plant needs different kind of process water and there are guideline values for how much copper, iron and sodium this water is allowed to contain. Analyzes of this water is in the current situation done with an atomic absorption spectrometric instrument (AAS-instrument) with a flame.</p><p> </p><p>Measurements done with flame-AAS of samples that have concentrations near the guideline values for copper, iron and sodium, are not reliable. The reason for not being reliable is that the quantitation limits of these metals are higher than the limit values. An alternative method that should give more reliable values is to analyze with an AAS- instrument with a graphite furnace. The purpose of this project was to perform a method validation of the graphite furnace of the AAS-instrument in the analysis of Cu, Fe and Na. The focus of the project was to find the detection limits for each metal, study the variation and to see if it is possible to analyze these water samples with this technique.</p><p> </p><p>The concentrations of the calibration solutions is between 1-10 µg/l for Na, 5-25 µg/l for Cu and 2-20 µg/l for Fe.The detection limits for all metals were slightly below 1 µg/l and during the present circumstances in the laboratory; it would be difficult to get even lower detection limits. There are improvements that can be done to get to the even lower detection limits. The results from this work show that the variation in each sampling cup is very small but if you look at different sampling cups the variation could be large if the cups are not treated in the right way. Further validation analyzes like variation in between days needs to be done.<strong> </strong></p><p>It is possible to analyze these low concentrations of copper, iron and sodium in the water samples with the AAS- graphite furnace, but it is difficult because there are many factors that affect the results. Examples of such factors are the environment where the instrument is placed in the laboratory and the human factor. Further analyzes needs to be done to get a better view of how these factors affect the result.</p>

<p>The objective for this master’s thesis was to test and evaluate two methods for determining the content of tannin in a pinebarkextract. The methods used at Södra for this previously have not been specific enough, only the amount of polyphenolics have been measured. One of these methods is a test based on the Stiasny test and it determines the extracts ability to form a gel with formaldehyde. When this test was carried out it showed that the extract did not contain much tannin. The other method used at Södra measures the amount of polyphenolic substances with a spectrophotometer. The result from this method showed that the content were 50 %.</p><p> </p><p>One of the two new methods that were evaluated determines the amount tannin present in the extract because of tannins ability to form a complex with proteins. According to this method, the amount tannin in the extract were 42,5 %, and 19,4 % of this in the form of tannic acid. These results are credible on basis of previous information about the extract.</p><p> </p><p>The other method uses a RP- HPLC where ellagic and gallic acid were used as standards. The amount ellagic acid in the extract was determined to 0,06 %, but the result from gallic acid was inconclusive. Further analysis is necessary to evaluate the obtained results and the methods reliability.</p><p> </p><p>If the metods is to be used on a regular basis, my recommendation would be to start evaluating the protein-binding method because this would be easier and less time-consuming than modifying the HPLC- method. The HPLC- method could on the other hand provide useful information about the extract, not only the amount tannin could be measured, but also which kind of tannin could be investigated.</p>

<p>Pyrogens are substances that may induce fever in the human body. They can be parts of bacteria, virus or fungi and due to the reaction they may cause in the body, they are routinely looked for in the medical technology industries. A method called <em>in vitro</em> pyrogen test (IPT) has been developed to detect these pyrogens. It is based on the fever reaction in the human body and only requires blood in combination with a solution believed to contain pyrogens. If the result is positive, the production of cytokines is started. The cytokines of interest in the IPT method are those involved in the fever process and two of them are IL-1<em>β</em> and TNF-<em>α</em>, which are the cytokines used as markers of infection in this study. Since the production of cytokines is in proportion to the amount of pyrogens, the inflammation-inducing potential of the sample can be decided. Due to problems in standardizing the method, mainly because it handles with living blood cells, focus is still pointed at improving it. The aim of this study was to optimize parameters within the IPT method by analysing air samples taken in indoor surroundings believed to contain pyrogens. The different parameters included extraction of the filter from the air sampling, incubation of whole blood and sample extract and analysis of the incubation with ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). More specific, some of the issues concerned extraction media, time and shaking intensity for the extraction, blood ratio for the whole blood incubation and cytokines suitable for the method.</p><p>A possible approach for the IPT method, when analysing air samples containing pyrogens, was reached.</p> / <p>Pyrogener kallas ämnen som framkallar feber och de kan exempelvis bestå av hela eller delar av bakterier, virus eller svamp (fungi). En metod som kallas för in vitro pyrogen test (IPT) har utvecklats för att detektera dessa pyrogener. Metoden bygger på att en lösning som misstänks innehålla pyrogener får komma i kontakt med blod från en människa. Efter en inkubering på mellan 4-24 timmar har blodet reagerat på eventuella pyrogener och bildat cytokiner, där mängden cytokiner är proportionell mot mängden pyrogener. De intressanta cytokinerna i den här studien var IL-1<em>β</em> och TNF-<em>α</em>, som båda är involverade i feberprocessen. Det har varit svårigheter med att standardisera metoden, mycket beroende på att det är levande celler som hela metoden bygger på, så syftet med den här studien var att förbättra in vitro pyrogen test. Luftprover tagna i inomhusmiljöer som misstänks innehålla pyrogener har använts i försöken att optimera varje steg i processen. De olika stegen inkluderade extraktion av filter som använts vid luftprovtagningen, inkubering med helblod och provextrakt och analys av inkuberingen med ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Några av de parametrar som undersöktes gällde extraktionsmedium, skaktid och skakintensitet under extraktionen, blodförhållande under helblodsinkuberingen och lämpliga cytokiner för metoden.</p><p>Studien resulterade i att en metodik, för att analysera luftprov innehållande pyrogener med<em> in vitro</em> pyrogen test, kunde tas fram.</p>

<p>Under en kurs om människans fysiologi letade jag användbara hemsidor på Internet. Jag slogs då av att det fanns många bra hemsidor på engelska, men knappt några på svenska. Jag bestämde mig då för att göra en svensk sida som är användbar för skolbruk. Då datorer och Internet mest används för faktasökande i samband med eget arbete ville jag bygga upp något annorlunda. </p><p>Meningen med detta arbete är att försöka bygga upp ett interaktivt läromedel med program som går att hitta gratis på Internet, samt att undersöka vilka problem som kan uppstå vid framställningen. Min förhoppning är att detta arbete kan bidra till att ge lärare en ny uppfattning om Internets möjligheter. Då sidorna är uppbyggda i HTML fungerar de på alla datorer med webläsare. Genom att koppla kemin till elevernas vardag kan man visa att kemin inte bara är ett skolämne, utan något som omger oss och styr våra liv. Detta arbete kan användas både i skolan och i hemmet, eftersom experimenten är anpassade för att göras hemma.</p><p>"Vardagskemi"är uppbyggt kring ett hus där man kan"vandra"runt. Inne i de olika rummen finns skåp som man kan öppna. Klickar man sedan på de olika varorna i skåpet kommer man vidare till en faktasida, där varan beskrivs ingående. CD-skivan innehåller fakta om c.a. 30 hushållsvaror, 60 kategoriserade experiment som kan göras hemma, samt länkar till intressanta hemsidor.</p>

<p>The ability to create surfaces with well-defined chemical properties is a major research field. One possibility to do this is to design peptides that bind with a specific secondary structure to silica nanoparticles. The peptides discussed in this thesis are constructed to be random coil in solution, but are “forced” to become helical when adsorbed to the particles. The positively charged side-chains on the peptides strongly disfavor an ordered structure in solution due to electrostatic repulsion. When the peptides are introduced to the particles these charges will strongly favor the structure because of ion pair bonding between the peptide and the negatively charged nanoparticles. The peptide-nanoparticle system has been thoroughly investigated by systematic variations of the side-chains. In order to determine which factors that contributes to the induced structure, several peptides with different amino acid sequences have been synthesized. Factors that have been investigated include 1) the positive charge density, 2) distribution of positive charges, 3) negative charge density, 4) increasing hydrophobicity, 5) peptide length, and 6) by incorporating amino acids with different helix propensities. Moreover, pH dependence and the effect of different nanoparticle curvature have also been investigated. It will also be shown that the system can be modified to incorporate a catalytic site that is only active when the helix is formed. This research will increase our understanding of peptide-surface interactions and might be of importance for both nanotechnology and medicine.</p>

<p>Flera elevundersökningar påvisar ett minskat intresse för naturvetenskap. Ämnet kemi upplevs som abstrakt och antalet sökande till fortsatta studier i kemi avtar. Detta är en oroande trend då mycket i samhället idag har sin grund inom naturvetenskapen och kemin. Individen behöver naturvetenskaplig kunskap för att kunna deltaga i ett demokratiskt samhälle, såväl lokalt som globalt. Vidare är samhället i behov av en naturvetenskaplig yrkeskår. För att underlätta elevers lärande framhåller nuvarande ämnesdidaktisk forskning vikten av en verklighetsanknutet undervisningen samt att en helhetsbild skapas för eleverna. Med mål att främja verklighetsanknytning och helhetsförståelse har vi i detta arbete undersökt möjligheten att integrera Kemi A med de gemensamma kurserna på det naturvetenskapliga programmet utifrån gymnasieskolans kursmål. Våra förslag på de ämnesintegrerade momenten har därefter, genom kvalitativa intervjuer, utvärderats av fyra lärare vars ämnesbehörighet täcker de i momenten ingående ämnena. Vi visar att det finns tydliga beröringspunkter i kursmålen för Kemi A med de övriga naturvetenskapliga ämnena, men även med ämnen inom övriga discipliner. De flesta intervjuade lärare ser en vinst för det egna ämnet med de förslagna ämnesintegreringarna. De hinder som klarlades under intervjuerna var av praktisk karaktär där faktorer som tid och schema ansågs vara begränsande. Vidare tror de att för att öka intresset för kemi och naturvetenskap så behöver undervisningen kopplas till verkligheten.</p><p>För att bemöta ett sviktande intresse hos elever samt för att underlätta elevers lärande anser vi att undervisningen i kemi behöver förändras. Med detta arbete vill vi lyfta fram ämnesintegrering som en lämplig förändring. De presenterade ämnesövergripande momenten visar på möjligheter till en helhetsgivande undervisning och är tänkt till att inspirera verksamma gymnasielärare samt underlätta lärarens dubbla uppdrag att bedriva en undervisning som främjar ämneskunskaper och elevens värdegrund.</p>

<p>Insulin as well as glucagon are important hormones in maintaining glucose homeostasis and regulating the metabolism in the body. Insulin receptors (IR) are transmembrane receptors that promote a signal transduction when activated by insulin. This can for example cause an increased influx of glucose into the cell performed by so called glucose transporters (GLUTs). These membrane proteins facilitate the transport of glucose from the blood into the cells, so the cell always has a constant supply of energy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are nuclear fatty acid receptors. They are activated by lipids and regulate fatty acid transcription. PPARδ/β is located in skeletal muscle and can promote fatty acid catabolism as well as cause a switch in fuel preference from glucose to fatty acids. It has been suggested that ligands for PPARδ could act as insulin sensitizers. The PPARγ coactivator-1α can increase mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle if over expressed. The same is true for endurance exercise.</p><p>Hormones released from adipose tissue can cause hyperphagia<strong> </strong>and obesity if over- or under expressed. They can also work in the opposite way by decreasing appetite with weight loss as an effect. Impaired signalling or dysfunctional receptor can cause insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. Lipolysis occurs in adipose tissues and is conducted by three enzymes, namely adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and monoglyceride lipase (MGL). There are some factors that can increase lipolysis such as caffeine, a low glycemic index, high protein intake and training.</p><p>The enzyme PEPCK is involved in the gluconeogensis in the liver and kidney cortex, and also in the glyceroneogenesis in the liver, as well as in brown and white adipose tissue. When overexpressed in skeletal muscle the enzyme increases the muscle activity. The overexpression of the enzyme did promote the β-oxidation as energy source for the muscles during exercise, instead of muscle glycogen as fuel.</p><p>The processes of protein synthesis and breakdown are together called protein turnover. Muscle grows when synthesis is greater than breakdown, and withers if breakdown exceeds the level of synthesis. Acute effects of training is catabolic, but long time exercise causes however an increased protein synthesis. Leucine, an essential amino acid, has an important role in the initiation phase of translation. Glutamine is probably important in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Together with glutamate, aspartate and asparagine, these are responsible for the amino acid metabolism that occurs in the muscles. Protein synthesis reaches its maximum in the recovery phase after intense training.</p>