Introduktion/Bakgrund:  Nasogastrisk sond [NGS] är en vanlig förekommande behandling för patienter med undernäring som har orsakats av olika sjukdomar. Sonden kan medföra risker och komplikationer, framför allt vid insättningen. Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskan stöttar och uppmuntra patienterna till att vara delaktiga i sin egenvård, men även att hjälpa patienterna att acceptera sig själva. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa patienters erfarenheter av enteral nutritionstillförsel via nasogastrisk sond. Metod: Processen i denna litteraturstudie grundades på nio stegen enligt Polit & Beck (2021) med en induktivt ansats. Databaserna Cinahl och PubMed användes för att utföra litteratursökningen. Studien innehåller 11 vetenskapliga artiklar som är kvalitetsgranskade. Resultat: Utifrån databearbetningen framkom en huvudkategori Påverkan i det dagliga livet med fem underkategorier. Fysisk och psykisk påverkan, Social isolering, Förändrad vardag, Nya möjligheter och Förbättrad mående. Slutsats: I studien framkommer det att patienterna har haft negativa upplevelser, bland annat isolering på grund av det förändrade utseende som till följd orsakade dåligt självbild och självförtroende. Patienterna hade också positiva upplevelser av NGS som förbättrat nutritionstillstånd och vikstabilisering

Sväljsvårigheter uppstår hos individer med avancerad form av demens som en del av sjukdomsprocessen. Det ställer krav på hälso- och sjukvården att bemöta dessa symtom när individen själv saknar den kognitiva förmågan att fullt hävda sin autonomi avseende nutritionsbehandling. Frågan om sondnäring via sond eller PEG är en adekvat behandling för dessa patienter aktualiseras. Även om det rent utav är ett övergrepp och omvårdnaden istället bör ta en palliativ riktning. Sjuksköterskan betraktar ofta sin kunskap inom området som egna personliga preferenser och inte något som kan hänvisas till i ett kliniskt vårdsammanhang. Syftet med denna studie var att utforska sjuksköterskans etiska medvetenhet kring administrering av sondnäring till individer med avancerad form av demens. Studien genomfördes utifrån en kvalitativ design med en empiriskt utformad intervju, en litteraturöversikt samt en etisk analys utifrån sjuksköterskans möjliga handlingsalternativ i beslutandeprocessen. Slutsatser av denna studie består till en del av att sjuksköterskan bör agera som advokat för individens upplevda bästa och önskemål, ej stödja läkares beslut om administrering av sondnäring till dessa patienter samt bidra till en värdig död inom den palliativa domänen för individen med minsta möjliga lidande som resultat. / Swallowing difficulties occur as a part of the disease process in individuals with advanced dementia. Demands is set on the healthcare-staff to meet with these symptoms when the individual due to loss in cognitive function, lack a complete ability to claim autonomy regarding nutritional treatment. The issue arises regarding enteral feeding by PEG or NG-tube as a viable treatment option for these patients. Even if it is an encroachment and that the care instead should be performed from a palliative point of view. Registered nurses view their knowledge within the area as personal preferences that they cannot refer to in a clinical setting. The aim of this study was to explore the nurse´s ethical awareness regarding enteral nutrition to individuals with advanced dementia. The study was conducted from a qualitative approach with an empirical interview, a literature review and an ethical analysis concerning the nurse’s possible actions’ in the decision making-process. Conclusions of this study consists to a part of that the nurse should act as the patient’s advocate regarding from what’s perceived to be the best for the patient and the patient’s wishes. Also, not supporting the doctor’s decision of tube feeding to these patients’ and to contribute to a dignified death within the palliative domain, with least possible suffering as a result.

Bakgrund: Enteral nutrition via nasogastrisk sond är en vanlig behandlingsform för kortsiktig nutritionsbehandling då den anses ha förhållandevis lätt inläggning och avlägsnande. Sondinläggning och behandling kan innebära risker som kan leda till aspiration och allvarliga infektioner. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva vuxna patienters erfarenheter och upplevelser av näringstillförsel via nasogastrisk sond. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie genomfördes. Nio vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ ansats bearbetades i en innehållsanalys. Resultat: Innehållsanalysen presenterar fyra teman: Erfarenheter och upplevelser av fysiskt obehag, Erfarenheter och upplevelser av ett begränsat liv, Erfarenheter och upplevelser av en förändrad identitet samt Erfarenheter och upplevelser av att hantera vardagen. Deltagare beskrev upplevelser av fysiskt obehag vid insättning av sonden och under själva behandlingen, samt erfarenheter av begränsningar i vardagen och uttryckte även en ovilja att lämna hemmet. Vidare beskrevs upplevelser av en försämrad självbild relaterat till sondens synliga placering samt copingstrategier och behovet av stöd från sjukvårdspersonal och familj. Slutsats: Deltagarna upplevde både positiva och negativa erfarenheter och upplevelser vilket resulterade i motstridiga känslor. Ett individanpassat stöd från sjukvårdpersonal kan ha stor inverkan på deltagarnas välbefinnande och möjlighet till att klara sitt dagliga liv. / Background: Enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube is a common treatment form for short-term nutritional support since intubation and removal are rather simple to perform. Tube intubation and treatment may entail risks of aspiration and serious infections. Aim: The aim was to describe adult patients' experiences of nutritional support via nasogastric tube. Method: A general literature study was implemented. Nine articles with a qualitative approach were analyzed through content analysis. Results: The content analysis present four themes: Experiences of physical discomfort, Experiences of a limited life, Experiences of a changed identity and Experiences of dealing with everyday life. Participants described experiences of physical discomfort during insertion and the treatment itself, and experiences of limitations in their everyday lives and expressed a reluctance to leave their homes. Furthermore, experiences of an impaired self-image related to the tube’s visible location was described as well as coping strategies and a need for support from healthcare personnel and family. Conclusion: Participants described both positive and negative experiences, which resulted in conflicted emotions. Receiving personalized support from healthcare personnel can have a major impact on the participants' well-being and ability to cope with their everyday lives.

Probing orientations of fluorescent molecules embedded in or attached to cell membranes has a great potential to reveal information on membrane structure and processes occurring in living cells. In this thesis, we first describe one- and two-photon linear dichroism measurements on a fluorescent probe embedded in a phospholipid membrane with a well- defined lipid composition. On the basis of experimental data, we determine the distribution of the angle between the one-photon transition dipole moment of the probe and the membrane normal. At the same time, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of the fluorescent probe and quantum calculations of its one-photon and two-photon absorption properties. By comparing the orientational distribution gained from experiments with that predicted by simulations, we test the ability of linear dichroism measurements to report on the orientation of a fluorescent molecule in a lipid membrane. We also examine the applicability of molecular simulations as a basis for the interpretation of experimental data.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water availability and SO2 pollution, imposed separately or simultaneously, on the photosynthetic metabolism of Augea capensis Thunb., a succulent of the Namib Desert in the region of Skorpion Zinc mine, Namibia. The main driver for this investigation was the need to distinguish between the effects of water availability on plants native to a desert environment, where water availability dominates plant response, but where the possibility of anthropogenic SO2 pollution poses a new threat to the unique succulent vegetation. Fifteen measuring sites were selected in the vicinity of the mine to determine how rainfall influenced the physiological status of the vegetation. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements, and analysis of recorded OJlP fluorescence transients with the JIP-test, were used for this purpose. A series of laboratory experiments were also conducted on A. capensis to determine the precise physiological response that water deprivation and SO2 pollution had under controlled growth conditions. Potted plants were exposed to water deprivation or SO2 fumigation in the light or dark. Besides chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic gas exchange and Rubisco activity were also measured. Changes in fast fluorescence rise kinetics observed under field conditions suggest considerable modulation of photosystem II function by rainfall with concomitant involvement of a heat stress component as well. In both the field and laboratory experiments, one of the JIP-test parameters, the so-called performance index (PIABS), was identified as a very sensitive indicator of the physiological status of the test plants. Moreover, under laboratory conditions, a good correlation existed between the water deprivation-induced decline in CO2 assimilation rates and the decline in PIABS values. The JIP-test in general, and the PIABS in particular, shows considerable potential for application in the investigation of water availability influences on desert ecosystems. In the laboratory experiments, water deprivation caused stomatal closure but also a slight elevation in intercellular C02 concentration and inhibition of Rubisco activity, suggesting that mesophyll limitation was the dominant factor contributing to the decrease in C02 assimilation rates. Following re-watering, A. capensis showed remarkable recovery capacity. Fumigation of A. capensis with 1.2 ppm SO2 in the dark or light revealed relatively small effects on C02 assimilation. The inhibitory effects on photosynthesis were also fully reversible, indicating no permanent metabolic/structural damage. The effects on photosynthesis were more pronounced when fumigation occurred in the dark. This phenomenon might be related to diurnal differences in cellular capacity for SO2 detoxification. When long-term moderate water deprivation was combined with simultaneous SO2 fumigation, there was no additional inhibitory effect on photosynthesis. These findings suggest that water deprivation do not increase sensitivity towards SO2 pollution in A. capensis. Fumigation with SO2, singly or in combination with water deprivation also had no major effect on chloroplast ultrastructure. It appears that A. capensis is remarkably resistant to SO2 pollution even in the presence of low water availability, which is a common phenomenon in desert ecosystems. Since A, capensis seems to be highly tolerant to S02, its suitability as an indicator species for the detection of SO2 pollution effects at Skorpion Zinc mine is questionable. Because water availability dominates the physiological/biochemical response in this species, subtle SO2 pollution effects might be difficult to detect against this dominant background. The high water content of A. capensis and similar succulents might act as a substantial sink for SO2 and could convey considerable tolerance against this form of air pollution. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water availability and SO2 pollution, imposed separately or simultaneously, on the photosynthetic metabolism of Augea capensis Thunb., a succulent of the Namib Desert in the region of Skorpion Zinc mine, Namibia. The main driver for this investigation was the need to distinguish between the effects of water availability on plants native to a desert environment, where water availability dominates plant response, but where the possibility of anthropogenic SO2 pollution poses a new threat to the unique succulent vegetation. Fifteen measuring sites were selected in the vicinity of the mine to determine how rainfall influenced the physiological status of the vegetation. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements, and analysis of recorded OJlP fluorescence transients with the JIP-test, were used for this purpose. A series of laboratory experiments were also conducted on A. capensis to determine the precise physiological response that water deprivation and SO2 pollution had under controlled growth conditions. Potted plants were exposed to water deprivation or SO2 fumigation in the light or dark. Besides chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic gas exchange and Rubisco activity were also measured. Changes in fast fluorescence rise kinetics observed under field conditions suggest considerable modulation of photosystem II function by rainfall with concomitant involvement of a heat stress component as well. In both the field and laboratory experiments, one of the JIP-test parameters, the so-called performance index (PIABS), was identified as a very sensitive indicator of the physiological status of the test plants. Moreover, under laboratory conditions, a good correlation existed between the water deprivation-induced decline in CO2 assimilation rates and the decline in PIABS values. The JIP-test in general, and the PIABS in particular, shows considerable potential for application in the investigation of water availability influences on desert ecosystems. In the laboratory experiments, water deprivation caused stomatal closure but also a slight elevation in intercellular C02 concentration and inhibition of Rubisco activity, suggesting that mesophyll limitation was the dominant factor contributing to the decrease in C02 assimilation rates. Following re-watering, A. capensis showed remarkable recovery capacity. Fumigation of A. capensis with 1.2 ppm SO2 in the dark or light revealed relatively small effects on C02 assimilation. The inhibitory effects on photosynthesis were also fully reversible, indicating no permanent metabolic/structural damage. The effects on photosynthesis were more pronounced when fumigation occurred in the dark. This phenomenon might be related to diurnal differences in cellular capacity for SO2 detoxification. When long-term moderate water deprivation was combined with simultaneous SO2 fumigation, there was no additional inhibitory effect on photosynthesis. These findings suggest that water deprivation do not increase sensitivity towards SO2 pollution in A. capensis. Fumigation with SO2, singly or in combination with water deprivation also had no major effect on chloroplast ultrastructure. It appears that A. capensis is remarkably resistant to SO2 pollution even in the presence of low water availability, which is a common phenomenon in desert ecosystems. Since A, capensis seems to be highly tolerant to S02, its suitability as an indicator species for the detection of SO2 pollution effects at Skorpion Zinc mine is questionable. Because water availability dominates the physiological/biochemical response in this species, subtle SO2 pollution effects might be difficult to detect against this dominant background. The high water content of A. capensis and similar succulents might act as a substantial sink for SO2 and could convey considerable tolerance against this form of air pollution. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Botany))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

CPTU is one of the most sophisticated geotechnical investigation methods. However, there is a large amount of uncertainties related to this method. The uncertainties depend on different types of factors, for instance lack of accuracy in performance and equipment. The objective of this master thesis is to compare the CPTU-results from a number of commercial actors in Stockholm/Mälardalen in order to analyze these results with respect to the current standards and guidelines. The comparison was made in order to highlight the difference in results which may appear due to different equipment, performance of the operator and evaluation method. Based on this, an invite was sent to the commercial actors in Stockholm/Mälardalen, resulting in the participation of five different commercial actors in this investigation. Execution in the field was conducted over a six week period. During this time 26 CPTU were performed in total in a small area in Hagby, Stockholm, by these different actors. Once the data was collected from all of the actors, the results were evaluated with the aid of the computer softwares Conrad and Excel. The main conclusions from this study are: Not one of the performed CPTU in this master thesis fulfills the requirements for CPT class 1 according to the European standards. The quality of the education of operators should be improved and geotechnical engineers and the clients need to be more familiar with CPTU. The evaluated results from different commercial actors differ, and this can depend on the choice of equipment and performance of the operator during penetration, but it can also depend on systematic errors in the cone penetrometers / CPTU-sonderingar är en av de mest sofistikerade undersökningsmetoderna för geoteknisk analys och bedömning. Det finns emellertid en hög grad av osäkerhet i denna metod. Osäkerheten beror på olika typer av faktorer, bland annat brist på noggrannhet i handhavande och utrustning. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att jämföra CPTU-resultat från de kommersiella aktörerna i Stockholm/Mälardalen för att senare analysera dessa resultat i förhållande till gällande ramverk och riktlinjer. Jämförelsen gjordes med avsikt att lyfta fram skillnaderna i resultat som kan uppstå på grund av olika utrustning, handhavande och utvärderingsmetod. Baserat på detta skickades en inbjudan till de kommersiella aktörerna i Stockholm/Mälardalen, vilket ledde till att fem olika kommersiella aktörer deltog i undersökningen. Utförande i fält genomfördes under en period på sex veckor. Under denna tid utfördes totalt 26 sonderingar i ett avgränsat område i Hagby, Stockholm, av dessa olika aktörer. När all data samlats in från alla aktörer utvärderades resultaten med hjälp av mjukvarorna Conrad och Excel. De viktigaste slutsatserna i denna studie är: Ingen utav de utförda CPTU-sonderingarna uppfyller kraven för CPT klass 1 enligt den europeiska standarden. Kvaliteten på utbildning av fältgeotekniker bör förbättras och geotekniska ingenjörer och även beställare bör bli mer bekanta med CPT. De utvärderade resultaten från de olika aktörerna skiljer sig åt, och detta kan bero på valet av utrustning och fältgeoteknikerns prestation vid sondering men det kan också bero på systematiska fel i de använda sonderna.

This master thesis deals with the measurement properties of ultrasound probes. Ultrasound probes and their parameters significantly affect the quality of the final image. Values of pa-rameters of the probes may change due to their use, because probes may be damaged and the final image may no longer be correct. For these reasons the measurements of parameters of probes are very important. In this master thesis there are described and implemented the possibility of measuring the spatial resolution, focal zone, the sensitivity of the probe and measuring the length of the dead zone. Two ultrasonic phantoms were used for measuring. In the practical part there was created the program called Mereni_parametru, which allows to determine the value of four parameters from captured images of the phantom. Further, there are listed and described measured values for five ultrasonic probes. Results for two of these probes are then compared with the parameters given by the manufacturers.

MSc (Chemistry) / Department of Chemistry / Rauvolfia caffra Sond, a species of evergreen trees and shrubs in the dogbane family, (Apocynaceae), is used as a medicinal plant among traditional communities in many countries for the treatment of malaria, diabetes, coughs, gastrointestinal disturbances, skin infections, impotence, insomnia, diarrhoea, dysentery, scabies, worm infections, and both parasitic and microbial infections. Phytochemical studies have revealed that indole alkaloids are the major constituents of the stem bark. However, there are limited studies linking the compounds with the ethnomedicinal uses. The aim of this study is to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds from Rauvolfia caffra Sond. The highest phenolic content found in a fraction was 16.06±0.125 mg GAE/g, while the highest flavonoid content measured was 9.453±0.081 mg QE/g. In the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reducing power tests, a lowest IC50 value of 0.022±0.003 μg/mL and IC0.5 value 0.518±0.044 μg/mL, respectively, was found. Six compounds were isolated from the stem bark, including lupeol, a pentacyclic tri-terpenoid isolated for the first time from the genus Rauvolfia; raucaffricine, a rare glycoalkaloid of the monoterpenoid indole class; N-methylsarpagine, an indole alkaloid isolated for the time from R. caffra and spegatrine, an indole alkaloid isolated for the first time from R. caffra, respectively. Concerning antimicrobial activity, the highest activity of a fraction was against B. cereus with MIC values as low as 12.5 mg/mL. One fraction at the tested concentration (250 μg/mL) decreased the viability of Plasmodium falciparum (4.149±6.979 %) with an IC50 value of 6.533 μg/mL. The crude extract and some fractions affected the viability of the Trypanosomes at the tested concentration (250 μg/mL), giving -0.133 ± 0.206 %, 11.334 ± 2.692 %, 1.026 ± 0.143 % and 20.769 ± 9.054 % with IC50 values of 18.50 μg/mL, 14.15 μg/mL, 15.58 μg/mL and 34.71 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the fractions did not show significant cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. / NRF

As electronics are getting both smaller and more advanced, the need to verify and validate remains and the means are getting more complex the more functions and components are added. Traditionally, in-circuit tests (ICTs) are performed by probing dedicated test points on the Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) in a test sequence that is unique to each product. But as the density of components increases, the choice between component and test point must be considered. Instead of decreasing the reliability during verification by having to remove less system-critical test points, this thesis suggests the use of a near-field probe (NFP) based around a Giant Magneto-Resistance (GMR) sensor to possibly replace the need for a physical test point by instead performing contactless testing. The use of a GMR sensor allows for bandwidth from 0 Hz up to the MHz range, whereas commercial NFPs are based on a different technique and are operational from the MHz range and up. The goal of this project was to improve the non-linearity of typically 15% present in the AAH002-02 model from NVE by the use of an analogue closed-loop magnetic feedback circuit. The project successfully improved the linearity to 99.8% by the use of an instrumentation amplifier, a subtractor and a push-pull amplifier in conjunction with a 3x30 turn planar coil embedded in a PCB, located beneath the sensor Integrated Circuit (IC). The resulting linearity was verified by a Helmholtz coil where a uniform magnetic field was produced with linearly increased field strength, and calculated using the R2 value from a linear regression analysis on the acquired data. In the future, the data acquired from this kind of NFP could be used together with a Machine Learning (ML) model to remove the manual labour required when constructing these product-unique test sequences. / Dagens elektronik blir både mindre och mer avancerad, men behovet av verifiering och validering av dessa kvarstår och metoderna för detta ökar i komplexitet ju fler funktioner och komponenter som läggs till. Dagens kretskortstester genomförs genom att sondera dedikerade testpunkter strategiskt utplacerade på kretskortet enligt en testsekvens som är unikt skapad för varje produkt. Men med att densiteten av komponenter ökar måste valet mellan komponent och testpunkt tas i beaktning. Instället för att minska tillförlitligheten vid validering genom att ta bort mindre kritiska testpunkter föreslår denna avhandling användandet av en närfältssond baserad runt en Giant Magneto-Resistance (GMR)-sensor för att möjligen ersätta behovet av en fysisk testpunkt genom att istället genomföra kontaktlös testning. Användandet av en GMR-sensor tillåter en bandbredd från 0 Hz upp till MHzområdet, där kommersiella närfältssonder är baserade på annan teknik och är funktionsdugliga från MHz-området och uppåt. Målet med detta projekt var att förbättra olinjäriteten på typiskt 15% som är närvarande hos en sensor av modell AAH002-02 från NVE genom en analog magnetisk återkopplingskrets med sluten slinga. Projektet lyckades förbättra linjäriteten till 99.8% genom användandet av en intrumentförstärkare, en subtraherare och en push-pull-förstärkare i samverkan med en plan spole på 3x30 varv inbyggd i ett mönsterkort placerd under sensorns integrerade krets. Den resulterande linjäriteten validerades med hjälp av en Helmholtz-spole där ett uniformt magnetfält producerades med linjärt ökande fältstyrka och beräknades genom R2 -värdet från en linjär regression-analys på den inhämtade datan. I framtiden kan datan som inhämtats från den här sortens närfältssond kunna användas tillsammans med en maskininlärningsmodell för att ersätta det manuella arbetet som idag krävs för att konstruera dessa produktunika testsekvenser