The sea mine has shown that it is an effective weapon during numerous wars and conflicts over the course of history, including operations against the Japanese Empire during World War II and during the Korean War. Yet, despite its proven potency, the sea mine is often neglected or even forgotten. In order to better comprehend this phenomenon a better understanding of mine warfare is needed. When studying previous research into naval mine warfare, an absence of theoretical perspectives can be identified. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this scientific gap by approaching mine warfare from a theoretical perspective. Raoul Castex’ theories on strategic manoeuvre and offense versus defence, are used to develop an analytical instrument. Two cases are then analysed: the offensive mine laying campaign in Japan 1942-1945 and the defensive mine laying campaign in Korea 1950-1953.  The results show that the theory of strategic manoeuvre has greater explanatory value for the offensive case, while the theory of offense versus defence has an equally high explanatory value for the two cases with their diverse actors. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that a theoretical perspective enables greater scientific understanding of mine warfare and its internal factors.

Orientador: Maria Luiza Silveira Mello / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T21:08:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moraes_AlbertodaSilva_D.pdf: 18240611 bytes, checksum: 0c094268046690a939c185449986f74f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Envelhecimento pode ser definido como as mudanças sofridas por um organismo ao longo do tempo. Esse processo, em biologia, é denominado senescência. A senescência celular é um fenômeno observado em células isoladas, e tem sido estudada tipicamente em células em cultura. Sua ocorrência in vivo foi observada em alguns tecidos de mamíferos. As mudanças na estrutura e organização da cromatina que ocorrem em células senescentes incluem, aumento na resistência da cromatina à digestão por nucleases e acúmulo de modificações de histonas e proteínas associadas à heterocromatina. Embora nem todas as células em um organismo envelhecido estejam em estado de senescência, espera-se que mudanças na estrutura e organização da cromatina ocorram. A restrição calórica é a única intervenção conhecida que tem a capacidade de estender o tempo de vida em mamíferos. Após uma dieta de restrição calórica ou jejum muitos genes, cuja expressão encontra-se alterada em animais idosos, têm sua expressão restabelecida aos níveis observados em animais jovens. Acredita-se que mudanças na cromatina também possam ocorrer durante o jejum, e que induzam mudanças no nível de expressão de diversos genes. No presente trabalho, buscando-se alterações na organização da cromatina em hepatócitos de camundongo ao longo do envelhecimento ou submetidos ao jejum, observou-se um aumento das propriedades viscoelásticas da cromatina ao longo do envelhecimento, de acordo com as mudanças na habilidade dessa cromatina em formar fibras estendidas de cromatina. Essas diferenças foram acompanhadas por um desempacotamento da cromatina. Observou-se também que essa viscoelasticidade da cromatina era dependente principalmente de interações desta com a matriz nuclear, e que cópias de genes cuja atividade transcricional não é mais requerida, ou requerida em um nível menor em animais idosos, podem desligar-se temporariamente da matriz nuclear. Mudanças nas propriedades viscoelásticas da cromatina e no seu grau de compactação já haviam sido observadas previamente em animais em jejum. Apesar disso, no presente trabalho, nenhuma diferença com relação à interação dos genes rDNA com a matriz nuclear foi encontrada em animais em jejum. Contudo, independente da condição fisiológica, o DNA aderido à matriz nuclear parece ser rico em genes, enquanto as seqüências heterocromáticas, pobres em genes, geralmente são encontradas tanto associadas com a matriz nuclear quanto dissociadas desta (cuidado com essa conclusão. Está forte). Em hepatócitos de animais idosos foi observado acúmulo de marcadores heterocromáticos (modificações de histonas) e de outras proteínas (proteínas formadoras de heterocromatina e glicoproteínas presentes principalmente nos cromocentros), assim como diminuição das modificações de histonas associadas com transcrição ativa. Todas essas modificações estão relacionadas com alterações na síntese de RNA já relatadas para animais idosos, e são uma evidência de que o controle da expressão gênica, a organização e a composição da cromatina estão intimamente relacionados. Em um outro tipo celular como espermatozóides de camundongo, uma diferente organização nuclear levou a propriedades diferenciadas de sua cromatina com relação às suas propriedades viscoelásticas (aumentadas). Tais diferenças possivelmente estejam relacionadas com um padrão modificado de expressão gênica, uma vez que em espermatozóides, a atividade transcricional é nula ou quase ausente / Abstract: Aging may be defined as the changes that take place in an organism with time. This process, in biology, is called senescence. Cellular senescence is observed in isolated cells, and has been studied typically in cultured cells, but its occurrence in vivo has been shown only in some mammalian tissues. Chromatin changes that take place with cellular senescence include increase in the resistance of chromatin to nuclease digestion and accumulation of histone modifications and non-histone proteins associated with heterochromatin. Although not all cells in an aged organism are subjected to cellular senescence, it is expected that changes in the chromatin structure and organization still occur. Caloric restriction is the only intervention known to extend life span in mammals. It has been shown that many genes whose expression pattern is altered in aged animals can be reverted to the levels observed in young animals after a caloric restriction diet or complete food withdrawal. Changes in chromatin structure may occur during the starvation period to induce changes in the expression level of several genes. With the aim of screening for alterations in the chromatin organization in mouse hepatocyte nuclei with aging or following starvation, we observed an increase in the viscoelastic properties of chromatin with aging, in terms of changes in the ability of this chromatin to form extended chromatin fibers after a lysis treatment in liver imprints on histological slides. These differences were accompanied by chromatin unpackage. Most of the viscoelasticity of the chromatin were dependent on its interactions with the nuclear matrix, and copies of genes whose transcription are no longer required in aged animals, tended to detach from the nuclear matrix. Changes in the viscoelastic properties and packing degree of chromatin had been shown previously in starved animals. However, no differences regarding this feature were seen in the present work. Nevertheless, regardless the physiological condition, DNA attached to the nuclear matrix seems to be gene-rich, while heterochromatic gene-poor regions were found both attached and detached from the nuclear matrix. We observed accumulation of heterochromatic marks (histone modifications) and non-histone proteins (heterochromatin proteins and glycoproteins present mainly in the chromocenters), as well as decreased histone modifications associated with transcription in hepatocyte nuclei of aged mice. All these changes are related to altered RNA synthesis observed in aged animals and are an evidence of the strong relationship between chromatin organization, composition, and control of gene expression. In another cell type, mouse sperm cells, its nuclear organization lead to different chromatin properties regarding its viscoelastic properties (increased). These differences are possibly related to a modified pattern of gene expression since gene transcription is almost or completely absent in sperm cells / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Flavio Henrique Caetano / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T03:36:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gomes_GiovanaAndressaTomaino_D.pdf: 12559217 bytes, checksum: 64524c3f699037f78f61a1a662484f1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Acutisoma (=G.) longipes Roewer, 1913 (Arachnida: Opiliones) é uma espécie de opilião pertencente à sub-ordem Laniatores. As fêmeas da espécie passam por um jejum durante o período de cuidados com a prole. Assim fêmeas sem ovos maduros, com ovos maduros e cuidando da prole foram coletadas e os ventrículos e ovário analisados com técnicas histológicas (hematoxilina-eosina), histoquímica para proteínas totais (azul de bromofenol e xilydine ponceau), polissacarídeos (PAS), proteínas colágenas (Picrosirius red) e proteínas ácidas (azul de toluidina), Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET), Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e citoquímica ultra-estrutural para glicogênio. Histologicamente o ventrículo é formado de células digestivas e generativas. As primeiras têm características de células secretoras, com acúmulo citoplasmático de grânulos protéicos ácidos, formação e liberação de vesículas granulares para o lúmen. O ventrículo sofre retração e ocorre a diminuição de vesículas citoplasmáticas de secreção entre a fase em que a fêmea se alimenta e não tem ovos maduros para a fase em que permanece algum tempo em jejum e cuida da prole. O corpo gorduroso que circunda o ventrículo é considerado tecido de estocagem, dando suporte ao metabolismo do aparelho digestivo. Ultraestruturalmente, distinguem-se três tipos de células no epitélio ventricular, as células digestivas, que provavelmente tornam-se células excretoras, e as secretoras, sendo as células excretoras escassas em fêmeas com prole. Em Acutisoma longipes, as células generativas ou de reposição têm núcleos grandes e pouco citoplasma não especializado, podendo se diferenciar ou em células digestivas, secretoras ou células de excreção. O ovário das fêmeas na fase de cuidados com a prole apresenta camada de células epiteliais que também sofre retração, assim como ocorre no ventrículo no mesmo período fisiológico deste. Tais observações são constatadas com a MET, com a qual é evidente o estreitamento parcial do lúmen. Ovário caracteriza-se pela presença de ovócitos em toda sua extensão e pela ausência de células nutridoras. Todos os graus de desenvolvimento dos ovócitos podem ser encontrados nas três fases de fêmeas estudadas. Isto demonstra ser a ovogênese um processo dinâmico e contínuo. Ovócitos sendo reabsorvidos são comuns na última fase (de cuidados com a prole) quando o tempo de jejum já é longo. A reabsorção de nutrientes de ovócitos pode ser nesse caso, para suprir o déficit nutricional e energético das fêmeas em jejum (cuidando da prole) até o momento que a cria é emancipada e a fêmea volta a se alimentar, e posteriormente entrar ou não em novo ciclo reprodutivo. / Abstract: Acutisoma (=G.) longipes Roewer, 1913 (Arachnida: Opiliones) is a harvestmen of the suborder Laniatores. Females of this species do not feed while tending the brood care. In this study, females without mature eggs, with mature eggs, and tending the brood care were collected, and the ventriculi and ovaries were examined using histological techniques (hematoxylin-eosin), histochemistry for total proteins (bromophenol blue and xylidine ponceau), polysaccharides (PAS), collagenous proteins (picrosirius red) and acidic proteins (toluidine blue), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultrastructural cytochemistry for glycogen. Histologically, the ventriculus consists of digestive cells and regenerative cells. The former exhibit characteristics of secretory cells, with granules of acidic proteins in the cytoplasm, forming vesicles containing granules and releasing them into the lumen. From the phase when the female feeds and does not carry mature eggs to the phase when she tends the brood and does not feed the ventriculus retracts and the amount of cytoplasmic secretory vesicles decreases. The fat body was observed surrounding the ventriculus. The fat body is considered an energy storage tissue, supporting the digestive system metabolism. Three different cell types were observed in the ventricular epithelium: Digestive cells, which probably become excretory cells, and secretory cells. Excretory cells are not abundant in females tending the brood. In A. longipes, regenerative cells have large nuclei and little undifferentiated cytoplasm, and can later be specialized to carry out digestive, secretory or excretory functions. The ovary of females in these phases exhibit a layer of epithelial cells and this organ also retracts similar to what is observed in the ventriculus, with a partial narrowing of the lumen. The presence of oocytes is characteristics of the ovary throughout its extension, as well as the absence of nurse cells. Young oocytes and these in other developmental stages are observed in females during the three phases examined, indicating that oogenesis is a dynamic and continuous process. Oocytes being reabsorbed are common in the brood care phase when the starving period is long. The resorption of nutrients from ooctyes in this case might reduce the nutritional and energetic deficit until emancipation of the brood when the female can feeding again and possibly begin a new reproductive cycle. / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Les émissions de méthane (CH[indice inférieur 4]), gaz à effet de serre provoquant le réchauffement climatique doivent être contrôlées. Les biofiltres peuvent être utilisés pour atteindre cet objectif. Les émissions de CH[indice inférieur 4] issues des industries agroalimentaires ou du traitement des eaux peuvent être accompagnées de vapeurs d’alcool. La présence simultanée de CH[indice inférieur 4], polluant à limitation par transfert de masse et d’alcool, polluant à limitation cinétique dans un mélange gazeux peut induire des limitations dans le biofiltre. L’objectif principal de cette recherche est l’évaluation des limitations dans un biofiltre traitant le CH[indice inférieur 4] en présence ou en absence de vapeur d’alcool en régime permanent ou transitoire. Dans un premier temps, une revue de littérature s’est penchée sur les limitations basées sur le transfert de masse et la cinétique lors de l’enlèvement de polluants organiques dans un biofiltre. Par la suite, l’élimination du CH[indice inférieur 4] a été effectuée dans un biofiltre afin d’évaluer l’influence de la concentration à l’entrée du biofiltre sur la performance du biofiltre. Une capacité d’élimination maximale de 45 g [indice supérieur -3] h[indice supérieur -1] a été obtenue pour une charge à l’entrée de 87 g [indice supérieur -3] h[indice supérieur -1] du biofiltre. Le biofiltre a toléré des charges par à-coups de CH[indice inférieur 4] de même que des privations de CH[indice inférieur 4] et de nutriments. Par conséquent, les comportements en régimes permanent et transitoire d’élimination du CH[indice inférieur 4] en présence de vapeurs d’éthanol ont été étudiés dans un biofiltre ayant un lit filtrant inorganique sous des temps de résidence en fût vide (EBRT) de 6, 3 et 1.5 minutes. L’ajout d’éthanol sur 3 cycles a été effectué en fonction des 3 EBRTs. Un EBRT de 6 min correspondant à des charges à l’entrée de CH4 et d’éthanol de 4.5 et de 132 g [indice supérieur -3] h[indice supérieur -1] a induit des limitations mineures en ce qui a trait à l’enlèvement du CH[indice inférieur 4] et de l’éthanol. En régime transitoire, la période de récupération après les 3 cycles a nécessité 10 à 25 jours. Ce délai est relié à la présence d’éthanol dans le lixiviat. Dans un dernier temps, deux biofiltres ayant un garnissage de pierres et un garnissage mixte ont été comparés pour l’enlèvement du CH[indice inférieur 4] et de l’éthanol présents dans un mélange gazeux en régime permanent. La section inférieure du biofiltre a permis l’élimination totale de l’éthanol. De plus, lors de l’élimination totale de l’éthanol dans la section inférieure du biofiltre, la production de dioxyde de carbone (CO[indice inférieur 2]) dépasse 16 g[indice supérieur -3] h[indice supérieur -1], pour des charges à l’entrée de CH[indice inférieur 4] et d’éthanol de 11 et 13 g m[indice supérieur -3] h[indice supérieur -1] respectivement. Par ailleurs, une concentration en éthanol dans le lixiviat excédant 2500 géthanol m[indice supérieur -3] lixiviat a été obtenue. Les biofiltres ont démontré une flexibilité pour des charges par à-coups d’éthanol suivies de périodes de carence. Le principal inconvénient du biofiltre à lit de pierres par rapport au biofiltre mixte est une perte de charge élevée dans la section inférieure du biofiltre. Une période de carence est un excellent moyen de contrer la perte de charge. / Abstract : Since methane (CH[subscript 4]) is a greenhouse gas with hazardous effects for global warming, every effort should be made to reduced methane emissions. Biofilters are potential candidates for CH[subscript 4] removal. In food and beverage industries as well as ethanol refineries, the feed of the biofilter might be a mixture of CH[subscript 4] emissions from wastewater treatment unit and ethanol emissions from other units. The presence of CH[subscript 4] as a mass transfer limited and ethanol vapor as a kinetic limited pollutant in a mixture can produce several limitations in a biofilter. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the limitations of CH[subscript 4] biofiltration or in the presence of ethanol vapors under steady and transient state conditions. First, a literature review was provided on mass transfer and kinetic limited organic pollutants removal in biofilters and the related limitations. Subsequently, the CH[subscript 4] elimination was assessed in a biofilter in order to evaluate the effect of CH[subscript 4] inlet concentration in the range of 1000 to 13000 ppmv and a gas flow rate of 3 L min[supercript -1] on the biofilter performance. A maximum CH[subscript 4] elimination capacity (ECmax) of 45 g m[superscript -3] h[superscript -1] was obtained for a CH[subscript 4] inlet load (IL) of 87 g m[superscript -3] h[superscript -1]. The biofilter tolerated CH[subscript 4] shock loads as well as different types of CH[subscript 4] and nutrient starvations. Subsequently, the steady state and dynamic behaviors of CH[subscript 4] elimination in the presence of ethanol vapor was studied in an inorganic bed biofilter with empty bed residence times (EBRTs) of 6, 3 and 1.5 min. Ethanol addition was performed in 3 cycles based on the EBRTs. An EBRT of 6 min with corresponding CH[subscript 4] and ethanol inlet loads of 132 and 4.5 gpollutant m[superscript -3] h[superscript -1] respectively, caused the least limitations for the simultaneous removal of CH[subscript 4] and ethanol in the biofilter. According to dynamic behavior of the biofilter, the recovery time after the three cycles took from 10 to 25 days. The delayed biofilter recovery was linked to the presence of ethanol in the liquid effluent. Finally, a stone-based bed and a hybrid packing biofilter were compared for CH[subscript 4] and ethanol removal in a mixture under steady and transient state conditions. Ethanol was completely removed in the bottom sections of both biofilters. A large carbon dioxide (CO[subscript 2]) production rate exceeding 18 g m[superscript -3] h[superscript -1] occurred in the bottom sections for CH[subscript 4] and ethanol inlet loads of 11 and 13 g m[superscript -3] h[superscript -1] respectively. In addition, an ethanol concentration in the leachate exceeding 2500 gethanol m[superscript -3] leachate was obtained for both biofilters. The biofilters were flexible to an ethanol shock load followed by a starvation period. The main drawback of the stone based bed biofilter compared to the hybrid packing biofilter was an excess pressure drop in the bottom section. Starvation was found an effective strategy for reducing the pressure drop.

The author will use three case studies not only to expose the falsehood of the philosophy that poverty breeds deep spirituality, but also to demonstrate the disastrous effects of poverty to the human body. The dissertation will explore the reasons that caused some poor black ministers, more especially those of the Church of the Nazarene, not only to accept but also to preach positively about the philosophy that poverty breeds deep spirituality. (a) The first case study happened during my first year in the ministry, when the author had to use a bus in order to help my sick wife to hospital. We had to walk for about two hours a distance of almost 500 meters in order to reach the bus stop, because the stipends I received made it impossible for me to hire a transport to the nearest town. The bus driver knew the pathetic conditions faced by the black community, so he could not turn away a critically ill passenger. He opted to allow us into the bus and face whatever difficulties we may encounter along the way. The incident exposed the worse experiences of the poor people. (b ) The second study case involves Themba (Hope), the author’s son, whose anger was betrayed during a Sunday morning service when he refused to have a direct eye contact with the author who was preaching about the God who provides for all of our needs ( Genesis 22:14). His avoidance of a direct eye contact with his father was another way of demonstrating his anger (Carter and Minirth 1993:5). Themba (Hope) demonstrated his dissatisfaction about the pathetic situation of poverty at home during a visit of a missionary Tom Giggs (fictitious name) that he sat directly opposite Giggs in order to expose his pair of trousers that was torn at both knees. Giggs out of embarrassment gave the young man R200 in order to buy clothing. A few years later, Themba was on his to board a train, when unknown persons beat him so much that they left him lying on one of the streets on the city, Johannesburg thinking that he was dead. A Good Samaritan took him home, placed him on his bed then left. We took him to hospital, where doctors had no alternative but to refer him to the St. John’s hospital for the removal of his right eye. The hole where his eye was reminds the family of the beating that our son experienced. (c) The third study case concerns Thabile (Rejoice), the author’s only daughter who resorted to a false marriage as an escape mechanism to the hunger and the ridicule that was experienced in the family. The marriage ended in a divorce just only after three years. Then she died at a time when the animosity was beginning to be healed thus living a ten-year-old son Nkosinathi (Immanuel) behind The dissertation will demonstrate the falsehood of the philosophy that poverty breeds deep spirituality. To the thousands of poor people in our country South Africa, the Constitution with the Bill of Rights that protects our freedom and dignity have no meaning (Pieterse 2001: 1-2). The dissertation will highlight that poverty can never be a blessing (Mc Cauley 1993: 47). The poor people have little income with which to support their families. They eat food of a poor quality with a low nutritional value, resulting in under nourishment and malnutrition. Malnutrition contributes to a poor performance of children in school, and contributes to a lower labour output (De Beer (co – editor) Swanepoel 2000:10). The author supports the scriptural view of the permanence of marriage (Matthew 19:6). However, when the marriage had broken down, the couples needs all the pastoral care they can get as a therapy because Jesus’ mission was to heal the broken hearted (Luke. 4:18). The divorce challenged the author to equip myself on how to deal with those who are hurting, and help the congregants to render effective pastoral care to those in need. The tone of the dissertation is to encourage forgiveness and reconciliation, and to understand that anger and resentment are self-defeating. They hurt the bearer more than they hurt the person they were intended to harm (Warren 2002: 28). Finally, the discipline of philosophy will be engaged in order to help the clergy to avoid the conservative beliefs from their thinking and to apply their faith practically by enabling them to compare the ideas, materials and skills to challenge any problem including the suffering of the clergy and their families. (Obeng el at 2000:33). / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Cytoplasmic mRNA-containing granules in eukaryotic cells play key roles inthe storage, localisation and degradation of mRNA. In yeast, depletion of glucoseleads to the rapid inhibition of translation initiation and consequent appearance of Pbodiesand EGP-bodies. P-bodies contain factors of the mRNA decay pathway andtherefore, are likely to be sites in which mRNAs targeted for degradation arelocalised. In contrast, EGP-bodies lack decay components and contain onlytranslation initiation factors and RNA binding proteins. Thus EGP-bodies have beensuggested to be storage repositories for mRNAs that need to be rapidly translatedfollowing glucose readdition. In this study we utilised the m-TAG system to investigate the localisation ofendogenous MS2-tagged mRNAs with P-bodies and EGP-bodies. A triplefluorescent labelled system developed show that a class of unregulated mRNAslocalised into P-bodies following glucose starvation. It was also observed that thesespecific abundant classes of mRNAs can be found in aggregates prior to any cellularstress and upon glucose starvation these aggregates coalesce into larger granules thatcolocalise with P-body components. This coalescence of mRNA aggregatesfollowing glucose starvation does not rely upon the recruitment of mRNA decayfactors and appears to precede this event. Indeed mRNAs in mutants deficient in Pbodyformation still develop large aggregates following glucose stress. In unstressedcells it appears that the mRNA granules are implicated in high-level translation ofthese specific abundant mRNAs. Following the inhibition of translation initiation inresponse to stress, these granules nucleate P-body formation via aggregation and therecruitment of mRNA decay factors.

Starvation and protein deficiency increase susceptibility to infec­tions in general and affect the function of various types of cells individually. Saliva contains substances which offer protection to the oral tissues. Its composition and secretion rate may be important in preventing the development of disease, e.g. dental caries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of starvation and protein deficiency on the secretion and composition of saliva and the effects possibly induced on dental caries. The following results were found. Short-term starvation on a liquid diet reduced the secretion rate and changed the composition of saliva in healthy humans. Chewing during starvation while it did not restore secretion rate, did partially restore the composition. Total protein concentration was not greatly affected by gross mal­nutrition or protein deficiency. A more pronounced effect was observed on individual biologically active proteins. The salivary glands seem not to be prime targets for malnutrition but the rate of biosynthesis of a bacteria aggregating glycoprotein and the activity of salivary peroxidase were significantly reduced by a long-term protein deficien­cy and gross malnutrition respectively in the rat. In humans, short­term starvation on a liquid diet caused an impaired glycosylation of sialic acid to the protein and decreased lysozyme activity. Sialylation was partially restored by chewing. In the rat the establishment of a cariogenic microorganism, S. cricetus (S. mutans) strain E 49 serotype a, was facilitated by protein deficiency. Starvation in both man and the rat produced evident clinical effects. The rate of plaque formation was increased in man and in the rat there was significant increase in caries development induced by a standardi­zed cariogenic challenge. This study shows that nutrition is important for the secretion of saliva and that starvation and protein deficiency increase the cario- genicity of sucrose. / <p>S. 1-49: sammanfattning, s. 51-116: 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

The purpose of this master thesis is to understand how political culture was negotiated during times of extreme external conditions, through the example of the parliamentary debates during the famine years 1726–1727. The result is based on the parliamentary protocols of 1726–1727 under the Age of Freedom. To answer the purpose of this study, four questions have been constructed. How was the crop failure and its consequences described? During the summer of 1726 Sweden was struck by a severe famine as a result of a poor harvest. The livestock were weakened and the farms had fallen into destitute. The peasants had to gather roots, bark, and moss to survive. Even the nobility described their own cultural habits and assets as being threatened and damaged. The local community felt that they could not live up to the demands made by the central power. What solutions did the local community propose or demand from the central power to tackle the consequences of the crop failure? The high taxation and lack of money, together with a strictly regulated trade, made the peasants feel forsaken, especially compared to other groups. The main strategies to gain the central powers approval was to show submission, refer to the law and try to compromise. But, when the central power did not respond to the peasants demands they threatened to leave their political duties. If the peasants had left, the entire political system could have collapsed. With what arguments did the central power respond to these problems? The central power feared that if they allowed the peasants to trade to a greater extent, they would perhaps engage in trade rather than in agriculture. They also feared an increased risk of fraud if the market opened up for a more mobile trade, which reflected the suspicion of a lack of morality among the peasants. The lack of trust was also an excuse to exclude the peasants from the Secret committee. The political distribution of power was considered by the peasants to be a political failure. Without the insight into the Secret committee, the peasants could not use economic arguments in the debate. How can the debate about crop failure and famine be understood as an example of political culture? Instead of the peasantry protesting with rebellion against the central powers levies, the Riksdag can be regarded as a safety valve, where the central power and the local society could find middle ground. If the demands of the local community did not collide with other groups' interests, then there was a good chance of getting temporary reliefs or increased freedom of trade.

The purpose of this thesis is to reveal production mechanisms of lubrication films between non-conformal surfaces in situations, when is not possible to designate lubrication regime as fully flooded elastohydrodynamic contact. Under certain conditions of lubrication volume, rolling speeds, temperatures, lubrication properties or loads could lubrication film decrease under values determined by fully flooded formulas. This regime is designated as starvation at it includes risk of increased wear. In this thesis the methodology and the new simulator of starving contact are described. Obtained film thickness results are compared with existing numerical models.

Air and saline P-V curves were run on the excised lungs of rats starved 1-4 days. Stability estimates based on % of maximum volume retained on deflation tended toward decreases, but atelectasis was not increased according to buoyancy measurements. Compliance was not significantly affected, with whatever trend existed being toward increases. Average air P-V curves for day 3 and 4 of starvation were essentially superimposable on control curves. Surface tension of lung lavage fluid was measured (Surfactometer) during cyclic compression and expansion of the film. Min and max γ were elevated, and the activity index (s) depressed, but the area of the hysteresis loop was relatively unchanged. It is concluded that despite increases in γ of lung washings, pulmonary mechanics was little affected by 1-4 days of food deprivation. The effects on surface tension may be due to a decrease in quantity of surfactant extractable, without any change in composition.