Ethernet Switches are widely used in real-time distributed systems as a solution to guarantee the real-time behavior in communication. In this solution there are still some limitations which are the important obstacles obtaining timeliness in the network. These limitations are the limited number of priority levels as well as the possibility of memory overruns with consequent messages. The mentioned limitations can be eliminated using a master/slave technique along with FTT paradigm. The FTT-SE protocol which is a technique based on the master/slave and FTT methods was proposed to overcome the mentioned limitations. However, the FTT-SE protocol has been investigated for a small network architecture with a single switch and master node. Extension of this solution to larger networks is still an open issue. Three different architectures were suggested to scale the FTT-SE to large scale network. In this thesis we propose a solution that extends the FTT-SEprotocol while keeping the real-time behavior of the network. In this solution, we divided the network into a set of sub-networks, each contains one switch, set of slave nodes and one master node that connected to the associated switch in the network. Moreover, the switches are connected together directly without gateways and form a tree topology network. The solution includes both synchronous and asynchronous traffic in the network. We also show that the timeliness of the traffic can still be enforced. Moreover, to validate the solution we have designed and implemented a simulator based on the Matlab/Simulink which is a tool to evaluate different network architecture using Simulink blocks. All transmission can be visualized by the ordinary Scope block in the Simulink. Moreover, the end-to-end delay for all messages is calculated after the simulation running to show the response time of the network. Furthermore, the response time analysis is done for both synchronous and asynchronous messages in this thesis according to the proposed solution. The results from simulation and the analysis are compared together to validate the investigations.

This thesis describes results from fundamental studies of liposomes intended for drug delivery and pH or temperature triggered release. In addition, the effect of lipid composition on bilayer disc formation and a potential application of the bilayer discs were investigated. The lower pH encountered by endocytosed liposomes can be utilized to trigger drug release. The mechanisms behind cytosolic drug delivery were investigated using two different kinds of pH-sensitive liposomes. The results indicate that incorporation of non-lamellar forming lipids into the endosome membrane may allow for drug escape into the cytosol. Temperature-sensitive liposomes containing lysolipid (LTSL) release their content almost instantly when heated to temperatures close to the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (TC). Morphological changes of the liposomes in response to temperature cycling were studied. Temperature cycling induced liposome openings and disintegration of the liposomes into bilayer discs. Incubation of LTSL in the presence of multilamellar liposomes (MLVs) resulted in relocalisation of lysolipid into the MLVs, which affected the rapid release from LTSL. We propose that the presence of micelle-forming components, such as lysolipids and PEG-lipids, facilitates the formation of defects and membrane openings during the initial phase of membrane melting, resulting in the observed rapid release. Similar to added lysolipids, also hydrolysis generated lysolipids induce disc-formation upon heating through TC of the lipid mixture. Two fundamentally different micelles may form in PEG-lipid/lipid mixtures. We found that discoidal structures are preferred over cylindrical micelles when the mixture contains components that reduce the spontaneous curvature, increase the monolayer bending modulus, or reduce PEG-lipid/lipid miscibility. The large discoidal micelles found at low PEG-lipid content are better described as bilayer discs. We evaluated such discs as model membranes in drug partitioning studies, and suggest that they, in some cases, produce more accurate data than liposomes.

A field experiment was conducted at near Lake Coleridge in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, focusing on the kinematic response of bedrock-dominated mountain edifices to seismic shaking. The role of topographic amplification of seismic waves causing degradation and possible failure of rock masses was examined. To study site effects of topography on seismic ground motion in a field situation, a small, elongated, and bedrock-dominated mountain ridge (Little Red Hill) was chosen and equipped with a seismic array. In total seven EARSS instruments (Mark L-4-3D seismometers) were installed on the crest, the flank and the base of the 210 m high, 500 m wide, and 800 m long mountain edifice from February to July 2006. Seismic records of local and regional earthquakes, as well as seismic signals generated by an explosive source nearby, were recorded and are used to provide information on the modes of vibration as well as amplification and deamplification effects on different parts of the edifice. The ground motion records were analyzed using three different methods:comparisons of peak ground accelerations (PGA), power spectral density analysis (PSD), and standard spectral ratio analysis (SSR). Time and frequency domain analyses show that site amplification is concentrated along the elongated crest of the edifice where amplifications of up to 1100 % were measured relative to the motion at the flat base. Theoretical calculations and frequency analyses of field data indicate a maximum response along the ridge crest of Little Red Hill for frequencies of about 5 Hz, which correlate to wavelengths approximately equal to the half-width or height of the edifice (~240 m). The consequence of amplification effects on the stability and degradation of rock masses can be seen: areas showing high amplification effects overlap with the spatial distribution of seismogenic block fields at Little Red Hill. Additionally, a laboratory-scale (1:1,000) physical model was constructed to investigate the effect of topographic amplification of ground motion across a mountain edifice by simulating the situation of the Little Red Hill field experiment in a smallscale laboratory environment. The laboratory results show the maximum response of the model correlates to the fundamental mode of vibration of Little Red Hill at approximately 2.2 Hz. It is concluded that topography, geometry and distance to the seismic source, play a key role causing amplification effects of seismic ground motion and degradation of rock mass across bedrock-dominated mountain edifices.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, is a major source of morbidity and mortality, and is highly associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present study, we show that acute exposure of mice atrial tissue to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increases susceptibility to AF. We further show that acute exposure to TNF-α led to increased spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release and generated triggered activities in isolated mice atrial myocytes. This increase in spontaneous SR calcium activity was found to be due to elevated reactive oxygen species production from mitochondria and NADPH oxidase sources triggered by TNF-α. Hence we concluded that acute exposure to TNF-α leads to elevated oxidative stress that increases spontaneous SR Ca2+ release and triggered activity through which it can lead to AF induction and maintenance

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, is a major source of morbidity and mortality, and is highly associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. In the present study, we show that acute exposure of mice atrial tissue to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increases susceptibility to AF. We further show that acute exposure to TNF-α led to increased spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release and generated triggered activities in isolated mice atrial myocytes. This increase in spontaneous SR calcium activity was found to be due to elevated reactive oxygen species production from mitochondria and NADPH oxidase sources triggered by TNF-α. Hence we concluded that acute exposure to TNF-α leads to elevated oxidative stress that increases spontaneous SR Ca2+ release and triggered activity through which it can lead to AF induction and maintenance

Embedded computer systems are used as control systems in many products, such as VCRs, digital cameras, washing machines, automobiles, airplanes, etc. As the complexity of embedded applications grows and time-to-market of the products they are used in reduces, designing reliable systems satisfying multiple require-ments is a great challenge. Successful design, nowadays, cannot be performed without good design tools based on powerful design methodologies. These tools should explore different design alternatives to find the best one and do that at high abstraction levels to manage the complexity and reduce the design time. A design is specified using models. Different models are used at different de-sign stages and abstraction levels. For example, the functionality of an application can be specified using hierarchical functional blocks. However, for such design tasks as mapping and scheduling, a lower-level flat model of interacting processes is needed. Deriving this model from a higher-level model of functional blocks is the main focus of this thesis. Our objective is to develop efficient strategies for such derivations, aiming at producing a process graph specification, which helps the synthesis tasks to find schedulable implementations. We proposed several strategies and evaluated them experimentally.

By discussing the ethical issues with banned and censored literature, students can learn how to approach a text written in different contexts. The essay brings to light the triggered instances, which lead to banning The Catcher in the Rye in American schools in the 1950s. Using a cultural studies approach allows an in-depth investigation of the patterns in the triggering instances and leads to findings of possible reasons for ban- and censorship. These instances, sums up to; unrealistic protagonist, vulgar language, blasphemy and a pessimistic and depressing point of view. To introduce these instances into a Swedish classroom can hopefully bring an insight into another historical time and another context, to better understand the Swedish context, e.g. democratic values as well as freedom of speech.

This thesis studies processor architectures suitable for embedded processors. This includes Transport Triggered Architectures (TTA). TTA is programmed by specifying data transport; operations are triggered as a side effect of data transports. In traditional Operation Triggered Architectures (OTA) requested operations are determined by program. Data transports are handled internally by hardware so it's impossible to control and optimize data transfer by compiler. This approach brings an advantage of hardware and software aspects. The aim of this thesis is to design and implement a sample TTA processor in VHDL followed by realization in FPGA. This processor is designed in a generic manner, i.e. customized by set of generic parameters such as data width, number of buses, etc.

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