This work focuses on the relation between human and animals and especially on the relation between horses and human. I have brought up the human och horse relationsship, today, and in history and wrote about the behaviour of the horse. Some older studies with human and animal interaction, including animals like dog and cattle are discussed. I have also discussed physiological parameters that might influence the bond and the interaction between human and horse and some critical aspects concerning the methodology when studying this kind of physiology. The purpose of the experimental study was to analyze if common management routines and grooming of horses increases horses interest in making contact with humans. Many horse owners feel that they have a good connection with their horse and factors that can influence the relationsship could be physical contact, feeding or some challange that make the horse trust the human.

Svanen är en av världens ledande miljömärkningar och firade nyligen 20 års jubileum. Det har under ett antal år varit möjligt att förutom produkter även svanenmärka tjänster och verksamheter, så som exempelvis restauranger och hotell. För att miljöarbetet inom en verksamhet ska fungera så bra som möjligt är kommunikationen i denna av yttersta vikt. Det har inte utförts några kända studier kring hur kommunikationen på Svanenmärkta hotell fungerar vilket är motivet bakom denna studie. Det finns en misstänksamhet i samhället mot miljömärkta varor och greenwashing har blivit ett allt vanligare begrepp, vilket innebär att företag utnyttjar miljömärkningar för att få ett bättre anseende på marknaden och inte för att egentligen gynna miljön.

The primary goal of this study was to investigate how the radial growth of retained trees responds after thinning-from-above. The National Board of Forestry which initiated this study, was interested in whether there were differences in the growth-response between the tree species Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Another question of issue was if there were differences in the growth response between trees of different sizes. It is within the framework of the National Board of Forestry?s, Continuous Forests Project that these urgent questions are to be answered.

Rearing in organic pig production differs from conventional rearing; pigs have outdoor access and larger space allowances. Regardless of production system all pigs are transported before slaughter and during transport pigs are crowded together in a new environment and in a space smaller than they are used to. As pigs in organic herds are reared at even larger space allowances than conventional pigs, such crowding could possibly have a stronger impact on pig behaviour and well-being. Six pig producing herds, three conventional and three organic, were visited and pigs from each herd were enclosed during 12 minutes in a test area corresponding to the crowding on a transport vehicle. During the crowding, pigs? behaviour was observed, before and after enclosure in the test area skin lesion scores were recorded, and also measures of heart girth (for weight estimation) was done.

Städernas gator har länge utformats utifrån bilisternas behov. Men tiderna har ändrats och idag är det allt vanligare att gatumiljöer utformas för att främja cyklister och fotgängare. Det beror delvis på vår strävan efter ett hållbart samhälle. I detta examensarbete kombineras två aspekter som bidrar till ett hållbart samhälle: hållbar dagvattenhantering i gatumiljöer och goda fotgängarmiljöer. Syftet är dels att undersöka hur hållbar dagvattenhantering kan användas för att utforma en gata som är inbjudande för fotgängare och dels att undersöka hur dagvattnets estetiska egenskaper kan lyftas fram på ett hållbart sätt längs en gata.

According to recent research the basics for a good body posture is balance between the muscles, if unbalance originates this can be strengthen by gymnastics when most of the practise performs only in one direction. Because of limited research in the area was an explorative study conducted. The purpose of the study was to inquire if exercise adjusted to the individual contributes for balanced muscles and if it contributes for a positive or negative development for the team.On the basics of that the team is not equable an other team in the area has the results for two different periods been measured, during the first period the exercise continued as usual but during the second period each gymnast (n=9) received an individual strength- and stretch program that was performed during the teampractise twice a week. The gymnasts were tested in areas that are imported for them as body posture, balance between the muscles, vigour, range of movement, balance, the running and coordination. The results showed on that the difference is largest between test two and three, except the coordination and balance which did not show any particular change.

During the last decennium climate issues have become more and more important. Many steps towards an adaption of efficient energy supply systems have been taken all around the world. These steps have been created to ensure the next generation?s energy demand. In EU and Sweden objectives have been set to ensure that the energy consumption decreases by 20% year 2020 and by 50% year 2050 compared with the energy consumption levels of year 1995.

This paper is an assessment of whether the Nordic countries constitute an optimum currency area (OCA) or not. Hodrick Prescott-­?filtered data of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and rate of employment are used to investigate the similarity of business cycles between the target countries through a series of correlation analysis with Sweden as the base reference country and also by using a linear regression model. Additionally there is an evaluation of trade volume and labour mobility between the countries. Our results indicate that Iceland had the least similar business cycles within the Nordic countries and that the area should therefore possibly comprise Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. .

This essay examines whether, and if so to which extent, the project Export MatureDestination in the Biosphere Reserve Vänerskärgården with Kinnekulle can combine the goalof the tourism industry, i.e. to double tourism between 2010 and 2020, and the goals of theBiosphere reserve, i.e. sustainable societal development and a sustainable biosphere economy.The aim is to examine how key individuals in the project approach sustainable developmentand economic growth, representing the two main interests in the area. Examining the state ofthe two interests the following examples are used: the position of sustainable development inregard to economic growth, the opportunities and challenges in the area and unity concerningthe goals of the tourism development in the region. The study is conducted through qualitativeinterviews with key individuals and a descriptive document analysis of the most importantpolicy documents.

This study evaluates the retention of nitrogen and phosphorus in four newly constructed wetlands in the municipality of Falkenberg, Sweden. The four wetlands have been selected because they have been specifically constructed with the aim to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in farming areas. The process of selecting the specific wetlands has been done in collaboration with the county administration in Halland. Through field studies in collaboration with the landowners where the wetlands are sited, the areas that provide the wetlands with water were determined. The size of these drainage areas were determined in a GIS computer program. The type of land use within the drainage areas was also determined.

The Brussels I-Regulation, often referred to as the Jurisdiction Regulation, is said to be the matrix of the European judicial cooperation system within the area of international private law. The Regulation states how jurisdiction is to be determined in an international dispute. The aim of the Regulation is to ensure that parties in a dispute within the EU have access to justice.The Regulation is considered to be working well in general, and have been since it came in-to force in 2007. Although it is held to be well functioning it does not exclude that some improvements might be needed. The commission ordered a review of the Regulation and the result was that some deficiencies were identified.

I denna studie har fyra svenska storföretag studerats med avseende på hur de definierar begreppet hållbar utveckling, hur deras förhållningssätt är till hållbar utveckling samt hur de arbetar med socialt ansvar, även kallat samhällsansvar i ett vidare perspektiv. De intervjuade företagen är Volvo Lastvagnar, Skanska, Tetra Pak och Green Cargo. Studien är baserad på intervjuer via telefon med företagens miljöchefer, dessutom har företagens hållbarhetsredovisningar studerats. Studien belyser definitionen hållbar utveckling och pekar på att det finns många olika tolkningar av begreppet. Slutsatserna från intervjuerna och det studerade materialet är dock att företagen utgår från det grundläggande dokumentet från Brundtlandkommissionen.

This study was conducted on behalf of SCA forest AB, Västerbottens forest administration. Timber procurement from non-industrial private forest owners has become an increasingly important part of SCA:s wood supply. The objectives of this study was to report the current forest conditions in the private forests in the county of Västerbotten, analyse the potential for procurement of wood from private forest owners, and provide a basis for decisions on future strategies for timber procurement from private owners.Material and data have been collected from different sources, mainly from Swedish National Forest Inventory and SKA-VB08. This material was the basis for the analysis and calculations performed with the Heureka application PlanWise. This study area was divided into six different analytical areas (Coastal south, Coastal middle, Lycksele, Inland south, Inland north, Skellefteå), where each area of analysis is represented by a number of municipalities.In this study, two scenarios were specified; one describing the current forest management with current harvesting levels and the effects of these assumptions, the second to illuminate what potential there is for future timber harvesting.

The aim with this project was to investigate how research grants in Sweden are distributed inthe selected fields; natural science, medicine and life science. Our client Olink producesdetection kits for biomarkers and our goal with this study was to give an indication of apossible new market area for their products. Three foundations were included in the study;VINNOVA, Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council) and Stiftelsen för strategiskforskning (Swedish foundation for strategic research). Nearly a thousand research grantswere analysed which included a total of 4,92 billion Swedish kronor. Seven selecteduniversities were contacted; Chalmers tekniska högskola, Karolinska Institutet, Kungligatekniska högskolan, Linköpings universitet, Lunds universitetet, Sverigeslantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala universitet.

Today?s housing system for laying hens has limitations for the hens natural behavior. Despite the current law of prevention of cruelty to animals, this might implicate health problems for the hens. This degree project is aiming to improve the situation for laying hens in cage-systems. The aim with our project is to bring forward a draft of a cage that improves the welfare of laying hens.