In February 2002 the European commission put forward a proposal for a new directive on The patentability of computer-implemented inventions, but which during my work on this essay has not been decided on yet. The directive has divided the decision-makers in the union, the commission and parliament, into two different positions regarding by which range computer-implemented inventions should be patentable. The parliament has amended the commissions proposal in a substantial way and the legal process has caused a heated debate both within the unions administration and among various interest groups both in favour of and against a patent on computer-implemented inventions. The loudest protests have come from a group that feels threatened by a possible software patent: Open Source. In this study I examine both the arguments by the decision-makers and by the lobbying for and against the proposal.

The aim of the report is to develop a new design proposal for an existingsenior high school building in Skärholmens Center, Stockholm. Theschoolhouse is a result of the extensive residential project during theperiod between the years 1965-75 in our large cities peripheral and holdsanonymousand "gray face" that has characterized many houses from thesame era. Over the years, the number of students steadily declined andthe reason lies partly in the school's physical environment which cancertainly be regarded as substandard. This despite the fact that it islocated right next to Sweden´s largest trading block. A thorough analysisof the school building and the ambient area has been made incombination with a continuous dialogue with students and staff at theschool.

The purpose of this essay is to examine how the supernatural and the occult are portrayed inpopular culture. To be able to do this, I have chosen to perform a discourse analysis of the twofirst novels in the L. J Smith series The Vampire Diaries. The novels are called TheAwakening and The Struggle.I apply the following questions in my analysis to narrow down the perspective further.?In what situations are supernatural used in the books and what part does it play??How does the supernatural affect the main characters and how is this portrayed in the novel??How is the supernatural portrayed depending on the gender of the character?I will focus mostly on the vampires since they generally are the ones who introduce thesupernatural elements into the story.I am applying gender theory in my discourse analyses of the novels, to hopefully be able togive a wider picture of the supernatural in relation to gender in the novels.I begin with analyzing the main discourses in the story, revolving around the supernatural.Secondly I analyze what impact the supernatural has on the main character.

Land consolidation is a major problem in many countries in Europe. In Sweden, mainly the state of Dalarna, there is a strong consolidation of forestland, probably the strongest in all of Europe. The consolidation is a big obstacle for forest management and ownership questions due to the often long and narrow strips of land. One of the main reasons for land consolidation in Dalarna results from the heritage procedure, were land is divided between all of the inheritors. To improve the consolidation large surveys in the consolidated villages in Dalarna are carried out. Many laws have to be followed due to the survey.

During my final examination project, I have been working with a design process to develop a new set of candle lanterns for the company Sagaform AB. This company has a large and significant role on the Swedish interior design and retail market. The assignment was developed when the company stated that they would like to supplement and expand its existing range of products. The research and surveys I have done have helped me to create eight different concepts and one of them ready to compete with the existing candle lanterns on the market. The result of my concept proposal expected to be included in Sagaform?s 2013 spring catalogue. During the project I have developed 3D-rendered images, a physical model, and a solid foundation for making prototypes. The Balloon has an attractive design language that fits both every day and more festive events.

The case study we conducted describes market for transmission of terrestrial digital TV. The purpose of this study is to find out what hinders potential entrants from entering the market as well as to discuss possible competitive strategies for potential entrants. Our conclusion is that even though the market for transmission of terrestrial digital TV can be viewed as attractive due to its fast growth, there are barriers to entry that block companies we identified as potential entrants from entering the market. The industry experience of the current market players (Teracom and Boxer) along with their knowledge of the consumers and the fact that Teracom is a multi-business company are some of the factors to be taken into consideration. Switching costs is the most important barrier to entry for the industry.

This paper discusses normativity in selecting musical phonograms in public libraries. The purpose is to gain an increased understanding of music activity in public libraries. To do this I have interviewed five music librarians about their visions, ideals and goals with their work. The questions discussed concern ambitions with the music activity and how to keep up to date with current record releases. For the theoretical frame I use two kinds of material.

The danger and vulnerability associated with a preterm birth seem to be closely correlated with a dysfunction of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, whose maturation in the foal is without a doubt as delicate as it is important. Not only is this endocrine cascade vital for the foal in order to cope with neonatal stress, it also appears to be fundamental for the final fetal intrauterine maturation, as well as for the onset of foaling. Equine gestation exhibits some rather unique features, indicating a somewhat different significance of the endocrine changes associated with HPA maturation, compared to many other species. This hormonal cascade is rapid and confined to a narrow time during late gestation in the horse, and the risk of the foal completely missing it therefore becomes prominent. Induced parturition in the mare may be operated through uterotonic agents, which occasionally bring about premature foals. Desirable seems the ability to initiate equine labour while simultaneously enhancing fetal HPA maturation, as in humans and ruminants through perinatal glucocorticoid administration. However, similar treatment in the horse has resulted in various, sometimes fatal, outcomes. In the light of the distinctive features of equine gestation, difficulties are encountered following such administration of glucocorticoids and ACTH.

Placing children in foster care is today considered the best alternative for children unable to stay in their biological environment. A nuclear family consisting of a father, a mother and a child is the most common family structure within foster care today. The purpose of this thesis is to gain insight on the family norms that control the foster care system. It's a qualitative study based on interviews with six professional social workers within the field of foster care. This method gave us empirical material, that was later analyzed from two main theories and one theoretical concept.

The aim of this essay is to debate the narrow contextualization of the works of Swedish artist Maria Friberg, in which she is interpreted as a female, feminist artist engaged in masculinity studies. Art reviews and exhibition catalogues regarding a great part of Friberg?s work have formed the core body of information in this study, selecting the more recent works entitled Still lives (2003- ) as the main focus. These show a change in Friberg?s artistic expression.Subjects concerning group belonging, identity and existential questions have always been present in Maria Friberg?s art, but they are more clearly expressed in her latest works.

Övergången från grundskolan till gymnasieskolan är en stor händelse för många elever. Detställs högre och fler krav på eleverna när de börjar gymnasiet och deras förkunskaper harbetydelse för hur väl de klarar av utbildningen. I denna undersökning fick elever i årskurs ettpå det naturvetenskapliga programmet svara på frågor om de anser att de hade tillräckligakunskaper i de naturvetenskapliga ämnena från högstadiet. Undersökningen visar att de flestatycker att de hade tillräckliga kunskaper i biologi, kemi och matematik men inte i fysik.Kursplanen för fysik på gymnasiet skiljer sig från de andra kursplanerna, genom att det intestår lika tydligt att undervisningen ska bygga på elevernas kunskaper i grundskolan.Respondenterna i undersökningen fick även svara på frågor om vilket ämne som var svårt,roligt och om de läste i NO-block eller i separata ämnen på högstadiet. Undersökningen visaratt det finns en skillnad mellan flickor och pojkar när det gäller deras attityder och intresse..

Stora delar av Nord-Norge präglas av bergslandskap. Då vägar byggs i denna landsdel blir det naturligt med ett stort antal bergslänter. Krav på utformningen och metoderna har varit varierande. Förr i tiden var själva vägen det viktigaste, och hänsyn till utformning och förstärkning av slänterna lades det lite vikt på. Huvudregeln var att slänterna skrotades under anläggningstiden samt bultar och nät användes sporadiskt.

Stora delar av Nord-Norge präglas av bergslandskap. Då vägar byggs i denna landsdel blir det naturligt med ett stort antal bergslänter. Krav på utformningen och metoderna har varit varierande. Förr i tiden var själva vägen det viktigaste, och hänsyn till utformning och förstärkning av slänterna lades det lite vikt på. Huvudregeln var att slänterna skrotades under anläggningstiden samt bultar och nät användes sporadiskt.

Denna uppsats syftar till att testa The Weak Government Hypothesis. Hypotesen är att en fragmenterad regering ackumulerar större skulder än ickefragmenterade regeringar och att graden av fragmentering påverkar storleken på skulden. Hypotesen testas med paneldata över 283 svenska kommuner under perioden 1996-2004. Resultaten från den empiriska studien ger inte något enhälligt stöd åt hypotesen. Studien finner dock visst stöd för att en lokal koalitionsregering bestående av flera jämnstora partier tenderar att ha en positiv effekt på de långfristiga skuldnivåerna under valår.

Denna studie syftar till att unders?ka hur tv? f?rskolor arbetar med musik i undervisningen, samt hur pedagogerna anser att musik kan fr?mja barns l?rande i andra ?mnen. Studien grundar sig i fyra forskningsfr?gor, 1) Hur iscens?tts l?randets akt i musikundervisning vid en f?rskola med musikinriktning respektive vid en utan musikinriktning? 2) Vilka l?randeobjekt konstrueras i musikundervisning vid en f?rskola med musikinriktning respektive vid en utan musikinriktning? 3) Vilka likheter och skillnader finns i konstruktioner av l?randets akt och l?randets objekt vid de tv? olika f?rskolorna? 4) Vilken betydelse anser pedagogerna att musik har f?r barns l?rande och utveckling? Studien utg?r ifr?n en kvalitativ ansats med observationer och pappersenk?ter som datainsamlingsmetod. Dokumenteringen av observationerna har gjorts med block och penna.