The purpose of this study is to examine if the experience of whale watching can lead to increased knowledge of environmental problems. We also want to find out whether increased knowledge in turn could lead to changing environmental attitudes and behaviors. The theoretical framework consists of theories about sustainable tourism, ecotourism and responsible environmental behavior. The paper also has a section where previous research on ecotourism impacts on behavior and attitudes is discussed and subsequently addressed in the analysis section.Data has been collected through a case study where seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who participated in whale watching. The results show that all respondents had greater knowledge of whales by their experiences, the degree of knowledge was due to respondents' prior knowledge.

In the social sciences, geopolitical theory is used in order to analyze states actions and commitments when it comes to foreign policy. This thesis develops a new understanding of geopolitical theory. Firstly, the development and application of geopolitical theory, from its foundations in the early twentieth century to contemporary geopolitical studies is discussed. Secondly a revised understanding of the variables integrated in the concept and how it can be operationalized as an analytical tool is presented and tested empirically.The critical assessment of the research field of geopolitical theory tells us that six different geopolitical perspectives have been considered the most influential (room, strategy, power projection, identity, affiliation and governance) when it comes to analyzing state action. This model is applied as an analytical tool and thus tested on a single case.

Background: Hepatitis E (HEV) is a small, non-enveloped virus that belongs to the viral genus Hepevirus. HEV is a positive sense single-stranded RNA virus and there is insufficient information regarding its replication. This is mainly because the virus has low capacity to grow in normally used cell cultures. Many specific strand assay detection studies have been done in order to understand more about HEV replication. Unfortunately, these assays have the disadvantage of giving false positive results.Aim: The aim of this project was to improve the positive strand assay to increase specificity and eliminate false positivity which is due to high sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The retrospective part of this study evaluates the susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from blood in critically ill foals in Sweden. The most commonly obtained bacteria were Actinobacillus spp. (38 %) and Escherichia coli (27 %). Trimethoprim-sulphonamide (TMS) had good efficacy against most gram negative bacteria with the exception of Klebsiella spp. Among 17 Escherichia coli isolates 94 % were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulphonamide whereas all 24 isolates of Actinobacillus spp.

Löpekonomi är en viktig faktor för prestation hos löpare. En person med en god löpekonomi kan springa en given sträcka snabbare eller springa längre vid en konstant hastighet. När en sena sträcks ut lagras energi i vävnaden som sedan utnyttjas vid den efterföljande koncentriska kontraktionen i löpsteget. Detta fenomen kallas stretch-shortening cykeln (SSC). Det finns en stark korrelation mellan att på ett effektivt sätt använda sig av SSC och ha en god löpekonomi.

Rapporten ingår i ett FoU- projekt för Högskolan Dalarna, där målet är att ta fram en konstruktion utan ångspärr som ska klara dagens mått på lufttäthet och fuktkrav.Syftet med denna rapport är att utreda hur fukt påverkar en byggnad medmassivträstomme och olika isoleringsmaterial utan ångspärr. Mineralull och träfiberisolering jämförs mot varandra för att se hur dessa påverkarfuktbelastningen i en väggkonstruktion. Testobjektet är lokaliserat i Dalarna, inget fukttillskott har funnits inomhus i byggnaden.För att genomföra detta arbete har tre stycken olika metoder används. Ensimulering, verkliga uppmätta värden och en provtagning. Fuktsimuleringen genomfördes med hjälp av programmet WUFI, uppmätta värden i form av relativ fuktighet och temperatur har samlats in kontinuerligt under två års tid från väggkonstruktionen via mätsensorer.

AbstractIntroductionWedged shoe insoles are used as a treatment for different problems in order to change the ground reaction force. They can secondary cause different loading patterns under the foot compared to normal. No previous study has, to the author?s knowledge, clinically evaluated the plantar foot pressure with different full-length wedges in normal persons.PurposeThe purpose was to evaluate the plantar pressure with different degrees of full-length wedges in normal persons.MethodTwenty persons with normal feet have participated in this single blind study. Wedges were produced clinically in four different shapes, 3° valgus, 0° flat, 3° varus och 6° varus.

MSB stands for Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. It?s a government organization that deals with emergencies and crises. MSB has developed a software package where the newest software version is called RIB 2012. The package includes the program RIB Karta.

Examensarbetet är utfört på Albin Components i Kristinehamn som med gamla anor inom motortillverkning och komponenter till motorer har specialiserat sig på transmissionskugghjul till tung fordonsindustri.Projektet har gått ut på att analysera ställtiderna på kuggcellerna 3, 6, 8, 5 och 7. Förutsättningen för att använda produktionsfilosofin Lean Production och dess bruk av små batcher är att ha korta ställtider. Ställtiden är den tid som en maskin står stilla under bland annat byte av verktyg inför körning av en ny order. Då inget produceras under ställ är det en spilltid och som all spilltid måste det reduceras till ett minimum.SMED- metoden (Single Minute Exchange of Die) är en metod för reducering av ställtid där stället delas upp i OED (Yttre ställ) och IED (Inre ställ).Analysen har till stor del kretsat kring tidsåtgången för mätning i mätrummet som är en stor del av ställtiden. Dessutom undersöktes möjligheten att minska tidsåtgången vid själva ställets utförande och kommunikationen mellan operatörerna och mätrummet.För att uppfylla målen har kvalitativa och kvantitativa undersökningar gjorts.

The purpose of this study is to examine what professionals tell about stress, rewards, impact and treatment in the professional treatment with young sexual offenders. Eleven qualitative interviews of half-structured design brought up results about the professional role in the treatment process. During the interviews the professionals described which methods of treatment they work with. We examined the methods through literature research, which was added to the study whit the purpose of strengthening the interview data. The professionals consider their work important and meaningful and they feel safe in their working role.

Joint injury (inflammation) or osteoarthritis is the most common cause of poor performance in the athletic horse. Osteoarthritis is the ensuing degeneration of joint cartilage due to inflammation/injury. The single most important factor in the inflammation cascade of joint injuries is interleukin-1 (IL-1). Until recently, these injuries have been treated with products like hyaluronic acid, cortisone and polysulphated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG). Several studies have not been able to demonstrate a significant difference in the clinical improvement of joint injuries treated with hyaluronic acid or PSGAG and saline.

Denna studie undersökte om så kallad ?Single layer centrifugation? (SLC) genom en silanöverdragen silikat kan selektera spermier med bättre kvalitet. SLC är en metod för att separera spermier med bra kvalitet från andra celler och seminalplasma genom att utnyttja deras olika densitet.Egenskaperna hos spermier varierar mellan arter och därför även möjligheterna att spara och förvara spermier. Utvärdering av spermiekvalitet är viktigt för att förutsäga den fertila förmågan och även utvärdera påverkan de olika processerna som spermierna utsätts för. I denna studie har spermiernas morfologi, motilitet, membranintegritet och akrosomintegritet undersöktes.Ejakulat från sex hundar av olika ras och ålder användes.

If one looks at physical planning in Sweden today one can see that while talking about densification of existing development, reduced emissions and careful use of important land, urban sprawl is a fact with development of sheer residential districts in the urban edges and shopping malls in each and every municipality. As sustainable development is an essential goal for physical planning to strive towards, it is worth questioning if the direction of today?s planning will lead to the goal. A sustainable development can be seen as an obvious to goal aim at. In reality the aim means a hard and complex work.

Background: Cancer disease is one of the most common diseases in Sweden andradiotherapy is one of the regimens available for the treatment of cancer. Radiotherapycan be delivered as single treatment or be divided into several fractions that last forweeks. Radiotherapy can cause side effects that may occur during or at the end oftreatment. Information and communication is an integral part of all treatments and care.The oncology nurse should attempt to ease for the patients to communicate, participatein the care, receive information and enhance the ability to self-care.Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the patients? needs for communication andinformation with oncology nurse during their meeting through radiotherapy.Method: This pilot study was conducted on six patients with different cancer diagnosis.It was a qualitative study, were data was collected through individual interviews usingsemi-structured questions.

Finnhamn is a group of islands that are located in the middle north part of Stockholm?s archipelagos. On the main island Stora Jolpan there is a camp called Sommargården, which consists of eleven different buildings in various sizes. The assignment given by the Archipelago foundation (Skärgårdsstiftelsen) is to analyze if it?s benefited to replace Sommargårdens current heating system that consists of electricity radiators, with a more energy efficient heating system. This research is done with help of the literature review and a visit to Finnhamn in order to map Sommargården?s current state and its energy usage.