Fast pyrolysis is a method for converting biomass into three energy rich products: char, gas and bio-oil, where the latter is most interesting.  Pyrolysis is an endothermic process where biomass is heated in an anaerobic environment and, with the right operating conditions, up to 80 %wt bio-oil can be extracted. Key parameters for fast pyrolysis are: stable reactor temperature (~500°C), short residue time for gas in the reactor (<2 s) and a very high heating rate for the biomass. Today there are several different process solutions for fast pyrolysis, where fluidized beds and rotating cones are most developed. Bio-oil has compared to fossil oil: lower heating value, low pH and also polymerizes with time. Because of this upgrading is desirable for increasing competitiveness.

The discharge from Lake Mälaren is regulated to keep the lake water level within limits set by a water decree. Despite this, in the year 2000 the lake water level rose above the upper limit. Studies conducted at the climate modeling unit Rossby Centre at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) indicate that the inflow to the lake may increase in the future. A flood in the area will, among other things, strike infrastructure and residential districts.The aim of this study was to investigate the water levels of Lake Mälaren in future climates. In addition to this possible future expansion of the lake discharge though the sluice gates in order to keep water levels below limits set by the water decree and to prevent flooding of the shoreline were discussed.

It is not uncommon for math difficulties and reading difficulties to occur simultaneously. Despite this, math and reading difficulties are thought to have different cognitive profiles where math difficulties are linked to number sense; an innate ability to understand, approximate and manipulate both quantities and numerical information, whereas reading difficulties are linked to phonological ability; an innate ability to understand, create representations of and manipulate phonological information. A possible link between the difficulties is that phonological abilities also could affect mathematical ability. Support for this comes from studies where comorbid math and reading difficulties are associated with more severe difficulties in arithmetic ability compared to those with isolated math difficulties. The purpose of this study is to examine whether isolated math difficulties, isolated reading difficulties and comorbid math and reading difficulties can be linked to deficits in number sense, phonological ability or both of these, and whether comorbid math and reading difficulties differ in performance in mathematical tasks compared to isolated math difficulties for children in second grade.

Under våren och sommaren 2009 fick jag till uppgift att lära mig mer om HLA och hur man kan använda det för att integrera datorspel och simuleringar. Förr var simuleringar oftast stora specialskrivna program, skapade för att klara av en specifik simulering. Om man behövde förändra på något vis blev man tvungen att skriva om hela simuleringen. Nu med HLA har man fått en standardisering på hur man ska bygga upp simuleringar och vad dessa måste klara av att göra. HLA är alltså en arkitektur för hur man ska koppla ihop flera mindre simuleringar (federater) till en stor simulering (federation).

The impact of computer programs in safety-critical systems has increased in the past decades and computer-based systems can now be found in a wide range of applications. A new approach for developing dependable systems is documenting all design rationale that affects safety using Intent Specifications. A recent approach for developing complex systems efficiently and in an upgradeable manner is Component-Based System Engineering. In this thesis, these approaches are combined in the development and upgrade of a Remote Robot Control Unit by using the tool SpecTRM. The case study showed that Intent Specifications and CBSE could successfully be combined.

Streams and riparian zone are closely linked by reciprocal flows of energy and nutrients. A large part of the transportation from water to land is in form of emerged aquatic insects. Conversion of land from forest to agriculture can greatly affect aquatic ecosystems, and due to the close link, also affect the adjacent terrestral zone. Investigating how the presence of agriculture in the surrounding area affects amounts of emergent aquatic insects gives an indication on how agriculture, in turn, may affect the terrestral enviroment. The study was preformed alongside ten streams in northern Sweden; five in landscape transformed by agriculture and five in undisturbed forest areas.

Vertical hydropower units has a rotating mass of up to 1000 tons. For the generator and turbine to work well the rotating system is required to be centered in relation to the surrounding structure. This is achieved by means of radial bearings. The dynamic characteristics of these bearings have a strong impact on the overall rotational dynamics of the total system and thus influence the vibrations in the unit. At Vattenfall Research & Development in Älvkarleby ongoing research is taking place on how the bearing parameters should be represented in the rotor dynamic calculations.

Introduction: Two women die every hour due to pregnancy and childbirth relatedcomplications in Bangladesh. It is well known that a strong midwifery profession is the key toachieving safer childbirth and it is the right of every woman to have access to a fully trainedmidwife and to a safe delivery. However this is not the case in Bangladesh. Today, theexisting nurse-midwives are not fully utilized for the midwifery services. The profession ismal-distributed, functioning as multi-purpose service provider and are not recognized as aseparate cadre of midwives.

The task was to design and manufacture a submersible displacement pump working with the wobble plate principle. The main task for the Wobble plate pump is to be used as a sewage pump for smaller households or dewatering pump in environments where small flows and high pressures are acquired. For these purposes ITT Flygt sell a screw pump, PC-Grinder 3068. The hydraulic part of the PC-Grinder is manufactured by a subcontractor. Therefore ITT Flygt wants to evaluate an alternative to their screwpump PC-Grinder, which can be entirely manufactured by them self.

The high and seemingly increasing degree of consumer avoidance and disliking of television advertising breaks should raise many questions for commercially financed television networks as it can be argued that benefits sought by both viewers [seeking a fulfilling viewing experience] and advertisers [seeking advertising effectiveness] are eroded by this effect. This thesis studies effects on advertising effectiveness [RecallBRAND; AttitudeBRAND; AttitudeAD] as well as on the viewing experience [SatisfactionPROGRAM/CHANNEL; Attitude PROGRAM/CHANNEL; IntentionPROGRAM/CHANNEL] given a reduced degree of advertising clutter. By conducting an experiment two breaks are compared, one having the standard primetime nonprogram time units (5 min and 30 sec *3?16minutes/hour) and the other the standard nonprogram content cut in half (2.45 min *3 ?8min /hour).Results show that the reduced breaks award advertisers with higher commercial effectiveness. Measures of RecallBRAND demonstrates no differences between the standard and the reduced break, implying a significantly increased likelihood to be recalled and an equivalently lowered risk to be forgotten in the reduced break.

In the last decades the Swedish labor market has been characterized by a stereotype perception on women?s role and position on the market. The perception speaks of the characteristics of female leadership as being less qualified causing the gaps between the two genders to transform into a gender segregated society. The historically slow progress has limited the career opportunities for women to reach top management. However the increasing discussions during the 21st century on how to reduce the gender differences in the labor market has made it more acceptable with women on higher positions.

This thesis was rendered for the client HAGS Aneby AB that is a global leader in playground equipment. The goal of this project was to develop a seesaw that is available for children aged 5-12 years; both with and without disabilities. The project has aimed to develop a seesaw that fits everyone in the target group without looking specially adapted.Children with disabilities have difficulty using today's seesaws because they consist of only a seat and a handle on each side. It requires that the user has strong arms and legs and can sit up without support. HAGS Aneby AB would like to change this.To gain knowledge of the target group and on the different types of disabilities information was sought for on the internet including the RBU's and UNICEF's websites.

Stress är en växande folksjukdom i Sverige och en grupp som kan vara särskilt utsatta för kumulativ stress är soldater som ligger i beredskap. Vi har från våra förfäder ärvt en förmåga att vid fara reagera med en stressreaktion som en förberedelse för kamp eller flykt, också med en reaktion som gör att vi kan bli handlingsförlamade. Om dessa reaktioner upprepas gång på gång utan att kroppen får utlopp för den höjda energinivån ökar slitaget på kroppen. Stresshormoner samlas i kroppen och byggs på och kan under en längre tidsperiod leda till kumulativ stress. Om detta fortsätter kan det leda till ett utmattningssyndrom.Syftet med uppsatsen är att kartlägga hur soldater som ligger i beredskap upplever sin allmänna hälsa och den stress som de dagligen utsätts för.

This thesis is about developing a design that provides improved vacuum seal between a lead coating and a plastic coating during plastic extrusion processes of cables. This report is a part of the course MSGC 17 for Bachelor Engineers in mechanical engineering.The work is performed at Nexans Norway AS in Halden where they have a production of high voltage cables for sea-, and offshore industry. A problem they face is that they do not get enough good seal at the attachment to the plastic extrusion machine. They want to achieve a vacuum between a lead coating on the cable and a plastic coating of the cable for plastic extrusion, which is something they do not achieve today. The thesis is thus to come up with a design that provides better sealing against the cable.The work involves a construction part with the phases of product development processes.

Acute myocardial infarction is a serious diagnosis. Both the patient and the loved ones experience an immediate uncertainty. To be able to emotionally support the patient´s spouse, the nurse in the coronary care unit must be prepared to also encounter the world of the spouse. The aim of this study was from a nursing perspective to illuminate how life was experienced during the first two months by the spouse of someone, who was stricken by a first time acute myocardial infarction. Interviews with six spouses were conducted.