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Recently diverged species often show incomplete reproductive isolation and subsequently experience hybridization and introgression. The plant genus Mimulus includes many such examples of closely related taxa that prove useful for studying incipient speciation. However, Sandstedt et al. show that in contrast to other Mimulus species, species of the M. tilingii complex are characterized by strong po
We developed a process-oriented model called NutsFor that simulates nutrient cycling of major cations (Ca, Mg, K, Al, NH4, Na) and anions (NO3, SO4, Cl) and the stable isotope tracers for each of the respective elements at the scale of an ecosystem (isotopic fractionation are not simulated). We tested the ability of NutsFor to reproduce major element and stable isotope tracer (26Mg and 44Ca) cycli
Nascent US carbon markets reward farmers for reforesting agricultural land, with consequent ecological co-benefits. We use a dynamic optimization model to determine the likelihood of an orchard farmer in northern California converting to forest under 90 plausible future scenarios. We find reforestation to be a highly unlikely outcome, occurring only 4.0% of the time under current economic, biophys
Fresh and aged diesel soot particles have different impacts on climate and human health. Whilefresh diesel soot particles are highly aspherical and non-hygroscopic, aged particles are sphericaland hygroscopic. Aging and its effect on water uptake also controls the dispersion of diesel soot inthe atmosphere. Understanding the timescales on which diesel soot ages in the atmosphere is thus important,Fresh and aged diesel soot particles have different impacts on climate and human health. While fresh diesel soot particles are highly aspherical and non-hygroscopic, aged particles are spherical and hygroscopic. Aging and its effect on water uptake also controls the dispersion of diesel soot in the atmosphere. Understanding the timescales on which diesel soot ages in the atmosphere is thus importa
This thesis consists of two parts, applying concepts from automatic control to different application areas.The first part of this thesis concerns the development of an optimization-based algorithm, determining the size of insulin and glucose doses for patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus and treated with multiple insulin injections. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by elev
An alternative formulation of the Lund fragmentation model for string states without gluons is presented. It is shown that the fragmentation process can be factorised into a product of transition operators with well-defined eigenfunctions and corresponding eigenvalues. The physical properties of these functions are studied and possible applications are suggested. A fragmentation model for multigl
In Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) a system is said to be robust to uncertainty if specified goals are achieved with satisfaction despite large info-gaps. Under this theory an info-gap expresses the disparity between what is known and unknown in structures for which uncertainty is judged as severe. We discuss how robustness in IGDT can be merged with a perspective on risk which allows for d
Technical Systems, Structures and Infrastructures (SSI) ought to be designed to be safe under current but also future environmental (climate) conditions. Therefore, there is a need to rigorously identify procedures to systematically consider different climate conditions into the risk assessments. In this paper, we consider climate change in the risk assessment of a Passive Containment Cooling Syst
Cation release rates to catchment runoff from chemical weathering were assessed using an integrated catchment model that included the soil's unsaturated, saturated and riparian zones. In-situ mineral dissolution rates were calculated in these zones as a function of pH, aluminum and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations along a hillslope in Northern Sweden where soil water was monitored ove
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to affect development and reproduction in gastropods. However, one is today lacking basic understanding of the Molluscan endocrine system and one can therefore not fully explain these EDC-induced affects. Furthermore, only a few genes that potentially may be connected to the endocrine system have been sequenced in gastropods. An example is t
Monte Carlo simulation is a useful technique to propagate uncertainty through a quantitative model, but that is all. When the quantitative modelling is used to support decision-making, a Monte Carlo simulation must be complemented by a conceptual framework that assigns a meaningful interpretation of uncertainty in output. Depending on how the assessor or decision maker choose to perceive risk, the
The response of the terrestrial water cycle to global warming is central to issues including water resources, agriculture and ecosystem health. Recent studies indicate that aridity, defined in terms of atmospheric supply (precipitation, P) and demand (potential evapotranspiration, E p) of water at the land surface, will increase globally in a warmer world. Recently proposed mechanisms for this res
The price gap between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil markets has been completely changed in the past several years. The price of WTI was always a little larger than that of Brent for a long time. However, the price of WTI has been surpassed by that of Brent since 2011. The new market circumstances and volatility of oil price require a comprehensive re-estimation of risk. Therefo
The US Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulates what landowners, land managers, and industry can do on lands occupied by listed species. The ESA does this in part by requiring the designation of habitat within each listed species’ range considered critical to their recovery. Critics have argued that critical habitat (CH) designation creates significant economic costs while contributing little to spe
Concrete samples from demolition waste of a former pesticide plant in Sweden were analysed for total contents and leachate concentrations of potentially hazardous inorganic substances, TOC, phenols, as well as for pesticide compounds such as phenoxy acids, chlorophenols and chlorocresols. Leachates were produced by means of modified standard column leaching tests and pH-stat batch tests. Due to el
Should an inflation-targeting central bank have an explicit tolerance band around its inflation target? This paper provides an answer derived from the Swedish experience. The Riksbank is exceptional in the sense that it first adopted and later abolished an explicit band and is currently considering bringing it back. We conclude that the band should be explicit for several reasons. Most important,
AbstractAim The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the treatment and follow-up of patients undergoing hypospadias surgery at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, in an attempt to improve the overall care of these patients. It also aimed to investigate the tissue properties of the urethral plate and deep chordee in hypospadias patients with signifiAbstractAim The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the treatment and follow-up of patients undergoing hypospadias surgery at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, in an attempt to improve the overall care of these patients. It also aimed to investigate the tissue properties of the urethral plate and deep chordee in hypospadias patients with signifi
Every year in December to February the dust laden Harmattan blows from Sahara towards southwest to the countries along the east west going coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Only few investigations have quantified external dust deposition in forests and plantations in that region and hereby the nutrient input by dust. This paper investigates three different methods for sampling and quantifying dust depo
Things are seldom ideal. The quality in information underlying the assessment of risk and support decisions is not an exception. Quantitative measures of uncertainty are extremely useful, but a problem with quantitative measures of uncertainty is that qualitative aspects of uncertainty, e.g. related to weaknesses in background knowledge or deep uncertainty (Cox 2012), are difficult to address.
