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Purpose: This thesis delves into the dynamic relation between awe and art, specifically focusing on abstract versus representational art within immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environments. Prompted by the expansion of awe research since Keltner and Haidt’s seminal work (2003) and the research gap on art and VR, this study explores whether the level of abstraction in art influences the intensity of

Today, approximately 55% of the total global population lives in urban areas, while in Europe the number is higher than 70%, and both figures are expected to continue growing during the next decades. At the same time, cities are facing an increasing number of challenges, such as sea level rise, increased temperatures, air quality and more extreme weather events. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), altho

The cell transmembrane receptor CD44 is a member of type I transmembrane receptor family that is found on the outer surface of different types of both immune and cancer cells. It is used by the cells to detect as well as to respond on different changes in the near environment. CD44 receptors are involved in a variety of processes such as hematopoiesis, lymphocyte homing, or limb development. The r

Bacterial respiration and biomass growth are important processes for carbon cycling in freshwater ecosystems and bacterial respiration is often quantified from measured O2 concentrations by using a respiratory quotient (RQ=O2 consumed to produce CO2, in moles) of 1. Recent studies have shown, however, that RQs can vary a lot in different aquatic ecosystems (0.5-5), which may lead to an under- or o

Due to COVID-19 and the penetration of OTT services, the cinema industry is suffering from audience loss. With this contextual change, the question of whether the cinema industry will survive is constantly rising. As motivation is known as the driving force for behaviour, this thesis focuses on the audiences who still visit the cinema and explore their motivations for cinema attendance to find wha

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and two thirds of all breast cancers are classified as oestrogen receptor positive. ER is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression and promote cell proliferation that is critical in mammary gland development, and its aberrant activity is commonly present in breast cancer. As a nuclear receptor, ER activity could be diverted by eith

The harvest mouse Micromys minutus has, through nest findings, been documented to live in wetlands in tall sedges and grasses in Central Europe. However, there is very little information on the type of habitat this species uses outside of nesting, because this rodent is difficult to capture in ordinary trapping set-ups. In France and Switzerland, the harvest mouse populations have decreased strong

Emerging scholarships on identity politics are challenging the traditional understanding of the relation between politics and identity; from politics shaping identity, to the other way around. The field has lately been successful in mapping out connection between identity and alliance formation, as well as demonstrating how identity shapes political attitudes and policy choices. Based on these fin

While many crystals, both natural and artificial, grow isotropically, there are examples of crystals growing anisotropically. The aim of this theoretical study was to confirm the growth modes displayed by three different crystals, representing 3D, 2D and 1D structures. This was done by using energetic calculations with both molecular mechanics, with ReaxFF$_{ \textrm {SiO}}$ as the force field, an

Discussions on issues of marriage squeeze which resulting from the gender demographic imbalance has a long history in China. However, since the advent of 21st century, much media attention has shifted to an emerging phenomenon: highly educated, urban career women are at the forefront of a trend of un-marrying or delaying marriage. Labeled “leftover women” (shengnv), they are perceived less marriag

In this master thesis, a new way of approaching the dynamic loads on a Hy-Vo chain sprocket was investigated and analyzed. Though the approach was not new on the market, it was new to BorgWarner, whose calculations on the matter to this date have been based on approximations. The objective for investigation is in the long end to choose optimal material properties of the sprockets to meet the requ

Microfinance institutions are considered a tool for sustainable development and financial inclusion. In recent years several institutions became profit driven and engaged in the behavior of traditional banks and businesses ending up in risky and competitive situations. Associated to this, several Microfinance institutions entered under national regulations with expectations of better performance a

Financial markets turn all their attention towards the Federal Reserve Bank and the European Central Bank whenever there are the slightest rumors of a change in the policy rate of interest. But why is this rate so important and what is the theoretical basis of its existence in the first place? In modern economic literature theories of interest are rarely explicitly touched upon and interest is oft

Aims/hypothesis The aims of this project was to investigate the effect of glucolipotoxic treatment on DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in pancreatic islets and functionally test if and how these changes alter insulin secretion. Methods Genome-wide mRNA expression and DNA methylation patterns were analyzed in human pancreatic islets after control or glucolipotoxic treatment. Alterations

Araceae is one of the most abundant species families in South America with over 2200 species across the continent, yet it has not been given much attention in ecological investigations. I analysed the species diversity and abundance of araceans along an altitudinal transect between 400 and 2350 m altitude. The transect, made up of 7 different sites, was located in the Cloud forests of the Ecuadori

The Potato Park is an Andean Quechua biocultural heritage territory where six communities restored a rich biodiversity of native potatoes and other crops. Their food system has gained global recognition over the past two decades for the communities’ cultural and agricultural conservation efforts. The central question of this study is how do the communities resist the hegemonic industrial agricultu

Nowadays, excessive congestion has become a pressing issue for many large cities. Traffic congestion is one of the main sources of air pollutants. A congestion tax is a priced-based policy instrument, aimed to reduce congestion and improve air quality in inner city areas. Revenue from the congestion tax is used for investments in public transport and a better road system in the city. In Sweden, a