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This master’s thesis maps and compares local literary networks within UNESCO’s Cities of Literature, with the aim of understanding how such networks are structured, what their functions are and how they are controlled and developed. Drawing on concepts from social network analysis and Bourdieu’s theories of social fields, capital and habitus, the study combines quantitative and qualitative methods
As Climate Change increases the frequency and severity of wildfires in British Columbia, communities at the Wildland Urban Interface face escalating risks. This thesis explores the challenges and opportunities of community engagement in wildfire management in the city of Kamloops, one of the most fire-prone urban areas in British Columbia. Employing a single-case study design, the research is base
Thioflavin T (ThT) is widely used as a fluorescent probe for amyloid fibrils, yet its fluorescence can also be enhanced in non-fibrillar systems. Here, the photophysical behaviour of ThT was investigated in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sucrose laurate (SL), sodium caprate (C10), and lanreotide-containing assemblies across acetate (pH 4.0), phosphate (pH 7.4), and Gly-Gly (pH 8.5) buffers using UV
Background: Hypertension and smoking are well-known risk factors for aortic dissection (AD), but it is unclear whether other lifestyle factors influence the risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between diet quality, physical activity, and risk of AD. Methods: The study included 28,094 participants from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, recruited between 1991 and 1996 and f
Introduction: This study focuses on the quantitative analysis of minerals in gummy supplements Background: The content of minerals in gummy supplements can be challenging to measure due to the complex organic matrix that includes, among other ingredients, sugar, glucose syrup, and pectin. Aim(s): The aim of this research project was to validate a method for quantifying Zn, Mg, and Fe in gummy sup
Prior to the accomplishment of this research, the compatibility of the classic e-servicescape conceptual model in the context Taobao and TMall in China were rarely found among existing e-servicescape literatures due to the standardization taken by both online platforms towards the establishment of individual webshops. Meanwhile, the conceptualization of social factors as social dimension of e-serv
Reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement requires acceleration of low-carbon energy transitions. At the same time, it is not fully understood why some technologies spread more rapidly and widely than others. This thesis advances our understanding of the diffusion of large-scale low-carbon technologies by bridging technology diffusion studies and political economy of transitions. Through combini
Facing the urgency to tackle societal challenges, social innovations come to the fore as promising avenues due to their potential of invoking change of systems. Scholars refer to transformative social innovations in this respect: processes through which dominant institutions within a socio-material context are challenged, altered, or replaced by social innovations. Alas, turning the transformative
Protection of humanitarian aid workers (HAWs) is a challenging task. There are various reports on the topic where much research seems to focus on traditional physical attacks and intentional violence against HAWs (security) rather than the accidental event risks (safety) or discussing it separately. These risks are usually defined by the organization’s security risk management holding the power in
Massive MIMO has attracted many researchers’ attention as it is a promising technology for future 5G communication systems. To characterize the propagation channels of the massive MIMO and to evaluate system performance, it is important to develop an accurate channel model for it. In this thesis, two correlative models, i.e., the Kronecker model and the Weichselberger model, and a cluster-based m
BACKGROUND: The penetrance of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in a genetically susceptible population is largely determined by environmental influences amongst which the human enteroviruses are prominent putative factors.AIM/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of enterovirus RNA in serum of children with type 1 diabetes at onset and ICA-positive subjects in a populati
The morphology and function of the arteries can be directly measured using different established methods. This prospective cohort study aimed to translate 2 of these, aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), into a combined Vascular Aging Index (VAI) and then evaluate the predictive power of aPWV, cIMT, and VAI. Patients (n = 2718) were included from the cardiov
While dietary factors are important modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D), the causal role of carbohydrate quality in nutrition remains controversial. Dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) have been examined in relation to the risk of T2D in multiple prospective cohort studies. Previous meta-analyses indicate significant relations but consideration of causality has been mi
Background Cardiac fibrosis is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Retrospective studies have suggested that circulating fibrosis biomarkers are associated with AF, but prospective studies are limited. Methods We measured circulating levels of 2 fibrosis biomarkers, procollagen type III, N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) and transforming growth factor β1 am
This randomized, open-label, multiple-dose three-way cross-over study compared the pharmacokinetics of a new testosterone gel formulation in two strengths, testosterone gel 1% and testosterone gel 2% (FE 999303), with Testogel® in 11 testosterone-suppressed healthy men. Subjects received one of six treatment sequences; 50 mg of testosterone was administered once daily for 7 consecutive days, with
Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with 22 disease-causing genes reported to date. In some FA genes, monoallelic mutations have been found to be associated with breast cancer risk, while the risk associations of others remain unknown. The gene for FA type C, FANCC, has been proposed as a breast cancer susceptibility gene based on epidemiological and sequencing studies. We
