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Aims To evaluate relationships between diet quality and cardiovascular outcomes. Methods Six databases were searched for studies published between January 2007 and October 2021. Eligible studies included cohort studies that assessed the relationship between a priori diet quality and cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity in adults. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias. Study characteristics and outcomes were extracted from eligible studies using standardised processes. Data were summarised using risk ratios for cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality with difference compared for highest versus lowest diet quality synthesised in meta-analyses using a random effects model. Results Of the 4780 studies identified, 159 studies (n = 6 272 676 adults) were included. Meta-analyses identified a significantly lower cardiovascular disease incidence (n = 42 studies, relative risk 0.83, 95% CI 0.82–0.84, p < 0.001) and mortality risk (n = 49 studies, relative risk 0.83, 95% CI 0.82–0.84, p < 0.001) among those with highest versus lowest diet quality. In sensitivity analyses of a high number of pooled studies (≥13 studies) the Mediterranean style diet patterns and adherence to the heart healthy diet guidelines were significantly associated with a risk reduction of 15% and 14% for cardiovascular disease incidence and 17% and 20% for cardiovascular disease mortality respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions Higher diet quality is associated with lower incidence and risk of mortality for cardiovascular disease however, significant study heterogeneity was identified for these relationships.

Aim: This study investigates the effects of degree of multilingualism on cognitive functions in adulthood, with focus on episodic memory recall and including measures of verbal fluency as well as global cognition. Design: We studied a large population-based cohort cross-sectionally, and we also assessed changes over time through longitudinal measurements on four time-points over a 15 year period. Participants were drawn from the Betula prospective cohort study in Umeå, Sweden. The participants included in this study at baseline (n = 894, mean age = 51.44, 59.4% females) were divided according to number of languages into bilinguals (n = 395), trilinguals (n = 284), quadrilinguals (n = 169), and pentalinguals (n = 46). Data and analysis: We analysed performance on tasks of episodic memory recall, verbal fluency (letter and category) and global cognition (Minimental State Examination, MMSE) both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The control background variables were baseline age, gender, years of education, general fluid ability Gf (Wechsler Block Design Test), and socioeconomic status. We employed a linear mixed modelling approach with entropy balancing weights to assess effects of degree of multilingualism on cognitive functions. Findings and conclusions: Using bilinguals as the reference group, our results indicated that all the other multilingual groups exhibited superior performance on episodic memory recall than bilinguals at baseline. The rate of change over time did not differ for trilinguals and pentalinguals compared to bilinguals. While quadrilinguals declined more over time than bilinguals, they still scored significantly higher than bilinguals at the last test wave. For letter fluency, similarly, all language groups scored higher than bilinguals at baseline, and none of the groups differed from bilinguals in rate of change over time. With regard to category fluency, quadrilinguals scored higher than bilinguals at baseline, but trilinguals and pentaling, Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-03-15 (hanlid);Funder: Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research (Forskningsrådsnämnden) (D1988-0092, D1989-0115, D1990-0074, D1991-0258, D1992-0143, D1997-0756, D1997-1841, D1999-0739 and B1999-474); Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences (F377/1988-2000); Swedish Council for Social Research (1988-1990: 88-0082, 311/1991-2000);Full text license: CC BY

The vast oxygen-depleted area of the central Baltic Sea is the largest human-induced dead zone in the world with 70,000 km2 or approximately three times the second largest one in the Gulf of Mexico. Methane occurs in high concentrations in bottom waters (3200 nM) and sediments (30 mM), and its dynamics is better constrained for the water column, but still poorly understood on sediments. Here we show that sediment accumulation rate plays a major role in regulating the quantity of organic matter and its residence time in the sulphate reduction and methanogenesis zones and, therefore, affects methane generation, consumption, and diffusive flux in sediments near the seafloor (< 1 m). High fluxes found in high sediment accumulation rate areas and competition for substrate (organoclastic sulphate reduction vs. anaerobic oxidation of methane with sulphate), compromise the ability of the thin microbial filter to consume and prevent methane diffusion through the seafloor.

Background: A new app, Sukaribit, was designed to enable contact between the caregiver and the patient with the intent to improve self-care and glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]). Objective: This study investigated the feasibility of the study methodology and the intervention in preparation for a larger effectiveness study. Methods: Adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this randomized controlled feasibility study with a mixed methods design. The intervention group (n=28) tried Sukaribit for 2 months. They were encouraged to report blood glucose levels and medications, and they received feedback from a physician. The control group (n=31) received standard care. Both groups were evaluated with pre and postmeasurements of glycemic control (HbA1c), diabetes distress, physical activity, and self-care. Feasibility was evaluated against 5 progression criteria regarding recruitment, study methods, and active participation. Results: Of the 5 progression criteria, only 2 were met or partially met. The recruitment process exceeded expectations, and data collection worked well for self-reported data but not for HbA1c measured with a home testing kit. The participants were less active than anticipated, and the effect sizes were small. Only the number of blood glucose tests per day was positively affected by the intervention, with 0.6 more tests per day in the intervention group. Conclusions: Recruitment of participants to a future fully powered study may work with minor adjustments. The collection of HbA1c using home testing constituted a major problem, and an alternative strategy is warranted. Finally, the app was not used as intended. In order to proceed with a larger study, the app and study procedures need improvement.

Objective: Previous research has shown that daily activities are crucial for mental health among older people, and that such activities declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. While previous studies have confirmed a link between stringent restrictions and an increase in mental ill-health, the role of daily activities as a mediator in this relationship remains underexplored. We analyzed whether reductions in daily activities mediated the impact of these COVID-19 restrictions on mental ill-health during the pandemic’s initial phase. Methods: We used data from Wave 8 SHARE Corona Survey covering 41,409 respondents from 25 European countries and Israel as well as data on COVID-19 restrictions from the Oxford Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). Multilevel regression and multilevel-mediation analysis were used to examine the relationships between restrictions, daily activities and mental ill-health. Results: Reductions in walking and shopping showed a notably stronger association with increases in mental ill-health compared to social activities. Furthermore, declines in walking could account for about a quarter of the relationship between restrictions and increased mental ill-health, but the mediating effects of the other activates were negligible. Conclusions: The study highlights the essential role of maintaining daily activities, particularly walking, to mitigate the negative psychological effects of pandemic-related restrictions among older populations in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Occupational Health Service (OHS) is a service that should support employers and employees with theirwork environment. Previous research indicates the need for deeper knowledge about the effect of workplace interventionswith a focus on planning, organizing and designing the workplace to improve work conditions in hospital settings. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the outcomes, workplace interventions and intervention strategies in hospital settings. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of ScienceCore Collection were searched in September 2021. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate the quality ofthe included studies. Study results are presented through a narrative synthesis. A protocol for this study was registered onthe Open Science Framework. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies, published between 2010 and 2021, were included. These included randomized controlledtrials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and mixed methods reports with moderate to good quality. The results support the use of workplaceinterventions to improve work conditions, health, and well-being in hospital settings. Combinations of different interventions,tailored to the specific organization, were used. Important intervention strategies commonly used in the start-up, evaluation,and intervention of successful workplace interventions, were identified. Using a pragmatist complexity approach in workplaceinterventions can improve outcomes by providing clear intervention strategies and combinations of tailored interventions,related to context specific problems. CONCLUSION: OHS support in workplace interventions with clear intervention strategies will contribute to improve workconditions, health and well-being in hospital settings., Corrected Proof

Background & Aim Various initiatives have been taken and recommended to improve foodservice and nutritional care to hospitals patients. However, a broad description and analysis of what has been done to reach a better foodservice is lacking. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to map aspects highlighted as important in scientific articles pertaining to the improvement of foodservice for hospital inpatients. Methods A scoping review was conducted, including literature searches in four databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and an article selection process. Included studies were peer reviewed primary research written in English, published in 2000–2023, focusing on quality and improvement work in organisations and practice concerning provision of food and meals to hospital inpatients. Besides data charting of article characteristics, data were obtained for qualitative synthesis. Results Out of the 103 included articles, almost all (n=102) contained aspects associated with systems of different kinds. Foremost were systems for ordering, production, delivery and menus. Additionally, there were systems for structures, evaluation, and control. Other frequently occurring aspects concerned patients (n=84), e.g. considering their nutritional requirements, preferences, and cultural habits, as well as empowering patients with freedom of choice, information and guidance. Aspects concerning professional development, e.g. training, competence and teamwork were scarcer (n=46) and even fewer articles entailed aspects regarding leadership (n=21). Conclusions The broad spectrum of aspects that were identified may provide guidance to quality improvement of hospital foodservice. It also indicated research gaps in this field, foremost concerning relational competence and leadership.

Background and objective: We investigated whether adding 4Kscore as a reflex test to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could improve the screening algorithm for prostate cancer (PC). Methods: In the GÖTEBORG-2 PC screening trial, 38 000men (50–60 yr) were invited to PSA testing and, if elevated, followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For 571 men with PSA ≥3.0 ng/ml and evaluable outcomes, 4Kscore was calculated. The performance using a prespecified 4Kscore cutoff of 7.5% was evaluated. Key findings and limitations: The area under the curve for 4Kscore to identify intermediate- and high-risk PC was 0.84 (95% confidence interval 0.79–0.89), and the positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 15% (0.12–0.20) and 99% (97–100%), respectively. Of the 54 men diagnosed with intermediate- or high-grade PC, two had a 4Kscore cutoff below 7.5%, both with organ-confined intermediate-risk PC. Per 1000 men with elevated PSA, adding 4Kscore would have resulted in avoidance of MRI for 408 (41%) men, biopsies for 95 (28% reduction) men, and diagnosis of 23 low-grade cancers (23% reduction) while delaying the diagnosis of four men with intermediate-grade cancers (4%). Conclusions and clinical implications: Including 4Kscore as a reflex test for men with elevated PSA reduces the need for MRI and biopsy markedly, and results in less overdiagnosis of low-grade PC at the cost of delaying the diagnosis of intermediate-grade PC in a few men. These results add further evidence for including new blood-based biomarkers in addition to PSA to improve the harm and benefit ratio of PC screening and reduce the need for resource-demanding MRI and biopsies. Patient summary: In this study, 4Kscore, a blood-based biomarker, as a reflex test for men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), reduces the need for magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy. These results support the inclusion of new blood-based biomarkers in addition to PSA.

BACKGROUND: Circulating total insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an established risk factor for prostate cancer. However, only a small proportion of circulating IGF-I is free or readily dissociable from IGF-binding proteins (its bioavailable form), and few studies have investigated the association of circulating free IGF-I with prostate cancer risk. METHODS: We analyzed data from 767 prostate cancer cases and 767 matched controls nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, with an average of 14-years (interquartile range = 2.9) follow-up. Matching variables were study center, length of follow-up, age, and time of day and fasting duration at blood collection. Circulating free IGF-I concentration was measured in serum samples collected at recruitment visit (mean age 55 years old; standard deviation = 7.1) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Conditional logistic regressions were performed to examine the associations of free IGF-I with risk of prostate cancer overall and subdivided by time to diagnosis (≤ 14 and > 14 years), and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Circulating free IGF-I concentrations (in fourths and as a continuous variable) were not associated with prostate cancer risk overall (odds ratio [OR] = 1.00 per 0.1 nmol/L increment, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.02) or by time to diagnosis, or with prostate cancer subtypes, including tumor stage and histological grade. CONCLUSIONS: Estimated circulating free IGF-I was not associated with prostate cancer risk. Further research may consider other assay methods that estimate bioavailable IGF-I to provide more insight into the well-substantiated association between circulating total IGF-I and subsequent prostate cancer risk.

Background: There are important unmet clinical needs to develop cell enrichment technologies to enable unbiased label-free isolation of both single cell and clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) manifesting heterogeneous lineage specificity. Here, we report a pilot study based on the microfluidic acoustophoresis enrichment of CTCs using the CellSearch CTC assay as a reference modality. Methods: Acoustophoresis uses an ultrasonic standing wave field to separate cells based on biomechanical properties (size, density, and compressibility), resulting in inherently label-free and epitope-independent cell enrichment. Following red blood cell lysis and paraformaldehyde fixation, 6 mL of whole blood from 12 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and 20 healthy controls were processed with acoustophoresis and subsequent image cytometry. Results: Acoustophoresis enabled enrichment and characterization of phenotypic CTCs (EpCAM+, Cytokeratin+, DAPI+, CD45-/CD66b-) in all patients with metastatic prostate cancer and detected CTC-clusters composed of only CTCs or heterogeneous aggregates of CTCs clustered with various types of white blood cells in 9 out of 12 patients. By contrast, CellSearch did not detect any CTC clusters, but detected comparable numbers of phenotypic CTCs as acoustophoresis, with trends of finding a higher number of CTCs using acoustophoresis. Conclusion: Our preliminary data indicate that acoustophoresis provides excellent possibilities to detect and characterize CTC clusters as a putative marker of metastatic disease and outcomes. Moreover, acoustophoresis enables the sensitive label-free enrichment of cells with epithelial phenotypes in blood and offers opportunities to detect and characterize CTCs undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioning and lineage plasticity.

Road dust is an important source to airborne particles in the Nordic countries. It consists of wear products from road pavement, tyres, brakes, traction sand, salt and dust dragged in from adjacent unbound roads or deposited from nearby or long distance dust sources, like building sites and farmland. The cold climate in the Nordic countries enhances the formation of road dust compared to most European countries, since it promotes the use of studded tyres, which abrades the road surfaces, and winter maintenance where dust forming material is added to the road surfaces. The NORDUST II project has aimed to enhance knowledge about road dust emissions through extensive investigations, including laboratory and field studies, measurements, modeling, and future scenarios. An initial work package summarized current knowledge on mitigating road dust emissions. It found that dust binding solutions are most effective during acute dust episodes, while sweeping is beneficial on a seasonal basis. Preventive measures during autumn and winter can reduce airborne dust in spring. A core component of the project was experimental parameterization of processes in the NORTRIP emissions model. Studies revealed that vehicle weight and speed significantly influence particulate matter (PM) emissions, with heavier vehicles and higher speeds increasing emissions. The type of tire and road surface properties also play crucial roles.Experiments showed that winter sand is quickly crushed into finer fractions when driven over, but only a small portion of the sand mass is crushed. Coarse particles are removed more efficiently than finer particles at low speeds, but all particles are removed at speeds above 20 km/h. A field test in Linköping, Sweden, examined the removal of the dust binder CMA by traffic. Results indicated that the NORTRIP model could largely replicate the impact of traffic migration on CMA concentrations., Research funding provided by Statens vegvesen, Trafikverket, Väylävirasto, Vegagerðin and Vejdirektoratet.

Under perioden 2021-2025 bokförs medlemsstaternas åtagande inom LULUCF-sektorn enligt LULUCF-förordningen (EU) 2018/841. Åtagandet innebär att LULUCF-sektorn inte ska generera några bokförda nettoutsläpp för perioden 2021-2025. Kategorierna i LULUCF-sektorn har olika bokföringsregler. För brukad skogsmark bokförs utsläpp eller upptag relativt en särskilt fastställd referensnivå (FRL, Forest Reference Level). I detta projekt föreslås en metod för omallokering av kolförrådsförändringar i de kolpooler som idag inte är direkt jämförbara mellan rapporterade data inom växthusgasrapporteringen och bokföringsreferensen för brukad skogsmark (FRL). Vidare har teknisk korrigering av FRL undersökts och en process för vidare arbete med teknisk korrigering av FRL föreslås. Syftet med teknisk korrigering av FRL är att FRL ska vara konsistent med den årliga växthusgasrapporteringen och kan t.ex. medges om underlagsdata eller modeller som användes i FRL ändras. Metoden för omallokeringen utgår från att separera stubbar från markkol och förna som simulerats för FRL i Q-modellen. Nedbrytning av markkol, stubbar och grövre rötter har därför delats upp i de två poolerna markkol och stubbar, med hjälp av nedbrytningsklasser som baserats på Riksskogstaxeringens permanenta ytor. Övergången till markkol sker när en stubbe övergår till att inte längre vara en stubbe (nedbrytningen har nått ett visst stadium) och skattades till 21 år för gran, 23 år för tall och 10 år för löv. Vägledningen kring teknisk korrigering av FRL är inte tydlig och därför föreslås en process med avsikt att förtydliga om och hur en teknisk korrigering bör ske. Fram till dess föreslås en nivåjustering av den framtagna FRL i enlighet med IPCC riktlinjer (baserat på den redan framtagna FRL). Vidare behövs en fortsatt dialog med/mellan Naturvårdsverket, EU-kommissionen och Joint Research Center (JRC) för klargöranden kring processen. Om en teknisk korrigering av FRL fastslås bör en insats göras inför submission 2027 i for, In this project, a method for reallocation of carbon stock changes is suggested for carbon pools in the reference level for 2021 to 2025 for forest land (FRL), which currently are not compatible with reported data to the GHG reporting. In addition, a technical correction of the FRL has been investigated and a process for future work with technical correction of the FRL is suggested. Technical correction of the FRL can be admitted if supporting data of models that are used in FRL are changed. The method for reallocation is based on separating the stumps from the soil carbon pool that was simulated aggregated for FRL with the Q-model. The decomposition of soil carbon, stumps and coarse roots has been divided in stumps and soil carbon with decomposition classes based on permanent plots from the National Forest Inventory. The transition to soil carbon occurs when a stump passes over to no longer being a stump (the decomposition has reached a certain state) and was estimated to 21 years for Norway spruce, 23 years for Pine and 10 years for deciduous forest. The guidance on technical correction of FRL is not clear and therefore a process with the aim of clarifying if and how a technical correction should be done is suggested. Until then, a level adjustment of the current FRL is suggested, in accordance with the IPCC Guidelines. Further, a continuous dialogue between the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, The European Committee and the Joint Research Center (JRC) is needed for clarification around the process. If a technical correction of the FRL is established, additional efforts are needed for submission 2027, by developing in-data and calibration of the Q-model.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are often insufficiently engaged with in professional higher education. This study presents results from a mapping of SRHR indicators in formal higher education documents relating to 11 higher educational profession programmes in Norway. The findings show a modest level of inclusion of SRHR indicators but a low level of constructive alignment between different levels of educational documents regarding SRHR. These findings likely negatively impact the ability to reach sustainable development goals (SDGs) relating to sexual health (SDG 3: Good health and well-being) and gender equality (SDG 5: Genderequality), both of which highlight SRHR as an important contributor to population health and development. To meet the population’s needs for SRHR, formal documents in higher education should display greater clarity, and ensure that education, regardless of type, placement and context, provides equal knowledge and competence on SRHR for future professionals., CC BY 4.0

The amount of people with dementia in Sweden is increasing, as are the associated costs. Thus, technological innovations, digitalization, and new work practices are becoming more crucial to accommodate this development. There is an increasing demand for a more time-effective dementia diagnosis process, and one area for improvement is within speech assessments. This thesis has investigated whether it is possible to develop an interface for multidimensional clinical language analysis of dementia. The result was an automated tool that evaluates transcribed speech from several different dimensions. These include a machine learning prediction, a syntactic analysis in the form of a word dependency plot, a semantic analysis, and a series of different linguistic features. The visualization was created with the Python package Gradio and divided into two tabs: one with the numerical values and one with graphs to facilitate comparisons to baselines from the data. Furthermore, a market analysis has been conducted to investigate the potential of such an application in the Swedish medical market and where it could be implemented. This was conducted through interviews with three different market participants. From the interviews, it was found that there is potential for such an application for speech-language pathologists, who conduct more thorough speech assessments. The interviews revealed that the analysis of speech is still heavily manual-intensive and presents an opportunity for time optimization. It is in this aspect that the market viability of the tool lies., Antalet personer i Sverige med demens ökar, liksom kostnaderna inom demensvården. Tekniska innovationer, digitalisering och nya arbetssätt blir därför allt mer avgörande för att utrusta sjukvården för denna förändring. Det finns ett ökat behov av en mer tidseffektiv demensutredning och ett förbättringsområde är inom talbedömningar. Detta examensarbete har undersökt om det är möjligt att utveckla ett gränssnitt för multidimensionell klinisk språkanalys av demens. Resultatet blev ett automatiserat verktyg som utvärderar transkriberat tal från flera olika dimensioner. Detta inkluderar en maskininlärningsmodell, en syntaktisk analys i form av ett språkträd, en semantisk analys och en utvärdering av olika språkliga egenskaper. Visualiseringen var skapad med hjälp av Python-paketet Gradio och delades upp i två flikar: en med numeriska värden och en med grafer för att underlätta jämförelser med referensvärden från datan. Vidare har en marknadsanalys genomförts för att undersöka potentialen för en sådan applikation inom den svenska vården och var verktyget skulle kunna implementeras. Denna analys har genomförts genom intervjuer med tre olika marknadsaktörer. Man fann att det finns potential för ett sådant verktyg för logopeder, som utför mer noggranna talbedömningar. Intervjuerna avslöjade att analysen av tal fortfarande är en manuellt intensiv process som lämnar utrymme för tidsoptimering och att det är i denna aspekt som verktygets marknadspotential finns.

In the modern world, people are not moving enough. People can sit down for multiple hours in a row at an office job, which can lead to multiple health risks like obesity, depression and cancer. One way of counteracting this sedentary behavior is to encourage people to move more by playing exergames, video games that require the player to move and exert themselves to play. The benefit of playing exergames does, however, only apply when they are continually played over a longer period of time. To see how well exergames work over a longer period of time, two casual physics based exergames were developed. Each exergame was then played 100 times each by both authors to see how score and movement changed over time. It was found that both games required greater movement to get higher scores. The movement amount of the exergames slightly decreased over time in some cases but, most often, stayed at the same level or increased over time.

Syfte – Utifrån arbetets problembeskrivning har följande syfte formulerats: Syftet med arbetet är att identifiera möjligheten till, samt lönsamheten av en effektivisering av interna transporter genom AGV-lösningar hos producerande företag. Utifrån syftet har följande frågeställningar formulerats: I. Vilka krav ställs på företag för att kunna effektivisera interna transporter genom AGV-lösningar? II. Hur påverkar införandet av AGV-lösningar effektiviseringen av de interna transporterna? III. Vilka faktorer kan spela in vid beräkningar av AGV-lösningars lönsamhet? Metod – Studien är en fallstudie, i en enfallsstudies riktning där insamlade data har inhämtats med hjälp av observationer, intervjuer, frekvensstudier och dokumentstudier för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Vidare grundar sig metoderna främst på insamlingen av data hos fallföretaget, men även hos truckleverantörer. Då arbetet är baserat på ett fall, har även många teorier studerats för att skapa ett generaliserbart arbete. Avslutningsvis har mycket fokus under arbetets gång legat på att säkerställa en hög trovärdighet i arbetet. Exempel på detta är triangulering av metoder, användning av peer-reviewed källor samt transparens kring utförandet. Resultat – Arbetets resultat visar tydliga behov för verksamheter att analysera flödet vid intresse av att införa en AGV-lösning. Detta bör göras för att skapa en mer effektiv implementering med mer lovande resultat. Vidare har resultaten visat att införandet av AGV-lösningar är mest aktuellt och tillämpningsbart vid simpla, repetitiva flöden. Avslutningsvis har det identifierats att lönsamheten i implementeringen kan variera då verksamheters krav varierar. Dock skapar implementeringen möjligheter för omplacering av personal vilket kan bidra till ökad lönsamhet. Implikationer – Implikationer av arbetet berör vikten av att utföra en nulägesanalys. Vidare implikationer är användning av standardisering för att säkerställa jämna flöden, samt investeringskalkyler för, Purpose – Using the problem description, the following purpose has been formulated: The purpose of the work is to identify the possibility, as well as profitability, of increased efficiency in internal transport through AGV-solutions in manufacturing companies. Based on the purpose, the following research questions have been formulated: I. What requirements are set on companies to increase efficiency of internal transports through AGV-solutions? II. How does the introduction of AGV-solutions affect the efficiency of internal transports? III. What factors can impact the calculations of an AGV-solutions’ profitability? Method – The study is a case study in a single-case study direction, where the data has been collected using observations, interviews, frequency studies and document studies to answer the study’s research questions. Furthermore, the methods are mainly based on the collection of data at the case company, but also with the truck suppliers. As the work is based on one case, many theories have been studied to create a generalizable work. Finally, a lot of focus during the work has been on securing a high level of credibility in the work. Examples of this are triangulation of methods, use of peer-reviewed sources and transparency about the execution. Findings – The result of the study highlights a clear need for businesses to analyze their workflows when considering the implementation of an AGV solution. This should be done to ensure a more efficient implementation with more promising outcomes. Furthermore, the results have shown that the adoption of AGV solutions is most relevant and applicable in simple, repetitive workflows. Finally, it has been identified that the profitability of implementation can vary as businesses requirements differ. However, the implementation creates opportunities for staff redeployment, which can contribute to increased profitability. Implications – Further implications of the work touch upon the importance of conducting a curren

As the future of construction machine operations is to become autonomous or remotely controlled, there is a need to establish safe operations inside the cabin. One such safety measure is to be able to detect people inside the cabin of a machine. In this thesis, a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) mmWave radar from Texas Instruments (TI) has been used to collect data inside a wheel loader cabin provided by Volvo Construction Equipment. To classify the data and distinguish between a person, an empty cabin, and an inanimate object, the clustering algorithm Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) has been used. The thesis has also investigated the possibility of extracting respiratory rate from the radar signal in a controlled office environment. To do this, a Butterworth filter was used on the range bin where the subject was sitting. The results presented in this thesis prove the methods successful in controlled environments, with an accuracy of up to 91 % when distinguishing between a person and an inanimate object. The extraction of respiratory rate had an average absolute error of 0.82 Breaths Per Minute (BPM). Even though the results prove the methods successful they fail to distinguish between a person and an inanimate object when noise is introduced from vibrations of the motor. Further work needs to be done in order to filter the vibration noise from the signal.

Introduktion: Denna studie undersöker effekterna av biofilisk design och grönområden i urbana miljöer på folkhälsan. Mot bakgrund av ökande urbanisering och miljömässiga utmaningar, har forskning identifierat naturliga miljöer som en nyckelfaktor för att förbättra mentala, fysiska och sociala hälsoutfall. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utforska hur biofilisk design och gröna ytor kan integreras i stadsplanering för att förbättra allmän hälsa och välbefinnande. Studien syftar även till att identifiera specifika element av biofilisk design som är mest effektiva i urbana kontexter. Metod: Genom en strukturerad litteraturstudie har forskning om biofilisk design och grönområden analyserats. Elva originalartiklar från databaserna CINAHL och MEDLINE har granskats för att utvärdera deras inverkan på psykologiska och fysiologiska hälsoutfall samt social sammanhållning. Resultat: Resultaten visar att grönområden och biofilisk design signifikant främjar mental och fysisk hälsa. Särskilt noterades en minskad risk för psykiatriska störningar och bättre fysiska hälsoresultat som lägre blodtryck och ökad vitalitet. Socialt bidrog dessa miljöer till ökad sammanhållning och gemenskapskänsla. Slutsats: Studien visar på att integrering av gröna ytor och naturliga element i stadsplanering är väsentlig för att främja en hållbar folkhälsa. Framtida forskning bör fokusera på att ytterligare utforska de socioekonomiska faktorerna som påverkar tillgången till och effekterna av dessa designelement. Effektiv integrering av biofilisk design kan förändra urban hälsoplanering och stärka samhällens resiliens mot miljömässiga och psykosociala stressorer., Introduction: This study examines the impacts of biophilic design and green spaces in urban environments on public health. During rising urbanization and environmental challenges, natural settings have been identified as key to improving mental, physical, and social health outcomes. Aim: This research aims to explore how biophilic design and green areas can be incorporated into urban planning to enhance overall health and well-being. It also seeks to identify which elements of biophilic design are most effective within urban contexts. Methods: A structured literature review was conducted, analyzing research on biophilic design and green spaces. Eleven original articles from the CINAHL and MEDLINE databases were reviewed to assess their impact on psychological and physiological health outcomes, as well as social cohesion. Results: The findings suggest that green spaces and biophilic design significantly promote mental and physical health. Notably, they reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders and improve physical health outcomes such as lower blood pressure and increased vitality. Socially, these environments enhance community cohesion and a sense of belonging. Conclusion: The study confirms that integrating green spaces and natural elements into urban planning is essential for promoting sustainable public health. Future research should further investigate the socioeconomic factors influencing access to and the effects of these design elements. Effective integration of biophilic design could change urban health planning and strengthen community resilience against environmental and psychosocial stressors.

Bakgrund: I Sverige föds det mellan 86 000–120 000 barn per år och har gjorts sedan 70-talet. Av alla barn som föds behöver 10% vårdas på neonatalavdelning, en tredjedel vårdas på grund av prematuritet och två tredjedelar för andra hälsoproblem som exempelvis andningsstörning och infektion. Det har gjorts studier på djur där avnavling utförts innan gasutbytet i lungan har etablerats, där kan ses att cirkulationen allvarligt försämras. Resultatet i dessa studier har lett fram till den pågående SAVE-studien där nyfödda barn återupplivas med intakt navelsträng. Det innebär att stimulering, luftvägsrensning och ventilation sker utan att navelsträngen klampas och klipps. SAVE-studien syftar till att undersöka om barn i behov av återupplivning efter födseln återhämtar sig snabbare och om järndepåerna blir högre om navelsträngen klipps vid ett senare skede. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa samarbetet mellan neonatalpersonal och förlossningspersonal på förlossningsrummet vid ventilation med intakt navelsträng.Metod: Denna kvalitativa studie är en del av en nationell multicenterstudie vid namn Sustained cord circulation And Ventilation (SAVE) vars syfte är att implementera och utvärdera ventilation med intakt navelsträng för alla barn i Sverige. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Graneheim och Lundman med induktiv ansats valdes för att besvara studiens syfte. Den kvalitativa studiedesignen valdes för att förklara, analysera och identifiera mönster. Resultat: Kommunikationen blev påverkad på förlossningsrummet vid ventilation med sen avnavling. Det upplevdes svårt att tala fritt när föräldrarna var närvarande, vilket försvårade samarbetet för teamet. Neonatalpersonalen tyckte att det var svårt att överlämna uppgiften att kontrollera utrustningen för återupplivning till förlossningspersonalen, denna rutin fanns på vissa sjukhus. Ibland fungerade inte utrustningen när kontroller genomfördes eller när utrustningen skulle användas vid en återupplivningssituation. Det upple, Background: In Sweden, between 86 000 and 120 000 newborns are born each year, a trend that has continued since the 1970s. Of all the newborns, 10 % require care in neonatal units. One-third of these newborns are admitted due to prematurity, while the remaining two-thirds face other health issues such as respiratory problems and infections. There have been studies on animals where early cord clamping before lung gas exchange is established leads to a serious deterioration in circulation. The findings from these studies have informed the ongoing SAVE-study, where newborns are resuscitated with the intact umbilical cord. The SAVE-study aims to investigate whether infants in need of resuscitation after birth recover more quickly when the cord is cut at a later stage. Aim: The study's purpose was to highlight the collaboration between neonatal staff and delivery room personnel during ventilation using the intact umbilical cord.Method: This qualitative study is part of a national multicenter study called Sustained Cord Circulation and Ventilation (SAVE), which aims to implement and evaluate ventilation using the intact umbilical cord for all infants in Sweden. Qualitative content analysis, following the approach by Graneheim and Lundman, was selected as method to address the study’s purpose. The qualitative study design was chosen to explain, analyze, and identify patterns. Results: Communication was affected in the delivery room during ventilation with late umbilical cord removal. It was perceived as difficult to speak freely when the parents were present, which made collaboration difficult for the team. Neonatal staff found it difficult to hand over the task of checking the resuscitation equipment to delivery staff, this routine existed in some hospitals. Sometimes the equipment did not work when checks were carried out or when the equipment was to be used in resuscitation situations. It felt cramped in the delivery room with a lot of equipment in the way, which made c

Anorexia nervosa (AN) är en psykiatrisk sjukdom där personen som är drabbad svälter sig och aktivt försöker gå ner i vikt genom olika tillvägagångssätt. Anorexia nervosa drabbar främst kvinnor och har ofta debut i tonåren. Sjukdomen kan vara svårbehandlad och är ofta förenad med lång återhämtning. Anorexia nervosa kan ge allvarliga somatiska komplikationer och orsaka för tidig död. En väl utformad vård och snabb handläggning är av stor vikt för att ge goda möjligheter till återhämtning. Syftet med denna studie var att belysa patienters upplevelse av att vårdas för anorexia nervosa. Metoden utgörs av en litteraturöversikt där tolv kvalitativa artiklar använts i resultatet. Under dataanalysen framkom fyra teman och sju subteman. Resultatet visar att patienterna upplever en ambivalens inför att söka vård och vårdas för sin sjukdom. De upplever att vårdandet kretsar kring mat och vikt i stället för att utgå från de bakomliggande känslorna. Vårdrelationen belyses som en betydande del i hur patienterna upplever vårdandet och påverkar hur väl vårdandet kan tillgodogöras. Patienterna önskar vara delaktiga i sin vård och bli sedd som en hel människa. Vidare visar resultatet att patienterna upplever att olika vårdsammanhang påverkar möjligheten att tillgodogöra sig behandling. Diskussionen belyser hur ambivalensen påverkar vårdandet och sjuksköterskans bristande kunskaper i att vårda patienterna med anorexia nervosa. Patienternas behov av att bearbeta de bakomliggande känslorna belyses och vidare förs en diskussion om vårdandet skulle kunna anpassas efter patientens livsvärld.

Bakgrund: Palliativ vård i livets slutskede är vården som ges under patienters sista tid i livet och syftar till att lindra lidande och främja livskvalité. Tidigare forskning visar att sjuksköterskor upplever tidsbrist och otillräcklig kunskap för att möta patienter och anhöriga i vården i livets slutskede. Sjuksköterskor beskriver att tidsbrist och kunskapsbrist påverkar omvårdnaden i livets slutskede. Sjuksköterskor anser att anhöriga är en viktig del för högkvalitativ vård men upplever att omständigheter påverkar omvårdnaden av palliativ vård i livets slutskede. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva anhörigas erfarenheter av palliativ vård i livets slutskede. Metod: En allmän litteraturöversikt enligt Friberg. Åtta kvalitativa artiklar, två kvantitativa artiklar en artikel med mixad metod har analyserats. Resultat: Anhöriga upplevde att kommunikation och stöd bidrog till att vårdrelationer skapades med vårdpersonal. Anhöriga beskrev att delaktighet var betydelsefullt för att tillgodose närståendes behov. Smärtlindring för närstående var ett grundläggande behov enligt anhöriga. Slutsats: Det kan finnas en kunskapslucka hos sjuksköterskor och den grundläggande utbildningen bör innehåll mer kunskap om kommunikation, stöd, delaktighet och smärtlindring. Detta för att tillgodose anhörigas och närståendes behov i palliativ vård i livets slutskede

Introduktion: I ambulansen sker ett dyadiskt teamarbete, där två personer, varav minst en sjuksköterska, arbetar tillsammans. Ett effektivt och välfungerande teamarbete har visat sig främja personalens hälsa och trygghet samt öka patientsäkerheten, medan hinder i teamarbetet kan skapa ineffektivitet och öka risken för misstag. Syfte: Specialistsjuksköterskors upplevelser av dyadiskt teamarbete i prehospital miljö. Metod: Studien har en kvalitativ design med induktiv ansats. Åtta specialistsjuksköterskor, arbetande på akutambulans i Sverige, intervjuades via semistrukturerade intervjuer. Kvalitativ manifest innehållsanalys valdes som analysmetod. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra kategorier; vikten av öppenhet och trygghet, känslor av ensamhet och otrygghet, kommunikationens betydelse samt kompetens och erfarenhet påverkar samarbetet. Resultatet visade att specialistsjuksköterskorna upplevde att tillit inom teamet var avgörande för teamarbetet, där tryggheten i samspelet med kollegan bidrog till både lust och säkerhet i arbetet. Vid bristande tillit i teamarbetet kunde känslor av ensamhet och otrygghet uppstå vilket kunde ge osäkerhet i arbetet. Kommunikationen i teamet var viktigt för att kunna sköta sitt jobb och vid tydlig kommunikation minskade risken för missförstånd. Specialistsjuksköterskorna beskrev att erfarenhet och kompetens var en stark orsak till trygghet i teamarbetet. Slutsats: En slutsats utifrån studiens resultat är att det är viktigt att det dyadiska teamet i ambulansen är tillitsfullt och har en öppen karaktär. Att man vågar lita på varandra i teamet och att man har en gemensam bild av det arbete som skall genomföras. Att arbetet i ambulansen både blir roligare och säkrare om man har en bra kommunikation och försöker skapa en atmosfär som är tillåtande och utvecklande. Ett teamarbete med bristande tillit leder till osäkerhet, tvivel och ökar risken för missförstånd. Det behövs ytterligare studier för att utveckla metoder för att stärka den psyk

Introduction Staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities face challenges addressing sexual health. Professionals in this context have diverse backgrounds and education, and little is known about their attitudes and skills in providing support for a healthy sexual life and preventing abuse. Moreover, this topic has not been explored in the Norwegian context. The current study examined health professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health with individuals with intellectual disabilities in Norwegian municipal health and care services. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Norwegian version of the professionals’ attitudes toward addressing sexual health among 72 health professionals working in municipal services for people with intellectual disabilities in Mid-Norway. The data was collected from November 2022 to January 2023. Results The professionals reported feeling partially comfortable and prepared to address sexual health issues with clients. They consistently expressed a need for more basic knowledge about sexual health and training in communicating about sexuality. Attitudes toward addressing sexual health varied based on the professionals’ education, gender, age, and work experience. Conclusions More targeted training on sexual health is needed within the educational programmes in health and social sciences. Sexual health should also be continuously addressed in the workplace and among colleagues. The differences in attitudes between professionals indicate that the composition of the staff benefits from diversity.Policy Implications Healthcare managers are responsible for ensuring greater openness and reflection on attitudes toward sexuality among individuals with intellectual disabilities in workplaces. Educational institutions must provide the necessary skill development and training in communication about sexual health for this client group., CC BY 4.0

The PhD period needs to provide work-integrated learning (WIL) in academia to enable the development of academic skills and handling situations of failure as well as success. During the Covid-19 pandemic there was increased risk for PhD students of losing pace in PhD projects, disconnectedness from academia and decreased well-being, while digitalisation in PhD education increased. The purpose was to test and explore the experienced value of group-based online learning activities for PhD students, and how they relate to WIL in PhD education. The two tested online learning activities were online monthly meetings and online writing retreats. The project was performed with Plan-Do-Study-Act. Evaluation data included the number of participants, types of spin-offs from the learning activities, and participants’ feedback. The data were analysed from the perspective of the experienced value of the learning activities and how they can relate to WIL in PhD education. The PhD students acquired increased academic and leadership skills, experienced less stress, enhanced self-efficacy, decreased dependency on supervisors and a safe social environment important for their well-being. In addition, there was good progress of the participants’ projects and joy at work., CC BY 4.0

In 2002 University West received a specific mission from the Swedish government to develop Work-integrated learning (WIL), but already in 1990 the University Board of Directors branded the university “as the first and only WIL educational and research institution of higher education in Sweden” (Piperet al., 2023). Since 2020 University West also offers a PhD program in WIL with the aim to enhance learning in the workplace (University West, 2023). However, WIL was a track within previous PhD programs at University West. These actions are likely to impact the research outcomes of the university, but it is unknown to what extent this has happened especially in comparison to other universities in Sweden. Governmental funding can have a powerful impact on institutional behavior (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2020), which likely also influences individual researchers’ actions. In addition, organizational strategies of universities can also influence academic research collaboration (Kienast, 2023). Therefore, it is likely that the specific national mission and University West’s strategy concerning WIL has had traceable effects in research publications, however the bibliometric level of impact is unexplored.

Objectives: To assess skeletal and dental effects and evaluate possible side effects of maxillary expansion with two different appliances, directly after expansion and 1 year postexpansion. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients with unilateral posterior crossbite (mean 9.5 +/- 0.9 years) were randomized to either rapid maxillary expansion (RME) banded on the deciduous second molars and bonded to the primary canines or slow expansion with quad helix (QH) on the permanent first molars. Cone-beam computed tomography records were taken at baseline, directly after correction of the posterior crossbite and at follow-up 1 year after expansion. Results: All patients were analyzed. RME opened the midpalatal suture more anteriorly and inferiorly (mean 4.1 mm) and less posteriorly and superiorly (mean 1.0 mm). No effect on midpalatal suture could be shown in the QH group after expansion, P < .001. Buccal bone width had significantly decreased (P < .001) in the QH group compared with the RME group. Buccal fenestrations and root resorption on the left first molar had a higher prevalence directly after expansion finished in the QH group (P = .0086, P = .013) but were not significant at 1-year follow-up (P = .11, P = .22). Conclusions: Opening of the suture with RME was more anterior and inferior, and the QH did not open the midpalatal suture at all. More buccal bone loss and fenestrations were seen on the permanent first molar in patients treated with conventional QH than RME anchored to deciduous teeth., This study was supported by the Regional Research Council.

The prevalence of interpersonal violence has been reported at higher levels among Indigenous than non-Indigenous populations worldwide, but has not been thoroughly investigated among the Sámi population in Sweden. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual violence and violence by intimate partners, family members, acquaintances, and strangers among participants identifying as Sámi or Swedish, (2) whether reporting experiences of historical losses and discrimination mediated the anticipated association between identifying as Sámi and reporting experiences of violence, and (3) whether background characteristics were associated with reporting experiences of violence. Cross-sectional questionnaire data collected in 2021 for the “Health and Living conditions in Sápmi” study were used. All adults in an arctic region in Sweden were invited to participate (response rate: 41%). Respondents self-identifying as Sámi (n = 375; 24.7%) or Swedish (n = 1,144; 75.3%) were included in this study. Sámi respondents of both sexes more often reported violence by an acquaintance or stranger. Likewise, more Sámi than Swedish women reported family violence (16.4% vs. 9.2%), but there was no difference concerning intimate partner violence (13.3% vs. 15.4%). Mediation analyses revealed strong positive indirect effects of historical losses and discrimination on the different types of violence. Being female was the strongest predictor of reporting intimate partner violence, and younger age was associated with violence by all perpetrators except family members. In conclusion, interpersonal violence was more often reported by Sámi respondents, but the association was explained in full by experiences of historical losses and discrimination. The results underline the importance of a life-course and even intergenerational and historical perspectives when investigating interpersonal violence.

How do male-dominated populist radical right (PRR) parties relate to and influence norms around women’s political inclusion and leadership in mainstream political parties? While research has focused on describing the male dominance of PRR parties or its influence on mainstream political parties’ policies, particularly immigration, we know less about how PRR parties relate to norms on women’s inclusion or gender-balanced representation in mainstream parties. In a theory-building effort, we posit that PRR parties may seek to (a) adapt to mainstream parties’ norms and include more women in leading positions (positive contagion) or (b) negatively affect or even challenge norms around women’s inclusion in mainstream parties (adverse contagion). Seeking to theorize this relationship further, we explore leadership selection in the Swedish Parliament, where gender balance constitutes a strong norm. Yet, following the 2022 elections, the proportion of women parliamentary leaders dipped below 30% for the first time in decades. At the same time, the Sweden Democrats, a male-dominated PRR party, emerged as the second-largest party in Parliament. Drawing on interviews with nomination committees, party documents, and data on leadership, we empirically investigate continuity and change in committee leadership appointments in the Swedish Parliament and the role of the radical right in this process. We do not find signs of adverse contagion in the short run: as of 2023, norms promoting gender balance appear to remain robust and enjoy widespread support among mainstream parties. Yet, neither do we find signs of positive contagion where the radical right adapts to mainstream norms around gender balance.

Background: The need for advanced home healthcare (HHC) is expected to increase, with registered nurses (RNs) as key figures. Given the difficulties recruiting and retaining RNs in the HHC sector, understanding their work satisfaction is imperative. Aim: This study aimed to explore RNs’ experiences of work satisfaction in the municipal HHC. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with RNs (n = 8) in four municipalities in Norway. The data were evaluated using qualitative content analysis. Results: Work satisfaction in HHC was organised into one theme ‘alone and together’ under four categories—the patient, the co-worker, the registered nurse, and the organisation—and 15 subcategories, including patient diversity, supportive co-workers and professional environment, appropriate workload and responsibilities, and provision of preconditions for self-management. Conclusions: Patients, co-workers, and organisations were identified as crucial areas affecting RNs’ work satisfaction in the municipal HHC. Awareness of these areas is essential to promote RNs’ work satisfaction. Patients’ diversity adds positively to RNs’ work satisfaction. Notably, RNs working alone can affect their work satisfaction not only negatively but also positively.

The aim of the study was to examine effects of the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) programme on sport-specific dispositional mindfulness, sport anxiety, and experiential acceptance, compared to an inactive control group, in a population of Martial Arts (MA) athletes. Twenty-three MA athletes were subjected to the MAC intervention, and 22 MA athletes comprised the control group. To analyse potential differences in the outcome variables between the two groups, Bayesian repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was used. Findings showed that the MAC-group had greater increases over time in the sport-specific mindfulness subscales awareness and acceptance and acceptance, compared to the control group. In contrast, no interaction effects were found for present moment attention (AMQ), experiential acceptance (BEAQ), and sport anxiety (SAS-2). Overall, the present study adds further information and understanding about the effectiveness and implementation of the MAC programme.

Sexual health is a neglected topic in prisons, even though sexual health is a basic human need that includes physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects. There is limited knowledge concerning how to promote and sustain the sexual health of prisoners. The aim of this study was to increase knowledge of sexual health promotion as a health resource in prisons. By conducting a scoping review, we searched for sexual health-promoting activities, approaches or experiences from prisons globally. The findings included sexual health interventions covering conjugal visits and sexual health promotion through education and collaboration. There are connections between mental health and sexual health for prisoners, and sexual health also influences quality of life. In conclusion, it is evident that there is a significant imperative for further research, interventions and measures in this domain to ensure holistic rehabilitation for prisoners., CC BY 3.0

The issue we set out to explore is how work-integrated learning (WIL) can enhance PhD-education. We argue that the inclusion of WIL will enable a more enriched PhD education where better interaction between the competencies needed in the workforce and real-life working problems will emerge that will feed into creating sustainable solutions for both the educational environment and the practice field. The inclusion of WIL in PhD education can also enable a better transition for PhD students after completion of their PhD to their next step in life and a better impact of research from PhD projects on the practice context. The research consisted of a rapid review (Klerings et al., 2023), and the included articles were analysed. The rapid review findings were also reflected on PhD education at the University West in Sweden and the University of the Free State in South Africa. The two universities are interesting as cases, as University West has a prominent profile of work-integrated learning, and the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein does not. The two case universities represent cities with the same level of higher education in the population (25-27%). However, higher education is much more common in the general population in Sweden than in South Africa.The results show a lack of research concerning WIL in PhD-education. Formal requirements and expectations for PhD education vary depending on context and scientific topic, which may affect how and to what level WIL is included in PhD education, as well as the options for the PhD student's career after completion. Frameworks developed for undergraduate education were used to explore WIL options in Ph.D. Opportunities of WIL and how WIL can be included in PhD education differ depending on context. In South Africa, PhD students often work fulltime while doing a PhD part-time, continually pursuing a PhD because of a personal dream rather than for career advancement. Helping these PhD students understand the value of

Many disabled people cannot live out their sexuality or exercise their sexual citizenship without assistance. There is a lack of knowledge concerning experiences and needs related to personal assistance to live out one’s sexuality and how to support sexual citizenship when living with a disability and receiving personal assistance services in the Norwegian context. This study presents the experiences and attitudes of disabled people in Norway concerning personal assistance services and sexual citizenship. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was answered by 67 disabled people living with personal assistance services. The results show that 67.1% of the respondents would rather avoid sexual activity than receive assistance with these activities, 50% found it uncomfortable to talk about sexual health, and 76% feared that conversations about sexual health would make the personal assistant uncomfortable. Service providers and municipalities should acknowledge the sexual needs of disabled people and organize services to meet these needs without personal assistants feeling uncomfortable or exploited., CC BY 4.0

Combination therapies in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), which include the addition of an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor and/or docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy, have been a game changer in the management of this disease stage. However, these therapies come with their fair share of toxicities and side effects. The goal of this observational study is to report drug-related adverse events (AEs), which are correlated with systemic combination therapies for mHSPC. Determining the optimal treatment option requires large cohorts to estimate the tolerability and AEs of these combination therapies in “real-life” patients with mHSPC, as provided in this study. We use a network of databases that includes population-based registries, electronic health records, and insurance claims, containing the overall target population and subgroups of patients defined by unique certain characteristics, demographics, and comorbidities, to compute the incidence of common AEs associated with systemic therapies in the setting of mHSPC. These data sources are standardised using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. We perform the descriptive statistics as well as calculate the AE incidence rate separately for each treatment group, stratified by age groups and index year. The time until the first event is estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method within each age group. In the case of episodic events, the anticipated mean cumulative counts of events are calculated. Our study will allow clinicians to tailor optimal therapies for mHSPC patients, and they will serve as a basis for comparative method studies.

En hållbar vattenhantering är högst relevant för att möta de miljömål som finns idag. IEU:s och Sveriges rättsliga praxis läggs stort fokus på att minska vattenanvändningenoch använda vattenresurser sparsamt. Regelverk syftar till att minska människansdricksvattenförbrukning och ersätta dricksvatten med vatten av annan kvalitet. I Sverigevarierar användningen och fördelningen av vatten mellan olika ändamål. Vatten är vårtviktigaste livsmedel och en strategisk resurs för samhällsutvecklingen. Termen teknisktvatten innefattar allt vatten som inte håller en dricksvattenkvalitet. Tekniskt vatten kanexempelvis vara renat avloppsvatten eller uppsamlat regnvatten. I Sverige så är det istort sett bara dricksvatten som produceras och distribueras från VA-organisationer.Detta vatten används inte bara som ett livsmedel utan även för tvätt, städ, bevattning, iindustriprocesser och mycket mer där dricksvattenkvalitet inte alltid behövs. Halmstadoch Laholm är två kommuner i Hallands län som förvaltas av VA-organisationenLaholmsbuktens VA. Laholmsbuktens VA utreder hur kommunerna i framtiden kantillhandhålla en hållbar vattenhantering där användandet av tekniskt vatten blir högre.Projektet undersöker verksamheter lokaliserade inom Halmstad och Laholmsinställning, möjligheter och hinder för implementering av tekniskt vatten. Genomintervju med de större förbrukarna av dricksvatten där potential för en användning avtekniskt vatten finns, har projektet tagit fram generella ställningstaganden för enimplementering. Verksamheternas intresse till implementering av tekniskt vatten skaanalyseras av Laholmsbuktens VA, och vara underlag för framtida samarbete ochplanläggning för en hållbar vattenanvändning., A sustainable water management is highly relevant to meeting today's environmentalgoals. EU and Swedish legal practice place a strong focus on reducing water use andusing water resources sparingly. Regulations aim to reduce human consumption ofdrinking water and replace drinking water with water of different quality. In Sweden,the use and allocation of water varies between different purposes. Water is our mostimportant foodstuff and a strategic resource for societal development. The term'technical water' includes all water that is not of drinking water quality. Technical watercan be, for example, treated wastewater or collected rainwater. In Sweden, it is largelyonly drinking water that is produced and distributed by water supply organizations. Thiswater is not only used for human consumption, but also for washing, cleaning,irrigation, industrial processes and much more where drinking water quality is notalways needed. Halmstad and Laholm are two municipalities in Halland County that aremanaged by the VA organization Laholmsbuktens VA. Laholmsbuktens VA isinvestigating how the municipalities can provide sustainable water management in thefuture where the use of technical water is higher. The project investigates the attitude,opportunities and obstacles for the implementation of technical water for businesseslocated in Halmstad and Laholm. Through interviews with the major consumers ofdrinking water where the potential for the use of technical water exists, the project hasdeveloped general positions for an implementation. The companies' interest inimplementing technical water will be analyzed by Laholmsbuktens VA, and be the basisfor future collaboration and planning for sustainable water use.

In 2002 University West received a specific mission from the Swedish government to develop Work-integrated learning (WIL), but already in 1990 the University Board of Directors branded the university “as the first and only WIL educational and research institution of higher education in Sweden” (Piperet al., 2023). Since 2020 University West also offers a PhD program in WIL with the aim to enhancelearning in the workplace (University West, 2023). However, WIL was a track within previous PhDprograms at University West. These actions are likely to impact the research outcomes of the university,but it is unknown to what extent this has happened especially in comparison to other universities inSweden. Governmental funding can have a powerful impact on institutional behavior (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2020), which likely also influences individual researchers’actions. In addition, organizational strategies of universities can also influence academic researchcollaboration (Kienast, 2023). Therefore, it is likely that the specific national mission and University West’s strategy concerning WIL has had traceable effects in research publications, however thebibliometric level of impact is unexplored.

Syftet med studien är att genom en iscensatt undervisning, ta reda på vad det är som sker i de yngsta barnens möte med en matematisk undervisningspraktik. Specifikt kommer vi att lägga fokus vid barnens kroppsliga ageranden. Målet med studien är att bidra med kunskaper om hur pedagoger kan utforma matematisk undervisning för yngre barn. I vår studie genomfördes en iscensatt undervisningspraktik med barn i åldern 1 - 2,5 år. Under vår undervisning använde vi oss av ett material i form av en egenkonstruerad pekbok. Pekboken är inspirerad av Alan Bishops matematiska aktiviteter designa och lokalisera. Datainsamling har gjorts genom ljud- och videoinspelningar och dessa har analyserats utifrån en induktiv tematisk analys. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkt grundar sig i embodied cognition, som syftar till att hjärnan inte är den enda kroppsdel som inhämtar kunskap. Resultatet visar att kroppen och sinnena är ständigt aktiva i barnens möte med matematik. De yngre barnen använder sig av flera olika strategier för att förhålla sig till och ta till sig matematik. Strategierna som förekommer är att känna på objekt, rörliga blickar, använda gester såsom pekningar, samt att de tillämpar den omgivande miljön. När de berättar om och visar matematik använder de sig även av olika tillvägagångssätt som exempelvis att jämföra och para ihop. Slutsatsen vi kan dra är att barn upptäcker matematik på olika sätt och därmed har de varierande tillvägagångsätt, samt strategier som de tillämpar i en undervisningspraktik., The purpose of this study is to, through a staged teaching find out what is happening in the youngest children's encounter with a mathematical teaching practice. Specifically, we will focus on the children's bodily actions. The aim of the study is to contribute knowledge about how educators can design mathematical teaching for younger children. In our study, a staged teaching practice was carried out with children aged 1 - 2.5 years. During our teaching, we used a material, which was a self-constructed picture book. The picture book is inspired by Alan Bishop's mathematical activities design and locate. Collection of data has been done through audio and video recordings and these have been analyzed based on an inductive thematic analysis. The study's theoretical starting point is based on embodied cognition, which aims to show that the brain is not the only part of the body that acquires knowledge. The results show that the body and senses are constantly active in the children's encounter with mathematic. The younger children use several different strategies to relate to and absorb mathematic. The strategies that eventuate are feeling objects, moving gazes, using gestures such as pointing, and applying the surrounding environment. When they talk about and show mathematic, they also use different approaches such as comparing and pairing. The conclusion we can see is that children discover mathematics in a variety of ways and thus have varying approaches, as well as strategies that they apply in a teaching practice.

Studiens övergripande syfte var att undersöka hur personalansvariga chefer inom tillverkningsindustrin hanterar konflikter inom sin arbetsgrupp samt hur de upplever att deras sätt att hantera konflikter har förändrats över tid och med erfarenhet. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ forskningsansats i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Deltagarna i studien bestod av 5 kvinnliga och 6 manliga chefer (N=11) inom tillverkningsindustrin, som har arbetat mellan 3–27 år som chef med personalansvar. En kombination av ett kriteriebaserat bekvämlighetsurval och en snöbollsmetod tillämpades. För att analysera det insamlade materialet användes tematisk analys, vilket resulterade i tre olika teman (chefers agerande vid konflikthantering, ny i rollen som chef och nu i rollen som chef), med tillhörande underteman. Resultatet visade att chefer hanterar konflikter inom arbetsgruppen genom att vara kontaktsökande, ta tag i konflikten direkt, visa förståelse för medarbetarnas perspektiv och agera utifrån situationen. Deltagarna i studien beskrev att de upplever mer trygghet i chefsrollen och har utvecklats i och med mer erfarenheter av att hantera konflikter.

Bakgrund: Majoriteten av svenska företag utför årliga medarbetarundersökningar för att samla information och förståelse kring medarbetarnas upplevelse av motivation, arbetstillfredsställelse och engagemang i arbete. Däremot har intresset för att utföra frekventa medarbetarundersökningar, det vill säga pulsmätningar, inom organisationer ökat markant i takt med digitaliseringen. Pulsmätningar är ett sätt för organisationer att frekvent mäta sina medarbetares mående och få en nutidsanalys över verksamheten. Idag finns det en uppsjö av olika konsultfirmor som erbjuder pulsmätningsverktyget och fenomenet pulsmätningar tycks fortsätta växa successivt fort. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att öka kunskapen om organisationers implementering, utförande och uppföljning av pulsmätningsverktyg, för att vidare skapa förståelse för användningen av och orsaker till att företag implementerar och använder pulsmätningar. Teoretisk referensram: Vår teoretiska referensram består av tidigare studier och forskning kring pulsmätningar, men även närliggande områden. Vidare har vi utvecklat tre faser, före, under och efter. Den teoretiska referensramen består även av tre teoretiska perspektiv, instrumentellt, institutionellt och kontroll. Metod: Studien utgår från en kvalitativ utgångspunkt med inriktning på en semistrukturerad intervjumetod, där de semistrukturerade intervjufrågorna bygger på förbestämda teman av frågor som tillämpats i en intervjuguide. Empiri: Studiens empiri-kapitel är indelat efter de tre faserna, kopplat till frågan om hur organisationer använder pulsmätningar. Under innan-fasen beskriver respondenterna varför verktyget implementerats samt undersökningens förberedelser. Under-fasen presenterar respondenternas svar kring utseendet av deras pulsmätningsundersökning och arbetet med att bibehålla eller öka svarsfrekvensen bland medarbetarna. Avslutningsvis beskriver efter-fasen de uppföljningsaktiviteter respondenterna benämner sig göra i sin organisation. Analys: Analy, Background: Most Swedish companies conduct annual employee surveys to gather information on employees’ motivation, job satisfaction, and commitment to work. However, the interest in conducting frequent employee surveys, also known as employee pulse surveys, within organizations has increased significantly in step with digitalization. Employee pulse surveys are a method for organizations to frequently measure the well-being of their employees and obtain a current business analysis. Today, there are many different consulting firms that offer pulse survey tools, and the phenomenon seems to continue to grow successively fast. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge about the implementation of organizations, accomplish, and follow up on pulse survey tools. The purpose is to further expand, create, analyze an understanding of why companies choose to implement and continue using these tools in their organizations. Theoretical background: Our theoretical background consists of previous studies and research of pulse surveys. Furthermore, we have developed three phases, before, during and after pulse surveys. The theoretical background also consists of three theoretical perspectives, instrumental, institutional and control. Method: The study is based on a qualitative approach, with a focus on using a semi-structured interview method. The questions are designed on predetermined themes outlined in the interview guide. Empirical Data: The empirical chapter of the study is divided into three phases, linked to the question of how organizations use pulse surveys. During the before phase, the respondents describe why the tool was implemented and how the survey was prepared. The during-phase presents the respondents' answers regarding the appearance of the survey and the work to maintain or increase the response rate among employees. Finally, the after-phase describes the follow-up activities, which the respondents say they carry out in the organization. Anal

En av vår tids stora utmaning i svensk skola är arbetet med kontroversiella frågor. De kontroversiella frågorna ligger dessutom till grund för SO-lärares undervisning. Syftet med denna uppsats är därav att få kunskap om hur SO-lärare förstår och hanterar kontroversiella frågor samt vilket stöd de får i arbetet med kontroversiella frågor i undervisningen. Uppsatsen baserar sig på en kvalitativ metod där kvalitativa intervjuer gjorts för att undersöka hur SO-lärare i samhällskunskap förstår och hanterar kontroversiella frågor i undervisningen. Studiens teoretiska utgångspunkter lutar sig mot didaktisk teori och Hess (2005) fyra förhållningssätt. Studiens resultat visar att de medverkande lärarna förstår kontroversiella frågor som sådana som väcker känslor och motreaktioner hos eleverna och att kontroversiella frågor skiftar över tid. Resultatet visar att lärarna hanterar kontroversiella frågor på olika sätt. Deras strategier kantas av att vara påläst och förberedd, använda sig av klassrumsregler, låta olika perspektiv få gehör i undervisningen till att utgå från att de finns rätta svar som återfinns i värdegrundens normer och värden. Slutligen visar resultatet att lärare får ett lågt stöd i arbetet med kontroversiella frågor.

Background: The tourism industry plays a crucial role in the global economy in developing countries such as Nicaragua, where it catalyzes development. Risk perception, safety considerations, user-generated content, and destination image significantly influence travel decision-making processes. Purpose: The primary purpose of this thesis is to explore the intricate relationship between online travel planning, safety perceptions, and consumer behaviors in unexplored Central American destinations, with Nicaragua as a focal point. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants. 11 participants visited Nicaragua, and four residents within the tourism sector were interviewed for a broader overview of the tourism situation in the country of investigation. An inductive approach was used to conduct a qualitative analysis, followed by a thematic examination of the primary data. Conclusion: This thesis illuminates the intricate relationship between online information, safety perceptions, and consumer behaviors in travel decision-making. By uncovering the significant impact of online travel planning platforms, visual communication, and UGC on shaping travelers' safety perceptions in Nicaragua, the study offers actionable recommendations to support the sustainable development of the country's tourism sector.

Background: A new generation are entering the labor force and will soon make up 20% of the labor market, Generation Z. Individuals from Generation Z had a unique upbringing featuring modern technology, economic well-being, and overprotective parents. The literature depicts that there are fundamental differences in generations’ experiences and events faces during their developing years which can lead to different preferences and expectations of work and leadership. Thus, Generation Z’s expectations or what they value may significantly differ from previous generations’ measures. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to understand the new generation entering the labor force to be able to structure the working conditions, human resources, compensation policies, and leadership to attract and retain individuals from Generation Z in their labor force. Purpose: The purpose of our study is to understand and explore the process of integrating individuals that possesses different characteristics that those already integrated in the labor force and what implications it can have for the leaders in the context of an organization. We want to create a deeper understanding of if and how leaders adapt their leadership to these individuals. Method: To fulfill the purpose, a qualitative case study with an explorative research designwas applied where the data was gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. 9interviews were conducted with formal and informal leaders, working within the case company. The data analysis was then conducted through thematic analysis with an inductive approach. Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that while many characteristics of Generation Z align with existing literature, this study identified additional traits recognized by organizational leaders. Furthermore, it is evident that the integration of individuals that possesses different characteristics have an impact on the organizational leaders in terms of their leadership in

Forskning har visat att personlighet och arbetsmotivation påverkar hur individer agerar och presterar på arbetet (Judge & Ilies, 2002). Genom att generera en förståelse för hur dessa faktorer samverkar med varandra kan organisationer skapa en arbetsmiljö som främjar både individens och organisationens framgång. Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka sambandet mellan personlighetsdragen i The Big Five och självskattad arbetsmotivation, med utgångspunkt i Self-determination theory samt att identifiera variationer i arbetsmotivationen relaterat till kön,ålder och tid i arbetslivet. Den första hypotesen var att det skulle finnas en positiv korrelation mellan yttre motivation och personlighetsdragen neuroticism och extraversion. Den andra hypotesen berörde korrelationen mellan inre motivation och följande personlighetsdrag:öppenhet, samvetsgrannhet, vänlighet, samt extraversion. Metoden som användes var en enkätundersökning, bestående av två validerade mätinstrument. Dessa var Ten Item Personality Inventory för att mäta personlighet, samt Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale för att mäta arbetsmotivation. 167 svar inkom, varav 160 användbara, 118 (73,7 %) var kvinnor och 42 (26,3%) män. Resultatet visade att samtliga regleringstyper för arbetsmotivation korrelerade signifikant med något av de fem personlighetsdragen. Det fanns en korrelation mellan neuroticism och fyra regleringstyper. Samvetsgrannhet korrelerade positivt med identifierad reglering. Öppenhet visade positiva samband med både intern och introjicerad reglering.Slutligen korrelerade extraversion positivt med samtliga regleringstyper utom extern. Analys av arbetsmotivation i förhållande till deltagarnas ålder visade att deltagare i ålderskategorin 41-70 år i högre grad motiveras av intern reglering, jämfört med ålderskategorin 18-30 som motiveras av extern reglering. Resultatet visade även skillnader på antal år i arbetslivet och vilken typ av reglering som styr ens motivation., Research has shown that personality and work motivation affect how individuals act and perform at work (Judge & Ilies, 2002). By generating an understanding of how these factors interact with each other, organizations can create work environments that promote individual as well as organizational success. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the relationship between personality traits in The Big Five and self-estimated work motivation, based on self-determination theory and if there were any variations in work motivation depending on gender, age and number of years in working life. The first hypothesis was that there would be a positive correlation between extrinsic motivation and the personality traits neuroticism and extraversion. The second hypothesis concerned the correlation between intrinsic motivation and the following personality traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness and extraversion. The method of choice was a survey consisting of two validated measuring instruments. These were the Ten Item Personality Inventory to measure personality, and the Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale to measure work motivation. We received 167 responses, of which 160 were useful. 118 (73,7 %)were women and 42 (26,3 %) were men. Results showed that all regulation types for work motivation correlated significantly with at least one personality trait. There was a correlation between neuroticism and four regulation types. Conscientiousness correlated positively with identified regulation. Openness to experience showed positive correlations with both intrinsic and introjected regulation. Finally, there was positive correlation between extraversion and all regulation types except for external regulation. Analysis of work motivation in relation to the age of the participants showed that participants in the age category 41-70 years were motivated to a greater extent by intrinsic regulation, compared to the age category 18-30 who were motivated

Digitaliseringen har omförhandlat vilkoren för journalistiken och hur den på förmedlar samhällsnyttig information till medborgarna i en demokrati. Uppsatsens övergripande syfte är att beskriva i vilken utsträckning och hur centrala svenska nyhetsmedier anpassar sin nyhetsrapportering på sociala medier efter plattformslogik. Detta har gjorts utifrån begreppet “uppmjukning av sociala nyheter” (social news softening) som definierats av Klein m.fl. 2023. Studiens kvantitativa del utgörs av en sammanställning av nyhetsartiklarnas ämne, avseende distinktionen mellan hårda och mjuka nyhetsämnnen. Materialet för denna analys består av inlägg från Dagens Nyheter och SVT Nyheter på Facebook och Instagram. Den kvalitativa delen består av en innehållsanalys av utvalda nyhetsartiklar och inlägg från Dagens Nyheter och SVT Nyheter på respektive konto på Instagram, Facebook samt på mediernas egna webbsidor. Studiens kvantitativa resultat visar att både Dagens Nyheter och SVT Nyheters nyhetsrapportering inför det svenska riksdagsvalet 2022 i huvudsak består av hårda nyhetsämnen. Det kvalitativa resultatet visar på väldigt få och svaga tendenser på uppmjukning av sociala nyheter enligt Klein m.fl.:s konceptualisering.

While women citizens have less political ambition than similarly situated men across a wide range of contexts, we know less about gender differences in progressive ambition – elected politicians’ desire to achieve political leadership positions. This study analyzes leadership ambition among Swedish legislators. To understand the relationship between progressive ambition and the proportion of men and women in leadership positions, the political-institutional context is paramount. The gender-equal context of the Swedish Parliament allows us to investigate the relationship between progressive political ambition and informal rules, norms, and practices that promote the presence of women in political leadership. Drawing on interviews with nearly all top parliamentary leaders and party gatekeepers as well as a survey with MPs, we find that women leaders and MPs are less interested in political leadership in comparison to men. We describe the rules, norms, and practices that stipulate gender balance in decision-making in this context and show how gender-equitable informal institutions have contributed to creating gender balance in leadership. While such institutions have not closed the gender ambition gap at the individual level, they mitigate its consequences by incentivizing less ambitious women to accept leadership positions and prompting gatekeepers to search for and persuade competent women., VR 2022-02231