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BACKGROUND: Lack of mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and employers in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems resulted in the development of a three-day group training program, the Support to Employers from rehabilitation Actors about Mental health (SEAM) intervention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of SEAM on rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge and beliefs, attitudes, and supporting behaviors towards people with mental health problems and employers as part of the return-to-work process. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 94 rehabilitation professionals were included. Data were collected prior to (T1), immediately after (T2) and 6 months after SEAM training (T3) using knowledge and attitude scales and a questionnaire on supporting behaviors. SEAM includes training in Mental Health First Aid, presentations and discussions on current research on work and mental health, and strategies and communication guidelines to use when meeting service users and employers as part of the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems. SEAM also includes a homepage with targeted employer information. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics. RESULTS: SEAM significantly increased rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge of mental health (T1-T2: z = –2.037, p = 0.042; T2-T3: z = –5.093, p = 0.001), and improved their attitudes towards persons with mental health problems (T1-T2: z = 4.984, p = 0.001). Professionals (50–60%) also estimated that they had increased their use of supporting strategies towards service users and employers. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that SEAM can increase mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and lead to a greater focus on service users’ resources and work ability, as well as on employers’ support needs.

Objective To assess clinical and radiological performance of novel digital workflow integrating dynamic guided surgery, to streamline execution of implant placement, soft and bone tissue sculpturing, and immediate delivery of navigation guided complete-arch prosthesis. Materials and methods This proof of concept prospective single cohort study investigated 10 consecutive patients (three males, seven females; mean age 62.5 ± 8.9 years; range, 48-75) requiring at least one complete-arch fixed dental prostheses (FDP) in both jaws, treated between January and August 2019. Primary outcomes were implant and prosthetic success rates, surgical and prosthetic complications. Secondary outcomes were marginal bone loss (MBL), implant stability quotient (ISQ), periodontal parameters (plaque and bleeding indexes). Results Sixty implants (32 NobelParallel TiUltra and 28 NobelActive TiUltra, Nobel Biocare) were placed and 14 complete-arch FDPs immediately loaded (mean follow-up 16.2 ± 1.7 months, 14-18). One implant failed and was immediately replaced. No other surgical or biological complications occurred, accounting for a cumulative success rate of 98.3%. No prosthetic complication occurred, leading to 100% prosthetic success rate. Mean ISQ at implant placement was 71 ± 2.8 (65-78). The mean MBL was -0.53 ± 0.28 mm (-0.22 to -1.12 mm). Plaque and bleeding scores were 14.4 ± 8.18 and 7.15 ± 4.4, respectively. Conclusion Within the limitations of this proof-of-concept dynamic navigation was effective to deliver in the planned coordinates both implants and prosthesis and guide bone and soft tissue sculpturing. Immediate loading of digitally prefabricated esthetically driven complete-arch FDP was facilitated, resulting in high implant and prosthetic success rates. Clinical significance The investigated digital workflow integrating dynamic navigation may overcome the difficulties related to immediate positioning and loading of digitally prefabricated complete-arch FDP. The navigation guided soft and bone tissues sculpturing, associated to xenogeneic collagen matrix grafting, represented a predictable technique to achieve the digitally planned interface, reestablishing the mucosal dimension required for the protection of underlying bone while maintaining tissue health.

Mathematical models are essential for the development of schedules for the air-circulation drying of timber in Swedish sawmills, but earlier models have been shown to be conservative leading to longer drying times than necessary. In the current study, macroscopic (macro) X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been used in both the development and validation of a finite element (FE) model, to enable the macro-CT aided FE modelling of the nonlinear transient moisture flow in wood. The model uses more advanced theory than has previously been used in Swedish sawmills, by incorporating a surface emission coefficient to simulate the surface resistance to moisture flow. A single piece of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] timber was subjected to that part of a traditional kiln-drying schedule, which is associated with diffusion-driven moisture transport. The incorporation of macro-CT data into the FE model resulted in a more realistic representation of the board’s geometry, the initial moisture state, and the definition of material parameters. It also led to a better simulation of flow speed and moisture gradient, especially the asymmetric MC development within the cross section throughout the drying process.

The gene ankyrin-3 (ANK3) has been consistently associated with bipolar disorder (BD) in several genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The exact molecular mechanisms underlying this genetic association remain unknown. The discovery of a loss-of-function variant (rs41283526*G) in an alternatively spliced exon (ENSE00001786716) with a protective effect, suggested that elevated expression of this particular isoform could be a risk factor for developing the disorder. We developed a novel approach for measuring the expression level of all splice forms at a challenging genetic locus using a combination of droplet digital PCR and high-throughput sequencing of indexed PCR amplicons. The combined method was performed on a large collection of 568 postmortem brain samples of BD and SCZ cases and controls. We also studied the expression of the splice forms in a child-development cohort of 41 healthy males. We found that our approach can quantify the splice forms in brain samples, although with less precision than ddPCR. We detected highly significant differences in expression of splice forms and transcription start sites between brain regions, notably with higher expression of the BD-associated isoform in the corpus callosum compared to frontal tissue (mean fold change = 1.80, p p = 5e-3). These results suggest that this ANK3 splice form may play a role in the myelin maturation of the human brain.

Kva for fordelar kan eit samarbeid på tvers av emner ha? Erfaringar frå eit mangeårig, tverrfagleg samarbeid mellom forelesarar i matematikk og mekanikk blir presentert med fokus på nært samarbeid med studentassistentar. Målet med det tverrfaglege samarbeidet er å tydeleggjere for studentane samanhengar og synergiar mellom grunnleggande emne i ingeniørutdanninga. Studentane blir i begge emna oppfordra til å nå dette målet gjennom å ta ansvar for eigen læring gjennom aktiv studentdeltaking. Eit anna mål er at studentassistentane skal ta ei viktig rolle i å etablere eit felles læringsmiljø der studentane kan søkje hjelp i begge emna i studiet sitt. Resultatet er eit tverrfagleg samarbeid der studentar, studentassistentar og faglærarar opplever eit trygt, inkluderande og utviklande miljø på tvers av emner og institutt. Studentassistentane blir ei viktig brikke for å tilpasse, evaluere og vidareutvikle tilbodet om ein god og utviklande læringarena for studentane.

Alpha defensins are anti-microbial peptides of the innate immune system. The defensin A1 and A3 genes are located in a repeat array of variable copy number (the DEFA1A3 locus) and encode the human neutrophil peptides 1, 2 and 3. The possibility that copy number variation (CNV) may be associated with infection susceptibility and autoimmune pathology motivated the study of DEFA1A3 CNV across populations. We enhanced two existing methods (one qPCR-based and one sequencing-based) to enable copy number estimation that discriminates between DEFA1 and DEFA3 genes. We used these methods to quantify A1/A3 copy number variation in 2504 samples from the 1000 Genomes high-coverage dataset as well as performing FiberFISH assays on selected samples to visualize the haplotypes. These methods produce accurate estimates and show that there are substantial differences between populations. The African population is a clear outlier with a high frequency of the ancestral pure DEFA1 haplotype, but also harbours exceptionally long haplotypes of 24 copies of both DEFA1 and DEFA3, whilst the East Asian population displays the highest mean level of DEFA3 copy number. Further, our findings demonstrate that qPCR can be an accurate method for CNV estimation and that defensins substantially extend the known range of copy number variation for a human protein-coding gene.

The widely used Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (RSES) has not been evaluated for psychometric properties in Sweden.This study aimed at analyzing its factor structure, internal consistency, criterion, convergent and discriminant validity, sensitivity to change, and whether a four-graded Likert-type response scale increased its reliability and validity compared to a yes/no response scale.People with mental illness participating in intervention studies to (1) promote everyday life balance (N = 223) or (2) remedy self-stigma (N = 103) were included. Both samples completed the RSES and questionnaires addressing quality of life and sociodemographic data. Sample 1 also completed instruments chosen to assess convergent and discriminant validity: self-mastery (convergent validity), level of functioning and occupational engagement (discriminant validity). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling, and conventional inferential statistics were used.Based on both samples, the Swedish RSES formed one factor and exhibited high internal consistency (0.90). The two response scales were equivalent. Criterion validity in relation to quality of life was demonstrated. RSES could distinguish between women and men (women scoring lower) and between diagnostic groups (people with depression scoring lower). Correlations0.5 with variables chosen to reflect convergent validity and around 0.2 with variables used to address discriminant validity further highlighted the construct validity of RSES. The instrument also showed sensitivity to change.The Swedish RSES exhibited a one-component factor structure and showed good psychometric properties in terms of good internal consistency, criterion, convergent and discriminant validity, and sensitivity to change. The yes/no and the four-graded Likert-type response scales worked equivalently.

A method is presented for reconstructing the geometry, the pith, the knots and the local fibre orientations in timber boards, based on X-ray computed tomography scans. The local fibre deviations around knots were found by a new algorithm, based on image analysis. The experimental data comprised tomography scans, eigenfrequency measurements and four-point bending tests of 20 Norway spruce boards. 3D and 1D finite element models of the pure bending zone of the bending tests were created, accounting for the exact board geometry and the reconstructed fibre deviations. A purely density based, a purely eigenfrequency based, and a mixed constitutive law were compared. Model estimations showed a high coefficient of determination (R2) for global modulus of elasticity (MoE) (R2⩽0.93), local MoE (R2⩽0.87), bending strength (R2⩽0.83), and the location of initial failure. Constitutive laws accounting for eigenfrequency showed the most accurate results. In the future, adapting the method for logs could enable analyses of boards before sawing. Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-11-22 (beamah);Funder: READiStrength project READiStrength

Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (Flexible ACT) has been implemented in Sweden during recent years due to increasing interest in integrated services for people with severe mental illness. To date, few studies have been done on Flexible ACT effectiveness.The overall aim of this study was to explore the extent to which clients assigned to the Flexible ACT board for ACT intensive care were stabilized with improved everyday functioning, social outcomes, and changes in healthcare use.Ninety-three participants with psychosis, in need of ACT from six newly started Flexible ACT teams, were included. Data were collected using the Social Outcome Index scale (SIX), Practical and Social Functioning Scale, and a healthcare usage questionnaire.There was a significant positive change in everyday functioning and in the SIX-item 'friendship' at 18-months follow-up. A positive correlation was also found between everyday functioning and the SIX-item 'friendship' and a negative correlation between duration of ACT and everyday functioning. A significant increase in number of inpatient hospital days and psychiatric outpatient visits also occurred.Clients with psychosis who need ACT may benefit from Flexible ACT through improved social functioning. Being involved in meaningful activities and supported by others are key aspects of recovering from mental illness and are enhanced by Flexible ACT.

Background: The patient’s view of their mental health is a central aspect in research and practice. Yet, little is known about which psychopathological symptoms are linked with patients’ satisfaction with their mental health. We aimed to identify these symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: An individual patient data meta-analysis was conducted with data from 2,488 patients from 8 independent studies. Satisfaction with mental health was rated on a 7-point scale, and symptoms were observer-rated using identical items from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. Mixed multilevel univariate followed by multivariate regression models were used to identify symptoms associated with satisfaction with mental health. Results: In univariate regressions, all subscales – not age and gender – were associated with mental health satisfaction. In the multivariate regression, only affective and negative symptoms were significantly associated with a lower satisfaction with mental health, explaining 22.5% of the variance. Conclusions: Observer-rated psychopathological symptoms are linked to patients’ mental health satisfaction. In addition to affective symptoms – which are commonly negatively linked with satisfaction ratings – a higher level of negative symptoms makes patients less satisfied with their mental health, whilst positive and other symptoms do not influence mental health satisfaction.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (Flexible ACT), the model disseminates rapidly in the mental health services in a number of c ...

Purpose Stigma has been proposed to be one of the most serious obstacles to successful treatment, rehabilitation and inclusion in society of people with severe mental illness. An aspect of stigma which has been increasingly discussed is self-stigma, which refers to the internalization of negative stereotypes among people with severe mental illness. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a group-based anti self-stigma intervention, narrative enhancement and cognitive therapy (NECT) as an add-on to treatment as usual, with regard to changes in self-stigma, self-esteem, and subjective quality of life. Method After screening for eligibility 106 participants were included in a randomized controlled trial using a wait-list control group, of which 87 completed the study. Assessments were made at baseline, at termination of the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up (intervention group only). Results The results showed that NECT was effective in reducing self-stigma and improving self-esteem compared to treatment as usual only. No differences were shown regarding subjective quality of life. Changes shown in the intervention group at termination of intervention were stable at the 6-month follow-up. A regression analysis showed that there was a positive relationship between exposure to the intervention and reduction of self-stigma. Conclusions The conclusion of the present study is that, using a sample size with adequate power, NECT seems to be an effective intervention with regard to diminishing self-stigma and improving self-esteem, and that these improvements were stable at a 6-month follow-up. There was a distinct relationship between number of sessions attended and improvements in self-stigma and self-esteem controlling for confounding factors. This puts attention to the importance of creating a group climate which facilitate and encourage participation through the various phases of the intervention.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental disorder with a high heritability. Although its pathophysiology is mainly unknown, dysregulated immune activation and inflammation have recently emerged as possible candidates in the underlying mechanisms of SCZ. Previous studies suggest that aberrant inflammasome activation, glia dysregulation, and brain inflammation may be involved in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Here, we studied the effects of inflammatory modulation on human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes generated from SCZ patients and healthy controls (CTRL). Inflammasome activation was mimicked by short-term IL-1β exposure, and gene expression were measured with high-coverage RNA-Seq to ensure a global characterization of the transcriptional effects of the treatment. IL-1β exposure modulated several pathways involved in innate immune responses, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism in both SCZ and CTRL astrocytes. Significant differences were found in the expression of HILPDA and CCL20 genes, both of which had reduced up-regulation upon IL-1β treatment in SCZ astrocytes compared to CTRL astrocytes. CCL20 data were further validated and confirmed using qPCR, ELISA, and regulatory T lymphocyte (Treg) migration assays. Additionally, we found significantly decreased mRNA expression of the Treg-specific marker FOXP3 in the blood of a large cohort of SCZ patients (n = 484) compared to CTRL (n = 472). Since CCL20 is a specific chemoattractant for CD4+CD25+CCR6+ Tregs, which are crucially involved in anti-inflammatory responses during brain (auto)inflammation, our results imply a plausible role for an altered astroglia-CCL20-CCR6-Treg axis in SCZ pathophysiology. publishedVersion

Modification of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood using aqueous formulations of Na2SiO3 via vacuum-pressure technique and subsequent treatment with cashew nut-shell liquid (CNSL) is reported. Morphology, elemental distribution within wood matrix, and structural properties of wood-composites were investigated by FE-SEM/EDS, FTIR analysis. Microstructure and density of modified wood blocks were further assessed by X-ray computed tomography. The flammability of Na2SiO3-CNSL-wood composites was evaluated simultaneously performing thermogravimerical (TG) and FTIR gas analysis; the results showed that maximum weight loss for the modified wood was obtained at up to 70 °C lower temperatures compared to the untreated wood, whilst substantially reducing terminal weight losses. The coefficient of friction significantly increased after the CNSL treatment compared to that of untreated wood, but addition of Na2SiO3 to CNSL eliminated most of the friction increase. Enhanced tribological properties along with industrial wood-impregnation method suggest that wood modification using Na2SiO3 in combination with CNSL has a potential for the exploration of a broader range of wood material properties in agreement with sustainable material management.

Various types of scaffolds made of synthetic polymers have been widely studied for bone-tissue applications due to their mechanical strength, biocompatibility and biodegradability, but the hydrophobic nature of synthetic polymers and frequent absence of pores within the scaffolds inhibit cellular attachment, infiltration, and tissue ingrowth. In this study, multi-composite scaffolds composed of dipentaerythritol hexa-acrylate (DPHA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), gelatin, and carbonated hydroxyapatite (cHAP) have been made. Percentage ratio of polymer matrix to gelatin was varied 50/50, 75/25, and 95/5 to change the porosity of the resultant scaffolds. The structure, crystallinity, and phase composition of the cHAP were confirmed by FTIR, Raman, XRD and Rietveld analyses, TG/DSC was used to evaluate the distribution of ceramics within the polymer matrix, and FTIR-ATR was used to confirm the molecular structure of composites. SEM/EDS analysis of the scaffolds revealed cavities and irregularities in the surface, and that cHAP was indistinctly exposed on the composite surface, computed tomography (CT) was used to estimate the density and homogeneity of the scaffolds, and the cHAP distribution within the scaffolds was evaluated by conventional radiography. The hydrophilicity of the multi-composite scaffolds was investigated using an aqueous solution of methylene blue dye which showed that the acrylate(75%)–gelatin(25%)–cHAP composite had the highest hydrophilicity. The results suggest that acrylate–gelatin–cHAP scaffolds have a potential for bone-tissue engineering. Godkänd;2021;Nivå 0;2021-02-09 (johcin) FORMAS "Utilization of solid inorganic waste from the aquaculture industry as wood reinforcement material for flame retardancy 2018-01198"

Industrial drying of sawn timber is a process driven by a difference in moisture content (MC) between the core and the surface as moisture moves from the wet inner region towards the drier surface. After drying, the timber surface is always drier than its core, and stresses have developed within the wood volume. If the timber is to be further processed, these stresses and the moisture gradient need to be reduced to avoid unwanted distortion, i.e. the timber needs to be conditioned. Conditioning is usually accomplished by exposing the timber to a hot and humid climate after the drying regime. The conditioning regime is essential for timber quality, and it is energy and time consuming; therefore of interest for optimisation. This research was a case study where for the first time the MC during conditioning was studied in an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. The aim was to test a previously developed algorithm and investigate the influence of MC and heartwood-sapwood proportion on the effectivity of the moisture equalisation in 30 mm thick Scots pine boards. The MC was estimated from CT data acquired during the drying and conditioning of the boards in a lab-scale kiln adapted to a medical CT scanner. Results show that the algorithm can provide relevant data of internal MC distribution of sawn timber at the pixel level. Furthermore, for the drying schedules studied, the conditioning at low MC (8%) does not need to be longer than 3 h, while higher MC (18%) requires a longer conditioning.

Background: Research is needed on how to optimize the return-to-work process for persons with mental health problems.Objective: To develop a model that explains how employer and rehabilitation professional mental health literacy may influence strategies used in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems.Methods: A grounded theory study design was used to collect and analyse interview data from 23 employers and 22 rehabilitation professionals.Results: The analysis resulted in four categories, illustrated in a conceptual process model: 1) seeing mental health problems through past experiences; 2) separating understandable and incomprehensible mental health problems; 3) balancing safeguarding one’s personal interest with providing adequate support; and 4) facing conflicts and uncertainty in employee/service user return-to-work. A positional map of employer/rehabilitation types was created based on level of negative attitudes and uncertainty in supporting employees/service users and the employer in relation to the level of comprehensive understanding of mental health problems.Conclusions: Professional mental health literacy needs to be increased. Interventions need to be developed that provide employers with targeted support and knowledge in mental health literacy. Education on how to prevent and detect common mental health problems in the workplace is needed. (Less)

The aim of the present work was to use the displacement information generated from the spatial alignment in order to compute wood shrinkage in the radial and tangential directions in computed tomography (CT) images, and to compare the results with those obtained with computer-aided design software on the same images. To estimate the shrinkage coefficients from tomography images, wood specimens in the green state, equilibrium moisture content 15% and 8% state and oven dry condition were scanned. Specimens were taken from Norway spruce and Scots pine logs. The root-mean-square-error calculations showed acceptable small differences between the two measuring methods, which means that the algorithm is a useful tool for estimating the shrinkage coefficients in radial and tangential direction from CT images. This provides an image processing tool to monitor the dimensional changes during the drying and heat treatment process.

Background Ankyrin-3 ( ANK3 ) was one of the first genes to reach significance in a bipolar disorder genome-wide association study. Many subsequent association studies confirmed this finding and implicated this gene in schizophrenia. However, the exact nature of the role of ANK3 in the pathophysiology remains elusive. In particular, the specific isoforms involved and the nature of the imbalance are unknown. Methods We genotyped a Norwegian sample of 402 patients with bipolar disorder, 293 patients with schizophrenia, and 330 healthy control subjects genome-wide with the Illumina Human Exome BeadChip. We performed allelic association tests at the genome-wide and gene levels and found a significantly associated single nucleotide polymorphism in a splice site of ANK3 . We replicated this finding in two other samples and studied the functional effect of this single nucleotide polymorphism by performing quantitative polymerase chain reaction on the affected exon junction in complementary DNA from blood total RNA. Results The splice site single nucleotide polymorphism (rs41283526) is located in an alternatively spliced exon of ANK3 and has a strong and significant protective effect against bipolar disorder (odds ratio=.31) and schizophrenia (odds ratio=.21). The minor allele of rs41283526 is a loss-of-function variant that disables the correct splicing of the transcript. Data from the BrainSpan human developmental transcriptome show that the exon bearing this variant is expressed only in a minor isoform of ANK3 , the transcription of which is initiated in early adolescence. Conclusions Our results suggest that an elevated expression of this transcript starting in adolescence may be an important factor in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Inadequate restorative space can result in mechanical, biologic, and esthetic complications with full-arch fixed implant-supported prosthetics. As such, clinicians often reduce bone to create clearance. The aim of this paper was to present a protocol using stacking computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) guides to minimize and accurately obtain the desired bone reduction, immediately place prosthetically guided implants, and load a provisional that replicates predetermined tissue contour. This protocol can help clinicians minimize bone reduction and place the implants in an ideal position that allows them to emerge from the soft tissue interface with a natural, pink-free zirconia fixed dental prostheses.

Background Evidence suggests that mental health literacy among the public is low, and stigmatizing attitudes are widespread. So far the effects of anti-stigma campaigns are small, and studies demonstrate that negative attitudes have been quite stable through recent decades. Aims To investigate the relationships between mental health literacy, experience of mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes/social distance towards people with depression or psychosis. Methods A cross-sectional study in which staff members from public services in Sweden (n = 1027) completed questionnaires covering demographic data, self-reported experience of mental illness, identification of a vignette for depression or psychosis, beliefs about helpful interventions for the illness presented in the vignette, and attitudes and social distance towards people with the illness. Results About 50% of participants could identify depression and less than 40% psychosis. A higher degree of mental health literacy was related to less stigma and social distance but mainly towards people with depression. A similar relationship was shown for having personal or family experience of mental illness and attitudes/social distance. Negative attitudes and social distance were significantly higher in all aspects measured towards a person with psychosis than a person with depression. Conclusions A higher degree of mental health literacy relates to more positive attitudes and less desire for social distance towards people with depression. The differences between depression and psychosis should be taken into account in anti-stigma interventions.

Caregivers report experiences of stress and burden that can affect their health negatively. Web-based mindfulness interventions have shown beneficial health effects in clinical and non-clinical populations, including caregivers. The study’s aim was to explore the experiences of a web-based mindfulness program, including motivation and challenges to use, in caregivers of a person with somatic illness. Ten participants were interviewed. Data was analyzed with content analysis, resulting in four categories illustrating the participants’ experiences of the program, including motivations and barriers to training: A timely or untimely intervention; Mainly positive effects even at low levels of training; Relationship to the patient; and Creating a routine and maintaining motivation. Qualitative studies can contribute to enrich our understanding of the value of such interventions, which may be a flexible supportive tool for caregivers. The findings illuminate the importance of supporting motivation and adherence to such interventions, with the potential for enhanced beneficial outcomes.

[EN] The drying of Eucalyptus nitens is a troublesome process as the species is extremely prone to drying defects. This paper reports ongoing research to improve the understanding of surface checking and cell collapse in Chilean grown Eucalyptus nitens during drying. Computed tomography (CT) scanning was used as a powerful tool for studying the internal changes in the wood-material during the drying process. Different levels of temperatures have been tested with the same equilibrium moisture content (EMC) conditions and low air velocity. The results confirm that a low drying temperature and a low air velocity, which results in a slow rate of drying, reduce internal cell collapse and surface checking ., The project Eu-Trä: Innovativ Svenska teknik för tillverkning av chilenska eukalyptus till sågade trävaror (DNo. 2017-01524) is financed by the Eureka program (Vinnova, Sweden’s Innovation Agency) and is being carried out in collaboration with Alent Dynamic AB (Sweden) and TSST Energy LTDA (Chile).

This study investigated the extent to which perceived physical and social-environment qualities of supported housing facilities (SHF) account for variations in the perceived quality of life of people with severe mental illness (SMI). Based on a user-centered approach, people with SMI (N = 72) appraised the environment of their SHF (N = 20). Moreover, it investigated whether place attachment played a role in the relationship established between the environment of SHF and users' quality of life. Perceived physical and social-environment qualities predicted quality of life. Together the two factors accounted for approximately 32% of quality of life variance. Furthermore, attachment to place mediated this relationship. Implications for future planning of psychologically supportive facilities for this vulnerable group in society are discussed.

Restricted mental health literacy and stigma are barriers to treatment of mental disorders. A Mental Health First Aid training program was tested for implementation in Sweden among employees in the public sector. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore participants' experiences of the program in more depth, in conjunction with a randomized controlled study. Twenty four persons participated in a total of six focus groups 6-8 months after program participation. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The analysis resulted in five categories illustrating the participants' experiences of the course: increased awareness, knowledge and understanding; influence on attitude and approach; tool box and confidence; feedback on content and layout; and tangible examples of applied knowledge. The most central finding is the fruitfulness of the program's practical focus and use, the increased confidence and inclination to act following program participation, and the importance of experienced instructors.

Families living with mental illness express needs of support and experiences of burden that may affect their own health detrimentally and hence also their ability to support the patient. Mindfulness-based interventions have shown beneficial health effects in both clinical and healthy populations. The aim of the current study was to explore the effectiveness and usability of a web-based mindfulness program for families living with mental illness, which was first tested in a feasibility study. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial with an experiment group and a wait-list control group with assessments on primary and secondary outcomes at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Significant positive improvements in mindfulness and self-compassion, and significant decreases in perceived stress and in certain dimensions of caregiver burden were found, with good program usability. Easily accessible mindfulness-based interventions may be useful in addressing caregivers’ needs of support and in preventing further ill health in caregivers. Further studies are needed, among others, to further customize interventions and to investigate the cost-effectiveness of such programs.

Moving towards an ecologically sound society requires strong support from higher educational institutions. During the past decade, the Journal of Cleaner Production has published more than 150 articles that have highlighted advances in academic efforts on sustainability in higher education, that were focused upon education, research, outreach and greening of campus operations in universities from many regions of the world. However, most of them were conducted in the context of developed countries, and there was no Special Volume (SV) focused upon Green University Initiatives and Education for Sustainable Development (EfSD) in developing and emerging countries. Thus, for this SV, we challenged the academic world to provide us with their wisdom, intelligence and experiences on building Green Universities and in promoting EfSD in developing and emerging countries. In the resultant sixteen articles, the authors evaluated the roles of Green Universities and EfSD with different methodologies at different scales, and they presented information about their practices and methodologies of incorporating Green Universities Initiatives and EfSD in primary and in higher education. The differences and similarities between develop countries and the emerging countries were documented. The authors found the main difference is that economic-development related classification cannot be applied simplistically to environmental performance. evaluations when it comes to environmental behavior. Some similarities were also identified by the authors including the importance of motivation, perceived effectiveness, formal education and knowledge of environmental issues, and gender factors. The authors also concluded that support from university leadership, safeguarding of long-term funding, development of appropriate supervisory capacity and integration of Sustainable Development (SD) into existing academic structures and administrative processes were critical factors for the success of the program in the short and longer-term. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)

In order to fully utilise a 3D simulation software capable of evaluating hand-guided human-industrial robot collaborative (HIRC) work tasks, there is a need of a HIRC design process for early production development stages. This paper proposes a HIRC design method that uses the possibilities of the demonstrator software in the HIRC workstation design process. The method is based on Pahl and Beitz's engineering design method; it interprets all their phases and activities into HIRC design-specific ones. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

The chapter will give an overview of the history and actual status of three pertinent aspects of mental illness stigma: public stigma, discrimination and self-stigma, and the evidence for interventions to diminish stigma and discrimination. Stigma and discrimination are still important aspects of the lives of people with mental illness with negative consequences in a number of life domains. The stigma issue has been highlighted for several decades without any significant improvements in levels of stigma. A rather large number of anti-stigma programmes have been launched, although rather few have been systematically investigated. Some promising results from recent evaluations show that an evidence base for what is effective in reducing stigma is slowly growing. Two areas where further research is particularly needed are, however, long-term effects of anti-stigma interventions and the effectiveness of interventions to reduce self-stigma, which so far has not been thoroughly researched.

Background. Studies on perceived discrimination of people with mental illness are largely lacking. The purpose of the study was to investigate perceived discrimination in a sample of users in contact with mental health services in Sweden. Methods. Interviews were conducted with 156 users, asking for perceived and anticipated discrimination during the last 2 years. Background characteristics were also collected. Results. Perceived discrimination was common. Highest frequencies were reported regarding family (54%), avoidance by people who knew about the mental illness (53%) and in making or keeping friends (50%). A majority of those anticipating discrimination regarding job or education seeking, or starting a close relationship did not report having been discriminated in these areas. Previous hospitalizations were associated with discrimination, and age with anticipated discrimination. Conclusions. Public stigma and self-stigma have been reported to have a number of negative consequences for people with mental illness. Discrimination is part of this complex situation and this study showed that this largely affects a number of individual life areas posing an obstacle for social integration. Anticipated discrimination or self-stigma was also prevalent and it is pointed out that this to a great extent is an obstacle on its own without being promoted by actual experiences of discrimination.

Background and aim: People suffering from mental illness and their experiences of attitudes towards them are rarely investigated from the perspective of the individual. The aim was to gain an understanding of how a group of mental health patients experienced social relationships in personal settings as well as in society. Method: Open interviews with twenty-five mental health patients were conducted and analysed with a qualitative content analysis. Result: The essence of the result was that mental health patients’ experiences are still not taken enough into account, neither by mental health professionals nor by their social networks. This was underpinned by four core categories: Patients’ experience of deteriorated and reduced social contacts due to various degrees of acceptance and knowledge of people in general; service users reported on difficulties with social contacts in general, with family relationships, relationships with friends and workmates and with employers; reduced life opportunities were expressed, including violated self-image and poor coping competence and, ambivalent experiences of contact with the mental health services were reported. Conclusion and clinical implication: The present study contributes to the understanding of mental health patients’ experiences of professional services and of their social networks. This knowledge may strengthen the implications of patient-centred care essential for the outcome of the care.

Background: Web based modalities should be explored to support families living with mental illness. A web based tool including a psychoeducative module, a diary and a password protected forum was developed aimed at relatives’ of a person with schizophrenia to alleviate daily life. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore participants’ use of the web based tool with focus on the forum and its potential health and psychosocial benefits. Methods: Nineteen persons participated in this explorative open trial. The forum posts were analyzed using content analysis. Self-rating instruments assessing caregiver burden, stigma and the tool’s usability were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: The qualitative analysis resulted in four main categories and subcategories describing relatives’ situation and interaction in the forum: Caring for a Person with Schizophrenia, Crisis and Care, Secrecy vs Openness, and Interaction and Social Support. Experiences of caregiver burden, but also fulfillment with caregiving tasks were reported. Concealing or hiding the family’s mental illness was common, but also the ability to use inner strength to cope with stigma and discrimination. The mean usability score was 59 (70 = good). Conclusion: Web based support can help address some of the families’ needs of support, although it encompasses certain limitations. Patient rights and the availability of resources, especially in cases of emergency, need to be made easily visible and accessible to alleviate families’ burden.

Background: Further strategies are needed to deal with the high losses to suicide. New modalities should be explored within the context of suicide prevention. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate participants’ experiences of a web based program for mental health care staff, including its potential clinical relevance. Methods: Nineteen participants participated in five focus groups. Data was analyzed using content analysis. Results: The analysis showed participants’ experiences of the program’s contents and format (“Web Based Modules”, “Discussion Groups”) and practical value (“Clinical Relevance and Use”, “Effects on Communication and Climate”). Conclusions: The program partly increased awareness about risk factors and the importance of inquiring about suicide ideation/plans and documenting suicide assessments. Experiences of the clinical value were varying and may be increased through potential enhancements.

Objective: Public stigma of mental illness is still a major problem where numerous population studies during the last decade have mainly shown no improvements. A Swedish national antistigma campaign has been running 2010–2014. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in public stigma during this period as compared to baseline in 2009. Methods: Yearly population surveys were made between 2009 and 2014 including assessments of mental health literacy, attitudes, and intended future behaviour. Two surveys were made, one including a nationally representative sample and one including a representative sample from three original campaign regions. Multiple regression analyses, also including age, gender, education, and familiarity with mental illness were made to investigate yearly changes in public stigma compared to baseline. Results: Mental health literacy improved significantly in the campaign regions between 2009 and 2014, as did intended future behaviour. Attitudes toward mental illness also improved significantly. Improvements were also shown in the national population surveys, but the time pattern of these compared to that of the original campaign regions indicated that these changes took place mainly after the campaign had been extended to a further five Swedish regions. Conclusion: The results of our surveys suggest that a campaign primarily based on social contact theory and involving people with lived experience of mental illness may, even in a rather short-term perspective, have a significant positive impact on mental health literacy, attitudes, and intentions of social contact with people with mental illness. (Less)

Mental health problems affect the patients and their families, who may also need therapeutic interventions. Mindfulness interventions have shown beneficial health effects for clinical and healthy populations. A web-based mindfulness intervention was tailored to address families' needs of support and tested in a pilot intervention study. The aim of this study was to explore the participants' experiences of using an 8-week web-based mindfulness programme in terms of user value and usability. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out over the phone (Spring 2015, Sweden) with 15 randomly selected participants after the 3-month follow-up as part of the pilot study. Data were also collected through usability surveys online post intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Qualitative data were analysed with content analysis and quantitative data with descriptive statistics. The analysis of the interviews resulted in four categories describing the participants' experiences of the programme's usability and value: A valuable and flexible tool that requires time and discipline, New perspective and coping strategies for an enhanced well-being, I'm important too - my limits, my responsibility, and Taming the inner critic. The programme's usability was satisfactory and largely corroborated by the surveys. The programme was experienced as a valuable tool to cope with stress in both private and professional contexts, making it a viable option to support families living with mental health problems. Time for self-care, a widened perspective, a less judgmental and more accepting attitude, deterring automatic reactions and setting limits helped the participants to deal with their situation and health. The programme's ease and flexibility of use were major advantages, although the training requires discipline. Motivators and barriers to use were illuminated, which should be considered in the development of further online services and study designs.