Synthesis gas (syngas) fermentation represents a promising biological method for converting industrial waste gases, particularly carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources (e.g. steel production or municipal waste gasification), into high-value products such as biofuels, chemicals, and animal feed using acetogenic bacteria. This review identifies and addresses key challenges that hinder the large-scale adoption of this technology, including limitations in gas mass transfer, an incomplete understanding of microbial metabolic pathways, and suboptimal bioprocess conditions. Our findings emphasize the critical role of microbial strain selection and bioprocess optimization to enhance productivity and scalability, with a focus on utilizing diverse microbial consortia and efficient reactor systems. By examining recent advancements in microbial conditioning, operational parameters, and reactor design, this study provides actionable insights to improve syngas fermentation efficiency, suggesting pathways towards overcoming current technical barriers for its broader industrial application beyond the production of bulk chemicals.

Process mining holds promise for analysing longitudinal data in clinical epidemiology, yet its application remains limited. The objective of this study was to propose and evaluate a methodology for applying process mining techniques in observational clinical epidemiology. We propose a methodology that integrates a cohort study design with data-driven process mining, with an eight-step approach, including data collection, data extraction and curation, event-log generation, process discovery, process abstraction, hypothesis generation, statistical testing, and prediction. These steps facilitate the discovery of disease progression patterns. We implemented our proposed methodology in a cohort study comparing new users of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2 blockers (H2B). PPI usage was associated with a higher risk of disease progression compared to H2B usage, including a greater than 30% decline in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.4–1.8), as well as increased all-cause mortality (HR 3.0, 95% CI 2.1–4.4). Furthermore, we investigated the associations between each transition and covariates such as age, gender, and comorbidities, offering deeper insights into disease progression dynamics. Additionally, a risk prediction tool was developed to estimate the transition probability for an individual at a future time. The proposed methodology bridges the gap between process mining and epidemiological studies, providing a useful approach to investigating disease progression and risk factors. The synergy between these fields enhances the depth of study findings and fosters the discovery of new insights and ideas. 

The design of woven and knitted structures can be compared with the formation of buildings’ facades and constructions. However, textile designers do not generally participate when the exterior structure and facades of a building take shape, but rather when textiles and materials for the indoor environment are chosen, often with the intention of enhancing the acoustic qualities of spaces. In this research project, two architects and a textile designer collaborate, the latter focusing particularly on sound design. Incorporating textile designers in the early stages of building projects can lead to benefits of exploring and improving sound landscapes in outdoor environments. 

In order to search for and develop new approaches, methods and techniques in the field described as textile architecture, textile facade modules were designed and produced, and the design process was examined and evaluated from the points of departure of the two design fields. Questions such as ‘who is actually prototyping?’ arose, as well as the search for finding common references and concepts, both historical and contemporary, to strengthen the collaborative work. 

A practice-based experimental approach was important for the project and the merger of the two design fields, not least to put different textile techniques and materials to the test to examine how they can affect the sound landscape and experiences of space. The key activities in the laboratory work were technique, method, perception, stage-setting and context, which connected both to textile design and architecture. The different textile materials were chosen to comply with the requirements of external climate impact and rough outdoor environments. In groups of demarcated design experiments, the textile techniques of weaving and hand tufting were explored, and the modules were tested acoustically. 

Both patients and providers experience barriers to discussing complementary medicine during oncology consultations. This study describes the development of two communication tools—a question prompt sheet and a visual slideshow—and aims to evaluate their acceptability, perceived usefulness, and intention to use among patients with cancer. Nine (former) patients with breast cancer were involved in the development of the tools as co-researchers. The 15-item evaluation questionnaire was completed by 144 participants recruited from three Dutch hospitals, a patient panel, and the Dutch Breast Cancer Society. The tools’ content and layout were generally acceptable, although suggestions were made to include items on exercise and diet in the question prompt sheet. About half of the participants found the tools useful, while the other half felt they were unnecessary, either because they could already discuss complementary medicine with their healthcare provider or had no interest in the topic. The tools were considered particularly helpful for fellow patients. The tools were well received though minor modifications were suggested. The lack of perceived need by half of the participants may have influenced the results. For effective use of the tools, it is important to identify patients who need extra support in discussing complementary medicine.

This thesis is part of the INNOVATEDIGNITY Project (Action H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie/Innovative Education Networks), funded by the European Commission (2019–2023). The project addresses the need for dignified care for older people in response to Europe’s ageing population. As the number of older adults increases, healthcare systems must adapt to ensure dignified care. Registered nurses and nursing students play crucial roles in caring for older persons, yet their lived experiences and the interplay of factors such as gender and cultural aspects of care have been underexplored. This thesis explores the meaning of caring for older persons through the lived experiences of nurses and nursing students in Greece and Sweden. 

Study I involves a systematic review of empirical data from 1993 to 2022, analysing the impact of gender on the nurse-patient relationship through a thematic synthesis of available studies. Study II uses phenomenology according to Reflective Lifeworld Research (RLR) principles to explore nursing students’ lived experiences of caring for older persons in Greece, based on lifeworld interviews with 12 students. Study III focuses on registered nurses in Greece, employing phenomenologically inspired qualitative thematic analysis of 10 lifeworld interviews to uncover the meaning of caring for older persons considering the influence of cultural and societal norms on caring. Study IV employs a phenomenological approach according to RLR through conducting lifeworld interviews with 19 registered nurses (10 in Greece and 9 in Sweden) to describe the essential meaning of caring for older persons based on their lived experiences. 

Study I identifies three key themes related to gender influences in the caring relationship between nurses and older persons uncovering the concept of vulnerability of the body, as well as normative understandings surrounding gender and sexuality, while considering the balance between closeness and distance in the nurse-patient relationship. Building on Study I and the identification of gender’s influence on caregiving dynamics, Study II delves into how nursing students perceive these dynamics in practice, particularly in balancing personal and professional roles. Study III expands on these findings, revealing how societal expectations in Greece shape the caregiving experience. Study IV reveals that the essential meaning of caring for older persons involves an embodied presence in space that allows for a movement in time. Nurses’ experiences highlight the need for flexibility and adapting multifaceted roles within institutional frameworks while emphasising the importance of understanding the existential dimension of care. 

These studies uncover both universal and culturally specific aspects of caregiving, providing critical insights that can shape nursing education and policy. By emphasising the need for gender and context sensitivity, this research has the potential to improve caregiving practices and outcomes for older people. This research highlights the importance of researching lived experiences deriving from different healthcare systems and cultures. By understanding the evolving dynamics, healthcare systems can better support nurses in delivering dignified, holistic care to older persons. The findings can guide improvements in care quality and dignified approaches for those involved in care, as well as supportive environments for nurses across varying healthcare systems.

The main purpose of the study is to investigate how play affects children's learning in after-school care, how children view play and whether it is meaningful to them. The study is based on two questions that examine how play affects children's knowledge development and their personal development in the after-school center, as well as how important play is to them.

Rättssäkerheten och intresset av en effektiv brottsbekämpning bygger på en balans. På ena sidan straffprocessen och på den andra sidan intresset att ingen oskyldig ska dömas för brott den inte begått. De svenska rättssäkerhetsgarantierna har stärkts genom artikel 6 i Europakonventionen om skydd för de mänskliga rättigheterna och de grundläggande friheterna och genom detta försäkras en tilltalad en rättvis rättegång. I brottmål är det åklagaren som ensam bär bevisbördan och i den ligger uppgiften om att nå beviskravet för en fällande dom. Genom att presentera en stark och robust utredning uppfylls detta. Domstolarna har till uppgift att meddela korrekta domar innehållande en omsorgsfull prövning av allt som presenterats i ett mål. Genom rätten till en rättvis rättegång har den tilltalade inte bara rätt till en opartisk domstol utan också rätt till tystnad och att kunna förhålla sig passiv utan att tvingas lämna uppgifter vilka skulle kunna vara belastande för denne. Europadomstolen har genom rättspraxis slagit fast att en tilltalads tystnad, vid särskilda förutsättningar, dock kan få en negativ bevisverkan för den tilltalade. Men domstolen har också uttalat att enbart tystnaden inte ensamt kan ligga till grund för en fällande dom. Uppsatsen undersöker hur och på vilket sätt Tingsrätten i Göteborg samt Hovrätten för Västra Sverige värderar en tilltalads tystnad i grova narkotikabrott och på vilket sätt åklagarens utredning värderas utifrån detta. Resultatet visar att den rättighet en tilltalads tystnad innebär inte överskrids. Domstolarna värderar en gedigen och robust utredning noggrant.

Vår studie syftar till att undersöka hur mycket barn rör på sig i vardagen utifrån vårdnadshavarnas uppfattning. För att klargöra begreppet rörelse använder vi oss av folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer kring rörelse och fysisk aktivitet vilket innebär att barnet bör utföra 60 minuters pulshöjande aktivitet per dag (Folkhälsomyndigheten 2022). Vi vill undersöka aktivitetsnivån på barn i åldern 6-10 år.

I polisens dagliga arbete upplever många poliser att de inte räcker till. De överhopas av uppgifter som ska genomföras, allt från administrativa uppgifter till att uppfylla olika mål som kommer från ledningen. Ledarskapet är en viktig del för att få arbetet att fungera. Syftet med den här studien är att ta reda på hur ledarskapet fungerar inom polisen, vilken målbild som sätts upp av ledningen och hur polismännen upplever att detta kan efterlevas i praktiken med fokus på det brottsförebyggande och brottsutredande arbetet. För att ta reda på detta har jag intervjuat sex poliser med olika befattning i olika polisdistrikt. Resultatet visade att poliserna jag intervjuade har upplevt att ledningens målbild inte alltid varit uppnåbar och att ledarskapet har stor betydelse för det dagliga arbetet. Studien visade att det förekommer en så kallad pinnjakt med pinnstatistik med syfte att framhäva olika mätbara insatser som gjorts i det dagliga arbetet, vilket resulterar i att medarbetarna inte alltid upplever att deras arbete känns värdefullt. Sammanfattningsvis framkommer det att ledarskapet hade en stor betydelse för medarbetaren och att ledarskapet präglade det dagliga arbetet på olika sätt beroende på vem som tillfrågades under intervjuprocessen. 

Purpose

Patients with exudative and nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can experience physical, mental, social, administrative or financial burden that are associated with the treatment of this progressive chronic disease. The role of healthcare providers in supporting patients who experience high treatment burden can be important, especially when it comes to effective communication. Despite previous research underlining the need to improve patient-provider communication in AMD care, patient experiences with communication, and how these are related to perceived treatment burden, remain underexplored.

Methods

A survey was distributed among Dutch patients with AMD, which contained questions on several aspects of communication with the patient's ophthalmologist, such as the Quality Of communication Through the patients' Eyes (QUOTE-COMM, including task-, affect- and therapy-oriented communication) questionnaire. Patients were primarily enlisted through a patient association.

Results

A total of 162 patients completed the questionnaire, of which 133 provided fully completed responses. While patients reported positive experiences with affect-oriented communication of their ophthalmologist, they rated task- and therapy-oriented communication as below their expectations. Most patients wished to receive (additional) information on AMD-related costs (71%), future perspectives (71%) and coping with negative emotions pertaining to the disease (68%). Both lower experience scores on task- and affect-oriented communication and lower self-efficacy were associated with higher administrative burden and mental burden among patients.

Conclusion

Our study shows that current communication, information provision and decision-making do not fully meet patients' needs and preferences. Enhancing patient-provider communication seems important, as effective dialogue is likely to diminish patients' perceived treatment burden.

We consider a tight-binding model recently introduced by Timmel and Mele (Phys Rev Lett 125:166803, 2020) for strained moiré heterostructures. We consider two honeycomb lattices to which layer antisymmetric shear strain is applied to periodically modulate the tunneling between the lattices in one distinguished direction. This effectively reduces the model to one spatial dimension and makes it amenable to the theory of matrix-valued quasi-periodic operators. We then study the charge transport and spectral properties of this system, explaining the appearance of a Hofstadter-type butterfly and the occurrence of metal/insulator transitions that have recently been experimentally verified for non-interacting moiré systems (Wang et al. in Nature 577:42–46, 2020). For sufficiently incommensurable moiré lengths, described by a diophantine condition, as well as strong coupling between the lattices, which can be tuned by applying physical pressure, this leads to the occurrence of localization phenomena. 

Today, social media platforms, particularly Instagram, have become crucial in the consumption behaviors of Generation Z, transforming how fashion brands engage with their audience. With the rise of fast-fashion, these platforms enable immediate access to the latest trends, significantly influencing youth culture and consumption patterns. The pervasive reach and visual nature of Instagram make it an ideal platform for fast-fashion brands to market their products, thereby shaping the perceptions and buying behaviors of young consumers. This study aims to explore how Generation Z perceives fast-fashion brands based on their use of imagery and video on Instagram. It seeks to understand how various visual presentation techniques, such as the choice of models, the environment of photoshoots, the styling of clothing, and the format of presentations - affect the consumption behaviors of Generation Z. The research will investigate which aspects of Instagram content most significantly impact young consumers' decisions to engage with and purchase fast-fashion products. Additionally, this study aims to contribute to the field by providing insights that could inform marketing strategies for fast-fashion companies. The research utilizes qualitative methods, including focus group interviews with Generation Z participants, to dig into their attitudes towards fast-fashion content on Instagram. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the extent to which Instagram marketing by fast-fashion brands influences Generation Z's fashion consumption choices, potentially overshadowing more sustainable consumption practices. The findings of this study highlight how Instagram's visual and interactive nature influences Generation Z's fashion choices. It revealed that influencers play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and promoting fast-fashion, which both stimulates and complicates the consumption decisions of young consumers. The study shows that authenticity and diversity in fashion presentation significantly impact consumer engagement and brand loyalty. These insights underscore the importance of a thoughtful digital presence capable of adapting to rapid changes in consumer behavior, crucial for brand success in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Patientsäkerheten är central inom operationssjuksköterskans yrke och innebär att kontinuerligt minimera riskerna för vårdskador under kirurgiska ingrepp. För att skydda patienten från kirurgiska vårdskador och stärka tilliten arbetar operationssjuksköterskan nära med hela teamet och följer noggrant fastställda rutiner samt den senaste utvecklingen inom säkerhetskultur. Oavsiktligt kvarglömda material i kroppen, även känt som retained surgical items (RSI), är en allvarlig vårdskada som kan leda till smärta, infektioner, reoperation eller i värsta fall mortalitet. Genom att stärka kommunikationen, säkerställa tydlig övervakning och främja ett effektivt teamarbete bidrar operationssjuksköterskan till att minimera risken för sådana incidenter och främja en tryggare vårdmiljö för patienten. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka interventioner som kan minska risken för oavsiktligt kvarlämnat material under operation och att utvärdera deras effekter på patientsäkerheten. Metod: Studien är baserad på en systematisk litteraturöversikt med kvantitativ ansats. Totalt inkluderades 14 artiklar, varav fyra behandlade tekniska aspekter och tio fokuserade på medicinska och omvårdnadsrelaterade frågor. Resultat: Tre huvudkategorier av interventioner identifierades: tekniska interventioner (som radiofrekvensteknik och videobaserad analys), icke-tekniskainterventioner (utbildning, kommunikation och teamarbete samt standardiserade checklistor) och kombinerade interventioner (radiografi, streckkod, samt utbildning och följsamhet till checklistor och rutiner). Samtliga interventioner bidrog till en minskning av incidenter där kirurgiskt material glömts kvar i patientens kropp. Diskussion: Även om tekniken är ett värdefullt hjälpmedel kan den inte ersätta det viktiga arbete som operationssjuksköterskan utför, särskilt när det gäller att räkna material före, under och efter operationen. Förutom teknisk kunskap behöver operationssjuksköterskan ha god kommunikationsförmåga, vara patientens advokat och aktivt samarbeta med teamet. Det är också avgörande att ständigt uppdatera sig på ny teknologi för att kunna säkerställa högsta möjliga patientsäkerhet.

Background: Mental health issues increase among adolescents both in Sweden and in other parts of the world. Identifying early signs of mental health issues and working with health promoting is crucial for the school nurses. Mental health issues can be expressed in several ways, school stress and expectations surrounding environments are factors affecting mental health. School nurses’ devotes a significant part of their working hours to mental health issues. When school nurses’ are present and genuinely interested the caring encounter generates security for the adolescent. The caring relationship aims to promote mental health issues. Aim: Describe school nurses’ experiences in meeting mental health issues in adolescents in junior high school Method: Eight informants were interviewed and data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis which was presented in three generic categories: Responsibility of society, emotional challenges and Need for stability, each one with belonging subcategories. Result: The majority of the school nurses’ experienced increased mental health problems in adolescents and girls with high performance demands are at risk. Feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy were shown when school nurses were trying to improve mental health issues. In order to connect with adolescents continuity is crucial. The school nurses’ experienced lack of acknowledgement and education facing mental health issues in adolescents. Conclusion: Further knowledge and education could empower the school nurse in the health promotion work regarding mental health issues and time for building relationships is of huge importance.

In the case of an incurable life-threatening disease, the need for palliative care arises. Palliative care is aimed at caring for the needs of both the patient and their relatives. A lack of support for relatives from the healthcare system can affect the quality of the palliative care the patient receives as relatives play a central role in the care at home. Nevertheless, deterioration of the health of relatives has been seen in connection with palliative care, which points to the need for support. The district nurse is a central part of the care relationship with patients and relatives who have to face many difficult questions in connection with palliative care. In order to provide adequate support and understand the needs of relatives in the final stage of life for the patient, the purpose for this study was designed where the aim was to illustrate research on adult relatives' experiences of late-stage palliative care in a home environment. The aim was answered with a qualitative literature review with a systematic approach. Included in the study were ten quality-reviewed articles done with qualitative methods and the data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis method. The literature review resulted in three overarching categories: "To be relatives", "Being in need of support" and "Facing the inevitable". All three overarching categories each have two sub-categories. In conclusion, relatives feel a responsibility to care when a relative is terminally ill and renounces their own feelings in favor of their sick relative. They have a great need to feel involved and to be acknowledged by the palliative care team. Also need for more information about the course of death because when death occurred, many relatives felt unprepared. As well as when contact with the palliative care team ended in connection with the death of the relative.

Hypertension is a global disease, affecting people all over the world and in Sweden a large proportion of the population is affected. The treatment of hypertension consists of lifestyle changes in combination with pharmacological treatment. The district nurses have, through their health promotion and prevention work, an important role in supporting lifestyle changes in patients with hypertension. There are several previous studies that highlight the patient's experience of care in connection with lifestyle changes. However there are very few studies on the district nurse's experience of supporting the patient in a quest for improved health. The thesis aim is to investigate the district nurse's experience of supporting the patient's health in connection with lifestyle changes in hypertension. In this study, nine district nurses have been interviewed about their experiences of supporting the patient in lifestyle changes. The results show that supportive health work is time consuming for the district nurse. The patient's own will and motivation to change their lifestyle guides the work. The district nurse needs to adapt their working methods according to the patient, the patient’s own conditions and wishes in lifestyle changes in relation to hypertension. One challenger for the district nurse in the supportive work is if the patient lacks the will and motivation for lifestyle change. The district nurse therefore needs to work to find resources and approaches that the patient finds motivating. The district nurse expresses a desire for more time to do the health promotion work that needs to be done. Unfortunately, this is not always prioritized in the workplace. There are several different elements that influence the supportive role of the district nurse and the conversation with the patient lays the foundation of that work.

Type 2 diabetes is a global public health issue where patients can improve their well-being through self-care along with medication and lifestyle changes. In primary healthcare, the district nurse assists individuals with type 2 diabetes. To ensure they can offer effective assistance, it is essential to gather information on how to enhance the patient's self-care support. The purpose was to describe how district nurses can support patients with type 2 diabetes in self-care within primary care. The study was a qualitative literature review with a systematic approach. Searches were conducted in the databases: CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus. This resulted in a total of 15 scientific publications which were analyzed using the review method by Popenoe, Langius-Eklöf, Stenvall & Jervaeus (2021). The results consisted of main categories with subcategories. The main categories were: Caring in a personcentered way to promote self-responsibility and Challenges and difficulties in providing support. The subcategories included: Individualized support through information and education, Promoting independence and participation through person-centered care, The importance of the relationship, The need for support and increased competence, Challenges in self-care, and Limited resource sand support. The relationship between caregivers and patients was central to self-care, requiring empathy and effective communication. Person-centered care increased patients' motivation, but there were challenges such as linguistic and cultural barriers, as well as a lack of resources. Additionally, patients from diverse backgrounds sometimes struggled to understand their illness, complicating their ability to absorb health information. Therefore, district nurses identified both facilitating factors and difficulties in their work to create participation and effective support. A lack of knowledge, organizational challenges, and limited resources hindered district nurses' ability to support self-care. However, with the right skills and more time for patients, they could better assist them in self-care.

The increased digitalization has contributed to screen use becoming an integral part of children's lives, and recommendations exist for limiting children's screen time. District nurses, working as school nurses, play a significant role in promoting health and supporting children and parents in establishing healthy digital habits. To achieve a balance between screen use and mental health, it was necessary to examine this relevant topic. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of screen use on the mental health of school-aged children. The method was based on a structured literature review. The results are based on 15 quantitative articles conducted in Australia, Denmark, Italy, Japan, China, Switzerland, and the USA. The thematic analysis resulted in two main themes: decreased quality of life and impacted social interaction, as well as four sub-themes: increased anxiety and depressive symptoms, increased behavioral problems, strengthened peer relationships, and reduced social ability and self-image. The conclusion showed that limited screen time has a positive effect on children's mental health. Questions remain as to whether it is the use of screens itself or its consequences that cause this. More research and increased awareness in society, as well as among children and guardians, are necessary to address these challenges.

Patients with hard-to-heal leg ulcers have complex care needs and the costs related to these wounds significantly impact the healthcare budget. Treatment requires continuity and a cross-professional approach to optimize healing and manage the patient's quality of life, which is often negatively affected by pain and isolation. A large part of the district nurse's work in primary care consists of caring for hard-to-heal leg ulcers. The care should be evidence-based to ensure that the patient receives the best possible and most resource-efficient care. The aim of the study is to describe district nurses' experiences of working evidence-based when caring for patients with hard-to-heal leg ulcers in primary care. An integrative systematic literature review was chosen as the method, and data collection from the databases CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycInfo resulted in the inclusion of 15 scientific articles in the findings. The data was analyzed according to Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry. The results of the literature review were presented in three categories with associated subcategories. The first category, Barriers to evidence-based care in wound care, described a significant variation among district nurses regarding knowledge in treating hard-to-heal leg ulcers in primary care. The second category, The importance of a functioning organization, described organizational barriers such as poor collaboration with doctors, time constraints, and unclear routines, as well as difficulties in acquiring knowledge. The third category, Competence development and knowledge sources, highlighted that clinical experience and regular training have been crucial for district nurses' confidence and ability to make decisions when caring for hard-to-heal leg ulcers. However, the organization's structure affected the district nurse's ability to work evidence-based. This study can contribute to increasing awareness of evidence-based care and how it can benefit patients, healthcare personnel, the economy, and public health.

This thesis explores the understanding of Media and information literacy in Romania through the lens of its public policy problematisations, and relates them to the country’s specific democratic context. The study takes a qualitative approach by employing the method of critical discourse analysis. The method utilised is Carol Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be?” technique of critically interrogating public policies, based on Michel Foucault’s discourse analysis theory. This technique allows for questioning problem representations by analysing how the problem is implicitly represented within the “solution”. The findings revealed a technology-focused understanding of media and information literacy, put forward in complex problematisations related to: internal and external social divisions, developmental delays in digitalisation and economy matters. The democratic implications of these “problems” are discussed, along with other barriers that hamper media and information literacy conceptualisation in Romania. The insights of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of how media and information literacy is discussed in public discourse in Romania and can serve for future development of the media and information field and policies in the country.

This thesis aims to study how Swedish 18-27 year old BookTok users feel that BookTok impacts their reading. The empirical material consists of a survey with 36 respondents and the result is analyzed with Long's (2003) theory on reading as a social activity. The thesis finds that BookTok does impact the respondents of the survey's reading in different ways. 

This qualitative study examines how librarians at public libraries in a municipality with one of Sweden largest cities reflect on their professional role in relation to policy documents. The purpose is to generate knowledge about how librarians reflect on their professional role in relation to policy documents. The research questions are: How do librarians at public libraries describe their attitude to policy documents? How do librarians at public libraries reflect on their professional role in relation to policy documents? The method is semi-structured interviews. The participants are five librarians. The results were analysed with Archers (2003) theory of the inner conversation. The results show that the librarians reflect on their professional role in relation to what they perceive to be important in their professional role, and the way they reflect, to some extent, affects how they relate to policy documents.

The purpose of the thesis is to shed light on how the management of municipal museums views their museum libraries, including the libraries' function within the operations, their contribution to, and impact on the museum's identity. Seven managers at municipal museums in five different locations in Sweden were interviewed. The material was processed through qualitative interview analysis, and a theoretic framework of legitimacy and documentality resulting in four categories with twelve subcategories. The study shows that the management considers the museum libraries to be primarily important for the internal operations of the museum, sometimes more so than initially apparent. When the libraries have been open to researchers and the public, they have also had a significant impact on the museum's external image and reputation. The management indicated that investments in the libraries have significantly improved the museum's professional reputation. A recurring theme in the study is the lack of consensus on when a book should be regarded as an artifact in the library or as an object to be registered in the museum's collections.

The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate how the work to gain knowledge about AI tools is performed within a specific unit at a university library. Moreover, the thesis aims to identify what kind of AI literacy that is developed within the studied unit. The fast development of AI in society in general also has strong implications for university libraries. While the relevance of new knowledge about AI is recognised throughout the library community, a research gap remains in terms of how knowledge about AI tools is acquired. Semi structured interviews with nine employees at the studied library were carried out. The collected data was coded and analysed according to qualitative content analysis. As theoretical framework sociocultural theory and the concept of learning organisations were used.

This study shows that the respondents develop knowledge about AI and AI tools through various types of activities. One of them is to take part in organised learning opportunities. Two other activities are when the respondents explore certain AI tools individually, and when AI tools are included in the interaction with the library users. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the respondents’ learning about AI tools is situated in both the interaction with users and colleagues.

In conclusion, the development of three areas of AI literacy is identified within the studied library unit:competences to evaluate the relevance of AI tools for the library, competences related to how AI can develop existing working methods, and the competence to inform the users about the possibilities and risks with AI tools.

Previous research indicates that teachers and school leaders perceive school libraries differently than school librarians. An important reason for this could be that the two groups highlight different sources of information on school libraries. Teachers and school leaders are assumed to prefer daily newspapers and school librarians to prefer governing documents for and reports on school libraries. The aim of this study is therefore to compare how school libraries are depicted in the mentioned sources during the period 2009 – 2023 in Sweden. Two corpora containing approximately 2500 newspaper articles on school libraries and 19 governing documents for and reports on school libraries were created and thematically analysed using the topic modelling algorithm BERTopic.

The major finding concerned the role of school libraries for student learning. Although both corpora included themes on school libraries’ promotion of reading and media and information literacy, the governing documents and reports had a greater emphasis on school libraries as pedagogical resources in classrooms than the newspapers. This theme constituted nearly a third of the text mass in those documents, whereas it was only mentioned sporadically in the newspapers. Applying agenda setting theory, the results indicate that the view on school libraries in the governing documents and reports have some, but somewhat limited, outreach in Swedish daily newspapers. This might have implications for school libraries if, for instance, school leaders rely more on the view on school libraries present in newspapers than in the governing documents and reports when making decisions for school libraries.

This report presents the development and evaluation of an AI-based prototype for sorting household batteries. The aim is to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and safety of the recycling process by automating the identification and handling of different battery types.

The project involves the development of a machine learning model based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), which identifies batteries with high precision. The model has been integrated into a prototype consisting of a conveyor belt and a robotic arm, enabling a fully automated sorting process.

The prototype demonstrated high efficiency in handling multiple batteries within short time intervals. The theoretical part of the work provides insights into how AI and robotics can be integrated to drive innovation in sustainability technology, while the practical contribution highlights the potential for implementing efficient and safe methods in large-scale battery recycling. The research highlights how AI can automate and improve complex and risky processes in the recycling industry, opening up further research and development opportunities in the field. 

This study examines how public librarians in Sweden are portrayed in Biblioteksbladet and how the content of the profession is shown during two time spans, 1997 – 2005 and 2015 – 2022. The purpose of the study was also to find out how the work of the librarians change over time. The reaserch is based on a qualitative study and Andrew Abbott’s theories regarding jurisdiction and disturbances. The research also includes Mark Suchman’s and Katarina Michnik’s ideas around social legitimacy. The result of the study shows that during the two periods it is new technology and the digitization of society that are the major dissturbances and which affects affect the public librarian. The public librarian has to adjust to various new duties during the two time spans. The study also shows that the librarian profession takes on challenges and succeeds in handling them, for example during 2015 when refugees came to Sweden in large numbers and during the Covid19pandemic.

This thesis focused on how school librarians perceive their collaboration with SvA-teachers (Swedish as second language teachers) when it comes to promoting reading among students that have Swedish as a second language. This thesis aimed to find out the extent of the collaboration, potential obstacles, improvements that occur during the collaboration, and how school librarians work with reading promotion toward students with Swedish as second language. This thesis used interviews to collect data and used asocial-cultural perspective. The data from the interviews was analysed through using the tool sort, reduce, and analyse. This thesis analysed the extent of the collaboration between school librarians and SvA-teachers, the obstacles and improvements the school librarians perceived during their collaboration, and how school librarians promote reading. The result also analysed how school librarians engage students in their efforts to encourage reading. One conclusion was that most of the librarians interviewed reached phase two in the TLC-model regarding their collaboration with SvA-teachers. The identified obstacles are lack of communication between the two professions, respect, and time. One improvement was gaining a better understanding of each other’s professional competencies. Another conclusion was that school librarians promote reading by having a good stock of literature, recommending literature, and being visible to the students. Our last conclusion was that school librarians promote reading through everything they do. 

The Swedish construction industry is fraught with risks that endanger workers safety and wellbeing. Therefore, this research investigates the risks that these workers face in this industry, the strategies that the respective stakeholders can employ to mitigate these risks, and the prevailing perceptions and attitudes by the stakeholders towards the industry. Interviews were conducted with the managers from three different construction companies. The study examined various safety issues and risks such as falls, being crushed by heavy materials, ergonomic injuries, noise and chemical exposure, and cuts from tools. The study then explores the safety strategies that the stakeholders can employ to mitigate these risks.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between the club wear colours used in brand-promoted content and those in user-generated content. Exploring which club wear colours generate highest interaction and engagement on Instagram posts. By understanding these dynamics, the study seeks to provide fashion industry a quantitative method to understand popular colours through engagement rate of a brand’s social media account.

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the primary challenges that the two world's largest producers of textiles and clothing, China and India, might face in implementing traceability within their Textile and Clothing (TC) companies' supply chains. Additionally, it explores how these companies develop solutions to overcome challenges in traceability implementation within their supply chains. The findings show three main challenges Chinese and Indian’s TC companies face when implementing traceability within their supply chains: lack of supplier willingness, complexity of supply chain partnerships, and lack of external enforcement and standardized requirements. Correspondingly, three primary solutions have been outlined: strong collaboration among supply chain partners, education and training, and enforcement and standardized requirements from buyers and government. 

The study explores challenges related to achieving fair and equal user access to digital services within Swedish public libraries, in relation to the Swedish Library Act and its democratic and accessibility principles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten immigrants learning a new language who had participated in the national linguistic programs “SFI” & “SVA” (Swedish for immigrants and Swedish as second language) and/or participated in the volunteer-driven activity "Träna Svenska" (‘Practice Swedish’) activity, conducted by the Swedish Red Cross. The study employs at heoretical framework combining social constructionism and information foraging theory. Social constructionism, with its focus on how societal beliefs shape perceptions of digitalization and digital exclusion, provides an overarching meta-theory. Information foraging theory offers insights into how users navigate and utilize information resources. This framework is used to analyze participant interviews and understand the dynamics of digital service use and the information behaviors of study of participants utilizing these digital services.

The results show that several participants face challenges with public library digital services, primarily due to limited multilingual support and complex interfaces. While some results indicate overall satisfaction with public library digital services for some participants, difficulties are identified from non-intuitive designs and inadequate translation options hindering effective use and accessibility for others. The findings underscore the need for improved public library digital services and enhanced multilingual support to better accommodate all users. Additionally, targeted digital literacy training and personalized assistance are essential for overcoming these barriers and ensuring effective use of public digital library services, which is crucial for advancing digital inclusion. 

This study is based on a task presented by Textilia, aimed at investigating a problem that has arisen at one of their laundries. In a particular model of healthcare garments consisting of a blend of Tencel and polyester, clusters of lint have accumulated in the laundry liquor and on the surface of the garments. This does not meet the quality standards for cleanliness of healthcare garments and has resulted in a costly increase in water consumption to meet the requirements. Since there is a lack of research on how industrial washing affects Tencel-polyester blends, this preliminary study was designed to explore different test methods for identifying and evaluating wear and fibrillation in Tencel-Polyester blend fabrics. Fibrillation is a well-known phenomenon in cellulose-based fibers, and lyocell, more commonly known by its trade name Tencel, is particularly prone to it. By definition, it is a partial splitting of the outer layers in the longitudinal direction of cellulose fibers, creating "small hairs" (microfibers) that remain attached to the fiber. In this study, healthcare garments from Textilia’s laundries were analyzed using several methods. Testing according to the standard ISO 4484:2023 "Determination of material loss from fabrics during washing" showed a small percentage of material loss, but when the material was later examined, no noticeable signs of fibrillation were visible, either with optical microscopy or FTIR analysis. However, optical microscopy showed clear evidence of fibrillation to varying extents in all the test material (on the fabric surface, within the yarn, and on shaved lint), regardless of the number of wash cycles they had been subjected to. A spectrophotometer was used to measure any color change from the washes, which proved to be an effective method, but no clear connection between fibrillation and color change after washing can be claimed to be true. In conclusion, the study showed clear evidence of fibrillation in the analyzed material, and a link between wear, washing, and fibrillation could be established. However, the washing test conducted could not replicate industrial washing conditions, and no link between fibrillation and fiber shedding in washing was found.

This research explores consumers' perceptions of value in customized garments, focusing on financial, functional, social, and co-creation aspects. Using the Luxury Value Perception theory and The Six Faces of Value Co-creation framework, the study examines the experiences of Swedish women aged 20-30 who have purchased customized fashion items. The findings reveal that customers are willing to pay a premium for customization due to its uniqueness, superior fit, and quality. Customization enhances personal expression, emotional connection, and social status, while fostering brand loyalty through active customer involvement in the design process.

This thesis investigates the factors contributing to high return rates in fashion e-commerce, focusing on inconsistencies in fit, sizing, quality, and misleading product descriptions. Grounded in Self-Concept Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory, the study explores the psychological and social dimensions that support return behaviours. It examines how cultural norms, identity, and social expectations influence the decision to return products that do not align with consumers' self-image or meet their expectations. Through qualitative interviews and analysis, this research identifies key drivers of returns and provides insights on how retailers can address these challenges. The findings suggest that improving product descriptions, offering advanced virtual sizing tools, and tailoring return policies to cultural norms can reduce return rates and enhance customer satisfaction in the fashion e-commerce industry. This study fills a gap in the literature by exploring the psychological aspects related to consumer behaviours and product return habits from identity, culture and norm perspectives.

This work explores multifunctionality as an approach for sustainability through resourcefulness in 4 unique, yet connected pieces. A systematic modular approach combined with a novel belt construction enables parts of the garments to not only adapt to varying climate conditions, but also to be used as independent carrying options. Furthermore, they enable customisation of the garments and carrying options trough reconfiguration not only by themselves, but also in combination with existing options through their compatibility with the MOLLE standard. Apart from the resulting benefits of easier repairability, increased user interaction and extended usage, the underlying garment construction for each piece has also been adapted for longevity and multifunctionality, further increasing the potential lifespan of the products.

Aim

To explore the healthcare experiences and needs of older adults living with HIV in Sweden. 

Design

A phenomenological study using qualitative thematic analysis.

Methods

Data were gathered through semistructured qualitative interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. A purposive sample of individuals ageing and living with HIV was recruited for this study.

Results

A total of 22 participants aged 65 years and older, with a mean age of 75 years, participated in the study. Living with HIV meant a need to rely on consistent healthcare and treatment over the course of one's lifetime. The experiences of older adults were described under four themes: relying on access to health care, desiring involvement and shared decision-making, the importance of trust and confidentiality and experiences of stigma in healthcare visits.

Conclusion

Living and ageing with HIV involved recurring exposure and vulnerability in healthcare encounters, and experiences of being exposed to HIV-related stigma, especially outside HIV clinics. Continuity and being seen as a person in healthcare encounters were important. Enhancing HIV knowledge alongside fostering supportive attitudes and approaches of healthcare professionals is critical for ensuring high-quality and nondiscriminating health care.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Meeting the needs of older adults living with HIV requires a person-centred approach, including active involvement and shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.

Impact

This study describes the healthcare experiences and needs of older adults, aged 65 years and older, living with HIV, a population that is not typically investigated in qualitative research. Living and ageing with HIV means a vulnerability where the attitudes of professionals and the active involvement of the patient become significant for quality care. The findings can help with the implementation of policies and practices for the care of older adults living with HIV.

Reporting Method

The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) was used.

Patient and Public Contribution

Patient representatives were involved in discussions on data collection and the development of the interview guide.

Background

The emergency medical service (EMS) addresses all chief complaints across all ages in various contexts. Children in EMS present a particular challenge due to their unique anatomical and physical properties, which require specific training that EMS clinicians often report lacking. This combination exposes children to incidents threatening patient safety. The most common method to highlight incidents is the incident reporting system. Studies have shown underreporting of such incidents, highlighting the need for multiple methods to measure and enhance patient safety in EMS for children. Thus, the aim of this study was to modify and adapt the current Ambulance TT for road-based EMS (ATT) to a pediatric version (pATT) with a guide containing definitions of triggers.

Methods

The adaption of the ambulance trigger tool to a version suitable for children followed a stepwise manner, including (1) a review of previous literature to pinpoint areas of risk regarding patient safety among children in EMS. (2) Three sessions of expert panel discussions via video meetings were held to evaluate each trigger of the ATT in terms of clinical relevance, comprehensibility, language and areas of risk regarding patient safety among children in EMS. (3) Clinical use of the pATT along with Retrospective Record Review (RRR). (4) Calculation of Item-level validity index and positive predictive value (PPV) for each trigger. (5) calculate inter-rater reliability between two independent record reviewers.

Results

MethodsThe adaption of the ambulance trigger tool to a version suitable for children followed a stepwise manner, including (1) a review of previous literature to pinpoint areas of risk regarding patient safety among children in EMS. (2) Three sessions of expert panel discussions via video meetings were held to evaluate each trigger of the ATT in terms of clinical relevance, comprehensibility, language and areas of risk regarding patient safety among children in EMS. (3) Clinical use of the pATT along with Retrospective Record Review (RRR). (4) Calculation of Item-level validity index and positive predictive value (PPV) for each trigger. (5) calculate inter-rater reliability between two independent record reviewers.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the adaptation of an existing trigger tool (ATT) to one suitable for children. It also shows that the trigger tool, along with retrospective record review, is a feasible method to evaluate patient safety in EMS, thus complementing existing methods. 

Society is spinning out of control, moving at an accelerating pace. We rush to keep up, stress over rapidly changing fashion trends, and consume at unprecedented rates, only to discard items moments later. This thesis resists these trends and rejects the urge to follow the crowd.

Through a series of slow textile art and clothing projects, I explore the aesthetics of aversion. The process has been time-consuming, difficult, tangled, and at times boring. It has employed repetition and return as methods, using textiles and garments as materials, and drawing on emotions, memories, and habits as driving forces. These elements aim to forge new relationships with matter, people, and the Earth.

In everyday life, I seek to slow down the relentless push toward novelty. Rather than embracing the faster, easier path, these projects focus on the relational, tactile, and identity-building aspects of textiles and garment-wearing. My goal has been to resist solutions, to avoid quick fixes, and even to turn away from problems altogether. This thesis highlights and discusses many concepts related to the aesthetics of aversion.

The increasing inclusion of digital technology in fashion-design practices challenges the established material ontologies that are the result of fashion’s physical-based history. Materiality in the digital does not inherently come into existence with pre-set properties, behaviours, and expressions. How it appears, behaves, and responds is programmable, which fundamentally questions the causal material thinking commonly found in fashion design. It also introduces a dimension of openness and ambiguity as regards the role, purpose, and interactions of materiality that fashion design as a discipline needs to embrace if it wants to create meaningful content using, and for use in, digital environments.

The research programme that the research presented in this thesis followed involved the formulation of an alternative material ontology in digital fashion design; this was based on practice-based experimental activities, which were informed by agential-realism theory. The ontological approach formulated in the programme shifts the focus away from designing objects and towards designing resolutions (here understood as enacted states of how the body, fabric, and space unfold and become intelligible) of material components within phenomena in fashion design. Phenomena are understood as the basic ontological units, in which the body, fabric, and space exist as entangled components. Rather than designing for the human body, using fabrics, and within three-dimensional spaces, the research programme proposes designing resolutions wherein the roles, purposes, and functions of the body, fabric, and space are expressed based on their material performances and enacted using digital technology. Engaging with digital technology that way changes its purpose, from a tool to be used to being part of the designed phenomenon.

Notions, methods, and tools developed within the research programme shift the focus away from making concrete physical products to be worn on the body within socially constructed spaces, and towards the design of resolutions within material phenomena in which the body, fabric, and space equally constitute the design experience through their performative intra-actions. Phenomena-based fashion here does not rely on causal structures of wearing; instead, it more intimately and immediately involves people in the sense of ‘being’ and ‘being part of’, via performative boundaries of digitally enacted material interventions. In this sense, the research programme not only formulates methods for alternative design practices in fashion with digital technology, but also outlines an alternative material ontology that suggests different ways of experiencing, engaging with, communicating, and ‘being part of’ fashion on a material level.

In (Stanley, 1978), Stanley constructs an example of an Artinian Gorenstein (AG) ring A with non-unimodal H-vector (1,13,12,13,1). Migliore-Zanello show in (Migliore and Zanello, 2017) that for regularity r=4, Stanley's example has the smallest possible codimension c for an AG ring with non-unimodal H-vector.The weak Lefschetz property (WLP) has been much studied for AG rings; it is easy to show that an AG ring with non-unimodal H-vector fails to have WLP. In codimension c=3 it is conjectured that all AG rings have WLP. For c=4, Gondim shows in (Gondim, 2017) that WLP always holds for r≤4 and gives a family where WLP fails for any r≥7, building on Ikeda's example (Ikeda, 1996) of failure for r=5. In this note we study the minimal free resolution of A and relation to Lefschetz properties (both weak and strong) and Jordan type for c=4 and r≤6.

BACKGROUND: To effectively utilize available healthcare resources, integrated care models are recommended. According to such model's, registered nurses have the potential to increase patient access to health care services and alleviate organizational workload. Studies on acute home consultation assessments by registered nurses are sparse. The aim was to describe the reasons and actions for unscheduled same-day face-to-face registered nurse consultation at home offered to patients calling the national telephone helpline for healthcare in Sweden (SHD 1177), according to the integrated Collaborative Health Care model.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed. Data from registered nurses (n = 259) working within the Collaborative Health Care model, who performed unscheduled consultations at home (n = 615) using a data collection tool from 2017 to 2018 were collected.

RESULTS: Among the 615 unscheduled home consultations performed by registered nurses, > 50% of the patients were managed at home as their health problems were not deemed as requiring a same-day referral to a clinic when assessed by the registered nurses. The most frequent health problems and reasons for contact were urinary tract problems, followed by medical and surgical conditions. Social factors, including living alone, impacted referral. Those living with a partner received care at home to a greater extent than those who lived alone.

CONCLUSION: An integrated model for healthcare involving registered nurses direct assessment, action and accountability seems to be an efficient option for providing integrated care at home and reducing acute clinic visits. © 2024. The Author(s).

The aim of this project was to assess the thermal conductivity of polyethylene (PE) filled with carbon black (CB), specifically for geothermal pipes. The project explored the potential modification of PE's thermal conductivity by incorporating recycled textile fibers. Different types of shredded recycled fibers were tested, including two types of polyamide fibers with varying contaminations and one type of polyester fiber. Following several preparation steps, various composite materials were manufactured and compared to bulk PE using various testing methods: Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis (DSC), mechanical testing (flexural and tensile), and laser flash analysis (LFA). The results revealed alterations in the mechanical properties of the composite materials in comparison to PE filled with CB. The LFA tests demonstrated the effectiveness in reducing polymer thermal diffusivity at higher temperatures, particularly when the material was loaded with recycled polyester fillers.

Background

It has been suggested that the university environment, to improve students’ health status and educational outcomes, should be based on a health promoting approach. More knowledge is needed about health promoting resources and lifestyle factors that may be of value for students in higher education and their future work-life balance. The aim of this study was to explore health-promoting resources, general health and wellbeing, and health promoting lifestyle factors among fourth and final semester students in higher education in healthcare and social work.

Methods

This longitudinal study is based on self-reported data collected through a web-based questionnaire that included questions about general health, wellbeing, and healthy lifestyle factors and made use of instruments: the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS), and five questions from the General Nordic Questionnaire (QPS Nordic). The questionnaire was distributed among students enrolled in seven different healthcare and social work programmes at six universities in Sweden. Data was collected when students were in their fourth (2019/2020) and final (2020/2021) semesters analysed with multiple linear and logistic regressions.

Results

The survey included responses from students during the fourth (n = 498) and the final (n = 343) semester of higher education programmes in health and social work. Total SOC scores decreased between the fourth semester and the final semester. The prevalence of the health promoting lifestyle factor of physical exercise decreased between the fourth and final semesters. Students in their final semester reported valuing group work more highly than did students in their fourth semester. Despite this, students in both the fourth and the final semester reported high SOC, low levels of good general health and perceived wellbeing, and sleeping problems.

Conclusions

Students’ report of good general health were associated with wellbeing, high-intensity physical training, and no sleeping problems A high SOC level was associated with good general health, perceived wellbeing, and no sleeping problems. A higher SHIS level was also associated with wellbeing and no sleeping problems. Therefore, we suggest further research focusing on how to prepare students in healthcare and social work during higher education for a future work-life in balance targeting effects on sleep quality.