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  • 151.
    Abdullah, Sarwin
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Physics.
    Low-energy radar for handheld IR-cameras: Using mmWave radar as a complement for Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging in handheld cameras2023Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The aim of this project is to assess whether a low energy radar, more specifically the mmWave radar from Acconer could be used as a complement to the handheld cameras from FLIR, in order to improve its performance, in particular the alignment of visual and infra-red image. The specific camera used for this project is a FLIR C5 IR-camera. It was found that if the distance is known, then one could align the images more easily and by the help of the radar this could occur automatically instead of doing it manually as it is implemented today. 

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  • 152.
    Abdullahi, Mohamed Bashe
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work.
    Alkoholberoende: En studie på alkoholbehandlares förklaringar till alkoholberoende.2019Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [sv]

    Syftet med denna studie är att, från behandlares perspektiv, undersöka vilka bakomliggandefaktorer som kan leda till alkoholberoende i arbetet med vuxna alkoholberoende. Studien hargenomförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ ansats genom att tre intervjuer gjorts med behandlareinom den privata öppenvården. Bakgrunden till studien är att det finns attityder ochgrupperingar i samhället som inte anser att alkoholberoende är en sjukdom, att det finns olikasynsätt på de bakomliggande faktorerna till beroendet. Studiens resultat stämmer i stor delöverens med det som finns i den tidigare forskningen inom ämnet. Tidigare forskning påvisaratt det finns två huvudsakliga faktorer som kan ligga bakom alkoholberoende, där den ena ärgenetik och den andra är miljö. Denna studies resultat stämmer i stor del överens med dentidigare forskningen eftersom behandlarna som intervjuats ser alkoholberoende som ensjukdom med flera symtom och de ser själva beroendet som en sjukdom. Enligtrespondenterna kan det även vara ett samspel mellan genetik och miljö, och att man ej skallutesluta det ena över det andra. Miljöfaktorer fokuserar mer på livshändelser och socialasituationer, medan genetiken fokuserar på ärftlighet och gener. Vid vändpunkten närklienterna söker behandling så finns det en rädsla för att förlora sin identitet när det måste taslivsviktiga beslut.

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  • 153.
    Abdullahi, Mohamed Farah
    et al.
    Department of Research and Development, Puntland University of Science and Technology , Galkayo City, Somalia..
    Stewart Williams, Jennifer
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health. Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, Australia.
    Sahlen, Klas-Göran
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health.
    Bile, Khalif
    enior National Advisor Health Systems and Policy and Board Member Somali and Swedish Researchers' Association (SSRA) , Vällingby, Sweden.
    Kinsman, John
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health. Department of Public Health Sciences, Global Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm, Sweden.
    Factors contributing to the uptake of childhood vaccination in Galkayo District, Puntland, Somalia2020In: Global Health Action, ISSN 1654-9716, E-ISSN 1654-9880, Vol. 13, no 1, article id 1803543Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: As in many Sub-Saharan African countries, the health system in Somalia is not operating at the capacity needed to lift childhood vaccination coverage to ninety percent or above, as recommended by United Nations Children's Fund. Current national estimates of coverage for the six major vaccine preventable childhood diseases range from thirty to sixty percent. Infectious disease outbreaks continue to pose significant challenges for the country's health authorities.

    OBJECTIVE: This important qualitative study, conducted in Galkayo District, Somalia, investigates limiting factors associated with childhood vaccination uptake from the perspective of both communities and health care workers.

    METHODS: Qualitative information was collected through six focus group discussions with parents (n = 48) and five one-to-one interviews with health workers (n = 15) between March and May 2017, in three settings in the Galkayo District - Galkayo city, Bayra and Bacadwayn.

    RESULTS: From a health system perspective, the factors are: awareness raising, hard to reach areas, negative attitudes and perceived knowledge of health workers, inadequate supplies and infrastructure, and missed vaccination opportunities. From the perspective of individuals and communities the factors are: low trust in vaccines, misinterpretation of religious beliefs, vaccine refusals, Somalia's patriarchal system and rumours and misinformation. Parents mostly received immunization information from social mobilizers and health facilities. Fathers, who are typically family decision-makers, were poorly informed. The findings highlight the need for in-service training to enable health workers to improve communication with parents, particularly fathers, peripheral communities and local religious leaders.

    CONCLUSIONS: Enhancing knowledge and awareness of vaccination among parents is crucial. Fathers' involvement is lacking. This may be boosted by highlighting fathers' obligation to protect their children's health through vaccination. It is also important that men engage with the wider community in decision-making and advance towards the global vaccination targets.

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  • 154.
    Abdullatif, Zina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.
    Sjuksköterskors bidrag till farmakovigilans arbete i Sverige En retrospektiv analys av alla sjuksköterskors biverkningsrapporter år 2015: En retrospektiv analys av alla sjuksköterskors biverkningsrapporter år 20152016Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 155.
    Abdullayev, Javid
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography and Economic History.
    The importance of the event theme in residents’ support level for Event tourism in Muslim Majority societiesResidents’ perceptions towards the sociocultural impacts of the Eurovision Song Contest 20122012Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 156.
    Abdulle, Assyr
    et al.
    ANMC, EPFL.
    Cohen, David
    Institut für Angewandte und Numerische Mathematik, KIT.
    Vilmart, Gilles
    ANMC, EPFL.
    Konstantinos, Zygalakis
    ANMC, EPFL.
    High weak order methods for stochastic differential equations based on modified equations2012In: SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, ISSN 1064-8275, E-ISSN 1095-7197, Vol. 34, no 3, p. A1800-A1823Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Inspired by recent advances in the theory of modified differential equations, we propose a new methodology for constructing numerical integrators with high weak order for the time integration of stochastic differential equations. This approach is illustrated with the constructions of new methods of weak order two, in particular, semi-implicit integrators well suited for stiff (mean-square stable) stochastic problems, and implicit integrators that exactly conserve all quadratic firstintegrals of a stochastic dynamical system. Numerical examples confirm the theoretical results and show the versatility of our methodology.

  • 157.
    Abdulleteef, Lina
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Biomedical Laboratory Science.
    Förekomst av humant papillomvirus i tonsillcancer i norra regionen i Sverige 2000-20122013Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 158.
    Abdulsalam Muhammednouri, Hevi
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Integrative Medical Biology (IMB).
    Kvalitetsindikatorer på apotek. Patienters syn på apotekstjänster - ett enkätutvärderingsprojekt2021Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 159.
    Abed, Ahmed Ghafel
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Energieffektivisering vid renovering av Lamellhus på Mariehemsvägen2018Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    In Sweden more houses than ever before are being built, and the house production is moving forward. At the same time, awareness of the energy use of buildings and its accompanying impacts on climate and sustainability are increasing. Therefore, Boverket constantly raises the demands for the energy performance of newly built and refurbished buildings.

    According to current requirements from Boverket (BBR, 2017), the primary energy value for apartment buildings may not be more than 85 kWh per square meter of tempered floor space and year. This also applies according to future requirements in 2021, but with the difference that the average U-value will decrease from 0.4 to 0.35 W/m2 K which means that apartment buildings must be built in an efficient way to reduce energy use. A large part of new construction and newly refurbished apartment buildings must then implement energy efficiency measures on their buildings to meet future requirements.

    This degree project has been carried out in collaboration with Rikshem AB who wants to investigate the impact of various energy efficiency measures on their apartment building ”Lamellhus”. The aim is to theoretically reduce apartment buildings ”Lamellhusets” specific energy use from 187,4 to 70 kWh/m2 Atemp, year and thus reduce the primary energy enough to meet future requirements according to BBR near-zero energy building.

    To theoretically reduce specific energy use and thus primary energy value, the project through manual calculations and with the help of computer tools examined various energy efficiency measures on the building's construction and installation system.

    The results show that the measures on the property climate shell are sufficient to meet the requirements. If all the measures according to package 1 or 2 on the design are combined, specific energy use according to BBR 16 (2010) will be at 83-94 kWh/m2 Atemp, year and the primary energy value according to BBR 25 (2017) will be at 68-77 kWh/m2 Atemp, year.

    The results also show how much of a building's energy use is ventilated. Replacing the ventilation system from F-systems to FTX-systems on the reference house in the base case, is the measure that gives one of the greatest impacts with a heat saving of (25.5-26.7%). In combination FTX-system with district heating, specific energy consumption can be reduced as low as possible. If the operation with the FTX-system is applied together with the existing district heating and all measures on the construction according to package 1 or 2, this gives a reduction of approximately (70-75 %) compared to the base case corresponding to 42-51 kWh/m2 Atemp, year according to BBR 16 and according to BBR 25, the figures are even lower. If the calculation considers thermal bridges and air leakage in the house, the result will increase.

    The results also show that the investment repays itself after 15-16 years with a simplified payback. With a calculation rate of 5 %, it is profitable over 30-31 years or more, but with a calculation rate of 8 % it is not profitable.

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    Energieffektivisering vid renovering av Lamellhus på Mariehemsvägen
  • 160.
    Abed, Ala
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Pharmacology.
    Polyfarmaci och fall hos äldre2018Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 161.
    Abed Alaziz, Ashtar
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
    Långsiktiga effekter av skilsmässor i barndomen: En kvalitativ studie om kulturen och samhällsstrukturens inverkan på självkänslan i vuxen ålder2021Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    To deepen the understanding of how society affects our experience of various phenomena, the purpose of this study was to examine the role of culture and society in the experience of divorce in childhood at a later age. The study uses the Middle East's culture and social structure as a starting point to investigate the perceived impact of the experienced divorce on self-esteem at a later age, and how the participants experience affects their love relationships. To meet the aim of the study, six participants between the ages of 20 and 30, with a background from the Middle East, who experienced divorce during childhood were recruited. Participants answered questions in an in-depth interview conducted via Zoom due to the current situation with Covid-19. Their answers were narratively analyzed by keeping interviews intact while re-creating stories to facilitate analysis. The focus was on the basic plot, the direction of the story and identified turning-points. Stories were then compared. The results indicated that the social structure of the Middle East plays an important role in the experience of divorce. The participants experienced low self-esteem, which seems to depend on the role that society played in the experience of divorce. Furthermore, the results indicated that the low self-esteem, based on society's role in the divorce experience, seems to affect their success in love relationships.

  • 162.
    Abed, Kawsar
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Pharmacology.
    Intressenter på apoteksmarknaden: En analys av vilka aktörer som intresserar sig i apoteksbranschen och vilka åsikter de har2019Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
  • 163.
    Abed, Shahla
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Pharmacology.
    Is adiponectin secreted via caveolae?: The importance of caveolae for stimulated adiponectin secretion in obesity2018Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 164.
    Abed, Shahla
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.
    Läkemedel mot Bcl-2 överuttryckande resistenta Prostatatumörer: Läkemedel mot Bcl-2 överuttryckande resistenta Prostatatumörer2015Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 165.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Bring Your Body into Action: Body Gesture Detection, Tracking, and Analysis for Natural Interaction2014Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Due to the large influx of computers in our daily lives, human-computer interaction has become crucially important. For a long time, focusing on what users need has been critical for designing interaction methods. However, new perspective tends to extend this attitude to encompass how human desires, interests, and ambitions can be met and supported. This implies that the way we interact with computers should be revisited. Centralizing human values rather than user needs is of the utmost importance for providing new interaction techniques. These values drive our decisions and actions, and are essential to what makes us human. This motivated us to introduce new interaction methods that will support human values, particularly human well-being.

    The aim of this thesis is to design new interaction methods that will empower human to have a healthy, intuitive, and pleasurable interaction with tomorrow’s digital world. In order to achieve this aim, this research is concerned with developing theories and techniques for exploring interaction methods beyond keyboard and mouse, utilizing human body. Therefore, this thesis addresses a very fundamental problem, human motion analysis.

    Technical contributions of this thesis introduce computer vision-based, marker-less systems to estimate and analyze body motion. The main focus of this research work is on head and hand motion analysis due to the fact that they are the most frequently used body parts for interacting with computers. This thesis gives an insight into the technical challenges and provides new perspectives and robust techniques for solving the problem.

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  • 166.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Human Motion Analysis for Creating Immersive Experiences2012Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    From an early age, people display the ability to quickly and effortlessly interpret the orientation and movement of human body parts, thereby allowing one to infer the intentions of others who are nearby and to comprehend an important nonverbal form of communication. The ease with which one accomplishes this task belies the difficulty of a problem that has challenged computational systems for decades, human motion analysis.

    Technological developments over years have resulted into many systems for measuring body segment positions and angles between segments. In these systems human body is typically considered as a system of rigid links connected by joints. The motion is estimated by the use of measurements from mechanical, optical, magnetic, or inertial trackers. Among all kinds of sensors, optical sensing encompasses a large and varying collection of technologies.

    In a computer vision context, human motion analysis is a topic that studies methods and applications in which two or more consecutive images from an image sequences, e.g. captured by a video camera, are processed to produce information based on the apparent human body motion in the images.

    Many different disciplines employ motion analysis systems to capture movement and posture of human body for applications such as medical diagnostics, virtual reality, human-computer interaction etc.

    This thesis gives an insight into the state of the art human motion analysissystems, and provides new methods for capturing human motion.

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  • 167.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Liu, Li
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    3D Active Human Motion Estimation for Biomedical Applications2012In: World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering May 26-31, 2012, Beijing, China / [ed] Mian Long, Springer Berlin/Heidelberg, 2012, , p. 4p. 1014-1017Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Movement disorders forbid many people from enjoying their daily lives. As with other diseases, diagnosis and analysis are key issues in treating such disorders. Computer vision-based motion capture systems are helpful tools for accomplishing this task. However Classical motion tracking systems suffer from several limitations. First they are not cost effective. Second these systems cannot detect minute motions accurately. Finally they are spatially limited to the lab environment where the system is installed. In this project, we propose an innovative solution to solve the above-mentioned issues. Mounting the camera on human body, we build a convenient, low cost motion capture system that can be used by the patient while practicing daily-life activities. We refer to this system as active motion capture, which is not confined to the lab environment. Real-time experiments in our lab revealed the robustness and accuracy of the system.

  • 168.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Smart Baggage in Aviation2011In: 2011 IEEE International Conferences on Internet of Things, and Cyber, Physical and Social Computing / [ed] Feng Xia, Zhikui Chen, Gang Pan, Laurence T. Yang, and Jianhua Ma, Los Alamitos: IEEE Computer Society, 2011, p. 620-623Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Nowadays, the Internet has dramatically changed the way people take the normal course of actions. By the recent growth of the Internet, connecting different objects to users through mobile phones and computers is no longer a dream. Aviation industry is one of the areas which have a strong potential to benefit from the Internet of Things. Among many problems related to air travel, delayed and lost luggage are the most common and irritating. Therefore, this paper suggests anew baggage control system, where users can simply track their baggage at the airport to avoid losing them. Attaching a particular pattern on the bag, which can be detected and localized from long distance by an ordinary camera, users are able to track their baggage. The proposed system is much cheaper than previous implementations and does not require sophisticated equipment.

  • 169.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design.
    Kouma, Jean-Paul
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Liu, Li
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design.
    Direct hand pose estimation for immersive gestural interaction2015In: Pattern Recognition Letters, ISSN 0167-8655, E-ISSN 1872-7344, Vol. 66, p. 91-99Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper presents a novel approach for performing intuitive gesture based interaction using depth data acquired by Kinect. The main challenge to enable immersive gestural interaction is dynamic gesture recognition. This problem can be formulated as a combination of two tasks; gesture recognition and gesture pose estimation. Incorporation of fast and robust pose estimation method would lessen the burden to a great extent. In this paper we propose a direct method for real-time hand pose estimation. Based on the range images, a new version of optical flow constraint equation is derived, which can be utilized to directly estimate 3D hand motion without any need of imposing other constraints. Extensive experiments illustrate that the proposed approach performs properly in real-time with high accuracy. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the system performance in 3D object manipulation On two different setups; desktop computing, and mobile platform. This reveals the system capability to accommodate different interaction procedures. In addition, a user study is conducted to evaluate learnability, user experience and interaction quality in 3D gestural interaction in comparison to 2D touchscreen interaction.

  • 170.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Direct three-dimensional head pose estimation from Kinect-type sensors2014In: Electronics Letters, ISSN 0013-5194, E-ISSN 1350-911X, Vol. 50, no 4, p. 268-270Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    A direct method for recovering three-dimensional (3D) head motion parameters from a sequence of range images acquired by Kinect sensors is presented. Based on the range images, a new version of the optical flow constraint equation is derived, which can be used to directly estimate 3D motion parameters without any need of imposing other constraints. Since all calculations with the new constraint equation are based on the range images, Z(xyt), the existing techniques and experiences developed and accumulated on the topic of motion from optical flow can be directly applied simply by treating the range images as normal intensity images I(xyt). In this reported work, it is demonstrated how to employ the new optical flow constraint equation to recover the 3D motion of a moving head from the sequences of range images, and furthermore, how to use an old trick to handle the case when the optical flow is large. It is shown, in the end, that the performance of the proposed approach is comparable with that of some of the state-of-the-art approaches that use range data to recover 3D motion parameters.

  • 171.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Gesture Tracking for 3D Interaction in Augmented Environments2011Conference paper (Other academic)
  • 172.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Real 3D Interaction Behind Mobile Phones for Augmented Environments2011In: 2011 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo (ICME), IEEE conference proceedings, 2011, p. 1-6Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Number of mobile devices such as mobile phones or PDAs has been dramatically increased over the recent years. New mobile devices are equipped with integrated cameras and large displays which make the interaction with device easier and more efficient. Although most of the previous works on interaction between humans and mobile devices are based on 2D touch-screen displays, camera-based interaction opens a new way to manipulate in 3D space behind the device in the camera's field of view. This paper suggests the use of particular patterns from local orientation of the image called Rotational Symmetries to detect and localize human gesture. Relative rotation and translation of human gesture between consecutive frames are estimated by means of extracting stable features. Consequently, this information can be used to facilitate the 3D manipulation of virtual objects in various applications in mobile devices.

  • 173.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Sonning, Samuel
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Sonning, Sabina
    3D Head Pose Estimation Using the Kinect2011Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Head pose estimation plays an essential role for bridging the information gap between humans and computers. Conventional head pose estimation methods are mostly done in images captured by cameras. However accurate and robust pose estimation is often problematic. In this paper we present an algorithm for recovering the six degrees of freedom (DOF) of motion of a head from a sequence of range images taken by the Microsoft Kinectfor Xbox 360. The proposed algorithm utilizes a least-squares minimization of the difference between themeasured rate of change of depth at a point and the rate predicted by the depth rate constraint equation. We segment the human head from its surroundings and background, and then we estimate the head motion. Our system has the capability to recover the six DOF of the head motion of multiple people in one image. Theproposed system is evaluated in our lab and presents superior results.

  • 174.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Liu, Li
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Active human gesture capture for diagnosing and treating movement disorders2013Conference paper (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Movement disorders prevent many people fromenjoying their daily lives. As with other diseases, diagnosisand analysis are key issues in treating such disorders.Computer vision-based motion capture systems are helpfultools for accomplishing this task. However Classical motiontracking systems suffer from several limitations. First theyare not cost effective. Second these systems cannot detectminute motions accurately. Finally they are spatially limitedto the lab environment where the system is installed. In thisproject, we propose an innovative solution to solve the abovementionedissues. Mounting the camera on human body, webuild a convenient, low cost motion capture system that canbe used by the patient in daily-life activities. We refer tothis system as active motion capture, which is not confinedto the lab environment. Real-time experiments in our labrevealed the robustness and accuracy of the system.

    Download full text (pdf)
    Active Human Gesture Capture for Diagnosing and Treating Movement Disorders
  • 175.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design.
    Liu, Li
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design.
    Head operated electric wheelchair2014In: IEEE Southwest Symposium on Image Analysis and Interpretation (SSIAI 2014), IEEE , 2014, p. 53-56Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Currently, the most common way to control an electric wheelchair is to use joystick. However, there are some individuals unable to operate joystick-driven electric wheelchairs due to sever physical disabilities, like quadriplegia patients. This paper proposes a novel head pose estimation method to assist such patients. Head motion parameters are employed to control and drive an electric wheelchair. We introduce a direct method for estimating user head motion, based on a sequence of range images captured by Kinect. In this work, we derive new version of the optical flow constraint equation for range images. We show how the new equation can be used to estimate head motion directly. Experimental results reveal that the proposed system works with high accuracy in real-time. We also show simulation results for navigating the electric wheelchair by recovering user head motion.

  • 176.
    Abedan Kondori, Farid
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Yousefi, Shahrouz
    Ostovar, Ahmad
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computing Science.
    Liu, Li
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.
    Li, Haibo
    A Direct Method for 3D Hand Pose Recovery2014In: 22nd International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 2014, p. 345-350Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This paper presents a novel approach for performing intuitive 3D gesture-based interaction using depth data acquired by Kinect. Unlike current depth-based systems that focus only on classical gesture recognition problem, we also consider 3D gesture pose estimation for creating immersive gestural interaction. In this paper, we formulate gesture-based interaction system as a combination of two separate problems, gesture recognition and gesture pose estimation. We focus on the second problem and propose a direct method for recovering hand motion parameters. Based on the range images, a new version of optical flow constraint equation is derived, which can be utilized to directly estimate 3D hand motion without any need of imposing other constraints. Our experiments illustrate that the proposed approach performs properly in real-time with high accuracy. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the system performance in 3D object manipulation. This application is intended to explore the system capabilities in real-time biomedical applications. Eventually, system usability test is conducted to evaluate the learnability, user experience and interaction quality in 3D interaction in comparison to 2D touch-screen interaction.

  • 177.
    Abedin, Md Reaz Ashraful
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computing Science.
    Bensch, Suna
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computing Science.
    Hellström, Thomas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computing Science.
    Self-supervised language grounding by active sensing combined with Internet acquired images and text2017In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Recognition and Action for Scene Understanding (REACTS2017) / [ed] Jorge Dias George Azzopardi, Rebeca Marf, Málaga: REACTS , 2017, p. 71-83Conference paper (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    For natural and efficient verbal communication between a robot and humans, the robot should be able to learn names and appearances of new objects it encounters. In this paper we present a solution combining active sensing of images with text based and image based search on the Internet. The approach allows the robot to learn both object name and how to recognise similar objects in the future, all self-supervised without human assistance. One part of the solution is a novel iterative method to determine the object name using image classi- fication, acquisition of images from additional viewpoints, and Internet search. In this paper, the algorithmic part of the proposed solution is presented together with evaluations using manually acquired camera images, while Internet data was acquired through direct and reverse image search with Google, Bing, and Yandex. Classification with multi-classSVM and with five different features settings were evaluated. With five object classes, the best performing classifier used a combination of Pyramid of Histogram of Visual Words (PHOW) and Pyramid of Histogram of Oriented Gradient (PHOG) features, and reached a precision of 80% and a recall of 78%.

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  • 178.
    Abedin, Reaz Ashraful
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Computing Science.
    Autonomous Object Category Learning for Service Robots Using Internet Resources2016Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    With the developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robots are becoming smarter, more efficient and capable of doing more dififcult tasks than before. Recent progress in Machine Learning has revolutionized the field of AI. Rather than performing pre-programmed tasks, nowadays robots are learning things, and becoming more autonomous along the way. However, in most of the cases, robots need a certain level of human assistance to learn something. To recognize or classify daily objects is a very important skill that a service robot should possess. In this research work, we have implemented a fully autonomous object category learning system for service robots, where the robot uses internet resources to learn object categories. It gets the name of an unknown object by performing reverse image search in the internet search engines, and applying a verification strategy afterwards. Then the robot retrieves a number of images of that object from internet and use those to generate training data for learning classifiers. The implemented system is tested in actual domestic environment. The classification performance is examined against some object categories from a benchmark dataset. The system performed decently with 78:40% average accuracy on ve object categories taken from the benchmark dataset and showed promising results in real domestic scenarios. There are existing research works that deal with object category learning for robots using internet images. But those works use Human-in-the-loop models, where humans assist the robot to get the object name for using it as a search cue to retrieve training images from internet. Our implemented system eliminates the necessity of human assistance by making the task of object name determination automatic. This facilitates the whole process of learning object categories with full autonomy, which is the main contribution of this research.

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  • 179.
    Abedpour Dehkordi, Adel
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health.
    Mental health in Northern Sweden: focusing on depressive symptoms; a risk factors analysis2016Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) have classified depressive disorders as the unique most burdensome disease from the point of overall DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) among individuals in working ages. The continuous monitoring is of great importance for prevention and controlling strategies and it could be linked to economic development in the country via reducing DALYs. The rate of mental disorders has increased in Sweden during last years. In the present thesis, we aim to analyze the risk factors and prevalence of clinical depression in Northern Sweden.

    Material & Methods:An empirical cross-sectional study performed based on a questionnaire distributed to a random sample of inhabitants in Northern Sweden. 23560 individuals responded to the question about taking medicine for depression in last three months, which considered as the target sample. Descriptive statistics was used to measure prevalence of depression across different sociodemographic, social and behavioral factors. Pearson Chi square test was used for comparative purposes. Univariate/Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratio for depression across different explanatory variables (P<0.05 considered significant). Hosmer-Lemeshow test was applied for goodness of fit in regression models (P>0.05 considered good fit).

    Results & Discussion:The point prevalence of clinical depression estimated 6.06% (4.24% in male and 7.61% in female) in Northern Sweden for 2014. Logistic regression showed that using medicines (for anxiety, sleeplessness, diabetes), physical inactivity, vegetable-free diet were all associated with increased risk of depression in north of Sweden (P<0.00.5-0.05). High physical activity, being Farmer and Self-employed, high social support were strongly associated with low risk of depression (P<0.00.5-0.05). No ascending linear association was observed for clinical depression in relation to increasing age, education, and vegetable (P>0.05). However, a gradient was detected for income, physical activity and social support (P<0.05).

    Conclusion:This study shows that the depressive symptoms is relatively higher in Northern Sweden than whole Sweden on average. There is a slight increase in the rate of depression in Northern Sweden compared to 2009. Meanwhile, women are more susceptible to get diagnosed with clinical depression in Northern Sweden. Protective factors for clinical depression are being employed as a farmer and being physically active. Nevertheless, a combination of different risk factors related to depression was observed. Further research is required to find underlying causes of the higher rate of depression in women, risk factors related to different age groups.

  • 180.
    Abedpour Dehkordi, Adel
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.
    Nayeri, H.
    Naderi, G. A.
    Dinani, N. Jafari
    Boshtam, M.
    Interleukin-6 reduces paraoxonase-1 activity in a dose-dependent manner: evidence for a potential novel lipoprotein-based modulatory mechanism2016In: Atherosclerosis, ISSN 0021-9150, E-ISSN 1879-1484, Vol. 252, p. E113-E114Article in journal (Other academic)
    Abstract [en]

    Objectives: The anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory nature of HDL is mainly associated with paraoxonase-1 (PON1). Previous studies have revealed an inverse correlation between Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and PON1 expression. The current study investigates the effect of IL-6 on serum PON1 activity in vitro, given the potential structural capability of PON1 to host multiple ligands. Methods: PON1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically (234 nm) using paraoxon substrate in the presence of concentrations of IL-6 than control samples. A sequence alignment using the FASTA sequence was manually conducted to identify possible homologies between PON1 and the IL-6-binding protein. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism v5.0. Results: PON1 enzyme activity decreased by 15%, 26% (P<0.05) and 55% (P<0.001) in the presence of 4, 10 and 20 pg/ml of IL-6, respectively. in comparison with the controls. Student t. test was used as statistical method (p<0.05: statistically significant). There are potential homologies between PON1 active sites and know IL-6-binding residues. Conclusions: This study shows that IL-6 directly reduce the PON1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. This observation supports some studies indicating inverse correlation between PON1 and IL-6. However, as opposed to the gene-mediated approach, this study suggest that IL-6 may act directly through specific binding to PON1 (biochemical modulation). X ray crystallography can further scrutinize the present finding.

  • 181. Abegg, Bruno
    et al.
    Morin, Samuel
    Demiroglu, O. Cenk
    Umeå University, Arctic Research Centre at Umeå University. Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography.
    François, H.
    Rothleitner, M.
    Strasser, U.
    Overloaded!: Critical revision and a new conceptual approach for snow indicators in ski tourism2021In: International journal of biometeorology, ISSN 0020-7128, E-ISSN 1432-1254, Vol. 65, no 5, p. 691-701Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Indicators are widely used in climate variability and climate change assessments to simplify the tracking of complex processes and phenomena in the state of the environment. Apart from the climatic criteria, the snow indicators in ski tourism have been increasingly extended with elements that relate to the technical, operational, and commercial aspects of ski tourism. These non-natural influencing factors have gained in importance in comparison with the natural environmental conditions but are more difficult to comprehend in time and space, resulting in limited explanatory power of the related indicators when applied for larger/longer scale assessments. We review the existing indicator approaches to derive quantitative measures for the snow conditions in ski areas, to formulate the criteria that the indicators should fulfill, and to provide a list of indicators with their technical specifications which can be used in snow condition assessments for ski tourism. For the use of these indicators, a three-step procedure consisting of definition, application, and interpretation is suggested. We also provide recommendations for the design of indicator-based assessments of climate change effects on ski tourism. Thereby, we highlight the importance of extensive stakeholder involvement to allow for real-world relevance of the achieved results.

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  • 182. Abel, Olubunmi
    et al.
    Powell, John F.
    Andersen, Peter M.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Al-Chalabi, Ammar
    ALSoD: A user-friendly online bioinformatics tool for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetics2012In: Human Mutation, ISSN 1059-7794, E-ISSN 1098-1004, Vol. 33, no 9, p. 1345-1351Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the commonest adult onset motor neuron disease, with a peak age of onset in the seventh decade. With advances in genetic technology, there is an enormous increase in the volume of genetic data produced, and a corresponding need for storage, analysis, and interpretation, particularly as our understanding of the relationships between genotype and phenotype mature. Here, we present a system to enable this in the form of the ALS Online Database (ALSoD at http://alsod.iop.kcl.ac.uk), a freely available database that has been transformed from a single gene storage facility recording mutations in the SOD1 gene to a multigene ALS bioinformatics repository and analytical instrument combining genotype, phenotype, and geographical information with associated analysis tools. These include a comparison tool to evaluate genes side by side or jointly with user configurable features, a pathogenicity prediction tool using a combination of computational approaches to distinguish variants with nonfunctional characteristics from disease-associated mutations with more dangerous consequences, and a credibility tool to enable ALS researchers to objectively assess the evidence for gene causation in ALS. Furthermore, integration of external tools, systems for feedback, annotation by users, and two-way links to collaborators hosting complementary databases further enhance the functionality of ALSoD. Hum Mutat 33:1345-1351, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  • 183. Abel, Olubunmi
    et al.
    Powell, John F
    Andersen, Peter M
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience.
    Al-Chalabi, Ammar
    Credibility analysis of putative disease-causing genes using bioinformatics2013In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 8, no 6, p. e64899-Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Genetic studies are challenging in many complex diseases, particularly those with limited diagnostic certainty, low prevalence or of old age. The result is that genes may be reported as disease-causing with varying levels of evidence, and in some cases, the data may be so limited as to be indistinguishable from chance findings. When there are large numbers of such genes, an objective method for ranking the evidence is useful. Using the neurodegenerative and complex disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a model, and the disease-specific database ALSoD, the objective is to develop a method using publicly available data to generate a credibility score for putative disease-causing genes.

    Methods: Genes with at least one publication suggesting involvement in adult onset familial ALS were collated following an exhaustive literature search. SQL was used to generate a score by extracting information from the publications and combined with a pathogenicity analysis using bioinformatics tools. The resulting score allowed us to rank genes in order of credibility. To validate the method, we compared the objective ranking with a rank generated by ALS genetics experts. Spearman's Rho was used to compare rankings generated by the different methods.

    Results: The automated method ranked ALS genes in the following order: SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, ANG, SPG11, NEFH, OPTN, ALS2, SETX, FIG4, VAPB, DCTN1, TAF15, VCP, DAO. This compared very well to the ranking of ALS genetics experts, with Spearman's Rho of 0.69 (P = 0.009).

    Conclusion: We have presented an automated method for scoring the level of evidence for a gene being disease-causing. In developing the method we have used the model disease ALS, but it could equally be applied to any disease in which there is genotypic uncertainty.

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  • 184. Abel, Olubunmi
    et al.
    Shatunov, Aleksey
    Jones, Ashley R.
    Andersen, Peter M.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology.
    Powell, John F.
    Al-Chalabi, Ammar
    Development of a Smartphone App for a Genetics Website: The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Online Genetics Database (ALSoD)2013In: JMIR mhealth and uhealth, E-ISSN 2291-5222, Vol. 1, no 2, article id e18Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: The ALS Online Genetics Database (ALSoD) website holds mutation, geographical, and phenotype data on genes implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and links to bioinformatics resources, publications, and tools for analysis. On average, there are 300 unique visits per day, suggesting a high demand from the research community. To enable wider access, we developed a mobile-friendly version of the website and a smartphone app. Objective: We sought to compare data traffic before and after implementation of a mobile version of the website to assess utility. Methods: We identified the most frequently viewed pages using Google Analytics and our in-house analytic monitoring. For these, we optimized the content layout of the screen, reduced image sizes, and summarized available information. We used the Microsoft. NET framework mobile detection property (HttpRequest. IsMobileDevice in the Request. Browser object in conjunction with HttpRequest. UserAgent), which returns a true value if the browser is a recognized mobile device. For app development, we used the Eclipse integrated development environment with Android plug-ins. We wrapped the mobile website version with the WebView object in Android. Simulators were downloaded to test and debug the applications. Results: The website automatically detects access from a mobile phone and redirects pages to fit the smaller screen. Because the amount of data stored on ALSoD is very large, the available information for display using smartphone access is deliberately restricted to improve usability. Visits to the website increased from 2231 to 2820, yielding a 26% increase from the pre-mobile to post-mobile period and an increase from 103 to 340 visits (230%) using mobile devices (including tablets). The smartphone app is currently available on BlackBerry and Android devices and will be available shortly on iOS as well. Conclusions: Further development of the ALSoD website has allowed access through smartphones and tablets, either through the website or directly through a mobile app, making genetic data stored on the database readily accessible to researchers and patients across multiple devices.

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  • 185.
    Abele, Alexander
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå Institute of Design.
    Acculan System: The next generation of a Surgical Power Tool2019Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Orthopedic surgery is dangerous, especially for the surgeon! Tool failures belong to the ten most frequent causes of operation delays. Nowadays, hospitals are pressured to optimize procedures and lower costs. Especially, orthopedic surgery is physically demanding for the ergonomics of the surgeon and tools wear out more quickly.

    Could the evolution of a surgical power tool be used in these scenarios to ease and support the surgeons work, increase the efficiency and flexibility of usage and at the same time offer more control and knowledge about the condition of the tools?

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    Surgical Power Tool
  • 186. Abeli, Thomas
    et al.
    Orsenigo, Simone
    Guzzon, Filippo
    Fae, Matteo
    Balestrazzi, Alma
    Carlsson-Graner, Ulla
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences.
    Mueller, Jonas V.
    Mondoni, Andrea
    Geographical pattern in the response of the arctic-alpine Silene suecica (Cariophyllaceae) to the interaction between water availability and photoperiod2015In: Ecological research, ISSN 0912-3814, E-ISSN 1440-1703, Vol. 30, no 2, p. 327-335Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    We hypothesized a geographical pattern of the plant performance (seedling development, biomass production, relative water content and chlorophyll content) as a result of response to the interaction between photoperiod and water availability in populations of the arctic-alpine Silene suecica from different latitudes, thus experiencing different photoperiods during the growing season. Particularly, we expected a lower drought sensitivity in northern compared to southern populations as a consequence of harsher conditions experienced by the northern populations in terms of water availability. The experiment was carried out under common garden conditions, manipulating the water availability (wet and dry) and the photoperiod (21 and 16 h). We found an interaction between photoperiod and water availability on plant height, leaves, growth, biomass and total chlorophyll. However, the photoperiod neither counteracted nor intensified the effect of drought. Plants exposed to drought compensated for decreasing water availability by reducing their shoot growth. Changes in the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b ratio were observed. Northern populations showed a higher basal growth performance and a greater response to the changed water regime (from wet to dry) than the southern populations. Southern populations showed a reduced ability to respond to drought, but their low basal performance may be advantageous under low water availability, avoiding water loss. In contrast, northern populations showed a stronger plastic response that limited the negative effects of reduced water availability. This study highlights the possibility that the plant response to environmental constraints (specifically water availability) may follow a geographical pattern.

  • 187.
    Abelseth Eriksson, Jeanita
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing.
    Frykland, Tove
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing.
    Operationssjuksköterskors erfarenheter relaterade till blodsmitta2022Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Background: During surgery there is a risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens due to the handlings of sharp objects and exposure from blood splash. Blood-borne pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C spread when contaminated blood comes in contact with damaged skin, mucous membranes or by an injury with a contaminated instrument. Sharps-injuries and blood-splash are the most common forms of exposure in the operating theatre. Patients with a blood-borne infection can feel stigmatized due to their illness. Health care personnel must provide equal care, and not discriminate against patients

    Motive: Theatre nurses work in an environment where there is risk of exposure of blood-borne pathogens, it is therefore of value to examine theatre nurses' experiences related to blood-borne pathogensAim: To shed light on operating theatre nurses' experiences related to blood-borne pathogens.

    Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with operating theatre nurses (n=8). Collected data were analyzed according to qualitative content analysis.

    Result: The analysis resulted in three different categories: "Experiencing risk", "Feeling safe" and "Constantly developing".

    Conclusion: The theatre nurse gains confidence in working with patients with known blood-borne pathogens with experience. Availability of information and good routines are important factors as it can otherwise create uncertainty due to the constantly developing nature of the operating theatre nurse's work, and the adding of new routines. There is a risk that patients avoid disclosure of infection in fear of stigmatization and discrimination, and not all carriers of blood-borne pathogens have been tested and diagnosed.  Therefore, all patients should be seen as potential carriers.

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  • 188. Abelsson, J
    et al.
    Merup, M
    Birgegård, G
    WeisBjerrum, O
    Brinch, L
    Brune, M
    Johansson, P
    Kauppila, M
    Lenhoff, S
    Liljeholm, Maria
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology.
    Malm, C
    Remes, K
    Vindelöv, L
    Andréasson, B
    The outcome of allo-HSCT for 92 patients with myelofibrosis in the Nordic countries.2012In: Bone Marrow Transplantation, ISSN 0268-3369, E-ISSN 1476-5365, Vol. 47, no 3, p. 380-386Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Between 1982 and 2009 a total of 92 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) in chronic phase underwent allo-SCT in nine Nordic transplant centers. Myeloablative conditioning (MAC) was given to 40 patients, and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) was used in 52 patients. The mean age in the two groups at transplantation was 46±12 and 55±8 years, respectively (P<0.001). When adjustment for age differences was made, the survival of the patients treated with RIC was significantly better (P=0.003). Among the RIC patients, the survival was significantly (P=0.003) better for the patients with age <60 years (a 10-year survival close to 80%) than for the older patients. The type of stem cell donor did not significantly affect the survival. No significant difference was found in TRM at 100 days between the MAC- and the RIC-treated patients. The probability of survival at 5 years was 49% for the MAC-treated patients and 59% in the RIC group (P=0.125). Patients treated with RIC experienced significantly less aGVHD compared with patients treated with MAC (P<0.001). The OS at 5 years was 70, 59 and 41% for patients with Lille score 0, 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.038, when age adjustment was made). Twenty-one percent of the patients in the RIC group were given donor lymphocyte infusion because of incomplete donor chimerism, compared with none of the MAC-treated patients (P<0.002). Nine percent of the patients needed a second transplant because of graft failure, progressive disease or transformation to AML, with no significant difference between the groups. Our conclusions are (1) allo-SCT performed with RIC gives a better survival compared with MAC. (2) age over 60 years is strongly related to a worse outcome and (3) patients with higher Lille score had a shorter survival.

  • 189.
    Aberg, Carola Höglund
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology, Periodontology.
    Sjödin, Bengt
    Lakio, Laura
    Pussinen, Pirkko J
    Johansson, Anders
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology, Periodontology.
    Claesson, Rolf
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Odontology, Oral Microbiology.
    Presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in young individuals: a 16-year clinical and microbiological follow-up study.2009In: Journal of clinical periodontology, ISSN 1600-051X, Vol. 36, no 10, p. 815-22Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    AIM: To look for clinical signs of periodontal disease in young adults who exhibited radiographic bone loss and detectable numbers of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in their primary dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Periodontal status and radiographic bone loss were examined in each of the subjects 16 years after the baseline observations. Techniques for anaerobic and selective culture, and checkerboard, were used to detect periodontitis-associated bacterial species. The isolated A. actinomycetemcomitans strains were characterized by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Signs of localized attachment loss were found in three out of the 13 examined subjects. A. actinomycetemcomitans was recovered from six of these subjects and two of these samples were from sites with deepened probing depths and attachment loss. Among the isolated A. actinomycetemcomitans strains, serotypes a-c and e, but not d or f, were found. None of the isolated strains belonged to the highly leucotoxic JP2 clone, and one strain lacked genes for the cytolethal distending toxin. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans and early bone loss in the primary dentition does not necessarily predispose the individual to periodontal attachment loss in the permanent dentition.

  • 190. Aberg, Wiveca
    et al.
    Thörne, Anders
    Olivecrona, Thomas
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biosciences, Physiological chemistry.
    Nordenström, Jörgen
    Fat oxidation and plasma removal capacity of an intravenous fat emulsion in elderly and young men.2006In: Nutrition, ISSN 0899-9007, Vol. 22, no 7-8, p. 738-43Article in journal (Refereed)
  • 191.
    Abeysekara, Upekshika
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Bilal, Umar
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Impact of ManagerialAccounting on Human Resource Management.2022Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    The main objective of this thesis is to identify the impact management accounting has on the human resources. Management accounting on all the business practices such as human resource, marketing and customer relation, cost management and production is a current trend in the business world today. With evaluation of the cost management; Management accounting plays a major role by inter relating to all the above-mentioned areas in an organization. Since it is a broad subject to explore, in this paper it has been discussed the impact of the management accounting to the human resource management (HR) and HR department. The data were gathered by conducting a questionnaire with open ended and close ended questionnaire form by delivering to the employees who work in human resource management, accounting and finance and administration departments on a global level. The main objective of the questionnaire form is to identify the budgeting process, employee recruitment process, rewarding process, sustainability activity and employee’s opinion on the sustainability activities in the organization and overall view which employees have on their companies which they work in. Data gathered from participants who is working in Sri Lanka, Sweden, Pakistan and UAE. By collecting information from the questionnaire, research has been done by using both qualitative and quantitate analysis (Since we used both open and close ended question). Through the research we could identify that; there is a positive relationship between the human resource department and managerial accounting; managerial accounting act as mediator of information provider, decision maker, analysists and resource allocation planner.

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  • 192.
    Abeywickrama, Madawa
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Informatics.
    Rosca, Victoria
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Informatics.
    Public organizations flying in the cloud: A case study of cloud computing value creation in Moldova central public administration2015Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    As information technology (IT)  becomes an integral part of society, public sector organizations have witnessed an increasing shift in how they deliver services to citizens. One area of IT that has  contributed to this transformation in service delivery has been in the domain of cloud computing. Extant research  has focused on the  factors related to the  adoption of cloud computing within public sector organizations, however, little is known about how cloud computing creates value in public sector administration. Addressing this, we conduct a case study research on the Moldova central public administration to investigate how cloud computing enhances value in public service delivery. Accordingly, we identify seven ways cloud computing enhances value creation in public administration. Among those values, faster service delivery, transparency and accountability are values rarely highlighted in the previous academic research. Based on our results, we propose solutions that public administration should take into consideration when utilizing cloud computing as a service delivery model.

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  • 193.
    Abeywickrama, Madawa
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Vasickova, Jana
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Attitude towards mobile advertising and purchase intention of Swedish customers: A quantitative study on the impact of message content and flow experience2014Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Due to the rapid technological development in information technologies, and mobile phone industry the usage of smart phone became a new trend consequently leading to more than one billion Smartphone users in the world. One of the most significant characteristic of those users is their growing need to be always connected to the Internet. Desire to do not miss important conversation, news, favorite TV series or result of sports events leads them to subsribe for mobile broad band or else use internet-on-the-go. Consequently telecommunication service providers witnessed increasing trend in mobile broad band subscription over the past five years outnumbering access to the Internet via desktop or other fixed broad band alternatives. Telecommunication providers are not the only one who experienced those changes. The crowd of smart phone users is constantly growing, thus on one hand it represents a compelling group of customers to target yet on the other hand due to its novelty it represents an obstacle for marketers and advertisers when executing communication with customers via a new channel, mobile advertising.

    Based on market research firms’ predictions of future trends in marketing, mobile advertising represent a one of the most effective communication channels due to its measurability, individual targeting via personalised messages and geo-location targeting.

    Therefore, in this thesis paper we identified research gap in form of lack of knowledge, that prevents both marketers and advertisers from leveraging the potential of mobile advertising. Designated purpose of this theis is to investigate role of attitudes and flow experience in mobile advertising. Research question to be answered is: What is the impact of advertising message personalisation, permission, and flow experience on attitude towards mobile advertising? And consequently examine what is the effect of attitude towards mobile advertising and flow experience on purchase intention of Swedish customers?

    In order to address such an issue we developed theoretical framework and conducted survey among Umeå inhabitants to find out their preferences and experiences with mobile advertising. Collected information were analysed in regards to the theoretical framework consisting of theory of flow experience and theory of reasoned action.

    However the data analysis did prove flow of experience theory as well as theory of reasoned action not all aspects did stand. Through our work we found out that flow experience and attitude towards mobile advertising were supported for purchase intention. While permission, personalisation, infotainment and incentives were supported for attitudes towards mobile advertising.

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    Attitude towards mobile advertising and purchase intention of Swedish customers - A quantitative study on the impact of message content and flow experience
  • 194.
    Abezie, Habtamu
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Assessing a restaurant service quality using the DINESERV model: A quantitative study on Pizza Hut2020Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [en]

    Abstract

    Customers are the main reason behind every companies’ survival in the market. And winning their interest has now become the concern for company owners and managers as well. However, many factors can affect the customer's satisfaction in the marketing environment. Among the determinants, service quality takes the most substantial part. Many Scholars have also identified the underlying relationships between these two constructs. Notably, the perception-expectation gap is a useful cue to determine their link. Thus, this research mainly relies on uncovering the customer's perception of service quality. As a result, the study is conducted in one of the biggest chain restaurant named Pizza Hut. And the author chooses the research location to be in Uppsala.

    Purpose

    This study has a two-fold research purpose in that it aims at measuring the perception of customers in the restaurant industry and examining the validity of DINESERV in Sweden's cultural context.

    Design/Methodology/approach

    The author has employed a convenience sampling technique to conduct the research and pre-developed questionnaires from the so-called DINESERV instrument. Additionally, factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were used to check the validity and reliability of the model, respectively. The gap score was also computed using the means. Then finally, a spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to test the strength of the relationship between the customer's satisfaction and service quality dimensions.

    Finding

    The analysis carried out proved that DINESERV is a valid instrument to measure customer's perception of service quality in Sweden's cultural context. Besides, the correlation between service quality dimension and customer satisfaction were validated using a spearman's rho. Lastly, the result from the gap score indicates that the two dimensions (i.e., responsiveness & reliability) were perceived as inferior by the customers.

    Research implications

    The theoretical finding suggests that DINESERV is the right instrument to measure the service quality of restaurants in Sweden's context. And the practical implication approves that pizza hut in Uppsala has two inferior dimensions that need continuous improvement. Lastly, the demographic characteristics of the respondents show that most of the customers are categorized under the younger age group (i.e., 18-36), and this information can be used for marketing purposes by the company.

    Key Words – DINESERV, Service quality, Customer satisfaction, Restaurant

     

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    Assessing a restaurant service quality using the DINESERV model – A quantitative study on Pizza Hut”
  • 195.
    Abezie, Henock
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Biomedical Laboratory Science.
    Preanalytisk inverkan av provtagningsrör vid zinkanalys i plasma2020Independent thesis Basic level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
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  • 196.
    Abi Saad, Elie
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå School of Business and Economics (USBE), Business Administration.
    Tremblay, Nathalie
    Université de Strasbourg, BETA, 61 avenue de la Forêt Noire, Strasbourg, France.
    Agogué, Marine
    HEC Montréal, 3000 chemin Cote Ste Catherine, QC, Montréal, Canada.
    A multi-level perspective on innovation intermediaries: the case of the diffusion of digital technologies in healthcare2024In: Technovation, ISSN 0166-4972, E-ISSN 1879-2383, Vol. 129, article id 102899Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Innovation intermediaries have emerged as prominent forms of intervention for supporting technological changes and driving sociotechnical transitions. In this paper, we draw on an in-depth case study tracing the emergence and evolution of an intermediary organization created specifically to address innovation-related challenges and spur digital transformation in the healthcare sector in Montreal, Canada. We analyze data from 85 interviews with leading actors in the healthcare ecosystem, coupled with supplementary material, meetings, and follow-ups to theorize how intermediaries help facilitate the diffusion of emerging digital technologies in this sector. Our analysis reveals two interrelated processes: (1) "technology-focused intermediation" to help co-create the technology in accordance with existing demands; and (2) "ecosystem-focused intermediation" to help reinforce ecosystem components for enabling effective deployment. Each of these processes is driven by sourcing, mobilizing, and scaling activities intended to align the technology development trajectory with envisioned sociotechnical requirements.

  • 197.
    Abidakun, Olatunde
    et al.
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, USA.
    Adebiyi, Abdulafeez
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, USA.
    Valiev, Damir
    Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics. Center for Combustion Energy, Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education of China, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
    Akkerman, V’yacheslav
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
    Impacts of fuel nonequidiffusivity on premixed flame propagation in channels with open ends2021In: Physics of fluids, ISSN 1070-6631, E-ISSN 1089-7666, Vol. 33, article id 013604Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The present study scrutinizes premixed flame dynamics in micro-channels, thereby shedding light on advanced miniature micro-combustion technologies. While equidiffusive burning (when the Lewis number Le = 1) is a conventional approach adopted in numerous theoretical studies, real premixed flames are typically non-equidiffusive (Le ≠ 1), which leads to intriguing effects, such as diffusional-thermal instability. An equidiffusive computational study [V. Akkerman et al., Combust. Flame 145, 675–687 (2006)] reported regular oscillations of premixed flames spreading in channels having nonslip walls and open extremes. Here, this investigation is extended to nonequidiffusive combustion in order to systematically study the impact of the Lewis number on the flame in this geometry. The analysis is performed by means of computational simulations of the reacting flow equations with fully-compressible hydrodynamics and onestep Arrhenius chemical kinetics in channels with adiabatic and isothermal walls. In the adiabatic channels, which are the main case of study, it is found that the flames oscillate at low Lewis numbers, with the oscillation frequency decreasing with Le, while for the Le > 1 flames, a tendency to steady flame propagation is observed. The oscillation parameters also depend on the thermal expansion ratio and the channel width, although the impacts are rather quantitative than qualitative. The analysis is subsequently extended to the isothermal channels. It is shown that the role of heat losses to the walls is important and may potentially dominate over that of the Lewis number. At the same time, the impact of Le on burning in the isothermal channels is qualitatively weaker than that in the adiabatic channels.

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  • 198.
    Abidine, Yara
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at Umeå University (WCMM).
    Liu, Lifeng
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at Umeå University (WCMM).
    Wallén, Oskar
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology.
    Trybala, Edward
    Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Olofsson, Sigvard
    Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Bergström, Tomas
    Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
    Bally, Marta
    Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine at Umeå University (WCMM).
    Cellular Chondroitin Sulfate and the Mucin-like Domain of Viral Glycoprotein C Promote Diffusion of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 While Heparan Sulfate Restricts Mobility2022In: Viruses, E-ISSN 1999-4915, Vol. 14, no 8, article id 1836Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The diffusion of viruses at the cell membrane is essential to reach a suitable entry site and initiate subsequent internalization. Although many viruses take advantage of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) to bind to the cell surface, little is known about the dynamics of the virus–GAG interactions. Here, single-particle tracking of the initial interaction of individual herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) virions reveals a heterogeneous diffusive behavior, regulated by cell-surface GAGs with two main diffusion types: confined and normal free. This study reports that different GAGs can have competing influences in mediating diffusion on the cells used here: chondroitin sulfate (CS) enhances free diffusion but hinders virus attachment to cell surfaces, while heparan sulfate (HS) promotes virus confinement and increases entry efficiency. In addition, the role that the viral mucin-like domains (MLD) of the HSV-1 glycoprotein C plays in facilitating the diffusion of the virus and accelerating virus penetration into cells is demonstrated. Together, our results shed new light on the mechanisms of GAG-regulated virus diffusion at the cell surface for optimal internalization. These findings may be extendable to other GAG-binding viruses.

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    fulltext
  • 199.
    Abiib, Ahmed
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work.
    Skapandet av motståndskraftiga samhällen: En fallstudie om hur Jönköpings kommun arbetar för att motverka våldsbejakande extremism och radikalisering2019Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE creditsStudent thesis
    Abstract [sv]

    Syftet med studien har varit att belysa hur samverkande lokala aktörer skildrar arbetet med att motverka våldsbejakande extremism och radikalisering på lokal nivå. I ett försök att besvara studiens syfte har studien utgått från frågeställningarna vilka faktorer identifierarde lokala aktörerna som viktiga i arbetet för att motverka våldsbejakande extremism och radikalisering i Jönköping, samt vilka dilemman beskriver de lokala aktörerna i det förebyggande arbetet mot våldsbejakande extremism och radikalisering i Jönköping? För att besvara studiens syfte utfördes en fallstudie riktad mot Jönköpings kommun, där tolv semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med samverkande lokala aktörer. Intervjuerna gav respondenterna möjlighet att ge sina professionella utsagor om vilka faktorer och aktörer som bidrar till möjligheter eller dilemman. Som analysredskap användes tematisk analys för att identifiera centrala teman utifrån respondenternas utsagor.

    Studiens empiriska fynd visar att motverkandet av våldsbejakande extremism och radikalisering är komplext. Studiens respondenter beskriver b.la. att ett proaktivt områdesarbete samt en ökad kunskapsnivå hos första linjens aktörer avseende företeelserna som viktiga faktorer i skapandet av lokal motståndskraft. Dock belyser respondenterna en utmaning i att utvärdera effekten av det förebyggande arbetet i Jönköpings kommun och respondenterna uttrycker även att ovissheten avseende delgivning av känslig information mellan olika lokala aktörer som ett hinder för det förebyggande arbetet i Jönköpings kommun.

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    Skapandet av motståndskraftiga samhällen
  • 200.
    Abiib, Ahmed
    et al.
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work.
    Johansson Garellick, Filip
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work.
    Haines Gärding, Mikael
    Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work.
    Pojkar och Mäns heder - Finns den?: En kvalitativ studie om mäns utsatthet i hedersrelaterade förhållanden.2016Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
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    Pojkar och Mäns Heder - Finns den?
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