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Objectives: We examined the magnitude of transcription errors in lipid variables in the VIPVIZA study and assessed whether education among the research personnel reduced the error frequency at follow-up. We also examined how the errors affected the SCORE2 risk prediction algorithm for cardiovascular disease, which includes lipid parameters, as this could lead to an incorrect treatment decision.

Methods: The VIPVIZA study includes assessment of lipid parameters, where results for total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and calculated LDL cholesterol are transcribed into the research database by research nurses. Transcription errors were identified by recalculating LDL cholesterol, and a difference>0.15 indicated a transcription error in any of the four lipid parameters. To assess the presence of risk category misclassification, we compared the individual's SCORE2 risk category based on incorrect lipid levels to the SCORE2 categories based on the correct lipid levels.

Results: The transcription error frequency was 0.55 % in the 2019 VIPVIZA research database and halved after the educational intervention to 0.25 % in 2023. Of the 39 individuals who had a transcription error in total or HDL cholesterol (with the possibility of affecting the SCORE2 risk category based on non-HDL cholesterol), six individuals (15 %) received an incorrect risk category due to the error.

Conclusions: Transcription errors persist despite digitalisation improvements. It is essential to minimise transcriptions in fields outside the laboratory environment, as we observed that critical decisions also rely on accurate information such as the SCORE2-risk algorithm, which is dependent on lab results but not necessarily reported by the laboratory.

Support from adult children is vital for the wellbeing of many older adults and geographic nearness of children can be crucial for managing activities in daily life, even in countries with a universal welfare model and especially in the current times of refamilization of care and support. Hence, trends of convergence and divergence in intergenerational distances will influence the possibilities to receive informal assistance. Based on Swedish register data, we examined the proximity to the nearest adult child for the period 1990 to 2019, for parents at age 65 and 80 across socioeconomic groups, genders, and region types, using multivariate analyses. Although we found a slight overall trend towards divergence for parents aged 65 over the three decades, we do not interpret this as a constant long-term trend, but rather as part of short-term variations across cohorts, with longer distances for the baby-boom generation born in the 1940s. We found longer distances for fathers, singles, high-income individuals, the well-educated and in rural regions. And we found trends towards longer distances in rural regions and among parents with only primary education. Although more than 80% of parents have adult children within daily reach, many older parents have their children far away. When adding the childless, we conclude that almost a third of people aged 80 have no adult child within daily reach, which is a challenge as population ages. The results are discussed in relation to the changing role of family members for care and support.

In this paper I’m studying the relationships between poetry and pictures in children's books. My purpose is to examine how the text and picture works together by doing an analyze of a picture book by Mårten Melin. I'm also going to examine some other chosen poems by Melin, analyzing the same poems with and without pictures. I'm furthermore doing a brief comparison how other writers of poetic children's books works with poetry and pictures.

In this study, we investigate how young students can make use of their own disciplinary drawings to support transitions between everyday and scientific discourses of water. The empirical data consists of video-recorded stimulated recall interviews with six student pairs (age 8 years), conducted six months after they had been introduced to a water theme that included disciplinary drawing techniques. During the interviews, we provided students with their drawings as recall material. To stimulate a stalled discussion further or to support a new line of thought, we also asked supporting questions and provided the students with plastic models of water molecules, and a bottle of water. To trace their reasoning over time during the interview, the empirical material was used to construct semantic profiles for all student pairs underpinned by Legitimation Code Theory (LCT). Our findings show that most students used their drawings to bridge everyday experiences and scientific explanations of phenomena involving water. The plastic models and the water bottle however had varying effects, sometimes leading to adding a scientific discourse, and sometimes leading to off-topic reasoning. The students generally needed adult guidance to use their own drawings for navigating between everyday and scientific reasoning. However, our findings also show that some students were able to independently use their drawings to move between everyday and scientific discourse, in a way that suggests a gradual deepening of their understanding of the chemical properties of water. Based on these findings, we advocate for emergent disciplinary drawing, in combination with guided discussions, as an age-appropriate method for supporting primary students to navigate between everyday and scientific discourses in chemistry class. This approach could ensure that the educational value of students' creative efforts when drawing extends beyond the moment of creation, to also foster a richer language that can open for new ways of understanding and making sense of the world.

Trophic ecology of lacustrine salmonid populations is well-documented in North America and northern Europe, highlighting their role in aquatic ecosystems. However, there is a notable gap in comparative studies on the trophic niches and life-history traits of salmonids in Iberian alpine lakes, which are increasingly impacted by introduced fishes. We compared the trophic ecology and life-history traits of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in two alpine lakes of central Spain, providing insights into their ecological roles and potential responses to environmental pressures. Compared to brown trout, brook trout displayed a broader dietary niche (based on isotopes and stomach contents), higher reliance on terrestrial food resources, higher δ¹³C values and higher trophic position. Thus, the higher trophic position of top predator salmonids suggests a slightly longer food chain in the lake with brook trout. Brook trout showed a higher trophic plasticity indicated by an ontogenetic dietary shift from zooplanktivory to more generalist foraging on terrestrial prey. Brook trout displayed life-history traits such as early maturation, which likely facilitate successful establishment in alpine lakes. Our study suggests that the trophic plasticity and adaptive life-history traits likely support the successful establishment of non-native salmonids in alpine lake food webs.

External quality assessment (EQA) schemes for pathology are essential, yet large/international programmes do not assess morphology-based biomarkers or address local/regional needs. This study outlines bottom-up initiated, flexible Swedish Digital Pathology EQA rounds for breast pathology, and presents results from the 2021 and 2023 rounds. Six breast carcinoma cases were selected for each EQA round by the Swedish Breast Pathology Expert Group (KVAST Breast). Whole tissue slides stained with HE, IHC, and ISH were anonymized, digitized, and uploaded to the digital EQA platform. Biomarkers were selected based on national registry data analysis and pathologist and clinician feedback. The 2021 round assessed Nottingham grade (NHG), oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), while the 2023 round focused on NHG, HER2-low, and global Ki67. Twenty-seven pathology departments participated. From 2021 to 2023, the variability of NHG assessment on digital slides improved from moderate to substantial (kappa 0.50; 95% CI 0.45–0.55 to 0.64; 95% CI 0.60–0.68), with better agreement for NHG3 than NHG1. Participants showed substantial and excellent agreement in ER (kappa 1) and PR (0.75 (95% CI 0.69–0.82). We found similar agreement in distinguishing HER2 IHC 0 (0.78; 95% CI 0.72–0.82) and HER2 IHC 3 + (0.94; 95% CI 0.88–1.00) from other HER2 IHC scores. Participants showed substantial agreement in detecting Ki67 high and Ki67 low cases (kappa 0.65; 95% CI 0.60–0.71 and 0.69; 95% CI 0.64–0.74, respectively). This digital EQA identifies local issues and complements large international EQAs to address challenges in the rapidly changing biomarkers of cancer therapy.

Background: Air pollution and greenness impact respiratory health, but intergenerational effects remain unclear.We investigated whether pre-conception parental residential exposure to air pollution and greenness at age 20–44 years is associated with offspring asthma outcomes in the Lifespan and inter-generational respiratory effects of exposures to greenness and air pollution (Life-GAP) project.

Methods: We analyzed data on 3684 RHINESSA study participants born after the year 1990 (mean age 19, standard deviation 4), offspring of 2689 RHINE study participants. Modelled annual concentrations of particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), elemental carbon (EC), and ozone (O₃), and greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) were assigned to parental residential addresses in 1990, corresponding to 1–18 years prior to birth (mean: 6 years, SD: 5). We analyzed associations using generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM), with cluster-robust standard errors allowing for intra-family correlation, while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Among offspring participants, 18% reported lifetime asthma, 9% active asthma, 8% asthma medication, 5% asthma attacks, and 37% any asthma symptom. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in parental residential NDVI exposure was associated with less lifetime asthma (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64, 0.98 per 0.3 units). Similar associations were observed for active asthma and asthma medication use. Associations of air pollution with asthma outcomes were inconclusive.

Conclusion: Parental exposure to residential green spaces before conception was associated with lower asthma risk in offspring. Urban planning policies prioritizing green spaces may be a key public health intervention for future cities.

BACKGROUND: Swedish national guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for standard of care; however, little is known about adherence to them. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to management guidelines for prostate cancer (PCa).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data in the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR), that includes 98% of all incident PCa cases in Sweden, were used to analyse adherence to national PCa guidelines for men diagnosed between 2010 and 2023. A selection of quality indicators displayed on the public web page of NPCR were assessed.

RESULTS: Active surveillance in men with low-risk PCa and an estimated life expectancy >10 years increased from 44% in 2010 to 88% in 2023. Radical treatment for men with localised high-risk PCa and life expectancy >10 years increased from 60% in 2010 to 86% in 2023 and for men with locally advanced PCa and life expectancy >5 years from 37% in 2010 to 64% in 2023. The proportion of radical prostatectomies for low- or intermediate-risk PCa performed with nerve-sparing technique increased from 61% in 2015 to 87% in 2023. Use of adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy after radiotherapy for men with high-risk or locally advanced PCa increased five-fold from 14% in 2010 to 73% in 2022.

CONCLUSION: Adherence to recommendations in national guidelines improved in Sweden between 2010 and 2023. Public, open reporting of NPCR data on adherence to guidelines down to department level is likely to have contributed to these improvements.

Introduction: The primary aim was to determine the occurrence of lymph ascites 4–6 weeks after surgery for endometrial cancer. Secondary aims were to assess risk factors for lymph ascites and the association with lymphedema of the legs.

Material and Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of an observational prospective multicenter study, performed in 14 Swedish hospitals that included 235 women undergoing surgery for early-stage endometrial cancer between June 2014 and January 2018; 116 underwent surgery including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and 119 had surgery without lymphadenectomy. Lymph ascites (free intraabdominal fluid or encapsulated pelvic or para-aortic fluid) was assessed by vaginal ultrasound 4–6 weeks postoperatively. Lymphedema was assessed using circumferential measurements of the legs preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively, enabling estimation of leg volume. A BMI-standardized leg volume increase ≥10% was classified as lymphedema. Evaluation of risk factors was performed using multiple logistic regression.

Results: Lymph ascites 4-6-weeks postoperatively occurred in 28.5% (67/235) of the women. The estimated volume of the lymph ascites in these women was mean 28 mL (standard deviation 48 mL) and median 14 mL (interquartile range 2–36 mL). Lymphadenectomy was a risk factor for lymph ascites (aOR 9.97; 95% CI 4.53–21.97) whereas the use of minimally invasive surgery (aOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.25–0.99) reduced the risk. Twenty-two of 231 women (9.5%) developed lymphedema of the legs 1 year after surgery. The presence of lymph ascites was predictive of lymphedema (aOR 3.90; 95% CI 1.52–9.96).

Conclusions: Lymph ascites was common 4–6 weeks after surgery but in a low and clinically insignificant volume. Lymphadenectomy was a strong risk factor for lymph ascites and the use of minimally invasive surgery seemed to reduce the risk. Detection of lymph ascites at early postoperative follow-up may be a means of selecting patients at high risk of developing lymphedema after treatment with endometrial cancer for preventive measures against lymphedema progression.

Background: MR-generated acoustic noise may be particularly concerning at 7-Tesla (T) systems. Noise levels can be reduced by altering gradient output using software optimization. However, such alterations might influence image quality or prolong scan times, and these optimizations have not been well characterized.

Purpose: To evaluate image quality, sound pressure levels (SPLs), and perceived noise levels when using the acoustic noise reduction technique SofTone for T2-weighted fast spin echo (T2W FSE) and three-dimensional T1-weighted turbo field echo (3D T1W TFE), and to compare with conventional imaging during 7-T brain MRI.

Study Type: Prospective.

Subjects: Twenty-eight volunteers underwent brain MRI, with n = 26 for image quality evaluations.

Field Strength/Sequence: Conventional and SofTone versions of T2W FSE and 3D T1W TFE at 7 T.

Assessment: Peak SPLs (A-weighted decibels, dBA), participant-perceived noise levels (Borg CR10-scale), qualitative image assessments by three neuroradiologists (four-graded ordinal scales), interrater reliability, and percentage agreement.

Statistical Test: Paired t-test, Wilcoxon's Signed-Rank Test, and Krippendorff's alpha; p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: SofTone significantly reduced peak SPLs: from 116.3 to 97.0 dBA on T2W FSE, and from 123.7 to 101.5 dBA on 3D T1W TFE. SofTone was perceived as significantly quieter than conventional scanning. T2W FSE showed no significant differences in image quality assessments (p = 0.21–1.00), except one radiologist noting significantly less artifact interference with SofTone. General image quality remained acceptable for 3D T1W TFE, though one radiologist scored it significantly lower with SofTone (mean scores: 3.08 vs. 3.65), and two radiologists observed significantly worse white and gray matter differentiation with SofTone (mean scores: 3.19 vs. 3.54; 2.27 vs. 2.81). Data Conclusion: SofTone can significantly reduce sound intensity and perceived noise levels while maintaining acceptable image quality with T2W FSE and 3D T1W TFE in brain MRI. It appears to be an effective tool for providing a safer, quieter 7-T scan environment. Evidence Level: 4. Technical Efficacy: Stage 5.

Objectives: Monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) are essential players in the immune response to infections, involved in shaping innate and adaptive immunity. However, a complete understanding of their specific roles in respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2, remains elusive.

Methods: To investigate the dynamics of monocytes and DCs in blood as well as the upper and lower airways, we sampled 147 patients with varying degree of COVID-19 severity longitudinally during the spring of 2020.

Results: Using flow cytometry, proteomics and in vitro TLR stimulation, we found differences in the distribution and function of monocytes and DCs in patients compared with controls, and importantly, reduced levels of DCs in both blood and airways. In fact, lower frequencies of cDC2s (Lin− HLA-DR+ CD1c+) early after symptom onset predicted subsequent severe disease, and depletion of DC subsets lasted longer in patients with more severe disease. In contrast, severe COVID-19 was associated with increased frequencies of activated monocytes in the lower, but not the upper, airways. Proteomic analysis showed that monocyte and DC-related cytokines in plasma and airways associated with disease severity. During convalescence, cell frequencies and responses to TLR ligands normalised in blood, except for persistently low plasmacytoid DCs.

Conclusion: Our study reveals a distinct pattern of recruitment of monocytes but not DCs to the airways during severe COVID-19. Instead, decreased levels of DCs in both blood and airways were found, possibly contributing to more severe COVID-19. The connection between low blood DCs early in disease course and more severe outcomes provides insight into COVID-19 immunopathology, with possible therapeutic implications.

Studiens syfte var att bidra med kunskap utifrån specialpedagogers och förstelärares upplevelser och erfarenheter av sina respektive uppdrag, med särskilt fokus på betydelsen av deras samarbete gällande elever i svårigheter. Två frågeställningar formulerades: Vilka möjligheter och utmaningar upplever specialpedagoger och förstelärare i sina respektive uppdrag? Vilka erfarenheter har specialpedagoger och förstelärare av ett samarbete för att möta elever i svårigheter genom sina respektive uppdrag? För att få svar på dessa frågeställningar genomfördes intervjuer med sju specialpedagoger och sex förstelärare yrkesverksamma inom grundskolans alla stadier. I studiens bakgrund har styrdokument kopplat till alla elevers rätt att nå måluppfyllelse och samverkan mellan professioner presenterats. Vidare förklaras begreppet specialpedagogik samt specialpedagogers och förstelärares uppdrag. Därefter redogörs tidigare forskning som berör professionerna. I den teoretiska bakgrunden har professionsteori, Bronfenbrenners utvecklingsekologiska systemteori samt begreppet relationellt perspektiv beskrivits då de ansetts som viktiga för studien. Resultatet i studien visar att både specialpedagoger och förstelärare upplever tidsbristen utifrån otydligheten i sina respetive uppdrag som utmaningar och det sistnämnda kopplas till rektors ledarskap. Båda professionerna har liten eller ingen erfarenhet av samarbete med den andra professionen.

Barn och ungdomar lever i en digital värld där teknologi utgör en central del av deras vardaghemma och i skolan. Genom att integrera digitala verktyg på ett meningsfullt sätt i undervisningenkan lärare skapa en mer stimulerande och effektiv inlärningsmiljö där eleverna kan utveckla sinaspråkkunskaper på mer effektiva sätt. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur lärare använder digitalaverktyg i engelskundervisningen och hur de anpassar undervisningen efter elevernas digitalaintressen. Genom att analysera lärarnas tillvägagångssätt i klassrummet strävar studien efter attidentifiera effektiva strategier för att främja elevernas lärande och engagemang. Metoden förstudien innebär en noggrann analys av lärarnas kunskaper och attityder gentemot digitala verktygsamt deras planering av undervisningen utifrån elevernas digitala intressen. Genom intervjuer ochobservationer undersöks hur digital teknik integreras i klassrumsmiljön för att skapa en dynamiskoch engagerande inlärningsmiljö. Resultaten av studien pekar på att lärare i hög grad använderdigitala verktyg i engelskundervisningen för att anpassa undervisningen efter elevernas behov ochfrämja deras språkfärdigheter. Genom en kombination av olika digitala resurser strävar lärarnaefter att skapa en mångsidig undervisningsmiljö som stimulerar elevernas intresse för engelskaspråket och kultur. Diskussionen kretsar kring effektiva metoder för att integrera digitala verktyg iundervisningen och hur dessa kan bidra till elevernas fortsatta lärande. Framtida forskning kanfokusera på att utforska nya innovativa tillvägagångssätt för att ytterligare optimeraundervisningen och möta elevernas förväntningar i en digitaliserad värld.

Purpose: This study seeks to gain an understanding of the complexities involved in real-life classroom teaching. The aim is to trace values and tensions displayed in what the teachers regard as successful and unsuccessful.

Design/methodology/approach: Teachers were interviewed to explore their perceptions of success and failures in their teaching about controversial issues. Data was analysed thematically and cross-analysed to find underlying didactic values and tensions.

Findings: Successful and unsuccessful are mainly related to the students’ learning, teachers’ efforts, and reactions of parents, not to specific issues. Values included concern for students’ well-being and a desire for less polarisation. Tensions concerned students’ level of commitment and how to deal with students’ own opinions. Successful teaching is not only about achieving curriculum goals but also must be understood in relation to teachers’ task perceptions.

Practical implications: Results of the study can provide teachers with a ground for didactical reflection.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine what happens with the internal view an organisation has on information management when a holistic view is diminished into a blinkered view and the consequences it conveys for the customer. The customer consequences are divided into two parts – creation of external customers’ values and creation of value for the internal customer explored in terms of efficiency.

Methodology/approach: Interviews with both outsourced co-workers and project leaders still in the organization.

Findings_ The organisations lack of listening to the external customer affects all three areas lifted in the analysis. The studied organisations have great opportunities for developing their process for producing TI, both regarding their mutual relationship as well as in regards to the external customer with the help of Lean and by applying a more holistic view on the production of Technical Information.

While information technology enables us to access more material than ever before, we need to come to grips with the disagreeable fact that data is not information. Sharing data without safeguarding comprehension may lead to confusion at best and disaster at worst. The issue at hand is one of ensuring semantic interoperability between actors from disparate contexts. Research into this problem is plentiful, but typically focused around specific subject matters, limiting its appeal to a limited range of scholars and practitioners. Based upon a literary study, we identify two extreme approaches to managing semantic interoperability. These are denoted top-down and bottom-up. We illustrate real world instances of these approaches using the TFI-model based on a case study encompassing two organizations. Our theoretical model is found to be a viable lens through which to generalize and interpret issues pertaining to semantic interoperability between human actors. We therefore see a need for further research into human-based on semantic interoperability.

In most parts of the world, minors’ access to education is guaranteed, resulting in most of their time being spent in the school building. Similarly, school staff spend a relatively long time in the same building. This unique setting requires both groups to stay inside the school walls throughout the working days, which might negatively affect their well-being. Studies show that low indoor air quality might negatively affect well-being. Moreover, school staff and students mention other problems, such as worrisome declining students’ attendance, motivation, social relations, safety, stress, and pressure, among others. Technological solutions, such as IoT-based systems, might be one way to tackle the well-being issue at schools. However, most of the existing solutions focus on the quality of the indoor environment, disregarding the needs and pains of school inhabitants. In the current article, we present an investigation of how IoT-based solutions could extend beyond solely environment-measuring tools and fulfill the needs of school inhabitants. Through an interview study with eleven IoT experts guided by user (school inhabitants) requirements identified in the previous research, we assess functional and non-functional system requirements that such systems should build on. These are discussed against the five-layer IoT architecture model. Moreover, the study identifies barriers and benefits of IoT-based solutions, which are discussed in the context of existing scientific and legal frameworks. The exploratory findings presented in the paper could be used as a guide for decision-makers at schools to ensure that the students’ and staff’s well-being is maintained, as well as by IoT suppliers to produce holistic or compatible solutions that could be easily integrated into the unique contexts of school.

Lifelong learningfor solving work assignmentsis essentialfor societal and personal development. Higher education is onenatural part of lifelong learningand,therefore, needs to be re-focused from solely younger students to include professionals and their development goals. One problem related to giving a course for professionals is their struggle between work assignments and the course. Focusing on the added perspective of professionals for higher education,this study presents five design principles for courses for professionals. Design principles are guidelines based on experience and iterative development in higher education. The empirical datacomes from a course in digitalisation and digital transformation, which was given thrice. The course participants were professionals from private and public organisationsin Sweden. The empirical data originates from the professionals who made a check-in, mid-term evaluation, and evaluation after the course, resulting in75 entries. Two researchers analysed the first two course entries inductively, forming the foundation for the first round of design principles. The course design for the third round was then revised according to its weaknesses. Based on the strengths and weaknesses found in empirical material from all threecourses,the current design principles are professional pathwaysreferring to new knowledge directly linked to real-world applications, knowledge evolution, meaning gradual integration of knowledge using seminars and examination assignments, preparedness protocolfocusing on updated information and structured templates for the seminars.Further, the design principle of collaborative connectionincludes discussion where professionals exchange experiences, and the last principle, learning fusion, directs toward blended learning by combining face-to-face seminars and films. The revised course design, according to the design principles,impliedthat the number of professionals graduating and their grades increased.The findings of this study addtheoretically to existing knowledge and practical implications by providing design principles that higher education teachers and other stakeholders can use to design or revise professional development courses. The design principles could be used stand-alone or combined to increase professionals' learning and satisfaction.

The benefits of digital information are mostly viewed as intangible, meaning that they can be hard to measure. This lack of measurements makes the benefits difficult to compare and communicate, creating problems for e.g. decision-making and the strategic development of specific digital information. Therefore, I conducted a literature review to find out how the combination of intangible benefits and measurements are dealt with in the information systems field. I found that we measure the intangible benefits of information systems or information technology. Here, the measurement method is divided into input, rule, and output. The input consists of predetermined individual benefits, areas of predetermined benefits, or interpreted benefits from respondents. The rule follows an accepted theory or contextual adjusted rules, and the output (benefit) can be seen as either financial or non-financial. The avenue for further research focuses on the digital information as the primary resource, not information systems or information technology.

This paper analyses and discusses the identified requirements for technology enhanced systems for speech rehabilitation after a stroke. To stroke patients, a speech injury can be devastating, impacting their abilities to speak, listen, read, and write. Therefore, speech therapy is recommended as early as possible. To address the challenge with a growing percentage of older adults, therapy should include a variety of Technology Enhanced Systems (TES) to support the idea of independent living. These systems must be adapted to the patients’ needs and speech therapy requirements. Based on a design science approach, requirements were determined from an analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable informants. Findings indicate several important requirements, such as: TES should be motivating, joyful, individualised and built on patients’ needs and on speech therapists’ professional knowledge. Furthermore, TES services must be user-friendly and provide training in each patient’s mother tongue. Added to these requirements are ease of including close relatives as supporting persons, as well as accessibility through portable devices.

In this short paper we describe the implementation of an IoT test-bed in an elementary school. We argue that by adding additional IoT senors to an existing IoT system it is possible to evolve an indoor climate control system into a indoor milieu control system aimed at improving the health and well-being for both pupils and staff who spend their days working in the school environment. Lastly, we call for multidisciplinary action as the domain IoT for health and well-being spans across several different knowledge domains.

Föreliggande rapport beskriver kravställning, design, test och utvärdering av en modell för mätning av individers digitala kunskap – något vi här valt att kalla ”operationell digital mognad” – inom vård- och omsorgssektorn. Begreppet operationell digital mognad ska tolkas som individens kunskap om digitala hjälpmedel ur ett sociotekniskt perspektiv,”Kraven på modellen var att den skulle kunna användas repetitivt för att mäta den digitala mognaden ur ett sociotekniskt perspektiv, det vill säga att digitala hjälpmedel används för att stödja en organisation och att individer ska nyttja hjälpmedlen för att utföra sina arbetsuppgifter.

Underlaget för modellen har varit Pentagonmodellen, framtagen av Schiefloe (2003), som innehåller följande dimensioner: formell struktur, teknik och infrastruktur, sociala relationer och nätverk, interaktion samt kultur och kompetens. För att få fram digital mognad, har vi även valt att lägga till dimensionen personlig motivation. Modellen översattes sedan till en enkät med påståenden kopplade till digitala hjälpmedel och miljöer. Påståendena i enkäten kunde besvaras på en skala som gick från ”Jag är enig” till ”Jag är helt oenig”. Resultatet från enkäten, både från 2021 och 2022, visar att motivationen för att använda digitala hjälpmedel är hög. Respondenterna hade även god kunskap om den formella strukturen. Kultur och kompetens, teknik och infrastruktur samt interaktion fick också relativt höga poäng

Utvärderingen av modellen visar att det är viktigt med operationell digital mognad även för vård- och omsorgspersonal. Vi fick även bekräftat att modellen innehöll intressanta dimensioner för att mäta operationell digital mognad, med undantag för dimensionen sociala relationer och nätverk. Vi kunde också konstatera att resultatet från enkäten behöver innehålla jämförelser med tidigare mätningar, eftersom målet för operationell digital mognad förändras över tid, och gå att bryta ner på olika detaljnivåer. Resultatet behöver även kopplas till utbildningsåtgärder. För att uppnå en iterativ process med att mäta operationell digital mognad föreslås ytterligare utredning kring dimensionen sociala relationer och nätverk, möjligheter att omvandla enkäten från deskriptiv till prediktiv samt fler presentationsmöjligheter.

We propose a tentative research plan to increase students’ mental health in elementary schools by implementing Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The research plan should answer how to support students’ mental health using IoT solutions and the critical factors influencing testbeds for IoT solutions with the previously mentioned purpose. Our intended research method is Design Science, which we plan to use stepwise.

Speech and language relearning are challenging for stroke survivors as well as for medical caregiv-ers. After a stroke, a patient’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen is decreased to different degrees, which results in a compromised independent life and a decreased quality of life for the patient. Tech-nology enhances systems can play a vital role in this context. However, the available software are not specifically built for after the stroke patient’s needs. This paper is therefore aimed to gather require-ments for designing a tailor-made speech relearning software application for stroke survivors. A de-sign science approach was adopted, where different stakeholders such as medical caregivers and in-formation technology consultants were involved in the process. The well-informed and experienced participants in their fields highlighted some important requirements such as different types of inter-face for a patient than speech therapist with extra management functionality for speech therapists so that they can adjust the relearning exercises according to the patient’s needs. Software requirements vary from patient to patient where the intensity of speech and language impairments, general medical condition of the patient, age, prior experience, and knowledge about the information of the patient and social setup of the patient plays an important role. Since stroke is most common in adults and adults learn differently than children, adult learning theory might help understand the patients’ needs. There-fore, adult learning principles were involved in the requirement analysis process. The established re-quirements will be used for the development of speech and language relearning software.

This paper presents an Open Government Data (OGD) publisher framework, with work roles, field of work, and environmental descriptions. Previous knowledge about publishers' work is fragmented, with gaps and variations, indicating a high level of complexity with variations in approaches and processes. A two-stage research approach, based on Design Science Research, was used to synthesize the publisher framework. First, a tentative framework was synthesized from previous research, empirical material, and public documents. Second, it was reviewed by informed OGD experts, as well as researchers attending a work conference, and evaluated in two international contexts. As a result, the publisher framework includes environments, social units, and fields of work. The publisher framework is ready to be evaluated in other international contexts, where as, practitioners can use it to inform their work.

The aim of this study is to explore whether trends in sustainability and digitalisation from the 1980s until today have left any significant practical or epistemological footprints on the quality management paradigm. The study design consists of a mixed-methods approach that applies a data-mining methodology and content analysis to the digital archives of eight scientific journals: six within the quality management (QM) domain and two with a focus on operations management (OM). The data set contains an unbroken time series of over 12,000 research paper abstracts, the first of them published in 1980, giving the study a coverage of almost 40 years. The findings show that sustainability came onto the scholarly scene in 1996 and has since become an increasingly popular research area. In regard to digitalisation, the story is quite different, as the concept is currently absent from the scholarly QM and OM literatures. However, a search for information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) revealed that these topics have been gaining attention since the 1980s. However, it was found that QM research only addresses one part of digitalisation, omitting several interesting dimensions. One example is that the QM and OM literatures address IS mainly in relation to standardised guidelines and business processes within organisations. At the same time, we found a handful of studies combining QM and topics related to modern digitisation, like social media. 

Data providers share open government data (OGD) to be transformed by intermediaries into products and services (solutions). OGD is believed to lead to many benefits. However, OGD is not reaching its expected level of reuse, which can come from a lack of awareness, interest to fulfil the user’s needs, or novel perspectives to understand them. This paper presents a set of design principles to develop tailored mixed methods that capture activity-based information needs of users which could be satisfied by building information products based on OGD. The produced insights can help data providers and intermediaries to realign ideas of solutions to the user’s information needs. The set of nine design principles are developed using design science research and are based on previous research and empirical testing. They have been implemented with two groups of users and three groups of data providers as participants of, respectively, face-to-face and digital workshops. The design principles and the produced insights were evaluated with practitioners. Implications for practice are that starting with the users’ information needs can open a broader range of solutions and potential paths of OGD reuses, while following the design principles can help the practitioners cope with the fuzziness of the information needs and ideation process. For research, we propose a novel method that goes beyond the exclusive data provider-intermediary interaction to study new paths to improve the realization of OGD benefits.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a source of knowledge about the surrounding environment and people in such an environment. The insights collected by IoT can provide the knowledge needed to improve people’s health and overall well-being. Schools are one environment where IoT is scarcely applied, yet, it is expected that this is where children and teenagers spend most of their time. Drawing on previous findings, this paper presents preliminary results from qualitative inquiry investigating how and what IoT-based solutions could support health and well-being in elementary educational settings.

Data providers share open government data (OGD) to be transformed by reusers into products and services. OGD is believed to lead to many benefits but is not reaching its expected level of reuse. Data providers have attempted to use crowdsourcing contests to tackle this issue, but reusers seem to participate more for themselves than the needs of citizens. This paper presents a tentative workshop method to capture activity-based information needs of end-users in an everyday context, in order to inform publishers and inspire reusers to bridge the gap between them and end-users. The workshop is developed using design science research. It is presented as a facilitator script that can be used by practitioners, data providers, or reusers. The outputs can inform data providers about valuable datasets to release and inspire reusers to innovate sought after solutions and be adapted by open data researchers to collect data about information needs. 

The Finnish War of 1808–1809 was fought between Sweden and Russia as part of the Napoleonic Wars. In the shadow of these geopolitical events, a mortality catastrophe unfolded, affecting not only the soldiers but also, to a great extent, the civilian population. Through preserved source material, we can today gain a unique insight into how both the population and the soldiers in Umeå and its surroundings were affected.

Background: Decentralization has been a prominent strategy to enhance health systems’ efficiency, service quality, autonomy and accountability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Tanzania since the 1990s. Previous studies have mainly focused on assessing how much power for decision-making on different health system functional areas is granted to local-level authorities from the central government and the interconnections between decision space, organizational capacity, and accountability mechanisms. Empirical evidence on its impact on performance remains limited. This study investigates conditions for good performance in a decentralised health system of Tanzania.

Methods: We used fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to analyse the necessary and sufficient conditions for good health system performance. Eighteen purposively districts were chosen to capture variations in performance and geography in a multiple case study approach.

Results: Functional Health Facility Governing Committees (HFGCs) emerged as a necessary condition for good performance. To achieve good performance, however, there is a need for functional decision space among managers or high accountability among managers or high capacity of staff/ okay level of staffing.

Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of the interplay between decision space, organizational capacity, and accountability in improving health system performance. While decentralization aims to provide greater autonomy, effective implementation depends on the development of local capacities and oversight through accountability. Decentralization alone is not sufficient to enhance healthcare delivery; HFGCs and their local context that promote (social) accountability are essential. Further research is warranted to identify interventions supporting HFGCs in fulfilling their mandates and enhancing health service delivery.

Across Europe, young people and older adults are experiencing lengthy and increasingly complex transitions to the workplace, building and changing careers. Guidance interventions aim to help them navigate their trajectories through education, life, and work, in processes that reflect the deep integration between the public and the private, the individual and social, the emotional and the cognitive. Career guidance has attracted high levels of international and national policy attention, in what Sultana (2022) calls ‘policy busyness’ to respond to expected (lifelong) transitions of individuals to a knowledge-based economy. Such policies often draw on concerns around mismatches between people’s education and training choices and the needs of the labour market, as well as assumptions about the young people’s knowledge of career alternatives. National-level policies often design career guidance that aims to address social justice concerns but, instead, end up pursuing liberal models of guidance that responsibilize the individual, or allow large scope for interpretation and local implementations that end up exacerbating inequalities between regions and schools. This collection consists of articles attempting to redress gaps in research knowledge around governance of career guidance in comparative studies that map the field and generate theorized accounts of systems and their effects.

I-motif (iM) DNA structures are dynamic cytosine-rich secondary structures that are increasingly recognized for their roles in transcriptional regulation, genomic stability, and for their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer. Despite their significance, the development of selective small-molecule probes for iM DNA remains a challenge. In this study, a series of iminocoumarin-benzothaizole derivatives were designed, synthesized, and subjected to extensive screening to explore their interactions with various iM DNA constructs, including H-Telo, HRAS1, HRAS2, VEGF, and BCL2, as well as duplex DNA. This revealed compounds that display specific and strong interactions with H-Telo, HRAS1, or HRAS2 iM DNA structures depending on their substitution pattern. Detailed spectroscopic investigations revealed the details of how these compounds interact with the iM DNAs, resulting in hypochromic and bathochromic effects, fluorescence enhancements, and increased lifetimes. Furthermore, compounds with unique light-up properties in the presence of HRAS1, VEGF, and BCL2 iM DNA was identified, which has potential as a light-up probes for iM DNA studies in cellular environments. Additionally, circular dichroism (CD) and thermal melting studies confirmed that the compounds stabilized iM DNA without altering its topology, while FT-IR spectroscopy identified structural modifications in iM DNA upon binding. The synthesis of structurally diverse substituents, coupled with extensive spectroscopic, fluorescence, and thermodynamic screening, provided critical insights into structure–activity relationships. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of this compound class to be further developed as selective iM DNA-binding agents and light-up probes, paving the way for innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches targeting iM DNA in cancer and other diseases.

Objective: Accurate staging of uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is crucial for treatment guidance and prognostic predictions. This study investigated the added value of conventional diagnostic imaging for different histopathological subtypes of UCC by comparing clinical staging according to International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics staging system (cFIGO) and radiological staging (rFIGO) with histopathological staging (pFIGO) as reference.

Methods: 26 consecutive patients with UCC from the retrospective part of the PRODIGYN study (ethical approval number 2022-04207-01; NCT05855941) were included in the present study. Data from study participants was collected from radiological and histopathological records 2016–2022 at the University hospital of Umeå. Staging was assessed according to the FIGO 2018 staging system. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Cohen's weighted kappa coefficient (κ) for calculation of agreement between cFIGO and rFIGO, and between rFIGO and pFIGO.

Results: With rFIGO staging, more advanced disease stages were found in 67 % (8/12 patients with known cFIGO). Poor agreement was found between cFIGO and rFIGO (κ =0.057) and between rFIGO and pFIGO (κ= 0169). Among the patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) positive for human papilloma virus (HPV+), 67 % (4/6) were assigned a higher stage by rFIGO compared to cFIGO. For the single patients with HPV-negative SCC and HPV status unknown SCC, both were upstaged by rFIGO. In the case of adenocarcinomas, 67 % (2/3) of the patients were assigned a higher stage with rFIGO.

Conclusions: In primary staging of UCC, rFIGO leads to substantial up-staging compared to cFIGO, without obvious differences in subtypes.

Aim: Neonatal hyperglycaemia is associated with a multitude of adverse outcomes, including mortality and impaired neurological development. The aim of this study was to characterise the current management of neonatal hyperglycaemia in Swedish neonatal units.

Methods: A digital survey was sent to 27 Swedish neonatal units providing care to preterm infants born before 32 completed gestational weeks.

Results: Sixty-eight responses were collected from 21 different units. Thirty-two percent (22/68) of clinicians reported having a local treatment guideline for neonatal hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia was defined as a glucose concentration above a value in the range of 8.0–10.0 mmol/L by 62.5% of clinicians, while 16.7% and 21.8% used a definition between 10.1 and 12.0 mmol/L and > 12 mmol/L, respectively. Intravenous glucose reduction was initiated at higher glucose concentrations by clinicians working at university hospital units (p = 0.006). Glucose concentration threshold for initiation of insulin treatment varied between 8 and 30 mmol/L. Three clinicians (3/35 (8.5%)) reported having experienced problems with frequent hypoglycaemia during ongoing insulin treatment.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates extensive differences in clinical practice regarding neonatal hyperglycaemia both within and between neonatal units in Sweden. Randomised controlled trials are needed to provide evidence for clinical guidelines and to improve and standardise the care of these infants.

Levodopa provides effective symptomatic treatment for Parkinson's disease. However, nonmotor symptoms are often insufficiently relieved, and its long-term use is complicated by motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. To clarify mechanisms of levodopa-induced dyskinesia and pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing dyskinetic symptoms, we have here characterized the neurophysiological activity patterns in sensorimotor and cognitive-limbic circuits in dyskinetic rats, comparing the effects of amantadine, pimavanserin, and the novel prospective antidyskinetic and antipsychotic treatment mesdopetam. Parallel recordings of local field potentials from 11 cortical and subcortical regions revealed suppression of narrowband gamma oscillations (NBGs) in sensorimotor structures by amantadine and mesdopetam in conjunction with alleviation of dyskinetic signs. Concomitant gamma oscillations in cognitive-limbic circuits were not directly linked to dyskinesia and were not affected by antidyskinetic treatments to the same extent, although treatment-induced reductions in functional coupling were observed in both sensorimotor and cognitive-limbic circuits, in parallel. In a broad frequency spectrum (1–200 Hz), mesdopetam treatment displayed greater similarities to pimavanserin than to amantadine. These findings point to the reduction of NBGs as a valuable biomarker for the characterization of antidyskinetic treatment effects and provide systems-level mechanistic insights into the antidyskinetic efficacy of mesdopetam, with potential additional benefits for the treatment of Parkinson's-related psychosis.

Effective conservation actions for endangered species rely on a good understanding of the evolutionary forces driving population decline. Detailed genetic analyses, including assessment of demographic history, population structure and diversity, are essential for gaining insights into the species’ adaptive potential and developing strategies of genetic rescue. Salix baileyi is an endemic vulnerable species in China with extremely small population sizes and a limited distribution. The samples of S. baileyi used for whole-genome resequencing cover its whole distribution. The results reveal four distinct genetic lineages within S. baileyi (DBSW, DBSE, TMS, and LXS), with divergence likely driven by paleoclimatic events and geographic barriers. All populations contracted during the Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS 5) up to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), with most recovering after the LGM, except for LXS lineage that continued to decline. Our results show that climate events, isolation barriers, inbreeding, and population bottlenecks have impacted the genetic status and evolutionary potential of these lineages of S. baileyi. Lineage-specific conservation measures should be applied based on the unique population dynamics of each lineage. This study provides valuable results for studies of vulnerable dioecious plants.

Background: Human milk offers significant health benefits for infants; however, when not feasible, infant formula serves as an alternative. The higher protein content in infant formula is thought to contribute to the distinct metabolic profiles observed in formula-fed infants compared with those fed human milk.

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of formula protein quantity and whey protein types on the serum, urine, and fecal metabolomes of infants. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on a random subset of 200 well-characterized per-protocol infants who completed a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial. Infants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: standard formula, protein-reduced formula with α-lactalbumin-enriched whey, or protein-reduced formula with casein glycomacropeptide-reduced whey, along with an observational reference group of exclusively breastfed infants. Serum, urine, and fecal metabolites were quantified using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at baseline (1–2 mo), 4, and 6 mo of age. Dietary intake was assessed monthly ≤6 mo of age.

Results: Formula protein content and type of whey protein used significantly influenced the amino acid profile and associated catabolic markers in serum and urine but had minimal impact on the fecal metabolome. Reduced protein formulas yielded metabolome profiles closer to those of breastfed infants compared with standard formula. Despite these improvements, infants fed human milk still demonstrated enhanced branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) oxidation and a greater capacity to eliminate catabolic waste products from BCAA metabolism over infants consuming protein-reduced formulas.

Conclusions: Comprehensive metabolomics profiling of serum, urine, and feces captures molecular-level changes and informs potential strategies for formula optimization. Both the quantity and source of protein significantly influenced the metabolic profiles of formula-fed infants. However, modifications in protein alone cannot fully resolve the metabolic differences between formula-fed and breastfed infants, highlighting the complexity of mimicking the human milk feeding-associated metabolic profile. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02410057.

Background: Midwifery continuity models are highly recommended. Women with fear of birth living in rural areas might have difficulties accessing such care. Technology can play a role in enhancing contact with midwives during pregnancy and childbirth for these women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate women's experiences of participating in a digital continuity of care model designed for pregnant women with fear of birth. Methods: A qualitative interview design, employing interviews with 15 women participating in a midwifery continuity project directed towards women with fear of birth. The participants used e-health tools for communication with midwives during their pregnancy and childbirth. Reflexive thematic analysis was used.

Results: The analysis resulted in an overarching theme: ‘A digital continuity model of midwifery care for women with fear of birth in a rural area is attractive’. The model created positive outcomes in terms of sustainability and use of resources. The women reported enhanced autonomy and reduced stress. Continuity of care fostered confidence and security throughout childbirth for the women, supported by a strong relationship with their midwives. The individualised care, which addressed mental health challenges and fears stemming from past childbirth experiences, led to positive outcomes.

Conclusion: A model with continuity using digital e-health could be a solution to meet women's needs in rural areas during childbirth, who suffer from fear of birth or have mental health problems. Care models need to be tailored to regional conditions, considering factors such as midwifery availability and geographical challenges.

Non-canonical G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures play key roles in cellular regulation and are promising targets for cancer therapy. This study reports the design, synthesis, and biophysical evaluation of 15 novel pyridine bis-quinazoline derivatives for their ability to selectively bind and stabilize G4 DNA structures. The pyridine-bis-quinazoline central fragment was synthesized with various amine side chains via a 4–5 step sequence in high yields. Comprehensive analyses using different fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays, fluorescence intercalator displacement (FID), circular dichroism (CD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assays revealed strong G4 stabilization and selectivity over double-stranded DNA. The presence and composition of the aliphatic amine side chain proved critical and propylamine linkers exhibited superior performance, achieving ΔTm values exceeding 20 °C and dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. Structural preferences were observed for parallel and hybrid G4 topologies, and the ligands induced minimal conformational changes in G4 DNA upon binding. Finally, cell viability assays on HCT-8 and HepG2 cancer cell lines revealed that most ligands effectively entered the cells and decreased cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. These findings underline the potential of pyridine bis-quinazoline derivatives as selective G4-stabilizing agents, paving the way for further exploration in anticancer drug development.

In the future, cement clinker formation is likely to take place in high temperatures and high carbon dioxide atmospheres in carbon-neutral production processes as part of, for example, electrified processes. The aim of this study was thus to compare the volatilisation of minor and trace elements during cement clinker formation in a high carbon dioxide atmosphere and a conventional combustion atmosphere. Raw meal samples were exposed, at high temperature, to the two different atmospheres, with elemental analysis performed before and after. For both atmospheres, the minor elements potassium and sulfur, and the trace elements rubidium, lead, thallium, caesium, cadmium and mercury were highly volatile. For most of the analysed elements, no difference was observed between the two atmospheres. However, volatilisation of potassium, sodium and sulfur was lower in the high carbon dioxide atmosphere. It is suggested that this should be further studied in relation to the molar ratio of sulfur to alkalis in the clinker and the effect on clinker quality.

Background: Destructive leadership has been linked to negative consequences for both organizations and followers. Research has also shown that leader gender affects follower perceptions of leadership behavior and follower outcomes [1,2,3]. However, knowledge is limited as to whether this also applies to destructive leadership [4]. This study aims to combine gendered organization theory with destructive leadership research to investigate the role that gender plays in the relation between destructive leadership behavior and follower outcomes.

Methods: The data were collected in collaboration with Statistic Sweden. It is a representative sample from the working population in Sweden. We used a two-wave survey design and included 1,121 participants in the analysis.

Results: The results from structural equation models indicated that destructive leadership has negative consequences for follower burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intention 6 months later. The results also showed that followers reported a greater intention to leave the organization if the leader was the same gender and used destructive leadership.

Conclusions: Our study contributes to destructive leadership research by showing that the gender of both the leader and follower matters for the relation between destructive leadership behavior and follower outcomes. Additionally, our study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating a gender research perspective into destructive leadership research.

The West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has experienced a declining population throughout Europe for multiple decades. The cause remains unknown, but the interest in this small nocturnal, insectivore has increased in recent years, and it was reclassified to “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red list in 2020. Surviving the cold harsh climate in Fennoscandia is especially challenging for the hedgehog where the already demanding hibernation is long and the time to require the necessary resources needed is short. This thesis investigates the population trend of the hedgehog from 2005 to 2023 in Sweden. Potential effects that the number of people, average annual temperature and number of badgers (Meles meles) have on hedgehogs are explored through a linear regression model analysis. The used data is downloaded from the observation platform SLU Artportalen, and the World Bank website Climate Change Knowledge Portal. The results indicated positive news regarding the hedgehog population in Sweden as the population size had a significant increase of 82% during the years 2017-2021. The reason for the population increase is unknown, but the regression analysis indicates a significant positive effect of the average annual temperature that explains 32.74% of the variation in the hedgehog relative abundance. Meanwhile the number of people only explained 19.42% and the number of badgers had no significant effect on the hedgehog. Further investigation is needed to determine whether a causal relationship exists.

This thesis introduces an ontology-based approach to proactive risk assessment inhigh-risk industrial environments, specifically in molten metal handling processes at smelting plants. The ontology is structured based on distributed cognition theory, which is highly relevant in this setting due to the complex interactions between human operators, equipment, and the operational environment. Distributed cognition allows for a holistic representation of how knowledge and responsibilities are shared among stakeholders, making it well-suited for capturing the dynamic and collaborative nature of risk management in such systems. A grounded theory methodology is employed for transparent knowledge elicitation, capturing expert insights from professionals working at the Rönnskär smelting plant. Through a series of structured knowledge engineering steps, this expert knowledge is transformed into an ontology for proactive risk assessment in this type of safety-critical setting. An evaluation of an implementation integrating the ontology-based back end with a dynamic front end demonstrated strong alignment with expert decision-making and understanding of the environment, with notable reductions in communication gaps. Importantly, users reported high satisfaction, particularly regarding safety assessments, with the system proactively recognizing risks such as equipment containing hot molten metal, which can not be manually inspected. This highlights the system’s potential to prevent critical safety incidents in smelting environments. While developed for a specific industrial context, the methodology of creating a shared cognitive environment to bridge knowledge gaps across various professions shows promise for broader applications. This approach could potentially enhance decision-making, collaboration, and safety across diverse sectors, offering opportunities for improvement in complex operational environments beyond industrial smelting.

The quality of limestone is crucial for limestone suppliers, as is that of quicklime to its producers and their customers. Quality requirements vary depending on the industrial application, and understanding the factors affecting quality is of great importance in industry. Quicklime is produced via the calcination of limestone in high-temperature kilns—a process that emits large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2). Increased knowledge of the factors influencing quicklime quality would help reduce the associated CO2 emissions, increase material efficiency, and reduce energy consumption, while increased knowledge of the chemical composition of the raw materials would make the mining process more efficient.

A thermal decrepitation study was performed on 80 limestone samples. This involved analyzing the chemical composition, thermal decrepitation, and crack formation. The results of this study showed that thermal decrepitation does not correlate with the chemical composition of limestone. Instead, it was suggested that that thermal decrepitation can be explained by the thermally induced formation of cracks.

Slaking reactivity experiments were performed on quicklimes produced in a CO2 atmosphere at various calcination times and temperatures. The specific surface areas of the quicklime samples were measured and correlated with the calcination times and temperatures. Based on statistical analysis of the experimental data, the highest-reactivity quicklime was obtained at a low calcination temperature and medium-to-long calcination time, while the quicklimes with the highest specific surface areas were obtained at low calcination temperatures and low calcination times.

A carbonation study was carried out to investigate the effect of different atmospheres on the carbonation of quicklimes derived from two types of limestones: sedimentary and metamorphic. Three different carbonation atmospheres were investigated, one represented the flue gas in a conventional fuel-fired kiln and the other two an electrically heated kiln with dry and wet limestone feeds, respectively. It was found that the carbonation of quicklime varies, depending on the gas composition and limestone type.

Trace element analysis was performed on stromatoporoid limestone, crinoid limestone, reef limestone, fragmentary limestone, marl consolidated, marl soft, and clay layer. Zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) concentrations were determined by means of two different spectroscopy methods, one of which was performed on bulk samples, while the other was performed on phases within the samples. The results showed that the highest Zn and Pb concentrations were found in the silicon (Si)-rich phases of the marl soft and clay layer.