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Background: Breastfeeding contributes to improved public health and has many positive health benefits for both mother and child. Nevertheless, statistics on mothers in Sweden choosing breastfeeding are on a steady decline. Midwives have been shown to play an important role in promoting breastfeeding.

Motive: The Swedish Public Health Agency’s primary aim is to improve overall public health. Breastfeeding contributes to improved public health from both a short-term and long-term perspective. The role of the midwife is central and significant as the midwife's attitudes may be crucial for a mother's choice to breastfeed or not. It is therefore important to highlight midwives' attitudes and practices to promote breastfeeding. 

Aim: The aim of the study was to highlight midwives' views and practices to promote breastfeeding.

Methods: The study has been conducted using a qualitative design, and seven semi-structured interviews were performed with midwives working in Northern Sweden. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Result: The analysis resulted in three main themes. The first main theme A challenging and health-promoting assignment contains three subthemes and describes the midwives' attitudes towards breastfeeding and their perception of the factors that may underline women´s choice to not breastfeed. The second main theme Working towards a safe start contains two subthemes and describes the midwives' working practices in promoting breastfeeding and the development potential that the midwives believed existed in their work to promote breastfeeding. The third main theme Barriers within the organization contains two subthemes and describes obstacles in the midwives' working practices in promoting breastfeeding, which involve both organizational and cultural obstacles.

Conclusion: Breastfeeding is important, but even more important that it happens on the woman's own initiative and terms. Breastfeeding is complicated and requires clearer and revised action documents so that midwives can provide unified information and optimal breastfeeding support, including employer-provided resources for midwives. 

Background: DM2 is one of the worlds most common health problems and a leading

cause of death. It is associated with an increased risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease.

The prevalence has increased significantly over the last 30 years and age of debute tends to

lower globally. Nurse-led patient education has a central role in treatment of DM2 and

aims to empower self-care behaviors and improve the outcome.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nurse-led patient education on A1c

and BMI in patients with type 2 diabetes

Methods: A systematic litterature review of 8 quantitive articles inspired by meta-

analysis. Included databases are PubMed and CINAHL.

Results: The results shows that nurse-led education is effective in lowering A1c in the

studied intervention groups by a mean of 8,5 % from baseline. All studies showed an

increased reduction of A1c in intervention groups relative to control groups (p>0.01). BMI

has not shown to be affected (p<0.05)

Conclusion: Regulating A1c levels is important for maintained wellbeing and health of

the patient group. Nurse-led patient education has the ability to affect this. However, long-

term change in lifestyle resulting in lasting weight loss and glyceamic control is hard to

achieve

The transition between Eocene and Oligocene (EOT) saw drastic changes in the global climate and is important to understand present climate change. Forlandsundet Graben in Svalbard is an area believed to contain sediments from the EOT. This study investigates this graben using 15 core samples from Well 7811/5-1, analyzing mercury, elemental composition, carbon and nitrogen content. Mercury anomalies as a result of volcanic activity is speculated as a possibility based on mean values from early Eocene, and heightened mercury and Hg/TOC ratios in our samples. This is especially implied for the middle section of our three sections of the core. Possible ages of the samples are implied by comparison with global trends in δ13C to be Eocene. Comparison with δ13C data from dated strata in Central Spitsbergen also implies the same. The lowest section is possibly from early Eocene while the middle and upper from mid- to late Eocene. There is still a high likelihood for presence of the EOT in strata further up in the graben. C/N ratios show that our samples all come from marine sources. Sediment classification from elemental composition results classifies our samples as Shale facies. Oxide ratios confirm this and show variability in feldspar content between the samples. Central Spitsbergen Basin sediments are compared with our data and show a slight possibility of a common sediment source with Forlandsundet. 

Multi-view video object detection on mining conveyor belts presents several challenges, one of which is occlusions across different viewpoints. As a first step of automating the removal of unwanted rockbolts, this thesis investigates the application of a state-of-the-art mid-fusion method, originally designed for multi-modal object detection, to a multi-view setting using the same type of sensor. Key challenges include aligning multiple views and generating a unified ground truth for occluded objects.

Two approaches to address these challenges are evaluated: (1) aligning views using a homography matrix and (2) concatenating labels from all views into a single annotation set. The proposed methods are evaluated on a small, newly collected dataset featuring occluded bolts on a conveyor belt. Both approaches achieve improved detection accuracy compared to a single-view YOLOv5 baseline, with accuracies of 0.783 for the concatenated-label approach and 0.739 for aligning perspectives, compared to 0.696 for the baseline YOLOv5.

The results demonstrate that adapting a mid-fusion model for multi-modal data to a multi-view setting can improve detection performance. However, further evaluation is required to assess generalization to larger datasets, public benchmarks, and comparisons with other state-of-the-art multi-view architectures.

Accurate future workload prediction is an essential step for proactive resource allocation and efficient provisioning in cloud computing environments. Deep learning strategies have proven successful for this task, but they face challenges due to the high dimensionality of monitoring data, extensive preprocessing requirements, and computational overhead. In this paper, we propose a hybrid framework that integrates autoencoders for workload compression with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for time-series forecasting. Unlike prior studies, our approach systematically analyzes the trade-off between compression ratio and predictive accuracy, demonstrating how dimensionality reduction can improve both scalability and robustness. Thereby reducing the computational burden associated with processing massive-scale monitoring data. Experiments conducted on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed method achieves up to 60% data compression with minimal reconstruction loss, while also improving prediction accuracy compared to baseline LSTM models. We evaluate the overall performance of the framework using various metrics, including data reduction ratio, prediction accuracy, and the effects of different compression stages on predictive performance. Additionally, we quantify the computational savings in terms of CPU usage, memory footprint, and training/inference times, confirming the framework's feasibility for real-world deployment. These results underscore the potential of integrating compression and prediction to achieve scalable, accurate, and resource-efficient management of cloud workloads.

The proactive shift towards crime prevention in policing has facedresistance and difficulties in implementation. Here, this implementationfailure is explored by analysing how crime prevention is translated andperceived by Swedish police officers and students. As street-levelbureaucrats with high autonomy, police officers’ translations of theirduties can affect how their work is done. Therefore, three focus groupsof Swedish police students and four focus groups of active Swedishpolice officers were convened to discuss their understanding andperception of crime prevention, as well as their education in thissubject. Thematic analysis revealed widely varying translations of crimeprevention, with some being considerably broader than the officialdefinition. Crime prevention was generally acknowledged to beimportant, but other duties were considered more exciting andprioritised. Furthermore, the participants stated that the craft of crimeprevention is learnt while working in the field rather than duringeducation. These findings suggest that police officers’ influence overtheir own work may partly explain the difficulty of incorporating crimeprevention into everyday policing.

Contextual language processing concerns how information from the surrounding media environment, such as accompanying texts or interaction signals, is represented and used in automated language processing systems. Incorporating contextual information enables models to derive interpretations that go beyond isolated textual analysis and capture aspects of meaning grounded in real-world situations. Despite substantial research in language modeling, effectively processing contexts remains an appealing challenge, particularly in balancing the expressive power, interpretability, and adaptivity of the model, and its alignment with human understanding.

This thesis investigates contextual language processing from both methodological and applied perspectives, focusing on two related domains: natural language processing and contextual advertising. On the methodological side, the thesis formalizes the grammatical inference of finite-state transducers as a sequential decision-making problem. By integrating structured transducer models with reinforcement learning, it demonstrates how contextual languages can be learned dynamically while retaining interpretability. These learning-based approaches offer a systematic way to adapt language transformations to shifting contexts. Such adaptivity can, for instance, lead to more effective decisions in automated advertising auctions. On the applied side, the thesis examines contextual communication in real-world, user-facing systems through empirical studies in contextual advertising. These studies reveal a gap between the computational level of contextual relevance that is often optimized by automatic metrics, and human-perceived relevance as experienced by end users. The findings show that increased algorithmic precision or model complexity does not necessarily translate into improved user experiences, and that factors such as transparency and trust play a central role in contextual effectiveness.

Through theoretical, empirical, and conceptual analyses, this thesis demonstrates that effective contextual language processing necessitates bridging multidisciplinary perspectives, including algorithmic and perceptual ones. It frames contextual language processing as an interpretable, adaptive, and user-centered interaction process. The insights discussed in this work offer implications not only for algorithmic optimization, but also for modern online advertising and other user-facing applications where contextual understanding, practical constraints, and privacy considerations are critical.

Gynecological cancers comprise a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from the female reproductive tract, most commonly involving the uterus, ovaries, and cervix. Together, they accounted for more than 1.47 million new cases and 680,000 deaths worldwide in 2022, with substantial global disparities in incidence and mortality. Their development reflects a multifactorial interplay of genetic susceptibility, hormonal and metabolic dysregulation, and lifestyle influences. Gynecologic malignancies are biologically heterogeneous diseases, and despite advances in molecular profiling, reliable biomarkers for prognostic evaluation and therapeutic stratification remain limited.

Leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains protein 1 (LRIG1) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a tumor suppressor by regulating receptor tyrosine kinases and promoting bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Elevated LRIG1 expression has been linked to favorable prognosis in various human cancers, though its prognostic role in gynecologic malignancies remains under investigation.

Ovarian carcinoma represents the eighth leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, largely due to late-stage diagnosis, high recurrence rates, and treatment resistance. To investigate the role of LRIG1 in biologic fluids, a quantitative LRIG1-specific single-molecule array assay was developed. LRIG1 plasma levels were measured in 486 patients with suspected ovarian masses. Elevated LRIG1 levels correlated with poor prognosis and independently predicted outcomes in stage III ovarian carcinoma, indicating its potential as a biomarker. To further validate its role, a novel monoclonal anti-LRIG1 antibody, named 10C8, was developed. Immunohistochemical analyses across three independent ovarian carcinoma cohorts revealed an inverse correlation between tumor immunoreactivity and plasma levels, and higher LRIG1 expression in malignant versus benign or borderline tumors. However, prognostic significance varied by histological subtype and disease stage, suggesting a context-dependent clinical utility.

Cervical cancer is a major global health concern, with early-stage disease (FIGO IA2–IB1) carrying a risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in approximately 15% of patients. The presence of LNM often necessitates combined surgical and radiotherapeutic treatment, which substantially increases morbidity and adverse effects. Current preoperative diagnostic tools lack sufficient sensitivity to accurately predict nodal involvement prior to surgery. In this context, the ability of LRIG1 immunoreactivity to predict LNM was evaluated among 67 early-stage cervical carcinoma cases. This analysis revealed that high LRIG1 expression correlated with risk of LNM (odds ratio 9.5), suggesting a potential role as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer.

In endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, a subset of early-stage patients experience relapse, underscoring the need for improved prognostic indicators. Transcriptomic analysis of TCGA cases showed that elevated expression of several BMP signal-promoting genes correlated with poorer survival, whereas one BMP signal-suppressing gene was linked to improved outcome. Based on these findings, a tissue microarray of 241 stage I tumors was constructed to evaluate the prognostic relevance of LRIG1 tumor immunoreactivity. No significant association was observed between LRIG1 tumor immunoreactivity and relapse-free survival, though higher LRIG1 staining correlated with increased estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Ki-67 expression.

To identify genes mediating resistance to platinum-taxane based chemotherapy in ovarian carcinoma, a series of human-mouse xenograft models were investigated. Genetic barcode experiments revealed that approximately 500-5,000 tumor-initiating cells contributed to tumor formation in the OVCAR3, OVCAR4, OVCAR8, and OVSAHO xenograft models. These results will guide future efforts to genetically screen for potential treatment targets in chemotherapy-resistant ovarian carcinoma.

Together, these studies provide new insights into the biological and prognostic roles of LRIG1 across major gynecologic cancers.

Transmission to renewable energy through wind energy challenges traditional land uses and existing landscape planning. Using Sweden as a case study, we quantified the spatial overlap between land cover and landownership with the projected onshore wind energy in five ecoregions, following the national strategy for wind energy production to meet 100% renewable energy production by 2040. Projected wind energy claims forests that are available for active forestry, woodlands not used by forestry and forests with high conservation value. Claims vary among ecoregions, emphasizing the need for regionalized context-specific planning to mitigate possible conflicts among different national and international environmental and sustainability goals.

This thesis investigates the integration of a reinforcement learning policy with a low-level controller to enable humanoid locomotion of the Unitree H1 robot in AGX Dynamics, a high fidelity physics engine designed for real-time simulation of stiff and non-smooth multi-body systems. Using an AMD Threadripper CPU with 96 cores, we were able to run 180 simulation threads in parallel. The results showed that the humanoid robot could walk and turn in multiple directions at varying speeds through keyboard teleoperation. A key focus of this work is the comparison of two policy models: an urban walking policy trained on solid ground with high friction, and an off-road walking policy trained on a soft, sticky, and slippery surface. These models were evaluated across surfaces of different materials in terms of mechanical energy dissipation. The results indicate that although the off-road policy generalizes better to complex terrains, it consumes significantly more energy compared to the urban walking policy, which demonstrates greater energy efficiency. This study suggests several directions for future work. One extension is to train a whole-body locomotion policy (19 DOF) by combining dynamic mechanisms with curriculum learning, enabling adaptive control of base height, foot clearance, joint coordination, and upper-body motion across increasing velocity ranges. Additionally, energy dissipation analysis can be extended by leveraging AGX Dynamics’ energy management tools to estimate total energy loss over time and evaluate task duration before battery depletion.

Det är svårt att bedöma elevers prestationer vid laborationer. Lärare behöver därför ett mångsidigt och likvärdigt betygsunderlag som tar hänsyn till elevernas kunskaper i de olika delarna av undersökande arbete. I den här texten lyfter vi exempel på redskap som kan stödja lärares bedömning genom att tydliggöra vilken kunskap som elever kan ge uttryck för i samband med systematiska undersökningar.

Background: A pregnancy involves physical and psychological changes, which impact the expectant mother and her surroundings. The psychological strain during pregnancy affects the woman's adaptation to parenthood and can be challenging, especially when combined with mental health issues. The midwife has a responsibility to support the woman through these changes and promote a positive birth experience.

Motive: Mental health illness among pregnant women in Sweden are increasing. Therefore it is important to explore how midwives perceive caring for women with mental issues during birth, to develop structured approaches for providing support.

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore midwives’ experiences of supporting women with mental health issues during childbirth.

Method: Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with midwives at four maternity units in northern Sweden. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and discussed in relation to the concept of woman-centered care.

Results: Three main themes with three subthemes each were identified. The first theme, “Understanding and responding to mental issues in laboring women,” describes midwives’ views of mental issues and how it may be expressed during childbirth. The second theme, “Midwives’ strategies and tools in practice,” highlights communication as a central tool, as well as birth plans, involvement of birth partner and collegial support. The third theme, “Organizational and professional conditions and challenges,” outlines midwives’ experiences of their work environment, how they are affected by caring for women with mental issues, and areas in need of improvement.

Conclusion: Midwives frequently care for women with mental health issues during labor. Complex conditions expose knowledge gaps and highlight the need for further Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Collegial support was strong, whereas organizational support was perceived as insufficient. Adequate staffing was essential for enabling woman-centered care.

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a byproduct of mushroom cultivation, has gained increasing attention as a sustainable soil amendment in agricultural and horticultural systems. SMS provides a promising alternative to peat-based substrates and synthetic fertilizers, supporting circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable farming practices. This is particularly relevant in boreal regions, where soils are typically acidic, nutrient-poor, and subject to short growing season conditions, presenting both opportunities and challenges for organic inputs. This review synthesizes current research on the agronomic and environmental implications of SMS use in agriculture and horticulture, including its effects on seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, root development, soil structure, and disease suppression. From an environmental perspective, the use of SMS contributes to waste reduction by repurposing organic residues and replacing peat, a non-renewable resource with significant ecological costs. However, several hurdles remain, including high salinity, inconsistent composition, nutrient imbalances, and complex compounds difficult for plants to access, which can impede plant performance. While prior studies have explored SMS in isolated settings, a comprehensive evaluation across systems is lacking. This review addresses that gap by assessing current evidence, identifying limitations, and outlining future research needs to optimize the use of SMS and scale its adoption in sustainable farming.

Introduction: There are concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated oral care inequities globally. In Sweden, declines in oral care utilization, particularly among certain regions and public clinics, suggest disproportionate impacts across population groups. Yet, the effects of the pandemic on oral care equity in Sweden remain unexplored, highlighting a critical gap in evidence to guide ongoing equity initiatives and strengthen future pandemic preparedness.

Objective: To examine changes in unmet oral care needs (UOCNs) inequities among Swedish adults before and during the pandemic, following an intersectional approach.

Methods: Data came from the 2018 and 2021 waves of a national survey, including 31,493 adults. Single-indicator and intersectional inequities were examined by intersectional analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy across 48 groups defined by gender, age, education, income, and immigrant status.

Results: The prevalence of UOCNs increased during the pandemic. Notable shifts in single-indicator inequities included a decrease among immigrants but an increase among older adults. Modest increases were observed among individuals with low education and low income, while inequities decreased slightly for men and younger adults. The intersectional analysis revealed that inequities increased primarily among socially advantaged older adults, whereas decreases were more evident among immigrants and younger individuals facing other forms of social disadvantage. The discriminatory accuracy of both the single-indicator and intersectional inequities decreased during the pandemic, although intersectional models consistently showed slightly better accuracy.

Conclusions: Patterns of UOCNs inequities shifted during the pandemic, with increased intersectional inequities among socially privileged older adults and decreased inequities among immigrants. These findings may reflect Sweden’s unique pandemic context, which emphasized individual responsibility over restrictive measures and may have influenced how people approached health-related behaviors, including seeking oral care.

The aim of the study is to explore associations between perceived positive or negative changesin the work situation during the past 12 months and principals’ intentions to leave theirworkplace within the next two years. A mixed-methods approach was applied. The quantitativedata show that it was more common to report having perceived negative changes in the worksituation among principals who also expressed having had intentions to leave the workplace.The qualitative data resulted in ten categories, of which support from colleagues andmanagement, workload, staff issues, economic resources, and organizational conditions werethe most prominent categories.

Introduktion: Långvarig smärta (LS) är ett globalt folkhälsoproblem som drabbar ca 20% av Europas vuxna befolkning. Smärtan kan uppstå utan tydlig orsak men är oftast sekundär till andra medicinska tillstånd. Tillståndet medför omfattande fysiska och psykiska begränsningar och är associerat med sömnstörningar, depressiva symtom, utmattning samt känslor av otillräcklighet och isolering, vilket har en negativ inverkan på livskvaliteten. Trots detta finns begränsad forskning kring vilka faktorer som är kopplade till den nedsatta livskvaliteten hos denna patientgrupp.

Syfte: Syftet med denna intervjustudie är att belysa vårdpersonalens erfarenheter av, samt att fördjupa förståelsen för, vilka faktorer som påverkar den upplevda livskvaliteten hos patienter med LS.

Metod: 5 semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med informanter från varierande vårdprofessioner: sjuksköterska, psykolog, arbetsterapeut samt 2 fysioterapeuter. Samtliga hade erfarenhet av att arbeta med patienter med LS. Det insamlade materialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys.

Resultat: Analysprocessen genererade 4 huvudkategorier och 12 subkategorier. De faktorer som, enligt informanternas erfarenheter, påverkar denna patientgrupps livskvalitet är flera och högst individuella. Dessa faktorer sammanfattas i huvudkategorierna LS påverkar olika aspekter av livet, mängden aktivitet och delaktighet påverkar livskvaliteten, psykologiska påfrestningar och beteenden spelar roll för livskvaliteten och vårdens bemötande är en central faktor för att öka livskvaliteten.

Konklusion: Studien belyser hur LS påverkar livskvaliteten genom komplexa biopsykosociala faktorer. Psykosociala aspekter, arbetsförmåga och aktivitetsbegränsningar framträder som centrala, liksom social belastning i form av förändrade relationer, isolering och känslor av otillräcklighet. Resultaten indikerar att psykisk ohälsa, undvikandebeteenden och acceptansnivå har en betydande inverkan på välbefinnandet. Vidare framhålls vikten av personcentrerade och multimodala insatser för att möta dessa komplexa utmaningar och främja livskvaliteten. 

Introduktion: Fotbesvär drabbar många idrottsutövare, och kan leda till långvariga konsekvenser fysiskt och mentalt vilket kan hämma idrottslig förmåga. Fotbesvär omfattar akuta, inflammatoriska och belastningsrelaterade problem. Fotens funktion är avgörande i de flesta idrotter och är det näst mest förekommande skadeområdet. Fysioterapeutiska åtgärder såsom styrketräning, rörlighetsträning, smärthantering, anpassad belastning och modifierade skor används för att återupprätta funktion hos idrottare med fotbesvär.

Syftet: Syftet med denna studie var att utforska fysioterapeuter och tränares erfarenheter av fotbesvär i en idrottrelaterad kontext.  

Metod: Detta är en kvalitativ studie med semistrukturerade intervjuer. En intervjuguide med öppna frågor användes under samtliga intervjuer. Inklusionskriterier var; tränare eller fysioterapeut till idrottsaktiva personer som deltar i fotbelastande idrotter och behärskar det svenska språket. Analys av intervjuerna gjordes utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Graneheim och Lundman. 

Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra stycken kategorier; Vikten av individanpassning - från fot till helhet, omgivningsfaktorers påverkan på utvecklingen av fotbesvär, processer som påverkar fotens skadeutveckling och hälsa samt teamets samarbete med idrottaren skapar förutsättningar. Resultatet visar deltagarnas upplevelser av olika faktorer och deras påverkan på idrottares fotbesvär. 

Slutsats: Studien beskriver att förståelsen av fotbesvär i en idrottskontext tydligast ges utifrån ett biopsykosocialt perspektiv. Strategier som informanterna anser vara effektiva är individanpassad rehabilitering, interprofessionellt samarbete, kommunikation och utbildning. Faktorer som förvärrar fotbesvär beskrivs som felbelastning, bristande material och individuella begränsningar. 

Introduktion: I takt med att den äldre populationen växer ökar även behovet för rehabilitering. Fysioterapeuten har en central roll i att förebygga och rehabilitera. Tidigare forskning har sett att kreatin ger en förbättrad muskelfunktion hos unga som tränar. Tidigare forskning har också observerat att kreatin och styrketräning ger varierande resultat beroende på ålder. Styrka är en viktig egenskap hos äldre för minskad fallrisk och bibehålla förmåga till vardagliga aktiviteter.

Syfte: Undersöka effekten av kreatin på muskelfunktion hos äldre vuxna som styrketränar jämfört med äldre vuxna som endast styrketränar. Som sekundära resultat undersöks effekten av kreatin på fettfri massa hos äldre vuxna som styrketränar jämför med äldre vuxna som endast styrketränar.

Metod: Författarna genomförde sökningar på databaserna PubMed och Embase.. En PICO modell och inklusionskriterier utformades för att skapa ett ramverk. För att redovisa den systematiska sammanställningen användes PRISMA flowchart. Alla inkluderade studier har kvalitetsgranskats enligt PEDro för att säkerställa god trovärdighet. 

Resultat: Av 106 identifierade artiklar sammanställdes åtta randomiserade kontrollerade studier där sammanlagt 226 personer undersöktes. Tre av åtta studier observerade signifikant ökning på muskelfunktion jämfört med placebo. Fem av åtta studier observerade signifikant ökning på fettfri massa jämfört med placebo. 

Diskussion: Kreatin verkar ha en viss positiv effekt på muskelfunktion hos äldre vuxna som styrketränar, framför allt om supplementationen sker varje dag och med adekvat dos. Kreatin verkar ha en positiv effekt på fettfri massa hos äldre vuxna som styrketränar. Mer framtida forskning behöver göras med större grupper för en bättre generaliserbarhet.

Bakgrund: Post-covid (PC) innebär kvarstående symtom efter SARS-CoV-2-infektion och omfattar påverkan på flera organsystem samt fysisk och kognitiv funktion. Fysisk aktivitet används som symtomlindrande insats men vissa patienter upplever ansträngningsutlösta besvär. Förhöjda blodmarkörer, såsom CRP, har kopplats till PC, men deras betydelse är ännu otillräckligt klarlagd. Syftet var att fördjupa kunskapen om vilka blodmarkörer som tidigare studerats i forskning om PC, med särskild koppling till symtom och fysisk aktivitet.

Metod: Denna scoping review baserades på systematiska sökningar i Pubmed och CINAHL. Efter filtrering och oberoende screening inkluderades studier som uppfyllde syfte och inklusionskriterier. Urvalprocessen följde PRISMA, och kvaliteten bedömdes enligt Carlsson & Eiman. Endast etiskt godkända peer-reviewade artiklar inkluderades. 

Resultat: Sju studier inkluderades. Fysisk aktivitet genererade förbättringar i fysisk funktion, lungkapacitet och symtom vid PC. Samtidigt uppvisade blodmarköranalyser främst minskade inflammatoriska nivåer, normaliserade blodvärden och tillfälliga förändringar i immunceller efter träning. Förhöjda inflammatoriska markörer identifierades hos personer med PC, liksom samband mellan blodmarkörer, symtom och fysisk förmåga. VO2Max och handgreppsstyrka var ofta nedsatta, och könsskillnader framkom som en betydande faktor i både blodmarkörsvar och fysisk funktion.

Slutsats: De mest framträdande blodmarkörerna var CRP, D-dimer, IL-6, TNF- α och ferritin. Det påvisades att fysisk aktivitet kan förbättra fysisk funktion, symtom och blodmarkörer hos personer med PC. Fynden antyder att träning kan påverka bakomliggande inflammatoriska och metaboliska processer, men att dessa responser varierar mellan individer. Det begränsade kunskapsläget gör att säkra slutsatser ännu inte kan dras, men studien identifierar möjliga blodmarkörprofiler som bör undersökas vidare i klinisk och experimentell forskning. 

Bakgrund- Damishockey på elitnivå har mindre resurser än elitherrishockeyn. En konsekvens av dennaskillnad är att många lag inom elitdamishockeyn inte har en fysioterapeut. Det är dock något som harförbättrats de senaste fem åren. Fysioterapeuten har ett stort ansvar när det kommer till rehabiliteringenoch godkännandet om en spelare är matchredo eller inte efter en skada.

Syfte- Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka vilka möjligheter och utmaningar somfysioterapeuterna ställs inför vid rehabilitering av en skadad damishockeyspelare på svensk elitnivå.Studien undersöker fysioterapeuternas arbete i stöttning av spelares motivation, inre och yttre press samtrelationen mellan fysioterapeuten och damishockeyspelaren.

Metod- En semistrukturerad intervjuguide användes för att intervjua fyra fysioterapeuter som är aktivainom damishockey på elitnivå i Sverige. Rekryteringen utfördes genom mejlkontakt. Intervjuerna skeddegenom ett Teams möte. Intervjuerna analyserades enligt kvalitativ innehållsanalys.

Resultat- Analysen resulterade i fem huvudkategorier med tillhörande underkategorier. Kategoriernabeskriver fysioterapeuterna erfarenheter kring bristande resurser, kommunikationens betydelse, värdet avsamarbete, psykosociala utmaningar i en skada, fysioterapeutens press, strategier och etiskaöverväganden inom damishockeyn.

Slutsats- I intervjuerna framkom vikten av att ha ett medicinskt team i ett elitsatsande damishockeylag,där fysioterapeuten har en stor roll. Den stora utmaningen inom damishockey är de bristande resursernaoch den låga statusen sporten har. Enligt fysioterapeuternas erfarenhet är kommunikation, tydlighet ochett holistiskt perspektiv på rehabiliteringen central för att öka spelarens motivation och minska känslanför oro. Framtida forskning behövs för att kunna göra tydligare antaganden om hur vårdgivare ska arbetamed elitidrottare.

This study examines the dialect of Strömstad, a small town on the west coast of Swedennear the Norwegian border. The study aims to survey dialect change in the area ingeneral, as well as to address specific questions concerning the degree to which differentlinguistic levels are resistant to change, the role of social position in relation to dialectchange, and whether the change is moving towards a national or a regional variety. Nineinhabitants from central Strömstad were recorded and analysed with respect to fivelinguistic variables at different linguistic levels. The results show that the traditionaldialect is in rapid decline, although there is still some room for regional features, evenamong younger speakers. Only older speakers and those whose social position stronglyanchors them to Strömstad show signs of the local dialect. The features that appear mostresistant to change are found at the prosodic and the morphological level. The lexical levelalso shows some resistance to change.

Invasive species are widely recognized as one of the main drivers of global diversity loss, a severe ecological impact. Elodea nuttallii (E. nuttallii) is a particularly problematic one and in Sweden it is considered the most invasive aquatic plant. The purpose of this study was to examine how E. nuttallii affects native plant communities in an area not extensively studied before, the northern Bothnian Bay. By gaining a better understanding of its influence in this area a solid baseline could be provided for understanding E. nuttallii in this part of the world and for assessing whether it behaved similarly to populations elsewhere. A field study in four bays in the Piteå archipelago was conducted to examine biomass-dominance, frequency, species diversity and evenness in areas dominated by E. nuttallii (Elodea areas) and in areas with mixed, native vegetation (Mixed areas). Elodea nuttallii proved to influence its surroundings, but perhaps not as clearly as observed elsewhere in the world. Elodea areas did generally not exhibit higher biomass than Mixed areas, despite the species’ capacity to form dense mats. Furthermore, species diversity and evenness was only significantly higher in the Mixed area compared to the Elodea area in one bay. However, E. nuttallii was more biomass-dominant than the plant category “Other” (all other plants combined) in most Elodea areas. Although not always dominant, E. nuttallii was present in nearly all samples, suggesting it is highly prevalent. Due to the invasive plant’s spatial variability in dominance and diversity, the results suggest that E. nuttallii is likely regulated by local conditions rather than following a uniform invasive behavior, potentially giving the northern Bothnian Bay a slight advantage in managing or delaying the spread of E. nuttallii.

We present here some lessons learned from observations and applications of child-robot interaction research in diverse ecosystems such as schools, therapy centers, and hospitals, where the interaction was facilitated in real-world circumstances rather than lab settings. Specifically, we use observational results from our reflections on multiple child-robot interaction practices in the wild conducted over a 9-year research period. Using these exploratory studies, we outline some general design considerations and adaptation guidelines for improving the design and implementation of robotic systems in healthcare and education that might lead to more practical, feasible, and ethically sustainable results.

With the growing use of digital platforms for professional chat support, waiting time has become a major source of frustration, especially in digital mental health services for children, where many leave the queue before receiving help. This paper explores how an AI-powered interactive feature can improve children’s queue experience by identifying key design and functional requirements and evaluating its impact on engagement, boredom, and perceived waiting time. Through a Design Thinking process, two iterations were conducted: a low-fidelity prototype co-designed with children and experts, and a high-fidelity prototype featuring an LLM-based storytelling agent. The findings underscore the importance of safety, transparency, emotional expression, and personalization in child-AI interactions, showing that storytelling agents can reduce boredom and enhance engagement while children wait.

This paper explores the co-design of an Interactive Digital Narrative (IDN) aimed at supporting the development of executive function (EF) in young children through culturally grounded interactive storytelling. Adopting a user-centered design approach, the research followed a five-phase iterative process involving nine participants from various disciplines, including social sciences, education, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as parents. Three co-design workshops were conducted: (1) to integrate Swedish culture and values into the IDN, (2) to embed EF-stimulating interactions based on parent-child play, and (3) to conceptualise an AI-enhanced support tool for parent-child storytelling and cognitive development. Thematic analysis was employed to extract design insights from the audio recording of the workshops. These insights informed the development of a high-fidelity prototype featuring culturally resonant story elements that can support the development of EF in young children. Additionally, by positioning parents as companions rather than instructors and by embedding EF-supportive design into a joyful storytelling context, this work provides a framework for designing IDNs that are both pedagogically effective and playful for young children. This paper presents initial results of co-design of this IDN.

Background: An increasing lifespan and the resulting change in our expectations of later life stages are dependent on a good health state. This emphasizes the importance of the development of strategies to further strengthen healthy aging. One important aspect of good health in later life stages is sustained skilled motor function.

Objective: Here, we tested the effectiveness of robotic upper limb motor training in a game-like scenario assessing game-based learning and its transfer potential.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy participants (n = 18 elderly participants, n = 18 young controls) trained with a Pacman-like game using a hand-held Cellulo robot on 2 consecutive days. The game-related movements were conducted on a printed map displaying a maze and targets that had to be collected. Gradually, the task difficulty was adjusted between games by modifying or adding different game elements (e.g., speed and number of chasing ghosts, additional rules, and haptic feedback). Transfer was assessed by scoring simple robot manipulation on two different trajectories.

Results: Elderly participants were able to improve their game performance over time [t(874) = 2.97, p < 0.01]. The applied game elements had similar effects on both age groups. Importantly, the game-based learning was transferable to simple robot manipulation that resembles activities of daily life. Only minor age-related differences were present (smaller overall learning gain and different effects of the wall-crash penalty rule in the elderly group).

Conclusions: Gamified motor training with the Cellulo system has the potential to translate into an efficient and relatively low-cost robotic motor training tool for promoting upper limb function to promote healthy aging.

In this article we investigate the role of interactive haptic-enabled tangible robots in supporting the learning of cursive letter writing for children with attention and visuomotor coordination issues. We focus on the two principal aspects of handwriting that are linked to these issues: Visual perception and visuomotor coordination. These aspects, respectively, enhance two features of letter representation in the learner's mind in particular, namely the shape (grapheme) and the dynamics (ductus) of the letter, which constitute the central learning goals in our activity. Building upon an initial design tested with 17 healthy children in a preliminary school, we iteratively ported the activity to an occupational therapy context in 2 different therapy centers, in the context of 3 different summer school camps involving a total of 12 children having writing difficulties. The various iterations allowed us to uncover insights about the design of robot-enhanced writing activities for special education, specifically highlighting the importance of ease of modification of the duration of an activity as well as of adaptable frequency, content, flow and game-play and of providing a range of evaluation test alternatives. Results show that the use of robot-assisted handwriting activities could have a positive impact on the learning of the representation of letters in the context of occupational therapy (V = 1, 449, p < 0.001, r = 0.42). Results also highlight how the design changes made across the iterations affected the outcomes of the handwriting sessions, such as the evaluation of the performances, monitoring of the performances, and the connectedness of the handwriting.

Aims: To investigate predictive factors in patients with non-curable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (mHBO) and identify those with a life expectancy of 30 days or less, who would not benefit from palliative biliary drainage.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive palliative patients undergoing percutaneous or endoscopic biliary drainage for mHBO at Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Hospitals, Cape Town, between 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2023. Demographic and baseline clinical parameters, laboratory test results, tumour characteristics and intervention type were compared in patients who survived ≤ 30 days to those who survived > 30 days after index intervention.

Results: A total of 294 patients were included in the study, of whom 135 survived ≤ 30 days and 159 > 30 days. Regression analysis using a Cox proportional hazard model showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 2, strictures secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma, serum levels of albumin < 30 g/L and serum levels of total and conjugated bilirubin > 250 μmol/L predicted survival of ≤ 30 days.

Conclusions: These predictive factors should be considered by the multidisciplinary team regarding the decision to perform biliary drainage during end-of-life care or rather proceed to solely medical and symptomatic relief in patients with non-curable mHBO.

Affect recognition, or the ability to detect and interpret emotional states, has the potential to be a valuable tool in the field of healthcare. In particular, it can be useful in gamified therapy, which involves using gaming techniques to motivate and keep the engagement of patients in therapeutic activities. This study aims to examine the accuracy of machine learning models using thermal imaging and action unit data for affect classification in a gamified robot therapy scenario. A self-report survey and three machine learning models were used to assess emotions including frustration, boredom, and enjoyment in participants during different phases of the game. The results showed that the multimodal approach with the combination of thermal imaging and action units with LSTM model had the highest accuracy of 77% for emotion classification over a 7-s sliding window, while thermal imaging had the lowest standard deviation among participants. The results suggest that thermal imaging and action units can be effective in detecting affective states and might have the potential to be used in healthcare applications, such as gamified therapy, as a promising non-intrusive method for recognizing internal states.

In test equating, ensuring score comparability across different test forms is crucial but particularly challenging when test groups are non-equivalent and no anchor test is available. Local test equating aims to satisfy Lord’s equity requirement by conditioning equating transformations on individual-level information, typically using anchor test scores as proxies for latent ability. However, anchor tests are not always available in practice. This paper introduces two novel propensity score-based methods for local equating: stratification and inverse probability weighting (IPW). These methods use covariates to account for group differences, with propensity scores serving as proxies for latent ability differences between test groups. The stratification method partitions examinees into comparable groups based on similar propensity scores, while IPW assigns weights inversely proportional to the probability of group membership. We evaluate these methods through empirical analysis and simulation studies. Results indicate both methods can effectively adjust for group differences, with their relative performance depending on the strength of covariate-ability correlations. The study extends local equating methodology to cases where only covariate information is available, providing testing programs with new tools for ensuring fair score comparability.

This article focuses on predicting trends in Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), also known as trend-following hedge funds. The article applies a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for classifying trends. By incorporating additional features, a regularized logistic regression model is used to enhance prediction capability. The model demonstrates success in identifying positive trends in CTA funds, with particular emphasis on precision and risk-adjusted return metrics. In the context of regularized regression models, techniques for statistical inference such as bootstrap resampling and Markov Chain Monte Carlo are applied to estimate the distribution of parameters. The findings suggest the model’s effectiveness in predicting favorable CTA performance and mitigating equity market drawdowns.

This paper investigates developments in Russian cultural policy following the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It analyses shifts in cultural legislation and official discourse on culture within the context of war. The study addresses two research questions: (1) What are the primary directions and strategies of cultural policy since 2022; and (2) How do various actors in the cultural sector exploit these trends to secure economic benefits and influence during this exceptional wartime period? To illustrate the effects and outcomes of these policy shifts, the paper explores two distinct cultural initiatives. The first, the Historical Parks Project, originates from the business management offices of the Skolkovo Innovation Centre and the educational efforts of both the State and the Russian Orthodox Church. The second, the Cultural Front of Russia, is a recently emerged grassroots public movement. The authors argue that these projects exemplify both top-down and bottom-up dynamics of empowerment within the wartime patriotic framework. Despite differing leadership structures, they share significant similarities in their methods and ideological alignment with Russia’s authoritarian regime. The research draws on an analysis of official discourses in the Russian Parliament and the Presidential Administration, alongside recent amendments to cultural legislation. To study the practical implementation of cultural policy, i.e., the operations of the selected projects, the authors analyse the Parliament’s and Presidential Administration’s official Telegram channels and media coverage of their activities.

We introduce a new projection-free (Frank-Wolfe) method for optimizing structured nonconvex functions that are expressed as a difference of two convex functions. This problem class subsumes smooth nonconvex minimization, positioning our method as a promising alternative to the classical Frank-Wolfe algorithm. DC decompositions are not unique; by carefully selecting a decomposition, we can better exploit the problem structure, improve computational efficiency, and adapt to the underlying problem geometry to find better local solutions. We prove that the proposed method achieves a first-order stationary point in  iterations, matching the complexity of the standard Frank-Wolfe algorithm for smooth non-convex minimization in general. Specific decompositions can, for instance, yield a gradient-efficient variant that requires only  calls to the gradient oracle by reusing computed gradients over multiple iterations. Finally, we present numerical experiments demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to other projection-free algorithms.

En tillsatt gymnasieutredning kom under 1963 med ett betänkande som föreslog att kristendomsundervisningen i den svenska gymnasieskolan skulle ersättas med religionskunskap. Det var ett nytt ämne med mindre kristendom, mer om andra religioner, objektiv undervisning och ett färre antal studietimmar. Samtida kristna och konservativa tidningar skyllde på kulturradikalt inflytande vilket även tidningars ledare under 2020-talet har gjort. Syftet med uppsatsen är att titta på den kulturradikala svenska dags- och kvällspressen mellan 1963 och 1964 och nyansera dess roll i debatten gällande frågan om gymnasieutredningens betänkande. Max Webers teoretiska rationalitet förklarar den kulturradikala pressens opinionsjournalistik och dess rationella ståndpunkt i frågan om debatten och ämnet religionskunskap. En debatt som liberala och socialdemokratiska tidningar bedrev opinion för gällande utredningens betänkande. Kulturradikalismen kan dateras tillbaka till 1880-talet och under 1950- och 1960-talen var det en värdetradition baserad på rationalism. Den kunde vara liberal och socialdemokratisk, med demokrati och sekularism som grund. Kristendomen står inte centrum i denna uppsats, snarare blir det religionssociologiska perspektivet av intresse och dess inverkan på debatten. Med andra ord handlar det om hur religion kan påverka samhället med dess inneboende kapacitet att inverka på människors dagliga beslutsfattande. Framförallt gällande individers etiska förhållningssätt.

Barn och ungdomars hälsa är en växande samhällsutmaning där både fysisk och psykisk ohälsa har ökat under de senaste decennierna. Trots att de flesta barn känner till grunderna i hälsosamma levnadsvanor visar forskning att en stor andel inte följer kost och aktivitets rekommendationer. Nästan var fjärde elev i lågstadiet har idag överviktsproblem och utvecklingen tycks fortsätta i negativ riktning. Ohälsosamma matvanor, stillasittande, marknadsföring och sociala skillnader bidrar alla till samhällsproblemet. Samtidigt visar forskning starka samband mellan övervikt och psykisk ohälsa, vilket förstärker behovet av tidiga insatser (Annwall et al., 2024).

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur fyra elevhälsoteam (EHT) i olika svenska kommuner samverkar i arbetet med att bemöta och stötta barn med överviktsproblematik. Två centrala frågeställningar låg till grund: hur sker samverkan i kommunerna över tid och vilka professionella kompetenser används i arbetet? Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod med fokusgruppintervjuer för att fånga deltagarnas erfarenheter och reflektioner. Analysen har genomförts tematiskt och utgår från professionsteori, intraprofessionellt lärande (IPL) och

handlingsutrymmesteori. Etiska principer enligt Vetenskapsrådet (2024) har beaktats genom

hela arbetet.

Resultatet visar att elevhälsoteamens arbete präglas av ett stort engagemang men också

varierande förutsättningar. Kompetensen inom EHT är avgörande för att identifiera, bemöta

och följa upp barn med övervikt. Samverkan mellan de olika professionerna inom skolan är

avgörande för framgång. Insatserna varierar mellan kommunerna vad gäller stöd, resurser och rutiner, vilket gör att barns möjlighet till stöd delvis beror på vilken skola de går i och vilken del av landet.

Slutsatserna betonar vikten av långsiktiga och strukturerade insatser på både lokal och nationell nivå. Ett stärkt interprofessionellt lärande (IPL), tydliga riktlinjer, tillräckliga resurser och ett generellt samhällsansvar krävs för att vända trenden. Studien visar att en välfungerande elevhälsa kan utgöra en central roll i att främja barns hälsa och förebygga framtida hälsoproblem.

The current thesis aimed to explore if a more automatic process of cognitive reappraisal(EAKO) is as effective in reducing arousal as the frequently studied controlled process(EKKO), and if there are any correlations with the Big Five personality domains or locus ofcontrol (LOC). The current study used a within-groups experimental design with 42participants (21-80 years). The number of women was (n=18) and men (n=24). Theparticipants’ task was to view emotional images, followed by a cue to either reappraise or acontrol stimulus. To automate reappraisal, they were trained to associate a visual cue (a square)to reappraise. A verbal cue (the word reappraise) was used for controlled reappraising, and acounting task was used for the control stimulus. Efficacy was measured through a before- andafter arousal rating scale and reaction time. Personality was measured through the Ten Item

Personality Scale (TIPI), while locus of control was measured through Rotter’s internal-external locus of control scale. The results showed no significant difference in efficacy between

the cues, nor were there any correlations with personality or locus of control. This implies thatautomatic cognitive reappraisal can be effective for a wide range of populations. Limitationsprimarily regard sample characteristics and study design, and further research is needed toaddress those concerns. Finally, research on clinical populations is of utmost importance.

This study examines parish deacons’ perspectives on the impact the digital transformation of society has had on diaconal work in the Church of Sweden. Based on individual interviews with seven parish deacons, it explores the following research question: What are the perceptions of deacons in the Church of Sweden regarding the impact of the digital transformation on their work within their parishes? The study shows that deacons encounter challenges such as digital exclusion, ethical dilemmas, and the need for both physical and digital meeting places. It highlights the complexities and opportunities that digital tools bring to diaconal work, emphasizing the importance of digital competence, ongoing dialogue, and ethical reflection in navigating changes brought about by the digitalization of society.

This study examines the cultural metaphor of woman-as-food in contemporary visual culture through an analysis of two photographic works from Arvida Byström's Cherry Picking series (2016–2018): You'd Rather Be an iPhone Than a Woman and Slumber Party. By employing semiotics, queer theory and theories of representative cannibalism as formulated by Maggie Kilgour, the study analyzes how the metaphor is presented visually and semiotically, and how it can be understood in relation to a queer interpretation of cannibalism as a theme of desire, norm-transgression and identity destabilisation. The analysis shows that the metaphor of woman-as-food is central in both works and is activated through a double connotation of food and femininity, articulated via cultural symbolism, fragmentation, expressions of desire and a pink, cute aesthetic. This aesthetic functions as an interconnected semiotic field where normative power structures are brought together, positioned and subverted through hunger, desire and consumption.

The study argues that figurative cannibalism functions both motivically and epistemologically. The visual absence of the eater creates a structural openness where the viewer is implicated in a transgressive position as a symbolic “eater”, which activates queer desire as a structural component in the image’s production of meaning. Cannibalism also functions metareflexively through an understanding of the works as already “eaten” objects inrelation to the reproducibility of the photographic medium, and through the works’ intertextual assimilation of popular cultural and art historical references, which destabilizes notions of the artwork’s autonomy, originality, and “good taste.” Its aesthetics of overindulgence and “bad taste” function as a norm-critical marker, where “good taste” emerges as a norm-stabilizing mechanism. The study concludes that the metaphor of woman-as-food in Byström’s work functions as an aesthetic and theoretical possibility through which the works’ monstrous queer feminine aesthetics and the deformation of cuteness through consumption create a semiotic friction that disrupts the normative readability of the image, while at the same time, through stagings of carnality, fragmentation, and mortality, the boundaries of the body and the subject are queerly renegotiated and liberated. 

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of participation in a preoptimisation programme prior to ventral hernia repair, focusing on the programme’s feasibility and patient-perceived potential.

Introduction: Preoptimisation of modifiable risk factors has received growing attention, but little is known about ventral hernia patients’ perspectives on such programmes. Understanding patient motivation and perceived barriers is critical for designing effective interventions.

Method: Eight ventral hernia patients participated in a home-based preoptimisation programme lasting at least three weeks. Focus group interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Participants generally perceived the preoptimisation programme positively. Clear and structured advice was valued, with participants appreciating straightforward instructions on physical activity and lifestyle change. Reported barriers included everyday life circumstances, orthopaedic comorbidities, and in some cases the hernia itself. Patients described perceived positive health effects, including improved fitness, weight loss, and better diabetes control. No adverse effects were raised during the interviews.

Conclusion: This is, to our knowledge, the first qualitative study of pre-optimisation programmes in ventral hernia surgery. As an exploratory, hypothesis-generating study, its findings are shaped by sample size and setting but provide novel insights that complement quantitative research by highlighting patient perspectives. Pre-optimisation programmes appear feasible and meaningful to ventral hernia patients, particularly when supported by clear guidance, structured follow-up, and surgeon involvement. The findings are discussed in the light of Self-Determination Theory, which emphasises internalisation of motivation through autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Data has become a central resource shaping political economies, extracted through digital infrastructures that operate across borders and often reinforce existing inequalities. This paper examines the fragmented nature of data governance across multiple levels and argues for centering governance on data itself rather than solely focusing on platforms, algorithms, or industry compliance. To ground this analysis, the paper frames data governance within the context of data colonialism—that is, as a continuation of extractive practices that commodify human life. It then introduces autonomía(s), or collective agencies, as both a counter-narrative to dominant data regimes and a praxis for comunalidad, or communal ways of being. This approach challenges individualistic notions of governance by embedding autonomía(s) within thing assemblies and reimagines governance as the ongoing design of participatory spaces that foster collective action and critical reflection, shifting from market-driven approaches to relational frameworks grounded in shared needs.

Background:  The number of children with long-term home mechanical ventilation (LTV) is increasing globally. Parents become experts on their children's needs and sometimes know more about LTV treatment than non-specialist healthcare professionals. Nurses caring for LTV-dependent children in intensive care settings adjust to a collaborative caregiving role; however, this interaction has not been described in general paediatric wards.

Aim:  To describe nurses' experiences of caring for children and adolescents with established LTV at general paediatric wards.

Study design:  We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 15 participants and analysed the data using qualitative content analysis.

Findings:  The study resulted in three categories: 'Building a relationship', 'Working hand in hand with the family', and 'Doing one's best despite the LTV', interpreted into the theme 'Working for reciprocal trust despite frail confidence', which can be seen as foundational to nursing both the child and the family.

Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice:  Reciprocal trust between families, nurses and the respiratory team could and should be established swiftly after admission with a discussion of each party's immediate responsibilities and back-up roles.

This study assessed the prevalence, reasons, and factors associated with refraining from seeking needed health care among the Sámi population in Sweden. Using data from a 2021 health survey, 3,658 individuals participated. Descriptive and regression analyses were applied to summarize the data and determine the magnitude of associations between independent variables and refraining from health care. Results showed 19.9% of participants refrained from seeking needed health care. Common reasons included lack of time (25%), problem resolution (16%), long wait times (16%), and uncertainty about where to seek care (13%). Factors associated with the higher prevalence of refraining included being a woman, being under 65, having lower income, experiencing economic stress, belonging to a forest reindeer herding community, and residing outside Sámi homelands. Interventions should be designed to address healthcare access inequities among vulnerable Sámi subgroups. Further research is needed to understand these disparities and reasons for refraining from care in non-pandemic contexts.

Stress-related ill health is increasing in western societies, which implies a great need for stress-focused treatment in primary care. Research has shown that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is effective for reducing stress, both in the short and long term. However, few studies have researched clinically relevant long-term effects in primary care for these treatments. To fill this gap this study aims to examine clinically relevant long-term effects of a short CBT-based group intervention for stress in primary care, so-called “stress schools”. This study investigates whether the stress school (n = 76) has clinically relevant effects twelve months after treatment, and if the results differ in relation to two comparison groups, a group with individual counselling for stress (n = 50) and a group without ongoing treatment (n = 72). Treatment effects were assessed with respect to burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms and sleep quality twelve months after treatment. The results showed that stress school has lasting reliable improvement after 12 months for both burnout and stress and clinically significant improvement for burnout. This improvement is significantly larger compared to the control group, but not to TAU. Overall, this study shows that stress schools have similar long-term effects as individual counselling but with the advantage of being cost efficient group interventions, providing the ability to reach more people.

This thesis investigates how Western media have framed the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, following events in December 2024. Adopting a qualitative approach, it applies Robert Entman’s (1993) framing theory as the sole analytical framework, focusing on four core framing functions: problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and treatment recommendation. Three articles published by The Guardian, BBC News, and The New York Times are examined to explore how narratives of regime change, post-conflict instability, and foreign intervention are constructed.The analysis reveals that all three media outlets frame Assad’s fall as a morally justified but geopolitically precarious moment. Rather than celebrating revolution, the articles emphasize uncertainty, risk, and the need for international oversight. Western actors are portrayed as rational and stabilizing forces, while local Syrian actors are often depicted as fragmented, chaotic, or incapable of self-governance. These patterns reflect broader liberal-democratic assumptions about legitimacy, order, and the role of the West in managing political transitions in the Global South.

Artikeln behandlar polisens rätt att genomföra personell husrannsakan med fokus på säkerhet och rättsliga begränsningar. Genom ett scenario där en person som ska frihetsberövas lokaliseras i en lägenhet, analyseras hur polisen kan säkra reträttvägar och minimera riskområden utan att överskrida lagens ramar. Studien kombinerar rättsdogmatisk metod med polisiär konflikthantering (POLKON) för att belysa praktiska och juridiska dilemman. Resultatet visar att vissa säkerhetsåtgärder kan vara tillåtna om de inte är alltför ingripande samt om de syftar till att verkställa husrannsakan eller frihetsberövandet. Artikeln föreslår att en tydligare lagreglering bör införas för att stärka rättssäkerheten och arbetsmiljön vid polisingripanden.

Conventional dry filtration materials present a high initial efficiency but suffer from poor regenerability and limited functionality. Conversely, liquid-based purification strategies leverage the high capture potential of gas–liquid interfaces, but face challenges such as insufficient material strength, complex fabrication, and difficulties in large-scale application. Here, we proposed a porous ceramic-based bubble-enhanced filtration system (PCBEFS). The proposed system employs tunable porous ceramics as bubble generators in the water medium, thereby enabling highly efficient wet removal of particulate matter, while simultaneously providing air humidification, formaldehyde removal, and antibacterial functions. Furthermore, we established an empirical mathematical model linking pore structure, bubble characteristics, and removal performance, which elucidates the structure–activity relationship and presents insights into the capture mechanism jointly governed by porous ceramics and gas–liquid interfaces. PCBEFS addresses the limitations of the existing liquid-based purification systems and contributes substantially to multifunctional indoor air pollution control with strong engineering potential.

Accurate prognosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is crucial for enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes. Despite the advancements in deep learning, the task of overall survival prediction in NSCLC has not fully leveraged these techniques, yet. This study introduces a novel methodology for predicting 2-year overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients using CT scans. Our approach integrates CT scan representations produced by EfficientNetB0 with a soft attention mechanism to identify the most relevant slices for survival risk prediction, which are then analyzed by a risk-assessment network. To validate our method and ensure reproducibility, we employed the public LUNG1 dataset and a smaller private dataset. Our approach was compared to benchmark 3D networks and two variants of our methodology: on the LUNG1 it outperformed the competitors achieving a mean Ctd-index of 0.584 over tenfold cross-validation. On the LUNG1 we also demonstrated the adaptability of our method with 5 other 2D backbones replacing the EfficientNetB0, confirming that our mechanism of combining 2D slice representations to construct a 3D volume representation is more effective for OS prediction compared to a traditional 3D approach. Finally, we used transfer learning on the private dataset, showing that it can significantly enhance performance in limited data scenarios, increasing the Ctd-index by 0.076 compared to model without transfer learning.

Purpose: Developed simultaneously in English and Swedish, the Patient Reported Inventory of Self-Management of Chronic Conditions (PRISM-CC) assesses patients’ perceived difficulty managing life with long-term health conditions. This study assessed the comparability of the PRISM-CC across sociodemographic groups, number of health conditions and language (English and Swedish).

Methods: Differential item functioning (DIF) and differential test functioning (DTF) were analysed by age, gender, education level, and number of conditions using independent English and Swedish datasets. Language-based DIF and DTF were examined using pooled data. An iterative hybrid ordinal logistic regression approach was applied to identify potential DIF across the PRISM-CC’s seven domains. The impact of flagged items on total scores (DTF) was evaluated by comparing test characteristic curves.

Results: Few items were flagged for potential DIF in the English, Swedish or pooled data, and only at low cutoff values. The impact of items with potential DIF on DTF was negligible.

Conclusion: The absence of meaningful DIF and DTF in either the English or Swedish version of the PRISM-CC or between English and Swedish versions provides further support for the PRISM-CC as a valuable tool for assessing self-management ease and difficulty. These results also demonstrate the value of simultaneous development of instruments in two languages. Further evaluation of DIF is necessary in populations with greater self-management challenges, such as among people with severe disease burden.

Key Features:

• The Climate and Enteric Diseases Research Project features a dataset that contains time series of enteric-disease cases and climate-related exposures, organized by week and at a subnational administrative level.
• Processed enteric-diseases data include deaths, hospital admissions and visits, and surveillance cases with pathogen-specific breakdown from 49 nations with 1290 subnational locations spanning >20 years starting from the year 2000.
• Climate-related exposures include 2-metre temperatures, total precipitation, as well as tropical cyclone maximum sustained winds and total rainfall, which were uniformly extracted and processed by using bespoke R functions, collected from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis 5th Generation Land and Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project 3a datasets.
• Requests for the processed data can be made via https://paulcarlos.quarto.pub/climed/, subject to approval from each data provider.

Bacteria lacking DEAD-box RNA-helicases often show reduced growth and aberrant maturation of ribosomal subunits resulting in fewer active ribosomes. Here, we show that the slow growth observed in a strain lacking the RNA-helicase CshC in the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes can be suppressed by mutations in the exonuclease DinG. A strain lacking both CshC and DinG increased the number of mature and active ribosomes compared to the parental ΔcshC mutant. DinG acts as a 3'- to 5'-exoribonuclease, targeting immature, unprocessed ribosomal RNA in vitro and in vivo while leaving processed rRNA undisturbed. In addition, DinG directly or indirectly interferes with the ribonuclease M5 mediated pre-5S rRNA processing. We suggest that DinG acts as a primary ribosome quality control ribonuclease that initiates degradation of unprocessed rRNA.