English collective nouns and their agreement patterns have been extensively studied in corpus linguistics. Previous research has highlighted variability within and across English varieties (e.g., Levin 2001; Depraetere 2003;Hundt 2006). This thesis complements earlier research by examining diachronic agreement patterns of 20 collective nouns in American (AmE)and British English (BrE). This study employs classic corpus linguistics methods, analysing data from 1810–1909. It covers collective nouns from six semantic domains: EMPLOYEES (e.g., crew), FAMILY (e.g., couple), MILITARY (e.g.,army), POLITICS (e.g., government), PUBLIC ORDER (e.g., police), and SOCIETY (e.g., generation). The corpora used are the Corpus of HistoricalAmerican English (COHA) for AmE, and the Old Bailey Corpus (OBC) and the Corpus of Late Modern English Texts (CLMET) for the BrE variety. Almost 10,000 tokens of agreement with collective nouns were analysed, making this the most extensive diachronic study on this topic to-date. The results challenge the assumption that the shift towards more frequent singular agreement with collective nouns is an “American-led” process (Collins 2015: 29, see also Bauer 1994: 61–66). The evidence gathered in this thesis suggests that AmE was lagging behind BrE in the development towards a higher frequency of singular agreement with collective nouns during the 19th century, indicating a “colonial lag” (cf. Marckwardt 1958:77; Hundt 2009a: 27–28). However, a further investigation reveals that AmE, in the early 20th century, rapidly overtakes BrE in the development towards singular agreement, a process which can be interpreted as a socalled ‘kick-down’ development as defined by Hundt (2009a: 33). The study finds differences in agreement preferences among specific nouns, leading to the exclusion of the PUBLIC ORDER category, i.e., the nouns watch, patrol, and police from the investigation, as these seemingly never were conceptualised as collectives by English-speaking communities in Britain or in North America. Furthermore, differences are also detected between the different semantic categories within the two varieties investigated. For example, POLITICS and SOCIETY nouns show a strong singular preference in AmE but are variable in BrE. EMPLOYEE nouns gradually shifted towards singular agreement in both varieties, except for staff, which appears to lean towards a preference for plural agreement inBrE. Additionally, certain semantic categories exhibit similar agreement patterns in both AmE and BrE, FAMILY nouns with variable agreement, and MILITARY nouns with a pronounced preference for the singular. In search for underlying reasons behind the development of agreement with collective nouns, this study applies a variety of different methods to investigate certain factors. Monofactorial analyses of verb type and the distance between verbs and pronouns to the collective do not significantly indicate an impact on agreement patterns. A complementary logistic regression confirmed the preference for singular verbal agreement over the plural in the investigated data as well as a higher likelihood for the plural in pronominal agreement. Other factors showed no significant influence. Lastly, prescriptivism was identified as a factor that influenced the significant shift towards singular agreement in early-20th century AmE. Ananalysis of American publications offering advice on agreement found a correlation between stricter rules on singular agreement as well as teaching recommendations and agreement patterns in AmE. This suggests that modern English variation in collective noun agreement resulted from a conscious change, driven by language ideology and nationalism, to distinguish AmE from BrE through singular agreement preference.

Many students with intellectual disability experience significant difficulties in assimilating written text through reading and even more struggle with writing. This dissertation aims to investigate whether assistive technologies such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text contribute to providing more opportunities for students with intellectual disability to assimilate and produce text. The first study in the dissertation was a crosssectional study that examined reading and listening comprehension abilities among 70 students with mild or moderate intellectual disability in the age group of 16 to 22 years. The results showed that the students had weak decoding and reading comprehension skills and better listening comprehension. This was particularly evident for students with moderate intellectual disability. In the second study, five fourth-grade students with mild intellectual disability received a decoding intervention. Using a single-subject design, the study demonstrated that all students increased the number of decoded words after the intervention, albeit to varying degrees. For some students, additional decoding training could prove beneficial, while others require alternative approaches. The third study employed a quasi-experimental wait-list control group design involving 41 students with mild or moderate intellectual disability in upper secondary school for pupils with intellectual disability. The purpose was to investigate whether the students further increased their listening comprehension abilities after a period of intervention with text-to-speech. Additionally, there was an interest in monitoring the development of decoding skills during the intervention. The results confirmed that the students assimilated text better through listening and improved even further with listening comprehension training, but no significant differences were found. The students also improved in decoding despite not specifically training for it. The fourth study utilized a single-subject design with four students with mild intellectual disability aged 10 to 14 years. The students were trained to use speech-to-text to produce words and sentences in writing. Three of the students could hardly produce anything in writing via handwriting, while one student could read and write traditionally. However, the results showed that all students increased the number of produced words and sentences and their text quality compared to writing by hand or keyboard. In summary, the results of the four studies demonstrate that many students with intellectual disability have significant difficulties assimilating and producing text through reading and writing traditionally. Most of the students also demonstrated better listening comprehension than reading comprehension. When alternatives such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text were provided, the conditions for understanding the content of written text and the opportunities for producing written text improved. An important conclusion that can be drawn from the studies is also that students with moderate intellectual disabilities may be assumed to face greater difficulties than they actually do if they are only offered traditional reading and writing methods.

In Swedish healthcare, digitalization is gaining attention, acting as both a force and catalyst for eHealth initiatives. In the context of organizational change, adoption of eHealth solutions can improve healthcare. The influence of digitalization encompasses workplace dynamics, routines, and processes at organizational and staff levels. As healthcare organizations adopt digital technologies, understanding the impact of these technologies in workplace, organizational, and societal settings is crucial.

This thesis addresses three research questions:

1) What aspects, viewed from the perspectives of society, organizations, and individuals, may promote or hinder collaboration related to digitalization within healthcare and with its stakeholders?

2) In what ways do healthcare staff experience the influence of digitalization on their workplace-related physical and mental health, and on their overall well-being?

3) How do healthcare staff experience the influence of digitalization on their workday routines and work processes?

The overall aim of the thesis is to examine and describe the transformative process of healthcare digitalization from societal, organizational, and individual perspectives. The four studies included explore stakeholder interactions within the domain of eHealth, as well as staff experiences of digitalization as part of organizational change. Additionally, the thesis addresses health implications of digitalization in workplace settings.

Study I aimed to explore eHealth collaboration from a Quadruple Helix perspective by employing a Quality Café followed by individual interviews. This qualitative study emphasized the importance of diverse viewpoints in collaborations driven by digitalization and eHealth. Study II, a mixed-methods study in public healthcare, explored the association between quality management, digitalization, and employee health among managers. The results of a questionnaire and individual interviews revealed associations between employee health and both quality management values and digitalization experiences, depicted in a conceptual model. Study III focused on medical secretaries’ experiences of digitalization; the results demonstrated the need for effective organization of digital efforts and clear role definitions. This study utilized a two-phase qualitative method consisting of a Quality Café and individual interviews followed by a quantitative phase. Study IV was qualitatively conducted at a habilitation center. The interviews uncovered mixed attitudes towards digital formats, highlighting the need for tailored digital consultations.This thesis contributes to the understanding of digitalization in healthcare and sheds light on domains such as digitalization-related staff adaptation and possible influences on professional values and workplace settings. Integrating stakeholder and healthcare staff needs is emphasized for successful eHealth development in societal and workplace settings. Insights highlight collaboration and inclusiveness as crucial for creating value and quality in healthcare. The importance of knowledge and competence is underscored for promoting staff well-being and integrating eHealth with society.

The aim of this thesis is to better our understanding of the relationship between physical education and health as a school subject and the school's overall mission. Drawing on an educational perspective, the intention is to interrogate students' perceptions of knowledge, learning and assessment in the subject. With this thesis, I want to contribute to the ongoing discussion about what constitutes knowledge in physical and health and open up for reflections on alternative perspectives on knowledge in the subject. The thesis is a compilation consisting of three empirical studies presented in four articles, study one and the first two articles are also part of my licentiate thesis. In study two, two classes at an upper secondary school were followed during their physical education and health classes for one whole school term. The data in study two consists of interviews, observations, informal conversations and teacher-student grade discussions. Study three comprises observations and conversations with students from two classes participating in six lessons each on ball games.The data analysis in both study two and three are based on non-affirmative theory where both subject-specific knowledge and generic knowledge are central. The analysis shows that the students perceive that they learn subject-specific knowledge as well as generic knowledge but, for the most part, reproductive and affirmative learning is associated with subject specific knowledge. However, the studies also show that the students may use this affirmative (sporting) knowledge in a final individual “healthproject” and somewhat alter the reproduced and affirmative content, to achieve their personal health goals and this learning may then be seen as more non-affirmative. At the same, some students are not able to achieve this reproductive and affirmative learning, which can mean that their knowledge “toolbox” is more limited for the final health project and, by extension, health in a lifelong perspective. In order to enrich and enhance the educational outcomes for students in physical education and health, the pervasiveness of reproductive and affirmative knowledge needs to be challenged by a more non-affirmative way of thinking.

As soon as blood leaves the human body, stress to the host´s protective cellular and protein cascades begin. My thesis focuses on the immune system, specifically the complement system and platelets, primarily known for their hemostatic properties but also play a role in immune responses. The core of this thesis is the interaction between the complement system and platelets in platelet concentrates destined for transfusion. Storing blood products, particularly platelet concentrates, presents challenges, including the development of platelet storage lesions. These lesions involve a series of biochemical, structural, and functional changes from when platelets are collected to when they are transfused, potentially leading to impaired platelet function and adverse transfusion reactions. For inventory management, the oldest platelet concentrates are typically used first for transfusion. Understanding the interplay between the complement system and platelets during storage is crucial for improving the quality of platelet concentrates for selecting optimal concentrates based on the indication. This thesis includes several exploratory studies: one examining the complement system and platelet function over storage time, another investigating the impact of complement inhibition with the aim to reduce platelet storage lesions, and a third exploring the ability of platelets to release mediators that can modulate an immune response when supplemented to thrombocytopenic blood. Additionally, one study examines the impact of blood collection tube composition on complement functional and activation analysis. I found that increased storage time was associated with increased complement activation, increased platelet activation and attenuated platelet function. However, there was no causal relationship between complement and platelet activation since complement inhibition did not alter platelet activation or function. Further, I found that platelets release mediators that could modulate an inflammatory reaction, but the storage time had only minor effect on the immunomodulatory effect. Last, I found that the composition of blood collection tubes significantly affected complement activation. While these findings may not immediately benefit patients, they provide new insights into platelet concentrates, highlighting the role of the complement system. Further research is needed to to understand the interaction between these components fully.

Despite the rapid advancements in targeted drug therapy in cancer treatment over the past two decades, drug resistance remains an issue. Point mutations can often explain the emergence of resistance, while in other cases, it is not clear why resistance occurs. Furthermore, the mechanisms involving the physical forces that contribute to the binding between the drug and the protein are poorly understood. The thesis aims to address these questions by using computer models, primarily quantum mechanical methods in an attempt to shed light on why resistance occurs in leukemia treatment.

We have used DFT to calculate binding energies for drugs in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML),demonstrating that asciminib enhances the effect of nilotinib in T315I-mutated CML, thus allowing treatment with ponatinib to be avoided. In AML treatment, a combination of DFT, MD, NCI, and EDA have been used to show that the mutation R140Q/Q316E in trans in the enzyme IDH2 leads to resistance to enasidenib. The accuracy of various exchange-correlation functionals was evaluated against a limited dataset, yielding an accuracy of ~ 1.5 kcal/mol, highlighting the potential of simple DFT models. In one study, using DFT and MD, we were able to show that resistance when dasatinib binds to a mutated form of ABL1 arises due to a variety of factors, not just the breaking of a hydrogen bond.

Furthermore, EDA has been employed to analyze the dominant physical forces at the binding site, and an extension of this method (DFTB-EDA) has been developed to handle larger systems. Using FEP/REMD in combination with DFT, the binding of imatinib and dasatinib to various proteins has been analyzed to study off-target binding, with the aim of clarifying the drugs' toxicity. We observed that FEP/REMD tended to overestimate the binding energy, while DFT tended to under estimate it.

Overall, the thesis demonstrates that a combination of DFT, EDA, MD, NCI, and FEP is applicable to concrete problems in studying drug resistance in CML and AML, despite the limited accuracy of the methods.This methodology, however, is not limited to these cancer forms but canbe applied more broadly to other conditions.

Schools and educational institutions collect large amounts of data about students and their learning, including text, grades, quizzes, timestamps, and other activities. However, in primary and secondary education, this data is often dispersed across different digital platforms, lacking standardized methods for collection, processing, analysis, and presentation. These issues hinder teachers and students from making informed decisions or strategic and effective use of data. This presents a significant obstacle to progress in education and the effective development of Educational Technology (EdTech) products. Visual Learning Analytics (VLA) tools, also known as Learning Analytics Dashboards (LADs), are designed to visualize student data to support pedagogical decision-making. Despite their potential, the effectiveness of these tools remains limited. Addressing these challenges requires both technical solutions and thoughtful design considerations, as explored in Papers 1 through 5 of this thesis. Paper 1 examines the design aspects of VLA tools by evaluating higher education data and various visualization and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Paper 2 provides broader insights into the VLA landscape through a systematic review, mapping key concepts and research gaps in VLA and emphasizing the potential of VLA tools to enhance pedagogical decisions and learning outcomes. Meanwhile, Paper 3 delves into a technical solution (data pipeline and data standard) considering a secure Swedish warehouse, SUNET. This includes a data standard for integrating educational data into SUNET, along with customized scripts to reformat, merge, and hash multiple student datasets. Papers 4 and 5 focus on design aspects, with Paper 4 discussing the proposed Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach involving teachers in co-designing a simple VLA tool. Paper 5 introduces a scenario-based framework for Multiple Learning Analytics Dashboards (MLADs) development, stressing user engagement for tailored LADs that facilitate informed decision-making in education. The dissertation offers a comprehensive approach to advancing VLA tools, integrating technical solutions with user-centric design principles. By addressing data integration challenges and involving users in tool development, these efforts aim to empower teachers in leveraging educational data for improved teaching and learning experiences.

This thesis consists of three separate papers on optimal income taxation and redistribution. 

In the first paper, Tagging Birthplace for Optimal Tax Policy, Redistribution, and Welfare, I study the design of optimal tax policy based on individual's birthplace. 

Using Swedish population register data and numerical simulations, I examine the relationship between regional origin and optimal tax policy for income redistribution. 

By aggregating birthplaces into four regions based on population size, I find higher optimal marginal tax rates for individuals born in larger cities and areas relative to their less populous counterparts. Moreover, average tax rates are lower for those born in less populated areas, further underscoring interregional redistributive efforts. Importantly, I emphasize that tagging individuals based on their place of birth facilitates more targeted tax policies, leading to substantial welfare gains. 

The second paper, Optimal Redistribution and Long-Term Unemployment, extends the theory of optimal redistributive taxation to address the dynamics of long-term unemployment. We analyze the interplay of education policy, public employment initiatives, unemployment benefits, and income taxation to achieve redistributive goals while addressing the challenges of unemployment. Our findings highlight the need for overprovision of education and expansion of public employment programs, alongside targeted redistribution, to mitigate long- term unemployment. Policy simulations demonstrate the adaptability of this approach to different preferences and productivity differentials. We emphasize the importance of taking long-term unemployment into account when designing effective redistributive policies. 

The third paper, Taxation of Housing In A Mirrleesian Context When Urban Land Is Scarce, investigates the optimal taxation of housing in a Mirrleesian framework, taking into account heterogeneity among agents in labor productivity, land ownership, and location (urban or rural). We distinguish between land, which is scarce in urban areas, and structures, which require maintenance that can be done at home or purchased. Calibration to Swedish register data reveals significant welfare gains from housing taxes, especially when distinguishing between urban and rural areas and between structures and land. We justify housing taxes by capturing land rent, a source of inequality. We find that taxing structures is justified if one is constrained from taxing land rent, as scarcity spills over to structures via zoning constraints. In rural areas, property taxes should be low or negative, given regional redistribution concerns. Subsidizing professional maintenance services is advisable to optimize time allocation and mitigate income tax distortions. Our analysis shows indirect distributional effects of structure and maintenance taxes on urban land prices, which influence the direct effects of taxation. 

Förmåga att formulera sig i text har betydelse för måluppfyllelse i skolan och elevers framtida delaktighet i samhället. Skrivande och läsning är integrerade processer, där läsning kan förbättra textens sammanhang och tydlighet. En betydande andel elever möter dock utmaningar i grundskolan på grund av läs- och skrivsvårigheter eller dyslexi. Emellertid är assisterande teknik (AT) tillgänglig i exempelvis ordbehandlingsprogram och kan stödja elevers textproduktion. Tal-till-text innebär diktering av skriftspråk, medan talsyntes möjliggör lyssning på text. Denna avhandling inom psykologi undersökte effekten av AT på elevers textproduktion. Avhandlingen fokuserade också på strategier för introduktion av tal-till-text, elevers erfarenheter av AT, samt teknikens potentiella kompletterande roll i skolors undervisning i textproduktion.

Avhandlingens fyra studier omfattar 202 elever, huvudsakligen i åldrarna 9–12 år. Studierna I-III inkluderade elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter eller dyslexi, medan studie IV inkluderade elever med varierade läs- och skrivfärdigheter. Studie I, en randomiserad kontrollerad studie, undersökte främst effekten av en AT-intervention på läsförmåga och förmåga att lyssna på text. En uppföljning, studie II, genomfördes fem år senare. Denna studie bestod av en kvalitativ tematisk analys av intervjuer med ett urval av deltagarna från Studie I. Syftet var att beskriva deras erfarenheter av AT i skolan. Studie III tillämpade en multiple-baseline single-case-design för att undersöka effekterna av en praxisbaserad AT-intervention på textproduktion, inklusive elevers hantering av tekniken. I Studie IV, en repeated-measures group-design, jämfördes tal-till-text med tangentbordsskrivning.

Resultaten visar att tal-till-text kan stödja textproduktion hos elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter eller dyslexi. Individuella variationer i utfallet kräver anpassat stöd. För mellanstadieelever indikerar resultaten fördelar såsom förbättrad textlängd, korrekthet och skriftspråklig variation. Talsyntes kan underlätta effektiv granskning och redigering av text. Elevernas erfarenheterav AT belyser både möjligheter och utmaningar i skolan. Dessa erfarenheter inkluderar skolans stöd, elevernas perspektiv på AT och dyslexi, samt deras användning av AT under skolgången.

Taligenkänningsfel och optimal användning av AT i skolmiljön behöver adresseras för att förebygga svårigheter i dess tillämpning. Detta tillvägagångssätt underlättar användningen av tal-till-text i syfte att överbrygga hinder och stimulera elevers utveckling i textproduktion.

Resultaten diskuteras mot bakgrund av kognitiv teori för textproduktion samt AT-teori, med praktiska implikationer för skolan och framtida forskning.

This doctoral thesis examines the challenges and potential improvements in managing archaeological projects related to the Sámi people in Sweden. The focus is on aligning practices of contract archaeology with national and international policies for managing Indigenous cultural heritage. The research identifies five key challenges in Swedish archaeology: defining Sámi heritage sites, determining responsibility for relevant expertise, managing Sámi-related information, establishing processes of contract archaeology acceptable to all stakeholders, and deciding whether Sámi and "Swedish" heritage should be managed together or separately. The study compares the approach in Sweden with practices in Norway and British Columbia, Canada, to explore potential solutions. Different systems for cultural heritage management are analysed alongside interviews with archaeologists, Indigenous community members, officials, and other stakeholders, to map success factors and pitfalls of Indigenous cultural heritage management. The study highlights the slow implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Sweden and the lack of legislation ensuring Sámi involvement in archaeological projects. The research suggests that addressing these challenges will require re-evaluating current practices, including developing clearer guidelines for managing Sámi heritage sites, improving collaboration between archaeologists and Sámi communities, finding ways to include intangible aspects of cultural heritage within cultural heritage management, and potentially delegating more authority in cultural heritage management to the Sámi Parliament. The thesis concludes by proposing strategies to better align Swedish contract archaeology with national and international policies on Indigenous cultural heritage, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that respects Indigenous rights while addressing concerns in archaeological practice. These recommendations aim to ensure that Sámi cultural heritage is managed respectfully, acknowledging its unique history and perspectives, while facilitating effective collaboration among all stakeholders involved in archaeological projects.

Copper demand is rising such as in the construction industry, transportation including electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Mining and processing of copper is energy demanding and therefore, environmental concerns necessitate developing eco-friendly technologies to reduce its impact. Chalcopyrite is the most abundant and economically significant copper mineral in nature, although it is difficult and costly to process using traditional mining methodologies. Bioleaching, as one of the main biomining techniques, is a more sustainable alternative for processing ores such as chalcopyrite, though the ores refractory nature hinders copper extraction. Biofilms are also important to enhance bioleaching, improving metal solubilization and protecting the microbes from stresses such as extreme pH and high concentrations of heavy metals. Furthermore, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, commonly found in mining environments, is key to biofilm formation while its highly efficient iron oxidation creates elevated redox potentials that hinder copper extraction by passivating the ore surface. In this context, omics studies, such as genomics and proteomics, offer a valuable tool to understand interactions between acidophilic microorganisms and minerals, allowing optimization of bioleaching processes.

First, the performance of axenic acidophilic cultures were evaluated according to their ability to catalyze chalcopyrite dissolution and to control the redox potential within an ideal range (<680 mV). Based upon the axenic culture performances, four microbial consortia were designed that showed the best results was composed of moderate thermophiles. Then, the presence of L. ferriphilum in chalcopyrite bioleaching experiments was analyzed by epifluorescence microscopy and image analysis. Pre-colonization experiments with L. ferriphilum showed a slight improvement in copper recovery (4%) over 38 days although cell attachment to chalcopyrite and pyrite surfaces was not improved. Moreover, the consortium composed of Ferroplasma acidiphilum, Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans, and ‘Fervidacidithiobacillus caldus’, showed higher mineral surface colonization indicating the existence of cooperative bioleaching followed by a non-contact mechanism. Finally, analysis of DNA and protein from the five tested consortia indicated some differences, probably because of the low cell density at the end of the experiments. In total, 11,173 proteins were identified and quantified, of which 9 and 10 were unique proteins associated with iron and sulfur metabolism.­ The findings of this thesis highlight that understanding microbial synergies is key to improving copper recovery from chalcopyrite in order to design more efficient strategies for its large-scale application.

The complex realm of intimate partner violence (IPV) against men by female partners continues to be under-researched in Sweden. The lack of knowledge and recognition regarding the impacts and dimensions of violence that men face can severely affect their self-perception and masculinity. The thesis is anchored in the objective to describe and analyse men’s lived experiences of (diverse dimensions of) violence perpetrated by a female partner, the men’s reactions to their experiences, and what subsequent effects these experiences have on their sense of self and masculinity. Employing a narrative methodology, the study captures the experiences of 21 men to illuminate the complexities of male vulnerability and victimhood. Although no man explicitly voiced being a victim of IPV, the men’s narratives implicitly convey the essence of being subjected to something and indicate that the men’s experiences do not fit with the public and prevailing narratives of gender and IPV.

The thesis employs a hermeneutical approach to delve into the men’s narratives, integrating theoretical frameworks on masculinity, liminality, possible self, and the concepts of epistemic injustice, definitional hegemony, and definitional dialogue. These concepts frame the men’s struggle for recognition and understanding within societal and authoritative contexts, where their experiences often clash with prevailing narratives of gender, IPV, and institutional biases. The findings portray the men’s efforts to reconcile traditional masculinity while they are in limbo and trying to (re)construct their sense of self. The intricate dance between outward perception and inner turmoil invites a critical re-evaluation of complicit masculinity within the realm of IPV, urging a departure from rigid masculine archetypes towards a more inclusive, empathetic understanding of masculinity that embraces the multifaceted realities of these men’s lives. Such findings have led to the development of the concept of piloting masculinity, which illustrates the men’s trajectory of entering and leaving liminality, while reconstructing their identities into a new possible self and embracing vulnerability. 

This thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the men’s lived experiences, challenging conventional gender narratives and highlighting the need for a more inclusive discourse on IPV that acknowledges male victims. It emphasises the necessity for systemic changes in order to recognise and support men better through IPV and its aftermath.

Claiming that cultural heritage must be preserved for sustainable urban development and for the benefit of future generations is common practice in cultural heritage management and urban planning. But when cultural heritage is used as a resource in urban transformation processes, do current heritage practices, including archaeology, promote the socially sustainable urban futures they aim to achieve? 

This research aims to generate new knowledge on how Swedish contract archaeology can contribute to sustainable urban development and goodliving environments in an informed and innovative manner. By adopting a broad perspective, I explore how cultural heritage is utilized as a resource in urban transformation and design processes to promote social sustainability. Employing an interdisciplinary theoretical framework, I examine how the social sustainability effects of current heritage practices, including archaeology, affect sustainable futures making. The research includes three case studies on urban transformation: the Caroli quarter in Malmö (1967–1973), the Valnötsträdet quarter in Kalmar (2008–2018), and the ongoing transformation of Kiruna town. 

The results highlight how contradictions between legislation's focus on the past and cultural and urban planning's future-oriented goals institutionalize ideas about cultural heritage value and the perception that preservation is a sustainable heritage practice in itself. Consequently, archaeology is rarely seen as a process or practice that promotes social sustainability. Instead, focus is on the value of the built historic environment and stories about the past, assuming that using these elements in development and design processes will promote present and future sustainability values, such as attractiveness, security, social cohesion, and collective identities. However, the results show that expected social sustainability goals are rarely met due to a lack of citizen participation and a lack of understanding of what is required to achieve these goals in the present and for the imagined futures. I argue that to effect change, it is necessary to explore futures literacy in theory and practice, deepen comprehension of how archaeology and heritage practices contribute to social value, and broaden participation in discussions and decisions regarding how cultural heritage can be used as a resource in urban development processes.

Metallförorenad mark utgör globalt sett stora risker för människors hälsa och miljön. I denna avhandling kartläggs hur stor den generella risken är för att metaller sprider sig från förorenad mark i Sverige till lokala grundvattenmagasin i sådan grad så att grundvattnets tjänlighet äventyras. Avhandlingen undersöker vidare de förhållanden som påverkar metallers löslighet och spridning till grundvatten specifikt runt glasbruk i Glasriket i Småland. Eftersom spridning av metaller från förorenad mark inte bara påverkas av förutsättningarna i den förorenade källzonen, så utfördes de geokemiska analyserna för ett av studieobjekten (Pukebergs glasbruk) både på provmaterial från källzonen och från den underliggande jorden.

Resultaten visar att enbart metallkoncentrationer i jord generellt ger en dålig uppfattning om risken för kontaminering av grundvatten. De undersökta glasbruken är ett exempel på områden där generella riskbedömningsmodeller förutsäger en betydande förorening av lokalt grundvatten, men så är inte fallet i realiteten. Trots höga metallkoncentrationer och en hög lakbarhet av materialet på deponin i Pukeberg, så immobiliseras metallkatjoner effektivt i den naturliga jorden. Anjoner har en högre lakbarhet, men även deras spridning bort från källområdet är begränsad. Den geokemiska modell som tillämpades på datan från Pukeberg hade dock tydliga svårigheter att prediktera den observerade lösligheten hos de flesta metall(oid)er, och kunde således inte helt avslöja processerna bakom den observerade retentionen/lösligheten av metaller. Våra resultat understryker nödvändigheten av att fortsatt utveckla metoder och förstå vilka mekanismer som är mest inflytelserika för föroreningars fastläggning/frisättning från förorenad jord och dess omgivning.

Avhandlingen bedömer också riskerna med att konsumera grönsaker som odlats nära glasbruksområden, samt att dricka vatten från privata brunnar. Resultaten visade att koncentrationerna av As, Cd och Pb i grönsaker var måttligt förhöjda, men tillräckligt höga för att kunna resultera i ett dagligt intag av As och Cd över toxikologiska gränsvärden för individer med hög exponering. När det gäller exponeringen via dricksvatten var As den enda metall av fem (As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Pb) med potential att resultera i ett intag över tolerabla nivåer för individer med hög vattenkonsumtion. Detta berodde dock inte på att As-koncentrationerna i dricksvatten från privata brunnar var förhöjda relativt regionala bakgrundsnivåer, utan snarare på de låga doser som tolereras för detta element.

Following a class of fourteen-year-old students through their scheduled week’s lessons, this ethnographic study has the aim to contribute to the understanding of lower secondary school subjects as literacy practices from a multimodal perspective, and thereby illuminate what it can mean for students to create meaning as they move within and between these subjects. The research questions focus on how teachers offer students opportunities to create meaning and how students create representations of their meaning-making. The study is grounded in social and multimodal perspectives, theoretically framed by new literacy studies, social semiotics, and designs for learning.  

The empirical material, collected over four weeks and encompassing eight school subjects, consists of video observations, documented artifacts, and interviews. The analyses are conducted from different perspectives and levels of detail, using tools such as the learning design sequence model, the writing wheel, and categories from systemic functional grammar for multimodal analysis. 

The analyses reveal a pattern of two types of literacy offerings. In the first offering, the teacher provides knowledge representations of subject content, and students are given the opportunity to transform these into oral and written representations as tools for learning. Many students choose not to create such representations, and the written representations that are created seem to become tools for learning only to a limited extent. In the second offering, students are given the opportunity to create their own knowledge representations, which are then displayed for assessment or presented as a contribution to the subject content. The multimodal design of the knowledge representations emerges as a knowledge area in its own right, and all students participate in some way with outward-directed meaning-making. 

The in-depth analyses provide a more multifaceted picture of the two literacy offerings: students’ movement within and between different school subjects is also a movement between different patterns of how resources, purposes, and acts of meaning-making are used. The study’s results further highlight the dynamic nature of literacy practices, both in the relationship between the teacher’s offering and the students’ participation, and through the presence of literacies from various social practices.

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to describe the lived experiences of patients with hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers before and after healing, as well as the understanding of the role and presence of self-care activities in ulcer management.

Methods: The thesis is based on four studies, with differing designs. In Studies I and II, a phenomenological approach was used. To describe lived experiences of undergoing ulcer management, 16 persons were interviewed (I), and to describe lived experiences of daily life after healing,15 persons were interviewed (II). Study III was a registry-based, quantitative study. In total, data from 699 patients with venous leg ulcers(VLUs) were analyzed. Logistic regressions were performed to describe associations between advice given on self-care and its impact on ulcer healing. Study IV, which focused on patient experiences of the feasibility of an intervention for self-care, was based on eleven interviews with six patients with VLUs. The data from the interviews underwent qualitative content analysis.

Results: Ulcer management aims at ulcer healing. In the protracted process, patients often experience hopelessness. When healing is slow, patients doubt the professionals’ knowledge. A patient’s trust in professionals and the entire healthcare system may erode if treatment and information vary between different professionals (Study I). Study II revealed that daily life after healing was still strongly affected by the ulcer. Memories from a lost period in life were ever-present. Life after healing was changed – for some, life was not very eventful. The patients’ own knowledge was often limited, and there was a struggle to do what was best for the own body to prevent a new ulcer. Study III revealed that advice on nutrition and physical activity had no impact on healing time. Only 44% of the sample were advised on both nutrition and physical activity. It was common to have an ulcer for a long time before seeking help; about half of the sample had an ulcer for >84 days before registration. Other findings were that the median age among the 699 patients was 77 years, the majority were female, and comorbidity was common. The intervention tested in Study IV offered welcomed information. However, even among those experiencing some sense of recognition, the link to their own situation and life was unclear. The technical solution with videos on a flash drive was difficult for most people to use. The importance of close cooperation with professionals was highlighted.

Conclusion: Venous leg ulcers have a profound impact on patients and their life situations. Ulcer management can, in different ways, impose suffering on patients. Not being listened to or seen as a person is anexperience that leaves its marks on a patient. When healing is slow, and someone has to be blamed, relationships with professionals are damaged. The role of self-care is unclear for most patients, which makes self-care harder. Those who tried a video-based intervention for self-care showed difficulties in relating it to their own life. Enabling a caring relationship can enhance patients’ understanding of information and advice. Patients must be invited to share their own experiences, to create a foundation for self-care. The provision of advice alone is not the solution to the issues related to self-care.

The overall aim of the thesis is to advance knowledge about algebra teaching in early grades (Grades 1-6). The thesis highlights how teachers’and students’ learning about generalizations and functional relationships in early algebra can change in an algebraic teaching practice. This research focuses on identifying teachers’ and students’ learning about algebra,  generalizations and functional relationships and further describes the consequences of such teaching.

Functional thinking consists of three modes: recursive patterning, covariational thinking, and correspondence relationships, and all three are essential in understanding algebraic generalizations. One way to develop students’ learning about functional thinking is to deliberately base the teaching on these three modes of functional thinking. However, such teaching is challenging in the early grades, specifically concerning correspondence relationships, as most often the focus is on recursive patterning.

This project was conducted as an educational design research study, including three consecutive sub-studies that built on each other in terms of both form and content (algebra). The teachers participated in anintervention to develop functional thinking when working with pattern generalizations in their Grades 1 and 6 classes and were involved in all phases of the intervention. The results showed how the understanding of generalizations and functional relationships in algebra changed for both teachers and students. Although, different representations were used the graphs, in particular, developed the students’ functional thinking when working with generalizations in growing patterns. This helped teachers and students visualize and discuss all three modes of functional thinking. Graphs inlinear relations made it possible to visualize covariational thinking, justify different correspondence rules, and enable students to discuss the mathematical structures in generalized formulas.

Due to the fact the teachers participated in all phases of the intervention, it was possible to capture challenges that arose while teaching. Hence, knowledge contribution involved the importance of the teacher being challenged, which required them to develop and alter their teaching practice.

The deep biosphere refers to the vast ecosystem of life beneath the Earth’s surface, residing in the fractured bedrock and pores of rocks, largely isolated from solar energy. These fractures enclose an important reservoir of groundwater that contains microorganisms active in processes such as the uptake of inorganic carbon, sulfur cycling, or the degradation of organic matter. However, there is still much knowledge to be gained on the diversity and function of these subsurface microorganisms, and how the surface influences subsurface life. In this work, I explored interactions among subsurface microorganisms, studied subsurface microbial diversity in the light of surface recharge, and characterized microbial populations residing in biofilms.

Potential interactions among microorganisms were explored with anaerobic cultures using groundwaters from the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory. By removal of larger cells (> 0.45 𝜇m in diameter), an inoculum enriched in ultra-small bacteria (nanobacteria) was obtained. Despite the presence of various sources of energy and nutrients, these nanobacteria did not grow over prolonged incubation times up to four months. Reconstructed genomes confirmed this group of bacteria to have a low metabolic potential, indicative of a symbiotic lifestyle.

Characterization of microbial communities in subsurface groundwaters and overlying environments on Äspö island revealed that a substantial proportion of the subsurface community was also detected in soil-hosted groundwaters. Considering the unidirectional water flow, this showed that part of the subsurface diversity between 70 and 460 m depth could originate from surface recharge, especially for the shallower groundwaters. In contrast to the high microbial diversity observed in Äspö groundwaters, characterization of a fracture fluid at 975 m depth in central Sweden revealed a microbial community dominated by a single population, adapted to the energy-limited conditions in the deep subsurface, namely the bacterium Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator.

Furthermore, the activity (based on RNA transcripts) of attached microbial populations was measured using flow-cells that facilitated biofilm formation. An elevated number of genes involved in the transition from a planktonic to an attached lifestyle was observed. Interestingly, comparing the microbial activity in the biofilm to the planktonic community revealed Thiobacillus denitrificans to have a principal role in the biofilm formation. Combined, these findings help understand the magnitude of microbial diversity in the continental subsurface as well as how these microorganisms are adapted to cope with the energy limitations in this subsurface ecosystem.

Acid sulfate soils are described as the nastiest soils on Earth and are broadly composed of metal sulfides. These minerals are mostly harmless in a reducing environment. However, when these soils are drained oxygen infiltration occurs. Oxidation initiates a geochemical process, thereby starting the generation of acidity. As the pH drops, a consortium of acidophilic microbiota begin to grow and flourish. These microbes catalyze the oxidation reactions, which further generates acidity, thus driving the pH even lower. The decreasing pH leads to the solubilization of any co-occurring metals within the system. During flushing events the built-up acidity and solubilized metals mobilize and flow out of the soils into surrounding waterways to the potentially lethal detriment of resident flora and fauna.

This dissertation firstly explores the microbial communities that inhabit acid sulfate soils throughout Sweden and around Vaasa, Finland, and secondly the analogous communities of a mine waste rock repository in northern Sweden. Results from Finland showed an increase in relative abundances of extremely acidophilic microbes correlated to the decreasing pH values that followed the oxidation front. Acidity generation was not mitigated by additions of lime. Further laboratory incubations found that higher volumes and finer material sizes of lime delayed acid generation but did not prevent the development of neutrophilic iron and sulfur oxidizing microbes. The survey of Sweden extended the distribution range of acid sulfate soils and found community differences between the northerly and southerly acid sulfate soils, which were hypothesized to be a result of regional temperature variation. Furthermore, regional differences of the field oxidized samples disappeared following laboratory incubations, further supporting temperature as a driver of regional differences. Lastly, the Swedish waste rock repository study suggested that there were tipping points associated with ongoing oxidation. Subsurface associated communities rapidly decreased following excavation and were slowly replaced by a simple acidophilic community; over time a radiation of acidophiles occurred leading to an increase in acidophile diversity.

These studies together show that metal sulfide rich environments are host to resident neutrophilic to extreme acidophilic microbial communities that play integral roles to the generation of acidity and metals leaching. The composition of those communities differ based on temperature, pH, substrate type, and oxidation age. With regard to remediation strategy development, the application of fine grained lime in combination with peat may hold potential to for short termed acidity mitigation. However cautionis required when transitioning from laboratory based approaches to field trials as the communities are dynamic and complex. 

Aim: The overall aim was to develop and evaluate a conceptual learning model grounded in a caritative caring perspective aimed to facilitate undergraduate nursing students’ learning during clinical practice.

Methods: This thesis comprises four studies with a descriptive explorative design overall. In the inductively applied research, different designs using both qualitative and quantitative methods, were used. Studies I–III used qualitative methods; data for study I were collected using the Delphi method and analysed using qualitative data analysis. In study II, data were collected using focus group interviews and analysed using latent content analysis. In study III, data were collected using individual interviews and analysed using a phenomenographic approach. Study IV used quantitative methods and data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using statistical methods.

Results: Study I resulted in a conceptual learning model grounded in hermeneutics and a caritative caring perspective. The Model for Improvement in Learning Outcomes (MILO) encompasses eight concepts: four intrapersonal, i.e. the students’ own characteristics, reflecting understanding, and four contextual concepts, i.e. environmental concepts, reflecting structure. Study II showed that students’ learning is facilitated as a result of natural actions and elements that occur in daily life, integrating natural caring with professional caring. Studies III and IV showed that students’ learning was a gain in knowledge and understanding of supportive elements for learning and the perspective of the patients, and a gain in engagement and dedication. Study IV also showed that the intrapersonal concepts were valued more than the contextual concepts in the three different semesters studied. The use of the applications was valued more at the start of the students’ education. Some of the concepts and their applications had not been used in accordance with MILO’s implementation in the region involved.

Conclusions: The fundamentals needed to become a professional caring nurse include having compassion and competence. Undergraduate nursing students’ learning during clinical practice needs to be facilitated by a theoretical foundation establishing an ethical bearing, by knowledge and understanding of one self and of the patient as a whole, and by challenged learning using a diversity of tools to achieve the intended outcome of better health and well-being for the patient.

Background: Having an infant requiring care in a Neonatal Intensive CareUnit (NICU) is challenging for parents, often the beginning of a journeyof stress and worry for parents. Such situations could cause difficulties inproblem solving and communication within the family and result indecreased family functioning.Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate parents' experienceswhen their children have needed NICU in the newborn period, and toinvestigate parents' experiences and effects of a family-centredintervention.

Method: Data was collected through interviews with parents of infantsrequiring NICU care (I) and six months after the intervention with FamilyHealth Conversations (IV), analysed using thematic analysis (I) andqualitative content analysis (IV). Questionnaire data was collected inconjunction with inclusion (n=147) (II, III), and five (n=113) and eight(n=92) months after inclusion (III). The questionnaire included measuresto assess mental health symptoms, bonding, family wellbeing, and familyfunctioning. Quantitative data was analysed with descriptive andinferential statistics (II, III).

Results: The results of study I were presented as two themes: interactionswithin the family, and interactions between parents and staff. Interpersonalinteractions could both facilitate and hinder in the sense of becoming aparent and a family. In study II nearly 40% of the parents reported anxietysymptoms. Mothers reported more mental health issues than non-birthingparents. Depression was associated with bonding difficulties and familywellbeing. In the longitudinally study (III) the intervention trended towardpositive effects on mental health, family well-being, and familyfunctioning. However, the estimated effects were not statisticallysignificant. Regardless of the intervention, mental health symptomsdecreased over time, whereas family well-being and functioning remainedstable. Parents experienced the Family Health Conversations (IV) as anopportunity to co-create a comprehensive picture of what had happenedafter their child was born.

Conclusion: The process of becoming a parent and a family could benefitfrom a systemic approach, focusing on the family as a unit, as individuals,and as parents with unique needs and experiences.

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is an essential micronutrient required for several metabolic processes in living cells. Except for thiamine producers, all organisms rely on dietary intake and insufficient supply can lead to deficiency. Since the 1970s, thiamine deficiency outbreaks have been episodically reported across the Northern Hemisphere, particularly affecting high trophic-level taxa, such as seabirds and top predator fish. Salmonids are especially vulnerable to this deficiency which causes high mortality among offspring. Despite extensive research and several hypotheses proposed, a single underlying cause behind the onset of this deficiency remains unidentified.

This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of thiamine status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations across systems with (Baltic Sea) and without (Lake Vänern, North Atlantic Ocean) documented thiamine deficiency events. It explores thiamine dynamics throughout the adult life cycle and potential influencing factors, including diet, fitness variables, and gut microbiota diversity. Results of these analyses were used in a life-history theoretical model for optimal thiamine allocation between tissues.

Lake Vänern population exhibited the highest thiamine status, followed by North Atlantic and Baltic Sea populations. These differences might reflect different thiamine availability and diet due to different feeding grounds. However, thiamine status did not correlate with salmon fatty acid profiles, as previously proposed in literature, indicating that other factors might modulate thiamine concentrations. Interestingly, thiamine generally decreased as salmon approached spawning in both Baltic and North Atlantic populations. This reduction, as shown by the data and modelling with and without starvation, was likely a natural consequence of fasting rather than to be related to thiamine deficiency within the system. Moreover, changes in the salmon fatty acid profiles throughout their lifecycle were consistent for both low-thiamine populations (Baltic Sea) and intermediate-thiamine populations (North Atlantic), suggesting that these changes might not be involved in thiamine deficiency development. The gut microbiota analysis revealed that their composition varied across the studied systems, but microbiota species diversity showed little to no relationship to thiamine concentrations. However, thiamine-synthesizing microbial taxa tended to be more prevalent in salmon populations with high and intermediate thiamine status, suggesting a potential role in positively modulating the host’s thiamine status.

This research provides novel insights into the thiamine dynamics of Atlantic salmon, highlighting the complexity of factors influencing the thiamine status.

Wood is a sustainable material from nature that has a longstanding traditionas a building material. Compared to other construction materials, such as steeland concrete, the significance of using structural timber and engineered wood products has increased in recent years because they are regarded as a renewable source and require a low carbon footprint and less energy consumption during production. In Scandinavia, the European design standard EN 1995-1-1 (EC5) is extensively used to guide structural engineers in the design of timber structures, while addressing safety and service ability issues. However, this standard relieson multiple simplifications to achieve simple semi empirical hand calculations. In addition to these simplified expressions, engineers and researchers need reliable numerical models to study the racking behaviour of light-frame timber structures with arbitrary geometry under complex loading conditions. Such modelling tools must be computationally effective, easy to use and able to simulate the global structural behaviour as well as the local fastener force distributions and the crack growth in the sheathing panels.The main aim of this doctoral thesis is to develop a numerical model to analyse the complex structural behaviour of prefabricated light-frame timber modules. The model is developed in the commercial finite element software ABAQUS® with the assistance of the parametric Python scripting method. This thesis work also includes development of a graphical user interface in Python for user-friendly inputs, outputs, and visualisation of the numerical results. The simulation tool was used to study two different structural applications, firstly light-frame timber walls and then light-frame timber modules. For these applications, the modelling of the mechanical sheathing-to-framing joints is very important. In the first paper application, oriented and uncoupled elastic spring-based connectors were used to simulate the sheathing-to-framing joints. To define the material parameters for the connector, new Eurocode-based expressions were also presented. To simulate the permanent displacements in the sheathing-to-framing joints a coupled elasto-plastic spring-based connector model was proposed in papers II and III for both isotropic and orthotropic joint properties.To validate the accuracy of the numerical model, full-scale experimental tests were conducted for light-frame timber walls and modules. The validation indicates that by using effective 3D structural elements, the model achieves a satisfying balance between computational efficiency and reasonable accuracy. The numerical results presented for the applications agreed well with experimental results, regarding the global and local displacements and crack growth in the sheathing panels. The simulation results also increased the understanding of local joint behaviour in terms of fastener forces and their directions. The developed model was used to perform numerous parametric studies and thus investigate how different geometries, sheathing panels, connection types orboundary conditions affect the global and local structural behaviour of light-frame timber structures. These studies demonstrate how the parametric modelling can easily be used to analyse how different parameters have influence on these types of structures and significantly reduce the number of experimental tests necessaryto perform.The parametric model has also the potential to be further developed for the structural design of more complex modular-based multi-storey timber buildings. Furthermore, the proposed orthotropic elasto-plastic spring-based connector model can be further calibrated to simulate the performance of dowel-type connections in wood-based materials. 

Purpose: The overall purpose of this dissertation is to describe how patient participation can be understood in the context of high-security care in forensic psychiatry, where individuals are subjected to compulsory care.

Design and method: The dissertation is primarily based on a phenomenological foundation, employing a reflective lifeworld approach. Three studies were conducted using interviews, and one study utilized questionnaires with descriptive and comparative statistics.

Main result: In many ways, both patients and staff share a consensus regarding patient participation in forensic psychiatric care. From their respective perspectives, similar obstacles and challenges are described, while good care and the experience of participation are strongly linked to what occurs within the caring relationship. However, it cannot be ignored that participation is not solely about good treatment and meaningful relationships. Forensic psychiatric care is carried out under compulsion within a legal system that is difficult for patients to understand and may be perceived as unjust. Participation must therefore be understood from a broader perspective than just everyday care, as everyday care is part of a larger care process.

Conclusions: Caregivers and patients associate patient participation in a high-security forensic psychiatric environment with significant caring relationships. A strong caring relationship seems to partially compensate for many situations characterized by non-participation. The studies suggest that staff need support in understanding the complexities of forensic psychiatry in order to better support patients throughout the care process. Therefore, a clinical implication is to help caregivers understand the forensic psychiatric system themselves so that they can explain it to patients and engage in discussions about jurisprudence related to forensic care.

This dissertation investigates the social construction of Islamic orthodoxy as a form of boundary maintenance within Muslim milieus in contemporary Sweden. It delves into the dynamics of intra-Islamic diversity, examining how different Muslim groups perceive and define what constitutes “correct” Islamic faith and practice in contrast to what they consider “incorrect”. By employing positioning theory, the study explores how perceptions of both selves and others influence discourses on Islamic orthodoxy, particularly through notions of religious duties, rights, and obligations.  

The study is rooted in ethnographic fieldwork conducted in a multicultural suburb where different Islamic congregations coexist. The study investigates the interplay of local, national, and global dynamics, highlighting how these factors impact religious identities and positioning around orthodoxy. Through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and content analysis of sermons and lectures, the study reveals the dialectical nature of how orthodoxy is constructed. It demonstrates how perceptions of “other” Muslims, whether within the same community or across different denominations, are significant for reinforcing one’s own religious identity and practices.

The findings of this dissertation highlight aspects of how local Islamic congregations and individual Muslims navigate the multifaceted challenges posed by Sweden’s multicultural and secular society. Among other things, they are shown to actively negotiate their place within this culturally diverse environment, balancing the pressures of integration with the desire to maintain religious integrity—while positioning both their own and other views on orthodoxy in relation to these contemporary issues.  

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prolonged passive second stage of labour in nulliparous women in relation to its prevalence, risk factors, birth outcomes, midwives’ intrapartum management, and women's birth experiences. 

Methods: Study I was a qualitative study in which 36 midwives participated in seven focus group discussions. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Studies II and III were retrospective observational cohort studies where medical records from 1131 nulliparous women in Sweden were reviewed. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Study IV included 15 individual interviews with nulliparous women who had a passive second stage lasting three hours or more. Data were analysed using thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology.

Results: Midwives’ management of the passive phase is complex, especially if progress is slow. Guidelines were considered, but women were preferably managed individually. The prevalence of prolonged passive second stage (≥2h) was 38%. Epidural analgesia, malpresentation, maternal age ≥30 years, and birth weight of ≥4 kg were identified as risk factors for prolonged passive second stage. Longer duration of the passive second stage was associated with an increased risk of operative delivery. There were no associations with adverse maternal outcomes. Associations with adverse neonatal outcomes were found, although the rate of adverse neonatal outcomes were low in the study population. Women’s experiences of prolonged passive second stage were described in four themes: “An unknown phase”, “Trust and mistrust in the body’s ability”, ”Loss of control“, and “Support through presence and involvement”.

Conclusion: This thesis describes the prolonged passive second stage from multiple perspectives, including midwives, epidemiological data, and women’s experiences. The midwives’ management of the passive second stage included a complex continuous process of assessment and balancing options for the next step. A prolonged passive second stage was common and did not result in increased risks of adverse maternal outcomes, although further fetal surveillance can be called for. Nulliparous women experienced the passive second stage as an unknown phase and expected a different path for birth, and the experience could include loss of control and increased need for emotional and physical support. 

The aim of this dissertation is to describe and critically analyze ideas about quality management with in different arenas of the Swedish education systemand how these relate to leadership and the enacted curriculum. The study conceptualizes systematic quality work as a governance tool and a national accountability program created with the aim of solving problems concerning lack of equity and lowered national test scores. Two tensions within the policy program are identified. The first is between external results-oriented forms of control and internal professional trust. The second is between national curriculum goals and local organizational goals.

The empirical study consists of a cross-case study of the most different designs of four quality systems enacted by the heads of the school organizations and the principals. The main sources of data are interviews with principals and school leaders and documents and policy artifacts. The data are analyzed from a combined perspective of loosely coupled system, discursive institutionalism and sensemaking.

The main conclusion of the study is that while systematic quality work represents an attempt by the state to create a more coherent and centralized accountability system, the results point to a decentralized and loosely coupled education system focused on local organizational goals. The contents of the enacted policy solutions show that the ideational content of quality work is highly malleable to localized uses and interpretations, which also raises questions about how equity is to be understood within the policy program.

The enacted solutions show great variance concerning how tensions relating to internal and external dimensions of accountability were handled. The reasons for these differences where related to different leadership strategies, varying pressures from the school market and distinct organizational needs. While the enacted accountability systems in all four cases have created results-oriented frameworks for teaching, their impact on the enacted curriculum was clearly mediated in three of the four cases.

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore clinicians’ perceptions and self-efficacy regarding the use of the ‘Serious illness conversation’ structured workflow, and to explore their self-efficacy in caring for patients with palliative care needs.

Methods: This thesis is comprised of four studies: two qualitative studies, one methodological study, and one quantitative study. In studies I and II, observations of clinic meetings and training sessions were undertaken with clinicians. Interviews were performed and a thematic analysis was conducted. In study III, the Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care scale (SEPC) was translated, adapted, and validated. In study IV, the SEPC-SE was completed by nurses and physicians. Factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were calculated, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare self-efficacy. Multiple linear regression was used to explore associated factors.

Results: In study I, clinicians expressed that working with serious illness conversations was vital, but the conversations were also considered in terms of risks. The conversation training sessions created feelings of exposure but were perceived to be rewarding due to an increase in self-awareness. Obstacles in practice were identified as barriers to change. Study II showed that positive experiences and the group’s level of support, consensus, and behaviour was important for self-efficacy. Some clinicians were affected by perceived high demands, failures, anxiety, stress, when working with serious illness conversations. Study III showed that the SEPC-SE needed improvements in understandability and clarity. In study IV, the SEPC-SE reported high reliability. Physicians reported higher self-efficacy than nurses. Education at work and experience in advanced homecare had the strongest associations with self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Implementing serious illness conversations can increase clinicians’ awareness about the importance of engaging in serious illness conversations and thus contribute to increased motivation through behavioural and attitudinal changes. However, building a support system for clinicians within the organisation seems essential for improving self-efficacy. The SEPC-SE was found to be valid and reliable. Clinicians’ estimation of their perceived self-efficacy indicates that healthcare organisations should prioritise work-related education and experience to improve self-efficacy in providing palliative care.

Prokaryotes are the most abundant living organisms in the marine environment. They contribute to primary production and the recycling of its products. Collectively they influence the marine element cycles of carbon along with elements like nitrogen and sulfur. However, much remains to learn of the functional characteristics of microbial communities carrying out these processes, and how different communities respond to changing environmental conditions in space and time.The composition of marine prokaryotic communities is known to change in a seasonal manner, but how seasonality influences their gene expression or “activity” remains largely unknown. 

In this thesis I investigate the relationship between prokaryotic activity, relative gene expression, and seasonality using time series field data on gene expression combined with reference genomes of prokaryotic populations (metagenome assembled genomes, MAGs). This revealed pronounced seasonal succession in overall transcriptional dynamics. Importantly, roughly half of the 50 populations with highest relative abundance in transcription altered their transcriptional profiles across seasons. Thus, changes in relative gene expression on the annual scale is explained by community turnover and modulation of activity within populations. Characterization of a MAG representative of the filamentous cyanobacterial genus Aphanizomenon that forms summer blooms in the Baltic Proper, highlighted seasonal patterns in transcription of genes underlying key prokaryotic activities. This included genes related to photosynthesis (different genes expressed in different seasons), nitrogen- fixation (expression peaking in summer) and oxidative stress (peaking in winter). A mesocosm study in the Bothnian Sea using temperature and nutrient manipulations simulating the winter to summer transition showed lower growth efficiency and higher maintenance respiration in winter conditions, implying larger relative losses of CO2 through respiration in winter. Additionally, temperature, nutrients, and their combination, caused separation in both prokaryotic taxonomy and transcription of metabolic pathways. Key features included archaeal transcription of ammonium oxidation in winter conditions, and Oceanospirillales central metabolisms in summer. 

Taken together, these results highlight the pronounced effect of seasonality on prokaryotic community gene expression and the capability of prokaryotic populations to alter their expressed genetic repertoire. This emphasizes the importance of the temporal perspective when considering how prokaryotic communities will respond to changes in environmental conditions. 

An ever-changing business landscape, rapid developments in digital technologies, and shifts in societal attitudes have paved the way for the sharing economy phenomenon. Over the past decade, sharing economy companies (sharecoms) have emerged in droves, shaking up industry structures globally with their innovative business models and novel valuecreating processes, which rely on the externalised resources. This unique set of factors has enabled sharecoms to scale and internationalise at an exponential rate, but in nuanced ways that appear to challenge many of the assumptions underpinning extant theories on firm internationalisation.

To help provide a deeper understanding of how the sharecom expands internationally, this thesis explores its internationalisation through an investigation of three concepts pertinent to this process: the business model, the business ecosystem, and internationalisation pathways. Conducted with a research strategy of building theory from cases, this investigation entails a multi-case study comprising a diverse group of sharecoms.

The findings show that sharecoms starts to develop their business models, build their business ecosystems, and pursue international expansion from an early stage. These activities also appear to be highly intertwined, with each influencing the others.

Enriching and augmenting extant international business theories to accommodate the sharing economy phenomenon, the thesis makes several research contributions. It enhances the understanding of the three aforementioned concepts, providing insights into the intricacies of their triadic relationship. Through an exploration of sharecoms’ business models, patterns of change emerge, and virtuous cycles between such changes and the sharecoms’ internationalisation come to light. In addition, a close look at sharecoms’ business ecosystems yields further insights into their role during internationalisation, also revealing a sub-category of semi-dependent entities – local communities – which are found to play an important role in the sharecom’s new foreign market entry. As such, the thesis contributes to literature linking business models and business ecosystems. The thesis also introduces new internationalisation pathways, thus contributing to extant internationalisation process theory. Empirically, the thesis enhances the diversity of sharecoms studied, a shortcoming within sharing economy research to date. Lastly, a number of practical contributions offer insightful managerial knowledge on sharecom internationalisation, more specifically, on the possibility of implementing business model changes to advance international expansion, creating business ecosystems to support new foreign market entry, and adopting flexible, new internationalisation pathways.

Purpose: The overall purpose of this thesis was to explore and describe early response for community safety in rural areas with a focus on parttime firefighters’ work situation and family support.

Methods: The thesis used an inductive approach with an exploratory and descriptive design, including qualitative and quantitative research methods. Each study’s design was selected to align with its specific purpose. The five studies collectively contributed to fulfilling the overall purpose of the thesis. Descriptive and comparative statistics were employed to describe response times in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in relation to population density for volunteer first responders, fire and rescue services, and emergency medical services (I). A literature review was conducted to synthesize literature regarding non-career firefighters, with a focus on recruitment, retention and resignation (II). The Delphi technique was applied to identify pivotal factors that influence the ability of main employers to have employees who are part-time firefighters in rural areas in Sweden (III). Interviews were conducted and analysed using latent qualitative content analysis to describe the experiences of part-time firefighters in rural areas in Sweden (IV). Interviews were conducted and analysed with the Critical Incident Technique to describe the experiences and actions of part-time firefighters’ family members in rural areas in Sweden (V).

Findings: The fire and rescue services had a significant impact on reducing response times in non-urban settings compared to the emergency medical services (I). Culture, recognition and supportive leadership in the fire and rescue services played a crucial role in job satisfaction and retention among non-career firefighters (II). Main employers to part-time firefighters wanted to contribute to preserve a fire and rescue service in the community by encouraging employees to also work as part-time firefighters (III). Part-time firefighters shared a strong commitment and motivation but balanced the service with other responsibilities in life (IV). Family members of part-time firefighters faced challenges and dealt with uncertainties but adapted their daily lives to fit with the part-time firefighters’ work situation (V). The findings revealed that various dimensions and interrelated subsystems have an impact on part-time firefighters’ work situation and support, enabling early response for community safety in rural areas. These interrelated subsystems, driven by individual efforts, support part-time firefighters serving on-call in rural areas, demonstrating a shared commitment that involves responsibility as well as the dedication of time and resources.

Conclusion: The shared commitment found among part-time firefighters, their main employers, and their family members underscores their importance in supporting part-time firefighters’ work situation. This commitment and support are essential for retaining part-time firefighters, which enhances early response efforts and ensures community safety in rural areas. Consequently, “sharing is caring” is of pivotal importance.

Background: Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer often experience urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction posttreatment. Active self-care can reduce this burden. However, support maybe needed to maintain motivation during the long rehabilitation. eHealth has the potential to provide such support.

Aim: To investigate the effects of eHealth support and describe patients'experiences of support in self-care during the rehabilitation after radical prostatectomy.

Method: The Medical Research Council’s framework for complex interventions governed the overall design of this thesis. In Study I, patients’ experiences of the usability of a new eHealth support, the electronic Patient Activation in Treatment at Home (ePATH), was described using individual interviews and deductive content analysis. The effects of ePATH on symptoms and activation were evaluated through a multicenter longitudinal randomized controlled trial (II, III). Patients planned for radical prostatectomy at three sites were eligible for inclusion. The intervention group had access to ePATH during one year after surgery. Questionnaires at five timepoints were analyzed with linear mixed models and generalized estimation equations. Study IV described patients’ experiences of support for managing self-care through individual interviews and inductive content analysis.

Results: Study I covered the usability of ePATH as to managing the technology, turning input into output, and how the eHealth support assisted in task performance. The randomized controlled trial showed no significant differences between groups regarding urinary incontinence, sexual function, physical activity, pelvic floor exercises (II), or patient activation (III). In the intervention group, 64% used ePATH. Initial patient activation and depression significantly influenced patient activation over the course of the rehabilitation year. In Study IV, patients described a progression in self-care management, where their abilities grew through interconnected phases.

Conclusion: The needs for support differ during a patient's journey through prostate cancer rehabilitation. This places demands on the support and underscores the need for accessibility, individual adaptation, and continuity. Future research should focus on adjustable aids for patients in long-term rehabilitation, integrating multiple aspects, to enable tailoring of the support.

This thesis studies political parties in Sweden and their attitudes toward the Israel-Palestine issue during the period from 2006-2021. The analysis assumes that political parties act strategically, guided by their party goals across different arenas: parliamentary, internal, and electoral. Five key party goals—policy, vote-seeking, position, party cohesion, and international credibility—are used to analyze the strategic behavior of these parties. The Israel-Palestine issue holds strategic relevance for several political parties. Left-leaning parties (such as the Green Party, Social Democrats, and Left Party) benefit the most from strategically engaging with this issue. Even parties like the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party recognize strategic relevance in addressing the Israel-Palestine issue. Notably, the Center Party påsy the least attention to this issue. The most relevant party goals are policy and international credibility. The study also reveals significant relationships between parties and their sympathizers. In addition, the results offer concrete examples of how the party strategy works within the political parties, thus contributing to party strategy research, Swedish foreign policy and the Israel-Palestine issue in a Swedish context. In conclusion, the Israel-Palestine issue is deeply ideological. While it serves as a political tool in foreign policy debates, its impact is even more pronounced in domestic discussions, where parties use it to underscore their ideological stances. Overall, the Israel-Palestine issue remains to be one of the most polarized topics in the Swedish foreign policy debate.

The necessity for climate change mitigation and the growing demand for renewable materials calls for silvicultural approaches that increase forest biomass production. In northern conifer forests growth is normally limited by nutrients, primarily nitrogen (N). Potential advantages of early and repeated fertiliser applications needs to be studied and compared with traditional late-rotation fertilisation.  Fertilisation influences earlywood proportion and wood density, but responses are variable. The role of phosphorus (P) in areas with high N deposition remains unclear. Moreover, the growth potential of fertilised oak remains underexplored. 

This thesis investigates the effects of nutrient optimisation on Norway spruce and oak growth, as well as its influence on earlywood proportion and basic wood density in spruce stem wood. Also, growth effects of P, N, and NP fertilisation were studied in mid-rotation Norway spruce stands.

Paper I examines the impact of repeated fertilisation at nine young Norway spruce stands comprising an interval study with different fertilisation frequencies across five sites, and a practice-oriented study with two-year fertilisation interval at four sites. All fertilisation treatments significantly increased periodic annual increment (PAI) by 79-105 % over the control. 

Paper II studied the influence of fertilisation on the proportion of earlywood and wood density using X-ray densitometry. Fertilisation caused a reduction in wood density and increases in earlywood proportion. 

Paper III evaluated the effects of fertilisation, irrigation and their combination on pedunculate and sessile oak (Quercus robur L., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) on abandoned farmland. None of the treatments resulted in a significant growth stimulation indicating that, under the current precipitation regime, the soil nutrient legacies from former agricultural use are sufficient to leverage the maximum growth potential.

Paper IV examined the effects of P, N, and NP fertilisation in two experiments in mid-rotation Norway spruce stands in an area with elevated N deposition. The pure P treatment increased PAI by 21% in assessment period 1 and 18% in period 2. In the NP experiment, all treatments increased PAI in period 1 (N: +20%, N+P: +23%), but in period 2 only the N+P treatment showed a significant 29% increase.

Over 3 billion tonnes of metal are produced annually to be used in structural elements, as alloys, andas dopants in electronics; all of which affect every facet of our modern lives.As ore grades worsened with exploitation, mining technology improved to access the gradually scarcermetals. However, the last 50 years have experienced an inflexion point where rare earth metals havecome into greater focus as a ‘green’ surge toward global electrification has taken place. Rare earthmetals are, by definition, present in ores at low concentrations and result in greater volumes ofprocessing waste.Mine waste includes tailings, metallurgical slag, process residues, and waste effluents. These wastesare an environmental hazard, but also present an opportunity as they are often (semi)selectivelyenriched with metals other than what initially mined for. Several wastes were investigated as a sourceof critical raw materials and rare earth elements through dissolution of their bulk by organic andmineral acids produced by bacteria.The wastes investigated were a bauxite residue from Greece, several magnesium-rich wastes fromSpain, platinum group metal-containing wastes from the UK, and vanadium-containing magnetitefrom Norway.The bauxite residue showed maximal dissolution (71.22 %) in spent media from a Gluconobacteroxydans culture that contained gluconic acid at significantly lower normality than the other acidstested. This indicated that while availability of hydronium ions affect dissolution, an acid’s conjugatebase is as an important consideration. In addition, a combination of organic acids in these spentmedia may affect leaching. Although contact leaching of bauxite residue in a live G. oxydans culturemay promote leaching of some metals, other metals appeared to be minimally soluble and leavesolution after three days of exposure.The magnesium containing waste was shown to rapidly undergo dissolution in aFervidacidithiobacillus caldus culture, which produced sulfuric acid from elemental sulfur – itself awaste product. Dissolution was up to 74 % within 5 minutes of exposure, and up to 99 % after 57 days.In addition, F. caldus acid production with exposure to the ore was enhanced over that on elementalsulfur alone, accumulating up to 16 g/L magnesium in solution. Dissolution with sulfuric acid alsoappeared to be selective toward magnesium over iron, calcium, and manganese.Finally, the vanadium-containing magnetite, when cultured with Shewanella loihica, did not yieldsignificant metal release. Leaching with gluconic acid produced by Gluconobacter oxydans resultedin a maximum yield of 3.3 % of the available vanadium. Microorganisms endogenous to the mineralmay also explain the elevated levels of vanadium in effluent and could potentially be utilised for thebioleaching of magnetite in future work.Acid dissolution of mine waste presents a viable path to the valorisation of these wastes; however,mineralogy of the wastes is pivotal to yield and requires further investigation.

Aim: The overarching aim of this thesis was to gain understanding of the meaning and experience of sedentary behavior, its relation to physical activity, physical function, and health in older adults.

Method: This thesis utilizes both qualitative and quantitative data. Two qualitative studies, involving in-depth interviews, investigated the lived experiences of sedentary behavior (n = 16, Study I) and the influence of lifelong physical activity experiences (n = 14, Study III) among community-dwelling older adults receiving initial support. Two quantitative studies examined physical activity and its correlates. Study II (n = 72) used questionnaires and accelerometers to measure daily step counts and its predictors in the same population as Studies I and III. Study IV (n = 819) leveraged data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care to investigate sit-to-stand time, a measure of lower body strength, in relation to physical function and health. Qualitative data were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach (Study I) and qualitative content analysis (Study III). Quantitative data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models (Studies II & IV).

Result: Study I showed that, for older adults, sedentary behavior is more than just sitting still. They experience it as an adaptation to an aging body, influenced by choices and a sense of frailty. Although some view it as unnatural, others see it as a necessary part of recovery and rest. Study II showed that daily step counts among older adults are influenced by a combination of predictors, including time spent in long bouts of sitting, independent outdoor walking ability, and the intention to be more active. Interestingly, the multiple linear regression model explained 47.8% of the variance in daily step counts. Of seven predictors included, time spent sitting in bouts of at least 60 minutes per day (R2 = 19.6%), independence when walking outdoors (R2 = 9.2%), and intention to become more physically active (R2 = 13.0%) explained most daily step count variance. Study III showed that a lifetime of physical activity shapes how older adults approach physical activity later in life. They rely on an embodied “activity compass” based on past experiences and their body's current limitations to navigate daily routines and make choices about activity levels and support. Study IV showed predictors explaining sit-to-stand time. The multiple linear regression model explained 26.8% of the variance in sit-to-stand time. Out of seven predictors, grip strength (R2 = 12.0%), age (R2 = 7.2%), and generic quality of life (R2 = 2.8%) explained most sit-to-stand time variance.

Conclusion: This thesis, grounded in the lived experiences of older adults, examined sedentary behavior, providing a deeper understanding of how to address sedentary behavior among older adults. Sedentary behavior is considered unnatural but still a conscious choice and sitting down for longer bouts during the day does not necessarily influence daily physical activity. Sedentary behavior among older adults can combine well-needed rest and engagement in meaningful activities. Furthermore, analyses of predictors of sit-to-stand time and daily step counts revealed potential disruptions to the natural motion of rising from a chair and walking. The findings suggest that older adults' lifelong experiences with physical activity and sedentary behavior become embodied knowledge, helping them navigate daily life.

I denna avhandling bidrar jag med ett nytt perspektiv på vad som händer när politisk etik möter politisk praktik. Jag undersöker hur svenska riksdagsledamöter resonerar kring etiska dilemman relaterade till transparens, ärlighet och kompromisser samt vilka aspekter som är relevanta när de gör det. Jag utforskar även vad parlamentariker själva anser vara de mest utmanande etiska dilemmana, de viktigaste dygderna och de mest problematiska lasterna. Med utgångspunkt i 74 djupgående scenariebaserade intervjuer med svenska riksdagsledamöter och genom att använda ett multidimensionellt analytiskt verktyg visar jag empiriskt hur flera tidigare underteoretiserade aspekter av politiska dilemman är centrala för att förstå hur riksdagsledamöter resonerar när de möter dilemman.

Transparens, ofta sedd som en demokratisk hörnsten, beaktas i relation till hur det påverkar politiskt oberoende, framträdande och omdöme. Ärlighet, en av riksdagsledamöter ofta nämnd dygd, handlar, argumenterar jag, mer om att undvika att ljuga än att alltid tala om allt som är sant. Kompromissande, vilket generellt ses som positivt i dilemmalitteraturen, utmanas av svårigheterna att upprätthålla och kommunicera den teoretiskt viktiga skillnaden mellan att kompromissa och att söka konsensus. I kapitlen om dygder och laster visar jag hur ett flertematiskt och flernivåperspektiv belyser dygdernas och lasternas roll i politiken generellt och deras påverkan på ledamöters dilemmaresonemang i synnerhet.

Teoretiskt är ett väsentligt bidrag i denna avhandling introduktionen av maktlöshet och dess betydelse för att förstå vad politiska dilemman är, vilka politiker som möter dem och hur de hanterar dem. Genom att kombinera resultaten från de empiriska kapitlen med tidigare litteratur visar jag även hur tre ytterligare analytiska kategorier är centrala för att förstå hur politiker resonerar när de ställs inför politiska dilemman: den etiska sfären som dilemmat uppstår i, hur deras handlingar uppfattas av relevanta aktörer samt hur de har avgränsat sitt eget etiska ansvar.

Resultaten bidrar till litteraturen om politiska dilemman, särskilt inom “dirty hands” genren, genom att betona dessa tidigare underteoretiserade aspekter av politiska dilemman. Avhandlingen ger dessutom ett metodologiskt bidrag genom att introducera en empirisk metod som framtida studier kan använda för att operationalisera, utforska och analysera politiska dilemman.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) statements have been used as part of diversity management in human resources for some time and research suggests they are generally perceived positively and can increase organizational attraction in underrepresented groups, thus promoting diversity and inclusion. The main aim of this doctoral dissertation is to examine the effects of a particular diversity management practice called equality monitoring (EM) and investigate public perceptions of EM and effects on behaviour such as applications, intentions to pursue a job and organizational attraction. EM is the practice of collecting data on protected characteristics (such as age, ethnicity etc.), and using it to promote inclusion or for anti-discrimination purposes.

Study I examined perceptions of EM-use in an employment context. A cross-sectional survey looked at group differences of UK ethnic group and gender, and examined if perceptions and attitudes towards EDI were moderated by perceived previous experiences of employment discrimination. Results revealed that ethnic minority respondents and women were more positive about EM and had more positive attitudes towards EDI. History of discrimination was a moderator only for White males, where perceptions of previous discrimination in employment led to less positive ratings of EM and attitudes towards EDI. In a comparison between the UK responses and those from a small Swedish sample, UK respondents gave higher ratings, but both groups had positive attitudes towards EM.

Study II reports two experiments sampling majority and minority UK ethnic groups and presented job advertisements manipulated for the presence of an industry-standard (I-S) EDI statement with or without EM statements and a control condition with no EDI information. The effects were measured on organizational attraction on three subscales: general attractiveness, prestige, and job-pursuit intention. The I-S plus EM condition resulted in the highest prestige ratings across the sample, and stronger job-pursuit intentions in the ethnic minority group. In the second experiment, the effects of framing conditions on EM information were tested. The inclusion of any EDI information positively influenced ratings, but ratings dipped for ethnic minority respondents when an EM statement was provided without explanation for why data collection is being performed.

Study III was a largescale field experiment and survey on job applicants of a Swedish county council in which job advertisements were presented with no EDI statement, an I-S statement or an EM statement and were rolled out over separate 5-month periods. A second group of occupations received no changes to the usual job advertisements and served as a control group. The effects were measured on share of job applications from foreign-born and female job applicants and on average applicant age, but no effects of the interventions were found. In a subset of job applicants, survey responses showed no effects of statements on rated organizational attraction or commitment to EDI. However, perceptions of EM were positive across the sample and tended to be highest in groups protected in discrimination law.

While the present data cannot say whether statements have an effect on the number of applicant applications, they may boost aspects of attraction especially in some disadvantaged groups. Importantly, results demonstrate that EM does not detract from attraction and is generally perceived positively when it is explained to potential job seekers, even by Swedish respondents unfamiliar with EM. This is consistent with the introduction of EM more extensively to comply with obligations under EU and UN anti-discrimination directives. More research is recommended to understand the effects of EDI initiatives in diversity management across different groups and contexts in real world settings.

Wood-based panels are indispensable in many areas, such as the construction industry and furniture production. The intensified demand for renewable materials, rising wood prices and increasing protection zones of forest areas make the wood panel industry consider alternative raw materials. The agricultural sector provides, at the same time, large amounts of sustainable and renewable lignocellulosic materials. By-products can arise along the entire agricultural production chain, i.e., during harvesting or further processing into food, but their potential has not yet been fully exploited. This thesis explored the potential of agro-industry feedstocks and side streams as raw materials for wood panel manufacturing. A literature review on the research of agricultural residues as a raw material in wood panels provided an overview of the investigated wood alternatives and their performance in final products. Most of the studies focused on the production of particleboard and its mechanical and physical properties. Often only up to 30% of wood could be replaced by alternative raw materials before the properties decreased remarkably.This thesis focused on an intensive material characterisation of barley husks (BH), oat husks (OH) and wheat bran (WB). Husks are the protective surrounding of their cereal grain and have an anatomical leaf structure. Wheat bran is a side stream of flour production and consists of the grain's outer layers. It was found that BH and OH have at 70% and 66% a slightly lower holocellulose content than wooden materials (poplar, spruce), while their hemicelluloses content exceeding that of cellulose. Additionally, WB had a very high lignin content of 43%. The chemical composition, especially the ash content (5% BH, 6% OH) and the high silicon occurrence on the husks’surfaces, reduced their wettability, as demonstrated by low contact angle measurements. Micromechanical tests showed that OH could resist a higher ultimate stress load than BH and WB, but the modulus of elasticity (MOE) was lower. The MOE was noticeably affected by the microfibril angle, which was three to four-times larger in the husks compared to wooden materials. Furthermore, the results of OH showed larger particle lengths and widths on average, approximately half as much extractive content and slightly higher thermal stability compared to BH. Therefore, OH was suggested as promising raw material and evaluated for particleboard manufacturing. In an experimental investigation, OH was explored as raw material in aspecial particleboard type, i.e., tubular particleboards. Although the boards showed higher insulation properties than wood particle-based ones, the mechanical properties were considerably affected by the reduced wettability, and the manufacturing method led to poor density distribution. In addition, the agricultural feedstock wheat starch, in combination with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and emulsifiable diphenylmethane diisocyanate (eMDI), was investigated as an adhesive system for fibreboard production. Wheat starch was modified to dialdehyde starch (DAS) and served as the backbone in an adhesive formulation of 99.5% bio-based content using 1% MFC and 4% eMDI based on DAS, which showed excellent mechanical and water resistance performance in fibreboards. Especially, internal bond and MOE values even exceeded those obtained in boards manufactured with commercial formaldehyde-based adhesive. The application process should be optimized in the future since the DAS was applied in powder form, and long press times were necessary because the adhesive system required a high-water content. The DAS-based adhesive was used to bond OH in particleboards, where as challenges in practical implementation were encountered. The severely shortened starch molecule reacted with the proteins of the OH, and from temperatures of 160°C, it led to accelerating degradation and reduced bonding capacity of the adhesive. Finally, this thesis provided a deeper knowledge of husked-based raw materials' properties in the context of panel manufacturing and showed that they are a possible but challenging alternative to wood. Further experimental investigations are necessary to improve the interfacial adhesion of OH and there spective adhesive system in order to produce panels with mechanical and physical properties that meet current requirements. The investigation of a DAS based adhesive opened a promising path for bio-based adhesives and the independence of formaldehyde systems. But subsequent studies must convert the used application method into a sprayable process for industrial integration

According to The Simple View of Reading, both decoding and linguistic comprehension processes are needed for reading comprehension for L1 as well as L2 students. Previous research has shown that early support is important for students who struggle with reading. The thesis aims to investigate the role of decoding and comprehension for students learning to read in Swedish as L2 and how teaching and early special support can promote reading development. The first study in the thesis has a cross-sectional design and examines scores on decoding, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The results showed that L2 students in grades 1-3 in Sweden had significantly weaker scores on all three tests than L1 students and that both decoding and vocabulary are related to reading comprehension. The results also showed that a significantly higher proprtion of L2 students were in need of extra support in reading. The second study is a systematic scoping review that identifies findings from reading intervention studies of L2 students. The results showed that additional small group or within-class programs can support L2 students when teaching is matched to their individual needs. The study also supported the view that instruction in skills in one language can transfer to skills in another. The third study has a between-groups design and investigates the impact of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model with a focus on decoding. The results showed that the RTI model had the potential to promote both L1 and L2 student's reading ability but to a lesser extent among L2 students. The forth study has a single subject design and examines the impact of a systematic word decoding intervention in Swedish for students learning Swedish as L2. All students improved their word decoding ability. In conclusion, it can be seen that differentiated balanced reading instruction and early support in an inclusive setting can promote reading ability in students learning Swedish as a second language. A second language perspective in early reading education is discussed.

This dissertation explores the design and application of a digital tool as a supporting aid for teachers of English in Swedish upper-secondary classrooms. The scope of this dissertation is the design, development and evaluation of a focus-on-form diagnostics tool in the Swedish upper-secondary English subject context. The use of corrective feedback on student texts has been discussed extensively in previous research, but the implementation of an automated diagnostics tool as a support for the practice less so.

The teachers' needs are explored through a survey with the goal of gaining insight into problems learners commonly have when attaining grammar, vocabulary and spelling as experienced by in-service teachers. Focus is on how a digital diagnostic tool could fit within the teachers’ current routines. By combining the survey results with a review of previous research, a design specification for the tool is produced. The tool is then evaluated in teaching practice as a way of exploring the possible benefits and issues of implementing automated language diagnostics as a support for teachers. The evaluation data was produced through interventions and debriefing interviews with the participating teachers.

The results of the survey on teachers' needs indicated that any automated attempt at supporting language diagnostics within the school context would have to be able to identify a series of error patterns, such as sentence structure, punctuation, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, article usage and spelling. In addition, the tool would have to fit within an already established practice aimed at providing learners with the necessary supports for them to succeed, while also avoiding pitfalls such as creating avoidance issues or overwhelming the students. The results of the intervention study used to evaluate the tool indicated that the respondents found it likely that the implementation of the tool would result in a higher workload initially, but would be beneficial long-term. In terms of fit with current routines and ability to identify relevant language patterns, the tool was experienced as conceptually sound. However, some issues, such as the limited target variant, technical issues surrounding on-site implementation, and the overwhelming form of the output data, remain.

The use of automated text analysis for the focus-on-form reading performed by the teachers was found to provide functional support for them. Based on the results, automated diagnostics tools are indicated as being a fitting venue for future research and development. 

Over the last decades, formal schooling has changed towards an enhanced focus on the individual pupil’s achievements. This comprises formative assessment such as visualizing pupils’ learning processes, as well as summative assessment in terms of increased number and importance of National tests. However, little is known, from a pupils’ perspective, about how pupils together with classmates relate to the extensive focus on assessment of the individual’s achievements in formal education; what do today’s pupils, who have grown up with digital technology and social media, say and do out of the teachers’ supervision when dealing with individual assignments? In line with ethnographic educational research, this thesis explores and analyses how educational structures are imposed upon subordinate groups. This thesis gives an account of, from a pupils’ perspective, the pupils’ backstage pedagogy regarding formal schoolwork inside and outside school. The applied analytical tool is Goffman’s (1990) theater metaphor of social life; in this study, pupils’ interactions with peers out of the teachers’ supervision when doing schoolwork are regarded as carried out backstage, preparing an intended impression of their abilities and know-how to present to the assessing teacher. Based on observations, an innovative and discreet staging of audio-visual recordings, and semi-structured interviews with the pupils in one class at a Swedish municipal lower secondary school where approximately 50 % of the pupils had a foreign background, the results show that pupils applied a backstage pedagogy. Outside the teachers’ supervision and awareness, they informally interacted with classmates and used social strategies when dealing with formal individual assignments. The pupils’ regard for grades was the linch pin of their activities; some pupils a) swapped computers with peers and wrote original texts for classmates, b) copied peers’ assignments, c) logged into classmates’ Google classroom accounts and wrote original texts for peers, and d) shared leaked National tests on the class’s Snapchat group. These actions led to dilemmas in the teachers’ assessing and grading of individual pupils as well as in implementing fair, impartial grading. In looking forward, the thesis discusses the phenomenon and impact of backstage spaces comprising parents, siblings, Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT to improve grades. 

Yrkesverksamma anhöriga (YVA) kombinerar förvärvsarbete med att geanhörigomsorg. Idag vet man ganska lite om denna viktiga grupp avomsorgsgivare som förväntas öka i antal på grund av en åldrande befolkningoch den ekonomiska utvecklingen. YVA gör stora insatser för samhället menkombinationen av förvärvsarbete och att ge anhörigomsorg får konsekvensersåväl för deras sociala och ekonomiska förhållanden som för deras hälsa. Dennaavhandling undersöker hur anhörigskapet påverkar YVA.

Studie I var en scoping review över forskning om utmaningar och lösningar vidkombinationen av att yrkesarbeta och ge anhörigomsorg och vilket stödinformations- och kommunikationstekniska lösningar kan innebära för YVA.Resultaten inkluderade ett begreppsmässigt ramverk som identifierade högaoch/eller konkurrerande krav som en avgörande utmaning som kan lösas medformellt stöd. Webbaserad teknik och kommunikationsteknik ansågs vara enpotentiell fördelaktig lösning för att stödja YVA. Likväl fanns det hinder som ivissa fall förhindrade att det användes optimalt.

Studie II och III baserades på data från en undersökning som genomfördes 2018på ett stratifierat slumpmässigt urval av Sveriges befolkning. Studie II beskrevinformella omsorgsåtaganden och erhållet stöd bland kvinnliga och manligaYVA. Kvinnor utförde oftare anhörigomsorg ensamma, med högre intensitetoch upplevde omsorgen mer krävande samtidigt som deras arbetsförmågaminskade i större utsträckning vid jämförelse med männen. Studie III fastställde de omsorgsrelaterade faktorer som associerades medYVAs minskade arbetsförmåga och att det är krävande att ge anhörigomsorg.Ett viktigt resultat var att psykisk stress och ekonomiska problem på grund avatt ge anhörigomsorg ökade risken att både uppleva omsorgen som krävandeoch gav upphov till minskad arbetsförmåga, medan upplevd tillfredställelse avatt ge anhörigomsorg minskade risken för detta.

Studie IV var en intervjustudie om YVAs erfarenheter under COVID-19pandemin. YVAs positiva erfarenheter inkluderade stöd på distans via digitalteknik och mer tid med omsorgstagaren. Negativa erfarenheter inkluderaderädslan för att bli sjuk, nya utmaningar på arbetsplatsen och inställtkommunbaserat stöd till omsorgstagaren.

Denna avhandling bidrar med ny kunskap om YVAs situation i Sverige.Resultaten har betydelse för hur policyer mer effektivt och lämpligt kan hanterastödbehovet hos YVA som kombinerar yrkesarbete med anhörigomsorg.

Entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention as a strategic area for rural development. Addressing environmental, demographic, and gender inequality challenges in rural areas requires contextualizing entrepreneurship. Moreover, applying contextualization as a critical lens provides a deeper understanding of how and why entrepreneurship happens in rural areas. This thesis examines the interplay between entrepreneurship and gender within the rural context and is situated in the growing body of literature expanding the knowledge on entrepreneurship in rural contexts. Thus, the thesis responds to the calls to contextualize rural entrepreneurship (McElwee & Atherton, 2021) and gender in entrepreneurship (Welter, 2011; Baker & Welter, 2020; Welter 2020). The thesis is based on a qualitative study on the life stories of women and men entrepreneurs engaged in their family businesses in the rural province of Småland in southern Sweden. The thesis further contributes with a systematic literature review describing the “state of the art” in rural entrepreneurship as well as the intertwinement between the rural, gender, and entrepreneurship fields. Methodologically, the thesis contributes to the operationalization of a rural proofing concept. To theorize on the intersection of these three, often separately studied, fields (Webster 2017), the thesis illustrates the dyadic influence of the rural context on entrepreneurship and gender relations. The thesis also provides theoretical contributions concerning the interdependence of the rural context, agency, and entrepreneurship, including the implications of this interdependence for policymakers, and practitioners. Contextualizing rural entrepreneurship and gender in entrepreneurship is crucial in the development of policies able to address the needs and capabilities of rural entrepreneurs to explore the impact of differen