Publikationer från Linköpings universitet
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Swedish speech and language pathologists reflect on how their clinical practises align to everyday language and communication skills of children with developmental language disorder
No full textThis study aims to extend current knowledge about the possibilities and challenges encountered by Swedish speech and language pathologists (SLPs) in targeting everyday language and communication in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). To explore this matter, unstructured focus groups were conducted where 15 SLPs, working with children with DLD, shared their views on the alignment between their clinical practices and children's everyday lives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, which resulted in five themes: It's everyday life that matters; As an SLP, you're not a part of the child's everyday life; How do we merge the different worlds?; Resources at home vary, and The employer sets the framework for clinical practices. The SLPs stressed the importance of targeting everyday skills and needs, but they experienced themselves as being detached from the children's daily context. Collaboration with caregivers and (pre)school staff was emphasised; however, the resources and capacity of the caregivers and staff varied, and this was experienced as a challenge for providing the most appropriate care. Some children and their families were situated in a multifaceted context and needed more extensive care, and this group was described as increasing. However, the services that the SLPs were able to offer varied and were largely regulated by organisational constraints. Individualised services are crucial for ensuring a positive development for children with DLD and for empowering caregivers to be effective collaborative partners in intervention. Therefore, it is essential for SLPs to have the time and resources to ensure high-quality care.Funding Agencies|Majblommans Riksforbund; Stiftelsen Sunnerdahls Handikappfond</p
Self-Supervised Siamese Autoencoders
No full textIn contrast to fully-supervised models, self-supervised representation learning only needs a fraction of data to be labeled and often achieves the same or even higher downstream performance. The goal is to pre-train deep neural networks on a self-supervised task, making them able to extract meaningful features from raw input data afterwards. Previously, autoencoders and Siamese networks have been successfully employed as feature extractors for tasks such as image classification. However, both have their individual shortcomings and benefits. In this paper, we combine their complementary strengths by proposing a new method called SidAE (Siamese denoising autoencoder). Using an image classification downstream task, we show that our model outperforms two self-supervised baselines across multiple data sets and scenarios. Crucially, this includes conditions in which only a small amount of labeled data is available. Empirically, the Siamese component has more impact, but the denoising autoencoder is nevertheless necessary to improve performance.Funding Agencies|Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) - Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation</p
Electrocatalytic efficiency of carbon nitride supported gold nanoparticle based sensor for iodide and cysteine detection
No full textExtensive investigations are being conducted on gold nanoparticles focusing on their applications in biosensors, laser phototherapy, targeted drug delivery and bioimaging utilizing advanced detection techniques. In this work, an electrochemical sensor was developed based on graphite carbon nitride supported gold nanoparticles. Carbon nitride supported gold nanoparticles (Au-CN) was synthesized by applying a deposition-precipitation route followed by a chemical reduction technique. The composite system was characterized by X-ray diffraction and Xray photo electron spectroscopy methods. Electron microscopy analysis confirmed the formation of gold nanoparticles within the size range of 5-15 nm on the carbon nitride support. Carbon nitride supported gold based sensor was employed for the electrochemical detection of iodide ion and L-cysteine. The limit of detection and sensitivity of the sensor was attained 8.9 mu M and 0.96 mu A mu M(-1)cm( 2), respectively, for iodide ion, while 0.48 mu M and 5.8 mu A mu M(-1)cm( 2), respectively, was achieved for the recognition of cysteine. Furthermore, a paper-based electrochemical device was developed using the Au-CN hybrid system that exhibited promising results in detecting iodide ions, highlighting its potential for economic and portable device applications.Funding Agencies|Faculty of Science, University Research Council; Global Excellence and Stature program 4.0; University of Johannesburg</p
Influence of land cover on noise simulation output - A case study in Malmö, Sweden
No full textDetermining the land cover (LC) data requirements used as input to noise simulations is essential for planning sustainable urban densifications. This study examines how different LC datasets influence simulated environmental noise levels of road traffic using Nord2000 in an urban area of 1 km2 in southern Sweden. Four LC datasets were used. The first dataset was based on satellite data (spatial resolution 10 m) combined with various other datasets implementing an LC classification algorithm prioritizing vegetation. The second dataset was created by applying an LC majority priority rule over every cell of the first dataset. The third dataset was produced by applying a convolutional neural network over an orthophoto (0.08 m spatial resolution), while the fourth dataset was created by manually digitizing ground surfaces over the same orthophoto also utilizing data from the municipality's basemap. The results show that LC data impact simulated noise levels, with priority rules in LC classification algorithms having a greater effect than spatial resolution. Statistically significant differences (up to 3 dB(A)) were found when comparing the simulated noise levels generated using the vegetation-prioritizing LC dataset compared to the simulated noise levels of the other LC datasets.Funding Agencies|Formas (Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development) [2020-01460]; Swedish Research Council grant [2021-00181]; InfraVis</p
Assessment of metal artifacts from titanium wrist prostheses: photon-counting versus energy-integrating detector CT
No full textBackgroundWe compared photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) polyenergetic images, PCD-CT virtual monoenergetic images (VMI), and energy-integrating detector computed tomography (EID-CT) polyenergetic images regarding bone visualization and metal artifacts in patients with titanium wrist prostheses. MethodsAfter ethical approval, 15 patients were examined with PCD-CT and EID-CT. Polyenergetic images were reconstructed, as well as 130-keV VMI for PCD-CT. Five radiologists evaluated bone visualization, interpretability at metal-bone interface and metal artifacts using a 7-point ordinal scale. Streak artifacts and artifacts at the bone-metal interface were quantitatively assessed. Differences between image setups were analyzed using Friedman test and one-way ANOVA with post hoc tests. ResultsBone visualization was superior in PCD-CT polyenergetic images (median rating 6, range 3-7) compared with VMI (5, 3-7; p &lt; 0.001) and EID-CT (5, 3-7; p = 0.018). Streak artifacts were more pronounced with PCD-CT polyenergetic images (4, 3-6) compared with EID-CT (5, 4-6; p = 0.003) and PCD-CT VMI (5, 3-7; p = 0.002), with quantitative results showing least streak artifacts in PCD-CT VMI, followed by EID-CT and PCD-CT polyenergetic images (50 +/- 7%, 70 +/- 6%, and 79 +/- 5%, respectively; p &lt; 0.001). Interpretability at bone-metal interface was better with PCD-CT polyenergetic images (5, 2-7; p = 0.045) and EID-CT (5, 3-6; p = 0.018) compared with PCD-CT VMI (4, 2-6), without quantitative differences. ConclusionStreak artifacts from titanium wrist prostheses were reduced using 130-keV PCD-CT VMI, while bone visualization was highest using PCD-CT polyenergetic images. Relevance statementIn patients with wrist implants, photon-counting detector CT allows for effective metal artifact reduction using virtual monoenergetic images and improved bone visualization using polyenergetic images. As polyenergetic images and VMI have different advantages, access to both image setups may benefit diagnostic evaluation. Key Points Virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) presented a substantial reduction of metal streak artifacts. Polyenergetic images exhibited better image quality for bone imaging compared with VMI. A combination of image reconstructions should be preferred depending on the diagnostic task.Funding Agencies|Region Ostergotland, Sweden; ALF Grants [RO-965126]; Linkoeping University</p
The Use of Ultrasound for Examination of Swallowing in the Oral Phase
No full textBakgrund: Sväljning är en komplex neuromuskulär process som förutsätter samordning av flera funktioner. Instrumentella bedömningsmetoder av sväljfunktion kan visualisera sväljningsprocessen. För oral sväljningsfas, som innefattar bearbetning och transport av mat och dryck, är visualisering möjlig med ultraljud, men användningen i klinik är än så länge begränsad. Syfte: Föreliggande studie syftade till att undersöka om ultraljud kan bidra med kompletterande information till två befintliga kliniska undersökningsmetoder: Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST) och Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS). Metod: Deltagare var vuxna personer utan sväljningssvårigheter i två åldersgrupper: 13 st yngre personer i ålder 18–30 år samt 11 st äldre personer från ålder 60 och uppåt. Den orala fasen under TWST och TOMASS filmades med ultraljud i två lägen: sagittalplan respektive transversalplan. Filmerna analyserades kvalitativt samt kvantitativt genom skattning på sexgradig skala. Jämförelser gjordes med mätvärden från TWST och TOMASS. Resultat: Ultraljud kan tillföra information om den orala sväljningsfasen gällande tungans rörlighet och tungsvep. Bland annat observerades kvalitativa åldersrelaterade skillnader på gruppnivå och även individuella skillnader i hantering av bolus, som inte framkom i mätvärden från TWST eller TOMASS. Kvantitativa gruppjämförelser eller korrelationer uppnådde dock ej statistisk signifikans. Med skattningarna av ultraljudsfilmerna gavs möjligheten att gradera tungans rörlighet. Samstämmigheten i skattningarna mellan författarna var dock måttlig. Vid användning av ultraljud sågs vid TWST signifikant lägre sväljkapacitet än utan ultraljud, i genomsnitt 2–3 ml/sek. Slutsats: Sammanfattningsvis visar föreliggande studie att ultraljud möjliggör en mer detaljerad analys av tungans rörelser under bolusbearbetning och sekvensdrickande. Användning av ultraljud kan dock eventuellt påverka rörelsemönstret. Studiens resultat bör tolkas med försiktighet på grund av begränsat antal deltagare. Fortsatta studier med större deltagargrupper och kliniska populationer är dock motiverade. Background: Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular process that requires the coordination of multiple functions. Instrumental methods of assessing swallowing function can visualize the swallowing process. For the oral phase of swallowing, which includes the processing and transport of food and drink, visualization is possible with ultrasound, but its use in the clinic is still limited. Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate whether ultrasound can provide complementary information to two existing clinical examination methods: the Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST) and the Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS). Method: Participants were adults without swallowing difficulties in two age groups: 13 younger people aged 18–30 years and 11 older people from age 60 and up. The oral phase during TWST and TOMASS was filmed with ultrasound in two positions: sagittal plane and transverse plane, respectively. The films were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by estimating on a six-point scale. Comparisons were made with measurements from TWST and TOMASS. Results: Ultrasound can provide information about the oral swallowing phase regarding tongue mobility and tongue sweep. Among other things, qualitative age-related differences were observed at group level and also individual differences in bolus handling, which were not evident in measurements from TWST or TOMASS. However, quantitative group comparisons or correlations did not reach statistical significance. The estimates of the ultrasound films provided the opportunity to grade tongue mobility. However, the agreement in the estimates between the authors was moderate. When using ultrasound, significantly lower swallowing capacity was seen with TWST than without ultrasound, on average 2–3 ml/sec. Conclusion: In summary, the present study shows that ultrasound enables a more detailed analysis of tongue movements during bolus processing and sequential drinking. However, the use of ultrasound may possibly affect the movement pattern. The study results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of participants. However, further studies with larger participant groups and clinical populations are warranted
In situ studies of a possible atomic layer etching process of copper.
No full textAs semiconductor manufacturing moves toward atomic-scale precision, conventional etching methods face limitations in selectivity and control. This thesis investigates the possibility of using hexafluoroacetylacetone (Hhfac) as a precursor in an electron-assisted atomic layer etching (e-ALE) process for copper substrates. The proposed method involves repeated exposure of copper to Hhfac, followed by low-energy plasma electron bombardment to induce selective etching. A combination of in-situ and ex-situ analytical techniques was employed, including quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), mass spectrometry (MS), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). QCM results revealed a net mass loss of copper per cycle, consistent with atomic layer etching behaviour. MS and OES confirmed the presence of fluorinated species and ionized copper, while XPS analysis indicated Cu–F bond formation. SEM imaging showed notable changes in surface morphology following etch cycles. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that Hhfac can facilitate controlled etching of copper through a plasma-assisted process. The results contribute to the development of precise and potentially more environmentally sustainable techniques for the future of nanotechnology.
Strategisk analys av håltagning i kapslingar och plåtar - En jämförelse mellan in-house-produktion och outsourcing
No full textThis thesis investigates the strategic choice between in-house production and outsourcing for hole-punching operations in steel enclosures and sheet-metal components, with a case study of Elektromontage, a Swedish electrical-engineering firm. Elektromontage handles a majority of their cabinets by manually drilling and punching customer-specified holes in-house using templates, punch tools and a stamping machine while the remaining part is purchased pre-punched from external suppliers. Manual hole punching imposes significant labor costs, time consumption, and quality variability, while outsourcing can introduce longer lead times and dependency on external suppliers. The primary research objectives are to map the current in-house workflows and lead times, to quantify and compare total costs for in-house versus outsourced hole punching and evaluate the economic viability of acquiring an automated hole-punching machine. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with operators, purchasing department, and two external suppliers alongside non-participant observations in Elektromontage’s workshop. The cost model used follows Oskarsson et al.’s (2021) total-cost framework, incorporating costs like material, labor and machine-maintenance. Different representative types of cabinet types were analyzed under three scenarios; continued manual in-house processing, full outsourcing to each supplier, and in-house processing with a purchased automated punching machine. Results show that manual in-house processing is cheaper than outsourcing to supplier A and B. An automated machine reduces per-unit hole-punching costs compared to manual- in-house, achieving payback if annual punching volumes go up. Outsourcing can free valuable workshop capacity for electrical assembly, but external lead times limit responsiveness. Strategic recommendations include outsourcing small and simple cabinets to free workshop load while retaining the in-house process for a smaller portion of the cabinets to ensure short lead times and flexibility. Additionally, to standardize the hole-pattern documentation by linking each unique layout to an article or serial number, thereby improving digital traceability. Finally, the findings of this thesis encourage Elektromontage to further investigate batch and volume discounts from suppliers and perform a full-scale volume analysis to refine investment payback times.Denna rapport har granskat hur eltekniksföretaget Elektromontage kan utveckla håltagningen av elskåp genom att jämföra intern manuell håltagning med outsourcing till två leverantörer samt en eventuell investering i en egen håltagningsmaskin. Syftet har varit att kartlägga kostnads- och kvalitetsaspekter, ledtider och risker samt att bedöma under vilka förutsättningar varje alternativ är mest fördelaktigt. I metoden ingår en totalkostnadsanalys enligt Oskarsson et al. (2021), där kostnaderna delats upp i olika kostnadsposter. Det har även genomförts intervjuer med verkstadspersonal samt leverantörer, vilka har kompletterats med observationer av nuvarande produktionsflöde. I nuläget köper Elektromontage endast in en mindre mängd färdighåltagna skåp från leverantörer. De hanterar i stället det mesta av sin håltagning in-house vilket sker manuellt genom att borra och stansa sina hål i en stansmaskin, något som skiljer sig mot deras leverantörer som använder sig av automatiserade håltagningsmaskiner. De automatiserade håltagningsmaskinerna hos leverantörerna har visat sig vara effektivare både tidsmässigt och kvalitetsmässigt, vilket är en fördel som Elektromontage bör nyttja i en större utsträckning för att frigöra både kapacitet och resurser för elmontage. Resultaten visar att in-house-produktionen idag är billigast för låga och ojämna volymer eftersom flexibiliteten och den korta genomloppstiden motverkar de ökade kvalitetsriskerna. Outsourcing blir konkurrenskraftigt först när volymerna ökar och mängdrabatter appliceras, dock med längre ledtider. En egen håltagningsmaskin är endast lönsam vid betydligt större håltagningsvolymer. Slutsatsen är att en kombinerad strategi ger bäst resultat, behåll intern håltagning för låga eller ojämna volymer och outsourca volymstarka och standardiserade skåp. Vidare rekommenderas en förbättrad rutin för avvikelserapportering, digital spårbarhet av ritningar kopplat till artikelnummer och ett större utnyttjande av affärssystemet
Small RNA in sperm–Paternal contributions to human embryo development
No full textSperm not only delivers the paternal genome to the oocyte but also regulatory small RNA (sRNA). However, the role of sRNA in fertilisation and human embryo development remains poorly understood. Here, couples undergoing IVF are recruited, and sperm sRNA analysed to investigate their role in IVF treatment. Differential expression of mitochondrial sRNA and Y-RNA are observed in relation to sperm concentration. For fertilisation rate, sRNA from a single locus are significantly changed. Expression of microRNA (miRNA) and ribosomal sRNA correlates positively and negatively, respectively, to high-quality embryos. Notably, the top miRNA have an area under ROC of >0.8. Predicted targets of these miRNA are relevant for development, suggesting a role for sperm-borne miRNA in embryo development. In conclusion, sperm-borne sRNA are biomarkers for sperm concentration and embryo quality in IVF. These findings may contribute to clinical strategies improving embryo quality, lowering costs and reducing the need for additional treatment cycles.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council [2015-03141, 2020-00577]; Ragnar Soderberg's foundation; Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation [2015.0165]; ALF Grants Region Ostergoetland [ROE-995139, ROE-975378]; Vinnova [2020-00577] Funding Source: Vinnova; Swedish Research Council [2015-03141, 2020-00577] Funding Source: Swedish Research Council</p
Det sakkunniga biträdets yttrande : – vad föranleder ett modifierat yttrande?
No full textDenna studie undersöker faktorer som påverkar revisionskvaliteten inom kommunal räkenskapsrevision i Sverige. Resultaten visar att både interna strukturer inom revisionsbyråer och externa nätverksrelationer har en betydande inverkan på granskningsutfallet. Trots att kommunal revision regleras av en gemensam standard, uppvisar revisionskvaliteten betydande variationer. Interna faktorer såsom revisionsbyråns affärsstrategier och organisatoriska strukturer påverkar sannolikheten för modifierade yttranden. Exempelvis tenderar KPMG och EY att lämna modifierade yttranden oftare än PWC. Extern påverkan från regionala redovisningsnätverk spelar också en roll. Kommuner som ingår i vissa nätverk har lägre sannolikhet att få modifierade yttranden. Den vanligaste orsaken till modifierade yttranden är brister i redovisningen av finansiella leasingavtal. Detta innebär att kommunsektorns skuldsättning sannolikt underskattas, vilket kan ha betydande ekonomiska och politiska konsekvenser. Modifierade yttranden ges främst vid avvikelser som påverkar resultat och finansiell ställning. Däremot leder avsaknad av viktig information sällan till modifierade yttranden, trots att detta kan påverka externa läsares förståelse av kommunens ekonomi.