Publikationer från Linköpings universitet
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The river of dreams: reimagining river governance through ecocentric narratives
No full textIn this article, we put forward a conceptual map for understanding the role ecocentric narratives can play in future Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). By comparing Western and Indigenous scholars' narratives of river governance, we show how this makes two different ontological narratives of the river possible. By using liminality and the rite-of-passage narrative of the learning journey associated with it, and by understanding how different river governance narratives rely on different ontological scaffolding, policymakers can gain a better understanding of alternative approaches to river governance that synthesise Western and Indigenous insights. The paper makes two contributions. First, we extend the debate of integration beyond its current centre of gravity around an anthropocentric perspective to show how an ecocentric vantage point open new understandings of IWRM. Second, we consider the river as a stakeholder in its own right and explore how ecocentric narratives and knowledge can lead to an improved role for ecosystems and Indigenous stakeholder engagement in IWRM policy design and implementation. We look at the case of Whanganui River in New Zealand - a river that was granted legal personhood in 2017 - in order to reflect on the limitations and opportunities of implementing an ecocentric approach to IWRM in practice
Using smart transportation assets to hedge fossil energy markets: Evidence from quantile-based VAR approach
No full textThis study explores the time-varying correlations and quantile spillover connectedness to identify the hedging potential of smart transportation assets for energy markets. The study finds that amid crises like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, smart transportation indices demonstrate strong safe-haven characteristics against volatility in equity commodity energy and electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure indices. Additionally, the smart transportation, electric vehicle, and drone indices offer limited hedging benefits and safe-haven attributes for carbon emission allowance and natural gas. Furthermore, smart transportation assets are the major spillover transmitters to fossil energy assets across all quantiles. These outcomes hold substantial implications for environmental advocates, investors, and policymakers.Funding Agencies|Linkoping University, Sweden</p
The Trifecta of Popular Culture Tourism: Pursuing eternal life among the living and un-dead
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to follow up and explore popular culture destinations over time to understand what makes them last. Travel driven by global fan cultures may emerge suddenly and surprisingly for destinations with unpredictable increase in demand associated with popular cultural phenomena such as films, literature, or music. Whether or not this interest will last is a critical question for businesses and other stakeholders that are looking to develop a destination for new visitor groups. We conducted interviews at the same three destinations associated with the Twilight Saga books and films as a previous study published more than 10 years ago. The findings show three different timelines with waves of formative events related to media products, people and artifacts assets and as the main forces driving development and change. For example, in terms of media products, all three destinations saw boosts in audience engagement through the release and re-engagement of books and films. Regarding people, local and a strong celebrity engagement as well as staff and fan engagement were evident at all Twilight Saga destinations, at varying degrees. Exhibitions, events, themed accommodations, merchandise, and guided tours were typical artifacts at all destinations. Our main conclusion is that meaningful interlinking of territorial capital, in the form of media products, people, and artifacts, are central in the creation of 'eternal' popular culture destinations, closely interlinked in evolutionary waves of formative events
Interleukin-6 supplementation during in vitro maturation improves developmental competence of in vitro fertilized porcine oocytes
No full textInterleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine physiologically expressed within the reproductive tract, where it plays a crucial role in cellular communication and processes such as ovulation and implantation. These processes and the presence of embryos alter the immune response of the female reproductive tract in vivo, a physiological event of utmost relevance. Mimicking such physiological environment may optimize porcine in vitro embryo production (IVP). This study aimed to assess the impact of IL-6 supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) and/or in vitro culture (IVC) on the developmental competence of pig oocytes fertilized in vitro. In the first experiment, cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) were matured in media containing graded IL-6 concentrations (0-200 ng/ mL). IL-6 did not affect maturation, fertilization, cleavage, or blastocyst formation rates. However, 100 ng/mL IL-6 significantly (P &lt; 0.05) improved chromosome alignment, meiotic spindle formation, blastocyst efficiency, and total cell number compared to controls. In the second experiment, COCs were matured and fertilized without IL-6 supplementation. The resulting presumptive zygotes were cultured in IVC media with graded concentrations of IL-6 (0-200 ng/mL). IL-6 supplementation during IVC did not enhance developmental competence. Conversely, the highest IL-6 concentration significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced cleavage rate. In the third experiment, combined supplementation of 100 ng/mL IL-6 during IVM and 10 ng/mL during IVC showed no additional improvements compared to IL-6 supplementation during IVM alone. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that IL-6, particularly when added during oocyte maturation, positively impacts porcine in vitro embryo production.Funding Agencies|R&D&I project from MCIU/AEI/FEDER/UE, Madrid, Spain [PID2022-138666OB-I00]; Swedish Research Council FORMAS [2019-00288]</p
Efficacy and safety of varenicline and bupropion, in combination and alone, for alcohol use disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial
No full textBackground Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with an enormous burden of disease and cost to society. The dopamine deficiency hypothesis posits that negative reinforcement generated by a low brain dopamine state drives ethanol intake. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined administration of two dopamine-enhancing drugs, varenicline (a partial nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist) and bupropion (a weak dopamine-reuptake inhibitor) on alcohol intake in AUD. Methods Participants aged 25-70 years with moderate-to-severe AUD (defined as &gt;= 4/11 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM]-5 criteria) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, done at four outpatient clinics in Sweden. Participants were randomly assigned (block size 8) 1:1:1:1 to Placebo + Placebo, Varenicline + Bupropion, Varenicline + Placebo, or Placebo + Bupropion. After a 1-week titration period, Varenicline was taken as 1 mg orally twice per day and bupropion as 150 mg orally twice per day for 12 weeks. Participants, investigators, and all study personnel were unaware of treatment allocation. The two primary outcomes were phosphatidylethanol in blood (B-PEth) and self-reported percentage heavy drinking days (%HDD), assessed over a steady state 10-week-period (from start of week 2 to end of week 11). Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) and per protocol analyses (PP) were performed using a sequential hierarchical statistical method. This registered study (EudraCT 2018-000048-24; clinicaltrials.govNCT04167306) is completed. Findings Between March 4, 2019, and December 14, 2022, 384 participants were randomly assigned: Placebo + Placebo = 97, Varenicline + Bupropion = 100, Varenicline + Placebo = 96, Placebo + Bupropion = 91. 72% participants were male (277/384) and 28% female (107/384), median age 57 (13) years. In the mITT analyses, Varenicline + Bupropion reduced B-PEth (Cohen's d [d] = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;39, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;004) and %HDD (d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;31, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;008) vs Placebo + Placebo. Varenicline + Placebo also reduced B-PEth (d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;30, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;005) and %HDD (d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;36, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;023) vs Placebo + Placebo. For both primary endpoints, differences between the Varenicline + Bupropion and Varenicline + Placebo groups were not statistically significant (B-PEth: d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;022, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;97, %HDD: d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;027, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;76), precluding further comparisons according to the statistical hierarchy. In PP analyses, both primary outcomes were reduced with Varenicline + Bupropion (d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;43 [B-PEth]; d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;41 [%HDD]) and Varenicline + Placebo (d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;29 [B-PEth]; d = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;34 [%HDD]) compared with Placebo + Placebo. Nausea, the only safety concern, was more common in the Varenicline + Placebo group than in the Placebo + Placebo group (49/96 vs 11/97, p &lt; 0&lt;middle dot&gt;0001) and of longer median duration (45 (70) vs 10 (14&lt;middle dot&gt;5) days, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;001). Nausea incidence was lower in the Varenicline + Bupropion group vs Varenicline + Placebo (36/100 vs 49/96, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;048) and of shorter median duration (16&lt;middle dot&gt;5 (39&lt;middle dot&gt;3) vs 45 (70) days, p = 0&lt;middle dot&gt;010). Interpretation Two brain dopamine elevating treatments (Varenicline + Bupropion; Varenicline + Placebo) reduce alcohol consumption compared with placebo alone. Effect sizes were largest when Varenicline and Bupropion were combined and compliance was high (PP-population). Bupropion reduced Varenicline-induced nausea. Varenicline + Bupropion or other mild dopamine enhancers should be further explored for treatment of AUD.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council</p
Cold war heritage dissonance and disinheritance as a heritage alternative: the case of soviet military remnants in the Baltic states
No full textDespite the ongoing efforts towards Cold War heritage-making in Europe, the ambiguities in meaning and the cultural status of certain materialities from the second half of the 20th century across different national contexts highlight a heritage dissonance at play. Focusing on the case of the Baltic states, we analyse the engagements with Soviet military remnants since the early 1990s in the context of changing political regimes. We approach the prevailing practices of disinheritance along the same conceptual lines as heritage-making and highlight how disinheritance has contributed to shaping national identities and future-oriented landscape relations. We argue that disinheritance can be a legitimate alternative strategy for dealing with difficult legacies. In addition, we shed light on how the fragmented attempts to preserve and re-narrativize certain Soviet military remnants reflect the constrained relations between the political agendas of post-1990s nationalism and European integration.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research Council Formas [2017-01224]</p
Towards the Next Generation of 3D Reconstruction
No full textHumans perceive our visual surroundings through the projection of light rays through our pupils and onto the retina. Aided by motion, we gain an understanding of our environment, as well as our location within it. The goal of image-based 3D reconstruction is to imbue machines with similar capabilities. The most prominent paradigm for image-based 3D reconstruction is called Structure-from-Motion (SfM). Traditionally, SfM has been approached through handcrafted algorithms, which are brittle when assumptions do not hold. Humans, on the other hand, understand their environment intuitively and show remarkable robustness in their ability to localize themselves in, and map the world. The main purpose of this thesis is the development of a set of methods which strives toward the next generation of SfM, imbued with intelligence and robustness. In particular, we propose a set of methods dealing with 2D: learning of keypoint detectors, features, and dense feature matching, and 3D: threshold-robust relative pose estimation, and registration of SfM maps. First, we develop models to detect keypoints, producing a set of 2D image coordinates, and models to describe the image, producing features. One of our key contributions is decoupling these tasks, which have typically been learned jointly, into distinct objectives, resulting in major gains in performance, as well as increased modularity. Paper A introduces this decoupled framework, and Paper B further develops the keypoint objective. In Paper C we revisit the keypoint objective from an entirely self-supervised reinforcement learning perspective, yielding several insights, and further gains in performance. We further develop methods for dense feature matching, i.e., matching every pixel between two images. In Paper D we propose the first dense feature matcher capable of outperforming sparse matching for relative pose estimation. This is significant, as previous work had generally indicated that the sparse or semi-dense paradigm was preferable. In Paper E we greatly improve on almost all components of the method of Paper D, resulting in an extremely robust dense matcher, capable of matching almost any pair of images. We lift our eyes from the 2D image plane into 3D, and investigate relative pose estimation and 3D registration of SfM maps. Relative pose estimation is a difficult task, as non-robust estimation fails in the presence of outliers. Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC), which is the goldstandard robust estimation method, requires setting an outlier threshold, which is non-trivial to set, and poor choices result in significantly worse performance. In Paper F, we develop an algorithm to automatically estimate this threshold from an initial guess that is less biased than previous approaches, leading to robust performance. Finally, we investigate registering SfM maps together. This is particularly interesting in distributed settings where, e.g., robots need to localize with respect to each other’s reference frames in order to collaborate. However, in this setting, using image-based localization approaches comes with downsides. In particular, computational complexity, compatibility issues, and privacy concerns severely limit the potential of such systems to be deployed. In Paper G we propose a new paradigm for registering SfM maps through point cloud registration, circumventing the above limitations. Finding that existing registration models trained on 3D scan data fail on this task, we develop a dataset for SfM registration. Training on our proposed dataset greatly improves performance on the task, showing the potential of the proposed paradigm
Dynamic nanodomains dictate macroscopic properties in lead halide perovskites
No full textLead halide perovskites have emerged as promising materials for solar energy conversion and X-ray detection owing to their remarkable optoelectronic properties. However, the microscopic origins of their superior performance remain unclear. Here we show that low-symmetry dynamic nanodomains present in the high-symmetry average cubic phases, whose characteristics are dictated by the A-site cation, govern the macroscopic behaviour. We combine X-ray diffuse scattering, inelastic neutron spectroscopy, hyperspectral photoluminescence microscopy and machine-learning-assisted molecular dynamics simulations to directly correlate local nanoscale dynamics with macroscopic optoelectronic response. Our approach reveals that methylammonium-based perovskites form densely packed, anisotropic dynamic nanodomains with out-of-phase octahedral tilting, whereas formamidinium-based systems develop sparse, isotropic, spherical nanodomains with in-phase tilting, even when crystallography reveals cubic symmetry on average. We demonstrate that these sparsely distributed isotropic nanodomains present in formamidinium-based systems reduce electronic dynamic disorder, resulting in a beneficial optoelectronic response, thereby enhancing the performance of formamidinium-based lead halide perovskite devices. By elucidating the influence of the A-site cation on local dynamic nanodomains, and consequently, on the macroscopic properties, we propose leveraging this relationship to engineer the optoelectronic response of these materials, propelling further advancements in perovskite-based photovoltaics, optoelectronics and X-ray imaging.Funding Agencies|EPSRC; Swedish Research Council [2022-06725]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [51572037, 91648109, 51335002, 51702024]; Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province [BK20200981]; Changzhou Sci Tech Program [CJ20190050]; Australian Research Council Discovery Project (ARC DP) [DP190101973]; UKRI guarantee funding for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 [EP/Y024648/1]; AINSE Limited through a PGRA award; Churchill College at the University of Cambridge; UNSW Scientia Program; German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); ARC DECRA Fellowship [DE230100382]; Tata Group; ERC [788144]; US Department of Energy, Office of Science [DE-SC0023316]; Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship via UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee [EP/Y016912/1]; UKRI [EP/X025756/1]; EPSRC Cambridge NanoDTC [EP/S022953/1]; Marshall Scholarship; Winton Scholarship; Cambridge Trust; Winton Scholarship; Global STEM Professorship; Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission [MHP/233/23]; Research Grants Council under the General Research Fund [P0051623]; Leverhulme Trust [ECF-2022-593, RPG-2021-191]; Isaac Newton Trust [22.08(i)]; Swedish Research Council (VR) [2021-00486]; [EP/X035859/1]; [2275833]; [05K22RF1]; [UF150033]; [URF\R\221026]</p
Participation in activities among people with long-term spinal cord injury in Sweden and the USA - an explorative study using secondary data analysis
No full textStudy designSecondary data analysis.ObjectiveTo explore differences in participation, secondary health complications, and the use of assistive devices and personal assistance among people with long-term SCI in Sweden and the USA.SettingCommunity dwelling individuals with SCI in Sweden and USA.MethodsSecondary analysis of data collected via PARTS-Mv3 among individuals living with SCI in Sweden (n = 73) and in the USA (n = 45). Descriptive analyses provided information regarding the participants, their participation in activities, and secondary health complications, together with the use of assistive devices and personal assistance.ResultsBoth samples included more males than females. The mean ages for the Sweden and USA samples were 63.7 and 58, respectively. The mean time since injury was 36.3 years for Sweden and 35.9 for the USA. Perceived health was significantly higher in Sweden (3.80) than in the USA (2.89). The USA sample reported higher occurrence of secondary health complications than Sweden. The amount and type of participation in activities varied between countries, so also the use of assistive devices and personal assistance.ConclusionsParticipation differences were identified when comparing individuals with long-term SCI living in Sweden and in the USA. Further explanatory work is needed to determine whether the differences can be attributed to the varying social and health care systems of the two countries. Understanding how cultural differences influence participation can provide valuable information to determine which system is more likely to positively influence the participation of individuals with long-term SCI.Funding Agencies|Linkoping University</p
Susceptibility to new antibiotics and genetic characterisation of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales: Low activity of cefiderocol against NDM-producing isolates
No full textObjectives: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPEs) pose a serious medical threat. In recent years, several new antibiotics targeting carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have been introduced, including cefiderocol, ceftazidime-avibactam, imipenem-relebactam and meropenem-vaborbactam. However, no systematic monitoring of susceptibility levels is routinely performed, which challenges rational use and the effectiveness of the new antibiotics due to the risk of rapid emergence of resistance. The objective of this study was to assess the susceptibility of new antibiotics targeting carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria against CPEs in Sweden. Methods: All CPE isolates collected through Sweden's national microbial surveillance programme in 2022 were included. Susceptibility testing for the new antibiotics and other agents relevant to CPEs was performed with broth microdilution for all drugs except for cefiderocol and fosfomycin, for which EUCAST disk diffusion was applied. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for genetic characterisation. Results: In total, 286 CPEs were included in the study. Susceptibility rates were high for ceftazidimeavibactam in OXA-48-like producing isolates (n = 116, &gt; 95%) and for ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam against KPC/IMI-producing isolates (n = 22, &gt;= 90%). In contrast, susceptibility to cefiderocol was low in MBL-producing Enterobacterales according to disk diffusion: 0% (0/76) of Escherichia coli and 6% (3/54) of Klebsiella pneumoniae were classified susceptible, and 93% (71/76) and 39% (21/54), respectively, were resistant. The presence of blaNDM-5 was associated with the highest level of resistance. Conclusions: Considerable variability was observed in the susceptibility rates of the newly introduced antibiotics against CPEs collected in Sweden. Continued surveillance is warranted to guide rational use of these new last-resort antibiotics. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Funding Agencies|Public Health Agency of Sweden; Swedish Research Council [2020-02320]; Vinnova [2021-02699]; Uppsala Antibiotic Center (UAC)</p