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Warming Causes a Decline in Baltic Sea Coastal Sediment Microbial Abundance
No full textLong-term ocean warming impacts the marine environment, and these effects will be exacerbated by future climate change affecting, e.g., biogeochemical processes and microbial communities. However, how the sediment microbial cell abundance and live/dead ratio respond to warming is poorly understood. In this study, sediment core samples were collected from a Baltic Sea bay artificially heated on average 5°C for > 50 years above a nearby (control) bay unaffected by the heating. Contrary to the expected increased productivity in the heated bay, qPCR-based sediment cell abundances showed decreased cell numbers along the sediment depth gradient in the heated bay compared to the control bay. This could reflect that a portion of the cells' metabolic energy was diverted to a heat related stress response rather than being used for replication. In addition, live/dead cell ratios showed no clear differences in either bay suggesting the majority of the cells were alive. Finally, sediment depth gradient 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed previous studies, showing that prolonged warming shallows sediment biogeochemical zones and related microbial communities. In conclusion, future climate change related warming will likely decrease microbial cell abundances that form part of the food web base, potentially impacting the entire ecosystem
Red sanders bark extracts as effective bio-protective agents against fungal and termite degradation of plantation timbers
No full textRed sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), an endemic species of Southern India, is highly valued for itsheartwood, yet its bark is frequently discarded as waste. The sustainable utilization of underutilized barkoffers a promising route to develop bio-based wood preservatives. This study investigates the bio-protective efficacy of Pterocarpus santalinus bark extracts against fungal and termite degradation inplantation timbers. Gravimetric analysis revealed markedly higher yields for aqueous extracts (26.22%) compared to acetone (2.59%) and methanol (1.05%) extracts. Three wood species: rubberwood (Heveabrasiliensis: HB), mango wood (Mangifera indica: MI), and melia wood (Melia dubia: MD) were pressure-impregnated with 3% and 8% extract concentrations for 1 h and 2 h. Retention values in different woodspecies ranged from 0.94 to 8.81 kg m−3, while weight percent gain reached 17.88%, especially in lower-density MD. Acetone extracts conferred the strongest antifungal protection, reducing brown-rot (Oligoporus placentus) mass loss from 46% (control HB) to 11% (HB at 8%), and white-rot (Trameteshirsuta) mass loss from 38% to 11%. A similar phenomenon was seen in MI and MD wood. Termitedamage ratings declined from 5.0 (complete failure) in untreated HB and MI to 1.7 and 2.8 post-treatment, and to 0.2 in MD. Leaching resistance improved with higher concentrations and longerimpregnation times, while FTIR spectra confirmed the preservation of lignin and hemicelluloseassociated peaks after fungal tests. SEM confirmed that the extracts form protective barriers into thewood, inhibiting microbial degradation and termite infestation
Inclusive practices in public libraries : reading promotion for children and young people with disabilities
No full textThe aim of this study is to understand how librarians at public libraries can work with reading promotion towards children and young people with disabilities. The study is based on sociocultural theories as described by Vygotskij and Säljö combined with critical disability studies. The empirical material consists of eight qualitative semistructured interviews with ten librarians across Sweden with experience in reading promotion work with children and young people with disabilities. The results show that collaborations with schools and other organisations are a central part of the work and creating suiting programmes is another. An inclusive and welcoming library space is needed for everyone's opportunity to participate. Training and professional development can be used to build confidence in librarians and a supportive management that is able to give the librarians the time and resources they need are important.
Utmaningar i att förbättra afghanska kvinnors rättigheter : <em data-start="146" data-end="262">En analys av internationella rättsliga och ekonomiska interventioner efter talibanernas återkomst till makten 2021
No full textAs of 2023, Afghanistan is regarded as one of the worst countries in the world for women. Following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, previous progress in women's rights has declined, while the humanitarian situation has deteriorated. Women face restrictions, including bans on education and employment. The international community has responded through economic sanctions and international conventions. Despite these efforts, women's living conditions remain unchanged. This study therefore analyses the paradox of why international economic and legal interventions have failed to uphold women's rights. Using an inductive analysis of policy documents from the CEDAW Committee and reports by the U.S Congressional Research Service, this study applies feminist institutionalism to explain why international interventions have failed to improve women's rights in Afghanistan. Legal interventions have been largely ineffective due to the dismantling of domestic legal institutions, reliance on general calls for action rather than enforceable measures, and the framing of women's rights as part of a broader humanitarian crisis rather than a distinct issue. Economic interventions have also fallen short not because of sanctions themselves, but because they were interpreted and implemented in ways that disrupted humanitarian assistance.
Women's experiences of living with confirmed hereditary breast cancer gene mutation
No full textBakgrund: En ärftlig BRCA1 och BRCA2-mutation ger en kraftig risk för bröst- ochäggstockscancer. Trotts att mutationen inte är synlig för allmänheten att se innebär det förde drabbade kvinnorna en påtaglig vetskap om en komplex livssituation som frambringarkänslor av oro, ångest, skuld och mycket där till. Den genetiska risken berör inte endastkvinnorna utan även deras närstående, familjerelationer och familjeplanering. Kvinnornaställs inför svåra beslutsfattanden angående sin fysiska och psykiska hälsa. Att mötadessa kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med mutationen är en del av sjuksköterskornasarbete. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av påverkan på livet vid enkonstaterad ärftlig BRCA-mutation. Metod: Syftet besvarades i en litteraturöversiktbaserad på kvalitativa artiklar, med en induktiv ansats. Analysen av de 15 valda artiklarnagjordes enligt Fribergs femstegsmodell. Resultat: Analysen identifierade fyrahuvudteman med tillhörande två till tre subteman. De fyra huvudteman var: ”Emotionelloch psykologisk påverkan”, ”Stöd och kommunikation till och från omgivning”,Familjeplanering” och ”Identitet och existentiell påverkan”. Slutsatser: Kvinnorna somlever med en BRCA-mutation upplevde hälso- och sjukvården som viktig för bådebeslutsfattande och trygghet. För att möta deras behov krävdes adekvat kompetens ochmöjlighet att erbjuda individanpassat stöd. Familjeplanering och beslut om profylaktiskkirurgi beskrevs som komplext och emotionellt krävande. Präglat av tidspress, skuld ochupplevelser av förlust kopplade till identitet, fertilitet och kvinnlighet. Samtidigtframkommer det att vissa kvinnor omformulerar sin självbild genom att prioritera hälsaoch välbefinnande, vilket möjliggör anpassning till den förändrade kroppsligaverkligheten
Specialpedagogiska strategier i förskolan : En kvalitativ studie om förskollärares arbete med att stödja barns sociala och emotionella utveckling
No full textSyftet med studien är att försöka förstå hur förskollärare arbetar med specialpedagogiska strategier i förskolan för att stödja barns sociala och emotionella utveckling. Utifrån en kvalitativ ansats i form av forskningsintervjuer har fokus legat på att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor om vilka strategier som förskollärare använder i sitt specialpedagogiska arbete och vilka utmaningar upplever de, samt vilka önskemål och förbättringsförslag som de efterfrågar i deras specialpedagogiska arbete. Resultatet visar att relation, närvaro och ett medvetet pedagogiskt förhållningssätt utgör centrala delar i arbetet med att främja barns emotionella reglering och sociala interaktion. Vidare framkommer att struktur, tydlighet, visuella stöd, vardagliga rutiner och arbete i mindre grupper bland annat används som specialpedagogiska strategier. Förskollärarna identifierar också utmaningar kopplade till resurser, tid och organisatoriska förutsättningar, vilket påverkar deras möjligheter att tillgodose barnens behov. Studien belyser också behovet av kompetensutveckling, kollegialt lärande och förbättrade organisatoriska villkor för att stärka det specialpedagogiska arbetet i förskolan. Resultatet diskuteras utifrån det relationella perspektivet och dess koppling till det sociokulturella perspektivet.
School counselors´work with eatning disorders : A qualitative study of school counselors´ preventive work with eating disorders among students
No full textSchool counselors play an important role in both identifying and preventing eating disorders among students. The purpose of this study is to analyse how school counselors experience their preventive work with mental illness, with focus on eating disorders. In order to get a deeper understanding concerning school counselors work a qualitative method has been used. Eight school counselors participated in our study. The data was collected with qualitative interviews. The collected material was analyzed through a reflective thematic analysis. The analysis compares the results with the theoretical concept discretion along with previous research. The results of the study show that school counselors work with both health promotion efforts to prevent eating disorders, but also with identifying early signs of eating disorders. The results also show that school counselors' discretion can constitute both opportunities, obstacles and difficulties. It can also be affected by organizational, individual and relational factors
The Role of the Library Profession in Crisis Preparedness and Total Defence
No full textThis study examines how professionals working in public libraries perceive their role and responsibility in relation to crisis preparedness and total defence, with particular focus on professional responsibility and legitimacy. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with eight library employees from public libraries in different parts of Sweden. The empirical material is analysed using professional theory, primarily Andrew Abbott´s concept of jurisdiction in combination with neo-institutional theory focusing on legitimacy. The findings show that library professionals largely understand crisis preparedness as an extension of the public library´s democratic mission, especially through information provision and access to reliable information. At the same time, uncertainty regarding resources and institutional support limits libraries´ practical scope of action. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the library profession´s role in societal preparedness and highlights the need for clearer guidelines and stronger recognition at the national level.
Data-driven modelling of methane fluxes across a mire complex based on replicated eddy covariance measurements and spatially-resolved driver information
No full textNorthern mires are significant natural sources of atmospheric methane (CH4), yet estimating CH4 emissions remains challenging due to their complex spatio-temporal dynamics. While eddy covariance (EC) measurements provide valuable insights into ecosystem-scale CH4 fluxes (FCH4) over mire areas typically < 0.05 km(2), the predictability of FCH4 at the mesoscale (similar to 0.5 - 20 km(2)) of a mire complex based on single-site EC measurements has not been explored. In this study, we utilized a network of four EC towers and developed a machine learning approach that integrates these EC data with comprehensive spatial information on drivers to predict FCH4 across a boreal mire complex in Northern Sweden. For this purpose, environmental driver variables were mapped and area-weighted within dynamic EC flux footprints and related to FCH4 in a spatially-explicit random forest model ('footprint-based model'). For comparison, we also considered a standard random forest model used for gapfilling of FCH4 data that is based on environmental measurements from fixed sensor locations ('biomet model'). For both models, variable importance analysis revealed NDVI as the strongest predictor of temporal FCH4 patterns, followed by air pressure, soil temperature and water table. Adjusting for site-specific carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios substantially improved model performance. Both models significantly improved estimates of the mire complex average FCH4 compared to simple extrapolation of single-site measurements, reducing the uncertainty from similar to 22 % in 2022 and 32 % in 2023 to <10 % and <25 % for the footprint-based model, and to <11 % and <30 % for the biomet model, respectively. Overall, our findings suggest that the comprehensive spatially-resolved driver information resulted in only marginally improved model performance at our study site. In comparison, the biomet model offers practical advantages through simpler implementation and wider applicability. However, we encourage testing the footprint-based model approach at other more heterogenous sites where it might become superior due to its ability to account for complex site conditions
On the Relationship Between Dream Motifs and Personality : A Quantitative Study
No full textSyftet med studien var att undersöka om personlighetsdrag enligt femfaktormodellen (Big Five) korrelerar med typiska drömmotiv mätta med Dream Motif Scale (DMS). Ett webbaserat frågeformulär med dessa två instrument besvarades av 88 deltagare. Data analyserades med korrelations‑ och regressionsmodeller. Resultaten visade att Openness hade signifikanta positiva samband med flera fantasifulla och sensorimotoriska teman. Agreeableness var negativt relaterat till aggressiva teman, exempelvis Fighting. Extraversion och Neuroticism uppvisade inga förväntade samband med sociala respektive hotfulla motiv. Inte heller Conscientiousness visade några korrelationer med särskilda drömteman. Sammantaget indikerar resultaten att drömmar delvis speglar stabila personlighetsdrag. Metodologiska begränsningar och praktiska implikationer för psykoterapi diskuteras, särskilt möjligheten att använda drömmotiv som komplement till personlighetsbedömning