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Humination Modification : A Green Approach to Improve the Material Properties of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Sapwood
No full textRecently, wood modification with environmentally friendly modification agents has received special attention. To this end, this study was conducted to use humin fractions, in combination with citric acid (CA) and succinic acid (SA), as reaction catalysts for the modification of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood. The effects of humination modification were evaluated by means of dimensional stability, static and dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, crystalline structure, and biological durability tests on modified samples and compared with the unmodified reference ones. According to the results, the dimensional stability of the huminated samples significantly increased, and this increase with the presence of catalysts was higher than the sole humin-modified samples. The static mechanical properties were considerably improved by 17−24% in the modulus of rupture (MOR) and by 11−12% in the modulus of elasticity (MOE). An apparent increase in the storage modulus of huminated wood was also determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Although the thermal degradation of the samples was slightly shifted to lower temperatures after humination, the modification effect was more pronounced on the residual mass retention compared to the unmodified samples. The biological durability against white and brown rot fungi was also significantly improved by the humination modification. Overall, the humination modification showed huge potential as a green approach to enhance the wood properties for outdoor applications
Investigation of structural, thermal, and electrical properties of sodium-doped oxynitride glass-ceramics
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the influence of Na2O addition on the structural, thermal, and electrical characteristics of oxynitride glass-ceramics within the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Al-Si-O-N system. Oxynitride glass-ceramic samples were prepared via spark plasma sintering (SPS) with sodium oxide doping levels ranging from 0 wt% to 12 wt%. FESEM analysis revealed changes in sample morphology with increasing sodium content, indicating the formation of granular structures and sodium-rich clusters in the glass matrix. XRD revealed the presence of nanocrystalline phases in doped samples, primarily (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8. IR spectroscopy demonstrated changes in the glass network structure due to sodium, affecting both silicate and aluminum units. Increasing sodium content led to higher crystallinity and a corresponding decrease in sample density. The thermal expansion increased notably with sodium content, attributed to the disruptive effect of sodium ions on the glass-ceramics structure, while thermal conductivity decreased also attributed to this disruption. AC conductivity increased significantly with sodium, indicating enhanced ionic conductivity, while DC conductivity was observed in doped samples at higher temperatures, with activation energies consistent with ionic conduction mechanisms. The exponentdependent (s) parameter decreased with higher sodium content, suggesting limited ion diffusion
Mental health, bonding, family wellbeing, and family functioning inparents of infants receiving neonatal intensive care
No full textAims: To describe self-reported mental health, bonding with the infant, family wellbeing, and family functioning among mothers and non-birthing parents with children receiving neonatal intensive care and to explore factors associated with bonding with the child, family wellbeing, and family functioning. Methods: This cross-sectional study included families from three different units in Sweden. Parents received a questionnaire that included self-reported measures of the study variables. Results: In total, 75 mothers and 72 non-birthing parents were included. Nearly 40% of the parents reported anxiety symptoms, whereas depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms were uncommon. Mothers reported more mental health issues than non-birthing parents. In the regression analyses depression was associated with problems with bonding and family wellbeing, no other significant associations were identified. Conclusion: Symptoms of anxiety were common but might be a natural and transient reaction. Identifying depression is important to be able to provide targeted family support
Factorizations for quasi-Banach time-frequency spaces and Schatten classes
No full textWe deduce factorization properties for Wiener amalgam spaces WLp,q, an extended family of modulation spaces M(omega, B), and for Schatten symbols s(p)(w) in pseudo-differential calculus under e. g. convolutions, twisted convolutions and symbolic products. Here M(omega, B) can be any quasi-Banach Orlicz modulation space. For example we show that WL1,r * WLp,q = WLp,q and WL1,r#s(p)(w) = s(p)(w) when r is an element of (0, 1], r _= p, q _ infinity. In particular we improve Rudin's identity L-1 * L-1 = L-1. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Royal Dutch Mathematical Society (KWG)
Faktorer relaterade till Quality-of-Life hos vuxna med ADHD: en scoping review
No full textBackground Objectives: The primary objective of this scoping review was to map available relevant research on factors related to Quality of Life (QoL) in adults with ADHD. The secondary objective was to map QoL measurement tools used in the relevant research literature and describe how validity and reliability of these was reported in these studies. Methods Eligibility criteria: Included sources were studies on adults with an ADHD diagnosis that quantitatively measured quality of life (QoL) and examined an ADHD relevant factor as a variable. Studies were excluded if studied population had another primary diagnosis or if the source was a systematic review, book chapter, or protocol. Information sources: Search in databases: PsychINFO, MEDLINE and CINAHL, through the years 2013-2025. Risk of bias: No assessment of risk of bias were made due to the nature of the research questions. Synthesis of results: Data from included studies relevant to the research questions were extracted and categorized based on ADHD factors related to QoL and QoL measures. Results Included studies: From a total of 189 included studies in full text screening, 80 sources met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final scoping review. Synthesis of results: Relevant internal and external ADHD related factors used as variables to QoL were identified and categorized in the following subcategories: ADHD Core symptom levels, Executive Function, Comorbidity, Emotion Dysregulation, Personality Traits/Temperament, Cognitive Appraisal, Treatment interventions, Work/Education-related, Trauma experience and Other. A variety of instruments to measure QoL were identified, most common was the Adult ADHD Quality of Life (AAQoL). Of the included studies, 5 (6%) presented validity, 6 (8%) presented reliability and 27 (34%) presented both. Discussion Limitations: Time constraints inherent to a master’s thesis, limited the search and inclusion process with a potential risk for the exclusion of relevant sources. Interpretation: Published research encompasses a wide variety of factors and measures in examining QoL in adults with ADHD. Additional primary research is needed to enable a robust foundation for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. QoL was assessed using a diverse set of instruments, but psychometric properties were only partially reported across studies. These findings underscore the need for more unified and methodologically sound measurement procedures, including the consistent use of validated instruments and transparent reporting of their psychometric properties. Funding: No funding was received for making this review. Registration: https://osf.io/2ksv7 https://osf.io/5fxgy
SVM vs LLM: A Comparative Analysis on Text Classification : Investigating Incremental Training Benefits
No full textThis thesis investigates the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) and SupportVector Machines (SVM) for text classification. The research compares the classificationaccuracy of SVMs against selected LLMs (Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite, Google Gemini1.5 Flash Lite, and OpenAI GPT 4.1 Nano) on both unbalanced (real-world work orders)and balanced (20 Newsgroups corpus) datasets. Furthermore, it examines whether incremental training of SVMs on an unbalanced dataset can lead to accuracy improvementsthat surpass LLMs.Methodologically, a controlled experimental approach was used, utilizing metricssuch as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The work order dataset was manuallylabeled, and inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa. LLMs were evaluated using zero-shot prompting, while SVMs were trained and tested, including k-foldcross-validation.The results indicate that while LLMs (61% accuracy) initially outperformed SVM(55%) on the smaller and unbalanced work order dataset, the SVM achieved a higher accuracy (88%) compared to the best LLM (73%) on the larger and balanced 20 Newsgroupscorpus. Experimentation with incremental training on the work order data set showed thatthe accuracy of SVM improved with increasing data (from 47% with 210 samples to 54%with 630 samples). The projections suggest that with approximately 1260 labeled workorders, SVM could match or exceed the performance of the LLMs tested in this specificdata set. The study also noted instances of hallucinations and instruction deviations withsome LLMs.Although preliminary and limited to rather small-scale experiments, the findings suggest, that an incrementally trained SVM presents a consistent and potentially more accurate long-term solution for classifying unbalanced dataset like work orders. WhileLLMs offer rapid initial classification without pre-labeling, their advantage is not universal across different types of data.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Practice : A qualitative study exploring how implementation of DEI policy in an organisation shapes employee engagement.
No full textThis thesis explores how the implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies shapes employee engagement, with a particular focus on the alignment between organizations' communicated DEI values and employees’ lived experiences. While DEI has become a prominent part of organizational branding and strategy, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these commitments are experienced internally and how they influence emotional investment, trust, and motivation among employees. Using a qualitative research design, eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and managers across three organizations in Sweden that have formally adopted DEI policies. Thematic analysis revealed six core themes, with particular emphasis on leadership commitment, organizational authenticity and psychological safety as key conditions influencing engagement. The findings show that employee engagement is not automatically achieved through policy but is deeply shaped by how inclusive practices are established on a day-to-day basis, where DEI was perceived as genuine and supported by leadership, employees reported stronger engagement. In contrast, when DEI efforts appeared symbolic or disconnected from workplace realities, trust and motivation declined. This study contributes to the growing discussion on DEI by centering employee perspectives and highlighting the emotional and relational aspects of engagement. It offers practical insights for organizations seeking to move beyond performative DEI and build more authentic, inclusive workplace cultures that foster long-term commitment and trust
Resistance in the Face of Advanced Controls : How Functional Stupidity Shapes and Silences Organizational Resistance
No full textBackground and problem: As organizations gradually grow, the need for sophisticated control evolves. Literature in the area describes sophisticated controlas met by open or subtle forms of resistance. However, there is a lack of theoretical conceptualization to provide analytical profundity regarding why resistance is shown and managed in the ways it appears to be. In this study, the theory of functional stupidity is employed to analyze how resistance is shown and managed in order to provide social and psychological perspectives on resistance to sophisticated control. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to profound the understanding of how resistance is shown and managed after the introduction of sophisticated control in growing organizations. Method: This case study was conducted with employees and decision-makers in thecompany Venture Design Ltd in Växjö. The research took a qualitative research strategy with a deductive approach and semi-structured interviews as a method. The method section further describes the selection of respondents, quality criteria, and ethical considerations made. Conclusion: It was found that resistance could take open or subtle forms and the latter form was shown to be ordinal. The resistance to control was found to depend on the effectiveness of control and individual perceptions of the meaning of control. Concerning functional stupidity, it was found that subtle resistance manifested a presence of functional stupidity, while open resistance did not. Resistance was managed through communication from decision-makers, where it was found that they tended to define resistance, control, and their effects. This was defined as definition control, which showed the relationship between power and resistance and how those could take open resistance into functional stupidity. Thus, functional stupidity appeared as a cause to and of how resistance was shown and managed in interplay with organizational culture, leadership, and communication. Keywords: Resistance, Control, Management Accounting Control, Functional Stupidity, Organizational Culture, Definition Control.Bakgrund och problemdiskussion: När organisationer växer framträder behovet av sofistikerad styrning och kontroll, där dessa enligt tidigare forskning möts av öppet eller dolt motstånd. Detta till trots saknas teoretisk konceptualisering för analytiskt djup kring varför motståndet visas och hanteras som det gör. I denna studie används teorin funktionell dumhet för att analysera motståndets sätt att visas och hanteras i syfte att bidra med sociala och psykologiska perspektiv på motstånd mot sofistikerad styrning och kontroll. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att fördjupa förståelsen för hur förändringsmotstånd visas och hanteras efter införandet av sofistikerad kontroll och styrning i växande företag. Metod: Denna fallstudie genomfördes på medarbetare och beslutsfattare i företaget Venture Design AB i Växjö. Undersökningen antog en kvalitativ strategi med deduktiv ansats och hade semistrukturerade intervjuer som metod. I metodavsnittet beskrevs vidare urval av respondenter, kvalitetskriterier och etiska överväganden. Slutsats: Det återfanns i likhet med tidigare forskning att motståndet kan visas öppet eller dolt, där den senare varianten visats oftare förekommande. Motståndet mot styrsystem återfanns inte enbart bero på hur styrning och kontroll fungerade, utan hörde samman med individens upplevelser av innebörden av styrning och kontroll. I relation till funktionell dumhet återfanns att det dolda motståndet var ett uttryck för förekomsten av funktionell dumhet, medan det öppna motståndet inte var det. Motstånd hanterades genom kommunikation från beslutsfattarna där det återfanns att makthavarna tenderade att få definiera motstånd, styrning och effekterna av dessa. Detta definierade vi till begreppet definitionskontroll för att beskriva relationen mellan makt och motstånd och hur det kan föra öppet motstånd till funktionell dumhet. Funktionell dumhet framstår således som en orsak till och en följd av hur motstånd visas och hanteras i samspel med organisationskultur, ledarskap och kommunikation
Editorial and an introduction: intersections of historical and democratic consciousness in history curriculum and/or syllabus : A study across nine countries
No full textThe aim of the theme issue is to provide analysis of intersections of historical and democratic consciousness expressed in official curriculum documents such as syllabuses that focus on history in eleven countries. Each of the nation states were selected for their diverse trajectories of democratic developments and political cultures. Drawing on comparative education, policy enactment, and critical discourse analysis the content in the official curriculum documents is approached as texts that are informed by historical ideas of the purposes of education that influence present and future orientations and actions. The articles in this theme issue address the following key questions: 1. How is the intersection between historical consciousness and democratic consciousness described in curriculum and/or syllabus documents regarding the history subject in the selected countries?; 2. What kind of consequences for history education do the descriptions in the curriculum and/or syllabus entail?; and 3. How are the democracy traditions of each selected country reflected in the official knowledge of the various curriculum documents?INoHiD
Vad innebär resultatorientering i tillverkande företag? : En fallstudie om ledningens sätt att kommunicera resultatfokus till anställda.
No full textVår studie syftar till att undersöka innebörden av resultatorientering inom tillverkande företag. Målet är att identifiera vilka delar av organisationen som präglas av ett resultatmedvetet tankesätt samt att analysera huruvida detta tankesätt bidrar till att uppnå verksamhetens övergripande mål. Studien belyser även hur chefer kan främja medarbetares engagemang i målformuleringsprocesser och hur olika motivationsverktyg och ledningsmetoder kan användas för att stödja måluppfyllelse. Därtill undersöks företagskulturens inverkan på resultatfokus och medarbetarnas förhållningssätt till mål. Undersökningen har genomförts med en deduktiv ansats där befintlig teori har legat till grund för insamling och analys av empiriskt material. Resultatet visar att uppfattningen om resultatorientering varierar beroende på medarbetarens position inom organisationen. För ledningen förknippas det främst med ekonomiska utfall, medan det inom produktionen i högre grad handlar om operativ effektivitet. Resultatorientering tar sig uttryck både genom formella styrsystem och genom organisationskultur samt intern kommunikation. Studien visar vidare att ansvar för resultat delas mellan olika hierarkiska nivåer, där tydlig och transparent kommunikation framstår som en nyckelfaktor för att skapa förståelse och engagemang i arbetet med resultatmål