Publikationer från Örebro universitet
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“En industriell revansch för Eskilstuna!” : Senior Materials fabriksexpansion och dess mångfacetterade effekter
No full textDenna uppsats syftar till att undersöka effekterna av den planerade fabriken Senior Material i Eskilstuna ur olika planeringsperspektiv. Genom en kombination av enkät och intervju med lokalbefolkning och tjänstemän har det varit möjligt att identifiera centrala frågor rörande invånarnas värderingar, kunskap om kemikalier som används i fabriken, och förväntningar på ekonomiska möjligheter. Resultatet visar en starkare oro för miljöpåverkan och sociala förändringar, vilket indikerar att ett öppet och inkluderande samtal mellan fabriken och lokalsamhället är avgörande för en hållbar utveckling
New Design of an Innovative Watch
No full textDetta examensarbete har undersökt hur vibrationsarmbandet xBand kan vidareutvecklas med syftet att kombinera estetiskt tilltalande design, ergonomisk funktion och en stark användarupplevelse. Produkten, framtagen som hjälpmedel för personer med synnedsättning, har fått en ny ambition där formgivning och användarvänlighet är viktiga konkurrensfaktorer för att nå en bredare konsumentmarknad. Målet är att skapa en konkurrenskraftig produkt som förenar tekniska hjälpmedel med vardagsteknologi och därmed stärker företagets position på marknaden. Arbetet har fokuserat på att ta fram konceptuella designförslag där materialval och produktens formgivning analyserats med inspiration från befintliga klockor och wearables. Armbands- och klockhusets utformning har studerats utifrån användarens kropp, rörelsemönster och tänkta användare situationer med avsikt att säkerställa komfort och funktion. Metoden har huvudsakligen bestått av designforskning, litteraturstudier och visuell inspirations insamling, medan praktiska tester och användarundersökningar saknas, vilket begränsar möjligheten att dra definitiva slutsatser om användbarheten. Resultatet visar att det är möjligt att arbeta vidare med material som metall utan att kompromissa alltför mycket med komfort och funktion, men designen behöver förfinas genom praktiska tester och ökad användarinvolvering. Arbetet har fungerat som en plattform för idéutveckling och banar väg för nästa steg i produktutvecklingen. Vidare rekommenderas prototypframtagning, användartester och tillverknings analyser som en del av utvecklings-processen. Hållbarhetsperspektivet har integrerats i hela processen, särskilt i materialval och i målsättningen om lång livslängd, återvinningsbarhet och tillgänglig produktion, vilket är avgörande för produktens framtida framgång och miljöpåverkan.This thesis has investigated how the vibration bracelet xBand can be further developed to combine aesthetically appealing design, ergonomic function, and a strong user experience. The product, originally created as an aid for visually impaired individuals, has been given a new purpose where design and user-friendliness serve as important competitive factors to reach a broader consumer market. The goal is to create a competitive product that unites assistive technology with everyday technology, thereby strengthening the company’s position in the market. The work has focused on developing conceptual design proposals where material choices and product design have been analyzed with inspiration from existing watches and wearables. The design of the bracelet and watch case has been studied in relation to the user’s body, movement patterns, and intended use situations with the aim of ensuring comfort and functionality. The method has mainly consisted of design exploration, literature studies, and visual inspiration gathering, while practical tests and user studies have been lacking, limiting the ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding usability. The results show that it is possible to continue working with materials such as metal without compromising too much on comfort and function, but the design needs to be refined through practical testing and increased user involvement. The project has served as a platform for idea development and paves the way for the next steps in product development. Further recommendations include prototype creation, user testing, and manufacturing analysis as part of the development process. The sustainability perspective has been integrated throughout the entire process, especially in material selection and the goal of long product life, recyclability, and accessible production, which are crucial for the product’s future success and environmental impact
Is ADHD Overdiagnosed? : A hermeneutic analysis of a debatedconcept
No full textIntroduction: With the increasing incidence rate ofattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is a growing debate concerning the overdiagnosis ofADHD.Numerous argumentshavebeen proposedas evidence for the cause behind this potential overdiagnosis. Despite widespread concern, the term "overdiagnosis" lacks a clear,consistent definition, complicatingefforts to assess its validity or extent. Aim: The study aims to map the central arguments for and against the claim that there is an overdiagnosis of ADHDand tocritically assess whetheroverdiagnosisexistsand what the potential causes might be. Method: Aqualitative hermenutic approachwas employed, centering on conceptual analysis. Material was collected viaPubMed, PsychINFOand Google search.The final selections consisted ofempirical studies, editorial, systemic reviews and institutional reports. Results: Findings reveal that while many sources argue in favor of overdiagnosis, the majority do not define the term. Those that do, reveal significant ambiguity in how overdiagnosis is conceptualized and applied. Common arguments include DSM-V's broader diagnostic criteria, overinclusive screening tools, and sociocultural factors: Although other sources argue these issues are better classified as instances of misdiagnosis. At the same time, counterarguments point to historical underdiagnosis and emphasize the clinical relevance of subthreshold cases. Conclusion: The study concludesthat the concept of overdiagnosis, as developed in somatic medicine, may be ill-suited for psychiatric disorders. As such, it cannot determine definitively whether ADHD is currently overdiagnosed. Instead,it advocates for a shift indiscourse toward refining diagnostic routines and addressing systemic challenges, rather than pursuing a binary inflation narrative
Association of HPV presence and herpes family virus reactivation to development of female genital GVHD : A retrospective cohort study of female allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients in the Stockholm region
No full textIntroduction Genitalgraft-versus-hostdisease(gGVHD)isanunderrecognizedandunderstudiedmanifestationofchronicgraft-versus-hostdisease(cGVHD).Consequently,knowledgeofriskfactorsandpotentialenvironmentaltriggersremainslimited.Severalimmunologicalconditionsareassociatedwithandinducedbyhost-pathogeninteractionssuchasviralinfections.Thehighlyprevalentvirusesoftheherpesviridaeandhumanpapillomavirus(HPV)sharetheabilityoflatencyandconsequentlyalsotheabilityofreactivation.Cytomegalovirus(CMV)reactivationinparticularhasbeenlinkedtocGVHDdevelopment,andHPV-relateddiseasehasbeenobservedmorefrequentlyingGVHDpatientsthanthegeneralpopulation,suggestingapossibleassociation. Aim ThisstudyaimstoevaluatethepotentialassociationofHPVpresenceandherpesvirusreactivationtodevelopmentofgGVHD. Method WeconductedaretrospectivecohortstudyincludingadultfemalerecipientsofallogeneicstemcelltransplantationintheStockholmregionbetweenJanuary2021andMay2024.Datawascollectedusingacasereportform.StatisticalanalysiswasperformedusingSPSSanalyticsandsignificantassociationsweredeterminedbyp<0.05,analyzedbyFisher'sexactorPearson'sChisquaretests. Results AnonsignificanttrendwasobservedtowardhigherratesofHPVandCMVinfectionsingGVHDpatients.However,asignificantassociationwasseenwithothercGVHDinvolvement,particularlyoftheskin,oralmucosa,lungsandliver.Additionally,noassociationwasfoundbetweengGVHDandthereactivationofEpsteinBarr,HerpessimplexorVaricellazosterviruses. Conclusion ThisstudyfoundnostatisticallysignificantassociationsbetweenHPVpresenceorthereactivationofherpesvirusestothedevelopmentofgGVHD
Att mäta det omätbara: En kvalitativ studie om ekonomi- och verksamhetsstyrning inom svenska offentliga verksamheter
No full textGazing into language development : Exploring individual variability in early word recognition in infancy through eye-tracking
No full textPrevious research suggests that early word recognition is an important foundation for subsequent vocabulary development. However, the optimal method for assessing this ability in infancy remains unclear. To investigate this issue, we collected data from 70 participants (45.7% female) at 10, 11.5, 18 and 24 months of age using two eye-tracking based tasks—the preferential looking- and mismatch paradigms—as well as parental reports on a short form of the Swedish Early Communicative Development Inventories (SE-CDI). Both eye-tracking-based paradigms correlated with concurrent and later vocabulary scores. However, while the preferential looking paradigm showed stability across time, the mismatch paradigm did not demonstrate longitudinal stability and its associations with vocabulary were sometimes in unexpected directions. These findings suggest that the mismatch paradigm may reflect shifting cognitive or attentional processes during development, highlighting the need for further investigation. In contrast, the eye-tracking based preferential looking paradigm, may offer an objective complement to parental reports for predicting subsequent vocabulary development in early childhood.The work was supported by grants awarded to LF by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (P18‐0300:1) and Majblommans Riksförbund (2018‐projekt 7).</p
Seeds of change for plant-based food consumption : Products, restaurants and everyday life
No full textThe contemporary food system is no longer just a matter of nourishment; it has become a mirror reflecting the ecological, social and psychological tensions of our time. The manner in which we produce and consume food is intricately linked to a number of the most pressing challenges facing society, including climate change and rising health issues. The significance of dietary choices is becoming increasingly evident, with the heart of the matter being why people eat what they do and how people's food choices can be changed. This dissertation explores the role of hedonic and social factors in shaping the adoption of sustainable food choices by exploring three themes: Products, Restaurants and Everyday life. Each theme is explored through a combination of different methodological approaches, including consumer sensory evaluation, field experimentation and a randomised controlled trial enriched with social network analysis.The findings collectively highlight the need for multi-level strategies, which must integrate psychological, social and situational factors in order to be effective. While consumer preferences for the sensory attributes of plant-based meat alternatives differ depending on consumer psychographics (i.e. meat attachment), a preference for products that replicate the sensory experience of conventional meat remains dominant. Beyond sensory drivers, meat also carries symbolic meanings associated with tradition, strength and status. These cultural associations reinforce a 'meat-centric’ gastronomic logic, even in vegetarian formats. However, consumer choice can be influenced when a gastronomic authority (i.e. a chef) recommends a less-popular, non-meat-mimicking vegetarian dish. The same cannot be said for social cues (i.e. cues from other guests), which do not appear to influence consumer choice. It is possible that the fragmentary information – whether factual or social – provided to participants within the studies of this dissertation was insufficiently potent to induce continuous and systematic dietary changes in everyday life, suggesting that influence may stem more from particularly influential individuals than from generic others. All in all, this dissertation provides insights into segmentation strategies that may be considered for future product development within the industry, for use within the food-service sector and for methodological application to future research
Adult patients experience of IBS : - When the body fails and everyday life is affected
No full textBakgrund: Irritabel tarm (IBS) är en funktionell mag-tarmsjukdom utan organisk orsak. Tillståndet är kroniskt och symtomen varierar mellan individer. Vanligaste symtomen ärförstoppning och diarré. Diagnosen ställs utifrån Rome IV-kriterier. Behandling fokuserarhuvudsakligen på att informera patienten om diagnosen samt rådgivning om livsstil och kost. Distriktssköterskan har en central hälsofrämjande roll inom hälso- och sjukvården och önskarutveckla sin kunskap om IBS. Syfte: Att beskriva vuxna patienters upplevelser av att leva med IBS.Metod: En integrativ litteraturstudie med systematisk sökning i tre databaser och meddeskriptiv analys genomfördes. Tolv studier inkluderades i litteraturstudien varav sjukvalitativa och fem kvantitativa. Analysen baserades på Whittemore och Knafls modell. Resultat: Tre huvudkategorier identifierades: När kroppen sviker, Att hantera sin vardag ochAtt bli förstådd i vården. IBS upplevdes påverka individens liv genom oförutsägbara symtom. Individen påverkades fysiskt, psykiskt och upplevde sociala begränsningar. Personer med IBS beskrev brist på förståelse och information från vårdpersonal. Slutsats: Att leva med IBS innebar en komplex livssituation med påverkan på fleralivsområden. Ökad förståelse för patienters upplevelser kan bidra till förbättradpersoncentrerad vård och stöd från distriktssköterskan.Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder withoutan organic cause. The condition is chronic and symptoms vary between individuals. The most common symptoms are constipation or diarrhea. The diagnosis is based on the Rome IV criteria. Treatment primarily focuses on informing the patient about the diagnosis andproviding advice of lifestyle and diet. The district nurse plays a central health-promoting role within health care and seeks to develop their knowledge about IBS. Aim: To describe adult patients' experiences of living with IBS. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted, including a systematic search in three databases and descriptive analysis. Twelve studies were included in the review, of which seven were qualitative and five quantitative. The analysis was based on Whittemore and Knafl’s model. Results: Three main categories were identified: When the body fails, Managing everyday life and To be understood in healthcare. IBS was experienced as affecting individuals’ lives through unpredictable symptoms. Individuals were affected physically, psychological and experienced social limitations. Persons with IBS described a lack of understanding and information from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Living with IBS involved a complex life situation affecting several areas of daily life. Increased understanding of patients’ experiences may contribute to improved personcentered care and support from the district nurse
Learning Interpretable Robot Policies from Demonstration
No full textThe vision of robots assisting with our daily life tasks hinges on a fundamental challenge: most robot behaviors require programming by experts, creating a barrier for the many. Learning from Demonstration (LfD) is a family of methods with the potential to democratize robot programming by enabling laypeople to teach robots new skills simply by showing them. However, most LfD methods operate as black-box systems, making it difficult for humans to interpret, adapt, or reuse — key factors for human-robot collaboration and understanding. In this thesis, we instead build upon Behavior Trees (BTs) — a transparent and manageable robot programming framework, whose reactive, modular design and potential for interoperability make them well-suited for constructing sophisticated robot behaviors. To bridge the gap between high-level planning and low-level control, engineers often embed entire behaviors within the BT’s leaf nodes. While functional, this approach encapsulates complete skills, obscuring intermediate subgoals and undermining the transparency and modularity that BTs are meant to provide — ultimately limiting skill reuse and adaptability. The structure of a BT plays a crucial role in effective behavior design. While several approaches have aimed to learn BT structures from demonstrations, they often rely on predefined action sets and state spaces. This necessity for expert-curated inputs constrains the robot’s learning flexibility and reintroduces a degree of expert dependency. Compounding these challenges is a more foundational issue: the BT community lacks universally accepted definitions and rigorous evaluation methods for key properties such as interpretability and modularity. This absence leads to inconsistent claims and makes meaningful comparisons across different studies a significant challenge. To address these gaps, this dissertation proposes a path toward more intuitive and effective robot learning, articulated through three key contributions: First, this thesis formalizes core BT properties for robotics and introduces metrics for the systematic evaluation and comparison of learned policies. Building on this foundation, it investigates how different BT structures impact the interpretability of the control policy, identifying design patterns that best align with human intuition and understanding. Second, this thesis presents a unified control framework that integrates BTs with a high-frequency Stack-of-Tasks (SoT) control strategy, enhancing transparency of BT policies by explicitly revealing the underlying subgoals. This approach allows BT nodes to function as hierarchical, high-frequency control objectives. Moreover, the resulting system achieves rapid reactivity in dynamic environments while supporting the coexistence of heterogeneous controllers and preserving a clean, modular decomposition of complex tasks. Finally, this thesis introduces an end-to-end, label-free LfD pipeline that simultaneously learns the global BT structure and the underlying actions —modeled as Dynamic Movement Primitives—directly from raw demonstration data. By leveraging vision-language models to automatically extract and annotate state representations, this method eliminates the need for handcrafted action sets, predefined state spaces, and time-consuming manual labeling. In summary, this thesis provides a comprehensive framework for learning interpretable, modular, and adaptable robot control policies from demonstration, bridging the gap between transparent policy representation and practical, high-frequency robot control, which marks a significant step toward making robot programming more accessible, robust, and understandable for both experts and non-experts
Gender inequality and cultural values in explaining gender differences in positive and negative emotions : A comparison of 24 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe coronavirus pandemic posed a major challenge to mental health. Existing evidence shows that COVID-19 is related to poor emotional well-being, particularly among women. However, most work on the subject uses single-country samples, limiting the ability to generalize the disparity or explain it as a function of societal variables. The present study investigates the expression of positive and negative emotions during the pandemic as a function of gender and across 24 countries (N= 49,637). Strong gender differences emerged across countries, with women reporting more negative emotions (anxious, depressed, nervous, exhausted) and less positive emotions (calm, content, relaxed, energetic) than men. The gender gap in positive emotions was significantly wider in countries higher in individualism and narrower in countries higher in power distance. For instance, differences in emotions were larger in Western countries high in individualism, such as the USA, the UK, Italy, and France, and smaller in countries with higher collectivism and power distance, such as China, Malaysia, and South Korea, with a few exceptions like Japan and Brazil. These gender differences across countries were not explained by country-level gender inequalities indicators (GGGI and GII). Interestingly, the national severity of the pandemic, an epidemiological factor, reduced gender differences in positive emotions. These results underscore the importance of considering cultural and national factors when assessing gender differences in well-being.