Publikationer från Högskolan i Gävle
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En social hållbar stadskärna : Ett gestaltningsförslag för Sandviken centrum med fokus på grönstruktur, trygghet och fysisk planering
No full textDenna studie utforskar rollen av grön infrastruktur och trygghetsförbättringar för att främja social hållbarhet i urbana miljöer med fokus på Sandviken centrum. Forskningen använder Mäta stad-modellen tillsammans med principerna för Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) för att analysera och föreslå förbättringar i stadslandskapet. Studien syftar till att fastställa den optimala mängden grönområden som krävs för att förbättra invånarnas välbefinnande och den övergripande urbana upplevelsen. Trots vissa begränsningar i metodologin, såsom oförmågan att genomföra observationer under natten och utmaningarna i att analysera resultaten från Mäta stad-modellen, identifierar studien framgångsrikt nyckelfaktorer som bidrar till en känsla av otrygghet och underutnyttjade stadsutrymmen. Genom att integrera insikter från lokala invånare och experter lyfter forskningen fram vikten av strategiskt placerade grönområden och välbelysta, naturligt övervakade offentliga platser för att skapa en säkrare och mer inbjudande urban miljö. Viktiga fynd indikerar att ökad mängd grönområden och förbättrad synlighet genom bättre belysning och tydliga siktlinjer ökar den upplevda tryggheten och sociala interaktionerna i Sandviken Centrum. Studien betonar också nödvändigheten av att involvera samhällsfeedback i planeringsprocessen för att säkerställa att stadsdesignen möter invånarnas olika behov och förväntningar. Slutligen framhäver denna studie sammanhanget mellan grön infrastruktur och trygghetsåtgärder i skapandet av socialt hållbara stadskärnor. Genom att anta en omfattande strategi som kombinerar optimering av grönområden samt CPTED-principer kan stadsplanerare utveckla miljöer som inte bara förbättrar estetiskt och rekreativt värde utan också främjar fysisk och mental hälsa, social sammanhållning men även övergripande säkerhet för alla invånare.This study explores the role of green infrastructure and safety enhancements in promoting social sustainability in urban environments, focusing on Sandviken Centrum. The research utilizes the Mäta stad model alongside Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to analyse and propose improvements in the urban landscape. The study aims to determine the optimal amount of green spaces necessary to enhance residents' well-being and overall urban experience. Despite some limitations in the methodology, such as the inability to conduct night-time observations and the challenges in analysing the Mäta stad model results, the study successfully identifies key factors contributing to a sense of insecurity and underutilized urban spaces. By integrating insights from local residents and experts, the research highlights the importance of strategically placed green areas and well-lit, more visible public spaces to foster a safer and more inviting urban environment. Key findings indicate that increasing green spaces and enhancing visibility through improved lighting and clear sightlines significantly boost the perceived safety and social interactions in Sandviken Centrum. The study also emphasizes the necessity of involving community feedback in the planning process to ensure that urban design meets the diverse needs and expectations of its inhabitants. Ultimately, this study highlights the association of green infrastructure and safety measures in creating socially sustainable city centres. By adopting a comprehensive approach that combines green space optimization and CPTED principles, urban planners can develop environments that not only enhance aesthetic and recreational value but also promote physical and mental health, social cohesion, and overall safety for all residents.
Automatisering och säkerhetsuppgradering av containerhantering
No full textThis bachelor thesis was carried out in collaboration with Dynamate i Borlänge on behalf of Outokumpu Avesta Klippcenter, with the aim of automating and improving the safety of a container handling system. The background of the project is an incident where the existing control system lacked sufficient safety functions, which posed a risk of serious accidents. The work focused on conducting a detailed risk assessment in accordance with applicable standard PL, creating an action plan, and automating the container carriage and conveyor belts. The risk assessment was performed using CEDOC, and the selection and validation of safety components were carried out using SISTEMA. A functional description was developed together with operators and personnel to ensure the system is both safe and user-friendly. The control system was programmed in Siemens TIA Portal using S7-Graph, which enabled clear sequence handling. Safety programming was carried out by a supervisor due to specific training requirements. The result is a system that meets safety standards, reduces manual labor, and provides a safer working environment. The project also contributes to achieving the UN Agenda 2030 goal 8.8 regarding safe and secure working environments
ESG Disclosure: Evidence from Mandatory Reporting in Scandinavian Countries
No full textThe focus of this study is on the effect of mandatory ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) disclosures on the reporting behavior of companies in Scandinavia. It analyzes the evolution of ESG reporting from a voluntary framework between 2007-2016 to a mandatory one from 2017-2023 in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland to check whether enforcement improved the level and consistency of reporting. The study uses a panel dataset of 138 publicly listed companies from the four countries, applying descriptive analysis alongside several linear regression frameworks. Two distinct models are estimated – one based on ESG reporting within the voluntary framework and one based on the impact of mandatory disclosure. Control variables firm’s size, profitability, leverage, sales growth, as well as year-fixed effects are included. The findings reveal significant gaps in ESG disclosure during the voluntary reporting period among firms. Following the enforcement of mandatory ESG reporting frameworks, there was a significant enhancement in disclosure levels and uniformity across firms. Firm size was a significant factor explaining disclosure behavior while profitability, leverage, and growth were not. These results demonstrate that enforcement clearly drives better ESG reporting. This paper adds to the body of literature on ESG disclosures with fresh empirical data from a Nordic setting that has experienced both voluntary and mandatory regimes. It weaves together signaling, stakeholder, and institutional theories to explain corporate behavioral adaptations to regulatory shifts. The study uses ESG scores as disclosure proxies, which inadequately capture changes in reporting rigor. It also examines only publicly listed companies, which diminishes applicability to private businesses or other regions. Further research should analyze content measures of disclosure and expand geographic scope. The research underscores the need for enforcing regulated frameworks for mandatory ESG disclosures. As refined standards for disclosures are developed, policymakers will be able to use the insights for framing thresholds, while companies, especially smaller ones, will appreciate the need for capacity-building towards ESG compliance. Improved ESG disclosure enhances transparency, fostering enhanced corporate accountability and informed stakeholder actions. Mandatory disclosure advances wider sustainability goals, integrating corporate activities into essential environmental and social frameworks.
The Medium and the Message : Spiritualistiska medium i den digitala eran: Anpassning av medial vägledning och privatsittningar till digitala plattformar
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur fem spiritualistiska medier har anpassat sina arbetsmetoder till digitala miljöer, med särskilt fokus på privatsittningar och mediala vägledningar via Facebook och Zoom. Studien är kvalitativ och baseras på semistrukturerade intervjuer med verksamma medier. Utgångspunkten är tre forskningsfrågor: hur medierna anpassar sin praktik, vilka skillnader de upplever mellan fysiska och digitala sessioner, samt hur de förhåller sig till AI. Resultaten visar att medierna utvecklat strategier för att bibehålla närvaro och kontakt i digitala miljöer, där tekniken ses som ett stöd snarare än ersättning för mänsklig närvaro. Studien utgår från ett medie- och kommunikationsvetenskapligt perspektiv och tillämpar medieteori, konvergensteori, kommunikationsmodeller samt teorier om intuitivt beslutsfattande. Genom Shannon och Weavers kommunikationsmodell analyseras hur tekniskt brus – såsom uteblivet kroppsspråk eller tekniska störningar kan påverka kommunikationen i mötet. Resultaten visar att medierna aktivt balanserar mellan tradition och teknologisk utveckling, där digitala verktyg används medvetet för att skapa struktur, tillgänglighet och kreativt stöd. AI används främst som administrativt hjälpmedel, medan mänsklig närvaro och erfarenhet fortsatt är avgörande för kvaliteten i kommunikationen. Studien visar att arbetet förändras i form, men behåller samma funktion och betydelse. Nyckelord: Spiritism, Spiritualitet, Mediumskap, Medieteori, Konvergensteori, Digitalisering This study examines how five spiritualist mediums have adapted their professional practices to digital environments, focusing on private sittings and spiritual guidance conducted via Facebook and Zoom. It is a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with the participating mediums.The research is guided by three questions: how the mediums adjust their practice, what differences they perceive between physical and digital sessions, and how they relate to AI. The findings show that the mediums have developed strategies to maintain presence and connection in digital settings, where technology is viewed as a support rather than a substitute for human presence. The study is grounded in media and communication studies and applies media theory, convergence theory, communication models, and theories of intuitive decision-making. Using Shannon and Weaver’s communication model, the analysis highlights how technical noise – such as the absence of body language or digital disruptions – can affect the interaction. The results indicate that the mediums consciously balance tradition with technological development, employing digital tools to enhance structure, accessibility, and creative support. AI is primarily used as an administrative aid, while human presence and experience remain essential to the quality of communication. The study concludes that while the form of spiritual work evolves, its core function and meaning remain unchanged. Keywords: Spiritism, Spirituality, Mediumship, Media Theory, Convergence Theory, Digitalization
Exploring communication dynamics for organisational sustainability: interconnections and impact on performance
No full textPurpose The objective of this paper is to provide insights into the significance of communication factors for sustainability practices and their interconnections within organisations. In order to achieve this, the paper explores the differences between civil society organisations (CSOs), corporations and public sector organisations (PSOs). Furthermore, it analyses the relationship between these factors and the performance of organisations in relation to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted to identify eight relevant communication factors. A survey was then carried out to explore sustainability integration, focusing on communication factors and sustainability performance. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and ANOVA to identify patterns and relationships. Findings The results show that all communication factors are critical for organisational sustainability, with policies ranked first. The results of the correlation analyses indicate that all eight communication factors are interconnected, though the strength of these relationships varies. The reporting shows a low correlation with other communication factors. While there are statistical differences in communication factors across different types of organisations, the “policy” factor is ranked first in all three types. The results also indicate that employee engagement has a significant correlation with all three aspects of sustainability performance. The overall results show that communication factors, including leadership, employee engagement, training, diversity and inclusion, policies, vision and mission and support, have a significant impact on sustainability performance in organisations. Practical implications This paper explores key communication factors in sustainability, analysing their interrelations in different type of organisations and links to performance. By mapping factors such as policy, support, reporting and training, the paper highlights how integrated communication structures influence sustainability outcomes. The central roles of support and policy suggest that formal structures are vital for embedding sustainability. PSOs, CSOs and corporations can strengthen their impact through tailored strategies, such as mandatory training, cross-functional teams or incentive-based programs. Improving communication factors enables better alignment with sustainability goals, enhances employee engagement and supports more effective organisation-wide efforts to drive sustainability outcomes and broader societal impact. Social implications This study underscores the societal benefits of effective communication strategies for sustainability. Enhanced communication channels can promote transparency, inclusivity and stakeholder collaboration, shaping public policy and fostering community engagement. By integrating sustainability-focused factors, including leadership and support, into policy frameworks, organisations and policymakers can address sustainability challenges more cohesively. These strategies promote collective action and catalyse progress toward sustainable development goals through increased awareness and collaboration. Originality/value This paper provides insights into the interconnections of communication factors for sustainability in different types of organisations and their relationship with performance, emphasising the need for a holistic and integrated approach
Uncoupling in the third age – the importance of the existential context for late-life divorce
No full textLate-life divorce is increasingly common in many Western countries, however, studies on this transition remain scarce. The purpose of this article is to study attributed reasons for late-life divorce, and if any life phase-typical aspects can be identified in these attributions. Qualitative interviews were carried out with Swedish men and women aged 62-82, who after the age of 60 had divorced from a cross-gender marital or non-marital co-habiting union (N = 37). The results, analysed using principles from Grounded Theory, revealed four different types of narratives: (a) incompatible goals for the third age, (b) personality change caused by age-related disease, (c) a last chance for romance, and (d) enough of inequality and abuse. A central insight and an original contribution generated by the study was the importance grey divorcees attributed to the existential conditions of later life in their divorce decisions. The results are discussed in relation to theories of late modern intimacy and the third age
Thriving at work as a mediator between nurses’ structural empowerment and job performance, work-personal life benefits, stress symptoms and turnover intentions: a cross-sectional study
No full textBackground Nurses work in a knowledge-intensive sector with high demands for lifelong learning. Thriving is a positive psychological state, including a sense of mutual learning and vitality at work. Research on thriving, its antecedents and outcomes is called for. The study aim was to examine thriving as a mediator in the relationships between telephone nurses’ structural empowerment and the outcomes work-personal life benefits, job performance, work-related stress symptoms and turnover intentions, as well as to psychometrically test the Thriving Scale (Swedish version). Methods Questionnaire data, a national sample of 409 Swedish telephone nurses, were collected, and relationships were examined using multiple regression analyses with PROCESS macro. Factorial validity of the Thriving Scale was tested using confirmative factor analyses. Results There were statistically significant relationships between structural empowerment and the outcomes (work-personal life benefits, job performance, stress symptoms, turnover intentions), and these relationships were mediated by thriving. The Thriving Scale showed good internal consistency, and an acceptable to borderline mediocre fit for factorial validity. Thirty-two percent reported turnover intentions. Conclusions Good access to structural empowerment increases nurses’ thriving, which in turn improves work-personal life benefits, job performance, and decreases stress symptoms and turnover intentions. Managers should strive to improve nurses’ thriving at work, emphasizing good access to empowering structures
SnowPole Detection: A comprehensive dataset for detection and localization using LiDAR imaging in Nordic winter conditions
No full textThe SnowPole Detection dataset is a comprehensive collection of labeled LiDAR images, specifically designed for snow pole detection in road environments. This dataset was collected using a high-resolution OS2-128 LiDAR sensor mounted on an autonomous vehicle research platform, covering diverse environments such as mountainous, open, and forested areas. The SnowPole Detection dataset supports applications in computer vision, with a particular focus on snow pole detection and localization. he OS2-128 LiDAR sensor captures point clouds, which are processed using the Ouster SDK to generate 360-degree images in four modalities: Near-IR, Signal, Reflectivity, and Range. To enhance usability, color images were generated by assigning the first three modalities (Near-IR, Signal, and Reflectivity) to the blue, green, and red channels, respectively, excluding the Range modality. Initial labeling was conducted using Roboflow, with further refinement in CVAT, resulting in high-quality annotations. The dataset comprises a total of 1,954 manually labeled images, divided into 1,367 training images, 390 validation images, and 197 test images, following a 70/20/10 split. Since the images across all modalities are pixel-aligned, the labels for the color images are also applicable to each modality individually. This structure allows researchers to directly use the dataset for snow pole detection tasks, whether focusing on color or individual LiDAR modalities. The SnowPole Detection dataset is publicly available at Mendeley.
Mobile Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes and Interactive Support During Breast and Prostate Cancer Treatment: Health Economic Evaluation From Two Randomized Controlled Trials
No full textBackground:Digital interventions for supportive care during cancer treatment incorporating electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) can enhance early detection of symptoms and facilitate timely symptom management. However, economic evaluations are needed. Objective:This study aims to conduct a cost-utility analysis of an app for ePRO and interactive support from the perspective of the payer (Region Stockholm Health Care Organization) and to explore its impact on patient health care utilization and costs. Methods:Two open-label randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted, including patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (B-RCT; N=149) and radiotherapy for prostate cancer (P-RCT; N=150), recruited from oncology clinics at 2 university hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden. EORTC QLQ-C30 scores were mapped to EQ-5D-3L to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Intervention and implementation costs and health care costs, obtained from an administrative database, were used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in 3 ways: including all health care costs (ICERa), excluding nonacute health care costs (ICERb), and excluding health care costs altogether (ICERc). Nonparametric bootstrapping was used to explore ICER uncertainty. Health care costs were analyzed by classifying them as disease-related or acute. Results:In both RCT intervention groups, fewer QALYs were lost compared with the control group (P<.001). In the B-RCT, the mean intervention cost was €92 (SD €2; €1=US $1.03). The mean cost for the intervention and all health care was €36,882 (SD €1032) in the intervention group and €35,427 (SD €959) in the control group (P<.001), with an ICERa of €202,368 (95% CI €152,008-€252,728). The mean cost for the intervention and acute health care was €3585 (SD €480) in the intervention group and €3235 (SD €494) in the control group (P<.001). ICERb was €49,903 (95% CI €37,049-€62,758) and ICERc was €13,213 (95% CI €11,145-€15,281); 22 out of 74 (30%) intervention group patients and 24 out of 75 (32%) of the control group patients required acute inpatient care for fever. In the P-RCT, the mean intervention cost was €43 (SD €0.2). The mean cost for the intervention and all health care was €3419 (SD €739) in the intervention group and €3537 (SD €689) in the control group (P<.001), with an ICERa of –€1,092,136 (95% CI –€3,274,774 to €1,090,502). The mean cost for the intervention and acute health care was €1219 (SD €593) in the intervention group and €802 (SD €281) in the control group (P<.001). ICERb was €745,987 (95% CI –€247,317 to €1,739,292) and ICERc was €13,118 (95% CI –68,468 to €94,704). As many as 10 out of the 75 (13%) intervention group patients had acute inpatient care, with the most common symptom being dyspnea, while 9 out of the 75 (12%) control group patients had acute inpatient care, with the most common symptom being urinary tract infection. Conclusions:ePRO and interactive support via an app generated a small improvement in QALYs at a low intervention cost and may be cost-effective, depending on the costs considered. Considerable variability in patient health care costs introduced uncertainty around the estimates, preventing a robust determination of cost-effectiveness. Larger studies examining cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective are needed. The study provides valuable insights into acute health care utilization during cancer treatment. Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02479607; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02479607, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02477137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02477137 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID):RR2-10.1186/s12885-017-3450-
Examining the complementarity between biomedicine and ethnomedicine in Mozambique: A qualitative research approach
No full textBackground: In Mozambique, Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) emerges as a fundamental element in promoting neonatal health, lying at the intersection of health care policies and the effectiveness of their implementation in communities. Given the complexity of barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, the objective of this study was to identify the assumptions for the complementarity between biomedicine and ethnomedicine aiming to strengthen the national health system policy in the Mozambique context. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out in Mozambique. A total of 30 lactating mothers (aged 18 to 43) ; 15 health care professionals ( aged 23-57) and 9 traditional medicine practitioners (healers/elders) aged (28 to 69) participated in the study; and data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results: The study identified that EBF emerged not only as a globally recommended nutritional practice but also as a mandatory practice with hard social and cultural beliefs. Additionally key findings showed that the practice of healers needs to be seen as a gift that goes beyond the domain and execution of biomedical technique, emphasizing the importance of relationships and symbolism in social life. Conclusion: The study findings highlight the relevance of traditional practices not only as cultural heritage but also as vital elements for understanding contemporary Mozambican society