Publikationer från Högskolan i Gävle
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Investigating surface gravity and height variations due to glacial isostatic adjustment: A comparative study using GRACE, GRACE-FO and absolute gravity measurements data in Canada and Fennoscandia
No full textIn this study, we investigate the gravity changes (g˙) associated with the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) and their correlation with land uplift rates (h˙) using GRACE and GRACE Follow-on data, spanning 2003 to 2023. We further validate our results using repeated absolute gravity measurements. We analyze the absolute gravity measurements collected in Canada and Fennoscandia since the 1990s and 1960s, respectively. The novelty involves applying the Sjöberg and Bagherbandi (2020) methodology to Canadian data using GRACE-derived upper mantle density and comparing the results with the terrestrial absolute gravimetry results. One of the aims of this study is also to assess the methods effectiveness in Canada, as was previously done in Fennoscandia. In addition, this study explores the similarities and the relationship between the gravity field change with other Earth's interior parameters (e.g. density, viscosity, etc.), that offers new insights into their potential connections and understanding regional geodynamics. For Canada, we process the raw gravity observations, considering instrument precision and weighting, applying systematic corrections (Earth tides, polar motion, ocean loading, and atmospheric pressure effects), standardizing measurements to a uniform height using the vertical gravity gradient correction, implementing a rigorous drop selection and filtering process, and using a filter to minimize short-term environmental variations. For Fennoscandia, we use the processed absolute gravity data published by Olsson et al. (2019). We also estimate upper mantle density, associated with viscous mass flow in the mantle, and temporal variations in surface gravity changes (g˙) using GRACE and GRACE-FO data. Finally, the obtained g˙/h˙ ratio is calculated to be compared with terrestrial absolute gravity measurements and also compared with the previously published results to assess the obtained outcomes. The results derived from GRACE and GRACE Follow-on data show that the ratios between surface gravity and height changes are −0.152 ± 0.010 μGal/mm in Canada and −0.156 ± 0.016 μGal/mm in Fennoscandia aligning closely with findings from terrestrial gravity observations. These values correspond to upper mantle densities of approximately 3736 ± 239 kg/m3 and 3641 ± 382 kg/m3 in Canada and Fennoscandia, respectively
There is always something to learn - even if it is not planned : A qualitative study on outdoor education in after-school care centers
No full textDetta examensarbete har som syfte att undersöka hur fritidslärare förhåller sig till utomhusundervisning samt hur de arbetar med utomhusundervisning för att främja elevers lärande. Denna studie utgår från ett sociokulturellt perspektiv på lärande, där själva samspelet och interaktionen ses som en central del av elevernas utveckling. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju stycken verksamma fritidslärare och sedan har dessa analyserats tematiskt. Resultatet visar på att utomhuspedagogik i fritidshemmen ofta sker spontant, men att det även kan vara planerat. Arbetssättet påverkas av elevernas olika behov, intressen och dagsform, även sånt som väder kan påverka hur de arbetar med utomhuspedagogik. Bland de olika hinder som har identifierats i denna studie så finns det brist på planeringstid, personalbrist samt att det är en begränsad tillgång till material. Samtidigt så framhålls det även hur olika utomhusmiljöer kan möjliggöra olika läranden, samt även en social utveckling och ett välbefinnande hos eleverna. Slutsatsen av denna studie är att utomhuspedagogik i fritidshem har en didaktisk potential speciellt när undervisningen kan knytas an till elevernas erfarenheter samt även den plats där själva lärandet sker. Studien bidrar med ny kunskap om hur utomhuspedagogik används och uppfattas i fritidshemmets kontext. Arbetet kompletterar även tidigare forskning genom att synliggöra fritidshemmets didaktiska möjligheter och begränsningar, som kan ge vägledning för fritidslärare i hur utomhusmiljön kan användas som ett verktyg för att stärka elevers lärande och gemenskap.
Tjänstemäns attityder till hälsofrämjande insatser för psykisk hälsa på arbetsplatsen : En kvalitativ studie om möjligheter och utmaningar kring psykisk hälsa ur ett medarbetarperspektiv.
No full textBakgrund Stressrelaterad psykisk ohälsa är en växande orsak till sjukskrivningar. Trots nya riktlinjer för psykisk hälsa på arbetsplatsen visar tidigare studier att stigma och attityder utgör hinder för förebyggande insatser. Syfte Att undersöka tjänstemäns attityder till arbetsgivarens arbete med den psykiska hälsan ur ett medarbetarperspektiv baserat på Mynaks uppdaterade riktlinjer. Metod Åtta tjänstemän från olika organisationer intervjuades genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Data analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med latent tolkning. Resultat Deltagarna uttryckte överlag positiva attityder till insatser för psykisk hälsa, men tvivel kvarstår kring effektiviteten på grund av prestationsnormer. Ett huvudtema och tre subteman identifierades. Slutsats För att främja psykisk hälsa behöver organisationer stärka psykosocialt säkerhetsklimat, psykologisk trygghet och förstå individens livssituation. Detta möjliggör en hälsofrämjande och salutogen arbetsmiljö.Background Stress-related mental illness is a growing cause of sickness absence. Despite new guidelines for workplace mental health, previous studies indicate that stigma and prevailing attitudes remain significant barriers to preventive measures. Aim To explore white-collar employees' attitudes toward organizational initiatives addressing mental health, from an employee perspective, based on Mynak’s updated guidelines. Method Eight white-collar employees from different organizations were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis with a latent interpretative approach. Results Overall, participants expressed positive attitudes toward mental health initiatives. However, doubts remained concerning their effectiveness due to prevailing performance norms. One overarching theme and three subthemes were identified. Conclusion In order to promote mental health, organizations need to strengthen the psychosocial safety climate, enhance psychological safety, and consider employees’ individual life situations. Such efforts can foster a health-promoting and salutogenic work environment
Beyond research-based literature reviews: a scoping review of methodological diversity in Swedish bachelor’s theses in nursing
No full textBackground In Sweden, becoming a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing requires three years of full-time study, including an independent 15-credit thesis. Nursing undergraduates have limited access to ongoing research projects and clinical settings, which often prioritize master’s students and faculty-led studies. Thus, many nursing programs default to a literature-review norm, which reduces methodological diversity. This study focuses solely on non-traditional approaches, such as blog analyses, autobiographical analyses, and other innovative designs. The study seeks to disclose how these methods contribute to understanding patient experiences and advancing nursing education and research. Aim The aim of the study was to systematically map and critically analyze the methodological and theoretical diversity within Swedish bachelor’s theses in nursing that employ alternative research methods. MethodA scoping review was conducted. Searches were performed in the DiVA portal (title-only list of 22 145 records) and in three university repositories (2 861 records), followed by an abstract-inclusive DiVA search (491 records). Screening and full-text review yielded 380 final inclusions. The national digital science archive was used to access theses completed between 2013 and 2023. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. Results Autobiographical works were the most frequently used sources (n = 220), followed by blogs (n = 126). Dictionaries, internet forums, and combined sources were rare. Few theses used dictionaries, social media or internet forums. A descriptive research design was employed in most of the theses, and the majority focused on adults, primarily women. The theoretical content mainly covered themes related to existential issues and suffering, but several bachelor’s theses lacked a formal theoretical framework. Conclusion Descriptive designs predominated, while exploratory and theory-integrated approaches were rare. Addressing these gaps requires pedagogical reforms that support use of diverse data sources and encourage inclusive research
Occupational risk factors for surgically treated lumbar disc herniation – a 33-year follow-up
No full textObjectives This study aimed to assess the associations between occupational biomechanical factors and occurrence of surgically treated lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and describe the consequences in terms of early exit from the labor market. Methods A cohort of 262 850 male construction workers participating in a national occupational health surveillance program was followed prospectively for 33 years (1987-2019). Occupational biomechanical exposures were assessed by a job exposure matrix (JEM) based on specific occupational groups. Workers who underwent surgical treatment for LDH were identified from the national patient register and data on disability pension from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for biomechanical exposures, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, height and time period. Results There were 2451 cases of surgical treatment for LDH and the incidence peaked at age 40-45 years. Increased risks were found for often lifting >25 kg (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.06-2.94), extreme lumbar flexion/extension (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.37-1.88) and high exposure to whole-body vibration (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05-1.65). Among cases, the mean age for exiting the labor market due to disability pension was 55.9 years for white-collar workers and 51.7 years for construction workers. Conclusions Occupational exposure to heavy lifting and working in non-neutral back postures was associated with increased risk of surgical treatment for LDH. Construction workers who have had surgery for LDH exited the labor market with disability pension earlier than white-collar workers
Progressive Web Application (PWA)för inlärning av Java-programmeringmed implementering av AI-drivenfeedback
No full textThis study investigates how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) can en-hancethe effectiveness of teaching Java programming to beginners. The study highlightsthe challenges faced by novice students when attempting to apply theoreticalknowledge to practical programming tasks and explores how AI tools, such asChatGPT, can be used to provide real-time, context-specific feedback. Using a qualitative approach, where interviews and observations were collected from be-ginnerstudents using AI-supported tools, the study analyses the students' learning experiences and their interactions with AI. The results show that AI integration, by offering tailored guidance and debugging support, significantly improves both learningefficiency and students' confidence in Java programming. The study suggests that AItechnologies can play a crucial role in supporting beginners by providing immediatefeedback and guidance, thereby enhancing their ability to under-stand and applyprogramming concepts
Kvinnors upplevelser i samband med en medicinsk abort : En beskrivande litteraturstudie
No full textBakgrund: Det sker årligen 73 miljoner aborter i världen. I Sverige genomfördes 35 400 aborter år 2024 och 97 procent av dessa var medicinska aborter. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i att stödja kvinnan och skapa en känsla av förtroende, trygghet, respekt och delaktighet. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser i samband med en medicinsk abort. Metod: En beskrivande litteraturstudie baserad på 10 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ ansats. Huvudresultat: Resultatet visade att kvinnor som genomgått en medicinsk abort upplevde väntetiden inför den medicinska aborten som känslomässigt påfrestande. De var i behov av detaljerad information kring den medicinska abortprocessen och ett respektfullt och stödjande bemötande av vårdpersonalen. Att kunna genomgå den medicinska aborten i hemmet ansågs positivt för de som var i behov av avskildhet. Kvinnorna upplevde att den medicinska aborten väckte känslor som skam, skuld, ensamhet, sorg och ångest. Smärtan och blödningen i samband med aborten upplevdes som fysiskt påfrestande. Slutsats: Det framkom att detaljerad information kring den medicinska abortprocessen och ett respektfullt och stödjande bemötande från vårdpersonalen var viktigt för kvinnorna. Många var i behov av avskildhet och upplevde att den medicinska aborten påverkade dem både psykisk och fysiskt. Förbättring för kvinnors välbefinnande vid en medicinsk abort kan vara att informationen blir mer detaljerad kring symtomen som kan uppstå under den medicinska abortprocessen samt att det emotionella stödet av vårdpersonal efter en medicinsk abort utvecklas.
Life cycle assessment of football fields in Nordic climates: Comparing artificial and natural turf systems
No full textSport is more than just a game—it's a global phenomenon that shapes cultures, economies, and communities. Football, the world's most popular sport, is a prime example. Yet beneath the surface lies an overlooked environmental cost. As the climate crisis accelerates, the sprawling network of football facilities—stadiums, training grounds, and infrastructure—emerges as a silent contributor to environmental degradation and the transgression of planetary boundaries. Two common types of fields exist: artificial and natural turf. Research on environmental impacts of these turfs remains limited, especially in cold climates. This study presents a life cycle assessment of 1 m2 artificial and natural football turfs in Nordic climates, evaluating their environmental impacts such as global warming potential, eutrophication potential and ecotoxicity potential across construction, use, maintenance, and end-of-life phases over operational lifespans of 10, 20 and 30 years. Natural turf exhibited the highest overall environmental impacts over the operational lifespan, e.g. the global warming potential was 30.6 kg CO2 eq/m2 while the artificial turf reached 15.6 kg CO2 eq/m2. During the construction phase, artificial turf generated significant emissions, mainly from material production. In the use phase, natural turf showed the greatest impacts due to diesel consumption and fertilizer application. At the end-of-life stage, artificial turf's sand and infill were reused, while the turf carpet and shock pad were incinerated for energy recovery. However, without recycling, artificial turf would represent the highest environmental burden among the evaluated alternatives. Implementing effective recycling and energy recovery strategies is essential to mitigate its environmental impact. Furthermore, sourcing turf materials locally, combined with substituting conventional maintenance equipment with electric robotic alternatives, can further reduce overall environmental impacts
Cascading of circular business models in the textile and clothing industry: Insights for operationalization through a systematic review
No full textThe circular economy seeks to preserve resource value by promoting circular business models (CBMs) such as repair, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling. However, the practical operationalization of cascading - where resources are sequentially utilized across multiple CBMs to maximize their residual value - remains insufficiently explored, particularly in the textile and clothing (T&C) industry. This sector, marked by high resource consumption, short product lifespans, and significant environmental impacts, presents unique opportunities to slow resource loops and enhance value creation. This study systematically reviews 45 academic articles to examine how cascading is operationalized within the T&C sector. Seven archetypes of cascading are identified, encompassing interactions within and between inner loops (e.g., rental, repair, reuse), outer loops (e.g., remaking, recycling), and open-loop applications across value chains. Using cascade chain theory, these practices are mapped onto four guiding principles: appropriate fit, augmentation, consecutive relinking, and balancing resource metabolism. The analysis reveals key enabling factors for effective cascading, including advanced sorting technologies, digital and physical tracking systems, circular design, life extension strategies, supply chain coordination, supportive policies, eco-material substitution, and innovative recycling techniques. Despite these enablers, scaling cascading operations is hindered by infrastructural limitations, market and safety challenges, insufficient local processing capacity, and regulatory barriers. The findings highlight critical factors shaping cascading practices and emphasize the need for coordinated action among T&C stakeholders, policymakers, and intermediaries to establish robust cascade chains and advance the transition to circularity
Health systems performance in health outcomes, health financing and COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from 31 countries
No full textBackground: Health system performance is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions of a nation's healthcare infrastructure. This study aims to assess and rank the performance of health systems across different regions of the world. Methodology: We employed the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method in 2023 to evaluate and rank the health system performance of 31 countries across six geographical regions. Our evaluation included six general categories and twelve indicators related to health, finance, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The final weights for these indicators were determined using the Three-scale method and the Entropy-weighting method. Additionally, we categorized health system performance into three groups: high, moderate, and low. Hierarchical clustering of health system performance scores was conducted using SPSS software (version 26). Results: Luxembourg emerged as the only high-performing health system, while Qatar and the Netherlands fell into the moderate-performance group. Other countries exhibited low-performing health systems. Notably, within the low-performance group, the United States of America, Australia, Singapore, Canada, England, and Germany achieved relatively better rankings. Conversely, Yemen, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Bolivia ranked lowest in terms of health system performance. Conclusion: Contrary to the assumption that higher health spending guarantees improved performance, the experience of COVID-19 among high-income countries revealed mixed results. Strengthening resilience, investing in public health systems, and ensuring sustainable financial resources are crucial for enhancing health system performance