Publikationer från Karlstads Universitet
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Editorial note to prospective authors : Evolving scope and vision of Applied Mathematics in Science and Engineering (AMSE)
No full textCollateral Damage from Offensive Cyber Operations-A Systematic Literature Review
No full textAs offensive cyber operations have become more commonplace, cyber collateral damage (CCD) to society and to civilian infrastructure has expanded in impact and severity. Several research contexts, frameworks, and methods apply to these collateral effects, especially as they pertain to reducing them. To investigate and map this area of research, five leading scientific databases (Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Springer Link, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest) were searched for papers on CCD. From 716 search results, 74 relevant papers were selected. Using surface categories as well as thematic analysis, these were grouped into the main emergent categories of legal, ethical, targeting-oriented, and econometric papers, with each category showing a recent research trend. The papers were qualitatively assessed for importance and coverage and compared bibliographically to identify key papers and authors. Within the identified areas of research, significant gaps remain. While CCD is becoming increasingly well understood from a legal and operational perspective, this accounts only for a fraction of the civilian harm caused by offensive cyber operations. This study identifies potential pathways for the synthesis of the current research areas (targeting, taxonomy, econometrics) with broader definitions of collateral damage to include civilian harm. These include updating national cyber doctrines to require collateral damage estimates, as well as exploiting emerging open datasets to understand which cyber capabilities cause the greatest collateral effects. Finally, we observe that the research definitions and taxonomy of CCD differ widely and have been subjected to limited scrutiny and challenge to date.This paper was included as a manuscript in the licentiate thesis entitled "Expanding the view on Offensive Cyber Operations" KUS 2025:20.</p
Facing yourself in a virtual reality-assisted perspective-taking intervention : an interpretative phenomenological analysis
No full textIntroduction People's self-narratives-how they relate to themselves and others-are closely intertwined with psychological suffering and wellbeing. This study investigates a perspective-taking intervention rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), where participants observe themselves from an outside perspective in Virtual Reality (VR).Methods Three participants watched 3D-filmed versions of themselves through a VR headset while reflecting on perspective-taking questions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the transcripts were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Results The intervention helped participants become more aware of their self-relating. They recognized how they internalized perceived judgments from others and how they adjusted their behavior accordingly. Self-critical tendencies and the double standards they applied to themselves vs. others became more apparent, often evoking self-compassion. The intervention also revealed discrepancies between participants' internal and external views-that is, how they perceived themselves from the inside vs. the outside.Discussion These findings highlight the promising therapeutic potential of this intervention, both for assessing and influencing self-relating
Dissecting key contributions of TH2 and TH17 cytokines to atopic dermatitis pathophysiology
No full textBackground: In atopic dermatitis (AD), epidermal disease hallmarks are driven by a complex cutaneous inflammatory milieu that varies between patients. How these variable inflammatory signals affect cellular and molecular epidermal AD phenotypes is difficult to study in vivo. Objective: We aimed to unravel which AD-associated cytokines drive specific epidermal disease hallmarks. Methods: We utilized primary and immortalized keratinocyte-derived human epidermal equivalents stimulated with TH2, TH17, and TH22 cytokines. Results: Morphologic, functional, and transcriptomic analyses revealed that TH2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 were the main inducers of a proinflammatory and hyperproliferative epidermis. The presence of IL-17A or IL-22 in the TH2 milieu, and especially TH2 + IL-22, most closely resembled AD hallmarks including spongiosis, more severe keratinocyte differentiation defects, and epidermal barrier dysfunction. Single-cell spatial transcriptomics showed expansion of keratinocytes expressing high levels of proliferation genes and downregulation of differentiation genes in the upper epidermal layers. The transcriptomic comparison to in vivo AD lesional skin indicated that the TH2 + IL-22 AD model demonstrated greatest resemblance and identified AD disease marker genes altered by TH2 + IL-22 such as downregulated ACER1 and AKR1C3. Gene expression levels were restored by combinatory exposure to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand tapinarof and the Janus kinase inhibitor tofacitinib. This combined therapeutic approach also completely restored epidermal barrier function and improved morphologic disease hallmarks. Conclusion: Our results reveal the important role of IL-22 in the TH2-driven acute AD pathophysiology and highlight the potential of combinatory medicine in targeted treatment of AD.
It floats, or does it? : An interview study of P.E teachers views on the teachings of swimming in years 7-9
No full textThis study investigates Physical Educations teacher´s teachings around swimming and emergencies. In a country such as Sweden with approximately 3000km of coastline, 2700 official swimming areas, 550 official bathing spots, 96 000 private pools and 590 guest harbors it is important for students to learn how to swim and to be able to manage emergencies in and by water. The purpose of this study is to investigate how P.E teachers in years 7-9 teach swimming and emergencies in and by water. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine P.E teachers in years 7-9 to find new information and data. This study found both differences and similarities in P.E teacher´s teachings, organizations, interpretations of the curriculum, grading and assessment regarding swimming and emergencies. For example, the P.E teachers had different numbers of visits to the swimming halls with their students, they also differed in how and what was getting graded, assessed and how they interpreted the curriculum and its content. There were also differences depending on if it was the school’s own staff or the swimming halls staff teaching the pupils how to swim and the number of staff present by the pool. The P.E teachers have different number of students who are not able to swim in years 9 and do not have time or opportunity to teach any other swimming techniques than breast and backstroke. The study concludes that P.E teachers have different conditions and opportunities for teaching. The differences are mostly connected to the number of visits and access to the swimming hall and the P.E teachers own interpretation of the curriculum. Fewer visits to the swimming hall give less time to teach swimming and worse access to the swimming hall makes it harder to book extra visits for the pupils who are in risk of not reaching the needed swimming skills. All the interviewed P.E teachers assess swimming skills based on 200 meters of swimming which includes 50 meters of backstroke swimming. This was enough for a passing grade for most of the P.E teachers, while some others had bigger demands on the pupil’s technique.
Women and men are different, but not THAT different : A mixed-methods study examining perceptions of gender, the body, and their relation to equality, in theory
No full textSweden has long ranked among the most gender-equal countries, particularly in terms of gender equality. In recent years, however, these statistics have shown a downward trend. The primary aim of this study is to examine how individuals in Sweden perceive their knowledge of physiology, as well as their interpretation of gender stereotypes. This is compared to how a gender equality strategist perceives their own physiological knowledge and interpretation of such stereotypes. The study thus seeks to explore whether physiological knowledge can, in theory, contribute to promoting gender equality. The methodology combines a quantitative survey with a qualitative interview conducted with a gender equality strategist. The survey participants comprised 44 anonymous individuals. The results show that in general, the participants demonstrated substantial knowledge of physiology. A majority were aware that both women and men possess both estrogen and testosterone hormones. Furthermore, most participants shared a similar understanding of what constitutes a stereotype. The gender equality strategist confirmed that scientific knowledge of physiology contributes to fostering gender equality. The conclusion is that people in Sweden generally recognize the distinction between physiology and gender stereotypes. However, the dissemination of knowledge regarding both physiology and understanding stereotypes is presumably lacking in society. Sverige har legat på topp som ett jämställt land, speciellt vad gäller kön, i många år. De senaste åren har denna statistik haft en negativ lutning. Syftet i denna studie är huvudsakligen att undersöka hur människor i Sverige uppfattar sin kunskap om fysiologi, samt hur de tolkar könsstereotyper. Detta jämförs med hur en jämställdhetsstrateg uppfattar sin kunskap om fysiologi, samt tolkning av könsstereotyper. Syftet avser så vis att försöka se ifall fysiologisk kunskap kan, i teori, främja jämställdhet. Metoden är en blandningsmetod av kvantitativ användning av enkät, samt en kvalitativ intervju med en jämställdhetsstrateg. Deltagarna för studiens enkät blev 44 anonyma individer. Resultatet visar att deltagarna erhåller generellt mycket fysiologisk kunskap. Deltagarna som majoritet vet att både kvinnor och män har både östrogen och testosteron hormon i kroppen. Deltagarna har som majoritet liknande uppfattning om vad en stereotyp innebär. Jämställdhetsstrategen bekräftar att vetenskaplig kunskap om fysiologi främjar jämställdhet. Slutsatsen är att människor i Sverige generellt uppfattar skillnaden mellan fysiologi och könstereotyper. Dock förmodas spridningen av fysiologisk kunskap och förståelse om stereotyper som bristande i samhället.
”My life is my work. It’s 24/7, 365 days of the year” : A qualitative study about fosterparents possibilities and challenges regarding recovery
No full textDenna kvalitativa studie har som utgångspunkt att undersöka familjehemsföräldrars återhämtningsmöjligheter i sin roll samt vad som kan påverka de möjligheterna. I det teoretiska kapitlet redogörs det för tidigare forskning, teorier, modeller och begrepp som utgör grunden för studien. De blir relevanta igen i det avsnitt där vi senare redovisar resultat och för en analys. Som teoribakgrund har vi redogjort för vad definitionen av återhämtning är samt ett historiskt perspektiv på arbete då det har en central roll i vad vi ämnar undersöka. I metodkapitlet redogör vi bland annat för vårt val av metod. Detta kapitel innehåller även en beskrivning av vår förförståelse till studiens undersökningsområde, vilken typ av urval vi använt oss av för att hitta våra respondenter samt en beskrivning av utformandet och utförandet av intervjun och dess frågor. Vidare finns en redovisning av hur analysen av vårt empiriska material gått till, en diskussion gällande studiens validitet och reliabilitet och en presentation av de fyra forskningsetiska aspekterna - samt hur vi försäkrat oss om att följa dem. I studiens avslutningsdel har vi presenterat och analyserat våra resultat utifrån vårt syfte och frågeställningar med ett teoretiskt stöd. Avslutningsvis har vi diskuterat styrkor samt eventuella förbättringsområden för vår studie
Den professionella autonomins skiftande uttryck : En studie av domarprofessionens möjligheter att utöva sitt professionella omdöme
No full textDenna artikel är ett bidrag till diskussionen om hur professionellt arbete styrs och vilka konsekvenser det får för professioners yrkesutövning. Artikeln undersöker domarprofessionens utrymme för autonomi i det dagliga arbetet i tingsrätten. Resultatet visar hur domarna ges handlingsutrymme i större delar av arbets-kontexten samtidigt som deras professionella autonomi begränsas genom en slags arbetsorganisatorisk styrning av arbetets yttre ramar. Detta när domarna tvingas vara tidsmässigt, rumsligt och funktionsmässigt flexibla. Artikeln visar på vikten av att analysera autonomi som ett multifacetterat begrepp, på flera nivåer och i olika aspekter av arbetet
Safety and Well-being in Green Spaces. : A qualitative study on how the green area Parken affects residents' experiences ofsafety and well-being.
No full textTrygghet är en upplevelse med ett komplext samspel mellan fysisk utformning, underhåll,social närvaro, och ibland tillgång till grönska. Grönska kan ha positiva effekter påmänniskors fysiska och psykiska hälsa. Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka hurgrönområdet Parken i Karlstads kommun påverkar de när boendes upplevelser av trygghetoch trivsel. Undersökningen genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats och en explorativundersökningsdesign, med nio intervjupersoner. Teorier som behandlades i studien ärsymboliskt interaktionism och Henri Lefebvres teorier om det offentliga rummet.Studien visade därmed att trygghet som en inre och personlig känsla varierar inomgrönområdet, och kan kopplas till både symboliska och konkreta aspekter av platsen. Faktorersom främjar upplevelser av trivsel i grönområdet Parken är dess grönska, potentiella socialafunktioner samt god tillgänglighet och underhåll. De faktorer som motverkar dessaupplevelser är fysisk oordning, brist på praktiska element, otillräcklig utrustning samtfrånvaro av tydliga sociala mötesplatser. Parken har därmed potential att utvecklas till ettbåde fysiskt och symboliskt rum för samvaro, återhämtning och lokal identitet, förutsatt attdetta sker genom en medveten och inkluderande planeringsproces
A curated dataset on the distribution of West Palaearctic freshwater bivalves
No full textFreshwater bivalves (FWB) are attracting scientific and societal attention given their essential ecosystem services, ecological functions, and poor conservation status. Current knowledge of the spatial distribution of West Palearctic FWB is poor preventing the understanding of biogeography and conservation planning. One of the priorities of the pan-European networking project "CONFREMU - Conservation of freshwater mussels: a pan-European approach" funded by the European Union, was to fill the knowledge gap on the distribution of FWB in Europe and adjacent regions. Based on the efforts of this network of scientists, we provide the most complete, taxonomically, and geographically accurate distribution of FWB species for the entire West Palearctic. The dataset contains 270,287 geo-referenced records of 93 native and 8 non-native FWB from 1674 to 2023. The dataset compiles information from private records from 82 specialists and multiple sources (e.g., published articles, grey literature, biodiversity databases, and scientific collections). This dataset, available online, represents an important data source for future studies on the biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation of these important organisms