Mid Sweden University
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Ledarskapets maktförklädnader : -från kontroll till utveckling i organisationskulturer
No full textSyftet med denna kvalitativa studie var att undersöka hur ledare inom privatsektor upplevde och använde makt i sitt ledarskap för att främja en hållbar organisationskultur. Det gjordes med hjälp av de teoretiska ramverken om Michel Foucaults tre maktteorier - suverän makt, disciplinär makt och biomakt – samt Pierre Bourdieus begrepp om symbolisk makt. Dessa teoretiska perspektivmöjliggjorde en djupare förståelse för hur makt utövades i vardagliga ledarskapspraktiker. Metoden fick stöd av en tematisk analys där fem semistrukturerade intervjuer analyserade respondenternas erfarenheter. Ledarnas upplevelser visade resultatet att maktutövning i de studerade organisationerna präglades av struktur, öppenhet och tillit. Ledarna beskrev hur de använde sin makt för att skapa tydliga ramar, stötta medarbetarnas utveckling och bygga en värderingsstyrd kultur. Makt uttrycktes inte främst genom kontroll utan genom att möjliggöra – förmedlad genom omsorg, motivation och organisatoriska normer. Studien bidrog med en fördjupad förståelse för maktens olika skepnader i ledarskap och hur dessa kunde tolkas för att främja hållbara arbetsmiljöer.Godkänd: 2025-06-10.</p
Simulating Large Language Models : Applying retrieval-augmented generation to specialized tasks
No full textSpråkmodeller dominerar nu informationslandskapet, men dessa modeller är inte flexibla och använder enorma beräkningsresurser. Därför har på senare tid nya tekniker tagits fram, en sådan teknik är ”retrieval-augmented generation”. Men i stället för att förbättra nuvarande modellramverk, kan denna teknik användas för att skapa ett generellt ramverk för specialiserade modeller? I rapporten undersöks hur språkmodeller förhåller sig till vektorer, modell-lager och embeddings samt vilken metod som används för att ta fram ett ramverk för specialiserade modeller. Problemet är komplext med många möjliga implementationer, i slutändan skapades en Rust-modell med open neural network exchange och llama.cpp. Detta på grund av Rusts avancerade minneshantering, hastighet och integration med C ++ och llama.cpp. Den slutliga implementeringen kan delas in i tre grupper, med totalt fem bitar, var och en av dessa förklaras i detalj. Resultaten visar att modellen gör det den ämnades för, den hämtar relevant data och genererar ett svar med hjälp av detta. Men den underliggande data måste vara av högre kvalitet. Resultatet är ett lovande ramverk, särskilt för datasäkerhet, integritet och resursanvändning, i framtiden kan detta leda till säkra och miljövänliga språkmodeller. Framtida forskning bör fokusera på att undersöka alternativa likhetsberäkningar, ett lineärt modellsamband som framkom i resultaten och om ramverket ska användas i produktionsmiljö bör i förstahand det underliggande data bearbetas.Large language models now dominate the information landscape, but these models are inflexible and use huge computational resources. Therefore, new technologies have been developed, one such technology is retrieval-augmented generation. But instead of improving current model frameworks can this technology be used to create a general framework for specialized models? The report examines how language models relate to vectors, layers and embeddings and the method that will be used to develop a specialized model framework. The problem is complex and has many options, there are entire ecosystems to choose from, in the end a Rust model running open neural network exchange and a large language model hosted in llama.cpp is chosen. This is because of Rust low level memory safety, speed and compatibility with C++ and llama.cpp. The final implementation can broadly be divided into three major groups and five major parts, each of these are explained in detail. Results show that the model does what it is supposed to, it retrieves relevant context and generates a response using this context. But the underlying data needs to be of higher quality. In conclusion it is a promising framework and the method does show to be promising for data security, privacy and resource usage, in the future this may lead to secure and environmental language models. Future research should focus on examining alternative similarity calculations, further examining the model linearity show by the results and if the framework aims to be used in a production environment, work should primarily focus on improving the underlying data
Practising Safe Care in Critical Care : A Reflexive Thematic Analysis
No full textAim: To explore the meaning of ‘safety’ as it applies to critical care nurses during daily care practice in the intensive care setting. Design: A qualitative study design was employed. Methods: The study enlisted 18 critical care nurses and nurse leaders from three hospitals in Sweden. Interview data were collected in 2017 and in 2024. The data were examined using reflexive thematic content analysis. Results: The meaning of safety within critical care settings was illustrated by the themes ‘Sustaining a safety mindset’, ‘Fostering commitment to patient safety’, ‘Showing individual accountability and continuous learning’ and ‘Managing complexity while prioritising safety standards’. Safe care practice in daily practice also involved adaptability and resilience in response to changing circumstances or unexpected events, ensuring thoroughness and allowing for a return to regular routines when conditions permitted, thereby preventing incomplete care. Core competencies in safety encompassed both technical and non-technical skills, such as the ability to assess and use technology, remain vigilant and thorough, plan ahead, prioritise and identify, and follow through on nursing interventions, all while working in a team and allocating sufficient time for patients. Conclusion: Sustaining a safe mindset over time is both challenging and essential. Further research should focus on how tofoster a sustained safety mindset. A more proactive approach to learning may be achieved by reflecting on and discussing things that have worked well even in challenging circumstances. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This study enriches our understanding of practising safe care in intensive care. It furnishes the nursing profession with a deeper theoretical grasp of proactive safety efforts, encompassing various factors that can mitigate risks in a technologically advanced environment
A Dark Dawn? : The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on enmity regionalization on the Eurasian continent.
No full textThis thesis examines Russia’s invasion of Ukraine's impact on Eurasian geopolitical polarization, focusing on the split between the European Union (EU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Using a comparative, deductive, and quantitative research design, the study analyzes how power structures, political regimes, and cultural values influence the behavior and unity of these blocs. Analyzing UN General Assembly voting behavior as a proxy for foreign policy alignment, the findings reveal that the EU shows near-total voting cohesion for Ukraine, while the SCO displays strategic ambiguity, with abstentions and non-condemnation of Russian aggression. The study reveals significant divergences in economic efficiency, democratic governance, and cultural values, indicating that the EU and SCO differ materially and ideologically. Regression analysis shows bloc affiliation is the strongest predictor of voting behavior, exceeding regime type or cultural traits. These findings enhance the thesis that the war in Ukraine has not initiated but intensified a broader trend of “enmity regionalization”—a structural fragmentation of global governance into ideologically cohesive yet adversarial regional blocs. This structure, in turn, poses challenges for the international system.2025-06-05</p
”Den gamla skolan” och kollegialitet : En text om ledarskap, makt och performativitet i gästfrihetsindustrin
No full textArbete i gästfrihetsindustrin är olika påfrestande för olika kroppar och på flera olika vis, men det de har gemensamt är att det oftast är lågavlönat och förknippat med låg status. Därtill är det en kontext som är komplex och påverkad av tid och rum. Få empiriska studier har utförts i en nordisk kontext och färre som belyser kontextens komplexitet, som oftast har flertalet samverkande under- och överordningar. Min studie utfördes enligt kvalitativ metod utifrån en feministisk autoetnografisk ansats. Empiriskt material insamlades främst med hjälp av dagböcker som deltagare med arbete i hotell-, restaurang- och bar skrev i under två veckor, deltagande observationer, samt minnesskrivande. Narrativ analys utfördes genom att analysera deltagarnas berättelser i utdragen separat och därefter sammanfoga berättelserna. Tillsammans förmedlade deltagarna en uppsättning små berättelser som tillsammans gav ett partialt narrativ av gästfrihetsindustrin, samt den betydelse ledarskapet tillskrivs. Utifrån teoretiska utgångspunkter i makt och performativitet beskriver analysen en del av en större kontext, samt hur maktrelationer och normer förhandlas, utmanas eller reproduceras i arbetstagarens kontext. Resultaten är viktiga då de beskriver kvarvarande normer från ”den gamla skolan” som ej anses nyttiga för en hållbar framtid för gästfrihetsindustrin.2025-06-03</p
Att förena heltidsarbete med föräldraskap : Genusaspekter på föräldraskapets utmaningar och strategier
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur förvärvsarbetande föräldrar navigerar vardagen i relation till arbetsliv och familj, med särskilt fokus på hur strukturella genusnormer formar deras möjligheter och ansvar. Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med tjänstemän inom samma koncern belyses hur djupt rotade normer kring kön bidrar till att befästa en ojämn fördelning av omsorgs- och arbetsuppgifter. Kvinnor förväntas prioritera hem och barn och möts av krav och bedömningar, medan män ofta marginaliseras i omsorgsrollen och begränsas i sitt föräldraengagemang. En tydlig insikt i studien är att dessa normer inte bara påverkar individuella val, utan också formar de strukturer som styr arbetsliv och familjeliv. Studien visar också att flexibilitet och distansarbete har ökat efter pandemin men fortfarande är ojämnt fördelade och betraktas mer som en förmån än en självklarhet. Resultaten understryker behovet av att förändra normer och strukturer för att möjliggöra verklig jämställdhet i arbetsliv och föräldraskap, samt behovet av fortsatt forskning kring dessa förändrade villkor.2025-06-04</p
Does the lack of microbial competition significantly enhance boreal white-rot fungi's capacity to degrade organic pollutants and uptake toxic elements?
No full textMycoremediation, the application of fungi for pollutant degradation, offers a sustainable solutionfor bioremediating contaminated environments. In mixed microbial settings, microbialcompetition can influence the efficiency of fungi by modulating pollutant degradation andnutrient availability. We investigated the bioremediation potential of boreal white-rot fungi(WRF) in fiberbank sediments, targeting organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Previously isolated and identifiedthirteen WRF species were screened in sterilized and unsterilized substrates to evaluate theeffects of microbial interactions on pollutant degradation and metal uptake. Key findingsrevealed that unsterilized fiberbank material supported superior PAH degradation, withTrametes hirsuta achieving up to 94% removal, suggesting synergistic interactions between WRFand native microbial communities. Conversely, sterilized substrates enhanced PTE uptake, withPhlebia tremellosa demonstrating significant accumulation of cadmium, bioconcentration factor(BCF) of 5.56 in sterile conditions and 0.85 in unsterile conditions, and lead, BCF of 1.65 understerile conditions, and 0.38 for unsterile conditions, this enhanced accumulation might be dueto reduced microbial competition. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences (p <0.001) in pollutant removal and metal uptake between the two substrate conditions. Theseresults underline the importance of tailoring bioremediation strategies to substrate conditions.A dual approach, employing unsterilized substrates for organic pollutant degradation andsterilized substrates for metal accumulation, emerges as a promising framework. Futureapplications could focus on large-scale implementation of these strategies to rehabilitateindustrially contaminated sites like fiberbanks, balancing ecological sustainability withremediation efficacy
Addressing Quiet Quitting Through Shared Leadership : A Qualitative Study of Generation Z in Hybrid Work Environments
No full textIn an era of evolving work arrangements and shifting generational values, the phenomenon of “quiet quitting,” a subtle form of employee disengagement, has emerged as a growing concern for organizations operating in hybrid work environments. This study explores how shared leadership, as opposed to traditional hierarchical models, influences quiet quitting among Generation Z employees (born 1997-2012). It also examines how early signs of disengagement can be identified and mitigated through shared leadership practices. To address these questions, a qualitative approach was employed, combining 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews with both employers and Generation Z employees, along with an exploratory online survey of 32 Generation Z respondents across multiple countries. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to uncover recurring patterns and connect them to the study’s theoretical framework. The findings suggest that among the participants used for this study, shared leadership aligns more closely with Generation Z employees’ preferences for collaboration, flexibility and meaningful work compared to conventional leadership styles. Furthermore, early signs of disengagement, such as passive participation, reduced initiative and digital silence, were more effectively addressed in teams that fostered inclusive communication and encouraged active contributions. As such, these insights offer practical guidance for leaders and Human Resource professionals aiming to sustain engagement among Generation Z employees through participatory leadership strategies adapted to hybrid work contexts
Creating the Foundation for a Virtual Game-Based Learning Lab to Stimulate Distance Education
No full textGame-based learning has established itself as a student-centred supplementary learning activity in most higher education subjects. Many university campuses are today providing collections of board games available at no cost for self-directing student activities. For universities with a high degree of distance education there is little comparable material available for online courses. There is of course a plethora of digital games available online, but rarely with any alignment to academic subjects and specific courses. For STEM subjects there are several research studies that report on successful initiatives for virtual labs with a mix of tailored simulations and educational games. The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss the requirements for a virtual lab that could provide user-friendly access to simulations and educational games in a wide range of university subjects. In the first phase of this educational development project, the focus is on games for the subjects of History, Pedagogy, and Computer science. The long-term goal is to create a virtual learning lab for all university subjects. Beside the work on finding the appropriate learning games and applications, a large part of this project will be creating a structure for the virtual lab and providing access to different types of games. The research strategy utilizes the Design science framework, with a focus for this paper on the initial phases of 1) Explicating the problem and 2) defining the requirements for the artefact. Data were gathered partly through a literature review, partly through a study of earlier development projects at the university, and partly from discussions with other researchers in the field of game-based learning. Regarding phase 1) To explicate and elaborate on the problem, the findings indicate that the issues of user-friendly access and licenses for commercial games are of primary importance. This leads over to phase 2), which indicates requirements for high usability and user-friendliness in a virtual gaming lab. This means hosting a mix of commercial quality games and educational games developed and tested in earlier development projects at the university. There are also discussions on collaborations with other game developing teachers from outside our university. ViSpe