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PEEK with Boron and Aluminum Nitride : Using a Model To Describe Thermal Conductivity Interactions in Ternary Composites
No full textWe here report the properties of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) loaded with hexagonal boron nitride (BN) with and without aluminum nitride (AlN), produced through extrusion compounding and compression molding. The primary purpose of this work was to improve the thermal conductivity of PEEK for electric insulation applications in electric motors. The thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and effusivity increased with filler content reaching maximum values at 30 wt % filler that were a factor of approximately 2, 2, and 1.5 of those of the pure polymer. On a volume content, the ternary system PEEK/BN/AlN was more effective than the binary system (PEEK/BN) in raising the thermal conductivity. By the use of a developed model, it was possible to conclude that a small synergy in terms of thermal conductivity did exist. Density revealed compact systems with a porosity of 0-3%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a uniform dispersion of BN and a combination of dispersed AlN nanoparticles and agglomerates in the ternary system. Dielectric and breakdown voltage results indicated that the composite properties were acceptable for electric motors, even though the DC breakdown strength decreased in the presence of the fillers
Organizational learning - the missing link in successful continuous improvement?
No full textOrganizations in general, and healthcare organizations in particular, are constantly facing various challenges, and continuous improvement (CI) is considered important if organizations are to tackle these challenges and achieve organizational success. CI is acore principle of quality management and is frequently used in healthcare organizations. However, the success of CI has not produced clearly demonstrable positive effects. One proposed reason for this is the lack of focus on the learning integral to CI. In this thesis, the importance of integrating learning with CI is emphasized through use of the term continuous organizational improvements and learning (COIL). For success with COIL, organizations also need enough people with the right capabilities. The purpose of this licentiate thesis is to explore important factors for supporting COIL and the enhancement of COIL capability in organizations. To address the purpose of the study, the following research questions were formulated: RQ 1. What attributes of interventions are important for enhancing COIL capability?, and RQ 2. What conditions within an organization are important for supporting COIL? A systematic literature review and a qualitative longitudinal case study were conducted in order to fulfil the purpose of the study. The literature review explored the research topic from the perspective of what has already been done regarding interventions that enhance COIL capability in healthcare organizations; while the case study explored the research topic from the perspective of what occurs organically within an organization striving to improve its work with CI and was conducted within a Swedish County Council over a period of 18 months. Common attributes of interventions that enhance COIL capability arethat they have engaged managers who adopt a strategic approach; utilization of external training and guidance from coaches and facilitators, for example, to develop internal knowledge, skills and confidence; use of a process and structure (quality management methodology) to bring about improvements and learning; and autonomy, accountability and safety for both individuals and teams. Important conditions within the organization that support COIL are an understanding of the concept; knowledge about and habit of reflection; using existing knowledge; being open to knowledge from others; and safety and trust. Both the literature review and the case study suggest close relationships and interactions between attributes of interventions and organizational contextual factors that either support and facilitate or hinder and obstruct. Consideration of these interactions appears essential in order to develop COIL and COIL capability. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating learning aspects into CI. COIL represents a potential approach to integration of organizational learning and CI, thereby contributing to enhanced capability and capacity to successfully support development and improvements within organizations. Organisationer i allmänhet, och hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisationer i synnerhet möter ständigt olika utmaningar och ständiga förbättringar anses viktigt för att organisationer ska kunna tackla dessa utmaningar och uppnå organisatorisk framgång. Ständiga förbättringar är en grundläggande värdering inom kvalitetsteknik och används frekvent inom hälso- och sjukvårdens organisationer. Däremot har ständiga förbättringar inte producerat tydliga positiva effekter. En föreslagen anledning till detta är avsaknaden av fokus på det lärande som anses vara en väsentlig del av ständiga förbättringar. I den här avhandlingen betonas vikten av att integrera lärande med ständiga förbättringar genom användandet av begreppet kontinuerliga organisatoriska förbättringar och lärande (förkortat COIL). För att lyckas med COIL behöver organisationer också tillräckligt med individer som har rätt kapabilitet, dvs kunskap, förmågor och självförtroende. Syftet med den här licentiatavhandlingen är att utforska viktiga faktorer som stödjer COIL och ökning av COIL-kapabilitet i organisationer. För att besvara syftet formulerades följande forskningsfrågor: 1. Vilka egenskaper (karaktäristika) hos interventioner är viktiga för att öka COIL-kapabilitet?, och 2. Vilka förutsättningar i en organisation är viktiga för att stödja COIL? För att uppfylla syftet utfördes en systematisk litteraturgranskning och en kvalitativ longitudinell fallstudie. Den systematiska litteraturgranskningen utforskade forskningsområdet från perspektivet av vad som redan har gjorts när det kommer till interventioner som ökar COIL-kapabiliteten i hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisationer, medan fallstudien utforskade forskningsområdet från perspektivet av vad som händer organiskt i en organisation som strävar efter att förbättra sitt arbete med ständiga förbättringar. Fallstudien genomfördes i en svensk Region över 18 månader. Gemensamma egenskaper för interventioner som ökar COIL-kapabiliteten är att de har engagerade ledare med ett strategiskt förhållningssätt; de använder extern träning och guidning från till exempel coacher och facilitatorer för att utveckla interna kunskaper, förmågor och självförtroende; de använder en process och struktur (kvalitetsteknisk metodologi) för att skapa förbättringar och lärande; och autonomi, ansvarighet och säkerhet bland både individer och team. Viktiga organisatoriska förhållanden som stödjer COIL är en förståelse för begreppet; kunskap om och vana av att reflektera; använda befintlig kunskap; vara öppen för kunskap från andra; och säkerhet och trygghet. Både litteraturgranskningen och fallstudien tyder på nära relationer och interaktioner mellan interventioners egenskaper och organisatoriska kontextuella faktorer som antingen stödjer och underlättar eller hindrar och försvårar. Det förefaller nödvändigt att ta hänsyn till dessa interaktioner för att kunna utveckla COIL och COIL-kapabilitet. Resultaten betonar vikten av att inkludera lärandeaspekter med ständiga förbättringar. COIL representerar en potentiell metod för att integrera organisatoriskt lärande och ständiga förbättringar, och bidrar därigenom till ökad förmåga och kapacitet för att framgångsrikt stödja utveckling och förbättringsarbete inom organisationer. This thesis is a part of the Multidisciplinary National Health Innovation Research School. Vid tidpunkten för framläggningen av avhandlingen var följande delarbete opublicerat: delarbete 3 (inskickat).At the time of the defence the following paper was unpublished: paper 3 (submitted).</p
Digitaliseringens roll i att förbättra effektiviteten i en kommunal, administrativ process : En fallstudie av hemtjänstens införande av ett digitalt planeringsverktyg
No full textDen demografiska förändringen i Sverige, där allt färre både ska sörja för och finansiera välfärden, innebär en stor utmaning för offentlig verksamhet. Genom att fokusera på digitaliseringens fördelar finns en möjlighet att uppnå både effektivisering och kvalitetsutveckling inom offentlig verksamhet. Den aktuella studien har undersökt hur ett specifikt digitalt verktyg kan användas för att effektivisera en administrativ process inom en kommunal verksamhet. Studien syftar till att undersöka effekter på arbetsbelastning för tjänstemän samt upplevd kvalitet för medarbetare och slutkunden/brukaren. Studien är en kvalitativ fallstudie med en induktiv ansats där tre enheter inom hemtjänsten, vilka har infört ett digitalt planeringsverktyg, deltagit. Datainsamlingen har skett genom att studera verksamhetsspecifika dokument, medarbetarna har fått svara på en enkät och tio nyckelpersoner, såsom IT-strateg, chefer och huvudplanerare har djupintervjuats i semistrukturerade intervjuer. Enkäten besvarades av drygt 50% av medarbetarna och samtliga nyckelpersoner deltog i studien. Resultatet visar att det digitala planeringsverktyget upplevs mer effektivt och säkert samtidigt som det inte medför någon minskad arbetsbelastning. Den sammanlagda uppfattningen är att kvaliteten förbättras både för de externa och interna kunderna, främst genom förhöjd spårbarhet och att insatsernas utförande säkerställs. Det framkommer dock vissa brister, främst mot verktygets funktionalitet.The demographic change in Sweden, where fewer people are responsible for providing and financing welfare, poses a major challenge for public services. By focusing on the benefits of digitalization, there is an opportunity to achieve both efficiency gains and quality improvements in public services. This study has investigated how a digital tool can be used to streamline an administrative process in a municipal service. The study also aims to investigate the effects on the workload of civil servants and the perceived quality for employees and end customers/users. The study is a qualitative case study with an inductive approach, in which three units, within home care services that have introduced a digital planning tool, participated. Data collection was carried out by studying business-specific documents, employees were asked to respond to a survey, and ten key individuals, such as IT strategists, managers and chief planners, were interviewed in depth in semi-structured interviews. The survey was answered by just over 50% of employees, and all key personnel participated in the study. The results show that the digital planning tool is perceived as more efficient and secure, while at the same time not reducing the workload. The overall perception is that quality is improving for both external and internal customers, mainly through increased traceability and ensuring that tasks are carried out. However, some shortcomings have been identified, mainly relating to the functionality of the tool
AI-förstärkt chefs- & ledarskap : Ett kvalitativt experiment om möjligheter och utmaningar med AI som beslutsstöd i den digitala eran.
No full textSyftet med studien var att undersöka hur generativ AI (artificiell intelligens) fungerar som stöd i chefer och ledares beslutsfattande samt hur tekniken kan bidra i praktiken till systematiska, ständiga förbättringar inom organisationer. Studien genomfördes som ett kvalitativt experiment där semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju chefer genomfördes och intervjuerna tematiserades samt att det i början av studien skickades ut en digital enkätundersökning. Både intervjuer och den digitala enkäten låg till grund för datainsamlingen. Ett kvalitativt experiment är en forskningsmetod som fokuserar på att förstå och beskriva fenomen genom djupgående analys av icke-numerisk data. Resultaten visar att generativ AI uppfattas som ett stöd i ledarskapet, framförallt vid analys av data, strukturering av komplexa uppgifter och framtagning av beslutsunderlag. Vidare uppfattades AI som ett möjligt verktyg för att stärka beslutsfattandet, cheferna upplevde att AI fungerade som en effektiv digital kollega som kunde bekräfta deras egna tankar, generera mer detaljrika handlingsplaner, och bistå i analyser men även generera nya tankar och insikter. Samtidigt framkom utmaningar kring kritiskt förhållningssätt, informationssäkerhet och risken att tekniken tar över på bekostnad av eget omdöme. Studien kom till slutsatsen att för att AI ska kunna främja strategiskt ledarskap krävs en organisatorisk förankring, tydliga användningsområden och stöd för implementering.The purpose of the study was to investigate how generative AI (artificial intelligence) functions as support in managers' and leaders' decision-making and how the technology can contribute in practice to systematic, continuous improvements within organizations. The study was conducted as a qualitative experiment where semi-structured interviews with seven managers were conducted and the interviews were thematically analyzed, and a digital survey was distributed at the beginning of the study. Both interviews and the digital survey formed the basis for data collection. A qualitative experiment is a research method that focuses on understanding and describing phenomena through in-depth analysis of non-numerical data. The results show that generative AI is perceived as support in leadership, primarily in data analysis, structuring complex tasks, and developing decision-making foundations, and that AI was perceived as a possible tool for strengthening decision-making. The managers experienced that AI functioned as an effective digital colleague that could confirm their own thoughts, generate more detailed action plans, and assist in analyses while also generating new thoughts and insights. At the same time, challenges emerged regarding critical thinking, information security, and the risk that technology takes over at the expense of personal judgment. The study concluded that for AI to promote strategic leadership, organizational anchoring, clear areas of use, and implementation support are required
Utveckling av inre förmågor genom systematiskt förbättringsarbete i tider med komplex omställning : ”En modell inspirerad av Appreciative Inquiry och inre utvecklingsmålen (IDG)”
No full textOrganisationer står inför en snabb och komplex omställning. Förbättringsarbete, som redan är en del av de flesta organisationer, skulle kunna utgöra en naturlig ingång till att utveckla de inre förmågor som krävs för att navigera och bidra till en hållbar omställning och framtid. Denna studie syftar till att designa, testa och utvärdera en praktisk modell för att stärka organisationers inre förmågor (IDG-färdigheter) genom ett styrkebaserat och systematiskt förbättringsarbete. Forskningsfrågan om modellens design och testning kompletteras av två frågor som analyserar värde, utmaningar och framtida möjligheter med modellen. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats och interaktiv forskningsstrategi, där datainsamlingen inkluderade AI-intervjuer, fokusgrupp och enkäter. Analysen följde en tvåstegsprocess, där materialet först tolkades utan teoretisk påverkan och därefter kopplades till befintliga teorier. Resultaten visar att framtagen förbättringsmodell ”Förbättringskata IDG” främjar optimism, samhörighet och samskapande, samtidigt som den stärker perspektivförmåga, öppenhet och lärande. Respondenterna värdesätter den styrkebaserade ansatsen, men studien understryker vikten av tydlig facilitering och stödjande strukturer för att maximera modellens effekt. Studien bidrar med insikter kring hur IDG-förmågorna kan integreras i systematiskt förbättringsarbete.Organizations are facing a rapid and complex transition. Improvement work, which is already a part of most organizations, could serve as a natural entry point for developing the internal capabilities needed to navigate and contribute to a sustainable transition and future. This study aims to design, test, and evaluate a practical model that strengthens an organization’s internal capabilities (IDG skills) through strengths-based and systematic improvement processes. The first research question focuses on designing and testing the model, while the second and third research questions assess its value, challenges, and future potential. The study employs a qualitative approach with an interactive research strategy, collecting data through AI interviews, focus group and surveys. The analysis follows a two-step process, where the material is first interpreted without theoretical influence and then connected to established theories. The results show that the developed improvement model, “Förbättringskata IDG”, fosters optimism, a sense of belonging, and co-creation, while also strengthening perspective-taking, openness, and learning. Participants appreciate the strengths-based approach, but the study highlights the importance of clear facilitation and supporting structures to optimize the model’s effectiveness. This study provides insights into how IDG skills can be integrated into systematic improvement efforts
Barriers to Learning in Humanities : The Relationship between First Language Skills and Learning Outcomes in Educational Science
No full textIn higher education, different disciplines have different prerequisites. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education often requires certain earlier course studies with specified grades in subjects such as mathematics and physics. In humanities, many research studies report on student failure due to insufficient second language skills in English. Fewer studies have reported on the importance of sufficient first language skills to cope with reading and writing in the intensive courses that are frequent in social science and humanities. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between students’ secondary school grades in their first language, and their learning outcomes in university programmes, given in the same language, at a department of education. The research question that guided this study was: what is the relationship between students’ grades in Swedish at secondary level and their level of completion of five-year university programmes. Data include N=2,583 unique students taking full teacher certification programmes at the university during 2016–2024 and was obtained and examined by SQLs from national databases Swedish Council for Higher Education and Ladok. Cross-mapping of data and basic statistical analysis, including linear multiple regression, was performed in SPSS. Results indicate that above average grade levels were connected with higher expected degree completion. A trend with increasingly higher grades in all admitted students during recent years was also observed. These results may concern educational stakeholders and policymakers that work with educational design and related implementations in university programmes. Implications from this study are further discussed, such as potential consequences of restricting university programmes to certain grade level prerequisites, and considerations to generic skills for degree completion of the students.
Articulations of 'Funeral' in Swedish Newspapers During the Covid-19 Pandemic
No full textThis article explores how 'funeral' was articulated in Swedish newspapers during the Covid-19 pandemic and how such articulations relate to power and ideology. Articles from the six most prominent Swedish newspapers, published over 2 years, have been analyzed using critical discourse analysis and intersectionality. The study reveals three funeral discourses dominating during different periods of the pandemic: 'Funeral as a risk,' 'Funeral as an essential ritual,' and 'Funeral as a profession.' Altogether, the three discourses expose an ideal of 'the responsible mourner.' This rational woman follows the funeral restrictions and arranges a church funeral shortly after the death of a relative. The 'good funeral' is portrayed as a church funeral with physically present mourners, performed according to the deceased's will and in honor of the dead. The 'bad funeral,' described as the opposite of the 'good funeral,' dominates the understanding of the pandemic funeral situation
Electrochemical characterization of TiO2 nanotubes formed on Ti6Al4V manufactured by PBF-EB or forging
No full textThis study introduces the anisotropy effect of Ti6Al4V substrate obtained by electron beam melting (PBF-EB) on the anodizing process, revealing its capacity to induce anisotropic TiO2 nanotubes. Highly organized TiO2 nanotubes are formed on Ti6Al4V substrates produced through PBF-EB or forging, with the PBF-EB cross-orientation displaying superior nanotube growth due to enhanced catalytic activity. Morphological and electrochemical characterizations underscore the significant influence of substrate orientation and anodizing voltage on nanotube growth and corrosion resistance. PBF-EB-cross orientation at 30 V exhibits a thicker and more homogeneous nanotube layer, resulting in improved film resistance and substantially lower corrosion rates compared to forged substrates. The electrochemically calculated nanotube film thickness aligns with microscopic analyses, emphasizing the importance of a homogenous and resistive nanotube coating for effective corrosion control
Sustainable Engineering, Click Chemistry and Catalysis : Modification, Fabrication and Application of Cellulosic Materials
No full textDue to challenges such as sustainability and increasing carbon footprint, there is a growing demand to replace fossil-based materials with green sustainable alternatives like cellulosic materials. However, unmodified cellulosic materials often encounter issues like high wettability and low mechanical strength that limit their applicability. To overcome these drawbacks, functionalization and modification are crucial and inevitable. Reported methods often involve toxic/harsh conditions or reagents, and multi-step processes. The focus of this thesis is on the fabrication, functionalization, and modification of cellulosic materials through facile and eco-friendly approaches to enhance their properties and broaden their potential applications. We started with immobilizing copper nanoparticles on controlled pore glass substrate and used it as a recyclable heterogenous catalyst for the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC). Focusing on sustainability, we also employed cellulosic materials as catalyst supports. First, cellulose was functionalized using a mild organocatalytic approach. Then, copper or palladium nanoparticles were immobilized onto the functionalized cellulose and used as effective recyclable heterogeneous catalysts in different reactions. Direct esterification of CNC materials with thioglycolic acid was performed enabling us to introduce thiol groups onto CNC materials. The reaction occurred under mild conditions using natural nontoxic organic acid as an organocatalyst. The method was applied on different CNC materials, producing the corresponding thiol-functionalized CNC materials. The thiol-functionalized CNC was used as a heterogeneous recyclable reducing agent to reduce Cu(II) to Cu(I), which is the active form of copper in CuAAC. The prepared thiol-functionalized CNC materials further functionalized with attaching UV active molecules via thiol-ene click chemistry. Lactic acid (LA) functionalized CNFs were prepared by using an ecofriendly one-step reaction method in high yields. This was achieved by converting pulp fibers into nanofibrillated cellulose lactate under mild conditions, using LA as both reaction media and catalyst. The process was concurrent and involved an autocatalytic esterification reaction without using metal-based or harsh acid catalysts. Moreover, the LA media were recycled and reused in multiple reaction cycles. In the fourth study, strong hydrophobic cellulosic materials were prepared via a facile, scalable and eco-friendly method. The method involves a betulin treatment and hot-pressing processes. First, a water-based betulin formulation was developed and used for the treatment of cellulosic materials. The betulin-treated samples were then hot-pressed. Hot-pressing altered the morphologies and led to dense structures. Moreover, it caused a polymorphic transformation of the betulin particles. Water contact angle and tensile tests revealed that the applied betulin/hot-pressing treatment method noticeably enhanced the samples’ hydrophobicities as well as their tensile strengths. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was noticed between the hot-pressing, betulin treatment, and sulfonation during the pulping process. Densified and strong large veneers were fabricated via a facile and scalable method. The method involves a combination of chemical modifications of aspen veneers followed by hot-pressing. The study showed that hot-pressing enhanced the tensile strengths. The chemical modifications further improved the efficiency of the hot-pressing, resulting in higher tensile strengths. The chemical modifications changed the wood’s composition promoting wood softening and increasing the bonding. Since the method uses convenient and mild treatments combined with continuous hot-pressing, it enables the processing of large samples. It can also lower time/energy consumption, production costs and the environmental impact.Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbete opublicerat: delarbete 5 (manuskript).At the time of the doctoral defence the following paper was unpublished: paper 5 (manuscript).</p
Advanced Nanomaterials for Gas Sensing
No full textThis thesis explores the development and performance of semiconducting metal oxide (SMOX)-based gas sensors prepared by different methods, specifically targeting hazardous gases like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and in some cases methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH). These gases pose significant risks to human health and the environment, even at low concentrations. Therefore, developing sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective sensors is crucial for industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. The compact SnO₂ layers prepared by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) demonstrated effective H₂S detection at an optimal operating temperature of 450°C. This method resulted in uniform, dense layers with high crystallinity and minimal impurities, ensuring a reliable sensor response. However, the sensor’s selectivity was limited by the presence of other interference gases, especially in humid environments. To enhance performance, ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures were incorporated, fabricated by controlling precursor ratios during the USP process. These heterostructures showed improved sensor response and selectivity for detecting H₂S compared to pure SnO₂. The Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) method successfully produced porous SnO₂ structures, which excelled in detecting low concentrations of H₂S and CH₃SH at an optimal operating temperature of 250°C. The highly porous morphology increased the surface area, yielding a remarkable gas response down to 20 ppb and enabling efficient gas diffusion, making it suitable for detecting sub-ppb levels of toxic gases. Additionally, screen printing was employed to create ZnO/SnO₂ porous heterostructure sensors. The sensor with a 3:4 SnO₂/ZnO ratio achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 140 ppt at an optimal operating temperature of 325°C, outperforming single-component sensors and demonstrating the effectiveness of the simple screen-printing method in producing scalable, high-performance gas sensors. In summary, this thesis underscores the significance of material design and fabrication techniques in enhancing the performance of SMOX-based gas sensors. The findings highlight that utilizing porous structures and heterojunction engineering offers substantial advantages in sensor response and selectivity, making these sensors well-suited for real-world applications in hazardous gas detection