Mid Sweden University
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Implementation of NDIR technology for selective sensing of gases with common absorption spectra
No full textSensing gas concentrations using optical absorption offers valuable advantages over other methods in a wide variety of real-world applications from industrial processes to environmental monitoring. Among the fastest growing developing detection techniques on the global market is the nondispersive infrared method (NDIR). Sensors developed based on this principle meet the increasing demand for low-cost, reliable and long-term maintenance-free solutions. In recent years, key technological components such as light sources, photodetectors, optical cavities, and electronic elements have seen rapid advancements. These improvements have significantly enhanced accuracy, sensitivity, and resolution, thereby broadening the scope of applications. Despite these benefits, the NDIR technique has inherent limitations rooted in both fundamental physical principles and sensor design constraints. Among the most important interfering factors to investigate are variations in the sensing environment´s temperature and pressure, the presence of water vapour, and the aging of sensor components. Each of these can introduce measurement errors by affecting the sensor´s internal components and the physical properties of the surrounding environment. The correct interpretation of error sources is one the most difficult and important tasks involved in designing stable, high-precision sensors. A defining characteristic of NDIR sensing is the relationship between light transmittance and the number of absorbing molecules. Any gas molecules within the optical path of the sensor that exhibit infrared absorption will absorb incident radiation. When equipped with an interference filter that selects a specific spectral band, an NDIR sensor can estimate the concentration of a target gas that absorbs within that band. The total absorption within the selected spectral range is then translated into a concentration value. However, if absorption lines of multiple gas species overlap within the same spectral band, it becomes impossible to selectively determine the concentration of a specific gas. This lack of selectivity is a major limitation of the NDIR method. Water vapour, in particular, poses a significant challenge, as its absorption lines appear across nearly the entire infrared spectrum relevant to NDIR sensing. This greatly restricts the method´s applicability in environmental measurements, where water vapour is almost always present. The overarching research goal is to develop a solution for selectively estimating the concentration of a target gas in mixtures where other gases have overlapping absorption lines. Within this context, the more specific objective is to accurately determine the true concentration on methane (CH4) under environmental conditions, where it is continuously mixed with water vapour. This serves as a representative but challenging example of gas pairs with overlapping spectra. To address this, several designs of multichannel NDIR sensors were developed and refined to improve selectivity. In support of this effort, a advance system was also built, incorporating calibration test equipment, supporting software, and a robust selection algorithm. Key findings from the study include an advanced compensation method for pressure-induced errors and a novel technique for selective concentration measurement of gases with overlapping absorption spectra
Pro-Sustainable Consumer Behaviour in Tourism and Hospitality : Drivers, Barriers, and Effective Behavioural Intervention Design
No full textAmid escalating global sustainability challenges, tourism and hospitality (T&H) has emerged as an important arena for understanding and fostering pro-sustainable consumer behaviour. The hedonic priorities and complexity of decision-making in T&H often exacerbate the gap between stated attitudes and actual pro-sustainable behaviour, which contributes to issues like climate change. However, these contexts also offer opportunities to better understand and influence pro-sustainable behaviour through tailored interventions. Behavioural interventions like nudges have shown promise in terms of guiding behaviour towards desirable outcomes by modifying decision-making environments based on behavioural economics. However, gaps remain with regard to understanding pro-sustainable behaviours across diverse T&H settings and developing effective interventions that T&H providers can implement to enhance informed consumer choices without compromising their experience. This thesis addresses these gaps by using a mixed-method field experimental approach to study pro-sustainable behaviour in two distinct T&H contexts: donations for mountain-biking trails in Rörbäcksnäs, Dalarna (Sweden), and climate-friendly food choices in restaurants in the Swedish locations of Sälen, Dalarna, and Stockholm. Each setting involved two field experiments – testing social norms and carbon label interventions – which together constitute four independent papers. This field experimental approach not only provides insights into real-life behavioural processes but also incorporates providers’ perspectives on promoting pro-sustainable options, informing the design of context-relevant interventions. The findings culminate in a framework that researchers, providers, and policymakers can use to design and test behavioural interventions that foster pro-sustainable consumer behaviour in T&H and other out-of-home consumption domains. Methodologically, this framework emphasises the importance of collaborative design and iterative adaptation of interventions based on field experiments, to effectively bridge theory and practice in T&H sustainability. Theoretically, the research offers new insights into pro-sustainable consumer behaviour, highlighting the significant influence of social norms and contextual factors across diverse T&H settings. Practically, the study stresses the need to align interventions with the context-specific goals of consumer segments, showcasing the value of tailored social norm interventions, carbon labels, and staff engagement in promoting pro-sustainable choices while preserving the overall consumer experience.At the time of the doctoral defence the following paper was unpublished: paper 4 in manuscript.Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbete opublicerat: delarbete 4 manuskript.Boosting the sustainable food choice to reduce climate footprint at winter tourism destinationsInnovative business models for sustainable nature based tourism via Gamification and Nudg
Is it possible for parents to endure a stillbirth? Initial experiences, perceptions and strategies : individual in-depth interviews in Sweden 2021–2023
No full textBackground Stillbirth occurs at a rate of 3.0 per thousand in Sweden. However, few studies have focused on the initial experiences of parents facing a stillbirth. The aim of this qualitative study is to deepen and broadly explore parents' initial experiences, perceptions, internal processes and strategies from the moment of suspicion or awareness of stillbirth until one month after the event. Methods Ten individual in-depth interviews were conducted between 2021 and 2023, and data were evaluated using thematic network analysis. Results Two key themes emerged: 'Following the journey - from suspicion to acceptance' and 'Support, structured activities and processes after stillbirth'. These themes captured the significant consequences of a sudden, unexpected and devastating end to pregnancy. The suspicion and eventual diagnosis of stillbirth were initially associated with sudden discomfort, fear, overwhelming grief, and intense pain. Nevertheless, a vaginal birth was regarded as the optimal mode of delivery for both physical and emotional wellbeing. Caring for the stillborn baby through physical proximity for an extended period of time helped parents comprehend and cope with their grief, while also affirming their sense of parenthood. Conclusions This study sheds light on the profound and devastating impact of stillbirth on parents who are confronted with the loss of their long-awaited and cherished baby. The intense grief and pain experienced by parents during the first month after stillbirth were described as an ongoing heavy burden, persisting day and night, and reflected in poor/very poor mental health. Despite the immense challenges faced by parents, the study highlights the importance of developing individual coping strategies to deal with this tragic and irreversible life-changing event
Trust-based governance and social work professionals in a municipal welfare reorganisation
No full textWelfare organizations, as is the case with municipalities, face formidable challenges due to demographic changes that project a future increase in the number of people requiring services. These changes impact the professionals within these Supplemental materialorganizations, including social workers, who are pivotal in maintaining contact with citizens necessitating service. Furthermore, research has indicated more demanding working conditions under the influence of neoliberal governance. Welfare organizations are actively implementing reforms to tackle these impediments. Adopting trust-based governance (TBG) has been one such approach in Sweden. This article explores the introduction of TBG within a municipality, focusing on its impact on essential social work professionals of children and young adults. The study, conducted through eight focus group interviews with 28 social work professionals, aims to explore the introduction of TBG in these professionals using thematic analysis and occupational and organizational professional perspectives. The study’s key findings indicate that the introduction of TBG in the municipality has varied effects on social services, depending on the specific roles and responsibilities of the social service professionals. TBG offers opportunities and challenges, empowering social workers while placing additional responsibilities on them. Understanding these dynamics is crucial as welfare organizations evolve, as it is essential for optimizing service delivery and supporting social work professionals.
Hur påverkar oljepriser inflation, BNP och arbetslöshet i oljeimporterande länder? : En kvalitativ studie av sambandet mellan oljepriser, inflation, BNP och arbetslöshet i oljeimporterande länder.
No full textSex-based variations in breath-holding : oxygen storage and diving response among non-divers
No full textBreath-hold diving performances are typically better in men than in women. However, it is still being determined if there are differences in the physiological responses to breath-holding between the sexes. We conducted a study comparing the maximum breath-hold duration, heart rate (HR) reduction, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and spleen volume and contraction in 37 men and 44 women, all of whom had no prior breath-holding experience. They performed two dry apneas separated by 2 min; the first was limited to 60 s, followed by a maximal effort apnea. HR and SpO2 were measured continuously. Spleen diameters were measured via ultrasonography before and immediately following each apnea. The maximal apneic duration was longer in men (78 +/- 19 s) compared with women (61 +/- 18 s, p < 0.001), while the HR reduction was similar (women: 16% +/- 19% versus men: 16% +/- 17%, p = 0.973). The absolute splenic contraction was greater in men (59 +/- 56 mL) compared with women (35 +/- 28 mL, p < 0.001) in the first apnea, while the relative contraction was similar (women: 21% +/- 17% versus men: 23% +/- 13%, p = 0.528). In addition, the lowest SpO2 during the maximal apnea was similar between sexes (women: 93.3% +/- 4.4%; men: 91.9% +/- 4.3%, p = 0.161). We conclude that men have larger spleen size and contraction, lung size, and maximal apneic duration than women. The cardiovascular diving response is similar between sexes for those inexperienced with apneic diving. The longer breath-hold duration in men may be partly due to greater oxygen storage capacity, which results from larger vital capacity and greater spleen size and contraction
Development of handsheet mechanical properties linked to fibre distributions in two-stage low consistency refining of high yield pulp
No full textIn this study, a two-stage, low-consistency (LC) refining process at the Holmen Braviken paper mill in Sweden was examined to evaluate the relationship between energy input, fibre distributions, and pulp properties, including handsheet properties. The LC refiners used thermo-mechanical pulp based on 100 % Norway spruce, with two specific energy levels: "low" (approximate to 80 kWh/adt) or "high" (approximate to 100 kWh/adt). All four permutations of these settings were examined. Overall, higher refining efficiency (measured by the increase in tensile index per applied energy) was observed in the first LC refiner stage than in the second. To further explore the impact of LC refining, pulp particle distributions were investigated. Samples from before, between and after the two LC stages were analysed using an optical fibre analyser, which provided detailed data on length-width-curl-fibrillation distributions. The impact of LC refining on these distributions was quantified using Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics, highlighting statistically significant changes observed in the length and curl distributions. We investigated the correlation between energy input into the LC refiners and the impact on fibre distributions and handsheet properties. These insights underscore the effectiveness of our analytical approach and its potential for refining process control in mechanical pulping, offering a method for more targeted and efficient adjustments
Barns perspektiv på och uppfattningar om sin utomhusmiljö i förskolan : En intervju- och gåtursstudie
No full textSyftet med vår studie var att undersöka barns uppfattningar och upplevelser om det erbjudande som finns i deras utomhusmiljö på förskolan. Genom datainsamlingsmetoder som gåturer och intervjuer lyfte och synliggjorde vi barns perspektiv och fick en förståelse för hur barn uppfattade miljöns platser. Studien utfördes på tre olika förskolor med fem deltagande barn och en ordinarie pedagog från varje förskola. Två förskolor var belägna i glesbygd och den tredje i en tätort, alla i mellersta Sverige. Utomhusmiljöerna hade ett varierande utbud, från stora gårdar med färdig-konstruerat material och grönområden med träd och växtligheter, till ett mer begränsat utbud där förflyttning utanför förskolans område var nödvändigt för att ta del av varierande natur, växtligheter samt skogspartier. Studien antog en hermeneutisk ansats som gav oss möjlighet att genom tolkning av barns berättelser komma nära barns perspektiv och deras livsvärldar och på så vis gav det oss en förståelse om barns tankar kring den miljö de vistas i dagligen. Vi använde oss av tematisk analys för att synliggöra mönster i barnens berättelser och den resulterade i fyra teman; intressen, aktiviteter, känslor och uppfattningar. Den hermeneutiska cirkeln var till hjälp i vårt tolkningsarbete då vi rörde oss mellan samtalen under gåturen, efterföljande intervjuer och vår egen förförståelse och på så vis närmade vi oss barns perspektiv och den tolkning av olika fenomen som barn gör (Christoffersen & Johannnessen, 2012). Gåturer i barnens trygga miljö och intervjuer som lyfter och synliggör barns tankar ger verksamma i förskolan en kunskap och förståelse för hur barn uppfattar sin miljö och kan på så vis organisera, tillföra och skapa goda relationer och stimulerande miljöer till barn och deras livsvärld. Studiens analys och resultat visade att barnen intresserar sig för och berättar mer om de platser där intensiva lekar tillsammans med andra utövades. Det handlade främst om lekar och aktiviteter som att klättra, leka snöbollskrig, bygga snögrottor samt rollekar där barnen byggde upp en fantasivärld. I resultatet blev det även tydligt att vi som framtida pedagoger måste lyssna på barn för att förstå deras livsvärld och skapa oss en verklig bild av hur barn, utifrån deras perspektiv, uppfattar och upplever sin omgivning.Bertyg i Ladok 2025-01-15</p
Vårdnadshavares perspektiv på samverkan och kommunikation med förskolans personal
No full textSyftet med denna studie var att undersöka vårdnadshavares erfarenheter och upplevelser gällande samverkan och kommunikation med förskolans personal samt vilka utvecklingsmöjligheter vårdnadshavare anser finnas kring samverkan. Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ webbaserad enkätundersökning med öppna frågor och resultaten från de fjorton (14) svaren analyserades med inspiration från diskursanalytiskt perspektiv och Goffmans dramaturgiska perspektiv. Resultaten visade på en mer ömsesidig och tillitsfull relation mellan vårdnadshavare och förskolans pedagoger än vad tidigare forskningen tyder på, men att områden som informationsutbyte om det enskilda barnet, bemötande vid lämning och hämtning samt ostabil bemanning orsakar spänningar och dilemman i relationen. Studien visar även på inverkan av makthierarkier och de olika rollerna som antas i samverkan samt lyfter vårdnadshavares perspektiv på möjliga utvecklingsområden. Dessa utvecklingsområden och studiens slutsats om behovet av samsyn på samverkan samt erkännandet av vårdnadshavares åsikter och behov är betydelsefulla utgångspunkter för framtida diskussioner och forskning inom den komplexa relationen med vårdnadshavare och en central del av förskollärares demokratiska roll och yrke.Betyg i Ladok 2025-01-15</p
