Mid Sweden University
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"Jag kan inte skriva sanningsenligt om havet och utelämna poesin" : En studie om gränsupplösning i Patrik Svenssons naturessäer och litteraturdidaktiska möjligheter.
No full textIn this essay I have investigated boundary dissolution between human and nature in Patrik Svennson’s nature writing Den lodande människan. Havet, djupet och nyfikenheten (2022). Through a close reading of the novel, together with Astrida Neimani’s hydrofeminist thoughts in Bodies of water (2017), I have identified three main themes of the connection between nature and human; rythm, hydrocommons and gestation. Through the novel Svensson presents a hydrofeministic way of living as part of the biosphere. I have also discussed how Svensson is using the genre to dissolve boundaries between fiction and fact. He uses fiction to apply a more holistic view of science. Furthermore, I have shown how ecocriticism and nature writing, in particular Patrik Svenssons essays, can be used in upper secondary school literature teaching to raise questions about sustainability, ecology and the role of humans in the biosphere.Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2025-06-04</p
“Jag vill att de ska få en kärlek till det kreativa” : Lyrik och Dramatik i Svenskundervisningen på Gymnasiet
No full textIn this essay I have investigated how upper secondary school Swedish teachers incorporate and work with the literary genres of lyric and drama in comparison to prose. This interest was inspired by my own experience, where I noticed the limited inclusion of these genres both during my internship at an upper secondary school and in my university education. I aimed to deepen my understanding and to encourage other teachers to challenge themselves and explore the world of lyric and drama in their teaching. The study was conducted through a qualitative approach, focusing on interviews with five upper secondary school teachers. The results showed that prose is the most prioritized genre, primarily due to lower reading comprehension levels among students, which makes reading more time consuming. Other reasons for choosing prose include the time limitation that there is no time to work with the other genres and personal interest for them. The research highlights the benefits of including poetry and drama, such as promoting social interaction, providing opportunities for emotional expression, role playing and language development. Although lyric and drama are less represented, teachers see a potential for creativity and immersion through methods involving music and creative writing and most of the teachers were positive to try to include more lyric and drama in their education.Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2025-06-04</p
AI-Augmented 3D Craniofacial Reconstruction for Enhanced Surgical Planning : A Novel Integration of Depth-Augmented Vision Transformers and MeshCNN for Structural Fidelity
No full textBackground: Craniosynostosis, a craniofacial malformation characterized by premature suture fusion, poses significant challenges for surgical correction. Current methods for cranial reconstruction lack the precision required for accurate defect inpainting and depth awareness, limiting their clinical application in complex craniosynostosis cases. Objective: This study aims to develop a novel AI-driven framework to enhance the accuracy of 3D craniofacial reconstruction for pre-surgical planning, with a specific focus on large cranial defects. By integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, it enhances the accuracy and efficiency of cranial models, enabling surgeons to plan interventions with greater confidence and to potentially improve patient outcomes. The framework's computational efficiency, achieved through model quantization, further broadens its applicability in resource-limited clinical settings. Methodology: The framework begins with 3D U-Net-based segmentation, followed by depth map generation using Mixed Depth-of-Scale Models (MiDaS). Cranial defect inpainting is accomplished with Depth-augmented Vision Transformers (DA-ViT) guided by depth cues and edge detection, where MeshCNN and bilateral filtering refine the final mesh. Quantization-aware training (QAT) and post-training quantization (PTQ) reduce model size and memory footprint. Results: The framework achieved a Chamfer Distance of 0.14 mm and a Hausdorff Distance of 0.33 mm, significantly outperforming previous methods. Landmark accuracy was 0.10 mm with a consistency ratio of 0.91. After quantization, these values remained similar (0.15 mm, 0.35 mm, and 0.11 mm, respectively), while inference time decreased by 20% (from 35 ms to 28 ms), and memory usage dropped from 12 GB to 5 GB, allowing deployment on mid-range Graphics processing Unit (GPU).
Facilitators of Change : Mental Health Staff's Role in a Lifestyle Programme in Psychiatric Outpatient Care in Northern Sweden
No full textIndividuals living with mental disorders are at heightened risk of lifestyle-related health problems and premature mortality. Lifestyle programmes with both individual support and group interactions with a person-centred focus in outpatient psychiatric care may help mitigate these risks. However, mental health staff's experiences of implementing such programmes remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of mental health staff in facilitating a person-centred lifestyle programme within psychiatric outpatient care. Using a descriptive qualitative design, 10 mental health staff educated to group leaders were interviewed in semi-structured formats following their delivery of a 12-session lifestyle programme. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Three main categories emerged: Programme planning and implementation, Programme content and structure, and A supportive relationship. Subcategories addressed challenges, such as lack of preparation time, organisational barriers, and the need for programme adaptation. The findings suggest that aligning lifestyle programmes with person-centred care emphasising both empathy and structure can enhance participants' health while fostering professional fulfilment among staff. To ensure long-term sustainability, enhanced organisational support and integration into routine practice are recommended
Tillit, jobbfokus och sociala rättigheters gränser : en problematiserande analys av aktiveringspolitikens hegemoni
No full textI artikeln analyseras hur begreppen tilltro och jobbfokus operationaliseras inom kommunala arbetsmarknadsenheter (AME) i Sverige, med utgångspunkt i det danska Beskæftigelses Indikator Projektet (BIP) inom vilket dessa begrepp getts en framträdande roll. BIP har fått stor spridning i Sveriges kommuner. Genom kvalitativ medierad diskursanalys (MDA) av fokusgrupper och workshop belyser vi hur handläggare tolkar och omsätter dessa begrepp i praktiken. Resultaten relateras till sociala rättigheter och visar att tilltro och jobbfokus fungerar som styrande normer som riskerar att individualisera ansvaret för arbetslösheten och därmed osynliggöra strukturella faktorer. Diskussionen problematiserar arbetslinjens hegemoniska position och pekar på behovet av att återinföra sociala rättigheter som centrala element i arbetsmarknadspolitiken. Tillika argumenterar vi för att hållbar arbetsmarknadsinkludering kräver mer än individens egen motivation – den kräver också strukturella villkor som främjar social rättvisa och delaktighet
Celebrating new life – A literature review of research on birth rites in Western societies
No full textPurpose – This paper aims to overview current research on birth rites in Western societies and identify and discuss empirical, theoretical and methodological gaps in the research field. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper, we first give an overview of the main themes in previous research and then we discuss ways we find fruitful to improve research on birth rituals empirically, theoretically and methodologically. The literature review was conducted by combining a scoping review with the snowballing method to summarize the existing knowledge in the research field of birth rites in Western societies. Findings – Five themes are identified in previous research on birth rites (1) Birth rites within religious institutions, (2) Religious birth rites beyond religious institutions, (3) Women’s birth rites and baby girls’ naming rites, (4) Constructing identity in private pre-birth and birth rites and (5) Doing family in life-cycle rites. The review reveals that sociological research has been quantitative and primarily focused on baptism by same-religion and heterosexual core families in the Protestant churches. Originality/value – Little is known about the diverse families’ social and religious/worldview dynamics and how social stratifications affect ritualization. Moreover, qualitative studies and research on ritualization in minority religions and private birth rites are lacking. Studies on social relations in private birth rites are significantly absent. Furthermore, we observe that critical feminist approaches and a non-binary understanding of (non)religion are infrequently employed in studies on family rites and we advocate for these perspectives in research on birth rites. The application of feminist theories challenges entrenched notions of birth rites. It problematizes them by contributing to an understanding of how birth rites may reinforce and challenge norms, faiths and values and affect societal power relations. Private birth rites are often categorized as nonreligious in research.
This inhuman place makes human monsters : Det hemsökta husets roll i The Haunting of Hill House och The Shining
No full text“This inhuman place makes human monsters.” Citatet är taget ur Stephen Kings roman The Shining och syftar på det hemsökta hotellet The Overlooks ondskefulla förmågor. Med utgångspunkt i Shirley Jacksons roman The Haunting of Hill House (1959) och The Shining (1977) tar denna uppsats reda på hur det hemsökta huset som litterär plats har framkommit och hur det hanteras som retorisk resurs i dessa kända verk. Tesen är att det hemsökta huset har en större roll i de berättelser det ingår i än bara som en plats eller miljö som står tillbaka för en karaktär eller handling som i stället dominerar utrymmet. Uppsatsen tittar på tidigare forskning av det hemsökta huset inom litteraturen och de två verken och besvarar sedan tesen med hjälp av den teoretiska inriktningen retorisk narrativ teori, vilken positionerar platsen eller miljön som en retorisk resurs. Teorin går huvudsakligen ut på att ett retoriskt narrativ byggs upp av olika retoriska resurser vilka i sin tur innehåller olika funktioner som förstärker det retoriska narrativet. I uppsatsen tillämpas James Phelan och Peter J. Rabinowitz positionering gällande denna teoretiska inriktning. Phelans idéer om trovärdighet inom ett retorisk narrativ och hur dessa förhåller sig till resursen tillämpas också. Uppsatsen visar att denna litterära plats förutsätter en viss tematik och handling och måste förhålla sig till en, för det hemsökta huset, konventionellt dikterad och genrespecifik litterär ram för att narrativet ska bli trovärdigt. Det framgår också att läsarens förförståelse för det hemsökta husets framställning möjliggör ett retoriskt narrativ i vilket det hemsökta huset övergår från att endast utgöra platsen i romanen till att fungera mer som en karaktär i berättelserna med stor inverkan på både handlingen och karaktärerna. Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2025-06-05</p
Basic density and shrinkage of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) thinning wood
No full textThe basic density and shrinkage properties of Scots pine wood from commercial first and second thinning-stage forests were studied in eastern Finland with a reference from final-felling forests. Linear mixed model analysis was applied, indicating statistically significant differences in basic density between stand types and forest site types, with significant effects of cambial age and height position. Additionally, the 2-level interaction terms between site type, cambial age and height position were significant. In Myrtillus type sites, the basic density was 380 kg/m3 for first-thinning wood, and 407 kg/m3 and 406 kg/m3 for second-thinning and final-felling wood, respectively. Young thinning trees showed, on average, wider growth rings (2.83 mm) compared to mature trees (2.04 mm). Density and latewood proportions increased with tree age, particularly in poor site types, whereas the growth ring width had opposite effects. Significant differences were observed in radial, tangential and volumetric shrinkage across stand types, height positions and radial positions, while the longitudinal shrinkage model indicated statistically significant differences between radial positions only. The radial shrinkage was 4.04% in the first thinnings and 4.44% in the second thinnings, while the tangential shrinkage was 6.98% and 7.16%, respectively. The substantial variation in properties, particularly in the first thinnings, likely reflected the presence of juvenile wood, stem form defects and reaction wood in the harvested material, making it less suitable for mechanical processing. The results confirmed that the properties of second-thinning wood enable its use in applications requiring higher density and allowing reasonable shrinkage
Construct Validity of the Scandinavian Version of the Cognitive Assessment System
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Assessment System ver.2 in Swedish and Norwegian contexts (CAS-2). Methodology: A total of 614 students (aged 5 to 18 years) were assessed using the CAS-2. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to investigate the construct validity of three competing models of the Scandinavian version of the CAS-2: a four-factor, a three-factor, and a bifactor model. The measurement invariance was tested for age and sex. Key Findings: The results indicated an acceptable to good fit for all three models. In addition, measurement invariance across sex and age groups was also supported. However, with respect to the four-factor model, the two factors (Planning and Attention) were strongly correlated, raising a discussion on the empirical and theoretical distinctiveness of these factors. Conclusions/Implications: These findings suggest that all three tested models contribute uniquely to understanding the CAS-2 but also underscore the need for further refinement and caution when drawing conclusions about cognitive profiles in the present version
Skönlitteratur för en hållbar, bättre värld : Nedslag i den samtida svenska skönlitteraturen ur ekokritiska dialoger med EarthEd perspektiv
No full textIn this essay I discuss ecocritical dialogues of fictional narratives concerning sustainability in Swedish literature from 2016 onwards, with was the year after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was published. The theories I use is EarthEd and ecocritical dialogue. And the aim of the essay is to discover how fictional narratives can problematise important sustainability issues, and offer an opportunity to analyse these issues. And I also examine, how EarthEd offers didactic possibilities to learn about sustainability and sustainability issues from the fictional narratives. Furthermore, I look at hoe the literature can inspire to a more ecofriendly lifestyle. The thesis shows that the selected literature has a lot to offer concerning interdependence with nature and a more ecofriendly life. And that EarthEd and ecocritical dialogue really brings out a debate about how to interact with nature. Findings of the essay include that fiction about making an environmental contribution has a more optimistic tone than other fiction about the environment. And I also learn that a reading with EarthEd and ecocritical dialogues as a theoretical basis, offers many didactic possibilities. For example, EarthEd urges us to be brave, creative and live in respect for the environment, which is also portrayed in the fictional narratives. Therefore, the fictional narratives offer for instance a great opportunity to inspire to a more ecofriendly lifestyle. Slutgiltigt godkännandedatum: 2025-08-27</p