RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden
Not a member yet
7718 research outputs found
Sort by
High protein requirements of juvenile Atlantic wolffish, Anarhichas lupus : Effects of dietary protein levels on growth, health, and welfare
No full textThe objective of the present study was to investigate the optimal dietary protein requirement and the effect of varying protein levels on the growth and health of juvenile, wild-caught Atlantic wolffish, Anarhichas lupus, a promising candidate for cold-water aquaculture diversification. Six iso-energetic (ca. 18.3 MJ kg−1), fish meal-based experimental diets were formulated with crude protein levels ranging from 35% to 60%, with graded increments of 5% in a 12-week feeding trial in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (K) were evaluated in response to dietary protein levels. Liver, muscle, and blood parameters were assessed for possible changes in protein and lipid metabolism and welfare. Overall growth was highly variable throughout the experiment on all diets, as expected for a wild population. The feed with highest in protein (60%) inclusion resulted in the highest growth rates, with an average weight gain of 37.4% ± 33.8% and an SGR of 0.31% ± 0.2% day−1. This was closely followed by feeds with 55% and 50% protein inclusion with an average weight gain of 22.9% ± 34.8% and 28.5% ± 38.3%, respectively, and an SGR of 0.18% ± 0.3% day−1 and 0.22% ± 0.3% day−1, respectively. Fish fed the high protein diets generally had increased hepatic lipid deposition (17%–18%) and reduced free fatty acid levels (3.1–6.8 μmol L−1) in the plasma relative to fish that were fed the lower protein diets (35%–45%). No effects of diet were found on plasma protein levels or muscle protein content. Furthermore, stress parameters such as plasma cortisol and glucose levels were unaffected by diet, as were plasma ghrelin levels. Overall, these results suggest that a high protein inclusion in the diet for Atlantic wolffish is required to sustain growth with a minimum protein level of 50%.s.This project was part of the project NOMACULTURE: (2103-1961-27044-74) jointly funded by The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA) and the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS).</p
Comparative analysis of manure treatment scenarios on climate change and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea
No full textThis study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of manure management, identifying transportation as a major contributor to global warming and freshwater eutrophication impacts. Transporting substrates to the biogas plant was the main hotspot, highlighting a critical area for improvement. The findings emphasize the importance of method selection in geographically dependent assessments, especially in the Baltic Sea region. Characterization factors specific to Sweden revealed higher environmental impact values than those produced by the ReCiPe method, underscoring the need for regional differentiation in LCA. By optimizing manure management practices and enhancing nutrient distribution, impacts on both climate change and eutrophication can be significantly reduced, thereby lowering nutrient flow to the Baltic Sea. Combining these optimizations with transportation impact reductions further amplifies these environmental benefits, demonstrating that geographically tailored approaches in LCA offer essential insights for managing regional-scale effects. The authors are grateful for financial support from Baltic Waters.</p
Högljudda resor: En undersökning om ljudmiljön i kuvös under ambulanstransporter
No full textNoisy journeys: An investigation of the sound environment in an incubator during ambulance transports Each year, between 300 and 350 transports are carried out by the Neonatal Transport Team Göteborg in Västra Götaland Region (VGR). The majority of these transports (approximately 80 %) are conducted using road ambulances, and most patients are premature infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. The central nervous system of premature infants is not sufficiently developed, resulting in a reduced ability to self-regulate and selectively limit or inhibit incoming stimuli, thereby increasing their vulnerability to stress and its negative physiological effects. Noise is one of the main stress-inducing stimuli that premature infants are exposed to in the extrauterine environment. Unlike the acoustic environment of the womb, which is characterized by low-frequency background noise where the mother’s voice stands out distinctly, the extrauterine environment in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) or during transport is dominated by unpredictable and highly variable sounds with a broad frequency spectrum. Research has shown that high noise levels can cause serious health effects in premature infants and negatively impact their growth and healing processes. Results from noise measurements conducted during neonatal transports with VGR’s incubator transport ambulance indicate that the transported infants are frequently exposed to noise levels exceeding 70 dB(A), with peak levels surpassing 110 dB(C), which are far above the guidelines for perinatal care established by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This study examines the noise levels in VGR’s incubator transport ambulance as well as the infants’ heart rates during transport. The report also outlines the various guidelines and requirements for noise in environments where neonatal infants receive care and highlights the discrepancies between these standards. The aim of this study is to provide an overview and analysis of the auditory environment to which premature and sick neonatal infants are exposed during ambulance transports in incubator and to serve as a basis for future measures to protect infants from harmful noise during transport.Studien har möjliggjorts tack vare finansiering från Innovationsfonden VGR, underprojekt ID-nummer VGRINN 993585: Åtgärder för att minska exponering av skadligtljud för neonatala barn under vägbundna kuvöstransporter.</p
FEMAS (Fossilfria, Effektiva Masstransporter i Städer) : Publik rapport
No full textFEMAS, som är en förstudie, har genomfört flera riktade forskningsaktiviteter, inklusive en studieresa till Finland som är ett föregångsland inom området effektiva masstransporter i städer. Två workshops har hållits, en i Skellefteå och en i Helsingborg. Målet var att stärka konsortiets kunskap om HCT-fordon och effektivare lastning i byggprojekt. Feedback har också erhållits från ett åkeri som använt femaxliga bilar med dispens på prov i Stockholm. Projektet har studerat tekniska utmaningar kring elektrifiering av detta fordonssegment och även arbetat med att bygga ihop ett större systemprojekt. Detta kräver engagemang från exploateringskontor, byggentreprenörer, åkerier och städer där piloter ska genomföras. Flera städer deltar redan nu, och innan vi söker detta större systemprojekt, planerat till våren, kartläggs nödvändig teknik, fordon, infrastruktur, regelverk och affärsmodeller inför projektstart.Projekt inom FFI: Accelerera omställningen till hållbara vägtransporter. DNr: 2024–00776</p
Verifiable Sustainability Claims (Public version)
No full textThis report provides an in-depth examination of the requirements for creating and substantiating verifiable sustainability claims within the regulatory framework of the European Green Deal. It focuses on the EU Commission's proposed Green Claims Directive, alongside related legislative initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). These frameworks collectively aim to combat greenwashing and ensure that sustainability claims are factual, transparent, and credible. The report refers to a "verifiable sustainability claim" as one that is both correct and formulated in a way that it can be evaluated against objective, standardized criteria. It presents practical methodologies and tools, including checklists, to assess whether a claim is verifiable and whether a claim would comply with the current proposal of the EU Commission’s Green Claims Directive. To ensure relevance and practical guidance, real cases of sustainability statements and claims are studied at the participating process industry companies, regarding how to interpret, express, and set requirements for verifiability and substantiation of sustainability claims. This report also includes an extensive literature study presenting relevant directives, standards and other literature relevant to the subject of sustainability claims and green claims. The study extends beyond consumer-focused claims to explore implications for business-to-business communication and reporting. By integrating insights from international standards (e.g., ISO 14020, ISO 14067), certification systems (e.g., Nordic Swan, ISCC), and methodologies for lifecycle assessments and environmental product declarations (EPDs), the paper provides actionable guidance. Recommendations emphasize avoiding vague, misleading, or irrelevant claims and adopting structured approaches to ensure precision and compliance. In addition, this report, developed under the Climate-leading Process Industry initiative, not only supports industries in fulfilling regulatory obligations but also enables them to establish credibility and trust. It aligns with the EU’s broader climate objectives, including the “Fit for 55” initiative, aiming to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.This project has been financed by the Swedish Vinnova-funded programme Climate-leading Process Industry.</p
Data Governance och Data for Governance - Ett cirkulärt och regulatoriskt perspektiv på data
No full textData Governance and Data for Governance – a circular and regulatory perspective on data The Smart Urban Traffic Zones Project aims to create smart solutions in cities that contribute to increased flexibility in the use of urban space, more efficient transportation, and improved traffic safety. This report is a partial deliverable within the project, where we have explored how a municipality can collect and work with data to achieve better and more efficient solutions, based on policies and regulations. During this work, we have identified four possible approaches to data sharing. In the first approach, the city handles all data-related tasks itself, from start to finish. In the second approach, the city allows private actors to collect data in the city infrastructure. These companies then aggregate and analyse the data, and the municipality procures the results through a public procurement process. The third approach is based on voluntary data sharing. The municipality procures a data-sharing platform, which both public and private entities can use to exchange data. In the fourth and final approach, the municipality makes its data publicly available, for example, via the National Access Point. The expectation is that the market will identify possible use cases for the municipal data, combine it with their own data, and develop services for citizens. We have conducted literature reviews, interviews, and workshops where we discussed the different approaches. After analysing the results, we have concluded that there is no single best solution for data sharing that works for all municipalities in all situations. Instead, the approaches may work differently depending on the context, and they can also be combined. The approach where the city handles everything itself has several advantages, such as maintaining full control and oversight, but it is also highly resource intensive. It is unlikely that any municipality has the capacity to manage such a large-scale effort, meaning that this approach is best suited for a limited scope. The approach where the municipality procures analysed data from private entities appears relatively straightforward from a municipal perspective, but the question remains whether the market is ready to provide such a service at a scale that meets municipal needs. The third approach—the platform model—is well-tested and currently works well in cases such as data sharing between municipalities and e-scooter operators. In this case, there is a clear use case. If a municipality wishes to adopt this approach, we recommend starting with a clearly defined target group, such as businesses engaged in public procurement. Over time, the municipality could extend the platform to include additional stakeholders. We do not believe the last approach, where the municipality makes its data publicly available, is suitable for smart urban traffic zones, as the municipality would not have control or oversight over the outcomes. Key Takeaways from the Interviews: -A clear understanding of the needs is crucial when procuring data-sharing services, as it guides requirements and ensures fit-for-purpose solutions. -Data quality is crucial for successful innovation and requires clear specifications, well-defined requirements, quality controls, and incentives.-Public procurement processes should include dialogue with suppliers, emphasize quality, and enable innovation.-Well-balanced incentives are important to promote data sharing.-Municipalities play a key role as coordinators, data consumers, and guarantors of public value.-Small municipalities can often benefit from regional collaboration.Denna rapport är en del av projektet Smarta Urban Trafikzoner som syftar till att utveckla intelligenta lösningar inom staden för att öka flexibiliteten i användningen av stadsrummet, optimera transporteffektiviteten och förbättra trafiksäkerheten. Detta innebär testning och utvärdering av digitala verktyg som geofencing, sensorer och digital skyltning inom staden. Projektet genomförs i tre steg, där det pågående tredje steget inleddes i februari 2023. 24 projektpartner deltar, bland annat offentliga organ som städer, teknikleverantörer, OEM-företag och transportföretag, företag och den akademiska världen. Projektet är delvis finansierat av Sveriges innovationsmyndighet, Vinnova.</p
Tailoring the Electrocatalytic Activity and Corrosion Resistance of CoCrFeNi and MnCrFeNi Thin Films by Anodization
No full textTransition metal oxides like Co, Ni, and Mn are promising alternatives to noble metals such as Pt for oxygen electrocatalysis in green energy. Alloying these metals forms multicomponent catalysts with compelling properties. In this study, CoCrFeNi and MnCrFeNi thin films are synthesized using High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) and their catalytic activity for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), and corrosion resistance in 1 molar (1 M) potassium hydroxide (KOH) are evaluated. MnCrFeNi films exhibit a fine-grained single face-centered cubic (FCC) phase, while CoCrFeNi films have larger grains and multiple phases. ORR on CoCrFeNi follows a 2+1 electron transfer pathway, producing hydroxide radicals, while MnCrFeNi exhibits a 2-electron pathway, yielding hydrogen peroxide. Anodization reduces the CoCrFeNi overpotential from 0.9 to 0.5 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), comparable to platinum and iridium catalysts (Pt/C, Ir/C). Anodization also shifts CoCrFeNi ORR to a 2-electron pathway. In situ Raman spectroscopy detects no ORR intermediates, but nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH) appears during OER. Substituting Mn for Co increases corrosion resistance by raising the corrosion potential. All films show passive behavior during polarization, demonstrating their potential for corrosion protection and electrocatalysis in green energy applications. This study was performed within the Competence Centre FunMat-II andwas funded by the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA,grant numbers 2022–03071, 2016–05156, 2019–04881). The authors alsoacknowledge the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Mate-rials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linköping University(Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU No. 2009 00971)</p
Psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 : an investigation using Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis
No full textDepression is one of the most common psychiatric conditions. Given its high prevalence and disease burden, accurate diagnostic procedures and valid instruments are warranted to identify those in need of treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most widely used self-report measures of depression, and its validity and reliability has been evaluated in several languages. However, the Swedish translation has yet not been subject to psychometric evaluation, and no previous psychometric evaluation of the instrument have used both Rasch analysis and classic test theory. The aim of this study was to investigate validity and reliability of the PHQ-9 in a Swedish sample of individuals with self-reported current or past mental health problems using Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. A sample of 4958 participants was recruited from an online survey covering different aspects of covid-19 and mental health targeted towards individuals with mental health problems. Results showed that a one-factor solution fit the data after removing one item and that some items had a different response pattern for older respondents. Furthermore, after removing item 2 and merging the two middle response categories for item 9, the Swedish translation of PHQ-9 showed adequate psychometric properties. The findings suggests that the Swedish translation of PHQ-9 may need to be adapted in order to make adequate interpretations of an individual score and to differentiate between populations. Further tests of its validity and reliability in other Swedish samples are needed to fully understand the properties of the Swedish version of PHQ-9.
Experimental and numerical investigation on stainless steel corrugated girders subjected to patch loading
No full textThis paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the structural response of stainless steel trapezoidally corrugated web girders subjected to patch loading. Four girders were tested to failure, the length and position of the patch load within the corrugation profile were varied to investigate its impact on the ultimate load and failure modes. All four girders were made of lean duplex stainless steel (EN 1.4162/LDX 2101). Initial geometric imperfections were measured using a digital image correlation system. The load-displacement responses and the failure modes were analyzed in detail. In addition, geometrically and materially nonlinear analyses with imperfection included (GMNIA) were also performed. Measured initial imperfections were included in the model. The numerical model was verified against the experimental results. Stress distribution plots were also obtained numerically to further analyze the failure modes and the influence of the strain hardening capacity of stainless steel. Ultimate loads obtained experimentally were also compared with predicted resistances using theoretical models available in the literature. According to the results, neglecting the flange resistance to patch loads according to standard EC3:1–5 leads to a significant underestimation of the capacity of stainless steel and carbon steel corrugated web girders. However, considering the resistance from both the flange and web, the difference between the design model and test results is limited to a safe range of 3–12 % for all four tested girders