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Microstructural characteristics and wear behaviour of HVAF sprayed Ni-SiC composite coatings
No full textHigh-velocity air fuel (HVAF)-sprayed SiC coatings have been investigated as a potential approach to address challenges associated with their successful application through thermal spraying, since SiC can potentially serve as a sustainable replacement for WC in tribological hard coatings. Ni-P capped SiC feedstock was processed to fabricate composite coatings using HVAF, which is a relatively recent versatile and cost-effective spray technique. Three coatings, Ni-SiC-1, Ni-SiC-2, and Ni-SiC-3 were sprayed using various parameters to investigate the relationship between the processing conditions, microstructure, and wear performance. The extent of SiC retained in each of the coatings, albeit fragmented, was determined to be ~25 % for each of the three coatings compared to the 54 wt % SiC presence in the feedstock. However, despite the similarity in the quantity of SiC retained in the respective coatings, two of the coatings (Ni-SiC-1 and Ni-SiC-2) showed mixed amorphous and crystalline phases, whereas the Ni-SiC-3 coating was fully crystalline. The microindentation hardness of the coatings in the as-sprayed and annealed forms was noted to be in the range of 800–850 HV0.1. The specific wear rates for the respective coatings in the as-sprayed and annealed forms were found to be promising but of the same order of magnitude, revealing no significant role of annealing on their tribological behaviour. The results establish that it is possible to process a suitably designed SiC feedstock using HVAF to realize a sustainable wear-resistant coating.CC BY 4.0</p
More Than a Follower Base : Influencers and Parasocial relationships
No full textInfluencers have established themselves on social media and companies have consequently been able to capitalize on their close relationships with followers, leadingt o the development of influencer marketing as a strategic marketing approach. The purpose of this study is to examine how the future of influencer marketing can remain profitable and sustainable in the context of digital media development, with a central focus on the relationship between influencers and their followers. The study is based ontheories of parasocial relationships, Aaker’s brand equity model, and Jenkins convergence culture. In this study, 9 qualitative interviews were conducted with professionals in the influencer marketing industry. The interviews were divided into 4 themes: present, profitability, sustainability, and future. The results show that relationsships play a desicive role in ensuring profitable and sustainable and without relations the effectiveness of influencer marketing decreases. The parasocial relationship between influencer and follower is a core component of influencer marketing, as it contributes to trust and increased receptiveness to marketing messages. Credibility and authenticity are essential for establishing and maintaining parasocial relationships between influencers and their followers. Influencers must adapt to their audiences to maintain trust, especially in today’s media landscape where users are increasingly active participants.Influencers har etablerat sig på sociala medier och företag har därmed kunnat dra nytta av deras nära relationer med följare, vilket har lett till utvecklingen av influencer marketing som en marknadsföringsstrategi. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur framtiden av influencer marketing kan i den digitala medieutvecklingen förbli lönsam och hållbar, med ett centralt fokus i influencers och följares relation. Studien bygger på teorier om parasociala relationer, Aakers varumärkeskapital samt Jenkins konvergenskultur. I denna studie gjordes 9 kvalitativa intervjuer med yrkesverksamma inom influencer marketing branschen. Intervjuerna delades upp i 4 teman: nutid, lönsamhet, hållbarhet och framtid. Resultatet visar att relationer spelar en avgörande roll i att säkerställa lönsamhet och hållbarhet och utan relationer minskas influencer marketings effektivitet. Den parasocialar elationen mellan influencer och följare är en central del i influencer marketing eftersom det bidrar till förtroende och en ökad mottaglighet för budskap. Trovärdighet och autenticitet är viktigt för att etablera och bibehålla parasociala relationer mellan influencer och följare. Influencers bör anpassa sig till följare för att bibehålla förtroende, särskilt i dagens medielandskap där användarna i allt större utsträckning är aktiva deltagare
We Attract So Much Attention, Yet We Are Not Seen!
No full textThis research explores the experiences of Afro-Swedish women in the Swedish labour market, with particular focus on how the intersection of gender, race, and ethnicity affects their access to employment, career development, and upward mobility. Using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews, the study examines both the structural and organizational barriers that Afro-Swedish women face in the workplace. The theoretical framework is grounded in intersectionality theory, combined with concepts such as racialization, structural racism, gender and racial stereotypes, microaggressions, and the double glass ceiling. Empirical data from interviews reveal that, despite the official discourse on equality, norms of whiteness continue to dominate in practice, particularly in leadership and power positions. The study highlights the phenomenon of “colour blindness,” which fails to recognize race as a category of social analysis, thereby contributing to the invisibility of racial discrimination experienced by racialized individuals. Despite these forms of oppression, the participants demonstrated exceptional resilience and described the strategies they use to continue their professional growth. This study contributes to the field of intersectional research in Sweden, particularly studies that focus on the intersection of social categories such as gender, race, and ethnicity. It aims to support a deeper understanding of how systems of dominance and marginalization persist in an environment that is officially committed to equality. The study points to the need for more sophisticated anti-discrimination policies that address not only gender equality, but also racial inequalities and power structures within the Swedish labour market.Denna forskning studerar afrosvenska kvinnors erfarenheter på den svenska arbetsmarknaden, med särskilt fokus på hur den intersektion mellan kön, ras och etnicitet påverkar deras tillgång, utveckling och uppåtgående tillväxt under deras karriärvägar. Genom en kvalitativ ansats baserad på semistrukturerade intervjuer undersöker studien både de strukturella och organisatoriska hinder som afrosvenska kvinnor möter på arbetsmarknaden. Den teoretiska referensramen bygger på teorin om intersektionalitet, kombinerat med teoretiska begrepp som rasifiering, strukturell rasism, kön och rasstereotyper, mikroaggressioner och dubbelglastaket. Empiriska data från intervjuer visar att trots den officiella diskursen om jämlikhet fortsätter vithetsnormen i praktiken att dominera i organisationer, särskilt i ledande och maktpositioner. Studien belyser fenomenet "färgblindhet", som inte erkänner ras som en social analyskategori, vilket bidrar till osynliggörandet av rasdiskriminering som rasifierade människor utsätts för. Trots dessa förtryck har studiedeltagarna visat exceptionell motståndskraft och har beskrivit de strategier de använder för att fortsätta växa professionellt. Denna studie bidrar till fältet av intersektionella studier i Sverige, särskilt studier som fokuserar på intersektionen mellan sociala kategorier som kön, ras och etnicitet. Denna forskning bidrar till att underlätta till en bättre förståelse för hur system av dominans och marginalisering fortsätter att fungera i en miljö som officiellt är jämlikt. Studien pekar på behovet av en mer sofistikerad antidiskrimineringspolitik som inte bara adresserar jämställdhet mellan könen, utan också tar hänsyn till rasmässiga ojämlikheter och maktstrukturer på den svenska arbetsmarknaden
Emotionell intelligens i en militär kontext
No full textThis study increases understanding of how employees experience the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on engagement, performance and the leadership efficiency within a military context, with a specific focus on the Swedish Navy. Military leadership has traditionally been characterized by hierarchy, discipline, and structural rituals that foster cohesion but can also hinder change and relationship-oriented leadership. Although the Swedish Armed Forces emphasizes self-awareness, supportive leadership, and individual development, tensions remain between traditional and modern leadership styles. Drawing on theories of EI, particularly Goleman’s five-component model and previous research on military organizational culture, this study analyzes how employees perceive their leaders’ emotional competence and its impact on engagement, performance, and the work environment. The methodology uses qualitative research with semi-structured interviews, selected for its ability to delve into social interactions and reveal nuanced perspectives. Semi-structured interviews provide flexibility while maintaining some structure, allowing for in-depth exploration of interviewees' thoughts and experiences. The selection process ensures a diverse representation of current employees who have been in the organization for at least five years, in order to capture a range of experiences and perspectives. A thematic analysis is conducted to identify patterns and themes related to leadership efficiency, emotional abilities, engagement and performance. The findings suggest that EI, especially in the form of empathy, self-regulation, and social skills are critical in creating a safe and motivating climate within an otherwise authoritarian structure. The study also identifies a knowledge gap regarding which specific EI skills are most crucial in this context and suggests that greater awareness of EI may contribute to increased operational effectiveness and more sustainable leadership within the Navy
A comprehensive study of industrial communication protocols and the development of a universal connection tool
No full textThis thesis investigates the challenges posed by protocol diversity in industrial environments and proposes a unified architectural solution to support standardized data acquisition across heterogeneous machines. The work is divided into two parts; the first part is a state-of-the-art review of industrial communication protocols. The second part is the framework design of the Universal Connection Tool with the implementation of a prototype. A total of twelve communication protocols, divided into three categories, were evaluated using a literature-driven, KPI-based framework. The findings reveal that while legacy protocols lack support for Industry 4.0 requirements, current protocols only partially meet these needs and often rely on external extensions. Future protocols show promising potential to address these gaps through native support for real-time, semantic, and interoperable communication. To ad-dress the integration challenge, a modular software prototype was developed using dual-layer architecture. A high-level model-driven abstraction and low-level ETL pipeline. The UCT was validated using both real and simulated data from GKN Aerospace, supporting protocol abstraction, metadata enrichment, and structured data storage. The results demonstrate that the UCT provides a scalable and traceable foundation for future industrial data platforms, confirming the feasibility of a protocol-agnostic connectivity layer aligned with Industry 4.0 objectives
Automation of metal cutting of body in white : Thesis project at Volvo Cars on cutting and automated solutions
No full textThis thesis has been done in collaboration with Volvo Cars. They currently do their Body In White (BIW) cutting manually through the use of power tools which has major issues such as safety and, for certain cuts, time. The work performed was a deep analysis of the current body-in-white cutting process, as well as existing solutions for the cutting, grip-ping and automation of the process and its safety requirements. While solutions are pre-sented, the prospect of a fully automated cutting is very unlikely currently due to both con-straints geometrically, technically, financially and timewise as the automation of this task is not going to be profitable from an efficiency standpoint. Regardless, this should provide enough information and results to be a first step towards an improvement of the current process, focusing on operator safety and well-being by the proposal of a semi-automated solution by using a robot to hold & perform the cut, piloted by an operator in the vicinity of the workspace.21 hp</p
Human-Robot Collaboration for a Vision-Based Quality Inspection: : A Safety-Oriented Design Framework. From Concept to Prototype in an Industrial Lab Environment
No full textThis thesis explores the design and validation of a human-robot collaboration workstation for a vision-based quality inspection in an industrial-like setting. The goal is to develop a safe, flexible, and efficient system suitable for deployment in environments such as the Smart Factory Lab at Scania CV AB and showing therefore the possibility for an implementation in the real manufacturing. An industrial robot used in a collaborative application equipped with a vision system is integrated into a modular workstation capable of identifying missing components in assembled products. The technical design and vision system of this workstation achieve reliable detection of missing components under industrial conditions and demonstrates adaptability through AI-assisted training and modular software design. Key ergonomic and usability aspects such as station layout, reduced cognitive load, and simplified reprogramming are considered to support flexible task allocation between human and robot. Overall, this workstation is ready to operate in the industrial-like environment and can be implemented in the overall connectivity. Safety is the primary focus of this thesis. The system is designed according to ISO 12100:2010 [1], ISO 10218:2025 [2, 3] and the Machinery Regulation [4] and uses power and force limiting strategies as the only safety feature. Therefore, this thesis guides through the risk assessment methods to minimize hazards. Biomechanical risk validations are performed through both calculation and physical measurement. The results confirmed that under normal operating conditions, all relevant contact forces and pressures remained within the safety thresholds. Proving that only the power and force limiting strategies can be implemented in a human-robot collaboration workstation for a safe vision-based quality inspection. The prototype demonstrates that collaborative vision-based inspection is feasible and safe when operating below head height. The findings support the real-world applicability of the system and provide a strong basis for future work involving full CE compliance, broader defect detection, and further ergonomic studie
Detection of SSH Brute-Force Attacks Using Machine Learning : A Comparative Study with Fail2Ban and PAM Tally2
No full textThis study looks at how traditional tools and machine learning models compare when it comes to spotting brute-force attacks onSSH servers. Tools like Fail2Ban and PAM Tally2 are commonly used, but they depend on fixed rules and often miss slow or spread-out attacks. To improve this, a machine learning model was built using real SSH login data. It focused on patterns like failed login attempts, unusual usernames, and how ports were being used. The model performed well, reaching 90% accuracy, with a precision of 0.89 and a recall of 0.97. When the same dataset was tested with Fail2Ban and PAM Tally2, these tools were able to catch aggressive attacks but also flagged more false positives and missed less obvious ones. Real examples showed that the machine learning model was better at finding tricky attack patterns while letting legitimate users log in without trouble. The results suggest that using both machine learning and traditional tools together can create a stronger, more flexible defense against brute-force attacks
Somatic comorbidities and health related uncertainty among Swedish adolescents with ADHD
No full textIntroduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently exists alongside psychiatric comorbidities. The coexistence of somatic diseases and ADHD constitutes a growing field of research. Method: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of common somatic diseases in adolescents with ADHD and compare them with those in adolescents without any psychiatric diagnoses. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of Swedish upper secondary school students aged 15 to 19 years. Data were collected using an electronic version of the “Mental and Somatic Health without borders” survey. In 2020, 1608 adolescents completed the survey and provided self-reports of their psychiatric and somatic diagnoses. Results: Among the sample of Swedish adolescents, 5.5% reported having ADHD diagnoses. These adolescents reported more somatic comorbidities than those without any psychiatric diagnosis (comparison group). The most common somatic comorbidities among those with ADHD were allergies (43.4%), asthma (24.7%), and skin diseases (16.7%), which prevalences were significantly higher than those reported by adolescents in the comparison group. However the effect sizes of these differences were negligible (allergies: p=0.002, Cramer’s V=0.08; asthma: p=0.041, Cramer’s V=0.06; skin diseases: p=0.007, Cramer’s V=0.08), raising questions about the practical implications of these findings. Allergies were significantly more common in both genders with ADHD (p=0.038, Cramer’sV=0.08 in women and p=0.038, Cramer’s V=0.09 in men). Additionally, men with ADHD showed a significant association with skin diseases (p=0.007, Cramer’sV=0.12) while women with ADHD were significantly more likely to have migraine (p=0.038, Cramer’s V=0.08). Notably, adolescents with ADHD reported significantly higher rates of uncertainty regarding the existence of diabetes, rheumatoid diseases, asthma (with negligible effect sizes), and thyroid diseases (with a small effect size) than those without any psychiatric diagnoses, suggesting heightened health related anxiety within this group. Conclusions: Adolescents with ADHD reported more somatic comorbidities and greater uncertainty about the potential presence of additional somatic conditions compared to adolescents without psychiatric diagnoses. Thesef indings highlight the importance of addressing both health literacy and access to healthcare. By focusing on this group, we cannot only improve their ability to understand and navigate the healthcare system but also strengthen their confidence in managing their own health.CC BY</p
Social kompetens i arbetslivet: innebörder och aktualitet : innebörder och aktualitet
No full textI ett samhälle som vårt där lönearbete tillmäts stor betydelse är det intressant att analysera vad arbetsgivare värderar vid anställning av personal. Frånsett arbetsrelaterade kvalifikationer, bedöms även den personlig lämpligheten som i denna artikel diskuteras utifrån begreppet social kompetens. Denna artikel har två syften. Den syftar till att belysa den sociala kompetensens betydelse i relation till professioner och teknikutvecklingen samt diskutera tänkbara förklaringar till varför den sociala kompetensen ökat i betydelse i dagens arbetsliv. Mot bakgrund av denna ökade betydelse syftar även artikeln till att ta upp tre olika perspektiv på hur social kompetens kan förstås, det deskriptiva perspektivet som utgår från vad arbetsgivare efterfrågar i platsannonser kopplat till vad som benämns social kompetens, det psykologiska perspektivet som i huvudsak betraktar social kompetens som en uppsättning personliga egenskaper som psykometriskt kan kartläggas och det sociologiska perspektivet som betraktar social kompetens som ett i huvudsak relationellt fenomen och söker förstå det i huvudsak i termer av diskurs och makt. CC-BY 4.0</p