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Parts repairing and microstructural refinement of high-pressure die cast aluminum alloys through friction stir processing for bulk production
No full textA key challenge in the production of high-grade automotive aluminum components through the High-Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) process is the imperative to minimize imperfection. In addressing this concern, this study utilizes friction stir processing (FSP), a widely recognized intense plastic deformation technique. FSP is applied to systematically alter the microstructure of HPDC Al-4Mg-2Fe, a prominent alloy extensively used in the die-casting sector. By using the pass strategy to incorporate both one-pass and two-pass approaches, the microstructure is selectively altered to establish a defect-free processed zone. The utilization of FSP demonstrates its efficacy in breaking aluminum dendrites and acicular silicon particles, leading to a uniformly dispersed arrangement of equiaxed silicon particles within the aluminum-based matrix. In addition, FSP eradicates porosity and disintegrates needle-like Fe particles, resulting in a more refined and homogeneously distributed structure. Subsequently, the material’s mechanical properties processed by FSP were assessed in the longitudinal direction concerning the processing axis and then compared with those of the original base material. The microstructural refinement and reduction in porosity induced by FSP result in a notable enhancement in hardness, with an increase of 23 % after one pass and 37 % after two passes. The substantial improvement in mechanical properties during the FSP process is predominantly attributed to modifications in the morphology, refinement, and dispersion of intermetallic particles within the matrix. This improvement is further complemented by the ultrafine dispersion of casting defects. This study underscores the efficacy of FSP as a valuable tool for modifying microstructures and improving mechanical properties in HPDC Al-4Mg-2Fe alloys. Such advancements align with the lightweighting objectives pursued by the automotive industry. CC-BY 4.0</p
Accessing the Lived Experiences of Children with Illness in Sweden for Health Care Research.
No full textBACKGROUND: Children are a relatively marginalized group when doing research in the context of illness, young children particularly so. This even though children can and should contribute their point of view in providing evidence-based care. This article contributes the experiences of Nurse Researchers in gathering research data in Sweden on the lived experiences of children undergoing needle-related medical procedures, living with home mechanical ventilation or undergoing treatment for cancer. METHODS: Nine published articles from four unique Swedish PhD dissertations in Caring Science formed the basis for the present paper where various open and critical qualitative approaches for gathering data were used. RESULTS: Accessing and interpreting the lived experiences of ill children in healthcare research presents methodological, ethical, and cultural challenges. As with health care contexts in other countries, capturing the ill child's experiences in Sweden requires several different methods. Health researchers in Sweden must navigate a complex landscape of communication barriers, emotional and psychological challenges, and structural issues within the healthcare system to effectively access and understand the lived experiences of children. CONCLUSIONS: This paper adds to the knowledge base of research with a focus on gathering the experiences of children with illness within a Swedish health care context. These insights underscore the importance for all researchers of using child-friendly, inclusive methods to understand children's lived experiences thus ensuring their voices are heard and respected in health research. Children's and families' inability to speak the native language of a country cannot be a hinder for inclusion, but rather be encouraged.CC BY 4.0</p
Spelar personlighet roll för ungas problematiska sociala medieanvändning? : En studie om ungdomar och Big Five
No full textProblematisk användning av sociala medier bland ungdomar är ett växande fenomen och avser en överdriven och ohälsosam användning som kan innebära negativ påverkan på deras psykiska hälsa. Den här studien undersökte vilka personlighetsdrag i Big Five-modellen som predicerar problematisk användning av sociala medier hos ungdomar och om det finns några könsskillnader. Undersökningen gjordes på 189 ungdomar i årskurs två på gymnasiet genom det större forskningsprojektet om gaming, sociala medier och ungas hälsa (GAMEPSY) vid Högskolan Väst. Big Five-personlighetsdrag mättes med den svenska översättningen av självskattningsskalan IPIP-30, och problematisk användning av sociala medier mättes med självskattningsskalan GSMQ-9. Data analyserades med t-test, Pearson’s korrelationsanalys och multipel regressionsanalys. Resultaten visade att den starkaste prediktorn för problematisk användning av sociala medier var höga nivåer av neuroticism, men även låg samvetsgrannhet och vänlighet visade sig vara signifikanta prediktorer. Flickor rapporterade högre nivåer av både problematisk användning av sociala medier, neuroticism och vänlighet än pojkar. Undersökningens resultat diskuteras utifrån egenskaper som kännetecknar de olika personlighetsdragen och relateras till de faktorer som är typiska för problematisk användning. Vidare kopplas resultaten till de utvecklingsmässiga och känslomässiga utmaningar ungdomar möter i denna ålder.Problematic social media use among adolescents is a growing phenomenon and refers to excessive and unhealthy use that can negatively impact their mental health. This study investigated which Big Five personality traits predict problematic social media use among adolescents and whether there are any gender differences. The study included 189 second-year high school students as part of a larger research project on gaming, social media, and adolescent health (GAMEPSY) at University West. The Big Five traits were measured using the Swedish translation of the IPIP-30 self-report scale, and problematic social media use was measured using the GSMQ-9 self-report scale. Data was analyzed using t-test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that neuroticism was the strongest predictor of problematic social media use, along with low conscientiousness and agreeableness as significant predictors. Girls reported higher levels of both problematic social media use, neuroticism and agreeableness than boys. The findings of the study are discussed in terms of the characteristics of the various personality traits and related to factors typical of problematic use. Furthermore, the results are linked to the developmental and emotional challenges adolescents face at this age
Challenges of Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Software Project Planning : A Systematic Literature Review
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) has helped enhance the management of software development projects through automation, improving efficiency and enabling project professionals to focus on strategic aspects. Despite its advantages, applying AI in software development project management still faces several challenges. Thus, this study investigates key obstacles to applying artificial intelligence in project management, specifically in the project planning phase. This research systematically reviews the existing literature. The review comprises scientific articles published from 2019 to 2024 and, from the inspected records, 17 papers were analyzed in full-text form. In this review, 10 key barriers were reported and categorized based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. This review showed that eleven articles reported technological challenges, twelve articles identified organizational challenges, and six articles reported environmental challenges. In addition, this review found that there was relatively little interest in the literature on environmental challenges, compared to organizational and technological barriers. © 2024 by the authors.CC BY 4.0</p
Towards Urban Digital Twins : A Workflow for Procedural Visualization Using Geospatial Data
No full textA key feature for urban digital twins (DTs) is an automatically generated detailed 3D representation of the built and unbuilt environment from aerial imagery, footprints, LiDAR, or a fusion of these. Such 3D models have applications in architecture, civil engineering, urban planning, construction, real estate, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and many other areas. While the visualization of large-scale data in conjunction with the generated 3D models is often a recurring and resource-intensive task, an automated workflow is complex, requiring many steps to achieve a high-quality visualization. Methods for building reconstruction approaches have come a long way, from previously manual approaches to semi-automatic or automatic approaches. This paper aims to complement existing methods of 3D building generation. First, we present a literature review covering different options for procedural context generation and visualization methods, focusing on workflows and data pipelines. Next, we present a semi-automated workflow that extends the building reconstruction pipeline to include procedural context generation using Python and Unreal Engine. Finally, we propose a workflow for integrating various types of large-scale urban analysis data for visualization. We conclude with a series of challenges faced in achieving such pipelines and the limitations of the current approach. However, the steps for a complete, end-to-end solution involve further developing robust systems for building detection, rooftop recognition, and geometry generation and importing and visualizing data in the same 3D environment, highlighting a need for further research and development in this field. CC-BY 4.0</p
Transspråkande tvåspråksläsning av skönlitteratur på SFI
No full textSyftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att undersöka hur vuxna immigranter erfar tvåspråksläsning av skönlitteratur på både modersmålet och svenska och hur lärare uppfattar att immigranternas andraspråksutveckling påverkas. Transspråkande och/eller tvåspråkig läsning av olika slags texter för vuxna har länge använts inom litterariseringsprogram (se exv. Wedin et al, 2018; Ramirez, 2020), även om studier i Sverige pekar mot en dominant monolingvistisk norm inom vuxenutbildning (Norlund Shaswar, 2020; Rosén & Lundgren, 2021). [. . .
Utforska Wi-Fi-fingeravtryck Föreställning på campus
No full textWi-Fi fingerprinting provides precise and cheap indoor positioning, as GPS does for outdoor environments. This technology addresses the increasing need for precise localization indoors and presents satisfying solutions for organisations in need of that feature. This thesis aims to explore the performance of Wi-Fi fingerprinting technology regarding positioning, at University West Campus, Block-D, a technology that works like GPS but for localization inside buildings. The technology depends on Wi-Fi signals and signals strength, which was methodically gathered using a smartphone app, then analysed using Python scripts. The study sheds light on the key factors influencing the efficacy of Wi-Fi fingerprinting, including number of Access Points, obstacles, and the distribution reference points. This technology appears to be a promising solution for indoor positioning in Access pointrich sites, providing cost-effective localization with no compromise on accuracy. This study not only discovers the functional application of the technology, but also presents actionable step by step recommendations for its effective deployment in educational environments, paving the way for campuswide indoor positioning systems.Wi-Fi-fingerprinting ger en precis och billig inomhus-positionering, liksom det GPS gör men för utomhusmiljöer. Denna teknologi adresserar det ökande behovet av god lokaliseringsförmåga för inomhus miljöer, och presenterar goda lösningar för organisationer i behov av den funktionen. Denna rapport avser att utforska prestandan hos Wi-Fi-fingerprinting när det gäller positionering, vid Högskolan Väst, D-huset, en teknik som fungerar som GPS men för lokalisering inomhus. Tekniken är beroende av Wi-Fi-signaler och signalstyrka, som enligt en noggrant uppgjord plan, samlades in med hjälp av en smartphoneapp, och sedan analyserades med en Pythonskript. Studien belyser de viktigaste faktorerna som kan påverka effektiviteten hos Wi-Fi-fingerprinting, inklusive antalet accesspunkter, byggnadsmaterial, och spridningen av referenspunkter. Denna teknologi verkar vara en bra lösning för inomhuspositionering i platser med många accesspunkter, vilket ger en billig och effektiv lokaliseringsförmåga utan att kompromissa med noggrannheten. Denna studie upptäcker inte bara den praktiska användningen av tekniken, utan presenterar också handlingsbara instruktioner för dess effektiva implementering i skolmiljöer, vilket öppnar vägen för att implementera inomhuspositioneringssystem för områden i campus storlek
Willingness to communicate in a multilingual context : part two, person-context dynamics
No full textIn many contexts of multilingualism, language learners can initiate communication in the target language (TL), or a contact language (such as English). Patterns of use emerging from these choices vary between individuals and affect TL development. Willingness to communicate (WTC) needs to be investigated in ways that capture these variations. So far, WTC has not been studied in multilingual contexts, or using individual-level designs. This case study explores intraindividual variability in the WTC propensities of adult learners of Swedish for whom the TL and English provide viable communication options in community interaction. Carried out over a period where TL skills began to develop, the purpose was to explore the process characteristics of changes in communication-initiation propensities. A person-context dynamics perspective was employed, and analyses of time-serial data were combined with analyses of concurrently generated interview data. Results reveal how changes in WTC could be gradual and nongradual, continuous and discontinuous
Sustainability is a given
No full textToday, social media has steadily grown to become an established part of our society. In a society over shadowed by the current climate crisis, sustainability-focused influencers play a central role in driving change. The purpose of this study is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how sustainability is communicated by Swedish sustainability-focused influencers to their followers. The aim of the study is to fill the knowledge gap in sustainability communication on social media and raise awareness. This awareness can be directed towards, among others, digital marketers and sustainability-influencers. The study employs a qualitative content analysis to identify sustainability indicators in the captions of Swedish sustainability-focused influencers Instagram posts. This resulted in three themes within which the captions were categorized. These themes were Slow fashion, Second hand first, and Informative posts. Based on these themes, an analysis was conducted, resulting in codes, the majority of which are anchored in theories. In the analysis of the captions, recurring codes emerged that were central to sustainability messages. By compiling these codes, the analysis led to four sustainability indicators that highlight the problem areas present in the data. The indicators identified in this work were Introspection, Solidarity, Encouraging Dialogue, and Sustainability Awareness. These indicators can serve to reflect real sustainability issues and needs.Sociala medier har idag vuxit stadigt och blivit en etablerad del av vårt samhälle. Ett samhälle som lever i skuggan av den rådande klimatkrisen, spelar hållbarhetsinfluencers en central roll i att driva förändring. Syftet med denna studie är att bidra till en fördjupad förståelse för hur hållbarhet kommuniceras av svenska hållbarhetsinfluencers till sina följare. Studiens mål är att fylla kunskapsluckan inom hållbarhetskommunikation på sociala medier och skapa en medvetenhet. Denna medvetenhet kan riktas till bland annat digitala marknadsförare och hållbarhetsinfluencers. Studien tillämpas genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys för att identifiera hållbarhetsindikatorer i bildtexter hos svenska hållbarhetsinfluencers inlägg på Instagram. Detta resulterade i tre teman som bildtexterna kategoriserades inom. Dessa teman var Långsamt mode, Andrahand i första hand och Informativa inlägg. Baserat på dessa teman gjordes en analys som medförde koder där majoriteten av de förankras till teorierna. Vid analysen av bildtexterna uppkom koder som var återkommande och centrala i hållbarhetsbudskapen. Genom att sammanställa dessa koder utmynnade analysen i fyra hållbarhetsindikatorer som belyser de problemområden som förekom i datan. Indikatorerna som identifierades i detta arbetevar Introspektion, Solidaritet, Främja till dialog och Hållbarhetsmedvetenhet. Dessa indikatorer kan verka för att spegla verkliga hållbarhetsfrågor och behov
Media Usage in Transition
No full textThis study is based on a qualitative study conducted through interviews and exploring how individuals aged 50 to 60 describe their experiences of ads on Instagram Stories and which preferences and actions emerge. The aim of this study is to investigate and comprehend how this age group perceives, reacts to, and expresses their preferences for ads on Instagram Stories. These preferences can be linked to categories such as user experience, purchasing behaviour, decision-making, content, presentation, influence and relevance. By employing theories such as the VALS 2 model, uses and gratification, and medium theory, the study examines how individuals in this age group experience and interact with advertisements on Instagram Stories. The results indicated that credibility and relevance were two crucial factors in how participants perceived ads on Instagram Stories. Ads from well-known and credible companies, as well as ads featuring offers or contests, tended to be appreciated more by participants. Additionally, participants expressed a desire for ads to be more relevant to their interests and needs, in order to capture the attention of this age group.Denna studie är baserad på en kvalitativ undersökning i form av intervjuer, om hur personer i åldersgruppen 50 till 60 år beskriver sina upplevelser av annonser på Instagram Stories och vilka preferenser och ageranden som framträder. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka och förstå hur åldersgruppen upplever, agerar och uttrycker sina preferenser för annonser på Instagram Stories. Dessa kan kopplas till kategorierna användarupplevelser, köpbeteende, beslutsfattande, innehåll, presentation, påverkan och relevans. Genom användningen av teorierna VALS 2-modellen, uses and gratification och medium theory, har det undersökts hur individer i denna åldersgrupp upplever och interagerar med annonser på Instagram Stories. Resultatet visade att trovärdighet och relevans var två viktiga faktorer för hur deltagarna uppfattade annonser på Instagram Stories. Annonser från välkända och trovärdiga företag, och annonser som innehöll erbjudanden eller tävlingar tenderade att uppskattas mer av deltagarna. Dessutom uttryckte deltagarna en önskan om att annonserna skulle vara mer relevanta för deras intressen och behov, för att fånga åldersgruppens uppmärksamhet