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The Successful Integration of Syrian Migrants into the Swedish Labor Market: Examining Syrian Migrants’ Own Experiences and Attitudes
No full textNavigating Labor Market Integration : Experiences and Strategies of Somali Migrant Women in Gothenburg, Sweden
No full textDespite Sweden's inclusive migration policies, Somali migrant women continue to facesignificant barriers in their labor market integration in Sweden. This thesis explores the lifeexperiences of Somali migrant women who have lived in Gothenburg for over a decade,focusing on how they have navigated labor market integration and intersecting challenges ofrace, religion, and gender. Using a qualitative case study approach and semi-structuredinterviews, this research explores these women's strategies to overcome formal and informalobstacles, such as pursuing Swedish education, acquiring language, and leveragingcommunity networks. Findings reveal that while Somali women show resilience and agency,visible markers of difference, like being black and wearing hijab, often require them to putmore effort than native Swedes to secure employment and social acceptance. This researchcontributes to International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) by centering the voices ofSomali migrant women and highlighting the importance of intersectionality in understandinglabor market integration
UTVECKLING AV REFERNSVÄRDE FÖR VA/TLC-KVOTEN HOS FRISKA INDIVIDER I ÅLDERSGRUPPEN 20-45 ÅR
No full textMardeni, M. Utveckling av referensvärde för VA/TLC-kvoten hos friska individer i åldersgruppen 20-45 år. Examensarbete i biomedicinsk laboratorievetenskap 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö universitet: Fakulteten för hälsa och samhälle, institutionen för biomedicinska vetenskap, 2025. Förändringar i de små luftvägarna kan uppstå tidigt vid obstruktiva lungsjukdomar som KOL och astma, utan att det upptäcks med konventionell spirometri. Kvoten mellan alveolär volym (VA) och total lungkapacitet (TLC), det vill säga VA/TLC-kvoten, har föreslagits som en känslig markör för ventilationsojämnhet och tidig småluftvägsförändring. Referensvärden för VA/TLC saknas dock för yngre friska vuxna. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka VA/TLC-kvoten hos friska individer i åldern 20–45 år i syfte att ta fram referensvärden och analysera samband med ålder, längd och vikt. Studien genomfördes som en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie med 19 friska deltagare. Lungfunktionsmätningar genomfördes med spirometri, kroppspletysmografi, impulsoscillometri och diffusionskapacitetsmätning för CO. Resultaten visade ett genomsnittligt VA/TLC-värde på 0,94 med en jämn spridning inom gruppen. Inga statistiskt signifikanta samband identifierades mellan VA/TLC och ålder, längd eller vikt, vilket innebär att ingen prediktionsformel kunde skapas. Resultaten jämfördes därför med tidigare publicerade ekvation. Trots ett begränsat urval visar studien att VA/TLC är en stabil parameter hos yngre friska individer. Studien bidrar med värdefull kunskap om normalfördelningen av VA/TLC och understryker behovet av vidare forskning med större och mer åldersspridda populationer för att fastställa tillförlitliga referensvärden med klinisk tillämpning.Mardeni, M. Development of reference values for the VA/TLC ratio in healthy individuals in the age group 20-45 years. Degree project in biomedical laboratory science 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö University: Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Biomedical Sciences, 2025. Early changes in the small airways can occur in obstructive lung diseases such as COPD and asthma, often without being detected by conventional spirometry. The ratio between alveolar volume (VA) and total lung capacity (TLC), referred to as the VA/TLC ratio, has been proposed as a sensitive marker of ventilation inhomogeneity and early small airway dysfunction. However, reference values for VA/TLC are lacking for healthy young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the VA/TLC ratio in healthy individuals aged 20–45 years in order to establish reference values and analyze associations with age, height, and weight. This was a quantitative cross-sectional study including 19 healthy participants. Lung function was assessed using spirometry, body plethysmography, impulse oscillometry, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The results showed a mean VA/TLC value of 0.94 with even distribution across the sample. No statistically significant associations were found between VA/TLC and age, height, or weight, which meant that a prediction formula could not be generated. The results were instead compared with the previously published reference equation. Despite the small sample size, the study shows that VA/TLC is a relatively stable parameter in healthy young individuals. The findings contribute valuable knowledge about the normal distribution of VA/TLC and highlight the need for further research with larger and more age-diverse populations to establish reliable reference values for clinical application. Keywords: alveolar volume, lung function, reference values, spirometry, total lung capacity, VA/TL
HLA-DRB1 alleles and salivary Streptococcus mutans colonization in a group of Swedish children
No full textBACKGROUND: Genetic factors significantly influence caries development and the colonization of oral bacteria, which could explain why some individuals are more prone or resistant to caries. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II is a component in the adaptive immune system that has been associated with the colonization of oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans. This study aimed to investigate the association between specific alleles and genotypes of HLA-DRB1 on subgroup level and the colonization of S. mutans in a group of Swedish children. METHODS: Blood samples from 357 children were analyzed for HLA using next generation sequencing. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed for S. mutans, after which the subjects were divided into three groups: low, moderate, and high levels of colony forming units (CFU). The frequency of DRB1 alleles and genotypes was compared between the three groups. In addition, colonization levels, including the extremely high and low S. mutans CFU in individuals with alleles DRB1*0401, *0404, and *0301 were compared to the rest of the material. RESULTS: Individuals with DRB1*0401 were significantly associated with the extremely high CFU levels, since CFU levels > 100 were observed in 4.3% of individuals with DRB1*0401, compared to none among those without the allele (p = 0.009, Fisher's exact test). No statistical association was noted between the low, moderate, and high S. mutans groups and specific alleles or genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a potential relation between HLA class II alleles and the colonization of S. mutans. Specifically, carrying the DRB1*0401 allele may be a predisposing factor for higher levels of colonization
Challenges in religious education in a multicultural classroom
No full textReligious education in multicultural classrooms can be challenging for teachers. This study explores the difficulties teachers face and the strategies they use when teaching religion in classrooms with students from different cultural and religious backgrounds. The purpose is to give a better understanding of the challenges teachers face in religious education and to highlight the strategies they use to handle them. A qualitative method was used, and data were collected through interviews with six teachers. The study holds a sociocultural perspective, wich focuses on the role of social interaction and cultural context in learning. The aim is to give teachers a better understanding of how they can deal with these challenges. Therefore, scaffolding is used in this study as a possible tool to help manage these challenges. The results show that teachers face challenges similar to those found in previous research, such as students with different religious backgrounds, controversial topics and emotional reactions. The results show that teachers use strategies like open discussions, connecting the content to students experiences and creating a safe learning environment. The study shows that the sociocultural perspective and scaffolding are an important tool for teaching religion in multicultural classrooms to manage these challenges.
Hur AI kan användas för att lösa budgetöverskridanden inom fastighetsförvaltning : -En fallstudie på ett fastighetsbolag i södra Sverige
No full textBudget overruns and weak financial control remain recurring challenges in property management. Although digital tools and AI technology offer new possibilities for improved planning, follow-up, and decision-making, previous research shows that implementation within the sector is still limited. This study aims to explore how property managers work with cost control in practice, and to what extent digital tools, particularly AI, are used or perceived as feasible in different phases of the budgeting process. The study is based on a qualitative case study of a property management company in southern Sweden, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with key personnel in the organization. In addition, several meetings were held with individuals in both managerial and operational roles, which were documented through meeting notes and used as complementary empirical material. The study is further supplemented by a quantitative survey targeting operational property managers. The empirical material is analyzed thematically using the TOE framework (Technology–Organization–Environment) and structured according to the four phases of the budgeting process: analysis, budget formulation, implementation, and follow-up. The results show that AI is generally seen as a potentially valuable tool, but actual use remains limited, especially in the implementation and follow-up phases. Barriers include lack of system integration, organizational resource constraints, and uncertainty regarding external requirements such as data security. The study highlights a clear gap between technological potential and actual use in financial control within property management
Climate Impact of Elevator Systems : A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Modernization and New Installation
No full textByggsektorn står för en betydande andel av världens klimatpåverkan, vilket skapat ett växande behov av cirkulära och resurseffektiva lösningar. Hissar är en integrerad del av den urbana infrastrukturen, och branschen står ofta inför valet att modernisera befintliga system eller installera nya. Trots det har hissystemens miljöpåverkan hittills fått begränsad uppmärksamhet i forskningen. Syftet med denna studie är därför att jämföra klimatpåverkan, uttryckt i kg CO₂-ekvivalenter, mellan modernisering och nyinstallation av hissar sett ur ett livscykelperspektiv. Utöver denna jämförelse syftar studien till att identifiera begränsningar och möjligheter för en mer hållbar hissbransch, genom att undersöka tillgänglighet och transparens av information, samt graden av transparens i försörjningskedjan. Vidare undersöks effekterna av alternativa scenarier för material- och transportval. Metodologin omfattar en kvantitativ livscykelanalys av material, energi och transporter, kompletterad med semistrukturerade intervjuer med aktörer inom hissbranschen. Resultatet visar att modernisering generellt leder till avsevärt lägre kg CO₂-ekvivalenter, genom återanvändning av komponenter. Enligt studiens livscykelanalys kan klimatpåverkan reduceras med cirka 70 procent jämfört med en nyinstallation. Även alternativa scenarier med användning av återvunnet stål och fossilfria transporter analyseras, vilket visar på en ytterligare reduktionspotential upp till 58 procent för nyinstallation och 46 procent för modernisering. Samtidigt identifieras begränsad transparens i försörjningskedjan och brist på standardisering som centrala hinder för tillförlitliga jämförelser och datakvalitet. Studien pekar även på risken för greenwashing, där hållbarhetsargument används trots att ekonomiska incitament dominerar beslutsfattandet. Sammantaget visar studien att modernisering är en användbar strategi för att minska hissars klimatavtryck men att ytterligare åtgärder krävs för att göra branschen hållbar.The construction sector accounts for a significant share of global climate impact, creating an increasing need for circular and resource-efficient solutions. Elevators are an integral part of urban infrastructure, and the industry frequently faces the choice between modernizing existing systems or installing new ones. Despite this, the environmental impact of elevator systems has received limited attention in research. The purpose of this study is to compare the climate impact, expressed in kg CO₂ equivalents, between modernization and new installation of elevators from a life cycle perspective. In addition to this comparison, the study aims to identify challenges and opportunities for a more sustainable elevator industry by examining the availability and transparency of information, as well as the degree of supply chain transparency. Furthermore, the effects of alternative scenarios related to material and transport choices are explored. The methodology includes a quantitative life cycle assessment of materials, energy use, and transportation, complemented by semi-structured interviews with industry professionals. The results show that modernization generally leads to significantly lower kg CO₂ equivalents through the reuse of components. According to the life cycle assessment, climate impact can be reduced by approximately 70 percent compared to a new installation. Alternative scenarios involving the use of recycled steel and fossil-free transportation were also analyzed, showing additional reduction potentials of up to 58 percent for new installations and 46 percent for modernizations. At the same time, limited transparency in supply chains and a lack of standardization are identified as key obstacles to reliable comparisons and data quality. The study also highlights the risk of greenwashing, where sustainability arguments are used despite economic incentives being the primary drivers of decision-making. Overall, the findings indicate that modernization is a viable strategy to reduce the climate footprint of elevators, but further efforts are needed to make the industry truly sustainable
Framing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Comparative Corpus-Assisted Discourse Analysis of The New York Times in June 2014 and October 2023
No full textThis thesis analyses how The New York Times framed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in twoescalation months—June 2014 and October 2023—by examining a corpus of 807 articleswith AntConc and interpreting the results through Critical Discourse Analysis. In bothperiods Israelis are consistently lexicalized via state power (soldiers, military, forces),whereas Palestinians are cast through detention and factional frames (prisoners, jails,authority, factions), perpetuating an in-group/out-group asymmetry. By 2023 the Israelilexicon shifts toward aerial warfare and U.S. partnership (airstrike, warplanes, counterparts),while Palestinian discourse, still marked by incarceration, foregrounds humanitarian need andtransnational activism (aid, refugees, flags, pro-). Although negative acts by each side arereported, the underlying hierarchy of legitimacy endures. The study shows how stablekeywords can cloak evolving ideological work and demonstrates the value of pairing corpuslinguistics with CDA for longitudinal media research.
A Reversible and Dynamic Surface Functionalization for Fluidity Controlled Multivalent Recognition of Lectins and Bacteria
No full textThe paper reports the design of multivalent bacterial receptors based on reversible self-assembled monolayers (rSAMs) on gold and glass substrates, mimicking the ligand display on host cells and extracellular matrices. The layers consist of α-(4-amidinophenoxy)alkanes decorated at the ω-position with β-galactose (Gal) or sialic acid (SA). The former acts as a mobile ligand binding to the complementary adhesin, LecA, a key virulence factor of the multi-drug-resistant bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Binary amphiphile mixtures containing either of these ligands, spontaneously self-assemble on carboxylic acid terminated SAMs on gold or glass surfaces to form rSAMs that are easily tunable with respect to the ligand ratio. It is shown that this results in the ability to construct multi-reusable surfaces featuring strong affinity for the bacterial adhesin and recognitive surfaces for bacteria, the latter demonstrated by incubating a culture of PA or the oral commensal species Streptococcus gordonii (SG) on either Gal or SA functionalized rSAMs. In contrast to the mobile ligand display, surfaces featuring covalently attached "static" ligands exhibited low LecA affinity. This approach to wet chemical surface functionalization is unique in imparting both rapid restorability and adaptability, the latter compatible with heteromultivalent receptor designs for boosting lectin and bacteria affinity and specificity
Scoring Green Goals : The European Unions Strategic Play for Environmental Sustainability Leadership
No full textThis research explores the European Unions (EU) diffusion of environmental sustainability norms to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), a process that reinforces the EUs aspiration to be a global leader in sustainability. Theoretically, this research adopts a constructivist institutionalist lens, complemented by Kingdons policy window, Manners five factors of norm diffusion, and the policy coherence framework developed by Nilsson et al,. Methodologically, it employs a qualitative content analysis of key EU and UEFA policy documents and 12 semi-structured interviews. The research makes two contributions at the intersection of international relations, sustainability, and sport governance.First, it becomes evident that the EU effectively engages with sport as a normative instrument to support its goal of becoming a global leader in sustainability. UEFA, and specifically the UEFA EURO 2024 represent the implementation level of the identified policy window. The findings suggest a high level of policy coherence between the EU and UEFA, implying sport functions as a powerful vehicle for norm diffusion, policy alignment, and cross-sectoral influence. Second, the research it introduces an integrated policy analysis framework of policy window, norm diffusion, and policy coherence, which addresses the methodological synthesis of policy analysis and constructivist institutionalism