14129 research outputs found
Sort by
Insights from the 2022-2023 Flu Season
No full textCOVID-19 has caused more than 7 million deaths and 775 million positive cases, ranging from asymptomatic to deadly. The causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, has a positive single-stranded RNA genome. The spike protein, expressed on the surface, binds to host cells. Mutations, especially in the S gene, defined viral fitness and caused the emergence and worldwide spread of variants. Variants of concern (VOC) included Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and most recently Omicron. Co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 with influenza viruses were detected and led to increased infectivity and SARS-CoV-2 viral load. This study’s aim was to track the variants circulating in Lebanon over the 2022-2023 flu season to assess the trajectory of the pandemic. A total of 222 RNA samples were collected, reverse transcribed, amplified, and sequenced using the Nanopore MinION sequencing platform. Genomes were generated using the artic nCoV-2019 bioinformatics protocol. We detected 53 Omicron subvariants, with XBB.1.5 (17.59%), XBB.1.42 (10.05%), and XBB.1.42.1 (9.05%), being the most common. Apart from the most frequently detected clades, which were 22F (22.97%), 23A (22.07%), and 23D (17.57%), the prevalence of subvariants and clades varied over time. There was a notable emergence and dominance of XBB subvariants starting in February 2023. A27S (99.1%), D614G and D796Y (96.85%) were the top three most detected S gene mutations, while S135R and P3395H in ORF1a, and P314L in ORF1b, were seen in all sequenced genomes. XAY.1, a Delta-Omicron recombinant, had mutations not typically detected in other subvariants. Phylogenetic analysis was done for the subvariants that had very low worldwide prevalence including BN.4, XAY.1 and XCC, and for XBB.1.42.1, which formed a high proportion of the sequenced genomes in this study despite low worldwide prevalence. The phylogenetic analysis revealed travel transmission of XAY.1 and XCC, and local introductions of mutations upon circulation. This study is significant for its role in detecting and analyzing the variants and mutations that have influenced the course of the pandemic. Consistent sequencing and surveillance are essential for identifying circulating variants and mutations, which in turn facilitate more effective spread prevention, treatment options, and vaccination strategies
Recreational Pole Dancing in Lebanon
No full textRecreational pole dancing, distinct from pole dancing that takes place in gentlemen's strip clubs, is constructed as a fitness activity in gyms and dance studios, an art form, and a type of dancing that is no different than other forms of dancing using a prop. There has been an ongoing feminist debate on the nature of pole dancing; whether it is a sexualizing activity that objectifies women or whether it is an embodying experience that promotes sexual empowerment, autonomy, positive body image, and diversity. Due to its stigmatization and association with sex work, recreational pole dancing may create controversy in Arab countries. The activity may be perceived as "inappropriate" in conservative Arab societies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the nature of pole dancing in Lebanon through a gendered and cultural lens, applying a feminist qualitative methodology, and standpoint theory. Hence, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 pole dance practitioners in Lebanon to explore their lived experiences and investigate how pole dancing have impacted different aspects of their lives. This study indicates that recreational pole dancing is linked to an increased feeling of wellbeing, an expression of alternative femininities and masculinities, confidence, body-esteem, and attachment to an empowering pole community. The latter also act as the main motives for Lebanese polers’ participation in pole. Other findings include pole dancing impacting polers’ work life and relationships, in both positive and negative aspects. Finally, Lebanese polers report facing stigmatization, mainly degrading and sexualizing comments offline and online, losing friendships and compromised marriage prospects. Despite the stigma, polers actively chose to disclose their pole practice publicly and reeducate people’s sensibilities on seeing semi-naked bodies on a pole
Sustainable Business Model Implementation : Case Study of Female Fish Entrepreneurship and Diffusion of Innovation in Linga Linga, Mozambique
No full textThis study aims to evaluate the diffusion process of a solar-powered refrigerator system, by implementing a sustainable business model as an approach of assessing key features to facilitate the process. The aspiration of this study is to develop a business perspective that can be utilized by companies when aiming to diffuse sustainable enhancing innovations in developing countries with the aim of improving entrepreneurship. The conclusion of this study is based on the alignment of a theoretical framework centered on a sustainable business model and the theory for diffusion of innovation, alongside empirical findings obtained during a case study in Linga Linga, Mozambique. Primary data was acquired through active observations and semi-structured interviews of both female fish entrepreneurs and two organizations with ties to Sweden, operating in Linga Linga. Empirical findings reveled limited availability of new products in Linga Linga, obstructing the diffusion of innovations. Businesses struggles to diffuse innovations in developing countries because of insufficient knowledge of culture differences and the basic needs of the end user. Sustainable development is highlighted as crucial when operating in the Western word but stated as challenging to implement to the same extent in the developing world. The fulfillment of basic needs, rather than operating sustainable and the unfamiliarity with sustainable development as a concept, is found as the reason for the challenge of implementing sustainable development for individuals afflicted by poverty. The alignment of the theoretical framework and the empirical findings in the discussion chapter underscores the benefits of implementing a sustainable business model. Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes the importance of extending the model with knowledge as an additional key feature to comprehensively understand the end users and their basic need in the developing world. This study concludes that utilizing a sustainable business model to assess key features is crucial for facilitating diffusion of innovations, with a particular focus on understanding end user´s basic needs. The study emphasizes the significance of circular economy as a key feature in ensuring durable and reliable products and highlights the importance of comprehensive value chain assessments. Empirical finding concluded that providing solar-powered refrigerator system for the female fish entrepreneurs in Linga Linga could potentially expand their business opportunities, ensuring an increased disposable income, and reduce workload
Service Quality in Enterprise Systems Implementation : A case study within Askk AB
No full textSyftet med denna kandidatuppsats i informatik är att undersöka vad som påverkar kundernas uppfattning av servicekvalitet vid införandet av ett affärssystem hos fallföretaget Askk AB. Genom intervjuer med fallföretagets kunder har studien identifierat flera faktorer som bidrar till kundernas upplevelse av servicekvaliteten. Kunderna uppskattade konsulternas proaktiva och engagerade tillvägagångssätt, snabba och effektiva kommunikation, samt deras lösningsorienterade inställning och tillgänglighet. Dessa faktorer bidrog till att skapa en positiv upplevelse av servicekvaliteten, tillsammans med systemets tillförlitlighet och användarvänlighet
"Mycket av diskussionerna försvinner". : Samhällskunskapslärares uppfattning om hur läromedelstypen påverkar undervisningen.
No full textThis study explores the perceptions of civics teachers at the junior high level regarding the use of digital and analog teaching materials in their instruction. The study was conducted using a qualitative research method, where semi-structured interviews with five junior high civics teachers were carried out to investigate their perceptions of the use of digital and analog teaching materials. The selection of participants was targeted, with the intention to reflect a variety of experiences and perspectives within the teaching area in question. The interview guide was designed with support in previous research and theory, with the aim to deeply explore the teachers' experiences, strategies, and perceptions regarding the two types of teaching materials. By analyzing the recorded and transcribed interviews, recurring themes could be identified, which enabled a thematic analysis of the collected data material.The interviewed teachers experience that digital teaching materials offer accessibility, interactivity, and adaptability that benefits students' learning by providing material in various languages and enabling work at their own pace. However, challenges such as distractions and a tendency towards superficial learning also emerge. The use of analog teaching materials, such as printed textbooks, is described to promote deeper learning, focus, and student interaction, which contributes to a more lively and engaged learning environment.The study shows that the choice between types of teaching materials affects the teachers' roles and pedagogical strategies. Digital teaching materials often require more teacher effort to support students' use, which can reduce time for direct instruction. Analog teaching materials encourage more direct communication and discussion between teachers and students. In return, the digital teaching materials are often more content-rich than the analog ones
Sustainable investing in Sweden : A comparative study of risk-adjusted performance in mutual equity funds
No full textSimulation of wireless communication : Visualization of power attenuation in radio signals
No full text5G is the latest standard for mobile networks. The technology enables higher speedsthrough the use of higher frequencies. These higher frequencies mean shorter range forsignals. Consequently, the placement of connection points becomes increasingly crucialto achieve optimal performance. By simulating how connection points should be placedinstead of having a person manually test different placements, both time and money canbe saved. The client already has a simulator in place that supports visualizing whethera receiver is reached by a radio beam or not. The simulator consists of two parts, whereone simulates the behavior of radio beams using ray tracing, and the other displays theresults of the simulation. The goal of this work is to extend the existing simulator withfeatures to simulate and visualize signal attenuation in radio beams. The simulationtakes place in a ray tracing engine that utilizes the OptiX ray tracing API. Unity isused for visualization to graphically depict how the power of radio beams changes. Toachieve this goal, enhancements to the existing simulator were made, and investigationsinto ray tracing, signal attenuation, and electromagnetic properties were conducted. Theresult of the work is an extension of the simulator with the capability to visualize thedecreasing power of radio beams using different colors. Additionally, the user interfacewas expanded with features to make the simulator easier to use
Municipal preparedness for microbiological spread in the drinking water supply : A qualitative study on future outbreak preparedness in Swedish municipalities
No full textDricksvatten utgör en förutsättning för liv, det är därmed viktigt att goda tillgångar till säkert dricksvatten upprätthålls. Människors kontinuerliga behov av rent dricksvatten skapar en sårbarhet för smittspridningar i dricksvattenförsörjningen. Cryptosporidiumutbrotten i Östersund och Skellefteå kommun år 2010–2011 belyste dricksvattenförsörjningens bristande beredskap och behovet av säkerhetsåtgärder. Utmaningarna med att upprätthålla rent dricksvatten förväntas förvärras på grund av klimatförändringar, ökad urbanisering, befolkningstillväxt och förändrade världsförhållanden. Dessa utmaningar kan leda till en högre risk för spridningar av patogener i dricksvattenförsörjningen, vilket potentiellt kan orsaka hälsorisker om beredskapen och medvetenheten är otillräcklig. Syftet med studien är att utforska kommuners riskuppfattningar, riskprioriteringar och beredskap inför framtida utbrott. Studien syftar också till att identifiera skillnader i uppfattningar, prioriteringar och beredskap mellan kommuner som tidigare har, respektive inte har drabbats av ett kritiskt dricksvattenburet smittutbrott. Tre kommuner, Östersund, Piteå och Sandviken har inkluderats i studien. Totalt fem personer intervjuades. Dessa intervjuer har bearbetats och analyserats med hjälp av en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Studiens resultat belyser hur riskuppfattningar formas genom osäkra framtidsförhållanden, riskfaktorer och tidigare händelser. Utbrotten av cryptosporidium i Östersund och Skellefteå 2010–2011 ökade medvetenheten om mikrobiologiska dricksvattenutbrott. Som ett resultat av detta förbättrades kommunernas beredskap genom investeringar, ökad provtagning och förbättrad vattenbehandling. Utbrottet i Östersund ledde till ett förlorat konsumentförtroende, vilket arbetas med att åtgärda. Trots detta anses utbrottet ha lett till en ökad förståelse för detaljer inom framtidens krisberedskap, vilket utgör en osäkerhetsfaktor bland icke drabbade kommuner. Kommunerna säkerställer en säker dricksvattenförsörjning genom lagkrav. De utvecklar och implementerar dokument för beredskapshantering och säkerhetsåtgärder baserat på dessa lagbestämmelser. Det framgår att prioriteringar och ekonomiska begränsningar påverkar beredskapen inför kritiska dricksvattenburna utbrott, vilket påverkar möjligheten till att rusta dricksvattensäkerheten.Drinking water is a prerequisite for life, it is therefore important that good supplies of safe drinking water are maintained. People's continuous need for clean drinking water creates a vulnerability to the spread of infection in the drinking water supply. The cryptosporidium outbreaks in Östersund and Skellefteå in 2010–2011 highlighted the lack of preparedness and the need for safety measures. The challenges of maintaining clean drinking water are expected to worsen due to climate change, increased urbanization, population growth, and changing world conditions. These challenges could lead to a higher risk of pathogen spread in drinking water supplies, potentially causing health risks in case of insufficient preparedness and awareness. The study aims to explore municipalities' perception of risks, prioritization of risks, and preparedness for future outbreaks. The study also seeks to identify differences in perceptions, prioritization and preparedness between municipalities that have and have not experienced a previous critical drinking water outbreak. Three municipalities, Östersund, Piteå, and Sandviken, were included in the study. Five people were interviewed. These interviews were processed and analysed using a qualitative content analysis The study's results highlight how risk perceptions are shaped by uncertain future conditions, risk factors and past events. Specifically, the cryptosporidium outbreaks in Östersund and Skellefteå in 2010-2011 increased awareness of microbiological drinking water outbreaks. As a result, municipal preparedness improved through investments, increased sampling, and improved water treatment. The outbreak in Östersund resulted in a loss of consumer confidence, which is still being addressed. Despite this, the outbreak is considered to have led to an increased understanding of the details of emergency management for the future, which is an uncertainty among unaffected municipalities. Municipalities ensure a safe drinking water supply through legal requirements. They develop and implement preparedness management documents and safety measures based on these legal provisions. It appears that priorities and financial constraints affect preparedness for critical drinking water outbreaks, which affects the ability to equip for drinking water safety.
Indie Game Development : An Interview Study on Game Development and the Free-to-Play Business Model
No full textIn a fast paced and ever evolving industry where video games have become an important partof consumers' everyday life, game development can be tricky. The process of developmentcontains challenges that can either make or break a game. This study aims to shed some lighton the indie game development process, what challenges it has, how an independent video gamedeveloper would approach this process and to give the reader a greater understanding of whatbusiness models are used within the video game industry.To gather data a semi-structured interview was conducted with indie game developers so thatthey could give their perspective on the process of developing games, the challenges andbusiness models within video game industry. The data was then analyzed using the thematicanalysis approach to find themes and relate the results to what literature had to say about thearea.The conclusion of this study show that indie development usually starts with an idea, which isthen created into an early protype for testing purposes as well as to gather feedback whetherthis idea could become a fully-fledged game. The conclusion also shows that one challengewith using the free-to-play business model is the fact that many game companies have startedusing this specific business model, because of this there is more competition amongst gamesutilizing the business model
The role, function, and responsibility of municipalities in the Swedish total defence : A study from a resilience perspective
No full textThis thesis aims to study the role, function, and responsibility of municipalities in the Swedish total defence during periods of heightened preparedness. The method used in this thesis is a qualitative text analysis, and the material consists of public documents from state actors. The research question formulated is as follows: What role, function, and responsibility are municipalities expected to have within the future total defence during periods of heightened preparedness? To answer the research question, resilience has been used as a theoretical framework. The results show that municipalities are expected to take on a proactive role by working with anticipation and identification, as well as by preventing, mitigating, and preparing for crises. Additionally, municipalities are expected to have an adaptive capability and act reactively by implementing measures and restoring society to normalcy. Furthermore, although the concept of resilience is not explicitly mentioned in the analyzed documents, it is evident that municipalities are expected to have a role, function, and responsibility characterized by resilience within the framework of future total defence. By contributing new knowledge and insights in this area, the study aims to fill the knowledge gaps that previous research has not addressed, while also aspiring to provide ideas for further research and development in the field of total defence and municipal resilience