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Explorando posibilidades urbanas a través de la Percepción Infantil : una herramienta práctica para la planificación urbana centrada en los niños basada en el modelo de Dimensiones Sensoriales Percibidas
Full text linkChildren's perceived sensory qualities of green spaces can be particularly influential. UNESCO, guided by Kevin Lynch, has emphasised the importance of working with interdisciplinary groups to address the needs of children and adolescents, primarily in vulnerable urban areas. The Child-friendly Cities initiative created by UNICEF addresses the importance of children’s rights, and this study sheds light on those facts, mainly when considering that over half of the global population is estimated to be living in urban areas and the increase in mental health issues among children.
This thesis explored the applicability of a practical and evidence-based framework for improving children’s health and well-being in urban natural settings. It integrated theory-based models such as the Perceived Sensory Dimensions Model (PSDs) and established evidence linking children’s development and nature to create an evidence-based child-centred model. Additionally, the study underscored the significance of utilising tools in planning and engaging in collaborative placemaking to address the need for knowledge to enhance children’s well-being in urban green environments
When Nature is Prohibited : an Analysis of the Tree of heaven and Conservation Efforts in Scania-Sweden
Full text linkPå 1800-talet importerades gudaträdet till Sverige och blev väldigt populärt, och användes ända fram tills dess det blev förbjudet 2019 i Europa. I takt med klimatförändringar och ett varmare klimat börjar gudaträdet uppvisa egenskaper som tidigare inte observerats i Europa.
Gudaträdet växer snabbare, rötterna blir så kraftiga att dom förstör infrastruktur, sprider sig och konkurrerar ut inhemska växter, samt avger ett gift som dödar växterna runtomkring. Gudaträdet sprider sig snabbt med rotskott och frön. Det kostar miljontals kronor att bekämpa gudaträdet.
2019 kom EU-lagen om att inga gudaträd ska finnas och sedan dess jobbar Sverige fortfarande på att ta bort träd som upptäcks. Genom att Sverige har agerat snabbt i förebyggande syfte finns förhoppningar om att detta ska ge goda resultat och bidra till att skydda inhemska växter samt biologiskt mångfald.
Denna studie belyser hur SLU Artdatabank samt dess hemsidor Artportalen och Artfakta samverkar med privatpersoner såväl som myndigheter. Genom denna samverkan går det att samla in information och analysera landets arter också naturtyper. Det görs för att kartlägga samt vidta åtgärder för såväl invasiva som icke invasiva arter.
Interjuver har genomförts med två kommuner i Skåne samt Länsstyrelsen Skåne för att ta reda på hur ansvaret är över gudaträdet och hur kommunikationen mellan kommun och Artportal fungerar.
Resultatet visar att kommuner i Skåne får en notis från Artportalen via e-mail när gudaträd rapporteras men att det inte sker någon återrapportering tillbaka till vare sig Artportalen eller Artfakta när dessa är borttagna, vilket då visar ett felaktigt antal gudaträd i Artportalen samt Artfakta.In the 19th century, the tree of heaven was imported to Sweden and became very popular, remaining in use until it was banned in Europe in 2019. With climate change and a warming climate, the tree of heaven has begun exhibiting traits not previously observed in Europe.
The tree grows faster, develops roots strong enough to damage infrastructure, spreads aggressively, outcompetes native plants, and releases toxins that kill surrounding vegetation. It propagates quickly through root sprouts and seeds, costing millions of kronor to control.
In 2019, the EU introduced legislation mandating the eradication of all tree of heaven specimens. Since then, Sweden has been working to remove identified trees. Due to Sweden’s proactive measures, there is hope that this effort will yield positive results, protecting native plants and biodiversity.
This study highlights how the Swedish Species Information Centre (SLU Artdatabanken) and its platforms Artportalen and Artfakta collaborate with private individuals and government authorities. Through this collaboration, information is collected and analyzed about the country’s species and habitats to map and implement measures for both invasive and non-invasive species.
Interviews were conducted with two municipalities in Skåne and the County Administrative Board of Skåne to investigate responsibility for the tree of heaven and the communication between municipalities and Artportalen.
The results show that municipalities in Skåne receive email notifications from Artportalen when tree of heaven is reported. However, no feedback is sent back to Artportalen or Artfakta once the trees are removed, resulting in inaccurate data on the number of tree of heaven specimens in both Artportalen and Artfakta.
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The significance of forest grazing and shielings in Northern Jämtland : A comparative interview study
Full text linkShielings and pasture (forest) grazing have been utilized for a long time in various parts of Sweden. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of shielings was a vital and regulated part of the agricultural system, especially in northern Sweden. Life on these farms gave rise to a unique culture bases on the practical needs that had to be met.
The purpose of this study is to analyze forest grazing and shielings in northern Jämtland (county) during the mid-20th century and the 2020s. The study focuses on four themes; labor, animal husbandry, incentives for shielings and the forest. The material of the study was collected through qualitative interviews with individuals who have conducted or have experience with shielings in the mid 20th century and/or in the 2020s.
The results show that shieling management differed between the two periods. Generally, it was primarily the women in the family who managed the shieling and the work there during the mid-20th century. This distribution has changed in the 2020s. Throughout both periods, fjällkor (mountain cattle) were consistently the main livestock found among the informants. Furthermore, the results indicate that the workload involved with running the shielings is significant, and that routines are important in both periods. The incentives for bringing livestock to the shielings were fundamentally similar in both periods but manifested differently. Additionally, the results reveal that grazing around the shieling-ground has led to a special vegetation composition in the forest that depends on continuous grazing.
In the discussion, the results from the different periods are compared and contrasted with other studies. The division of labor on shielings has been predominantly female since at least the last century. In Europe, similar transhumance systems have instead been male dominated. The characteristic calls (herding calls) that arose from working on shielings were present in both the mid-20th century and the 2020s. Finally, the choice of methods and the execution of information gathering are reviewed. The qualitative interviews provided comprehensive material and answers to the research questions. A larger sample group would have been preferable, but the results are considered representative of the study area
Naturvårdsavtal och biotopskydd i Jämtlands län : Skötselåtgärder och kalkbarrskogar
Full text linkSweden’s intact forest ecosystems and biodiversity are today threatened by intensive forestry and fragmentation of the landscape. The forest landscape requires more protected areas for Sweden to reach ratified international and national targets. An important tool in reaching the targets is to protect more forests and maintain existing high conservation value areas. Two tools for protecting forests are biotope protection areas and nature conservation agreements, which includes smaller forest areas, usually 3-6 hectares, on privately owned forestland, both with economic compensation, the former imperative and the latter voluntary. These small, protected areas complements larger areas such as nature reserves and therefore contributes to a higher representativeness. The study area Jämtland is a county rich in forests and especially valuable habitats such as coniferous calcareous forests. In this study we analyzed how biotope protection areas and nature conservation agreements is distributed within the county and what kind of nature conservation practices are used. A particular focus is placed on the coniferous calcareous forests. The results show that most protected areas are left for free development and that most of the managed areas has a goal of reducing spruce and increase other tree species. The coniferous calcareous forests differed in management action due to a larger proportion of forest pasture. There is a large interest among forest owners for nature conservation agreements and biotope protection areas, but few resources at the Forest Agency limits the number of protected areas and type of nature conservation practices. More of, or a redistribution of existing funds, is crucial to be able to respond to forest owners’ ambitions and to reach ratified targets. We suggest that more knowledge of the effects of the management methods on biological diversity and functional ecosystems are needed and how they are best implemented to plan and prioritize actions more easily. Furthermore, we believe it should be investigated if it is more effective to protect more forest or manage existing protected areas when resources are scarce
Investigating the effects of different levels of forest management on carabid beetle richness, abundance and community composition in Fennoscandia
Full text linkCarabid beetles are one of the most diverse types of insects and reside in most terrestrial habitats on earth. However, the forests they live in have been heavily altered, with different forest management types emerging in an attempt to extract biomass from the forest but still maintain biodiversity.
I analyzed a data set of carabids caught in pitfall traps from three different forest management types. These were forests managed by clearcutting, retention forestry and those set aside for biodiversity. The data set used was from 240 forest plots split equally between the three forest management types and between the two countries surveyed, Finland and Sweden.
The objective of the report was to analyze if richness, abundance and community composition differed among three forest management types (old clearcuts. retention patches in old clearcuts and set-asides), and if the differences found were uniform between the two countries. The report also compared to what extent species were unique and to what degree there was overlap between the forest management types and countries. With the most common species identified for each of the forest management types and countries. The study also had as an objective to describe the extent to which beetle community composition in retention patches were influenced by trap location and therefore edge effects, these being traps placed either in the middle or at the edge of the retention patches. The collected data was then analyzed and visualized by using box plots, ANOVAs with Tukey’s tests, t-tests and Venn diagrams. I showed that there were significant differences between the forest management types, with retention plots in Finland having the highest carabid beetle richness but the lowest abundance. In the set-asides in Finland, species richness was the lowest. Abundance was highest in Swedish set-asides than in any of the other forest management types. Trap location in retention patches was shown to be insignificant. The community composition of beetles overlapped among the forest management types, 41% of all species were found in all forest management types for both countries and 50% of all species were found in both countries. Only 1% of species were found in both set-asides and old clearcuts, while 10% of species were found in both old clearcuts and retention patches. These overlaps conclude that the different forest management types influence beetle communities in terms of richness and abundance and that the forest management types can be seen as a form of degradation gradient where habitats more similar share a higher percentage of species
Unraveling the Second-Hand Clothing Industry : a Case Study of H&M’s Campaign Let’s Close the Loop
Full text linkThis master's thesis investigates the dynamics of the Second-Hand Clothing (SHC) trade between the Global North (GN) and Global South (GS), focusing on the rewear, reuse, and recycling initiatives exemplified by a case study of H&M's Let’s Close the Loop campaign. The study delves into the environmental- and social impacts of SHC importation in the GS, particularly exploring the sustainability of SHC in Ghana and Kenya, major importers in the SHC trade. Through analysis of sustainability reports and interviews, the research aims to uncover how H&M addresses and mitigates associated risks with collected used clothing. Additionally, this study incorporates perspectives from actors involved with SHC in Ghana and Kenya to shed light on local responses to SHC disposal. The findings reveal contradictions in H&M's claims of circularity and sustainability, upholding certain narratives around SHC through the campaign. The implications for development and natural resource management are significant as the findings also highlight some social- and environmental consequences. Including, financial instability for sellers with many facing debt due to declining quality and unpredictable sales. Additionally, SHC imports have undermined local textile industries and culture, while contributing to significant environmental harm through textile waste, pollution, and overburdened landfills. The disposal of unsellable clothing from the Global North not only disrupts local economies but also exacerbates ecological degradation, creating a worsening crisis. Interview findings and reports also exposes broader systematic maintenance of waste colonialism through the SHC trade. These insights underscore the need for critical examination of H&M's sustainability initiatives and broader implications within the SHC industry
Gameful Participation : the use of gamification in citizen participation within the public space planning process
Full text linkThe objective of this essay has been to shine a light on processes where games have been used to facilitate citizen engagement in the planning process. Traditional participatory processes, such as public meetings, often suffer from not being able to foster motivation within a diverse group of citizens. Electronic participation, defined as the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) within citizen participation, has been seen as a method to prevent some of the hurdles present in conventional citizen participation. However, e-participation faces its own number of challenges, mainly that it is not perceived as being worth the time of participating. Gamification, the use of games and game elements in non game contexts, has seen application in e-participatory contexts in recent years, as a method to engage more citizens. The methods applied in this research, to study the intersection of games and e-participation, are literature study and qualitative interviews. The interviews were conducted with three professionals who have facilitated four cases where gamification was applied to citizen participation; Skaparstaden, B3-Design Your Marketplace, Blockholm, and Byggkrossen. Through the literature study I identified seven categories which I deemed relevant for professionals to consider when applying gamification to a citizen participation context; creator, core service, purpose of gamification, target audience, motivational affordances, degree of participation, and inclusivity. With these seven categories I constructed a matrix which was then used as a model to discuss the four cases of gamified e-participation. Through the discussion I discovered that several aspects from the cases align with that of the literature, such as striving to involve a younger demographic. There were also interesting aspects that deviated from the literature, such as how gamification struggles to include adults, who may view these processes as being “not serious”. The thesis concludes by stating that while gamification possesses the potential to facilitate greater engagement it is highly case dependent. The specific situation, site, and target audience should determine how the gamified process is designed. There are also challenges to these processes, the most pronounced one being the difficulty of balancing the playful game elements and the serious aspects of citizen participation. Ultimately, gamification is a good tool within citizen participation, but which benefits from being used in conjunction with in-person participatory processes, instead of as a standalone service
Effekter av marina värmeböljor på abborre (Perca fluviatilis)
Full text linkMarine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing globally in both frequency and intensity. Despite the potential effects on ecological and economic values, little is known about MHW's effect on fish body growth. This is especially the case for shallow coastal areas, including those in the Baltic Sea. Body growth in fish is known to be affected by gradually increasing temperature and consistently higher temperatures, with small and young individuals often growing faster but reaching a smaller asymptotic size in warmer waters. In this study, I investigated if MHWs affects (i) fish body growth, and (ii) if such effects vary with size and age, and (iii) if size at catch was also affected similarly. This was done using two measurements of MHWs: years with one or more MHW occurring and the yearly total cumulative intensity of MHWs. Using these two measurements I also investigated if MHWs had increased or decreased since the year 2000 in my coastal study sites. I used monitoring data, which included temperature and catch data of European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) from sites along the shallow waters of the Swedish east coast. My results indicated that MHWs occurred in all sites. However, I found no increase or decrease in any of my MHW measurements since the 2000s. With some differences depending on the specific measure of MHWs used, MHWs had an overall positive effect on body growth that varied with age and size. Similarly, MHWs had a positive effect on size at catch. Interestingly, during years with one or more MHW the positive effect on growth decreased with age and size. This is in line with how many fish, including perch, respond to gradually warming temperatures. Whether the effects of MHWs will continue to be positive for perch body growth in the future remains unknown as the frequency and intensity of MHWs are expected to increase. The findings in this study highlight the presence of MHWs in shallow coastal waters and its potential to body growth of Baltic Sea fish
The treatment efficacy of praziquantel against Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses : a national study in Sweden
Full text linkHästens bandmask, Anoplocephala perfoliata, är en vanlig parasit som förekommer hos hästar
världen över. I Sverige har förekomsten hos vuxna hästar rapporterats till så mycket som 65 %. En
parasitbörda på mer än 20 maskar har visat sig kunna orsaka allvarliga mag-tarmlidanden så som
invagination och ruptur. Det finns i dagsläget flera diagnostiska metoder för att detektera bandmask i såväl träck och serum som saliv. Samtliga metoder har sina för- och nackdelar men gemensamt är att de generellt har en relativt låg sensitivitet. Detta gör diagnostiken till en utmaning och
att ingen gold standard finns. Det har nyligen rapporterats om en sviktande effekt av både prazikvantel och pyrantel mot hästens bandmask i USA mot de enda två anthelmintika som finns att
tillgå. Denna studie syftade till att undersöka effekten av avmaskning med prazikvantel mot
hästens bandmask i Sverige. Som en del av detta jämfördes även de två diagnostiska metoderna
modifierad kvalitativ flotation och salivbaserad-ELISA.
I studien deltog 87 hästar från 24 olika gårdar i södra Sverige. Efter diagnos på SVA behandlades 45 bandmaskpositiva hästar oralt med kombinationspreparat innehållande ivermektin +
prazikvantel. Fjorton dagar efter behandling togs uppföljande träckprov som analyserades med
modifierad kvalitativ flotation. Salivprov (EquiSal Tapeworm Test) för detektion av antikroppar
togs samtidigt som det uppföljande träckprovet på de bandmaskpositiva hästarna samt deras
bandmasknegativa hagkompisar. Salivproven skickades till Austin Biologics Ltd, Storbritannien
där de analyserades med en specifik ELISA.
Samtliga av de uppföljande träckproverna var negativa för bandmask vid analys med
modifierad kvalitativ flotation, varför det inte gav misstanke om resistensutveckling. Det
observerades en stor differens i klassificering av resultaten: 82 % av hästarna av klassificerades
som positiva genom den salivbaserade-ELISA:n jämfört med 52 % enligt modifierad kvalitativ
flotation från initialt träckprov. Överenstämmelsen mellan resultatet från de två metoderna
beräknandes med Cohens kappa och det visade på en relativt dålig överensstämmelse. Detta
indikerar att det vore värdefullt med utvecklande av känsliga och standardiserade diagnostiska
metoder för hästens bandmask, detta för att kunna kartlägga infektion, snabbare upptäcka
eventuell resistensutveckling samt kunna jämföra resultat från olika studier.The horse tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata, is a common parasite that occurs worldwide. The
prevalence in Sweden has been reported to as much as 65% in adult horses. A burden of 20 worms
or more has been associated with severe gastrointestinal disease. There are currently several diagnostic methods for detecting tapeworms using feces, serum or saliva. All methods have advantages
and disadvantages, but what they have in common is that they generally have relatively low
sensitivity. This makes the diagnostics of the tapeworm infection challenging, and no method is
considered to be gold standard. Recently, treatment failure of the two only available anthelmintics
for treating tapeworms in horses, has been observed in the USA. This study aimed to investigate
the treatment efficacy of praziquantel against Anoplocephala perfoliata in Sweden. As a part of
this, the two diagnostic methods, modified qualitative flotation and saliva-based ELISA are also
compared.
Eighty-seven horses from 24 different farms located in the south of Sweden participated in this
study. Forty-five tapeworm-positive horses were treated orally with a combination drug with
ivermectin+praziquantel. Post treatment fecal samples were collected on day 14 post deworming
and were analyzed with a modified qualitive flotation. A saliva sample (EquiSal Tapeworm Test)
for detection of antibodies was collected simultaneously as the post treatment fecal samples from
the tapeworm-positive horses and from tapeworm negative-horses that shared a field with the
positive horses. The saliva samples were sent to Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, UK, where they were
analyzed with a specific ELISA.
All the post-treatment fecal samples were negative for tapeworm when analyzed with modified
qualitive flotation. Therefore, there was no suspicion of anthelmintic resistance. There was a great
difference between the two methods regarding the classification of tapeworm-positive and
negative horses: 82% of the samples were classified as positive by the saliva-based ELISA and
52% by the modified qualitative flotation. The agreement between the methods modified
qualitative flotation and saliva based ELISA was calculated using Cohen’s kappa and indicated a
poor agreement. This indicated that further research should focus on developing the diagnostics, to
be able to identify infection and detect early signs of resistance
Malignant or benign? : the use of HT Vista as a diagnostic tool for patients with mammary gland tumors
Full text linkJuvertumörer är en av de vanligaste tumörsjukdomarna hos tikar, där ungefär 50 % är maligna och
50 % benigna. Idag saknas pålitliga och robusta diagnostiska metoder för att skilja mellan dessa
preoperativt, vilket innebär att kirurgiska ingrepp ofta utförs med större marginaler än nödvändigt
för att ta höjd för eventuell malignitet. HT Vista är ett AI-baserat, icke-invasivt diagnostiskt
skanning-verktyg som registrerar skillnader i temperatur och avsvalningshastighet i normal och
tumöromvandlad vävnad. Systemet har tidigare visat lovande resultat för att diagnostisera kutana
och subkutana tumörer hos hundar. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka HT Vistas
eventuella potential som ett diagnostiskt hjälpmedel för juvertumörer hos hundar.
Studien inkluderade tio tikar med totalt 17 juvertumörer som skannades med HT Vista före
kirurgisk extirpation. Varje tumör graderades med tekniken och fick ett HDI-värde mellan ett och
tio. Ett HDI-värde över fem klassades som sannolikt benign medan värde på mindre än eller lika
med fem klassificerades som en malign tumör. Därefter analyserades samtliga tumörer histopatologiskt för att bedöma dess eventuella malignitet. HT Vistas diagnos jämfördes därefter med PAD
för att utvärdera systemets sensitivitet, specificitet, positiva prediktiva värde och negativa
prediktiva värde.
Resultaten visade att HT Vista uppnådde 100 % sensitivitet och ett motsvarande negativt
prediktivt värde på 100 %. Detta innebär att samtliga maligna tumörer identifierades korrekt och
att alla sant benigna tumörer enligt PAD korrekt identifierades som benigna av HT Vista.
Specificiteten och det positiva prediktiva värden var dock båda relativt låga, 25 % respektive
35,7 %, vilket resulterade i en hög andel falskt positiva resultat där tre av fyra benigna tumörer
klassificerades som falskt maligna. Detta indikerar att HT Vista kan identifiera både maligna och
benigna juvertumörer, men att systemet samtidigt har svårt att med säkerhet klassificera benigna
tumörer som sant benigna. Dock diagnosticerades ingen malign tumör enligt PAD som benign vid
HT Vista-skanning.
Studien visade att HT Vista har potential att i framtiden kunna användas som ett icke-invasivt
verktyg för preoperativt diagnostik av juvertumörer som komplement till annan redan befintlig
diagnostik. Framtida studier bör inkludera ett större urval och fokusera på optimering av
algoritmen för att förbättra specificiteten vid diagnostik av just juvertumörer.Mammary gland tumors are the most common tumor diseases in female dogs, with approximately
50% of tumors being malignant and 50 % benign. Currently there are no available techniques for
diagnosing these tumors before surgery as either malignant or benign. Because of this, the surgical
intervention is often preformed with larger margins to account for possible malignancy. HT Vista
is a promising scanning tool that is AI-based and completely non-invasive. It’s in use today for
diagnosing cutaneous and subcutaneous neoplasia in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate
if HT Vista has potential to distinguish between malignant and benign mammary gland tumors in
dogs.
The study included ten female dogs and a total of 17 individual mammary gland tumors. They
were all scanned with the HT Vista-system preoperatively and each tumor was given an HDI-score
between one and ten. An HDI score greater than five was considered as likely benign and an HDIscore of less than or equal to five was considered as malignant. The HDI-scores were thereafter
compared to the histopathological diagnose. Lastly, the systems sensitivity, specificity, positive
predictive value and negative predictive value was evaluated.
The results indicated that the HT Vista achieved a 100% sensitivity and a negative predictive value
of 100%. That means that the system correctly identified all the malignant tumors as true
malignant, and all benign tumors were given a benign diagnose by the HT Vista. However, the
specificity was low (25%) as well as the positive predictive value (35.7%). This results in a high
occurrence of false positives, which means that approximately 75% of malignant diagnoses by the
HT Vista are truly benign. These findings suggests that the system can distinguish between
malignant and benign tumors, but that it struggles with separating benign tumors from malignant
ones, which results in a low specificity overall. No truly malignant tumors were misdiagnosed as
benign by the HT Vista system.
The study suggests that the HT Vista-system has potential as a non-invasive tool for preoperative
diagnosis of mammary gland tumors in dogs. Future research should include larger sample sizes
and focus on enhancing the accuracy of the benign tumor diagnosis