18101 research outputs found
Sort by
Management of acute diarrhea in dogs : a survey study among Swedish dog owners
Get PDFEn vanlig åkomma som kan drabba hundar är diarré. Diarré är även en av de vanligaste anledningarna till att hundar besöker en veterinärklinik. Oftast vet inte hundägarna varför hunden har drabbats av diarré, men en vanlig misstanke är att hunden har ätit något olämpligt. Akut diarré hos hund går ofta över av sig själv, men kan även leda till livshotande tillstånd om hunden exempelvis blir kraftigt dehydrerad.
Råden gällande behandling av akut diarré har under 2000-talet förändrats i takt med att mer forskning gjorts inom ämnet. I detta arbete genomfördes en litteratursökning för att samla in vad den senaste forskningen säger om hur akut diarré hos hund ska hanteras samt vad felaktig hantering kan ge för konsekvenser. Det skickades även ut en enkät till svenska hundägare via tre olika facebookgrupper för att se hur svenska hundägare hanterar akut diarré hos hund, var de har fått informationen från samt vad som får hundägarna att uppsöka veterinär om deras hund drabbats av akut diarré. Resultatet från enkätstudien, som fick 147 slutförda svar, visade att majoriteten av respondenterna kände sig trygga med hur de skulle hantera akut diarré hos sin hund. Majoriteten av respondenterna hanterade akut diarré i enlighet med vad den senaste forskningen säger. I resultatet gick det dock även att utläsa att vissa gamla rön om hur akut diarré hos hund bör hanteras än idag finns kvar trots att det finns studier som påvisar att det ej är fördelaktigt för hundens tillfrisknande.
Litteratursökningen visade att det fanns begränsat med tydliga riktlinjer om hur hundägare bör hantera akut diarré hos hund. Av enkäten gick det att se att majoriteten av respondenterna hade fått sin information om hur akut diarré hos hund bör hanteras genom livserfarenhet med hund. Detta visar på vikten av att djurhälsopersonal fortsätter att utbilda hundägare enligt uppdaterad forskning.A common condition that can affect dogs is diarrhea. Diarrhea is also one of the most common reasons for dogs being brought to a veterinary clinic. In general, the cause of the diarrhea is not known by the dog owner, but a common belief is that the dog has eaten something inappropriate. Acute diarrhea in dogs often resolves spontaneously, but it can also develop into life-threatening conditions if the dog for example becomes severely dehydrated.
Advice regarding treatment of acute diarrhea has changed during the 2000s, as more research has been conducted on the subject. In this project, a literature review was conducted to gather information on what the latest research says about how acute diarrhea in dogs should be managed, as well as what consequences incorrect treatment may have. A survey was also distributed to Swedish dog owners through three different Facebook groups to investigate how Swedish dog owners manage acute diarrhea in dogs, where they have received their information from, and what prompts them to seek veterinary care if their dog develops acute diarrhea. The results from the survey, which received 147 completed responses, showed that the majority of respondents felt confident in managing their dog with acute diarrhea. Furthermore, most respondents reported handling acute diarrhea in accordance with current research-based recommendations. However, the results also revealed that some outdated beliefs about how to manage acute diarrhea in dogs still persist, despite studies showing that these approaches are not beneficial for the dog’s recovery.
The literature review showed that there are limited clear guidelines on how dog owners should handle acute diarrhea in their dogs. In the survey, the majority of respondents answered that they had acquired their knowledge primarily through personal experience with dogs. This highlights the critical role of animal healthcare professionals in continuously educating dog owners according to updated research
Factors for adopting to organic or conventional farming
Get PDFThere are divided opinions about which production system, conventional or organic, is the solution of the future. Conventional farming gives the population cheaper and more amount of food, while organic farming has been proven to promote ecosystem services and good soil health. Regardless, the European Union have a goal of increasing the organic arable land with 25% in each member states till 2030. Sweden has its own goal with 30% organic arable land till year 2030. But today the organic arable land in Sweden is decreasing, and the goal is seen to be harder to reach. This study’s purpose is to explore what external and internal factors affect a farmers decision-making process of choosing to adopt a conventional or organic farming method. The methodology is based on semi-structured interviews with a total of nine farmers, five organic farmers and four conventional farmers. The conceptual framework is based on prominent factors from previous research. Factors that have an influence on a farmers decision-making process. This conceptual framework made a basis for analysing and discussion of the result. In summary, both organic and conventional farmers had the market as a significant influential external factor for adopting their respective production methods. The internal factors influencing conventional farmers were economic values and working conditions in form of less workload. While organic farmers internal factors were environmental values and working conditions in form of less work with chemical inputs. The results indicates that the market must have a potential for the farmer to choose either production method, but internal values differed and were a stronger influence
Postoperative monitoring routines at small animal clinics in Sweden
Get PDFDen postoperativa perioden är en del av den perianestetiska fasen med en hög mortalitetsrisk. Trots detta finns en risk att övervakningen under denna period bortprioriteras. Bristande rutiner under denna fas kan vara bidragande till utvecklandet av postoperativa komplikationer samt en orsak till att komplikationer inte upptäcks. American Society of Anesthesiologists fysiska statusklassificering (ASA-status) III–V är förknippade med en högre risk för anestesirelaterade komplikationer jämfört med patienter klassade som I–II. Syftet med detta kandidatarbete var att undersöka hur postoperativ övervakning av smådjur genomförs i praktiken på svenska smådjurskliniker. Fokus låg på förekomsten av standardiserade rutiner, skillnader i rutiner beroende på ASA-klassificering, dokumentationsmetod samt metoder för monitorering. Arbetet syftade även till att belysa vilka övervakningsparametrar som rekommenderades i litteraturen.
Detta arbete baserades på en litteratursammanställning samt en digital enkätundersökning som riktade sig till personal som utför postoperativ övervakning på smådjurskliniker och djursjukhus i Sverige. Totalt mottogs 112 enkäter varav 111 inkluderades i studiens resultat. Det framkom att majoriteten av respondenterna utför postoperativ övervakning, men att mindre än hälften använder standardiserade rutiner. Resultatet indikerade på att ett bestämt monitoreringsintervall för hela den postoperativa perioden är svårt att fastställa på grund av att en patients behov kan ändras kontinuerligt under den postoperativa fasen. Olika patienter med samma ASA-status kan även ha varierande behov av övervakning. Däremot indikerade en högre ASA klassificering att patienten kan vara i behov av en mer omfattande övervakning. Resultatet visade även att det vanligaste sättet att dokumentera den postoperativa perioden var genom en kort notering i journalen.
Arbetet konkluderade att förbättringar för den postoperativa övervakningen bör utföras för en ökad patientsäkerhet och en tryggare arbetsmiljö. Bristen på litteratur kring den postoperativa perioden visar på att mer forskning behövs inom området för att utförliga riktlinjer ska kunna utformas.The postoperative period is a perioperative phase with a high risk of mortality. Despite this, there is a risk that monitoring during this period is of low priority. Insufficient routines during this phase can contribute to the development of postoperative complications as well as complications going undetected. American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status classification systems (ASA-classification) III-V are associated with an increased risk of anaesthesia related complications among patients compared to patients classified as I-II.
The aim of this bachelor’s thesis was to investigate how postoperative monitoring of small animals is performed in practice at small animal clinics and animal hospitals in Sweden. Focus was on the occurrence of standardised routines, the differences in routines depending on ASA-classification, methods of documentation as well as monitoring. The thesis also aimed to identify the parameters recommended for monitoring in scientific literature.
This thesis was based on a literature compilation and a digital survey aimed towards personnel performing postoperative monitoring at small animal clinics and animal hospitals in Sweden. In total, 112 survey responses were received, of which 111 were included in the study. The majority of participants perform postoperative monitoring, but less than half use standardised routines. The results indicate that a set interval for monitoring for the entirety of the postoperative phase is difficult because the patient's need continuously alters throughout the postoperative phase. Separate patients with the same ASA-classification can also have different monitoring needs. However, a higher ASA-classification indicates a need for more extensive monitoring. The results also indicated that the most common method of documenting the postoperative phase was with a brief note in the patient’s medical record.
The thesis concludes that improvements can be made in postoperative monitoring to increase patient safety and to create a more secure work environment. The lack of literature around postoperative monitoring shows that more research is needed to create comprehensive guidelines
Utvärdering av taxonomiska klassificerare för metagenomik med nanoporesekvensering
Get PDFMetagenomic Next Generation Sequencing is increasingly being adopted for clinical diagnostic
use as a valuable complement to traditional methods of pathogen detection. After major
improvements in accuracy, Oxford Nanopore sequencing represents a viable alternative to
Illumina. With longer read lengths, lower cost and shorter turnaround times, Nanopore can reduce
the time to diagnosis and improve patient outcomes. To realize this potential, sensitive taxonomic
classifiers with support for long-read data are needed. In this study we benchmark the performance
of different taxonomic classifiers on Nanopore-sequenced viral data from both mock and real
clinical samples. Custom databases for the Kraken2, DIAMOND, Metabuli, MetaCache and Sylph
classifiers were built from the same reference sequence data. Classifications were compared to
BLAST alignments as a gold standard and the classifiers were evaluated in terms of sensitivity and
precision.
Metabuli and MetaCache were the most sensitive across datasets and for different viruses, at
the cost of long processing times and high memory requirements respectively. Kraken2 showed
excellent precision but was the least sensitive. DIAMOND performed well on the mock data but
had lower species-level sensitivity on the shorter read length clinical data, likely reflecting the
limited specificity of protein-based classifiers. Sylph was highly computationally efficient and in
combination with Minimap2 performed well for most viruses, but was unable to detect some low-coverage genomes at default thresholds. Given enough memory, MetaCache may be the most
suitable classifier for a diagnostic workflow, possibly in combination with DIAMOND to leverage
the benefits of both DNA- and protein-based classifiers
Promoting Biodiversity at Malmö Airport : strategies for a sustainable airport environment
Get PDFBiologisk mångfald är en central del av hållbar utveckling och spelar en viktig roll i ekosystemens stabilitet och funktion. Flygplatser, som ofta omfattar stora markområden, har potential att bidra till bevarandet av biologisk mångfald genom anpassade förvaltningsstrategier. Denna kandidatuppsats undersöker hur Malmö Airport kan främja biologisk mångfald genom hållbara åtgärder och strategier.
Studien baseras på en kombination av litteraturstudier, platsanalyser och intervjuer med relevanta aktörer. Resultaten visar att åtgärder såsom anpassad vegetation, ekologisk skötsel av grönytor samt bevarande av naturliga livsmiljöer som kan ha positiva effekter på den biologiska mångfalden inom flygplatsområdet. Samtidigt måste dessa insatser balanseras med flygsäkerheten, särskilt vad gäller hantering av fågelkollisioner.
Uppsatsen diskuterar också de utmaningar och möjligheter som finns för att integrera biologisk mångfald i flygplatsens långsiktiga hållbarhetsarbete. Slutsatserna pekar på vikten av ett systematiskt arbetssätt där miljöhänsyn och biodiversitet integreras i flygplatsens drift och planering.
Genom att implementera väl genomtänkta strategier kan Malmö Airport fungera som en förebild för hur flygplatser kan bidra till att stärka den biologiska mångfalden samtidigt som de upprätthåller sin operativa funktion och säkerhet.Biodiversity is a key component of sustainable development and plays an important role in the stability and functioning of ecosystems. Airports, which often cover large areas of land, have the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation through tailored management strategies. This bachelor's thesis explores how Malmö Airport can promote biodiversity through sustainable measures and strategies.
The study is based on a combination of literature reviews, site analyses, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The results show that measures such as adapted vegetation, ecological maintenance of green areas, and the preservation of natural habitats can have positive effects on biodiversity within the airport area. At the same time, these efforts must be balanced with aviation safety, particularly regarding the management of bird strike risks.
The thesis also discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating biodiversity into the airport's long-term sustainability efforts. The conclusions highlight the importance of a systematic approach in which environmental considerations and biodiversity are incorporated into airport operations and planning.
By implementing well-thought-out strategies, Malmö Airport can serve as a model for how airports can contribute to strengthening biodiversity while maintaining their operational function and safet
Light availability affects growth more than browsing from reindeer in Scots pine saplings from Northern Sweden
Get PDFIn Northern Sweden, reindeers (Rangifer tarandus) feed on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) saplings, impacting their growth. In the open areas (clearcuts or sites that have experienced stand replacing fires), pine saplings experience improved light conditions but also higher levels of browsing. The relative importance of these two factors remains poorly quantified. I hypothesized that the growth of pine saplings remains primarily controlled by the light conditions, with the intensity of browsing playing a secondary role. To test this hypothesis, I studied the growth of 350 pine saplings, for which stem growth dynamics were modelled as a function of browsing damages and light conditions. Samples originated from multiple locations in Swedish Lapland, from Jokkmokk and Arjeplog municipalities. From the samples gathered, a statistical analysis was supervised to produce data. The data shows that light dominated over reindeer browsing affecting growth of pine saplings in the study area and may therefore provide a proxy for light conditions. Capitalizing on this finding, I reconstructed the light conditions in the area located in the municipalities of Arjeplog and Jokkmokk. I used a written RStudio script from my supervisor to reconstruct and statistically analyze these results from volume growths correlation to light, browsing and the correlation between both
Electrical stunning of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) : research and guidelines in relation to animal welfare
Get PDFAbstract
The aim of the study was to assess the extent to which the welfare of Atlantic salmon (Salmo
salar) is being protected during electrical stunning at slaughter in Europe. This was done by
reviewing scientific articles alongside legislation and recommendations from the largest salmon
producing countries in Europe, i.e. Norway, the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands. Alongside
these, legislation and recommendations from the European Union (EU) and World Organisation
for Animal Health (WOAH) were included. An evaluation of the scientific basis for these
regulations was conducted to determine the extent to which they are supported by empirical
evidence. The results revealed critical gaps in both legislation and scientific understanding
concerning the use of electrical stunning of Atlantic salmon. Out of the countries examined,
Norway stood out by having more detailed legislation. However, only Norway’s and European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA’s) recommendations referred to scientific studies, indicating that
current regulations also lack scientific support.
In conclusion, further research is needed to better understand the welfare implications of electrical
stunning and to ensure the protection of Atlantic salmon during slaughter. This would also help
address the clear need for more detailed and evidence-based legislation. The current lack of both
regulations and research means that Atlantic salmon may not be adequately protected at the time
of slaughte
Evolution of Foodscapes : a Case Study from Kerala
Get PDFThis study explores the evolution of foodscapes in Kerala through temporal dimensions, analysing how food environments, where food is produced and sold, along with the food culture, have evolved over time. The past and present foodscapes were analysed to suggest possibilities for future foodscapes. The study primarily examines the changes in the production of staple foods such as rice, coconut, and fish, as well as other food crops and marketplaces. The evolution of food culture and its importance in Kerala’s culinary heritage will be discussed considering the changes that have occurred in foodscapes. A mixed-methods approach is employed to conduct the study, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods, which include a literature review, an on-site observational study, and a survey. The data collected was thoroughly analysed to identify the changes that have taken place in foodscapes over time and to discuss the future foodscapes of Kerala. The study yielded several key findings, the most significant being the transition of Kerala’s economy from agrarian to the service sector. Traditional practices and local markets have evolved into modernity and hypermarkets. As time has progressed, farming has declined in urban areas, paving the way for hypermarkets and online food platforms. The study also investigates Kerala’s food culture, which has been continuously evolving for centuries. The rise in hybrid diets and fast foods has adversely affected public health, increasing non-communicable diseases in the state. Based on a survey focusing on the youth and other analyses of past and present foodscapes, a hybrid model is proposed to strengthen the future foodscapes of Kerala. This model suggests that both traditional and modern practices can work harmoniously to build a sustainable food system. Integrating technology into traditional farming, especially in homesteads, increasing urban farming using traditional knowledge, and implementing a hybrid market model where both local markets and hypermarkets support local produce can contribute to a better foodscape in Kerala for the future
The potential of a multi-criteria Decision Support System in the adoption of agroecological practices : a case-study in Southern Sweden
Get PDFOur globalised food system is facing numerous challenges with food demand expected to increase due to a growing population, and crops increasingly threatened by climate change. In this context, Digital Technologies (DT) have been promoted as one of the solutions to increase productivity and enable a better use of resources, while reducing the impacts of agriculture on the environment. However, there is an uneven distribution of these technologies among farmers and types of farming, with DT being primarily designed and adapted to large-scale conventional farming systems. At the same time, farms following agroecological principles have demonstrated high productivity and resilience, suggesting an opportunity to leverage DT in supporting a transition toward these practices. Some tools can support the adoption of more sustainable practices, such as the multi-criteria Decision Support System Soil Navigator, capable of assessing and providing recommendations of farm management practice to improve soil functions such as primary productivity, nutrient cycling, water purification and regulation, climate regulation and biodiversity and habitat provisioning. In the present study, Soil Navigator was applied to a case-study farm located in the South of Sweden in Scania, with the objective of evaluating the relevance and applicability of its management recommendations and determining whether these could support a transition to an agroecological production system, within the farm socio-economic context. A secondary objective of this study was to gather the perceptions of the use of the tool and other DT in general from farmers, policy makers, researcher and farm advisers to identify the limitations, opportunities, barriers and enabling conditions for the broader adoption of DT in agriculture. The findings indicate that Soil Navigator has the potential to provide a comprehensive assessment of the soil’s performance, while suggesting management of practices that can align with the farmer’s socio-economic context and values. Some limitations were identified, including the lack of specificity and adaptation of the recommendations provided to the Swedish context and the initial time investment required for data collection. Improved integration with existing technologies, customisation of the user interface, and recommendations adapted to the Swedish context could enhance the tool’s relevance and level of acceptation. This case study highlights the potential of DT to support agroecological transitions when designed according to the 10 elements of agroecology developed by the FAO. The principle of co-creation and sharing of knowledge proved to be particularly important and can be integrated into the development of solutions by adopting a participatory approach, involving farmers from their concept to their validation and promotion among established or newly created networks. Further research is recommended to assess the scalability of Soil Navigator across different farm types and agroecological transition stages
Structured and pedagogical teaching at riding schools : how riding instructors adapt lessons according to the student group and skill level
Get PDFUppsatsen utgår från det historiska faktum att ridundervisning länge har formats av en militär struktur, men lyfter fram ett pågående skifte mot en mer pedagogiskt och etiskt medveten praktik. Denna förändring drivs av ökade krav på hästvälfärd och därmed på ryttarutbildningens innehåll och utformning. Trots att lärande är ett centralt begrepp inom psykologi och pedagogik, har utvecklingen av pedagogiska metoder inom ridundervisning inte hållit samma takt, vilket skapat ett behov av mer forskning om hur ridlärare strukturerar sina lektioner och anpassar dem efter elevens nivå. För att kunna utbilda skickliga ryttare som i sin tur kan bidra till god hästvälfärd, krävs skickliga ridlärare. Syftet med studien var därför att undersöka hur ridlärare vid ridskolor strukturerar sina lektioner samt hur de pedagogiskt anpassar undervisningen utifrån olika elevgrupper och nivåer.
Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod där semistrukturerade intervjuer och observationer av sex ridlärare från fyra olika ridskolor i Västmanland genomfördes. En lektion per ridlärare observerades. Analysen gjordes med hjälp av fenomenografisk metod, där fokus låg på att identifiera variationer i uppfattningar kring det undersökta fenomenet. Analysprocessen bestod av att identifiera meningsfulla fenomen, kategorisera dessa och slutligen skapa ett utfallsrum som visar relationer mellan kategorierna.
Resultaten visar att ridundervisning formas av ett dynamiskt samspel mellan struktur, flexibilitet och dialog. Struktur visade sig vara en grundläggande del av undervisningen, där lektionsplanering ofta bygger på en övergripande terminsplanering och en tydlig progression inom lektionen från framridning till huvudövning och avslut. Denna struktur möjliggör trygghet och förutsägbarhet, vilket främjar inlärning hos elever. Anpassning sker inom denna ram genom justering av övningars svårighetsgrad och innehåll utifrån elevgruppens nivå.
Flexibilitet framkom som en nödvändighet i det dagliga undervisningsarbetet. Ridlärarna anpassade sin undervisning efter en rad faktorer som elevers erfarenhet, dagsform, ålder samt hästarnas tillstånd och gruppdynamik. Ridlärarna varierade också sina instruktioner för att tillgodose olika lärstilar, exempelvis genom visuella, auditiva eller kinestetiska metoder. Hästtilldelning lyftes särskilt fram som ett pedagogiskt och etiskt verktyg, där matchning mellan häst och ryttare användes i huvudsak för inlärningens skull men kan ibland komma att behövas justeras för att skydda hästarna från negativt inställda ryttare.
Dialog identifierades som ett centralt pedagogiskt verktyg, både för att skapa relationer och för att främja lärande. Genom samtal före, under och efter lektionen kunde ridlärarna anpassa innehållet efter elevernas behov och dagsform. Reflekterande frågor användes för att öka elevernas medvetenhet och ansvarstagande. Även humor användes som ett medel för att skapa en trygg och öppen lärandemiljö.
Studien lyfter även fram flera utmaningar för ridlärare. Den mest påtagliga var att balansera struktur med behovet av spontan anpassning. Andra utmaningar inkluderade att bibehålla motivation hos erfarna elever, hantera olika elevers behov samt skapa en rättvis och inkluderande miljö.
Resultatet visar att ridlärares utbildning ger en teoretisk grund, men de viktigaste pedagogiska färdigheterna såsom situationsbedömning och individanpassning, utvecklas främst genom yrkeserfarenhet. Mer erfarna ridlärare visade större förmåga att kombinera struktur med flexibilitet.
Studiens slutsatser är att ridlärares undervisning formas av ett komplext samspel mellan struktur, flexibilitet och dialog. Struktur skapar en tydlig ram, flexibilitet möjliggör individanpassning och dialog främjar relationellt lärande. Ridlärares förmåga att balansera dessa aspekter utvecklas med praktisk erfarenhet med en grund i god utbildning. Hästvälfärd framstår som en integrerad del av undervisningen. Studien belyser även de utmaningar ridlärare möter med att balansera en planerad struktur med kravet på flexibilitet i undervisningen i heterogena elevgrupper. Detta visar på yrkets komplexitet samt behovet av att synliggöra och vidareutveckla det pedagogiska arbetet inom ridskolan.This undergraduate thesis aims to explore how riding instructors at riding schools structure their lessons and adapt their teaching according to the students’ level and needs. The background to the study lies in the limited research in this field, despite the instructor’s key role in rider development and horse welfare. The study is based on a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews and observations with six instructors from four riding schools in Västmanland. The collected material was analyzed using phenomenographic methodology.
The results show that riding instruction is shaped by a dynamic interplay of structure, flexibility, and dialogue. Structured lesson plans are typically based on a term plan with a clear progression from warm-up to main exercises and conclusion to provide predictability and support learning. Within this framework, instructors adjust exercise difficulty and content based on the group’s experience and needs.
Flexibility proved essential for adapting to day-to-day variations in students’ and horses’ conditions. Instructors adapted lessons according to students’ age, ability, and group dynamics, as well as the horses' current state. Instructional methods were varied to accommodate different learning styles. Horse allocation was highlighted as both a pedagogical and ethical tool, aiming to support learning while also protecting horses when necessary.
Dialogue emerged as a central pedagogical strategy for relationship-building and promoting learning. Through ongoing communication before, during, and after lessons, instructors could read the group’s needs and adjust accordingly. Reflective questions were used to promote student responsibility and awareness, and humor helped create a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Challenges identified included balancing the planned lesson structure with the need for spontaneous adjustments, maintaining student motivation over time, managing different ability levels within one group, and ensuring fairness.
The findings show that riding instructors' formal education provides a theoretical base, but key teaching skills such as situational judgement and individualized adaptation, develop mainly through professional experience. More experienced instructors demonstrated a stronger ability to integrate structure and flexibility.
The study concludes that the riding instructor’s teaching is shaped by a complex interplay of structure, flexibility, and dialogue. Structure provides a clear framework, flexibility enables individual adaptation, and dialogue promotes relational learning. Riding instructors’ ability to balance these aspects develops through practical experience grounded in quality education. Horse welfare emerges as an integral part of the teaching. The study also highlights the challenges riding instructors face in balancing a planned structure with the demand for flexibility when teaching heterogeneous student groups. This reflects the complexity of the profession and underscores the need to make the pedagogical work within riding schools more visible and further developed