Publikationer från Umeå universitet
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Lidar-baserad gånghastighetsmätning i hemmet
No full textWalking speed is an important predictor of health among older people. For certain diseases, such as idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), improvements to symptoms can be seen by measuring the walking speed over several days. Therefore, the purpose of the thesis project was to construct and evaluate a gait speed measurement system based on lidar for use in a home environment. The system was constructed using a Garmin LIDAR-Lite v3 which uses a narrow, pulsed invisible laser beam to calculate the distance to the object it points towards. A visible laser pointer, speaker and LCD display were added as a user interface. A PCB was also constructed with a portable design. Timeseries of the distance over time gets saved in an external memory which can be extracted at a later time using a Python program. A linear regression of the distance over time is used to calculate the walking speed. The system was tested by comparing it to GAITRite as a reference system and GoHome, another measurement system developed at Region Västerbotten. Five healthy adults were instructed to walk across a 9 m GAITRite mat five times at three different speeds: normal, fast and slow. The results showed that the lidar system was accurate enough to detect significant changes in gait speed and that it was more accurate than GoHome. The lidar system was designed for use in the home, but further development is needed to make it more reliable. Tests can be done to see if the system is useful for different patient groups, such as iNPH patients and to see where usability improvements can be made.Gånghastighet är en viktig indikator på hälsan hos äldre. För vissa sjukdomar, såsom idiopatisk normaltryckshydrocefalus (iNPH), kan förbättringar av symtom ses genom att mäta gånghastigheten över flera dagar. Därför var syftet med examensarbetet att konstruera och utvärdera ett gånghastighetsmätningssystem baserat på lidar för användning i hemmiljö. Systemet konstruerades med hjälp av en Garmin LIDAR-Lite v3 som använder en smal, pulserande osynlig laserstråle för att beräkna avståndet till det objekt den pekar mot. En synlig laserpekare, högtalare och LCD-skärm lades till som användargränssnitt. Ett kretskort konstruerades också med en portabel design. Tidsserier av avståndet över tid sparas i ett externt minne som kan extraheras vid en senare tidpunkt med hjälp av ett Python-program. En linjär regression av avståndet över tid används för att beräkna gånghastigheten. Systemet testades genom att jämföra det med GAITRite som referenssystem och GoHome, ett annat mätsystem som utvecklats vid Region Västerbotten. Fem friska vuxna instruerades att gå över en 9 meter lång GAITRite-matta fem gånger i tre olika hastigheter: normal, snabb och långsam. Resultaten visade att lidarsystemet var tillräckligt noggrant för att upptäcka signifikanta förändringar i gånghastighet och att det var mer exakt än GoHome. Lidarsystemet var utformat för användning i hemmet, men ytterligare utveckling behövs för att göra det mer tillförlitligt. Tester kan göras för att se om systemet är användbart för olika patientgrupper, såsom iNPH-patienter, och för att se var användbarhetsförbättringar kan göras
Levodopa intestinal gel infusion therapies in advanced Parkinson’s disease : a Swedish study on real-world use and costs
No full textIntroduction: This study evaluated real-world cassette use and cost of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG; 2000 mg levodopa equivalent dose [LED]) and levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa intestinal gel (LECIG; 1250 mg LED) pump treatments among patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Sweden. Methods: This was a non-interventional, longitudinal, retrospective, comparative study of patients with PD using data from Swedish national registries (National Patient Register [NPR] and Prescribed Drug Register [PDR]). Patients were enrolled in the study from January 1, 2017, to May 31, 2022 (NPR) or June 30, 2022 (PDR). Patients had two or more dispensed prescription records for either LCIG (January 1, 2017, onward) or LECIG (January 1, 2019, onward) and at least one diagnosis of PD on or before their first dispensed prescription. Average daily cassette use, costs (Swedish krona [SEK]), treatment persistence, and treatment patterns were assessed. Results: Overall, 419 patients (LCIG, n = 276; LECIG, n = 180; both LCIG and LECIG, n = 37 [cohorts not mutually exclusive]) were included. Mean (SD) daily cassette use was significantly higher More patients discontinued LECIG 1.28 (0.40) versus 1.09 (0.28) at 1–365 days (p < 0.0001). LECIG use was higher than LCIG at 365 days regardless of prior levodopa pump experience. The overall cost of LECIG was higher than that of LCIG; the highest cost difference between treatments was at 365 days (daily cost mean [SD], LCIG 991.23 [259.43] SEK vs. LECIG 1100.23 [341.04] SEK; p = 0.0036). Annual per-patient costs were approximately 40,000 SEK higher for LECIG versus LCIG. More patients discontinued LECIG than LCIG treatment, with 68.9% and 75.2% of those receiving LECIG and LCIG, respectively, still on treatment at 365 days. Conclusion: Real-world data show that the number of dispensed cassettes and overall treatment costs are higher for LECIG than LCIG treatment among patients with advanced PD in Sweden.Errata: Odin, P., Tærud, C., Samuelsson, J. et al. Correction: Levodopa Intestinal Gel Infusion Therapies in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: A Swedish Study on Real-World Use and Costs. Neurol Ther (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-025-00797-9</p
Everything was fine until it wasn´t : A qualitative study on the evolution of managerial decision-making after managing through times of crisis
No full textUncertainty can be regarded as a constant in business. What happens if…? What will happen when…? In todays globalized world, events taking place on the other side of the world can have an impact on companies and people in Sweden. These events can create crisis situations that people have to deal with and somehow resolve. As Ernest Hemingway once said, “The world breaks everyone, and afterword, many are strong at broken places”. Our thesis explores the strong, the managers that must deal with all the issues that might arise in their organization or from external events. The research includes a literature review on how managers should act and what competencies are desirable for a manager to have in times of crisis. Additionally, a theoretical framework has been developed to show how their decision-making processes have changed though three phases of crisis; pre crisis, during crisis and post crisis phase. The study includes qualitative interviews with Swedish managers in varying sectors and a variety of crisis events, to be able to delve into how their decision-making processes have evolved. The study has concluded that crisis events have an impact on the managers way of leading and taking decisions. The respondents all indicated a lack of preparedness from an individual and organizational standpoint. Another aspect reported was their resilience during the crisis events despite being characterized by uncertainty, lack of information and prior unfamiliar scenarios. The respondents have noticed an increase in confidence in decision making, but also improved communication, less stress when taking decisions and more prepared to manage future crises.
Beyond our control? : A study into police officers' exposure to threats and violence at work
No full textIn recent years, major incidents involving police work have highlighted not only police safety when working in society but also the impact of stress and trauma on police officers’ psychological well-being both short and long term. The occurrence of threats and violence at work has a major impact on mental well-being which can result in long-term issues connected to both work and personal life. In Sweden, the employer has an extensive legal obligation to ensure a good working environment, physiological and psychological aspects alike. In 2018 the police conducted an internal review of their work with environmental issues and concluded that there were severe deficiencies and an overall lack of responsibility in complying with laws and regulations regarding labor law. The deficiencies were said to be of such severity that they threatened proper function and performance of the police force at large. Research abroad shows a relationship between job stressors and behavior at work as well as a relationship between psychological health and job performance. There is a lack of research on the Swedish police and studies regarding the police organization are often mentioned as needed. The aim of the study was to examine police officers working environment thru reports made to the Swedish Work Environment Authority of work-related injuries due to victimization of violence at work. Results show age and gender differences regarding reported injuries. Also, the study shows a lack of sufficient data which is crucial in the building of knowledge regarding police officers work environment in need to take appropriate measures to ensure health and sustainability in the police force. This is mainly due to reports not being completed properly. The employer needs to ensure that data-driven decisions about work environment issues can be taken. Otherwise, there is a risk of not implementing appropriate measures. The results of this study could be used by the police organization to make considerable changes within the organization to ensure good health and sustainability, thus building a stronger police force for the future as well as retaining and attracting essential personnel
A daily longitudinal analysis of reciprocal relationships between psychological states and performance in NHL players
No full textThis study aimed to explore the temporal relationships between psychological states and performance among players in the National Hockey League (NHL). We used an intensive longitudinal design, with 22 players reporting their psychological states daily between 7 February 2024, and 14 March 2024. Performance was measured using Game Score (GS), a composite metric based on weighted performance variables to provide an overall objective measure of individual performance, commonly used by teams in the NHL. Bayesian multilevel models were utilised to analyse the data, focusing on temporal effects between psychological states and performance. The results showed that none of the other psychological states predicted subsequent performance. In the opposite direction, performance predicted several different psychological states the following day, where better performance positively predicted positive states and negatively predicted negative states. In summary, psychological states appear to have a small effect on how NHL players perform, whereas how they perform seem to affect a wide range of psychological states the following day
Can He Save Her? : A comparative analysis of Mary Daly’s, Rosemary Radford Ruether’s and Elizabeth A. Johnson’s Christologies as they pertain to the salvation of women
No full textThe Transnationalism of the Bosnian Community Living in Sweden
No full textThis thesis investigates and showcases the complexity and dualities of transnationalism, through perspectives of displacement and different forms of context. From general theory of migrancy in post-colonial discourse, to the specific chosen group of the Bosnian community living in Sweden. How transnationalism acts out for this group in both Sweden and Bosnia is rather unstudied, but could prove to be valuable in developing strategies to deal with displacement in the future. This thesis could be seen as a starting point for such a strategy, to potentially be applied to other groups after appropriate changes. The specific lens of architecture that is related to and emerges from transnationalism is where this research and design proposal situates itself. By challenging the notion of context as something purely site specific, as we currently live in a globalised world and multi-cultural society, architects can provide grounds for connection and integration not only within a singular community at a time, but society as a whole. Poetics and interpretations are all good, but we shouldn’t shy away from or dismiss the literal. It is not pretentious, or elegant or highly elevated - but it’s something real. Just like the problems we are facing, the people living their lives and the buildings we inhabit in doing so are real. There can be beauty in the crude, and the architect can provide guidelines for transnational exchange as part of physical space, acting as a mediator between community, carpenters and contractors. By methods of careful symbolism, it could be possible to validate, encourage and maintain transnational activities and ties through architecture
Characterizing Features of Motor Learning in Action Selection and Execution of Mice
No full textBehavioral neuroscience faces the inherent challenge of linking neural changes with observable behavior. Recent methodological advances now offer more effective ways to connect these domains. This project, conducted within the Petersson Lab (research program: The corticostriatal system in health and disease), investigates the potential convergence of inputs from the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and secondary motor cortex (M2) onto the striatum, potentially underlying context-dependent action control. To support this neurobiological inquiry, a behavioral analysis framework has been developed, tailored to train mice in a custom version of the skilled movement and grasping task. The scope of this project was to develop an analytical framework to analyze and process large volumes of behavioral data to extract metrics on task performance, strategy, and ethological markers. Several algorithms were implemented to quantify learning dynamics and identify learning stages across individual subjects. Findings confirm an overall learning effect, with individual differences in acquisition speed and strategy. This work contributes to a methodological toolbox for classifying motor learning stages in mice and enhances the interpretation of behavioral data about striatal circuit function
Coffee substitutes: Past and potential future
No full textThe paper examines the past and potential future of coffee substitutes. The findings presented here are based on the postdoctoral project entitled “Try and do not laugh!” Social debate and recipes for coffee substitutes in nineteenth-century Sweden at the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science at Umeå University, Sweden (2022–2024). The article shows the history of coffee substitution, nowadays issues in coffee production, distribution, and consumption, and ends with some culinary findings on coffee substitutes