Publikationer från Umeå universitet
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Ordering labour : a shifting labour regime of a 'green investment'
No full textThis chapter examines the evolving labour regime associated with the establishment of Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå, Sweden, with particular attention to its socioeconomic impacts on the local community and migrant workers. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, the authors explore the rapid development of temporary housing solutions, the differentiation and disciplining of labour, and the challenges migrant workers face in adapting to the local context. The study illustrates how global green investments are reshaping local labour markets and housing policies, resulting in precarious and tightly regulated living and working conditions for migrant workers. These findings provide critical insights into the wider implications of green investments for labour mobility and social reproduction in peripheral regions.Incorrect ISBN in publication.This is a draft chapter. The final version is available in Handbook of Labour Mobility edited by R.H. Eriksson & H.K. Hansen, published in 2026, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.</p
Metal and dust exposure in workers from the metal recycling industry in Sweden : cross-sectional GreenMetalWaste study
No full textThe green transition relies on metals, requiring increased metal recovery from waste. However, exposure risks among metal recycling workers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess dust and metal exposure among 139 recycling workers from 13 Swedish metal recycling companies and 90 controls. We documented work practices through observations and questionnaires and assessed dust and metal exposures using a combination of individual air sampling (inhalable (ID) and respirable dust) and biomonitoring (blood and pre-/post-shift urine). ICP-MS was used to measure 39 metals in air, 47 in blood, and 42 in urine. Thirty-two % of the workers were involved in the recycling of e-waste. At most workplaces, dust control was insufficient, respiratory protective equipment was rarely or incorrectly used, and hygienic routines were inadequate. This was reflected in 6.2 times higher ID levels in recycling workers; 14 % exceeded the 5 mg/m3 exposure limit for ID, and some also exceeded limits for Pb, Cu, As, Cd, and Sb. Workers had elevated blood and/or urine levels of Pb, Hg, Al, Sb, Fe and Mn with known human toxicity, and of Y, Lu, In, Ga, W, and Te with limited or unknown toxicity. Furthermore, observed were also co-exposure patterns for those metals. Inhalation was the likely primary exposure route for Pb, Sb, Y, In, and Te. In conclusion, Swedish recycling workers were exposed to elevated levels of dust and metals, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of both known and emerging metals
Percutaneous and surgical management of aortic stenosis in the SWEDEHEART registry (2013–2023) : a nationwide observational study
No full textBackground: Management of severe aortic stenosis (AS) has evolved over the past decade, driven by the widespread adoption of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study aims to assess trends in procedural volumes, patient characteristics, and outcomes for patients undergoing TAVI or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in Sweden. Methods: This was a descriptive, non-comparative, nationwide cohort study using the SWEDEHEART registry. We included 21,383 patients who underwent TAVI or SAVR between 2013 and 2023 (11,366 TAVI and 10,017 SAVR). Trends in patient characteristics, preoperative risk, complications and mortality were examined. Findings: TAVI procedures increased from 307 (26.1%, n = 307/1174) in 2013 to 1851 (71.2%, n = 1851/2601) in 2023, while SAVR volumes declined from ∼1000 annually before 2018 to roughly 750 procedures annually. Median age of TAVI patients were 81 (IQR 77, 85) years and 71 (IQR 65, 76) years for SAVR patients. The median EuroSCORE II for TAVI decreased from 5.6 (IQR 3.3, 10.2) to 2.7 (IQR 1.7, 4.6) (p = 0.002), and STS-PROM from 3.3 (IQR 1.9, 4.1) to 1.6 (IQR 1.1, 2.8) (p = 0.0021). Among SAVR patients, EuroSCORE II decreased from 1.5 (IQR 1.0, 2.3) to 1.3 (IQR 0.9, 2.1) (p = 0.022) and STS-PROM from 1.8 (IQR 1.2, 3.0) to 1.6 (IQR 1.1, 2.6) (p = 0.0082). Any in-hospital complications declined significantly for TAVI (29.2%, n = 210/719 to 13.2%, n = 244/1851), while SAVR complication rates increased slightly (18.4%, n = 354/1921 to 18.7%, n = 140/750). In-hospital mortality for TAVI declined from 3.6% (n = 26/719) to 1.0% (n = 18/1851), and 1-year mortality from 11.1% to 6.9% (p = 0.019). SAVR in-hospital all-cause death decreased from 1.6% to 0.4% (n = 3/750) and 5.0% to 2.2% for 1-year mortality (p = 0.013). Interpretation: TAVI has become the predominant treatment strategy for AS in Sweden expanding access within the treated cohort. Despite this, current 2023 SAVR results demonstrate similar in-hospital complication rates compared to TAVI (18.7% vs 13.2%), but lower in-hospital (0.4% vs 1.0%) and 1-year mortality rates (2.2% vs 6.9%). Funding: This study was supported by ALF and national research funding bodies
Reinforced model selection for resource efficient anomaly detection in edge clouds
No full textWeb application services and networks encounter a broad range of security and performance anomalies, necessitating sophisticated detection strategies. However, performing anomaly detection in edge cloud environments, often constrained by limited resources, presents significant computational challenges and demands minimized detection time for real-time response. In this paper, we propose a model selection approach for resource efficient anomaly detection in edge clouds by leveraging an adapted Deep Q-Network (DQN) reinforcement learning technique. The primary objective is to minimize the computational resources required for accurate anomaly detection while achieving low latency and high detection accuracy. Through extensive experimental evaluation in our testbed setup over different representative scenarios, we demonstrate that our adapted DQN approach can reduce resource usage by up to 45 % and detection time by up to 85 % while incurring less than an 8 % drop in F1 score. These results highlight the potential of the adapted DQN model selection strategy to enable efficient, low-latency anomaly detection in resource-constrained edge cloud environments
Year-round variation in bryophyte-associated nitrogen fixation in the Arctic
No full textIn northern biomes, growth is nitrogen (N) limited, but bryophytes are abundant. These bryophytes often host N2-fixing microorganisms (diazotrophs) that play a crucial role in the N cycle of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, how the bryophyte-associated N2-fixation varies across species and seasons (summer, autumn, winter, and spring) remains poorly understood. We measured N2-fixation rates for 10 bryophyte species in situ throughout the entire year in the Arctic with additional incubations to verify the method. We measured positive N2-fixation during most of the year, except for the coldest period (February). The species growing in the wettest conditions (Sphagnum spp.) had the highest N2-fixation rates in summer, while bryophytes in drier conditions peaked in N2-fixation rates in spring and autumn. The seasonal variation in N2-fixation activity was pronounced, but similar patterns were found among different species. This study reveals that bryophyte-associated N2-fixation in northern ecosystems is larger than previously assumed, as it occurs over a more extended part of the year than previously inferred. Furthermore, the importance of bryophyte-associated diazotrophs cannot be quantified without considering both the diversity of bryophytes and their variation in N2-fixing seasonal activity patterns. Both future changes in climatic conditions and biodiversity of bryophytes can thus have large implications for the N cycle in arctic regions
Integrating parental breeding value, genetic gain, and gamete contribution for elite family selection in Platycladus orientalis
No full textPlatycladus orientalis (L.) Franco seed orchards play an important role in sustainable forestry in China but balancing genetic gain and genetic diversity remains a significant challenge. Two key factors influence the success of seed orchards: parental breeding value and gamete contribution, as they determine both the genetic gain and diversity of the seed crops produced. This study aimed to optimize breeding strategies by analyzing parental breeding value, gamete contribution, and genetic gain across two growth periods (89 families in 2008 and 52 families in 2021). We evaluated height, diameter at breast height, and stem volume of progeny in a primary seed orchard, uncovering significant genetic variation among families. Interestingly, no correlation was found between growth traits and gamete contribution, indicating their independence. Using comprehensive scoring and PCA-biplot analysis, we consistently identified several elite families with superior growth performance in both years. We propose an optimal breeding strategy that combines 30% selective harvesting and 50% selective thinning to effectively balance genetic gain and genetic diversity, addressing a critical goal in tree improvement programs. The selected families and optimized strategy provide a scalable framework not only for P. orientalis but also for other conifer species globally, enhancing both productivity and genetic diversity in afforestation efforts
Associations between healthcare workers' substance use and quality of care : findings from a one-year Swedish follow-up study
No full textBackground: Problem drinking and illicit drug use among healthcare workers (i.e., physicians and nurses) may impair their attention and cognitive functioning, thereby increasing the risk of medical errors and diminishing the quality of patient care. Objective: To investigate the association between healthcare workers' problem drinking and illicit drug use with subsequent self-rated quality of care provided. Design: A two-wave longitudinal observational study. Methods: Panel data were drawn from the Longitudinal Occupational Health Survey in Healthcare Sweden (LOHHCS), collected in 2022 (baseline) and 2023 (follow-up), encompassing a sample of 3280 healthcare workers. Questionnaires included problem drinking, illicit drug use (cannabis and stimulants), and self-rated quality of care they provide to patients. Logistic regression models analysed relationships between the study variables. Results: At baseline, the prevalence of problem drinking was 3.8 %, and illicit drug use was 1.3 %. Both problem drinking (OR = 1.93, 95 % CI = 1.28–3.02) and illicit drug use (OR = 2.07, 95 % CI = 1.00–4.29) were significantly associated with lower self-rated quality of care provided at follow-up, after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusions: This novel longitudinal study shows that healthcare workers reporting substance use at baseline were about twice as likely to report providing poor quality of care one year later. These findings are of clinical relevance and highlight the need for targeted preventive measures and interventions to safeguard the health and well-being of healthcare workers while maintaining quality standards in patient care
Mercantilism from below? : Swedish consuls and merchant networks between Naples and Stockholm in the mid eighteenth century
No full texthe article examines the relationship between state policy and commercial initiatives within the institutions of the ancien régime, namely consuls. By exploring the case of the Swedish consulate in Naples in the mid eighteenth century, it addresses the role of private actors in the establishment of consulates, the Swedish authorities’ problems controlling the consular network from a distance, not least because of the specificity of the local operational contexts. The article challenges the standard interpretation of the Swedish consular service being subject to an effective government-led policy of controlling and promoting the expansion of the Swedish merchant marine in the Mediterranean. Further, it suggests considering consuls as ancien régime entrepreneurs of a particular type, who used their political resources to achieve both economic and symbolic outcomes, by taking a pragmatic, micro-analytical approach to the relationship between institutions and the economy
Incidence and trend of cardiac events among children and young adults exposed to psychopharmacological treatment (2006–2018) : A nationwide register-based study
No full textAims: The aim of this study was to assess cardiac event incidence and trends by sex and age in young patients on psychopharmacological treatment in Sweden. Methods: This nationwide incidence study encompassed data from Swedish registers (2006–2018). Patients aged 5–30 years were exposed to one or more psychotropic medications (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications, antihistamines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, other antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, hypnotics/sedatives). Annual incidences, trends and mean incidences of cardiac events (cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, fainting/collapse, sudden death) and recurrent events were calculated. Results: Among those exposed (n = 875 430, 2 647 957 patient-years, 55% female), 26 750 cardiac events were identified. The mean annual incidence of cardiac events and first-ever events were 0.99% and 0.80%, respectively, showing significant upward annual trends of 4.26% and 2.48%, respectively (P <.001). The highest incidences were among females aged 15–19 years (1.50%) and those exposed to polypharmacy (1.63%), anxiolytics (1.53%) or antihistamines (1.27%). The mean annual incidences of cardiac arrest and arrythmias, for both sexes, were 0.01% and 0.51%, respectively. Fainting/collapse accounted for about half of all events, occurring more often in females. The pattern of rising annual incidence remained after excluding fainting/collapse. In all, 21.1% of events were recurrent. Death, including sudden death, occurred in 13 patients. Conclusions: The mean annual incidence of cardiac events among young patients receiving psychopharmacological treatment was low, 0.99%, with an upward trend of 4.26% annually. Incidence was highest in adolescent females and patients exposed to polypharmacy. Our study highlights the need for more knowledge regarding the possible association between exposure to psychopharmacological treatment and cardiac events
Stuck at the bottom? gender and immigrants’ entrapment in low-skilled work
No full textImmigrant women are widely portrayed as facing serious labor market disadvantage, yet gender differences in immigrants’ occupational mobility have been little explored. The article studied gender gaps in immigrants’ occupational entrapment, defined as entering and remaining in lowskilled/low-prestige work rather than moving on to more skilled/prestigious work. The analyses were based on longitudinal register data and followed five immigrant cohorts arriving in Sweden in the early 2000s over a 12-year period. The results show that immigrant women were more likely than men to start out in a low-skilled/low-prestige job and less likely to experience occupational mobility. However, tertiary education strongly mitigated these gender gaps. At the same time, the differences between high- and loweducated individuals widened more among women than among men. Family-related factors and country-specific human capital did not explain these patterns, but the findings indicate that occupational gender segregation can be crucial to immigrants' mobility prospects