Göteborgs universitets publikationer - e-publicering och e-arkiv
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Self-perceptions and misperceptions - Examining the antecedents and consequences of self-perceived media literacy
No full textThe current media landscape provides arenas for public debate where virtually anyone can
share their opinions and disseminate information (Strömbäck et.al 2022:57). Legacy media has
traditionally held a gatekeeping role and curated the media supply, by being citizen's main source of
news but this role has been undermined by media formats that lower the threshold for participation
(Lechler & Egelhofer 2022:69-70). This has largely shifted the responsibility of navigating and
assessing the truthfulness of media onto the individual. Because individuals are highly prone to
directional biases, media literacy has become increasingly important (Journell 2024:25-26). Much of
previous research within media literacy builds on an objective perspective of media literacy, but the
issue with focusing exclusively on objective media literacy is that it is a perspective that does not
account for the important influence of motivations, such as psychological and social circumstances
(Journell 2024:29). Perceptions guide our actions, irrespectively of how representative they are of the
real world (Lippman 2004). The self-perception of media literacy abilities is thus important regardless
of their congruence with reality. The aim of this thesis is therefore to add to the sparse research on
self-perceived media literacy and its implications for misperceptions, departing from the normative
assumption that citizens need to be informed for a democracy to function well.
This study contains a twofold analysis of self-perceived media literacy. First, antecedents in
the categories demographic variables, political variables and media variables were examined using
hierarchical regressions on panel data. Second, a stepwise regression was used to explore the
relationship between media literacy and misperceptions within the topics immigration, vaccines and
crime. The results demonstrate that within demographic variables, higher educated (b=.298 p<.001)
and men (b=.211 p<.001) reported higher self-perceived media literacy. Political variables had the
strongest explanatory value out of the three categories of variables (ΔR²=.090 p<.000), and showed
that higher self-perceived media literacy was reported by respondents with higher political knowledge
(b=.398 p<.001) , higher political interest (b=987 p<.001) and that were far to the right (b=.195
p<.01). Finally all media use variables included except left-wing alternative media use were also
positively related with self-perceived media literacy. In the second analysis, only vaccine perceptions
were found to have a significant relationship with self-perceived media literacy (b=.051 p<.05)
Extracellular Vesicles - Roles in mRNA-Based Therapies
No full textEfficient and targeted delivery of therapeutic mRNA remains a major challenge in RNA-based medicine. This thesis explores how lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) cooperate in the delivery and redistribution of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) mRNA, therapeutic mRNA that induces blood vessel formation and holds strong potential for treating cardiovascular diseases through regenerative angiogenesis.
Paper I demonstrates that LNPs efficiently deliver VEGFA mRNA to human cells, leading to rapid uptake and translation. A portion of the internalized mRNA is subsequently secreted within EVs, which also acquire enriched proangiogenic transcripts. Among tested EVs, those derived from cardiac progenitor cells (CPC-EVs) showed superior angiogenic potential and minimal inflammatory response.
In Paper II, biodistribution studies in mice revealed that CPC-EVs outperformed LNPs and non-cardiac EVs in delivering VEGFA mRNA to heart tissue, with reduced liver accumulation. CPC-EVs induced local protein expression and minimal transcriptomic disruption, highlighting their tissue-targeting advantage and safety.
Paper III investigates how LNP treatment alters EV transcriptomes and how these modified EVs affect recipient tissues. VEGFA mRNA was the most enriched transcript across all EV types. CPC-EVs upregulated VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 specifically in cardiac tissue. Further analysis revealed that human mRNA transcripts were detectable in recipient mouse hearts.
In summary, this thesis explores the interplay between LNPs and EVs in transporting VEGFA mRNA for therapeutic angiogenesis. LNPs enable efficient cellular uptake and subsequently trigger re-packaging of mRNA into EVs. CPC-EVs showed superior heart targeting and angiogenic potential with low inflammation. The findings highlight a promising strategy for regenerative treatment of cardiovascular diseases
Attityder till att söka psykologisk behandling: En jämförelse mellan individer med svensk bakgrund och Mellanösternbakgrund
No full textSyftet med studien var att undersöka om det föreligger skillnader i attityder till att söka psykologisk behandling mellan en mindre, icke-representativ grupp av individer, utan erfarenhet av psykologisk behandling mellan 15-35 år, med svensk respektive Mellanösternbakgrund uppvuxna i Sverige. Eftersom forskning på området är begränsad, hade studien en explorativ ansats. Enkäten Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help (ATSPPH) distribuerades genom icke-sannolikhetsurval (N = 130). Deltagare i åldern 19–24 år, och med en pågående eller avslutad universitetsutbildning, var överrepresenterade i stickprovet. För att jämföra attityderna mellan deltagare med svensk bakgrund med deltagare med Mellanösternbakgrund genomfördes ett oberoende t-test på hela ATSPPH-skalan, följt av ytterligare fyra oberoende t-test på de fyra delskalorna, för att identifiera specifika skillnader. Resultaten visade att deltagare med Mellanösternbakgrund hade mindre positiva attityder till att söka psykologisk behandling jämfört med deltagare med svensk bakgrund. Inga signifikanta skillnader sågs i erkännande av hjälpbehov och tolerans för stigma. Däremot visade gruppen med Mellanösternbakgrund lägre förtroende för yrkesverksamma inom psykiatrisk vård. Resultaten kan inte generaliseras till vare sig majoritetsbefolkningen eller till personer med Mellanösternbakgrund i stort, men antyder att attityderna hos deltagarna i denna studie med Mellanösternbakgrund är mindre positiva än hos deltagarna med svensk bakgrund
Making Waves: Podcasting Among Feminist Latter-Day Saints
No full textPublicly criticizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints carries significant risks, prompting feminist members to turn to the internet as a crucial platform for expression. Following the excommunications of the 1990s, blogging emerged as a medium that enabled regrouping and growth. Today, podcasting has taken center stage as a preferred platform for new actors within this movement. This dissertation explores what podcasting affords Feminist Latter-day Saints through a qualitative case study of three podcasts: The Faithful Feminists, At Last She Said It, and Year of Polygamy. Drawing on the concept of “technological affordance” as the interplay between the medium’s performativity and its attributed discourses, the study develops a bipartite analytical model. This model comprises two frameworks: “performed media” which examines podcasting through the communicational and technological topologies of parasocial relationships, liveness, and seriality, and “discursive framing” which considers how media technologies are constructed and validated through discourse. The findings reveal that podcasting enables Feminist Latter-day Saints to 1. Foster what they perceive as caring and advocative communities, where hosts build intimate, friendly relationships with listeners as an alternative to what they construct as the Church institution’s bureaucratic care; 2. Create a setting of spontaneity and informality, allowing for the revaluation and reframing of the Church’s communicative patterns; 3. Navigate the tensions between feminism and faith by providing a dynamic temporality that facilitates the recovery of women’s voices and ongoing faith development, while also introducing a hurried pace that limits reflection and expansion; 4. Evolve personal faith journeys, sometimes through continuous conversion and other times through processes of departure. These findings demonstrate how podcasting enables Feminist
Latter-day Saints to foster community, reframe institutional narratives, navigate the complexities of faith and feminism, and construct their personal faith. They contribute to (a) a deeper understanding of contemporary Latter-day Saint Feminism, (b) a critical and nuanced perspective on women’s agency in digital media, and (c) advancing conversations on methodological and theoretical approaches to religious podcasts
Nya urbana trädarters återhämtning av fotosynteser efter värmebölja.
No full textTrees are an important part of sustainable cities. They provide us with ecosystem services which improve our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as having a positive impact on our economy. Urban environments impose numerous challenges on trees that inhabit them, with heatwaves, drought, and generally high temperatures among the factors reducing their chances of survival. Due to the ongoing climate change, the situation is growing increasingly difficult for urban trees. For future cities to be a home to both healthy trees and people, it is essential for the trees to be able to thrive in the harder conditions. In this study, the recovery of net photosynthesis in the urban tree species K. paniculata, L. styraciflua, L. tulipifera, M. kobus and N. sylvatic was examined over a four-week recovery period following a heat wave of 38℃. Comparisons were made between these species as well as between two treatment groups: one exposed to repeated heat stress and one control group. Stomatal conductance and function of photosystem II were also measured to get a perception of possible reasons behind potential changes in net photosynthesis. A negative effect on photosynthesis was observed in L. tulipifera, M. kobus and N. sylvatica. L. tulipifera was able to recover in four weeks, while M. kobus and N. sylvatica were not. For K. paniculata and L. styraciflua, the heatwave did not influence net photosynthesis. When it comes to the individual tree species, a difference between the groups was observed in all species except for N. sylvatica. M. kobus was the only one of these species that seemed to be more negatively affected in the group exposed to repeated heat stress than in the control group. For both general treatment groups (across all species), there was a decrease in stomatal conductance, with the control group affected the most. Some tree species seem to cope with heatwaves better than others and previous experiences of heat stress can affect how the tree reacts and recovers. When planting trees in urban environments, it is important to choose the right species, for our cities to remain green and hospitable to both us and future generations.
Key words: Heatwave, urban trees, recovery, photosynthesisTräd är viktiga för att skapa hållbara städer. De utför ekosystemtjänster som gynnar oss människor genom ökat fysiskt och psykiskt välmående samt genom att bidra positivt till vår ekonomi. Utformningen av städer medför ett flertal utmaningar för urbana träd, där värmeböljor, torka och generellt höga temperaturer är några faktorer som försvårar trädens överlevnad. Med tanke på de rådande klimatförändringarna kommer tillvaron för de stadslevande träden bli allt svårare framöver. För att framtida städer ska kunna vara ett hem åt både välmående grönska och invånare, är det nödvändigt att träden klarar av de tuffare förhållandena. I denna studie undersöktes återhämtningen av nettofotosyntes hos de urbana trädarterna K. paniculata, L. styraciflua, L. tulipifera, M. kobus, och N. sylvatica under fyra veckor efter en värmebölja på 38℃. Jämförelser gjordes mellan arterna samt mellan två behandlingsgrupper: en som utsattes för upprepad värmestress och en kontrollgrupp. Även stomatakonduktans och funktion av fotosystem II mättes för att få en uppfattning om anledningar bakom eventuella skillnader i nettofotosyntes. Nettofotosyntesen påverkades negativt av värmeböljan för L. tulipifera, M. kobus och N. sylvatica. För L. tulipifera var återhämtning möjlig på fyra veckor medan M. kobus och N. sylvatica inte kunde återhämta sig. Hos K. paniculata och L. styraciflua verkade nettofotosyntesen opåverkad av värmeböljan. När det kommer till de individuella trädarterna kunde skillnader mellan behandlingsgrupperna observeras hos alla arter utom N. sylvatica. M. kobus var den enda av dessa arter som påvisade starkare negativ påverkan vid upprepad värmestress än i kontrollgruppen. För de båda generella behandlingsgrupperna (över alla arter) minskade stomatakonduktansen under värmeböljan, med kraftigare minskning i kontrollgruppen. Vissa trädarter verkar klara av värmeböljor bättre än andra och vad trädet varit med om innan en värmebölja kan också vara av betydelse för hur det påverkas och återhämtar sig. Vid plantering av träd i urbana miljöer krävs val av rätt art för att våra städer ska förbli gröna och hälsosamma för oss och framtida generationer
Whether a studded tire ban, with the aim to improve air quality, affects housing prices. An analysis of Hornsgatan in Stockholm
No full textLuftkvalitet och tillgänglighet till ren luft har en stor påverkan på individers hälsa och beslutsfattare förväntas därmed vidta åtgärder som förbättrar luftkvaliteten i samhället. I oktober 2009 tog Stockholm fram ett förslag om att införa ett dubbdäcksförbud på Hornsgatan med syfte att minska halten av hälsofarliga partiklar i stadsluften. Studien analyserar effekten av denna reglering på miljökvaliteten och fastighetspriserna i området. Syftet är att undersöka effekten av dubbdäcksförbudet på luftkvaliteten på Hornsgatan och om människors medvetenhet kring luftkvalitet även bidragit till en effekt på bostadspriserna. Som grund till studien ligger Rosens teori om hedonisk prissättning, som förklarar sambandet mellan en produkts mätbara egenskaper och dess pris. I detta fall huruvida egenskapen luftkvalitet påverkar bostadspriser, där ren luft förväntas bidra till ökad nytta hos individen och därmed leda till ökade fastighetspriser. Utifrån användning av syntetisk difference-in-difference, för att undersöka effekten av dubbdäcksförbudet, visar resultatet på förbättrad luftkvalitet samt svagt ökade bostadspriser. På grund av uteblivna p-värden kan dessa resultat dock inte säkerställas
The Red, White and Biased? - Media Framing of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic Based on News Outlets’ Political Partisanship – A Comparative Analysis of California and Texas
No full textObjective: This thesis investigates potential differences and similarities in media framing of the
U.S. opioid epidemic in regard to partisan media bias in 16 liberal, centrist and conservative
news outlets in the country’s two most populous states, California and Texas. It takes state-level
differences related to demographics, state governments and laws, prescription policies or health
insurance into account. The results of the hypothesis testing will then be assessed in the
context of the two contrasting states. The aim of this procedure is to be able to draw
conclusions whether one or both of the above-mentioned factors can be ruled out as as an
explanation for possible patterns in media coverage, possibly hinting towards a potential impact
of partisan media bias or state differences on framing and thus opening up a debate for further
research.
Theory: The analysis is based on the framing theory by Robert Entman (1993), which states
that issues can be viewed from a range of perspectives and that individuals arrive at opinions or
reconsider their attitudes based on the way a matter is portrayed in the media. Individuals are
often guided towards pre-determined evaluations of issues by the media’s focus on specific
issue attributes. Frames are thus tools helping human beings to grasp the world and their
surroundings (Lecheler & de Vreese, 2019:7).
Method: A comparative quantitative content analysis was conducted using five generic frames
established by Semetko and Valkenburg (2000) and four issue-specific frames identified through
the review of previous research on media narratives in the opioid crisis. The collected data was
analyzed using the statistical tests of Pearson’s chi2, Cramér’s V and cross-tabulations.
Intracoder reliability was ensured through Cohen’s kappa values.
Material: The data was collected from March 30th, 2024 to April 12th, 2024 and retrieved through
a search of pre-defined keywords from the news outlets’ respective websites and archives. The
sample (n=401) includes articles published between March 1st, 2023 and July 31st, 2023, the
time frame around the mortality peak of the crisis to date, May 2023. Only news items, no other
journalistic text types, making clear reference to the current opioid crisis in the United States,
were coded. The analysis focused on the textual parts of the articles only.
Results: During the hypothesis testing, significant variations in media framing were found
between newspapers of different political leanings. Conservative media use the criminalization
narrative more frequently than liberal ones, while those make use of the medicalization, human
interest and conflict frame more often than their conservative counterparts. Liberal and
conservative news outlets do not differ in the use of the stigma frame and their portrays of
victims and perpetrators within the crisis. When contextualizing these results in the Californian
and Texan samples, the outcomes remain the same, indicating that the differences found may
be due to the media’s partisan bias and that state-level contrasts investigated in this thesis can
be dismissed as an explanation for the patterns in this case
“Systerskap online: En studie av community-bygge i SheRuns clubs sociala medier”. En kvalitativ analys av sociala medier som plattform för gemenskap
No full textThis essay aims to explore how members perceive SheRuns Club's presence on social media
as a source of belonging, inspiration, and empowerment within a digital community.
The study is grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory to analyze users’ motivations, as
well as convergence culture to highlight how digital platforms enable increased interaction
and blurred boundaries between producers and consumers.
Empirical data was collected through eight qualitative interviews with women aged 20–35
who are active in SheRuns Club’s digital community. The interviews were analyzed
thematically to identify recurring patterns in the participants' experiences and motivations.
The results show that the community meets several psychosocial needs, especially belonging,
inspiration, and support. Many participants also expressed that the digital format lowers the
threshold for engaging in exercise, while interactions with other members strengthen their
training habits and self-esteem.
The conclusion of this thesis shows that SheRuns Club successfully uses social media to
create and maintain an engaging, inclusive, and empowering digital community. Social media
serves not just as a communication tool but as a space for shared values, emotional
connection, and identity-building. The club’s followers are active co-creators of content and
community, reflecting principles of participatory culture. Messages of sisterhood, joy,
diversity, and non-judgment are central to creating a safe and welcoming environment.
Overall, She Runs Club demonstrates how digital platforms can promote mental well-being
and create real-life impact through positive, community-driven communication
LATVIA'S GULLIVER'S TRAVELS Small State strategies and Role Perceptions in the EU after Russia´s invasion of Ukraine
No full textThis master’s thesis investigates how small states navigate the institutional landscape of the European
Union (EU), with a particular focus on Latvia. The research aims to examine how Latvian
representatives perceive their role within the EU, especially in light of the full-scale Russian invasion
of Ukraine, and to identify the strategies they employ to advance both national and collective interests.
The study adopts a qualitative case study design, drawing on semi-structured interviews with Latvian
officials and representatives engaged in EU policymaking. The analysis is grounded in Role Theory,
which is used to explore the interplay between internal role conceptions and external expectations. The
framework is expanded with a fourth dimension that incorporates small-state strategies, allowing for a
more nuanced understanding of Latvia’s positioning within the EU. Findings reveal that Latvian
representatives strategically employ coalition-building, specialisation, and institutional flexibility to
enhance their influence. The formation of the Baltic coordination group within the European
Commission illustrates how formalised collaboration can amplify small-state agency. Latvia’s
proactive stance on sanctions against Russia and its vocal support for Ukraine further underscore its
evolving role as a security-oriented actor within the EU. The thesis contributes to the broader field of
small state studies by highlighting how Latvia adapts and asserts itself in a shifting geopolitical
environment. It offers insights into the mechanisms through which small states can shape EU policy
outcomes, even amidst significant structural constraints
NÄR ANSVARET KOMMER FÖRE ERFARENHETEN - Om oerfarna mellanchefers upplevelser av sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö i mindre restaurangföretag
No full textNär individer går från att vara medarbetare till att axla en chefsroller utan tidigare erfarenhet,
uppstår särskilda utmaningar, inte minst inom branscher med otydliga strukturer och
bristande stöd. Denna studie syftar till att öka förståelsen för de psykosociala
arbetsmiljörelaterade utmaningar som uppstår när oerfarna individer tilldelas chefsansvar i
mindre restaurangföretag. Följande frågeställningar ämnar studien att besvara; vilka typer av
arbetsmiljörelaterade utmaningar upplever oerfarna mellanchefer i mindre restaurangföretag?
Upplever oerfarna mellanchefer att de får organisatoriskt och socialt stöd från sin arbetsplats
vid hantering av chefsrollen, och i sådana fall vilken typ av stöd? Med Krav, kontroll och
stödmodellen som teoretisk utgångspunkt har sex kvalitativa intervjuer genomförts med
mellanchefer inom restaurangbranschen. Teorins begrepp; krav, kontroll och stöd har använts
för att analysera respondenternas upplevelser. Resultaten visar att respondenterna upplever
höga krav från både överordnade och underordnade, i kombination med ett begränsat
beslutsutrymme och där det ges otillräckligt organisatoriskt stöd. Det formella stödet från
ledningen beskrivs som bristfälligt, vilket bidragit till känslor av otillräcklighet, stress och
osäkerhet i rollen. Det sociala stödet som ofta kommer från kollegor anses vara värdefullt
men är otillräckligt för att skapa en hållbar arbetsmiljö för de oerfarna mellancheferna.
Studien bidrar därmed med kunskap avseende en ofta osynliggjord grupp inom
arbetsmiljöforskning och understryker vikten av strukturellt stöd för att förebygga
psykosocial belastning i rollen som mellanchef