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The nature of peace : trajectories of environmental peacebuilding between dominant narratives and power relations
No full textPeacebuilding initiatives play an important role in the reconstruction of political, economic, and social conditions after internal armed conflicts. If these initiatives also account for environmental aspects, they have the potential to address both ecological damages and resource-related conflict causes. The sprawling literature on environmental peacebuilding therefore stresses the need for a holistic perspective to study conditions for sustainable peace. Recent scholarly work has directed attention to peace trajectories that draw connections between political, socioeconomic, and environmental dimensions of peacebuilding processes. We contribute to this growing research field by synthesizing key findings from the inter-disciplinary research program the “Nature of Peace” and related studies. Our goal is to identify, explain, and understand the trajectories that environmental peacebuilding processes may take in societies after an internal armed conflict. We first introduce the theory-based analytical framework that guided our studies. Based on this, we study trajectories that lead from the integration of environmental concerns in peacebuilding efforts to environmental and social consequences of these efforts and to chances for sustainable peace. We apply this framework to a range of geographical contexts, drawing, inter alia, on Colombia since the signing of the peace agreement in 2016, and environmental peacebuilding efforts in Uganda since 2002. We find that both constellations of power and dominant narratives considerably shape the routes that environmental peacebuilding may take. In particular, dominant nature-neglecting, instrumentalizing, and extractivist narratives have far-reaching impacts on the trajectory of peace processes. This is not only with regard to their environmental implications, e.g., deforestation and biodiversity loss, but also social consequences, e.g., threats to livelihoods of vulnerable communities, and, ultimately, old and new forms of physical, structural, and cultural violence. Thus, although addressing power asymmetries remains an important step for environmental peacebuilding, it is essential to counter narratives that instrumentalize nature to open new alleys for sustainable peace
Robust statistical jump models
No full textStatistical Jump Models are a class of regime identification models,similar to Hidden Markov Models, with the added advantage of facilitatinglarge-scale integration of exogenous variables that influence thelatent regime-switching process. Recent advancements in SJMs includethe introduction of automatic feature selection techniques, which eliminateirrelevant exogenous information and enhance the model’s ability toidentify regimes more effectively.We generalize the regular Statistical Jump Model by considering robustdistances measures, while preserving the feature selection. This isimportant for financial data, as these are often heavy-tailed.The simulation study confirm that the proposed modified algorithmis outperforming the regular statistical jump model on heavy-tailed databut not on light tailed data, as predicted by statistical theory. We alsofind that the corresponding latent regime process is more persistent whenestimated on index returns than comparable estimates derived using HiddenMarkov Models or the regular statistical jump model, an obviousadvantage for any trading strategy based on the latent regime process
Phase field crystal modeling of grain boundary migration : Mobility, energy and structural variability
No full textPhase field crystal (PFC) modeling is employed to investigate the migration dynamics of FCC and BCC symmetric tilt grain boundaries (GBs) under an applied artificial driving pressure. The evolution of GB position, velocity, mobility, structure and energy is tracked to explore the interdependencies of these quantities. The use of PFC permits simulations with atom scale spatial resolution over extended migration distances, beyond what is readily achievable using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Consistent with MD-based data in the literature, the PFC results reveal a nonlinear dependence of GB mobility on driving pressure. Additionally, GB mobility exhibits a nonlinear dependence on misorientation, which correlates with energy variations observed in the migrating GBs. These energy variations also align with GB energy fluctuations associated with structural multiplicities in static boundaries, as recently demonstrated by the authors using PFC in Hallberg and Blixt (2024). Notably, the relation between GB mobility and minimum GB energy transitions between different types of covariance in different pressure regimes. These findings provide new insights into the complex mechanisms governing GB migration and demonstrate the capability of PFC modeling as a tool to capture GB dynamics beyond the time scale limitations of conventional MD simulations
Structures and Dynamics of Low-income Work in Sweden : A Geographical Inquiry
No full textThe transformation to the knowledge economy has reshaped the foundations of work, opportunity, and political sentiment across advanced democracies. Much of the public and academic debate has emphasized deepening regional divides, increasing inequalities, growing precarity, the erosion of upward mobility, and growing social discontent.This PhD thesis explores the geographies of low-income work in Sweden through three core research questions: 1) Where and why has low-income work concentrated during the transformation into the knowledge economy? 2) How do geographical contexts shape opportunities for upward mobility from low-income work? And 3) In what ways have the geographies of low-income work influenced the geographies of discontent? In doing so, this thesis advances our understanding of the changing structures and dynamics of low-income work amid structural transformation.The findings indicate that while the knowledge economy is often associated with increasing inequalities and polarization, it has not resulted in a growing concentration of low-income work in Sweden. Instead, dynamics of upgrading and labor market tightening have contributed to a national decline in low-wage employment and convergence across regions. Geography, moreover, continues to shape opportunities. Crucially, the prospects for upward mobility among low-income workers are influenced not only by the extent and qualities of formal and informal networks, but also by the ways workers are embedded in them. Finally, political discontent – often framed as a reaction to economic decline – appears to reflect more diffuse anxieties. Support for far-right populism is higher in regions with more high-income work, less low-income work, and lower mobility rates, pointing toward concerns about relative status and blocked opportunities rather than just economic hardship.Overall, these insights push back against overly pessimistic accounts of technological change and the polarization literature. The Swedish model – combining innovation with inclusion – shows that more equitable trajectories are possible. In this way, the thesis offers valuable insights into how institutional and spatial arrangements can shape labor market outcomes and mitigate the destabilizing effects of economic transformation
Scholar-activism as an object of study in a diverse literature: preconditions, forms, and implications
No full textScholar-activism—academic scholars engaging in some form of activism—has recently become a prominent phenomenon as we witness calls for scholars to engage in political, social, and environmental causes that go beyond their traditional academic duties. An emerging literature focuses on scholar-activism as an object of study. However, the literature is scattered across rather disconnected disciplines and research fields, with few empirically and theoretically well-grounded studies. In this paper, we review this literature and identify the diverse ways in which the phenomenon of scholar-activism has been studied, what is known, and what remains to be explored. This study is based on a systematic scoping literature review drawing on a diverse set of 85 publications from fields such as sociology, geography, management studies, and pedagogy. From the inductive analysis of the papers, three major themes emerge: preconditions, forms, and implications of scholar-activism.Preconditions refer to individual, organisational, and institutional factors conditioning engagement in scholar-activism. Forms involve the various ways in which scholar-activism is enacted, including activist research, teaching, and collaboration. The implications include individual, epistemic, and societal consequences of scholar-activism. The findings of this study provide insights into the growing but still diverse literature on scholar-activism and identify areas for future research and theoretical development
A real effort vs. standard public goods experiment : Asking for effort does make a difference
No full textThis paper reports results from an exploratory experimental study (N = 181) comparing an effort based public good game to a standard public good game — each presented in a gain and a loss frame. The data show lower average contributions and more free-riders in the effort treatments, with the most notable effect showing for men in the loss frame (comparing standard vs. effort, contributions drop from 76.7% to 17.0%, free-riders increase from 8.3% to 82.6%, full-contributors drop from 50.0% to 13.0%). The findings suggest that the provision of public goods might face more impediments than common experimental findings from the lab would indicate. Moreover, they suggest that especially men become more self-focused when required to mitigate a loss with effort. Given that many environmental public goods are about avoiding losses by taking action, the latter result seems to be relevant from a policy perspective
Giant cells in temporal artery biopsies and the risk of large-vessel involvement in patients with giant cell arteritis
No full textObjective Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic disease with variable vascular involvement. The objective was to investigate predictors of time-dependent large-vessel involvement (LVI) in a population-based cohort of patients with GCA. Methods GCA patients with positive temporal artery biopsies (TAB) between 1997- 2010 were identified through a regional pathology register. A structured review of histopathology reports and relevant imaging studies was performed. Cases with LVI through July 2016 were identified. Patients were followed to first LVI, death, migration from the area or July 29, 2016. Event free survival by clinical and histopathologic features was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Potential predictors of LVI were examined using Cox regression models. Results A total of 274 patients were included. The mean age at GCA diagnosis was 75.7 years. Fifty-one patients (19 %) had documented LVI during the follow-up, corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.4/100 person-years. The median time from GCA diagnosis to the diagnosis of LVI was 4.5 years (interquartile range 0.6-7.4). Thirty-four patients had aortic involvement (67% of those with LVI; 12% of all GCA cases). Survival free of LVI was longer in patients with giant cells in the TAB (75th percentile 14.0 vs 6.7 years; p=0.014). In age-adjusted analysis, the presence of giant cells in the TAB was associated with reduced risk of LVI (hazard ratio 0.48; 95 % confidence interval 0.27-0.86). Conclusion The negative association with giant cells in the TAB suggests that patients with LVI constitute a subset of GCA with particular disease mechanisms
Comparative cardiovascular safety of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults : a systematic review and network meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Concerns about the cardiovascular safety of medications used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remain. We aimed to compare the effects of pharmacological treatments for ADHD on haemodynamic values and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched 12 electronic databases, including Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, from database inception to Jan 18, 2024, for published and unpublished randomised controlled trials comparing amphetamines, atomoxetine, bupropion, clonidine, guanfacine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil, or viloxazine against each other or placebo. Primary outcomes were change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), measured in mm Hg, and pulse, measured in beats per minute, at timepoints closest to 12 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks. Summary data were extracted and pooled in random-effects network meta-analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed with the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) framework. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021295352. Before study initiation, we contacted representatives of a UK-based charity of people with lived experience of ADHD—the ADHD Foundation—regarding the relevance of the topic and the appropriateness of the outcomes chosen. Findings: 102 randomised controlled trials with short-term follow-up (median 7 weeks [IQR 5–9]) were included, encompassing 13 315 children and adolescents (aged ≥5 years and <18 years; mean age 11 years [SD 3]; of available data, 9635 [73%] were male and 3646 [27%] were female; of available data, 289 [2%] were Asian, 1719 [15%] were Black, and 8303 [71%] were White) and 9387 adults (≥18 years, mean age 35 years [11]; of available data, 5064 [57%] were male and 3809 [43%] were female; of available data, 488 [6%] were Asian, 457 [6%] were Black, and 6372 [79%] were White). Amphetamines, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and viloxazine led to increments in haemodynamic values in children and adolescents, adults, or both. In children and adolescents, mean increase against placebo ranged from 1·07 (95% CI 0·36–1·79; moderate CINeMA confidence) with atomoxetine to 1·81 (1·05–2·57; moderate) with methylphenidate for SBP; from 1·93 (0·74–3·11; high) with amphetamines to 2·42 (1·69–3·15; low) with methylphenidate for DBP; and from 2·79 (1·05–4·53; moderate) with viloxazine to 5·58 (4·67–6·49; high) with atomoxetine for pulse. In adults, mean increase against placebo ranged from 1·66 (95% CI 0·38–2·93; very low) with methylphenidate to 2·3 (0·66–3·94; very low) with amphetamines for SBP; from 1·60 (0·29–2·91; very low) with methylphenidate to 3·07 (0·69–5·45; very low) with lisdexamfetamine for DBP; and from 4·37 (3·16–5·59; very low) with methylphenidate to 5·8 (2·3–9·3; very low) with viloxazine for pulse. Amphetamines, lisdexamfetamine, or methylphenidate were not associated with larger increments in haemodynamic values compared with atomoxetine or viloxazine in either children and adolescents or adults. Guanfacine was associated with decrements in haemodynamic values in children and adolescents (mean decrease against placebo of –2·83 [95% CI –3·8 to –1·85; low CINeMA confidence] in SBP, –2·08 [–3 to –1·17; low] in DBP, and –4·06 [–5·45 –2·68; moderate] in pulse) and adults (mean decrease against placebo of –10·1 [–13·76 to –6·44; very low] in SBP, –7·73 [–11·88 to –3·58; very low] in DBP, and –6·83 [–10·85 to –2·81; very low] in pulse). Only four RCTs informed on effects in the medium term and none on the long term. Interpretation: Practitioners should monitor blood pressure and pulse in patients with ADHD treated with any pharmacological intervention, and not stimulants only. Given the short duration of available randomised controlled trials, new research providing insights on the causal effects of ADHD medications on cardiovascular parameters in the longer term should be funded. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research
Why not vaginal?—Nationwide trends and surgical outcomes in low-risk hysterectomies : A retrospective cohort study
No full textIntroduction: The rate of vaginal hysterectomies is declining globally. We investigated surgical techniques, outcomes, and costs in a large national cohort of benign hysterectomies with prerequisites for vaginal surgery. Material and Methods: A retrospective register-based cohort study with benign hysterectomies in the Swedish GynOp registry 2014–2023 (n = 17 804). Inclusion criteria were non-prolapse, non-endometriosis with uterus weight 500 mL (ARR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.04–0.34) were less common in RH versus VH in the low-risk group. There were no differences between RH and VH regarding postoperative complications and reoperations. Surgical time <45 min was less common in RH versus VH (ARR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.42–0.54) and RH had a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay (ARR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.33). Conclusions: A decline of vaginal hysterectomies in Sweden 2014–2023 among patients with prerequisites for vaginal surgery was shown. VH was the cheapest method with few postoperative complications and short hospitalization. Our results support the vaginal route in low-risk hysterectomies
On par with lithium-ion : Sodium-ion batteries
No full textCheaper and more sustainable batteries are key to decarbonize the global energy system, and sodium-ion batteries that use far fewer critical materials are an important option. Research now shows that rapidly improving techno-economics of sodium-ion batteries could soon make them competitive with lithium-ion phosphate batteries under a range of scenarios