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Private enforcement of competition law : a survey of preliminary references to the Court of Justice (2024–2025)
No full textThe cases reported concern the assignment of claims to third-party litigators, limitation periods, and the consequences of the competition law concept of a ‘single economic unit’ with regard to the jurisdiction of national courts under the Brussels I bis Regulation. For example, in ASG 2, the Court of Justice was asked whether EU law requires that collective redress, in some form, be available in the Member States, but allowed the Member States a rather wide margin of discretion on the matter. Another example was Heureka, in which the Court of Justice ruled that EU law precludes national rules on the limitation of follow-on damages actions if they do not provide for the limitation period to be suspended, at the very least, until one year after the date on which the public enforcement decision finding an infringement has become final. As the case law develops, we gain legal foreseeability in private enforcement of competition law that will, in turn, further increase incentives to seek compensation for harm caused by infringements.Konkurrenstvister bortom harmoniseringe
Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion MRI in differentiation between recurrent intracranial tumor and treatment-induced changes
No full textPurpose To compare intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging to dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI in differentiating tumor recurrence from treatment-induced changes. Methods Our prospective study included patients previously treated with radiotherapy for intracranial tumors who later developed a new or increasing contrast-enhancing lesion. The final diagnosis was based on neuropathology or 6-month follow-up. MR examinations were performed for calculation of the perfusion fraction (f) using the IVIM technique and relative blood volume (rCBV) using DSC perfusion. Measurements of f and rCBV were made by two independent readers in hotspots when possible, but otherwise in the whole enhancing region. Measures of rCBV were normalized to the contralateral region. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed. Results Sixty patients (35 men, median age 49, range 20–77) were evaluated. Forty-four patients had tumor recurrence and 16 had treatment-induced changes. Mean f was 0.090 for tumors and 0.058 for treatment-induced changes (p = 0.002). Mean rCBV was 3.52 and 1.79, respectively (p = 0.002). The area under the curve (AUC) in the ROC analysis was 0.72 for f and 0.77 for rCBV. Cutoff values of 0.073 for f and 2.26 for rCBV yielded equal values for sensitivity (73%), specificity (75%), and accuracy (73%). The 90th percentile value of rCBV was 4.77 for tumors and 2.53 for treatment-induced changes (p = 0.0004) and yielded the highest AUC (0.79) and a sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of 80%/75%/78% at cutoff value 3.25. Conclusion The accuracy of the IVIM parameter f is similar to that of rCBV in differentiating tumor recurrence from treatment-induced changes.De två första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet</p
“We Are Like a Family Here” : A qualitative investigation on the meaning of social identity and social support for healthcare employees
No full textThis paper investigates the subjective meanings, experiences and role of work demands, work control and social identity and social support for healthcare employees in care-driven jobs. In contrast to current work-life research that minimize the social dimensions of work life into predefined terms and measurable items, this paper uses a qualitative approach with the goal of understanding the employees’ subjective meanings and experiences. The investigations have been conducted with semi-structured interviews. The participants consist of healthcare employees at an elderly nursing home. Current research on social identity in relation to relevant work life factors such as social support and health is dominated by the social identity theory by Tajfel & Turner. This perspective has been used as a tool. However, this theory consists of flawed and overly mechanical explanations, therefore the theory has been used in a critical manner. The structuralist symbolic interactionist perspective by Stryker & Burke has been used as a possible alternative explanation and understanding of certain role meanings. The results in this paper suggest that the healthcare employees perceive workgroup belonging and relationships to residents as important in relation to social identity. Furthermore, these aspects seem to be related to social support, which has been understood by participants in terms of practical and emotional support. The form of social support that was valued by participants seemed to be related to the group in a specific context. Additionally, ties and relationships to residents seem to be meaningful in a nuanced way for healthcare employees and they seem to differentiate between the meanings of social support and group belonging depending on the source. This paper also suggests that social identity in this work context seems to be flexible and related to the social context since perceptions could differ in relation to work roles, relationships and more. Perceptions of belonging and support in intergroup relations could differ depending on social aspects. Additionally, it seems that social identity aspects could have negative outcomes for participants regarding exclusion based on conditional group membership in the form of ethnic/cultural identity.
Grönt Kapital, Gröna Obligationer och Hållbara Initiativ för Framtida Urban Planering
No full textMarknaden för grönt kapital och gröna obligationer har vuxit kraftigt i Sverige under de senaste åren. Denna utveckling drivs av ökade ambitioner och en växande efterfrågan på hållbarhet inom både projektplanering och finanssektorn. Grönt kapital och gröna obligationer betraktas idag som viktiga finansiella verktyg i den pågående hållbara omställningen, som är mer omfattande än någonsin tidigare. Den första gröna obligationen i EU - och i världen - emitterades för 17 år sedan av Europeiska investeringsbanken (EIB). Sedan dess har den globala marknaden för gröna obligationer vuxit stadigt och uppgår nu till över 1,5 biljoner euro i totalt emitterade obligationer. Därtill kommer cirka 720 miljarder euro i sociala och hållbara obligationer, vilket ytterligare understryker den växande betydelsen av hållbar finansiering Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur grönt kapital, med fokus på gröna obligationer, kan användas för att främja hållbar utveckling och miljöskydd inom samhällsplanering för bostadsbyggande i Sverige. Studien analyserar hur gröna obligationer fungerar som ett verktyg för att finansiera bostadsprojekt som stöder hållbara städer, energieffektivitet och minskad klimatpåverkan. Genom att granska specifika exempel där gröna obligationer har finansierat bostadsbyggnadsprojekt med hållbarhetsmål, syftar studien till att klargöra hur dessa investeringar bidrar till både långsiktig ekonomisk hållbarhet och miljömässiga mål inom samhällsplaneringen. Genom analyser av praktiska exempel från Region Stockholm, Göteborgs stad och Malmö stad framgår att grönt kapital och gröna obligationer alltmer används inom urban stadsplanering samt bygg- och fastighetsbranschen. Studien visar att dessa verktyg inte bara syftar till att minska miljörisker och skapa nya affärsmöjligheter utan också fungerar som ett kommunikationsmedel för att attrahera investerare genom att signalera lägre ekologiska risker och anpassning till framtida miljökrav. Studien drar slutsatsen att legitimitet, ekologisk anpassningsförmåga och möjligheten att kombinera miljömässiga och ekonomiska mål gör gröna obligationer till en effektiv strategi för marknadsföring och PR
Pharmaceuticals in the environment - perspectives on drug utilisation and mitigation strategies
No full textThe environmental impact of pharmaceuticals has emerged as a critical concern. As global pharmaceutical consumption steadily increases, the environmental issues linked to their production, use, and disposal are becoming ever more pressing. This thesis aimed to study drug utilisation in relation to environmental risk and to explore the role and responsibility of healthcare professionals in reducing the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals. The focus was on promoting environmentally informed pharmaceutical use, emphasising use-oriented measures and the roles of various healthcare stakeholders. Four interconnected studies were conducted: an analysis of analgesic sales in the region surrounding Lake Mälaren to investigate use patterns of substances with environmental concern (Paper I); interviews with key decision makers representing Swedish national and regional authorities, the pharmaceutical industry, research institutes, and academia to evaluate the content, use, and impact of two Swedish environmental knowledge support systems for pharmaceuticals (Paper II); a national questionnaire to general practitioners exploring attitudes towards integrating environmental aspects into prescribing decisions (Paper III); and focus group discussions and individual interviews with community pharmacy staff on their role in reducing the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals (Paper IV). The findings reveal that awareness of pharmaceuticals as an environmental problem exists within healthcare, however, important prerequisites for integrating environmental aspects into practice are still lacking. Access to reliable environmental risk data for many active pharmaceutical ingredients remains limited, decision-making criteria are often unclear, and there is little concrete guidance on how to incorporate environmental considerations into everyday clinical routines. Healthcare professionals are essential in promoting environmentally informed pharmaceutical use. Physicians and pharmacists both consider themselves to have a role and responsibility in promoting more environmentally informed use of pharmaceuticals. Their contributions include preventing pharmaceutical waste and supporting pharmaceutical stewardship. However, there is a need for education and institutional support in enabling them to take action. Findings show that addressing pharmaceutical pollution requires action beyond the efforts of individual healthcare professionals. Strong governance and clear direction, both at the national and international levels, are essential to enable change. Environmental considerations should be systematically integrated into established decision-making structures, such as treatment guidelines, so that sustainable choices become the default rather than the exception. By combining analyses of pharmaceutical sales data with insights into healthcare professionals’ attitudes, drug utilisation studies can generate the evidence base needed to support the systematic and broadly accepted inclusion of environmental considerations in healthcare
Testing the ELSA Birth App During Pregnancy and Labor for Primiparous Women : Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textBackground: Early labor is often managed at home without professional support. The Birth App (Birth by Heart) is an app designed to support women during early labor. A pilot study revealed that women found the app's exercises simple, understandable, and practical. The app was perceived as useful and appreciated by women, although areas for improvement were identified, primarily related to technical issues. After the development and test period, the updated app was tested in a randomized controlled trial. Objective: This study aims to investigate whether women using the Birth App during pregnancy and childbirth experience less distress during early labor compared to those receiving standard antenatal care. Methods: We used online recruiting in a nonblinded 3-part blended care model with 1:1:1 randomization: group 1 (Birth App intervention); group 2 (Birth App Plus, combining the app with in-person additional midwifery contacts); and group 3 (control group receiving standard antenatal care). Pregnant nulliparous women were invited via social media. Eligibility criteria were nulliparity, planning a vaginal birth, from gestational week 25+0 to 35+6 weeks, proficiency in understanding Swedish, and having access to a smartphone or tablet. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. Results: A total of 391 women completed the baseline questionnaire and were included in the study (group 1, n=118; group 2, n=114; group 3, n=118). Of these, 335 women responded to the questionnaire 1 month postpartum, yielding a response rate of 85.6%. Most participants experienced a spontaneous onset of labor (group 1: 67/103, 65%; group 2: 81/114, 71%; and group 3: control group, 86/118, 73%), with no statistically significant differences between groups. During early labor, women in group 1 remained at home for a mean of 16.76 (SD 20.45) hours, group 2 for a mean of 14.47 (SD 16.82) hours, and the control group for a mean of 12.90 (SD 15.99) hours (P=.32). For the primary and secondary outcomes, only women with spontaneous onset of labor (n=234) were included in the analysis. The primary outcome, emotional distress, showed similar mean values across all groups. No statistically significant differences were identified in the secondary outcomes: childbirth experience, pain relief, and support from the partner. However, for the secondary outcome fear of future birth, a pairwise testing from baseline to follow-up revealed a statistically significant mean difference for the intervention groups (group 1: mean 13.53, 95% CI 5.12-21.92, P=.002; group 2: mean 14.59, 95% CI 7.75-21.42, P<.001) with a medium effect size (Cohen d=.40 vs d=.47). For group 3, the mean was 6.78 (95% CI -.95 to 14.53; P=.08). Conclusions: The Birth App, in conjunction with additional midwifery support, can be a valuable tool for pregnant women and their partners during pregnancy and childbirth. The observed reduction in fear of forthcoming childbirth associated with the Birth App warrants further investigation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05122390; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT0512239
Assessing the importance of gender transformative WASH : evidence from a gender-mainstreamed WASH programme in Bangladesh
No full textWater, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are crucial for gender equality but their gender-transformative potential has received less attention in terms of intervention design and evaluation. We compared empowerment levels among participants in a gender-transformative WASH programme in Satkhira, Bangladesh which integrated components such as household decision-making and social norms, to non-participants using the Empowerment in WASH Index. Women participants had higher empowerment than all other groups, including men in both areas. The results show the potential of gender transformative WASH approaches to not only achieve targeted improvements in WASH but also make meaningful and measurable contributions to gender equality
Environmental Disasters in the Aliens Act : A Review of Chapter 4 Section 2 a of the Aliens Act (2005:716) as a Legal Basis for Protection in Cases of Environmentally Induced Displacement
No full textThe anti-aging potential of antihypertensive peptides of Pariset, a dataset of algal peptides
No full textIntroduction: Cellular senescence drives aging and disease by promoting inflammation and tissue dysfunction. The kidneys, highly susceptible to aging, worsen with hypertension, increasing chronic disease risk. Managing blood pressure with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and natural bioactive peptides helps maintain kidney health. This study explores a kidney-associated aging network and algal peptides with renoprotective and anti-aging effects. Methods: Senescence-associated genes from Human Ageing Genomic Resources (HAGR) were used to construct and analyze a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, refining a kidney-related subset ACE, angiotensin II Receptor Type 1 (AGTR1), and angiotensin II Receptor Type 2 (AGTR2). Algal antihypertensive peptides were filtered out of the laboratory dataset of algal peptides, Pariset, and assessed for allergenicity, antigenicity, toxicity, and anti-aging potential via sequence similarity searches. Selected peptides were prepared for molecular docking, tested against kidney-aging targets, and visualized. Results: A senescence-associated PPI network revealed key aging-related proteins-IL1R, CD4, FN1, STAT3, CD45, APOE, CD44, ITGAM. CD8A, CD68, CDH1, ACE, AGTR1, and AGTR2-linked to inflammation, immunity, and fibrosis. Screening identified 54 antihypertensive peptides, among which seven were predicted to be non-allergenic and non-antigenic peptides, while six out of them exhibited anti-aging properties. KTFPY and others exhibited strong binding to ACE and kidney-aging proteins, suggesting therapeutic benefits. Discussion: The senescence-associated PPI network reveals potentially important aging-related proteins affecting kidney health. Algal peptides, particularly KTFPY, VYRT, PGDTY, PVAFN, and MTFF, exhibit strong ACE binding, suggesting potential antihypertensive and anti-aging benefits. CD68 expressed reliable binding affinities with small-molecule ACE inhibitors, and it indicated the repurposing potential of these drugs for aging-associated conditions. These computational results highlight the potential of peptide-based therapies in addressing age-related kidney dysfunction, and warrant further experimental investigations
