Publikationer från Uppsala Universitet
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Evaluating the Feasibility of a Highly Time-Resolved, Multi-Frequency Quartz Crystal Microbalance
No full textQuartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is a highly sensitive mass-sensing technique that exploits the piezoelectric effect of a thin quartz crystal: when an alternating current drives the crystal at its resonance frequency, any mass added to its surface induces a measurable shift in that frequency. Because this frequency change is directly proportional to mass loading at the nanogram scale, QCM has become a cornerstone technology for monitoring thin-film deposition, probing interfacial phenomena, and real-time biosensing applications. However, achieving both high mass-resolution and high time resolution in a compact, low-cost platform remains challenging. This thesis implements three measurement techniques on an FPGA-based platform: impedance analysis, ring-down, and multi-frequency lock-in amplification (MLA). A streaming architecture enables continuous, simultaneous capture and generation of arbitrary excitation and response waveforms, limited by the available memory on the FPGA board. Impedance analysis reliably tracked responses at both the fundamental frequency and the third overtone, with a ≈14 Hz root-mean-square (RMS) precision at one-second resolution. The ring-down and MLA methods generated and recorded the intended waveforms but did not yet yield meaningful data; the most likely cause appears to be limitations and design errors in the analogue circuitry connected to the quartz crystal, though other factors cannot be ruled out. Overall, these findings do not disprove the potential for multi-frequency QCM on inexpensive FPGA hardware but indicate that further investigation, particularly into analogue circuitry and FPGA design refinements, is needed before a multi-frequency system with high time resolution can be achieved
Design Implications for Care Robot Communication Based on Older Adults' Non-Verbal Behaviour: Socially Sensitive, Timely, and Adaptable Communication Strategies
No full textThis study investigates how older adults in the Netherlands respond non-verbally to communication from care robots, and how these responses can inform communication design. Drawing on qualitative, ethnographically inspired methods, the research includes an observational study of in-situ interactions with two types of care robots, and exploratory focus groups using co-design activities. Thematic and narrative analysis of the data reveals how older adults express understanding, confusion, or disengagement through non-verbal behaviour, and how communication breakdowns often stem from unclear cues, poor timing, or a lack of feedback from the robot. The findings highlight older adults' preferences for respectful, context-aware robot behaviour and their use of subtle strategies to maintain or repair interaction. The study offers empirically grounded design implications that emphasise the need for socially sensitive, timely, and adaptable communication strategies.
Semi-conducting Geopolitics : The European Commission’s industrial power ambitions as read through the Chips Act
No full textThis thesis explores the role of geopolitical discourse in justifying increased EU influence over industrial policymaking in the case of the European Chips Act. Previous research has established that the 2019-2024 European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen took on an actively geopoliticising role, attempting to lead a joint EU approach to global competitiveness in reaction to tensions with China and the United States. One sector which was hit especially hard by global economic tensions was the semiconductor, or chips, industry. The von der Leyen Commission formulated a response in the form of the European Chips Act, which has not been sufficiently academically studied. The EU does not formally have mandate, or competence, over industrial policy, but scholars have illustrated that the EU can incrementally increase its de facto policymaking capabilities, especially when it can point to an external threat as its reasons for doing so. Through discourse analysis, this study shows that the Commission discursively intertwined industry with geopolitics to argue that if the EU would not jointly address the chips shortage, its security, economic development, internal cohesion and global standing would be at risk. Through such discourse, the Commission argued the EU should take the lead on a common European response to the chips shortage. The findings imply that the European Chips Act could be an incremental step to increase EU influence over industrial policy, and that geopolitical discourse could potentially be used to informally broaden the scope of EU action across other competence areas
När språket skaver och helar : En didaktisk läsning om diskursiv makt i Ocean Vuongs En stund är vi vackra på jorden
No full textDenna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur Ocean Vuongs roman En stund är vi vackra på jorden (2019) belyser förhållandet mellan språk och makt, med särskilt fokus på relationen mellan majoritetsspråket engelska och minoritetsspråket vietnamesiska. Med utgångspunkt i tre frågeställningar undersöks romanens diskurser om majoritetsspråket och modersmålet, dess reproduktion och utmanande av språkliga maktstrukturer samt dess svenskdidaktiska potential mot bakgrund av att språk och makt lyfts fram i den nya ämnesplan som träder i kraft under 2025. I analysen framgår att diskursen om majoritetsspråket präglas av dominans, frihet, censur och överordning medan diskursen om modersmålet kännetecknas av trauma, osynlighet, avstånd och underordning. Vidare konstateras att maktförhållandet mellan diskurserna förstärks av främmandegörande dikotomier, vilka kan härledas till den hegemoniska majoritetsspråksdiskursens ideologi. I en kompletterande analys av motstånd synliggörs att Vuong utmanar maktstrukturerna genom dekonstruktion och språklig innovation. I en didaktisk diskussionen konstateras slutligen att romanen har en didaktisk potential att framdriva kritisk reflektion och förståelse av förhållandet mellan språk och makt
Persistence in the Face of Failure : Analyzing the Impact of Progress Loss on Player Persistence in Getting Over It
No full textThis thesis explores how the loss of progress affects persistence and retry behavior among content creators playing Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy for the first time. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative gameplay tracking with qualitative analysis of video transcripts to examine how repeated setbacks shape player engagement. The research focuses specifically on livestreamed and recorded content, leveraging the unique performative context of platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The theoretical framework incorporates Self-Determination Theory and Flow Theory to understand the motivational and experiential dimensions of persistence under frustration. Results indicate that despite, or because of repeated failures, players often exhibit renewed efforts, momentary flow states, and emotionally charged performances that are shaped both by internal motivation and external audience dynamics. These findings suggest that in games similar to Getting Over It, progress loss becomes a catalyst for narrative construction, emotional authenticity, and community engagement, especially within the performative sphere of online content creation. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on player frustration, abusive game design, and the evolving role of spectatorship in gameplay experience
A Comparative Analysis of the Regional Innovation Systems in Stockholm and Silicon Valley : A study about cooperation between the government, the industry and the universities in regional innovation systems
No full textInnovation is essential for the development and economic growth of societies. The innovativeness of a region depends on the structure of the regional innovation system and the interactions in the system. Silicon Valley and Stockholm are globally recognized for having successful innovation systems. However, the two regions’ systems are highly different. The thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of the complex structure of regional innovation systems and present a view of how successful systems can be structured. The objective was fulfilled by performing a comparative analysis of the innovation systems in Stockholm and Silicon Valley. The Tripel helix model was used as a theoretical framework to focus the research on the three key actors of regional innovation systems, which are the university, the industry, and the government. The thesis utilized an abductive and qualitative research method, and the data was collected through 19 semi-structured interviews with people knowledgeable in the innovation system in Silicon Valley and Stockholm. A thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the empirical data. The result showed that the regions’ innovation systems differ in their Triple helix structure. It is suggested that Silicon Valley’s innovation system tends to be more unbalanced, with the industry as the main actor, the universities as a significant actor, and the government as a less active actor. Moreover, it is implied that in Stockholm the Triple Helix is more balanced, where each of the three actors has a significant impact. Furthermore, the results showed that there are other factors that have significant roles in the innovation systems in the regions. This thesis suggests that a framework including the factors, innovation culture, maturity of the system, and financing of innovation, would be more suitable for describing the two innovation systems.
Religion i svensk Public Service-radio : En analys av hur radioprogrammet Morgonpasset i P3 talar om religion och andra livsåskådningar
No full textThis paper aims to analyse how different worldviews are presented in a Public Service radio programme based on Stig Hjarvards mediatization theory. The goal of this essay is to gain new knowledge about how religion and other worldviews can be presented in media that have a broad audience. The questions that are used to achieve the aim and goal is: How are different worldviews presented in the radio program Morgonpasset i P3? How can mediatization theory explain the presentations of different worldviews in the radio program Morgonpasset i P3? Using qualitative content analysis of selected transcripts, the study applies medialization theory, viewing media as a channel, language and environment to answer the research questions. The conclusions of this paper indicate that Christianity is the dominant worldview because most of the material speaks of Christian practices, traditions and way of life. The practices and traditions of Judaism, Islam and other alternative worldviews are mentioned less frequently. When these different worldviews are presented, there is a broad spectrum of both traditional practices and more modern ways to think and practice, especially when it comes to religion. Lastly this study also concludes that the radio programme functions as a channel in its way to present different contents of religion and other worldviews, as well as the programme functions as a language through its pop culture focus. The radio programme also functions as an environment when telling stories with a potentially guiding narrative.
Clinical phenotypes predict exacerbations of COPD : the TIE cohort study
No full textBackground: In 2017, Burgel and colleagues developed an algorithm to identify clinical phenotypes that predict mortality in COPD. Our study aimed to 1) investigate whether the phenotypes can predict acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and 2) validate their ability to predict mortality. Methods: The Tools Identifying Exacerbations (TIE) cohort study recruited participants with spirometry-verified COPD from primary and secondary care in three Swedish regions. Participants were allocated to phenotypes 1–5 using the previously developed algorithm containing comorbidities (heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and/or diabetes), dyspnoea, age, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and body mass index (BMI). Data on AECOPDs and deaths during the three-year follow-up were collected from medical records and analysed with Cox proportional hazards regressions. Harrel's C-index was used to assess the models' discriminative ability. Results: Among the 566 participants, 59 % were female, and the mean ± SD FEV1 was 57 ± 18 % of predicted. The hazard ratios (HRs) [95 % CI] for time to AECOPD were 3.04 [1.93–4.79], 2.38 [1.54–3.66], and 3.52 [1.73–7.15] in phenotypes 1, 2, and 4 compared with 5 (C-index = 0.61). When AECOPD history was used to predict future AECOPD the C-index was 0.65.The HRs [95 % CI] for mortality were 8.24 [1.93–35.3], 6.26 [1.40–28.0], and 16.7 [3.25–86.3] in phenotypes 1, 3, and 4 compared to 5 (C-index = 0.68). For AECOPD history, the C-index was 0.55. Conclusion: Clinical COPD phenotypes based on comorbidities, dyspnoea, age, FEV1, and BMI predict AECOPDs but do not perform better than AECOPD history. However, they perform better than AECOPD history in predicting mortality
Highly toughened translucent glass matrix nanoceramics enhanced by amorphous Al2O3
No full textThe introduction of glass matrix ceramics in dental restorations has revolutionized dental aesthetics. A key challenge in the development of dental glass ceramics is achieving nanocrystalline glass ceramics with superior mechanical properties without compromising translucency. In this study, ZrO2-SiO2 glass ceramics doped with amorphous Al2O3 were investigated to address these requirements. The results indicate that the segregation of Al3+ at the grain boundaries of ZrO2 crystallites and the nano-domains of amorphous Al2O3 significantly influences the microstructure, including the grain size and stabilization of tetragonal ZrO2, as well as the translucency and mechanical properties. The composition with 10 mol% Al2O3 exhibits the highest toughness of 8.05 MPa center dot m1/2 while maintaining excellent translucency. Moreover, the composition with 5 mol% Al2O3 demonstrates lower translucency but achieves a high flexural strength of 960 MPa. Overall, the mechanical properties of these translucent glass matrix ceramics surpass those of commercially available dental glass ceramics, highlighting their potential for dental restoration applications
Modeling of Disease Progression of Type 2 Diabetes Using Real-World Data : Quantifying Competing Risks of Morbidity and Mortality
No full textType 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive metabolic disorder that could be an underlying cause of long-term complications that increase mortality. The assessment of the probability of such events could be essential for mortality risk management. This work aimed to establish a framework for risk predictions of macrovascular complications (MVC) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with T2D, using real-world data from the Swedish National Diabetes Registry (NDR), in the presence of mortality as a competing risk. The study consisted of 41,517 patients with T2D registered in NDR between 2005 and 2013. At inclusion, patients were newly diagnosed (T2D < 1 year) and had no prior evidence of DKD or MVC. Using three-quarters of the data, a five-state multistate model was established to describe competing events of MVC, DKD, a combination thereof, and the terminal state, death. Two hypotheses were investigated: (1) the risk of MVC and DKD are mutually independent, and (2) mortality is independent of morbidities. At the end of the study, the majority of individuals remained in uncomplicated T2D; however, the probability of transition to complications and death increased over time. The mortality hazard depended on the presence of morbidities and was quantified as a life expectancy decreased by 5.0, 9.7, and 12.2 years for MVC, DKD, and the combined morbidity, respectively, compared to uncomplicated T2D. An established framework with a five-state model incorporating competing events was shown to be a useful tool for comorbidities risk assessment in newly diagnosed patients with T2D