Publikationer från Uppsala Universitet
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Sharing a Bed but Nothing Else : Bed Burial Traditions in First Millennium ad Europe
No full textThis article concerns the practice of bed burial, a rare funerary custom found in some sixth- to early tenth-century ad graves ranging from southern Germany to Scandinavia and England. Existing research has often overlooked the diversity of bed burials, focusing mainly on the reconstruction of the beds, their style, the status of the deceased, and the objects associated with them, without examining the broader implications of the ritual. Here, the author explores the variations in bed burials, their relationship to the deceased, the artefacts linked with them, and the surrounding contexts. Her study is based on a new assessment of every aspect of the ritual, including the location of the graves, the biological and social identity of the deceased, the burial assemblage, and whether the beds were complete. This approach aims to demonstrate that the practice of bed burial should be addressed in the plural.Cet article concerne la pratique d’inhumation des défunts sur un lit, une coutume funéraire relativement rare observée dans certaines tombes datant entre le VIe et le début du Xe siècle apr. J.-C., et réparties dans le sud de l’Allemagne, la Scandinavie et l’Angleterre. Les études menées jusqu’à présent ont souvent négligé la diversité des sépultures dites à lit, ayant surtout porté sur leur reconstruction leur style, le rang social des défunts et les objets qui leur étaient associés, sans considérer les implications plus amples de leur présence au sein du rituel funéraire. Dans cet article, l’auteure examine les variations parmi les sépultures à lit, leur rapport avec les défunts, le mobilier funéraire et le contexte environnant. Elle s’appuiesur une nouvelle évaluation de tous les aspects de cette pratique, y compris l’emplacement des sépultures, l’identité biologique et sociale des individus, le mobilier, et si les lits étaient entiers ou non. Cette approche vise à démontrer que cette pratique funéraire devrait être abordée dans toute sa pluralité
AI Companions for Philosophical Health : a Human-in-the-Loop Framework
No full textThis article explores the reciprocal relationship between artificial intelligence and philosophical health – defined as eudynamic adequation between thoughts and actions. Rather than simply examining how AI might enhance philosophical practice, we investigate how philosophical health can enhance AI applications while preserving the human character of philosophical reflection. We introduce the C.I.P.H.E.R. model (Crealectic Intelligence and Philosophical Health for Eudynamic Realities), a novel framework allowing for AI and human philosophical capacity to collaborate through a “human-in-the-loop” approach. Drawing on original data from a survey of 288 participants conducted between July 2023 and March 2025, we examine contemporary philosophical perspectives across six dimensions: bodily sense, sense of self, belonging, possibility, purpose, and philosophical worldview. Key findings reveal significant patterns including widespread loneliness despite connection (30.6%), evolving self-perception (75.3%), and gaps between purpose recognition and implementation. These empirical insights are evaluated against our theoretical framework for mutual enhancement between philosophical health and AI applications. We address fundamental challenges of technological mediation in philosophical inquiry, particularly regarding embodied understanding and authentic meaning-making
Tolerogenic antigen-specific vaccine induces VISTA-enriched regulatory T cells and protects against arthritis in DRB1*04:01 mice
No full textRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation, cartilage damage, and bone erosion. Despite improvements with the introduction of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), RA remains an incurable life-long disease. Advancements in peptide-based vaccination may open new avenues for treating autoimmune diseases, including RA, by inducing immune tolerance while maintaining normal immune function. We have already demonstrated the efficacy of a potent vaccine against RA, consisting of the mouse major histocompatibility complex class II (Aq) protein bound to the immunodominant type II collagen peptide COL2259-273, which needed to be galactosylated at position 264. To translate the vaccine to humans and to further enhance vaccine efficacy, we modified the glycine residue at position 265 and conjugated it with the human DRB1∗04:01 molecule. Remarkably, this modified vaccine (named DR4-AL179) provided robust effectiveness in suppressing arthritis in DRB1∗04:01-expressing mice without the need for galactosylation at position 264. DR4-AL179 vaccination induces tolerance involving multiple immunoregulatory pathways, including the activation of V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA)-positive nonconventional regulatory T cells, which contribute to a potent suppressive response preventing arthritis development in mice. This modified RA vaccine offers a novel therapeutic potential for human autoimmune diseases
Insects on the table: Exploring narratives underpinning Western resistance and acceptance of edible insects
No full textInsects for human consumption are not widely accepted in Western cultures. This matters because eating insects could contribute to help make the food system more sustainable. The reasons behind their acceptance or rejection have been widely researched over the past decade. However, exploring the narratives that underpin these attitudes might shed new lights on the topic. To investigate this dimension, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a workshop were employed, all designed as participatory and reflective settings. The four narratives that emerged from the study are: (1) insects as carriers of diseases, (2) the dominance of profit-driven logic and consumerism in the food system, (3) the tension between the desire to save the planet and the reluctance to change everyday habits, and (4) emerging consideration on insect welfare. An image was generated for each of the narratives. These narratives highlight the cultural, psychological, and ethical tensions underlying Western acceptance and rejection to edible insects. Viewing insects as threats and prioritizing profit in the food system can arguably stem from treating complex challenges as if they were simple or easily solvable. Yet it is crucial to bring narratives, some of them that we inherited, from the unconscious to the conscious level in order to reclaim our capacity to transform and reshape them
Tetractys of philosophical health : A structured approach to aligning personal cosmology, higher purpose, and practices of the compossible
No full textThis article introduces the Tetractys of Philosophical Health, a structured visual exercise inspired by the Pythagorean tetractys that facilitates alignment between an individual’s cosmological worldview, sense of purpose, and practical engagement with the world. This heuristic exercise is methodologically grounded through multi-layered convergent indications from cognitive load theory, affective neuroscience, neuroplasticity research, ancient wisdom traditions, and sustained philosophical counselling practice. Employed as a core component within the SMILE_PH method (Sense-Making Interviews Looking at Elements of Philosophical Health), the exercise serves as both exploratory tool and intervention, bridging abstract philosophical reflection and concrete action while training compossibility thinking—the capacity to create mutually reinforcing relationships between different dimensions of possibility. The article presents this four-layer theoretical foundation, describes implementations within philosophical counselling sessions with case examples, and discusses theoretical and practical implications for educational, organizational, and personal development contexts. The Tetractys, a tested innovation presented here for the first time in print, contributes to philosophical practice and possibility studies by offering a consolidating—compossibilizing—approach that helps individuals create integration between personal cosmology, cognitive coherence and practical mission while developing systemic thinking
Animal product–free formation and cultivation of three-dimensional primary hepatocyte spheroids
No full textThree-dimensional (3D) cultures of primary human hepatocytes (3D PHH) are successfully used to reduce and replace the use of animal experiments in biomedical research. Yet, the initial formation of 3D PHH is highly dependent on the supplementation with FBS. However, the molecular composition of FBS and its effects on cultured cells are poorly understood. Moreover, FBS is prone to batch-to-batch variation, immunogenic risk, and lack of adherence to the replacement, refinement, and reduction of animal experiments. Here, we demonstrate that FBS can be fully replaced by animal-free substitutes, thus facilitating fully chemically defined and animal serum–free 3D PHH cultures. Specifically, we combined a previously developed animal-free substitute cocktail with a normoglycemic (5.5 mM glucose and 0.58 ng/mL insulin) chemically defined culture medium. Morphological and viability evaluations, along with global proteomics data, demonstrated that serum-free cultured 3D PHH have comparable viability and functional performance of cytochrome P450s, rendering this medium useful for long-term studies and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity applications. This study marks a significant advancement in the development of animal serum–free culture conditions for primary human cell cultures, paving the way for more reliable and ethical in vitro studies.Authors in the list of papers of Evgeniya Mickols thesis: Mickols, E., Primpas, L., Oredsson, S., Karlgren, M.</p
The Worse than Nothing Account of Harm : A Fallen Hero
No full textDaniel Immerman has recently put forward a novel account of harm, the Worse than Nothing Account. We argue that this account faces fatal problems in cases in which an agent performs several simultaneous actions. We also argue that our criticism is considerably more powerful than another one that has recently been advanced
Från rekrytering till engagemang : Att bygga och bevara organisationskultur
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur organisationskultur formas och upprätthålls genom ledarskap, rekrytering och socialisationsprocesser inom två företag. Syftet med studien är att analysera hur dessa processer påverkar medarbetarnas engagemang och bidrar till organisationens långsiktiga kulturella stabilitet. Studien är kvalitativ och bygger på åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer med chefer och medarbetare. En tematisk analys användes för att identifiera mönster och teman kopplade till företagskultur. Resultatet visar att företagskultur kan fungera som en strategisk tillgång, där företag med samarbetsinriktad kultur främjar trygghet och engagemang medan en prestationsorienterad kultur driver motivation genom tydliga mål och belöningar. Studien belyser också vikten av att balansera krav och stöd för att undvika negativa konsekvenser. Slutsatserna är att organisationskulturens styrka ligger i dess koppling till strategiska mål och att rekrytering, onboarding och ledarskap är nyckelverktyg för att skapa en stark och hållbar kultur. Studien bidrar med insikter för organisationer som strävar efter att forma en effektiv och engagerande arbetsmiljö
Sustained Release of Proteins Using Region‐Specific Tunable Degradability in Hydrogels through 3D Photopatterning and Complimentary Labile Bond Chemistry
No full textLight-triggered chemical reactions have demonstrated great potential for advanced cell guidance, on-demand release of therapeutics, and complex patterning in four dimensions. Current strategies rely on the cleavage of a light sensitive bond, while several protein and therapeutic release systems are designed using a hydrolytically labile bond. To bridge the gap between externally controlled light regulated transformations and intrinsically controlled hydrolytically labile bonds, a new family of light-triggered photocages that upon conjugation to target proteins form more or less hydrolytically (un)stable imine, hydrazone, and oxime bonds is reported. The three photocages follow a dose-dependent relationship using ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation and the one- and two-photon uncaging can be controlled in discrete volumes down to at least 10 µm precision. Upon photoirradiation, the exposed latent amino-, hydrazino-, and hydroxylamino-moieties readily react with a variety of proteins, and complimentary sustained release can be achieved. The relative release rate of imine-, hydrazone-, and oxime-bound proteins enable control over cell fate on hydrogels using two neuroblastoma cell lines. These results are anticipated to open new avenues for advanced materials where region-specifical degradability is central, such as for complex protein photopatterns, cell-guided hydrogels, and for programmable materials using photomediated dynamic covalent chemistry and photoclick chemistry
Hydrogen gas sensing properties of Pd-decorated ZnO tetrapod nanostructures
No full textHydrogen is a promising and renewable energy carrier; however, its high permeability, flammability, and colorless, odorless, and tasteless characteristics necessitate the development of reliable detection methods. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and hydrogen sensing performance of palladium-decorated zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapod nanostructures. ZnO tetrapods were synthesized via thermal oxidation of ball-milled zinc powders, with milling durations of 0, 3, and 10 h to optimize nanostructure uniformity. Structural and compositional analyses using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed successful decoration with Pd nanoparticles while preserving the wurtzite crystal structure of ZnO. Gas sensing measurements demonstrated that Pd decoration markedly enhanced hydrogen sensitivity; the optimal sample (Pd(0.5 %)/ZnO) exhibited a sensor response of approximately 200 % at 350 degrees C, significantly surpassing the similar to 25 % response of the undecorated ZnO. This synergistic effect also yielded rapid response (similar to 2 s) and recovery (similar to 7 s) times. These findings establish Pd-decorated ZnO tetrapod nanostructures as robust and efficient candidates for hydrogen sensing applications, offering high sensitivity, swift response, and excellent selectivity