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| 2. |
- Axelsson, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of Multi-level Social Learning for Sustainable Landscapes : Perspective of a Development Initiative in Bergslagen, Sweden
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Netherlands. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 42:2, s. 241-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To implement policies about sustainable landscapes and rural development necessitates social learning about states and trends of sustainability indicators, norms that define sustainability, and adaptive multi-level governance. We evaluate the extent to which social learning at multiple governance levels for sustainable landscapes occur in 18 local development initiatives in the network of Sustainable Bergslagen in Sweden. We mapped activities over time, and interviewed key actors in the network about social learning. While activities resulted in exchange of experiences and some local solutions, a major challenge was to secure systematic social learning and make new knowledge explicit at multiple levels. None of the development initiatives used a systematic approach to secure social learning, and sustainability assessments were not made systematically. We discuss how social learning can be improved, and how a learning network of development initiatives could be realized.
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- Baravdish, George, et al.
(författare)
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PDE-SVD Based Audio Denoising
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Communications Control and Signal Processing (ISCCSP), 2012. - Piscataway, NJ, USA : IEEE. - 9781467302746 ; , s. 1-6
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we present a new method for denoising audio signals. The method is based on the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) of the frame matrix representing the signal inthe Overlap Add decomposition. Denoising is performed by modifying both the singular values, using a tapering model, and the singular vectors of the representation, using a nonlinear PDE method. The performance of the method is evaluated and compared with denoising obtained by filtering.
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| 4. |
- Hadimeri, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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A fixed protocol for outpatient clinic routines in the care of patients with severe renal failure
- 2013
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Ingår i: Renal failure. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0886-022X .- 1525-6049. ; 35:6, s. 845-854
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The primary aim of this study was to assess whether a fixed protocol, using a specially trained team, for intermediate follow-up to fulfillment of guideline targets is non-inferior to conventional follow-up in the care of uraemic patients. A secondary aim was to investigate possible impact on patient outcome.Methods: The cohort comprised 424 patients from seven centers. Inclusion criteria were either serum creatinine exceeding 200 mu mol/l or calculated clearance below 30 ml/min, representing CKD 4 or 5a. Six centers followed a standardized protocol (group 1). One center provided controls (group 2). The study design was prospective and interventional. The variables measured were blood hemoglobin, bicarbonate, calcium, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, albumin, renal function variables, blood pressure and RAAS blockade. The number of patients achieving the set goals was analyzed as a time trend to determine if the intervention resulted in an improvement.Results: At baseline, group 1 had significantly lower GFR and higher serum creatinine, calcium, phosphate, calcium x phosphate product and bicarbonate, lower mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressures and less use of RAAS. During the intervention, group 1 improved in the direction of guidelines for blood hemoglobin, albumin, bicarbonate and MAP. Outcome of secondary endpoints gave a risk of death of 30% in both groups, while the risk of renal replacement therapy was higher in group 1.Conclusions: However, the time to renal replacement therapy was significantly shorter in the intervention group, indicating that other variables than guideline achievements are important for the patient.
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| 5. |
- Mernelius, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Compliance with hygiene guidelines : The effect of a multimodal hygiene intervention and validation of direct observations
- 2013
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Ingår i: American Journal of Infection Control. - : Elsevier. - 0196-6553 .- 1527-3296. ; 41:5, s. E45-E48
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundGood compliance with hygiene guidelines is essential to prevent bacterial transmission and health care-associated infections. However, the compliance is usually <50%.MethodsA multimodal and multidisciplinary hygiene intervention was launched once the baseline compliance was determined through direct observations in 4 departments of obstetrics and gynecology. Detailed evaluations of the compliance rates were performed at point of stability (at 80%) and follow-up (3 years after hygiene intervention). Validation of direct observations was performed using blinded double appraisal and multiappraisal.ResultsAt baseline, the compliance with barrier precautions and the dress code at the 4 departments were 39% to 47% and 79% to 98%, respectively. Point of stability was reached approximately 1 year after the hygiene intervention was launched. The compliance with barrier precautions was significantly higher at follow-up compared with baseline in 3 departments. In the validation by double appraisal, 471 of 483 components were judged identical between observers. In the multiappraisal, 95% to 100% of the observers correctly judged the 7 components.ConclusionIt is possible to improve compliance with hygiene guidelines, but, to ensure a long-lasting effect, a continuous focus on barrier precautions is required. Observation is a valid method to monitor compliance.
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| 6. |
- Svensson, Peter, 1974-
(författare)
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The Dynamics of Innovation and Knowledge-Based Regional Development
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Geographical regions as diverse as Silicon Valley, California and Linköping, Sweden have been the sources of new technology and endogenously created innovations. Scholars and policymakers recognise that specific regions or clusters of businesses have the capability to engage in more innovative activities and new business formation and to experience higher employment growth than others. This dissertation uses qualitative methods to study various aspects of regional development and innovation. It is based on five papers by the author and colleagues with levels of analysis ranging from regional to firms’ first sales in order to capture the dynamics of both the top and bottom levels of regional development. It then uses these papers’ empirical material to address the research questions of (a) how a new scientific knowledge base becomes established and exploited in a spatial context, and (b) how people create and diffuse innovations in a social and spatial context. This dissertation’s main findings are that (a) regional leadership involving the building of alliances with triple-helix actors is crucial for initiating a knowledge-based regional development process, (b) a consensus space is a catalytic mechanism for ensuring the speed and effectiveness of regional development, (c) lowering the barriers for the actors involved boosts participation and the rate of innovation, and (d) users’ perspectives are essential for social, institutional and commercial innovation. This dissertation’s main implications are that knowledge-based regional development’s initial stages require leadership that (a) builds alliances and establish an arena for the triple-helix actors, (b) analyses the regional barriers to the commercialisation of knowledge, and (c) utilises both endogenous and exogenous resources.
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| 7. |
- Talle, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Mowing for biodiversity : grass trimmer and knife mower perform equally well
- 2014
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Ingår i: Biodiversity and Conservation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0960-3115 .- 1572-9710. ; 23:12, s. 3073-3089
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mowing of semi-natural grasslands is an important management method to maintain the conservation value and species-richness of this habitat. Mowing using cutting instruments, e.g. sickle bar mowers, is thought to be superior by practitioners compared with other mechanical instruments that tears off the plant material, e.g. grass trimmers. However, almost no studies exist that supports this assumption. We analysed a 12-year field trial in a semi-natural grassland in south-eastern Sweden, with the aim of determining which mowing technique best maintains the conservation value of semi-natural grasslands. Two mowing techniques were compared: mowing using a hand-pushed sickle bar mower (a type of knife mower), or mowing using a grass trimmer at a 5-cm or 0-cm cutting height. The odds that a recorded species belongs to a group of indicator species were calculated for sample plots, and odds ratios were calculated contrasting treatments. Three types of indicator species classification systems were used: (i) indicators of management for species richness, (ii) indicators of excess nitrogen and (iii) indicators of lack of management. The odds ratios were calculated for years 1-5, 7 and 12 of the trial. In addition, Principal Response Curve analysis was performed to analyse the change in vegetation composition over time and ANOVA for plant species richness in plots. The results showed that over time there were no differences in the odds of finding indicators of any of the three types, for any of the mowing techniques. Furthermore, there were no apparent change in vegetation composition and only a small effect on richness. These results suggest that mowing using a sickle bar mower or a grass trimmer had the same effect on the floristic composition of grasslands, and both techniques can be recommended for use in semi-natural grasslands.
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