| 1. |
- Boniface, Raymond, 1977-
(författare)
-
Teachers' Retention in Tanzanian Remote Secondary Schools : Exploring Perceived Challenges and Support
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Teacher retention is a global challenge, and many developed and developing countries are struggling to staff and retain teachers in schools, particularly in low-performing, remote, and less desirable areas. In most of these countries, Tanzania in particular, the efficacy of fiscally inclined teachers’ retention strategies continues to be dubious. The aim of this study is to explore teachers’ perceived school level challenges and the support of retaining teachers in remote secondary schools in Tanzania. The study is inspired by a supportive management theoretical framework, particularly Organizational Support, Leader-Member Exchange and Coworkers’ Exchange. It is motivated by a pragmatic knowledge claim. Data were sequentially collected in three phases using interviews and survey questionnaires. A sample included 258 secondary schools teachers from 28 remote schools in the Dodoma region in central Tanzania. Mixed methods data analysis techniques were used.The current study identifies younger males of a well-educated and experienced teaching workforce as being the chief staffing in remote Tanzanian secondary schools. Such a teaching workforce is challenging to retain in remote areas, as it is rarely satisfied with the teaching career and highly susceptible to frequently changing employers and working contexts. Moreover, findings show that teachers perceive problems related to housing, social services, conflicts in schools, the inability to influence changes in schools, the teaching and learning situation and limited opportunities as the chief reasons for not remaining in remote schools. Furthermore, findings show that teachers perceive meaningful retention support as being contextually definitive. The catalyst is high quality exchanges amongst teachers which spearhead the development of intra- and extra-role practices, school citizenship behaviours, intraschool social capital (an investment), all of which could bind teachers together, enhancing performing and supporting each other beyond formal contracts. Such a situation triggers teachers’ beliefs that changes, improvement, adaptability and survival within difficult remote environments is possible, and this consequently influences the intention to voice and/or conversely, to exit. Teachers’ empowerment, justice practices and working voicing arenas are important practices for enhancing retention support, especially in remote areas.
|
|
| 2. |
- Ulander, Anna
(författare)
-
Optimization Based Decision Support Tools for Fire and Rescue Resource Planning
- 2015
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- When accidents occur, it is essential that fire and rescue service respond quickly and efficiently to the accident site to reduce suffering and save lives and property. Planning and coordinating of fire and rescue resources is therefore important in order to maintain a safe society. Firefighters in Sweden have by tradition worked in teams of five, and they have been allocated to fire stations strategically located in populated areas. However, this working approach has recently started to change and the fire and rescue services have started to deploy smaller groups of firefighters. These smaller units can be, for example, strategically located near high-risk areas or roads, or used for preventive work. The complexity of the resource planning process thus increases since the decision makers have to keep track of a large number of small units spread over the area. The new way of working has resulted in an increased need of support tools that can help the fire and rescue services in decisions regarding the resource management.In this thesis, optimization based decision support tools are developed in order to to support the fire and rescue service so they can efficiently manage, coordinate and dispatch fire and rescue resources with respect to the present demand for service.To find appropriate strategic and tactical locations for different types of response units, an optimization model that minimizes the response time to expected accidents is developed. The model considers both the response time for the first responding unit as well as the response time for the last responding unit. Furthermore, the model is flexible enough to incorporate any type of accidents or resources. The results show that the model can be used to produce practical support for various types of location decisions.To support the more complex operational planning, three optimization based decision support tools are developed. The tools can help the fire and rescue service to always maintain an adequate level of preparedness for handling accidents. To evaluate the preparedness, a quantitative measure has been defined and serves as the basis for the tools. The first tool can help illustrate the preparedness, the second tool to select appropriate vehicles and firefighters to dispatch to accidents, and the third tool to suggest how resources can be relocated to maintain an adequate preparedness for new accidents.The developed decision support tools are evaluated through tests and experiments with fire and rescue services in Sweden. Results from the experiments indicate that the three tools can support the fire and rescue service in operational decisions and in maintaining an adequate preparedness for handling accidents, but also that the planning time seems to increase when using the support tools. However, the participants’ experiences of the tools were in general positive, and they thought the tools were useful and that the tools could support their daily work. The perception of preparedness, which usually varies quite a bit among individuals, also seems to become more uniform with access to the tools.
|
|
| 3. |
- Matinrad, Niki, 1986-
(författare)
-
Models for Dispatch of Volunteers in Daily Emergency Response
- 2022
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sufficient emergency resources are essential for emergency services to provide timely help to affected people and to minimize damage to public and private assets and the environment. Emergency services, however, face resource shortages and increasing demand over time. As a result, their response times increase, resulting in lower survival chances of affected people and more severe damage to properties and the environment. Thus, emergency services need to utilize and effectively manage all their available resources. These can be divided into traditional resources, such as ambulances, and new and emerging resources, such as volunteers. Models and methods developed using operations research (OR) methodologies can facilitate the management of these resources. However, despite a rich literature on OR-based models and methods focusing on traditional resources, the literature on new and emerging resources, and specifically volunteers, is scarce.The aim of this thesis is to develop models and methods for task assignment and dispatch of volunteers to daily medical emergencies. This also includes forecasting models for future emergencies. The developed models and methods consider volunteer programs in Sweden and the Netherlands, employing real historical data.The aim has been addressed through three studies, one main study and two sub-studies, the results of which are presented in the six included papers. The main study focuses on the development of models, methods, and strategies for task assignment and dispatch of volunteers to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases using OR. To evaluate the survival rates of these patients, the most important health outcome of a response process, survival functions have been used in the development of these models and strategies. The results of this study are presented in Papers II–V. The first sub-study investigates different types of new and emerging resources used in daily medical emergency response, and the results are presented as an overview of the literature in Paper I. The second sub-study focuses on the forecast of medical emergency demand, and its outcomes are presented in Paper VI.The overall conclusion is that the use of OR-based models and methods can contribute to improved outcomes and increased survival probabilities compared to the strategies and techniques used in the existing systems.
|
|
| 4. |
- Jimenez-Gonzalez, Alejandro
(författare)
-
Stolen genes, a shortcut to success : Evolution of metabolic and detoxification capacities in Diplomonads
- 2020
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Parasites do not represent a single evolutionary lineage meaning that they have evolved several times. The changes that parasites have undergone to adapt to such a lifestyle are not entirely understood. This thesis focuses on the study of diplomonads (Fornicata, Metamonada), a group of host-associated or free-living protists, to better understand how they adapted to different environments and hosts.Diplomonads, and close relatives, are found in low-oxygen environments. However, some species can withstand fluctuating levels of oxygen. In a first study, we reconstructed the oxygen detoxification pathway of Fornicata and study its evolution. Comparative genomics showed that Fornicata shares a common pathway with lineage-specific modifications. Phylogenetic analyses showed a pathway in a constant change where proteins have been gained and lost.In a second study, the Giardia muris genome was sequenced and compared to the genome of G. intestinalis WB. We reconstructed the metabolic capacities of both species. Our analyses showed that the observed differences are the result of gene acquisitions or differential losses that can be explained based on differences in the environment of the hosts.Considering what we observed in the two previous studies, we reconstructed the metabolic capacities of four diplomonads. Using cluster analysis, we reconstructed the putative metabolism of the last Diplomonadida common ancestor. Our analyses suggested that this ancestor was, most likely, an obligate host-associated organism. However, we identified that traits associated with parasitic diplomonads evolved in a free-living ancestor.In the last study, we analyzed the genome of Hexamita inflata, a free-living, diplomonad. Our analyses showed that Trepomonas sp. PC1 and H. inflata acquired important genes for the adaptation to a secondary free-living in a common ancestor. However, our analyses also showed independent adaptations. The synthesis of glutathione and the acquisition of glutathione peroxidase, most likely, allow H. inflata to detoxify higher levels of oxygen and arsenic than other diplomonads.In conclusion, this thesis highlights the value of metabolic analyses to identify how microbial eukaryotes interact with their environment. The phylogenetic approach shows that the acquisition of genes and differential losses have been important processes in the adaptation of different hosts and environments.
|
|
| 5. |
- Andersson, Ingrid
(författare)
-
Vård som inte blivit utförd : Uppfattningar från vårdpersonal och enhetschefer inom kommunal vård och omsorg för äldre
- 2023
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Övergripande syfte – Att undersöka samt öka och fördjupa kunskapen om vård som inte blivit utförd, inom kommunal vård och omsorg för äldre, utifrån vårdpersonals och enhetschefers uppfattningar och erfarenheter.Metod – Forskningsområdet vård som inte blivit utförd inom kommunal vård och omsorg för äldre kartlades med en scoping review, 16 artiklar inkluderades (I). Kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod användes för att samla in och analysera data (II-IV). Det genomfördes en tvärsnittsstudie med 624 sjuksköterskor, undersköterskor och vårdbiträden som besvarade ett frågeformulär med flervalsfrågor och en öppen fråga. Instrumentet Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care for Nursing Homes (BERNCA-NH) samt studiespecifika frågor, för svensk kommunal kontext om vård som inte blivit utförd användes. Beskrivande och analytisk statistik användes samt kvalitativ innehållsanalys (II). En översättning, anpassning och validering av BERNCA-NH gjordes med explorativ faktoranalys (III). En intervjustudie genomfördes med 24 enhetschefer inom kommunal vård och omsorg för äldre, där deras uppfattningar av vård som inte blivit utförd efterfrågades. Analysen utfördes med fenomenografisk ansats (IV).Resultat – Det förekommer att vård inte blivit utförd inom kommunal vård och omsorg för äldre, orsakat av tidsbrist eller på grund av organisatoriska förhållanden (I, II). Instrumentet BERNCA-NH/HC, SWE indikerade en god reliabilitet och validitet, men ytterligare tester behövs (III). Enhetschefer som är medvetna om förekomsten av att vård inte alltid blir utförd, försöker följa upp händelserna för att förebygga att det ska hända igen. Vård som inte blivit utförd kan innebära negativa konsekvenser för både vårdpersonal och de äldre (IV).Konklusion – Det är av vikt att få kännedom om vård som inte blivit utförd samt att det går att mäta. Utifrån det kan orsaker diskuteras och förbättringsarbete ske. Vård som inte blivit utförd är relaterat till patientsäkerhet och behöver lyftas upp på agendan.
|
|
| 6. |
- Andersson, Jan-Olof
(författare)
-
Energy and Resource Efficiency in Convective Drying Systems in the Process Industry
- 2014
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Growing concern about environmental problems has increased the public’s interest in energy usage. The subsidies for biomass, together with the rising energy prices have madebiomass a desirable product on the energy market. This has led to higher biomass prices and an increased interest in improving the resource and energy efficiency associated withbiomass production. Biofuel is an interesting substitute for fossil fuels to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions. One challenge with biofuels is to find sufficient amounts of biomass since the foresting is already close to its maximum sustainable capacity. Sawmills are important suppliers to the biomass market, since the sawmill industries produce a significant part of the available biomass. This Doctoral thesis focuses on strategies to decrease biomass usage in order to increase the biomass availability at the market. This is done through mapping and system analysis of energy and material streams for process industries using convective drying techniques. The energy analysis is mainly done through thermodynamics and psychrometry. Available state-of-the-art technologies on the market are studied to determine their potential for decreasing the total energy usage in sawmills. Integration possibilities between biomass consumers are also investigated through process integration with mathematical programming and pinch analysis. Energy efficiency of berry drying in a juice plant is also studied. The main conclusions are as follows. The heat demand of drying lumber in Swedish sawmills is about 4.9 TWh/year. Using available state-of-the-art technologies (heat pumps,heat exchangers and open absorption system) it is possible to reduce the energy usagesubstantially. If the recovered heat is used for heat sinks inside, or close to, the sawmill, the energy efficiency can be improved significantly. Using mechanical heat pumps nationally could save 4.9 TWh/year ofheatandgenerate0.62 TWh/year of surplus heat, at the cost of 1TWh/year of electricity. Using open absorption systems nationally, could save 3.4 TWh/year of heat, at the cost of only 0.05 TWh/year of electricity. Saving this heat means that an even larger amount of biomass will be saved, since there are heat losses during the combustion and distribution. Another way of saving energy is to displacethe starting time between batch kilns, and recycle evacuation air between the kilns. Nationally, this could save 0.44 TWh/year of heat. Industrial site integration between sawmills and the main biomass users (pelleting plants an d CHP plants) can decrease the use of biomass in the industrial site with 43% wt compared to a standalone site with a comparable production. Nationally, this could save up to 7.1 TWh/year of biomass. Despite the significant savings in terms of resources, it is not profitable due to the currentprice ratio between district heating and biomass. Finally, drying and separationof berry press cake in a juice plant is found to be possible using only energy from the exhaust gases of the steam boiler, if the drying air is sufficientlyrecycled. Instead of composting the press cake, the dried and separated skins and seeds could then be sold.
|
|
| 7. |
- Khan, Suleman, 1979-
(författare)
-
Design and optimization of parallel haptic devices : Design methodology and experimental evaluation
- 2012
-
Konstnärligt arbete (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The simulation of surgical procedures, in the case of hard tissues such as bone or teeth milling, using a haptic milling surgery simulator requires a haptic device which can provide high stiffness and transparency. To mimic a real milling process of hard tissue, such as for example creating a narrow channel or cavity, the simulator needs to provide force/torque feedback in 5–6 degrees of freedom (DOF). As described in this thesis, research has been performed to develop and optimize a haptic device that can provide high stiffness and force/torque capabilities to facilitate haptic interaction with stiff tissues. The main contributions of this thesis are: (i) The use of a model-based design methodology for the design of haptic devices. The proposed methodology is applied to a case study, i.e. the design and optimization of a haptic device based on parallel kinematics. Device requirements were elicited through dialogues with a prospective user from a neurosurgery clinic. In the conceptual design phase, different parallel concepts have been investigated and analyzed based on functional qualities such number of degrees of freedom, workspace size and force/torque capabilities. This analysis led to the selection of a specific 6 DOF kinematic structure for which dimension synthesis was performed including multi-objective optimization followed by control synthesis. Finally, a device prototype was realized and its performance verified. (ii) Optimization of the device for best kinematic and dynamic performance. For optimization, performance indices such as workspace-to-footprint ratio, kinematic isotropy and inertial indices were used. To cope with the problem of non-uniform units in the components of the Jacobian matrix, various normalization techniques were investigated. A new multi-objective optimization function is introduced to define the optimization problem, which is then resolved using multi-objective genetic algorithms. A sensitivity analysis of the performance indices against each design parameter is performed, as a basis for selecting a final set of design parameter values. (iii) A control strategy is investigated to achieve high transparency and stability of the device. The control strategy is based on careful analysis of the dynamics of the haptic device, computed torque feed-forward control and force control based on current feedback. (iv) Finally, experiments both separately in the lab and by using the device in a haptic milling surgery simulator were performed. Results from a face validity study performed in collaboration with orthopedists verify that the new haptic device enables high-performance force and torque feedback for stiff interactions.
|
|
