| 1. |
- Ekblad, Kristin, 1975-
(författare)
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The economics of sickness absence : social interactions, local cultures and working conditions
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The focus of this thesis is the study of social and psychosocial aspects of sickness absence. In Essay 1, Sickness Absence and Peer Effects – Evidence from a Swedish Municipality, detailed employment records from a Swedish public employer are used to investigate whether sick leave among work group colleagues influences individual sick leave. Our results indicate that a worker’s level of sick leave is positively correlated with sick leave among peers. When length of employment is taken into account, however, we find that this positive peer effect emerges initially after the first few years of employment. In Essay 2, Who Cares about the Colleagues? – Insights into Peer Effect Heterogeneities in Sickness Absence across Gender and Age, I scrutinize the data used in Essay 1 to further investigate the nature of peer effects in sickness absence in relation to gender and age. The results indicate that men, as well as women, are sensitive to their female colleagues but not to their male peers. Moreover, somewhat surprisingly, I find that young and middle-aged workers are sensitive to younger peers, whereas the oldest workers are not sensitive to any of their peers. Essay 3, Sickness Absence and Local Culture, investigates the effect of geographical and presumed cultural context on sickness absence. Our results indicate that the region of residence is important to individual ‘illness-related absence’. In Essay 4, Sickness Absence, Working Conditions and Gender – An Empirical Analysis using Multiltvel Models, I analyse how psychosocial working conditions are related to short- and longterm sick leave and if, and how, these relation-ships vary with gender. The results show that employees who enjoy higher levels of autonomy in their post take fewer periods of short-term sick leave, and that this effect is significantly greater for male workers. The results also show that for female workers, stronger work-group cohesion is related to a lower likelihood of long-term sick leave.
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| 2. |
- Målqvist, Mats, 1971-
(författare)
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Who can save the unseen? : Studies on neonatal mortality in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Globally, neonatal mortality has remained basically unchanged for the last three to four decades and every year almost four million newborns die before reaching one month of age. This persistent mortality is related to an invisibility of the newborn child in policies and statistics and a neglect of health care decision-makers, planners and practitioners to deliver a perinatal continuum of care. In recent years attention has however been brought to the unchanged neonatal mortality in an effort to improve survival. The present thesis seeks to increase understanding of obstacles for better neonatal survival. The studies performed are undertaken as sub-studies to the NeoKIP project in Quang Ninh province in northern Vietnam, a randomized controlled trial of knowledge implementation for improved neonatal survival (Neonatal Health – Knowledge Into Practice, ISRCTN 44599712). In the first paper we investigated and discussed the scope of invisibility of neonatal mortality through measuring the accuracy of official statistics on neonatal deaths. The second paper reports an inquiry of determinants of neonatal mortality by use of a population-based case-referent design. Paper III and IV analyse delivery care utilization and care seeking patterns prior to and at delivery using narratives and GIS technique. There was a substantial under-reporting of neonatal mortality in the official statistics, with study results showing a four times higher neonatal mortality rate in Quang Ninh province than reported to the Ministry of Health. This neonatal mortality rate of 16/1000 live births (as compared to 4.2/1000 in official reports) was unevenly distributed in the province, showing large geographical discrepancies. In the rural and remote areas of Vietnam education level is lower and the concentrations of ethnic minorities and poor households are higher. Ethnic minority belonging was associated with a more than doubled risk of neonatal death compared to the hegemonic group of Kinh (OR 2.08 CI 95 % 1.39 – 3.10). This increased risk was independent of household economic status or maternal education level. Neonatal mortality was also associated with home deliveries, non-attendance to antenatal care and distance to the health care facilities. However, ethnic minority mothers still had an increased risk of experiencing a neonatal death even if they attended antenatal care, delivered at or lived close to a health facility. The invisibility of the neonatal period in health information systems hides the true width of the neonatal mortality challenge. By not acknowledging the problem, the marginalization of already disadvantaged groups continues, leaving ethnic minority babies with an elevated risk of dying during the first month in life. This example of ethnic inequity highlights the importance to target those most in need. The studies of the present thesis should therefore be looked upon as a contribution to the struggle to illuminate the global burden of neonatal mortality.
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| 3. |
- Fu, Qiang, 1983-
(författare)
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Understanding the Structure and Reaction of Single Molecules on Metal surfaces from First Principles
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The study of surface adsorption and reaction is not only interesting from a scientific point of view, but also important in many application fields such as energy, environment, catalysis, corrosion, electronic device, and sensor. Theoretical calculations are essential in these studies. In this thesis, first principles studies for the structure and reaction of some important single molecules on the surface are presented. Dehydrogenation of single trans-2-butene molecule on a Pd(110) surface is the first example. The adsorption configurations of both reactant and produce are assigned and the whole dehydrogenation pathway is revealed. Our calculations show that the reactant, i.e. trans-2-butene molecule, undergoes a rotation before dehydrogenation occurs, which is an important detail that cannot be observed directly in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments. The dissociation and rotation processes of single oxygen molecule on a Pt(111) surface have been a subject of extensive studies in the past. A new intermediate state with a peculiar configuration is identified. The puzzled adsorption site is well explained. The calculated energy barriers agree well with experimental results for both dissociation and rotation processes. Another aspect addressed in this thesis is the mechanism of molecular electronic switches induced by molecular structural changes. By carefully examining the tautomerization process of a naphthalocyanine molecule, an intermediate state is located on the potential surface of the tautomerization. Our calculations indicate that the experimentally observed switching involves four-states, rather than the two-state as proposed by the experimentalists. In a joint experimental and theoretical study the dehydrogenation, tautomerization, and mechanical switching processes of a single melamine molecule on a Cu(100) surface have been comprehensively examined. A new dual-functional molecular device with integrated rectifying and switching functions is made for the first time. In collaborating with another experimental group, we have simulated the switching process of a single 1,1,2,3,4,5-hexaphenylsilole molecule on a Cu(111) surface. The role of the orientation of the molecule is carefully examined and a new switching mechanism is proposed. Switching processes are strongly associated with the inelastic electron tunneling. We have proposed a statistical model that allows explaining the non-integer exponent in the power-law relationship between the switching rate and tunneling current. In this model, the importance of the randomness in inelastic electron excitations and the lifetime of the immediate state are emphasized. It has shown that the inelastic electron tunneling is a collection of various n-electron processes with different statistical weight.
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| 4. |
- Perera, Wilfred, 1950-
(författare)
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Improving school functioning – the inschool and out of school blend – the Sri Lankan effort
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sri Lanka’s past, present and future efforts to improve the provision of education are in focus. Decentralization of education is reviewed. Since 1960s when decentralization in education management was initiated schools have been subjected to multiple control by the such layers of management as the provincial ministry, provincial department, zonal office and the division. To reduce role ambiguity clarity in division of roles and functions is needed as well as collaboration among the different layers. Historical and recent reasons that hinder decentralisation and school autonomy are reviewed. Structural and cultural changes that facilitate the democratisation of school management are proposed. The newest trend in educational decentralisation in the country the Programme on School Improvement (PSI) is a kind of school based management. In PSI, schools are given a degree of autonomy in the areas of planning, teaching-learning process, co-curricular activities, staff development and the maintenance and development of the school plant. PSI enables schools to forge links with local communities through the establishment of a School Development Committees to improve resource mobilization and public accountability, thus creating better learning cultures in schools. The role and functions of the zonal education office are examined. The role of the zone is proposed to provide strategic guidance to the schools and effectively monitor overall performance. The zones have to work with schools and not on schools. The role and the main challenges of the school leaders in the proposed decentralized set-up are also examined and the need for more collaborative partnerships within the school is emphasized. The research further examines the factors that contribute to the institutionalisation of the new organizational innovation and as to how the capacity building institutes can help in transforming the roles of the zonal staff and school leaders.
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| 5. |
- Persson, Rickard, 1958-
(författare)
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Tilting trains : Enhanced benefits and strategies for less motion sickness
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Carbody tilting is today a mature and inexpensive technology that allows higher train speeds in horizontal curves, thus shortening travel time. This doctoral thesis considers several subjects important for improving the competitiveness of tilting trains compared to non-tilting ones. A technology review is provided as an introduction to tilting trains and the thesis then focuses on enhancing the benefits and strategies for less motion sickness. A tilting train may run about 15% faster in curves than a non-tilting one but the corresponding simulated running time benefit on two Swedish lines is about 10%. The main reason for the difference is that speeds are set on other grounds than cant deficiency at straight track, stations, bridges, etc. The possibility to further enhance tilting trains’ running speed is studied under identified speed limitations due to vehicle-track interaction such as crosswind requirements at high speed curving. About 9% running time may be gained on the Stockholm–Gothenburg (457 km) mainline in Sweden if cant deficiency, top speed, and tractive performance are improved compared with existing tilting trains. Non-tilting high-speed trains are not an option on this line due to the large number of 1,000 m curves. Tilting trains run a greater risk of causing motion sickness than non-tilting trains. Roll velocity and vertical acceleration are the two motion components that show the largest increase, but the amplitudes are lower than those used in laboratory tests that caused motion sickness. Scientists have tried to find models that can describe motion sickness based on one or more motion quantities. The vertical acceleration model shows the highest correlation to motion sickness on trains with active tilt. However, vertical acceleration has a strong correlation to several other motions, which precludes vertical acceleration being pointed out as the principal cause of motion sickness in tilting trains. Further enhanced speeds tend to increase carbody motions even more, which may result in a higher risk of motion sickness. However, means to counteract the increased risk of motion sickness are identified in the present work that can be combined for best effect. Improved tilt control can prevent unnecessary fluctuations in motion sickness related quantities perceived by the passengers. The improved tilt control can also manage the new proposed tilt algorithms for less risk of motion sickness, which constitute one of the main achievements in the present study. Local speed restrictions are another means of avoiding increased peak levels of motion sickness when increasing the overall speed. The improved tilt control and the proposed tilt algorithms have proven to be effective in on-track tests involving more than 100 test subjects. The new tilt algorithms gave carbody motions closer to non-tilting trains. Rather unexpectedly, however, the test case with the largest decrease in tilt gave a greater risk of motion sickness than the two test cases with less reduction in tilt. It is likely that even better results can be achieved by further optimization of the tilt algorithms; the non-linear relation between motions and motion sickness is of particular interest for further study.
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| 6. |
- Skult, Eva, 1945-
(författare)
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Studies in Saving under Uncertainty
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis consists of three essays.In Precautionary Saving under Correlated Risk, I show that the sign of the correlation between the random variables might determine whether saving increases or decreases when risk is introduced. Precautionary saving is thus not confirmed. In the second part of this chapter, the consumer must also allocate her saving between an insurance and an interest-bearing asset. It is shown that switching the sign of correlation changes the optimal insurance ratio and probably also optimal saving.Saving and Portfolio Choice by Mutually Altruistic Consumers treats the effects of mutual altruism between two individuals. Compared to the Utilitarian social optimum there is, on the one hand, a tendency to higher saving and lower risk share resulting from the higher uncertainty of future income in the Nash equilibrium. On the other hand, there is a tendency to lower saving and higher risk share arising from the possibility of a free ride on the generosity of others, named "Samaritan's Dilemma". Analytically, it was not possible to determine the size or the direction of divergences in the choice variables. Numerical examples show that the effect of the Samaritan's Dilemma outweighs the effect of the greater uncertainty of future income in the Nash equilibrium. However, the divergence in saving between the two solutions is rather small.In the literature, uncertain lifetime has been used to explain both unexpectedly low and unexpectedly high saving by the elderly. In The Effect of Uncertain Lifetime on the Saving of the Elderly, risk is introduced into the remaining lifetime and the consequences of a background risk are investigated. Introducing uncertain lifetime into the certainty model results in a slower decumulation of wealth from the date of retirement. On the contrary, introducing uncertain lifetime into a model with uncertain investment income results in a swifter decumulation and an earlier depletion of wealth.
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| 7. |
- Persson, Mats, 1962-
(författare)
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Future Technology Support of Command and Control : Assessing the impact of assumed future technologies on cooperative command and control
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In response to technological advances, especially in the field of information and communication technology (ICT), the so called revolution in military affairs (RMA) and later the concept of network-centric warfare (NCW) emerged as a theory to further utilize technology for military command and control (C2). Advocates of the Swedish ROLF 2010-vision and the concept of NCW have made claims and assumptions that future technology will improve mission effectiveness by, for example, increasing the understanding of a current situation and its development, the speed of command, and providing means to utilize more efficient forms of organizations. The scope of this thesis is to critically dissect and assess some of these claims and assumptions.Four papers are included: (1) An observational study involving military officers participating in a training session at the Swedish National Defence College’s command and control laboratory. (2) A study performed with a microworld is presented with a discussion considering using microworlds as a tool for investigating the effects of introducing characteristics of novel tech- nology. (3) An experimental study introducing a method to measure individual’s apprehension and assessed development of a situation. (4) Finally, an experiment is presented addressing assumptions of the efficiency of different C2 architectures and effects of graphical support for communication of intentions.The overall conclusion is that the strong benefits from implementing new technologies can be questioned. Results from the qualitative observations indicate that traditional working practices are used regardless introduction of technology with future characteristics. The results show that the strong positive effect that networked and technology enhanced C2 architecture was expected to have generally could not be demonstrated experimentally. However, it appeared that such a C2 architecture can provide some advantages of C2 performance over traditional counterparts under conditions of moderate complexity. Under situations of high complexity, neither the networked nor the traditional C2 architecture performed better than the control condition who lacked C2 capabilities.
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| 8. |
- Tistedt, Petter, 1981-
(författare)
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Visioner om medborgerliga publiker : Medier och socialreformism på 1930-talet
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This dissertation investigates how progressive social reformers in Sweden used mass media in order to encourage the general public to take part in discussions on contemporary social and political problems. Two cases are studied in detail: the population debates of the mid-1930s, and the Modern Leisure exhibition in Ystad 1936. How were audiences – readers, radio listeners and exhibition visitors – invited to participate in these media events? Which tasks were assigned to audiences and according to which criteria were they evaluated? Why, according to social reformers themselves, was audience participation important? The aim is to contribute to our understanding of the early formation of Western democratic culture.The investigation shows how possibilities of civic action were created. The Swedish population was conceived of as a question to discuss, and the role of citizens was to form new opinions based on their political views and current social scientific knowledge. In contrast, modern leisure was conceptualized as a new problem. The task given to exhibition visitors did not include taking a stand in a political debate. Rather, visitors were encouraged to make well-informed individual choices and to form new domestic habits. In both instances citizens were encouraged to contemplate the social and political consequences of their own actions.The dissertation offers new insights into the history of social engineering. In a Swedish context, Alva and Gunnar Myrdal are understood as a paradigmatic case. This investigation shows, however, that their arguments and actions do not fit very well with some aspects of the standard understanding of social engineering. Their insistence on the need for public discussion, opinion formation and universal education for active citizenship are cases in point. This study also highlights previously under-researched aspects of interwar democratic activism. The actors studied in this dissertation were not primarily discussing or educating people about the danger of authoritarian ideologies. Instead, they were preoccupied with creating conditions in which democracy could survive and prosper. Creating citizen audiences was a way of defending democracy.
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