| 1. |
- Elm Fristorp, Annika, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Training skills in critical thinking in teacher education in Norway and Sweden? A comparative analysis.
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Both in Sweden and Norway, teacher education has been subject to comprehensive reforms during the last years. Central governmental documents are forming the basis for these reforms, and in these documents, the task of training pupil’s skills in critical thinking is emphasised as an overall aim for teaching processes and education. However, a more specific definition of the term “critical thinking”, i.e. how skills in critical reflection is encouraged in practice, in the classroom and among the students, seems to be lacking in the documents from both countries. In this paper, we will address the question of how far the policy documents give the necessary preconditions for developing skills in critical thinking in school. The question will be discussed comparatively, and on the basis of analysis of policy documents as well as on official reports on observations from the outcome of these reforms, both in Norway and Sweden. The theoretical and methodological basis for this study will be critical discourse analysis (CDA) as it is developed by Norman Fairclough and Ruth Wodak, among others. This will, in turn, raise questions such as: are there any differences between Norway and Sweden? If so, what differences can be highlighted? Can possible differences be related to differences in political climate? If not, what? Thus, the question of how texts communicate to the readers will be crucial to our presentation.The paper is part of a larger project aiming to shed light on the mutual relation between practice and theory in teacher education. The project will be done in cooperation between Halmstad University and Telemark University College, as well as teacher education universities in Denmark (Via University, Aalborg).As this paper is a part of a project in its initial phase, concrete research results are still to be seen. Our preliminary thesis, is, however, that policy documents, both in Sweden and Norway, tend to be driven by political goals rather than goals emphasising improvements of skills in critical thinking and education.
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| 2. |
- Lindberg, Siv M, et al.
(författare)
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A product semantic study of the influence of the sense of touch on the evaluation of wood-based materials
- 2013
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Ingår i: Materials & design. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-1275 .- 1873-4197 .- 0261-3069. ; 52, s. 300-307
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Based on product semantics, this study investigated how the tactile attributes of wood and wood-based composites are perceived and interpreted semantically. The wood-based samples included ash, birch, elm, oak, pine, OSB (oriented strand board), two wood pulp-reinforced polylactide composites, Comp A and B and one wood-fiber reinforced polypropene composite, Comp C. The subjects rated the samples by the descriptive words natural, exclusive, eco-. friendly, rough, inexpensive, reliable, warm, modern, snug and solid. The most significant differences between the samples were found for roughness and for the descriptors, reliable, natural and solid. A principal component analysis yielded three attributes based on the tactile perceptions: reliable, old-. fashioned and smooth. The solid wood pieces were perceived as natural and oak was perceived as being exclusive. The composite materials presented a greater variation in terms of perceived attributes than the wood specimens.
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| 3. |
- Roos, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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A product semantic study of the influence of vision on wood evaluation
- 2013
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Ingår i: Wood and Fiber Science. - : Society of Wood Science and Technology. - 0735-6161. ; 45:4, s. 353-362
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using product semantics, this study investigated how visual attributes of wood are perceived and interpreted semantically. The wood species alder, ash, aspen, beech, birch, elm, larch, lime, maple, oak, pine, and spruce were included. The subjects rated the samples based on the descriptive words natural, exclusive, ecofriendly, rough, inexpensive, modern, reliable, warm, cozy, solid, and light. The most significant differences in ratings were between softwoods and hardwoods. Principal component analysis yielded three dimensions based on visual perceptions: exclusive-modern, ecofriendly-natural, and light. Maple and ash and other hardwoods were seen as more exclusive and modern than spruce and pine. Pine, conversely, was perceived as the most ecofriendly-natural wood type. Beech and alder did not score high (or low) on any of the three dimensions, meaning that these gave a neutral impression. The potential use of these results in product design and interior design is discussed.
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| 4. |
- Roos, Inger, et al.
(författare)
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Extending Understanding of Customer Relationship Stability: The Concept of The Blind Spot in Service Research
- 2011
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACTThis paper introduces the blind spot as a concept in service research. In the customer-relationship context the blind spot refers to the service providers inability to grasp the divergence between the customers patronage behavior, relationship perceptions and relational mode, and the temporal lability inherent in them. Consequently, the service provider makes a misestimation of the stability of the customer relationship. This constitutes a major challenge for service providers in their efforts to create customer value and develop relationships in order to maintain a loyal customer base. In addressing the challenge the writers develop the notion of blind spots in customer relationships, assess their consequences and propose a set of guidelines in order to reduce their effects.
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| 5. |
- Shipitsyna, Elena, et al.
(författare)
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Composition of the Vaginal Microbiota in Women of Reproductive Age - Sensitive and Specific Molecular Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis Is Possible?
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:4, s. e60670-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Objective: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal disorder, characterized by depletion of the normal lactobacillus-dominant microbiota and overgrowth of commensal anaerobic bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the composition of the vaginal microbiota in women of reproductive age (healthy women and women with BV), with the view of developing molecular criteria for BV diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Vaginal samples from 163 women (79 control, 73 BV and 11 intermediate (Lactobacillary grade II flora) cases) were analyzed using 454 pyrosequencing of the hypervariable regions V3-V4 of the 16S rRNA gene and 16 quantitative bacterial species/genus-specific real-time PCR assays. Sensitivities and specificities of potential BV markers were computed using the Amsel criteria as reference standard for BV. The use of quantitative thresholds for prediction of BV, determined for both relative abundance measured with 454 pyrosequencing and bacterial load measured with qPCR, was evaluated. Results: Relative to the healthy women, the BV patients had in their vaginal microbiota significantly higher prevalence, loads and relative abundances of the majority of BV associated bacteria. However, only Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Eggerthella, Prevotella, BVAB2 and Megasphaera type 1 detected at or above optimal thresholds were highly predictable for BV, with the best diagnostic accuracy shown for A. vaginae. The depletion of Lactobacillus species combined with the presence of either G. vaginalis or A. vaginae at diagnostic levels was a highly accurate BV predictor. Conclusions: Quantitative determination of the presence of G. vaginalis, A. vaginae, Eggerthella, Prevotella, BVAB2 and Megasphaera type 1 as well as the depletion of Lactobacillus was highly accurate for BV diagnosis. Measurements of abundance of normal and BV microbiota relative to total bacteria in vaginal fluid may provide more accurate BV diagnosis, and be used for test-of-cure, rather than qualitative detection or absolute counts of BV related microorganisms.
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| 6. |
- van der Burg, Jorien m, et al.
(författare)
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Gastrointestinal dysfunction contributes to weight loss in Huntington's disease mice.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Disease. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-9961. ; 44, s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Weight loss is the most important non-neurological complication of Huntington's disease (HD). It correlates with disease progression and affects the quality of life of HD patients, suggesting that it could be a valuable target for therapeutic intervention. The mechanism underlying weight loss in HD is unknown. Mutant huntingtin, the protein that causes the disease, is not only expressed in the brain, but also along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Here we demonstrate that the GI tract of HD mice is affected. At the anatomical level we observed loss of enteric neuropeptides, as well as decreased mucosal thickness and villus length. Exploring the functions of the GI system we found impaired gut motility, diarrhea, and malabsorption of food. The degree of malabsorption was inversely associated with body weight, suggesting that GI dysfunction plays an important role in weight loss in HD mice. In summary, these observations suggest that the GI tract is affected in HD mice and that GI dysfunction contributes to nutritional deficiencies and weight loss.
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| 7. |
- Viluksela, Matti, et al.
(författare)
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Toxicological profile of ultrapure 2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-heptachlorbiphenyl (PCB 180) in adult rats.
- 2014
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:8, s. e104639-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PCB 180 is a persistent non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) abundantly present in food and the environment. Risk characterization of NDL-PCBs is confounded by the presence of highly potent dioxin-like impurities. We used ultrapure PCB 180 to characterize its toxicity profile in a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study in young adult rats extended to cover endocrine and behavioral effects. Using a loading dose/maintenance dose regimen, groups of 5 males and 5 females were given total doses of 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1000 or 1700 mg PCB 180/kg body weight by gavage. Dose-responses were analyzed using benchmark dose modeling based on dose and adipose tissue PCB concentrations. Body weight gain was retarded at 1700 mg/kg during loading dosing, but recovered thereafter. The most sensitive endpoint of toxicity that was used for risk characterization was altered open field behavior in females; i.e. increased activity and distance moved in the inner zone of an open field suggesting altered emotional responses to unfamiliar environment and impaired behavioral inhibition. Other dose-dependent changes included decreased serum thyroid hormones with associated histopathological changes, altered tissue retinoid levels, decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin, decreased follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in males and increased expression of DNA damage markers in liver of females. Dose-dependent hypertrophy of zona fasciculata cells was observed in adrenals suggesting activation of cortex. There were gender differences in sensitivity and toxicity profiles were partly different in males and females. PCB 180 adipose tissue concentrations were clearly above the general human population levels, but close to the levels in highly exposed populations. The results demonstrate a distinct toxicological profile of PCB 180 with lack of dioxin-like properties required for assignment of WHO toxic equivalency factor. However, PCB 180 shares several toxicological targets with dioxin-like compounds emphasizing the potential for interactions.
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| 8. |
- Wiemann, Annika, et al.
(författare)
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Mitochondrial Control Region and microsatellite analyses on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) unravel population differentiation in the Baltic Sea and adjacent waters
- 2010
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Ingår i: Conservation Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1566-0621 .- 1572-9737. ; 11:1, s. 195-211
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The population status of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic area has been a continuous matter of debate. Here we present the by far most comprehensive genetic population structure assessment to date for this region, both with regard to geographic coverage and sample size: 497 porpoise samples from North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, Belt Sea, and Inner Baltic Sea were sequenced at the mitochondrial Control Region and 305 of these specimens were typed at 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Samples were stratified according to sample type (stranding vs. by-caught), sex, and season (breeding vs. non-breeding season). Our data provide ample evidence for a population split between the Skagerrak and the Belt Sea, with a transition zone in the Kattegat area. Among other measures, this was particularly visible in significant frequency shifts of the most abundant mitochondrial haplotypes. A particular haplotype almost absent in the North Sea was the most abundant in Belt Sea and Inner Baltic Sea. Microsatellites yielded a similar pattern (i.e., turnover in occurrence of clusters identified by STRUCTURE). Moreover, a highly significant association between microsatellite assignment and unlinked mitochondrial haplotypes further indicates a split between North Sea and Baltic porpoises. For the Inner Baltic Sea, we consistently recovered a small, but significant separation from the Belt Sea population. Despite recent arguments that separation should exceed a predefined threshold before populations shall be managed separately, we argue in favour of precautionary acknowledging the Inner Baltic porpoises as a separate management unit, which should receive particular attention, as it is threatened by various factors, in particular local fishery measures.
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| 9. |
- Wägar, Karolina, et al.
(författare)
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My Customers Are in My Blind Spot : Are They Changing and I cannot See It?
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Service Research. - : SAGE Publications. - 1094-6705 .- 1552-7379. ; 15:2, s. 150-165
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is clearly recognized that service providers often have an incomplete and fragmentary understanding of their customers' relationship behaviors. Although it is clear that this incomplete understanding has serious implications for customer relationship management, and might even constitute a strategic risk, there have been no explicit attempts to analyze the phenomenon. The authors therefore introduce and develop the concept of the blind spot as a metaphor referring to situations where a service provider's visual field is obscured. The authors examine the phenomenon of blind spots in a temporal and a relational context, determine their consequences, and outline the implications for customer relationship management. A number of blind spot scenarios are presented in order to illustrate how blind spots obstruct the service provider's ability to make correct interpretations of customer relationships, and thereby also correct estimations of relationship stability. The conceptualization of blind spots as outlined in this article sheds light on the underlying mechanisms that drive customer behavior in terms of relationship stability and hence offers a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of customer relationships. From a managerial point of view, proper monitoring systems and routines for analyzing relevant customer information play essential roles in understanding and managing blind spots.
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