| 1. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, 1985-
(author)
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Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
- 2014
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Lithium formate has shown to be a material with properties suitable for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry, among them up to 7 times higher sensitivity compared to alanine, which is a well-established EPR detector material for dose determinations in radiotherapy.The aim of this thesis was to further investigate the properties of lithium formate and develop the dosimetry system towards applications in radiotherapy. The intrinsic efficiency for energies of relevance to brachytherapy and the signal stability were investigated. The dosimetry system was expanded to include a smaller dosimeter model, suitable for measurements in dose gradient regions. An individual sensitivity correction method was applied to the smaller dosimeters to be able to perform dose determinations with the same precision as for the larger ones. EPR dosimetry in general is time consuming and effort was spent to optimize the signal readout procedure regarding measurement time and measurement precision.The system was applied in two clinical applications chosen for their high demands on the dosimetry system: 1) a dosimetry audit for external photon beam therapy and 2) dose verification measurements around a low energy HDR brachytherapy source.The conclusions drawn from this thesis were: dose determinations can be performed with a standard uncertainty of 1.8-2.5% using both the original size dosimeters and the new developed smaller ones. The dosimetry system is robust and useful for applications when high measurement precision and accuracy is prioritized. It is a good candidate for dosimetry audits, both in external beam therapy and brachytherapy.
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| 2. |
- Borg, Johan, et al.
(author)
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Implementation of welfare technology : a state-of-the-art review of knowledge gaps and research needs
- 2022
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. - 1748-3107 .- 1748-3115.
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: To offer guidance for future welfare technology research, this review provides an overview of current knowledge gaps and research needs as reported in primary scientific studies addressing the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities and informal caregivers.Materials and methods: This paper conducted a state-of-the-art review based on systematic searches in 11 databases followed by a descriptive qualitative analysis of 21 selected articles.Results: Knowledge gaps and research needs were identified concerning two categories: research designs and populations and focus of research. The articles reported needs for comparative studies, longitudinal studies, and demonstration trials as well as the development of co-design processes involving technology users. They also called for studies applying a social system theory approach, involving healthy and frail older adults, representative samples of users within and across countries, informal and formal caregivers, inter-and multidisciplinary teams, and care organizations. Moreover, there are reported needs for studies of acquirement, adoption and acceptance of welfare technology, attitudes, beliefs, and context related to welfare technology, caregiver perspectives on welfare technology, services to provide welfare technology and welfare technology itself.Conclusions: There are considerable knowledge gaps and research needs concerning the implementation of welfare technology. They relate not only to the research focus but also to research designs, a social system theory approach and study populations.
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| 3. |
- Fenton, Paul, 1981-
(author)
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Sustainability · Strategy · Space – exploring influences on governing for urban sustainability in municipalities
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The pursuit of urban sustainability is considered central to sustainable development and is a key objective of the global Sustainable Development Goals (2015) and the New Urban Agenda (2016). This thesis aims to contribute to debates on urban sustainability by providing insights as to the role of actors participating in processes of governing for urban sustainability, with particular focus on the municipal organisation.The thesis employs an interdisciplinary approach to illustrate divergent approaches to governing for urban sustainability, with reference to empirical studies of strategic planning processes in municipalities in selected North-western European countries – Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands.These studies address themes including climate change, sustainable transport and multi-level governance. The thesis provides a broad overview of theoretical discussions related to governing, strategy and planning, the role of actors in governing for urban sustainability, and the particular importance of climate change as a challenge for urban sustainability.A number of research gaps are identified and addressed in two research questions, focusing on the organisation and practice of processes of governing for urban sustainability, and the factors influencing actors participating in such processes. The thesis responds to these research questions with reference to five appended papers, which illustrate different dimensions of governing for urban sustainability.The first paper concerns the organisation of processes to develop energy and climate strategies in Swedish municipalities, and the second paper highlights the experiences of actors participating in such processes. The third paper presents results from a survey illustrating the expectations of stakeholders active in governing transport in the city of Norrköping, Sweden.In the fourth paper, the development and implementation of policies aiming for sustainable transport and urban sustainability in Basel, Switzerland, are discussed. In the final paper, cooperation through transnational municipal networks is explored with reference to the World Ports Climate Declaration, an initiative of the city of Rotterdam.The thesis confirms the presence of five factors – capacity, mandate, resources, scope and will – that shape the “strategy space” of actors and play an important role in conditioning the form and content of processes of governing for urban sustainability. The thesis suggests that the ways in which a municipal organisation perceive and mobilise the five factors will strongly determine the extent of its sustainability strategy space.In sum, municipal organisations and other actors participating in processes of governing for urban sustainability need to mobilise the five factors and expand their strategy space, in order to achieve vertical and horizontal alignment of strategic objectives and facilitate implementation that delivers transformative change.
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| 4. |
- Persson, Sofia, 1984-
(author)
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Collaborative development of resource efficient district heating in Sweden
- 2013
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- An increased recovery of excess heat from industrial processes and thermal power generation could significantly reduce energy demands. Industrial excess heat-based district heating systems are generally considered resource efficient because they reduce the use of fossil fuels and the emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition, collaborating actors can gain financial benefits.In Sweden, although collaboration around heat supply has increased recently, the amount of excess heat that is utilized is low compared to the amount created by industrial processes. Using excess-heat recovery in district heating grids is currently one of the most cost-effective ways of providing additional heat to district heating systems.Expansion and new construction of district heating systems in new residential areas can be seen as an opportunity to further use industrial excess heat. Sweden’s local authorities can influence the development of energy systems used for new residential developments. Increased knowledge about how collaborations evolve could be used to develop strategies that could encourage the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating.This licentiate thesis examines the role of organisational collaboration when it comes to the emergence of resource efficient district heating. The thesis summarises results from three articles and investigates the preconditions for, drivers behind, and barriers to the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating in Sweden. These investigations focus on both the district heating companies’ and industries’ points of view. The thesis also discusses how Swedish spatial planning practice could improve the conditions for resource efficient district heating.Important preconditions for excess-heat collaborations to develop, from the actors’ points of view, are mainly financial. However, relationships based on trust, honesty, shared goals, information transfer, and joint problem solving are also necessary for such collaborations to evolve and develop into long-term successful excess-heat collaborations. These features are also important when it comes to the decision-making process, because knowledge gained through the participation of stakeholders is required to understand common goals and objectives and to put these into practice.As for the development of new excess heat-based district heating systems, results show that the district heating companies generally participate late in the spatial planning process. An earlier dialogue between local authority planners and district heating companies could facilitate the emergence and development of new excess heat-based district heating systems. Furthermore, to facilitate the use of excess heat-based systems, planning should also take into account any nearby industry that produces excess heat. In addition, investment subsidies could encourage the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating and provide long-term environmental benefits for collaborating actors as well as for society at large.
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| 5. |
- Sonderby, Ida E., et al.
(author)
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Dose response of the 16p11.2 distal copy number variant on intracranial volume and basal ganglia
- 2020
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In: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 25:3, s. 584-602
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Carriers of large recurrent copy number variants (CNVs) have a higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. The 16p11.2 distal CNV predisposes carriers to e.g., autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. We compared subcortical brain volumes of 12 16p11.2 distal deletion and 12 duplication carriers to 6882 non-carriers from the large-scale brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging collaboration, ENIGMA-CNV. After stringent CNV calling procedures, and standardized FreeSurfer image analysis, we found negative dose-response associations with copy number on intracranial volume and on regional caudate, pallidum and putamen volumes (β = −0.71 to −1.37; P < 0.0005). In an independent sample, consistent results were obtained, with significant effects in the pallidum (β = −0.95, P = 0.0042). The two data sets combined showed significant negative dose-response for the accumbens, caudate, pallidum, putamen and ICV (P = 0.0032, 8.9 × 10−6, 1.7 × 10−9, 3.5 × 10−12 and 1.0 × 10−4, respectively). Full scale IQ was lower in both deletion and duplication carriers compared to non-carriers. This is the first brain MRI study of the impact of the 16p11.2 distal CNV, and we demonstrate a specific effect on subcortical brain structures, suggesting a neuropathological pattern underlying the neurodevelopmental syndromes.
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| 6. |
- Zander, Viktoria, Med dr, et al.
(author)
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Implementation of welfare technology : a systematic review of barriers and facilitators
- 2021
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In: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1748-3107 .- 1748-3115.
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose Although studies addressing barriers to and facilitators of implementation of welfare technology have been published, no systematic review synthesising evidence on such factors has been found. The purpose of this study was therefore to identify and synthesise existing primary research on facilitators and barriers that influence the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities and informal caregivers. Materials and methods A systematic search in 11 databases was performed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify empirical studies that assess the implementation of welfare technology for older people, people with disabilities or informal caregivers. The search identified 33 publications with quantitative, qualitative and mixed method designs. The reported findings were thematically synthesised and conceptualised into themes. Results Six themes of facilitators and barriers that influence the implementation of welfare technology emerged: capacity, attitudes and values, health, expectations, participation and identity and lifestyle. These were presented from five perspectives: older persons and persons with disabilities, informal caregivers, health and care personnel, organisation and infrastructure and technology. The findings may be used as a means to structure the planning and evaluation of implementation processes of welfare technologies for older persons and persons with disabilities and to understand the complexities of implementation. Conclusions This knowledge generates deepened insights and structures to guide and evaluate the implementation processes of welfare technologies and engenders an understanding of the complexities of implementation.
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