| 1. |
- Bertilsson, Josefin, et al.
(författare)
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The Mechanical Engineer of the Future
- 2014
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This strategy project aims to serve as the foundation for the future strategic development of the Mechanical engineering programme (Master of Engineering) at Chalmers University of Technology (Chalmers). The goal is to be one of the top Mechanical engineering programmes in Europe. The project has been led during 2014 by two students attending programme. The programme consists of a Bachelor cycle and a Master’s cycle. An action research based approach has been used, and the data collection has included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data collection aimed to gather the different stakeholders’ views of the future of Mechanical engineering education, and to learn from other programmes and universities. The stakeholders have been defined as: Academia (universities in general, and Chalmers in particular), students and alumni from the five year Mechanical engineering programme, industry, and society. The global outlook has focused on universities within Europe and the USA, and has included site visits. Data has been analysed continuously and summarised into five challenges. The challenges for the mechanical engineering programme have been identified as: recruitment, arenas for meetings between industry-university-student, skills of the engineer, internationalisation, and uncertainty. These have been further discussed and evolved into recommendations for the Mechanical engineering programme.The first recommendation, connected to the challenge ‘uncertainty’ is vital for a holistic long term development of the programme, and it states that The Mechanical engineering programme has to agree on what should characterise a Master of Science in Mechanical engineering, i.e. the combined Bachelor and Master’s cycles, at Chalmers. Without this foundation it will be exceedingly difficult to organise further developments. Other general recommendations for the programme include mapping and defining what is already being done in the programme, developing it and then improving the way that the strengths of the programme are exhibited both internally and externally.
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| 2. |
- Dahlbom, Josefin, et al.
(författare)
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Boldness predicts social status in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- 2011
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 6:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explored if boldness could be used to predict social status. First, boldness was assessed by monitoring individual zebrafish behaviour in (1) an unfamiliar barren environment with no shelter (open field), (2) the same environment when a roof was introduced as a shelter, and (3) when the roof was removed and an unfamiliar object (Lego® brick) was introduced. Next, after a resting period of minimum one week, social status of the fish was determined in a dyadic contest and dominant/subordinate individuals were determined as the winner/loser of two consecutive contests. Multivariate data analyses showed that males were bolder than females and that the behaviours expressed by the fish during the boldness tests could be used to predict which fish would later become dominant and subordinate in the ensuing dyadic contest. We conclude that bold behaviour is positively correlated to dominance in zebrafish and that boldness is not solely a consequence of social dominance.
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| 3. |
- Ekström, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Exertional breathlessness related to medical conditions in middle-aged people: the population-based SCAPIS study of more than 25,000 men and women.
- 2024
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Ingår i: Respiratory research. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1465-993X .- 1465-9921. ; 25:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Breathlessness is common in the population and can be related to a range of medical conditions. We aimed to evaluate the burden of breathlessness related to different medical conditions in a middle-aged population.Cross-sectional analysis of the population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study of adults aged 50-64years. Breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council [mMRC]≥2) was evaluated in relation to self-reported symptoms, stress, depression; physician-diagnosed conditions; measured body mass index (BMI), spirometry, venous haemoglobin concentration, coronary artery calcification and stenosis [computer tomography (CT) angiography], and pulmonary emphysema (high-resolution CT). For each condition, the prevalence and breathlessness population attributable fraction (PAF) were calculated, overall and by sex, smoking history, and presence/absence of self-reported cardiorespiratory disease.We included 25,948 people aged 57.5±[SD] 4.4; 51% women; 37% former and 12% current smokers; 43% overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9), 21% obese (BMI≥30); 25% with respiratory disease, 14% depression, 9% cardiac disease, and 3% anemia. Breathlessness was present in 3.7%. Medical conditions most strongly related to the breathlessness prevalence were (PAF 95%CI): overweight and obesity (59.6-66.0%), stress (31.6-76.8%), respiratory disease (20.1-37.1%), depression (17.1-26.6%), cardiac disease (6.3-12.7%), anemia (0.8-3.3%), and peripheral arterial disease (0.3-0.8%). Stress was the main factor in women and current smokers.Breathlessness mainly relates to overweight/obesity and stress and to a lesser extent to comorbidities like respiratory, depressive, and cardiac disorders among middle-aged people in a high-income setting-supporting the importance of lifestyle interventions to reduce the burden of breathlessness in the population.
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| 4. |
- Granlund, Alexander, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of Local Conditions and Their Impact on Bifacial PV Performance at High Latitude
- 2022
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Different conditions such as module orientation, ground albedo, shading and latitude are known to affect the performance of bifacial photovoltaic modules. We evaluate bifacial performance for one year at a site located at 65°N through comparison of measured and simulated front and back side plane-of-array irradiation. Each investigated module has a different azimuth, tilt, and exposure to shading from the surroundings. Local shading is found to severely impact the energy yield of the site in general, and individual modules to a varying degree depending on their location and orientation. Proper shading analysis appears to be required in the planning phase of a bifacial photovoltaic installation to accurately calculate the expected energy yield. The bifacial gain of the modules with azimuths in the east–west sector is found to span a range from 16 % to approximately the bifaciality factor, depending on the orientation. To fully utilize the potential of bifacial photovoltaics, this variability also needs to be carefully considered when planning and building bifacial photovoltaic installations.
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| 5. |
- Sjömark, Josefin, et al.
(författare)
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Antepartum and labour-related single predictors of non-participation, dropout and lost to follow up in a randomised controlled trial comparing internet-based cognitive-behaviour therapy with treatment as usual for women with negative birth experiences and/or post-traumatic stress following childbirth
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Internet-based interventions are often hampered by high dropout rates. The number of individuals who decline to participate or dropout are reported, but reasons for dropout are not. Identification of barriers to participation and predictors of dropout may help improve the efficacy of internet-based clinical trials. The aim was to investigate a large number of possible predictors for non-participation and dropout in a randomised controlled trial for women with a negative birth experience and/or post-traumatic stress following childbirth.Setting: A childbirth clinic at a university hospital in Sweden.Participants: The sample included 1523 women who gave birth between September 2013 and February 2018. All women who rated an overall negative birth experience on a Likert scale, and/or had an immediate caesarean section (CS), and/or severe postpartum haemorrhage (& GE; 2000 mL) were eligible.Methods: Demographic, antepartum, and labour-related/postpartum predictors were investigated for non-participation (eligible but denied participation), pre-treatment dropout (prior to intervention start), treatment dropout, and loss to follow-up. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used in the data analysis.Results: A majority (80.3 %) were non-participants. Non-participation was predicted by lower level of education, being foreign-born, no experience of counselling for fear of childbirth, multiparity, vaginal delivery (vs CS and vacuum-assisted delivery) and absence of: preeclampsia, anal sphincter injury and intrapartum fetal distress. Pretreatment dropout was predicted by the absence of severe haemorrhage. Treatment dropout was predicted by vaginal delivery (vs immediate CS), vertex presentation and good overall birth experience. Loss to follow-up was predicted by vaginal delivery (vs immediate CS or vacuum-assisted delivery) and absence of intrapartum fetal distress.Conclusions: Mothers with no obstetric complications were more likely to not participate and dropout at different time points. Both demographic, antepartum and obstetrical variables are important to attend to while designing procedures to maximise participation in internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy.
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| 6. |
- Sjömark, Josefin, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy among women with negative birth experiences on mental health and quality of life : a randomized controlled trial
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Nature. - 1471-2393 .- 1471-2393. ; 22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Giving birth is often a positive experience, but 7-44% have negative experiences and about 4% develop posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth (PTSD FC). This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the effect of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) for women with negative birth experiences and/or at risk for PTSD FC.Methods: This was a superiority nonblinded multicentre RCT comparing iCBT combined with treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU only. Data were collected through questionnaires at baseline, at 6 weeks, 14 weeks and 1 year after randomization. The RCT was conducted at four delivery clinics in Sweden and participants were recruited from September 2013 until March 2018. Women who rated their childbirth experience as negative on a Likert scale, and/or had an immediate caesarean section or a haemorrhage of > 2000 ml were eligible. Primary outcomes were symptoms of posttraumatic stress (Traumatic Event Scale, TES) and symptoms of depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS). Secondary outcomes were satisfaction with life (Satisfaction With Life Scale, SWLS) and coping (Ways of Coping Questionnaire, WCQ).Results: Out of 1810 eligible women, 266 women were randomised to iCBT+TAU (n = 132) or to TAU (n = 134). In the iCBT+TAU group 59 (45%) completed the treatment. ICBT+TAU did not reduce PTSD FC at 6 weeks, at 14 weeks, or at 1 year follow-up compared with TAU, according to the TES. Both the ITT and completer analyses showed significant time and quadratic time effects due to reduction of symptoms in both groups on the TES (re-experience subscale) and on the EPDS, and significant time effect on the self-controlling subscale of the WCQ (which increased over time). There was also a significant main effect of group on the SWLS where the TAU group showed higher initial satisfaction with life. Exploratory subgroup analyses (negative birth experience, immediate caesarean section, or severe haemorrhage) showed significant time effects among participants with negative birth experience on re-experience, arousal symptoms and depressive symptoms.Conclusions: The ICBT intervention did not show superiority as both groups showed similar beneficial trajectories on several outcomes up to 1 year follow-up. This intervention for women with negative birth experiences and/or at risk for PTSD FC was feasible; however, the study suffered from significant drop out rate. Future studies with more narrow inclusion criteria and possibly a modified intervention are warranted.
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| 7. |
- Sjömark, Josefin, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for women with negative birth experiences on partner relationship and infant bonding: A randomised controlled trial
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: To investigate the effect of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) on partner relationships and bonding in women with negative birth experiences and/or at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth.Methods: In a superiority multicentre randomised controlled trial conducted in Sweden 2013–2018, 266 women were randomised to iCBT+treatment as usual (TAU) (n=132) or TAU (n=134). The outcome measures were 1) partner communication, 2) quality of partner relationship and 3) mother-infant bonding. Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks and one year after randomisation. Mixed-model repeated measures analysis was used.Results: The trial suffered from a high dropout rate. About 45% (n=59) of women in the intervention group completed the iCBT. In the intention-to-treat analyses, women in both groups reported fewer positive feelings and attitudes toward their partner over time. Partner satisfaction and cohesion declined over time. Mother-infant bonding showed initial improvement, but this later changed into decline over time. In the completer analyses, similar significant time effects were found for both groups. However, there were no significant group or interaction effects on any of the outcome measures in the intention-to-treat or completer analyses. Conclusions: In this study, we could not identify any effect of iCBT. However, we observed changes over time for both the intervention and TAU group with decreased quality of partner relationship over time, and initial improvement in mother-infant bonding, which then decreased.
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| 8. |
- Viirman, Frida, et al.
(författare)
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Negative childbirth experience in relation to mode of birth and events during labour: a mixed method study
- 2023
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Ingår i: European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. - : Elsevier. - 0301-2115 .- 1872-7654. ; 282, s. 146-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To explore descriptions of negative childbirth experience in relation to mode of birth and events during labour.Design: A descriptive study using a convergent mixed methods design. Written responses to open-ended online questions regarding negative childbirth experience were explored using qualitative content analysis. Generated sub-themes were quantified, and stratified on mode of birth and events during labour.Participants and setting: 112 women with low ratings of overall childbirth experience, participating in a randomised controlled trial evaluating internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy in Sweden. Qualitative data were collected before randomisation, three months postpartum.Results: Four sub-themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: Experiencing fear-based emotions, Experiencing physical distress, Being affected by caregivers’ and partner’s behaviour and Being affected by bad facilities and poor organisation. Only small differences were found when stratifying sub-themes on mode of birth and events during labour. Regardless of mode of birth and events during labour, the childbirth experience was dominated by fear-based emotions.Key conclusions and implications for practice: Mixed-methods analyses demonstrate the challenges in understanding negative childbirth experience in relation to mode of birth and specific events during labour, with results clearly showing the multifaceted nature of this concept. The central role of fear in relation to negative childbirth experience should be considered when designing support during and after labour, to prevent adverse effects of the childbirth experience.
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