This introductory chapter brings together research on aging, migration, and digital technology within a comparative context of two Nordic countries (Sweden and Finland) and Japan. As advanced economies characterized by high living standards, institutionalized healthcare systems, and long life expectancies, these countries offer valuable points of comparison. First, aging and well-being, including the aging of migrant populations, are the key policy concerns. Second, there is a strong commitment to digitalization, including the increase of a wide range of digital welfare solutions. There is established research highlighting the important role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in older migrants’ transnational communication and in maintaining connections with co-ethnic communities. However, understanding how digital welfare technologies shape the experiences of different groups of older migrants is still emerging. This chapter provides an overview of this growing field, positioning digital technology as a key dimension of older migrants’ lived experiences, both as a means of communication and as a tool of welfare governance. It establishes the relevance of the aging–migration–technology nexus across the contexts of two Nordic countries and Japan and outlines key points of comparison. It concludes with a description of the volume content and an overview of individual chapters.

The River Wave Concept is a theoretical interpretation of river ecosystem processes that links flow to multiple river ecosystem concepts and contextualizes how a river functions with or without anthropogenic impacts. Here we propose a framework that can map the River Wave Concept to ecosystem concepts and wave metrics using widely available flow data from gauging station networks. The framework can produce a three-dimensional River Wave visualization, a time series of ecosystem process changes over time and wave metrics that can be related to organism patterns across space. Our case study contrasted Sweden's fragmented rivers with modelled free-flowing conditions and found that the observed fragmented rivers may favour specific fish life history strategies, that ecosystem functioning has shifted towards more baseflow-dominated flow compared with free-flowing rivers and that restoring all rivers to free-flowing conditions would result in more similar rivers nationally. Our study highlights how river theory can help to identify river ecosystem change and provide data to inform new analyses, which are critical for managing impacts on rivers.

Thin material layers are ubiquitous in applications where mechanical strength and interfacial integrity are critical. However, experimental characterisation of their out-of-plane behaviour remains challenging. Due to a steep descending phase of the associated traction-separation relation, conventional testing methods - typically based on assumptions of homogeneous stress states - often exhibit instability before a complete traction-separation relation can be obtained. The shear double cantilever beam (SDCB) specimen, evaluated using equilibrium of configurational forces, provides a stable framework in which the full traction-separation response can be measured. In the present study, a methodology is developed to account for both Mode II and Mode III contributions to the measured configurational force. Two governing parameters are identified that control the relative contributions of these modes, and strategies to minimise the influence of Mode II are proposed. The method is implemented in conjunction with a recently developed traction-separation law and demonstrated for two markedly different thin-layer materials: a highly compliant pressure-sensitive adhesive and a commercial paperboard. The mechanical properties of these materials differ by several orders of magnitude. The specimen design for the adhesive results in a significantly smaller Mode II contribution compared to that for the paperboard, highlighting the importance of the identified parameters in controlling the mode mix. With the SDCB specimen, material data previously unattainable at reasonable specimen dimensions can now be measured.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased risks of stroke, heart failure, and death. While stroke prevention is a key focus, heart failure is more frequent and a major contributor to mortality in atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to assess the incidence and timing of heart failure in screening-detected atrial fibrillation.

Methods and results: This post hoc analysis included participants without prior heart failure from the STROKESTOP and STROKESTOP II randomized screening studies, in which individuals aged 75-76 years were invited to ECG-based atrial fibrillation screening. Incident heart failure diagnoses were obtained from national registries. Incidence rates were calculated per 100 person-years, and Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). In STROKESTOP, 23% of participants with screening-detected atrial fibrillation developed heart failure (3.76 per 100 person-years), compared with 4.43 in patients with known atrial fibrillation and 1.08 in patients without atrial fibrillation. Screening-detected atrial fibrillation was associated with a three-fold higher heart failure risk vs. no atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 3.19) and a risk comparable to known atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 2.86). In STROKESTOP II, 20% developed heart failure (4.19 per 100 person-years), compared with 3.52 in known atrial fibrillation and 0.93 without atrial fibrillation. Screening-detected atrial fibrillation was associated with a four-fold higher heart failure risk vs. no atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 4.73) and a higher risk than known atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 2.59).

Conclusion: Screening-detected atrial fibrillation is associated with a high risk of heart failure, comparable to known atrial fibrillation, and is not a benign condition.

This study investigates the effect of interlayer temperature control and post-processing heat treatments on the microstructure and hardness of modified PH 13-8 Mo manufactured using directed energy deposition with a laser beam and powder (DED-LB/p). Modified PH 13-8 Mo blocks were deposited at controlled interlayer temperatures. By controlling the interlayer temperature (180 + 5 degrees C) above the Ms temperature, a relatively homogeneous microstructure and hardness (344 + 7 HV0.2) were achieved in the as-deposited material. The average hardness of the depositions increased to 366 + 15 HV0.2 and 397 + 32 HV0.2 as interlayer temperatures (100 + 5 degrees C and 30 + 5 degrees C) decreased below the Ms temperature, accompanied by a transition from a more homogeneous to a heterogeneous microstructure, driven by the intrinsic heat treatment during deposition. Additionally, the blocks were subjected to post-processing solution heat treatment, which reduced microstructural variations, leading to comparable hardness values regardless of interlayer temperature. The highest average hardness (528 HV0.2) across all interlayer temperatures was achieved after solution heat treatment followed by aging. These findings highlight the potential and effectiveness of interlayer temperature control and post-processing heat treatments to tailor the microstructure and hardness of modified PH 13-8 Mo manufactured by DED-LB/p.

Role ambiguity and inconsistencies in nursing responsibilities and activities in home- and facility-based care may limit nurses' ability to meet older people's needs and affect care quality. This scoping review aimed to map how nurses' roles and functions (i.e. nursing practice) are described and to identify nursing models of care related to older people's care in home- and facility-based settings. PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for studies published between 2002 and 2022, with updates conducted in 2024 and 2026. Studies describing registered nurses, non-registered nurses or older people's perspectives were included. Data were extracted on responsibilities (roles), activities (functions) and nursing models of care. The review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews. Forty-seven studies were included. Registered nurses were predominantly described in terms of responsibilities, including professional obligations, coordination, supervision, medication management and accountability, whereas non-registered nurses were mainly described through activities, including activities of daily living, technical- and medico-delegated care and active monitoring. Only one study described a nursing model of care. Overall, descriptions of nursing practice were limited and inconsistent, particularly in home-based care, with little knowledge of how responsibilities and activities were integrated across professional groups. These findings highlight the need for more detailed descriptions of nursing practice and further research into how responsibilities, activities, delegation, accountability and nursing models of care can be organised to support high-quality care for older people.

Registration: The scoping review protocol was registered with Open Science Framework doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZAFJQ.

The motivation for this thesis is to address the severe dewatering limitations and high energy demand associated with the production of natural greaseproof paper. Achieving the high-density structure required for natural greaseproof barriers necessitates severe mechanical treatment of the cellulose fibers to deform them and tightly seal the structural network. This mechanical action induces internal fibrillation, delaminating the cell wall to increase fiber flexibility, and external fibrillation, vastly expanding the specific surface area available for inter-fiber hydrogen bonding. However, these structural changes inherently lead to excessive fiber swelling and high water retention, severely impeding water and creating a critical operational bottleneck. A more comprehensive understanding of dynamic dewatering, alongside the optimization of the fiber furnish, is therefore required to improve process efficiency without compromising final paper properties. 

The objective of this thesis was to investigate how vacuum application strategy and fiber furnish composition can be optimized to improve dewatering and energy efficiency in greaseproof paper production. The work comprised laboratory investigations of progressive multi-slit vacuum dewatering, morphological characterization of furnishes consisting of a softwood kraft pulp baseline, with additions of up to 22.2% Eucalyptus globulus fibers, and full-scale machine trials evaluating the resulting paper properties. 

The results demonstrate that greaseproof paper dewatering efficiency can be improved by employing a progressive vacuum application. This is achieved by adapting the applied pressure differential to the increasing resistance to water removal during web consolidation. Applying a progressive vacuum pressure sequence resulted in a final solids content of 11.7% for a 50 g/m² laboratory sheet, compared to 10.0% for the single-vacuum reference, while the total air volume drawn through the sheet remained comparable. The results therefore demonstrate the potential of progressive vacuum application to improve dewatering efficiency by matching vacuum intensity to the evolving hydraulic resistance of highly refined furnishes during forming. Furthermore, the addition of Eucalyptus globulus pulp substantially reduced the net electrical refining energy required to develop the furnish. The addition of 22.2% Eucalyptus globulus pulp allowed for a reduction of the electrical refining energy required from 912 to 748 kWh per ton, which corresponds to a reduction of 164 kWh per ton. 

Full-scale machine trials showed that reduced refining energy and fines content could be achieved while maintaining a low air permeance of the machine-made paper. In contrast, laboratory-formed handsheets exhibited a substantially different and non-monotonic response at high eucalyptus additions, demonstrating that static laboratory forming does not necessarily predict industrial sheet consolidation for highly refined greaseproof furnishes. This highlights the importance of considering furnish composition together with dynamic forming and dewatering conditions when evaluating the industrial potential of furnish modifications. 

Overall, this thesis demonstrates that combining furnish optimization with progressive vacuum dewatering can improve the energy efficiency of greaseproof paper production while maintaining the structural properties required for low-permeability barrier paper. The findings provide a basis for reducing energy demand and improving the process efficiency of greaseproof paper production. 

Background: Nurses’, both registered and non-registered, understanding of their scope of practice is foundational to ensure tailored and appropriate nursing care. While scope of practice has been described conceptually and theoretically, there has been limited empirical research exploring how it is enacted in home-based care. Furthermore, the possible shaping of contextual modulators on nurses' scope of practice has received limited empirical attention. Previous research suggests that uncertainty remains among nurses regarding their scope of practice, understood here as role, function, and clinical decision-making, as well as the clinical reasoning structures underpinning this decision-making.

Aim: To explore and describe nurses' scope of practice in home-based care, examine the possible shaping of contextual modulators on its enactment, and contribute to knowledge of the clinical reasoning underpinning registered nurses' clinical decision-making.

Methods: This thesis aligns with the British medical research council's methodological framework and adopts a sequential mixed methods design. It comprises four project strands, each employing a distinct yet complementary design. The strands included a scoping review (Paper I), a multi-method design (Paper II), a qualitative descriptive design (Paper III), and a qualitative exploratory and descriptive design (Paper IV). Data were collected and analysed through systematic literature searches and descriptive categorisation (Paper I); direct structured observations with field notes, descriptive and comparative statistics, and thematic sorting of textual data (Paper II); individual focused interviews and dyadic framework analysis (Paper III); and retrospective think-aloud technique analysed by an artificial intelligence assisted modified clinical protocol analysis (Paper IV).

Results: Across the project strands, the combined findings progressively advanced the understanding of nurses’ scope of practice in home-based care. Previous research suggested an uneven knowledge base concerning frailty and functional ability limitations, with registered nurses and home-based care less represented than non-registered nurses and facility-based care (Paper I). These findings informed the subsequent strands by highlighting the need to investigate nurses’ scope of practice in home-based care. While most care activities observed among nurses focused on older people's physical and medical needs, observational cues related to their clinical decision-making focused mostly on assessment and least often on evaluation (Paper II). Expanding on these observations, nurses’ descriptions characterised their scope of practice as a broad range of activities and responsibilities, alongside decision-making. While both registered and non-registered nurses described ongoing observations and assessment, their analytical depth and rationale differed but their descriptions mirrored shared conceptual understandings. Although their activity repertoires overlapped, their responsibilities diverged, including clinical leadership and organisational responsibilities (Paper III). Across the strands, both numerical and textual findings showed that contextual modulators, such as stress, interruptions, suboptimal working conditions, and culture, shaped (modulated) nurses’ practice (Papers II–III). In strand IV registered nurses’ clinical reasoning underpinning their clinical decision-making was identified as structured, multi-layered, and contextually adaptive, with different clinical domains associated with distinct reasoning structures (Paper IV). 

Conclusion: Nurses' scope of practice in home-based care should be conceptualised as a context-sensitive, system-level phenomenon in which distinct but interconnected dimensions are shaped (modulated) by the contextual features of their enactment, rather than as a collection of isolated activities or formal responsibilities. Future research should investigate scope of practice as an interconnected nursing phenomenon, accounting for the contextual modulators that can shape – modulate - its enactment. Initiatives aiming to strengthen clinical leadership, decision-making autonomy, and organisational prerequisites may support nurses, and particularly registered nurses, in enacting their scope of practice, and thereby contribute to safer and more optimal care. 

As digitalization continues to transform work in the public sector, there is a gro­wing need to understand its con­se­quences for employees’ occupational well-­being and how these conse­quences are managed within organizations. This thesis examines digitali­zation from a socio-technical perspective, focu­sing on employees’ occupational well-being, managers integration of occu­pational health and safety management (OHSM) into digitalization proces­ses, and conditions that facilitate or constrain this integra­tion.

The thesis comprises one scoping review and four qualitative studies in two Swedish municipalities. Participants included employees, health and safety rep­re­sentatives, managers, HR professionals, and strategists. Data were gene­­ra­ted through semi-structured interviews and digital diaries using in­duc­­tive and deductive qualitative analyses.

The findings show that occupational well-being was influenced by the interplay bet­ween digital technologies, everyday work, and organizational conditions. Collegial in­ter­action and local problem-solving emerged as im­por­tant re­sour­ces, but could not com­pensate for insufficient time, staffing, or organi­zational support. Digitalization appea­red more demanding when restruc­turing and reduced staffing preceded reliable digital systems. Diffe­rences in OHSM integration appeared to be more closely related to mana­gerial practices in digi­tali­zation processes than to broader organiza­tional con­ditions.

By conceptualizing digital transformation as an on­going socio-technical trans­­­for­mation, the thesis contributes to an understanding of how digitali­zation, OHSM, and occu­­pational well-being can be understood as inter­related and evolving over time. Com­bining a socio-technical perspective with gain and loss cycles from JD-R theory, provides a way of interpreting how changes in demands and re­sour­ces may indicate different direc­tions of this transfor­mation, and their potential implications for occupational well-being and a sustainable working life.

Background Childhood obesity and low socioeconomic status increase the risk for adverse health outcomes. Societal changes may have altered the association between parental socioeconomic factors and childhood obesity over time. Our aim was to evaluate the trends for BMI in girls and boys 1952-2017 and the importance of socioeconomic factors for the BMI trend 2002-2017.Methods We used the population-based BMI Epidemiology Study cohort with information on BMI for seven-year-old children between 1952 and 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden. We included in total 210,927 children and assessed the overall trend as well as in different socioeconomic strata. Data on parental country of birth, educational level, and income were available for a subpopulation between 2002 and 2017 (n = 65,556).Results Childhood BMI trends showed four distinct phases: a modest increase 1952-1973, a steep increase 1974-2001, a brief period of decline 2002-2006, followed by diverging trends 2008-2017 that differed by parental socioeconomic strata. In the latter period, children with Swedish-born parents, high educational level, and high income displayed a stabilising trend, whereas children with parents born outside Sweden, with low educational level, and low income showed increasing BMI trends. Parental low educational level had the most pronounced increasing BMI trend in their children, regardless of income and country of birth.Conclusions After increasing BMI and a brief period of decline, we found widening socioeconomic disparities in childhood BMI 2008-2017, with the most pronounced increases among children whose parents had low educational level. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions.

Background Unpaid labour has been recognised as an important yet neglected social determinant of health. We investigated gendered trends in unpaid labour/domestic work by educational level in prime working-age Swedish adults (30-49 years) from 2004-2022.Methods The study is based on a postal survey sent to a random general population sample of adults from central Sweden in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The 30-49-year age group included between 5,500 and 12,200 respondents depending on the survey year. Trends in hours spent in domestic work and in experiencing domestic work as burdensome by gender and educational level were estimated by age-standardised proportions with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.Results Women reported spending more time in domestic work than men throughout every survey period from 2004 to 2022. Over time, hours spent in domestic work decreased in women whereas no trend was observed in men. In 2022, 31% of women spent more than 20 h per week in domestic work compared to 20% of men. Among women, educational level appeared to make no difference to prevalence of high domestic work time whereas, among men, it was consistently greater among those with higher educational levels. In general, women experienced domestic work as burdensome to a higher degree than men did.Conclusion As gender differences in unpaid labour persist in Sweden, more effort is needed to implement social policies to increase men's participation in domestic work, especially among men with low and middle educational levels, which has the potential to reduce gendered health inequities.

This article addresses the micropolitics of platformisation by exploring the affective dynamics between students, devices, and digital platforms in two lower secondary schools in the Nordic countries. Platformisation is at the core of contemporary edtech, constituting a central phenomenon of postdigital schooling. Yet, much remains unknown regarding student experiences of the ubiquitous hybridity in mundane school settings. We conceptualise 'sticky edtech' and analyse students' affective experiences of engaging with devices and digital platforms. By analysing video-stimulated focus group discussions, we propose three modes of stickiness that illuminate how postdigital platform realities are enacted at schools: sticky device ownership, sticky infrastructures, and sticky data. Findings illustrate the underlying material care and maintenance practices that enable platformed edtech use, and hence, the research attends to the ambiguity of postdigital schooling.

Radial flow stream (RFS) splitting has been reported to reduce operating pressure and apparent theoretical plate height (increasing column efficiency) while increasing detector response relative to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography column operation. However, the mechanisms responsible for these effects have remained unclear. Here, pressure measurements, computational fluid dynamics, and reduced-order outlet models were used to examine how radial outlet partitioning in the new end fitting alters column behavior. Most of the measured pressure reduction arose from post-column effects, although a smaller in-column contribution remained. Simulations showed that the radial outlet disrupted the conventional outlet-flow funnel and preferentially captured wall-adjacent flow. When the outlet models were applied to a published model of radial column heterogeneity, apparent column plate height decreased by approximately 19% and peak height increased by approximately 18%, consistent with typical experimental results. Experimental sensitivity improvements also persisted under detector conditions that were independent of flow rate. These results indicate that the reported benefits under RFS splitting mode arise from a combination of post-column pressure effects and selective sampling of the radial solute distribution.

Cellulose-based materials are increasingly used as sustainable alternatives to conventional packaging materials. Among emerging technologies, dry forming of air-laid fiber networks offers improved formability compared to conventional paperboard forming processes and reduced energy consumption compared to wet molding. However, the effect of process conditions on densification, mechanical property development, and their interrelationship remains relatively unexplored, particularly under industrially relevant combinations of temperature, pressure, and moisture content. Here we investigate how temperature, moisture content, pressure, and holding time, both individually and in combination, affect the density, tensile modulus, and tensile strength of dry-formed air-laid paper. A three-level factorial split-plot design combined with linear mixed-effects modeling was used to systematically evaluate parameter effects. Temperature was identified as the dominant parameter, strongly influencing both densification and tensile properties. While density exhibited saturation behavior, tensile properties continued to increase with temperature, indicating ongoing bond development. Moisture content enhanced consolidation but introduced steam-related effects at high temperature-moisture combinations. Importantly, identical density levels were associated with different mechanical properties depending on process conditions. These findings improve understanding of densification and process-property relationships in dry forming while highlighting limitations of density-based descriptions of material behavior.

Fish serve as hosts to a wide range of parasites, which can affect them in many ways, including their survival, growth, and foraging behavior. The highly threatened unionid mussels have an ectoparasitic life stage on the gills, skin, or fins of fish. Here, we compared prey handling time and growth between groups of brown trout (Salmo trutta) that were infested and non-infested with glochidia larvae of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). In a prey handling test, individual trout were presented with one large prey (maggot) and one small prey (Gammarus pulex) daily over eight days. Compared to non-infested trout, prey handling time was longer for infested trout feeding on larger but not on smaller prey. In a growth test, where trout were fed daily with minced calf liver over nine weeks, the growth rate was lower for infested than for non-infested trout. Moreover, the growth rate was higher for infested trout from which glochidia were expelled compared to trout from which glochidia were not expelled. We suggest that glochidia infestation can increase prey handling time of fish, ultimately reducing fish growth, but that slow prey handling may be transitory for fish losing glochidia, and result in compensatory growth of the fish. Slow prey handling, in combination with a negative effect of glochidia infestation on food competition between infested and non-infested trout, may be reasons behind the lower growth of infested fish.

Kraft pulp mills are increasingly viewed as strategic platforms for decarbonization because they combine biogenic carbon flows, chemical recovery infrastructure, and opportunities for heat and material integration within a circular bioeconomy. However, prior reviews have focused mainly on gasification and have given less attention to integrated carbon capture, high value product routes, commercial failure lessons, and pathway specific economic thresholds. We critically reviewed sources published from 2018 to 2025 using the ROSES framework and a standardized reference case of a 1000 ADt/day bleached kraft mill. The synthesis compared black liquor gasification, lignin and hemicellulose valorization, heat integration, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage using exergy, greenhouse gas, techno economic, and technology readiness evidence. Results show that black liquor gasification-based systems can increase exergy efficiency from about 40% for conventional recovery boilers to about 44% in integrated configurations, while system expansion studies report net greenhouse gas intensities of about 0.3 to 0.6 t CO2 below zero per tonne pulp for selected fuel and chemical pathways. Carbon capture can deepen decarbonization, but the outcome is route specific: post combustion MEA systems typically achieve about 0.3 to 0.9 t CO2 below zero per tonne pulp, whereas pre combustion capture integrated with black liquor gasification and water gas shift can reach about 0.8 to 1.5 t CO2 below zero per tonne pulp where transport and storage infrastructure exist. Economic performance remains highly sensitive to product price, capital cost, utilization rate, and carbon price.

Background: School nurses are a vital part of school healthcare; however, research on the experiences of the profession in relation to health promotion is limited. A deeper understanding of school nurses' professional remits could uncover new approaches to school-based health promotion - with implications for student healthcare services.

Aim: This study explored school nurses' experiences regarding their professional role and responsibilities in relation to health promotion in Finnish compulsory school settings.

Methods: Adopting a qualitative design, 13 school nurses from Finland were interviewed. Data analysis followed qualitative content analysis, progressing from manifest to latent content, explored through Abbott's theory of system of professions.

Results: The main categories: The practical application of laws and regulations shaping preventative actions; Societal changes and resources demanding continuous adaptation; School nurses providing accessible, holistic support and health promotion; and Individual autonomy, interests and visions influencing the work, pinpoint the school nurses' experiences regarding their jurisdictions related to health promotion, impacting the school nursing services.

Conclusion: School nurses' jurisdictions in health promotion are shaped across legal, workplace and public arenas. An additional individual-level arena was found, where ethics guide practice. Structural constraints require school nurses to adapt as demands extend beyond traditional boundaries to meet students' needs.

Purpose Social inequalities in child health persist even in high-income welfare states with universal child health services, yet large-scale longitudinal resources capturing early life exposures, family context and service delivery during the preschool years remain scarce. The Alma cohort was established to identify risk and protective factors for children's health and development during the first 5 years of life, with a particular focus on social determinants of health and the delivery and impact of proportionate universalism within the Swedish child health services.Participants The Alma cohort is a population-based register cohort comprising all children born in Sweden between 2018 and 2023, together with their parents and siblings, totalling 2 169 423 unique individuals. Of these, 690 589 are index persons (children). Individual-level data are linked across multiple national registers using the unique Swedish personal identity number, including the Total Population Register, the Medical Birth Register, the National Patient Register, the Prescribed Drug Register, the Swedish Child Health Services Register (BHVQ), sociodemographic registers, registers on out-of-home placements and the Cause of Death Register. The cohort captures substantial variation in perinatal characteristics, family structure, socioeconomic conditions and geographical context. Data are retrieved in three waves up to 2030 to enable longitudinal follow-up from birth into school age.Findings to date The cohort is broadly representative of Swedish children and families. Among index persons, 51.4% are boys and 48.6% are girls. Approximately 40% have at least one parent born outside Sweden, 63.5% have at least one parent with a college or university education and 78.0% reside in urban areas during their first year of life. The BHVQ subcohort, covering 458 724 index persons from 13 Swedish regions, provides data on child health and development and service delivery within the child health services. Several studies are currently ongoing, addressing topics such as language screening, enhanced support from child health services, parental mental disorders, out-of-home care and the consequences of parental loss.Future plans Planned data extractions will extend follow-up through early school age, including linkage to the National School Register for data on school performance. The cohort is open to collaboration with researchers interested in child health, service evaluation and policy-relevant analyses.

This study investigates preservice science teachers' teaching approaches to climate change. The empirical material consists of teaching sequences designed by preservice science teachers, which were analyzed for similarities in key teaching decisions, including learning goals, content, teaching methods, and their justifications. Using thematic analysis, teaching sequences were grouped according to these similarities, with each group constituting one analytic theme, here referred to as a teaching approach. Analysis of texts written by 12 preservice teachers in a microteaching assignment for grades 7-12 identified four approaches: Scientific Concepts, Students' Lifeworld, Societal Insight, and Creative Vision. Hence, from the same instructions, the preservice teachers developed four distinct approaches, revealing plural, coherent ways of managing climate change education. We discuss strengths, limitations, and typical misalignments across the approaches, in dialogue with three visions of scientific literacy. Based on the findings, we argue that teacher education should prioritize developing professional judgment and a repertoire of pedagogical possibilities, rather than prescribing a single best practice.

Background: Keratinocytes play a central role in amplifying skin inflammation in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the epithelial-intrinsic regulators involved in responsiveness to inflammatory cues remain poorly defined. MicroRNAs are fundamental regulators of gene expression. Objective: We sought to define the role of miR-149 in keratinocyte immune functions in healthy skin and chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Methods: Keratinocyte-specific Mir149-knockout mice (Mir149EKO) were generated. Experimental AD (ovalbumin) and psoriasis (IL-23/imiquimod) models were performed, followed by severity scoring, quantitative PCR, RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry. Chemokine array was performed on keratinocyte supernatants. In mice, in vivo TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (Tweak) antibody blockade was performed. Ex vivo skin biopsy samples from patients with psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis were injected with synthetic miR-149. Results: Mir149EKO mice exhibited a preinflammatory transcriptional state. In both AD and psoriasis models, Mir149EKO mice developed exaggerated skin inflammation with epidermal thickening and increased immune infiltration with mast cell accumulation. miR-149 represses the TNF receptor family member Tweakr, and its loss led to enhanced Tweak-induced NF-KB activation and chemokine production. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed expansion of activated basal keratinocytes enriched for Tweak-responsive chemokines and immune cell accumulation in Mir149EKO skin. Antibody-mediated neutralization of Tweak strongly attenuated enhanced inflammation in vivo. Notably, the miR-149/TWEAKR axis is dysregulated in human psoriasis and AD. Ex vivo delivery of synthetic miR-149 to inflamed skin suppressed inflammatory mediators. Conclusion: miR-149 acts as a fundamental brake on epithelial-immune interactions, and its loss in AD and psoriasis can lead to amplification of keratinocyte inflammatory responses. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2026;158:795-810.)

No one plans to waste food. Yet one third of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted — with serious consequences for the climate, biodiversity, and the resources we depend on. How is this possible?

One important part of the answer lies in how food is packaged.

Packaging has transformed how we protect, store, and transport food. But protecting food is only part of the challenge. Packaging must also work for people — helping them store, portion, empty, and use food in ways that prevent waste.

This book explores how smarter packaging design can reduce food waste — and why the most sustainable package is not always the one with the least material. It challenges conventional thinking about sustainable packaging and shows how better design can make more sustainable choices easier.

Because sometimes, a little more packaging can mean a lot less waste.

Stress-related conditions like clinical burnout and exhaustion disorder (ED) are associated with enduring cognitive problems. We have previously demonstrated that the addition of computerised cognitive training (CCT) and aerobic training (AT) to a multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMR) yielded greater improvements in cognitive function compared to MMR alone in patients with ED. These effects were maintained at the 1-year follow-up for CCT, but not for AT. Building on these findings, the present study examined the extended long-term effects of CCT and AT on cognitive function, psychological health, and work ability, 4.5 years after the interventions. Participants were recruited from a stress-rehabilitation clinic and 56 of the initial 132 participants returned for the 4.5-year follow-up. Assessments were conducted before (T1), immediately after (T2), 1-year after (T3) and 4.5-years after (T4) the interventions. Mixed model analyses assessed changes in the intervention groups relative to the control group from T1 to T4, with follow-up comparisons examining within-group stability of outcomes between T3 to T4. The primary outcome was cognitive performance on a global cognitive score. Secondary outcomes included domain-specific cognitive functioning, self-reported cognitive function, psychological health (burnout, depression, anxiety, and fatigue), and work ability. The analysis revealed sustained long-term effects on the global cognitive score, a trained updating task and episodic memory in the CCT group, with stable performance between one- and 4.5-year follow-up. The addition of AT did not yield any extended long-term effects on cognitive performance. Both groups showed extended long-term improvements in self-reported memory problems, although findings were mixed. Extended long-term improvements were observed on burnout for both groups, with additional effects on anxiety and work ability in the AT group. Notably, these effects were not present at the 1-year follow-up and are more plausibly explained by selective attrition rather than a delayed intervention effect. In conclusion, the result indicates that cognitive interventions such as CCT can have lasting positive effects on cognitive function in patients with ED, whereas the long-term psychological effects should be interpreted with caution. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT0073772. 

Introduction Population-based interventions delivered through preschools, schools, and public dental services are often intended to support equitable access to oral health and preventive care. However, how such interventions are organized and experienced across Swedish regions remains insufficiently described. The aim of this study was to explore how coordinators responsible for regional oral health promotion describe population-based work for children and adolescents, including organization, implementation, and perceived opportunities and challenges.Method A qualitative design with an inductive approach was employed. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 17 coordinators responsible for health promotion interventions in the Public Dental Service across Sweden. Data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Participants described balancing universal approaches with targeted interventions to address differing needs among children and adolescents. Oral health promotion was shaped through collaboration and negotiation between regional priorities and local partners, including schools, preschools, child health services, and community organizations. Participants described the importance of adapting interventions to local contexts and how preventive activities were organized and evaluated across regional contexts. Sustaining preventive and oral health promotion activities was perceived as challenging because limited resources, competing priorities, and population mobility, while supportive leadership, organizational clarity, political commitment, and opportunities for early intervention were perceived as important conditions.Conclusions Population-based oral health work involves universal and targeted preventive approaches, with implementation shaped by regional mandates, organizational conditions, and intersectoral collaboration. These conditions are perceived as important for sustaining preventive work, while further research is needed to assess implementation, population coverage, effectiveness, and equity outcomes.

The accurate integration of overlapping chromatographic peaks is essential for reliable quantification, especially in pharmaceutical Quality Control (QC). Despite long-recognized concerns about accuracy, the quantitative conditions under which different rule-based integration methods perform adequately have not been systematically mapped over a broad parameter space. To address this, six rule-based integration methods were evaluated using 40,000 simulated chromatograms containing two noise-free, symmetric Gaussian peaks with equal peak widths (sigma(1)=sigma(2)) over broad ranges of peak resolution (R-s= 0.5 - 2.1) and peak area fraction (0.1 - 99.9%). Of these, the 35,465 chromatograms in which a valley was present between the peaks were integrated and analyzed. Within this parameter space, the results establish a clear performance hierarchy. The Valley-to-Valley method (V2V) showed the poorest performance, with errors exceeding 5% in 99.8% of the cases analyzed. The Perpendicular Drop Method (PDM) showed intermediate performance and systematically underestimated the minor peak, with the magnitude of the error increasing as resolution and minor-peak area fraction decreased. No single threshold governs its applicability; the boundary depends on the tolerated integration error. Within the investigated parameter space, the PDM minor-peak integration error remained within 1% whenR(s)>= 1.1 and the minor-peak area fraction was >= 30%. Tangential skim and exponential skim did not outperform PDM under the equal width Gaussian conditions investigated, whereas Gaussian skim was more accurate than PDM within a bounded region at low minor-peak fractions; this crossover depends on the specific implementation of Gaussian skim. Corresponding error maps are also provided in terms of the directly measurable peak height fraction and relative valley height for practical assessment of overlapping peaks. Among the six methods under the investigated conditions, the proposed Peak Height-Area method (PHA) showed the best overall accuracy, with errors <= 0.1% in 84.9% and <= 1% in 95.6% of the analyzed cases and the maximum error was 5.01%. These findings demonstrate that PHA performs very well for the specific case investigated here: two overlapping, noise-free, symmetric Gaussian peaks of equal width. They do not establish its general superiority for routine chromatographic quantification. Unequal peak widths, asymmetric or otherwise dissimilar peak shapes, noise and baseline drift, overloaded main peaks with narrow rider peaks, and groups of more than two overlapping peaks were not examined and require separate evaluation.

Premise Road verges function as refuges for semi-natural species, but they can also facilitate the spread of non-native plants such as Lupinus polyphyllus. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing is a promising tool for mapping these species; however, its application in roadside contexts remains limited.Methods We developed and evaluated a UAV-based workflow to detect and map lupine presence and density along roads. Red-green-blue (RGB) imagery was processed into orthomosaics and classified using object-based and pixel-based approaches with support vector machines and random forest algorithms under multiple classification schemes.Results The highest accuracy (88.8%) was achieved using pixel-based random forest classification and a simplified scheme. Flowering purple lupine showed strong classification performance (F1 score = 96.3%), while early-stage greenish individuals were harder to detect (74.5%). Spatial heatmap comparison revealed low overestimation (1.79%) and underestimation (1.47%).Discussion Assuming optimal phenological conditions, UAV-based mapping provides a scalable and cost-efficient complement to ground surveys for the management of L. polyphyllus within infrastructure areas.

The round goby Neogobius melanostomus (NM), a Ponto-Caspian benthic fish, has invaded European and North American rivers and since 2015 has spread into the upper Elbe River (Czech Republic), including tributaries inhabited by the locally native and protected European bullhead Cottus gobio (CG). In August 2021, we sampled fish and macrozoobenthos (MZB) at sites with NM only (1), CG only (2), and their co-occurrence (3) to assess differences in diet composition, prey use, and potential role of NM in CG feeding. Both species primarily consumed MZB, especially Chironomidae, Hydropsychidae, Hydrobiidae, and Sphaeriidae, while avoiding some abundant prey (e.g., small Baetis nymphs). Piscivory, including conspecific predation, occurred in several NM individuals. In single-species sites, the sampled NM and CG populations consumed 40% and 30% of available MZB taxa, respectively; under co-occurrence, consumption increased in NM (+3%) but declined in CG (-2%). NM had higher foregut content biomass and prey abundance, but differences vanished after body-mass correction. CG diet composition differed under co-occurrence, with reduced individual variability. Overall, NM demonstrated greater dietary plasticity and might influence CG feeding, although the potential impact seemed moderate rather than strongly detrimental. Despite their spatiotemporal limitations, these findings provide a first preliminary insight into CG-NM feeding behaviour.

Understanding how local stakeholders perceive forest ecosystem services (FES), particularly when considering sociodemographic factors and forest governance types, can inform sustainable forest use and management. However, such evidence on the ecosystem services provided by forest patches in Western Africa is limited. We conducted 2621 household surveys across nine forest patches in four Western African countries: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Provisioning services were the most perceived forest benefit (83.5%), followed by regulating (12%), and cultural services (1.6%), with 2.9% reported no benefits. A logistic regression model showed that age group, education level, residency, main occupation, and marital status explain the variation in FES perceptions. However, main occupation and marital status exert a weaker influence on the probability of change in perceptions. The Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric H test revealed significant differences in FES perceptions across sociodemographic factors. While FES were generally considered important, perceptions of their changes over time vary across forests. Moreover, the forest governance type plays a significant role in these perceptions, especially among residents living near community-based forests and family-owned forests. The identified perception gaps between provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services constitute a governance and policy risk. The findings show that integrating social-ecological contexts, sociodemographic factors and forest governance status together and individually in examining FES perceptions reveals the extent to which the multilayered mechanisms shape decision-making on sustainable forest management. Ignoring them can hinder the legitimacy and effectiveness of policies aimed at sustainable forest management.

We calculate field theory loop amplitudes by string methods, applied to half-maximal 4-point one-loop graviton amplitudes. Infrared divergences are regulated similarly to soft-collinear effective field theory (SCET): new mass scales are introduced, here by higher-point kinematics. We use an analytically continued single-valued polylogarithm as generating function. The Feynman integrals for the new tensor structures are infrared finite. We provide code as a step towards automation.

Introduction Many autistic people adapt to a neurotypical world through masking, which can lead to exhaustion and harm to mental and physical health. As a result, there is increasingly interest in 'unmasking' in ways that improve quality of life and reduce stress. This study analyses qualitative data to explore unmasking among autistic adults.Methods This was a neurodivergent-led study. Twenty-nine autistic adults (17 with co-occurring ADHD) were interviewed one to four times as part of a larger project on autistic flourishing. Data related to unmasking were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results Unmasking occurred through a circular process consisting of four categories (1): Identify the need to unmask (2), Gain a deeper understanding of one's masking (3), Using unmasking strategies, and (4) Managing the consequences of unmasking.Conclusion Unmasking can be both challenging and freeing for autistic adults and may be best approached gradually. Supportive environments and professionals who understand masking and its long-term impact and do not encourage masking are important.

Aim To explore operating room nurses' self-estimated knowledge and attitudes regarding the prevention of intraoperative pressure ulcers.

Background Pressure ulcers are a significant patient safety concern in surgical settings. Despite being largely preventable, intraoperative pressure ulcers continue to occur due to prolonged immobility, positioning and device-related pressure. Nurses play a critical role in pressure ulcer prevention, yet knowledge gaps and unclear responsibilities may hinder effective practice.

Design A cross-sectional study using a quantitative online survey conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines.

Methods An online self-reporting survey was distributed to 1904 eligible operating room nurses across Sweden. A total of 284 operating room nurses responded (response rate 15%). The survey included two validated instruments: the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool-Operating Room (PUKAT 2.0 OR) and the Attitudes toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention-Operating Room (APuP-OR). Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results Participants displayed solid knowledge of pressure ulcer aetiology, but their understanding of preventive strategies, particularly those related to intraoperative positioning, was markedly weaker. Attitudes towards prevention were consistently positive, and participants generally expressed confidence in their ability to prevent pressure ulcers. Nonetheless, a substantial proportion indicated a continued need for further education in preventive measures.

Conclusion Despite generally positive attitudes, operating room nurses' knowledge remains insufficient, especially regarding intraoperative positioning. Strengthening pressure ulcer prevention in surgical teams therefore requires structured educational initiatives and clearer role clarification of responsibilities within the surgical team. It is essential to enhance pressure ulcer prevention and improve patient safety.

Implications for Nursing Practice Operating room nurses' positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention provide a strong foundation for practice improvement. Targeted evidence-based education, competency assessments and enhanced interprofessional collaboration may strengthen preventive practices, reduce intraoperative pressure ulcers and improve patient safety during surgery.

Patient or Public ContributionThere was no patient or public contribution.

Children’s participation during educational transitions reveals the opportunities and constraints embedded in early childhood education and care practices, butits implementation remains uneven. This study explores how early childhood education professionals (ECEP) perceive and describe the participation of children with special educational needs (SEN) during educational transitions, focusing on the opportunities and constraints that shape children’s participation. Survey responses from Swedish-speaking ECEPs (N=60) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis informed by critical realism. The results showedthat participation was not guaranteed;it was constrained by structural priorities and adult-led routines conditioned by age and communication skills, butalso supported through pedagogy and adult scaffolding. We identified tensions between ideals and practice alongside opportunities to strengthen participation. The findings highlight three key strategies: responsive pedagogy, multimodal communication and structured coordination. These three strategies support a shift from symbolic to meaningful participation and show how ECEPs can strengthen everyday practices that respect the rights and perspectives of children with SEN.

Holistic approaches are prominent in Nordic early childhood education and care (ECEC). In Finland, various uses of the word helhet (Eng. entity) in the national core curricula underline these approaches. This study aims to analyse text sequences that use helhet in the three core curricula for early childhood education and care. In addition, we discuss how the ECEC teacher education can clarify these entities. Through a qualitative and thematical analysis, we identified several themes. The results show that there is great variety in what these entities entail and that the teachers for example should pay attention to the holistic approach in their teaching and when cooperating with the other stages of education. In conclusion, the teacher education needs to offer students both pedagogical subject knowledge and integrative pedagogical knowledge. We suggest that a taxonomy or model designed for ECEC could clarify and illustrate different kinds of integration. Further, we also suggest that the teacher education program should be organised in ways that make integrating different subjects and content areas a natural part of the education.

Background As populations age, increasing numbers of older adults live with multimorbidity, frailty and functional decline, making it difficult or impossible for many older adults to access traditional dental clinics. Despite this growing need, oral health care in home-care settings remains underdeveloped, with limited guidelines, resources and professional support. Dental hygienists are well positioned to address this gap, yet little is known about how oral health assessments unfold in the home environment.Aim Was to explore, from a dental hygienist perspective, (i) how oral health assessments and interprofessional care planning are conducted in home-care settings for older adults with complex care needs and (ii) how dental hygienists' competence can support the integration of oral health into broader home-care processes.Methods A multiple-case study design was used, including four older adults with varying levels of functional, cognitive and oral health status. Data consisted of clinical oral assessments and detailed field notes capturing the dental hygienist's lived experiences of communication, collaboration and contextual conditions during each home visit.Results The cases revealed substantial variation in oral health, self-care ability and environmental conditions. Three participants were unable to attend dental clinics due to mobility limitations, pain, or environmental barriers. Conducting assessments in the home required the dental hygienist to adapt to challenging physical environments, navigate emotional responses and past dental trauma and collaborate closely with the older adults and the nursing assistant. Over time, interprofessional collaboration was considered to be strengthened and became essential for gaining access, building rapport and ensuring safe and person-centred care. The findings also identified major gaps in guidelines, training and organisational structures for home-based oral health care.Conclusion Home-based oral health care for older adults is complex and requires dental hygienists to integrate clinical expertise with adaptability, communication skills and interprofessional collaboration. As emphasised by the body of knowledge, oral health must be embedded within primary and community care systems. Dental hygienists are well positioned to lead this development, but clearer guidelines, enhanced training and supportive organisational frameworks are urgently needed to ensure equitable and person-centred oral health care for ageing populations.

This article explores democratic education in a Swedish early childhood education and care (ECEC) setting through a collaborative project between a university and a local preschool. Initiated by educators seeking to strengthen their democratic practices, the project applied a deliberative democratic framework and Participatory Action Research (PAR) to examine the meanings of democracy, develop strategies for children's participation, and address implementation challenges. Data were collected through research circle meetings, observations, and analysis of documents from the preschool's systematic quality work. The collaboration emphasised mutual respect, shared reflection, and responsiveness to educators' needs, aiming to enhance deliberative democratic education and bridge the gap between research and practice. The findings show that deliberative democratic education in preschool requires particular attention to spatial conditions, negotiations between individual and collective interests, and methods for the inclusion of toddlers (1-3-year-olds) and non-verbal children. The participating educators reported increased awareness of children's agency and a reinterpretation of everyday interactions as negotiations rather than conflicts. The findings also highlight tensions between individual rights and collective values, underscoring the need for tools that support deliberation beyond simple choice-making. This article contributes a model for deliberative democratic collaboration and offers insights into how PAR can strengthen democratic practices in ECEC settings.

Academically high-achieving students (AHAS) are often positioned as successful within school contexts, yet research report lower athletic self-concept and biases regarding athleticism among this group. However, less is known about how AHAS themselves experience, value and perceive their ability in physical activity (PA). This study explored how AHAS valued PA and what shaped their perceptions of competence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 upper-secondary AHAS in Sweden and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, informed by the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) model and self-concept theory. The findings indicate that AHAS perceived PA as meaningful and themselves as able when activities aligned with their theoretical interest in the effects of physical activity and their personal definitions of competence. PA was frequently constructed in instrumental terms, grounded in 'know-why' understandings of bodily processes and long-term health benefits. At the same time, their sense of ability was context-dependent and socially influenced. Within school physical education, peer comparison and stereotypical expectations shaped how competence was interpreted and evaluated. By highlighting how high academic achievement intersects with being physically active, this study challenges deficit views of competency among AHAS and provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how they engage in PA.

The optimization of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has been proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in building energy use. However, despite the environmental concerns shown, most of the studies optimize technical and/or economic objectives. Recent studies show that optimizing costs rather than carbon can worsen life cycle emissions, driven by battery operation. Whether this conflict remains in storage-free PV systems in buildings remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to quantify the life cycle global warming potential (GWP) effects of selecting different optimization objectives in a PV capacity optimization model. To achieve this, three multi-objective optimization models of a PV system are compared, using the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II): (1) maximizing self-sufficiency and self-consumption, (2) maximizing the internal rate of return and net present value (NPV), and (3) minimizing global warming potential and maximizing NPV. The results show that the solutions provided by models with only technical or economic objectives do not always lead to a reduction in GWP. Furthermore, optimizing technical or economic objectives can increase GWP by up to 10.3% or reduce it by up to 5.3%, depending on the embodied impact of the PV system. These results are obtained under Swedish conditions, where the electricity supplied by the grid has a low carbon intensity. Nevertheless, this study shows that optimizing PV generation capacity for technical or economic objectives does not necessarily reduce life-cycle GWP.

Gunno Dahlstierna’s ambitious long poem on the death of Charles XI, Kunga Skald (1698), is here studied as an instance of early modern “worldmaking” from a Swedish perspective. By investigating how the poem’s formal makeup intersects with the representation of different dimensions of “the world” (the local, the national, the global and the cosmic), the poem as a whole is viewed as a literary model of the world, incorporating cartographic knowledge and means of presentation. Understood in this way, the poem testifies to an underexplored global dimension of Swedish 17th century poetry and finds its place in the vicinity of global or New World epics attempted in the more prominent seafaring empires of Early Modern Europe.

Edge transport serves as a powerful probe of remarkable low-energy properties of fractional quantum Hall states, including the anyonic character of their excitations. Here, we develop a theory of fractional quantum Hall edges driven out of equilibrium, which is based on the Keldysh action for the bosonized chiral Luttinger liquid. With this nonequilibrium FQH bosonization framework, we first consider a single-mode Laughlin edge and analyze the full counting statistics of charge, the quasiparticle Green's functions, and tunneling transport properties through a quantum point contact, allowing for generic edge excitations. We then extend the formalism to multimode edges with intermode interactions, and explore, with a focus on the nu = 4/3 and nu = 2/3 edges as paradigmatic examples, how interaction-induced fractionalization of anyons modifies the edge dynamics and the associated transport observables. While the full counting statistics probes the fractionalized charge of the excitations, the Green's functions and tunneling transport are governed by mutual braiding phases of fractionalized excitations and tunneling quasiparticles. We emphasize in particular the effect of interaction-induced fractionalization on the Fano factor F and the differential Fano factor Fd, observables that can be measured experimentally. Our formalism, which provides a unified framework for nonequilibrium transport in FQH edges and Luttinger liquids, permits extracting anyonic braiding information from nonequilibrium edge-transport experiments, and paves the way to various extensions, including more involved experimental geometries and edge structures.

Urban areas are typically warmer than their non-urban surroundings, a phenomenon known as urban heat island (UHI); yet, intra-urban temperature contrasts remain under-characterized, especially within and between slums. Conventional meteorological stations, often located at city peripheries (e.g., airports), poorly capture neighbourhood-scale microclimates. Earth Observation (EO) provides land surface temperature (LST), which is widely used to characterize urban heat islands. However, LST is not a direct proxy for near-surface air temperature (Tair), as the LST-Tair relationship is modulated by several interacting factors such as heat storage, vegetation, ventilation, and urban canopy effects among others. We investigate whether intra-slum Tair differences can be modelled using EO covariates alone and test potential transferability of such models across African cities. Quality-controlled, citizen-generated Tair observations collected between January and March 2024 are aggregated to 50 & times; 50 m grid cells and used as the target variable in a Random Forest (RF) model. EO-derived features (albedo and radiative properties, urban morphology indicators and vegetation index), computed on the same grid, serve as covariates for modelling intra-urban Tair to generate high-resolution heat maps within and between slums in Nairobi (Kenya) and Lagos (Nigeria). Trained in Nairobi, the model attains a low out-of-sample mean absolute error, however a direct transfer of the Nairobi-trained model to Lagos underperforms, indicating that zero-shot transferability is limited. Instead, robust performance requires a domain-adaptation strategy. Incrementally adding a modest fraction of Lagos samples to the training set improves cross-city generalisation, yielding comparable accuracy in both cities. Beyond demonstrating the value of low-cost sensors and citizen science for actionable climate information, we release an open, reproducible pipeline to guide urban-cooling interventions and benchmark resilience policies where evidence is most limited.

The increasing volume of plastic and tire wastes creates environmental and energy challenges, and their utilization as feedstock for hydrogen production is being promoted under a circular economy. This systematic review critically summarizes and compares developments in waste-to-hydrogen conversion pathways using Process Systems Engineering concepts that combine thermochemical modeling with techno-economic analysis and LCA. The literature was obtained through a comprehensive search of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases and selected according to PRISMA criteria. The results show that the reported energy efficiencies (first-law) range between 7.3% and 48.67% (LHV basis), the exergy efficiencies range between 5.2% and 45.0%, and the sustainability indices range between 1.055 and 2.76, demonstrating high sensitivity of the results to process configuration, heat integration, and feedstock composition. Among the technologies reviewed, plasma gasification reported the highest simulated hydrogen production rate (up to 1.2 kg/s at a 5 kg/s plastic-waste throughput) with a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of USD 3.3 per kg H₂ in Aspen Plus studies, comparable to steam methane reforming; microwave-assisted pyrolysis reported hydrogen concentrations up to 45.2 vol% in the product gas under optimized catalyst loading. Life cycle assessments have estimated a 38–80% reduction in CO2 emissions, with the hybrid solar-biomass system achieving a carbon avoidance of up to 55,777 t of CO2/year. The techno-economic calculations suggest that industrial-scale (20,000 kg h−1) (equivalent to approximately 160,000 tons of plastic waste per year at 8000 operating hours) plants would have reported annual revenue from hydrogen sales in the range USD 271–358 million. Overall, as highlighted in the review, a combination of thermochemical conversion, carbon capture, and digital simulation tools can facilitate efficient, low-emission, and cost-effective hydrogen production. The results make waste-to-hydrogen systems an important direction to a sustainable, circular, and low-carbon hydrogen economy. 

Paper derives its mechanical integrity from a complex network of interactions between cellulose fibres, yet the relative importance of hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic forces remains debated. Here, the wet tensile strength of paper sheets are investigated when exposed to water, a series of organic solvents with differing hydrogen-bonding characteristics, and aqueous salt and urea solutions designed to modify electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. By systematically varying the liquid environment surrounding the fibre network, we directly probe the mechanisms governing inter-fibre adhesion. The results show that solvents capable of disrupting hydrogen bonding produce a pronounced loss of strength, whereas changes in ionic strength and electrostatic screening have only minor effects. These findings provide strong experimental evidence that hydrogen bonds constitute the dominant contribution to paper strength, in agreement with the classical model proposed by Campbell in 1933, but in contrast to more recent interpretations that downplay their significance. Hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions appear to contribute secondarily to fibre bonding, although to a smaller extent than hydrogen bonding. The observed trends further reveal striking parallels between the loss of strength in different liquid environments and the hornification phenomenon occurring during drying of wet pulp fibres. Together, the results establish hydrogen bonding as the central mechanism underlying paper strength and suggest a broader conceptual link between fibre bonding and irreversible structural changes in cellulose networks.

Utbildning av lärare sker inom den ordinarie grundläggande lärarutbildningen, men kan även omfatta lärarfortbildning, den vidareutbildning som sker när lärarstudenter examinerats som lärare och börjat arbeta. Syftet med kapitlet är att diskutera och exemplifiera hur triaden samverkan – forskning – undervisning kan ses både som en möjlighet till lärarfortbildning och en utgångspunkt för lärarutbildning och skola på vetenskaplig grund. Kapitlets diskussion grundas på erfarenheter och resultat från det praktiknära forskningsprojektet Problemlösning i Förskoleklass, från vilket exemplen hämtas. I projektet har samverkan med förskoleklasslärare skapat nya möjligheter till vetenskaplig grund för både forskarna och de deltagande lärarna, och därmed även för de praktiker där dessa verkar. Att se triaden samverkan – forskning – undervisning som en utgångspunkt för lärarutbildning, inklusive lärarfortbildning och skola på vetenskaplig grund innebär att både forskare, lärarutbildare och lärare i förskola och grundskola behöver vara såväl producenter som konsumenter av forskning, men med olika roller och olika ansvar, vilket belyses i kapitlet.

This dissertation examines how management control systems (MCS) packages are configured and, when required, reconfigured in global supply chains, with particular attention to offshoring performance and sustainability compliance. Drawing on transaction cost, social exchange, contingency, and institutional theories, it argues that control in cross-border inter-organizational relationships is better understood through the configuration and reconfiguration of MCS packages than through isolated control mechanisms or a universally applicable control design. The dissertation consists of four articles and applies a multi-method research design. A structured synthesis of prior research develops a lifecycle-based conceptual framework explaining how MCS packages may be configured and reconfigured in relation to contextual factors such as goodwill trust, cultural understanding, and relationship continuity. A fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) study of Swedish client firms identifies two configurations associated with offshoring success and four with offshoring failure, demonstrating conjunctural causation, equifinality, and causal asymmetry. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) study of Dutch client firms distinguishes between two types of governance costs—control costs and coordination costs—and shows that formal controls, task complexity, and task interdependence are significantly associated with governance costs, while aggregate cultural distance is not robustly associated with either type. A qualitative study of German multinational corporations subject to binding supply chain due diligence regulation shows that sustainability compliance prompts firms to reconfigure MCS packages. The dissertation contributes to management control research by developing a configurational and adaptive understanding of MCS packages in global supply chains.

This study examines the theoretical foundations of Nissen’s lists used for identifying giftedness by analysing their alignment with Gagné’s Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). While the lists have shown empirical validity as screening tools in Nordic contexts, their underlying theoretical framework has not been clearly articulated. Using the DMGT as an analytical framework, a qualitative comparative analysis is conducted in which three researchers code items from the student, guardian, and teacher lists in relation to the DMGT’s components, followed by consensus-based discussion. The findings indicate that the lists primarily capture intellectual and intrapersonal characteristics, while other aspects, such as physical abilities, appear to be less emphasised. This partial alignment may suggest a focus on identifying high potential rather than fully developed talent. The study highlights the value of the lists while pointing to the need for further theoretical refinement to support more equitable identification practices.

Set in the context of digitalisation of working life, this paper examines how Swedish unions respond to digital automation technologies, including robotics and algorithmic management, and how these developments affect job quality. Drawing on power resource theory, we conceptualise knowledge in terms of technical understanding, access to information, and interpretive capacity, as a cross-cutting epistemic capacity that conditions unions' ability to activate power resources. Based on interviews with union representatives across sectors, the findings show that unions seek to influence technological change but face challenges from knowledge asymmetries and external actors, underscoring the importance of epistemic capacity in digitalised workplaces.

The consideration of local knowledge in assessments and governance of biodiversity and ecosystems is a vital challenge for a just and sustainable future. This requires in-depth consideration of the intricate ways people know, engage with and are affected by natural environments. However, the concept of local knowledge is fluid, and several interpretations are in use, which can complicate constructive engagement. This paper aims to provide a descriptive overview and analytical framework for diverse conceptualisations of local knowledge in biodiversity and ecosystem governance. We focus on two objectives: (i) to describe and critically examine conceptualisations of local knowledge in the scientific and grey literature; and (ii) to develop a set of characteristics that can be used to identify local knowledge. Rather than seeking a single definition, we examine a range of academic interpretations, while extending the discussion to knowledge systems and holders in the nonIndigenous Global North. We analyse differences and similarities between local knowledge and related concepts such as Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous and Local Knowledge, lay knowledge, scientific knowledge and policy-oriented understandings of local knowledge. We propose a flexible framework to identify and characterise local knowledge in research. The framework combines questions about researchers' motivations and methodological choices with dimensions concerning knowledge holders, locus of knowledge, spatial and temporal dimensions, and modes of knowledge transmission. We emphasise the importance of critically engaging with the concept of knowledge itself to recognise the complementarity of diverse knowledge systems and support more reflexive approaches to local knowledge in biodiversity and ecosystem governance.

Stuck pipe remains a critical challenge in the petroleum industry, often leading to significant non-productive time (NPT) and operational losses. Traditional prevention methods are frequently ineffective due to the high sensitivity to parameter changes and the presence of noisy or incomplete data. This study aims to apply machine learning algorithms to classify and predict stuck pipe incidents using real operational data, enabling early warnings to minimize NPT and reduce operational costs through models trained on both stuck and non-stuck conditions. This study tackled the stuck pipe issue through a two-phase machine learning approach. In the first phase, classification model Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) was employed to classify stuck pipe incidents across drilling and tripping operations in Middle Eastern wells. The second phase focused on forecasting hook load values using a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model, aimed at predicting stuck pipe events in advance. Sequential hook load readings served as inputs to the LSTM, allowing the generation of early warnings during tripping operations. The results of this study illustrate that classification model demonstrated high performance, with accuracy levels ranging from 89% to 97.83%. Their evaluation relied on metrics such as Precision, Recall, F1-Score, Accuracy, Decision Boundaries and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Likewise, the LSTM model showed strong predictive capabilities, achieving 90-97% accuracy based on R & sup2;, Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Mean Squared Error (MSE) values. These results confirm the effectiveness of machine learning in detecting and predicting stuck pipe incidents, enhancing safety and reducing NPT. The developed machine learning algorithms helped to classify the different suck pipe problems, identify, their reasons and ultimately can early predict stuck pipe problems during drilling operations. The proposed approach presents substantial potential for real-time monitoring and proactive drilling risk mitigation.

This exploratory survey study examines the use of accelerative practices among lower secondary physics and chemistry teachers in Finland and Sweden (N = 160), where a longstanding emphasis on educational equality and inclusion has limited attention to the needs of gifted students. Although international research demonstrates strong academic and socio-emotional benefits of acceleration for gifted students, evidence suggests that Nordic schools rarely implement such practices systematically. The present study investigates teachers' experiences with four accelerative approaches relevant to the Nordic context-early entrance, grade skipping, subject-based acceleration, and curriculum compacting-and analyses how these practices shape instructional decision-making in science classrooms. Using a mixed-methods design combining descriptive and inferential statistics with inductive content analysis, the study reveals that acceleration is infrequently used in both countries, though Swedish teachers report higher implementation rates than Finnish teachers. Teachers with prior knowledge of gifted education were more likely to employ accelerative practices across all categories. Teachers reported limited time and material resources as barriers to implementation. The findings illustrate a persistent gap between policy-permitted accelerative opportunities and actual inclusive science education classroom practice, highlighting that meeting the learning needs of gifted students requires strengthened teacher education, policy support, and resource allocation.

We investigate an interface in the transverse field quantum Ising chain connecting an ordered ferromagnetic phase and a disordered paramagnetic phase that are KramersWannier duals of each other. Unlike prior studies focused on non-invertible defects, this interface exhibits a symmetry that combines Kramers-Wannier transformation with spatial reflection. We demonstrate that, under open boundary conditions, this setup gives rise to a discrete Z4 symmetry, encompassing the conventional Z2 Ising parity as a subgroup, while in a closed geometry a non-invertible symmetry emerges. Using the Jordan-Wigner transformation, we map the spin chain onto a solvable quadratic Majorana fermion system. In this formulation, the Z4 symmetry is realized manifestly as a parity-dependent reflection with respect to a Majorana site, in contrast to the conventional reflection which mirrors with respect to the central link of the Majorana chain. Additionally, we construct Majorana strong zero modes that retain the Z4 symmetry, ensure degeneracies of all energy eigenstates, and are robust under generic local symmetrypreserving perturbations of the fermion model, including interactions. Finally, we develop quantum circuit realizations of our model paving the way towards the creation of exact Majorana strong zero modes with digital quantum hardware.

In this paper, an ANN-based model is suggested for the prediction of shear strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams without transverse reinforcements, and the model is developed directly using Excel software to ensure computational transparency and statistical interpretability, while remaining an empirical data-driven tool. In this study, a comprehensive database including 923 experimental data is collected, prepared and utilized to develop the neural network. Following the completion of the learning process, the ultimate weight and bias for the neural network are obtained. These parameters are employed in the Excel worksheet. With this process, the learned model is converted into a standalone and operational design tool. Sensitivity analysis, which has been performed through a step-by-step and perturbation method, revealed that the beam width (b) is the most influential parameter in the determination of shear strength (33.4%), followed by concrete compressive strength (fc, 17.1%) and effective depth (d, 15.3%). Then, a parametric study is conducted to study the effect of the shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d), longitudinal reinforcement ratio (rho) and fiber aspect ratio (Lf/df) on the shear behavior of the members.