Deep Learning Enhanced Optical Methods for Single-Plankton Studies

Among Earth’s earliest life forms, cyanobacteria reshaped the planet by oxygenating the atmosphere during the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago. This process, which led to ozone formation and UV protection, paved the way for more complex photosynthetic organisms—phytoplankton, the eukaryotic descendants of cyanobacteria. Today, phytoplankton drive the global carbon cycle, producing 50–80% of Earth’s oxygen and fueling the marine food web. Microzooplankton consume nearly two-thirds of the organic carbon generated, yet despite their ecological significance, tracking biomass flow at the single-cell level remains a major challenge. This thesis presents novel methodologies that integrate advanced optical techniques, deep learning, and simulated datasets to analyze microplankton dynamics with unprecedented resolution. A key contribution is a deep-learning-enhanced holographic microscopy approach that quantifies microplankton biomass at the single-cell level while simultaneously capturing their three-dimensional swimming behavior. This method overcomes computational bottlenecks in traditional holography, enabling high-throughput analysis across diverse species and size ranges. Expanding on this, I demonstrate its application in mixed-species experiments to examine feeding interactions between phytoplankton and microzooplankton, capturing biomass transfer and behavioral shifts during predation. Beyond direct imaging, this thesis leverages synthetic data to advance microscopy-based research. Neural networks trained on simulated microscopy datasets are used to detect, segment, and classify plankton species while reconstructing motion dynamics. To showcase the versatility of this approach, I present its application in a non-biological setting—detecting bubble-propelled artificial micromotors within complex experimental backgrounds. In addition to object detection, these methods also enable motion characterization of microscopic entities. To demonstrate this, I introduce synthetic microscopy videos that model microscopic organisms undergoing various anomalous diffusion behaviors. This framework is then used to develop a method that extracts motion characteristics without explicit trajectory linking, broadening its applications beyond plankton ecology. Finally, I investigate how zooplankton—key players in the marine food web—respond to ocean wave-induced light patterns using an LED matrix. The results suggest that zooplankton use steady light sources, such as celestial objects, to ascend more rapidly during favorable low-turbulent conditions, offering new insights into their migratory strategies. Collectively, this thesis bridges marine ecology, microscopy, artificial intelligence, and biophysics to provide new tools for exploring the unseen dynamics that shape our planet

Trygg start på dagen eller överbliven tid? -En studie om morgonfritidsverksamhetens roll och potential

Detta examensarbete undersöker morgonfritidsverksamhetens roll och uppfattningen om det svenska fritidshemmet, med särskilt fokus på diskursen om fritid som “överbliven tid.” Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med utbildade fritidslärare utforskar studien hur “morgonfritids” organiseras och genomförs, vilka faktorer som bidrar till en framgångsrik verksamhet, samt hur denna tid kan omdefinieras som en pedagogisk möjlighet snarare än en förvaringstid. Studien bygger på Haglunds (2009) analys av fritidshemmets diskurser, där fritid som "överbliven tid" ofta förlorar sin pedagogiska potential, samt på Vygotskijs sociokulturella teori om lärande (Säljö, 2020). Vidare lyfts Jonssons (2021) och Pálsdóttirs (2012) forskning fram för att belysa vikten av dialog och samarbete mellan personal och elever samt hur otydliga pedagogiska visioner kan påverka personalens yrkesidentitet. Hippinen Ahlgrens (2021) insikter om balansen mellan förplanerade och spontana strategier används också för att analysera elevens delaktighet. Genom Neulingers (1976) begrepp om objektiv och subjektiv fritid betonas vikten av att skapa meningsfulla aktiviteter som stödjer barns lärande, sociala interaktion och välmående. Resultaten visar en spänning mellan pedagogiska ambitioner och praktiska begränsningar, men också en potential för att stärka “morgonfritids” som en viktig del av skolans helhet. Slutsatsen är att tydligare riktlinjer och resurser behövs för att betrakta morgonfritidsverksamheten ur ett holistiskt perspektiv, där elevernas tid på fritidshemmet ses som en arena för lärande och en integrerad del av deras hela dag (Haglund, 2009)

SÅ GÖR DU JOURNALISTKARRIÄR: Var man, Var vit, Var medelklass

Title: Så gör du journalistkarriär: Var man, var vit, var medelklass Authors: Saga Aschan Kjellström, Isak Berndtsson & Maja Skvagerson Level: Bachelor thesis in Journalism Term: HT 2024 Supervisor: Jenny Wiik This study investigates how Swedish journalists with five to fifteen years of experience in the industry perceive the impact of different factors such as gender, ethnicity, class background, and social networks on their career development. The theoretical framework consists of Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus combined with Hodkinson and Sparkes’ careership theory, focusing on how individual agency interacts with structural constraints in career decision-making. The methodology follows qualitative interviews with ten journalists in order to capture their experiences and perspectives about what has affected their journalistic careers. Important results of the study shows that gender, education and ethnicity is perceived to significantly influence journalists' professional opportunities, with women and individuals from minority backgrounds facing challenges in advancing within the industry. Social networks were identified as a positive factor, with access to influential networks often contingent upon class and educational background. Furthermore, structural challenges, such as economic limitations are also perceived to affect the careers of journalists. Additionally, the study shows that journalists experience that performance and competence play a crucial part in journalists' careers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the systematic barriers within journalism and may offer inspiration into how the industry might become more equal and representative which will contribute to the democracy in Sweden

“Att förbjuda helt känns inte som en väg att gå, om man ska lära sig något” Digitala medier i fritidshem - lärares styrning och elevers inflytande.

Studiens syfte har varit att undersöka och tolka hur lärare i fritidshem behandlar digitala medier i sin verksamhet. Vad har eleverna tillgång till, på vilka sätt får de användas och när? Intresset för ämnet uppstod genom den politiska debatt som råder med det tidstypiska uttrycket “från skärm till pärm” som myntades i en pressträff med bland andra skolminister Lotta Edholm (L). Regeringen presenterade även i september 2024 Folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer för barn och ungas skärmanvändning på sin fritid (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2024). Vad visar forskning om digitalt lärande (som komplement till det analoga) och hur resonerar lärarna i fritidshemmen själva i frågan? Vårt resultat utgår från 5 lärare som genom intervjuerna menar att eleverna främst nyttjar Ipads för skapande och kreativa syften och att det villkoras. Det framkommer också samstämmiga röster om att det är viktigt med en balans så att det inte blir för mycket tid som läggs på endast digitala medier. Sociala aspekter råder det delade meningar om men i huvudsak lyfter informanterna positiva delar i det relationella, inte minst genom spelet Minecraft som engagerar och sammanför eleverna. Det råder farhågor om vad eleverna ska mötas av på nätet om det saknas närvaro av vuxenstöd samt att det är viktigt att arbeta med bitar som källkritik och hur man navigerar på nätet på ett säkert sätt. Detta till trots visar resultatet att det saknas en planering för när detta arbete ska ske, det tenderar i stället att lyftas spontant vid givna tillfällen på fritidshemmen

“Man går in på en app och så har man liksom hela världen framför sig ”. En kvalitativ intervjustudie om unga vuxnas syn på sitt TikTok-användande

Executive summary This study explores how young adults engage with TikTok, particularly regarding media literacy, algorithmic awareness, and credibility assessment. TikTok’s personalized content flow, shaped by its algorithm, influences how users interact with and perceive information. Through qualitative interviews, this study examines how a selected group of young adults navigates these aspects of TikTok, how they assess the reliability of content, and how they reflect on their own media habits in relation to the platform. The study employs a qualitative research approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with ten young adults aged 20–25 who are active TikTok users. The selection of participants was made through purposive and snowball sampling, ensuring that the study captures rich and detailed individual experiences rather than aiming for statistical generalizability. Thematic analysis was applied to identify key patterns and insights emerging from the participants' reflections. The study is based on Rhythmanalysis (Lefebvre, 2004), which is used to understand how TikTok integrates into users’ daily routines through different types of rhythms. Additionally, Audience Turn is applied to understand how users actively engage with and shape their media consumption rather than passively receiving information. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: TikTok as part of everyday routines, credibility assessment and algorithmic awareness, control over content consumption The study provides in-depth insights into how a selected group of young adults engages with TikTok, focusing on media consumption patterns, credibility assessment, and algorithmic awareness. Participants acknowledged TikTok’s influence on their daily routines and described the platform as both entertaining and addictive. While they were aware of the algorithm’s role in curating content, most relied on social indicators such as likes and comments rather than traditional source evaluation to determine credibility. Some participants attempted to manipulate their feed to align with their preferences, while others felt a lack of control over their content exposure. The findings highlight a complex relationship between user agency and algorithmic influence, emphasizing the need for stronger media literacy skills in navigating digital platforms

KVINNLIGT OCH MANLIGT I POLITIKEN En studie om jämställdhet, kläder och makt

I den könade maktdynamiken styr normer och föreställningar till de minsta delarna av våra liv. Normerna kontrollerar hur vi beter oss, vilka vi är och hur vi ser ut. Kläder är en grundläggande del av vår sociala värld som besitter mening. De kläder vi har på oss sänder ut signaler om vår identitet och vilken plats vi har i samhället. Kläderna kopplas till feminint eller maskulint och i sin tur till underordning eller överordning, och därmed makt. Inom politiken är kläder en viktig aspekt då kläderna kan spegla ledarskapet, auktoriteten, förtroendet och makten. Rimligtvis bör politiker vilja signalera makt då de de facto är makten. Hur ser makten och kläder ut inom politiken som även den är präglad av den könade maktdynamiken? Vi vet för lite om hur jämställdheten ser ut inom den relativt jämställda svenska politiken och kopplingen mellan kläder och makt. I denna uppsats görs en fenomenologisk studie om hur makt tar sig i uttryck i svenska ministrars kläder och om uttrycket för makt i detta avseende blivit mer jämställt i takt med att Sverige blivit det i andra avseenden som exempelvis kvinnlig politisk representation. Materialet är foton från regeringar 1978-2022. Analysen visar att män kontinuerligt klär sig i det som tolkas som ett tydligt maktuttryck. Kvinnor klär sig mycket mindre på ett sätt som tolkas som maktfullt men också mindre enhetligt över tid. Polariseringen mellan kvinnor har ökat där man antingen klär sig mer maktfullt än tidigare eller mindre maktfullt, mer feminint och mer sexualiserande än tidigare

SJUKSKÖTERSKORS UPPLEVELSER AV ETISK STRESS I SAMBAND MED PALLIATIV VÅRD I SLUTENVÅRD En litteraturöversikt

Bakgrund: Etisk stress är ett komplext fenomen som kan drabba vem som helst som hamnar i en situation som strider mot personens egna värderingar. Statistik visar att på grund av medicinska framsteg och förmågan att eliminera eller kontrollera kroniska sjukdomar, behöver många sjuka personer palliativ vård när botande behandling misslyckas. Dessutom, på grund av begränsade vårdplatser i specialiserad palliativ vård, tillbringar många av dessa patienter sina sista dagar på sjukhus, omhändertagna av allmänsjuksköterskor. Att vårda dessa patienter med begränsad kunskap om palliativ vård och den komplexitet som kommer med vårdsituationen kan sjuksköterskor uppleva etisk stress. Syftet: Syftet med denna uppsats var att belysa sjuksköterskors upplevelser av etisk stress inom allmän palliativ vård i slutenvård. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en litteraturöversikt, där sju kvalitativa och tre kvantitativa artiklar inkluderades. Data analyserades med ett induktivt förhållningssätt och resulterade i identifieringen av fyra teman. Resultat: De fyra framträdande teman som identifierades belyser situationer där sjuksköterskor upplever etisk stress. Dessa teman omfattar: konfliktfyllda arbetsförhållanden, bristande kommunikation och begränsat inflytande över beslut, patienters bästa kontra familjens önskemål samt kunskapsbrist och psykiskt/emotionell belastning. Slutsats: Resultaten visade att sjuksköterskor som vårdar patienter med palliativa behov upplever etisk stress på grund av höga krav, begränsad kontroll och brist på stöd. För att minska denna stress och förbättra vården krävs adekvat kunskap, resurser och bättre samarbete inom teamet

Vägen till framgång eller splittring: Våldsamma flankers påverkan på ickevåldsrörelsers framgång En jämförande fallstudie om nonviolent resistance

This thesis investigates how the presence of violent flanks influences the ability of nonviolent resistance movements to achieve political goals. Nonviolent resistance has historically been more successful than violent movements. However, the effect of violent flanks within or alongside such movements remains contested in research. Using the framework of violent flank effect and investigating this research debate, the study analyzes two cases in the wake of the Arab Spring: the Tunisian Revolution and the Syrian Revolution. The research applies a comparative case study design and utilizes process tracing to examine the hypothesized causal mechanisms of mobilization and repression. The results indicate that violent flanks have predominantly negative effects on nonviolent movements by reducing legitimacy, decreasing mobilization, and with less support of justifying increased repression by the state. In Tunisia, where violent flanks were largely absent, the movement successfully mobilized broad societal support including the country’s military and largest labor union, culminating in the ousting of President Ben Ali. Conversely, in Syria, the emergence of the Free Syrian Army as the movement’s violent flank fragmented the movement, intensified state repression, and led to a prolonged civil war, ultimately undermining the nonviolent resistance. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of how nonviolent strategies can be adapted to mitigate the risks associated with violent flanks, particularly in repressive political contexts. The thesis highlights the importance of maintaining unity and legitimacy within nonviolent movements to sustain mobilization and achieve long-term political goals

Losing Your Grip: Feelings of Control and Unsubstantiated Political Beliefs

Widespread corruption has equally widespread impact on the people and functioning of that society. However, while abuses of power may be found in all societies, in many places corruption is far less common and individuals are unlikely to experience it firsthand. In these less-corrupt settings there are nonetheless surprising portions of the populace that believe corruption and related abuses of power to be widespread. Even if unsubstantiated, these perceptions are troubling because they can nonetheless result in serious consequences for individual attitudes and behaviors that have ramifications for the society. Despite this, we still understand relatively little about the roots of these perceptions, particularly in settings where these perceptions are unlikely to be driven by the experience of corruption. This dissertation suggests that the issues of corruption and electoral misconduct present individuals with a plausible explanation for a host of individual and societal problems they might face, and heightened perceptions of corruption may thus offer those individuals a means to compensate for real or perceived limits to personal control. Theoretically, I draw from and expand upon research that has demonstrated threats to personal control to increase susceptibility to other unsubstantiated beliefs such as conspiracy theories as a compensatory response. I argue that several features found across these kinds of beliefs can make perceptions of corruption and election fraud an effective and potentially low-cost response to limited personal control, with these features also being found in populist rhetoric. However, the compensatory potential offered by these beliefs is conditional upon several societal factors, which are most consistently found in well-functioning democratic societies. I explore this issue in four papers, examining how personal control is related to perceptions of corruption and election fraud, as well as the appeal of populist rhetoric, in well-functioning democratic settings relative to the nature of this relationship in settings where corruption is more widespread. Across these studies, I find that increasing feelings of limited control are associated with increased perceptions of corruption, greater belief in election fraud, and increased support for parties using populist rhetoric. This association is strongest and most consistently found in the countries that are both least corrupt and perform best on democratic measures. The results highlight areas where further research is needed to better understand the drivers of these perceptions. They also suggest growing challenges that may be posed by ongoing sociopolitical developments

Seasonal Variations at Tjörn. A Study of Economic Resilience and the Impact of Tourism

This thesis examines the impact of seasonal tourism on Tjörn's economic resilience, with a particular focus on reducing economic fluctuations through diversification strategies. Drawing on qualitative data from regional, municipal, and local actors, the study examines how Tjörn can develop beyond its dependency on summer tourism. It highlights the potential of promoting year-round industries and investing in other sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, and industrial development. Additionally, the research addresses structural challenges, including housing shortages and infrastructure limitations, which hinder long-term economic stability. Key findings highlight the importance of regional collaborations, targeted investments, and the integration of cultural initiatives to create a sustainable and diverse economic base. The analysis, grounded in theories of regional resilience, path dependency, and regional innovation systems, demonstrates that while significant progress has been made in diversifying Tjörn’s economy, persistent challenges, such as seasonal workforce instability and limited housing, remain barriers to long-term resilience. The study concludes with recommendations for strategic investments in infrastructure, skills development, and partnerships to ensure Tjörn’s capacity to adapt, diversify, and thrive in a dynamic economic environment